I’m Just an Ordinary Human

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The masked rioters were quickly suppressed.

Of course.

The soldiers under my command had become enhanced humans through the successful enhancement project implemented a year ago, giving all of them the strength to counter the [Abnormality].

Fundamentally, every one of them possessed stats above that of a top-tier [Streamer], and their coordination as a unit was exceptional.

There was no way a mere mob could resist when even a standard [Streamer] alliance stronghold wouldn’t be able to hold out against them.

…It should definitely be that way.

“What? There were casualties?”

I was waiting for the report confirming the suppression while dismissively ignoring the screen, but the news that reached me was unexpected.

Of course, the suppression itself ended smoothly.

After all, the opposing strength was simply not comparable.

But there were casualties among the soldiers?

In reality, the damage was nil.

The fragments of [Ragnarok] used in the soldiers’ enhancements essentially granted them immortality.

It wasn’t complete immortality, nor were there no weaknesses, but at the very least within the confines of an [Ordinary City], they experienced a level of immortality akin to the shadow soldiers of the past [Alliance], meaning those soldiers who were injured or killed there would have already recovered.

So, while one might wonder why I was losing my composure despite not suffering losses, that wasn’t the crucial point here.

The important fact was that those rioters had inflicted injuries or deaths upon soldiers.

I couldn’t even scold those who were injured for being careless, as it wasn’t even a level where carelessness would result in injury.

After all, those women weren’t even [Streamers].

I turned my head to the [Company Employee] standing next to me in a combat-ready stance.

“Hey.”

“Yes, yes!”

“Call your boss.”

I needed to at least hear what was being said.

*

[Company]

An organization that, despite being modern, stood shoulder-to-shoulder with powers existing since ancient times—no, surpassing them to become the largest entity in the modern age.

The [Temple] symbolizes the mythological era when humans were ruled by [God].

The [Alliance] symbolizes humanity’s resistance against [God] and the breaking away from the mythological era.

The [Artist] symbolizes the advancement of human culture and complete independence from [God].

If the [Company] signifies the capitalism and technological progress of humanity—the industrialization of human civilization.

With the [Temple] choosing to remain hidden and the other two factions having collapsed, the [Broadcasting Station] is now the only major force that has revealed itself to the world.

Thus, it isn’t strange to have other ulterior motives brewing.

For instance.

To lure the survivors in Korea, where the [Broadcasting Station]’s main base is located, and after supporting them with advanced equipment from the [Company], have them monitor the [Broadcasting Station].

“What do you think? My theory.”

– …I understand your thought, but it’s a misunderstanding.

Through the smartphone borrowed from the employee in the city, I could hear the trembling voice of the [Deputy].

A misunderstanding.

That’s what they meant?

“I’ll make this clear.”

I turned my head to watch the chaos unfolding in various [Streamer] broadcasts while speaking into the phone.

“If you can’t clarify the situation happening right now, our relationship is about to become very entertaining.”

It seemed that you guys were dependent on facilities like [Factory].

Do you really think I wouldn’t make you tremble even more than the [Artists]?

– …I understand it’s hard to believe, but we are genuinely uninvolved in this incident.

The quaking of the [Deputy]’s voice intensified in response to my chilled words.

To have gone this far yet still not confess…?

Were they actually trying to declare war on me?

‘…That can’t be the case, right?’

After the fall of the [Alliance], they promptly submitted and proposed an alliance, showing gestures of goodwill that were unconditional unlike the [Artist].

Despite being the most powerful entity boasting immense influence worldwide, the [Company] lacked the power to oppose me.

The circumstances were different from the [Alliance], which was maintained by an absolute asymmetrical power known as the Alliance Leader, or the [Artists] led by powerful [Abnormal Entities], who could stand up even if they fell back into the mythological age.

A force created based on the foundation of modernity, where a single general could change the landscape of war.

The power of the [Company] was not concentrated on one front.

It came from sophisticated, destructive violence birthed from its vast scale and technology.

That was the essence of the [Company].

Ironically, this made them powerless against a superhuman like me.

While they might possess weapons capable of destroying an entire continent, they lacked the strength to endure against a superhuman of my stature.

During the time when the [Alliance] was intact, their ability to endure came not from their strength but from the presence of formidable forces like the [Temple] or the [Artist], who could hold back their aggression by threatening mutual destruction.

It goes without saying.

While their threats might work on the [Alliance], they wouldn’t work on me.

Even if they threatened to use Korea as leverage, it would be clear that my response would be to let them explode and deal with them before their complete destruction.

And what happens if they fail to protect Korea?

Well, that can’t be helped.

It might be unfortunate, but allowing such nuisances to climb up would only lead to greater harm later on.

Even if I had to abandon Korea, it was better to sweep things up first.

And the [Company] knew of this nature of mine.

“Hmmm….”

I looked back at the broadcast screen.

– What the hell are you?!

– What do you think about the behavior of the [Streamers]?

– The reason for the lack of female [Streamers] is due to the [Broadcasting Station] not taking into account the physical capability differences between men and women!

– Don’t you think we should nurture the women considering their rights?!

– Are you crazy?! Get lost! Aahh!

Women rushing to hinder a [Streamer] attempting to go out hunting.

They had lost much of their aversion to bloodshed compared to the peaceful era, with frequent power struggles among [Streamers] as they hunted [Abnormalities].

– Please respond!

– Don’t our women deserve a chance to grow strong as well?!

– No, seriously, move over, will you?!

It seemed that there were indeed not many that would recklessly wield power over genuinely powerless survivors.

Although they pushed women back, they hesitated to employ actual force, clearly flustered [Streamers].

Worse yet, those women selectively targeted opponents they deemed weak while watching broadcasts.

They didn’t approach the truly malicious [Streamers] who looked like they would casually crush their heads without hesitation if disturbed.

Only the relatively more amicable ones they perceived would hesitate to act were troubled by their interruptions, demanding them to nurture them instead.

Of course, among them were those presumed to be women with [Company] equipment who were lying in wait to ambush the flawed [Streamers] as they hunted, or who, taking advantage of moments when they abandoned strongholds, were vandalizing like they had with the [Broadcasting Station].

There were barriers around the safe zones, but the women who had even entered the [Ordinary City] surely would not be stopped by those barriers.

“Could it really not be them?”

But denying it outright when the items they used were…

No matter how I looked, they were clearly products of the [Company].

[Artificial Abnormality]

Symbolizing a force born not from naturally occurring thoughts or phenomena, but from the technological advancement and industrialization that integrated science and [Abnormality] to create special equipment by the [Company].

Although it didn’t work against me, there were suits worn by [Company Employees] that applied automatic camouflage effects as well as smartphones that remained well-connected even amid the turmoil.

Like the weapon held by the woman ambushing a [Streamer] currently showing on-screen…

A weapon resembling a water gun that could penetrate walls and had a range of dozens of meters, that insane weapon.

“Any way you look at it, that’s a [Company] product.”

In fact, it wasn’t just one, but there were several similar devices found in the equipment recovered from the rioters.

That meant they weren’t normally produced [Abnormalities].

“Hey, is it really not you guys?”

I asked again into the smartphone.

Once I calmed down to think, it didn’t seem likely that the [Company] would initiate such an event and provoke me unless they were indeed insane.

It was far more plausible that one day, a nuclear warhead could drop onto the city.

If they intended to annihilate me with a massive bombing, that would be one thing, but there wasn’t any reason for them to provoke me by utilizing those women.

Of course, I still didn’t rule out suspicion because of the items those women were carrying…

– Please believe us. We genuinely have no intention to oppose you. We have no reason or power to do so!

The [Deputy] was almost pleading, pouring out words desperately.

“Hmm… Is it possible, then, that there’s a case like this?”

That someone in a high position in the [Company] would unilaterally seek acknowledgment for merit and attempt to keep me in check.

As if providing those items to disgruntled women with that intent.

“Absolutely not!”

According to the [Deputy], taking out that kind of equipment and supporting it without permission would be impossible even for the upper echelons, as they would need to pass it through the board meeting.

Above all, the directive from the board was to remain absolutely friendly to the [Broadcasting Station], which made it impossible for a single executives’ aberrant actions to cause such an incident…

“Then what exactly is that?”

– That is…!

“Prophet, I’m sorry, but even I see that this event doesn’t seem to have been caused by [Company].”

At that moment, the Deputy Priest entered the management room and spoke.

As he watched the broadcast, he was aware of the current situation.

An incident that led anyone to suspect the machinations of the [Company].

But the Deputy Priest was able to identify the one who was behind this incident at once.

At the very least, it wasn’t the [Company].

The [Company] had neither the reason nor the strength to oppose Han Yu-seong.

What worried him, however, was the somewhat hot-tempered and impulsive nature of Han Yu-seong.

He had rushed to ensure there wouldn’t be any conflict between Han Yu-seong and the [Company], and it seemed that his judgment was correct.

“If it’s not [Company], could there be another force capable of such things?”

Han Yu-seong asked as he looked at the Deputy Priest.

Certainly, manipulating thoughts to lead in a specific direction and mass-producing [Abnormalities] was a technology that could be said to be the [Company]’s unique specialty, but….

“Yes, there is.”

It was not a force, but an individual.

There was indeed one entity that possessed such capabilities.

“An individual?”

The name that came out from the Deputy Priest’s mouth startled not only Han Yu-seong but also the nearby Bear and the [Deputy] listening over the phone.

“It was someone we suspected might be alive due to their disappearance, and it turns out they are indeed alive.”

An entity capable of causing such incidents without even being associated with the [Company].

An individual who could blanket the blame for their deeds on the [Company] with mere personal skills and abilities.

He might have been someone who, in the context of technological advancement, was in some aspects ahead of the [Company].

“[Leonardo da Vinci]”

The name of the [Artist] long believed to be dead and gone.

“He is probably the one who instigated this incident.”