Chapter 1154 – #276_Prologue (2)
#1148
One.
Times always change.
However, people living in this era cannot easily feel it.
In today’s era, changes that are accelerating are bound to be revealed repeatedly to the public through rhetoric from the press and media, such as ‘unprecedented in history’, ‘catastrophe’, ‘turning point’, etc., And people who are exposed to such rhetoric dozens of times a day become insensitive.
If you look at the fact that two or three articles about hair loss treatments have been published every year for over a century, most of them are just a fuss.
But this time was different.
People, regardless of race or country, paid attention to two changes.
These are witches and magical beings.
Si-woo, who had not been able to feel the real world since he was mostly in Gehenna, was dumbfounded by the content related to ‘witches’ that was everywhere in Seoul.
Even Master, who is like a solid rock and doesn’t seem to be shaken by most things, seems to be a little dazed.
“Are you popular?”
“… “What on earth is this?”
That would be true if there was a picture of Eloa from nowhere on an electronic display board in the middle of the city and the phrase ‘I love you, Pink Duke’ was floating around.
“It looks like they saved up money from some kind of fan cafe. “I think it’s usually done on birthdays.”
“… Why?”
“Hmm… Well.”
In fact, Siwoo doesn’t know anything about idol fandom culture, but if you look at the reason itself, there is no reason.
Thanks to Geumchil’s popularity in various media outlets, the popularity of Eloa, Teacher Sua, and Siwoo, who appeared briefly on YouTube, was almost at its peak in Korea.
This is the main public opinion against witches in first world, liberal and pro-Western countries.
More precisely, it is public opinion about ‘witches belonging to Gehenna or Witch Point.’
According to Rep. Kim Jun-beop (the grandfather of the congressman who previously came to the district council), whom I met a while ago, it was quite a political step.
In any case, it is true that Urshera attacked the United States and caused great damage.
It is also true that homunculi flooded the world because of this.
It is also true that the number of casualties that occurred in such a short period of time was as high as that of a national pandemic.
This means that we almost filmed a post-apocalyptic hunter story with a real gate open and no status window.
However, for first world countries that had maintained friendly relations with Gehenna since ancient times, it was difficult for the public to define the witch species itself as an enemy.
Therefore, she created a common enemy called ‘Hexennacht’ and a hero of difficult times called ‘Gehenna’.
There was nothing much different from the truth, so people soon developed a longing for the transcendent.
Governments around the world have spared no investment to fuel this desire.
As a result, various cultural contents were overflowing.
Movies with the theme of witches and magic showed signs of resurrecting the screen industry, which was said to be in its twilight years with the advent of OTT, and the publishing industry, which had been dying even worse than that, also enjoyed unprecedented box office success.
In addition, it was reborn as various contents such as dramas, webtoons, and games, attracting the public.
Witches who appeared in front of the camera immediately became celebrities and received more attention than most stars, so it can be said that this is the era of witches.
“Hmm… To this extent…”
Actually, I’m not sure if this is good or bad.
But what is certain is that Master is very embarrassed.
While she was driving, her shoulders were unusually slumped when she came across about three electronic billboards plastered with pink Duke worship.
“Good for you. “I’m happy to see people liking you, Master.”
“Don’t make fun of me.”
“Actually, you’re happy, aren’t you?”
“…”
Eloa is probably the most popular witch in the world at the moment.
Although she never did any public activities, her fan base built up and she was worshiped.
It is widely known that he is the person who created a superhero (and even pretty) group called ‘Witch Point’ to combat evil exploits and monsters called homunculi.
“But it’s so cute, lovely, and even pink that it doesn’t befit the title of duke…” . People can’t help but be annoyed. Every time I see Master, I also feel an irresistible loveliness.”
“Stop! Siwoo, please stop…”
“Why don’t we at least hold a fan signing event to make things like this? Or should we film a CF with this Kim? Oh, it would be nice if she debuted as a singer. “Master, you sing well.”
“Siuuu… If you tease me any more, he’ll get really angry…”
Although he is a solemn and serious teacher, he gets very embarrassed when you put him on a mat and praise him a lot.
Siu also knew that, so he was even more scathing and praised Eloa.
It was only when steam came out of her ears, which were becoming increasingly red that he could clearly tell even through her pink hair, that Siwoo stopped her teasing.
After saying she was sorry, Eloa released her anger to cover up her shame and rested her head on Siu’s shoulder.
“Why are you becoming more mischievous day by day? “It was bad.”
“Sorry. “I think this student was very happy because it seemed like the teacher’s efforts were being rewarded.”
“Don’t do that again. “I’m so embarrassed by this.”
“Then I’ll just do it occasionally.”
“Siwoo!”
Today is the day of a date in this world, just the two of us, Master.
The original purpose was to meet with Rep. Kim Jun-beop and coordinate various matters.
As Siu is now the Count, the President of the Chesed Society, and has a wide range of influence over Witch Point, the government has also set up a table in a secluded Korean restaurant without a sign to discuss various agenda items.
Eloa helped his disciple, who was having this kind of discussion for the first time, to receive better conditions by providing a folding screen that could not be ignored.
‘I look forward to your continued support. ‘Count.’
Siwoo was presented with a number of unconventional conditions in exchange for maintaining friendly relations with Korea and maintaining ‘security in the witch community’ within the country.
It was a support that could not be measured by the simple amount presented by agreement between the ruling and opposition parties.
In the future, if the Chesed Society establishes a business or company in Korea, it has received promised generous support funds, tax exemption benefits, and the right to hire human resources in case of emergency. It can be said that it is a preferential policy that barely borders on becoming legal.
The sports car with a low-pitched exhaust sound that I am currently driving with my teacher was also a gift from a Korean restaurant.
“Something doesn’t feel real.”
“What do you mean?”
“I think I’ve become a bit of a great person too.”
Is it because I’ve only been focused on the task at hand?
When I was a slave, I became ‘that person’ who said, ‘If you go against that person’s feelings, you will be really screwed.’ Now, everything was extremely unfamiliar to me.
While watching a political movie, a scene that I thought would really happen unfolded before my eyes.
For example, the sight of a political heavyweight twice Siwoo’s age repeatedly bending over and handing over the car keys.
“You have always been a great person.”
“You always say that, so I guess I can believe it.”
“I’m not trying to make fun of you. “You have always been a wonderful miracle to me.”
There was silence in the car for a moment.
It was a comfortable silence as the teacher stared at the embarrassed Si-woo and his proud student.
“Anyway, what about the other side?”
“The other side?”
“A country other than the United States or Europe.”
It was not something to be dealt with lightly, so Eloa’s relaxed expression took on the dignity of a duke.
“It seems like people in the second and third worlds are still confused.”
Compared to the Western camp, which was once protected by Gehenna, the anti-Western camp has long been a public playground and a hideout.
Inevitably their government had intercourse with the public and with the exiled.
Is this a really difficult situation where you can’t freely promote Gehenna as a benefactor or call Hexennacht the bitches of the world?
If you go against the common sense and the uncontrollable public spirit for no reason, a disaster worse than that of a homunculus may unfold.
The current guideline is to gradually expand the influence of location points outside of the world and clearly reduce the scope for public activities, but no one knows how long it will take.
In any case, the present world, where the veil of mystery had been removed, was surprisingly heterogeneous.
Si-woo, looking at the mixed signals sent by humans to the witch, could not tell whether this was a good thing or a bad thing.
This is because I remember seeing one of the possibilities firsthand in the NEO war that was included in the Ark.
“Will humans really conquer witches someday in this world?”
A simple solution to this question would be to oppress humanity at this point.
It is to cut off an unstable future in the bud.
“Maybe so.”
However, neither Siu nor Eloa even thought of such an attempt.
Well, it might sound a little childish, but it’s bad.
“But it’s our job to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
“I guess so.”
There is still a lot of time left.
Even in the history of other world lines, didn’t humans acquire magical engineering technology hundreds of years after witches and humans began joint research?
-Hum hum
At that time, the crystal ball I kept in my arms rang.
The sender is teacher Su-ah.
“I received a call.”
[Siwoo-gong, could you please check the emergency news on television?]
Eloa, who was eavesdropping on the call, quickly operated the terminal and turned on the TV in the car.
A live broadcast on an American cable news channel was being broadcast with subtitles.
A white female anchor is reading a script to her camera with an emotional expression on her face.
A laboratory with modern equipment, resembling a gigantic particle accelerator, is shown in the background.
[This is an amazing moment that opens a new chapter in science. A demonstration of telekinetic magic using a ‘magic particle accelerator’ will be shown to the public for the first time at the Lexion Laboratory in Atlanta. CNS will be with you in this historic moment.]
Researchers move around busily, as if in a control room about to launch a spacecraft.
As they manipulated the dial, a huge roaring sound followed by a faint blue energy began to emerge.
In front of the machine, there was a secret room shielded by a glass wall, and in that secret room, a metal cube the size of a small dice was placed on a shelf.
[Countdown 5, 4, 3, 2, 1]
When the countdown ended, a small metal cube floated up.
Various indicators and data proving that there was no deception came out from experts.
[Ah, the cube comes to mind! It’s moving! An eccentric businessman born in the United States has caused a serious accident again! As you can see, for the first time in human history, we have succeeded in implementing artificial magic. After overcoming the bitter pain caused by ignorance last year, humanity has once again found an answer! This is a historical scene that breaks down the boundaries between magic and science!]
The researchers threw down their documents and expressed their joy of success with cheers.
That scene was also captured on camera.
Siu’s expression and Eloa’s expression both became dumbfounded.
Because the meaning of this news was clear.
According to the agreement, the restriction that no magic experiments should be disclosed to the public was arbitrarily broken.
That was also broken by the United States, the representative of the Western camp and the country with which the closest agreement was being exchanged.
“I’ll go that way.”
Siwoo, who had originally planned to go to the hotel to spend some time with his teacher, immediately turned around and headed to Gwanghwamun.
