864
[Lilith]
Though Armageddon has been eliminated.
The disaster is not over yet.
There was one surviving Seven Devil.
In the final battle, Mammon was subjugated, but Lilith managed to escape.
[Breaking] <Yama > Kang Hyeon-cheol subjugates Mammon!
[Breaking] Twelve Seat <Earth Dragon> Chong Eun-ju dies
And that day, Chong Eun-ju died falling to Lilith's magic.
Most of the core members of Samra Clan who participated in Lilith's subjugation with her ended up dying.
It was natural that Samra Clan suffered a huge blow because of this incident.
As it was, Samra Group had been on a downward trend since last year's South Sea Wave incident.
The group that had been looking for an opportunity to recover its image through Samra Clan has now become unable to recover.
[Breaking] Twelve Seat <Great Tree> Seon Gi-jun severely injured
[Breaking] Donghae Clan Lord dies while being transported to hospital...
Meanwhile, Donghae Clan also suffered damage.
Though fortunately <Great Tree> survived, Donghae Clan Lord Kim Seong-min died after being attacked by Lilith.
Because of this incident, Donghae Clan's honor was tarnished, and KK Clan showed active movements seizing this opportunity.
In <Great Tree> Seon Gi-jun's case, some people appeared criticizing him.
They harshly criticized that he as a guardian failed to protect the clan lord.
The problem spreading below the surface gradually rose above, leading to heated debates.
Eventually, voices doubting <Great Tree>'s qualifications as a Twelve Seat grew louder.
[Beloved citizens. Though the great disaster ended with one superhuman appearing, we are still in the midst of disaster. So please be mindful of safety every day...]
Im Ga-eul appeared in the media.
She praised Noh Eun-ha who defeated Armageddon that day.
Though she didn't call Noh Eun-ha lord, she used the word superhuman to emphasize that Noh Eun-ha was separate from other players.
Just with that, Noh Eun-ha's support became even more solid.
"Now if the 2nd Fairy ascends and Noh Eun-ha remains as a Twelve Seat, it wouldn't be strange if he rises to the highest position in this country."
All people with political insight thought that way.
What was once suspicion was now turning into certainty.
But there was no one opposing.
Im Ga-eul had to give up now too.
No matter what she does, she can't gain more prestige than Noh Eun-ha.
She could ruin state affairs by unnecessarily trying to raise her prestige.
In the end, Im Ga-eul couldn't go against the flow the public wanted.
If I step down from the Fairy position, this country will change centered on Noh Eun-ha.
Without taking questions from reporters.
Im Ga-eul was lost in such thoughts the entire way back to the Blue House.
Ha Baek-ryeon who will ascend next after she steps down was young.
Since she had no notable achievements, someone had to be a strong background for her and help her build accomplishments.
In the end, she was in a position where she had no choice but to be swayed.
"I hope that child treats Baek-ryeon well, like he's doing now."
You can't go against the times and public sentiment.
Im Ga-eul gave a bitter smile.
But it was still a distant future.
So she decided to focus on organizing things around for the day Ha Baek-ryeon would be inaugurated as Fairy until then.
Therefore─
─We must definitely subjugate Lilith. Only then can we end this disaster.
Im Ga-eul ordered players across the country to find her in order to subjugate Lilith.
A few days passed from then, and Im Ga-eul discovered a letter on her desk while she was briefly away.
She opened the letter curiously.
Soon her face hardened.
"Hello, Fairy-nim. I apologize for sending a note like this. My name is Song Yun-seo, and I'm embarrassed but I use the alias <Star-Counting Witch>.
The reason I'm sending this letter is..."
The letter had Lilith's hiding place written on it.
Im Ga-eul immediately sent players to confirm if the letter was true.
As a result of checking, it was revealed that Lilith was really hiding there.
☆
A law was recently enacted.
People called the extremely long law that was hard to even recall the 'Lilith Special Law'.
The gist of the law was as follows:
One, people affected by Lilith's terror must not be criticized for any reason.
One, when a spouse requests divorce, consent of both the spouse and the person affected by the terror must be obtained. Divorce requested by only one side is invalid.
One, additional clause to the above. Also, divorce registration can only be done 3 years after the date of Lilith's terror.
One, additional clause to the above. Also, the person affected by the terror must be in a stable mental state.
One, guidelines for children born due to Lilith's terror are as follows:
Abortion is as follows......
The gist was that all problems arising from Lilith's terror are borne by the state and citizens.
As a result, All-Player Association representative Jin Seo-na was called to meetings day after day.
Children born due to Lilith's terror were necessarily Ains.
They had to ensure those children weren't abandoned when born, and didn't grow up facing discrimination.
Since many Ains were expected to be born, utmost caution had to be taken.
The government can't ignore these children either.
When these children grow up and become adults, they'll form a huge interest group of Ains.
So we need to deal with them so they don't become dissatisfied with society.
That was Jin Seo-na's wish too.
Ains born in the future will probably be pointed at for institutional and emotional reasons.
If she neglected that, Ain rights would greatly fall.
So she devised solutions to protect future Ains even cutting down on sleep.
Han Seo-hyeon, Jung Ha-yang, Lee Yu-jung and others helped a lot at this time.
On the other hand─
"─How are you feeling now?"
"Seo-na, you came?"
She visited her birth mother in the hospital from time to time.
In fact, her mother had minor injuries.
But she was suffering from mental shock after seeing many people die in Abaddon's terror.
So she was resting and recovering at the hospital.
"You must be tired from work, you don't have to come so often."
"Didn't you tell me before not to live at the clan hall and show my face more?"
"That and this are different."
After Abaddon's terror.
Jin Seo-na was able to treat her mother a little more intimately.
She talked about her recent situation to keep her mother from being bored.
Her mother welcomed Jin Seo-na's change gladly.
"Seo-na."
"Yes, mother."
"Won't you call me that again like before?"
"That time? When was that..."
Her mother asked then.
Jin Seo-na tilted her head.
Her mother was smiling.
"Mom. Won't you call me that?"
"..."
The title she had been intentionally avoiding.
But the title she unconsciously blurted out when protecting her mother from Abaddon.
Jin Seo-na hesitated.
Then she relaxed her stiff face.
"Yes, mom. I will."
Though it was a long detour.
Though there was still a long way to go.
If they advance step by step, maybe someday they'll become close like other families.
Jin Seo-na now decided to go with the flow and respond to her mother's love.
☆
November.
Jung Ha-yang's delivery was now about 2 months away.
Unable to resist Eun-ha's nagging, she ended up resting at Alice Hospital.
"Are you okay, unni?"
"Me? I'm still okay. My belly hasn't swollen much yet."
Han Seo-hyeon, Jung Ha-yang, Lee Yu-jung.
Ha Baek-ryeon was closest with Lee Yu-jung among them.
So Ha Baek-ryeon who visited Jung Ha-yang at the hospital immediately went to find Lee Yu-jung and worried about her physical condition.
This unni is already weak, wouldn't it be better for her to be in the hospital with Ha-yang unni?
Ha Baek-ryeon thought that way.
In fact, when Eun-ha recommended Jung Ha-yang rest at the hospital, he recommended it to her too.
But Lee Yu-jung refused.
She insisted she would stay at the clan while Jung Ha-yang was away from the clan now.
Because of that, Eun-ha and people around couldn't break her will.
"There's still a lot of time until the due date, so I should help Eun-ha and Seo-hyeon unni. But thanks for worrying."
"Sigh, unni is quite the workaholic too."
"Is that so?"
Lee Yu-jung who couldn't see didn't have any particular work to do at the clan.
But she was skilled at soothing people's hearts.
In the clan's unsettled situation, she was playing the role of calmly comforting clan members.
Ha Baek-ryeon knew her role too, so she didn't say anything more.
Instead, she sat next to Lee Yu-jung and placed her hand on her belly.
"It was amazing with Yu-seong too, and amazing when Ha-yang unni's belly swelled... The human body is really amazing. How can a baby be in this small belly?"
"I know, I'm amazed too. That there's a life resembling Eun-ha and me inside my belly."
Lee Yu-jung smiled.
Ha Baek-ryeon looked up at her.
Since Lee Yu-jung became pregnant.
Ha Baek-ryeon felt her smile had become strangely more mature.
Not just her.
Seo-hyeon unni and Ha-yang unni were like that too.
Can you smile like that when you become a mother?
A smile Han Seo-hyeon and Jung Ha-yang made too.
The loving, warm smile made viewers feel somewhat wistful.
She felt strangely envious somehow.
She harbored the thought of wanting to become someone who smiles like Lee Yu-jung.
At that moment, Ha Baek-ryeon didn't miss Lee Yu-jung's expression darkening for an instant.
"Unni, what are you thinking?"
"Huh?"
"You look like you're worried about something."
"Ah, it shows."
Lee Yu-jung gave a bitter smile.
She stroked her belly and said.
"I'm glad to have a child, but on the other hand I wonder if it's my greed."
"Greed? Why?"
"I'd surely be happy if a child resembling me and Eun-ha is born, but I'm worried this child might be born unable to see like me."
"Ah..."
"The hospital asserted that won't happen, but I'm still a bit anxious."
Lee Yu-jung couldn't see.
Ha Baek-ryeon belatedly recalled that and understood her worry.
There was only one thing she could say in this situation.
"It's okay. Why are you worrying about such things, unni?"
"You're right, it is a needless worry. Thanks for worrying."
Ha Baek-ryeon opened her mouth as if declaring.
Lee Yu-jung received her comfort and chuckled.
"And it's my child, so it's regrettable that I can't see my child."
"..."
"Until I met Eun-ha, I thought I could live well even without being able to see... Ah, sorry. I ended up saying weak words."
"No, it's okay."
Lee Yu-jung sighed.
Ha Baek-ryeon couldn't properly answer those words.
So she quickly changed the topic to change the mood.
"Come to think of it unni, have you thought about the name for the child to be born?"
"Father said he wants to name the child... Seo-hyeon unni said it would be better to unconditionally let Eun-ha name the first child. But Eun-ha is now..."
"Ah, he's super busy now."
"Since it's something we can think about slowly, I'm planning to discuss with Eun-ha later."
Lee Yu-jung's smile returns.
Ha Baek-ryeon spent an enjoyable time chatting with her.
On the other hand, Ha Baek-ryeon realized the country's laws don't reflect this era as she received Fairy education.
She didn't forget the concerns Jung Ha-yang and Lee Yu-jung were subtly worrying about.
'Legally I'm listed as living at Eun-ha's house... So I have to just register the child under my name in the family register, or register under Seo-hyeon unni and Eun-ha's family register. So I'm worrying. What to do.'
'..."
When she visited Jung Ha-yang at the hospital.
Jung Ha-yang was hoping for the child to be born soon to be born healthy, while worrying about how to handle the child's legal procedures.
This country doesn't officially recognize harems in principle.
Nevertheless, harems were thriving.
Harems that settled in this country over decades had now become a trend that couldn't be ignored.
We have to recognize it now.
We can't leave Ha-yang unni and Yu-jung unni's children in a legally ambiguous state.
Ha Baek-ryeon initially opposed harems.
But as she got along with Noh Eun-ha and became close with his wives, she had no choice but to change her mind.
To this, Ha Baek-ryeon was watching for an opportunity while devising a new law on her own.
Then she heard news that the Lilith Special Law was legislated.
There's no other chance but now.
I'll submit it when Ain rights are guaranteed by law and proper anti-discrimination clauses are created with the Lilith Special Law.
Not long after that.
Ha Baek-ryeon visited Im Ga-eul.
Im Ga-eul who was devising a Lilith subjugation operation welcomed her gladly.
The two now treated each other affectionately like aunt and niece.
"So what brings you here, Baek-ryeon?"
"I have a proposal for Fairy-nim."
"A proposal?"
"I've devised a bill, and I'd like to hear Fairy-nim's opinion."
"I haven't given assignments recently but you've been studying on your own. That's excellent. So what is it?"
Ha Baek-ryeon handed Im Ga-eul the bill she had put effort into devising.
Im Ga-eul flinched seeing the law she submitted.
"Polygamy Permit Proposal Act? Baek-ryeon, this is..."
"I'll call it the Harem Law for short."
"..."
"Though polygamy is problematic, couldn't we create a system suitable for modern society if we present certain conditions?"
"If we allow polygamy, groups might abuse strategic marriages. This is a bit..."
"So we put several restrictions. When a man forms a harem, we check if he has certain assets, and take legal measures if the man treats harem members unfairly..."
"You studied hard..."
Im Ga-eul muttered seeing Ha Baek-ryeon confidently briefing.
Moreover, the law she devised wasn't bad.
Though it needed polishing, it was quite a suitable method for current society.
The problem was─
"─We need to consider public sentiment, and be mindful of the darkness too. The darkness won't want harems to receive legal protection. Because that's how the darkness can exert power."
There were two problems.
One was public sentiment.
The other was the darkness's vested interests.
The moment Ha Baek-ryeon's bill is proposed, the proposer would create a big weakness in their political life.
"But I still want to do it."
"The reason is extremely personal. You get zero points as a Fairy."
"I don't mind. Because I get full points as the Fairy I dream of."
"What's the Fairy you dream of?"
"A Fairy who protects my people."
"Even if extremely selfish?"
"Seo-hyeon unni told me before, people start that way and gradually expand their boundaries."
"So you'll ultimately become a Fairy for the citizens? Starting by making the people around you happy one by one..."
"Yes."
"Hmm..."
There was no wavering in Ha Baek-ryeon's eyes.
She's sincere.
Im Ga-eul fell into thought.
Eventually, she handed back the bill and said:
"Sigh, let's look for an opportunity. It's impossible right now, but if your heart doesn't change even after time passes, I'll push for it then."
"Ah... Thank you! Fairy-nim!"
Proposing the Harem Law.
Im Ga-eul decided to propose a bill likely to cause controversy herself.
She had been criticized by citizens while experiencing many disasters so far.
As a result, she had become relatively insensitive to criticism.
So even if she proposed the Harem Law, there was no image left to fall further, and it wouldn't be much to be cursed at.
I'll push this bill when I step down from the Fairy position.
It's better for Baek-ryeon to start cleanly when she becomes Fairy, right?
I can't make a blemish on the child's political life and make her live difficultly.
Im Ga-eul gave a bitter smile.
Soon after Ha Baek-ryeon left.
Im Ga-eul decided to continue looking at the work she was viewing earlier.
"Let's see... Who is Pandora Clan sending out?"
The Lilith subjugation will begin soon.
The tiresome disaster is coming to an end.
She suddenly wanted to get some fresh air.
She opened the window and looked at the mountain of unprocessed documents while feeling the wind.
Hopefully─
─I hope the disasters happening during my term end with this.
That no more disasters occur.
Im Ga-eul prayed earnestly.
Dongdaegu Lilith Subjugation Operation
─Participation Application List─
Pandora Clan
Department | Name
--- | ---
Dealer | Noh Eun-ha
Dealer | Ryu Yeon-hwa
Hunter | Jin Pa-rang
Telepath | Kim Mary
Sniper | Bong Gu-rae
Caster | Bae Su-bin