The system governing the Southern Continent, at first glance, seems similar to that of the Northern Continent, but there are notable differences in certain aspects.
Take Atlanta, for example. Its largest inner city is managed by a central administrative body composed of users fairly selected from various clans, with the former Guardian, Lee Hyo-eul, serving as its head. In contrast, Ragnarok’s central administrative role is fulfilled by a single clan: Odin.
In other words, the Round Table Knights, the core of the Odin clan, lead the main currents of the Southern Continent. Typically, the lord clans—groups of users managing a city, akin to the “representative clans” of the Northern Continent—along with large, medium, and small clans, and individual users, follow their decisions.
There are roughly four reasons why this centralized system works.
First, there are Eldora, who commands respect like an official, and Melinus, a prophet with a strong reputation. Second, since its founding, the Odin clan has always acted for the public good. Third, they have not acted arrogantly or unilaterally; they consider the opinions of other lord clans and even various general clans when necessary.
And the biggest reason, fourth, is that they possess the Round Table Knights—the Southern Continent’s largest military force.
The fact that the Round Table Knights number thirteen is simply a convenient way to refer to the highest authorities individually. Each member is a formidable user in their own right, capable of leading their own faction. Except for special cases like Ian, most were recruited as groups rather than individuals.
In short, the Round Table Knights are an unprecedentedly powerful order formed by the union of several renowned groups.
To sum up: military strength, legitimacy, and popular support.
Though the Odin clan embodies all three, it’s not without its detractors.
Or rather, some clans are uncooperative. While there are friendly lord clans like Elfin, led by Olivia, there are also those dissatisfied with Odin’s leadership style.
“The outer cities of Ragnarok, like Atlanta, are divided into four: Elfin, Pax, Carpe Diem, and Nox, arranged east to west, north to south. Each is managed by a lord clan,” Ian explained, tapping each point on the map spread across the table. He then looked up at the woman sitting opposite him, her black hair falling quietly as she focused on the map.
“As you know, the most cooperative is Elfin, led by Sabnak…”
“What about Pax, Carpe Diem, and Nox?” the woman interrupted, shaking her head as if dismissing the topic. Ian adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses with the back of his hand and continued.
“All three lord clans are as expected. Carpe Diem and Nox, in particular, harbor clear dissatisfaction with Odin, but they don’t outright hate them. They don’t seek to overthrow the current regime; it’s more that their goals differ.”
“Explain in more detail.”
“In polite terms, they’re aggressive; bluntly put, they’re driven by desire. You can tell from how smoothly they cooperated during the assault on Orc Castle—no discord at all.”
“They want to wield their power freely but dislike Odin’s restrictions. That about sums it up.”
When the woman looked up, seeking confirmation, Ian nodded.
“Exactly. If Odin’s policies shift as intended—Satan’s… ah, pardon me—if the direction changes, Carpe Diem and Nox are likely to support future plans. Just like on the Western Continent, a little coaxing and the right justification will suffice.”
“The Western Continent, huh? Speaking of which, haven’t some users recently migrated from the West to the South? Most seem to have chosen the Southern Continent over the North.”
“Yes. Thanks to the angels’ diplomacy, there’s little friction or exclusion. They’re curious why these users abandoned the West, but generally, they’re accepted out of pity.”
“Pride runs high, huh? Well, there must be some leverage there. Have you met the leaders of those two factions?”
Ian suddenly smiled at the question.
“Not personally, but I’ve seen them a few times. They’re completely insane.”
“Insane?”
“I mean the lord of Carpe Diem. He recently boasted about acquiring the awakened secret class ‘Adult of the Labyrinth’… and said his dream was to recreate a city as depraved as Sodom and Gomorrah.”
“Interesting character. And the leader of Nox?”
The woman chuckled, but Ian’s expression darkened.
“The leader of Nox… hmm. You should see him yourself if you get the chance.”
“…?”
“You can gauge a clan’s nature by its members’ actions, but that guy is utterly unpredictable. I have no idea what he’s thinking.”
“I see.”
A flicker of curiosity sparked in the woman’s eyes but quickly faded. Though intrigued, there were pressing matters to attend to—especially within the Odin clan.
“What about Pax’s leader?”
“Not worth worrying about. Outwardly, he preaches peace, but he’s just an opportunist.”
As Ian finished, both suddenly turned their heads. The sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the vast library’s spiral staircase—more than one, several presences approaching.
“They’re coming now.”
Ian immediately stood and reached for the table, quickly clearing it away. He had to play the part of the scholar most interested in the ancient being who had arrived first. At that moment, the woman sighed and stretched.
“…This feels awkward.”
Ian glanced up as he folded the map and tucked it away.
“What is? Your body?”
“No.”
She shook her head quietly.
“Just… it’s strange to be moving like we’re being chased.”
News of the woman regaining consciousness spread instantly among the Round Table Knights. Upon hearing from Melinus, they gathered, each curious, but none more urgently than Eldora.
The moment Eldora realized she was rushing to the scene, she understood why she’d been uneasy.
It was anxiety.
Though she had mostly followed Melinus’s counsel, Eldora was a being who acted for the public good. Every action had a justification, and under the banner of serving the Southern Continent, she could always act with a clear conscience.
But this recent expedition was different. What began as a simple search for a sheath had spiraled into releasing an unknown entity—acting not for the public good, but for personal desire.
If the consequences were minor, she might have dismissed it.
But she wasn’t the type to rationalize carelessly. Ian’s words about the murals and Erwin’s vehement objections kept nagging at her. The clan’s atmosphere had grown unsettled since the expedition, and that too weighed on her mind.
Self-reproach: Why did I do that? Fear: Could this being bring chaos to the Southern Continent?
Ultimately, Eldora’s turmoil stemmed from a kind of fear born of her own irrational actions.
She wanted to confirm as soon as possible that the woman was harmless—that she posed no threat to the Southern Continent, that she was not beyond her control. Only then could her restless heart find peace.
It might seem childish, but it was natural. After all, Eldora had been raised this way since being summoned to the Whole Plain.
If her fears proved true…
“Then…”
Clutching the cloth-wrapped sword tightly until it crumbled, Eldora hurried down the stairs. Ahead, seven or so knights who had arrived earlier and the woman sitting alone at a large table came into view.
Once she reached the bottom, Eldora strode directly to the table and fixed the woman with a piercing stare. The black-haired girl, appearing to be in her late teens, looked more like a young woman than an adult, but her vacant eyes and still posture gave her an empty, hollow air.
Natalina Ian tried to speak softly, but the woman remained silent, staring blankly into space. She seemed lost in deep thought—or perhaps just drifting like a ghost.
One thing was certain: there was not a trace of the vitality any human should have.
Thud!
Suddenly, a loud noise shattered the library’s silence. The knights who had gathered earlier all looked toward the table in surprise. Eldora had drawn Excalibur and was glaring intently at the woman.
Startled by the noise, even the woman’s gaze shifted to the greatsword resting against the table.
“I’ll get straight to the point.”
Perhaps it was out of caution toward the other. Or maybe the luck stat, having reached a perfect 100 points, sensed the storm brewing ahead and sent some kind of subtle signal. Eldora didn’t lower her piercing gaze and spoke in a voice that seemed to carry even the enemy’s presence.
“Who are you? What kind of being are you?”
At that very moment—
A pair of jet-black eyes, which had been quietly fixed on Excalibur, began to slowly, very slowly rise. The gaze traveled upward from Eldora’s abdomen to her chest, finally meeting those beautifully radiant golden eyes.
As the two women’s eyes locked in the empty space between them, the woman’s small lips finally parted gently.
“…That is…”
And with that—
Satan’s second plan, the ‘User Seizure,’ was set into motion.
---------------------------= Author’s Note =---------------------------
Yesterday’s note was a joke, as I mentioned in the comments… haha.
But reading your responses, I was surprised at how much you actually enjoyed it.
Of course, if the story went that way, the journey to the finale would be much smoother, but if I really did that… ^^;
I think it would lead to a very abrupt ending.
Above all, I barely managed to outline eight episodes after wracking my brain, so I just can’t bring myself to overhaul everything now. ㅜ.ㅠ
Around 1 a.m. today, I suddenly got stomach pains. Probably from eating something spicy last night. I tossed and turned for almost an hour before it eased a bit, but there’s still a lingering sharpness and chill. I should get to bed soon.
Wishing all my readers a peaceful night. :)