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A small trigger is what is needed for a person to do something.

It need not be grand; it can be a very tiny trigger.

Something that sounds so trivial that it makes one burst into laughter, yet it holds enough power to make someone act.

Some say it’s like the flutter of a butterfly’s wings eventually transforming into a hurricane, while others express it as a step that gathers to become a great stride… but really, it’s a rather simple thing.

It can be participating in a contest because it looks fun.

It can be indulging in knowledge because it seems interesting.

Building connections by casually striking up a conversation without much thought.

Isn’t this just how human life works?

From good deeds to evil acts,

All can be sparked by something trivial.

Just as a bullet that can take a life starts from a tiny flick of one’s index finger.

Thus, Iserin’s actions could unfold without restraint.

Just the sheer reason that it was intriguing was enough to dive into troublesome and seemingly dangerous tasks, especially with the excellent justification of being related to Ella and her bloodmate Iarin.

Yes, an excellent justification.

Even if the situation were to go awry and get exposed, it’s a rationale that everyone could easily accept—an excuse she could lean on, making Iserin feel fearless.

With that, her empowered footsteps were left imprinted here and there.

Gliding through soft sand as she pierced through walls without hesitation, she roamed without leaving a trace, using her powers to outwit even CCTV.

Eyes that could see through secrets would breezily crack passwords, and even where a key was needed, she’d simply use the all-purpose key crafted by her powers to unlock it right up.

Doors, walls, surveillance devices, even human eyes,

None of these mattered—all these limitations were rendered meaningless; Iserin could truly be described as the invisible woman of modern times.

More secretive than shadows, quieter than the silent night.

A guest no one noticed, entering and exiting in the blink of an eye.

Thus, Iserin moved stealthily among the National Intelligence Service, Hongik Patriotic Group, and drug dealers.

Carrying out the plans that Grimoire had meticulously set, she stirred up the pond that was the Republic of Korea.

Yes, one could call it a disruption in other words.

Stirring the clear pond and causing confusion.

But what of it?

Not like she was doing anything particularly wrong.

If I were to apply the story of karma that Park Jinseong mentioned once while living in a mansion, Iserin might have interjected, but all her actions were good deeds meant to punish those who did wrong. Isn’t this inevitable karma closing in on evildoers? Plus, what she’s doing is not much different from doing good, contributing to society more than most volunteer work.

And besides, what if things get chaotic?

So, who suffers from that?

Everyone else is happy, and Iserin herself is happy.

[How wonderful! I was worried that the power was getting too strong for you to handle, but you’re already using it with such finesse! Truly, a cute contractor is a genius!]

Moreover, her precious companion Grimoire was showering her with praises.

Grimoire seemed so moved by Iserin’s command of her powers that she was almost tearing up!

[Oh, contractor, my cute contractor! The way you wield your powers is just too adorable; there’s no denying you’re a princess!]

Seeing her perfectly executing a plan that could feel a bit daunting, there she was, rolling with the workload while gritting her teeth for the enjoyment to come.

With grace, she wrapped herself in her powers, cutely wielding them, all the while beaming at the outcome of her actions.

Grimoire, having shrunk down to ensure Iserin’s safety, enveloped her in a hug while showering her with compliments.

It wasn’t just so she could fit into Iserin’s embrace, but her small frame had transformed due to stressing her powers and intervening more than necessary, making her even smaller than Iserin’s petite head.

Thus, Grimoire’s hug wasn’t so much as hugging Iserin but becoming embraced by her.

But Grimoire was happy.

‘… The princess… is a bit…’

As Iserin looked at Grimoire melted in compliments, her cheeks slightly flushed.

The idea of being called a princess was a bit embarrassing.

Yet, despite her shyness, every time she heard a compliment, the corners of her mouth couldn’t help but lift, eventually breaking into a full smile.

A girl, beaming with joy while cradling a small animal.

It painted a scene that felt like happiness itself had been transferred to the canvas of reality.

* * *

Everything in the world strives for balance.

When one side rises, the other must fall, and when one side fades, the other darkens.

Isn’t that the order and law of the world?

Thus, those who become unhappy must exist alongside Iserin’s happiness.

“This bastard… how dare he betray our ethnicity, trying to sell technology to the Japanese, our century-long enemy…”

“N-No! I wasn’t trying to sell technology to Japan! I merely needed to give up shares to conduct business smoothly in China…!”

“What? China? Were you trying to sell technology to our millennium-long enemy, China?!”

The first to experience misfortune was a corporate executive.

He was someone who was sneaking technology out of the large corporation he worked for to sell it.

“Premium vs Cost-Effectiveness. Who will win in the Display Economic War?”

Currently, Korea and China were locked in competition in the display sector.

Korea was trying to dominate with high-quality displays, while China aimed to rule the market with substantial quantities of moderate-quality displays. Unfortunately, the competition between the two countries had reached a stalemate, and to gain an edge over one another, they were putting forth every effort.

In this situation, someone approached the executive, promising a tremendous sum of money if he could sell the mana film stabilization technology.

Moreover, when the executive hesitated, fearing being branded a traitor after selling the technology, they tossed a groundbreaking proposal his way, offering him shares in a subsidiary that utilized the mana film stabilization technology.

A chance at instant wealth.

A golden opportunity that seemed like one blink could set him up for generations.

The executive ultimately succumbed to temptation, attempting to sell the technology—

“You, a traitor to your ethnicity, have no right to live. You were trying to sneak away on a yacht to China after your spy activities got discovered, only to stumble onto North Korean soil and unwittingly meet your end as ghost food.”

“E-Excuse me? You’re offering me up as ghost food?!”

“Not exactly. You’ll just end up as ghost food by mistake.”

“Y-You’re insane! Are you saying you will kill me, commit murder?! Are you out of your mind?!”

“What kind of person calls a traitor to their ethnicity a human? Even if I were to squint, you’d still just be a beast.”

No one knew how it came to this, but a martial artist from the Hongik Patriotic Group had abducted and tortured him.

Then, hurling all manners of insults at him for being a traitor, they dragged him somewhere.

Thus, he lost his life.

In an absurdly uncomplicated manner.

Had he encountered another member of the Hongik Patriotic Group, he might have survived.

At worst, he would end up tortured, perhaps imprisoned or sent to a mental hospital…

But it was this unfortunate luck he faced—caught by a radical faction within the Hongik Patriotic Group, particularly a notorious extreme capable person.

The second unfortunate soul was a common drug dealer moonlighting by delivering drugs via courier.

He was heading toward a vacant house that his colleague had stated was now a safe spot for transactions, carrying a bag filled with drugs. He confidently entered, inputting the shared password right into the ‘empty house’—

“Life sure is full of surprises.”

“….”

“Hey. What were you thinking stuffing drugs into the belly of a kid’s doll for delivery?”

“….”

“I genuinely don’t get it. Who even are you?”

The moment he entered, rather than an empty house, he found himself locking eyes with several people, and a capable person who caught the scent of his drugs swiftly apprehended him.

Capture occurred in an instant, with no time for excuses.

What terrible luck!

They clearly stated it was an empty house.

Said the place had been newly opened for transactions.

So why on earth were there people inside, and why was there a capable person who caught the scent of the drugs and immobilized him so swiftly, exuding such an ominous presence…?

The drug dealer resolved to stop thinking.

…

And thus, two people became unfortunate.

Yet sadly, two people were not enough to restore the balance.

The balance must be maintained.

Therefore, more people had to meet with misfortune.

“… We sent one ethnic traitor, so I suppose I should dig into the one who sent me the letter, right?”

“I thought this was just a petty drug dealer… but why are names like politicians and Chinese black operatives popping up among what this guy spilled?”

And so it was.

 

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