Chapter 6: The Maid of the End
The Lotte World Tower was supposed to be a symbol of human achievement. For Han Do-Hyun, it was a tomb in the sky. He was huddled in the corner of his 5,000-square-foot living room, a space so vast and empty it felt like a marble desert. He clutched his rusty kitchen knife to his chest, staring at the door.
'This isn't a penthouse,' he thought, his gaze darting to the windows. They were five inches thick, made of reinforced mana-glass that shimmered with a faint, imprisoning glow. 'This is a Super-Max Prison for monsters. They're just waiting for me to slip up so they can execute me.'
Knock. Knock.
The sound echoed off the high ceilings like a judge's gavel. Before he could even squeak, the massive, gold-plated double doors swung open with silent, unnerving precision.
Park Min-Ah, the "Ice Queen" of Korea, walked in. But she wasn't wearing her famous, multi-million dollar enchanted armor. She was dressed in a simple, immaculate black-and-white maid's uniform that seemed utterly alien on the nation's most celebrated heroine.
In her steady hands was a lacquered tray bearing a single, steaming bowl of ramen. The aroma of high-grade Wagyu beef and rich tonkotsu broth filled the air—a scent of pure luxury that Do-Hyun's brain immediately flagged as poison.
Do-Hyun's POV: 'Oh no. It's her. The scary Ice Lady. And she's dressed like… a servant? This is a classic interrogation tactic! Good cop, bad cop! They're trying to lower my guard with delicious, probably-not-poisoned food before she freezes my soul!'
"I... I have brought your meal, Great One," Min-Ah said, her voice a respectful, trembling whisper. She kept her head bowed, not daring to meet his gaze.
Min-Ah's POV: 'The Association ordered me to 'observe and serve.' A divine mandate. But standing this close… it's like being next to a dormant sun. His mana isn't fiery or aggressive; it's a deep, silent void that calmly promises annihilation. He isn't even looking at the food. He's looking at the vital points on my neck. Is he… is he deciding which one to sever first?'
"I-I'm not hungry!" Do-Hyun squeaked, waving his hands frantically as if to ward off a curse. "Please don't hurt me! I'll cooperate! I'll do whatever you want!"
[Skill Activated: The Emperor's Command (Passive)]
Effect: Your humble and terrified words are automatically converted into pronouncements of 'Absolute Authority.'
What Min-Ah heard was a voice that seemed to emanate from the silence between heartbeats, a chillingly calm declaration,
"SUCH TRIVIAL OFFERINGS DO NOT SATISFY ME. STATE YOUR TRUE PURPOSE FOR BEING HERE, OR BE ERASED."
The tray, the bowl, and the priceless ramen crashed to the floor. Min-Ah dropped to her knees, her forehead touching the cold marble.
"Please forgive my insolence!" she cried, her voice breaking with terror and awe. "My purpose is you! I wish to be your shadow! To watch, to learn, and to walk the path of the True Blade! My life, my magic, my very soul—it is all yours to command!"
Do-Hyun stared at her, horrified. 'She wants to take my life?! She's going to kill me and take my identity?! This is it! This is how they execute me!'
"F-Fine! Accepted!" Do-Hyun shrieked, scrambling backward into the cavernous kitchen. "Just... just stay over there! In that corner! And don't move! Don't even breathe too loud!"
Min-Ah's POV: 'He… he accepted me? He has designated a formal position for me… in the corner, from the shadows. He wants me to observe his every move, his every breath, to learn by silent contemplation from a designated distance. This… this is the greatest honor of my life!'
Global Reaction (HunterNet Live Feed)
[LEAKED: THE ICE QUEEN, PARK MIN-AH, ENTERS DISCIPLESHIP!]
Post: "Confirmed. A-Rank Park Min-Ah has officially retired from the Vanguard Guild to 'clean the floors' for the Nameless Sovereign. An inside source claims she paid the Association a $50 million 'tuition fee' just for the privilege of entering his Sanctuary."
User [SwordGodFan_88]: "Clean the floors? More like 'Cleansing her Soul' from the impurities of lesser sword arts! Can you imagine the techniques she's witnessing right now?! I'd pay $100 million just to watch him breathe!"
User [HunterAnalyst_01]: "This changes everything. A Sovereign taking a direct disciple hasn't happened in recorded history. This isn't just a power shift in Korea; it's the beginning of a new global era."