#143
Recruiting Talent (3)
[Earth… Quite interesting.]
A low voice echoed ominously, as if it could freeze the space around it.
However, it was merely a sound created by the vibrations of magic and not a corporeal voice, making it impossible to grasp the emotions contained within.
Hoo… Damn, how did I end up in this messed-up situation…? Why did it come to this?
Andrew Weaver, while smiling submissively and bending his waist repeatedly, was cursing inside.
The harsh reality he faced, the change in Siana, who had been his protector, and his worries about the future made his head spin.
Still, it seems they won’t kill me just yet… As long as I don’t die, that’s all that matters.
Unfortunately, he had recently consumed a good amount of points to strengthen his unique skill, so he couldn’t just ‘return’ to Earth and escape right away.
But how had he been gathering karma until now?
By sticking to the Oath of Reversal and providing them with the information they needed, he had been safely and happily accruing points.
Yes, in a way, this actually works out for me. If the Undead King is starting to move, it’d be more advantageous to side with him than with the Oath of Reversal.
While some still viewed the situation optimistically since formal invasions hadn’t begun, those with any insight were already assessing the current Undead King as the worst threat in history.
Especially his mobility and concealment abilities are deadly to large, cumbersome factions.
No barrier could block his movements, and no tracking could locate his position.
With just those two abilities, the game was already over.
The traditional strategy against the Undead King—’Use the allied forces to bind the undead army’s movements and insert special task forces to end it’—was rendered impossible.
Right! The Oath of Reversal is also being overly cautious, just worrying about the Undead King. In that case, I should just join this side completely. That way, points should come in sweeter, right?
Watching Siana subtly buttering up to him, he felt confident he could prove his worth through her.
And if he gathered enough karma points…
Saaa—
At that moment, a sudden chill made Andrew shudder involuntarily, and he glanced up to see what was ahead.
And then.
Ugh! Damn, that startled me!
He locked eyes directly with the Undead King, who had approached him and was scanning him up and down.
He instinctively squeezed his eyes shut and bowed his head again.
The grotesque skull revealed by the broken mask and the fiercely burning eye sockets struck intensely at his brain.
He had only looked straight for a brief moment, yet his heart was racing madly.
Hmm.
Actually, even now that they were so close, the fear swirling in his head was overwhelming enough to make it hard to maintain his sanity.
Without the mental strength he’d developed while enhancing his unique skill and the support from “Clarity of Mind,” he might have fainted right there.
And this experience only solidified his resolve further.
…Yeah. Now that I’ve gathered enough karma, I need to jump back to Earth as soon as I have the return points.
His opponent was the Undead King, akin to an Avatar of Death.
Just because he had survived now didn’t mean he would be safe indefinitely.
It was better to take the opportunity to get out quickly, rather than regret it later.
Thud—
“Eeek?”
But at that moment, a hand gloved in black leather gripped his head.
Despite the gloves, the hard and cold sensation amplified the feeling of foreboding in an instant.
Ah— Don’t worry. I have no intention of killing you.
Hans continued speaking in an indifferent tone.
It’s merely a light restraint. If you run away for no reason, it just makes it annoying for both of us, right? Hehehe.
“Oh ho ho, wise words indeed. Please act as you wish, my lord.”
Despite Siana’s fluttering presence being quite bothersome, Andrew had no luxury to think about anything else at the moment.
“U-undead king? Lord Hans? Ugh…!”
Not Hans.
Dark magic penetrated his mind in an instant.
My name is Hannibal Strauss.
He thought it strange that a voice devoid of emotion seemed to carry an odd irritation—.
In the end, the Earth-born awakened one, ‘Andrew Weaver,’ found himself in a situation of subjugation to the Undead King.
And as time passed.
While Hans was cheerfully engaging in discussions, having peacefully recruited talent through home visits.
Suuuu—
The silhouette of a woman emerged from a haze beside them.
[My lord… As commanded… The purging is nearing completion…]
The ambush, primarily targeting the large noble houses and underground organizations in the back alleys, was proceeding smoothly under Olivia’s command.
Initially, it was meant to be a temporary distraction, but since they had started, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to use them as an example as well.
How could the empire, said to have the strongest national power, have corruption beyond imagination? Of course, my modern standards may be too strict…
Selecting targets was just mere self-satisfaction, after all.
Now that she had overcome it, it didn’t mean the obsession that had almost caused her trauma was erased.
I never thought I was the good in deceiving the entire continent.
This was a selfish standard not for the sake of others but to uphold her own heart.
…While Hans was momentarily lost in thought, Olivia and Siana’s gazes met.
“Oh, hello? Olivia? It’s been a while?”
[Siana… ]
They exchanged warm greetings after three hundred years of reunion.
Since both had held similar ranks and duties in the previous Undead Army, their bond was deeper than that with others.
[It’s hard to believe you’re still alive… I was honestly expecting you to be dead by now… ]
“Oh my, I’m also glad to see you! But are you washing that dress? Every time I see it, it looks the same.”
The two women, exchanging friendly conversation with gentle smiles, sadly could not extend their dialogue much longer.
[Well, we should take our leave now. For now, Siana, you should stabilize the situation here and rejoin. I still have many questions for you.]
“I shall follow your orders.”
Siana bowed formally in response to Hans’s words.
Though time was granted, it was merely a delay since, now that she was already subjugated, there was no path of escape.
Of course, this was the same for Andrew.
And when she finally lifted her bowed head, Hans and Olivia had already vanished from the spot.
The barrier of the Undead King that had enveloped the mansion had also disappeared without a trace.
They left as abruptly as they arrived.
“……”
“……”
But Siana and Andrew couldn’t say anything for a while.
If they spoke carelessly, their words might reach the Undead King’s ears.
Murmur—
Silence fell as those who had fainted in the mansion began to wake one by one, and the entire city bustled with activity to restore order.
“…Sister, I’m disappointed. To think you would sell me out so easily.”
“Haha, Andrew? If your wish was to die early, you should have said so sooner!”
Andrew, who had unleashed his complaint, fell silent at her unexpectedly sharp response and watched her closely.
Siana nervously brushed her face and sighed deeply while taking steps to stabilize the situation inside the mansion.
“It looks like we suddenly have to change flags. I never imagined things would turn out this way.”
As she started to grumble quietly, Andrew cautiously followed behind her, echoing her sentiments.
He still spoke in a careful tone, as if watching those around them.
“Still, there’s not much we can do, is there? Whatever the reason we were caught, once we caught their eye, there was no way out.”
In reality, though he had received a restraint, he was still holding onto hope for ‘return,’ thinking he could just endure until the right moment.
Later, I can sneak back to Earth. What would happen if I just went to an entirely different dimension?
Surely, that subjugation wouldn’t reach beyond dimensions.
Unless the Undead King chased him across dimensions, Andrew had never heard stories of beings from other dimensions appearing on Earth before coming to Auterica.
“Still, the current Undead King being good-looking is a point I like. I tend to care about appearances.”
“…Huh?”
As Andrew quietly followed behind her, he blinked and tilted his head.
Did he hear that wrong?
“Honestly, the previous Undead King was somewhat… far from being handsome. Think about it, Andrew. There’s no real eye candy among those stinking undead, how can that be motivating?”
“Uh… Right?”
“In that regard, the welfare in this new squad is relatively good. Though in the military, getting out if you can is the best.”
As words he found hard to respond to kept coming, he seized the momentary silence to carefully speak up.
“Uh, but sister, are you talking about that… Undead King Hans, or rather Hannibal? …Right?”
“Of course! Who else would I be talking about? Oh! I see, you’re human, huh?”
Glancing askance at Andrew, she shook her head in disappointment and sighed.
To think you didn’t recognize that perfect visage, charismatic gaze and burning eye sockets, radiating strength. Humans really have no appreciation for beauty. Well, that does make it easier for me to handle you, though.
The succubus, Siana, smiled seductively while lightly brushing her pink hair.
In fact, her appearance was the very embodiment of human aesthetic standards, but isn’t it only natural for one to be attracted to what they don’t possess?
Hoo, anyway! Andrew, you should head back to your room and start packing. The situation will probably change a lot in the future, so prepare your mind as well.
“Uh, yes… I understand.”
With that, Andrew could only let out an empty reply.
And thus, the storm of a night that brought them countless changes was passing by.
*
Chuhng! This is quite strange. The number of monsters has noticeably decreased over these past few days?
At the northernmost part of the Tulk Kingdom, in the Steel Fortress.
Dressed as usual to show off his physique, Harley snorted, surveying his surroundings.
What lay around him was merely a pile of monster corpses that had accumulated, yet the number he had taken down recently was significantly lower compared to a few days ago.
Could this be related to the Rohan Principality incident?
Crack— Crack!
He crunched a magic stone in his hand, frowning.
If the border defenses had fallen not just due to internal issues but also had been artificially manipulated to lure monsters, it was a much graver matter.
Tch, Siana in the Empire had said she wasn’t involved in that incident.
Moreover, he attempted to track the instigator of the Rohan incident, dubbed the ‘Revolutionary,’ using the information she had, but… Naturally, it was never that easy.
Truly, a worthy reputation.
“Is that the famed warrior Harley? I thought those were exaggerated rumors…*
As Harley stepped into the fortress with that uneasy expression, familiar reactions greeted him.
Both those who knew him and those meeting him for the first time looked at him with awe and caution.
You’ve returned, brother!
Thank you for your hard work today, brother!
It had become a familiar sight to see mercenaries bowing their heads and greeting him everywhere he passed.
…Despite the fact that many of them looked far older than him.
I’m only twenty on Earth, and I’ve been in Auterica for about two years now…
But Harley’s appearance, honed to be an excellent barbarian warrior, was undoubtedly deserving of being called ‘brother,’ making him unable to refute that title.
He could only wave his hand in response.
And when he entered his quarters and finished showering.
A single message reached him.
One that had traveled from the Tarak Shrine to the Mercenary Guild and Count Aonia, a very special message.
Finally, it has arrived.
Of course, even before checking, he already knew very well what it contained.
It was to invite Harley, who had been selected as a candidate for the ‘Hero Party,’ to the Rosellia Temple of the Holy Land.
