#147
Hero Party (1)
“I am Heinrich Saint Landgard, the first sword who serves the Holy God’s will. Thank you for taking the time to visit in this busy period.”
“It is an honor to meet you, Holy One. I am Isea Pristine from the Azerion Empire. It is only natural for me to come when the chosen savior of the continent calls.”
In a reception room of the Rosellia Temple, the two men and women exchanged greetings.
A one-on-one meeting was arranged between the candidate and the Holy One.
“Holy One? Before we begin, I have something to say…”
However, before the serious conversation could start, Isea brought up the uncomfortable energy and strange feeling sensed from Harley.
‘Still, I thought I hid it well. This is no easy feat.’
Of course, he already had a response prepared for that.
“There’s no need to worry about him. It’s already something we are aware of, and above all, he’s someone you can trust completely.”
“I see. If the Order has come to that judgement, then I was worrying for nothing.”
After proudly dispelling her concerns, the topic returned to the main matter.
The core of the ‘Hero Party’ opposing the Undead King was Heinrich, who was both the Holy One and the hero, so this case was entirely under his authority.
In this matter, even the Holy Maiden was merely an assistant; all decisions were left entirely up to his personal judgment.
“…So, while I sincerely appreciate the high regard you’ve shown me, unfortunately, due to various circumstances, I won’t be able to provide direct aid. I’m truly sorry.”
And at this moment, Heinrich was facing his third rejection in the third meeting.
‘I knew everyone wouldn’t be eager from the start. Most were recommended for political reasons, after all.’
As Isea calmly continued speaking, she bowed politely and apologized.
The sincerity in her deeply apologetic demeanor was enough to soften anyone’s heart.
Especially considering her appearance, which resembled that of a young, delicate girl.
Regardless of her actual age, it was unavoidable to feel one’s heart weaken when faced with her.
In response, Heinrich nodded with a gentle smile, as if he understood her feelings.
Of course, as a master of living smoke, his true thoughts were different.
‘With this face, you say she’s older than me? No matter how I look at it, this woman seems to be from Earth.’
While engaging in conversation for persuasion, he slowly analyzed her.
With an unaging face and an Eastern appearance, even her name seemed strangely Korean.
In fact, he had just met Andrew, an Awakened One from Earth, not long ago, so there were too many points that couldn’t simply be dismissed as coincidence.
‘So, I confirmed it once when shaking hands with Harley…’
The brief moment they had shaken hands was enough time for Harley’s sensitive senses to grasp her physical condition.
Of course, since she was a Grand Wizard, she didn’t operate her energy separately, but for him, who was practically an authority on living beings, it wasn’t a huge problem.
The tiny tremors in her muscles, the bioelectricity flowing through her body, the heartbeat along with the movements of internal organs, and variations in blood pressure, body temperature, and breath.
A human body held vast amounts of information just within itself, and through “mutations” and “physical transformations,” Harley had the ability to analyze it.
The conclusion he reached was—
‘Vague. Perhaps because she’s a wizard, she lacks distinct characteristics in her body like Andrew. If she has heightened mental or magical abilities with Karma, Harley wouldn’t have a way to know.’
The evidence was insufficient.
In order to survive in this harsh world initially, it would have been advantageous to enhance her physical abilities even slightly, yet she seemed to be merely at the level of a healthy ordinary person.
Of course, at her current level, utilizing magic and enhancement spells could show greater physical abilities than a common warrior, but she likely wouldn’t have been that way at the start of her entry into this world, right?
‘Did the Fifth Princess play a role in this? Records about the past were uncertain. In this world, personal information isn’t systematically organized like on Earth unless you’re from the upper class…’
She had only been granted nobility for about three years.
The only records available before that were from eight years ago, stating “A young princess sponsored a talented commoner wizard.”
‘For someone to grow to receive noble status in the empire just five years after being sponsored is certainly impressive.’
Truly, she was a prime example of self-made success.
And therefore, he felt even more suspicious.
Meanwhile, their conversation continued onward.
“…As you may know, Holy One, my situation isn’t so good. It seems not everyone will follow the greater good.”
She candidly opened up about her circumstances.
Considering the Holy Church Order had substantial information-gathering capabilities, she assumed they already knew and didn’t avoid the topic.
‘It’s about the Crown Prince.’
As she spoke, the image of Prince Simon’s smug face suddenly came to mind.
Throughout the meeting, he had disrupted and annoyed them with political maneuvers and through his foul deeds which he had discovered via investigation.
‘It’s the power struggle between the Crown Prince and the Fifth Princess. Plus, the Crown Prince is in a much more favorable position…’
Bad… no, righteous ideas began to bloom in his mind.
Though he was still in the planning stage, he promised himself to remember this and use it later.
“I understand. The Order never forces personal sacrifices. Should you change your mind later, please feel free to contact me.”
“Yes, I’m really sorry. If circumstances allowed, I would definitely have joined. As one who pursues magic, I cannot tolerate mages who misuse it for black magic.”
As their meeting drew to a close, the moment he heard her obligatory words, an idea suddenly flashed in his mind.
“Oh! Lady Pristine? By the way, I would like to ask your advice on something. It’s an issue that we just cannot seem to conclude on our end, and I would like to hear the opinion of a Grand Wizard.”
“If it’s that sort of thing, I don’t mind. But I believe the head of the Magic Tower is here as well; wouldn’t it be better to ask him for magical advice?”
“Ha ha ha, of course, I’ve already requested his input. I just wanted to gather as many opinions as possible.”
Heinrich vaguely deflected as he pulled out a pen and notebook from his ceremonial robe.
Then, holding the notebook in one hand, he slowly started to sketch something, speaking casually to her.
“We’ve had differing opinions even among ourselves on this issue, and so far we haven’t reached a definite conclusion. The theologians as well as the consulted wizards and shamans have all expressed uncertainty.”
“If it’s that kind of issue, I probably can’t be of much help…”
“It’s alright. Just your simple thoughts will suffice.”
Finally finishing his sketch, he looked at Isea with a serious expression as he spoke.
“Do you have any knowledge about the mask that Undead King Hannibal Strauss used to wear?”
“Yes, I heard it is a wooden mask with a laughing face. To have a person wanting to destroy the world wearing a smiley face is a whole another kind of bad taste. It truly reflects the mindset of a madman wanting to mock everyone, does it not?”
“…Hmm, right. And this is a rough sketch of that mask.”
Clearing his throat lightly, Heinrich handed the notebook to her.
“I’m not skilled at drawing, so there may be slight differences in the details, but the overall impression should be similar. If you see this, could you share any magical significances it might hold?”
“I see. Well, masks are often used as mediums in rituals…”
And as she took the notebook and looked at the drawing, her body froze as if time had stopped.
“…! U-um, this is…!”
A high-pitched voice escaped from her mouth, which was involuntarily agape.
Isea’s expression, which had remained calm throughout the meeting, now wildly fluctuated.
Although it wasn’t depicted in detail, the features were unmistakably recognizable.
The curved eyes, thick eyebrows, crumpled wrinkles, and a large punch nose.
For anyone Korean, it was a mask one could not possibly be unfamiliar with.
“Why are you reacting this way? Do you know something about it?”
“N-no… nothing at all. I think I just had a moment of confusion. That, um… reminds me of something from the village I lived in as a child…”
“Hmm, are you saying there was a similar mask? Could you tell me what village that was from? The Undead King may have ties to that region…”
“N-no, no! It was just something a kid from the neighborhood made out of boredom! Yes, it was just a toy replacement. I got bored and broke it shortly afterward. I merely overreacted because it brought back old memories. Haha…”
His unexpected delight at witnessing her flustered reaction intensified, and without realizing it, he had pushed her too hard—
‘I got her.’
With that, he was convinced.
‘Indeed, this woman is also an Awakened One from Earth.’
But Heinrich didn’t show his inner feelings; he merely nodded, feigning disappointment.
“What a pity. I was hoping there might be some clue.”
“…Yes, I don’t know what special meaning this might hold. I’m sorry I can’t be of more help.”
Her agitation quickly subsided.
Even though she momentarily lost her composure upon encountering unfathomable information at an unexpected moment, she was a Grand Wizard who had reached the peak.
Recovering her calm and returning to her normal expression only took an instant.
‘After all, it’s understandable to be surprised when approached with a Hahoe Mask after living away from Earth’s civilization for over eight years.’
Not to mention, it wasn’t just any mask; it was one associated with the Undead King, an absolute evil aiming to destroy the world, and the Avatar of Death.
Naturally, a Korean would have such a reaction.
‘Yes, for a Korean, at least.’
The first Earthling he encountered, Andrew, was American.
But the second was someone of the same nationality; what a rare coincidence that was.
‘Either way, news about Hans’s mask will spread quickly. It’s not as if only a few people laid eyes on it.’
He had used such information so advantageously, so it was a remarkably satisfying outcome.
With this, he could decide for certain how to make use of her.
*
This world had neither the internet nor a communication network. However, since supernatural abilities were well developed in place of science, the speed at which any news spread across regions wasn’t particularly slow.
Of course, usually, it would be the upper classes, such as merchants and local leaders sensitive to information for their interests, who would control and time the dissemination of rumors to the public.
But the news about the Undead King’s resurrection differed in nature.
Initially, they controlled the information for the sake of societal stability, but at some point, it became impossible to conceal, and ultimately, it was publicly announced in the wake of the undead’s stirring and the madness of monster rampages.
The vested interests judged it better to let the public live in fear, funnelling discontent towards a clear ‘enemy’ to maintain the existing order.
As a result, stories about the source of all evil in this world, the Undead King, began to rapidly spread among people.
“Have you heard the news? The Rohan Principality in the north of the Empire has finally perished.”
“Wow— the entire country has fallen? You can’t mean…?”
“Of course, it was that ‘Undead King Hans’ who did it. He led the monsters himself and turned it into a wasteland, with tens of thousands dead!”
“…Geez, how can we live in such a troubled world? I hope this place is safe.”
The news, triggered by the fall of the Rohan Principality, spread faster with the embellishment—
“Hey, did you hear the news? Apparently, the dam in the village fell apart last time, and it was actually the work of that Hans’s followers who secretly did it!”
“Oh, are there really such despicable people? How many have suffered because of them! …Wait? Now that I think about it, could it also be suspicious that last year’s crops failed? Did they poison our fields too?!”
“Oh my! Oh my! Is that really true?!”
There were even people blaming him for every unfortunate event.
“Uuuugh~ Can I change my name? The kids keep calling me Hans…”
“Ahem, no matter what, changing a name is…”
“Yeah! That would be for the best. Stop being so stubborn! What’s the big deal about a common name? This could end up getting a kid in trouble!”
“…Well, I suppose I have no choice. Hmm, then how about changing it to Heinz?”
It affected everyone, regardless of age, with even conservative parents rushing to change their children’s names.
His infamous reputation was becoming engraved in people’s minds beyond their imagination.
From big cities to small towns and villages, down to the mountain folk and settlement residents.
It was the same throughout the Enamel Continent, with only variations in the intensity of the spread.
And ultimately…
《Achievement Unlocked! You have become the ‘World’s Enemy,’ bearing the resentment and hatred of all.》
《More than half of the living intelligences in the Auterica dimension have deemed you an enemy. You are rewarded with the special title “Extra Life.”》
《You have achieved an accomplishment that has greatly impacted the world. Your Karma increases additionally.》
After the formal announcement, Hans’s influence, gradually spreading across the continent, finally crossed some critical threshold.
