#148
Hero Party (2)
“Haa—.”
After the meeting, Isea returned to her room and fell onto the bed with a sigh.
Fortunately, after explaining her circumstances honestly and seeking understanding, the Saint had embraced her with an understanding smile.
In fact, it was almost burdensome how willingly the Saint had accepted her.
‘And that man… Well, the Saint must have noticed that I did.’
Having received reassurance that there was no need to worry about the barbarian man “Harley,” she should have been able to head back to the Imperial Palace with a light heart, but…
Her mind was even more chaotic than before arriving at the shrine.
“Is that, the Hahoe Mask after all?”
It was because of the mask design that the Saint had drawn and shown her just before their conversation ended.
‘Or did I just feel it was similar from seeing it in a drawing? Is it just a coincidence? If it’s really the Hahoe Mask, why is it in this world?’
Actually, when you think about it, its existence here isn’t surprising at all.
This world—Auterica—couldn’t possibly be exclusive to her alone.
Though she had grown safely under the protection of the princess for the past eight years, the survival rate in another world was only around 20 percent.
Moreover, she already satisfied the conditions to return, so simply put, that meant at least four people must have died here by now.
‘Of course, the probabilities are independent events, so it’s not a certainty, but still, there’s bound to be an expected value.’
And whether they lived or died, if there was a Korean among them, it wouldn’t be that unusual for the design of the Hahoe Mask to spread here.
They might have brought it along to not forget their hometown only to lose it, or perhaps carved it out of nostalgia.
Or maybe they even gifted or sold the mask they created.
‘…That person might be related to the Undead King. Someone of that stature wouldn’t just wander around wearing any mask.’
There must be some meaning to why they chose that mask.
Maybe they killed someone who opposed them and took it, or perhaps it was given by someone who had helped with their resurrection.
Or who knows… perhaps the identity of the Undead King is…
“Hoo— nothing is certain yet. And whether it’s true or not, it doesn’t matter to me now.”
She had become flustered by the sudden trace of a fellow from another realm but realistically, her musing was utterly useless.
It was also an uncomfortable truth to dwell on for long.
‘By the way, what are the other Earthlings in this world doing right now?’
She hadn’t traveled around much so hadn’t had the opportunity to encounter them, but it was possible they might have crossed paths without realizing it.
If no one made the first move to reveal themselves, there wouldn’t really be a way to recognize each other, and she wasn’t the type to flaunt that either.
‘I’d like to have at least one conversation before returning. It’d be even better if they’re from the same country.’
Ending that brief thought, she temporarily set aside her tangled feelings and closed her eyes to plunge into meditation.
To calm her mind troubled by unexpected matters.
*
At the same time, while Isea was lost in her own worries.
Reincarnated as another Korean in Auterica, Harley, was deep in thought, stroking his chin with a serious expression.
‘The world’s enemy, huh… Did something like this happen too?’
The achievement that Hans had just accomplished was nothing short of remarkable from the wording alone.
After all, achieving the antagonism of more than half the sentient beings in one dimension is no easy feat.
This was indeed a notable achievement.
Moreover, the special perk “Extra Life” was most likely granted considering that point.
‘Anyone achieving such conditions must possess the ability to survive easily, and I’m sure they’ve gathered enough karma to return, so what’s the point of all this?’
Nevertheless, the perks given so far had always been like that.
If you return to your realm by transcending dimensions, you get “Dimensional Teleportation Circle Summon.”
By becoming the pinnacle of Undead, the Undead King, you gain “Instant Death Immunity.”
All good things, no doubt, but it would have been ambiguous to apply if it wasn’t for someone as unique as himself.
‘For me, it doesn’t matter either way since both sides help me.’
The current perk “Extra Life” meant he could simply resurrect even after death.
Unlike “Instant Death Immunity,” which only sustains life under certain conditions, this was an amazing miracle that allowed him to come back to life in the best state after just dying.
Naturally, he couldn’t use such a power indefinitely.
‘The cooldown is pretty long. Once a year, huh? But considering the effect, I should see it as fairly good, right?’
Since his main body was on Earth, in terms of this world’s time, it’d be once every ten years, but the avatars would rarely die, making it a useful insurance against unforeseen circumstances.
‘Alright, that’s settled. So next…’
Suddenly pulled from his thoughts, Harley lifted his head and met Heinrich’s gaze.
…Thus, the gazes of the two entwined in one spot.
“……”
“……”
A strange silence lingered in the reception room.
The two avatars simply exchanged smiles without saying a word.
Heinrich wore a compassionate smile that warmed the heart just by looking at it, while Harley had a wicked grin that gave goosebumps.
The two had arranged a separate meeting time, but with no one around, there was no need to bother striking up a conversation, so they were just wasting time staring blankly.
‘Hmm?’
Then, suddenly, Harley’s bare torso adorned with magnificent tattoos caught Heinrich’s eye.
The overwhelming density of his powerful muscles was more than mere aesthetics, and for Harley, who dealt with biotic power, it meant combat power as well.
‘Come to think of it, there hasn’t been a fight between avatars other than Heinrich and Hans, right? Both of these guys are from the martial arts school, but what would happen if they clashed?’
It was a fleeting curiosity, but it was also a good opportunity.
It would be a waste to just sit around, and seeing each other’s abilities could also be part of the audition, right?
With that thought, the two stood up simultaneously and headed outside.
They walked through the shrine and stopped at a training facility arranged on one side of the martial arts area.
“Ah! Hello, Saint! But what brings you here on this side…?”
Suddenly appearing, Heinrich startled the Paladin in charge of the training area.
This training ground, surrounded by the highest-level protective barrier, was designed to prevent the shockwaves from leaking outside, allowing even a Paladin-level opponent to engage in full-power, practical training.
Naturally, there was no better place for Heinrich and Harley’s fight than here.
“Ah—thank you for your hard work. I wish to use the training facilities for a moment. I plan to have a sparring session with this gentleman for a while.”
“Hawhawhaw! A clash of strength and souls is the true man’s exchange! This is simply standard procedure! Hahahah!”
With the attention of those around focused on him, his character exploded with a fitting dialogue.
The Paladin’s brows twitched at the rude conduct exhibited in the presence of the Saint, but since Heinrich beside him said nothing, he too retreated without further comment.
Casting a glance at Harley’s muscles with a furtive eye.
And—.
“Oh! The Saint is going to spar!”
“Who is the opponent? A warrior from Calcoss? Quite an impressive physique.”
“Hmm… Someone recommended as a member of the Special Task Force, I see. So is this a trial from the Saint? Can the author showcase the strength to match those muscles?”
Soon enough, the news reached the Paladins and the priests gathered around the training ground.
Since a duel between those who had reached a high level would be beneficial simply by watching, the training ground was well equipped for spectators.
Of course, if Heinrich wanted, he could easily dismiss them all…
‘There’s no need for that.’
This was a good opportunity to showcase their strengths in front of the elite of the Holy Church Order.
It was time to show these devotees of weight training that Harley’s impressive muscles weren’t just for show!
‘Alright then, let’s go!’
Although they were dueling, both could control themselves, meaning a true struggle wasn’t possible.
No matter how it played out, they would inevitably exchange blows as if scripted, so all they had were simple comparisons of their abilities.
But even that would be a significant measure.
Thus, the Saint Heinrich, the Undead King’s rival, who was also the Knight of Light, collided head-on with the barbaric warrior and chimera fighter Harley, who had never been to the south.
*
Although it was a real spar, they both refrained from using Harley’s full power mode and “Madness” due to the presence of onlookers.
Even if there was Heinrich’s assurance, it didn’t feel right to use it overtly.
“Khahaha—!”
Boom—!
Yet, despite that, the intensity of Harley’s intimidation during the battle was beyond imagination.
His muscles, more swollen than before, his entire body adorned with red scales, and a horrifying aura of blood emitting from his eyes.
The sharp claws protruding from his right hand resembled a dragon’s paw, while his massive black axe in his left hand was engulfed in “Biotic Aura,” exuding an energy capable of cleaving through giants.
Moreover, the biotic power emanating from that superior physique ignited the energy stacked within and activated the engravings throughout his body, while the mana storm sweeping around assisted all his actions.
“Huh… Is that, a dragon warrior?”
“…Since they are such a rare race, I can’t really say much. However, if all dragon warriors had those abilities, they wouldn’t be facing extinction like they are now…”
“Indeed, muscles don’t lie.”
“Mm-mm!”
Those observing the duel nodded repeatedly in admiration at his formidable presence.
The violent onslaught of Harley’s movements incorporated shock and unpredictability, but beneath that, they were also underpinned by systematically trained rules and fundamentals.
Boom—!
As the dark, red aura-covered axe collided with the Holy Sword, the claws of his right hand grazed Heinrich’s lower body.
Flowing past the axe and taking a slight step back, Harley’s left hand elegantly swung the weapon again.
It was no longer just brute strength but an undeniable combat power that held finesse, impossible for anyone to dismiss.
And acknowledging that was none other than Harley himself.
‘I underestimated this. I thought it would just be a scripted exchange, but experiencing Harley’s fighting style firsthand is more…’
Unpredictable.
Even while controlling his own movements, he found it challenging to anticipate Harley’s actions.
The skill that enabled Harley to fight instinctively, “Wildness,” had evolved into “Raging Beast,” allowing him not just to manage his madness more effectively.
Almost every action was carried out in an area of unconsciousness, evading rational comprehension and instinctively striking at Heinrich’s openings.
Since they shared thoughts, he was rather utilizing it to hone in obsessively on the areas Heinrich was unaware of himself.
‘…This isn’t a bad training method at all, is it?’
It was perfect training to overcome the gaps in his own understanding.
While rather extreme, it was a method guaranteed to be effective, and captivated by it, Heinrich soon forgot his original intent and focused on battling himself, gradually slipping into a trance.
Crack!
Boom—!
As the fierce combat continued, Harley seemed to unleash all the energy he had stored in an increasingly violent flurry of attacks.
But.
Even so.
Those attacks ultimately didn’t reach Heinrich.
The fatal angle of the axe missed as it swung toward him.
The toe that suddenly emerged to seize a gap missed its target before reaching.
Hand shrouded in Holy Sword and Holy Power deflected the sharp claws.
The blade engulfed in Light Sword split through the thick scales, turning the body into a blood-soaked mess.
“…The movement of the sword is beautiful. I’ve never seen anything like that before…”
“But don’t you think the Saint is going a bit too far? Should we intervene now?”
“Still acceptable. That southern warrior is drenched in blood, but all the wounds have probably healed. Hmm, is that also because he is a dragon warrior?”
With sheer physical specs alone, Harley had an overwhelming advantage.
His body felt as though a giant monster had been compressed within it, and the violent energy spilling from him amplified the already exceptional destructive force.
Quick, strong, and a combination of unpredictability in his assaults.
And that was—scraping against something that had long been dormant within Heinrich.
‘Ah, so this is it.’
“The Great Blessing: Knight of Light” and various growth enhancements aided his awakening.
Through countless battles against various monsters over many years, and having been refined through the hands of many geniuses, the “Rozia Combat Technique” quickly absorbed this knowledge.
He could suddenly grasp techniques he had known theoretically but had been unable to emulate, leading to another form of growth.
And at last.
《The entity has achieved enlightenment through repeated training. The skill “Mugol” evolves into the special skill “Path of Martial Arts.”》
Having attained the Holy Sword and reached a particular realm, “Mugol” finally surpassed its limits.
