This world is irrational.
Some are born with almost everything, while others must survive with nothing but their bare hands.
And it’s not just a story about living beings, including humans.
The difference also applies to the ‘world’.
There are dimensions rich in energy and diverse mysteries, while others are relatively monotonous, and some even overflow with energy.
But they all have one common point.
That is, there is a ‘god’ responsible for and managing that world.
…Except for Earth, which holds no mysteries.
The birth of Awakened Ones and the transfer to another world due to the Akasha System’s intervention is not just a simple blessing.
It is…
“Mmm.”
…As his fuzzy thoughts clear, his mind rises sharply.
Like emerging from a long tunnel into the open, he suddenly becomes acutely aware of his surroundings, inhaling deeply and glancing around.
There is nothing but an entirely white… no, a space so blank it’s beyond distinguishing color.
It is now a place familiar to him like home.
“…Tsk, is this Earth?”
The voice, lacking in age and character, drifted through the air.
Technically, it was his own unique realm built to avoid the causality of Earth, but that wasn’t the important matter.
‘Hahoe Mask.’
Suddenly, the chilling laughter of that last figure jabbing his hand into his heart came to mind.
Who would have imagined he would encounter that guy in this world?
As a result, he barely connected with Auterica, having escaped in an unusual manner.
“Who would have thought such a variable would pop up? It really isn’t easy.”
The Buncheon Society Head, with his eyes closed, slowly clenched his hands.
Unlike before, he felt an unprecedented power gathering in his unrestricted grip.
Goooor—
However, the sense of loss transmitted from one side of his chest only grew sharper in contrast.
No matter how much he prepared, he couldn’t simply disregard the fact that part of his hard-built effort had vanished in vain.
‘…Still, it’s fortunate that I learned about him before it was too late.’
Information is always the foremost element when undertaking any task.
In that sense, uncovering critical information about the adversary known as Hahoe Mask, which had been a disturbance in every matter, can be considered a positive factor in advancing his grand enterprise.
It could be viewed as uncovering what might have led to even greater losses in the future.
…Even if that wasn’t the case, he decided to think that way for now.
Delving too deeply into thoughts might lead him to take out his frustration on the wrong target.
He shook his head as if to clear the complex musings and stepped forward decisively.
Szzzz—
At the same time, the space in front of him split open.
In the next moment, he found himself standing in a completely different location.
A residential area filled with high-end furniture, appliances, and extravagant decorations.
He naturally moved towards the office set aside in one corner.
Since he had returned to Earth, he needed to inform his subordinates and receive reports on recent events.
Unexpectedly, his absence this time hadn’t been long, so he assumed there wouldn’t be any significant changes, but…
“Wait, Oracle. Say that again.”
– …Understood, Head.
In that brief moment, the Buncheon Society left behind on Earth was facing a serious upheaval.
– Shortly after you left, Hahoe Mask attacked the Shanghai branch. As a result, East Asia Branch Head Yul Ryeong-ja was killed…
The Oracle’s report continued calmly.
The chaos that ensued in the China region and the additional losses of several Transcendent Beings were not as significant compared to the subsequent events.
“So, the Doctor?”
– He had been suffering from resurrection side effects for a while, but then he entered hibernation, claiming he would modify his body. The estimated time is about a month…
“Make that two or three times at least.”
– I assumed as much.
The Buncheon Society Head tapped the table thoughtfully with his fingers, eyes shut tight.
‘Not only Hahoe Mask but also that Phantom fellow?’
The fact that the Doctor had set a trap to capture the vampire known as Phantom only to be caught himself wasn’t particularly crucial.
The scale of these incidents was on a completely different level compared to the withdrawal of the branches from Korea and the fiasco faced in Japan against Hahoe Mask.
It wasn’t just some inconsequential minor issue happening in a remote corner, but a tangible threat that had spread to their main stage in the world.
– And one more thing…
“…What else is there?”
The matters reported so far were already quite headache-inducing.
But what else could there possibly be?
– You should see this directly.
As her words finished, several video files appeared on the monitor.
Time-wise, it had occurred before the earlier reported incidents, but due to the critical nature of the branch heads and Doctor’s deaths, it had been pushed back.
“Oh? Such Holy Power on Earth?”
The video began with the details of a hospital terror incident in Korea and a far-off shot depicting a storm of Holy Power.
Interest piqued on the Buncheon Society Head’s face as he watched.
Of course, compared to his own power, it was hardly anything, but using such a significant degree of Holy Power in a human body was undoubtedly impressive.
Moreover, this was Earth, a place where the power of Holy Power is greatly diminished, right?
‘If it’s at that level… Yeah, considering it’s Earth, it could at least rival the Champion of Auterica I met this time.’
He understood why the Oracle had taken an interest.
Certainly, if such a cleric suddenly appeared, it would warrant careful observation…
“Wait a minute.”
However, that thought was fleeting. As the video continued, detailed information about the White Knight began to unfold.
Before he knew it, the Buncheon Society Head’s expression had grown stiff.
Silence filled the office, the sound of the video softly resonating.
– “Yes, I come from the dimension you call Auterica. To be more precise, I can say I am from another world, not an Earthling.”
It had only been a few hours since this took place.
How could he forget the one who had driven a sword into his own heart?
Of course, back then, the opponent had been wearing a deeply pressed helmet, preventing a clear view of his face…
– “According to the will of the Holy God, we are here to root out the evil that has spread across all dimensions, including Auterica.”
Such trivialities mattered little.
He silently stared at the youthful figure in the interview video and chuckled upon seeing the familiar armor he wore.
“…Ha, hahaha! This is just ridiculous.”
The disbelief brought forth laughter.
He had thought it would merely be on the level of Auterica’s Champion, but to think he was the actual person involved.
An otherworlder crossing over to Earth?
He himself, along with Hahoe Mask, could be one, so it was within the realm of possibility.
Honestly, he was quite skeptical on a personal level, yet he wasn’t all-knowing about the laws of the universe, so there was a possibility.
‘But the fact that it’s from Auterica… Is that just a coincidence?’
It couldn’t be.
No, if that were the only point, it might be a coincidence, but with Hahoe Mask added into the mix, it was no longer simply dismissible.
When coincidences happen repeatedly, they become inevitabilities.
And that thought was only solidified after he finished receiving all reports and the communication ended, leading into the ‘Phantom’ information sent by the Oracle as reference material.
Though masked, he felt an oddly familiar aura, much like the White Knight.
There was no need to question his identity.
‘Where did it all go wrong? There must be a reason for things to go so awry.’
The Buncheon Society Head still sat in contemplation.
While he had been making moves to lead the world’s changes from the start, he did not expect such a pivotal moment in history to unexpectedly arise.
A series of complex conditions must coalesce for such events to occur.
Wasn’t the Oracle meant to regularly check on each branch’s state to prevent such happenings?
“…No, there were indeed early signs. The emergence of Hahoe Mask was anything but ordinary.”
Born in Korea, a blind spot in observation, and showing hostility to them as if he held some grudge—an unidentified black magician.
His appearance was where all the variables began.
And perhaps he had genuinely borne a grudge.
For all that he, and the Buncheon Society had done, had likely seeded such grievances.
‘This incident also started in Korea.’
They might have underestimated the effective response against Korea’s uncertainties while planning indirect controls through China and Japan.
Even if it meant delaying plans significantly, the roots should have been dealt with from the start.
“Tsk, there’s no going back on what’s past.”
Given the circumstances, it seemed likely that the Akasha system had pulled out a weapon to respond more actively.
It must have deemed that merely holding him down through causality alone would not suffice.
‘If so, no matter how much they tried to curb the causes ahead of time, eventually, some issue would arise one way or another.’
For instance, a destined adversary prepared to stop him.
Hahoe Mask and Phantom, as well as Heinrich.
Who among them was the true threat, or if all of them were, remained unclear…
Szzzzz—
As the Buncheon Society Head stepped up from his seat and took another stride, his body was sucked into the rift that had appeared in the air.
He aimed to conserve as much time on Earth as possible for necessary moments, slipping through causality.
‘That said, I don’t plan on just sitting back.’
Although variables kept arising, disrupting plans, his mission remained unchanged.
To continuously expand influence on Earth while swallowing the potential of other dimensions, accumulating divinity.
If they were the saviors the world had arranged…
Then he was the rebel against the world’s fate.
The enemy of the world.
*
Right now, the feeling coursing through me could be described in just one word.
‘Full.’
Not in the physical sense.
More in the sense of some mental satisfaction.
And that’s entirely because…
『Current Karma – 5,520,398』
Just moments ago, the once-empty wallet had become so plump upon looking back, how could I not feel that way?
‘I scraped every point I had left before facing the Buncheon Society Head.’
Of course, there wouldn’t be any leeway to save points with an opponent of that caliber.
Naturally, to increase the odds even slightly, it was only logical to spend most of my karma on both status enhancements and all skill boosts I could manage.
‘I only had enough left to use on 「Entity Convergence」 combined with 『Skill Cooldown Reset』.’
Yet, after everything concluded and looking back, I found over 500,000 substantial points amassed during that brief moment!
It was only natural to feel full just keeping my gaze on it.
While smiling blissfully, I eventually centered myself, pondering how to strategically use this abundant karma.
‘As for unique skill enhancement… Well, it still seems out of reach. After all, I only just acquired「Entity Convergence」 not long ago.’
Currently, the karma required for unique skill enhancement was 2 million.
The points were plentiful, but to enhance further would likely need more time.
‘So then…’
Honestly, what piqued my current interest was the 『Dimension Barrier Mitigation (6,000,000)』.
When I first picked the 5 million option, I experienced a Baron—it serves as an option to reduce the disparities between dimensions.
The easing of restrictions on Holy Power and Abyssal Magic, along with summons, was the most fundamental effect.
‘Without that, I wouldn’t have been able to go to the Ganghwan Realm.’
Of course, that possibility stemmed not just from the ‘Dimension Barrier Mitigation’ but from various conditions, yet if that specific option were absent, I would not have even had a starting point.
‘But if I were to enhance it once more…’
It’s certain the restrictions on Holy Power and others will lighten further.
The task of transitioning via memory to that world might become easier too.
But what additional effects could be anticipated?
‘Indeed, it would be most certain to utilize it firsthand.’
I knew that wait wouldn’t be long.
Even at this moment, karma was steadily building up, so soon enough, I’d be able to confirm it personally.
But just then.
Something else suddenly caught my eye.
『Random Miscellaneous Skill Acquisition (500,000)』
A gamble akin to playing the lottery for random skills.
Gulp—
Before I knew it, my saliva had slipped down.
Thus far, the skills I had drawn were 「Zeno-glossy」 and 「Sturdiness」.
「Zeno-glossy」 was quite the winning ability, while 「Sturdiness」 was a tad disappointing… Honestly, it was practically a dud.
‘So in the end, it’s a net-zero situation.’
Indeed, it was zero.
Therefore—when calling it in a way, this signifies that the real starting point has just arrived!
‘Just one more time.’
The very last round.
…I have to at least draw back my cost.
