Chapter 174
Chapter 174
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 174
Chapter Title: Hero's Footsteps (1)
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“Wow... the internet’s been buzzing with Hahoe Mask lately. Well, it’s all over the news, so that says it all. They blurred it a bit in the videos because of the impact, but still.”
“They’re overreacting more than I expected, though.”
“Can’t be helped—it’s unprecedented for a real dragon to show up on Earth. And our people love that stuff, so they keep fanning the flames.”
“That stuff?”
Jin Soran flashed a mischievous grin at Heinz tilting his head.
“You know, slapping a K in front. Now it’s K-Hahoe Mask. I hear it’s even up for the Do You Know Club nomination. Pfft.”
“...Hmph, what a waste. Anyway, the important stuff’s wrapped up, so I’ll be off. Handle the rest yourself, Jin Soran.”
“Yes, sir! Got it, Lord. Rest well.”
With that casual chit-chat done, he left Heterosis’s office, cloaked himself in Existence Denial, and flew back to his lair.
Of course, the real Heinz 2nd was still in Talia Kingdom—this was just Entity Projection.
‘I should hold off projecting as Hans until Japan’s sorted. Speaking of... Reverse Heaven Society...’
The recent clash between Hans and the Reverse Heaven Society had given him plenty to mull over.
Heratos had turned their trap against them this time, but that didn’t mean he could underestimate them.
‘Quite the opposite. One slip, and release summon would’ve been my only out. Against foes like that, the undead were useless.’
He hadn’t held back on the undead from the start.
He’d just realized midway that half-baked forces would only get in the way and scrapped them.
In a brutal fight weaving through the battlefield while unleashing black magic like an airstrike, it was inevitable.
Undead mass-produced on Earth with black magic alone—no special materials or rituals—had their limits.
Pulling out the Immortal Army’s elite undead would’ve helped, sure...
‘When I made the sub-space, I thought I could summon otherworld undead freely... Back then, I didn’t know much about the laws.’
Unlike awakened who skirted the world’s laws, otherworld undead crumbled the moment they hit Earth, making normal use impossible.
Except Heratos, thanks to Hans subbing as its heart due to the true dragon anomaly.
No teleportation circles for reinforcements like in Auterica either, so for now, release summon was his only escape from danger.
‘At least I stocked up on prime materials this time—things should improve. Salma’s undead conversion is nearly done too.’
He had high hopes for the Earthling awakened undead he was crafting with care.
Weaker than in life, but near-transcendent and law-ignoring undead would serve him well long-term.
‘Finish the details on Earth, just in case. Do the time- and material-heavy stuff in the otherworld and reap benefits here—every necromancer’s dream setup.’
The new corpses would rebirth as top-tier undead in Earth days, boosting forces at a pace Reverse Heaven Society couldn’t fathom.
But even that felt insufficient for now.
‘That level of power was just the Japan branch... plus a handful from China?’
He hadn’t probed the captured minds deeply—no time with live combatants—but intel pegged Reverse Heaven Society beyond Asia.
If East Asia was that strong, their global reach was unimaginable.
‘No joke—if they went all out, they could swallow countries overnight.’
But that’d cost them too, hence the covert approach.
Maybe some nation was already theirs, undetected.
‘...Hans alone isn’t enough, no matter how I slice it. I need more—way more forces.’
Even mighty Hans had limits solo.
To thwart their ambitions effectively, he needed numbers too...
‘Returnee Association or national awakened agencies? Too bloated—leaks inevitable in committees.’
Or spies in key spots.
Blind trust in some anti-Reverse Heaven faction? Risky.
‘Better I handle it all. I’d back allies indirectly if we crossed paths.’
Stick to the plan: raise multiple strong avatars.
Reverse Heaven Society would never grasp why Hahoe Mask hounded them so relentlessly.
Or that more saboteurs would soon join.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ [Kihihik!]
Clatter! Rattle—!
In the Ion Continent’s northern mountains, a pitch-black castle loomed in a sunless peak-ringed valley.
Chilly year-round from terrain woes, saturated with death aura from swarming undead—a demonic realm.
The Immortal King Hans’s eternal labyrinth and demon king castle, tentatively dubbed the Immortal Fortress.
[Impressive. Using the Abyss sped up maturation beyond expectations. Well done, Dwell.]
[Your praise humbles me, Immortal King! This is nothing!]
Deep inside, two skeletons chatted amiably amid eerie vibes amplifying the grim interior.
Magic circles etched everywhere, grotesque ritual tools scattered.
Sample tissues writhed assertively; lab gear gleamed coldly in neat rows.
Blood-crusted operating tables bristled with brutal restraints; incubators bubbled with Abyss...
A mad wizard’s lab incarnate.
‘Fitting, since it’s for liches. Doubles as a workshop for special undead now.’
Hans glanced at the liches, then back to lab head Dwell.
Time dilation let him pop in burden-free, but once every ten days max—most work fell to subordinates.
Dwell’s combat lagged other execs, but as a veteran archlich older than Hans, undead conversion oversight was child’s play.
He handled it flawlessly, earning the Immortal King’s trust.
[Good. Next up... these.]
Rumble—
Emboldened, Hans dumped carefully selected awakened corpses from Earth onto the floor.
One Reverse Heaven suit matching Salma’s caliber; a dozen more, processable into solid troops.
[Uh... th-these go through the same process as that one?]
[Kuhuhu—yes. Handle them specially; got separate uses.]
[Y-yes, my King! Leave it to me!]
Not trivial—Abyss handling included—but doable.
Still, sudden volume meant extra care...
[See you next time.]
[...Yes.]
To Hans, commanding hordes in this harsh grind was routine now.
The Immortal Army was black company incarnate, after all.
He toured sites, checked progress, issued new orders—busy as ever.
Finally.
[Excellent. Proceed as discussed.]
[This girl... shall devote herself fully...]
With Olivia’s tasks done, Hans vanished quietly from the Immortal Fortress.
Back to Earth duties.
Yet amid the storm’s wake, some kept their usual calm...
Crackle—!
“...Wow, this is too much, even for you.”
“Ooh! Fun. Got anything tougher, Riley?”
Princess Riley and Hesperon, confined to the Immortal Fortress residential zone, deep in magic training.
Riley shook her head with a hollow laugh at the icy blossoms bursting from the garden floor.
Nearly two months since her capture; over one for new inmate Hesperon.
And that line? Her catchphrase for the past month.
Stuck so deep, it slipped out habitually.
“Heron, know what you just did?”
“Huh? What’d I mess up?”
“...Nothing wrong, really. You just surpassed a decade of my achievements. In barely over a month.”
“Eh?”
She sighed again at his blinking blank face.
Not like age 11, outpaced by Isea in weeks.
‘Eight years later... and I held out just days longer than against Isea?’
Even after teaching her theory-deep knowledge from talent-limited theory dives.
No magic tomes or artifacts here either!
‘Good thing I slacked on magic. Consecutive defeats after hard work would’ve crushed me.’
As the princess rationalized her solace...
Hesperon blankly read the floating text.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ The entity has gained enlightenment through repeated training. Acquired skill 「Introduction to Magic」. ‘Her theory level was higher than expected. Even unlocks stuff like this.’
Riley’s talent capped her magic height, but imperial princess tutelage was top-tier.
Smart with great memory—no distortions—so skill generation made sense.
“Sigh, whatever. I’m no real mage anyway... Just liberal arts level... Right? I’m emperor material, after all...”
“Of course, Riley. Calm down.”
“Your Highness!”
She grumbled, frowning—he jumped in, and she bit back instantly.
Bickering resumed.
But all premeditated: advertise Hesperon’s oblivious Earthling naivety to hierarchy.
Dunno how much she knew of Earthlings, but preempt awkwardness if Isea heard later.
‘Time for phase two... Princess Escape Scenario.’
Mission on track: she called him casually now, took her first mage steps—gains maxed.
Regret she skipped summoning details—plenty chances courtside later.
Hans could teach now, but as awakened contacting princess, justification needed for growth.
‘Now, how to... Huh?’
Mid-thought, an unexpected message halted him.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Achievement Unlocked! You have begun walking the ‘Path of World Savior’ to save the world. ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Over half of Outerica dimension’s living sapients recognize you struggling against evil. Reward: Granted special privilege 「Hero’s Footsteps」. ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Achievement has greatly influenced the world. Karma additionally increases. Of course.
Those appeared not to novice mage Hesperon, but to hero Heinrich Saint Landgard.