Chapter 186
Chapter 186
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 186
Chapter Title: Earthlings in Another World (3)
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"Let me introduce myself again. I'm Isea. Nice to meet you."
Inside the hospital room, now alone with just the two of them.
She greeted him once more with her usual cool expression.
"Ah, I'm Hesperon..."
"Hold on a sec. Could you use your real name instead of that alias, just this once?"
"My real name...?"
"I know it's kinda silly to care about that in another world. But this is my first time properly greeting someone from the same homeland, so I wanted to do it 'right.' Think of it as a formality."
She said it outright, and Hesperon quickly caught on, nodding in agreement.
"So you really are the Earthling Riley introduced me to. I had my suspicions from the name alone."
"Hmm, so you're Korean too?"
"Ah! I'm Ha Seung-hoon. Lived in Seoul before coming here—it's been just under two months. Ahaha!"
For the record, this wasn't some made-up alias.
It was a legit identity, complete with government records, obtained through Heterosis, the big shot in Seoul's underworld.
When you had power and influence, handling little details like this was a breeze.
"I've been here over eight years now. So much has happened... Oh, and thank you again. Things got really tough after Riley was kidnapped."
"No need—I've gotten plenty of help from you too. Without Riley, I'd have been stuck in that place forever, clueless."
With greetings exchanged, their conversation flowed more easily, picking up steam.
Even Isea, who had kept some distance at first, soon lost all trace of it.
Say what you will—she was someone who'd survived eight years in another world since she was young.
Even with Princess Riley easing the loneliness, the longing for her sudden-lost homeland was inevitable.
So running into a fellow Korean from Earth? Of course she'd be thrilled.
Especially with the favor from his help already building goodwill.
"So, Heron, you're twenty now?"
Their chat naturally drifted to age amid various topics.
Probing Hesperon was one of her goals from the start, but his follow-up question was the issue.
"Yeah. Come to think of it, how old are you, Isea? You look pretty youthful—though if Riley calls you 'big sis,' you must be at least twenty... Huh? But you said you arrived eight years ago..."
He tilted his head, blinking, and Isea froze for a moment.
She suddenly second-guessed her own age.
She'd come here at eighteen, so after eight years, she was definitely twenty-six.
Clearly older than him.
But back on Earth, she'd be turning nineteen soon—still eighteen.
And if they met on Earth later, would she still count as the older one?
"Twen..."
"Twen?"
"Twenty-six."
She frowned briefly, pondered, then realized it didn't matter and stated it proudly.
She couldn't exactly say "eighteen (ninth year here)!"
Age measured years lived anyway—future stuff could wait.
Especially since she'd be his teacher; no need to complicate things.
"Ahaha! This is fun! No wonder you look so young—you're a ninth-year high schooler!"
Hesperon gleefully inferred her arrival age, laughing without a clue.
...Their chat had loosened him up; it was casually blunt.
"Ahem, Heron?"
Isea cleared her throat lightly, shooting him a look.
He stuck to polite speech despite the laughter, showing some respect, but it still irked her.
"Ahh—sorry! Just found it fascinating. When Riley called you her cute, lovable big sis, I took it at face value, but yeah, spot on!"
"Heron...?"
His familiarity ran deeper than she thought.
Even after two nudges, he grinned like it was a jolly joke.
"Honestly, looks-wise, you seem more middle school than high..."
"...Shut up!"
Isea mentally bolded a line in her Hesperon dossier.
This guy's hopeless with social cues.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ As always, in a shadowy corner of the Immortal Fortress.
"Escaped? The newbie... from here? Taking the princess with him?"
Andrew Weaver, another Earthling in Auterica, muttered blankly.
He'd heard the news late, buried in his usual workload, and it hit like a bombshell.
"How?"
He could guess the method.
Probably his unique skill—no other way.
But a newbie, here less than two months? Unfathomable.
"...More capable than I thought."
He'd had no chance to meet since the initial capture, amid tangled affairs, and never imagined this level of competence.
Even his curious "Trajectory Observation" hadn't pinned him clearly—must've pulled some trick.
'And the undead army isn't even pursuing.'
With the crown prince around, maybe no issue?
Or the Immortal King saw it as mere entertainment.
"Hah—that guy's luck is insane. Felt sorry for him at first."
Success meant the princess was no mere prisoner now.
She was a golden connection to the empire's top heir candidate.
Plus, shared hardships? Classic romance fodder.
Enviable all around.
'Tch, while I'm stuck with lunatics, undead, and toil.'
Andrew just clicked his tongue and shook his head.
Before, jealousy might've burned.
Others romancing comfy while he withered in drudgery—same as them eloping.
But no more envy needed.
The day he'd awaited had arrived!
⚙ KARMA SHOP ⚙ Return (1,000,000) (Available) Unique Skill Enhancement (700,000) Status Enhancement – View Details Held Karma: 1,000,028 "Heh... Heheheh—!"
As a member of the Oath of Reverse Heaven, he'd meddled in plenty.
The biggest? Helping open the Abyss Gate, spreading "Madness" across the continent.
Points came slow then—just enough for his unique skill's fourth upgrade.
But as damage piled up over time, karma flowed in steadily.
Plus ongoing settlements from years of schemes, and recent exploitation by Olivia's harsh labor...
'Nine years... long ones.'
The payoff wasn't surprising.
Cackling there awhile, he surveyed surroundings with fresh ease.
Escape route secured—Immortal Fortress felt like a haunted house tour.
Leisurely wandering, he held his personal farewell rite.
From lunatic-packed Residential District 1 to towering spires.
Snooping everywhere, leaving traces.
-Andrew Weaver was here.
"Phew, think that's all."
He grinned at the crooked English scrawl on a wall corner.
Hellish place, but knowing it'd be gone forever...
[Andrew...? Work hours are over—still lingering? You know no free time till quota's met...]
Then Olivia ghosted in as he basked in nostalgia.
"Gasp!"
Gulp.
Startled, Andrew instinctively averted his eyes.
Untouchable now, yet facing the reaper-like her shrank him anyway.
'No, this is the last time? Whatever I do, she can't stop me!'
Especially not cower till the end.
Resentments piled high!
Best closure: unload, leave light-hearted.
Straightening boldly, he met her gaze... then dropped it at her hazy stare.
'Wait, this monster could rip me apart if she senses anything. Wise to act out?'
Planned to curse her face then bolt—but might get dismembered first.
She'd spared him proving use, so escape possible later, but...
'...I wanna leave in one piece.'
Yet backing off silently felt too unjust.
Last chance forever—miss it, regret eternally.
'Right, quick vent then bail. Nothing too provocative. Fine.'
Deep breath, wet lips.
Poised to flee, he looked up at Olivia.
[Andrew...? Hear me...? Shall I rip those useless ears and beam thoughts straight to your brain...?]
She whispered sadly, staring.
Nearly crumbling, he gritted teeth and bellowed.
"You...!"
[...You?]
"Working with you sucked—let's never meet again? Way better with Siana sis; you're trash next to her except work. Oh, and your drawn-out threats? Total shit every time!"
Tension garbled some words, but he spilled it all.
Toned down for "safety," yet the defiance stunned Olivia.
Dragging in disliked Siana too...
Craaaack—!
Temperature plunged below freezing; energy roiled.
[You, driven mad by black magic...?]
As her eerie face chilled a retort—
"Hahaha! See ya! Find me if you can!"
Momentum surging, Andrew laughed triumphantly, final wave.
And vanished from the Immortal Fortress.
[Ah...?]
Olivia, robbed of her rage target, stood blankly awhile.
Snapping to, she dispatched ghosts to hunt... futile.
He'd crossed dimensions to Earth—no trace.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Los Angeles, USA.
"Ha! Hahaha! Ahh—feels great! Bit disappointing, but not bad! Woo!"
Emerging in his arrival basement, Andrew whooped, too thrilled for Earthly relief.
Olivia's trembling glare vivid—couldn't stop laughing.
Her futile endless search? Equally satisfying.
She knew he was otherworldly—would accept eventually, but paranoia might prolong it.
"Ha... ha... ha?"
But laughter faded quick.
One nagging issue.
"Hmm... why's this? Is the restraint supposed to linger?"
The Immortal King's implant still active in his mind.
Worse—stronger link than in Outerica.
'Nah, probably normal.'
Awkward smile, wiping cold sweat.
Commander gone—no issue...
[Oh? Made it to Earth, Andrew Weaver?]
Then—the voice he thought gone forever shook his brain.
"Huh?"
Heart sank; frozen grin.
Terror crept over his face.
"Wha—what? Wait... waitwaitwait...! This no! This, uh, changes everything...!"
[Andrew Weaver.]
"Ah—."
Absolute 'master's' will sealed his words.
Undeniable restraint activation.
[Kekeke—needed hands. Perfect timing. Welcome to Earth.]
Thus, Andrew Weaver escaped hell at last.
But his hoped-for peace awaited not.