Chapter 343
Chapter 343
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 343
Chapter Title: Pantheon (2)
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A grand office adorned with majestic murals on the walls everywhere.
Dr-r-r—
In the center of the space where an inexplicably heavy atmosphere hung, a woman with ash-gray hair in a uniform rolled the wheel of the mouse in her hand.
Her impassive blue eyes scanned the monitor scrolling rapidly downward, and soon a faint sneer curled at her lips.
"Heinrich Saint Landgard. The Saint of Outerica."
A cold voice flowed from her mouth.
A pair of glassy, shining blue eyes pierced the silver-haired beauty clearly displayed on the monitor.
'He first appeared on Earth around last month. And the Chairman confirmed his existence in another dimension just a short while ago.'
She—the North American branch director of the Reverse Heaven Society and chief secretary—pressed the five fingers of both hands together and slowly sank back into her chair.
The cold smile on her lips deepened further.
"...It seems crossing dimensions is indeed a fact."
There was no other way to explain the difference in space-time.
Since the Chairman had personally verified the opponent and given his affirmation, it was an immutable truth.
Unbelievable as it was, the opponent undoubtedly possessed the ability to freely cross dimensional walls.
'For now, it seems he can only go back and forth between his original dimension and Earth.'
Even that alone was extraordinary.
Excluding the Chairman, who had already ascended to the ranks of the gods, no such miracle had ever been reported before.
However, the problem currently plaguing her head wasn't just that simple fact.
"Of all things, he had to say something so unnecessary..."
With a low mutter of complaint, she furrowed her brow.
The words he uttered while revealing his identity were the cause of her current deep 고민.
A group of evil plotting the destruction of entire dimensions.
The secret force rooted on Earth that he vowed to eradicate.
That was the grand cause proclaimed by Heinrich, the saint from that other world.
And the organization he targeted was none other than the Reverse Heaven Society she belonged to.
'First, I need to check how much he knows about us.'
She closed her eyes tightly and rubbed her brow.
He seemed like quite a useful talent, so initially the goal was to recruit him, but now that he'd already clashed with the Chairman, she couldn't stick to that line anymore.
"The head of the investigation team was Priest Jason, right?"
A holy knight with an uncompromising temperament, somewhat hot-blooded yet paradoxically valuing cold rationality.
She was well aware of his character.
She'd already manipulated him to her desires more than once or twice using that personality.
'Not sure if it'll work. If I can just buy a little time...'
She recalled the conversation she'd had with Priest Jason via communication just a short while ago.
She'd fed him a few words to stimulate his rationality and undermine trust in the White Knights, but she wasn't confident in how effective they'd be.
"Saint... Saint, huh..."
The chief secretary muttered to herself lightly while tapping the table.
Then she suddenly paused, stayed still for a moment, and soon burst into a chuckle to herself.
Suddenly, her current worries felt utterly pointless.
Sss—
A divine power like a sunset glow emanated from her body.
She gazed quietly at the energy gathered on her hand, then twisted her lips.
Whether he was truly from another world or not, it was far too late now.
It wasn't a god from another world coming personally; a mere saint, their puppet, had limits to what he could do.
The one she served was the bona fide god of Earth.
These worries were nothing but needless fretting born of excessive caution.
"Still, I can't just sit idle."
The public's current attention on the White Knight stemmed from how hard it was to accept his existence so easily.
But if most of what he said turned out to be lies, and he couldn't even properly prove his words...
'I can make any excuse. No matter what he claims, if I push it that way, that's it.'
If he couldn't produce truly irrefutable, rock-solid evidence, his claims would naturally lose power.
Dealing with him would come after.
The chief secretary nodded slowly and rose from her seat, stepping out of the office.
'Maybe this will end easier than I thought.'
The sunset-hued divine power left behind swayed chaotically and dispersed.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The conversation that began after Heinrich sat in the prepared seat proceeded smoothly.
They already knew a fair amount about each other, and they fully acknowledged the skills he'd demonstrated, so there was no reason for friction.
Heinrich's current popularity with the public was at a level that couldn't be easily ignored.
It was only natural that the government and other organizations didn't want to clash with him needlessly.
They were already more than satisfied just having made acquaintance with this hot-topic figure and opened a channel for dialogue.
"...By the way, didn't Brother Heinrich say he can freely travel between the two worlds?"
Of course, given how much of a hot potato Heinrich himself was, it was natural for the conversation to focus on topics related to him.
A middle-aged man with neatly trimmed brown hair and short beard—a priest named Jason dispatched from the US Pantheon headquarters—raised the issue, and looks of keen interest appeared on everyone's faces.
That was actually their biggest point of curiosity.
"I heard that too. Traveling back and forth between dimensions! I never even imagined it was possible."
"It's truly amazing. How is that even possible...? It must be thanks to divine power, right?"
"How often can you go back and forth...?"
"What's the time difference...?"
To those firing questions with shining eyes as if they'd been waiting, Heinrich smiled gently and answered step by step.
"...Actually, the reason I can't show myself often is because of the time difference. I have to focus on my own world, after all."
Q&A exchanged in a warm, harmonious atmosphere.
Among them were truths, half-truths mixed with facts, and complete lies, but all clearly overturned modern common sense from the root.
And naturally—
"...Hmm, I have something to say about that."
Such one-sided assertions couldn't be easily accepted by others.
"I acknowledge Brother Heinrich possesses remarkable abilities. Just sitting here facing your devout faith makes my skin crawl."
As Priest Jason, who had been listening quietly, spoke up, all eyes focused on him.
Among clergy, divine power was the most certain way to prove one's faith.
Having confirmed it directly face-to-face, no one could argue that point.
Of course, the issue was that it was entirely separate from what he wanted to say now.
"However, regarding the rest... I'm not so sure. Especially the part where Brother Heinrich claims to be from another world."
Heinrich nodded slowly at the clear distrust embedded in his words.
It was the expected reaction.
[Only Earth's Awakeners can cross dimensions.]
That had been ingrained as common sense among Earthlings for over twenty years now.
So, with someone suddenly claiming to be from another world, it was no wonder they couldn't believe it easily.
One might call twenty years short, but since it was the first incident in history after the Great Cataclysm, it wasn't that brief.
"And one more thing. You said you came to Earth to uproot evil in accordance with God's will. That an organization scheming to drive entire dimensions to destruction is hiding here... Ha ha."
Jason continued, shaking his head with a hearty laugh.
Then he scanned the room again before staring straight at Heinrich and speaking once more.
"If such a group exists, why are they staying quiet now? If they have the power to destroy multiple dimensions, Earth shouldn't be that hard for them."
"I've looked into Outerica too. Long ago, they were on the brink of destruction, waging a desperate war against a being called the Immortal King. But for an evil organization to orchestrate even a calamity of that scale..."
His calm words gradually grew heated.
His initially objective recounting of facts turned more and more into an interrogation.
"Shamefully, our Pantheon may lack cohesion, but our scale spans the entire world. Our reach is comparable to the World Returner Association."
"If such a force existed, we couldn't possibly be unaware. No, even without us, no one anywhere had heard of it. Not until Heinrich here brought it up."
Jason's words continued amid the silence of all.
Heinrich could sense that everyone around was silently agreeing with his confident assertions.
In truth, they all shared the same thoughts but hadn't voiced them.
'...This is dangerous. The distrust is greater than I expected. Did I think too lightly of it?'
All his claims were premised on him truly coming from another world per God's will.
If that basic premise lost credibility, his assertions became empty cries naturally.
'Come to think of it, I am technically a real Earthling too.'
In fact, not many fully believed his words even now.
Those influenced by Heinrich's overwhelming abilities so far and the 'faith' emanating from his presence merely claimed neutrality, so it wasn't showing on the surface.
'To boost the credibility of my claims, I need to solidly prove I'm a dimension traveler from another world...'
The problem was Earth was a place where all sorts of unique ability users gathered.
Whatever ability he used to prove himself, there was a high chance it'd be countered.
'If I had more time, maybe.'
If time passed and returners from Outerica backed his claims, persuasiveness would rise.
Of course, that would only prove he could travel between worlds, not that he was truly from another one.
'But time is precious now.'
Ultimately, breaking the fixed notion that only Earth Awakener dimension travelers mattered.
But how?
Irrefutable evidence anyone would acknowledge at first sight, rock-solid proof.
Was there such a convenient way in the world...?
"I see. Then allow me to show you."
"Hm?"
"Yes?"
...There was.
No, there was no need to even think about it.
Something like that was far too easy for him.
'In this world, it's not rare for people who went to other worlds to return as vampires or werewolves. There are abilities to transform into completely different beings too.'
However, those had limits.
And the most effective one among them was...
'Alright, then let's go all the way. Better to overwhelm them with shock than do it half-heartedly. I'll make them believe even if they don't want to.'
As those around him looked confused, Heinrich, who had closed his eyes and clasped his hands, continued in a solemn voice.
"...God has responded. He says He will send another of His servants to this land."
"Pardon?"
People exchanging bewildered glances at the out-of-nowhere statement.
But regardless of their reactions, the situation suddenly gained momentum.
"Then I'll call it right now."
"Ah, no..."
"Um, Heinrich?"
As if not giving them time to think, he ignored those hesitantly calling him and abruptly stood up.
Then he strode to a window on one side and flung it wide open.
"Heinrich? You said call... what...?"
"A being that absolutely cannot exist in this world."
He gazed up at the clear sky as if praising.
"Guardian of dimensions and tuner of balance. And protector who observes the world in accordance with God's will."
As if responding to his words.
Pzzt—!
Sparks flew in the middle of the clear sky.
It didn't stop at one or two but continued repeatedly, gradually expanding its area.
Those seated jumped to their feet at the clearly ominous reaction.
"Wh-what?"
"W-wait a minute! This is right in the middle of Seoul...!"
However, before the shout sensing foreboding from the abnormality could finish.
Fwaaah—
With a dazzling golden radiance.
💥 ROAR 💥 [Krrooooaaar—!] A roar laden with immense presence swept through all directions.
What appeared at the site of the anomaly was a massive lifeform dozens of meters in size, covered in beautiful waves of golden light.
-Weeeeng—! Weeeeng—!
At the same time, blaring sirens echoed through the city center.
The peaceful city plunged into chaos, and the area turned into pandemonium amid outbursts of commotion everywhere.
'Sorry about this... but I have to do at least this much.'
The debate just now wasn't just about convincing those present.
His words had spread worldwide through various media.
To convince them all and make them take his words seriously, shouldn't he etch it firmly into the minds of people everywhere this time?
And glancing sideways at those he'd been talking to moments ago, Heinrich knew his aim had hit the mark.
"What... is that...?"
"Heh!"
All of them stood with mouths agape, staring blankly out the window.
Anyone facing that existence would instinctively know.
That lifeform... could never be imitated by artificial means.
The overwhelming difference in presence and species crushed the soul, something illusions or transformation abilities could never touch.
💥 ROAR 💥 [Krrooooaaar—!] Flap— flap—
The Gold Dragon, who had been diligently studying abroad while holding the Yeouiju, roared once more.
As if imprinting its existence on Earth during this rare outing to cool off his head after a long time.