Chapter 453
Chapter 453
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 453
Chapter Title: Otherworld Conquest Chronicle (5)
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After the battle ended, the vast plain lay desolate, scarred everywhere with traces of destruction.
The mountains of corpses and seas of blood piled up here and there formed a scene straight out of the apocalypse.
Clatter— clatter—
"For the Eternal King of Death..." "Grrruk—! Gruk!" No, considering that the corpses, which should normally stay still, were freely roaming the asura field of their own accord, calling it merely apocalyptic fell short.
It was as if the hell they'd only heard of in stories had manifested in reality.
A sight that would plunge any living being into terror unfolded right before their eyes.
'The irony is that I'm actually on their side.'
McCarthy gave a wry smile as he gazed down from a relatively intact high watchtower amid the crumbled walls.
Using the 'Eye of the Dead' to survey the battlefield from this prime vantage point with a clear view of everything made such sentiments hit even harder.
'...Did I unwittingly invite a disaster?'
In truth, the war for supremacy over this world was as good as over.
With even the archdemons all defeated, what threat could a few lesser demons pose?
Those small fries would obviously be mopped up the moment the vast undead horde spread across the world.
And the future of the humans who had barely survived under demonic rule would inevitably be shaped by that.
'I never dreamed it would turn out like this. Who could have predicted it would go this far?'
To be honest, it would be more accurate to say he'd been skeptical right up to the very last moment.
No matter what they did, they could never defeat the enemy.
And that made sense, for archdemons—especially the 'Infinite Archdemon'—were absolute, untouchable symbols in this world.
He hadn't targeted Great Holy Lord Rapua precisely because the archdemon was away.
It had been a desperate struggle to achieve revenge at any cost, even if it meant mutual destruction with his nemesis, should they lose the war.
'...Looking back now, it was just plain stupid.'
It was all thanks to the Immortal Sovereign from another world, 'Hannibal Strauss'.
The invader from beyond who had appeared at the head of a deathly horde and swept away the demons ruling the continent in an instant.
For McCarthy, who believed he had summoned such a being, it was impossible not to feel deeply uneasy.
'Back then, I thought once I got my revenge, I didn't care what happened to this world.'
Was this what they meant by your mindset changing between going into and coming out of the bathroom?
Now that he'd achieved everything he wanted, he was starting to worry about the aftermath.
Worried that the world he'd shared with her would become an even greater hell than before.
That the peaceful world she'd so desperately longed for, the smiles of the children he'd fought to protect, would be defiled by death.
Of course, having already devoted everything and become a slave, there was nothing left he could do.
'Nothing but leave the rest to the heavens. Though how much I can trust the heavens after they already let the world go to ruin once, I don't know.'
...Or so he'd thought.
Until he heard the words directly from his 'master' who had summoned him shortly after.
"Pardon? Me, you say?"
McCarthy's eyes widened round as he gaped blankly.
The words from the other's mouth were utterly unexpected.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ "Hmmm, why the surprise? You're the contractor who summoned this body to this world, aren't you? It's only natural." The grand audience chamber brimmed with an eerie aura.
At the end of the absolute sovereign's cold gaze, looking down from the jade throne atop high stairs.
Undead executives radiating murderous intent stood rigidly on either side, while McCarthy, who had come for an audience with the king and now prostrated himself, stared only at the floor as he swallowed dryly.
Sweat beaded on his forehead and dripped down steadily.
'...True, but still... that...'
He had arrived at this demon castle—which he didn't know when it had sprung up— this pitch-black palace suddenly erected at the peak of a famous sacred mountain, just moments ago.
Yet the bewilderment he felt now was incomparable to when he'd first encountered this hideous fortress.
"I... I'm just an ignorant wanderer who knows nothing but roaming around. How could someone like me serve as viceroy ruling this world in the king's stead?"
Normally, he'd just nod along with yeses, but this time he couldn't bring himself to.
What if he accepted a position beyond his station and some disaster beyond his capabilities erupted? How would he handle it?
This was especially true now, in a transitional period where the very foundations of the world had been upended.
McCarthy, who knew his own limits well, lacked confidence in navigating the chaos ahead.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ "McCarthy." "Yes, Lord of Death."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ "This is an order." "...I shall gladly obey your command."
But he had no choice against the imperial decree that followed.
Once the order was given, all he could do was grit his teeth and try.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ "No need to worry. I'll leave subordinates to handle the practical affairs for you. Your role is simply to maintain balance as the human representative of this world." Of course, Hans knew exactly what he was thinking.
He had no intention of dumping everything on him from the start.
He simply wanted to install minimal safeguards, fearing that undead with unconventional mindsets might ruin the world he'd painstakingly conquered.
'I can't keep babysitting this world forever anyway.'
He had plenty on his plate already.
He'd beaten down Devoa's demons one after another, reaping various gains, and extracted considerable information via the Infinite Archdemon.
Having swept through spectacularly and pocketed a hefty karma haul, he had no more business here.
'I can leave the rest to McCarthy. His soul is pledged to me anyway.'
Everything he did in this world would rebound as karma to Hans himself.
That had been the contract from the beginning.
In other words, McCarthy was essentially Hans's apostle in Devoa.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ "Kekeke— Come to think of it, as viceroy, you do seem a bit lacking right now. Might as well boost your power while we're at it." "N-No... it's fine, my king. In a world where demons are extinct, who would dare defy the Immortal Legion? There's no need for Your Majesty to trouble yourself!"
His face paling as memories of the pain from his eye and arm transplants resurfaced, McCarthy hurriedly spoke up.
He'd thrown caution to the wind for revenge, but now that everything was done, he had no appetite for more suffering.
However, it wasn't enough to sway Hans, who had already made up his mind.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ "No, that's not acceptable. Authority stems from overwhelming power. I can't tolerate my viceroy being looked down upon for lacking strength." It wasn't mere black magic but the very 'power of the dead' bestowed by Hans himself. Wielding it in a human body inevitably came with immense pain.
Turning him undead outright would solve it, but he couldn't treat a loyal subject that way.
Fortuitously for McCarthy, Hans had just acquired a new ability perfect for this situation.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ "Worry not. I've just gained a new power. Using it, the physical pain won't be as severe as last time." "Ah, a... To think you'd care this much—it's truly an honor!"
Forcing a smile, McCarthy prostrated himself again on the floor.
With his lord going that far, he couldn't utter another word.
No, truthfully, he was already on thin ice.
'Ugh, it feels like my whole body's being pierced with holes...'
The undead legion executives standing silently on either side of the hall glared at him with ghostly eyes.
They refrained only because the king was personally conversing.
Otherwise, he'd already be in for some horrific fate.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ "Kekeke, no need to delay and waste time." Thus, he only nodded thereafter, missing the chance to ask what this 'new power' was that would be used on him.
Even that this was Hans's first use of the ability, doubling as a test.
No choice though he had, prior knowledge would have let him brace himself mentally at least.
About a day later...
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ "Oh? Not bad at all—the progress is quite decent." "...Tha... nk... you... so much..."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ "Hm, regrettably, you didn't quite breach the transcendent wall... but that's still enough not to be dismissed anywhere. Keep striving forward." Thanks to McCarthy volunteering, the experiment succeeded flawlessly, and Hans nodded in satisfaction.
As a reward, he extended further benevolence: a promise to return someday for additional treatment to fully shatter that wall.
"Ah, aaah..."
His body twitching faintly, McCarthy expressed gratitude in his halting speech—rusty from years without conversation—and inwardly vowed firmly.
To surpass that obstructing wall by any means before the king's next visit.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ "Kahahahat! Quite the entertaining diversion." Having dealt with the last demon on the surface and completed all other preparations...
The lord of death who had abruptly arrived and wrought massive change upon Devoa crossed the dimensional wall without hesitation and departed.
Leaving behind only his apostle—the human who had become one—and a contingent to aid him.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "...Phew, so now it really begins."
Atop the ruins of a fortress crumbled by war.
Gazing blankly at the sun slowly rising beyond the ridge, McCarthy clenched his fist tightly.
A world collapsed beyond recovery.
Restoring it to its original state was truly the task left to those living in this world.
They had received aid from an absolute being from beyond during liberation, but one couldn't seize their own future by relying solely on others.
'Well, truthfully, it's only thanks to him that we can even dream of it.'
Glancing aside, he looked at the plain below the crumbled walls.
A legion of undead so vast the word 'immense' barely sufficed.
Most were former demon soldiers who had fallen in the great battle.
Those who led the world's destruction were now repurposed to rebuild it.
'Impossible without him.'
A black flash gleamed in his left eye.
All undead within his domain entered his sight in an instant.
Having trained for decades in solitary time acceleration, he wielded the power with utmost proficiency.
Whoooosh—
His obsidian-like left hand then tapped the air.
Fingers moving with the delicacy of an orchestra conductor, stirring space this way and that.
"Kieeeek—!" Clatter— thud!
"Move out...!" At once, the undead arrayed on the plain and the spectral entities drifting in the sky let out unearthly cries and scattered in perfect order.
Under the command of the former demons now serving as executive-grade undead at the vanguard.
"Alright then... let's get started."
Turning, McCarthy faced the dawning light of dawn on his back and looked up at the sky as darkness receded.
Exhaling deeply, he swore.
To surely remake this world into the one she dreamed of.
"—My own battle."
The liberator of humanity who led the world's independence from demonic oppression.
The rebuilder of civilization who harnessed undead labor to restore the shattered world.
The judge punishing villains who crossed the line, and apostle serving the god of death—
The legend of Devoa's great saint, 'McCarthy Hans', thus began.
'I dare not sully his name with my own.'
That conviction would later spread the name 'Hansism' across Devoa, but that's a tale for far in the future.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 'Hmm, this was quite profitable.'
Compared to other dimensions he'd traversed, his time in Devoa was extremely short, but the gains were far from meager.
First, a massive karma haul.
Having ignored all else to focus solely on demon hunting, he'd exceeded ten million karma.
In terms of efficiency per time, it was the best yet.
Plus the title 'Liberator' earned after eliminating every demon on the surface, rare high-rank demon materials, and the enormous undead forces revived from accumulated deaths over ages—this Devoa trip was a jackpot among jackpots.
'Not on par with the dimensions I'm personally managing, but with McCarthy there, I can expect some ongoing karma.'
He'd assigned competent aides, including Banshee Queen Olivia's retainers, so practical matters should be fine.
The forces left behind could easily establish a nation.
'In a Devoa dumbed down by demons, even the pinnacle of transcendence won't lead to sudden assassination.'
With no transcendent powerhouses left, McCarthy was practically Devoa's strongest.
'Got a useful ability.'
I nodded in satisfaction.
The power acquired defeating the Infinite Archdemon, which had elevated McCarthy in one go.
This force would be a major weapon against the dimension-manipulating Reverse Heaven Oath leader.
'And applicable to training, like with McCarthy.'
Of course, refinements remained.
McCarthy benefited from real-time corrections due to his subordination; my proficiency wasn't yet perfect for ideal use.
'But time will sort that.'
I shrugged lightly.
Above all, Hans's otherworld conquest chronicle wasn't over with Devoa.
He'd captured plenty of Reverse Heaven Oath transcendents.
And several more dimensions accessible via them remained.