Chapter 461
Chapter 461
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 461
Chapter Title: Information War (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
‘Deus Ex Machina… The god of machinery, huh?’
He must have met some condition through this battle in the digital world.
Well, it was thanks to a bit of trickery, but they had still defeated such a formidable foe and claimed victory.
‘Winning in the first place was practically a miracle.’
He’d had his fair share of exploits so far, and he’d always been confident in electronic warfare using hacking. But the opponent this time—the Doctor—had utterly crushed that confidence.
The way he dismantled every countermeasure and swiftly infiltrated their side was still chilling to think about.
“…Still, in the end, I won.”
It was like stabbing someone with a hidden knife mid-fistfight, but a win was a win.
After confirming repeatedly that the enemy’s signal had completely cut off, Hesperon let out a short sigh.
He couldn’t check the enemy’s status right away, but with the curse properly activated, it was clear they weren’t in great shape.
At least for the time being, they could be considered fully retired.
‘Good thing. That aggressive maneuvering, plus breaking through their thick defenses—it took a serious toll. As expected of a curse left by someone who once ascended to Demon King. It packs a punch.’
The new sealing diagram he’d created this time had likely helped a lot too.
He resealed his throbbing arm, exhausted from overuse, then quickly recovered the market share lost during the fight with the Doctor while checking his new skill.
To sum up the rough gist of Deus Ex Machina in one sentence:
An overwhelming superior correction to all elements originating from technological civilizations.
Hacking or not—even something as simple as web surfing or piloting a spaceship, it didn’t matter.
Hesperon instinctively knew.
Even if he hopped into a fighter jet he’d never seen before, he’d become an ace pilot in no time.
And, as was only natural.
This new skill fully applied to Machine Eye: Kallikas, aka ‘Habis’, which was linked to him as one.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Unidentified update detected. Basic performance greatly enhanced for unknown reasons. Checking details. Thanks to that, repairing the damage and scouring the sea of information that had been the battlefield to collect the spoils went even faster than expected.
He probably wouldn’t lose so helplessly if he fought the Doctor again.
With all the fixes for previous vulnerabilities already applied, this time he might actually get a proper clash.
‘Handing over a skill like this just for winning one electronic battle?’
Hesperon tilted his head with an odd expression.
Awakened acquiring new skills required commensurate karma.
The most common way was accumulating it through repeated training.
Or fulfilling very special conditions to seize linked possibilities…
“…Well, doesn’t matter. It’s not a bad thing for me.”
He shrugged lightly.
Right now, other matters were more pressing.
“Ha! As expected. You’ve been quite busy.”
Hesperon smirked as he checked the neatly organized data from Habis.
Of course, it didn’t contain everything.
In a world rife with all sorts of abilities, there were plenty of ways to exchange information.
But just as every method had pros and cons, in modern society, the overwhelming convenience of internet networks was indispensable.
The Doctor’s confidence in his perfect security had probably stemmed from that too.
‘The difference between clues and none is night and day. Even a tiny lead lets you trace and grab the tail easily.’
He could’ve done it easily before, but now with Habis’s performance skyrocketing…
As he quietly analyzed the info and filed it away in his mind.
His face twitched at one particular section.
“Ha, didn’t see this coming.”
Hesperon closed his eyes tightly, then opened them with a sigh.
He sent a message to all his info agents still diligently gathering data.
‘…Looks like verification is needed.’
With the investigation’s direction now set—unlike before—it shouldn’t take long.
But one thing was certain.
‘If this is true…’
It could blow the Reverse Heaven Society’s schemes in the Pantheon sky-high in one shot.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Not long ago, a noisy incident had rocked the place, yet the meeting between Pantheon leadership and Heinrich proceeded quietly.
“Welcome, brother. We truly regret the previous matter.”
“The Quilladia Church has always been… a bit problematic. On behalf of the Pantheon, we apologize once more.”
Regardless of public attention, they had been rude to a guest first, and the Pantheon didn’t want more scrutiny.
Still, the uproar had happened, so the executives attending this summit felt different from before.
As proof, nine committee members had shown up to meet Heinrich—nearly all of them.
Considering one of the twelve committee seats was still vacant, only two were absent.
For a global religious alliance, their leadership was insanely busy. Saying everyone who could make it had come wasn’t an exaggeration.
‘Guess the trouble I caused on arrival left an impression. I heard you’d normally meet at most three.’
Heinrich met the eyes of those in varied vestments one by one, smiling softly.
“Thank you for the warm welcome despite the needless fuss I caused.”
True to form as religious leaders, each brimmed with immense holy power.
That level on Earth meant far higher status in their home worlds.
Most high priests who awakened settled here instead of returning, so these were the pinnacle of Earth’s clergy.
Maintaining that holy power after returning proved their devout faith.
‘Well, doesn’t matter. The strongest here is still me, no contest.’
Undeniable fact.
Just look at their gazes—pure awe mixed with jealousy and wariness.
“Heavens, truly impressive. Such strong faith…”
“As expected of a saint. Well-deserved.”
Their talk started with mutual praise and flowed naturally.
The original invite was to recruit him into the Pantheon after his unprecedented holy power debut.
Earth’s largest religious alliance needed such talent for face.
Now that he was revealed as an otherworlder, things had shifted.
But they were all faith-walkers. Chatting with a so-called saint was natural.
“Oh, by the way.”
But the amicable mood didn’t last.
The chairman, with his thick mustache and sideburns, hardened his expression.
The others withdrew their smiles, eyeing Heinrich.
“Lately, we’ve spotted suspicious movements within the Pantheon.”
Their serious stares.
Heinrich knew what was coming.
‘Ah, damn. They caught on after all.’
It’d be weirder if they hadn’t.
Auterica’s priests he’d met separately had been poking around busily right after.
And he’d beaten a holy warrior from another church into the hospital upon arrival.
“You may not know, but we’re extremely sensitive to territorial intrusions. Each church’s independence demands it.”
“With diverse faiths under one roof, rules aren’t too strict. But violating those ‘must-keeps’… we’re very strict.”
That’s why Quilladia, humiliated by their holy warrior’s beating, stayed quiet and groveled.
Even proactively apologizing despite the pride hit.
“Coincidentally, we detected external observation of the Pantheon around then.”
“Massive scale too. Scrying a holy site like this isn’t easy. Almost like someone helped from inside.”
No matter the internal bonds, the Pantheon was Earth’s top religious alliance.
No underestimating it.
Reverse Heaven Society hadn’t chosen convoluted methods for nothing.
“Investigation points to an organization called ‘Masquerade.’ Not well-known yet.”
“Judging by the scale, not small. Moved simultaneously in Europe, Southeast Asia, East Asia.”
A familiar name popped up amid their murmurs.
He thought they hadn’t noticed due to no reaction, but they’d suspected early and stayed quiet for deeper probes.
‘They dug that far? Damn, too greedy after all.’
In hindsight, pushing despite suspicions was risky.
But he didn’t regret it.
Thanks to the speed, he’d snagged Reverse Heaven Society’s traces before they could cut tails.
“All this happening at once could be coincidence. But we can’t help suspecting.”
“…Sensitive times. Vacant seat, suspicious Pandemonium moves.”
The nine members weren’t just here to chat.
Mostly to grill him on external interference.
“So, we ask.”
As the sharp-eyed chairman spoke again, all stared heavily at Heinrich.
“Auterica’s saint, Heinrich Saint Landgard. You’re accused of colluding with external forces, directing your priests to leak Pantheon internals. Do you admit it?”
The summit turned inquisition.
Heavy air enveloped the room instantly.
A ability utterly unlike holy power.
‘Unique skill.’
He instinctively sensed it.
This space was the so-called ‘Chamber of Truth.’
Overlaid rules forced truth only—no lies allowed.
‘I could ignore it if I wanted…’
But the caster would notice immediately.
He wasn’t just a guest now.
Under suspicion, defiance was the worst move.
They’d fortified the whole chamber too, wary of his power.
Here…
“I did not collude with external forces.”
Sticking to pure truth to dodge charges was best.
‘It’s purely my own organization.’
Masquerade was wholly his.
No need for collusion.
“I did not pass internal info elsewhere.”
His investigators just followed orders; all data ended with him.
Not “passed.”
“But it’s true I directed my followers to investigate the Pantheon.”
He didn’t deny everything.
No point hiding the undeniable.
Of course, “followers” included all of Masquerade besides Auterica priests—but they didn’t know.
“…Why?”
All truths ruled.
Chairman cautiously probed, unable to hide bafflement at the twist.
He’d admitted investigating—dig there…
“Straight to the point. I spotted suspicions, launched an immediate probe, and confirmed my fears were true.”
“What exactly?”
“High-ranking Pantheon traitors planted by Pandemonium.”
“What?!”
“Heavens!”
Pandemonium.
The group of “evil god followers” even the inclusive Pantheon rejected for extreme ideology.
Formed to oppose Pantheon from the start, constant arch-enemies.
‘Their churches lack cohesion even more—constant infighting.’
Practically a loose coalition.
But their “heretic hunts” targeting Pantheon clerics had caused massive casualties.
“Evil god followers?”
“That true… Urgh.”
How many comrades had they lost?
The now-vacant first seat, Adellein Schneider, was suspected too. No way Pantheon let that slide.
Especially in this truth-only chamber via chairman’s skill!
“And.”
But Heinrich didn’t stop.
‘This is an opportunity.’
Whoosh—
Dazzling dawn light sprouted radiant wings behind him.
Platinum aura blazing fiercely, halo glowing serenely behind his head.
“Another force’s involvement behind them was confirmed.”
The transcendent presence pouring out froze the clerics present.
Hearts filled with pure awe.
Different gods? Irrelevant now.
“Reverse Heaven Society.”
The “world’s enemy” he’d warned of before.
“They founded Pandemonium—the true culprits behind countless sacrifices.”