Chapter 316
A Special Day
Siberia, Soviet Union, a secret city.
New World League headquarters.
In the chapel, vibrant sunlight shines through stained glass depicting the Savior’s legend.
There stood a handsome man with black hair and black eyes, dressed in a white suit.
It was the leader of the New World League, Messiah.
“The Professor… has been detained…”
He crumpled the newspaper in his hand.
Messiah’s expression tightened slightly. The Professor’s face popped into his mind.
The Professor.
Because he trusted him, he had sent him to watch over the Undertaker.
But the Professor had gone beyond just monitoring the Undertaker; he had caused a major incident by arbitrarily attacking Shuo Hero Academy with Omega Rank otherworldly creatures.
Messiah’s brows furrowed slightly.
“I didn’t expect him to behave so recklessly… This is… unexpected.”
Among the Four Horsemen, Berserk was dead, and the Professor had been captured.
The Undertaker served as a nominal subordinate but was essentially a close accomplice.
Now, there was only one trustworthy high-ranking official left.
“The Professor… A fool who couldn’t forget the memory of his old teacher has caused another incident.”
Dokta Shinahel knelt behind Messiah.
The raven mask, with its impressive beak, shimmered in the light of the stained glass.
A smile formed on the face behind the mask.
Unlike the Professor, who was obsessed with his mentor, Dokta Shinahel was a fanatic genuinely following Messiah’s plans for the New World.
Dokta Shinahel couldn’t understand the Professor’s misguided sentiments that led him to screw up.
That’s why the Professor and Dokta Shinahel didn’t get along.
“…He was just an ordinary human, ultimately entangled in the false bonds of the old world, an ordinary human haunted by his master’s ghost. How unfortunate.”
Messiah wore a sorrowful expression.
He touched the holographic globe floating in front of the altar with his finger.
The holographic image scattered.
“The Professor’s reckless actions were foolish and foolish, but the operation plan he devised was flawless. By deploying Omega Rank otherworldly creatures to disperse forces, the Professor himself targeted Shuo Academy… If there hadn’t been any special variables, it would have been an absolutely successful operation.”
“This is a mission that is bound to succeed.”
Messiah’s eyes narrowed.
An Omega Rank otherworldly being is a monster at the peak that can plunge an entire nation into the brink of destruction single-handedly.
Even an EX Rank hero cannot deal with such a monster alone.
The only ones capable of facing an Omega Rank being by themselves were the now-deceased Sword Master Kurosawa Akira and Messiah.
Thus, Professor’s plan had a success probability of nearly 99%.
Even Messiah himself acknowledged that the procedures of the Reader were an issue, but the overall operation plan was flawless.
However, the result was the worst.
“It was not the Sword Demon or the King of Hell who defeated the Omega Rank otherworldly being… but rather the Son of the Sword Master… Kurosawa Yuji.”
Messiah bit his lip.
Ouch.
Pain surged from the not-yet-healed wound near his chest.
That was the wound inflicted by Sword Master Kurosawa Akira ten years ago.
It was the first and last wound Messiah ever received since awakening his powers.
He clasped his chest and took a breath.
“Is it truly because he possesses colorless mana? How interesting… Son of the Sword Master.”
Colorless mana.
If it weren’t for that cursed mana light, he wouldn’t have received this chest wound.
Messiah’s particular focus on eliminating Kurosawa Yuji, the Son of the Sword Master, stemmed from the fact that he possessed colorless mana.
“Moreover, even Black Beast Kim Deok-Sung has wiped out Professor…”
Beep.
The holographic device in the chapel activated, playing a nationalistic YouTube video praising Kim Deok-Sung.
[K-Hero Kim Deok-Sung! Finally ascended to EX Rank! The entire world was engulfed in shock and terror at the heroic deeds of Kim Deok-Sung, who defeated an EX Rank villain through the extraordinary feat possible for just 0.00001%! The K-Hero, respected, loved, and cheered by the whole world! Excited declarations from the US, Japan, the UK, and France: “We must pay any price to support Kim Deok-Sung!”]
Messiah found himself seriously staring at the dizzying thumbnail of the nationalist YouTube video, a smirk forming on his lips.
“The Black Beast Kim Deok-Sung has grown to the point of defeating the Professor without the help of a supporter, contrary to when he was Berserk… and to think he has awakened to EX Rank, truly unexpected again.”
Beep.
The holographic video turned off.
Clap, clap, clap, clap.
In the quiet chapel, Messiah’s applause echoed.
“What a strange fate this irregular seems to possess. Kim Deok-Sung, it almost feels like this world revolves around him. To think someone from an ideal realm becomes the chosen one in this world, ha, hahahaha, hahahahahaha!”
Messiah erupted into laughter, extending his arms downward.
His laughter was laced with a hint of interest.
“If he is the chosen hero, does that make me the Demon King? What a delightful twist of fate.”
Messiah’s laughter ceased.
A hologram displayed Kim Deok-Sung’s personal information and profile picture.
A boy with the same black hair, black eyes, the same mana light, and the same gift.
Everything was similar, yet they became enemies, and that contradiction tickled Messiah’s fancy uncontrollably.
“There is no way my Master could be a Demon King! My Master is the one and only savior of this false world. A being that exists purely by their own accord, without anyone’s choice. That Black Beast is merely a false hero concocted by the fallen world fearful of the New World, an unreasonable trial bestowed upon my Master by the old world!”
“Isn’t it impossible for you to be the Demon King? Master is the unique savior of this false world. One who exists solely by their own will, without anyone’s choice. That Black Beast, Kim Deok-Sung, is nothing but a false hero created by the remnants of the old world, terrified of the New World. This is the unreasonable trial bestowed upon you by the old world!”
Dokta Shinahel speaks fervently, kneeling before the Messiah with a voice filled with fanaticism.
Hearing Dokta Shinahel’s passionate speech, the Messiah closes his eyes and opens them again.
“That’s right, Dokta Shinahel. You might be right. Perhaps Kim Deok-Sung, that Black Beast, is indeed… a challenger summoned by the old world’s will, fearing the New World I will create. If so, then this too is a trial and a penance I, the savior of the world, must bear as I create the New World!”
Thud.
The Messiah slams his fist down on the altar of the chapel.
His eyes blaze with an inner fire.
“No trial, no penance matters. For the ideal New World where no gods or demons exist, where only humans determine their own destinies, I will endure any hardship and trial.”
The Messiah clenches his fist.
It trembles with intensity.
Thoughts of the past, before awakening his powers, flood his mind.
Losing his parents to the Otherworld Sect, and even his sister, who had raised him, eventually committing suicide after being ensnared by the hero’s infidelity.
Memories of the Otherworld Sect destroying cities, while bands of thieves known as heroes exploit the weak under the guise of threat, flooding his mind with their ugly deeds as they reign over the world.
Images of good civilians suffering from villainous terror and the hero’s tyranny flash through his mind.
Drip.
A single tear flows from the Messiah’s eye.
“The root of all tragedies existing in this world… lies in this false old world. This unreasonable world, where gods and demons take turns rolling dice to decide the fates of helpless lambs, must surely perish. The destruction of the old world is the only path to saving everyone.”
How pitiful it is.
How tragic it is.
Therefore, I must save everyone, save this world.
It is I who must do it.
The Messiah wipes away his tears with determination.
“Kim Deok-Sung, if you truly are the final struggle born from the last gasp of the false old world, if you are the adversary the old world has pointed its finger at. I will summon all my strength to defeat you, capture you, and make you my means to reach the New World.”
“Everything is according to the Savior’s will!”
In response to the Messiah’s resolute declaration, Dokta Shinahel fervently agrees with a manic voice.
“…Pass on my orders to the Undertaker. Capture Kim Deok-Sung. If the orders are disobeyed… tell them the location of the soul of the brother I painstakingly found will forever be buried in darkness.”
“Understood! My master, my savior!”
Hearing Dokta Shinahel’s response, the Messiah’s eyes grow cold.
*
Time passes, and soon it’s November 11th.
And just like that, it was November 11th.
“Of all days, it had to be November 11th…”
November 11th is Pepero Day.
A damn commercial holiday that’s only in Korea.
[Why, partner? What’s special about November 11th? Is there something significant today?]
The voice of the Black Prince echoed in my head.
“Significant? Well, I guess it is special—today is Farmer’s Day and also the day World War I ended.”
Without thinking, I replied to the Black Prince while putting on the school uniform that Han Seo-Jin had prepared for me, and headed down the dormitory stairs.
November 11th.
Farmer’s Day.
And the day World War I ended.
Before I was reincarnated, the memes circulating on the internet mentioned that November 11th wasn’t just Pepero Day, but also this significant day.
The meme suggested not exchanging Pepero but instead giving each other rice cake to commemorate World War I…
[World War I ended on November 11th?]
At the Black Prince’s question, I stopped in my tracks.
“Huh? Isn’t it?”
[As far as I know, it’s November 20th… That day is Memorial Day in our country, so I know. I used to attend the ceremonies often.]
What?
In this world, World War I ended on November 20th?
I didn’t know because it wasn’t mentioned in the setting book, but hearing it from the Black Prince sent chills down my spine.
[…Partner. What’s going on?]
“It’s just a misunderstanding.”
[…Are you really sure? As expected, you… …]
At his words, I opened and closed my eyes.
My heart rate increased.
Fortunately, it seems I haven’t been discovered as a reincarnator.
If I think about it, he’s been by my side the longest.
Besides, didn’t we even have a similar experience before?
It doesn’t make sense for him to not notice my strangeness.
“It’s just a mix-up with the date. Nothing more, nothing less.”
Still, I decided to play it cool for now.
[Alright. Got it, partner. But remember, I don’t care who you are. You’re my partner, after all. Not right now… But if there’s anything you want to talk about, I’m here anytime.]
The Black Prince said this in a tone that was serious yet slightly cheerful, which was unusual for him.
[Because you’re my partner! Hahahahaha! This Black Prince can counsel you about anything! Whether it’s relationship advice or life problems, I’m a perfect 100 out of 100!]
With his last remark, he went back to his usual nonsense.
At that moment, just as I was about to reply, I heard an absurd voice in my ear.
“Hoho. Listen up, Haru. Back then, I briefly shared a body with that little one. Hoho. The feeling of his warm energy flowing into my body was truly… enchanting…”
Turning my head, I saw…
At the entrance of the dormitory, there was the white-haired, red-eyed, Gothic dress-wearing beautiful girl, Yoshizaki Seira, tangled up in her own clothes, and Kurosawa Haru, puffing her cheeks out.
What?
Warm energy? Into my body? Enchanting?
What kind of nonsense is this first thing in the morning?
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