#361
The Final Meeting
Secret City in Siberia, Soviet Union.
Underground of the New World League Headquarters.
In the gargantuan underground facility that consumed the entire energy of the secret city, there was an enormous donut-shaped machine.
The Magic Particle Accelerator.
A culmination of modern science, magic, and lost technology all mobilized to create the Philosopher’s Stone, a manifestation of over-technology birthed by modern civilization, stood in this place.
The production cost of this magic particle accelerator alone was equivalent to 20% of the Soviet Union’s annual budget.
This was why the Messiah had seized control of the Soviet Union, turning it into a puppet state.
Buzz, buzz. Buzz, buzz.
A low hum resonated from the magic particle accelerator.
Blue magical energy shimmered, appearing and disappearing.
In the control room near the ceiling overlooking the magic particle accelerator, there was the Messiah.
“If we inject the energy contained within Diego Morales and his Soul Gem, collected from Korea as per the Master’s calculations, we will be able to complete the Philosopher’s Stone.”
Right in front of the Messiah.
Dokta Shinahel, seated at the control panel capable of operating the magic particle accelerator, spoke in a respectful voice.
At his words, the Messiah’s body trembled slightly.
The Philosopher’s Stone.
A miraculous artifact containing infinite magical power and endless possibilities.
The completion of a key item that could convert and amplify one type of power into another, and open a World Gate connecting to the utopia was finally within reach.
“······Ahhh. I’m trembling.”
The Messiah’s cheek quivered.
“Proceed.”
“Understood, Master.”
Nodding at the Messiah’s directive, Dokta Shinahel pressed a button, causing the mechanical arm to move and lift the enormous magic stone displayed in the blue wave magic containment field.
The magic stone gripped by the robotic arm emitted vibrations.
WooOOOOOO!
Within the ominously glowing violet magic stone, Diego’s corpse and the energy extracted from his Soul Gem were stored.
The magic stone, containing hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands of soul energies, shook precariously in the mechanical arm as if it might explode at any moment.
Pachutsutsutsutsuch!
Even the standard-grade magic stone, found only within an Omega rank interdimensional species and counted on one hand in the world, could not fully contain Diego and the numerous soul energies he had.
At this rate, the magic stone would exceed its absorption limit leading to a magical overload, causing it to explode, potentially erasing not just the underground facility but also this secret city, home to the League Headquarters, from the map entirely.
Paradoxically, to give birth to the miraculous substance known as the Philosopher’s Stone, such energy needed to be consumed as a final act for completion.
“I will inject the energy now.”
With Dokta Shinahel’s words, the mechanical arm moved the magic stone, injecting it into the magic particle accelerator.
Inject the magic particles into the accelerator.
Pachzzt!
Pazs.
Due to the overwhelming magic shockwave emitted from the magic saturation phenomenon, the mechanical arm shattered into pieces immediately after the magic stone was injected.
Ziiiiiing!
Dokta Shinahel pulled the lever on the control panel.
As various graph numbers soared on the monitor, an overwhelming magic wave erupted from the magic particle accelerator.
Pachzzt! Clang!
The magic-enhanced glass, typically used in spaceships, couldn’t withstand the magic wave spilling from the accelerator and shattered.
“······.”
Messiah raised his hand and snapped his fingers.
The darkness that erupted from his shadow absorbed the shards of the shattered magic glass, the shock, and even the magic shockwave itself.
Gooooo!
In that moment, as the energy within the magic particle accelerator continued to swirl, a loud explosion occurred.
Kwah-kwah-kwah!
When the overwhelming magic explosion went off, the emergency magic barrier that was installed in the basement activated, preventing the shock from spreading outside.
Pachzzt!
Like a black hole, a single black dot appeared, destroying the particle accelerator and rising to the center of the basement.
Huuooo!
With the sound of blowing wind, the massive energy that had been poured in from terrorist activities, illicit dealings, and misappropriating the Soviet national budget concentrated into that black dot.
Flash.
A black flash erupted, and the backlash swept through the basement.
Messiah opened his eyes.
At the center of the swirling storm of black and white flashes was that object.
A smooth, oval black object.
“The Philosopher’s Stone······.”
Messiah uttered the name of the object.
He struck the ground.
His combat mode instinctively activated, and his body was enveloped in a full-body armor.
Flying toward the center of the now wrecked basement, Messiah gripped the Philosopher’s Stone that emitted light in black and white.
Wuuuuung.
The Philosopher’s Stone trembled.
Messiah quietly began reciting a healing spell.
Wuuung.
The dark magic that extended from his body was absorbed by the Philosopher’s Stone, transforming and amplifying it into healing energy.
A massive wave of healing energy, potent enough to revive even someone on the brink of death, was absorbed into Messiah’s body.
“Ugh······. Haaaah······.”
Messiah’s eyes trembled.
His face turned bright red.
Kurosawa Yuji, the sword master.
The moment the ten-year-old wound, inflicted when he was pierced by the colorless magic-wrapped sword utilizing his own unique magic, Black Flame, finally healed was now here.
Thump.
Messiah’s heart raced.
The internal injuries that had tormented his chest were washed away.
No more pain in his chest.
That realization filled Messiah with joy.
“Finally!”
Shouting while holding the Philosopher’s Stone, Messiah closed his eyes.
Memories of the past flooded back.
In his childhood, witnessing his parents being torn apart by an onslaught of invaders right before his eyes.
At that time, he could only tremble in his sister’s embrace.
Afterwards, the only friend who approached him without prejudice at school, who might have even been his first love, lost her life to a villain’s terror.
He was powerless then too.
In his teenage years, when his only family, his sister, was deceived by a hero and used as a sexual toy before taking her own life.
That was when Messiah’s power awakened, bitterly enough.
After losing everything, there was nothing Messiah could do with his awakened abilities.
There was no work.
“This world that took everything from me…”
A single tear flowed from Messiah’s eye.
Sister, first love, parents.
It wasn’t just otherworlders, villains, or heroes who took away the lives and existence of those priceless to him.
It was this unreasonable and false old world, rife with supernatural phenomena like magic and powers, gates, and otherworlders.
This world was fundamentally flawed from the start.
“The absurdity of a world where lies are rampant, and where gods posing as heroes and demons known as otherworlders indiscriminately dictate human fate as if rolling dice…”
The cause of all misfortune in this world paradoxically lay within the world itself.
If there were no gates, there would be no otherworlders.
If there were no otherworlders, people wouldn’t be dying due to countless gate incidents.
If there were no powers or magic, then villains, heroes, and superhumans wouldn’t exist.
If there were no villains and heroes, there wouldn’t be people dying from villainous terror or suffering from heroic oppression.
Gods and demons must be prevented from playing dice with humanity.
Every person’s life holds equal value.
Thus, a world where the fate and lives of ordinary people are determined by a minority of superhumans is clearly wrong.
If there were no magic, if there were no superhumans, if there were no gates, if there were no otherworlders.
If it were a world where only humans existed.
Then perhaps they would not have died.
They might have been living ordinary lives.
They might not have to suffer tragedies like his anymore.
Humanity’s inherent potential and imagination, constrained by the unreasonable phenomenon of superpowers, might have been broadened.
“…I have the chance to end the old world, the source of it all, and lead everyone to a new world where only humans exist.”
Messiah, shedding tears, held the Philosopher’s Stone tightly.
Wooooooo.
The Philosopher’s Stone trembled in response to his words.
Like a saint from a myth, a dark halo shone behind Messiah’s head, illuminating his surroundings like the sun.
“Oh, my master… the only savior! The one who will save this false, broken, and corrupted world is only you!”
Dokta Shinahel knelt, tears streaming from behind his mask.
“Now, everything is ready to save this world and humanity.”
Messiah said, wiping away tears.
The halo above his back glowed darkly.
With his hands clasped around the Philosopher’s Stone near his navel, he spoke.
Woom.
Waves of magical energy surged from the Philosopher’s Stone, extending outward.
“O warrior summoned by the remnants of the false old world, Black Beast! Are you ready to fight?”
Messiah laughed.
The overwhelming power that could even neutralize the EX rank flashed vividly in his mind, recalling Kim Deok-Sung’s gaze encountered in Gangwon-do.
Even before such power, Kim Deok-Sung showed no sign of retreat.
Instead, he burned with fighting spirit.
Messiah thought that was the dignity deserving of a formidable rival.
Of course, Messiah could have dealt with Kim Deok-Sung right there and then.
But he chose not to.
“In every savior’s myth, an adversary who hinders the salvation appears.”
Messiah stated.
And indeed, it was as he said.
When Jesus Christ was baptized and ventured into the wilderness to fast for 40 days, Satan appeared to tempt him and hinder his practice.
When Buddha sought enlightenment beneath the Bodhi tree, Mara Papiyas obstructed his Nirvana.
“To truly be reborn as the savior of the world, and thus to save this world and humanity, one must overcome the temptations and hindrances of adversaries like Satan and Mara Papiyas.”
“To desire, one must withstand the temptations and hindrances of foes like Satan and Mara Papiyas.”
In the eyes of the Messiah, Kim Deok-Sung was truly the Satan disrupting Jesus’ fasting and Mara Papiyas blocking the enlightenment of Buddha.
Thus, he had to confront him head-on, armed with all the necessary conditions.
That was the standard of the Messiah for a savior.
That was why the Messiah had released Kim Deok-Sung and set the time and place for their decisive battle.
“I hope this will be a good match, my adversary.”
The Messiah chuckled.
There was one month left until the day of judgment (Doomsday) he had set.
It was now time to prepare for the ultimate battle (Armageddon).
*
Our winter ski trip ended with the announcement of the harem plan.
Of course, considering diplomatic relations, the list of potential spouses signed by the heroines was kept as a highly classified secret in Korea, and the public merely knew that Kim Deok-Sung was granted a polygamous harem in Korea.
“They say a special law for harems was enacted in Korea, the homeland of the Black Beast!”
“So the rumors about him being the Black Harem King were true?”
“A harem sanctioned by the country? I might be a little jealous.”
“Already more than 100 women have joined the harem of the Black Beast!”
“I should’ve realized it when the top beauty Eri was having daily nude park strolls!”
“I heard the rumors of him putting collars on the princesses of England and France and engaging in dog play were true!”
“They say he’s already entertaining three girls a night in bed, oh my gosh! I made eye contact!”
Naturally, that fact added fuel to the already semi-official rumors surrounding the damned nickname of the Black Beast.
As the short winter break ended, the Shuo Hero Academy’s first-year third semester began.
Walking through the snow-covered winter campus, I heard the chatter of extras in my ears.
The Black Beast rumors weren’t new, but they felt ramped up since the enactment of that damned special law.
[Partner. How about enjoying it instead of running away? Declare that I am the Harem King.]
“Shut up.”
I shot back at the Black Prince’s words for the first time in a while.
Enjoying it instead of running? What nonsense was that?
Anyway, what was important right now wasn’t the black beast nonsense from the extras.
‘Since the beginning of the third semester, it feels like they’ve been keeping their distance from me.’
Images of the heroines I hadn’t seen lately flashed through my mind.
Since that day.
After the start of the third semester, it felt like encounters with the heroines had become scarce.
‘Well, it’s probably just my imagination.’
Either way, it was now time for the Heavenly Sword Technique training.
There wasn’t much time left until the deadline set by the Messiah.
‘Maybe it’s time to spar with Yuji and Ishihara at the training building.’
With that thought, I made my way to the training building.
*
At the same time, in the Cooking Club Room.
Even in broad daylight, the thick curtains blocked out the light, leaving the room dim.
All the heroines who signed the harem plan, including Olivia, were gathered there.
Naturally, a banner written in shaky crayon handwriting by Eri hung on the wall.
[1st Annual Thump Thump ♥ Love Love Sweet Valentine’s Day Surprise Party Plan]
The topic of the meeting was, of course, Valentine’s Day.
“Then let’s begin the meeting!”
Bang bang.
Confirming everyone was present, Olivia tapped the gavel.
Thus began the last strategy meeting of the heroines.
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