Fruit of Mythology (1)
A traditional house on the outskirts of the Pantheon.
“What in the world are you talking about all of a sudden? Just appearing out of nowhere like this.”
Jason the Priest shrugged, making a face.
“Trying to say something with that expression lacks persuasion, you know.”
“Is that so?”
But his emotionless face only came off as bizarre.
The corners of Heinrich’s stiff, doll-like face lifted unnaturally at his calm observation.
“If it weren’t for this situation, I would have kept insisting I knew nothing. But knowing that name, what else can I do? I wonder where you heard it?”
“I confirmed it through records left by a kind person. It seems you’re the person in charge continuing the Pantheon’s work in place of the Secretary?”
“That person must be quite careless. It’s common sense that no traces of an agent on a secret mission should be left behind.”
The two exchanged quiet conversation with calm faces as strong winds began to whip up between them, clearly suggesting their situation was anything but peaceful.
Joker.
In the midst of that turbulent energy.
Sighing quietly, Heinrich gazed at his opponent with a steady gaze.
The first time he identified that name was from the data database of the captured Doctor.
I guess it was just lucky I managed to find it out.
Despite speaking confidently, the truth was that he had very little information about the Joker.
He was only able to confirm that name purely by chance.
If the electronic spirit Harvis hadn’t found that word, which wasn’t securely erased due to a single typo, he would probably never have known.
Even the details about their identity were unclear, so I had to trace back through small clues.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say he had mobilized all his forces on that front.
That was the kind of reckless result that could get them detected by the Pantheon.
He doubted the outline he had glimpsed, having to double-check several times.
From the Tamaria Dimension. A priest of the Rassus Church— Jason.
It was hard to believe that the result pointed to someone he had already crossed paths with multiple times.
From the moment he had flown to Korea to meet him, to later mixing with everyone in the Pantheon, he hadn’t sensed anything suspicious at all, doubling his shock.
“…Did you approach me on purpose? From Korea?”
“Hmm? Ah, it was a bit of both. I mean, wouldn’t it be a waste to pass up a chance to dig around in Korea without being suspected?”
After all, if Heinrich had decided to visit the Pantheon, he would’ve found a way to achieve his purpose, so it was just more convenient to stick closely to him right from the start.
Finishing his words, Jason shook his head with a deep sigh.
“I never thought things would turn out this way. I shouldn’t have trusted that idiot Walter with the job. I delayed scrapping everything I’d worked on out of regret, and now look where we are.”
“Honestly, it did seem like a short-sighted decision. But it’s not entirely their fault, is it? If we’re talking causes, it all comes down to your mistake for letting it happen in the first place.”
“…Oh? So you figured that out too?”
Before coming here, he had received confirmation from Walter.
It was a kind of hint.
While it wasn’t as potent as brainwashing or hypnosis, there was a cunning restriction in place that even the many clerics of the Pantheon, let alone him, a master-level holy warrior, would struggle to notice.
Also, utilizing himself as bait to control the opponent’s mindset? No wonder I felt something was off back then.
The outcome was right from Walter’s sudden outburst on the first day.
Every bit of confusion throughout that incident stemmed from a scheme concocted by Jason.
In the end, he had failed to achieve his goals.
“…Ah, whatever. Jason… no, Joker. I’ll slowly hear the details later. If you surrender willingly, I won’t handle you roughly.”
“That’s a hard statement to accept. I still have much to do. Being captured like this would be quite troublesome for me.”
“…Is that so?”
Regardless, the fact that he manipulated people at will for his own ends remained the same.
Who knows how many others had fallen victim like Walter?
Heinrich felt there was no need to continue a calm conversation any longer.
Hoooom—!
As soon as his words ended, a pair of golden eyes flashed, and a whirlwind swept through the surroundings.
A brilliant platinum light mixed with the wind, swirling around.
What a waste of time. Who knows what trickery he might pull next? Let’s subdue him first.
Though his oddly cooperative demeanor had delayed him momentarily, the opponent was still the extreme villain who had deceived and used them all.
Interrogation could be done later.
For now, stopping any variables from arising was the priority.
“…Tch, your personality is quicker than I thought.”
The Joker, scrunching his face, clicked his tongue lightly.
Given how sudden their encounter was, he had hoped to buy some time, but it seemed his limit had been reached.
The Joker slipped his hand into his pocket, grabbing something tight.
Of course, Heinrich, whose battle switch was already turned on, didn’t hesitate regardless of the opponent’s reaction.
I’ll end this swiftly!
A sun of blazing platinum light ignited in his hands.
Pressing down firmly, he swiftly approached his opponent, launching a punch infused with mighty energy.
Boom!
The sheer force of the strike swept away a small hill in one blow.
However, this was a master-class holy warrior he faced; there was no way a mere punch would crush him instantly.
It would be quite painful, but for a holy warrior, that was par for the course.
With that in mind, he swung his fist with full force without reservation…
Woooooong—!
What the?
The situation began to shift in an unexpected direction.
[“Hmm! I can’t believe I’d have to use this so soon. Still, I can’t collapse like this, so there’s no option! But I guarantee you, I will eliminate you right here!”]
An unknown flow had begun to converge on this very spot from all directions.
Frowning, Heinrich glared at the shivering barrier that met his fist.
Crackle!
A strange holy power shimmered in purple like lava, dripping down.
Sparks flew incessantly from the boundary where the energy emitted from his fist intersected with Joker’s form.
There was an unsettling aura emanating from that energy, perfectly enveloping the being within while absorbing the shock.
[“Behold! And tremble! This is the true power of Lord Ruseni descending from beyond dimensions!”]
Along with that proclamation, the Joker, who had maintained a dignified demeanor until moments ago, erupted into laughter, spreading his arms towards the sky.
The previously confrontational Heinrich seemed to have been disregarded entirely.
Unfinished power used to extinguish the flames at his feet quickly ascended to his mind, consuming his reason.
Rumble, rumble, rumble—!
The purple mist, expanding like a rampage, began to spread.
Within it, energy solidified, writhing and morphing into an amorphous form.
Heinrich stepped back quickly, analyzing the situation.
Ruseni? Ruseni?
Ruseni.
The evil deity, known for being one of the two pillars of the fundamental beliefs of the Tamaria Dimension along with Rassus, wasn’t it?
It was reported that their relationship was exceptionally hostile due to daily fierce religious wars.
What an absurdity. This guy, pretending to be a holy warrior of Rassus, is secretly a follower of the evil god Ruseni.
Holy power was the price paid for the worship offered.
Since faith forms within absolute belief, it’s only natural that two types of holy power cannot coexist.
While it might be possible among gods of the same lineage, Rassus and Ruseni are fundamentally opposing entities.
He must have some special ability that allows that. …In fact, I could make it work too if I set my mind to it.
In this world, there was almost nothing truly impossible.
He himself was the definitive proof of that!
There was no rule that forbade similar cases from existing.
I’ll think about that later. First, I need to deal with that over there.
Boom!
The power of the other being forcibly summoned through some means, ignoring dimension barriers, was now fully expanding, engulfing the surroundings as it approached him.
Employing nimble movements, Heinrich dodged the tentacles of solidified energy reaching out to him, observing his surroundings attentively.
Due to some sort of emotional turmoil, details that had previously gone unnoticed began to surface one by one.
Huh, they even set up an altar here. And this ritual is…
Just how long had they been preparing to make this possible?
The land where the Pantheon took root was the most enigmatic area on Earth.
Naturally, the level of protection was no joke, making it nearly impossible to use the power dwelling here for anything.
Clerics who worshipped the gods would never tolerate the casual use of remnants left behind.
When did this all start?
Yet here, at this traditional house on the outskirts of the Pantheon, that very thing was becoming a reality.
Secretly drilling for the oil of mystique buried beneath the ground, they were processing it into a form that could be utilized at any given time.
On the surface, it might not seem like much, but it inherently carried the risk of erupting into a massive powder keg at anyone’s whim.
I heard the Pantheon set up camp and built the city around twenty years ago.
As Heinrich swiftly scanned his surroundings, his eyes narrowed gradually.
The traditional house, older than the history of the Pantheon, and the ritual that seemed to have fused with nature long ago.
The implication of this was only one.
Before the Pantheon established its presence here… this plan was already underway, likely knowing that they would set up shop here.
There was no way they could have made such preparations without the Pantheon noticing.
Had the plan progressed later, they would have detected anomalies in some way.
However, if the ritual had already fused with this land long ago, things were different.
Like a dormant pathogen gradually gnawing away at the flesh without any signs. It had been accumulating the amassed mystique while holding the future in its grasp.
The blood, sacrifices, and conflicts generated during that process would have served as rich fertilizer.
It was likely the reason why the group of evil god followers, Pandemonium, had continuously provoked the Pantheon.
In any case, I can’t just let that slide.
Though it was only a fragment of a god’s shadow manifesting in this land temporarily due to a miracle, having such a being—a god with an evil nature—projected on Earth brought no good.
Who knew what chaos it could wreak?
I’m going in full force from the start.
Three pairs of gigantic wings of light unfurled behind Heinrich as he soared high into the sky.
In his hand, a beautiful and elegant holy sword was firmly grasped.
“Prioritize evacuation for the vulnerable and children!”
“Quickly! We need to assist in fortifying the barrier!”
“Damn those evil god worshippers! To pull such stunts in the heart of the Pantheon when cornered. I’ll make sure to eradicate their very seed!”
Sounds of the busy priests hustling on the ground echoed.
The expanding shadow of the other being had already consumed most of the forest surrounding the Pantheon’s outskirts.
Those who had lagged in evacuation had been swept away by it, but for now, they could only be grateful that the situation wasn’t any worse.
Thank goodness this is set deep in the woods…
If it were an ordinary city, an awful massacre would have broken out by now.
An unskilled individual wouldn’t even be able to touch the aura surrounding that entity, let alone make direct contact without it being fatal.
“We can’t let it expand anymore!”
Ugh, the holy power isn’t working!
“The difference in energy density is too great. Right now, everyone is clinging on at once, but if we don’t solve this soon, the moment someone tires…”
“We’ve already requested support from the Guardians…”
The priests below were desperately trying to find a way, but with no apparent solution in sight, they could only pace anxiously.
Then, at one moment, some of them looked up at the sky and shouted.
“Wait! Up there in the sky! Isn’t that an angel?”
“Hey! Are you kidding right now? …It’s real?”
“Hang on. An angel? No way…!”
Regardless of the chatter on the ground, Heinrich calmly repeated his deep breaths while gripping his holy sword.
That was part of a miracle manifested due to the mystique accumulated in this land, brought on by the Joker.
Though still incomplete, it projected the shadow of a god reigning in one world.
Wait, actually, isn’t that kind of normal?
The opponents he had faced until now were no less formidable.
The Demon King, a sealed deity, and countless destroyers who had shattered dimensions, among others.
Compared to those, adding one more shadow of a god didn’t seem like such a big deal…
It was hardly anything spectacular!
Heinrich couldn’t help but chuckle to himself.
Wondering when his courage had swelled so much.
“Well then. Shall we go?”
Moments later.
His entire being engulfed in platinum light, he plummeted to the ground as a colossal sword.
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