Chapter 392

〈Chapter 392〉 Part 1, Chapter 16, Section 27

At the moment when the world was plunged into chaos.

A brown-haired woman stood at the top floor window of a skyscraper, looking down at the ground while counting. The number was so large that even using both hands, she had to fold two more fingers, showing just how many dimensional gates had opened worldwide.

“Ah, this is so annoying.”

The woman, Hydra, scratched her curly hair in frustration. From the 12 dimensional gates that had opened around the world, the demons were doing their best to devour the special ability users who were charging towards them.

“Surprise attack, sure, but what’s with dropping us right in the middle of the enemy lines?”

Hydra was utterly baffled by Azidahaka’s tactics. Not only did Azidahaka act without consulting her, but the way they handled things was absurd and infuriating.

The annihilation of 12 S-Rank heroes.

Unquantifiable property damage.

And severe injuries inflicted on the heroes trying to repel the demons.

This was the total damage caused by the 12 demon dragons summoned by Azidahaka over the course of 30 minutes after the dimensional gates appeared. Hydra anticipated that unless some miracle occurred, it would end here.

“To think someone as stupid as Azidahaka could be called the great leader of the Dark Legion…”

It was a form of insubordination. Claiming to be Seongju, or the Lord of Earth, and falsely occupying the position of the great master… The role of the officers was merely to gather cubes so that Seongju could hold a ritual upon their return to Earth.

But Azidahaka abandoned that mission and boldly revealed themselves, aiming to conquer the Earth. Hydra had no clue why Azidahaka had suddenly taken such drastic actions.

“Hmm, what should I do?”

Should she take advantage of this opportunity, or side with Azidahaka and rebel against Seongju? While pondering this, Hydra sipped her cold lemonade and walked over to stand in front of the bed. A small boy sitting beside her quickly lay down on the floor.

“Well done.”

Hydra stepped on the boy’s back like a staircase and climbed onto the bed. A yellow priest robe imitating Phoenix fluttered as it brushed against the boy’s back.

“What should I do now?”

Her ultimate grand attack had come to naught. Hydra had already claimed her share of the continent as her own— one-seventh of the Earth. Every inch of that territory was under her watchful eyes and ears.

“Ho ho ho! Pathetic humans!”

On the TV, Azidahaka was seen vigorously waving a fan and giggling. Despite appearing frivolous, the sight of them tearing out the heart of an S-Rank special ability user with one hand, drenched in blood, resembled a deranged villain bent on world destruction.

“Not very refined. Tsk.”

“Ma, Master?”

The boy, who had acted as a step, timidly approached the bedside. Hydra glanced at him, smirked, and laid back.

“Yes. Come up here and give me a massage.”

“A, understood.”

Upon receiving permission, the boy climbed onto the bed and began pressing his hands on Hydra’s lower back. Strengthened by special abilities, the massage made Hydra bury her head into the pillow.

“Haa. What should I do? Should I intervene? I’ve already done my part…”

“Master…”

“I’m not asking for your opinion.”

“…Yes.”

The boy, looking dejected, resumed the massage. Hydra folded her thumb and idly scratched the bedsheet with her eight remaining fingers.

“Even if Seongju comes later, I’ve fulfilled my quota, so there’s nothing to worry about… But letting Azidahaka run rampant like a madman undermines the honor of the Dark Legion… Hmph, what should I do?”

Hydra crossed her hands and rubbed her knuckles together.

“Putting the rest of the officers beneath me and stepping on them might not be bad either… Hmph, what should I do?”

Hydra’s contemplation deepened. The boy cautiously began massaging Hydra’s skin underneath her priest robe.

“Ah, that’s right. This will work.”

Hydra clapped her hands and grinned widely.

“When Azidahaka conquers the world, I’ll stab them in the back and gobble them up.”

The boy gasped at Hydra’s chilling statement. Though he thought it might be going too far, as someone serving Hydra, he had no choice but to follow whatever plan she devised.

Beeep.

The boy’s smartwatch beeped. Flustered while lying on top of Hydra, the boy turned to look at her as she raised a finger to her lips.

“Master?”

“Se-cret.”

Hydra pulled off the boy’s shorts while smiling mischievously. The boy frowned slightly as he tapped his smartwatch. Beneath his shorts was something much larger than an average adult’s, standing erect.

“Oh my, you’ve become like this from being stepped on by me? Hehe, go ahead and answer the call. It’s important, isn’t it?”

“…Then, excuse me.”

The boy cleared his throat and pressed the smartwatch. On the screen was a man with dark circles under his eyes, <Executor> Yu Yinghuo.

[Are you monitoring the situation?]

“Of course.”

The boy’s voice changed. Where it had been childlike moments ago, it now sounded mature and elderly.

“Don’t worry. Something that was bound to happen sooner or later is happening now. Just 12 dark demon dragons, not even earth dragons. There’s no need to worry.”

[That may be true…]

“Newbie, trust the heroes now. If you keep worrying like this, others will get anxious too.”

[Still, shouldn’t we do something from our end? The Dark Legion has officially revealed itself. Even the Round Table…]

“Newbie.”

The boy’s voice dropped low.

“What is the role of our <Senate>? We are retired people. Haven’t you already handed over all responsibilities to the executors upon retiring from active duty? Or do you want to return to the field?”

[…No, I apologize.]

The Executor quickly backed down. Just as the boy was about to continue the stern reprimand, Hydra flicked the boy’s erection with her finger.

“…Hmm, never mind. I understand you’re flustered by this situation. Don’t worry. Trust the heroes. They’ll handle this crisis smoothly.”

[Understood… Then, will the Senate not issue any official statement regarding this matter?]

“Nope. There’s a more important thing, isn’t there? Something we must do… Hmm.”

The boy chuckled and dismissed the screen as Hydra continued teasing him by flicking his glans.

“Naming this incident?”

[‘Azidahaka Gate,’ how does that sound?]

“….Not bad. Tsk.”

The boy clicked his tongue and blurred the screen. Continuing the conversation properly was becoming difficult for various reasons.

“Azidahaka Gate, huh? So Yu Yingho, eh? Quick and concise naming. I like it. Maybe I’ll make you my monster next time?”

“Mas, Master, please don’t abandon me, huff…!”

Hydra jabbed her sharp nails between the boy’s glans.

“You just need to stay quiet and follow. Got it?”

“A, yes…!”

While teasing the boy with her fingers, Hydra projected a screen onto the ceiling and scanned global footage.

“Let’s see how this brilliant Azidahaka Gate ends. Ah, if you endure until the end, I’ll reward you. Hehe.”

“Huff huff…!”

The boy hoped Azidahaka’s chaos would end soon.

* * *

Woooom.

The monster limped to the chair. Though its wounds from the human skirmish hadn’t healed yet, it sensed something amiss.

An unusual reaction detected on Earth.

And that unusual reaction was none other than the absolute existence it worshipped and served.

That person was on Earth.

Whether they had entered the vessel created for them or were living separately with lost memories, one thing was certain: their true self was on Earth. Not a manifestation or avatar, but their actual essence.

The monster first clasped its hands and sincerely apologized and repented.

Its consciousness wasn’t wrong. If not for the interference of those humans, the monster could have successfully brought its deity to Earth.

So it had to return immediately. Regardless of its incomplete recovery, the insufficient maturity of the monsters raised by the boatman, or whatever the dispatched officers were doing, it had to return to Earth. Sitting in the chair, the monster gestured to its subordinates.

Ki gi gi gik.

Bat-like creatures appeared. The monster sent hundreds of these monsters behind the boatman.

Push from behind with wing beats.

Following the command, the monsters started pushing the planet-disguised boatman. Slowly but surely, it began moving away from its orbit toward Earth. Although the speed was sluggish compared to usual, even tiny wing beats had to be utilized now.

Had to reach Earth as soon as possible.

Had to personally serve the deity it worshipped.

The monster, the ruler of Pluto, hugged its still-healing body. The yellow robe symbolizing its lord—it needed to repent for wearing something that belonged to its master.

* * *

“The whole world is in chaos, nya.”

Kim Penril trembled while tightly locking the windows. People who came to Seoul, especially those in Yeouido, were plunged into confusion and panic.

“Boss, if anything happens, yell ‘Kim Penril!!’ to the sky, nya.”

“…Are you alright? You haven’t looked well since you arrived yesterday.”

“The place where I worked as a part-timer was the landlord, so I’ve been stressed about various things, nya.”

“Perhaps sending Aruel next time would be better?”

Kim Penril panicked and waved her hands.

“That won’t work, nya. Aruel is currently running away from home, nya. Anyone finding out will definitely come looking, nya. Boss, didn’t we agree to keep it a secret, nya?”

“But with the situation like this… Didn’t Gawein go to Manchester?”

“Ah, that’s something I shouldn’t say-”

“What?!”

A scream echoed from the warehouse. Kim Penril pressed her forehead and shook her head.

“Ow…”

“Father?! Did he go where the demon dragon is?! Where is he?!”

“No matter how unofficial it is, it’s natural for a daughter to worry about her father. Hmm. Seems like you need to understand humans a bit more.”

“Though I’ve observed them for over twenty years…. Hmm, got it, nya. Aruel, are you ready to persuade, nya?”

Kim Penril swallowed hard, sat on the floor, and restrained herself with wind. She then closed her eyes quietly. Aruel knelt in front of Kim Penril.

“…Why have you summoned me again?”

“Please help.”

Aruel swallowed and bowed her head.

“…Help me protect Father, Mother, and everyone. Please lend me your strength. …Please.”

Jeolpung stared intently at Aruel.

* * *

A blue-skinned woman lay listlessly submerged in orbs. The orbs, as big as cores, surrounded her entire body, and she comfortably gazed at the sky through them.

Unable to resist once again…

The woman picked up an empty orb and repeatedly threw it into the air and caught it. She seemed to have transcended anger and reached enlightenment.

Well… Since I went a bit overboard this time, let’s let it slide. It seems the end is approaching anyway.

The woman absentmindedly touched the erased parts of her memory, and couldn’t help but smile faintly. If she had shown the memories she was gripping tightly, it might have sparked an all-out war.

Ah… Where was it?

The woman stuck her hand into the orbs and rummaged around.

Among the orbs shining in various colors, the red one glittering brightly resembled an S-Rank fire attribute core, perhaps even stronger.

Happy ending… Puhuhu.

The woman gently wiped the surface of the orb with her thumb. The prominent tendons on the back of her hand seemed ready to shatter the orb with sheer grip strength, but she quickly relaxed and smirked.

Tsk, I shouldn’t get angry over something this trivial. Yeah, yeah. Calming down. Hmm.

The woman pulled out an orb shimmering bluer than any other from within the orbs.

Haa…

The woman sighed dreamily and cradled the orb. As if it were the most precious thing in the world, her face flushed.

You’re fooling around with other women while having someone like me…

The woman clenched her teeth in fury but soon smiled bitterly and tilted her head back.

Do as you please. Eventually, eventually…

The woman chanted to herself like a mantra.

Eventually, I’ll win again this time. So… Please give up already.

The woman’s body disappeared into the orbs.