Chapter 143

Chapter 143
## Chapter 143

Recruiting Talent (3)

[Earth… Very intriguing.]

A deep, resonant voice reverberated through the air, carrying an oppressive chill that seemed to freeze the very surroundings.

Yet, it was merely an acoustic resonance generated by the fluctuation of magical energy rather than a genuine vocalization, making it impossible to discern any underlying sentiment.

‘Sigh… Blast it, what an atrocious mess… How did I end up in this predicament?’

Andrew Weber cursed silently while maintaining a sycophantic grin externally, bowing repeatedly to hide his panic. His mind was on the verge of fracturing as he processed the sudden reality, the abrupt betrayal of Siana—who had previously served as his shield—and the bleak uncertainty of what lay ahead.

‘Still, looking at how things are playing out, it doesn’t seem like they intend to execute me immediately… As long as I draw breath, there is hope. Surviving is all that matters.’

Regrettably, he had recently expended a significant amount of points to upgrade his unique skill, which meant he lacked the immediate capability to trigger a ‘return’ to Earth and flee this trap.

But how had he amassed his Karma up to this point?

He had been meticulously collecting points through low-risk, effortless methods, simply by feeding necessary intelligence to the Oath of Heaven’s Defiance.

‘Actually, viewed from a different perspective, this might be a superior path. Aligning with this faction offers far greater advantages than staying with the Oath of Heaven’s Defiance, especially now that the Immortal King has mobilized.’

There were still those who viewed the geopolitical landscape with naive optimism because a full-scale assault had not yet commenced, but…

In truth, anyone possessing actual strategic foresight recognized the current Immortal King as the most catastrophic peril the world had ever faced.

‘Particularly, his swift locomotion and unmatched concealment tactics are absolutely devastating against massive, sluggish military forces.’

No magical fortification could impede his advance, and no divination or tracking spell could pinpoint his coordinates.

Those two traits alone guaranteed that the conflict was effectively decided before it even began.

The conventional doctrine utilized against previous incarnations of the Immortal King—’employing the grand coalition to pin down the undead legions while dispatching an elite vanguard to eliminate the commander’—was entirely neutralized.

‘Precisely! Even the leadership of the Oath of Heaven’s Defiance is merely observing from a distance and exercising extreme caution regarding the Immortal King. I might as well throw my lot in with this side. The point rewards will likely be even more lucrative.’

Extrapolating from the obsequious manner in which Siana was currying favor with the entity, it appeared he could readily demonstrate his utility to the faction through her mediation.

And once he managed to accumulate a sufficient reserve of Karma points…

Swoosh—

Suddenly, a violent shiver ran down Andrew’s spine due to an abrupt drop in temperature, prompting him to cautiously tilt his vision upward.

And right there…

‘Gah! Heavens, that gave me a fright!’

He found himself looking straight into the gaze of the Immortal King, who had silently closed the distance and was inspecting him intently.

He instantly snapped his eyelids shut and dropped his gaze flush against the floor.

The terrifying visage of the skull, completely exposed due to the fractured visage mask, along with the fiercely blazing spectral fires within the eye sockets, became permanently seared into his memory.

His chest throbbed violently despite having only glimpsed the entity for a fraction of a second.

[Hmm.]

In reality, simply maintaining a coherent state of mind was an immense struggle due to the overwhelming dread clawing at his consciousness.

Had it not been for his psychological fortitude, reinforced by his specialized unique ability, alongside the passive assistance of “Clear Mind”, he likely would have lost consciousness on the spot.

This terrifying encounter only solidified his ultimate objective.

‘…That settles it. Once I harvest enough Karma, I am initiating an immediate extraction back to Earth the moment my point balance allows it.’

The entity standing before him was the Immortal King, the literal manifestation of demise.

There was absolutely no assurance that his safety would be guaranteed in the long run merely because he was spared in this instance.

It was far wiser to slip away while the window of opportunity existed rather than lamenting his hesitation later.

Thwack—

“Eek?!”

Before he could process the thought, a palm encased in a dark leather glove clamped down firmly upon the crown of his skull.

The rigid, icy sensation that permeated through the leather instantly heightened his dread, however…

[Ah— calm yourself. I possess no desire to end your life.]

Hans uttered the reassurance with complete indifference.

[Consider this a minor safety measure. It would prove highly inconvenient for both parties involved should you attempt an unauthorized departure. Hehehe.]

“Hehehe, your assessment is flawless, Your Majesty. Pray, enact whatever measures you deem necessary.”

Siana’s shameless sycophancy was incredibly grating, but Andrew lacked the luxury to focus on anyone else’s behavior.

“I-Immortal King? Hans? Argh…!”

[That moniker does not belong to me.]

An infusion of dark magical energy instantly breached his cognitive defenses.

[My true designation is Hannibal Strauss.]

He fancied he detected a subtle trace of irritation within the otherwise hollow, unfeeling voice—.

In this manner, ‘Andrew Weber’, the dimensional traveler from Earth, was thoroughly bound to the will of the Immortal King.

—

As the moments ticked away,

While Hans, having smoothly completed his talent acquisition via a direct residence visit, conducted a briefing with his new subordinates,

Swoosh—

A delicate wisp of vapor coalesced beside the gathering, gradually taking the form of a female figure.

[Your Sovereign… in accordance with your edict… the eradication process is nearing its conclusion…]

The offensive operations, primarily targeting the prominent aristocratic estates and the illicit syndicates operating within the shadowed alleys, were unfolding flawlessly under the direct supervision of Olivia.

The initial objective was merely to create a massive diversion to draw attention away, but utilizing the opportunity to establish a brutal precedent was highly efficient since the wheels were already in motion.

‘How can an empire heralded as the absolute pinnacle of global power be riddled with this much degradation? Granted, my perspectives shaped by modern civilization might lean toward excessive criticism… ’

Regardless, the determination of which factions to eliminate was executed solely for his personal gratification.

He had managed to move past it, yet he had by no means forgotten the severe psychological compulsions that had previously inflicted deep trauma upon him.

‘I have never harbored illusions of being a paragon of virtue, considering I am misleading the entire population of this land.’

It was fundamentally a self-serving benchmark designed to safeguard his own psychological stability.

…As Hans remained immersed in his reflections, Olivia and Siana happened to lock eyes.

“My, greetings, Olivia. A significant amount of time has slipped by.”

[Siana…]

The two exchanged words for the first time in three centuries.

Their bond was considerably tighter than with the rest of the vanguard, owing to their comparable military positions and responsibilities within the previous iteration of the undead host.

[To discover you still draw breath… I had sincerely anticipated that your demise had finally concluded…]

“Oh, the sentiment is entirely mutual. Tell me, do you ever bother to cleanse that garment? It appears you are eternally clad in the exact same attire.”

The two females traded superficial pleasantries accompanied by pleasant expressions, though regrettably, their reunion was cut short.

[At this juncture, we shall take our departure. Siana, remain within these quarters to finalize the management of this location, and subsequently rendezvous with our main force. I harbor numerous inquiries requiring your clarification.]

“Your commands shall be executed flawlessly.”

Siana offered a profound, reverent bow in response to Hans’s directive.

He afforded her a temporary grace period due to the strategic utility her current social standing could offer down the line, but any prospect of desertion was entirely erased now that her allegiance was forcefully bound.

Naturally, Andrew shared the exact same predicament.

By the time she raised her posture back to an upright position, Hans and Olivia had already vanished from the room.

The immense bounded field of the Immortal King that had completely isolated the estate had likewise dissipated without leaving a single trace behind.

Their exit was every bit as instantaneous as their unannounced arrival.

“………”

“………”

For a prolonged duration, neither Siana nor Andrew ventured to utter a single sound.

They harbored a deep-seated anxiety that any spoken word might somehow be intercepted by the senses of the Immortal King.

Murmur, murmur—

The heavy quietude was eventually shattered as the staff members who had been rendered unconscious throughout the property began to regain their senses, and the surrounding metropolis bustled with activity to re-establish public security.

“…Dear sister, your actions wound me. To think you would throw me to the wolves with such lack of hesitation.”

“Hah, Andrew? If your desire was a swift journey to the afterlife, you truly ought to have informed me far earlier.”

Andrew, who had been voicing his grievances, instantly clamped his jaw shut and warily monitored her emotional state, which proved far more volatile than he had anticipated.

Siana massaged her temples in sheer exasperation, exhaling a heavy breath before stepping resolutely toward the deeper chambers of the estate to oversee the damage control.

“It appears our geopolitical alignment has undergone a radical transformation. Never in my wildest dreams did I foresee events taking this specific trajectory.”

He quietly trailed behind her, offering his concurrence as she continued to vocalize her thoughts.

His vocabulary remained incredibly guarded, as if he expected hidden ears around every corner.

“Yet there was little alternative, was there? Once our existences were perceived by his gaze, evasion became an absolute impossibility, regardless of the catalysts.”

He still placed his ultimate reliance on the ‘Return’ mechanism despite the spiritual brand inflicted upon him, choosing to simply play along and endure the current hardship for the time being.

‘I can merely slip away back to Earth when an opening presents itself later. What measures can he possibly enforce if I relocate to an entirely separate reality?’

A spiritual subjugation should theoretically lose its efficacy across dimensional boundaries.

Barring the extreme scenario where the Immortal King physically pursued him across the void into another realm, Andrew had never once encountered a record of an inhabitant from an alternate reality manifesting on Earth prior to his arrival in Auterica.

“On the bright side, I am quite pleased that the reigning Immortal King possesses such exquisite facial structure. I happen to hold incredibly high standards regarding physical appearance.”

“…Pardon?”

Andrew, maintaining his steady pace behind her, paused to blink in utter confusion, tilting his head to the side.

He genuinely questioned whether his auditory senses were malfunctioning.

“In all honesty, the previous incarnation of the Immortal King… lacked visual appeal entirely. Contemplate the reality, Andrew. Being perpetually surrounded by foul-smelling skeletal entities with absolutely no aesthetic stimulation to appreciate, how could anyone maintain high operational morale?”

“Uh… I suppose that stands to reason?”

“Therefore, the internal benefits within this military branch are actually quite stellar. Though, naturally, bypassing military enlistment altogether is always the ideal choice.”

Finding himself utterly incapable of formulating a coherent reply to her bizarre line of reasoning, he waited for her to cease speaking before cautiously interjecting.

“My apologies, but sister. The individual you are referring to… Immortal King Hans, or rather, Hannibal?… You are speaking of him, correct?”

“Naturally. What other entity could possibly be the subject of my praise… Ah, of course! I forgot your origins are merely human.”

She cast a fleeting glance toward Andrew, letting out a disappointed sigh while shaking her head in pity.

“To think your perception is blind to that flawless cranial structure, those profoundly commanding ocular sockets and spectral fires, that robustly defined jawline. The artistic comprehension of humanity is truly primitive. Though, looking on the bright side, that lack of refinement makes managing you quite simple.”

Siana, the succubus, flashed a tantalizing smirk while delicately running her fingers through her vibrant pink tresses.

In reality, her own physical vessel represented the absolute pinnacle of human beauty standards, yet it was an inherent trait of her species to covet characteristics they themselves did not possess.

“Goodness, regardless! Andrew, retreat to your personal quarters and assemble your belongings. The operational environment is bound to shift drastically moving forward, so ensure your constant readiness.”

“Uh, understood… I shall comply.”

Andrew could manage nothing more than a faint, bewildered acknowledgment.

The tempestuous evening, which had introduced a monumental shift in their destinies, was slowly drawing to a close.

—

“Grumph! This state of affairs is highly irregular. The density of aggressive creatures has dwindled drastically over these past few solar cycles.”

The Iron Fortress, positioned as the northernmost defensive bastion of the Tulk Kingdom.

Harley, clad in his customary minimalist gear designed to showcase his immense muscular definition, lowered his brow and surveyed the terrain.

The immediate landscape was entirely carpeted by a vast expanse of slaughtered beast remains, yet the total volume of enemies he had annihilated in this specific skirmish was noticeably inferior compared to his recent engagements.

“Could this anomaly potentially share a correlation with the recent destabilization within the Rohan Duchy?”

Crunch— Crunch!

His expression darkened further as he continuously tossed raw magical crystal shards into his maw, crushing them thoroughly with his teeth.

If the perimeter safeguards had not merely faltered due to domestic political strife, but the indigenous wildlife was also being systematically channeled toward that sector by an external hand, the implications were immensely perilous.

‘Hmph, Siana residing within the Empire apparently held no hand in that particular conspiracy.’

Furthermore, he had attempted to exploit the intelligence assets at her disposal to trace the elusive architect behind the entire Rohan catastrophe—the individual operating under the alias of the ‘revolutionary’…but predictably, the investigation had hit a dead end.

“As one would expect, his prowess entirely matches the tales.”

“Is that truly the renowned Dragonborn Harley? I had previously dismissed the accounts as mere hyperbole…”

As Harley crossed the threshold into the interior of the defensive structure with a pensive demeanor, the ambient dialogue remained entirely consistent with his past experiences.

From the veterans who were long acquainted with his capabilities to the fresh recruits observing his presence for the inaugural time, expressions of profound reverence mixed with instinctual trepidation followed his every step.

“Salutations, elder brother!”

“Your exertions today were exemplary, elder brother!”

The sellswords and combatants who inclined their torsos to offer respectful greetings as he traveled down the corridors were a thoroughly familiar element of his routine.

…Notwithstanding the glaring reality that the majority of them possessed physical ages far more advanced than his own.

‘In reality, I have only completed twenty winters of life back on Earth, and my residency within the lands of Auterica spans a mere two years… ’

However, Harley’s physical form, which had undergone successive iterations of transformative body modifications to mimic the ideal archetype of a primeval tribal juggernaut, radiated an aura that commanded the title of ‘elder brother,’ leaving him with no plausible ground to contest the label.

He contented himself with offering a brief, silent gesture of acknowledgement toward the crowd.

After retreating to his personal quarters to cleanse the grime of battle beneath a stream of water, he emerged to find a communication awaiting his review.

A missive had been delivered specifically for Harley.

It was an exceedingly rare and official document, originating directly from the high authorities of the Tarak Temple, routed through the channels of the local mercenary coalition and verified by Count Aonia.

‘The moment has finally arrived.’

Naturally, the core contents of the message were entirely clear to him prior to breaking the wax seal.

The reason being—.

It constituted a formal summons to present himself at the grand Roselia Cathedral situated within the borders of the sacrosanct territory,

Addressed specifically to Harley, who had been formally designated as a prime candidate to join the ranks of the legendary ‘hero party’.