Chapter 162

Chapter 162
## Chapter 162

Hahoe Mask Rises (2)

—

Achieving the Mysterious Realm meant a person had effectively surpassed the restrictions of mortality. Because of this elevated state, manipulating such an individual against their own volition was an incredibly daunting task.

A consciousness that had refined its essence and shattered its original boundaries possessed an immense immunity to outside manipulation. Such a pure and grand spirit simply could not tolerate unnatural alterations.

Furthermore, even a lifeless corpse retained a form of biological stasis sustained by the imprints of lingering thoughts. Consequently, repurposing a body of that caliber demanded not just exceptional mastery, but also extensive arrangements and an overwhelming expenditure of energy.

[Kraaaagh—!]

Naturally, such complications amounted to nothing more than a minor inconvenience for the Immortal King, an entity capable of degrading even ancient dragons and reshaping them into thralls of undeath.

[Oh— This person served as a tool for the Heaven’s Turn Society.]

Hans spoke in a low undertone, gazing down at the squirming entity of pure void shaped like a person trapped within his grasp.

Wooong—!

MystIC arrays crowded the interior of the defensive ward where the conflict had unfolded, surrounded by a multitude of undead that had been offered up as fuel.

This spectacle was the direct consequence of channeling the void into the physical form and spirit of the Heavenly Demon Emperor to its absolute capacity through those sacrifices.

‘His alliance with them existed even before his arrival in this reality.’

He was the individual responsible for erasing every vestige of his background prior to his displacement, subsequently executing a coordinated supernatural strike before fleeing under instructions from his superiors.

This had occurred roughly two seasons ago.

‘He is a man who inhabited an alternate realm for nearly two decades… ‘

Understandably, he attempted to reestablish ties with the Heaven’s Turn Society the moment he reappeared. However, making contact proved impossible because Hans had systematically wiped their presence out of Korea.

Following that, he had simply rampaged across the land, relying entirely on his personal might, which ultimately led to his current predicament.

‘This is peculiar. What potential did they recognize in him to initiate his induction? Back then, he was merely an ordinary civilian, unless they approached him after he attained this tier. Could it be mere happenstance?’

The window of transition following an awakening lasted a mere 24 hours.

It strained credulity to think they swayed his allegiance within such a brief window, implying their interactions had commenced long before that pivotal moment…

‘Those hyper-vigilant zealots would never carelessly reveal themselves to an unknown variable. Had they been so reckless, their network would have been exposed ages ago.’

Regrettably, the recollection dated back much too far. Furthermore, extracting additional data from the Heavenly Demon Emperor was impossible, likely because his physical form and consciousness had been utterly fractured by the void, which carried a toxicity far worse than raw radiation.

Resolving to task his underlings with a deeper inquiry into the matter, Hans sighed internally, a shadow of dissatisfaction washing over him.

‘…It is highly irritating that my channels for gathering intelligence are so restricted in this realm, unlike the landscape of Auterica.’

Within contemporary Earth, despite its highly sophisticated data networks, the solitary mechanism he could utilize at present was the Blood Alliance, managed by Heterosis.

While they had expanded into a considerably formidable faction, they remained shackled by the inherent boundaries of a clandestine network unable to venture into the light of day.

‘Hmm, I require an avenue to monitor the data flow of the conventional world, independent of the Blood Alliance.’

Gaining insight into the strategies and intelligence of established global organizations would offer a massive advantage, mirroring the strategy Heinrich utilized back in Auterica.

Yet, replicating that approach on Earth was an extraordinary challenge due to the rigid verification protocols and structural frameworks governing society.

‘Validating one’s credentials is an ordeal in itself, and establishing genuine reliability afterward is harder still. The process would consume far too much time.’

He might achieve minor inroads by leveraging Kang Tae-san, who had secured a position within the Supernatural Ability Management Bureau. However, the man remained a lower-tier operative, and Hans had no desire to entangle him in complications of this nature.

‘An individual tied to the dominant factions, possessing enough history with them to command authority, while simultaneously holding the clearance required to view high-level data… Huh?’

Right then, a specific face materialized in his thoughts.

‘He definitely maintains an association with the Supernatural Ability Management Bureau, and his involvement in active cases proves his credibility.’

Shortly after Hans materialized on Earth following his theft of the third Immortal King’s Fragment from the holy sanctuary,

He had crossed paths with a rather competent dark mage, interacting through the medium of a curse he had anchored to a group of felons.

‘A dark mage displaying that degree of proficiency must have lines of communication to the leadership. He might even be acquainted with certain Guardians.’

A more flawless candidate did not exist.

To make matters better, his status as a practitioner of dark arts meant Hans could easily direct him. This crossed the line from mere coincidence into absolute destiny.

[Hehehe, what a magnificent specimen. Now, let us locate his current position.]

An immediate physical confrontation was out of the question since the duration for his “Individual Projection” was expiring for the day, but he promptly triggered his “Abyssal Eye” to pin down the man’s whereabouts.

Swoosh—

Ink-like void flooded Hans’s optical tracts, drinking in the ambient illumination.

Korea was a compact territory boasting a dense populace, and since this practitioner had already been cataloged by his vision once before…

[Found you.]

Evading his line of sight was an impossibility, barring the possession of an extraordinary, specialized trait.

—

The night had grown old, illumination from the street lamps was flickering to life, and citizens who had been out late were progressively making their way back to their residences.

Ahn Sung-jin, the dark mage employed by the Supernatural Ability Management Bureau, exited his stationary vehicle and strode into the dining establishment, which was currently undergoing its nightly sanitization.

“We are no longer seating… Oh, Sung-jin! What brings you by? I assumed your duties kept you buried.”

“Ah, it is fine. My responsibilities are strictly confined to investigations matching my particular skill set, so my schedule isn’t overly demanding. Especially lately, domestic security has been excellent, meaning disruptions are minimal.”

He instinctively stepped in to assist with the sweeping, replying with an easygoing demeanor.

While it was an absolute truth that public disruptions had dwindled, his claim of having ample free time was a complete fabrication.

The demographic of dark magic users among the criminal element remained disproportionately massive. Conversely, law-abiding and proficient dark mages capable of assisting the state were an extreme rarity, making his heavy workload unavoidable.

‘Even so, I refuse to let my personal life be swallowed up. This is the tranquility I fought to return to, and the loved ones I managed to reach again.’

He was a survivor who had narrowly navigated his way back after enduring horrors in a dystopian realm where half the inhabitants were zealots of dark magic.

Surviving that volatile environment demanded he rapidly build his strength, which significantly prolonged his journey home, making this mundane existence all the more invaluable to him.

“Yes, rumors have been circulating quite a bit recently. That individual known as the Hahoe Mask has been neutralizing all the societal rot.”

“Ah, ahahaha… Q-quite so. Hahoe Mask… his capabilities are truly formidable.”

Ahn Sung-jin’s expression faltered slightly at the mention of that title from his mother’s lips, given that he had withheld the exact nature of his employment from his household.

The recollections of that encounter remained a vivid terror within his mind.

“Ahem— Sung-jin, you have arrived?”

“Yes, Father!”

“Given your presence, sample this. I must verify the flavor consistency at regular intervals.”

His father, emerging from the cooking area, set down a surface laden with dishes and insisted that his son, who was currently cleaning, take a seat.

Every item emitted a fresh wave of heat, indicating it had been prepared the precise instant he stepped through the door.

“Father, there was no need for such trouble…”

“Nonsense! It is standard quality control for the establishment. Simply consume it!”

Naturally, he recognized the statement as a mere cover.

How could he fail to realize that his father simply desired to present a nourishing, homemade platter to his child?

Slurp—

“As always, your culinary talents are unmatched, Father.”

“Naturally. Consider who engineered the recipe.”

“Oh dear~ This old man is letting his emotions get the better of him again!”

Warm amusement drifted across the table where the household had assembled, painting every visage with genuine joy.

An uninterrupted everyday routine, a joyful domestic circle—the exact dream he had chased.

Ahn Sung-jin watched his relatives with a soft expression, sending up a silent expression of gratitude to the heavens.

He felt immensely thankful for the privilege of experiencing this modest bliss during his mortal span.

And precisely as he silently wished that this peaceful routine might be preserved indefinitely…

‘…!’

The heavens…

Completely disregarded his modest plea.

Chill—

An icy, terrifying aura that had burned itself into his memory suddenly washed over him.

It began aggressively prodding his extrasensory perception from an alarmingly close proximity.

“Hmm? What has caused that look all of a sudden?”

“Sung-jin?”

“…Could my seasoning be flawed? That is impossible. Surely there isn’t an issue with the preparation…!”

His respiration turned shallow and rapid.

The neighboring voices began to feel incredibly remote, transforming into an indistinct buzzing within his auditory canal.

‘No, I cannot unravel here!’

Yet his mind, which had initiated a descent into sheer dread, snapped back to focus as if doused in freezing water the moment he noticed the frantic expressions on his parents’ faces.

Reclaiming his mental grip, attributes such as “Indomitable Spirit” and “Clear Mind” activated with a slight delay, anchoring his psychological balance.

“Ah, ah…! Forgive me! It slipped my mind that I neglected to file a critical authorization form…! Agh, I should have processed it before logging off for the day!”

“You gave us quite a fright! Where has your focus gone?”

“Well, it cannot be helped now. Still, to be so utterly distracted, is it a matter of great urgency?”

For the immediate moment, defusing the immediate panic was paramount.

“My apologies. I will step out to contact the supervisor on duty. Ah! I will package the remnants to enjoy at home later…”

He offered soothing words to his guardians, who maintained their apprehensive gazes, before stepping out into the open air.

‘Phew, time to face it.’

The freezing pressure, anchoring itself to a single spot nearby, was sending out an unmistakable, subtle beacon meant for him alone.

In stark contrast to their initial encounter, where terror had completely overwhelmed his senses and caused him to collapse, he was now capable of systematically sorting his thoughts, having recovered his center early and permitted “Indomitable Spirit” to fully engage.

The attribute, which ensured his mental stability remained unbroken under any duress so long as his internal resolve held firm, acted as the vital shield that originally preserved his autonomy against the corruption of dark magic.

‘Sigh, is this the destination?’

He ultimately halted at the mouth of an isolated corridor situated near the dining venue, the exact origin of the supernatural beacon.

Stepping past the threshold, he drew a deep breath into his lungs, entering a domain that mirrored the gates of the underworld due to the absolute absence of ambient illumination.

Goooo—

Instantly, the surrounding geometry shifted entirely.

A dense, suffocating void writhed across the pavement, scaled the vertical structures, and blotted out the celestial canopy above.

‘…This truly carries the atmosphere of stepping directly into damnation.’

At the center of this artificial pocket of reality, he finally confronted the entity that had summoned him.

A being radiating an impossible, crushing weight of authority, as though the concept of mortality itself had been sculpted into a physical, humanoid shape.

‘His power defies calculation. My tracking metrics cannot even begin to gauge his baseline. What terrifying height of progression must one reach to seamlessly merge with the essence of death? He cannot be a standard reanimated corpse given his return to this world. Could it be a highly specialized attribute… ‘

While his thoughts raced frantically to analyze the threat, a dark, raspy chuckle infused with raw magical authority disrupted his internal monologue.

[Hehehe— You navigated your way directly here, fully conscious of my presence. A display of utter recklessness, or perhaps true fortitude.]

“Was this not the exact outcome you engineered? Furthermore, I harbor no illusions about my inability to successfully flee from your reach… Hahoe Mask.”

Ahn Sung-jin exhaled deeply, forcing his gaze to remain steady on the titan standing before him.

The atmosphere within this boundary, heavily saturated with necrotic elements, was actively detrimental to his physical well-being, yet he recognized the absolute necessity of maintaining psychological control.

‘Unbelievable, I am reduced to this state despite his lack of explicit aggression. Is this an innate authority to dominate lower-tier dark magic?’

His personal store of dark magic was instinctively withdrawing and compressing itself beneath the stranger’s gaze, while the passive aura of dread radiating from the figure continuously chipped away at his mental fortitude.

Had it not been for the active mitigation of “Indomitable Spirit,” he likely would have dropped to his knees to plead for his life.

[A highly rational deduction. Manifestly, my decision to exercise restraint was entirely justified.]

The entity was undoubtedly referencing his choice to avoid a violent intrusion into the dining establishment, opting instead to broadcast a localized signal.

Ahn Sung-jin felt a wave of genuine relief for that specific courtesy.

His mother and father might have suffered a fatal cardiovascular event had they been forced to look upon this nightmare.

“…Then… might I inquire as to the purpose behind this summons? My understanding was that your actions are strictly reserved for the most vile offenders.”

Having spoken those words, Ahn Sung-jin rapidly clarified his position to prevent any misunderstanding.

“To clarify, though I practice dark magic, my record is completely devoid of unlawful acts! My specific attribute is—”

[Ah, your criminal status is irrelevant to my purposes, so you may ease your tension.]

His features finally relaxed a fraction following Hahoe Mask’s de-escalating reply.

Though his garments were already saturated with cold perspiration, a degree of comfort returned to him upon realizing his immediate survival was not in jeopardy.

“In that case… why target me?”

[I provide a massive benefit to the domestic security of this territory. However, a multitude of logistical factors prove highly irritating to manage.]

An entirely unanticipated declaration.

Hahoe Mask elevated an arm encased in a dark glove, extending a finger deliberately toward the mage.

[You strike me as an individual of significant utility.]

“Ah? You have my grat—”

[Hehehe— Therefore, you shall function as my subordinate.]

The color that had slowly returned to Ahn Sung-jin’s face drained away completely at that final pronouncement.