Chapter 287

Chapter 287
## Chapter 287

White Knight (2)

Outside a residential building’s main doors.

“I appreciate your assistance, Sister.”

“Oh, please, think nothing of it, Priestess.”

“May the Creator’s favor watch over you.”

“Thank you so much.”

The youthful cleric offered a gentle grin and bowed her head. The middle-aged lady before her returned the gesture with a touch of stiffness.

Leaving the area, the cleric made her way toward the parking zone and climbed into the rear section of an idling automobile.

Vroom—

As the vehicle smoothly accelerated into traffic, she reached for a digital tablet resting on the cushion beside her to inspect the gathered intelligence.

-…

-Calculated capabilities of the White Knight. (View attachments)

-Following inquiries with dimension crossers hailing from diverse realms regarding divine energy signatures, the Main God of Auterica appears to be the primary origin. (View complete interview logs)

-Operating under the premise of a potential link to a particular medical case, connected parties are currently being questioned. (Present status: 28%)

-…

“Hmph.”

She wrinkled her brow slightly, tilting her head as she pondered the data.

As the commander of the investigative task force for Pantheon’s Korean operations, her assignment was to track down the mysterious White Knight. She scribbled a few adjustments onto the screen, set the device down, and shut her eyes.

‘…He truly is extraordinary.’

Recalling the lingering traces of divine energy she had detected within the recovering patient who had just left the medical facility, she felt a profound wave of admiration wash over her.

‘Just how deep does his devotion run?’

She had already been utterly stunned by the immense scale of his sacred power during the day of the violent assault, even though she had only perceived it from a great distance.

Yet studying the remnants from a close vantage point was an entirely different matter.

The further her team dug into the mystery, the more her reverence and awe for him grew.

‘It is not merely the sheer volume, but the absolute refinement. It feels as though it was forged through an unbreakable spirit of devotion. How can an individual command such sublime authority on Earth…?’

Though she held the rank of a premier priestess in her native dimension, she could not hope to match the White Knight.

Even within her home realm, she could think of no one capable of commanding such raw force, save for a divine herald handpicked by the heavens.

‘I truly wish to encounter him.’

That longing was the driving force behind her decision to lead this hunt.

She was propelled by an intense fascination, a yearning to discover what sort of man could bring about such a magnificent phenomenon.

Naturally, there were practical considerations weighing on her mind as well.

‘A figure of his caliber could ascend as Pantheon’s new spearhead… ’

Holy casters were fiercely sought after on Earth, given that their restorative talents were vital in an era plagued by rifts between worlds.

The natural constraints placed on divine magic in this realm made their gifts far more precious than they would be elsewhere.

Yet the true crisis was not developing on the outside; it was festering within.

“Sigh…”

She let out a heavy breath, massaging her face.

Her radiant, flawless complexion, a natural gift maintained by her sacred arts, had lately begun to show signs of strain due to sheer anxiety.

‘…The internal friction between factions is spiraling out of control.’

It was a predictable outcome considering the varied background of Pantheon’s coalition.

Unlike traditional creeds where every practitioner shared a singular dogma, the clerics within Pantheon served entirely different deities with distinct philosophies.

Even though they barred entry to anyone pledging allegiance to malevolent entities, their clashing principles naturally sparked friction and discord.

‘If a figure emerged who could bind us together… ’

They might finally move past these internal disputes.

Then, they could channel their collective strength into more meaningful pursuits, elevating the state of human society.

‘Furthermore, we cannot permit a foreign superpower to claim him first.’

Because Pantheon operated as an international confederation, the primary center located in the United States held no absolute command, acting merely as a diplomatic hub.

They would assist with requests from foreign directorates, but they were under no compulsion to blindly take orders.

She cast her eyes over the incoming dispatches from her squad displayed on the screen, hardening her focus.

Then, after a brief period,

Ping!

An alert chimed. A high-priority dispatch materialized on her secure communication application.

She scanned the text, her gaze snapping wide with shock, and in an instant—

Screech—!

The sedan she occupied whipped around violently, its rubber crying out against the asphalt as it changed its path.

Fortunately, the roadway was clear of nearby traffic.

The driver slammed his foot down on the pedal.

Vroom—!

Their vehicle raced toward the exact coordinates provided in the alert.

A major medical center in Seoul, where eyewitnesses claimed the White Knight had just materialized.

—

A comforting radiance washed over the environment.

Whoosh—

The phenomenon was not confined to a mere handful of paces.

It surged outward, washing over the entire grand entryway before climbing upward and outward, until the entire pediatric clinic was bathed in a gentle, comforting illumination.

It was nothing short of a miracle, a physical expression of pure optimism.

A manifestation of deep empathy, easing the aches of every ailing individual inside the walls.

‘I might as well make a lasting impression.’

Despite its soft appearance, the highly concentrated sacred energy carried an immense, underlying power, sparking instant transformations.

Mending, soothing, revitalizing.

Every person caught within its radius experienced the shift immediately.

“Ah…”

“…Lord! Thank you! Thank you so much!”

“Wow! Look, Mommy, this is incredible! It feels so cozy. Hehe!”

The reactions rippled through the crowd in waves.

Some shed quiet tears, completely mastered by their feelings. Others brought their palms together in quiet devotion. Meanwhile, the young children, entirely unaware of the profound nature of the event, simply laughed and smiled.

Yet across all these varied reactions, every single person performed the exact same motion.

They locked their eyes onto the origin of the spectacular display.

A silhouette stood directly in the center of the entrance hall, illuminated by a glorious luminescence.

A majestic protector, clad in polished, pale armor, his hands resting gracefully upon the pommel of a magnificent blade driven deep into the floorboards.

The White Knight, Heinrich.

“Ah…”

“…”

They gazed upon him, spellbound, completely stripped of speech.

Unlike the moments prior, when they had desperately clamored for his aid, they now kept their distance, lowering their voices and freezing in place.

As if they were admiring a priceless masterpiece.

‘This is… proving to be quite potent. Now then… ’

While the crowd remained motionless, captured by wonder,

Tap— Tap—

A tiny set of footsteps broke through the quiet.

“S… Sua?”

A little girl, barely past six or seven years of age and swallowed up by an oversized medical smock, trotted gradually toward Heinrich.

She had abandoned her rolling chair, her father trailing anxiously a few steps behind her.

‘She breaks the silence first, even while the grown-ups remain paralyzed?’

The older man, her parent, hurried after her with nervous strides, his expression a chaotic blend of worry and reverence.

He appeared terrified of disrupting the moment, keeping a watchful eye on her.

Stopping just before Heinrich, the tiny girl peered upward, her eyes reflecting the bright glow.

Then, in a quiet murmur, she spoke.

“…Are you a heavenly messenger?”

Her voice sounded inquisitive, yet her gaze held an absolute certainty, as though she had already decided on the answer.

“Have you come to gather Sua because I was a good girl?”

The words that followed, however, caught everyone completely off guard.

Heinrich, alongside the child’s father just behind her, went entirely still.

“…Can I please stay just a bit longer? I haven’t got to tell everyone goodbye yet…”

She twirled her fingers together anxiously, looking up into his visage.

What kind of thoughts were drifting through that tiny mind?

Yet Heinrich, discerning her physical state despite the rejuvenating power currently washing through her, grasped the situation.

‘I see.’

He gazed down at the child, then gracefully dropped to one knee, bringing himself down to her exact level.

In doing so, he caught sight of his own form mirrored in her wide, untainted eyes.

‘Yes, this will yield a far greater impact.’

Reaching up, he unlatched and pulled free his headpiece.

Swish—

His bright silver locks, released from confinement, flowed downward, catching and scattering the light from the ceiling fixtures and the radiant aura enveloping him.

“Gasp!”

“…”

As those silver strands shimmered, the onlookers who had been holding their breath let out soft gasps.

Heinrich swept a stray lock back, his piercing golden eyes softening as they locked onto the little girl’s gaze.

His striking, non-human elegance, elevated by the strategic illumination and his theatrical unmasking, etched a permanent memory into their minds.

He extended an arm to stroke her hair, then hesitated, drawing his hand back for a brief moment.

He pulled free his armored glove, choosing instead to softly brush her locks with his bare palm.

“Hee hee…”

The young girl giggled with bashfulness, a rosy tint blooming across her cheeks.

Heinrich offered a warm smile, funnelling a stream of his divine essence through his fingertips, granting her an explicit blessing and a deeper layer of physical restoration.

“I shall wait. Until Sua becomes an adult. Whenever you feel truly prepared.”

“…Promise? Even if it requires a very, very long time?”

“I promise, but you must remain diligent with your doctors, understood? That way, you can see a hundred years.”

“A… A hundred?”

She blinked rapidly, her gaze wandering about as if attempting to visualize such an immense figure.

He let out a quiet chuckle, then rose back to his full height, lifting his palm from her head.

He gave a slight nod to her father, who had been observing the interaction with damp eyes, and the man scrambled forward to scoop up his daughter, bowing his torso repeatedly in gratitude.

The young girl, still chuckling, offered a small wave as they moved away.

She was… quite charming.

‘A slight detour from the plan, but… ’

Heinrich slid his headpiece back into position and surveyed the grand hall.

The outcome had surpassed his initial estimates.

‘It lacked the grand scale of the crisis at the plaza, but the restorative influence remains highly effective.’

He had successfully commanded the room, displayed his true visage, and broadcasted his divine signature.

Now, the final step was…

He projected his voice, allowing it to echo with celestial authority through the space.

“May those who bear burdens receive solace, and those in distress find deliverance…”

The Main God of Auterica possessed no formal title.

He was simply the Origin, the solitary creator.

However, when addressing other dimensions, he could substitute…

“…May the grace of Auterica watch over every one of you.”

…the title of his home world.

With that, having delivered a profound impression with his holy declaration, Heinrich allowed a faint smile to play on his lips beneath the helm.

‘They are arriving.’

He perceived the approaching markers of his pursuers and, summoning his internal force, wrenched his sacred blade cleanly from the flooring.

He had no intention of granting them an audience just yet.

‘Not at this moment.’

His primary target for the day was secured. He required the tension to build further to ensure an even more spectacular reveal later on.

And he would leverage this window to expand his renown.

‘Standing and preaching directly is… far too slow.’

Given the current level of public fascination, he merely had to scatter a few crumbs of information, and the masses would willingly hunt for his trail.

Therefore, until that hour arrived…

Whoosh—

Precisely as the investigators burst into the area, he triggered 「Blessing: Leap」 and dissolved instantly from the entryway.

He materialized seconds later within an entirely separate medical facility, leagues away from the prior location.

In this fashion, his elusive game of evasion pressed onward, his appearances remaining brief, fleeting, and utterly chaotic to track.

By the time evening arrived,

The collective weight of his rapid appearances across the city finally crossed a critical threshold.

The domestic internet networks erupted into pure chaos.