Chapter 342

Chapter 342
## Chapter 342

Pantheon (1)

The unexpected arrival on Earth of Heinrich Saint Landguard, the Saint of Auterica, showcased an immense divine capability that transformed him into an instant sensation.

Following his initial public appearance during the crisis involving Awakened terrorists, he made a point of visiting numerous medical facilities, cementing his status as a prominent figure in the public eye.

-Day 24 since converting to Auterica. Offered my prayers to Saint-nim’s image once more today.

-Proof) Ever since I hung a massive portrait of Saint-nim in my bedroom, my loss of appetite and sleeplessness vanished, my tension evaporated, and my days are full of joy! Let us all practice 1 Day 1 Heinrich.

-Cleansing my vision once again today♡

Naturally, Heinrich’s striking physical traits played a massive role in elevating his fame.

He possessed ethereal silver hair that seemed to generate its own illumination, and amber eyes that glowed so intensely they appeared to hold the sun itself.

His mesmerizing looks, reminiscent of a central character from an illustrated graphic novel, paired with his unique talents, integrity, and the various details uncovered about his background, generated a fervent, cultish devotion.

A champion designated to deliver the world from ruin, a pious holy man executing the decrees of the Almighty.

A figure of that caliber, typically confined to the realm of myth, had materialized in the flesh, making the public’s intense fervor entirely predictable.

Admittedly, his persistent charitable actions drew quiet irritation from hospital administrators and medical professionals, though none dared to object out of turn.

Because he directed his healing capabilities primarily toward terminally ill youngsters and individuals afflicted by exceptional ailments, institutions feared the public outrage that would follow any attempt to block these supernatural displays of divine grace.

‘To be fair, my appearances on Earth have dropped in frequency recently, given that I’ve been deploying my duplicates to Ganghwange.’

Since his primary duties remained in Auterica, Heinrich could only journey to Earth when his schedule permitted an opening within the constraints of his 「Interdimensional Transfer Formation Summon」. Whenever that ability was resetting, he had no choice but to delay his trips.

Granted, because of the chronological disparity between the realms, that delay amounted to merely a handful of days.

And so, having stepped back onto Earth after a brief period away,

…Heinrich found himself perched atop a high-rise structure, observing the urban sprawl below just as the street lamps commenced their evening glow.

“…Things played out more smoothly than I anticipated.”

He spoke quietly to himself, reflecting on his most recent task.

He had just finished delivering a missive to the kin of Isea, honoring the request she had made of him.

The family had been startled by his unannounced and secretive arrival—a private encounter with a globally recognized figure—yet that shock paled in comparison to the revelation he shared.

“Is that… is that the truth?”

“Goodness me…”

They gingerly accepted the document, their expressions displaying a blend of profound bewilderment and astonishment.

It did not take them long to accept his words as genuine.

‘Then again, when they saw a visual representation of their child displayed right before them… denial wasn’t an option.’

The correspondence Isea had tasked him with carrying was far from conventional.

Fashioned by the Archmage herself, it functioned as a mystical artifact that triggered the moment a blood relative unsealed it.

-”…Therefore, I am doing quite well. I anticipate being able to make my return shortly… Perhaps in roughly two months, by Earth’s calculation? It could potentially happen even quicker…”

A lifelike three-dimensional projection, reminiscent of cinematic special effects, cast Isea’s form directly above the paper. At that sight, her family, who had been gripped by dread, became visibly overwhelmed with feeling.

“…You are unharmed. That is all that truly matters.”

“Our gratitude is boundless, Saint-nim! And… we beg you to look after our girl.”

“Incredible, my older sister is actually a sorceress!”

Her father, speaking with bloodshot eyes but a firm tone, her mother, offering continuous bows of immense appreciation, and her younger brother, too young to grasp the peril but cheering in pure amazement…

Heinrich accepted their deep appreciation before exiting the residence.

‘That fulfills my promise to Isea. I will carry their written responses back when I return to Auterica.’

He gave a slow nod, shifting his gaze across the brightly lit cityscape.

Though it was a minor chore, he had undertaken it gladly.

It required very little effort on his part.

Furthermore, and of greater consequence,

‘…With that finished, shall we commence?’

In comparison to the objective that lay ahead of him, this errand had been a minor distraction.

He had deliberately put himself in the spotlight, establishing his identity as a traveler from an alternate reality, specifically to lay the groundwork for what was to come.

His goal was to elevate his renown to such a degree that it would entice Heaven’s Turn Society out from their hiding places.

‘Pantheon.’

The coalition of faiths spanning multiple realities.

The moment to initiate contact with them had arrived.

—

Pantheon had kept a watchful eye on Heinrich from the very moment he captured the attention of the press.

It wasn’t merely the regional office in Korea that took notice; even the primary headquarters based in the US, which typically abstained from direct local involvement, sent a dedicated team of investigators.

It made perfect sense.

For an organization comprised of diverse spiritual denominations whose only validation of devotion lay in the manifestation of divine energy, the wonders Heinrich performed were staggering.

Supernatural events of that magnitude were normally restricted to the most prominent spiritual authorities, such as Popes, Saints, and Chosen Apostles.

Yet on Earth, where the potency of divine energy was drastically suppressed, no awakened spiritualists had managed to ascend to such heights.

Consequently, he became a subject of immense fascination.

What manner of individual was he, and by what means had he secured such celestial favor?

Their profound inquisitiveness persisted even after he openly declared himself to be an inhabitant of another world.

If anything, their fascination multiplied.

A divine emissary, designated by the heavens, traversing realities to step onto Earth…

It was a phenomenon without historical precedent.

‘Whether his claim of originating from an alternate world is genuine or fabricated changes nothing. He is an extraordinary entity regardless.’

Kang Tae-san, a lower-tier staff member of the Supernatural Management Bureau who had been brought along to assist his supervisor, let out a quiet breath while arranging plates of food and beverages.

The setting was a conventional workspace, a location he had been to once before.

Mirroring their previous gathering, delegates representing multiple organizations occupied the room.

Spiritual leaders representing Pantheon’s US headquarters, representatives from the Korean branch, administrative staff from the Returnee Association, and personnel belonging to the Supernatural Management Bureau.

Every person present had been actively attempting to locate Heinrich.

“What is your assessment? Does the White Knight truly hail from another dimension?”

“He frequents medical centers to distribute blessings, yet he vanishes for prolonged blocks of time without a trace. Our tracking methods fail completely during those windows. If he is indeed crossing back to his native realm… the theory holds immense weight.”

“Concurrently, we cannot dismiss the notion that he might be a standard returnee simply masquerading as an otherworldly traveler…”

Their collective focus centered entirely on Heinrich, the individual claiming an alternate world as his home.

However, the mood in the room differed drastically from the tense, hyper-focused nature of their past assemblies.

The attendees appeared animated, their countenances showing signs of eager anticipation and intense interest.

They traded glances with one another, offering self-conscious smiles.

“Ahem, I cannot help but wonder what goals he intends to pursue by abruptly requesting an audience like this…”

“Quite so. He has consistently avoided our advances up until this point.”

“…We exhausted so many resources trying to establish a line of communication. He utilizes spatial relocation as if it requires no exertion whatsoever…!”

This precise date marked their inaugural face-to-face dialogue with him.

They reflected on their prior endeavors, the squandered hours, the expenditures, and the leads that yielded zero results.

They had deployed every strategy available to open a dialogue.

Yet Heinrich had continuously slipped through their fingers, declining any interaction as though he were deliberately maintaining a wide berth.

Now, out of nowhere, he had initiated contact to set up a conference.

Understandably, they were thrilled.

“Regardless, the past is behind us. Whatever his motivations were previously matter little now. Given this direct opening, we can resolve any lingering misconceptions.”

“Precisely. Though the appointed hour is upon us. Where is his arrival? He wouldn’t leave us waiting indefinitely, would he?”

“…That seems highly improbable. His arrival should be imminent…”

As the old adage goes, speaking of someone often heralds their appearance.

“Please follow me inside.”

Just as a wave of nervousness began to settle over the group, the entrance swung open, and a gentleman, guided by a security officer, stepped across the threshold.

Clank, clank—

A measured, metallic stride resonated through the quiet area.

Every gaze shifted toward the newcomer, and immediately—.

“Ah…”

“Hmm.”

…a collective hush blanketed the room, a quiet breath catching in several throats as they observed him.

It was not an intentional display; it was a deep, involuntary reaction.

‘So that is the individual…!’

Kang Tae-san, keeping a low profile in a far corner, swallowed hard as he monitored the interaction, the room growing thick with an intense quiet.

Stunning facial structure that harmonized flawlessly with his silver locks and golden eyes.

A mild, compassionate expression, an air of absolute tranquility… yet beneath that peaceful presentation, a potent and fierce undercurrent of power, akin to a blazing bonfire, pressed outward in all directions.

Though clad in a suit of white protective plating that belonged to a bygone era, he carried it with absolute grace, looking entirely natural as Heinrich Saint Landguard, the Saint of another world.

‘Wait?’

While Kang Tae-san watched him, entirely captivated, their gazes crossed for a fraction of a second.

Those golden eyes widened marginally, showing a flicker of recognition.

Yet the expression vanished just as quickly as it appeared, replaced once more by an amiable, welcoming expression.

‘He is… extraordinarily striking.’

Kang Tae-san thought to himself, his chest tightening.

He was fully aware that Heinrich was the benefactor who had rescued him, his elderly relative, and his companion… and his appreciation was immense… but that fact was separate from this feeling.

An entirely different sentiment, a profound sensation of reverence and wonder, surged within his chest.

He was far from unique in this reaction; every individual present experienced it.

They possessed extensive dossiers regarding his activities.

After all, he had been the primary subject of their scrutiny.

They had compiled every shred of accessible data, from captured video streams and firsthand accounts to analytical breakdowns.

Yet confronting him in the flesh offered an entirely distinct sensation.

‘…How can a person project such an aura? It feels as though the environment surrounding him belongs to a completely separate reality.’

‘He transcends standard human metrics. An actual traveler from another world… could that claim be genuine?’

‘His aura is… staggering. It far exceeds our initial calculations. Is it possible his capabilities have expanded?’

A heavy, commanding gravity, matching the sensation of standing before a higher tier of existence—a being originating from an entirely different plane.

Their thoughts churned frantically, trying to reconcile the spectacle with their data.

These individuals were all powerful leaders within their respective domains, accustomed to interacting with highly capable awakened elites… yet the vibe emitted by the White Knight was a different matter entirely.

“I offer my greetings. I am Heinrich Saint Landguard, the premier blade of Auterica. It is a distinct privilege to join you all today.”

His speech, delivered in a quiet and gentle manner yet possessing an undeniable underlying authority, resonated through the space.

His eyes, reflecting warmth and amicability, scanned the assembled group before locking onto a particular individual.

A solidly built cleric in his middle years possessing brown hair.

The individual steering the investigative unit sent directly from Pantheon’s US headquarters.

‘A past holy warrior. I cannot quite determine his specific denomination… but he is certainly not aligned with an adversarial deity.’

Even so, letting his guard down was out of the question. He remained fully aware that Scribe, the individual directing the North American branch of Heaven’s Turn Society, had a hand in these matters.

He lacked absolute certainty on whether this specific spiritualist was linked directly to that malicious group, or functioned merely as an unwitting tool…

‘…Regardless, I intend to uncover the truth.’

Heinrich’s gaze, concealed behind his pleasant and inviting smile, flashed with a sharp, calculating focus.