Chapter 71

Chapter 71
Chapter 71
New Order (1)

Flutter, flutter—

[Hehehe… The garbage is truly endless, no matter how frequently I sweep it away.]

A pitch-black evening, entirely devoid of any moonlight.

Dark vestments rippled against the breeze on the precipice of a towering skyscraper.

The solitary feature discernibly vivid within the shadow-veiled silhouette was a duo of sapphire phantom flames.

Those glowing optics gazed down upon the gleaming nocturnal cityscape, gleaming freezing carminatively like a sovereign monarch inspecting the realm.

In truth, designating him a sovereign monarch was by no means an exaggeration.

He was the bane of the Auterica Dimension, the Immortal King in the flesh.

‘The delinquency rates in the territories I previously cleansed experienced a temporary decline, but the zone I must oversee continues to spread outward, meaning the actual labor is only multiplying.’

Utilizing the boundless magical reserves he inherited upon ascending as the Immortal King, alongside traits such as “Path of Magic” and “Magic Domination,” he had thoroughly overhauled the ‘Contagious Familiar Magic Final_Revised_2nd_FINAL(3)_ReallyTheLast’ that he had long relied upon.

Consequently, the ‘Contagious Familiar Magic Complete Edition’ was brought to fruition.

It had turned far more imperceptible, highly precise, and capable of monitoring a vastly superior perimeter.

Because of this advancement, his sphere of operations now encompassed the entirety of Seoul and kept pushing outward, while the tally of transgressors requiring his retribution grew far beyond his personal capacity to manage.

[It is profoundly pitiful how this domain crawls with wickedness. Exactly how much bitter malice must they harbor to end up in such a state.]

Yet, how could the fragmented condition of this civilization be placed entirely upon their shoulders?

Were they not likewise casualties who had been deeply scarred by this environment?

Therefore…

[Indeed, I shall take upon myself all the bitterness you bear toward this realm. So that you no longer feel compelled to release your spite outward… You shall discover everlasting tranquility within my embrace. Hehehe—]

An individual was required to sever the unending chain of misery.

And Hans, who stood as the virtual personification of all worldly despair, was the uniquely qualified entity for such a burden.

Right at that instance, an additional vibration was perceived.

A case of theft and homicide executed via supernatural capabilities; regrettably, it appeared that multiple individuals had already perished.

[Oh dear… They have crossed the line.]

In that scenario, he possessed no alternative but to claim them.

The physical form of Hans was instantly swallowed by the gloom, and his silhouette commenced to dissolve.

Right before he faded entirely from view, hundreds of indistinct shapes writhed frantically within the shadow cast beneath his boots, as though crying out in unison.

As if preparing to boisterously welcome the impending arrivals… in an exceptionally violent fashion.

—

“Well, what do you think? Were you able to ascertain anything?”

“Hmm… I believe I comprehend the mechanism. It triggers a reenactment of the trauma whenever precise prerequisites are fulfilled, and he even wove his own consciousness directly into the hex, ensuring it cannot be bypassed.”

The individual donning a baseball cap replied, resting his palm upon the skull of the patient resting on the medical mattress.

“I was already aware of that detail. What concerning the dispelling process? Can you undo it?”

“Ah, regarding that? Absolutely out of the question. The underlying framework is entirely distinct, and his strength vastly eclipses my own. If I meddle with it recklessly, I will be the one inheriting the hex.”

The individual clad in the business attire grimaced and glared intently at him, clearly displeased by the explanation provided.

“Then what exactly are you capable of achieving here? Did you uncover any other details?”

“One factor is undeniable. The individual responsible for weaving this hex is an absolute leviathan. If I were placed in opposition to him, I would choose self-termination over engaging this person in combat.”

“…Is his power truly that immense?”

Park Han-cheol, the sectional chief of the Criminal Investigation Division operating under the Supernatural Ability Management Bureau, roughly massaged his scalp and released a heavy breath.

The individual in the cap paused for a brief span to formulate a more elaborate description before articulating his thoughts further.

He was currently collaborating with the ongoing inquiry in the capacity of a dark magic consultant.

“To begin with, the sophistication of the dark magic is exceptionally advanced. Observing its intricate and resilient configuration, it appears he has methodically mastered an art that has undergone refinement in an entirely different dimension over an immense duration.”

Furthermore, it was far from a shallow comprehension; he must have genuinely grasped and integrated its innermost principles.

“Additionally, the concentration of the dark magical energy is utterly staggering. It isn’t merely a matter of a vast quantity; the fundamental caliber of the energy itself is on an entirely different plane. I am genuinely curious to learn from him how one amasses such unadulterated force.”

Contaminants normally accumulated as an individual amplified their internal force, yet the dark magical energy utilized within this instance was incredibly untainted.

It reached a threshold where he comprehended for the very first time that dark magical energy, which is intrinsically an unholy force, could ever achieve such pristine refinement.

“Lastly… I am uncertain if it constitutes an attribute inherent to their specific framework or an esoteric methodology, but the manner in which he deploys hexes is completely non-human.”

“What are you implying by that statement?”

The individual in the cap, Ahn Sung-jin, directed his gaze back toward the patient resting upon the mattress, as though his piercing vision could pierce right through the flesh.

“Hexes function as a weapon that cuts both ways, meaning one must exercise extreme vigilance when manipulating them, correct? A single misstep can result in a catastrophic backlash upon the caster.”

“…I have heard that principle stated frequently.”

“Yet this individual incorporates absolutely no defensive countermeasures against such a consequence. It is a methodology that exclusively prioritizes productivity, velocity, and raw potency. Nevertheless, it functions with absolute fluidity.”

There was no superfluous padding within the hex designed to shield his own well-being.

Logically, there ought to be some manner of flaw or opening to allow an attempt at neutralizing it, but there was simply no method by which to even interface with this construct.

“Could it be that he possesses an innate immunity to hexes?”

“Conceivably… Though it feels as though it transcends that description? The sensation is faintly alien? As if there is a total absence of human nature…?”

“Ha! Human nature, my foot. The individual in question is clearly a lunatic.”

“Come now, it is merely an intuitive perception. Besides, not every practitioner of dark magic is a madman, correct? I am reasonably well-adjusted, am I not?”

Park Han-cheol scrutinized Ahn Sung-jin, the individual in the cap, for a prolonged second before exhaling forcefully once more.

Granted, he generally maintained an orderly demeanor now, but he possessed a prior record of being apprehended after losing his composure and instigating a major altercation.

He was currently impeding the cognitive degradation associated with dark magical energy through the utilization of a specialized trait, though the core issue remained that it was far from flawless.

Immediately following his repatriation, he had bear witness to a group of thugs invading his parents’ retail shop—which they were desperately trying to keep afloat—and creating a chaotic scene, causing him to completely lose his self-restraint.

Fortunately, the event stopped short of homicide, meaning that taking various elements into account, he was presently offering assistance to the Supernatural Ability Management Bureau.

‘He ranks as an elite dark mage, regardless of his unassuming outer appearance. In reality, he possessed the capability to break custody, but he is a psychologically grounded fellow who surrendered himself solely on account of his parents.’

He could no longer reprimand the man harshly, given that he had proven quite beneficial up to this point.

“You asserted that Hahoe Mask was the entity who implemented this hex? And he commandeers the physical remains after executing the perpetrators?”

“Precisely, on certain occasions he leaves behind nothing short of fluid saturated with dark magical energy, and on other occasions he extracts the entirety of the target without permitting any vestiges to remain.”

“My word… Necromancy deployed by a dark practitioner of this caliber? That is genuinely terrifying. Even their spiritual essences are converted into thralls.”

“…Is that truly the case?”

“Demise provides no cessation when standing before a necromancer. He will perpetually repurpose their physical forms and spiritual entities until they are entirely spent. I was speaking with absolute sincerity when I remarked that self-termination would be the superior option.”

Naturally, he could potentially be less formidable than anticipated if he did not specialize in that specific discipline like Ahn Sung-jin did.

He might have merely collected the physical remains for the sake of basic experimentation.

Nonetheless, it was immensely imprudent to gamble on such fortune when dealing with an adversary of this magnitude.

“In point of fact, this specific target has resided here for quite some time. He was assaulted during the period when Hahoe Mask was actively operating and has not been cleared for release yet.”

Park Han-cheol gestured with his jaw toward the individual resting on the mattress, currently slumbering.

He likewise fell into the category of a perpetrator, so they had sedated him to streamline the investigative process.

“However, Hahoe Mask, who had remained dormant for an interval, has resumed his operations. Consequently, we have received several subjects who arrived just today, and their medical stabilization is largely concluded, so I would appreciate it if you could inspect them.”

“What meaningful variations could possibly manifest after a mere handful of days?”

“Even so, wouldn’t you possess a higher likelihood of extracting deeper insight from a subject who was subjected to the assault fresh?”

“Hmm… in that scenario, I shall conduct an inspection.”

Ahn Sung-jin gave an accommodating nod, recognizing that the logic presented was sound.

With that, they proceeded into the critical care sector and stood before a figure resembling a mummy, obscured entirely by medical dressings.

“Uh… what specific transgression did this individual execute to conclude in such a state?”

“Let us review… willful property burning. It appears he avoided a harsher fate due to the absence of fatalities. Hahoe Mask predominantly focuses on violent perpetrators of late, meaning the majority face immediate liquidation.”

Such an outcome was entirely predictable, keeping in mind his amplified perimeter of operations and overwhelmed itinerary.

Ahn Sung-jin signaled his comprehension, moved toward the edge of the patient’s mattress, rested a palm upon his skull, and sealed his eyelids.

Following a brief interlude…

“Gasp!”

He abruptly snapped his eyes wide open, violently retracted his palm, and retreated backward by several paces.

“Ah…”

“What is the matter? Did you encounter a different variable?”

“Aha… Hahaha— Tell me, Section Chief! What, precisely what do you intend to execute regarding Hahoe Mask once you successfully apprehend him?”

Ahn Sung-jin let out a nervous chuckle and shifted the topic entirely, failing to provide a direct answer to the inquiry.

Park Han-cheol knit his brows briefly, yet he answered the query regardless.

“Apprehension is a secondary milestone; primarily, we must determine his true identity. Following that, we will validate the findings and attempt to negotiate with him. He commands immense capability and appears to adhere to a distinct doctrine of behavior.”

“Much like myself?”

“Well… precisely? No, but why are you exhibiting this behavior? Did you ascertain a specific detail?”

Ahn Sung-jin offered a faint, fragile smile, his gaze appearing to look toward an immense distance, while the other man grimaced and demanded an explanation.

“It appears I must completely revoke the commentary I offered previously.”

“Oh? You have unravelled something!”

He signaled an affirmative nod with a hollow pride and slowly parted his lips to speak.

“It appears that I… ought to perish this very instant… Nevertheless, I have provided significant utility to the state, so I should qualify for a government-sponsored annuity, correct? Exactly how much funds did I preserve…”

Only at that juncture was Park Han-cheol capable of accurately deciphering the look on his face as Ahn Sung-jin proceeded to mutter incoherently.

His pupils, swollen and utterly uncentered, were fixed blankly upon nothingness, and his countenance, bearing an artificial grin and twitching lips, was drenched in a chilly perspiration.

“…Are you functional?”

Ahn Sung-jin replayed the event that had transpired moments prior with a stunned consciousness.

The exact instant he peered intensely into the hex to harvest data,

He established direct ocular contact with ‘that entity’.

[Oh—? What exactly do you think you are doing?]

He had assumed it would merely be a residual fragment of intent similar to what he observed within the initial hex, however… the reality was entirely altered.

A manifestation that appeared to be a concentrated mass of pure shadow, featuring a pair of sapphire eyes staring unblinkingly into his very self.

Ahn Sung-jin’s intellect went entirely dark for a second under a gaze that seemed to pierce through the core of his spiritual being.

By the time he recovered his awareness, he was frantically severing the connection…

And even during that retreat, those sapphire flames were simply staring directly at him.

Without averting their focus for even a fraction of a heartbeat, right up until his departure.

“Hey! What has taken over you! Reclaim your composure!”

“Hahaha… I am perfectly fine. However, I believe I must place a call to my mother, so could you permit me to step away for a brief moment? I shall inform her that I am departing on a classified operation, and it would be wonderful if you could document my demise as an execution of official duty.”

The disparity between the initial hex he analyzed and this recent construct.

It wasn’t merely a calculation of increased potency or advanced development.

The very concentration of its existential presence was fundamentally distinct.

His spiritual core was thrown into violent destabilization simply from witnessing a mere sliver of it.

He was likewise an elite practitioner of dark magic, allowing him to comprehend the implications to a certain degree.

He directed his gaze down toward his fingers.

He compressed his palms into fists, observing the involuntary vibration of his hands, and consolidated his grim resolve.

‘He has become fully aware of my presence. Now that he has directly scrutinized my spiritual essence, he can locate me at any moment he desires.’

His immediate environment could transform into a lethal hazard at any given second depending entirely on the passing whim of Hahoe Mask.

Should he materialize at his residence while he was cohabiting with his family…

‘No! It is far more advantageous to perish this instant! And if it occurs now, perhaps my spiritual essence can be preserved without being ensnared… ’

Slap—!

“Hey! Ahn Sung-jin! Have you completely lost your sanity?!”

His consciousness immediately snapped back into place accompanied by the stinging discomfort blooming across his jaw.

Only then did he begin to perceive his immediate environment with proper clarity.

“Hey! I can roughly decipher the nature of what occurred, but settle yourself down!”

Park Han-cheol let out a breath, noting that Ahn Sung-jin’s pupils had returned to a normal focus following the physical strike.

“The primary factor you must keep in mind is that Hahoe Mask has exclusively penalized lawbreakers up to this point. Furthermore, he maintains his own rigorous metrics, categorizing them in accordance with their misdeeds.”

In instances involving severe infractions like premeditated murder, he carries out summary liquidation, whereas for lesser offenses, he adjudicates and penalizes them according to his established metrics, much like the perpetrator resting beside them.

“Additionally, he has been fully cognizant that we are tracking his movements from the absolute beginning. Yet he has abstained from taking any hostile action against our organization.”

Hahoe Mask maintained a definitive boundary, solely executing judgment upon the corrupt.

“Do you comprehend? You are completely ungrounded right now. Compose yourself and apply rational logic.”

“Ah…”

Ahn Sung-jin processed the words delivered to him, inhaled a prolonged breath, and sorted through his chaotic thoughts.

Correct, he had not even extracted any monumental data.

He remained ignorant of Hahoe Mask’s true civilian identity or physical whereabouts, and he possessed no knowledge regarding the full scope of his traits, aside from the fact that they were ‘astronomical’.

He had merely happened to intersect vision with him through a residual thought construct.

He was finally capable of viewing his personal state through an objective lens.

He had simply encountered a minor fragment of the being’s existence through the hex for a fleeting second, yet he had been consumed by terror and plunged into total hysteria.

“Hahaha… I comprehend now…”

“Have you stabilized at this point?”

“Yes… Um, Section Chief?”

“Yeah! What is it? Do you have an additional observation to share?”

“I, I require a moment to rest…”

Thud—!

Ahn Sung-jin, whose internal fortitude suddenly snapped from the release of adrenaline, dropped to the flooring on the spot as though he had lost consciousness entirely.

“Huh? Hey! All of a sudden? Right here?”

He could perceive the echoing tones of Park Han-cheol’s voice as though originating from a vast distance, but he no longer possessed the mental stamina required to process thoughts.

—

[Hmm… This marks a novel occurrence.]

Hans directed his fixed attention toward a singular quadrant within the shadow-blanketed expanse.

At the terminus of the path his sapphire phantom flames were monitoring… rested a medical facility.