#259
Hide-and-Seek (1)
An indoor training facility built solely for me.
Squeak— Screech—
There, an unusual metallic sound even more intense than usual rang out alongside rising heat.
Thud— Boom!
“Huff, hoo—!”
And with the sound of something heavy striking the floor, I finished another routine. Drenched in sweat, I looked down at my steaming body and let out a low exclamation.
“This is amazing? Even though it’s only an extremely small portion of the total amount, it’s at this level….”
As I exclaimed, I looked down at the exercise equipment I had just been using and slightly furrowed my brow.
Perhaps my strength control was still clumsy; the handle was slightly dented and twisted.
“Hmm, I’ll need something sturdier after all.”
Ordinary equipment available on the market was not very suitable for a superhuman to train their body.
Naturally, due to its nature, its basic durability was quite strong, but that was a standard that only applied to ordinary people.
‘I should take this chance to replace the lot with Howard’s handmade items. I was making this and that to practice handling the new materials I obtained anyway, so this works out well.’
The cause of this sudden growth of my main body was the 『Unique Skill Enhancement (1,300,000)』 I had performed right before sending Hugo to Ganghwangye.
Actually, at first, I had not intended to send Hugo there.
Since he was capable of all sorts of odd jobs thanks to 「Versatile」, having him by my main body’s side was incredibly convenient, and since it was a new dimension, I had planned to summon a new avatar with a fresh mindset to dispatch instead.
‘If only the 1.3 million enhancement and the subsequent 1.4 million one hadn’t failed to produce an increase in avatar count.’
When what I had taken for granted missed the mark consecutively, I eventually had to send Hugo away in exchange for obtaining two unexpected abilities.
And the first of those was the derivative ability of 「Entity Projection」 that was currently strengthening his body.
Unlike 「Entity Projection」, which completely overlays the information of a single entity, it borrowed a certain portion of an avatar’s power, and since it had no clear cooldown, under normal circumstances when energy consumption was not great, it could be maintained all day long.
‘I suppose you could say a permanent strengthening-type passive skill has been added. Most importantly, the amazing thing is… the target avatar isn’t limited to just one entity at a time, unlike 「Entity Projection」.’
It was an ability that could rightfully be called fraudulent, but the disappointing part was that the total amount of power that could be borrowed in this way was woefully insufficient compared to full 「Entity Projection」.
‘But abilities can always be developed somehow. If additional enhancements are stacked on top of this and proficiency rises as well, then perhaps…’
Perhaps.
A terrible hybrid simultaneously wielding Hans’s dark magic and Heinrich’s holy power, Halli’s physical abilities, blood magic, and even spirit arts—such a thing might be born.
Of course, it would take quite a long time to reach that point.
‘Besides, the other ability is quite useful too.’
The problem lay in his karma balance, which I had never imagined would dry up this quickly.
The points remaining after creating Horus, the Gold Dragon Hatchling, were roughly 2 million.
After that, there was a sudden surge when I went through the Zepia Republic incident, and thanks to the straws I had stuck everywhere, it had swollen to slightly over 3 million again, but….
‘I’m back to starting from the bottom again with this.’
The points needed for the next enhancement were 1.5 million.
No matter how many karma straws I had stuck everywhere like a pension, since the Elixir of Growth was a steady expense, it was a figure that would take quite a long time to reach unless something big happened.
“Well, since when did I worry about such things?”
I was someone who had gathered over 10 million points when others struggled to reach 1 million.
To me, karma was merely something that accumulated naturally as I went about doing what had to be done—
‘Let me see. The Ganghwangye side is roughly wrapped up and catching its breath now, so…’
My interest turned back to Auterika, my own garden.
***
Even while I was briefly paying attention to Ganghwangye, time in Auterika had diligently flowed on.
Avatars training and handling affairs at their respective positions, solidifying their foundations.
And among them, there was one who had recently been showing an especially violent streak.
“Urrggh….”
“Kkheuk— Haaa, I surrender! I surrender!”
“Kuahaha—! Where did your initial spirit go? You think THIS is enough to prove anything? Come now, don’t hold back and all of you come at me at once! Kahahat!”
Among the dozens of people groaning on the floor, a giant stood in the very center, gripping a man’s head and bursting into a triumphant laugh.
Those surrounding them with weapons in hand could not help but swallow dryly.
And for good reason.
The ones sprawled out like drunk homeless people over there were the village’s greatest warriors, and the one begging for surrender while his head was caught in the giant’s grip was none other than their tribe’s chieftain and the strongest great warrior in the nearby region.
“Hmm? What, no one else? Don’t hold back and come! Clearly, among all the places I’ve passed through so far, this seems like the most fun. Let’s see if the Robot tribe has what it takes to call themselves the greatest in Kalkos!”
“It’s Reubateu, Halli-nim.”
“Hmm? ‘Robot’ sounds stronger though. Anyway, are there any others who’ll step forward?”
Misty, who had been quietly observing from a short distance away, carefully corrected his pronunciation, but Halli, already getting excited, paid her no mind.
Thus, the madness-filled ferocious momentum radiating from the body of the arrogant barbarian warrior caused those nearby to unconsciously step back several paces.
“Hmm, Halli-nim? Don’t you think that’s enough by now? It seems everyone else acknowledges you too.”
Eventually, Misty stepped forward again with a bitter smile.
This commotion had occurred when the chieftain and warriors of the tribe, upon Halli’s visit accompanied by Misty, came forward to test whether he was qualified to be king.
The Reubateu tribe, which enjoyed a better position than elsewhere thanks to the tropical rainforest to the southeast, had been powerful for generations and had high pride, so when they found themselves having to serve someone they had never seen before, they deliberately caused a scene.
However, as Halli had said earlier, this was not actually the first time such a scuffle had happened.
They had probably intended to show off their strength appropriately, just like the other tribes, to ensure they wouldn’t be treated lightly, but….
“…Keheung! The excitement is fading.”
Thud—
“Keuk!”
The chieftain caught in Halli’s large hand collapsed to the floor, swallowing a pained groan.
Though he had been beaten so thoroughly that his body would not move properly, being born with strong bones, he forced his body to squirm even in that state and managed to raise his head to look up at Halli.
A muscular frame exceeding 2.3 meters and splendid tattoos engraved on his bare upper body.
And between his facial features cast in shadow with light behind him, red and green light shone brilliantly.
That man who radiated an overwhelming, domineering pressure that seemed to trample the heavens merely by standing still was none other than….
‘…The new Fighting King… As expected, he lives up to the name.’
The chieftain clicked his tongue inwardly after letting out an exclamation of admiration.
Even though he had just been beaten soundly, his eyes held no rejection or anger—only deep awe and respect.
Unable to unconditionally bow down due to a warrior’s pride, he had charged in, but after experiencing the clear difference in their levels, he could now accept his position.
And it was not just the chieftain—the same was true for the elites groaning on the floor and the warriors surrounding them and watching the scene.
For the southern warriors who valued only strength as the supreme virtue, the sight of him deflecting Aura-imbued heavy weapons with his unarmored bare body and subduing warriors with his bare hands like children was truly the very image of a war god descended to earth.
“…To the new Fighting King, I, Umperante, chieftain of Reubateu, pledge my loyalty.”
“We pledge our loyalty!”
“We pledge…!”
And so, after the chieftain and warriors recovered somewhat and swore allegiance before Halli, matters here were concluded as well.
“Miss, this means the southeast is finished too? Hmm, then we’re about halfway?”
“Oh my, I told you to just call me Misty. Come to think of it, you’re right. Wow! Even ignoring small villages and only stopping by places with chieftains, to think we’ve already covered half in such a short time. Halli-nim is truly amazing!”
“Uahaha—! Well, the sorcery helped quite a bit too. I think we make a good pair!”
“G-good pair… Oh my! Halli-nim too. Eeheehee—”
While Misty’s mind ran wild with delusions about how many children she would bear depending on how she took his words, Halli scratched his chin, thinking of the next schedule regardless.
‘If this were simply a matter of the Fighting King’s coronation, it would have ended by summoning the chieftains from various regions to the center.’
The problem was that the south’s situation, after Valteon’s Rebellion had swept through, was far from comfortable.
Clean-up was still ongoing, and there were quite a few places where remnants remained and caused trouble, so in order to finish the work even a little faster, it was best for him to move personally like this.
“Up we go—! Well then, shall we get going? Come on, get on again, miss.”
“Eehee, three sounds about right… Hm? Y-yes? Yes! Halli-nim!”
Thus, Halli dashed through the south at full speed with the help of the great sorceress as well.
Thanks to that, he was able to tour the entire tribal alliance far earlier than expected, and before long, he could ascend to the position of a true ‘Fighting King’ acknowledged by all tribes of Kalkos.
And finally.
The power of the south, which had been scattered until now, began to rapidly reorganize around him.
***
A blond youth in work clothes busily moved about, cleaning every corner of the house.
Dusting, sweeping with a broom, mopping—the orderly manner in which he worked exuded a professional air without a single superfluous movement.
While he was completely entranced and immersed in cleaning.
As he diligently wiped the floor, he discovered something and paused, furrowing his brows.
‘Oh no! A stain appeared here. If the master finds out, she’ll have a fit.’
Judgment and action were carried out simultaneously.
Taking out a small bottle, brush, and other tools from his work apron, he carefully dropped the bottle’s solution onto the floor stain and diligently scrubbed with the brush.
Scrub scrub scrub—
“Heeheehee, you cheeky stain. How dare you invade my domain. No matter how much you fly or crawl, you’re no match for me.”
With a cruel smile, he mercilessly drove the stain into a corner without blood or tears—
And finally, it disappeared from this world without leaving even a small trace.
“Hehehe….”
Just like— the him of the past.
“……”
His body, prostrated on the floor, went blank and stiffened in an instant.
Normally, he would have immediately gotten up and moved on to the next task.
But for some reason, his mind was complicated right now, and he couldn’t do anything.
And after who knew how much time had passed.
“Simon~? Are you still cleaning?”
At the sudden voice of the woman… his master, the man’s body stiffened rigidly.
But it was only for a moment. His body, having undergone countless training sessions, moved unconsciously according to survival instincts.
“Hup! Y-yes! Master! You called me! I’m coming!”
“Honestly. You’re so slow it’s pathetic, what exactly are you good for?”
Simon rushed over and flopped down prostrate on the floor.
However, Siana clicked her tongue lightly, looking at him with eyes that showed she was not pleased with such an appearance.
Then, as she trampled the back of Simon Carte Ajerion, former crown prince of the Ajerion Empire, who was prostrate on the floor with her sharp heels, she spoke in a languid voice.
“Simon, have you gotten lax because there hasn’t been any punishment lately? Or did you actually want this? Hmm?”
“Eek! N-no. Master! I, I… Uheheok!”
“Hmm~ I thought so. To think you take punishment as a reward. Have you ever seen such a useless slave? Pfft.”
With a reddened face and quickened breathing.
Simon buried his half-dazed face into the floor and trembled.
He was ruined to the point where one couldn’t even imagine that he had once been the empire’s crown prince.
Rumble—
At some point while the two were enjoying themselves in their own way.
“…What’s this?”
Along with a faint vibration, the Undead Fortress suddenly shook slightly.
It was so subtle that an ordinary person would have difficulty noticing, but as an officer of the undead army, she could definitely feel it.
“The king… is pleased?”
However, even she couldn’t grasp the reason.
Siana, who had been pulling the whip taut, tilted her head slightly.
“Urk, Ma… Master….”
“Ah.”
At that moment, a groaning sound leaked from beneath her feet.
‘Hmm, it doesn’t seem like a bad thing, so I suppose it doesn’t matter.’
If anything happened, the king would inform them.
Until then, there was nothing she could do by worrying about it, so Siana decided to simply focus on the matter at hand.
A sadistic smile formed on her lips.
And the whip that had briefly rested once again split the air.
***
Deep within the Undead Fortress.
The Undead King’s personal research workshop.
[Kuhuhu— Finally.]
From the center, Hans, shrouded in darkness, let out a low laugh.
The Undead Fortress responded to his emotions and shook slightly in sympathy, but right now he was in no mood to pay attention to such trivial matters.
To be precise, he was in such a good mood that such things didn’t matter at all.
[I caught you… you bastard.]
For finally.
The end of an awfully long game of hide-and-seek was coming into sight.
Wuuuung—
The small metal piece in Hans’s hand vibrated faintly.