It was an animal mask of a dragon's head.
And unlike before, it covered her entire face.
However, at her appearance, both Hugo and Igeon's eyes went round.
Indeed, her face was completely concealed so that it was hard to tell who she was, but Igeon looked at her as if extremely surprised.
"Hey, Hailey…."
Startled by his words, Hailey shook her head.
"N-No, I'm not. I am Red Scorpion…!!"
As if finding her noisy, Igeon grabbed Hailey's waist and ripped off the mask she was wearing.
Swish!
As the mask came off, long black hair cascaded down.
And at the face that was revealed, Igeon laughed.
"It is you, indeed."
Hailey let out a silent scream.
How on earth had he recognized her?
Moreover, with their faces suddenly so close, Hailey's heart nearly stopped.
But soon, she couldn't help but sweat profusely.
Hadn't Igeon told her not to follow him to the divine realm just moments ago?
And yet she had ignored even those words and followed him on her own.
'He's going to be angry.'
Flustered, Hailey hastily turned around.
"Sorry, I'll go back to Earth right now…."
Igeon grabbed her hand.
"No, where are you going? Stay by my side."
When Igeon held her hand, Hailey almost screamed for a different reason.
"Actually, I was just thinking of going to get you, so this works out well."
Since they couldn't go to Earth anyway, it was a fortunate turn of events.
In the end, as Hailey stood there with her mouth opening and closing, her face flushed, Hugo let out a sigh.
'Well, maybe it's for the better.'
The unknown civilization. In the universe, they were called , and they seemed to be natural enemies of the gods.
'Though they said the Scorching Sun Lord fell easily to Olympus because Igeon had a bad affinity with them.'
But to Hugo, it seemed more like he had been overwhelmed by that power.
Of course, no matter that, the gods wouldn't even acknowledge his friend as a god.
'Just looking at the reactions I've seen while here, that's how it is…'
Anyway, the were one thing, but the real reason Hugo was wary was something else.
In truth, there were some gods that even Igeon would likely struggle against.
Valhalla, mad for battle, and Kunlun, where deep internal energy was felt, were among them, but…
'Definitely those guys I saw near the auction house.'
They were gods, yet strangely peculiar gods.
'Evil gods?'
The problem was their power felt incredibly unpleasant and terrifying.
'For some reason, I felt like even Igeon could be devoured by them…'
He hoped it was just an illusion born of starvation, torture, and exhaustion.
Anyway, considering those guys, having Hailey here was definitely a plus…
"Ma, Master of the Snake. Your ha, hand…"
"Hey, what do you mean Master of the Snake. Just call me Igeon."
Hugo sighed as he watched Hailey faint.
It seemed that before dealing with those gods, Hailey would die first because of Igeon though.
'No, wait, more than that, he allowed that title to her when it took me so long?'
Up until now, only he had been allowed to call him Igeon. Hugo looked at Igeon with mixed feelings, but it was right then.
Flash!
[O Goddess, I report.]
"!"
Suddenly, a hologram appeared from the necklace of the Full Moon's Owner.
And at the hologram's appearance, everyone was startled.
'Kevin!'
The Virgo Saint, whom they hadn't seen in quite a while, was sitting in a chair with his legs crossed, exuding a mafia boss aura, as if even reporting was too troublesome.
[O Goddess. In truth, strange things are happening over here so I contacted…]
"Hey. Do you want to die?"
[!?]
The impertinent Kevin who had contacted them jumped in fright, his eyes like a startled rabbit.
[Wha, What! Igeon, why are you appearing from there…]
"You son of a bitch. Can't you fix your posture? How dare you sit like that in front of the Constellation God?"
[……??!]
"It's an order from the Planetary Lord. Hands on your navel, fingers neatly gathered, kneel. Execute."
In the end, at the Planetary Lord(?)'s threatening, Kevin, without understanding why, ended up kneeling in confusion.
But only for a moment, as Kevin immediately looked for someone.
[What about Hugo! What happened to the Divine Palace? Is he safe!?]
"Here. Why."
Seeing Hugo's horrid face, Kevin screamed in disgust.
[Ah jeez, you startled me! Thankfully you seem safe, but why does your face look like that? Are you Igeon now?]
With the scars left from his facial skin being torn off by the gods still remaining, Hugo bristled.
"Hey. Honestly, I'm no Igeon. Do you really have to talk so hurtfully to people?"
[Wow. What a predicament. How are you planning to walk around with that Igeon face?]
"Hey. Don't talk harshly. With that face, if I were Igeon, I'd have to die."
At that conversation, Igeon was dumbfounded.
What the hell were these bastards doing right in front of him?
[Well, still, to be like that, it's okay. It's a relief that you're safe from that demon's den.]
At those words, Igeon looked displeased.
"No, Taeksu isn't okay. He's not just a blem, he's become a defective product."
[What? Defective product? What do you mean…]
"Tsk, a guy more pitiful than a Virgo Saint."
Bristling.
Hugo glared at Igeon, meaning he, a guy who had never even used him, had no right to say that, but Igeon paid no attention.
"Anyway, we're busy so hang up. We have to pay off our debt, so we don't even have time to sleep."
[No! Wait! I have to report…!]
"Report?"
[Yeah! Some gods claiming to be your friends have come to Earth!]
"Friends? I don't have any. Send them all to heaven."
[What?]
"Tell them all to die."
[No, just a se…!]
Click!
Igeon immediately cut off the connection with Kevin. He just pressed one button on the necklace and it was over.
And whether Hugo was dumbfounded by Igeon's power trip or not, Igeon turned around.
"Anyway, let's start with debt repayment. Find the super-regenerator and we can also treat your penis."
At those words, Hugo was about to pound his chest when.
"I've found a scent."
"!"
At Hailey's words, Igeon's eyes flashed.
"Where?"
"But it seems they are already being chased by someone."
Hugo was surprised.
For Earth deities to be chased.
"Are you saying they've sneaked in among the gods?"
"No. That's…"
"?"
Hailey's expression was a bit strange.
* * *
Meanwhile, around that time, the neutral zone.
The gods of Olympus were fleeing in disgust.
"Damn it, what is that!"
The Olympian refugees who had been hiding had no choice but to flee while grinding their teeth.
"Isn't that the wench who was with the Snake God!"
That was it.
The one chasing them was none other than Yoo-ha!
In truth, the Earth deities and high-ranking gods who had been in the warehouse were on the move to collude with other gods to strike at Igeon.
But just before that, the moment they stopped at a street stall to briefly buy something to eat.
"Huh? Uncle's prey."
"Yes?"
With those words, Yoo-ha swung her spear ignorantly.
And in an instant, one of the constellation gods with them was hunted by her.
Splat!!!
He wasn't an Earth deity, but a god with quite a name.
"Molpin!"
And the spear made of instantly stabbed several others.
"Kyaaak!!"
At the incident that happened in the blink of an eye, the Earth deities looked at Yoo-ha in disbelief.
But regardless, Yoo-ha, who had selectively caught only those with bounties on them, threw the gods at Il-nam, who her uncle had assigned to her.
"Collect the bounty in Uncle's name."
"Uh… uh… okay. Got it."
With no chance to step in, Il-nam looked flustered as he slung the groaning wanted criminals over his shoulder.
Having left the Great Constellation Palace early on Igeon's orders, Yoo-ha had been waiting for her uncle at a restaurant in the neutral zone.
And her eyes had flashed when she saw the wanted posters hung in the restaurant.
'The ones I just caught are worth 100 million.'
Originally, she'd planned to just inform her uncle and wait, but after hearing what they said, her plan changed.
-Find the Snake God.
-Anyway, it's the same situation where he can't use his weapons because of his debt.
-This time, those guys will help us.
The moment she heard they were targeting her uncle, Yoo-ha's eyes changed.
In the end, Yoo-ha skillfully brushed the blood off her spear and looked at the opponent before her.
'With those guys, even Uncle could use his full strength.'
What she was looking at were the Earth deities.
And at her gaze, Athena, Aphrodite, and Poseidon looked dumbfounded.
"For a human wench to dare target us."
They brushed off their hands as if ashamed.
Even though their divine statuses were sealed, they were not ones with low basic combat abilities.
As expected.
"This is good, if we hang that wench in the plaza, the Snake God will come looking for her on his own."
The gods attacked Yoo-ha as if it had turned out well.
Because if they could take the divine status of that Igeon possessed, they too could return to their original state.
And it was just as they were clashing with Yoo-ha.
"Huh? What is she!"
Unexpectedly, Yoo-ha hurled her spear not at the gods but at an unrelated building.
Boom!!!
"Kyaak!!"
The spear of that flew in an instant smashed through the barrier of the neutral zone and demolished the building.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The Earth deities had no choice but to look at Yoo-ha dumbfoundedly.
Moreover, she had destroyed a building in a direction completely unrelated to them.
What on earth was she doing? They soon had no choice but to doubt their own ears.
"Who did this! How dare someone destroy a building in the neutral zone…!"
"The Earth deities of Olympus broke it!"
"?!"
Simultaneously, reactions erupted from all over.
"Earth deities you say?"
"Those bastards, where are they!"
"Claim compensation for damages!"
"Put an additional bounty!"
"……!!"
As it happened, the building Yoo-ha destroyed was used by public officials, so officials appeared with fire in their eyes.
The Earth deities were so dumbfounded they could hardly glare at Yoo-ha.
"That wench…!!"
Without a doubt.
Yoo-ha was intentionally raising the bounty placed on the gods.
And that wasn't all.
"Who broke this! Was it you?"
"Those guys told me to!"
"……?!"
Yoo-ha even pinned the blame on Olympian gods who didn't even have bounties.
It was to increase Igeon's prey.
And as gods swarmed from all directions, the Earth deities furrowed their brows.
"That wench…!"
Having clashed weapons once, Yoo-ha had instantly realized the Earth deities were strong, and had called in other gods.
Because that would make it easier for her to move!
As expected.
Right when the Earth deities began to be surrounded by other gods.
Shwik!
"……!!!"
Yoo-ha imbued the spear with demonic energy and hurled it at the hearts of the Earth deities.
Shwik!!
At that ferocious strike, the gods narrowed their brows.
'That spear is dangerous.'
A mysterious weapon not to be found even in the divine realm.
But it was right then.
Pang!!!
"!"
Someone caught the spear Yoo-ha had thrown.
And.
Boom!!
With a massive flash, the spear of shattered.
"……!"
Having lost her weapon, Yoo-ha was startled.
'Uncle?'
No, it was a man giving off a feeling similar to Igeon.
And as the man who had smashed the spear in one blow brushed off his hands, the Earth deities welcomed him.
"War God!"
"You came!"
Yoo-ha narrowed her brows.
'Strong.'
Having sensed the feeling of her uncle, Yoo-ha reflexively tried to dodge.
"Keuk!"
But her leg was immediately caught by the man. The man's eyes flashed.
"A talent too precious to kill, so just stay still."
The man tried to break Yoo-ha's leg.
But it was then.
Flash!
"!"
Someone burst out of Yoo-ha's shadow.
That someone was none other than Igeon.
"Uncle!"
And at that moment, arrows poured from the sky.
Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwang!
The War God distanced himself from the arrows flying from the sky. The gods furrowed their brows.
Because they knew who had skill equal to this.
"Loui…."
"You lowly creatures, it's not me?"
"Luis!"
The Scorching Sun Lord hurriedly hid his body inside a building.
And where he headed was Hugo, who was aiming his bow at the window like a sniper.
"Foolish old servant. Don't waste your strength targeting those with low bounties. This outstanding master will tell you the highest one first."
"Hurry up and call it out, you bastard. I can't use my strength for long. We have to repay 51 billion between Igeon and me, so we have to be efficient."
Then the Scorching Sun Lord flipped through the wanted flyers and said.
"Ah, hold on. The updated one just arrived. The Ocean's Owner, 4 billion. Next is the Strategy Constellation's Owner, 2.5 billion, the Owner of Praise, 1.1 billion, and then the Scorching Sun Lord, 60…."
Seeing his own picture, the Scorching Sun Lord froze.
[Scorching Sun Lord 60 billion]
And at that sight, Hugo, who was drawing his bowstring, furrowed his brows.
"Scorching Sun Lord, what?"
Rip!!!
The moment the Scorching Sun Lord tore up the wanted poster in an instant, Hugo tilted his head.
"What? What's wrong?"
"No! It's nothing! Servant… no, Hu, Hugo! Hu, Hugo, you provide full support to Igeon! That War God is no easy opponent! And put the bounty hunting on hold for now!!"
"……??"
The Scorching Sun Lord began to sweat profusely.
Damn. If these guys find out, I'm dead!
(Continues in the next chapter)