Chapter 401: Face to Face with the Lion (2)

Without anyone noticing, a crater had formed in the demon realm, Gehenna.

“At last…”

The long-awaited day had arrived after camping inside it for months.

***

“You’ve recovered about ninety percent.”

Crack.

Balor Joaquin clenched the fist he had been staring at. His hand, now completely open and numb, clearly bore the marks of his nails.

“Ha ha… Ha ha!”

A trembling smile spread across his lips.

“I ate so much garlic and mugwort that even my saliva tasted bitter.”

He didn’t even know when he might regain the power of truth. In the worst case, he might have to live eternally as an incomplete reflection.

Balor Joaquin waited in silence.

‘I am an infinite regressor.’

He had returned countless times. He found possibility within the impossible.

Don’t let anxiety take over.

If you do, you will always find the answer.

That was the firm conviction Balor Joaquin had forged as an infinite regressor.

And in the end, this time too, patience bore fruit.

“I should schedule the crossing to the human world soon.”

First, he had to discuss it with the squirrels, especially Sikkuru.

Deep down, he wanted to go directly to Joaquin Academy to reunite with that boy.

‘But nothing in this world is that easy.’

To go to the human world, it was essential to pass through the Gate of Gehenna, and Association heroes constantly roamed there. According to the squirrels, it was that very boy who had arranged such measures.

Recently, demons had shown troubling signs. So he had permanently stationed personnel in Gehenna as a precaution.

If he were immortal, it wouldn’t be a problem, but now that Balor was regaining his true self, there was no way to avoid scrutiny when crossing the gate.

Saying “I am a hero from the era of the Great War” would be a contradiction in itself coming from Balor.

“That disciple of mine has put me in quite the bind.”

And yet, it felt good.

That boy, who had always been alone, seemed to have adapted well to this world. Though he was progressing far too quickly for his age, so Balor would have to scold him firmly.

With a hidden smile, Balor Joaquin headed for the surface. He leapt nimbly up the steep cliffs. He had learned those movements from the squirrels.

“Hop!”

He struck the ground with his hand and emerged from the crater. Let’s see, where are the squirrels? By now, they should be gathering acorns.

“…What is this?”

He saw a group of squirrels gathered in a circle. They were all huddled together, watching Lycan as he used his smartphone. Balor Joaquin cautiously approached.

“…What are you all doing?”

(“Oh, hero of the Great War era!”)

His assistant, the red squirrel, quickly ran to greet him. With a jump, it climbed onto his shoulder and whispered in his ear what was happening. Only then did Balor’s lower eyebrow twitch slightly.

“Blessing of the Apocalypse M 2nd”

Apparently, it was a mobile game.

(“Technically it’s 2nd, the second part.”)

He was so stunned he couldn’t even form words. Balor glanced at Lycan. Even so, both he and the squirrels were engrossed in their phones.

(“No, sir! Not like that! You have to dodge there and press button 1 right after!”)

(“Dodge, please! You’re clearly stepping on a trap! How can you not dodge it? Old age doesn’t forgive, jeez.”)

(“Silence, damn rodents! Because of you I can’t focus! Shut up before I tear you all apart!”)

(“Invest in reaction speed instead of that trash magic!”)

(“Damn primitive rodents!”)

Balor’s eyes dimmed as he watched the spectacle. That a former Corps Commander would be caught up in a mobile game… There were so many things to say that they clogged in his throat.

(“But it’s quite fun, hero.”)

The red squirrel, who held the title of assistant, timidly defended Lycan.

Balor sighed in resignation.

“…It must be fun…”

He wasn’t in a position to judge Lycan either. On Earth he too had taken refuge in mobile games to kill boredom. Before long, he had become an addict.

He started that game because he wanted to feel some nostalgia for his former world.

But before he knew it, his bank account was empty.

It was then that, inspired, he sent a proposal to a game company contest. With all the life experience accumulated as an infinite regressor, his proposal was accepted without question.

Thus was born Miracle Blessing M.

“Hmm.”

Balor crouched next to the squirrels and looked closely at the game.

The graphics of Blessing of the Apocalypse M 2nd seemed familiar. The gameplay, interface, and backgrounds were incredibly similar to his own game, Miracle Blessing M.

“It’s too… too similar.”

To the point where it seemed like plagiarism. Though, of course, Miracle Blessing M wasn’t completely original either.

But after all, this and that world exist on different timelines, don’t they? Even so, it left a bitter taste.

“Assistant.”

(“Yes, hero.”)

“If this is a ‘2nd,’ does that mean there’s a ‘1st’ of Blessing of the Apocalypse M?”

(“…Uh. I never thought about that…”)

“Well, whatever. Maybe it’s just a marketing strategy.”

(“Ah! That makes sense!”)

The red squirrel nodded enthusiastically.

(“Calling it Second gives the impression that something big already existed in First, even if it didn’t!”)

“Damn clever one.”

He scratched its head with his index finger. The squirrel made a strange noise. After rolling around a bit, it regained its composure.

(“Ahem! Would you like to try the game, hero? I just happen to have a spare phone here.”)

“No, thank you. At my age, I’m past playing games.”

(“…Age?”)

The squirrel glanced toward Lycan.

(“Agh! Damn camera!”)

Lycan ruffled his hair and collapsed.

“I take back what I said about age.”

(“Yes, hero.”)

***

Rachel’s explosive declaration left me stunned for a long time.

As if that weren’t enough, Media added a remark loaded with meaning.

— I am already one of the Seven Stars.

— And since I’m an ancient, even if I’m biologically seventy years old, I’m actually a bit younger than you all, yes?

— Kang Geom-Ma oppa.

— Mediaaaaaa…!

After the Economist’s narration, we dispersed. I left behind the piercing stares of Ryozo and Abel burning into my back. And I fled.

Correct.

Of course, to Yu Sein’s lodging.

“Can I laugh?”

The corners of Yu Sein’s lips trembled.

“No.”

“Pfft!”

“I said don’t laugh.”

“Pfft, hahahahahaha!”

Yu Sein clutched her stomach and rolled on the floor. She literally looked like a fish thrashing on a cutting board.

‘A snake?’

The moment I thought it, Yu Sein suddenly froze.

“Hey. As the soul bearer and reincarnation of the Great Benefactor, I have total telepathic connection. The profane thoughts you have stab directly into my brain, you know?”

“And why are you eavesdropping on other people’s thoughts?”

“Maybe because you’re the one always flirting. How can other women say things like that about you in front of your own wives!”

Thunk!

……

I sheathed the sashimi back into my chest. I had knocked her lightly with the pommel, and the sensation was delightful.

“…Tsk.”

Yu Sein was already rubbing the floor, her lower lip jutting out theatrically.

“Why take it out on me?”

“Monologues are for thinking, not saying.”

“That wasn’t a monologue.”

“Uh-huh.”

You want another hit, don’t you?

“Stop! No violence!”

Yu Sein stretched out her arms like a traffic officer.

“You’re really ruthless. Is that why everything with you gets so complicated? All heroes have a screw loose.”

Heroes tend toward violence. Whether men or women, they despise those who are too gentle. In this world, men with the scent of soap don’t get much popularity.

“I know, I know.”

“Anyway, your business is your own. I just want you to be clear that I have no intention of meddling in it.”

In fact, Yu Sein was very busy lately. Because of the task I entrusted to her.

The main mission—suppressing Chloe—was still unresolved. She had sought help from several people.

But the awakening of a Blessing is one of the most difficult issues in 700 years of hero history. It’s not something a few of my ideas could solve.

The problem is that there’s no time. The bomb collar around Chloe’s neck is still active.

‘First, we have to disable that bomb collar.’

And it turns out Yu Sein’s divine power is surprisingly effective. Her ability penetrates deep into people’s inner selves.

That’s why she regularly suppresses the rampaging inner demon in Chloe’s mind.

‘Even if she’s a materialist, she’s not charging anything.’

Yu Sein was helping selflessly. Even I, who asked the favor, would feel guilty hitting her again.

I shook my head.

“…I was just venting. We’ve got the trust for that, don’t we?”

“We? That sounds weird. Don’t tell me you’re thinking of adding me to your harem now that you’ve picked up two more?”

“Dopamine addict.”

I nudged her cheek with my elbow. Since my arms were occupied, she extended hers and started pushing back.

“More importantly, you can’t feel love.”

I’d heard it before. Ever since Yu Sein synchronized with the system interface, emotions like affection had faded. It was similar to how I struggled with my own humanity.

“You speak so ugly.”

“Yeah, yeah. I’m a bastard. Happy?”

“You’re only realizing it now? With two beautiful wives and still flirting with others. And what else? Chloe? You barge into another woman’s house asking her for help… Wow, listed like that, it sounds terrible!”

“……”

“Sorry.”

I let it slide since she apologized so fast.

Yu Sein tried to change the subject by picking up her smartphone. Then she lay back on the sofa in the most comfortable pose in the world, letting her legs drape over my thigh.

“What are you, my shirt?”

“Something like that, right?”

“Pff, whatever.”

I rested my head against the sofa back. Come to think of it, it had been a long time since I cleared my mind.

‘In my previous life, I used to play mobile games in moments like this.’

Now, I have a family, I’m older, and it’s not that easy. Besides, I fear being dragged into another world again.

It’s a ridiculous idea that should never happen.

But I am living proof.

“Hey, Kang Geom-Ma.”

Yu Sein tapped me with her foot. Then poked my crown with her finger.

“Do you know this game?”

Despite her mocking tone, she frowned seriously. She showed me her phone screen.

“…Blessing of the Apocalypse M 2nd?”

The name of the game felt strangely familiar.

“It suddenly became incredibly popular. Since I’m a forum rat, I investigated everything, and there’s no campaign or viral push to explain it. It just exploded.”

“…Maybe it’s a phenomenon for you as a gamer. But for me…”

“How can you ignore it when you lived it?”

Yu Sein shot me a sharp look.

“In my opinion, this is the signal.”

The second apocalypse.

Yu Sein didn’t finish the sentence. Then, without a word, she handed me the smartphone. I stared at it, then tapped the screen.

Commemorative launch event of Blessing of the Apocalypse M 2nd

←Adharma Festival→

***

☞Tap the screen to begin the adventure☜