Chapter 199: Karma?

[Shock! Missing heroes’ whereabouts revealed as Nazi sacrifices? Uncovering the corruption of French heroes!]

At first, it was just an article.

People who saw the title thought it was another clickbait, but many clicked due to the provocative title.

[Nazi Empire resurrected in old German territories, and France, the closest European country, survived by offering heroes to the Nazis…]

Shockingly, the title was true.

The article was accompanied by shocking content and photos. Some claimed it was false and fabricated, but the information provider’s name carried significant weight.

Lion King and Merlin.

Based on the information they obtained by venturing into the Nazi Empire, they forcefully inspected a department in France. Despite France’s protests, they overpowered the department and found evidence of France’s collusion with the Nazi Empire.

[One of the members of the Round Table became a lab rat for the Nazis.]

[Why did the hero of Swain disappear?! France was behind it!]

[Shock! Collusion between France and the Nazi Empire. A Korean was involved.]

All kinds of articles flooded the internet.

…But why did GookbongTV survive here too?

It wasn’t really strange. Many people knew the Masked Man was Korean.

“But is this okay?”

The Electronic Witch looked at me while stretching.

“What is?”

“The Masked Man’s identity has grown too big. He might rival Veritas.”

“Really?”

I was a bit surprised.

The influence Veritas held was immense. If the Masked Man represented a hero in the shadows like the Dark Knight, Veritas operated openly.

This difference created a significant gap. Such figures were easier to conceal. Even if they become famous, they remain in the shadows, not drawing much attention.

‘Maybe I’ve been too flashy lately.’

But it didn’t matter. I could always use another identity to gain fame.

I had the card of Veritas, the god of alchemy.

‘But lately, it’s been a bit dull.’

The lectures were solid. Every time I gathered alchemists and lectured, my alchemy stat increased. But somehow, people tended to brush off my achievements with, “Because it’s Veritas.”

It was not a bad thing.

It just felt lacking.

“But didn’t you get an invitation from England?”

“…I declined.”

In fact, there was no reason to decline. Although the great wizard Merlin was suspicious, the Lion King would be a reliable ally. However, my sudden return to Korea was simple.

[The main god of Olympus is watching you.]

[The main god of Asgard is gazing at you.]

The fact that the main gods were watching me was the reason.

In Europe, their influence was immense. They were not considered evil gods. However, they were beings capable of massacres if it benefited them.

If.

If they reacted to my “Black Heavenly Dragon Blood (S+)” or my conceptual world, Destruction Heaven, they might capture me to absorb my power. That’s why I returned to Korea immediately.

‘The Lion King didn’t notice, but Merlin seemed to have an inkling.’

I thought about Merlin.

A half-blood incubus like Ershil. Although an incubus, he was different from Ha Seong-hwi. Like Kim Ara, he was a half-blood of a higher being. If Kim Ara inherited the bloodline of the giants, Ershil and Merlin inherited the bloodline of demon gods.

Sip.

I drank the tea sent as a special gift from the British royal family. The Electronic Witch’s skills were good, but the tea itself was excellent.

“Our schedule will get busier for a while. Since we announced that the Masked Man is active in our guild.”

“True.”

That’s a bit troublesome.

Most members of our guild were villains.

We absorbed the Elder and his subordinates from the Heaven Society, and Ha Seong-hwi and the Witch Maiden, who were active in the Brigade of Eternal Heaven, are the main force of our guild (they all belong to the subordinate guild, Dark Heaven).

Sipping.

While drinking tea, I looked at the points.

The points had accumulated to tens of millions.

‘Just a bit more.’

If I endured a few more hardships, I’d be able to obtain it soon.

Whether it was an EX-rank skill or the absolute stat Energy of Defying Heaven.

‘I need to check this too.’

Conceptual Stat Formation: 5.

It was the power obtained by evolving the special stat Shadow (å½±).

‘Shape, huh.’

The Conceptual Stat was literally a stat that governed that concept. I didn’t know what shape it was, but it was a power worth growing.

It seemed like a power that required experimentation.

“Then I’ll visit the training ground for a bit.”

“Training ground? Why?”

“I got a new power recently.”

“…Again?”

The Electronic Witch spoke as if in disbelief. In hindsight, it made sense. Every time I went somewhere, I came back with something new.

And considering that it hadn’t even been a year since I landed here, my power was truly heading beyond the norm.

“Yeah, and can you contact the vice principal tomorrow?”

“Of course. Normally that shorty would ignore everything, but thanks to someone, they’re eagerly waiting for our contact.”

The Electronic Witch smiled mischievously. It was a smile fitting for her witch nickname.

I awkwardly smiled back, waved my hand, and headed to the training ground.

BOOOOOM!!

The ground shook violently. The tremendous explosion was accompanied by a loud noise. Seolhwa Ryeon hurriedly crouched down.

‘What?’

She tried to move her body while thinking, but it didn’t budge.

‘…What?’

Her body was trembling.

Seolhwa Ryeon had sharp senses.

She was created as the ultimate weapon of an assassination family.

While the fact that she was the last member played a role, it was also because her talent was the best in history. Although her rank was currently low due to her young age, in terms of senses, few could surpass her.

Therefore, Seolhwa Ryeon knew.

If she headed towards the source of the loud noise, she would never return alive. Her senses rang alarm bells, warning her that she might die. Seolhwa Ryeon, the assassin, moved. Shadows surrounded her as she concealed herself.

At the same time, she thought of someone.

Elder.

Her everything that was left alone in this world.

Clenching her teeth, she headed towards the source of the noise. Guild members began gathering just like her. And from the epicenter of the noise, the Elder appeared.

“…”

Lee Seo-ha was standing there, looking somewhat empty yet smiling.

‘This is beyond imagination.’

-Wh-What is this? Wh-What just happened?

-..An absurd ability. Did you say it was shape? If used properly, it could be utilized for other abilities too.

-If combined with my magic, it could even work with illusion techniques. Since it’s a mirror-like ability, how about Mirror Flower, Water Moon?

Ignoring Eternal Heaven’s words, I stared at the training ground, which had been blown apart.

A huge sum had been spent to build the training ground’s ceiling. Although I was wealthy and hadn’t counted my money recently, it seemed I needed to count it now.

‘I didn’t expect it to be this strong.’

While deep in thought, I sensed several presences approaching. Elder was the first to arrive. Right after, Ha Seong-hwi and the Witch Maiden arrived simultaneously. Then Seolhwa Ryeon entered.

“Congratulations. You’ve broken through a new wall!”

Elder immediately bowed to me. I looked at him. His body was trembling. He was so moved that he was crying.

‘His loyalty is overwhelming.’

It was burdensome, but he was my follower. I calmed my mind and took a deep breath.

“W-What? Already the highest rank?”

“…Too fast. It’s absurd.”

Ha Seong-hwi and the Witch Maiden spoke in turn. I shook my head.

“What are you talking about? Not yet.”

Not yet. But the trap is that it seems I’ll achieve it soon.

My enemies were too strong, which led to this.

It was dangerous, but the reward was great.

I corrected their words and spoke to the Electronic Witch.

“How much did this cost?”

“…10 billion?”

“…Why is the ceiling so… Oh, right, I asked for the best.”

My head hurt. It seemed I couldn’t train in the training ground for a while, and the cost was staggering.

‘No, actually, it’s fine.’

It was not a bad idea to rebuild it.

Paying a separate fee to use another guild’s training ground wasn’t bad either. If I used Veritas’s identity, other guilds would scramble to invite us.

The closest guild was Changcheon.

The guild where Kim Seo-hyun, the protagonist of this game, was a member and with whom I had a connection. Partnering with them wasn’t a bad idea. Additionally, seeing her might help those who were stagnating to grow.

‘Changcheon would be good.’

One of Korea’s top three guilds. The place where the guild leader, known as the Thousand Sorcerer, was a transcendent. Essentially the number one place in Korea.

I immediately headed to the Changcheon Guild.

“So, you’re the guy courting my granddaughter?”

“…What?”

“Hmm… I see. I understand why the Overlord wants you as a son-in-law. By the way, do you enjoy in-law drinks?”

“…”

Something seemed off.