Chapter 458
visit (2)
The Pantheon headquarters for the first time since I came to assassinate the secretary..
Located on the outskirts of San Francisco, it was built in what was once a large forest..
It was something that could not be helped as priests worshiping gods from various dimensions and with various tendencies gathered together..
The conditions each of them needed were very different..
Isn't it impossible for an environment that worships the opposite god of fire and an environment that worships the god of water to coexist??
They couldn't afford the area they requested inside the city, where land is expensive..
But just because it was built in what used to be a forest, and because the Pantheon was founded less than twenty years ago, doesn't mean it lacks infrastructure..
No, on the contrary, the surrounding area was showing such prosperity that it was hard to believe that it had only been built so recently..
‘In fact, it is safe to say that it is a small city. Not only believers of each denomination but also those who wanted to benefit from divine power flocked in, creating residences and commercial districts around the area..’
It was a refreshing feeling to encounter that unique scene again..
But there is something else that I am most concerned about right now.···.
“The border is very strict.?”
The level of security was so enormous that one wondered if this was really a place where priests gathered..
‘Wasn’t it like this the last time I came??’
Heinrich, who was looking outside through the car window, glanced around..
The number of crime prevention barriers that have passed so far is already more than a dozen..
It is at a level so high that even transcendental people cannot easily see it..
‘We haven't even entered the headquarters yet..’
Since the outlying branch was open to outsiders, it was already well-protected..
Wasn't that why they attempted assassination in the first place when the target had completely gone out of the area??
“Hmm, Brother Heinrich, who is from another world, may not know... In fact, there was a big change at headquarters recently. Since I was staying in Korea, this is my first time seeing it in person..”
Priest Jason sighed deeply and slowly opened his mouth..
The story he soon brought up was the news that one of the 12 Council members, the representative of the Pantheon operation, was attacked and disappeared by a 'heinous criminal group'..
“···I heard that all alert levels have since been significantly improved. It's like closing the stable door only after the horse runs away, but doing so will prevent further damage..”
“Ah, I think I heard it too while working in Korea..”
“Because it was such a noisy incident. It is said that not only our Pantheon but also other organizations have strengthened their vigilance since that incident..”
Priest Jason sighs, as if it's painful just to talk about it, and says he was also close to the missing priest..
Heinrich prayed with a sad expression expressing his condolences for the victims..
‘aha! It was because of me?’
Despite being so shameless, I feel fortunate that my true feelings were not revealed thanks to “Persona.”.
“Priest Jason? It's been a while. Then, the person riding with you···.”
“ah! I was contacted in advance. Please come in quickly..”
Heinrich's car went through several inspections and headed straight to the central area, where only priests were allowed to enter..
Along the way, I was able to encounter many awakened people with various abilities in addition to priests. One thing that was unusual was that most of them were dressed in unique outfits..
“America is the land of the free. Unlike Korea, more free hero activities are tolerated. Of course, there is some responsibility for that too..”
Heinrich slowly turned his head and looked beyond the checkpoint moving away..
Starting with a giant wearing a green full-body jjoljjolgi, showing off his muscular body, to a female warrior wearing bikini armor that would seem to have extremely high defense if it were a game..
‘It's the land of freedom···.’
Compared to Korea, the degree of freedom of the awakened was definitely higher..
The influence of the Awakened was much stronger, and it had a great influence on not only the Pantheon but also the headquarters of the World Association of Returnees being located in the United States..
‘The problem is that it has naturally become an environment where it is easy for criminals with special abilities to thrive..’
The person who emerged there was the so-called ‘hero’..
As a country where the privatization of firearms is allowed, the country has actively adopted a plan to maintain public order by issuing licenses for vigilante activities, beyond using supernatural abilities to protect oneself..
‘Did you say that excessive suppression, including murder, is a factor in deducting points from license issuance and renewal?.’
The horse was no different from a bounty hunter in that he was paid based on his heroic performance, but this gimmick was very well received by American citizens who are passionate about heroes..
After becoming famous, it is not uncommon for people to release character products or enter the entertainment industry themselves..
In fact, it was a form of combination with the entertainment industry..
“Arrived. This is the steering committee that decides the big and small affairs of the Pantheon, the other world's religious union..”
As if to break Heinrich's thoughts, the vehicle that was moving forward smoothly stopped..
He then got out of the car following Jason Priest and looked at the building in front of him in surprise..
Unlike the temples with unique appearances that I had seen so far, this building had an extremely ordinary appearance..
“This is a kind of neutral territory. I heard that it was designed in such a dry way that there are many people who are reluctant to use a specific religious tone for no reason..”
Just hearing those words already made me feel tired..
Well, it can't be easy to combine so many religions into one..
I knew it very well because I myself was a priest who followed God..
Just by using divine power, you become imbued with God's tendencies and become self-righteous, which makes it difficult to tolerate other methods..
“what? Are you Jason? I thought he had finally died because I couldn't see him for a while, but he was alive..”
As if to immediately prove that fact.
They were just about to enter the steering committee building when an unfamiliar voice stopped them..
With a clicking sound filled with annoyance, which is not very favorable to anyone who hears it,.
“···wilter.”
Priest Jason turned to look at him with a stern face..
Contrary to his clean-cut appearance, his clothes were loose, his hair was matted, and even the faint smell of alcohol was wafting out..
A person who would have been seen as nothing more than a libertine if it were not for his extremely trained body and bright eyes visible through the hem of his clothes, was approaching where they were with great strides..
‘Is the author also from a Holy Knight? Come to think of it, Jason was also a paladin..’
Heinrich watched with excited eyes as Jason engaged in a war of nerves with a man named Walter who had just approached..
The skills of the two people he estimated were close..
Moreover, the gods they served seemed to have opposite tendencies, so it was not surprising that they became such a snarky relationship..
‘As an outsider, this kind of friction is not something I should take part in..’
I am someone who was definitely invited..
Taking sides just because of friendship could only cause more problems..
As has been the case so far, this time too, they have to figure it out on their own.—.
“Fahaha! So... I guess this is the person who calls himself a saint.?”
—I was thinking like that.
An arrow flew this way out of nowhere..
“It's definitely amazing. I'm not sure if it's necessary to make such a fuss and bring it out. Well, it was a mission that suited you well. Running errands to a small country you've never even heard of..”
“···I am a guest representing the entire Pantheon, Walter. Be polite..”
“entire? Who will you represent? At least I... have never acknowledged our Quilladian denomination.?”
“wilter.”
A man who openly laughs as if he was determined to start a fight from the beginning.
I knew it from the beginning.
Not all priests have good personalities..
Not only were the gods themselves sometimes violent, but even if they served the same god, not all of them had the same personality..
It is common for humans to show a dual nature, being cruel to others but gentle to their children, but what is worse in the case of gods, who are at a much higher level than that?.
“You're doing a good job called volunteering, right? It looks like you've trained yourself quite a bit. Did you want to imitate a paladin? Foot, now that I think about it, I heard your nickname was White Knight..”
“Walter, this is your last warning..”
Because it was my first official visit, I came dressed in the robes of the main religious order, and because of that, I guess they thought I was from a pure priesthood..
Anyway, I didn't expect you to start a fight so openly..
And that too to someone who clearly possesses stronger divine power than himself..
‘No matter how deep your faith is, you are still a believer in another god.?’
Because it was such a unique experience, I wasn’t even angry..
In other words, he could be seen as a superior belonging to a completely different unit..
No, in some ways it could be said to be worse than that..
In this case, it was a case of a different ‘dimension’ beyond belonging to a different country..
“Looking at the video, it looks like he had a pretty great body. Tsk, were they all armor suckers??”
···But his relaxed attitude only ended there..
Perhaps because he was annoyed at himself for not responding to criticism, he ended up crossing the line..
“I said it was my last warning. It's a duel, Walter. Make sure to change your habits today.···.”
“···Wait a minute, Priest Jason. Please wait a moment.”
“Brother···?”
He stopped Jason, who stepped forward with a stern face, and slowly took a breath..
I couldn't just ignore what you said just now and move on..
Because that was Heinrich's vice..
Heinrich glanced down at his arm..
Then I looked at the chest, abdomen, and legs..
And no matter where or how I looked, I noticed again that the volume was noticeably smaller than before and quietly closed my eyes..
‘I never thought an angel would have such side effects..’
angel.
A messenger conveying God's will.
The change that occurred to me now was a kind of racial characteristic..
Since becoming an angel, things have been progressing slowly but steadily..
Of course, only the size decreased, but the physical ability did not decrease..
The force that can be produced per unit area has increased due to extreme compression, and the shape of the muscles has also changed to an ideal shape, so it can be seen as an evolution..
But this was never what he wanted.
‘Muscle loss! Muscle loss! My wonderful muscles that I worked hard to build and maintain!’
In a way, Heinrich’s attachment to muscles was natural..
Unlike Harley, who could freely control his body and mold it as he wanted, Heinrich's muscles were the result of his own creation from start to finish.?
‘how long have i!’
—Thanks to the divine power doping, it didn't take that long..
‘The fruition of hard work and hard work!’
—「Thanks to “Mind Hub,” it wasn’t painful or boring..
‘It's unfair to lose it like this... Make fun of it?’
—That's clear.!
How hard did you have to bulk up again after that??
But this damned racial trait wouldn't allow his body to return to its previous form..
But what that person named Walter said now was a denial of all the efforts he had made so far.···.
“You said it was a duel. Can I do that myself??”
“···Of course it is possible.”
“Are there any necessary procedures there??”
“Even so, we are all people who serve God. There is no need for any other procedures other than pledging to compete fairly in the name of God and accept the results..”
“That's great..”
Indeed, it was refreshing and I liked it..
Perhaps this is the secret to Pantheon's ability to maintain its reputation for such a long time..
Of course, for that to happen, it was necessary to make the other person accept it obediently..
“under! A duel. Do you think I would accept that? Even if I win or lose, it’s a loss, so why should I??”
Even if the opponent's sacred power was higher than his own, it was a great insult in itself for a saint warrior in a combat profession to duel with a healing priest in a non-combat profession..
For the holy warriors of Quilladia, priests were something to protect, not something to fight and defeat..
And Heinrich, a paladin, knew how to definitely provoke the opponent in times like this..
“Hmm, it looks like you were scared. Well, I understand. I need you to understand. However, the Quilladia Church appears to have very broad doctrines.?”
“under?”
A provocation in the name of a person who represents the religious power must never be tolerated..
Walter, who frowned without even thinking that he had started the argument, let out a laugh..
And then—.
——!
He stretched out his hand like lightning towards Heinrich's face..
Of course, I really didn't intend to hit it..
I just wanted to show this fearless self-proclaimed saint the power of a true saint and the fear of a warrior who has reached the end of mastery..
That's why···.
Powok—!
He couldn't help but stiffen his face as he felt the blow from his fingertips..
‘what?’
For the first time since he came here, he was embarrassed..
Again, I was planning on stopping right in front of the nose, I didn't really intend to hit it..
‘That I failed to control the distance?’
No, that can't be possible..
As always, his senses were perfect..
Then the other person is deceiving his/her senses... No, that can't be possible.?
His mind suddenly became dizzy due to the sudden situation..
‘Damn, this wasn't in the calculations.’
This was on a completely different level than anything we've argued about so far..
The duel hadn't even started properly, but wasn't it like suddenly making the save in the face of a guest who came to the Pantheon??
Looking at the rebounding force felt in his hand, it didn't seem like he had suffered much damage thanks to the divine power, but what was important now was the fact that he used his hand first..
‘···First, leave your seat. We need to re-establish measures. Damn it, it looks broken..’
The Pantheon is a collection of numerous religious denominations..
Naturally, there were various factions made up of people with similar tendencies and doctrines, and those in the 12th Committee were no exception..
12Some time has passed since the disappearance of Adeline Schneider, a member of the committee, so the election of the next member will be held soon..
If you want to fill that seat with someone from your own faction, you need to lay the groundwork now.···.
So he was embarrassed and couldn't think deeply..
What did the other person do to shake your sense of distance?.
And before long, there was no time to even think about it..
Kwaaaaang—!
“Wow!”
The sudden physical shock shook my head..
I was momentarily blacked out by a blow that went beyond recognition..
“You hit it first. Then this is self-defense?”
Beyond the accident that is slowly starting to return.
A voice was heard vaguely..
‘how?’
One question that came to mind.
He soon found out why.
“Now that you think about it, you said you were curious why I wore armor.?”
The hair is not so stiff that it doesn't move easily..
“From now on, I will explain the reason clearly, step by step..”
Through the conversation of a still lively body.
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