Chapter 342: Pantheon (1) |
Heinrich Saint Landguard, the Saint of Auterica, who suddenly appeared on Earth, displayed overwhelming holy power, and instantly became a celebrity.
After his debut at the Awakened terrorist incident, he continued to visit various hospitals, solidifying his presence in the public eye.
-Auterica convert, Day 24. Prayed to Saint-nim’s photo again today.
-Proof) I printed a large photo of Saint-nim and put it in my room, and my appetite loss and insomnia were cured, my stress decreased, and my life became happier! Let's all do 1 Day 1 Heinrich.
-Purifying my eyes again today♡
Of course, Heinrich's outstanding appearance was one of the main factors that further boosted his popularity.
Mystical silver hair that seemed to emit light, and golden eyes that shone brilliantly as if containing the sun within.
His attractive appearance, as if a protagonist straight out of a comic book, combined with his abilities, character, and various revealed facts about him, resulted in a cult-like following.
A hero chosen to save the world, a devout saint who carried out God's will.
Of course, his continuous ‘volunteer work’ caused complaints from hospitals and the medical community, but they couldn’t openly protest.
He mainly used his power for children with serious illnesses and those suffering from rare diseases, and they were wary of the potential backlash from interfering with the miraculous acts of holy power.
‘Well, I haven’t been visiting Earth as often lately, since I’ve been sending my avatars to Ganghwange.’
Heinrich’s visits to Earth, as he was mainly active in Auterica, were only possible when there was room in his 「Interdimensional Transfer Formation Summon」 schedule. If it was on cooldown, he had no choice but to postpone it.
Of course, due to the time difference, ‘a while’ was only a few days.
And Heinrich, having returned to Earth after a short absence,
…was currently standing on the rooftop of a building, looking down at the cityscape as the streetlights began to flicker on.
“…Things went better than I expected.”
He muttered softly, recalling his recent encounter.
He had just delivered a letter to Isea’s family, as she had requested.
They had been surprised by his sudden and unexpected visit, a secret meeting with a celebrity… but that was nothing compared to the topic he brought up.
“R-really?”
“Oh my…”
They carefully received the letter, their faces filled with a mixture of shock and disbelief.
It didn’t take long for them to believe him.
‘Well, seeing their daughter’s image projected like that… they had no choice but to believe it.’
The letter Isea had asked him to deliver wasn’t an ordinary one.
Crafted by the Archmage herself, it was a kind of magic tool that activated when opened by a member of her family.
-“…So, I’m doing well. I think I’ll be able to return soon… In about two months, Earth time? It might be even sooner…”
A three-dimensional hologram, like something out of a movie, projected Isea’s image above the letter, and her family, who had been tense and anxious, reacted emotionally.
“…You’re safe. That’s all that matters.”
“Thank you, Saint-nim! And… please take care of our daughter.”
“Wow, my sister is a mage!”
Her father, his eyes red but his voice steady, her mother, bowing repeatedly, her gratitude overflowing, and her younger brother, oblivious to the gravity of the situation, cheering excitedly…
Heinrich received their heartfelt thanks and then left the house.
‘That takes care of Isea’s request. I’ll deliver their reply when I return to Auterica.’
He nodded slowly, looking at the cityscape.
It had been a simple errand, but he didn't mind.
It wasn't a difficult task for him.
And more importantly,
‘…Now then, shall we begin?’
Compared to his upcoming task, this had been a mere… diversion.
He had been making public appearances, presenting himself as an ‘otherworlder from another dimension’, all as preparation for this moment.
To increase his reputation and draw out Heaven’s Turn Society, who were lurking in the shadows.
‘Pantheon.’
The interdimensional religious alliance.
It was time to contact them.
____________________
Pantheon had shown a keen interest in Heinrich ever since his appearance in the media.
Not just the Korean branch, but even the US headquarters, which rarely intervened directly, had dispatched an investigation team.
After all—.
For them, a gathering of diverse religious sects who could only prove their faith through holy power, the miracles Heinrich had performed were shocking.
Miracles of such scale were usually only possible for the highest-ranking clerics, like Popes, Saints, and Apostles.
And on Earth, where the effects of holy power were significantly weakened, there were no awakened clerics who had reached such a high level.
Naturally, he was a figure of great interest.
Who was he, and how had he earned such divine favor?
And their curiosity hadn’t waned even after he revealed himself as an ‘otherworlder’.
On the contrary, it had only intensified.
A Saint, chosen by God, crossing dimensions and arriving on Earth…
It was an unprecedented event.
‘It doesn’t matter if he’s a real otherworlder or not. Either way, he’s extraordinary.’
Kang Tae-san, a low-level agent of the Supernatural Management Bureau who had been summoned to assist his senior, sighed softly as he set the table with refreshments.
An ordinary-looking office, which he had visited once before.
Like last time, representatives from various organizations were gathered here.
Clerics from Pantheon’s US headquarters, Korean branch members, Returnee Association officials, and agents from the Supernatural Management Bureau.
They had all been trying to track down Heinrich.
“So, what do you think? Is the White Knight really an otherworlder?”
“He’s been visiting hospitals, performing miracles, but he also disappears for extended periods. And we haven’t been able to track him. If he’s returning to his original world… I think it’s highly probable.”
“But we also have to consider the possibility that he’s a returnee pretending to be an otherworlder…”
Their common interest was Heinrich, the self-proclaimed otherworlder.
But the atmosphere was different from the previous tense and serious meetings.
They were excited, their faces flushed with anticipation and curiosity.
They exchanged glances, then smiled awkwardly.
“Ahem, I wonder what he’s thinking, suddenly requesting a meeting like this…”
“Indeed. He’s been avoiding us all this time.”
“…We’ve been working so hard to contact him. He teleports around as if it’s nothing…!”
Today was the day they would finally meet him face-to-face.
They recalled their previous attempts, the wasted time and effort, the fruitless searches.
They had tried everything to contact him.
But Heinrich had always evaded them, refusing to meet, as if deliberately keeping his distance.
And now, he had contacted them, requesting a meeting.
Naturally, they were overjoyed.
“Well, what’s done is done. Who knows what his reasons were. Now that we have this opportunity, we can clear up any misunderstandings.”
“Indeed. But it’s almost time. When is he arriving? He’s not going to stand us up, is he?”
“…I doubt it. He should be here soon…”
Speak of the devil, as they say.
“This way, please.”
As they were feeling a bit uneasy, the door opened, and a man, escorted by an agent, entered the room.
Clank, clank—
A rhythmic, metallic clang echoed through the room.
Everyone turned to look at the newcomer, then—.
“Ah…”
“Hmm.”
…fell silent, a soft gasp escaping their lips as they met his gaze.
It wasn’t a conscious reaction, it was purely instinctive.
‘So that’s him…!’
Kang Tae-san, standing quietly in a corner, gulped nervously as he observed the scene, a heavy silence filling the room.
Handsome features, perfectly complementing his silver hair and golden eyes.
A gentle, benevolent smile, a serene aura… but beneath that gentle facade, a powerful and intense presence, like a burning flame, radiated outwards.
Dressed in an anachronistic white armor, yet exuding no sense of incongruity, he was Heinrich Saint Landguard, the Saint of another world.
‘Huh?’
As Kang Tae-san stared at him, mesmerized, their eyes met for a brief moment.
Golden eyes, widening slightly in surprise.
But it was gone in an instant, replaced by a gentle, warm smile.
‘He’s… ridiculously handsome.’
Kang Tae-san muttered inwardly, his heart pounding.
He knew Heinrich was his savior, the one who had saved him, his grandmother, and his friend… and he was grateful… but that was irrelevant.
A different emotion, a sense of awe and reverence, welled up within him.
And it wasn't just him. Everyone in the room felt it.
They knew everything about him.
After all, they had been investigating him.
They had gathered all the available information, from video footage and eyewitness accounts to analysis reports.
But meeting him in person was a completely different experience.
‘…How can he be so… different? It’s like the space around him is… from another world.’
‘He doesn’t seem human. An otherworlder… Could it be true?’
‘His presence is… overwhelming. Even stronger than we anticipated. Has he grown stronger?’
An oppressive pressure, as if they were facing a superior being, a being from another dimension.
Their minds raced, trying to process the information.
They were all influential figures in their own right, they had met their fair share of powerful awakened individuals… but the White Knight’s presence was different.
“Greetings. I am Heinrich Saint Landguard, the first sword of Auterica. It’s a pleasure to meet you all.”
His voice, calm and gentle yet somehow majestic, echoed through the room.
His gaze, warm and friendly, swept over the crowd, then settled on a single figure.
A middle-aged cleric with brown hair and a sturdy build.
The leader of the investigation team dispatched from Pantheon’s US headquarters.
‘A former paladin. I’m not sure which sect he’s from… but definitely not an evil god.’
But he couldn't let his guard down. He knew that Scribe, the head of Heaven’s Turn Society’s North America branch, was involved.
He wasn’t sure if this cleric was directly connected to the Society, or just a pawn…
‘…But I’ll find out.’
Heinrich’s eyes, hidden behind his gentle smile, gleamed with a sharp, predatory light.