A room filled with large electronic devices.
Hum
Beep Beep beep beep!
Bzzt Whirr
The air conditioner was running at full blast, yet the room was filled with a stifling heat, a mix of noises from cooling fans, electronic beeps, and static. Then, suddenly—
"…Contact established. Going smoothly so far."
In the center of the room, lined with expensive supercomputers,
A figure reclined in a comfortable chair, connected to the devices by numerous wires attached to a metal suit. A man clad in metal, emitting a faint, mystical glow like electronic circuits.
"So this is 『Odin's Eye』. Not bad."
It was Hesperon, fully armed in titanium summoned from subspace. He clicked his tongue softly, looking at the satellite images he had hacked using 「Mechanical Eye: Calicas」. He had briefly used the newly added 『Odin's Eye』 from the updated shop, linking it to the satellite feed, and he thought it was worth the karma cost.
'It can see through most mysteries, and unlike Andrew's 「Trace Observation」, it's not limited by the target's rank.'
It was practically an enhanced version of his unique skill. To be able to use this just by paying karma… It was limited to Earth and consumed a considerable amount of karma, but it could be used efficiently in conjunction with other methods. Hadn't he just finished the task relatively easily using the information Andrew gathered?
'Even if it's just used for final confirmation, it's worth the cost.'
He closed his eyes, looking at a dilapidated house in rural Vietnam displayed on the screen. Then, he focused on Ken's senses through the 「Chains of Oath」 connected to his right arm and transmitted his will.
-Don't cause too much of a commotion just because they're hostile. Try to appease them and move to the next designated location together. Build some rapport along the way. They're quite capable.
-…Ugh, this is exactly how our Demon King orders people around. Is it my fate to be entangled with masters like this…?
Ken grumbled in response to the casual order. But he wasn't particularly offended by being ordered around by a stranger. After all,
Regardless of the circumstances, he was able to set foot on Earth again thanks to Hesperon, who summoned him.
'And he promised me some freedom on Earth if I complete the tasks properly.'
He chuckled softly, remembering how bewildered Ken was when he was first summoned to Earth. Repeatedly checking if he was under some kind of mental attack, or if this was really Earth… If he hadn't intervened with 「Chains of Oath」, it would have taken much longer for him to depart for his destination.
'He said the opponent is a demon. Ken should be able to assess their level. He can buy us some time even if something goes wrong.'
And he could also delegate the tedious task of running around Southeast Asia to him.
After some time,
Hesperon opened his eyes and looked around, observing the members of 'Burning Torch' through Ken's perspective. A space filled with large-scale computing devices, servers, and other electronic equipment that ordinary people couldn't easily acquire. This was a workspace prepared just for him. Built for the efficient use of one of his abilities, 「Mechanical Eye: Calicas」.
'The enemy of my enemy is my friend. I can't let them fall.'
The fact that they had survived until now, noticing the existence of Cheonbuhoe and resisting them, was proof of their competence. By cooperating with them, he could fight more efficiently and gain additional information. But the initial contact wasn't smooth. The problem was that their leadership, weakened after repeated defeats against Cheonbuhoe, was scattered and in hiding. It was difficult to pinpoint their locations, even though operating in secrecy was their usual modus operandi. They had no choice but to be desperate, with their survival on the line.
'So I had to find them before Cheonbuhoe…'
And that's where Hesperon and this cutting-edge facility came in. A complex data center, including supercomputers combining technologies from Earth and other worlds, secretly secured through his subordinates. Although the cost was astronomical, money wasn't a problem for him. He had already established a firm footing through Howard Industries, a legitimate company, so setting up a few secret bases like this wasn't difficult.
Hum
Beep!
Light emanated from the titanium suit in the center, connected to numerous wires, and spread to the surrounding electronic devices. Hesperon's 「Mechanical Eye: Calicas」 was a mystical entity that grew with him, practically a 'mechanical spirit'. And the synchronized titanium suit was a pinnacle of magic engineering. It wasn't just exchanging electrical signals; it connected with the devices on a mystical level, enhancing their performance beyond their limits.
'The security of important facilities is no joke. I'll need more preparation to break through that. …Well, as offensive measures develop, so do defensive measures.'
Of course, implementing otherworldly technology on Earth consumed massive resources, so only a few systems had such defenses. All information related to the areas he was monitoring—from satellite and wired internet data to wireless communication networks—poured in endlessly. Fragments of information, too fragmented for even supercomputers to analyze, practically useless. But Calicas, a rapidly evolving artificial spirit and an embodiment of advanced technology, quickly processed the flood of information using all connected devices.
A being capable of exerting greater influence on Earth, with its moderate level of scientific advancement, compared to other worlds.
Hesperon closed his eyes. Maximizing the performance of 「Mechanical Eye: Calicas」 to avoid missing a single clue amidst the massive influx of information.
Ken glanced at the four men and women busily moving around and rubbed the back of his neck.
'Cheonbuhoe… and the Burning Torch.'
Both were unfamiliar names. He wouldn't have been involved with such secretive organizations even if he had returned on time, without being kidnapped to the Demon Realm.
'Who is that guy? How could he summon me from the Demon Realm to Earth? And what he's doing now…'
Hesperon, the man who summoned him, was shrouded in mystery. Judging by their first encounter, it seemed like he had only recently returned to Earth, but he was too proficient in summoning him for tasks and dealing with secret organizations. As if he had been doing this for a long time.
'There's no way he can freely travel between the two worlds.'
He dismissed the possibility based on common sense, ruffled his hair, and sighed. Well, it didn't matter now. He had no choice from the moment the curse trapped in the temple fell into that man's hands. It was thanks to that that he could breathe Earth's air again, so it was a fortunate turn of events.
'I wonder if my family is doing well. They'll be surprised if I suddenly visit them… Of course, I have to finish this first.'
Fortunately, the fight that broke out immediately after their first encounter didn't last long. It was partly because Ken, who easily withstood the surprise attack, kept trying to talk instead of retaliating, and also because Jose regained his composure after seeing his comrades returning.
"What? What is this…!"
"Lady Ann! Sir Jose! Are you alright? …Huh? Who is this?! How did he get here?!"
"…Becky? Dolla? You're safe?"
The main reason for the preemptive attack was their assumption that their comrades, who went out to scout, were already dead. They thought there was no way an uninvited guest could reach their headquarters without a sound. Sneaking in without even ringing the doorbell meant he had something to hide.
'Well, he has a point.'
Ken, who had infiltrated without scouting the perimeter due to his demonic instincts and his desire to quickly resolve the situation, had caused a misunderstanding.
"…So you're just a messenger?"
"That's right. Actually, this is the first time I've heard about you or this 'Cheonbuhoe' organization. All I know is that I have to join forces with you against our common enemy, Cheonbuhoe."
"Then the person in charge should come directly. What are we supposed to talk about with a messenger?"
"Well, that would be the case if you were in a normal situation… but in this situation?"
Ken shrugged, talking to the woman named Ann, the leader of the group. He glanced around. A remote mountain area, with no proper base, let alone any houses in sight. And only four people, even if they were executives. It was too much to expect the other party to come to them when they were practically fugitives.
"Tsk."
Ann clicked her tongue, seemingly speechless. She was just one of the scattered executives, not the leader of Burning Torch.
"Ann, are you sure about this?"
Just then, Jose, who had returned to his human form and stayed close to her, spoke softly. He was still wary of Ken. His eyes remained fixed on Ken, even though they stopped fighting to avoid unnecessary conflict.
"It's fine. There are no lies in what he said so far. It's true that he's against Cheonbuhoe, and he approached us with good intentions."
"But he's a demon. The same kind as…"
"Of course, I don't intend to trust him completely. I don't know how many secrets he's hiding. But we're not in a position to be picky, are we?"
"…True. He's definitely stronger than me."
Ken's lips twitched at their blatant whispering, but he didn't say anything. Having lived among demons for a long time, he knew their reputation wasn't entirely unfounded. If it weren't for his ego being stabilized by 「Thought Transference」, his human side would have been eroded long ago.
"Sorry to interrupt, but there's urgent news."
"News?"
He wasn't just observing their discussion. His mission was to help them and guide them to safety. He had to succeed to earn his freedom on Earth.
"A group presumed to be Cheonbuhoe is approaching. It seems the Executioner isn't with them, so the fight itself shouldn't be a problem… but it would be troublesome to be caught by them, wouldn't it?"
It was only natural. They were fugitives. Their survival rate would plummet if their location was discovered.
"…How do you know that?"
The problem was how much they could trust Ken, the demon. If it was a trap, it would be the end for them. Ken chuckled, as if sensing their suspicion, and pointed to the sky.
"My employer is watching from above. This area is practically in his grasp."
"Ha!"
It sounded like a joke. But Ann couldn't ignore it. Her unique skill, which had helped her survive Cheonbuhoe until now, whispered in her ear. That there was only one choice she could make.
"What will you do? Will you trust me and follow me?"
"…"
Her decision was already made.
In a room filled with pastel-colored mist,
"Phew— The tide has turned."
A woman, reclining on a low sofa in the center, sighed, and pale blue smoke escaped her lips. Her hazy gaze fixed on the shimmering smoke in the air.
"You've finally appeared, challenger."
A being that distorted the flow of fate. A being that clouded the future. A being that mocked the world from behind a veil.
"Then we must make the necessary preparations."
Like sand slipping through her fingers,
The remnants of 'Burning Torch' began to slip away, one by one.