Chapter 195: Union (6)

Chapter 195: Union (6)

“Helloo~.”

A playful voice of a girl was heard.

Golden eyes that seemed to hold starlight. Shoulder-length bobbed hair of golden color. It was Ershil.

“Nice to meet you. I am Ershil Merchen, the eldest daughter and young lady of the Merchen family.”

Lifting the ends of her skirt slightly, Ershil greeted.

The elegant greeting naturally brought to mind a noble.

She acted as if she were meeting me for the first time. Well, it was true that we were meeting under this identity for the first time.

However, there was a slight doubt in her eyes.

...Come to think of it, she was a sharp woman who could guess my other identities even without being told.

“Nice to meet you.”

I hesitated for a moment.

Others called me Dark Knight or Masked Man, but I had never officially revealed my name.

I just didn’t mention my name since they called me Masked Man.

“Yes, I know. You protect the nights of Seoul, right? I’ve been wanting to meet you.”

Ershil smiled brightly as she spoke.

Protecting the nights of Seoul. It was a cheesy phrase, but it wasn’t wrong, so I let it slide. Ershil moved on to greet others besides me.

“Bonjour. I am Louis Richemont of the Richemont family in France.”

“I’m Roxanne Schneider. The Lion King was a great figure even in the European Union, and we, the people of France, will spare no support for the Lion King’s return.”

I quietly watched the scene.

France.

It’s a complicated country. Although there were gods, their influence was only comparable to the top-tier gods in the Hundred Temple. That’s not weak, but it’s lacking compared to other myths or legends.

However, right next door, there was the entity of the Outer Universe called the Black Sun, who won World War II by sacrificing lives and human offerings.

‘Thus.’

The war broke out.

They abducted residents indiscriminately and turned them into Mine soldiers to save themselves. But the opponent was the Nazi Empire. Even though they turned the whole world against them, the Nazi Empire still survived.

No matter how great France was, if the Nazi Empire decided to unleash its hidden power and conquer France, France wouldn’t have the strength to withstand it. France was said to have survived through diplomacy, but that was not quite right either.

So France reached out to forbidden laws.

For survival.

“Oh, could I get your autograph later?”

“Autograph...?”

Ershil, who had approached unnoticed, spoke to me.

“Yes, a relative of mine is a fan.”

“I see.”

I nodded in agreement.

But Ershil kept staring at me.

“Is there something else?”

“Oh, I’m sorry. You just resemble someone I know.”

“...Really?”

“Yes, the ideal physique and the shape of the bones...”

What did she mean by the shape of the bones?

I felt a chill for some reason.

“Shall we start moving?”

At Ershil’s words, everyone stood up. Some wanted to rest more, but it was a rescue operation.

Moreover, the opponent was the Nazi Empire.

The sooner we acted, the higher the chances of the Lion King’s return. And among the key members of this operation were those who had received some form of grace from the Lion King.

We started moving.

Towards the hell on earth.

The land was dark. The sky was blood-red, and the trees were withered.

It was a land reminiscent of hell. A place no different from hell.

There were no corpses here.

Only things that were once human exist. Soldiers controlled by foreign magic, driven by someone else’s will. And the Mine soldiers who came to kill them. The officers who controlled them.

‘Terrible.’

“Hoho, just having a chat. Worried that the Lion King might be in trouble.”

“Don’t worry. His spirit is his sanctuary. If he holds out there, he’ll be fine for three days. But Mr. Masked Man, it’s fascinating. You protect the nights of Seoul, but this is the first time you’ve appeared elsewhere.”

Ershil’s eyes curved into crescents.

...It seemed she noticed.

“Perhaps it’s because the Lion King bestowed his grace? Most of the people here have their lives at risk but participated in this operation because they received his grace.”

“Or it could be for fame.”

Ershil looked at me.

“Or like me, someone who desires honor or wealth.”

Ershil maintained a confident demeanor despite her desire for honor and wealth.

I stared at a distant point.

Divine Sight responded. Magic screamed. Magi gathered and caused phenomena.

Once.

I recalled a similar phenomenon I saw with my eyes.

It was when I was in China.

An apostle. The scene was similar to when that death seed was born.

‘It may not be the same, but...’

It was undoubtedly a dangerous presence.

“Seeking honor and wealth. Is it because you’re British?”

“Oh my, I don’t want to hear that from someone from the Schneider family, who fell while seeking honor.”

“You...!”

“Quiet. It’s coming.”

I dismissed Roxanne’s words and looked to one side.

A huge.

A huge something was looking this way. Its size was as large as a mountain. It had the horns of a mountain goat of enormous size. It looked like a bipedal mountain goat.

Its body was entirely muscular, with fierce magical power, and its red eyes gleamed.

“...What is that?”

Roxanne was startled.

It was different from the atmosphere until now. The relaxed gestures and expressions. The strange confidence that even if others were in danger, they could survive.

All of those were gone.

“W-Wait. What is that monster?!”

“You promised something different!”

Roxanne said, and Louis screamed.

I stretched while getting up.

The sensed power was the highest rank. Among them, it was in the upper tier.

‘Can I do it.’

I thought that and smiled. When was it ever easy?

I activated the Conceptual Stat Refinement.

The black flame turned into a golden flame.

-Well met, my nemesis.

A voice echoed. It was fluent German. Talent, Reading (-) naturally interpreted it.

I looked at the air. The whole sky projected a mustached man in uniform. He looked at me with a confident expression.

-Last time, you gave me the disgrace of defeat. So this time, we will teach you the word defeat.

Adolf Hitler.

-We have the Lion King. If you want to save that being, come here.

He declared confidently.

And I was convinced.

‘The Lion King has escaped.’

I checked my armament. If he had come this far, there was no need to fight unnecessarily.

‘I’ll pretend to fight appropriately.’

And cut out the darkness of France.

That’s all there was to it.