497 - The Beginning of a New Era #5

Pudeuk, pudeudeuk-.

Roots that had grown through the winter snow-no, things that could better be called trees-were coiling around the body of the truck-sized boar.

It was as if they were a cage or a snare, tightly constricting the boar's massive frame.

━Guiiiik-!

Seeing how the boar, which until just a moment ago had been rampaging through the deer forest, was now unable to move an inch, the binding force seemed quite powerful.

"This, Hassan, you did this, right?"

Antiope drew her magic spear and used it to pierce the very center of the boar's forehead.

"Yap."

━Guiiiik....

The boar, which had been struggling to escape the wooden cage, finally stopped moving. However, it seemed the boar was no longer Antiope's concern.

"What an incredible ability. Magic? Magic that raises trees... it's similar to the magic of the primitive Nymph high priests."

Antiope gave the roots a light tap with the tip of her foot.

Inferring from Antiope's reaction, it didn't seem like she was the one who raised the roots.

Just as she said, I suspected that I might have been the one to raise these tree roots.

But I was just dazed because I didn't have any actual sensation of using this magic. If it were magic, shouldn't there be a staff, an incantation, or a magic circle?

I looked around to see if there was another caster nearby, but all I could see were snow, trees, the smashed wagons of the peddlers, and Paranoi with his eyes sparkling.

Paranoi spoke as if it were incredibly fascinating that the monster boar charging at him had been bound and sealed by the roots.

"It is the 13th of Hassan-nim's 32 fluid techniques, the Root Prison-ssi...! As expected, to handle natural mana instead of Hell's demonic power, you are truly magnificent-ssi...!"

Root Prison, huh. It was a fairly intuitive name.

"Then, let us quickly dismantle this fellow and take it with us-ssi...! Today, we shall be able to hold the meat festival that we could not finish last time-ssi...! As for the hide, it would be good to use as a carpet for the Nymph academy-ssi...!"

Seureung-.

Paranoi drew a dagger made from ground dragon scales and bones from his waist. He tried to cut the wood to process the boar, but it didn't work well.

"Could you please, remove these roots...? They are getting in the way-ssi...!"

"Oh, right. I should."

I tried to withdraw this thing called Root Prison so we could process the boar and take the hide, meat, bones, and tusks.

Though, to say I 'withdrew' it, the more accurate expression would be that I smashed it with my hands and broke it apart with a club.

"Begone-!"

Just in case, I shouted it like a command, but the roots that had once surged up showed no intention of disappearing. Then, a thought occurred to me, and I gave my hand a light wave.

Seureureuk-.

As if it were the most natural thing, the roots withered and hid back into the ground.

"Ah-!"

Jiririt-. Only then did something flash through my powerful dual-core brain. That spark of inspiration that could be called a state of enlightenment. This was a veritable red revolution occurring within my mind.

Seureuk-.

I looked down at my hands. My hands. These hands can be a lethal weapon to strike someone, or a medicine to save someone.

And sometimes, they become a means of communication more concise than voices, languages, or letters. From the shape of the hands to the sequence of movements that change the meaning-.

The answer converged into one.

"This wasn't magic."

These roots are not magic.

The true identity of this is a type of ninja art that can be used by forming seals with the hands and consuming Karma points.

That's right.

It's a ninja art.

The hand seals (suin) formed by my hands had replaced incantations or magic circles to bring about such a result.

Just as the hand gestures of a Buddha contain profound and miraculous truths and principles, my hand movements have now reached a realm where they can utilize the mana flowing in the atmosphere.

By jamming my thumb into my brain, I had figured out that I could use magic, but to think I'd become able to use ninjutsu.

Is this a reward for having turned the wheel of Samsara for a brief moment?

This enlightenment. If so, I have no choice but to test it.

Seuk, seukseuk-.

Having lived through the Great Ninja War every week in my childhood, I skillfully clasped my two hands together. After that, I extended only the index and middle fingers of both hands to form a spear-like shape.

Seuk-.

That is the seal of the Tiger.

─Wood Style-.

The next seal I formed was by interlocking my hands into a hammer shape. The seal of the Snake.

Connecting these two is a movement that requires complexity and precision, but my Agility of 16 and the dexterity from 《Shining Hands》 helped me form the seals I had practiced so much as a child accurately and quickly.

"Hassan-nim, what kind of blasphemous hand gesture is that again-ssi...?"

Even though Paranoi asked as if he couldn't understand, instead of explaining with words, I decided to show him directly.

『Consuming Karma points. - 50.』

Mana and Karma boiled within my body.

─Deep Forest Emergence.

Kwagagagagaga-.

Finally, the thick grass and roots that had been submerged beneath the winter snow writhed like muscles on steroids, shaking the earth.

The ground crumbled, and roots and branches like the tentacles of a giant octopus Kraken grew from everywhere like living creatures, surging like waves.

"Wh-What is this-!"

At that sight, Antiope jumped onto my body as if startled. Paranoi also climbed onto me and made a fuss.

"Th-This is a magnificent power-ssi...! As the God of Circles, to have this much power despite losing many authorities...! Are you performing such a miracle with just the few remaining drops of power-ssi...?"

It was just as Paranoi said.

The power remaining in me as the God of Samsara was, at best, about the amount of a few drops left in a finished soda can.

However, even those few drops were enough to perform such a miracle. In a way, it was only natural.

Seuseuseu-.

I clearly felt the exhilaration and sense of omnipotence boiling within my body.

It felt as if I could achieve anything, but back then, when I had set my mind to crushing the giant Tartarus, I really could do anything.

A strength powerful enough to forcibly break and twist the existing world and its rules.

Truly omnipotent.

Therefore, even just a tiny drop, a trace like dew left in my body, would make such a thing possible. In the first place, I was consuming not just mana, but Task Points as well.

"Ah, I have finally achieved my dream."

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Anyway, I could say I had become Hassan, the God of Ninjas and a Wood Style specialist who could use tree ninja arts.

━Mom, my dream is to become the Hokage!

━Oh, here he goes again. No comics for three weeks! I'll let you have them back if you get over 90 on your math test.

━Hieeek...!

In my childhood, because my dream was to be a ninja, I used to run with both arms stretched out behind me. Those memories came back vividly, making me feel a bit choked up.

It was a time of much endurance.

"Anyway, it is a truly massive pig-ssi...! With this much, all the citizens of Sodomora might be able to share a meal-ssi...!"

"Senior, isn't that a bit too much of an exaggeration?"

"Antiope, if you have become a junior, you must not talk back to your senior-ssi...! When an adult speaks, it is important to just go along with it-ssi...!"

"Sure, sure."

We drained the blood of the fucking huge pig, loaded the hide, flesh, meat, and such onto the backs of the horses we saw nearby, and returned to the city.

"Oh, Hassan-ssi. What incredible meat!"

According to the explanation from Daphne, the guild's reception team leader, the type of boar was a Blood Boar.

Its subjugation rank was Silver.

She said it was originally a creature that lived in the southern regions, and they didn't know why it had come all the way up to Sodomora.

There was only speculation that as the Underworld collapsed, the ecosystem might have changed due to the appearance of Pluto's Labyrinths and the movement of monsters in various places.

"A massive and powerful beast might have appeared in the south. Otherwise, there's no reason for a Silver-rank Blood Boar to leave its habitat-."

"Hmm."

"Since Gloria-ssi went south, we'll probably find out soon."

At Daphne's explanation, I thought of the girl in the raccoon skin. After escaping from the Underworld, I heard Gloria had been moving around so busily that there was no time to see her face.

The reason being, it was to capture Cerberus, her final task.

Since Cerberus and the Nymph of nightmares, Melinoe, had vanished when the Underworld collapsed, she seemed to be moving diligently to track their traces.

There was a high probability they were hiding somewhere in the Pluto's Labyrinth dungeons that had surfaced across the continent.

Then Luna's parents, Lady Nox and Erebus, would also be somewhere in the continent's labyrinths. I hope some good news comes along.

In the end, despite everything, everyone lives a busy life.

Up until the Underworld collapsed, I felt like a peaceful and comfortable retirement was waiting for me, but youth is very long and winter hasn't even ended yet.

A person's life is longer than I thought.

More importantly, Gloria heading south, huh-.

I asked.

"The south, was that the war zone where the Liberation Army and the Royal Capital Army are fighting most fiercely?"

"That's right. So, Hassan-ssi, which side do you think will win? Both have so many tense and prominent heroes that I don't know who will win."

"Who knows."

At Daphne's words, I gave a vague answer while picturing powerful breasts in my head.

The Royal Capital Army of the pathetically large-breasted Princess Friede. The Liberation Army of the intensely large-breasted Princess Nike.

Both possessed incredible potential exceeding 1H.

Whichever faction wins, wouldn't they generously accept the other with their broad chests and tolerance?

Anyway, thinking about Gloria, the war, and the Amazoness Queen's battle happening in the southern region made me feel uneasy in many ways. This is surely a sign that will bring about a major incident.

"Ah, Hassan-ssi. I heard. You're going to build a large mansion this time?"

A mansion? I looked down at the familiar yet simultaneously foreign keyword, and saw Daphne's green eyes sparkling.

"You heard that?"

"Of course! It's already the talk of the town here in Sodomora. Building a mansion as grand as a royal castle, and in the western Slum street at that, everyone's talking about nothing else!"

The residents of Sodomora love to gossip about others. There aren't many things as fun as that. If Daphne is bringing it up to me, it must have already spread as far as it could.

Just as Daphne said, I was embarking on a plan to build a mansion.

Having paid off all the money I borrowed to build the Temple, I was planning to use the remaining money to buy land in the west and create my own large Taj Mahal there.

"But why are you building a mansion in the poor western street? You made a lot of money from this expedition. With that much, wouldn't it be fine to build it on the East Gate street? I heard you even paid extra for the land."

"Ah-. That's-."

It seemed Daphne had become curious about why I was acquiring land in the west to build a house.

The reason is nothing special.

Because the Cabin is there.

While leaving the Cabin as it is, I was thinking of building a garden full of wide yards, fences, fountains, and resting places for Nymphs, surrounding it.

Daphne, who had been mumbling as if in deep thought for a while, asked.

"Is the rumor true, by any chance?"

"What rumor?"

"I heard that you provided relief to people who lost their homes to the Liberation Army's catapults by buying their land at a high price. Otherwise, there's no way you'd pay so much for that dilapidated land!"

What is she talking about.

I just didn't want to bicker over land issues.

Even if I tried to buy land to build a mansion, if there was someone stalling by saying, "This is land our ancestors have lived on for generations. I won't sell it-!", it would get annoying.

So I just bought it at a price they couldn't refuse.

Daphne's story didn't end there.

"And, they say the reason you're building a mansion in the western Slum is to protect the poor. Because last time, the Liberation Army's catapults targeted the most vulnerable western area. It's like you're building a fortress so they can't attack anymore."

"Where did you hear such a thing?"

"From Malko-ssi."

I thought so. There's no one else but Paranoi or Malko who would spread such rumors.

More importantly, I'm curious what that bastard Malko is up to these days. I should meet up with him and Calidur sometime for a drink. Even if it's tasteless alcohol.

"Anyway, thanks to the great performance of Hassan-ssi and your companions, our Mars Guild in Sodomora has finally safely entered the listing review...!"

"Oh, is that true?"

"Yes! Isn't it like a miracle? I also have some shares in the Mars Guild. If this listing goes well, I'm going to take some annual leave and go on a vacation to Delphi!"

I felt like I knew why Daphne's tension was so high. Looking now, not just Daphne, but all the people in the Mars Guild were wearing bright and happy smiles.

━Now I won't have to be nagged by my wife.

━Me too. You have no idea how much I was scolded for holding onto scraps of paper. Now she'll probably prepare breakfast and dinner well. I can finally act like the head of the household.

Here.

It's really going public.

You never know how things will turn out in life.

"Anyway, thanks to Hassan-ssi, I'm benefiting quite a bit. Wow-, looking at it like this, Hassan-ssi, you've really changed a lot."

"Is that so?"

"It feels like just the other day you were an Iron-tier adventurer. Before I knew it, you've gained such dignity."

At Daphne's words, I newly realized the change in time and relationships.

Back then, I was the one who got slapped by the receptionist Daphne, but now I'm the dual-platinum hero Hassan, wearing two platinum necklaces.

"Since you came back from the Underworld, your atmosphere has become a bit more composed. Should I say your face has become a bit more melancholic?"

I didn't know that.

"Did you know that Hassan-nim came in 2nd in the popularity poll targeting female adventurers in the Mars Guild?"

"2nd?"

What is that. Did they do something like that. Anyway, 2nd. 2nd is good too.

2nd is good. To think the day would come when I'd rank high in a popularity poll among female adventurers.

Then I suddenly became curious.

"Then who is 1st?"

"Paranoi."

....

It's not a very reliable index.

After that, since I was at the guild for the first time in a while, I updated my Karma and had my achievements settled.

Another commotion broke out because my level had risen to 47, but since that happened every time I updated, it wasn't even surprising anymore.

Anyway, due to the Underworld trip and the platinum badge, my achievement points were now the highest in Sodomora's Mars Guild.

The moment Daphne, who had climbed a ladder, wrote Hassan's name at the very top of the bulletin board, many people whispered.

━To think Hippolyte's name would fall below someone else's.

━The times really are changing. To think I'd see such a thing in my lifetime.

Just as they said, the times were changing.

If I closed my eyes and focused on my hearing, my sensitive ears could almost hear the sound of the world's snow melting away.

I also seemed to hear the sound of a door being flung open. Jeolgeureok, jeolgeok- the sound of people in armor busily entering the guild could also be heard.

━What's this, they're not... adventurers. Why did soldiers suddenly burst in? What is it?

━Look at the crest on their shoulders-. The head of a bird of prey on the body of a lion...! It's the crest of the Royal Capital Army! Why is the Royal Capital Army at Sodomora's Mars Guild...?

━Look at those soldiers in black armor too. There's a dragon drawn on their crest. A dragon is the symbol of the Borzak family.

━Wasn't Sodomora a neutral city? Why are they here now?

At the people's fuss, I opened my eyes again.

Before my eyes, people in white and black armor were dividing the guild exactly in half, holding their respective flags high.

And then, as if conscious of each other, they shouted almost simultaneously.

━Be loyal to the great Byeokryeokje His Majesty and Princess Friede-!

━Princess Nike of the Black Scales desires you-!