Chapter 287: White Knight (2)

< White Knight (2) >

In front of an apartment entrance.

"Thank you for your cooperation, Sister."

"Oh, no problem at all, Father. It wasn't anything difficult."

"Then I'll be going. May God's blessings be with you, Sister."

"Yes, yes. Thank you."

The middle-aged woman bowed her head repeatedly in response to the priest's benevolent smile and bow.

After the farewell, the female priest, in her early thirties, immediately moved to the parking lot and got into the back seat of a waiting car.

Vroom—

As the car smoothly started, she picked up a tablet lying next to her and scanned the organized data within.

-······

-Estimated White Knight Specs Summary. (See details)

-After inquiring about divine power through returnees from various dimensions, the main god of the Auterica dimension is the most likely candidate. (See detailed interview transcript)

-Assuming a connection with a specific patient, related person visit investigations conducted. (Current progress 28%)

-······

"Hmm."

Her head tilted slightly as an involuntary sound of contemplation escaped her lips.

The head of the investigation team dispatched by the Pantheon's Korean branch to track the White Knight, she made a note on the tablet, put it down, and closed her eyes.

'…He's truly amazing.'

She recalled the lingering traces of divine power within the now-discharged patient's body, which she had reconfirmed during this visit, and let out a sigh of admiration, the umpteenth time she had done so.

'How deep must their faith be to make something like that possible?'

Even on the day of the hospital terror attack, she had been astonished to detect that presence from quite a distance.

But even with the passage of time, directly observing the remnants evoked a renewed sense of awe.

The more she investigated, the more respect and reverence she felt for the person involved.

'Not just large in scale, but divine power of unparalleled purity, refined solely through devout faith. What kind of saint could draw such energy on Earth…?'

She herself was a high-ranking priestess who had achieved a considerable position in her own world, but even with the most generous assessment, she couldn't compare to the White Knight.

If she had to choose a similar level from her world, it would probably have to be an Apostle, directly chosen by God.

'I'd really like to meet this person someday.'

In fact, that was the biggest reason why she actively took the lead of the investigation team.

She couldn't contain her curiosity about what kind of person could perform such miracles.

Of course, there were practical reasons besides her interest.

'A saint of that level could truly become the new center of the Pantheon…'

Given the importance of healing abilities, the treatment of priests on Earth wasn't just favorable; it was highly valued.

Since the use of divine power was limited, they were considered even more precious than in other worlds.

However, the problem wasn't with external reputation, but internal.

"Sigh."

Letting out a small sigh, she rubbed her face a few times.

Thanks to divine power, her smooth and firm skin was a source of pride, but recent stress-induced skin troubles were bothering her.

'…The infighting between factions is too severe.'

In a way, it was natural.

Unlike ordinary religious orders where followers of the same god gathered, the priests of the Pantheon followed different gods and doctrines.

Even though those who worshipped evil gods or held negative beliefs were excluded, it was inevitable that friction would arise, grievances would accumulate, and cracks would form, given their differing fundamental values.

'In such a situation, if someone who could be recognized by everyone were to stand at the center…'

Perhaps the current situation could be resolved.

If that happened, the energy wasted on useless factional struggles could be channeled toward more benevolent purposes.

And that would naturally lead to the public good.

'We can't let another country take such a great person.'

Due to the nature of the Pantheon as a united group, the headquarters in the US was not a higher authority but more of a representative concept.

While they would cooperate with the requests received, they didn't have to blindly follow.

Resolving herself once again, she picked up the tablet she had put down and scanned the progress reports of the investigation team members.

How much time had passed?

Ding!

Suddenly, an urgent message popped up on her tablet messenger.

As she casually read the contents, her eyes widened. A short while later…

Screech—!

The car she was in drifted sharply, changing direction.

Fortunately, there were no other vehicles nearby.

So the car accelerated rapidly without regard for its surroundings.

Vrooom— Vrooooom!

The car's destination was the location mentioned in the urgent news.

A university hospital in Seoul, where the White Knight had appeared.

A warm light enveloped the surroundings.

Whoosh—

The area it covered wasn't just a few meters around.

It extended beyond the people filling the lobby, further and higher, eventually encompassing the entire children's hospital, glowing softly and beautifully.

It was the realization of a miracle and the embodiment of hope.

The incarnation of mercy, caressing the wounds of the patients present.

'Might as well do it properly while I'm at it.'

Unlike its gentle appearance, the ultra-high-purity divine power, containing immense energy, caused immediate phenomena.

Recovery, healing, and regeneration.

Those present could immediately feel the changes.

"Ah—."

"…Oh God. Thank you, thank you!"

"Wow! Mommy, this is amazing! It's so warm. Hehe!"

The reactions of those who experienced the phenomenon firsthand were varied.

Some shed tears uncontrollably, unable to speak; others clasped their hands and prayed continuously; and children, unaware of anything, burst into innocent laughter.

But amidst these diverse reactions, there was one common action they all exhibited:

Gazing endlessly at the source of this miracle.

The one standing in the center of the lobby, wrapped in brilliant light like a lamp illuminating the darkness.

A noble saint clad in smooth and elegant white armor, hands resting on the hilt of a beautiful sword planted on the ground.

Heinrich, the White Knight.

"Ah…"

"…"

The people surrounding him stared blankly at his divine figure.

Unlike their initial clamoring for mercy upon his appearance, now they couldn't dare approach or speak to him.

They simply watched in awe from a few steps away, as if appreciating a work of art.

'The effect is certainly impressive. Now, it's time to…'

But just then, as if time had stopped and everyone was frozen.

Tap— Tap—

Someone made the first move.

"S… Sua?"

Was she about six or seven years old?

A small girl, as tiny as her height, wearing a hospital gown that didn't fit her small frame, took difficult steps toward him.

Leaving behind the wheelchair her father had been pushing just moments ago.

'Oh? She's the first to move in this situation where even the adults are frozen?'

The middle-aged man, who had belatedly followed her with hurried steps, watched her with a mixture of anxiety and emotion.

Unable to ignore the child's will, he anxiously fidgeted as…

The little girl, having reached Heinrich, carefully looked up at him.

And with her eyes sparkling brightly, she opened her small mouth.

"…Angel?"

Although her voice rose at the end, as if asking a question, there was a certain conviction in her eyes, perhaps because the image before her matched the stories she had heard and imagined.

"Did you come to take Sua because she's been good?"

But the words that followed were something even he hadn't anticipated.

Heinrich, as well as the child's guardian behind her, froze.

"…Can't I go yet? I haven't said goodbye to everyone…"

The child fidgeted with her fingers, glancing up at him from time to time.

What kind of imagination was unfolding in that small head?

But he could roughly understand the situation from the child's condition, which he could still sense despite having been exposed to divine power.

'Hmm.'

Organizing his thoughts as he quietly looked down at the child, he slowly bent his knees and crouched down.

Matching his eye level with the child's, he noticed his helmet reflected in her small eyes.

'Well, if I'm going to do this, it's better to do it this way.'

Slowly raising both hands to grip his helmet…

He lifted it off.

Swoosh—

Silver hair cascaded down, freed from the confining space.

It shimmered dazzlingly, scattering the light from the hospital lobby's lamps and the surrounding radiance.

"Gasp!"

"…"

At the same time, those who had been holding their breath in silence gasped involuntarily.

Heinrich lightly brushed back his silver hair and, with his golden eyes gently curved in a soft smile, faced the child again.

The exotic, handsome features of the man, combined with the lighting and the dramatic reveal, were etched into the minds of the onlookers like a dream.

He reached out a hand towards the child's head, mirroring her wide eyes and open mouth, but hesitated.

Then, retracting his arm, he removed the metal gauntlet from his right hand and gently stroked the child's head with his bare hand.

"Heehee…"

The child giggled shyly at his careful touch.

Heinrich poured divine power into his hand, providing the child with additional treatment and blessings, and smiled softly.

"I'll wait for you then, Sua. Until you grow up. Whenever you're ready."

"…Really? Then is it really, really okay later too?"

"Yes, but you have to keep getting your treatments, okay? Then you'll easily live to be a hundred."

"Uh… a… a hundred?"

Seeing her eyes darting around at his playful words, it seemed she couldn't quite grasp the magnitude of that number.

He chuckled and removed his hand from her head.

He nodded at the middle-aged man who was tearing up behind her and slowly stood up. The guardian quickly picked up the child and bowed repeatedly.

Even then, the child just smiled innocently and waved her hand.

For some reason, he found himself drawn to the child.

'It was an unexpected event, but…'

Heinrich, with his helmet tucked under his arm, put his gauntlet back on and slowly looked around.

It seemed he had publicized himself even more effectively than he had intended.

'The scale of healing isn't as large as during the terror attack, but the level of treatment isn't that much lower.'

He had naturally drawn attention to divert the investigation and even revealed his face. Now, only one thing remained for him to do.

He spoke softly, his voice filled with divine power.

"Warm attention to those groaning in pain, a helping hand to those in need…"

In the other world, the main god didn't have a name.

The main god, akin to a creator, was a singular, unique being.

But from an extra-dimensional perspective, it wasn't that there were no words to refer to him.

"…May the blessings of Auterica be with you all."

The name of the dimension itself was the very word that could refer to the main god.

Having deeply impressed people's hearts with his voice filled with divine power, Heinrich smiled gently.

'They're here.'

Sensing the presences converging on him from all directions, he gathered his energy and drew the holy sword embedded in the floor.

He had no intention of confronting those seeking him right now.

'It's not time yet.'

He had achieved his goal for now; to make it even more dramatic, he needed to keep them in suspense.

And he'd use this attention to naturally promote himself a bit more.

'Blindly preaching and proselytizing is a poor strategy.'

With the current attention focused on him, even dropping subtle hints would lead people to seek him out on their own.

Until then, what he had to do was…

Fwoosh—

Just before those pursuing him could burst in, he used 「Blessing: Leap」 and vanished from the hospital lobby.

The place he reappeared was another hospital, quite far from the previous one.

Such surprise visits continued a few more times, as if teasing them.

And that evening…

The accumulated news from his first visit onwards finally caused an explosion in domestic internet opinion.