Chapter 288: White Knight (3)

< White Knight (3) >

The internet was the medium that most immediately captured the flow of public opinion in modern society. Especially in Korea, where the majority of the population carried smartphones.

People diligently spread news from various locations, taking photos and videos in real-time, which significantly influenced the dissemination of information across social media and online communities.

And there was one topic that had almost monopolized the conversation since the previous afternoon, continuing for well over a day:

It was the news of the reappearance of the mysterious hero, the 'White Knight,' who appeared and disappeared like the wind.

As a figure who had recently garnered attention not only in Korea but also worldwide, naturally, citizens couldn't help but be interested in his sudden actions.

-Is that real? He's been hiding all this time, and now he's suddenly doing volunteer work?

-Not just one place, but multiple places? I thought there was a limit to using divine power.

Some expressed reasonable doubts and suspicions, but what was presented before them was a variety of evidence collected from various locations.

CCTV footage, photos and videos seemingly taken at close range, and more. Undeniably conclusive evidence poured out.

-Holy crap; it was real?

-Where is that? My mother is sick, please share the location ㅠㅠ

└Too late. He's disappeared again.

-Why isn't there a single clear photo?

└I know, right? It feels real, but it's too hard to make out.

The reaction was, of course, explosive.

However, amidst all this, there was one thing that disappointed people: except for the CCTV footage taken from a distance, there was almost no clear footage of the scene.

-Hold the camera steady, for crying out loud!

-lol After briefly appearing at the beginning, it just films the floor lol

-Damn it, I clicked out of curiosity and now I'm even more curious.

But in retrospect, it was inevitable.

Most of the people who encountered the White Knight this time were patients, their guardians, or hospital staff.

In a situation where a massive amount of divine power was enveloping the surroundings in real-time and miracles were occurring, how many people could calmly turn on their cameras, adjust the angle, and point their lenses?

Especially in a space where no one could move freely due to the charisma naturally emanating from the overwhelming presence.

As a result, most of the captured videos were those that happened to be filming for other reasons and coincidentally captured his figure.

But then…

One video taken in that situation was released, turning the online community upside down once again.

-Holy moly, he's freaking handsome;;

-Wow... how can he look like that with the focus all messed up? It's like there's a filter on just him.

-Another handsome guy after Phantom oppa♥

└At this point, I have a reasonable suspicion that even Hahoe Mask is a flower boy. Hahoe Mask, reveal your face too~!

-Is he a foreigner? His features seem East Asian... No, it's like a mix, is he mixed race?

The video captured the moment he removed his helmet and revealed his face at the children's hospital he first visited.

The breathtakingly handsome man in the video, with his silver hair and golden eyes, and his mystical aura, captivated the public.

Especially the moment he stroked a child's head with a benevolent smile drew an almost frighteningly enthusiastic response.

Fan cafes praising him sprung up like mushrooms, and…

The words he spoke at the time surfaced and began to circulate among people.

-Did he say the religious order was Auterica? I've never heard of it. Does anyone know anything?

-Auterica religion conversion day 1. I don't know the doctrines, but I'm mindlessly praying for now.

-I feel like I've heard that name somewhere before…

Since Auterica was a dimension whose existence had been revealed only a few months prior, many people, unless they were specifically interested, were unaware of it.

But this was South Korea, known for its rapid exchange of information.

Like true modern people, they quickly found related information and began sharing it with each other.

-Auterica is the name of a newbie dimension recently registered with the Returnee Association. (Link)

└Oh? Really? So what's his relationship with it?

└You should be able to figure out the rest on your own by nowㅡㅡ

└Nah, too lazy. "Do it for me"

-Whoa, I was wondering what the fuss was about, but Auterica dimension? I'm from there.

As the matter escalated, someone directly connected to the dimension finally appeared to testify.

Since information about specific dimensions wasn't particularly confidential, and it was a frequent topic of conversation amongst returnees, it wasn't particularly strange.

-Oh! Tell us what you know. Do you know anything?

-Do you know who the White Knight is? Someone of that level must have been quite famous. I'm curious about his identity.

-Well, no. There was a world-class religion in Auterica called the Main God's Church, but... something feels strange. The White Knight is from there?

However, the returnees who actually knew about the 'Auterica' dimension couldn't help but question the unfolding situation.

-Uh? No way? There's no way this is true? Why? What? Is it real? No way?

└Why is this guy malfunctioning?

└Don't keep it to yourself, share with the rest of us.

└Seems like a troll? Don't feed him.

The reason being…

-Well, there's one person that comes to mind who fits the description. I'm a small fry, so I've never seen him directly. But isn't he a Hero? He's in the middle of fighting to save the world, so why is he here? Is the fight over there finished?

└???

└What nonsense is this;

└Hey, this troll is creative. Let's stop here before it gets old.

The figure that came to their minds was someone who shouldn't be on Earth.

And such confusion was spreading not only online but also offline.

Inside an office that appeared ordinary at first glance…

"So, what you're saying, Mr. Kang Tae-gyu, is…"

…the people inside were anything but ordinary.

"You're saying the most likely candidate for the White Knight's identity is a saint from the Auterica dimension?"

Agents from the Supernatural Management Bureau, a national agency responsible for controlling those with supernatural abilities.

Representatives from the Returnee Association, gathered to represent the rights and interests of Awakened individuals.

Clergy from the Pantheon, an interdimensional religious coalition dispatched to recruit the White Knight.

Despite the lack of an oppressive atmosphere, the person facing them wore an awkward smile and diligently shared what he knew.

"Yes, yes, that's right. Considering his position, he was incredibly famous. Heinrich Saint Landgard. Even though I wasn't directly involved with him, I remember his full name because I couldn't forget someone so eminent."

"Hmm…"

At his answer, those in the office exchanged glances, murmuring to themselves.

Although there weren't many returnees from that dimension yet, fortunately, four people from Auterica were registered in Korea.

And the person testifying before them now was one of them.

"Are you certain that he's the person in this video?"

An agent from the Supernatural Management Bureau, stroking his chin, lightly tapped the tablet placed to the side.

An edited video of the White Knight was playing on repeat.

"Uh, I can't be completely certain… As I mentioned before, I wasn't particularly acquainted with him, so I've never seen him in person. I only operated in the remote outskirts of the empire. Unless you're incredibly lucky or become a very high-ranking official, it's difficult to meet a saint of that caliber."

"…I see."

"But I think it's probably him. Silver hair and golden eyes are known to be one of the characteristics of saints. Also, Saint Heinrich was a former paladin… I think that sword might be a holy sword."

By now, the White Knight's identity seemed almost certain.

However, those present still wore uneasy expressions, feeling something was amiss.

Not only the investigators gathered here, but also the witness who had been summoned by the Returnee Association.

"But why is such a person here…?"

Yes, that was the problem.

"Even if he was originally from Earth… But isn't Auterica currently at war with the Demon King… I mean, the Immortal King?"

"I heard it's a very dangerous situation. The association's estimated risk level is 'Very High, Caution Advised.'"

"But for a Hero who should be at the forefront to have fled to Earth is a bit… Don't you think? And if it's true, it means he even ran off with the holy sword? Even if he's a saint, I doubt a god would allow him to use that level of divine power in such a situation."

Objectively, it seemed clear that the White Knight's identity was Heinrich Saint Landgard, the Hero and saint of Auterica.

But there were many things that didn't sit right.

"Is there any further news from the World Returnee Association regarding Auterica? Like, a saint suddenly disappearing?"

"…I haven't heard anything in particular… but I'll inquire again just in case."

Frankly, matters of other dimensions weren't their concern.

There were countless worlds that had fallen into crisis and ultimately perished, becoming 'closed dimensions.'

But for those who considered the White Knight their top recruitment target, his background felt unsettling.

As people from different organizations laid out various materials and engaged in conversation…

'It would be fastest to ask him directly. Is there no way to communicate with him?'

Kang Tae-san, a rookie agent of the Supernatural Management Bureau, who was accompanying his senior, leaned against the wall in the back and clicked his tongue.

He believed that he, his grandmother, and his friend were safe thanks to the White Knight, so he was displeased with those who were making groundless speculations based on uncertain information.

'Sigh, what can I do? I have to follow orders.'

Swallowing his dissatisfaction, he took out his smartphone to monitor the situation.

The online communities had calmed down compared to the previous day's frenzy, but they were still buzzing with talk about the White Knight.

"Huh?"

But this peaceful moment was short-lived.

Frowning momentarily at the sudden surge in traffic, like a precursor to something…

"S… Senior! Right now…!"

He soon realized the cause and let out a scream-like shout.

And at the same time…

Beep beep beep!

Ring—!

Various notification sounds rang out from the pockets of those in the office.

As if heralding the start of a major incident.

I kept pondering.

How should I reveal Heinrich's existence?

To divert the investigation team's attention and allow my main body to escape their net, it was clear that Heinrich himself had to step forward.

But there were various ways to do so, and the key was choosing the right method.

'I could operate while concealing my identity like Hahoe Mask Hans, manipulating my main body's alibi, or I could create a plausible fake identity like Phantom Heinz II, pretending to hide it and confusing the investigation.'

But while each had its advantages and disadvantages, none were foolproof.

Also, since I had realized that the Heavenly Wealth Society was involved in this, I needed to be more proactive to respond to any tricks they might pull.

So, the method I chose was this:

'Yes, let's just reveal it.'

That he was the saint of the Auterica dimension.

Of course, I couldn't reveal everything 100%, so some adjustments to the story were inevitable.

As long as my main body's identity remained hidden, it didn't really matter what happened, but if there was a better way, wouldn't it be better to choose that?

Besides…

"Th… Then, White Knight-nim is… I mean…"

"Heinrich Saint Landgard."

"Ye… Yes. So, what you're saying, Heinrich Saint Landgard-nim, is…"

I realized I could utilize this excessive fervor and attention in another way.

In modern society, public attention and support were power and influence.

If I used them well, I could steer things in a much more favorable direction.

And there was no reason not to, right?

"Yes, I've come from what you call the Auterica dimension. To be more precise…"

Heinrich, looking at the camera held by the visibly nervous man…

"…You could say I'm not an Earthling, but someone from another world."

…dropped the bomb casually with a gentle smile.

"By the will of the Main God, to eradicate the evil that has befallen all dimensions, including our Auterica."

It's fine. I'm used to deception by now.

Technically, it wasn't entirely false.

'Let's see how this blows up.'

An auspicious halo emanated from Heinrich's entire body.