Chapter 150: Gazes

Earth did not know of the existence of other worlds. The same was true for Idea. However, the Demon Race knew of existences in other dimensions.

What made the Demon Race different from the races of Earth and Idea? The hybrids of Idea were taught the reason as follows:

‘One day, a being with extraordinary powers appeared in the Demon Realm. That being claimed that the Demon God, Hegis, had created seven beings—including themselves—who presided over seven emotions. These beings were called Apostles.’

The self-proclaimed Apostle stayed by the Demon King’s side for a short time before departing. Among the many pieces of information shared during that period was the fact that other dimensions existed outside the Demon Realm. It was said that the reason the Demon King prioritized the conquest of the Heavenly Realm was due to the Apostle’s advice. Perhaps they whispered that the Heavenly Race would be easy to conquer because of their small stature.

“Which emotion did the Apostle who appeared back then preside over?” “I don’t know. That detail wasn’t passed down.” “And they never appeared again after that?” “No. If an Apostle had descended again, Idea would have been conquered long ago.”

Blan ruffled his hair, wearing a deep frown.

“Anyway, I didn’t know it was Hegis’s Apostle who created the System. Though, it is a structure that wouldn’t be possible without a divine touch…. Why would Hegis create a System for humans?” “It might not be an Apostle of Hegis. Since both Earth and Idea escaped the brink of destruction with the System’s help, it might be an Apostle of the Primary God, Elida.”

Jin Seongha, who had been listening quietly, spoke up. The fact that the two gods were actually the same deity was a truth only Ion knew for now.

“My subordinates might know something about the Apostles. They are old-timers who have lived much longer than I have.” “Try contacting them.” “Not inside the Holy See. Those bastards might backtrace the signal and discover our hideout. I’ll go out and make the call.” “Alright.”

It was unlikely the Holy See would eavesdrop on the communication of a visiting Hybrid Duke, but Blan, ever suspicious, left the room.

“Team Leader, what do you think? Was the creator of the System an Apostle of the Primary God or the Demon God?” “Well…”

He knew the answer, but he couldn’t say it. Since it was a topic he couldn’t expand upon, Ion shifted the subject.

“For now, I’m going to receive Il-on’s memories.” “Ah, right. I’ll stand guard.”

Ion sat on the edge of the bed. Jin Seongha stood by the door.

Puru-puru?

“Damion, sleeping now? Already sleeping?”

Puru and Baba, who had been occupying the bed, rolled over and climbed onto Ion’s lap.

“I’m not sleeping yet. Go play some more.” “Okay!”

Purung.

The two of them tumbled back onto the bed, playing and kicking up dust. Ion watched them warmly before taking out the ring. Just as he was about to slide it onto his finger.

Beep-beep.

The communication orb on the nightstand lit up. It was the item connected to Earth. As Jin Seongha infused it with mana, a holographic window snapped open.

• Hello, Hunter Jin Seongha. Hello, Ion.

Inside the translucent hologram, Dam Daon stood with a weary face.

“It must be night there as well. Is something wrong?”

• Nothing is wrong. It’s just that I am exhausted.

It didn’t seem like he called for a status report. He simply needed someone to vent to.

“Hmm?”

• Earthlings just won’t listen. I told them that an SS-class dungeon is about to appear and we must unite as one, but they are only obsessed with how their own nations can take more byproducts from the SS-class dungeon, or how to secure a successful position in trade with Idea. It’s infuriating.

Jin Seongha frowned slightly at Daon’s report.

“That is unfortunate. National boundaries will become meaningless soon.”

• Earth has been divided for too long. Unlike Idea….

Daon lamented his situation. The frequent terror attacks by System Age. The excessive, unhealthy interest in the demonic humans who crossed over with Guild Leader On-il. Several countries refusing to share items and byproducts even though an SS-class dungeon was imminent.

He added that Lee Do-jin was still keeping his mouth shut. Haidian, the only one who provided emotional comfort, was too busy with diplomatic activities alongside Sarah to even see his face.

• I… couldn’t hold it in any longer, so I called. “I see… What can we do for you?”

• Hunter Jin Seongha. Please stand so your face shows clearly on the screen.

In the hologram, Dam Daon stared at Jin Seongha with bloodshot eyes.

“Um, alright….”

Jin Seongha pulled up a chair, sat down quietly, and gave a refined, beaming smile. The gloom and fatigue on Daon’s face gradually began to fade.

• Where did Blan go? “Unfortunately, he stepped out. Shall I call him?”

• No. No need to go that far. Instead, please show me Lord Baba’s face.

Ever since they sent him a photo of Baba’s human form, Daon had been calling him “Lord Baba.”

“Baba, did you hear? Could you take your human form for Assistant Dam, who is struggling alone on Earth?” “Gyu-ung.”

Baba folded his wings.

“No. If I take human form, Damion gets shy. He gets scared. Then I am sad.”

• Then let’s send Ion out of the room for a moment. “I’m fine. I need to get used to that form anyway, so do it now.” “Are you really okay? You mustn’t avoid me. I will be hurt.” “I won’t.”

Only after confirming Ion’s promise several times did Baba—poof!—transform into his human form. A noble and elegant young lord, who looked like someone one should immediately kneel before, gazed at Ion. Ion broke into a cold sweat but did not avoid the gaze. Seeing this, the nobleman sat next to Jin Seongha, seemingly relieved.

• Ah… yes… this is it. In this disillusioned world, such faces must exist for me to feel that working for the world is worthwhile….

Daon recovered his spirits while feasting his eyes on the faces of Jin Seongha and Baba.

• Oh? Daon-noona! What’s that? Is that the Idea communication orb? Are you talking to Ion?

• Is the press conference over already?

• Yeah, just finished. Is that Ion? Hey, Ion! Isn’t it a bit much not to even say hi to me? Are you neglecting me just because I’m a caught fish?! You have a communicator. Call meeeee!

The communication cut off simultaneously with Hong In-soo’s shouting. As soon as Daon’s face vanished, Ion spoke.

“Baba, come back now.” “Understood.”

The bat flew into Ion’s arms. Ion rubbed the bat’s tiny head with his finger.

“Did Assistant Dam really call just to see our faces? I’m worried she couldn’t say what she needed to because of Hunter Hong In-soo.” “Don’t worry about that. She really did call just to see your faces. Back in the day, whenever Dam Daon’s depression got bad, she would go just to look at the Teacher’s face and yours.” “I heard about that… but it wasn’t just once?”

At Jin Seongha’s murmur, Ion nodded.

“Probably more than ten times.” “Did the Team Leader ever come to see me too?” “I went occasionally. Though my purpose wasn’t just ‘looking at your face’ like Dam Daon.”

Unlike Ion, who spoke without much thought, Jin Seongha’s expression turned rigid.

“I wish I had known you back then.” “What would have been so good about knowing me early?” “If I had paid more attention to my surroundings… I might have discovered at least one child who needed help.”

The atmosphere grew suddenly dark. Jin Seongha spoke as if he had failed to save an abused child due to his own indifference. Ion found this situation extremely uncomfortable.

He knew Jin Seongha pitied him. In reality, Ion didn’t think his past was something to be pitied. Other orphans aside, Ion was in a position where he could manage because he had “Magic, for starters.” However, since he couldn’t exactly say, “If you want to pity someone, pity other orphans,” Ion changed the subject.

“I’m going to put the ring on now.” “Right.”

As he put on the ring Il-on had given him, it shrunk to fit his finger size. Dizziness washed over him, and Ion closed his eyes.

Receiving Dam Il-on’s knowledge was a strange sensation. It felt like watching someone read a book from right behind their shoulder. The Heavenly Realm was a world completely different from what Ion had imagined.

‘So the world was set up like that. I guess there won’t be names like Lucifer or Michael.’

The time it took to inherit the memories was short. The ring, having exhausted its effect, vanished. The vertigo was worse than expected. His head was thumping, so he pressed his temples firmly as he opened his eyes—but before he did, something cool touched his cheek.

Ion slowly opened his eyes. The noble young lord was personally holding a Sansevieria leaf against Ion’s face.

“Baba… why are you at it again?”

Where did the small, cute bat go, and why was he in this lofty nobleman form again!

“Jin Seongha said he had something to check and told me to take this form. Damion, are you afraid of me?” “No… I’m not afraid.” “Your current expression is one of being uncomfortable. If you are truly not afraid, prove it by petting me.” “You don’t trust me?” “I don’t. It will be a simple matter if you just pet me.”

The nobleman lowered his head slightly. Did he think I couldn’t do it?

Ion reached out toward the man’s ebony-long hair. This is Baba, this is Baba. He repeated it internally, but…

“…….”

In the end, he couldn’t bring himself to pet him. The nobleman’s face grew cold. Across from them, Jin Seongha let out a smirk.

“Ha, this is truly funny. Are you really scared of Lord Baba?”

Blan, who had returned at some point, asked as if it were bizarre. The thought of three tall men in a relatively small room all staring only at him gave him goosebumps.

“It’s not that I’m scared. I’m just a very tiny bit unfamiliar. I’m naturally very shy with strangers.” “Listen to this ‘shy’ nonsense. You’re the guy who had me tied up and unable to budge since our first meeting.” “That’s because you attacked first. What did your subordinates say about the Apostles?” “It didn’t deviate much from the information I already knew. They said they’d look into it and let me know.” “I am disappointed, Damion…. But I understand. I will not force you.”

The nobleman sat down at the edge of the bed, away from him.

Pururu-ng!

Puru flew to the nobleman, touching his face with its tail to comfort him. It seemed Puru had already opened its heart.

“Hunter Jin Seongha, why did you tell Baba to take this form? What were you trying to check?” “Because of the gazes. How were the memories? Was there any useful information about the Heavenly Realm?” “Yes, but more importantly, what do you mean by ‘gazes’?” “Hey, can you feel a gaze right now? I don’t feel a thing, but Jin Seongha says he feels the gazes of Apostles right now.”

At Blan’s words, Ion’s eyes widened. Not the gaze of an Apostle. The gazes of Apostles.

He had clearly said “Apostles” (plural).

“A while ago, when Baba took human form, a single gaze clung to him tenaciously before disappearing. But just now, when Baba became human, I felt two gazes. I told him to take human form to confirm it, and…” “…….” “Right now… I feel gazes coming from exactly three directions.”

That meant the number of Apostles watching this location had increased from one to two, and finally to three.

Ion recalled what happened on the Lidibio. The sight of the monster leaders increasing from one to three, and three to five, just to see Baba. The increasing gazes of these Apostles felt like an extension of that event.

‘In the end, even the Hybrid Duke descended.’

Then what would descend at the end of these Apostles’ gazes? A chill ran down his spine.

“Why are the Apostles… interested in Baba?” “I’m curious about that too, but we won’t know unless we ask them directly.”

Since they didn’t know the meaning of the gazes, they had to be on guard—but were Apostles even beings you could be on guard against?

The beings who created the System. The seven absolute entities serving God. If a vast, powerful force that could never be defied intended to harm Baba…

‘How do I stop it? Is it even something that can be stopped?’

Ion bit his lip. Then, the nobleman spoke softly. In a tone so monotonous it felt serene.

“Do not worry, Damion. These gazes have no intention of harming me at all.”