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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
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Chapter 21: Shooting Star (5)
At the heart of UnderHeaven, Necro Plaza shone even more brilliantly today than usual.
Among its four skyscrapers, the headquarters of Yama Corporation blazed particularly bright with neon light.
Today was the long-awaited day for commanders of the battlefield and necromancers of the city alike.
The day when Yama Tech's new model of necroshell would finally be unveiled.
–Beyond death, into the future.
After passing through the lobby, where Yama’s grand slogan was emblazoned, and descending underground, one would find the building’s largest hall.
–Convention Hall.
A blaze of holographic flames wrapped around the stage, while the audience seating overlooked it from above.
Murmur— Murmur—
The hall was packed to the brim.
Necromancers and reapers alike had come, crowding in to catch a glimpse of the new product.
Many commanders, clad in black uniforms, were present too—though their faint flickering suggested they were holograms rather than physical bodies.
“Hey, did you hear? Commander Baek reclaimed Sector 17 this time.”
“Of course I heard. Then it’s basically certain he’ll be the next Supreme Commander, right?”
“I don't know… You think Masamune will just stand by?”
“And if he doesn’t? He'd need some outrageous new weapon to overturn this.”
The low chatter of the necromancers filled the air.
Suddenly, a deep, clear bell tolled.
DONG— DONG—
At the sound that signaled the beginning, the crowd fell silent and turned their attention to the stage.
As the bell’s echo faded, a massive hologram burst up from beneath the stage.
A white tiger, holding a long smoking pipe in its mouth—the symbol and logo of Yama Corporation.
–Grrrrr...
The tiger, its eyes flashing menacingly, prowled around the stage in a circle.
Then, opening its jaws wide, it let out a thunderous roar.
ROOAARR!
At that moment, black clouds descended from the ceiling.
The moment they touched the stage, they shifted form—into a tall woman.
A black turtleneck under a crimson suit, sharp eyes behind gold-rimmed glasses.
This was Baek Ran, CEO of Yama Corporation.
WAAAAAH—!
The hall erupted in cheers.
From commanders to reapers, all stood united in their raucous welcome of Baek Ran.
In the midst of the endless cheers, Baek Ran fully opened the fan she was holding and parted her red lips.
“Enough.”
The hall fell silent in an instant.
As she snapped her fan closed, the holographic tiger vanished instantly, and six spotlights converged to illuminate her alone.
“We’re all busy people, so let’s not waste time. Let’s get started. I am Baek Ran of Yama Corporation.”
She spoke as she walked forward.
Click. Clack— Click. Clack—
The stage rotated slowly beneath her steps, allowing her to keep walking in place.
“It's been decades since my uncle first unveiled the original necroshell. Yet your demands have never changed. You want stronger, more efficient necroshells. You want them beautiful, lightweight. And on top of that, durable enough never to break.”
Baek Ran swept her sharp gaze across the crowd.
“Thus, my worries have always run deep. How could I satisfy these greedy necromancers? How could I satisfy the reapers burdened by their demands? Was it even possible at all?”
Snapping open her fan again, she continued.
“Turns out, it was possible. Who are we, after all? We are Yama—the leaders in necroshell manufacturing! And so, we finally did it. A necroshell that is lighter. More convenient. More efficient. More durable. One that doesn’t even require replacing your current artificial bodies.”
Baek Ran smirked.
"Of course, I haven't forgotten the promise to bring in Reapers from the magic and swordsmanship sectors as customers as well."
A murmur rippled through the audience.
Being able to continue using their existing prosthetic bodies, while also satisfying mages and swordsmen—who usually showed more passion for armaments than for necroshells? This was nothing short of revolutionary.
"Now then."
With a powerful sweep of her fan, Baek Ran spoke in a firm voice.
"Introducing Yama Tech's new product for 2088."
Holographic flames erupted around the stage.
From within the inferno, Reapers clad in black robes and wearing black gats descended and landed atop the platform.
[Gat — a Korean traditional hat worn by men along with hanbok (Korean traditional clothing) during the Joseon period. Need more info. Google it! 🗿]
As they threw off their robes, their torsos, covered in mechanical prosthetics, were revealed.
< Presenting the Aura Mk-1
At Baek Ran’s words, the Reapers extended their right arms forward.
From their various mechanical hands, the same steel cable shot out and coiled into their grasp.
Under the lights, the cables shimmered with a dark crimson glow.
"Yama’s Aura Mk-1 is the first-ever modular necroshell—not only strengthening your existing prosthetic bodies, but also functioning independently as weaponized equipment. A true hybrid..."
Baek Ran stopped speaking and stared into the air.
Her gaze wavered violently.
"I... I must pause the presentation due to an urgent call. Everyone, please remain seated and quiet."
Transforming into a cloud, Baek Ran disappeared offstage.
Murmur— Murmur—
Confusion swept the audience.
The Iron-blooded Empress—the infamous Baek Ran, who was said to bleed black mana instead of blood—showing panic? And in the middle of a product unveiling, no less?
"Something must have happened to the company..."
"Unless something's happened to Commander Baek himself..."
"Should we start pulling our stocks now...?"
As misunderstandings piled up layer upon layer, Baek Ran’s voice suddenly boomed from the hall speakers hanging from the ceiling.
–My sweet little nephew~ You called your auntie first~ I'm so happyyy~ Huh? Work? Nooo~ Auntie’s not busy at all~
It was unmistakably Baek Ran's voice—but her tone was completely different, like a mother babbling in a baby voice to a toddler.
–Whaaat? You need a favor? Tell me, tell meee. Want some pocket money?
The hall fell into stunned silence.
Everyone stared at the stage in disbelief.
The Reapers in black hats stood frozen, their faces turning pale.
"P-President!"
One of them dashed toward the spot where Baek Ran had vanished.
But Baek Ran’s voice continued to echo through the speakers.
–Outside? Whyyy! It's dangerousss! No, nooo~ It's not that you can't~ If my sweetie asks, of course I'll say yes~ Hold on, hold on, don't hang up yet, okay? ...What?! Can't you see I'm on the phone right now?!
–Ma'am, you're still connected to the microphone.
After a moment of stunned silence, Baek Ran's low voice rang out.
–...I'm so fucked.
＊ ＊ ＊
The inside of the old hovercar was loud with the sound of the engine.
It shook violently at times, suggesting it was a vehicle past its prime.
Creak—
Edelin Nana sat leaning against the cargo compartment wall, chewing on a snack.
The cold metal of her prosthetic hand was the only thing moving as she reached into the snack bag.
“Oh my….”
Nana’s eyes widened as she stared at the holographic screen floating in midair.
She covered her mouth with her prosthetic hand, showing a look of interest.
Baek Ho, who had just returned from the restroom, sat across from Nana.
At his appearance, the Liberation Army soldiers, who had been sneaking glances at Nana, quickly turned their heads away.
“Damn, this driver really sucks.”
Baek Ho scowled, and Nana offered him the snack.
“Want some?”
“No thanks. I don’t eat sweet stuff.”
“It’s salty-sweet though… Oh, have you seen this news, D?”
Nana sent the article to Baek Ho through her prosthetic hand’s display.
[–Iron-blooded Empress ‘Baek Ran’. Turns out she’s a fool for her nephew?]
It was an article about the incident at the new product unveiling.
“Unbelievable.”
…And she said she wasn’t busy at all.
Baek Ho chuckled softly, and Nana resumed speaking.
“This human side of her... The comments are blowing up. Everyone's wondering who that nephew is. Is he the genius engineer, the oldest son? Or is he the hidden successor, the second son, that the Baek family’s been keeping under wraps? A lot of rumors are flying around.”
“I see.”
“Also, Yama Tech’s stock has been soaring. People are saying if such a kind-hearted necromancer made the necroshell, it’s safe to trust. One stock site even says that the nephew is a great figure, and the city should give him an award.”
“Sounds nice.”
“There’s even an audio clip from the scene. Want to listen?”
“No thanks. Why are you so chatty suddenly?”
“Ah….”
Instead of a snack, Nana chewed her plump lips, looking a little flustered as she continued.
“I’m a little nervous… No, actually, a lot nervous…”
“About what? Going outside?”
“Yes… D, have you ever been out?”
“A few times when I was younger. I even went out during officer academy training.”
“Ah… I see... But is going outside really this easy?”
When Nana had first heard they were sneaking out of the city, she had imagined something like the female protagonist in a spy movie.
But when she actually experienced it, it was nothing like that.
The tension peaked when she descended into the building's basement, with her face concealed.
After that, she boarded a car driven by a man wearing an animal mask, switched to a hovercar, and soon they were out of the city.
A sense of relief washed over her, but there was also an odd feeling of something slipping away.
"There's no way it would be this simple. Only I can pull this off."
"Ah... you're amazing..."
"I know."
"Haha... but who are those people...?"
Nana pointed ahead with the hand holding her snacks.
A man in a Pig Mask and another in a Chicken Mask glanced nervously, then suddenly jumped in surprise.
"Don't mind them. They're just people trying to make a living."
"They all seem... scared."
"Who knows? Maybe they did something bad."
At Baek Ho's voice, Pig Mask started to hiccup.
He remembered how badly Elise chewed him out for using a stun gun on Baek Ho.
Although he didn't know then it was Baek Ho, but he'd heard he was a VIP among VIPs.
He was probably guessing he was the son of an elite family helping the Liberation Army.
Pig Mask quietly stood up.
"I should go help with the driving... haha..."
He stopped as if he remembered something, clapping his hands together.
He pulled out a titanium portable whiskey flask from a bag tucked in the corner of the cargo hold.
"Sir..."
He approached Baek Ho and handed it over.
"A little gift... heh..."
"What’s this out of nowhere?"
"It’s a small token of compensation for my previous mistake..."
"How humble."
As Baek Ho accepted it, Pig Mask, feeling the moment was right, began to explain.
"This hip flask is engraved with water-based magic inside, so it doesn’t need cleaning. Hehe."
"And what’s so great about that? What's inside?"
When Baek Ho shook the flask, Pig Mask eagerly continued with excitement in his voice.
"It’s a handcrafted Agony Liquor! It’s 50-proof vodka mixed with monkshood flower root, Mortis leaf, dried Silkroller organs, and a drop of Serprax venom, all aged together."
"Ohh..."
Baek Ho’s eyes widened.
It was a deadly concoction mixed with poisonous substances, just like the strong liquors his family often drank.
He opened the cap and sniffed it.
A frown creased his forehead, but for a different reason this time.
"Ugh... this is lethal."
"Heh, then are you forgiving me for my previous mistake?"
"I should. I’ve already forgotten about it."
Baek Ho sniffed the drink again, gesturing to Pig Mask to leave.
Left alone, Nana asked him.
"Uh… I’m not too sure, but isn't the monkshood flower root dangerous?"
"It is. But it’s perfect for filling up dark mana."
"Ah..."
Noticing that he seemed to be enjoying himself, Nana decided to bring up a different topic.
"When will that person wake up?"
Nana pointed to the corner of the cargo hold.
There, Frank was sound asleep, resting on a cart used for warehouse logistics.
He looked peaceful and happy, as if he was dreaming of a pleasant view.
"I don’t know. Maybe it’s better if he doesn’t wake up."
"Why...?"
"You’ll know when you see him later."
Baek Ho opened the hip flask again, dipped his tongue in, and sighed contentedly.
"Ah..."
With a satisfied look, he tucked it into his chest.
He closed his eyes and crossed his arms, planning to take a nap until they arrived, enjoying this good feeling.
"Are you going to sleep...?"
"Yeah, I’m not undead, so I need to sleep occasionally."
"That must be uncomfortable..."
An undead worried about a necromancer?
There was something a bit naive about that.
“Uh...”
“If you need someone to talk to, why not try talking to him?”
Baek Ho gestured toward Chicken Mask with his eyes closed.
His head shook vigorously up and down.
Hurry! Talk to me!
It was almost as if it was screaming with its whole body.
“Ah... I...”
Nana bent forward slightly, getting closer to Baek Ho.
She whispered quietly.
“I’m still uncomfortable talking to other people...”
“And I’m what, exactly?”
“It’s just... strangely comfortable...”
Nana’s mana sensitivity was notably higher than average.
Because of this, she found herself feeling comforted by the thick dark mana that Baek Ho emitted.
“What’s making you so tense? Just play around with your phone.”
“If I talk, it’s not as scary...”
“Then call someone. Don’t you have someone you want to say goodbye to?”
“My team... But what if they trace the call...”
“You worry too much. We’ve got EM shields here, right?”
Chicken Mask gave a thumbs-up at Baek Ho’s gaze.
“They’re experts in this field. Trust them.”
“Okay...”
Nana gulped nervously before calling the members.
The signal went through, but none of the three picked up.
Nana’s heart sank.
She felt bad that she hadn’t been able to say goodbye properly before running away.
Silently wiping her tears away, she left a message for each of them.
“Sniff...”
“......”
Baek Ho ignored her and closed his eyes.
Sleeping was more important.
“Sniff...”
“......”
“Ugh...”
“......”
“Sniff...”
“Alright, alright. I’ll say something.”
“It’s fine...”
“Enough. I’ll talk.”
“Thank you...”
But what should I say?
Then, the words his aunt had told him in the past came to mind.
The best way to talk to someone you feel awkward around is to ask them about themselves and show interest.
“So... Do you have a family?”
“No... I grew up in an orphanage...”
“Were you married?”
“Huh? Me? No way...”
“Do you have a boyfriend?”
“Not likely...”
“Then, friends?”
“No one except my team... I want to have friends...”
“......”
He wondered if he should just quit because there was nothing left to say.
Seeing Baek Ho lost in thought, Nana asked.
“What’s your name?”
“D.”
“Not your alias... your real name.”
“D.”
“D… What does it stand for?”
“Do Sohee.”
“…Who’s that?”
“My mother.”
“Ah… She must be quite beautiful.”
“She was.”
“Why do you say ‘was’? She will be sad to hear that.”
“She died when I was young, so she can’t hear it.”
“I-I’m… I’m sorry...”
“It’s fine.”
“......”
Baek Ho clicked his tongue inwardly.
This was because Nana’s expression had grown more somber than before.
Instead of reflecting on his own sharp attitude, he simply assumed Nana was just nervous.
“Chicken.”
At Baek Ho’s call, Chicken Mask, who had been shaking his head, suddenly jumped in surprise.
“Yes, yes! What can I do for you?”
“Have we reached the outside yet?”
“Yes! We’ve reached the upper skies of Paradise! If we fly for another thirty minutes, we will reach the requested location…”
“Enough. Let’s go out.”
“Eh?”
“Not you.”
Baek Ho motioned for Nana to follow with his chin.
“Come on. I’ll show you something cool.”
“Ah... okay...”
“Hey, Chicken. Do you have sunglasses?”
“Yes! I have them!”
Chicken Mask quickly pulled a pair of sunglasses from inside his coat and handed them over.
Baek Ho paused before putting them on himself.
He made a noise with his mouth and tossed them toward Nana.
“Wear them.”
“Uh... these? Why?”
“You’ll understand once you put them on.”
When Baek Ho and Nana opened the cargo door and stepped out, Pig Mask, who had been sitting in the cargo hold, jumped in surprise.
He attempted to run toward the driver’s seat, but Baek Ho called out to him.
“Hey, Pig.”
“Yes!”
“Roll up the window.”
“Understood!”
Pig Mask responded loudly before running toward the driver’s seat.
Baek Ho led Nana down a cargo hold filled with old machinery and tangled wires.
Beside them was a window covered by a partition, which soon slid upwards with a clunking sound.
Sunlight poured in.
"Wow…!"
Nana's eyes widened in awe.
She covered her mouth with both hands and moved closer to the window.
The vast blue sky and green fields stretched out before her.
Occasionally, cracked cement roads and rusted cars, tangled in vines, reflected the sunlight like jewels.
It was a breathtaking view of nature, something she could never see in UnderHeaven.
"This is crazy... it's nothing like the VO videos..."
Seeing the tears welling up in Nana's eyes, Baek Ho felt a sense of satisfaction.
Yeah, now I can finally get some rest.
He was about to sneak back into the cargo hold when Nana spoke up from behind.
"Then... where exactly is UnderHeaven located?"
"I’m not sure either. It’s said to be underground, underwater, or in the mountains... There’s only rumors. The only ones who truly know are the elder necromancers."
"I see... Then how did we get out?"
"An illegal private portal."
"Ah..."
Nana nodded, pressing her lips tightly together as she began to scan every corner of the landscape outside.
Just as Baek Ho was about to turn back toward the cargo hold, Nana's voice came again.
"Hey..."
"What now?"
Baek Ho clenched his fist and turned around.
"......"
He stared at Nana in silence for a moment.
Her blonde hair, almost silver in the sunlight, was gleaming.
Her hands, clasped together as if in prayer, reflected the light with a different sheen from the metal and flesh of her body.
She was beautiful and noble.
He hadn't noticed it in the city, but Nana had a mysterious radiance about her.
"Ugh."
He thought of the past—the saint of light from school.
He remembered the photo of her kneeling and praying in the middle of a battlefield, with magic and bullets flying all around her.
Her sharp nose, her pale skin...
There was a slight resemblance.
"Hey, D...?"
"What?"
Baek Ho shook off his thoughts and responded.
Nana pointed to a corner of the window.
"Something’s flying towards us..."
"...What?"
Baek Ho quickly pressed himself against the window and followed the tip of Nana’s finger.
A missile was flying toward them.
A big one at that.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
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