Ubermensch – Chapter 166

Chapter 166

‘Did the Destroyer change his strategy?’

Mason frowned. Until now, the Destroyer’s strategy had been all about destruction. It was a tidal wave of ruin, as if he was certain there would be no one to oppose him.

But followers and a cult?

‘Well, I guess his divinity as an evil god would be top-notch…’

It’s just a matter of whether you know about the Destroyer or not. Those who knew about the Destroyer all feared and hated him. The malice and fear they harbored would grant the Destroyer transcendental divine power.

He simply hadn’t needed to utilize it until now.

When it came to pure physical destructive power, there was nothing as efficient as the scientific civilization of the 28th century.

But what if he actively utilized followers and faith?

‘This could become a headache…’

Mason asked Nick.

“Can you contact the Yog-Sothoth cult?”

“Direct contact is impossible, but we might be able to meet them through the Cthulhu cult.”

“The Cthulhu cult?”

“Yes. It’s the most prosperous cult besides the Yog-Sothoth cult.”

The supreme deity in the myth created by Lovecraft was Azathoth, but the most famous god was Cthulhu. It wasn’t strange that it would be the most major cult besides the Destroyer’s own.

“Good. Then try contacting them.”

“Um, but there’s a bit of a problem.”

“What is it?”

“They might make me do evil things to prove my identity.”

Mason thought for a moment and nodded.

“All sins committed while following my orders will be absolved.”

After solemnly declaring this, Mason said to Nick.

“That doesn’t mean you should go looking for bad things to do. You can do it only when it’s unavoidable. Got it?”

“Yes, Guardian Deity.”

“Good.”

Mason looked back at Randolph Carter.

“Let’s go, Randolph.”

“Call me Randy. We don’t need to be so formal between us, do we?”

“…Hey, shouldn’t I be the one telling you to be casual?”

“Should I be uncomfortable then?”

“No. Forget it.”

Randy shrugged.

“By the way, are you really an archmage?”

“Uh… this is the first time I’ve met another mage, so I didn’t know, but I guess so?”

“First time meeting another mage? Then where did you learn your magic?”

“Daily Wizard and the Wizard Gallery.”

“The internet?”

“Yes.”

“…You’re saying magic books are circulating on the internet?”

“I thought someone uploaded fake materials as a joke, but when I tried it, the magic worked.”

“It’s the end of the world…”

Mason shook his head.

Should he be surprised that magic books were circulating on the internet, or that someone became an archmage capable of summoning a god using them?

‘If what Randy says is true, doesn’t it mean that magic books capable of making someone an archmage are circulating indiscriminately on the internet?’

It was a moment that made him uneasy in many ways.

“Let’s go. Let’s rest until Nick contacts us.”

“No. Is this the time for us to rest?”

“Then what?”

“We have to go save Maisy-chan!”

Mason made an annoyed expression.

Thinking about the Destroyer’s plot was already a headache, and now he had to help a hikikomori conspiracy theorist with his stalking?

“…Sigh.”

Mason sighed.

‘It might be better to just get it over with quickly.’

Mason looked at Randy.

“Alright. Then can you contact Maisy a━…”

“Chan! Maisy-chan!”

“…Can you let it slide?”

“Would you be happy if someone called you Oztalon? Show some respect.”

“You should show me some respect too…”

Mason grumbled.

“Anyway, you have to give me some clues to work with. I don’t know her face or her real name, so what am I supposed to do? Do you have any contact information or know any people around her?”

“How would I know that?”

“…”

Mason crossed his arms.

“Find a clue or just shut up. Choose one.”

“…There’s no other way. In this situation, I have no choice but to use my last resort.”

“Last resort?”

Randy made a solemn expression.

“We’re going to the Virtual Idol Gallery.”

“Virtual Idol Gallery…?!”

Mason tilted his head.

“What’s that?”

“It’s a den of hyena-like stalkers who exist to expose and dig up information on virtual idols. Normally, I wouldn’t enter such a sewer-like place, but… for Maisy-chan, I’ll even defile myself.”

“Aren’t you a stalker too…”

Randy, with a solemn expression, took out his smartphone and started searching.

He continued searching with a pained expression, and finally, he found something.

“Ah, why did I forget about this!”

“What is it?”

“Choco hobbang! She liked the Choco hobbang from Chaofan!”

“What is that…?”

“It’s a steamed bun with chocolate jam filling. They only sell it at one place. That means…”

“She’s probably living nearby?”

“Yes. At least within delivery distance.”

Mason headed to the store called Chaofan.

“…Hmm?”

At that moment, Mason felt a subtle energy. It wasn’t an evil energy, but it was strangely bothersome.

“Hey, wait a minute. I think I found something.”

“Is this the time to fight the Destroyer? There are many gods to stop the Destroyer, but I’m the only one who can save Maisy-chan!”

“…”

Mason ignored Randy and continued walking.

“Uh uh? God! Don’t ignore your follower!”

Randy had no choice but to follow Mason.

The place Mason arrived at was a luxury mansion.

He stood in front of a house and rang the doorbell.

“Who is it?”

The person who came out from inside was a beautiful woman with a fresh and healthy image. Even Mason, accustomed to Yekaterina’s elegance and Seo Yeonhee’s femme fatale charm, momentarily blinked in surprise at her beauty.

The woman, with big eyes and a tall stature, tilted her head as she looked at Mason.

“Who are you and what’s your business?”

“Uh… well…”

How could he say he came here because he felt a strange energy without sounding suspicious?

Ignoring Mason who was lost in thought, Randy spoke up.

“This is the Guardian Deity, Oztalon, and he came here because he felt a strange energy.”

“…”

“Why? It’s true, isn’t it?”

Mason sighed.

However, the woman’s reaction was unexpected.

She opened the door wide and said,

“Really? Come in.”

“…You believe that?”

“I wouldn’t have believed it a few days ago… but I do now.”

Since the woman readily invited them in, Mason entered the house.

“Hmm?”

A barrier. A barrier to exclude uninvited intruders.

It didn’t get destroyed because it didn’t resist Mason, but it was definitely a magical barrier.

“Hmm…”

Mason made an intrigued expression.

‘Is this woman a mage too?’

It didn’t seem like it.

But it was clear that she was at least connected to gods and mages.

At that moment, Randy seemed surprised by something else.

“…!”

He had discovered equipment used for motion capture and VR broadcasting.

When Randy looked at the broadcasting equipment with a strange gaze, the woman made an uneasy expression.

Randy cautiously spoke up.

“Excuse me… but do you do internet broadcasting?”

“Oh, no, I don’t?”

“Do you like Choco hobbang…?”

“I, I don’t like Chaofan.”

“How did you know it was called Chaofan?”

Randy’s sinister pressure began to suffocate the woman.

“That T-shirt… I think it’s merchandise…”

“I, I bought it! I’m a fan of Maisy-chan!”

“I didn’t say the name Maisy-chan…!”

Unable to withstand the sinister but intense pressure, the woman eventually gave up and confessed everything.

“Alright, I’m Maisy-chan. Are you happy now?”

However, Randy burst into anger.

“You liar! You said you were small because you were 155cm tall!”

The woman had a tall and slender model physique. She looked well over 170cm, let alone 155cm.

“I, I’m sorry…”

“Give her back! Give me back my Maisy-chan!”

Randy was truly angry. He whimpered,

“Maisy-chan… where did my Maisy-chan go… where did the shy but generous tsundere shorty Maisy-chan go, and this amazingly beautiful busty woman appear…”

Mason didn’t want to get involved. He didn’t want to get involved, but…

“…Isn’t it a good thing that she’s more beautiful than you knew?”

“It’s not just about being beautiful! She was deceiving us!”

The woman said apologetically,

“I’m sorry… I’m sorry I’m a tall, beautiful college student… All the men in real life only looked at my body and hit on me, so I had no choice but to lie…”

“Does that matter? You lied to your viewers! There are many beautiful women in the world, but there’s only one Maisy-chan!”

“I’m sorry…”

Mason thought,

‘This is a mess.’

Where should he start? No, is approaching even the right thing to do?

As Mason was confused, someone appeared.

“Excuse me, but allow me to introduce myself. I am Izzet, apostle of the goddess Bastet. I didn’t know the noble Oztalon would descend in person.”

“You know me?”

“The goddess Bastet is also impressed by the valiant efforts of the Guardian Deity, Oztalon. I too have been admiring Oztalon’s nobility.”

Izzet was a beautiful woman in a tight-fitting bodysuit. An exotic beauty with brown skin and black hair, she had an Egyptian air about her and was giving Mason an impeccably polite bow.

“…”

Mason stared at Randy.

“Why?”

“Nothing… never mind…”

Mason looked at Izzet.

“Are you a beastman?”

“You knew?”

Startled, Izzet touched her head. Then, cat ears hidden within her hair popped out.

“Yes, I’m a cat person.”

Randy gasped and staggered.

“A cat-eared beauty… and a real one…!”

He looked at Mason.

“Can I convert to the Bastet religion?”

Mason made a sullen expression.

“Didn’t you like short girls?”

“No, I like cat-eared beauties more.”

Maisy-chan also nodded as if to say it couldn’t be helped.

“Cat ears are irresistible…”

Mason felt confused.

‘Am I the weird one?’

Normal and abnormal were getting mixed up. Anyway, Mason looked at Izzet and asked,

“Why did you come here?”

“She is a follower of the goddess Bastet. Recently, there was intelligence that cultists were targeting her, so she sent me.”

“Cultists?”

Was it the Destroyer’s plot?

Mason became lost in thought.

If the Bastet cult sent an apostle to protect her, it was safe to assume that the threat was real.

“Why are they targeting her?”

“She’s a successful influencer. She has over a million YouTube subscribers. Combined with the support of her passionate fanbase, she could harvest quite a lot of faith.”

“Corrupt her and increase the Destroyer’s influence, is that what you’re saying?”

“Yes, I believe that’s the plan.”

Mason nodded.

“Miss, what’s your name?… Your real name, I mean.”

“Yooha. Choi Yooha. I’m studying music at Berklee College of Music.”

“Yooha? Choi Yooha?”

“Yes. Do you know me?”

“I did.”

She was a legendary singer-songwriter whose name was known even in the 28th century. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say she dominated an era.

Mason made a subtle expression.

“…Then why are you a virtual YouTuber instead of debuting as a singer?”

“I was lonely and thought I’d practice my English… but people really liked it when I cursed and insulted them. They call it ‘rewards’ in their industry or something? I got addicted to the fun of giving rewards.”

She didn’t seem normal either.

“Stop giving rewards and just debut…”

Mason sighed and looked at Izzet.

“I was also investigating the cultists in my own way. Shall we cooperate?”

“It would be an infinite honor, noble Oztalon.”

Bowing deeply, Izzet said in a low voice,

“If you touch my tail, I’ll break your wrist.”

Randy flinched and pulled his hand back.

Mason sighed at the sight of his follower, who was embarrassing wherever he went.

“Randy… don’t you really want to convert?”

Izzet said flatly,

“We wouldn’t accept him anyway.”