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The heart of Underheaven.
Necro Plaza looks especially dazzling today.
Among the four Babel Towers, Yeomra Corporation’s headquarters in particular was showering neon light.
Today was the day battlefield commanders and the city’s necromancers had been eagerly awaiting.
It was the day Yeomra Tech would unveil its new Necroshell.
- Beyond death, into the future.
Passing through the lobby emblazoned with Yeomra’s slogan and going down to the basement, the building’s largest space appeared.
Balseol Convention Hall.
Holographic flames enveloped the stage, and the audience seating overlooked it.
-Murmur murmur
The seats were packed with people.
Necromancers and Reapers had filled it to capacity to see the new product.
Many commanders in black uniforms attended as well, though they trembled faintly as if they were holograms rather than physical bodies.
“Did you hear? Commander Baek apparently even retook Sector 17 this time.”
“Of course I heard. So he’s definitely going to be the next supreme commander, right?”
“Well, do you think Masamune will sit still?”
“If he doesn’t, then he’ll need some bizarre new weapon to overturn things.”
Amid the noisy chatter of Necromancers.
A deep, clear gong sound rang out.
Dong— dong—
At the sound marking the start, people stopped talking and turned to the stage.
When the gong stopped, a massive holographic form sprang up from beneath the stage.
A white tiger with a long pipe in its mouth.
It was Yeomra Corporation’s logo and symbol.
-Grrr…
The tiger circled the stage, scattering a menacing glare.
Then it opened its mouth wide and roared.
-Khrooaaah!
At the same time, a black cloud descended from the ceiling.
When it touched the stage, it transformed into the shape of a tall woman.
A black turtleneck with a red suit.
Sharp eyes and gold-rimmed glasses.
Yeomra Corporation’s CEO, ‘Baek Ran.’
-Woooaaah!
A thunderous cheer erupted at Baek Ran’s arrival.
For the first time, commanders and Reapers alike united to greet Baek Ran.
Amid the unending cheers.
Baek Ran opened the fan in her hand and parted her red lips.
“Enough.”
The hall fell silent in an instant.
When Baek Ran closed the fan, the holographic tiger vanished and six lights shone on her.
“We’re all busy, so let’s not waste time. Allow me to formally introduce myself—I am Baek Ran of Yeomra.”
Baek Ran spoke as she walked forward.
Click-clack- click-clack-
With the sound of her heels, the stage spun so she appeared to walk in place.
“It’s been decades since my uncle unveiled the first Necroshell, yet your demands remain the same. You want stronger, more efficient Necroshells—beautifully designed yet lightweight. And they must be durable and fail-proof.”
Baek Ran scanned the audience with her sharp eyes.
“So I’ve always pondered deeply. How can we satisfy these greedy Necromancers? How can we please the Reapers who serve them? Is it even possible?”
She snapped open her fan and continued.
“It turns out it was possible. Who are we? Aren’t we Yeomra, the leader in Necroshell manufacturing? So we created it. Light. Convenient. Efficient. Sturdy. And furthermore, a Necroshell that doesn’t require replacing your previously used body.”
Baek Ran raised one corner of her mouth.
“And of course, we haven’t forgotten to court Reapers from the magic and blade disciplines as customers.”
A small murmur rippled through the audience.
You can keep your old body, and it even satisfies mages and swordsmen who prefer physical arms over Necroshells?
This was truly revolutionary.
“Then.”
Baek Ran waved her fan dramatically and spoke in a firm voice.
“Yeomra Tech’s 2088 new product.”
Holographic flames around the stage roared up high.
From the inferno, Reapers in black cloaks and black gat hats flew in and landed on stage.
They opened their cloaks to reveal torsos covered in mechanical bodies.
“Presenting the <Ora Mk-1.”
At Baek Ran’s words, the gat-wearing Reapers extended their right hands forward.
From different prosthetic arms, identical steel cables emerged and were grabbed in their hands.
In the lights they emitted a faint, dark crimson glow.
“Yeomra’s <Ora Mk-1 is the first hybrid Necroshell attachment that can not only enhance your existing body but also function as an independent weapon…”
Baek Ran stopped speaking and stared into the air.
Her gaze trembled fiercely.
“I— I must pause the presentation for an important call. Everyone, please sit quietly and wait.”
Baek Ran turned into a cloud and disappeared to the back of the stage.
-Murmur murmur
People were bewildered.
To see the iron-blooded empress Baek Ran—known to bleed black magic power instead of blood—appear flustered.
And at this crucial product reveal no less.
“Is something wrong at the company…?”
“Unless something’s happened to Commander Baek…”
“Shouldn’t we pull our stocks right now…?”
Misunderstandings piled up in the crowd.
Baek Ran’s voice thundered from the ceiling speakers.
-It’s my nephew~ Give auntie all the calls first~ I’m so good~ Huh? Work? No no~ Auntie’s not busy at all~
It was Baek Ran’s voice, but the tone was completely different.
It sounded like a mother cooing at a cute baby with a lisp.
-Hmm? A favor? What what. Tell auntie. Want some allowance?
The hall went silent.
Everyone looked up at the stage in disbelief.
The faces of the gat-wearing Reapers had gone pale.
“C-Chairwoman!”
One of them rushed toward where Baek Ran had vanished.
Regardless, Baek Ran’s voice continued to boom.
-Outside? Why! It’s dangerous! No~ It’s not that it’s impossible~ If our Ho asks, I do it~ Don’t hang up, okay? … What! Can’t you see I’m on a call!
-You are still connected to the microphone.
After a brief silence.
Baek Ran spoke low.
-…I’m screwed.
The old hovercar’s interior buzzed loudly with engine noise.
It shook violently at times, suggesting it was a vehicle nearing retirement.
Rattle-
Edeline Nana sat against the cargo hold wall, munching on snacks.
The thing riffling the snack bag was a cold lump of metal.
A cheap prosthetic hand she was temporarily wearing on her left.
“Oh my…”
Nana widened her eyes as she watched a holographic screen floating in the air.
She covered her mouth with the prosthetic and showed keen interest.
Baek Ho, who had returned from the restroom, sat opposite Nana.
At his arrival, the Liberation Army member who had been glancing at Nana snapped his head around.
“You drive like crap.”
When Baek Ho frowned, Nana offered him a snack.
“Want some?”
“No thanks. I don’t eat sweets.”
“This is sweet and salty… By the way, did D see this news?”
Nana used the cannon-like prosthetic to send the article to Baek Ho.
[-Iron-Blooded Empress ‘Baek Ran’. Turns out she’s a doting aunt?]
It was about the incident at the product launch.
“Good grief.”
She said she wasn’t busy at all.
Baek Ho snickered, and Nana resumed speaking.
“Such a human side… the comments are crazy. Everyone’s wondering who that nephew is. The genius engineer first child? Or the second who is being hidden by the Baek family as the next head? There’s so much speculation.”
“I see.”
“Yeomra Tech’s stock rose a lot too. People say if a kind Necromancer made that Necroshell, it’s safe to buy. One stock site even said the nephew is a benefactor and the city should give them an award.”
“Lucky them.”
“There’s on-site audio too, want to hear?”
“No thanks. Why are you suddenly so talkative?”
“Ah…”
Nana bit her plump lips instead of a snack and continued.
“I’m a little nervous… no, very nervous…”
“About what? Going outside?”
“Yes… Have you been outside, D…?”
“A few times as a kid. Even during academy practice.”
“Ah… I see… But was leaving the city really this simple?”
She had imagined a spy-movie heroine sneaking out of the city.
But in reality it was nothing like that.
The peak of tension was disguising her face and going down to a building basement.
After that she got into a car driven by a man wearing an animal mask, transferred to a hovercar, and they were out of the city in no time.
She felt relieved but also that something had fizzled out.
“It wouldn’t be simple. It was possible because of the state.”
“Ah… impressive…”
“I know.”
“Haha… But who are those people…?”
Nana pointed ahead with the hand holding the snack.
The Pig Mask and Chicken Mask glanced and then suddenly startled.
“Don’t worry about them. Just people trying to live their lives.”
“They all seem kind of scared.”
“Who knows. Maybe they made an irreversible mistake.”
At Baek Ho’s voice, Pig Mask began to hiccup.
He remembered how much Elise had admonished him after the electric shock episode.
She didn’t know it was Baek Ho, but she’d heard he was a guest among guests.
She guessed he might be the child of an elite Necromancer family supporting the Liberation Army.
Pig Mask quietly stood up.
“I should help with the driving… haha…”
He paused leaving the cargo hold, clapping his hands as if he remembered something.
He pulled a titanium hip flask from a bag in the corner of the cargo hold.
“Nec-Necromancer…”
He approached Baek Ho and offered it.
“A gift… haha…”
“What, all of a sudden?”
“Consider it a small compensation for my last mistake…”
“How paltry.”
When Baek Ho accepted, Pig Mask seized the chance to explain.
“This hip flask has a water magic sigil inside so you don’t need to clean it separately. Haha.”
“Big deal. What’s inside?”
Baek Ho shook the flask, and Pig Mask spoke excitedly.
“It’s a homemade Agony Drink! Fifty-degree vodka infused with helmet-lily root and Mortis leaves, dried Silkroller excrement, and a drop of Serphrax venom for aging.”
“Ooh…”
Baek Ho’s eyes widened.
It was the lethal liquor his family had favored, mixed with deadly poisons.
He opened the cap and inhaled the scent.
A furrow formed between his brows in a different sense than before.
“Ugh… this could kill.”
“Haha, then will you forgive my previous blunder?”
“Of course. I’ve already forgotten.”
Baek Ho sniffed and gestured for Pig Mask to leave.
Left alone, Nana asked him.
“Um… I don’t know much, but isn’t helmet-lily root dangerous?”
“Right, it’s perfect for filling with black magic power.”
“Ah…”
Seeing him pleased, she seized the moment to change the topic.
“When will that person wake up?”
Nana pointed to the corner of the cargo hold.
There, Frank was sleeping soundly in a warehouse cart.
He wore a peaceful, happy expression, as if dreaming an I_Vu dream.
“Hmm. Maybe it’s healthier if he doesn’t wake up at all.”
“Why… ?”
“You’ll see later.”
Baek Ho opened the hip flask and licked a bit.
“Krr…”
He tucked it into his chest with a satisfied look.
He closed his eyes and crossed his arms.
He planned to nap and keep this good feeling until they arrived.
“You’re going to sleep…?”
“Yeah, I’m not an Undead—I need to sleep in bits.”
“That must be inconvenient…”
An Undead worrying about a Necromancer.
He had something of a blunt side.
“Um…”
“If you need someone to talk to, why not talk to him?”
Baek Ho, eyes closed, pointed at Chicken Mask.
The chicken head bobbed vigorously up and down.
Hurry! Talk to me!
It was obvious from its whole posture.
“Ah… I…”
Nana leaned in close to Baek Ho.
She whispered softly.
“I’m still very uncomfortable talking to other people…”
“And what am I?”
“You feel strangely comfortable…”
Nana’s magic sensitivity was considerably above average.
That’s why she felt comforted by the dense black magic power Baek Ho gave off.
“What’s with all the nervousness. Just play with the Smartbone.”
“Talking makes it less scary…”
“Then call someone else. Anyone you want to leave a final greeting to?”
“My members… but what if the comms are traced…?”
“You worry about everything. This has an EM shield, right?”
Chicken Mask gave a thumbs-up at Baek Ho’s gaze.
“They’re the experts in this sort of thing. Trust them and do it.”
“Okay…”
Nana swallowed and called her members.
The call connected, but none of the three answered.
Sadness welled up in Nana.
She felt guilty for fleeing without a final goodbye.
Silently wiping her tears, she left messages one by one.
“Sob…”
“……“
Baek Ho ignored it and closed his eyes.
Sleeping was more important.
“Sob…”
“……“
“Sniff…”
“……“
“Snuffle…”
“Okay, do it. Say something. What’s up?”
“I’m fine…”
“Alright. I’ll speak.”
“Thank you…”
But what should he say?
He remembered something his aunt had once said.
The best way to talk with someone awkward is to show interest by asking about them.
“Um. Do you have family?”
“No… I was from an orphanage…”
“Are you married?”
“What? Me? No way…”
“A boyfriend?”
“There’s no way…”
“Then friends?”
“No one besides my members… I want friends…”
“……“
With nothing else to say, should he drop it?
Watching him hesitate, Nana asked.
“What’s your name?”
“D.”
“Not a pseudonym…”
“D.”
“What does D stand for?”
“Do Sohee.”
“…Who is that?“
“Mother.”
“Ah… Your mother must have been a stunning beauty.”
“She was.”
“Why past tense? Your mother would be upset if she heard that.”
“She died when I was young, so she can’t hear.”
“I-I’m sorry… I didn’t know she had passed…”
“It’s fine.”
“……“
Baek Ho clicked his tongue inwardly.
Because Nana’s expression had grown darker than before.
He didn’t consider his own brusque manner and blamed it on Nana’s nervousness.
“Chicken.”
Chicken Mask, who had been shaking its head, was startled.
“Yes, sir! Speak!”
“Are we outside now?”
“Yes! We have reached the skies above Paradise! In about thirty more minutes of flight we’ll arrive at the requested location…”
“Enough. Let’s go out.”
“Huh?”
“Not you.”
Baek Ho gestured with his chin toward Nana.
“Follow me. I’ll show you something nice.”
“Ah… yes…”
“Hey Chicken. Got sunglasses?”
“Yes! I do!”
Chicken Mask took sunglasses from its pocket and handed them over.
Baek Ho hesitated as if about to put them on.
He clicked his tongue and tossed them to Nana.
“Wear them.”
“These…? Why?”
“You’ll see if you put them on.”
When Baek Ho and Nana opened the cargo door and stepped out, Pig Mask sitting in the corridor was startled.
As Pig Mask tried to flee toward the driver’s seat, Baek Ho called out to him.
“Hey Pig.”
“Yes!”
“Roll up the window.”
“Understood!”
Pig Mask saluted loudly then ran to the driver’s seat.
Baek Ho took Nana and stood in a corridor full of old machinery and wires.
Beside them was a window covered by a shutter, which clanked and rose.
Sunlight poured in.
“O- wow!”
Nana’s big eyes widened.
She covered her mouth with both hands and moved toward the window.
A vast blue sky and green fields stretched out.
Cracked cement roads and rusted cars entangled in vines sparkled like gems reflecting the sunlight.
It was a natural spectacle you couldn’t see in Underheaven.
“This is insane… No comparison to VO footage…”
Baek Ho felt satisfied seeing Nana’s teary eyes.
Yes, now he could nap.
Just as he was about to slip back into the cargo hold, Nana spoke from behind.
“Then where is Underheaven located…?”
“I don’t know either. Under the ground. Under the sea. In the mountains. There are only rumors; only the elder Necromancers know for sure.”
“I see… So how did we get out…?”
“An illegal private portal.”
“Ah…”
Nana nodded.
She pressed her lips together and began scanning the view outside.
Just as Baek Ho was about to return to the cargo hold.
Nana’s voice came again.
“Um…”
“Why again. Why.”
Baek Ho clenched his fist and turned.
“……“
He lost his words for a moment and looked at Nana.
Her near-silver blonde hair shimmered in the sunlight.
Her hands folded as if in prayer, flesh and metal reflecting light at different intensities.
She looked beautiful and noble.
He hadn’t noticed it in the city, but Nana possessed a strange radiance.
“Huh.”
He thought of the image of the former ‘Light Saint’ from school.
He recalled the photo of her kneeling in prayer in the middle of a battlefield of magic and bullets.
The sharp nose, the pale skin—everything matched.
She seemed somewhat similar.
“Um, D…?”
“Yes?”
Baek Ho shook off his thoughts and responded.
Nana pointed to a corner of the window.
“Something’s flying over there…”
“…What?“
Baek Ho quickly leaned to the window and followed the tip of Nana’s finger.
A missile was flying.
And it was very large and thick.
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