My Alter Ego’s Path to Greatness - Chapter 179

#179

Operation to escape from the Demon King (1)

Dawn dawned in Tarak, a large city in the northwestern part of the Aeon Continent.

This was a bustling city that could not be said to be very quiet even in the middle of the night, but now that most people were awake and moving around, the bustle was on a completely different level from the night.

Squeak—

“Then I’ll be back!”

“Always watch out for the carriage!”

And Diana, who recently moved to Tarak, was also busy.

Like everyone else, she hurriedly left home early in the morning.

But even in that rush, his face was full of smiles…

Because I had just moved here, everything around me was unfamiliar, but I was extremely satisfied with my current life.

‘So is this house! First of all, it is an indefinite lease, but….’

This small house, which I am still not used to, is incomparably larger than when five families lived in a living space attached to a grocery store, and it was not long after it was built, so the neat facilities were repaired separately. There was nothing to do.

Needless to say, the location is also in a central area with good security!

It was literally an ‘expensive-looking house’ itself that had all the factors that affect house prices.

So, of course it has to be good.

“oh! Hello, Grandma!”

Diana, who was busy going out the door, found her now familiar neighbor and greeted her cheerfully.

At the sound of that voice, the old woman next door, who was sitting leisurely on a rocking chair on the terrace and getting some fresh air, turned her tattooed face towards her and let out a low laugh.

“Kkkkkkkkkk… So, are you going to work already? “You’re diligent every morning.”

“Ehehe, I’m still learning. Servant… Lord Hubert has trusted me and entrusted me with it, so I cannot disappoint him!”

“He’s still young, but he’s amazing. “Heulheul…”

At first, I was worried when I found out that a scary-looking grandmother lived next door, but fortunately, contrary to her appearance, she was very kind to children.

Not only does she give me snacks as if she were my real grandmother, but she also tells me various interesting stories and is outspoken.

Thanks to this, even the children who were wary at first became very friendly with her.

Aside from young Rafi, his younger brother Aaron, who used to be shy, was now able to go to the house next door without hesitation.

‘That old lady said she is receiving support from the Hubert Company just like us… so if you are a trustworthy person, you don’t have to worry.’

Of course, it was difficult for Diana, who had experienced betrayal not long ago, to trust her carelessly, but it was true that she also needed to make some effort since she couldn’t live her whole life with suspicion.

At the very least, you should try to open your heart to someone you can trust and who has been proven.

“Then I’ll just go!”

“Okay, be careful on your way. Well… at least in this street, I don’t think you need to worry too much.”

The Hubert Chamber of Commerce was now, in name and reality, the representative merchant chamber with the greatest influence in the Tarak merchant world.

Starting with extensive connections across the religious order and the lord’s family, unique and excellent products supplied exclusively, enormous capital power that can instantly attract talented merchants under its command, and the superiority of secret tactics using unknown means…. Such various factors

. Thanks to this, they quickly encroached on the market within a few years of their launch, and the area where they are now was the courtyard where Hubert Company’s power exerted the greatest influence.

Sniff—

Diana’s nose kept twitching as she walked down the street.

A now familiar smell was coming from all directions.

The city security force, which has been intensively patrolling this street due to some kind of backroom deal, and the security team belonging to the Hubert Chamber of Commerce, which is deployed in the commercial district and protects businessmen and shops.

And to add to that…

the fishy scent of blood secretly wafting out from the shadows all over the city.

‘I never thought I would feel relieved after smelling this.’

There was a time when I would just avoid the smell with fear, but now I feel anxious without it.

All the vampires around here were people who listened to the man’s orders, so it was only natural.

‘Now that I think about it, it’s interesting. I think it’s only been about two years since you became a vampire. Where on earth have you been and what have you been doing all this time to be able to do this?’

Considering the immigration process that had gone smoothly before, as well as the subordinates who were trapped in Tarak right now, it didn’t seem like a high position at all.

Considering the rumored situation in the Kingdom of Thalia… it would be fair to say that he is a truly high-ranking noble.

‘Well, I don’t really need to know that. If I can just return the favor, that’s enough.’

However, Diana soon shook off her idle thoughts and walked briskly towards the headquarters of the company.

Unlike her uncle, who had an ordinary job related to supplying groceries, her responsibilities under Hubert’s influence were quite serious.

It was a kind of auditor-like position that inspected the products handled by the trading company for any abnormalities and maintained consistent quality.

Of course, there were quite a few people who objected to the parachute appointment…

but since Hubert’s authority within the Chamber of Commerce was absolute, everyone was watching her with a wait-and-see attitude.

‘…Honestly, I’m anxious, but I have no choice but to do whatever I can to live up to my beliefs.’

By the time Diana arrived at the head office of the company with a firm resolve.

Loud noise—

I could feel more noise than usual nearby.

It also has a very pleasant smell.

“Oh, Lord Sanghoe. hello!”

“Yes, Diana. You came so early today too. “As expected, you are diligent.”

Coincidentally, she ran into Hubert on the way, who was also heading to the commercial building.

However, unlike his attitude of leisurely responding to her, the reaction of the immediate bodyguards surrounding him was a bit different from usual… Except for a few, unlike before, when they

escorted her from a distance, everyone was completely surrounded on all sides, and of course, they were approaching. There were some who showed sensitive reactions, even expressing caution towards Diana.

‘what? And this smell…’

In addition, some of them must have been through battle, and the wounds and weapons all over their bodies were giving off a subtle smell of blood.

Something must have happened before I got here.

“Hey, by the way… did something happen?”

“hmm? Ah—nothing. Because it just happens periodically. It happens sometimes. “Those who rush in with unfounded confidence.”

Hubert answers her question calmly.

Having already prepared thoroughly, he took Diana, who tilted her head, and walked to the headquarters of the company.

Even on Earth, where civilization and the rule of law are developed in their own way, when interests are at stake, all kinds of dirty tricks follow. In this world, which can be said to be even more barbaric, there is no way that running a business association would not come with threats.

Of course, preparing for that was common sense here, and those who instigated it probably didn’t try it because they thought it would succeed all at once.

I guess they just tried it as a courtesy to scare them and to check the liver just in case.

‘How dare you go against me?’

Of course, growing Hubert Trading Co. was not all smooth sailing.

Because of that, we had no choice but to reinvest a significant portion of the money we had earned in preparation for it.

It would probably have been impossible to grow like this without the help of Harley and his friends in the early days of the business and the Brokoslak Clan later.

After the attack by the Upersh Clan, I felt anxious even with my previous preparations, so I wrapped myself in all kinds of expensive magic tools.

However, as the current reality shows, despite many such secret struggles, the result was always his victory.

It has to be that way.

They must have just assumed a fairly large top and carried out a scheme, but the scale of the organization operating to respond was absolutely not at that level.

‘Now then… shall we investigate who the people who instigated this incident are?’

Of course, their ending was already decided.

***

The Principality of Rohan has now collapsed to the point where it is meaningless to even use the word country.

With the help of the empire and the church, they formed a last line of defense near the capital and were barely holding on.

It was ironic that it was thanks to the Immortal King that he was even able to do this…

He settled in the northern mountain range where the largest number of monsters were coming down and became a breakwater, so the number of monsters invading the principality plummeted. It was because it started.

Of course, since they believed that the current situation itself was caused by the Immortal King, no one was grateful for it.

They just thought he was taunting them with some whim.

And the center of the situation—.

No one has seen it in person yet, but its existence is well known. There were people who dreamed of escaping from their short imprisonment in the Demon King’s Castle… or rather, the Immortal Castle.

“Heron, so how about today? Do you think you can do it?”

“Hmm, wait a minute… this is ambiguous.”

It was Riley Carte Azerion, the 5th princess of the Azerion Empire, and Hesperon, a new awakened person on Earth who had been transferred for less than two months.

As usual, I was busy practicing magic with a barrier around me.

In response to Riley’s question, which he asked carefully as if aware of the gaze of those around him, he frowned and looked worried.

In fact, the work itself could start at any time, so it was more like a slow process for a more dramatic effect, but as the few days passed, it seemed like her patience was reaching its limits.

“Phew—I’m so nervous these days that I can’t sleep, but you look so relaxed, don’t you? “Is that really possible?”

Did he disapprove of a situation where he seemed to be the only one rushing?

She, who had been waiting quietly until now, finally sighed and pouted her lips as if complaining.

“Oh, this isn’t as easy as it sounds? As soon as I was transferred to this world, I was captured and I don’t know anything about the situation here. “Of course, we don’t know where we are or where we should go.”

In terms of spatial ability, accurate location identification is not an option, but a necessity.

As the risk was high in proportion to its usefulness, there was concern that if it was done incorrectly, a catastrophe could occur, which would be worse than not using it.

“That’s true, but… Still, this is the northern tip of the continent, so if we somehow manage to steer south…”

“Where do you think south is from here?”

“…Ugh.”

There was no way that they, who were not of high level as wizards, would be able to know the direction of the outside from within this immortality, which was like a separate space.

In the end, a shadow fell on Riley’s face as she faced the reality she had been trying so hard to ignore.

“Then is there really no way?”

“No way. Actually, I got a rough idea to some extent. “I was just being careful to be more sure.”

Then, her expression brightened again as hope was thrown again.

Perhaps because it was an extreme situation, her expression changed in a variety of ways that did not suit her nickname, the Iron-Blooded Princess.

“…But haven’t you been speaking too casually since a while ago?”

“Hey, what do you think? Now we are a community of destiny! Let’s take it easy and take it easy! Hahaha!”

Still, when I was learning magic, I at least pretended to listen for a moment.

A look of bewilderment appeared on her face at Hesperon’s shameless answer, as if she thought she had a clear advantage.

But it was true that he held the key to solving the current situation…

“Haa—Please be careful around other people. Unlike the place you were in, there are a lot of people here who are sensitive to status. “You really think it could be a big problem?”

In the end, Riley had no choice but to compromise with him with a sigh.

In fact, the reason she reacted so sensitively to Pyeongdae was because she had heard about Earth from Isea, and not specifically to establish her own authority.

It hasn’t been long since you came to this world, but if you already get used to treating the princess comfortably, wouldn’t the chance of making a mistake later on out there increase?

If something like that were to happen, he would end up in trouble, so I was planning on telling him to be more careful with his mouth from now on…

‘I don’t know anymore. He’s not a stupid person, so he’ll be careful out there. … Although it’s a bit unsavory to see what he’s doing.’

Riley looked at him with a sly expression that did not match his intelligent appearance and sighed again.

I thought once more about whether I could really trust him and leave it to him.

But there was still one conclusion.

‘I’m still anxious after two months, but I can’t stay in here for years! There won’t be any more chances to turn the tables around by then.’

First of all, let’s do everything we can.

As Lee Se-ah experienced the greatness of her ‘unique skill’, it was also judged that it was worth trusting.

Also, the fact that Hesperon’s talent was greater than hers also played a role.

‘…I hope it works out well.’

Just a few days before an event that no one on the continent expected occurred.

The curtain of the great exodus was now rising.