Ch.147Epilogue 8. There’s No Way I Could Raise a Hero’s Daughter (7)

Ra-hee’s declaration hit me like a shock wave. I had no idea how to respond.

Until now, I could solve everything by beating people up, but that wasn’t going to work this time.

My daughter wanting to become a hero—it was like a bolt from the blue.

“A hero? No! Ra-hee, let’s talk about this. With your mother too…!”

“I’ll see you later, Gerogius. Look forward to the next S-Sentai Tournament. Oh, and since we’re at it, I’ll stir up some trouble. This is for Se-hwa’s revenge.”

“There’s still more to come?”

Kang Yerin answered calmly.

“Hmm. You like Incursions, don’t you?”

The word “Incursion” made the back of my neck tense up. Whatever she was planning, it couldn’t be good news.

Kang Yerin released me from my restraints and transformed into Sulphur again. Then she tapped the top of her auxiliary Switch twice.

“It’s a new technique. Consider it an early Christmas present. It’s not that serious, so handle it well. That’s all for now. Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of Jung Ra-hee’s hair cuticles.”

“Hey, stop talking nonsense! Ra-hee! Ra…!”

I lunged toward them, but Sulphur had already activated her black hole. The two of them disappeared into the dark void.

Damn it.

I took a deep breath in my agitation, only to get a mouthful of acrid dust. The floor where they disappeared remained silent.

“Do whatever you want. I don’t even care anymore.”

That Sulphur, she really got me good this time.

I knew she was especially fond of Ji Se-hwa, but not to this extent. I really stepped on a landmine.

Boom—

At that moment, I felt space tear and vibrate.

“Incursion.”

Sulphur had definitely said that. Could she really have triggered an actual Incursion?

I immediately transformed into Armaggedon form. I spread my wings and shot straight up through the abandoned building into the cloud-filled sky.

“Even Sulphur shouldn’t have the ability to cause an Incursion. What did she do?”

I looked around and soon spotted something unusual.

Far in the sky, space was tearing open. It was clearly a passage to a parallel dimension.

Though not as large as a full Incursion, it was still a major incident with unknown entities potentially crossing over.

“Tsk.”

I flew immediately toward the rift. Soon the crack belched out a human figure before dissolving away.

“Is that him?”

I accelerated toward the figure.

Who they were was crucial. If they were hostile, combat would begin immediately. I checked Armaggedon’s sin charge status.

―――――――――――――――

Pride SUPERBIA 2/10

Greed ARARITIA 10/10

Envy INVIDIA 0/10

Wrath IRA 0/10

Lust LUXURIA 10/10

Gluttony GULA 0/10

Sloth PIGRITIA 8/10

―――――――――――――――

“I’m screwed.”

With no recent threats, I hadn’t bothered to charge up.

At least thanks to my wives, Greed and Lust were fully charged, so I could use the sacred spear and cavalry twice each.

“I’ll have to make do with this.”

Please don’t let it be my parallel self.

Hopefully not Lu-a, Lena, or Somi either.

And definitely not Soli, Stella, or Ra-hee.

I wouldn’t mind if it were Kang Yerin. I’m in the mood to beat her up right now.

As I approached, I could tell from the figure crashed into the ground that it was likely a man.

He wore full-body medieval-style armor and a strange mask on his head.

“Ugh, my head. Why did I suddenly fall? Where am I?”

He rubbed the back of his head as he got up. I questioned him.

“State your affiliation. Are you a hero or a villain?”

“Huh? I’m a hero, a hero, dammit. Though I can’t blame you for mistaking me for a villain… Wait, don’t you know me? Is there still someone in Seoul who doesn’t know me?”

From his speech, he seemed to be a famous hero. Perhaps he came from a parallel dimension where heroes prevailed.

If so, we might be able to communicate. He probably wouldn’t attack me outright.

The man turned to look at me. I was momentarily taken aback by his appearance.

The man was wearing a horse-shaped mask over his head that looked completely out of place with his thick armor.

His visual certainly screamed “villain.”

“What are you? …Wait, where is this?”

The man was clearly confused.

“This is Seoul. Though not the Seoul you know. Don’t worry, even though you’re a hero, I don’t intend to be hostile…”

BOOM!

I couldn’t finish my sentence. The man suddenly unleashed his power, blasting the space around us.

“Tsk.”

What a violent guy. So it comes down to force after all. I immediately entered combat stance.

The man in the horse mask was furious.

He looked too enraged to be a hero. He clearly had anger management issues.

“GODDAMMIT!! Is this another parallel world?! My life is such bullshit!!”

And he was definitely insane.

“Hey, did you summon me? What’s your purpose this time? You look like a villain?”

“I am a villain.”

“I knew it! You’re in big trouble now!”

The horse mask guy shouted excitedly like a primitive man.

I need to knock him out first since I don’t know what he might do.

“Lust.”

I insert the card. The gates of the netherworld open, and the cavalry charges toward the horse mask.

“What’s this now! Ah, item box!”

The horse mask pulled out a pure white sword from a black hole in the air. With one swing, a massive shockwave cut my cavalry in half, making them vanish.

Hmm.

He’s a bit dangerous.

I rushed toward the horse mask to close the distance. I need to get him away from Seoul first.

“When did you—?! You’re pretty fas—”

I had no intention of giving him time to speak. I tackled him with all my might. We instantly broke the sound barrier and flew high into the sky.

BOOM!

We crashed onto a deserted island in the middle of the ocean. We dug into the ground, sending rocks flying through the air, hitting our heads.

“You’re dead. Microscopic salt realm.”

The horse mask gathered strange energy in his hand and extended it toward me. My instincts immediately warned me of danger.

“Greed.”

I swung the sacred spear to neutralize and nullify his attack. The horse mask was surprised.

“Skill blocking? What a strange technique. No complaints if we fight with pure strength, right?”

The horse mask swung his fist at me. It was quite a powerful blow. My Armaggedon suit cracked.

I immediately changed to dragon form and countered with red and blue.

“What’s this? Are you really a villain? You’re not some kiddie transformation hero!”

“That’s quite prejudiced. I can’t let that slide.”

Cross release. I accelerated with blue and broke through with red’s strength. The horse mask’s armor instantly became tattered.

BOOM!

Unlike his sturdy armor, his mask was just ordinary cloth. When my fist grazed it, it tore from the friction heat.

“Damn it! That was expensive, you jerk!”

The face beneath the mask was rugged and manly. Surprisingly normal-looking, which didn’t match the flippant way he had been speaking.

CRASH!

When our fists collided, a powerful shockwave occurred, tearing up the ground.

He’s quite skilled. Neither of us is taking much damage to our main bodies.

Realizing this, he clicked his tongue and began drawing something above his head. Seems like a secret technique.

I didn’t want to use this, but I have no choice.

I gently extended my right hand toward the sky.

“Genesis.”

The cloudy sky opens, and light descends. It envelops me as the seeds of creation spread in eight directions.

I transform into a colorless suit, purer than white.

The seeds create a realm that separates me from the horse mask. A newly created space. I control all rules here.

“What’s with all this flashing? I don’t really get it, but level 15 should blow everything away!”

He’s also steadily preparing his ultimate skill. It’s like magic from a fantasy world.

It seemed quite powerful. If our attacks collided, not just this planet but part of the universe might be destroyed, but I’ve already separated our realms with the Genesis skill.

“You seem pretty skilled, but I have to eliminate all villains. None of them have ever listened to reason.”

“Likewise. I eliminate heroes from parallel worlds. For my children to live peacefully, there can be no variables.”

Hearing my words, the horse mask tilted his head.

“What, you’re a father too? How many kids?”

He suddenly asks this?

“Twin boy and girl, plus a youngest daughter. Three in total.”

“I have five.”

“…That must be overwhelming.”

“Every day is a war. If I miss even one, my wives go crazy. I need to get back quickly to look after the kids.”

“Go back?”

Hmm.

Our interests might actually align, I realized.

“Let me confirm, Hero Horse Mask.”

“It’s Masked Carrot Man.”

“What terrible naming sense. Masked Carrot Man, this dimension you’re in now is a world I’ve built. If you’re willing to return quietly, we can stop fighting.”

“Dimension? What are you talking about? Isn’t this another world?”

Another world? He’s been saying that from the beginning. What an amusing guy.

“You have quite an imagination. Read too many novels?”

“Hey, does what I’m using look like just an ability to you? I’m someone who’s actually been to another world.”

Is he a transmigrator like me?

Though being a hero suggests he might be a former transmigrator. Seems like a different genre.

“Let’s put away our skills and talk first.”

“Good idea.”

Both of us canceled our skill activation. He approached me first.

“Parallel world? You said different dimension? Can I go back right away?”

“Probably possible. One of my wives can open a portal.”

“This Seoul allows polygamy? How convenient.”

“It’s my privilege. I am the lord of evil.”

“So you are a villain. Good thing you’re reasonable though. Fathers who’ve lost their minds are rare.”

The horse mask crossed his arms and laughed frivolously. Despite his muscular body, his attitude was completely flippant.

“When can we get ready? I need to get back and change diapers.”

“Wait a moment.”

“Sure. Swap.”

At my words, the horse mask instantly changed into casual clothes. Seeing him disarm, I also canceled my transformation.

“Oh, you look pretty normal? You must be popular with women.”

“Usually, yes. The problem is my youngest daughter completely ignores me.”

“How old is she?”

“Fourteen. She just ran away saying she’s going to be a hero.”

“What? You’re older than you look? My oldest is ten and doesn’t listen at all. Takes after her mother and is ridiculously strong. My ribs get broken almost daily.”

“How do you deal with it?”

I asked him while calling Lu-a. He clenched his fist cheerfully and answered.

“What choice do I have? I have to fight back with all my heart.”

Being crazy, he wasn’t much help for reference.