episode_0135

Cape Town is one of the capitals of South Africa.

Another famous thing is that it is the location of the Cape of Good Hope, which served as a milestone for sailors to sail around Africa during the Age of Exploration.

Of course, with the fall of all of Africa, South Africa had already disappeared into history, but now it has become a symbol of hope again.

Poetically speaking, the past and present are communicating with each other at this moment.

And I am boarding the plane heading to South Africa.

After hearing that an outpost that would become the base of the expeditionary force in Africa had been completed, I went to inspect the area.

About half a year from now, my disciples and I will come here and begin advancing toward the interior of the continent. It was to see where the starting point would be.

‘It looks like we’ve arrived.’

After using the teleportation magic circle to move to the island of Madagascar, I boarded the plane for about 6 hours.

I finally arrived in Africa.

The captain’s message that he was about to land was heard throughout the cabin, and the plane’s speed gradually slowed down, and the plane landed on the runway at Cape Town International Airport.

‘hmm.’

As the aircraft’s landing gear touches the rough runway that has not been maintained for a long time, it feels like a fairly rough landing.

It’s like this even though the balloon’s soldiers have already prepared the runway to some extent for landing.

Eventually, the door to the private plane opens, and the muggy atmosphere of Africa, mixed with a faint dark mana, welcomes me.

I am slowly starting to feel that I have really arrived at the decisive battle site where the final battle begins.

“Oh. Are you Northmund? It’s been so long since I last saw you.”

“Um… You. Commander Kingsley.”

“Hehe, you remember me. Welcome to Africa. ”

Harry Kingsley, the Middle East commander of the International Defense Organization, greeted me, and I responded briefly to him.

In the past, they used to participate together in the battles under Kingsley’s charge, but after Suez fell and the organization’s policy shifted to defensive, there were not many opportunities to see each other.

It seemed like I had been newly assigned to the African front.

“Yes, happily, this old man can go to battle again. After the Suez incident, I was left in one position thanks to a personnel action that was close to dismissal.”

“I’m sorry about that.”

“Yes, I heard that Northmund recommended me while I was thinking about just retiring. For me, I am truly grateful.”

… Did I do that?

To be honest, I have never been like that. Because I have never personally been involved in the operation of troops by international defense organizations.

Although I was the one operating a person with special abilities, I was not an expert in actual military-to-military tactics, so there was no reason for me to act foolishly.

Perhaps the reason why this person was recommended was to handle the affairs of my close associates who are in charge of connecting with organizations such as Helen and Lee Deok-jae.

‘hmm.’

Still, appointing Kingsley as commander was a good decision.

He may be a bit of a stubborn person, but from what I’ve seen before, he’s not a very rigid person, and he’s a person who responds flexibly to the changing battlefield.

As he guided me to the commander’s barracks, I heard a familiar sound coming from afar, so I stopped for a moment and looked there.

─Bang, bang, bang, tata tatang!

The sound mixed with the hot African wind was actually a gunshot. An unforgettable sound.

Along with that sound, you can also hear the shouts and screams of the soldiers.

“What is it? I can hear the sound of a gun firing.”

“Ah, you heard. This is the current situation. Although the dark fog has cleared to some extent, the monsters mutated by the dark fog still remain. Because of those guys, we are also in a lot of trouble.”

“The fog has cleared, but are the monsters still remaining?”

“Yes, these guys are really terrible guys. Native African animals and plants are mutated and are harassing us in places we never expected.”

As he said that, Kingsley shook his head.

He seemed to have said something additional, but it was drowned out by the noise of the combat helicopter flying to the epicenter of the gunfire and was not heard after that.

“Is it okay? Even if I don’t participate in the war… .”

“It’s nothing special. This place is mostly cleaned up now. What remains are only monsters that are small mutated insects or birds. Since it is not very threatening, it can be dealt with by soldiers. Come here.”

hmm. It bothered me a little, but it was too much to say that I was fine, so I nodded and followed Kingsley.

Now that I think about it, most of southern Africa, South Africa, is a desert area.

It could have ended like this because it was an area with not many flora and fauna, but the battle would become increasingly more difficult as we entered central Africa, which is a jungle area.

‘You look like a damn devil.’

As expected, Alexstras is a bit of a bitch because the dark fog has not been released in the central region. Maybe he lives there somewhere.

He simply opened the entrance so people could enter his demon castle.

As I was looking up at the scorching sun with that thought in mind, Kingsley spoke to me again.

“Oh, and I also have to tell you this. Thank you so much.”

“… These days, I only get gratitude for no reason. What do you mean?”

“Hahaha, well, I ate too much. Northmund’s decision to go away. I am truly grateful that you have decided to visit Africa.”

“The expedition hasn’t even started yet. I think it’s already too early to receive gratitude.”

After hearing what I said, Kingsley smiled, opened his left hand, and gently waved it from side to side in front of me, making a nuanced gesture to indicate that that was not the case.

I don’t know if it was his mood, but the medicine cabinet-like object hanging on his chest seemed to be shining in the sunlight.

“No, if Northmund had not planned this expedition, humanity would never have tried to reclaim this place. Even though there was a knife in front of his throat, he probably tried to ignore it just for the sake of momentary stability.”

“… Hmm.”

“Yes. If you fix one thing, you don’t just change that one thing. As a result, everything turns upside down. Northmund changed the will of all mankind.”

“Public opinion is not very good to say that it is overall. It depends on your perspective, so there is no need to thank me so openly.”

Even after speaking, I felt a little bitter.

Not long after the Corruptor Incident occurred, it became known to the whole world that I was planning to start another war.

In addition, the fact that the largest war of all the battles that have ever occurred will take place.

It goes without saying, but public opinion was not very positive. Most people are exhausted.

I didn’t want to lead the situation this far, but… .

For some reason, my mouth felt stuffy, so I lightly swallowed the saliva.

“At least I know. Still, hasn’t this old man been seeing Northmund for a long time?”

Kingsley nodded.

“Was he a former president of Korea? When he announced that Northmund was a demon, I didn’t believe it. Instead, I just snorted. How can Northmund be a devil?”

“… There are still many people who believe that way.”

“Okay. If the devil is someone who is at least willing to throw himself into danger and fight to find the cause, then the devil is better than an angel. At least I think so.”

I smiled bitterly and shook my head.

I just lived according to my desires. I am not as big a person as others judge me to be.

In some ways, I may have had a sense of entitlement.

Since I came to this world with a light heart, I want to become a hero, just like in the classic hero novels.

And all I had to do was pretend to be a hero.

With that in mind, I was able to create a fraud that would spread throughout the world. He was able to become the head of an academy.

It’s just that the thoughts have been changing for some time.

okay. Rather than just pretending to be a hero, I really want to be a hero.

That’s what I thought and followed.

The purpose itself may be pure, but the intention is not as pure and a black person is born.

I don’t know exactly. I have never agonized over the reason.

I didn’t know then, but I still don’t know for sure.

But if you think about it now.

I may have changed my mind after seeing people around me dying.

It’s not something that’s just made up and has no meaning, like pretending to be a hero.

He wanted everyone around that hero to be safe.

And beyond the people around them, all humans, all intelligent beings, and all living things in this world.

In order to be able to face and live my own life properly, rather than relying on the will of others, I have constantly moved and held the sword and staff.

Fortunately, I was not a human being who was worn out like that. I can say that I am truly fortunate for that much.

okay. There is no need for a grand reason. That’s already good.

“Mr. Northmund?”

Kingsley suddenly looks at me with a puzzled expression.

Now that I think about it, at some point, I had a greatsword in my hand again.

“Although I said that the mutated monsters are not that great. Seeing as how even a helicopter was dispatched, it looks like we are not an easy opponent.”

When he hears what I say, his eyes widen.

“Oh, no. They are weaker than Slashers, which are low-level monsters. It is an easy opponent that can be destroyed with six or seven machine gun shots.”

“… Six or seven feet?”

I scratched the side of my head slightly.

What kind of battles have ordinary soldiers been fighting? .

I heard they were easy opponents, so I thought about those guys who would die if just a bullet grazed them.

It takes six or seven hits to destroy it? If the bugs there were mutated, they wouldn’t be that big.

‘I was too focused on the standards of ability. ‘I need to reflect on this.’

The owners of dark mana had forgotten that they were not greatly affected by purely physical attacks without magical power.

I suddenly felt a new emotion, so I placed my hand on Kingsley’s shoulder and gave him a small pat.

At my sudden reaction, he just looked at me and looked at me like he was at a loss for words. Well, I don’t think there’s anyone of this level who could do something like this.

I smiled slightly as I looked down at this commander in military uniform.

I don’t know how my laughter would reach him, but at least I thought I was truly proud of the soldier in front of me.

“I see. The heroes of the world are you, not me. You guys were practically protecting the world. I’m so embarrassed that I forgot this fact.”

I’m so selfish too.

Since I am superior in ability and the people I lead with strong abilities are strong, I may have been unable to properly look down on them.

Strong monsters that were unable to do anything due to their power contacted Ellada and people with magical abilities were mobilized, but there were few cases where sirens sounded in the fortresses.

What this means is that these ordinary soldiers were always risking their lives to desperately take responsibility for the well-being of humanity.

“You can’t let heroes like that go through hardships.”

After saying that, I released the polymorph and returned to the form of a dragon, then grabbed the great sword and started flying into the air using fly magic.

The soldiers who saw the red dragon rising into the air began to cheer.

─Dragon? Northmund! It’s Northmund! Northmund is here!

─Wow! Northmund has arrived! The hero has finally landed in Africa!

─Long live Northmund! Long live the dragon!

The soldiers who were working on the pendulum saw me and waved their hands, and the gunner on the tank opened the hatch and screamed.

Even from a helicopter flying in the distance, someone can be seen giving a thumbs up.

‘My heart is pounding.’

The feeling of my first battle, the Seoul Gate incident, comes to mind once again.

With a smile on my face, I waved back at them and looked towards the area where gunshots were heard in the distance.

A few Humvees and what looked like two or three squads of troops were strafing the monsters, but it seemed like they were having a little trouble hitting them all at once due to the monsters’ small size.

If so, would you like me to ease your suffering a little?

[Flash Rain]

It is a sub-magic of Grand Flash Rain used in the skies over Seoul.

The particles of light fired from my fingertips split the sky, and the particles fell like rain to the place where those monsters were.

─Jeeek!

─Beep!

It pierces through small monsters and kills them instantly, leaving behind a fatal wound.

─Waaa!

As the cheers grew louder, I looked at them with a satisfied smile and waved for a long time.

It was an unforgettable first day in Africa.