Become Overpowered CEO of Hero Clan

Become Overpowered CEO of Hero Clan – 083

I was just going to the bathroom. The lights were still on at school, and since it wouldn’t be much of a bother to the students if I used the restroom just once, I went ahead.
The sky, which had been dyed with the sunset, had now turned into a dark blue, with sporadic twinkling of stars. Furthermore, my face was now covered in thick, unkempt beard, making me look like a middle-aged man.
For the evening sky and perfect facial disguise, even the members should not be able to recognize who I am.
‘It seems like she recognizes me.’
However, the female student who was rolling her eyes and looking around while shaking her head seemed to have seen through my identity. Aside from being annoying, this was a fatal security issue.
Even though I changed my face and wore padding, the fact that an ordinary person recognized me meant that there was a high chance that even a public official or a hacker had seen through my identity. This rendered future disguise tactics meaningless.
‘Information window didn’t activate. She must be a normal student.’
Still, just in case, I set up my inventory so that I could pull out my sword at any time.
– Swoosh. –
I gestured for the bewildered female student to follow me. She hesitated for a moment, then slowly followed behind me.
The school corridor was still lit, but there was no one coming or going. I turned around and brought my index finger to my lips. The girl nodded vigorously, clearly understanding that she shouldn’t make any noise. Nevertheless, just in case, I positioned the female student inside and checked the entrance. I was still hesitant because I was still worried about attracting aggro.
I removed my disguise. The girl reflexively covered her mouth, and her eyes immediately turned red. She seemed to be in a state of emotional turmoil.
No matter how you look at it, this was the reaction of a fan meeting their favorite star. Despite looking young, it’s better to use honorifics.
“How did you know?”
“S-shh…!”
Something was wrong. She seemed like she was about to burst into tears at any moment. Was she doing this out of fear? Maybe she believes the scary rumor about Isaac being a cold-blooded killer.
‘Please don’t cry.’
When meeting a beloved star, people sometimes cry or even faint in extreme cases, and in severe cases, it can lead to death. If she was scared, she wouldn’t have followed me in the first place.
If she hadn’t realized that my gesture meant she should follow me or else I wouldn’t leave her alone.
“I-I’m sorry. Sniff.”
“It’s okay. Please calm down.”
The female student took a deep breath in sign language and then smiled brightly. It seemed that she had cried because she was so happy.
“I… really am a fan. I even joined the fan cafe and actively participated. I squeezed in time… Oh, I’m sorry. What did you say? Sniff.”
“I asked how you knew I was Isaac.”
“Ah! Was it… your walk? And your vibe? And… you’re tall.”
Even if you consider my height, it’s still shocking with her ability to recognize my walk and vibe. I don’t know if this girl has the eye-meter of a spy, but I need to improve my disguise skills.
“I’m really, really sorry. I should have acted like I didn’t see you… I must have been out of my mind because of the exam…”
“It’s okay.”
I comforted the girl and even tried some small talk. It’s not something that happens often. People in business meetings would often claim to be fans as a habit, but a genuine fan like this is fundamentally different.
“But how did you end up becoming my fan?”
However, in my excitement, I overlooked one thing, which was that my interpersonal skills were still far below average.
“Huh?”
She responded as if asking why I would ask such a thing.
‘Ah, man.’
Which star asks their fans if they like something.
Obviously, she became a fan because Isaac is handsome and looks strong. I must have made the student feel embarrassed for no reason.
But the fan, who seemed to hesitate for a moment, gave a fresh answer.
“Uh, um. Leader… I mean, you. You’re like a really strong herbivore!”
“…Herbivore?”
What on earth is she talking about? And I didn’t notice it until she sniffed earlier, but this fan is a bit of a weirdo. Her energy level seems quite high.
“Yes! You used to live alone. Then you accidentally became the leader and started leading a group, like a herbivore that quietly eats grass and takes care of its family, but when you meet a predator like a tiger or a bear, you uses your horns to drive them away, like a Malcor deer!”
She was a fan with a somewhat 4-dimensional mindset. It felt like my mind was being blown away gently.
‘There might be some resemblance.’
But when someone becomes deeply fond of someone, they seem to see something in that person that others can’t.
‘What am I saying.’
This fan really seems to like Isaac. If she hadn’t been lacking in dedication to her fandom, she wouldn’t have been able to give such a unique answer.
“Hmm.”
Maybe it’s because of the atmosphere.
For a moment, it seemed like her sensitivity had increased.
I’ve lived because I didn’t want to die. In the end, I became an S-class hero. Everything was for myself. But even for someone like me, there was a fan. And she could even recognize me by my walk.
“Impressive reasons indeed.”
Even though the attention was a bit burdensome, I was grateful. Without the support and encouragement of me and our clan, I wouldn’t have been able to come this far. I would have probably collapsed from a mental illness long ago.
“Thank you!”
The fan, who showed extraordinary insight, even received my hero’s first autograph on the back of the test paper.
From morning till evening, participating in an entertainment shoot, reading two maguc engineering papers thoroughly, and even communicating with a fan I happened to meet. Today was also a fulfilling day. If I hadn’t had daily skills for stress management, I wouldn’t have even attempted such a murderous schedule.
Hmm.
But just now…
I felt a vibration different from the engine noise.
– Beep. –
‘What’s this?’
The significant message suddenly appeared right before my eyes, just as I was about to finish work.
[An ancient thought vibrates.]
Even the star-shaped icon at the bottom right was twinkling.
‘An ancient thought?’
Does it refer to Gunggi? But Gunggi around my head is gently floating around in a spirit state, quietly sleeping. If it’s a evil spirit, the members would have noticed it before me.
Hmm…….
However, the ominous vibration soon disappeared completely, and the star-shaped icon in the bottom right of my field of vision became transparent and disappeared.
‘What was that?’
It seems like there’s more to do again.
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After finishing the exhausting shoot and welcoming the early morning of the next day, I suppressed a headache with a moment of reading and meditation, then took out and lined up precious materials on the table.
From Leviathan’s fang to Minotaur’s raging horn, an unidentified orb, a magic stone of the Wendia Lord and a monster resembling a lizard, Megatyliss Lord’s, and even a refined Ifrit seed. There wasn’t a single item that wasn’t valuable.
Making my own hero suit is urgent, but I also need to use these precious materials as soon as possible. Saving too much can lead to waste.
‘As for Leviathan’s fang…’
Until I encounter a monster in the otherworld, it would be impossible to refine tier-2 materials. The ‘unidentified orb’ that I have no idea how to use will have to be stored for a while, and I’ll have to keep the ‘refined Ifrit seed’ until I find out how to hatch it from an archaeologist.
Sell or manufacture the rest seemed urgent.
Minotaur’s raging horn could be a weapon, and the superior magic stones of the two Lords would be suitable for making special cores.
‘It might be better to go through purification and then sell.’
The magic stones of the Lord-class monsters often have special attributes, and if you simply purify them, their value decreases. Therefore, the touch of a skilled purifier or master is necessary. Magic stones that retain their attributes while purifying only the negative energy can be worth two to three times more than crystals of the same class.
“Grrr…!”
Whether he sensed the ominous energy emanating from the materials or not, Gunggi, who had been quiet lately, was on guard, showing his fangs above the table.
‘It’s a good thing he has strong resistance.’
Isaac’s body had a thick mental barrier and a high innate resistance to negative energy. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to hold the corrupted materials with his bare hands.
“Calm down.”
“Grraah!”
“Whoa.”
Hmm.
I was just about to scold him when a familiar vibration occurred above the table.
“Was it that?”
One of the materials was emitting a faint purple light and resonating. It was the magic stone of the Wendia Lord that was the source of the vibration.
[An ancient thought resonate.]
[Use ‘unidentified orb’ on ‘magic stone of Wendia Lord’?]
[Yes/No]
Confusing.
From the context, it seemed that some kind of consciousness was attached to the magic stone. It seemed to have been waiting patiently inside the inventory until patience ran out.
‘But what does this mean?’
The consciousness attached to the Wendia Lord magic stone is most likely the consciousness of Wendia Lord, the owner of the magic stone. What’s surprising is that although there are countless bizarre rituals in the Otherworld, I’ve never heard of a ritual that seals consciousness into its own magic stone.
And how would I know what the unidentified orb is and whether I can use it? The consciousness attached to the magic stone might strengthen and be reborn as a terrifying demon.
I needed time to think.
“Hmm.”
So, this seems to be some kind of event, and if I mess up, I can just turn on the final finisher and crush the magic stone into powder.
I just need to refill the combat gauge, which has dropped to 0%, through additional training. Accepting what the system suggests could mean risking my life without even remembering the bloodshed. It’s a gamble worth trying.
‘But it’s unsettling to be on high alert.’
Since he is a spirit by nature, he might just be detecting and panicking over the same kind of consciousness. If the Wendia Lord magic stone is really dangerous, wouldn’t it have pulled my sleeve?
‘If this continues, the resonance may end.’
Since the capital is sufficient, even if I waste valuable materials, it’s not a critical hit.
– Swipe. –
I brought my finger to the “Yes!” button.
– Wooooong! –
A strong vibration erupted. The black orb, whose purpose was unknown, was absorbed into Wendia Lord magic stone, melting and disappearing. And nothing happened.
Even after waiting for 5 minutes, no message appeared.
I tried to gaze closely at the Wendia Lord’s magic stone, which now had a vivid purple color after absorbing the black orb.
[Oh, Absolute one, I have a proposal.]
At that moment, a deep voice resonated in my head. I instinctively took a few steps back, in case it attempted a sudden mental attack.
I asked while trying to conceal my unease.
“Is it the consciousness of the Wendia Lord?”
[Indeed. I wish to propose a profitable deal to you. I ask that you listen carefully.]
Stay calm. I don’t sense any hostility for now. The pulse of negative energy hasn’t strengthened much either. It seems the unidentified orb didn’t make it more powerful.
“Go on.”
[Having been trapped in the magical space for a while, I have seen and heard many things. I know of your great interest in magic engineering. The technological prowess of your human race is insignificant compared to that of the higher worlds, but I remember enough to want to assist you. It is also to ensure my safety.]
It was a surprising but enticing offer. However, despite Wendia Lord being an advanced-level monster, it didn’t seem to have much knowledge of magic engineering.
Monsters that roam the primeval jungle and eat contaminated grass would not have developed much in magic engineering.
However, the consciousness of the Wendia Lord began to speak convincingly, as if reading my thoughts.
[I am originally from the ‘Celestial Realm’, a higher world. I have changed my body and accumulated knowledge for thousands of years. The body you call ‘Wendia Lord’ has continued its life for 50 years. I, who speak the truth, hope you will allow me to coexist with you, lightly considering me, and support my well-being.]
The tone was remarkable from the start. It was surprising that a Tier 1 Lord-class monster could handle consciousness, let alone being from the Celestial Realm.
‘Absolutely do not believe everything at face value. You have to cut to the chase.’
I don’t know where the truth ends and the lies begin, but I understand that it is a consciousness with abundant knowledge of magic engineering and highly developed intelligence.
If it is indeed from the Celestial Realm, it can handle materials up to Tier 3… How could I refuse such a radical deal?
“Understood. I will only retrieve the magic stone from the magical space when I want to communicate. No objections, right?”
[Before that, I will propose one more thing that will benefit both of us. I wish to merge with the Refined Ifrit Seed. Through this, I will be born anew as a new life. With the eternal flames and the body of a fairy, I can assist you.]
“Do you know the related ritual for this seed?”
This was also a suspicious story. Accepting the request blindly might lead to some strange manipulation by the ancient consciousness, so I was uneasy.
[I can transfer the consciousness into the seed using the divorce ritual. Then, by absorbing the magic stone with the body of a fairy, my memory will be completely transferred.]
You have planned meticulously. How have you endured in the inventory all this time?
‘The urgency is on your side.’
Anyway, I was the one holding the sword. Whether to purify the magic stone and sell it at a high price, or to use it as a core to enhance the specs of the members, it was all up to me.
Above all, what was embedded in that magic stone was not the consciousness of the Wendia Lord trying to kill us. I needed to act, even if it meant burning bridges.
“I will think about it.”
[Wait…!]
I quickly stuffed the spread-out materials back into the inventory. I was anxious that if I let it drag on, some even more suspicious conditions might come up.