Translator: Leyy3
In the middle of the night in the Gullveig Alliance’s camp of the port city Styx……
Why now……
Kwak Jun was left deep in contemplation after Niu left.
Dammit…… what do you want me to do……
Since he was told to earn his keep, he needed to do something, but there wasn’t anything he could act as a spy for. Strategy? None of that was important for the battle that would happen in Styx soon. It would be a fight of strength against strength! Those trying to break through, the Valhalla Kingdom, and those trying to block them, the Gullveig Alliance. It was obvious that it was going to be a fight of strength, so what could he do as a spy? The most he could do would be delivering the battle tactics and plans of the Gullveig Alliance.
What is he thinking? This isn’t the best time to make the most out of me. Hmm……
As his contemplation continued,
“Is he saying that I should raise our chances of victory by at least a 1% chance?” Kwak Jung came to his decision. “Well…… I guess so…… since taking over Styx is the most important right now.”
It meant that Kang Chul-In had decided to use him actively starting from this battle, which was understandable. Kwak Jun really needed to start earning his keep considering the amount of money that Kang Chul-In supported Vito Clemenza with.
“And since I chose now……” Kwak Jung extended his hand towards a cube that had the strategies of the Gullveig Alliance stored inside of it. “I might as well do my best.”
Because he was the commander-in-chief, his level of authority was right below Andrei Ivanovich and Mei Ling’s. This meant that he could deliver nearly all information to Kang Chul-In.
“Sir. Her Majesty has come.”
The knight who was in charge of guarding him announced the arrival of the Mei Ling.
His hand reaching for the cube paused.
“Y-Your Majesty!”
“You’re working so hard…… even though it’s so late at night……”
“It’s nothing!”
“Can I sit down?”
“Of course.” Kwak Jun signaled for her to sit. “What happened? You should be commanding the sovereigns of the alliance at the Pentagon……”
“I left that to Andrei Ivanovich. His charisma is more outstanding than mine, so there shouldn’t be a problem. Also…… there’s something that only I can do here.”
“Ah……!” He realized why Mei Ling had suddenly come. “Neptune Spear’s……”
“Yes, that’s correct.” Mei Ling nodded. “I thought we would need to raise the morale of our soldiers.”
“That’s a wise judgment of yours.”
“Your compliments are too much.”
“Haha……”
“Are you working late into the night like this usually?”
“Of course. Our forces are many, but our opponent is the unmatched army of Kang Chul-In. We have to make sure things go smoothly without a hitch.”
“You’re a very careful person, commander…… it’s fitting of the one who leads our alliance.”
“It’s only my job.”
Kwak Jun didn’t lose his humble attitude even after Mei Ling complimented him.
Dammit, just when I was trying to pass the information over.
Inside, he was cursing Mei Ling for coming at this time.
“How trustworthy…… ah, also.”
“Please speak.”
“How is Lord Vito Clemenza?”
“.……!”
“From what I know, he’s never shown himself in public……”
“He’s getting better.”
“Ah, is he?”
“But he’s still uncomfortable with walking around, so he’s staying on Earth with his secretary. He’ll probably come back soon, and he wants to speak with Your Majesty……”
“I see.” Mei Ling nodded. “Alright. If you lead our alliance to victory in this war, we’ll help you with anything to help Lord Vito recover.”
\r \r \r
“T, Thank you!”
“Also……”
“.……?”
“Commander Kwak, we’re planning on rewarding you separately as well. You’ll like it.”
“Haha……!”
“So I’ll leave it in your hands, Commander Kwak.”
“You don’t have to worry.”
“Then I’ll be off. Since it’s late, I’ll relay news about my family tomorrow in the morning.”
“Will you?”
“Yes. Oh, and……” Mei Ling looked back at Kwak Jun. “I hope you get a few hours of sleep at the least…… as the commander-in-chief of our Alliance soldiers, it’s very important for you to maintain your health.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“Then I’ll really be off now.”
Mei Ling stepped out of Kwak Jun’s office.
“Whew……” After she left, he sighed in relief. “She came just when I made my decision……”
He wouldn’t be suspected just because he was touching the cube, but he felt it prick at his conscience. Still, he wasn’t going to stop handing the information over to Kang Chul-In.
***
Before leaving for the Emperor of Blood and Iron’s grave, he promised peace to the citizens of Esmeralda territory.
“Y-Your Majesty……!” Skadi, who had rushed over in the Warp Gate after hearing the news, had tears brimming in her eyes.
“I promised.” Kang Chul-In spoke with a grin. “When you left your body to me, I promised I would regain Esmeralda for you. Do you remember?”
“Of course……!”
“I’m keeping that promise now.”
“Your Majesty……!”
“Sorry it’s so late……”
Suddenly, Skadi jumped into Kang Chul-In’s arms.
“Huk…… huk huk……!”
“Why are you crying?”
“B-Because I’m so happy……! I-I really…… didn’t know…… such a day would come……!”
“Skadi……”
“Your Majesty……” Skadi couldn’t say anything while she cried in his arms.
“It’s all okay now.” Kang Chul-In was speaking in a rare soft voice that was reserved for his wife (technically, for one of his wives) and stroked her back.
A kind woman……
He felt how pure of a personality Skadi had again. A few years ago, right after the first Lords’ Meeting, Skadi had given up her authority after predicting her death and left her body in Kang Chul-In’s care. At that time, she had said this:
“The prediction that I saw last…… had the citizens of Esmeralda territory suffering eternally. I don’t care however long it takes…… Unless someone takes complete control over Esmeralda, the citizens will be pained forever…… I couldn’t see a solution. Except for you.”
She had sacrificed herself. Realizing that she couldn’t protect her citizens herself, she had left her body to Kang Chul-In so the future of her people would be better. It was all for her people! Was it common to find a woman like her who had sacrificed herself for people she didn’t even know? She had left her body to the rumored great villain, murderer, and demon, Kang Chul-In. It wasn’t something that could be easily done.
“Huk…… huk huk huk……”
Skadi cried for quite a while after that, and she continued until she almost fainted. She felt empathetic. After all, Skadi was a part of an oppressed group of people on Earth, the gypsies. Because the people in Esmeralda territory also trembled in near, not having any stable home, she couldn’t help but relate to them.
“It’s alright now.”
“Your Majesty……”
“I’ll repay all the pain that the citizens felt until now.”
“.……!”
“Also,” He added on. “I’ll promise you.”
“What……?”
“This land won’t be taken or become a war territory ever again.”
“.……!”
“So be at ease. Everything’s really over now.”
“Huk……!” Skadi burst into tears again. She was touched. Kang Chul-In’s promise was held in higher regard than any other’s. The words of the Supreme King of the West weren’t to be taken lightly. Esmeralda would never fall into anyone’s hands ever again, and this was because Kang Chul-In had said so.
After Kang Chul-In calmed Skadi down, he gathered all the citizens of Esmeralda.
Dum dum! A loud drum echoed in the air,
“His Supreme Majesty, Kang Chul-In~!”
And Kang Chul-In revealed himself, with the martial artists of the Valhalla Kingdom at his side.
But……
“.……”
Kang Chul-In was speechless after seeing the people.
“.……Are they ghosts?”
That was his first reaction after seeing the people of Esmeralda.
“.……”
There was no cheering or applause. The citizens of Esmeralda didn’t have any reaction to their new Lord. They just stood there like emotionless scarecrows.
“You dare……!?”
The generals of the Valhalla Kingdom spoke with rage.
“I’ve never seen such disrespectful people in my life……!” Amur bared his teeth and growled.
“You don’t even know the ‘R’ in respect……!” Drakan, who was always composed, was also furious.
“You dare……!”
“Are you looking down on our king!”
“Your Majesty! Punish them……!”
The other generals had the same reactions.
“Hmmm……”
“As I expected……”
On the other hand, Kwak Jung and Lucia observed the situation with amusement. They knew why the people of Esmeralda had to react like that.
“Your Majesty!”
Just then, Amur turned to Kang Chul-In with his fur raised.
“Those disrespectful servants have……”
“Be quiet.”
“Please kill a few of those disrespectful……”
“I said to be quiet.”
“.……!”
“Everyone under me, close your mouths.”
A scary light flashed from Kang Chul-In’s eyes,
“.……!”
And the generals all zipped their mouths. No one dared to refuse his orders.
“Whew.”
Kang Chul-In sighed after giving the orders. He knew why the people of Esmeralda were acting like this.
They must have suffered so much.
The reason was simple.
They don’t even have any thoughts of rebelling against the new authority.
Changing of the rulers in Esmeralda was all too common, and every time it happened, they had to suffer somehow. That meant that no matter who was ruling over Esmeralda, it was always at its worst. When they began to become familiar with the system, another war occurred, and the master of the territory changed. Also, the new masters of Esmeralda were usually all focused on their militaries and only built the most basic of structures like tents or camps. They didn’t invest anything into it because they didn’t know when it was going to be taken. The Esmeralda now and the one in the past that Kang Chul-In knew was cursed.
Now, they don’t even have the strength to be angry…… is this what true despair is?
Kang Chul-In smiled bitterly thinking of the Esmeralda in the past. He had dominated this land back then, and he hadn’t acted much differently from other Lords. Rather, he had probably been worse than them. Back then, he hadn’t known how pained the people were.
But now, he could see.
“Everyone, listen!”
Kang Chul-In’s clear voice that rang throughout all of Esmeralda territory woke up the citizens from their blank looks.
“.……!” The people of the Esmeralda territory all shuddered at the booming voice. Kang Chul-In’s shout was the signal fire that woke up the Esmeralda people.
“I, the Supreme King, Kang Chul-In, know how much you have all suffered over the last four years.” His speech began. “The endless war, exhaustion, and the change of authority…… living in a war territory must’ve been like walking in a tunnel without any light. But!”
It was a promise.
“Not anymore!”
It was a promise to Skadi, one of his wives, and to the people of the Esmeralda territory.
“I know how you see me. I’m only a stranger that could leave at any moment. You probably think I’ll leave after giving this place over to the northern alliance, the Gullveig alliance. Am I wrong?” He asked the people of Esmeralda.
“.……”
A heavy silence. No one responded. Who would dare? The man in front of them was the evil conqueror of Pangaea. They might have lost all sense of hope, but they still valued their lives.
“Anyone can answer!”
However, Kang Chul-In didn’t step back.
“.……”
Even so, they just looked at him with blank eyes. The faces of the generals turned as red as tomatoes. Kang Chul-In raised his hands to calm them down. He had already given his orders, but he knew that their excessive loyalty could cause them to make mistakes.
They won’t answer…… well, I expected that.
Also, Kang Chul-In knew how the people of Esmeralda would respond to his speech.
“Is there really no one who would like to answer my question?”
“.……”
The silence continued.
“Alright.”
Kang Chul-In nodded.
Then……
“I will give the brave person who answers my question 100 gold pieces and first-class citizenship to my kingdom.”
It was an incredible reward. A hundred gold pieces was about 40 million won in Korean currency. Not to mention, first-class citizenship? This was an honorable rank given to families who had soldiers in the army for over 2 years. First-class citizens had great benefits given to them. Moreover, for an ordinary person to become a government worker or support the kingdom internally, they had to be a first-class citizen. Because of this, the citizens of the Valhalla kingdom were all voluntarily joining the military to become first-class citizens. That was how valued being a first-class citizen was.
“Also.” Kang Chul-In didn’t stop there. “I’ll reward a residence in the capital of Metalia that a family of four can live in, and I’ll give you any job you want. Of course, I guarantee retirement too.”
It was a reward that anyone would want. The price of land in Metalia was astronomical, and it was like saying that one would receive land smack dab in the middle of Gangnam in Seoul.
The response was immediate.
“R-Really?”
“No way…… don’t believe him…… it’s a scam……”
“He’s lying…… lying……”
“You never know……”
The people of Esmeralda began to murmur at his delicious temptation,
“Here!”
And a young man at the very front raised his hand.
Fuck it……!
The young man clenched his teeth.
He thought that the worst that could happen would be his death.
“Your name?”
Kang Chul-In asked.
“Mike Jackson.”
“What?”
“Mike Jackson……”
“Can you moonwalk?”
“Pardon?”
“N-Never mind.”
Kang Chul-In quickly turned his head around after seeing the young man named Mike Jackson’s face.
Because……
Shit…… why does he look so similar……
The young man was very similar to the great musician, the “King of Pop, Michael Jackson.”
“Anyway.”
Kang Chul-In spoke again, pulling himself together.
“I’ll ask you questions.”
“Yes, your Majesty.”
“Do I seem like a stranger to you?”
“C-Can I be honest……”
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“Of course.”
“T-Then……”
When Kang Chul-In nodded, Mike Jackson began to speak his mind.
“You are correct.”
“Really?”
“Yes…… those in authority in Esmeralda have always been evil bosses and strangers who would leave soon……”
“What do you think the reason for that is?”
“That’s……” Mike Jackson thought for a moment. “Because this place is a war territory.”
This is how he answered Kang Chul-In’s question.
“War territory?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Be specific.”
“It’s exactly as I said. This Esmeralda territory…… is a cursed land where wars don’t ever end.”
Yes, a cursed land. The important strategic land for Lords was only a cause of suffering for the people.
“I see.” Kang Chul-In nodded after hearing Mike Jackson’s response. “So?”
“Yes?”
“Have you…… found a way to solve it?”
“.……?”
“A way to escape from this suffering.”
“T-That’s……”
There was no way he had. The reasons were the following:
1. Rebelling?
Result:
A futile death. It was impossible to rise up against the Lord and his subordinates.
2. Running away?
Result:
Another futile death. The Gullveig Alliance had forced them to farm or work in the military, and even took women to satisfy the sexual desires of the soldiers. To them, the people of Esmeralda were just slaves or cattle that could be used when they needed them; animals that could be used if they were fed corn and water. No person in authority would ever let their slaves escape after they bought them.
In fact, the Gullveig Alliance had created a team called SCS, the Slave Chaser Squadron, to hunt down runaways.
“We have no way……” Mike Jackson replied in a weak voice. “How could normal people like us be able to escape from the hands of the Lords? We are slaves who can’t rebel or run away…… Just because of the fact that we are born in this cursed land, we must suffer forever……”
“Hmmm……”
“And we can’t all toss ourselves into the Hartum River since there’s 100,000 of us…… even though we live like pigs……”
They lived because they couldn’t die. That was what Mike Jackson was saying.
“It’s simple.” Kang Chul-In spoke.
“Pardon?”
“I can simply fix those lives of yours that are no better than pigs.”
“.……!”
“It’s too easy for me.”
But Mike Jackson didn’t believe him, so he shouted, not able to control himself.
“Liar!”
He had lost his sense of rationality. Kang Chul-In’s attitude of speaking of the pain of the people in Esmeralda like it was nothing infuriated him.
“W-What did that human just say?”
“Easy? Haha…… hahahahah……!”
“Bullshit…… what would a gold spoon know? Does he think he’s all that just because he’s a Lord?”
“What would he know…… what would he know……!?”
The people of Esmeralda began to bustle with anger. Meanwhile, Mike Jackson was showing his courage by shouting at Kang Chul-In again.
“You hypocrite……!”
“Oho?”
Kang Chul-In wasn’t angered. Rather, he had a smile as he looked at Mike Jackson and the people of Esmeralda.
“Do you think we’ll believe that bullshit?”
“Why is it bullshit?”
“You don’t know anything…… anything……”
“Hm?”
“How can you speak about our pathetic lives so easily……? How? Look here, Supreme King of the West…… Are you a god? To be able to change our pig-like lives?”
“Of course.”
“.……!”
“Other people might not be able to do it, but I can.”
“How……!?”
“I’ll show you.”
At the same time,
Kashing!
Kang Chul-In raised Kaiforce.
“.……!”
Mike Jackson shut his eyes thinking that the scary sword was raised against him. He could hear the sound of the sword moving through the air.
Fuck…… so this is how I die……? That hypocrite……!
Mike Jackson cursed Kang Chul-In. He had said he would give money and a house but it was all a lie.
Boom……!
The castle entrance of the territory came crumbling down.
“.……!”
“Why are you scared?”
Mike Jackson looked behind him at the entrance of Esmeralda.
“Go!” Kang Chul-In’s shout rang in his ear. “You’re free!”
Free? What was he talking about?
***
At the same time, in some old ruins of the sewers under Esmeralda……
“Hm…… so disgusting…… ugh……!”
It had been 6 days since Dorian had started searching for the Emperor of Blood and Iron’s grave.
“Aigoo…… your Highness…… we’re going to die……! P-Please, just a bit slower……!”
About 100 dwarves were following him. Along with the ant-species, dwarves were best in tomb raiding, so it was obvious that he was bringing them along.
“No!” Dorian didn’t have any mercy. “If we can’t find it soon Kang Chul-In will scold us!”
It was the truth. Kang Chul-In was obviously going to complain that they hadn’t been able to find it after six days.
“.……”
The dwarves all shut their mouths and began to move again. It was best to work hard during times like this. Another day passed.
“Wow……!” Dorian Explorer luckily found an iron door that was about 20 meters tall. “How do I open this……?”
It was made of strong iron, so Dorian was left contemplating for a while.
“W-We don’t really know either……”
“Other than breaking it……”
“Hm……”
He thought to himself for a moment.
“Is that the only way? Hehe……”
Urrrrng!
The red gauntlet in his hand began to flare up.
“Y-Your Highness!”
“No way……!”
“You can’t!”
It was too late. His Shotgun Fist burst forward at the door.
Clang! Boom……!
The door crumbled down.
“Cough! Cough cough!”
“Uk……!”
Dust covered them, but it was a relief. Only the door collapsed, and the sewers were still intact.
“Ugh…… look at the dust……”
After some time, they entered what they assumed was the grave of the Emperor of Blood and Iron.
But……
“Huh?” Dorian was greeted by someone familiar…… “W-What…… why are you here?”
In the endless darkness……
“Kang Chul-In? You were here already?”
A man with Kang Chul-In’s appearance was looking at him.
Heh.
With that shameless smile.
“What’s he doing?”
“H-He’s telling us to…… leave?”
“Free?”
“What kind of game is he playing……”
Murmur murmur. The people of Esmeralda all seemed confused at Kang Chul-In’s offer.
“W-What are……?” Mike Jackson shouted at Kang Chul-In.“What kind of bullshit are you……?”
“Bullshit?”
“.……?”
“Are you saying you don’t want to go even when I’m letting you?” Kang Chul-In scoffed. “Or maybe you’re used to your pathetic lives because you’ve been living like pigs.”
“.……!”
“It’s not like all of you suddenly became masochists…… if you’re satisfied with being treated less than cattle all your lives, then fine. If you want to die in this cursed land, I won’t stop you.”
They were cruel words that dug into the hearts of the Esmeralda people.
“W-What did you say……”
“Did you think I would congratulate your reactions?”
“.……!”
“What’s the problem?”
“T-That’s……”
“Moving……”
“.……!”
“That’s probably the best way for you to escape this hole of despair.”
“Huk……!” Mike Jackson froze in surprise after hearing Kang Chul-In’s answer.
“.……!”
The same went for the rest of the people of Esmeralda.
“This is a strategic place in Pangaea where most battles will occur.”
He was trying to explain it simply.
“It’s true that I also don’t have a way to prevent battles from occurring in this place. I haven’t reached the peak of being able to stop wars completely.”
It was a hint towards Kang Chul-In’s final goal in life, the strength to stop wars. That was what he would be satisfied with. If he had the complete Trinity Impact set, the armor Ectoplasm Oversuit of the Emperor of Blood and Iron, and increased his level by about 100, it would be a realistic goal.
“Of course, I won’t lose and allow the losers of the north to take Esmeralda.”
“.……”
“Why, you don’t believe me?”
“That’s……”
“I’ve never lost a single battle or any territory.”
“.……!”
“Am I wrong?”
“.……”
“Has anyone here heard about me, Kang Chul-In, losing? If you have, raise your hand to speak!”
There were none. No one at all.
“I am undefeatable. Like I already said, I’m a victorious commander who has never experienced loss.”
There wasn’t a hint of arrogance in what he was saying because it was all true. It was the undeniable truth. Kang Chul-In was the strongest person in Pangaea after the Great Summoning. They said being humble was a virtue, but it was Kang Chul-In’s style to show everything as it was.
“But none of you will believe me when I promise not to lose Esmeralda. Am I wrong, Mike Jackson?”
“Y-You’re right……”
“No, aside from believing me or not, you must be sick of all the battles that occur here.”
“That’s also……”
“Then you can just leave.”
“.……!”
“Move.”
“M-Move!?”
“You can find another place to live far away from this cursed land. To be honest, any land will be better than this warzone. How is it, am I wrong?”
“Y-You’re correct……!”
“Then leave……!” Kang Chul-In shouted. “All of you!”
“.……!”
“No one from the Valhalla kingdom will stop you from leaving! So leave at ease to find new land! Find your happiness away from this tunnel of darkness! That is how I plan on giving you salvation from all your suffering.”
Thump!
That was the will of Kang Chul-In, and the simplest way to escape from the tunnel of despair. If this land was destined to be a warzone forever, it was a hundred times better to leave.
“A-Are you being serious?”
Mike Jackson asked Kang Chul-In.
“Will you really let us leave?”
“Of course.”
Kang Chul-In nodded.
“B-But……”
“.……?”
“Even though this land is cursed, it’s still our home.”
“Are you trying to teach me what I already know?”
“T-That’s not it……”
“Why, is it because you don’t have anywhere to go?”
“Yes, sir……”
“You don’t have the money to go find new land, and you don’t want to establish a new home for yourselves even if you do?”
“Yes……”
“And you don’t think there will be a Lord who will accept 150,000 refugees?”
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“Yes, sir……”
“Then……”
Kang Chul-In spoke the main point of his long speech.
“Go west.”
“West……?”
“If you go to the Ishtar region in the west, there will be a kingdom called Valhalla.”
“Y-Your Supreme Majesty……!”
“Their king will accept you with an open mind. No, he has already ordered the construction of a refugee camp to the ants and dwarves there. But, that’s not the end of it.”
“.……!”
“He also convinced his picky financial manager and rich wife to provide funds for the next 2 years so you don’t have to starve. Also, he is planning on setting up temporary residences for you throughout the kingdom instead of designating a specific spot for refugees.”
“.……!”
“If you head there, the king of the Valhalla Kingdom will help you settle. However!”
Kang Chul-In added on.
“This is a benefit only given to those who work to improve the society and culture of the Valhalla Kingdom.”
“I-Is that so?”
“Merciless discipline awaits those who take goodwill for granted. If you can’t assimilate and stubbornly insist on the ways of the Esmeralda Kingdom, and if there are any who try to attack the locals……”
Gulp!
Mike Jackson swallowed.
“It’s annoying, but the King will visit the houses of those bastards and make them regret it.”
“.……”
“He promised to rip you apart himself if I’m being honest.”
It was a scary threat, but a necessary one. Most immigrants had a hard time getting adjusted to where they moved, and people of the same origins gathered in slums. Kang Chul-In couldn’t bear to see that over his dead body.
“How’s that, Mike?”
“Pardon?”
“Would you like to leave this Esmeralda territory and settle in the kingdom that that King, or rather I, rule?”
“T-That’s……” Mike Jackson couldn’t say anything because he was so taken aback.
“Why, you don’t want to? It still sounds like a lie, hm?”
“N-No!”
“Hm……?”
“I’ll go! Of course I will!” Mike Jackson shouted frantically. “I will leave this place and move to the Valhalla Kingdom!”
“Really?”
“O-Of course!”
“You told me not to say bullshit just now, didn’t you?”
“T-That’s……!”
“It’s a joke.”
“.……”
“I’ll especially apologize to you this time.”
“Your Supreme Majesty……!”
“I will give you a reward.” Kang Chul-In opened his inventory and handed a pouch over to Mike.
“T-This is……”
“100 gold pieces.”
“.……!”
“Think of it as payment for your courage.”
“Your Supreme Majesty…… keuk……!” Mike burst out crying.
“How’s that?” Kang Chul-In put Mike behind him and asked the people of Esmeralda. “Will you immigrate to the place I rule, Valhalla Kingdom? Or will you stay here? I’ve already given you the options. Choosing between them is up to you!”
The Esmeralda people answered……
“I-I’ll go!”
“Going!”
“I would like to become a part of the Valhalla Kingdom!”
“If you accept me, I’ll gladly go!”
They welcomed the offer. Unlike the other Lords who treated them like pigs, Kang Chul-In was like the symbol of benevolence to them.
“Hurrah for the Supreme King of the West!”
“Hurrah!”
“Hurrah for the Valhalla Kingdom!”
“Cheers!”
There were intense shouts of joy.
“Not yet.”
That wasn’t the end.
“Here, I have someone to introduce to you.”
Kang Chul-In pulled the wrist of a woman who was wearing a purple hood.
“Y-Your Majesty……!”
Skadi resisted him.
“It’s alright.”
“B-But……”
“They’re all your people.”
“.……”
“We can explain everything carefully. Then, they’ll welcome our return.”
“R-Really?”
“Of course.”
“I’m scared……”
“But it’s something that must be done. We can’t hide the fact that you’re my wife forever, right?”
“That’s true but……”
“Also, we need to show them that I have the right to take over Esmeralda.”
It was true. If it became known that Kang Chul-In accepted Skadi as his wife, the people of Esmeralda had to acknowledge him.
“Be brave, Skadi.”
“Your Majesty……”
“You can do it.”
“A-Alright……!”
Skadi took a step forward towards those who had once been her people. Finally! It was the moment for the woman who had sacrificed her life to reappear in front of her people.
Skadi, you are my wife. I trust that you’re doing well, and you’ll continue to do so in the future.
Kang Chul-In watched her proudly. It was a great accomplishment. He had provided salvation for the people of Esmeralda, something that no Lord had been able to do (although he had an intense fight of words against Timothy because of it).
The result of it was……
[Your [Charm] stats have reached S+ rank]
[Your [Politics] stats have reached S++ rank!]
[Your [Strategy] stats have reached S rank!]
[Your [Speech] stats have reached S+++ rank!]
An increase of his stats, and,
[You have been given bonus points!]
[You have increased a level!]
[You’ve reached level 100!]
Continued into a level up.
“.……!”
The Epic item on the fourth finger of his left hand, the [Needle of the Empress], also started to shine in brilliant gold color. ……
Skadi’s return caused a commotion. However, it was quickly settled. She explained why she had to leave the territory, and how she married Kang Chul-In to protect them any way she could.
The people of Esmeralda believed her, or rather they had to. The offers that Kang Chul-In made would’ve been impossible without Skadi’s help.
“Hurrah for Queen Skadi!”
“Hurrah!”
The hopeful people of Esmeralda greeted Skadi happily.
“Heuk……!”
Skadi began to cry tears of joy again. With that, another day passed.
“Hmm……”
Kang Chul-In spent some time looking over the Needle of the Empress.
[A quest has been created!]
A new quest. After reaching level 100, the quest of the Needle of the Empress was unlocked.
[Don’t forget me.]
Quest details:
In the ‘Cradle of Memories’ in the underground of Styx, look for the old memories of the empress.
Difficulty: Low
Reward 1: All penalties related to marriage deleted (Slot for First Queen opened)
Reward 2: Wheel of Dimensions
※Warning: If the quest is cleared, the item [Needle of the Empress] will vanish.
“.……”
The quest and the rewards were both ridiculous.
“The Wheel of Dimensions”
The only thing that was interesting was the item he had never heard about.
“K-Kang Chul-In!”
Just then, Dorian burst open the door and came running into his office.
“What is it?”
Kang Chul-In looked at Dorian with a frown.
“And why is your face like that.”
“T-That……!”
“You looked like you got beat up.”
“.……”
“So you were beaten up.”
“.……”
“Who beat you up like this?”
Dorian’s face was horrible. His black eye, running nose, ripped lips, and messed-up hair…… If someone saw, they would think that he received mental training from Kang Chul-In.
“I sent you to look for the Emperor of Blood and Iron’s grave but you came back beat up like this.”
“No, that’s not it……”
“Then what is it?”
“.……”
“Hm…… who was it? The one that beat you up like that? A 150-leveled monster?”
“No!” Dorian shouted.
“Then, who was it?” Kang Chul-In asked again. He was curious. Dorian was a pushover and a loser, but he was strong. Even Kang Chul-In felt like he could die if he was hit with the Shotgun Fist, so the one who beat up Dorian must’ve been……
“S-So……”
“.……?”
“The Emperor of Blood and Iron wants to see you.”
“.……”
“He said to come to the sewers……”
Kang Chul-In’s face crumpled.
“.……Who?”
“He said he’s the Emperor of Blood and Iron.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“Kuk, kuk kuk kuk……” Kang Chul-In laughed.
“W-What’s wrong……”
“Kuk kuk……”
“Hey…… y-you’re scaring me……”
“Kuk…… so that’s what happened…… alright……!”
However, Kang Chul-In didn’t answer Dorian and just muttered to himself.
Shiver!
Dorian trembled at the ominous feeling running down his back.
“The Emperor of Blood and Iron…… explain what happened in detail.”
“Hm?”
“Tell me what happened.”
“T-That’s……”
Dorian felt wronged at Kang Chul-In’s sharp attitude but he didn’t point it out. It was because he thought that there was a reason why Kang Chul-In was being like that.
“So……”
Dorian began to spill everything.
***
Heh.
Dorian was shocked when he saw Kang Chul-In’s smile.
“W-What? Did you follow me here?”
Why was the person who ordered him to find the grave of the Emperor of Blood and Iron already here? Dorian thought he was tricked.
“Of course……” Kang Chul-In replied. “Not.”
“What is it then? Kang Chul-In, you really……”
“No.” Kang Chul-In shook his head.
“Huh……?”
“I’m not Kang Chul-In.”
“What? Are you kidding me right now? I might be a pushover, but even I don’t like these kinds of bad jokes.”
Dorian seemed to be acknowledging that he was a pushover now.
“Huh? Since when has your hair been that long……”
There were a few things different about the Kang Chul-In in front of him. Something’s strange. Something was definitely strange. The Kang Chul-In he knew didn’t have long black hair like a rock star and didn’t have the same red eyes that Arshelly did.
It was strange. The person in front of him looked extremely similar to the Kang Chul-In he knew, but the overall atmosphere around him was darker and foreign.
And his clothes…… The man who looked similar to Kang Chul-In was obviously someone of a high position. They must’ve been made out of precious material. The iridescent red crown looked like it was made of material out of this world, and his clothes also showed that he was an important person.
“W-Who are you……?”
Click.
Dorian gripped the God Hand gauntlet in his fists after realizing that it wasn’t Kang Chul-In.
“I……” However, the person ignored Dorian’s powerful gesture and spoke. “Am Julius Berlineta Pon Aurangzeb.”
“W-What?”
“The 27th emperor of the great Ancient empire and my nickname is the Emperor of Blood and Iron.”
“Emperor of Blood and I-Iron……?”
Dorian had an astonished expression. The Emperor of Blood and Iron? This person was saying that he was the owner of the grave he had been raiding.
“W-What…… you’re really the Emperor of Blood and Iron?”
“I don’t answer questions I’ve answered already.”
“Hm?”
“You pushover.”
“.……!”
“Kang Chul-In, bring that guy here.”
“P-Pushover?”
Tremble tremble……!
Dorian’s body shook.
“Are…… you…… done…… taking……? Huh?”
His anger was understandable. He was annoyed that everyone called him a pushover, and even this person calling himself the Emperor of Blood and Iron was calling him a pushover. Not to mention, this was the first time they were meeting.
“I’m just calling it as I see it.”
“What?”
“Stop with the chit chat and bring Kang Chul-In to me.”
“This bastard really……!”
The angry Dorian swung his fust.
Smack!
It was a loud sound.
\r \r \r
“Ack!”
But the one who hunched over wasn’t the man who called himself the Emperor of Blood and Iron.
“Aack……” Dorian groaned. “H-How……?”
“This won’t do.”
Smirk!
He wore a cold smile.
That meant……
“I guess you need some mental training?”
It was a merciless response.
“N-No!”
“Yes.”
At the same time,
Pababababac!
The man who looked like Kang Chul-In began to punch Dorian’s head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes……
Yep, his entire body.
“Aaaack!”
A scream exploded from Dorian’s mouth.
***
“.……So.”
Kang Chul-In opened his mouth with a flabbergasted face.
“You were beaten up a bunch?”
“Yeah……”
“Without being able to get a single punch in?”
“He was stronger than you.”
“.……”
“I’m being serious…… I couldn’t hit him at all……”
A vein popped out of Kang Chul-In’s forehead. A man’s pride! Of course he would be upset that his best friend (?) Dorian said the Emperor of Blood and Iron was stronger than him.
“That’s because you’re weak.” Kang Chul-In mocked Dorian. “How useless. You should’ve trained harder.”
“W-What?”
“What if you met an illusion or a superior doppelganger that wasn’t the Emperor of Blood and Iron? You’re not actually believing that someone from a thousand years ago is still alive, right?”
“T-That’s true, but he wasn’t an illusion or a doppelganger!”
“What do you mean he wasn’t?”
“Ugh…… ugh……!”
“Tsk…… what a pushover to come back after getting beat up……”
“That’s not it!”
“Whatever, let’s go.” Kang Chul-In ignored Dorian’s argument and began to move.
“W-Where?”
“He’ll have to pay the price.”
“.……!”
“He dares to tell me to come and go?”
Crunch! Kang Chul-In grounded his teeth.
Seeing how he uses force…… he won’t be an illusion like last time…… then that means I can hit him, right? Hehe…… I’ll show you this time, ghost of the Emperor of Blood and Iron.
It was a good chance to let him know his place.
***
In a secret lab 10 floors underground in the Pentagon……
Boil boil……!
In a large glass casket, blood-red liquid was boiling like crazy inside.
“Are you finally awake?” The one watching it, a member of the Agnaga, the Time Lord, Milenius, had a satisfied smile. “It’s about time you did…… I’ve been waiting a long time…… a thousand years as a human is too long……”
A thousand years. Milenius was muttering that the man standing inside the glass casket was someone from a thousand years ago.
Flash!
“.……!”
The man inside the glass casket opened his closed eyes and a bright light started to be emitted from then.
“Oho.” Milenius smiled. “Finally?”
“.……”
“Come out, emperor of the past. If you’re up, you must escape that uncomfortable glass casket and walk your path of revenge, right?”
As soon as he finished.
Kwang!
The large man inside punched his head-sized fist at the glass.
Crack! Kwang!
Continued punches! Small fractures appeared on the surface of the glass like spiderwebs,
Kwang!
And on the third punch,
Clang!
The glass pattered down in pieces. The red liquid inside came spewing outside like a water fountain.
Thump!
A large man stepped out of the glass casket.
Ssss……!
Mist steamed from all over his body.
He had a large body of 2 meters, long black hair, and red eyes. The appearance of the man who woke up was as scary as a demon king.
“Whew.”
The man sighed. It wasn’t because he was exhausted, but because it was his first breath in a while.
“Not a bad function.” Milenius had a satisfied smile and nodded. “Breaking the casket made of Divine Pieces with just three punches…… definitely fitting of the man who was once called Demon Body.”
Divine Pieces were extremely rare minerals in Pangaea. They were even better than dragon bones. His strength couldn’t be described in words.
“How is the air of Pangaea after breathing it in for the first time in a while?”
“.……”
“Isn’t it new?”
“.……”
“You’ve been resurrected after a thousand years, so it should be great.”
The man didn’t reply. He just observed Milenius silently. And after a while……
“Hmmm……”
The large man looked down at his hands and body with amusement.
“Resurrection…… how fun.”
That was it.
“Hell was fine, but I’ve been bored, so things turned out well.”
He was speaking calmly about hell, something that all humans were afraid of…… where was this man from?
“But…… who are you?”
The large man spoke to Milenius. He acted as he had just seen him, so Milenius’s pride was hurt.
“You dare?”
“.……?”
“A mere creation doesn’t recognize his owner? Heh…… how amusing…… your ego must be strong because you yourself are strong in the first place……”
“.……”
“Well, I’ll let you go this time.”
“.……”
“Kneel, creation.”
Milenius ordered.
“You should be saluting me, but……”
It was then.
A cold smile spread on the man’s face.
“Creator……”
“Of course……”
“What a funny thing that you, a parasite, are saying.”
“.……!”
“Why, did you think I wouldn’t be able to see what you are because you have a mask on?”
At the same time, the large man grabbed Milenius’s body.
“Kuk……!”
“Parasite.”
“Kuk…… kuk……!”
“Know your place.”
“W-Wait…… l-let me go……!”
“I……”
The large man spoke.
“Am the 26th emperor of the Ancient Empire. I am the great being ruling over all of this land and have the right to decide on whether one lives or dies.”
“Kuk……!”
“But…… a lower-level being like you dares to say he’s my creator?”
“.……!
“I’ll show you who should be saluting who.”
The man who called himself the Emperor of Blood and Iron’s father tightened his hand. It was unbelievable strength.
W-What……!
Milenius was shocked.
I-I can’t……
He couldn’t resist. Milenius, who had once destroyed the titan of a Lord with one blow was powerless in front of Saturnus’ strength.
Not to mention, his skill of controlling time wasn’t activating.
“Die.”
Dammit……!
Milenius shut his eyes. The 26th emperor of the Ancient Empire, Saturnus Berlineta Pon Aurangzeb, the tyrant of the century who pushed the empire into a hole of despair and caused an awful amount of carnage had resurrected.
The horrendous Emperor of Lunacy and Darkness.
“I’ll beat him up.” Kang Chul-In turned towards the sewers to punish the Emperor of Blood and Iron, putting Dorian in front of him.
“I’m being serious……”
“What are you talking about?”
“That Emperor of Blood and Iron guy is really strong.”
“Stop pulling my leg.”
“I’m being serious!”
“It’s because you’re weak.” Dorian and Kang Chul-In grumbled with each other while heading towards the sewers.
“Fine.” Dorian said, deciding to pull out his final card.
“What’s fine?”
“Let’s make a bet.”
“Bet……?”
“Yeah.” Dorian nodded.
“What kind of bet?”
“If I’m right or if you’re right.”
“You’ll probably lose though.”
“I’ll win! The Emperor of Blood and Iron is stronger than you! I couldn’t get a single punch in!”
Dorian’s statement wasn’t baseless. Even though Kang Chul-In was strong and Dorian was a pushover, when the two of them went at it, it was hard for the winning rate to be 100%.
It was about 9:1. Of course, Kang Chul-In was likely to win by about 90%, but the 10% wasn’t something to look down on. To be honest, Kang Chul-In didn’t think he could defeat Dorian in a fight without allowing a single punch from him. Of course, he wouldn’t allow it to be a critical one.
There’s some kind of trick to it.
However, Kang Chul-In didn’t even consider that the Emperor of Blood and Iron was the real one. The Emperor of Blood and Iron died. A thousand years ago, at that. If he hadn’t died, he wouldn’t have called Kang Chul-In his reincarnation.
There were two possibilities.
An excellent shadow that can use force.
Or,
A doppelganger that can defeat even a loser.
That was as far as Kang Chul-In knew.
Well…… that Emperor of Blood and Iron probably has some kind of temper…… I wonder if he can use Oraclomind?
Also, Kang Chul-In was thinking with his smart brain that the Emperor of Blood and Iron could use the Oraclomind. It was a reasonable guess.
It’ll still be a fake though.
Kang Chul-In was confident.
“Well, fine.”Kang Chul-In accepted Dorian’s offer. “Let’s do it.”
“Really?”
“Of course.”
“You can’t go back on your word.”
“Don’t make me repeat myself.”
“O-Okay……”
“What will you bet?”
“Hmm…… gold is the best, right?”
“Sure.”
Yes, money. The best thing to raise the stakes was gold.
“How much are you gonna bet?”
“Hmmm…… 50,000?”
“100,000.”
“.……!”
“Or 150,000?”
“H-Heek!?” Dorian gasped at the unbelievable amount. 150,000 gold wasn’t an easy amount of money to attain, even if one was an Overlord.
“Why, are you scared because the money is too much?” That was how sure he was. He was planning on taking everything from Dorian that he could get. “Well, if you’re scared we can stop.”
“.……!”
“On top of being a pushover, you’re a scaredy-cat. Sounds about right.”
His mocking continued.
Tremble, tremble……!
Dorian’s body shook.
“I-It’s true I’m a pushover but I’m not a scaredy-cat!”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“Then let’s do the bet.”
“T-That’s……”
“So you were a scaredy-cat like I thought……”
“Let’s do it!” Dorian shouted. “Let’s do it! Do it! I have money too!”
“You’re being serious?”
“Yeah!”
“Hmm…… you’re sure you won’t regret it?”
“Yeah.”
\r \r \r
“Good.” Kang Chul-In smirked. “You’re pretty gutsy,”
“Humph!”
“Oh, and also.”
“Hm?”
“Call Moth and tell her to get the money ready.”
“What?”
“You’re gonna lose.”
Kang Chul-In put on his classic evil smile and walked past him.
“That……!” Dorian followed Kang Chul-In with an angry face. “Wait and see, Kang Chul-In…… saying I’m a liar…… humph……!”
Dorian was really angry this time. However, he was missing something important.
No one who told Kang Chul-In to “wait and see” had been able to smile at the end!
***
I-Is this death……!?
Milenius felt the fear of death for the first time while being gripped by Saturnus. He had never felt it before. Milenius always turned back time when he was in dangerous situations and extended his life. It was impossible for death to touch him, but it was different this time.
“Kuk…… what a fun bastard……” Strangely, his skill wasn’t working at the moment. “You dare to attempt to play with time under my territory?”
“.……!”
“Very funny……”
Milenius wasn’t able to say anything from the shock.
“But……” That is, until Saturus began to speak the “very shocking truth.”
“You overlooked one thing, foreign being.”
“K-Kuk……!”
“Maybe you can bring me back under another appearance, but resurrecting me?”
“.……!”
“No matter how talented you are at playing with time, you didn’t really think you could break the rules of the Underworld, hm?”
“W-What are you……!?”
“Foolish bastard.” Saturnus scoffed at Milenius. “I am someone from the true hell, ‘■■■■■.’”
Beep……
Milenius couldn’t hear the “■■■■■” that Saturnus was talking about. This was because what Saturnus was saying wasn’t something beyond their planet but beyond their dimension.
W-What is this……!
However, he was sure of one thing. There was no doubt that he, an Agnaga, had summoned something that he shouldn’t have.
“And……” Saturnus continued with a vicious smile. “You know that the moment you called me here, the time paradoxes you’ve been causing won’t be happening anymore, right?”
“.……!”
“Also……” What he said after was even scarier. “You will pay the price for that.”
“W-What kind…… kuk……!”
“Hell.”
“.……!”
“You’ll be trapped in the true hell, ■■■■■, where those who broke the laws of dimensions go, and forever be in pain.”
“.……!”
“Foolish being, look into my eyes.”
“Uk……!”
Milenius tried to avoid looking into Saturnus’ eyes. He felt like he shouldn’t look into them. However…… Saturnus turned Milenius’s head with his powerful grip.
“.……!”
The surprised Milenius ended up looking into his eyes without even getting the chance to close them.
Shiver!
At that moment,
“H-Hik!?”
Milenius saw something in those eyes.
T-This is……!
It was most definitely an image of ■■■■■.
“Ack!”
“Kek, hahahaha……”
“Aaaaaaack!”
“Haha……!”
“Aaaaaaack……! S-Save meeeeeee!”
Just what had he seen? Milenius screamed like he was being tortured.
“Can you see hell? The ■■■■■?”
“Kuk…… aaaaack!”
“Enjoy it all you want, you foolish being!”
“Kuk…… huk…… huuukk……!”
“It’s where you’ll go after you die so enjoying it before then will be a great experience.”
“Huk……!”
After a while.
“H-Huk…… huk……!”
Milenius panted after barely escaping from the fear.
“Do you know your place now?”
“Huk…… huk……”
“Kneel.”
“.……!”
“You’ve called me into this world, so you must become my servant, no?”
Their positions were changed. Saturnus’ existence was greater and more evil than what Milenius had thought, and now he wasn’t able to control his own creation. The cart was put before the horse.
“Kuk……”
“Why, you don’t want to?” Saturnus pressured Milenius. “Guess you want to go to ■■■■■ now, hm?”
“T-That’s……!”
“You’ve already broken the rules of dimensions, and the moment you die, you will be locked in ■■■■■.”
“.……!”
“Do you want to go there faster?”
“N-No, sir!”
“Then choose.”
“.……!”
“If you’ll become my servant and postpone being locked in there, or……”
“I-I’ll do it!” The fearful Milenius bowed at Saturnus’s feet. “I-I will become your servant…… y-your faithful servant……! Oh, master……!”
“Kuk……”
“Just not death……!”
“Fine.” Saturnus nodded with a satisfied expression. “You should do that, you lowly being.”
“Yes, sir……”
“But……”
“Please speak, master……”
“Where am I, and how much time has passed since I died?”
“That’s……”
“Is my son, Julius, still alive?”
That was what he was most curious about. Whether his son, the 27th emperor of the Ancient Empire, was still alive.
“Master……” Milenius replied. “As I already said, it has been a thousand years……”
“Time has no meaning to my cute son.”
Saturnus was right. Resurrection, reincarnation, and regression…… to Julius, who had these three powers, a thousand years wasn’t a big deal.
“That’s……”
“.……?”
“There is someone who’s assumed to be the reincarnation of your son……”
Milenius began to speak about Kang Chul-In’s tales.
***
In the Esmeralda territory, under the sewers, where the grave of the Emperor of Blood and Iron was thought to be……
“Have you come?”
The Emperor of Blood and Iron greeted Kang Chul-In.
“Coming all the way here, as expected of my reincarnation.”
“.……”
“Have you been well?”
He was speaking in a friendly tone.
“Shut up with the fake greetings.”
However, Kang Chul-In rejected the Emperor of Blood and Iron’s greetings.
“How sensitive.”
“You’re not even human, so why bother with greetings?”
“Not human?”
“A cyborg?”
“.……!”
“No, you’re not a cyborg either. I’ve never seen something that’s made up like you are.”
Kang Chul-In’s insight was sharp. His Oraclomind allowed him to see the general identity of the Emperor of Blood and Iron.
“Well, anyway.”
“.……”
“It doesn’t matter what you are.”
“It doesn’t matter?”
“Of course not.”
Kang Chul-In nodded.
“Then what does?”
“Do I have to say it myself?”
“That’s why I asked, reincarnation of mine.”
It was then.
Kashing!
Kaiforce began to speed towards the Emperor of Blood and Iron. Fists over words. Kang Chul-In’s dirty temperament had raised its head.
A sudden fight!
“Whoa……” Dorian’s mouth dropped as he watched the intense fight between Kang Chul-In and the Emperor of Blood and Iron.
“W-What the…… both of them are…… super strong……” He was the definition of surprised.
Kwang! Each attack that went back and forth was powerful enough to crush entire mountains. And their speed……
The heck…… I can’t even see it properly……!
Their movements seemed like ghosts; it was almost impossible to chase after them with his eyes. Each small movement was fast enough to break the sound barrier. If anyone normal decided to fight against them, they wouldn’t even know what hit them.
Thanks to that……
Dammit…… I can’t light a single candle next to them…… Dorian became depressed once again.
I don’t understand……
Kang Chul-In was like a phantom. He was like that from their first meeting. At the beginning of the Great Summoning, Dorian was growing at a quick pace, but after meeting Kang Chul-In, he became a follower, not the one in the lead. He couldn’t catch up. Kang Chul-In was always a step ahead.
Shit…… it’s hard to follow along…… maybe I can catch up in about 50 years or so.
It was a mystery. Kang Chul-In was becoming stronger to no end. It was too bad that Dorian didn’t know that Kang Chul-In was a regressor and had a different starting point than everyone else, or that he himself was also incredibly skilled.
“Let’s stop.”
It was then……
“It’s only a waste of strength, reincarnation of mine.”
The Emperor of Blood and Iron put his fists down.
“That’s what you think.”
“I lost.”
“.……?”
“So let’s stop.”
“Why should I?” Kang Chul-In was flabbergasted at the Emperor of Blood and Iron’s sudden surrender. “It was just about to get fun.”
He was feeling heated, but he wanted to quit now?
“It’s impossible to win.”
“Who? Me?”
“Me.”
“Why do you think that?”
“I am an existence of the past; it’s been a long while since my body and mind crumbled.”
“So?”
“How could I, the remains of the Emperor of Blood and Iron inside of the Ectoplasm Oversuit, defeat a living being like you?”
“.……!”
“A fight between you and me is useless.”
Kang Chul-In didn’t hear the part about it being useless.
“Ectoplasm Oversuit?” All his attention was on the Ectoplasm Oversuit. “Are you saying you’re the Ectoplasm Oversuit?”
“Of course not.”
“.……?”
“How could plain armor be able to carry out a conversation with you?”
“Then?”
“Didn’t I already say so?” The Emperor of Blood and Iron expressed his anger. “I used the Ectoplasm Oversuit as a vessel to contain a part of me.”
“Hmm…… is it a type of possession?”
“Well, it’s similar, but I am a part of my memories from when I was alive.”
“.……”
“Let’s stop with the complicated things here. Both of us will only just get headaches anyway.”
“Fine, let’s do that.” Kang Chul-In nodded. “I don’t like getting headaches either.”
“How smart.”
The expression of the two after they came to an agreement was similar.
Annoying things are the worst.
Dragging things out is annoying.
The two hated annoying things.
“Anyway.” Kang Chul-In began to move towards the Emperor of Blood and Iron. “The fight isn’t over.”
“.……”
“Come at me, you lower-level ghost.”
Kang Chul-In clearly expressed his will to continue to fight. Why? It was because he wanted to teach the Emperor of Blood and Iron some manners (even though he wasn’t his actual body).
“I already said it’s useless.”
“That’s your problem.”
“Will you stop only after this suit is destroyed?”
“.……!”
“You must want it…… the greatest armor.”
“.……” Kang Chul-In paused. “What kind of bullshit are you talking about?”
“It’s not bullshit.” The Emperor of Blood and Iron smirked. “I’m saying that there’s nothing you’ll get by beating me up.”
“How come?”
“I’m only a memory, so how can I feel pain?”
“.……!”
“And this Ectoplasm Oversuit is an item that feeds on the mana and mind of its user. It’ll be destroyed after repetitive shock.”
“T-That’s……!”
“It hasn’t been able to absorb mana for at least a thousand years, so it’s in desperate need of some right now. Don’t do anything weird and step back.”
“Mm……!”
“No matter how much you fight, you’ll gain nothing. You’ll only lose this Ectoplasm Oversuit.”
\r \r \r
Crunch! Kang Chul-In ground his teeth.
However, he didn’t attack the Emperor of Blood and Iron. It was because it was a waste.
***
“You never know.”
“.……?”
“You might find the Ectoplasm Oversuit that the Emperor of Blood and Iron wore when he was alive.”
“Is that a good thing?”
“Of course! From what I know, there is no artifact greater than the Ectoplasm Oversuit in all of Pangaea.”
“Even Kaiforce and Mitra?”
“I guarantee that it’s superior to them.”
“.……!”
“I have no idea what it’s made of although I once called myself the greatest blacksmith of all time.”
***
His conversation with Vulkan flashed through his head.
“Luck……”
Kang Chul-In took Kaiforce back in.
“You were lucky, lower-level ghost.”
“Right back at you.”
“.……?”
“If I were alive, you would be dead already.”
“This bastard……?”
“Well, that won’t happen so don’t be too worried. I’m you and you’re me. We share the same soul, so there’s no way we’ll meet as complete beings.”
Shake, shake……!
Kang Chul-In held on tightly to his patience. ……
Greed is the problem.
Normally, he would’ve attacked the Emperor of Blood and Iron regardless of whether he felt pain or not, but with the Ectoplasm Oversuit at stake, he couldn’t do that.
“Whew……”
“Let’s not cause a scene and do things smoothly.”
The Emperor of Blood and Iron sighed, then spoke amicably to Kang Chul-In.
“Do what?”
“That……”
“No.” Kang Chul-In cut him off. “Before that.”
“.……?”
“I think you said it earlier.”
“What?”
“That you lost.”
“Hmm…… that’s……”
He thought for a moment to himself, like his pride was hurt, and gave Kang Chul-In the reply he wanted.
“You’re right.”
“What?”
“.……”
“Say it clearly.”
“I……”
“Quickly.”
The Emperor of Blood and Iron was a man of strong pride, like Kang Chul-In.
“.……Lost.”
“Who?”
“Me.”
“Clearly?”
“I…… lost.”
A smile grew on Kang Chul-In’s face. Now they were tied. Even though the Ectoplasm Oversuit was being held on the other side, Kang Chul-In had gained “victory.” Neither of them liked uncomfortable endings like this, but one thing was for sure……
“N-No!” It was that Dorian Explorer was fucked. “T-This is a scam! A scam!” Dorian shouted.
“Ke……!”
This was what Kang Chul-In was after. The bet. With the declaration of loss by the Emperor of Blood and Iron, Kang Chul-In would earn 150,000 gold!
“Pushover?”
“.……”
“Hand the money over.”
“.……”
“Ah, there’s no way you’d carry around that much money so give it to me as soon as we return.”
“.……”
“I’ll use it well.”
“.……”
“There was a lot of money going out because of the refugees. Things worked out well. Hehehe……!” Kang Chul-In laughed
“Ugh……!” And Dorian pulled at his hair. “Ugggghhh……!”
“Hm? Pushover?”
“.……What.”
“Where are you going?”
“To find some water.”
“.……?”
“So I can drown and die! Why, do you have a problem with that?”
Dorian began to head back down on the path they took. It seemed like he was going to look for some money.
“How fun.” The Emperor of Blood and Iron snorted. “Never a boring day?”
“Of course not.” Kang Chul-nodded. “That guy is fun to play with.”
“He’s skilled?”
“The best.”
“Hm?”
“He’s skilled and loyal. Although it’s a problem that he’s a bit of a pushover.” That was Kang Chul-In’s true review of Dorian. “Anyway.” He then turned to the Emperor of Blood and Iron. “Why did you call me here?”
“I wanted to give you a gift.”
“A gift? What kind of gift?”
“The Ectoplasm Oversuit.”
“.……!”
“It’s a keepsake. I thought I should give a present to my reincarnation when he was able to take over Esmeralda.”
“What in the world……”
“It’s true.”
“.……”
“Take it, I’ll give you the greatest artifact in Pangaea.”
“Just what……”
“And of course, it’s free.”
And with that, the illusion of the Emperor of Blood and Iron began to fade away……
“.……” The speechless Kang Chul-In watched the scene. “This bastard really……”
The guy was spiteful. He had used the fact that he was dead and didn’t allow Kang Chul-In to say anything. Just then, iridescent silk clothing rolled on the floor. It was a stroke of luck that he hadn’t imagined.
***
“Oho.” Saturnus smiled amusedly at Milenius’ report. “So my son reincarnated as a guy named Kang Chul-In and is fighting for control of this land against you?”
“Yes, master……”
“Ke……! As expected of my son.”
“.……?”
“Since he has my blood, he shouldn’t do anything less than that.” Even though the Emperor of Blood and Iron had caused him to be locked in ■■■■■, that was what he thought. “He must be having fun…… creating his own kingdom, living his best life as a king.”
“M-Master……”
“Then I will……”
“.……!”
“I should crack his fun to pieces, hm? Shouldn’t I? My servant?”
“Y-Yes, sir……!”
“Keuk, keuk, keuk……!” Saturnus let out a spine-chilling laugh. “My lovable son…… just wait a bit…… I’ll rip your limbs to pieces, take your wives, and boil your children……!”
“.……!”
“Hahahaha!” There was an air of lunacy around him. “Okay, my servant.”
“Please speak, sir……”
“Tell me. Where is my son? Where can I find my cute and lovable son?”
“Yes, master. Your son, the Emperor of Blood and Iron, is getting ready to attack in Esmeralda……”
“Esmeralda…… Styx?” Saturnus pointed out the battlefield exactly, having been the emperor in the past.
“Yes, master. If you wait in Styx, your son will bring his army.”
“Good.” He nodded. “Let’s go, lead the way.”
“Yes, master.”
“Keuk……!” Saturnus stepped forward with his vicious smile.
The Emperor of Lunacy and Night was about to stain Pangaea with carnage again.
***
After the Emperor of Blood and Iron disappeared, Kang Chul-In stood there, looking at the Ectoplasm Oversuit.
“Hmm……”
He didn’t trust what the Emperor of Blood and Iron said.
“There’s probably some kind of trick……” He examined the Ectoplasm Oversuit for some time, even using his Oraclomind, and soon enough……
“.……!”
He saw something strange. The fabric of the silk was becoming faint.
***
“And this Ectoplasm Oversuit is an item that feeds on the mana and mind of its user. It’ll be destroyed after repetitive shock.”
“It hasn’t been able to absorb mana for at least a thousand years, so it’s in desperate need of some right now. Don’t do anything weird and step back.”
***
The words of the Emperor of Blood and Iron flashed through his head.
The battery’s dead!
“That won’t do.”
He quickly wore the Ectoplasm Oversuit. -
Keuk……!
It was then. -
You’re hooked only after I go this far, reincarnation.
The Emperor of Blood and Iron’s playful voice dug into his eardrums.
“Dammit……!” Realizing that something was wrong, Kang Chul-In’s face crumpled like a demon.
With that……
Chrwak!
The Ectoplasm Oversuit wrapped around his entire body.
Of course he’s fucking around……!
Kang Chul-In realized that he had fallen into a trap when the Ectoplasm Oversuit enveloped his body. He tried to gather all his mana to resist.
You bastard……! ……
?
The pot was calling the kettle black. Who was telling Kang Chul-In that his personality is atrocious?
Crazy bastard…… you think I will buy that? ……
?
What a joke.
You taking over my body? That’s the shittiest thing I’ve ever heard.
The Emperor of Blood and Iron blurred his sentence, as if he was too tired to respond.
Shut the fuck up!
That was the end. The Emperor of Blood and Iron’s voice could no longer be heard.
This is……!
Kang Chul-In could feel some sort of ‘memory’ flowing into his brain. The emperor’s memories…… pieces of archaic information from a thousand years ago were being delivered to him.
***
“Kya~!” Arshelly, my daughter, smiled at me.
Cute.
I finally realized what ‘happiness’ was, as I observed my daughter. What is it about this small being, this infant, that makes me so happy? Is it just because she is my blood-kin? No, that’s not it. The blood that runs in my veins is that of the Aurangzeb family, the most notorious and contaminated family on this continent.
That was the reality for royals. It was the destiny of an Aurangzeb to deem even his parents, spouse and children as political enemies and cut their heads off. I was no exception. I rose to the throne by killing my father, Saturnus, the Emperor of Lunacy and Darkness.
I could be seen as a traitor…… scum who murdered his father. That was my very nature. No euphemism, such as restoring the order, could mask it.
Of course, I have no regrets. Saturnus is the enemy who killed my mothers, brothers and my one true mother. How could I regret killing such a man? I dreamt of being such scum since young, and I am proud to have brought it to fruition.
However……
“Kyaaa……!”
To be honest, I’m afraid. In the future, if I become corrupted with power, or if I can’t suppress my surging lunacy…… If such a day comes…… will I point my sword at this baby who is smiling so brightly at me – my daughter, Arshelly? Just like how my ancestors did?
“Phew.” I couldn’t hold back my sigh. Humans are bound to be corrupted, and I’m no exception. This throne, this power that rules over this vast continent, may corrupt me one day. No, even if I remain uncorrupted, a power struggle between me and my children can happen at any time.
This baby, Arshelly, may challenge me for the throne in the future.
“.……Damn it.” I bit my lower lip in frustration, and a bloody scent filled my nose. That brought me back to reality somewhat. Why am I worrying about a power struggle with my own baby daughter, which may or may not even happen in the distant future?
To feel threatened by a baby girl…… Is that the lunacy of the imperial throne? O possibly the instinct of an Aurangzeb, the inheritor of dirty blood?
“No.” I turned around in response to a voice from behind my back. “You will never do that. Neither will my daughter.”
There…… my most beloved woman was smiling at me. The Empress and the mother to my daughter, as well as my wife, ‘Brynhildr Freyja Norn Arondight’.
“It’s a pointless worry.”
“.……”
“Although it’s an inevitable thought.”
“Inevitable?”
“Because that has been the history of the Aurangzeb family.”
“.……!”
“So you did harbor such bad thoughts.”
I had the chills. I felt naked and exposed.
“That’s not it.”
“What’s not?”
“.……”
“You were thinking that you could become corrupt and that our daughter would point her sword at you in the future, weren’t you?”
I had nothing to say.
What even……
I feared nothing but my wife. My wife always read my mind, and I lied whenever she did to evade the situation.
As a result……
“Dear, you need some scolding.” I always lost. “How could you harbor such bad thoughts?”
“That’s not it……”
“Oh really?”
“.……”
\r \r \r
“Of course, I don’t believe that you truly feared you and our daughter’s corruption.”
“Honestly……”
“No.” Brynhildr shook his head. “You grew up listening to your ancestors’ wrongdoings, so it’s not surprising for you to think that way.”
“I-Is that so?”
“It’d be weirder if you weren’t worried.”
“.…… I see.”
“But don’t worry.”
“.……?”
“You are stronger than any of the previous emperors who ruled this empire. And so is your wife.”
“.……!”
“If you become corrupt, then I will teach you a good lesson. If our daughter becomes corrupt, then we can guide her to the correct path together, couldn’t we?”
“Ah?” What she said made sense. “T-That’s true……”
“Also.”
“.……?”
“Are you that weak to fear your wife and daughter?”
“Weak?”
“If you can’t even look after your own family, then you should stop being the emperor and go fish some Leviathan in the northern archipelago. Don’t you think so?”
She was right. I didn’t even realize that this primitive emotion known as fear was inducing my defense instincts and bloodthirst. In the end, my ancestors (including my father) might have been weaklings, as aptly termed by my wife……
“Also, you are……”
“.……?”
“An extremely lazy person.”
“.……”
“I know that the only reason you remain on the throne is because you don’t have an heir. Aren’t you thinking that being an emperor is cumbersome and tiring?”
What insight. Yes, I found being an emperor quite troublesome…… all the time. I just wanted to be a retiree.
“Don’t be worried because of your ancestors’ past wrongdoings, which you are not obliged to follow. That’s hardly like you. My husband – my daughter’s father – is totally different from those foolish men.”
“Of course I am.” I nodded to support her statement. That’s right. I was totally different from my ancestors. I was supposed to be eliminated, but I died once and instead revived through the Wheel of Resurrection. The reason why I could rise to become the emperor was because of my thirst for revenge on that ‘damn bastard’ and a sense of rebellion to escape from my dirty descent.
There was a difference in ‘purpose’ between me and my ancestors. They aimed to claim power from the very start, but I didn’t. I just wanted to take revenge on my father, and somehow became the emperor during that process.
I’m someone who became the emperor by chance. Therefore, I would never aim my sword at my family out of fear that they might steal this power.
“Kyaa……!”
That lovely child…… my precious daughter would never threaten me to relinquish my throne. And so what if she did? I could just slap her buttocks or simply give her the throne. My daughter…… was that precious to me.
After struggling through mountains of bodies and rivers of blood, my soul tired from such relentless chaos was gently caressed by this child.
“Dumbo.” My wife smiled at me. It was a beautiful and blinding smile.
“Brynhildr.” I wanted to hug her.
“Yes, Your Imperial Majesty?”
“Come here.” I pulled her closer to me so I could embrace her.
“Your Imperial Majesty!” At that moment, an unwelcome guest arrived. “E-Emergency!”
An elderly magician hurriedly rushed in with a blushed face and kneeled in front of me. It was Nilus, an arch mage who synthesized a level 10 spell. He had the power to become a duke or even a king anywhere on this continent. It’s delightful to have such a talent as my loyal subject, but……
“What is it?” I could only respond curtly. After becoming the emperor, I indulged myself in a gigantic pile of work (I often stack up the paperwork for fun, trying to reach the 10 metres high mark) all the time. Naturally, quality time with my wife was extremely important and I didn’t want it to be interrupted.
“That is……”
“.……?”
“A mysterious disease has emerged in Nosferatu!”
Nosferatu. It was located in the northern tundra region.
“A disease?”
“Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.”
“Can’t you just send the medical knights and supplies?”
“B-But……!”
“.……?”
“The victims are transforming into monsters and are attacking our soldiers indiscriminately.”
“Hmm……” It was an interesting report. “A mysterious disease…… transformation…… hmm……”
There had to be a catch.
“A dark magician? Or a necromancer?”
They were all of the same kind.
“I think so too.”
“Right?”
“Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.”
“Then……” I immediately pictured the perfect individual who could resolve this situation.
“Send Count Hector Evans, together with the antimagic knights.”
“Kueh…… that’s a great decision, Your Imperial Majesty!”
Nilus bowed at me.
What’s great? It’s obvious.
However, I didn’t appreciate his praise. Hector Evans, also named the Spell Thirster, was a knight with a unique spell called ‘Spellthirst’, which allowed him to absorb any magic below level 10. In other words, he was a natural counter to magicians. Even a child could think of sending Hector Evans to subjugate a dark magician or a necromancer. Thus, there wasn’t a tiny bit of reason to receive praise.
But I didn’t reprimand Nilus. This old geezer had always been like this. It wasn’t flattery. I know how loyal he is.
“Send a message to Hector Evans.”
“Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.”
“Tell him to punish that daring bastard on behalf of me and my empire.”
“Certainly, Your Imperial Majesty!”
“Ah, and also……” I added. “Tell Hector Evans that……”
“.……?”
“If the enemy turns out to be stronger than expected, or if there is a risk of casualty amongst the antimagic knights……”
“Your Imperial Majesty……”
“Tell him not to overdo himself, and report immediately to me.”
“.……”
“The antimagic knights are valuable human resources. I can’t just let them be sacrificed in vain.”
I couldn’t look Nilus in the eye.
“Haha…… Your Imperial Majesty……” He seemed to have read my mind and let out a hearty laughter.
“Hmph!” And so did my wife.
“.……”
I remained quiet to play dumb.
“Hohoho…… w-what are the chances?” Nilus spoke with cold sweat.
That sly old geezer! He was definitely conscious of my wife’s mood.
“There shouldn’t be a need for Your Imperial Majesty to personally join the conquest!”
“.……”
“Unless there is a demon king – no, a great demon king – what are the chances?”
“I-Is that so……?”
“Yes, Your Imperial Majesty!”
With that, my escape plan was brought to naught. What a pity. I desperately wanted to escape the dreadful paperwork…… To be honest, I even wished for a great demon king to appear.
Rummaging through the paperwork was just that agonizing.
“T-Then I shall excuse myself. Hohoho……” Nilus hurriedly left the scene.
“Dear.” Immediately, I could hear my wife’s furious voice.
“W-Well then, see ya……”
I tried to leave but,
“Where do you think you are going!”
It was futile.
But what I didn’t know was that this eccentric phenomenon at Nosferatu would eventually lead to an apocalypse.
Two months later, I received an interesting report.
“Your Imperial Majesty……” An elderly subject, Alfred Northlord De Saedius, the great Vampire lord, reported to me. “C-Count Hector Evans……!”
“.……?”
“He returned without a single remaining antimagic knight.”
“He lost all of them? Annihilation?”
“Yes, Your Imperial Majesty. Also……” What Alfred reported afterwards was even more shocking. “Count Hector Evans……”
“.……?”
“.…… Lost both of his arms……!”
At that instant, I realized that something extraordinary was happening in Nosferatu.
Since that event, two years have slowly passed by.
“Y-Your Imperial Majesty……” Alfred Northlord De Saedius spoke. “Count Cyclone and Count David, they……!”
“Stop.” I cut him off because it was obvious what he was about to say. They had lost. In fact, they had lost a strategic location.
Grit……!
A fresh scent of blood filled my nose. I could feel pain from my lower lip. I can’t even fathom how many times I’ve bit my lower lip.
Grip!
I tightened my fist.
Crack……!
The throne’s armrest shattered just like my heart; into a million pieces. ……
Just like this, so easily, both gone.
Count Cyclone and David had both been my loyal subordinates since my rebel days, but now they were dead. Even I, a cold-blooded emperor, could hardly digest this news.
But I couldn’t show it. I resisted the urge to destroy everything around me and scream my lungs out.
I was the emperor, a father to all my people, and a barrier who should protect the empire from the northern evil. I wasn’t allowed to falter. This was just work. Simply work. Merely…… the death of two precious subordinates.
“Your Imperial Majesty……” Alfred continued with his report. “T-That’s…… not the end…… your Imperial Majesty……”
“.……”
“I’m sorry to report, but, even the temporary base at Dhaulagiri……”
Suddenly, I could feel my ice-cold façade collapse.
“All 150,000 soldiers……”
“.……”
“N-None of them survived……”
The Dhaulagiri temporary base was the most important strategic location of all.
“Your Imperial Majesty…… the enemy……”
“Stop.”
“Y-Your Imperial Majesty……”
“I said stop.”
“However……”
“Stop!”
I blasted a roar in the tent that was so great that the whole camp shook from the echo. ……
Damn it.
“Excuse yourself for now.” I told Alfred. “I don’t want to hear it anymore.”
“Your Imperial Majesty……”
“I want to rest, Alfred.”
“.……!”
“It’s a tiring night.”
Defeat, defeat, death, and more defeat. Bad news back to back took a toll on my mental strength.
“Yes, your Imperial Majesty……” Alfred bowed. “Then I shall excuse myself. Please…… even just for today…… rest well……”
I did not reply to him.
After he had left,
“There’s no…… solution……” I pondered deep into the night. “Nothing……”
The enemy was too strong. No matter if it was my army or my subordinates, absolutely nobody survived the encounter with the enemy.
“God damn it…… I should have realised it then……”
Two years ago, when the mysterious disease that swept over the whole of the Nosferatu region appeared, I did not expect it to be a foreshadowing for worse things to come.
Even I could not fight against the five Agnagas, the enemies, who were beings from another world.
These aliens suddenly made their appearances one day and demanded all living things bow before them.
There was no exception. Humans, Elves, Dwarves, and even dragons…… they wanted all to submit to them.
Of course, nobody took the five Agnagas seriously at first, including myself. Such a lame threat could not affect me, who ruled the entire continent. Humans were strong. Ever since the dragons taught us how to use mana, a few humans, including myself, had long since surpassed the limits of our species.
Magic-engineering was also extremely significant. The invention of magic-engineered cannons and engines was as groundbreaking as the discovery of mana.
Therefore, the five Agnagas’ threat was nothing but bullshit to me and the human race, that is until they managed to hunt down the ancient green dragon, Theseus.
“Phew.”
\r \r \r
I let out a long sigh as I recalled Theseus’ corpse hung up at the Agnaga army’s frontlines. Even I couldn’t guarantee a win against a 6000-year-old monster like an ancient dragon. The Agnagas hunted it down to warn and display their might in front of all living organisms in Pangaea.
“We are this strong. Surrender. You don’t stand a chance.”
It was like they were voicing this with that action.
“Is suicide my only option?”
Out of frustration, a ridiculous remark slipped out of my mouth. I still had two more lives because of the Wheel of Three Lives.
I had already used the Wheel of Resurrection in my battle with Aventador, the Knight of the Crimson Flames. The Wheels of Reincarnation and Return were still available.
But…… even those could not resolve this bleak situation.
If I still had the Wheel of Resurrection, maybe I could have brought one Agnaga down with me. Unfortunately, that was impossible with only the Wheels of Reincarnation and Return. Even if I activated the Wheel of Reincarnation, the continent would have fallen in the Agnagas’ hands before my reincarnation could regain sufficient strength.
It was even worse for the Wheel of Return, because the Wheel of Three Lives had to be used in sequence: Resurrection, Reincarnation and Return. To use the Wheel of Return, I would have to wait at least 15 to 30 years for my reincarnation’s past-self to awaken his powers. The whole continent would already be destroyed by the Agnagas, so what use was there to try to change the past?
“Hu……”
Devoid of solutions, all I could do was sigh. Of course, I knew that I wasn’t being myself – Julius Berlineta Pon Aurangzeb. However…… the accumulating defeats, repeated retreats, deaths of my loyal subjects, and the miniscule chance of winning were all shaking me to the core.
If only I could charge into the enemy base and kill those damn Agnagas myself…… but I couldn’t afford to act so flippantly, since my death would have a huge impact on this continent. Being an emperor is no easy task. As the leader of the entire human race, even my smallest actions carried an immense weight.
“By hook or by crook……” I clenched my teeth. “Never…… huehue……!”
The situation was gloomy, but strangely enough I let out a laugh.
“I will never succumb to you bastards……! Even if the human race goes extinct…… I…… will destroy you by any means……! To the very last moment…… kek……”
“Impressive.”
Suddenly, I could hear a woman’s voice.
When did she come? I had greatly heightened senses thanks to Oraclomind. There weren’t many individuals who could hide their presence and approach me.
In other words……
An assassin.
A skilled one had come!
Swish! I whipped out both Kaiforce and Mitra and turned around.
“You are fast.”
“.……”
“That speed…… my head would be cut off in the blink of an eye.”
The enemy did not resist. Instead, she evaluated my speed astonishingly while……
“.……!” -
Blocking a fully swung Kaiforce with one finger.
“Hello?”
“.……”
“It’s a great evening.”
It was a young lady, an extremely beautiful one. She also seemed somewhat special. Her long, black hair flowed down her shoulders. Even I could not appraise the depths of her wisdom, which seemed to originate from years of experience.
“A dragon, huh.” I could roughly identify the stranger. “Black hair…… a black dragon?”
“Yes. [1] ” She replied. “I’m a dragon.”
“Not a tone befitting of a dragon.”
“Not all dragons are rude. But I do know where you are coming from. The way my fellow dragons treat other living things…… it embarrasses me.”
“Ancient?”
I realized that she was much wiser than a typical dragon. If not, there was no way a dragon would speak formally to a human.
“Yes, I’m an ancient dragon.”
“I see.”
“To be exact……” She spoke. “I’m Emilia, the ancient black dragon.”
“.……!”
“You know me?”
Why wouldn’t I? Emilia was the perpetrator who led to the downfall of the Sharada Empire.
“Ah, that’s right. I once erased an entire empire off the map. The humans might have recorded my name down in their history books.”
“Well, I don’t blame you.”
I hadn’t had the slightest intention to criticize her horrible misdeed in the past.I would have done the same. In fact, I could have been worse than her. If someone kidnapped my daughter, I would destroy not only an empire but the whole world.
“Anyways.” I asked Emilia. “Why are you here?”
“To form an alliance.”
“Alliance?”
I was surprised. Since when did a dragon request to form an alliance with a human? It was almost unbelievable.
“Yes, that’s right.” Emilia replied. “What we need is an alliance transcending species. Those Agnagas…… we dragons can’t stop them by ourselves.”
“.……!”
“Are you shocked?”
“I can’t say I’m not.”
I acknowledged Emilia’s words without question. I never thought I could hear such a humble remark from an arrogant species.
“Sad, but it’s true.”
“Is that the consensus amongst the dragons?”
“No.”
“.……?”
“This is my personal judgment.”
“.……”
“I, Emilia, the ancient black dragon, believe that those Agnagas are difficult to fend off, even if all the species in Pangaea combine their strengths.”
“That’s why you requested an alliance from me – the emperor?”
“Yes.”
“What do the other dragons think?”
“Actually…… most of them do not recognize the severity of the situation. Many dragons believe that Theseus, the ancient green dragon, was killed due to his negligence and overly gentle character. In fact, some dragons even wish for the Agnagas to downsize the human population.”
“.……”
“It’s a pity……”
“I see…… to request for an alliance despite such circumstances…… then you would have to persuade the other stubborn dragons. I assume that’s not going to be easy, even as an ancient dragon.”
I had a point. Dragons were stubborn and arrogant creatures. Emilia, who visited me personally to have a tranquil conversation, was an exception.
“That’s not necessary.”
“Not necessary? What do you……”
“I only need to give a command.”
“.……!”
“I don’t need to persuade anyone.”
Immediately, I could deduce Emilia’s true identity.
“Yes, that’s right.” She seemed to have read my mind. “I am the current Dragon Lord.”
“Dragon Lord……!”
“Yes. I, Emilia, the ancient black dragon, came to visit the leader of the human race to officially propose an alliance.”
“.……!”
“Also……” Emilia added. “I would also like to make a personal request.”
“A personal request……?”
Something was strange. I was beginning to feel uneasy.
“Yes.”
“What kind of personal request would the Dragon Lord make……”
“In the future……”
“.……?”
“In the distant future……”
“Yes?”
“Please…… take care of my daughter, Desdemona, the black dragon.”
“What do you mean by take care of? Isn’t Desdemona already a fully-grown dragon? Why would I……”
“I’m not asking you to be her guardian.”
“.……?”
“Please be my son-in-law.”
“S-Son-in-law? What are you……”
“In other words, be my daughter’s husband.”
Bam! For a moment, I thought I was hit by a blunt weapon on the head. I stood there dumbfounded.
What kind of bullshit was she spouting?
[1] She is speaking in a formal tone.
“.……” I was too shocked to even say a word. Marriage? Me? With a dragon?
“Erm…… excuse me but.” I tried my best to avoid hurting Emilia’s feelings. “Let me ask you something.”
“Sure.”
“By any chance……”
“.……?”
“Have you gone senile?”
“.……”
“I knew it……”
“.……”
“I should have known when someone like the Dragon Lord proposed an alliance between dragons and humans……”
I dared to say that Emilia had definitely gone senile.
“It seems old age affects everyone, regardless of your species.”
“.……”
“Do dragons have old folks’ homes……”
“No!” Seemingly disturbed by my crude remark, Emilia shouted. “Nobody’s senile.”
“O-Oh, is that so?”
“Of course.”
“.……”
“A dragon’s mental stability is permanent. Diseases like dementia do not exist in our dictionary.”
“Then why did you spout such rubbish……”
“Rubbish?”
“W-Were you being serious?”
“You thought I was joking? Me, the Dragon Lord?”
I could not rebut her statement, but her request for me to marry her daughter still sounded absurd.
“You don’t believe me, do you?”
“Of course not.”
“But I’m being serious.”
Serious? I began to fear Emilia.
“Why……?”
“My daughter……”
“.……?”
“The last dragon…… she is destined to live alone as the sole survivor of the species……”
“What does that……!”
“This war.” Emilia placed emphasis in her words. “As we strive to protect Pangaea from the Agnagas, there is a very low chance of survival for us dragons.”
“.……!”
“Currently…… there’s only 25 dragons left, including me and my daughter. We are strong, but there’s only a few of us.”
“I see……”
“The Agnagas are stronger. To protect Pangaea in this battle…… the extinction of our species seems inevitable.”
“.……Is the situation that dire?”
I couldn’t believe Emilia’s words. Dragons were the strongest of all creatures, but even 25 of them couldn’t promise a victory in this war against the Agnagas?
So it’s impossible to win this battle after all.
I finally realized that the despair that I had tasted for the past two years was not unfounded. I had been fighting an unwinnable battle since the very start.
“In any case.” Emilia added. “There’s not a chance that the current you and my daughter will get married.”
“What do you mean?” I couldn’t comprehend her words. “Didn’t you just ask me to marry your daughter?”
“I did.”
“Then what nonsense are you……”
“You will die.”
“.……!”
“You are strong. I know that you are the greatest amongst the human race, with power even comparable to an ancient dragon.”
“.……”
“As such, you will have to join this battle to save the world, which may lead to your demise.”
“I don’t quite get you.”
“However……”
“However……?”
“Your reincarnation.”
\r \r \r
“.……!”
“I plan to leave my daughter to your reincarnation’s care.”
It gradually began to make sense.
“You…… knew?”
My eyes met Emilia’s. Her dragon eyes gleamed with an immeasurable wisdom accumulated over countless number of years.
“The Wheel of Three Lives……” Emilia began to speak about my greatest secret. “It’s an ability created by Murciélago, the first Dragon Lord, to prepare against the end of the world.”
“.……!”
“The dungeon that you had discovered coincidentally happened to be Murciélago’s grave.”
“I see……”
“As long as you have the Wheel of Three Lives, you are destined to become the messiah who can save the world.”
“.……”
“Also……” Emilia continued her speech. “The reconstruction and revival of this world.”
“.……!”
“That’s right. You are responsible for not only the world’s present, but also its future, not to forget my daughter as well.”
Shiver……! A chill ran down my spine. I hadn’t the slightest clue about the meaning behind the Wheel of Three Lives. “Messiah,” she says. “Save the world,” she says. “Responsible for this world’s reconstruction,” she says. I didn’t know that my life had to shoulder such a huge responsibility.
“Don’t worry, leader of the human race.” Emilia spoke. “You only have to focus on the present.”
“The present……?”
“Your reincarnation can be responsible for the world’s reconstruction and my daughter.”
“.……!”
“You and your reincarnation will share the same soul, but you two are distinct identities. Your traits may be similar, but your background can be totally different.”
“Ah?” I could follow Emilia’s explanation. “So it’s none of my business?”
“That’s right.”
“Then I……”
“You just have to leave it to your reincarnation. Buck-passing…… there’s nothing more attractive than this concept for leaders like you.”
She was right. I often resisted the urge to dump all my paperwork on my underlings and just vanish.
“Reconstruction of this world? What do you mean?”
I noticed a strange assumption in Emilia’s speech.
“You make it sound like this world is eventually going to be destroyed.”
“Not totally.”
“Then?”
“It’ll be a lose-lose situation.”
“.……!”
“But even that may be too idealistic.”
My heart sank.
“Even if we win this battle, we won’t be able to eradicate the Agnagas completely.”
“Why?” I inquired.
“They……”
“.……”
“.…… Have someone who can control time and space.”
“W-What……!?”
“Time Lord Milenius…… as long as he exists, the Agnagas will return even if we win the battle. It will definitely happen, be it 500 or 1000 years later.”
“God damn it……!”
Today’s victory might not promise a bright future. That meant that this devastating battle could be nothing but futile. Were my soldiers and subordinates at the frontlines dying in vain?
“That won’t do. “
It was a difficult truth to swallow. I refused to let any sacrifice go to waste. Millions of people have been killed. I had to win this battle on their behalf, and also prevent this damn Milenius from turning the table.
“That’s why I wish to make a proposal.”
“What proposal?”
“An arrangement for the future generation.”
“.……!”
“Time Lord Milenius is undoubtedly going to try to exert its evil influence on this continent again. That’s why we have to start preparing from now. We have to devise plans to protect this world’s future – to not let our victory go to waste.”
I agreed wholeheartedly to her idea.
“Count me in.”
As the leader of the human race, I could not afford to reject Emilia’s proposition.
“Good.” Emilia seemed satisfied by my decision. “Then let’s begin immediately. Time’s not on our side. We have to move quickly. Not only do we have to win the war, but we also have to carry on with the project.”
“Project?”
“I’m referring to the plan for the future generation.”
“So fast? What’s the solution……”
“I’m the Dragon Lord, remember?”
“You already have a plan in mind?”
“Yes.” Emilia nodded. “It’s called ‘Project Erinyes.’”
“.……!”
“This is the project that will be responsible for this world’s future.”
At that moment, I could not fully understand what the [Project Erinyes] was about. However, I instinctively knew that only this could save the world from the Agnagas……
3 years passed since that eventful day. While battling against the Agnagas, I roamed around the whole continent to carry out Project Erinyes. My role was to empower my reincarnation with great strength to protect the world from the second coming of the Agnagas.
I left no stones unturned. Through Agrippa, the Archwitch, I learned more about my reincarnation and prepared countless obstacles and challenges on his path to stimulate his growth. In addition, I did not forget to pass on the lovers whom I failed to take responsibility for.
He was going to be tremendously misfortunate with women, but I didn’t care…… as long as it wasn’t me. So what if my reincarnation is nagged to death by his many ‘wives’ or dies from too much sexual intercourse? That was none of my business.
To be honest……
Eat this, you bastard.
I also wanted my reincarnation to suffer tremendously like I had with women.
However, this didn’t seem enough. The main theme of System Erinyes entailed summoning 300 lords and 297,700 warriors from a different world who can rescue and reconstruct this world. My reincarnation would be one of the 300 lords.
He will go on a rampage.
I believed that my reincarnation, who would have been living an ordinary life previously, would gain strength exponentially and eventually go insane.
“Your Imperial Majesty…… your reincarnation…… will be consumed by his overwhelming power…… become a notorious tyrant…… and eventually meet his demise……”
Agrippa agreed with me.
“No choice then.”
As a result, I added in the Wheel of Return to [Project Erinyes], disguised as an ability called [Soul Backup]. This would allow my reincarnation to live a second life. After an initial round of failure, my reincarnation would hopefully realize his mistakes, develop into a true sovereign and claim victory over the Agnagas……
Another year passed by as I prepared everything.
“It’s complete.”
When the war between the alliance (led by me and Emilia) and the Agnagas was coming to an end, Emilia finally succeeded in completing [Project Erinyes].
“With this, our plan is finished.”
“Good work.”
“Yes, it was not easy……”
Emilia’s face was full of fine wrinkles.
This was surprising. A polymorphed ancient dragon – the Dragon Lord, in fact – had new wrinkles on her face. It was an indication of the effort she had put in to finish [Project Erinyes]……
“Now……” Emilia spoke. “We’re only left with the selection process.”
“Right.”
“You can take care of the human candidates. I can take care of the remaining species.”
“Will do.”
The selection process aimed to choose living organisms that would be part of the system. [System Erinyes] was akin to Noah’s Ark. Knowledge, intelligence and all living organisms except for dragons were to be stored in Erinyes. In the distant future, this would allow the 300 Lords from the other world called Earth to reconstruct this world.
“Ah, and also.”
Moreover……
“Let’s incorporate a ranking system.”
“A ranking system?”
“Is there a hard and fast rule that my reincarnation must be the one to save the world?”
I despised the stubborn way of thinking that ‘it has to be me’. The messiah didn’t have to be me. Right, anyone would do. As long as the new hero can protect this world from the second coming of the Agnagas and make our sacrifices worthwhile, nobody would care who he or she was.
“Let’s make the 300 Lords compete against each other. The strongest individual who rises to the imperial throne shall save and reconstruct the world. It doesn’t have to be my reincarnation.”
“Julius……!”
“Let’s do it.”
I refused to compromise.
“.…… Alright then.”
Emilia could not persuade me otherwise and incorporated the ranking system into Erinyes in the end.
***
What the fuck……!?
Kang Chul-In, who stood in the Emperor of Blood and Iron’s shoes, could finally realize the truth about the mechanism behind the ‘Great Summoning’!
At that moment, the Emperor of Blood and Iron spoke to Kang Chul-In. ……
!
Accept what? ……
!
Information superiority……!
The Emperor of Blood and Iron added.
With that, ……
!
All the data from the Emperor of Blood and Iron’s life experience flowed into Kang Chul-In’s mind.
Project Erinyes was about to be complete after incorporating the ranking system, but Emilia still didn’t rest. Countless artifacts were added into the system as [Quest Rewards] or [Shop Items]. All the knowledge and abilities of this world were contained in the system as well.
Furthermore, magic-engineered inventions were added into Erinyes.
“Rest a while, Emilia.”
I immediately proceeded on with my mission to give Emilia a break. I was in charge of the final step. I selected 20 million humans regardless of their age or gender and placed them into [System Erinyes].
“The selected ones…… is it a blessing, or a curse…… I have no idea……”
Observing them gave me mixed feelings. They had a future…… someday. A new life would unfold for these people when the 300 lords and 299700 warriors from the other world arrive. However, they had to lose all of their memories of their current lives. Moreover, I could not promise them that the future would hold a better prospect than their present.
“Likely a curse……”
I valued my present memory over the future. If I was given the opportunity to enter Erinyes, I would’ve abandoned the future. After all, happy memories could be found even in those days when I was exiled with my mother.
I even cherished the memories of when my father – Saturnus, that damned bastard – sent me to the Tundria temporary base camp as a slave soldier to fight the barbarians. The chills, anxiety, fear and thrill of my first ever battle, the sense of achievement that I felt when I acknowledged my survival, the half-rotten piece of meat that I ate voraciously on the brink of starvation……
“Die!”
And that spark of joy when I finally sliced Saturnus’ head off. That feeling was simply irreplaceable.
Moreover……
“Your Imperial Majesty!”
“As expected from Your Imperial Majesty!”
“Your humble servant pledges loyalty to Your Imperial Majesty!”
My subjects and,
“Dear!”
My most beloved woman.
“Daddy~! Daddyyy~!”
Our precious daughter as well. I lacked the confidence to live on without these memories. I didn’t want to in the first place. Who cares about the future, truly?
“Hu.” I let out a long sigh. “What an agonizing task.”
Indeed, the selection process was not easy. Amongst the selected candidates, there was bound to be people who shared my opinion……
“Is it done?” Emilia asked when the selection process was about to come to an end.
“Still left…… one…… more……” I struggled to reply to her question. The last candidate remained.
“I see……”
“.……”
“It’s going to be tough, but please…… try to get through it well……”
“.……”
“It won’t be easy……”
I did not reply to Emilia’s consolation. No, I couldn’t.
Grasp!
I tightened both fists.
Grit!
And clenched my teeth.
Damn it……!
I wanted to scream my lungs out. Who the hell created such a fucked-up situation? God? Yes, it must be God. If God really existed, I wanted to grab him by the collar and ask him the reason for creating those Agnagas.
“Let’s go.”
However, I suppressed my emotions and began to make my way. I had no choice. All I could do was put the final selected candidate into [System Erinyes].
“F-Father……!”
“My dear daughter……”
“N-No! I don’t want to!”
“.……”
“I want to stay with mother and father! I don’t want to go to sleep! No! I don’t want to!”
My daughter. My lovely daughter. The most beautiful, lovely, kind and mature child in the world was whining at me. She didn’t want to go. She wanted to stay with me. My heart ached so badly, as if it was going to shatter into a million pieces.
\r \r \r
“My dear daughter…… you are n……”
“No!”
“.……!”
“I don’t want to be a nice daughter anymore! Never!”
That was Arshelly’s first and final rebellion, the very last time I could see Arshelly show these kinds of emotions.
“Father…… daddy……! I don’t want……! Sob…… sob-sob…… P-please, don’t leave me alone……! I don’t want to sleep……! I want to stay by your side…… Please? I will be a good child. Arshelly will behave, so please?”
It was getting hard to watch. Word after word, Arshelly’s voice was making my heart ache.
Was there any moment…… more painful…… than this……?
Just one, perhaps, when my mother died in Saturnus’ hands. That experience was as devastating as this.
“Daddy…… mommy……!”
When Arshelly realized that I couldn’t be persuaded, she began to plead with my wife.
Drip……! My wife was struggling to hold her tears in. She was sobbing silently. Of course, she was in as much agony as I was.
“Mommy…… I don’t want to…… I want to stay by your side forever…… sob…… sob sob……”
Arshelly refused to give up.
“I-If I miss you……” Arshelly began to tear up. “What do I do? If I miss you two, how can I endure……?”
At that moment.
Brrrr……! I felt an emotion that could not be described in words. I couldn’t take it anymore. If I continued to hear my daughter’s pleas, my difficult decision might go down the drain.
No, it definitely would.
“Arshelly……”
With that, I stretched my arms towards her.
Ooooong! As I held Arshelly tightly in my arms,my powers began to torrent and put my daughter’s biological activity to rest.
“D-Daddy……!”
“My dear daughter, Arshelly……”
“N-No…… I don’t want…… I……”
“This horrible father of yours……”
“Daddy……”
“Loves you very much……” I could feel tears dripping down my cheeks. “I love you, my dear daughter……”
But I did not stop. Rather, I couldn’t. I had to stay strong.
“I love you…… I love you…… I really really…… love you…… my dear daughter……”
“.……ddy.”
“Love you……”
“D……dd……y……m……mmy……”
With that,
Ssssss…… My lovely daughter Arshelly closed her eyes and laid dormant in her specially crafted cradle.
“D-Dear! Heuk……!” Immediately, Brynhildr threw herself into my arms. “Sob…… sob sob…… our daughter…… our poor daughter…… sob……”
“.……”
“What do we do now……? I miss her…… heuk……”
She was crestfallen. I couldn’t say anything to comfort her.
I want to…… die……
It was because I felt the same way as her……
“Please…… please live a happy life…… my dear daughter……”
With that, I gently kissed Arshelly on her cheek.I would definitely miss this warmth from Arshelly’s cheek.
She was the last selected candidate. After Arshelly had fallen asleep, the last battle commenced.
Roarrrrrr……! All the dragons soared into the air.
“Mennnnnnnnnn!”
As the commander-in-chief, I bellowed in my loudest voice towards the alliance army.
“Chargeeeeeeeeee!”
That signaled the start of the final battle between the alliance and the Agnagas. The battle lasted 3 days and nights.
Kill, kill, kill……!
I cut down enemy after enemy in this unprecedented chaos.
“Julius……!” When I regained my consciousness, “Don’t…… don’t turn around…… Julius…… my dear love……”
My wife, Brynhildr, was dying.
“Brynhildr……!”
“Face…… face the front……”
“.……!”
“You…… my dear…… can’t turn around to face me……”
My heart ached again.
“Go…… you are the leader of the human race…… This world’s Messiah…… so don’t care about me……”
“.……”
“My last moment…… cannot be so unsightly…… Julius…… I wish to be…… beautiful in your memories…… I love you…… all the time…… forever……”
My wife’s voice began to fade away.
Grip……! But I did not turn around. If I did, she would definitely be disappointed.
“Go…… Julius……!”
“.……”
“Hurry…… claim the victory…… Don’t let our parting…… be in vain…… my dear love……!”
That was the end. I couldn’t hear my wife anymore. It was a farewell. Even during her last moments, I could only hear her voice. I couldn’t even manage to take one last look at her face.
“I love…… you…… Brynhildr……”
Grasp! I tightened my grip around my sword.
“I…… I will kill them all…… every single one of them……!”
I began to move. This intense battle was about to end.
I promise…… our farewell will not go to waste……
I recalled my wife’s last words and charged towards the enemy.
“Human……!” The last enemy spoke to me. “We are the only ones left on this battlefield.”
The enemy, which could not be defined by any word, had already defeated Emilia.
“I’m surprised. I never expected to face such strong beings in this world. I’ve conquered countless worlds, but you all are the first to impress me. I admire your courage and bond. What is your name? I’m Rindermergel, the Relentless Predator, the one who consumes the stars.”
Rindermergel the Relentless Predator. That was the name of the perpetrator who destroyed my happiness and this world.
“Answer me. What is your name?”
So, I replied.
“Your mom?”
“What did you say……!”
“Your mom.”
“.……!”
“Why, do you have a dick stuck in your earhole? You can’t hear me, can you?”
“What is this……”
“Shut the fuck up, asshole. How dare you speak, motherfucker?”
I began to swear profusely at Rindermergel. As the Emperor, I had never sworn in my entire life before this, but now, I had to. The Emperor’s elegance? Charisma? They were useless now, because everyone was dead. I was the only one left in this world, so who cares if I spout some vulgarities? It was the final battle anyway…… the very last moment.
I had to swear to get some load off my chest.
“Shut the fuck up and just die, you fucker.”
Simultaneously, I whipped out my ultimate trump card. ……
A Joker.
The Emperor of Blood and Iron deployed his ‘Joker’ card, which led to both his and Rindermergel’s demise. Kang Chul-In could not comprehend how the Emperor of the Blood and Iron defeated Rindermergel, because the emperor’s old memory was truncated after his final speech.
However, he could see one thing.
“For…… the future.”
It was the Emperor of Blood and Iron’s final state of mind.
To protect this world, no, for the reconstruction of this world, he sacrificed himself without hesitation when he could have instead been reborn as an Earthling and live a normal life without a care about this world.
The Emperor of Blood and Iron truly strived for a great cause!
“How was it?”
Kang Chul-In heard the Emperor of Blood and Iron’s voice.
“.…… Emperor of Blood and Iron.” Kang Chul-In stared at the Emperor, who stood just in front of him. “Where is this?”
“Here.”
The Emperor of Blood and Iron tapped his own head.
“Whose?”
“Yours, of course. Who else? I’m already dead.”
“True……”
“To be honest……”
“.……?”
“I did have some pathetic thoughts.”
“Pathetic thoughts?”
“For example, stealing the body of my reincarnation, Kang Chul-In.”
“.……!”
“Ah, of course……”
The Emperor of Blood and Iron added.
“Those who share the same soul can’t take over each other’s body…… but there’s still a way.”
“A way……?”
“I can erase your memories.”
“.……!”
“And inject my own memories into your body.”
What a ghastly statement.
“If I really wanted to steal your body, then it’s more efficient to erase the memories of the individual called Kang Chul-In and replace them with my memories. It’s less risky too.”
“Risk?”
“The one who got his body stolen would constantly fight back to reclaim it.”
“Ah……!”
“But what can he do when all of his memories are erased? His ‘existence’ itself would be deleted.”
“A pathetic thought indeed. Really nasty.”
Kang Chul-In was seemingly disturbed. Just the thought of it gave him the chills. The deletion of all of his memories…… that could be the definition of a true ‘extinction’.……
“Hmm……” Kang Chul-In spoke. “Why didn’t you?”
“What?”
“As you said, why didn’t you erase my memories and put in yours? Isn’t that a more perfect reincarnation?”
“You’re right.” The Emperor of Blood and Iron replied. “Actually, that was Emilia’s suggestion as well.”
“Emilia’s suggestion……”
“She trusted me but not my reincarnation.”
“Ah?”
“Of course she didn’t. Nobody could predict my reincarnation’s personality, capability and attitude towards our great cause. From her perspective, it would be a hundred times better to entrust me with the world’s future.”
He was right. To protect this world from the second coming, also known as Apovigna in Pangaean language, of the Agnagas, a motivated and capable individual was needed. In other words, the Emperor of Blood and Iron was clearly the better candidate over Kang Chul-In.
“Therefore…… Emilia hoped that I would reincarnate completely. In fact, she strongly encouraged me to do so.”
“I would think so.”
“If Agrippa the Archwitch didn’t have the power to foresee 1000 years into the future, I might have erased your memories and reincarnated completely…… no, I definitely would have.”
“Why didn’t you?” Kang Chul-In had to ask the same question to the Emperor of Blood and Iron. “Why didn’t you reincarnate perfectly? That would have been better for you.”
\r \r \r
“.……”
“It shouldn’t have been easy to suppress your temptation, either.”
Yes, temptation. If the Emperor had achieved a ‘complete reincarnation,’ he could have reunited with his beloved Arshelly.
“You’re right.” He agreed. “Even as we converse now, I still wonder how things would have been if I had reincarnated fully. However……”
“.……?”
“I was the one who erased the memories of 20 million people. Even worse, I erased the memories of my own daughter, Arshelly. Do I deserve to reincarnate completely? As Arshelly’s father and the leader of the human race, I did not wish to become an ignoble existence. I wanted to be an honorable and proud man.”
Thump! Kang Chul-In was shocked to his core.
This guy…… he is a real man, alright.
Surprisingly, Kang Chul-In admired the Emperor of Blood and Iron inwardly. At this point, he had to acknowledge the truth. The Emperor of Blood and Iron wasn’t a lame apparition with dodgy intentions. He was the real Messiah of this world.
“Also……” The Emperor of Blood and Iron added. “Through Agrippa’s prophecy, I saw potential in this man called Kang Chul-In. Vigor, perseverance, patience to endure through any rigor, a reasonable amount of evil, courage to explore new options, an ambition to become stronger and the talent to bring it to fruition. Furthermore, a good brain and cruelty to kill the enemy without hesitation. The only downside is your shitty temper……”
“Ahem……!”
“You have the potential to save this world. Hence, I decided to entrust this task to you, instead of reincarnating completely myself. To be honest, you are the greatest man I’ve ever seen in my life, and I’m not saying this just because we share the same soul.”
That was a compliment, from the Emperor of Blood and Iron himself.
“Who are you to assess me?”
Of course, Kang Chul-In replied in his typical, rude manner.
“What a temper.” The Emperor of Blood and Iron shook his head, as if he were too tired to respond. “Somehow, you seem to have an even shittier temper than me.”
“A kettle calling the pot black.”
“.……”
“Ah, do you know?”
Kang Chul-In began his counterattack.
“Know what?”
“What’s my hobby?”
“How the hell would I know?”
“Sometimes in my free time, I purchase and read old books about Pangaea. Your name appears every now and then, so I tend to pay extra attention when reading the archaic texts.”
“.……!”
“Now, guess. How do you think you are described in these texts?”
“T-That……!”
“Want me to elaborate?”
“I thought I got rid of them all……!”
The Emperor of Blood and Iron was genuinely disconcerted.
“Seems like you tried to bury your embarrassing past, but what now? Countless historians have secretly recorded your terrible wrongdoings down.”
“Those bastards……!”
“You shouldn’t have gone overboard. You closed down every candy shop in the empire just because a hair was found in Arshelly’s candy……”
“E-Enough!”
“You once squandered 9% of the empire’s annual budget because you dumped your paperwork on your servant. Right?”
“.……”
“Who was it that promised the empire’s knights that he would teach them swordsmanship, only to end up beating them up? You even said that pummeling someone is the best way to relieve stress, didn’t you?”
Kang Chul-In revealed the Emperor of Blood and Iron’s dark and embarrassing past relentlessly.
“Is my personality still more atrocious than yours?”
“.……”
“Heh…… what a saint you are, Emperor of Blood and Iron.”
Objectively, both of them had shitty personalities. It was difficult to tell whose was worse.
“T-That’s not the point!”
The Emperor of Blood and Iron quickly changed the topic. He realized that he had no right to critique Kang Chul-In’s personality.
“Anyways, you should know that that’s not important. The second coming of the Agnagas is imminent. Kang Chul-In, you have to be prepared against the approaching threat.”
“Is there even a threat?” Kang Chul-In asked. “What threat?”
“Didn’t I just tell you? The second coming……”
“An anticipated threat is no longer a threat.”
“.……!”
“I get it, so pass me the rest of your memories and get lost.”
The Emperor of Blood and Iron realized something from Kang Chul-In’s blunt words.
“You’ve decided, I see.” The Emperor of Blood and Iron smiled.
“You’ve decided to protect this world from the second coming of the Agnagas.”
“Do I have a choice?” Kang Chul-In shrugged. “My dream is to conquer the world and become the Emperor. I can’t just let those bastards destroy my nation. Also…… I will never let Arshelly go, Emperor of Blood and Iron.”
“.……!”
“I will protect my daughter. Not only her, but also my people, family, subordinates and this world. I don’t like how I’m cleaning up your mess, but…… I will never repeat the tragedy that you had to face.
This was Kang Chul-In’s will. Moreover……
That’s right, Kang Chul-In. You are now complete. A man who overcomes his past mistakes is bound to be stronger than anyone…… You finally appear trustworthy……
This was the Emperor of Blood and Iron’s motive…… genuine growth! He wanted Kang Chul-In to grow not only in strength, but also as a human. The Wheel of Return had fulfilled its duty!
“Good.” The Emperor of Blood and Iron smiled in satisfaction. “I believe in you, Kang Chul-In.”
“Suit yourself.”
“.……”
“Didn’t I tell you to get lost?”
Kang Chul-In lashed out at the Emperor of Blood and Iron again.
“Fine.” He nodded. “Well then…… I leave it to you, Kang Chul-In.”
“You worry too much.”
With that, the Emperor of Blood and Iron began to fade into thin air.
“Please……” The Emperor of Blood and Iron pleaded for the last time. “Please take care of my daughter, Arshelly. My daughter, not yours. Remember. Arshelly is my daughter.”
For a moment, the veins on Kang Chul-In’s forehead popped up.
“You bastard…… how dare you……! Arshelly is my daughter, not yours……”
However……
“.……”
The Emperor of Blood and Iron was nowhere to be found. He had pissed off Kang Chul-In just before running away. A cheap move indeed.
“Real man my ass.” Kang Chul-In muttered. “I take it back. Sneaky bastard.”
They say people who are alike loathe each other. These two men who shared the same soul could never become friends. They clashed at every encounter.
Let’s just concentrate.
Kang Chul-In focused on absorbing the influx of data and memories from the Emperor of Blood and Iron.
***
“Kang Chul-In, Kang Chul-In!” Dorian shouted. “Hey!”
“.……”
“Reply to me!”
“.……”
“Can’t you hear me? Huh? Hey! Why aren’t you replying to me? Huh?”
However, Kang Chul-In remained silent.
“Eek…… What’s going on……!”
Kang Chul-In had been frozen in place for 48 hours. He was merely breathing with his eyes closed.
“That should be the cause, right……? Should I forcefully take it off?” Dorian pondered. It appeared as if the strange silver substance surrounding Kang Chul-In’s whole body was the cause.
“Damn it…… I can’t be reckless too……”
Dorian had yet to finish his sentence, when……
Flick! The Ectoplasm Oversuit wrapped around Kang Chul-In’s body suddenly opened up.
Chulkuk, chulkuk! It then began to shapeshift.
“W-What!”
Dorian was flabbergasted.
Chulkuk, chulkuk! The Ectoplasm Oversuit refused to stop its transformation.
And after some time,
“Wow…… wowww……! T-This is really……!”
Dorian was in great admiration of the Ectoplasm Oversuit in its final form.
“What the heck is this……!?”
Suddenly,
“Phew……!” Kang Chul-In let out a long sigh and began to gradually open his eyes.
“K-Kang Chul-In……!” Dorian was shocked to see Kang Chul-In, who just regained his consciousness. “You…… you…… what’s up with you……”
Something was strange. Kang Chul-In, who woke up after 48 hours, was a totally different person from before. For Dorian, the feeling he had when he saw Kang Chul-In was extremely hard to explain. If someone had to describe it, they’d say that Kang Chul-In looked wiser than before. Immeasurable wisdom and insight seemed to radiate from his eyes. His atmosphere was no longer that of ‘dominance,’ but more of ‘the Supreme Being’s composure.’
“What…… happened……? No, that aside……” Dorian asked cautiously. “Are you…… really Kang Chul-In……?”
Kang Chul-In replied.
“In your eyes.”
“.……?”
“Do I still……”
“.……?”
“Look like Kang Chul-In?” Kang Chul-In asked, eerily.
Shiver! A chill ran down Dorian’s spine.
“You…… who are you……”
“Pfft.”
“.……!”
“Naïve.” Kang Chul-In smirked. “Why, are you surprised?”
“.……!”
“Kek…… that’s why you are called an idiot. It’s so easy to trick you.”
That cunning smile. He was the Kang Chul-In that Dorian knew.
“Kang Chul-In……”
“Learn to be more skeptical, idiot.”
“Hey……”
“How many times do you want to be……”
“Heyyyyyyyy!”
“.……!”
“Hey, you bastardddddd!” Dorian screamed. “You bastard, you……!”
“Who told you to be so naïve?”
“Urgh…… Urghhhh……!”
“Tsk tsk.”
Despite Dorian’s roar, Kang Chul-In was as easy going as ever.
Tremble tremble……! As a result, Dorian’s body trembled as he tried to suppress his simmering rage.
If only I could just beat that guy up……!
He wanted to punch Kang Chul-In in the face. Of course, he didn’t, or rather, he couldn’t. If he did, Kang Chul-In would take out a horrifying revenge on him.
“Argh!” Dorian exploded in anger.
“Hmm…… seems like someone is quite furious, huh?” Kang Chul-In made fun of Dorian as he twitched his lips.
“If you were me, you would be angry too.”
“I wonder?”
“.……”
“The problem began when you asked whether I am Kang Chul-In.”
“R-Really?”
“I am me. Why did you ask such a retarded question?”
“Hmm…… t-that is…… you look…… somewhat different……”
“Like how?”
“The atmosphere……”
“.……?”
“So right…… hmm…… How do I put it…… anyways…… urgh……” Dorian began to ramble.
“You don’t even know what you want to say, do you?”
“I do!”
“Answer my question then?”
“That is…… if one’s friend froze in place for 48 hours and woke up with a change in ambiance, anyone would think like me.”
“48 hours?”
“Yeah.”
“Really?”
“Of course.”
“.……”
“You didn’t respond to my call, but I didn’t want to force you awake in fear of the adverse consequences. In any case, it was weird. You admit this, right?”
“I do.”
“And you’ve definitely changed.”
“That……” Kang Chul-In replied. “.……Is to be expected.”
“Expected?”
“This suit.”
“The one you’re wearing now? The Ectoplasm Oversuit that the monkey mentioned?”
“Yes.”
“What about it?”
“Inside this……”
“.……”
“The life of the Emperor of Blood and Iron of the ancient empire is recorded down.”
Kang Chul-In revealed all the details of his conversation with the Emperor of Blood and Iron.
“Gasp……!”
“I could absorb all of the Emperor of Blood and Iron’s memories – from birth to death – from this Ectoplasm Oversuit.”
“.……!”
\r \r \r
“Moreover, in the collection of memories……”
“H-Huh……?”
“Also lies the secret about this world.”
“By secret, you mean……”
“The Great Summoning.”
“.……!”
“And the system.” Kang Chul-In did not try to hide anything. “You and I, the other Lords, and the explorers…… why were we Earthlings summoned to this continent? The answer lies in the Emperor of Blood and Iron’s memory from 1,000 years ago.”
“Gasp……!” Dorian was shocked to his core. “T-Then…… Kang Chul-In, you…… you know everything? About this world’s secret?”
“Of course.”
“Huh……”
“What we’ve been experiencing…… is part of a giant project that was planned 1,000 years ago.”
“I-I don’t really get you…… Kang Chul-In…… I don’t understand……”
“If you want, I will explain step by step.”
“Hmm……!”
“However.” Kang Chul-In added. “When you hear this story, you will have to face the unforgivingly tough reality.”
“.……”
“And……”
“Yes? And what?”
“I’m not really happy with the word choice but…… let’s just call it a great cause. In return for listening to the story, you have to help me achieve the great dream. Without abandoning it halfway, till the end.”
“A great cause? What kind? Don’t tell, you are referring to your ambition……”
“You idiot!”
“Ah, why……”
“I can conquer this continent myself without your help.”
“T-That’s true, now that I think about it……”
“What I’m referring to……”
“Uhuh……”
“Is protecting and reconstructing this world.”
“.……!”
“Our opponent is not the Gullveig Alliance. The alien race Agnaga – the conquerors who wreaked havoc in this world 1,000 years ago – is our true enemy.”
“W-What……!”
“Pangaea is a land of sorrow. It had been devastated by the Agnagas in the past. That tragedy…… is about to repeat itself.”
“.……!”
“Let me ask you again, Dorian Explorer.” Kang Chul-In’s voice carried an immense weight. “Will you or will you not listen to my story. Choose. I’ll leave that decision to you.”
“Hmm……!”
“Even if you choose not to, I won’t blame you.”
“G-Give me some time……”
“But I will call you a coward.”
“.……!”
“Forever.”
Provocation! It was a cheap move, but……
“Okay, okay!”
Dorian fell for it too easily. He seemed to be naïve in every circumstance.
Kang Chul-In laughed. That was the reply that he wanted to hear.
“What is it? Tell me! Tell me now!” Dorian urged Kang Chul-In. “What’s making you act so pretentious?”
“First.”
“First?”
“Let me reveal my secret.”
“Your…… secret?”
“I am……” Kang Chul-In said. “Someone who has lived twice.”
“Huh?” Dorian tilted his head in puzzlement. “What do you mean? Are you James Bond?”
“.……”
“Live twice?”
He was making a reference to the fifth film of the 007 series, “007: You Only Live Twice,” made in 1967.
“.……”
Kang Chul-In stared at Dorian pityingly.
“Hey! Kang Chul-In!”
“What?”
“You are thinking that I’m an idiot, aren’t you? Huh?”
“N-No……”
“Right? Huh? Are you looking down on me? Huh!?”
Dorian seemed unable to control his anger nowadays.
“Put your nonsense aside.”
Kang Chul-In didn’t want to deal with the pubescent Dorian, thus he decided to go ahead with his story.
“Just listen.”
“Ok.”
“Let me reiterate. I’ve lived twice.”
“.……?”
“I’ve returned.”
“.……!”
“I am……” Kang Chul-In dropped the bomb. “Someone who has returned to the past.”
“.……!”
“Using an ability called Soul Backup……”
“W-Wait!” Dorian stopped Kang Chul-In. “What does that mean?”
“It’s exactly as I said.”
“Yeah, so what does that mean?”
“I’ve returned to the past.”
“Argh!”
“.……?”
“So what does ‘returning’ mean!?” Dorian shouted.
“.…… This bastard.” Kang Chul-In frowned.
“You keep looking down on……”
And……
Bam!
“Ugh!”
Kang Chul-In’s fist landed straight into Dorian’s solar plexus.
Dorian Explorer (Male/Pubescent). He was going through puberty at a late age.
***
3 hours later……
“S-So……” Dorian, with his eyes swollen and bruised, began to speak. “You are overwhelmingly stronger than me, because you’ve returned to the past?”
“Yes.”
“You could become strong in such a short duration thanks to your superiority in information?”
“Yes.”
“Then I’m the normal one here, I guess? And you are a cheater.”
“.……”
“Of course…… I knew it…… you swindler…… d-don’t hit me!”
Dorian was about to criticize Kang Chul-In when he freaked out at the sight of Kang Chul-In’s fist. He didn’t want to get beaten up further. Previous attempts to rebel didn’t end well……
“Hmm…… so the second coming of the Agnagas is imminent, right?”
“Yes. But I suspect there’s already one bastard who has infiltrated into the system.”
“S-So fast?”
“From my understanding, I’m the only one who can be a variable in Erinyes.”
“Then?”
“Andrei Ivanovic.”
“.……!”
“That guy is fishy, no matter how I look. If he turns out to be the Time Lord Milenius……”
Kang Chul-In shared his deduction with Dorian.
“That bastard definitely knows about the Wheel of Return. He probably observed me since before I returned, from the currently non-existent past. To be precise, he was trying to figure out who would be the Emperor of Blood and Iron’s reincarnation.”
“Huh……!”
“If he tried to organize the second coming of the Agnagas before I returned, then I would have recognized and responded to his challenge after returning to the past.”
“In other words…… he waited for you to use up the Wheel of Return, is that it?”
“Highly probable. Otherwise, this nobody called Andrei Ivanovic would not have become an Overlord or become the second most powerful man in the Gullveig Alliance. It’s too grandiose to be a butterfly effect.”
It was purely a deduction, but Kang Chul-In was exactly aware of Milenius’ actions.
“Hmm…… so what now? How are you going to stop the Agnaga?”
“First,” Kang Chul-In replied. “We have to destroy the Gullveig Alliance.”
“Hmm…… that’s true. We better have our rear clear. Ending the war with the Gullveig Alliance will be our first priority.”
“We have to end it as quickly as possible.”
“I agree.”
“And then?”
“I have a plan.” Kang Chul-In tapped his head with his finger.
“Really?”
“The information from the Emperor of Blood and Iron…… if I ponder based on this……”
“Then……?”
“I already have the means to annihilate the Agnaga.”
“.……!”
“Well, it’s not going to be easy…… but we won’t have to worry about being caught off guard. An anticipated threat is……”
“No longer a threat!”
“Yes, that’s right.” Kang Chul-In nodded. “The only thing we lack is strength.”
“Strength…… it sounds like……”
“I’m already miles ahead of the enemy.”
“.……!”
“This battle, I won’t lose.”
What confidence! Kang Chul-In was confident in a 100% win-rate.
Kang Chul-In…… you have definitely changed……!
Dorian realized why he had sensed a change in the air around Kang Chul-In.
The superiority in information…… wisdom, it’s wisdom! He is no longer the brainlessly strong Kang Chul-In! He is now as cunning as a snake……!
The analogy was slightly weird, but Dorian was right. Kang Chul-In, who had absorbed the Emperor of Blood and Iron’s memories, was now a different man. To start with, he had already accumulated an immense amount of experience over the two lives. And now, he had taken in the memories of a man who previously operated a great empire. It would be to no one’s surprise that there was a hint of wisdom in Kang Chul-In’s demeanor.
His temper was still as atrocious as before, though!
“Let’s go.” Kang Chul-In began to make his way while Dorian was still in the midst of contemplation. “We don’t have much time.”
“W-Wait for me!” Dorian hurriedly chased after Kang Chul-In.
***
“All men, advance!” Kang Chul-In commanded his army immediately upon his return. The target was Styx, the lifeline of the Gullveig Alliance.
It was where the Gullveig Alliance’s main army was posted at!
On the road to Styx, in the port city in the Valhalla base……
“W-What do you mean……!”
“As I’ve explained.”
“E-Eek?!” Kwak Jung freaked out. “D-Do you expect me to believe that?”
His response was not exaggerated. After his visit to the underground historic site in Esmeralda, Kang Chul-In revealed that he was someone who had returned to the past. How could one not be surprised?
“It’s up to you to believe it or not.” Kang Chul-In shrugged. “However, if you really can’t believe it then I expect you to follow my orders without any questions, even if you don’t understand their rationale.”
“.……”
“I won’t entertain any objections.”
“Huh……”
“Or disobedience.”
“.……!”
“Instant death.” Kang Chul-In warned. “Any infringement and I will swing my sword.”
“.……!”
“Even if it’s you.”
“Your Majesty……”
Kwak Jung couldn’t utter another word.
This man…… he is serious……!
Kang Chul-In’s declaration was shocking. Even though Kwak Jung was frequently beaten up by Kang Chul-In whenever the latter felt like it, he was still his master’s favorite subordinate. To warn him of the death penalty…… it indicated how firm Kang Chul-In’s resolve was.
“Your Majesty…… what you just said, is it true?”
“I won’t say it twice.”
“.……”
“I didn’t tell you that story to ask for your consent. It was to prevent you from going astray if you don’t understand my orders.”
“Argh……!” Kwak Jung moaned.
He could neither believe nor not believe Kang Chul-In’s story.
It doesn’t seem like he’s lying, however…… He recruited me when I was a mere gang member. He also somehow realized that I had lung cancer and brought me to do surgery……”
Kwak Jung pondered about Kang Chul-In for a moment.
True…… if he had lived twice, he would have known much more than the rest. He would know how to become strong quickly, and he would have seen through the Lord’s personalities and traits…… Damn, this man…… knows too much to be someone from the present……”
He began to piece together the truth. The astonishing moments that Kang Chul-In had shown…… they were possible if he was indeed someone who had returned from the past. It was just difficult to believe it, even though his brain could comprehend it.
“Just take it easy.” Dorian told Kwak Jung.
“Sorry? What do you mean?” Kwak Jung replied in confusion.
“It’s simple.”
“S-Simple?”
“Yep.”
“H-How……?”
“Think about the reason.”
“Reason?”
“Why do you think us earthlings were summoned to Pangaea?”
“.……!”
“Level up. Lord shops, quest system. Haven’t you wondered who made these things?”
“W-Well……”
He was curious of course. Pangaea gave ordinary earthlings an opportunity to experience miraculous events. Anyone would have wondered what the fundamental reason for all these were.
However……
“Even now, quite a few explorers are researching to uncover the secrets of this continent. I also have quite a lot of friends who study ancient ruins professionally.”
“Hmm……”
“It’s weird from the very beginning. The humans, units, objects and buildings that we Lords can summon, where did they all come from?”
“.……”
“Those summoned humans? They can’t remember anything. If we ask them about it, they reply that ‘we were asleep beyond the dimension’ like robots.”
Dorian was right. Nothing made sense in Pangaea. Even if one tried their best, not a single inquiry could be addressed in this continent.
“But when we listen to Kang Chul-In, it all makes sense.”
“.……!”
“1,000 years ago. Dragon Lord Emilia and the Emperor of Blood and Iron fought with the Agnaga, which led to the demise of both parties. However, before they died, the two of them created System Erinyes to prepare for the second coming of the Agnaga and to reconstruct this world. At the center of it all is Kang Chul-In, the reincarnation of the Emperor of Blood and Iron.”
“Ahem……!”
“Well, doesn’t it make sense? Even if you don’t want to believe it, there’s no other plausible explanations. Also……”
“Also……?”
“Look at me!”
\r \r \r
“I beg your pardon?”
“Do you think I believe Kang Chul-In because I’m really an idiot?”
“.……”
“I only believe him because he seems believable! Do you follow me?”
Kwak Jung did not reply.
“.……”
He just stared at Dorian with an awkward expression.
“What an analogy……” Kang Chul-In swept his face with his palm.
“W-What?”
Dorian raised his eyebrows after observing Kwak Jung and Kang Chul-In’s response.
Brrrr……! His body trembled.
“You guys……” He began to ramble in anger. “You two were thinking that I’m an idiot, weren’t you!?”
He exploded.
“.……”
Kang Chul-In and Kwak Jung were at a loss for words.
“Is he going through puberty?”
“I think so.”
They then had a discussion about Dorian’s condition.
“What the…… at that age?”
“Mental maturity isn’t always proportional to age.”
“Ahem……! W-We shall have to be careful……”
“Yes. It’s a sensitive period, alright.”
“I agree. I was reckless during puberty too. I think that was when I began to go astray……”
“Treat him well.”
“Ah, yes…… as a senior……”
The two of them arrived at a conclusion that Dorian was definitely going through puberty.
“You bastards……!” As a result, Dorian really hit the ceiling. “I’m out!” He sulked.
“Don’t look for me! I warned you!” Dorian left as he huffed and puffed.
“.……”
Only the two of them were left in the room. Kang Chul-In and Kwak Jung shook their heads.
“I really think he’s going through puberty.”
“I concur.”
The subject and his sovereign shared a consensus.
“Anyways.” Kang Chul-In changed the topic.
“Yes, your Majesty.”
“Whatever I say from this point onwards, make sure they are addressed without any delay.”
“Certainly.” Kwak Jung nodded.
It didn’t matter whether he believed or not. How could he disobey this man?
Kwak Jung might complain now and then, but he would comply to any of Kang Chul-In’s commands. No, any officer in the Valhalla Kingdom would.
“So……” Kang Chul-In began to hand his instructions over to Kwak Jung.
***
Meanwhile, in Styx, in the Gullveig Alliance’s camp……
“Brynhildr.” Mei Ling spoke. “You are our hero who will stand on the frontlines and fight against Kang Chul-In.”
“Yes, your Majesty.” Brynhildr, the white knight, kneeled in front of Mei Ling. “I, your humble servant, will do you proud and defeat Kang Chul-In no matter what.”
Such confidence! Brynhildr was confident that he could defeat Kang Chul-In this time. That confidence was well-grounded. He had perfected his light-speed sword skills, which allowed him to challenge anyone.
However……
I’m sorry, Brynhildr.
Mei Ling’s eyes were cold.
But I hope you don’t blame me too much. I can’t earn your loyalty; hence this is the only decision I can make as a Lord.
Mei Ling was cold-blooded at this moment. A disposable talent; that was Mei Ling’s perception of Brynhildr. She had already planned with Kwak Jun and Milenius to use Brynhildr as the bait to hunt Kang Chul-In down.
“Go, Brynhildr.” Mei Ling commanded. “Kang Chul-In will arrive soon. Please lead our alliance to victory.”
“Yes, your Majesty!” Brynhildr replied and excused himself politely.
***
Pssssshhhh! Poseidon, the ironclad battleship, cleaved through the water. Once a possession of Neptune Spear, it now belonged to the Valhalla Kingdom.
I won’t lose this battle.
Kang Chul-In stood on the stern of Poseidon and braced himself as he observed the port city, Styx, from a distance.
He had to win. Styx was the lifeline of the Gullveig Alliance, which led straight to its heart. Kang Chul-In had to emerge victorious and conquer the enemy’s central region. Only then could he conquer Pangaea and prevent the second coming of the Agnaga once and for all, thus completing the Emperor of Blood and Iron’s legacy.
However, this was under the assumption that there wasn’t any variable that could exceed Kang Chul-In’s expectations.
Brynhildr.
That man was the most likely one. The Emperor of Blood and Iron’s wife…… to be precise, the man who used the armor, sword and swordsmanship of ‘Brynhildr Freyja Norn Arondight’. Nobody else could stop Kang Chul-In.
Of course, even he only had a minuscule chance.
“Your Majesty!” Suddenly, Clémenceau, the Trident fleet admiral cum naval commander, reported to Kang Chul-In. “We are sufficiently close to the enemy fleets now. We will be in the range of fire within five minutes.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, your Majesty.”
“Send the Poseidon to the rear and put the Serpent on the frontlines.”
“Will do, your Majesty!”
Serpent, the ironclad battleship, was the vanguard of the Trident fleet, equipped with thick plates of armor that could resist most bombardment.
“Also.”
“Yes, your Majesty.”
“Send in the Trinidad fleet first.”
The Trinidad fleet comprised of ‘extremely special’ wooden ships that were manufactured in the Balnibarbi region.
“Straight away, sir?”
“We can’t afford to test the waters. We have to launch an all-out attack from the very beginning.”
In other words, Kang Chul-In was ready to overwhelm the enemy with numbers as soon as the battle commenced.
“Your wish is my command.” Clémenceau saluted towards Kang Chul-In.
Pow, pow!
At that moment!
The announcement regarding the firing of the Gullveig Alliance’s cannons echoed in the battleship.
“I shall go first.”
Kang Chul-In began to make his way.
“Y-Your Majesty?”
“I shall entrust you with the commanding of the fleet!”
“.……!”
“Ah, also.” Kang Chul-In added. “Even if I’m mingled with the enemy, fire without hesitation.”
He wanted to penetrate the enemy defense alone and wreak havoc, even if that could lead to fragging!
“That’s too dangerous, Your……”
Clémenceau desperately tried to hold Kang Chul-In back, but…… Kang Chul-In had already leaped off the stern of the battleship.
“.……!”
Everyone was shocked, or rather, aghast. Kang Chul-In was not dashing across the water like he previously did in Venedig.
Flick! A pair of brilliantly shining wings emitting an immense amount of energy appeared on Kang Chul-In’s back, just like a jet engine!
***
In Styx, the port city, in the Gullveig Alliance’s camp……
“Report the current situation to me as soon as possible.” Mei Ling ordered.
“I do not want any delay in the battle report. Understood?”
“Yes, your Majesty!”
The commanding officers replied loudly.
Tsk, tsk…… they are gonna lose anyway……
Kwak Jun clicked his tongue as he watched the scene. All the data of the Gullveig Alliance’s strategies, tactics and its army composition had been handed over to the Valhalla Kingdom.
If you know your enemy and yourself, you can win every battle. Furthermore, the Valhalla army was extremely proficient in battle. Over time, the Valhalla army would attack the weak spots in the Gullveig Alliance army and annihilate its camp!
I will surrender to the Valhalla army when the timing’s right……
Just as Kwak Jun was lost in thought……
“Arghhhhhhhhh!”
“D-Demon! A demon……!”
“Argh!”
He heard an ear-piercing scream from outside the command center.
And……
Banggggg! The wall of the command center crumbled down with a huge sound. Then…… the ‘demon’ emerged through the collapsed wall.
“W-Who are you?” Mei Ling shouted. “Who could you be……”
However, she couldn’t complete her sentence.
Crack! Saturnus, the Emperor of Lunacy and Night who had crawled out of hell, grabbed Mei Ling by her head.
“H-Heukk……!”
“Die.” Saturnus ordered a death sentence. “Weak bitch, you are not worthy of your title.”
As soon as he finished his sentence……
Crack! Mei Ling’s head was shattered into pieces.
“.……!”
Everyone in the Gullveig Alliance’s command center was flabbergasted.
Dead…… Mei Ling was dead, with her head crushed and disfigured some more. That was a pitiful death for the Heavenly Queen of the North, the leader of the Gullveig Alliance.
Pat, pat. Saturnus brushed the blood and cranial fluid off his hands apathetically. He didn’t show any other movements.
“From now on.” He declared. “I, Saturnus, the Emperor of Lunacy and Night, shall take over this place.”
***
Banggggg!
In the middle of his flight, Kang Chul-In was surprised to read a notification.
[Syncing Ectoplasm Oversuit…… 13% (Approximately 521 hours, 21 minutes, 21 seconds left)]
This mysterious suit had yet to sync completely with Kang Chul-In.
Nonetheless……
[Muscle strength, 75% increase!]
[Stamina, 64% increase!]
[Reaction speed, 33% increase!]
[Defense power, 16% increase!]
[Anti-Magic power, 16% increase!]
His main abilities were upgraded significantly, and they kept rising proportionally to the sync percentage. At this rate, nothing could stop Kang Chul-In when the sync was complete. He would truly be the strongest man alive.
In addition……
Sonic Ring.
It was about time for the cormorant to fetch him the item that would complete the Trinity Impact set. With that, Kang Chul-In would have the power to even kill a god.
Come, Brynhildr.
Kang Chul-In believed firmly that the white knight would appear in front of him. He had to. Brynhildr would also have realized that this battle was the last chance for him to stop Kang Chul-In!
***
Meanwhile, as Kang Chul-In commenced his battle on both the Khartoum river and the land, so did the battle to conquer the Styx fortress.
“Men……!”
Lucia bellowed.
“Chargeeeeee!”
Immediately,
“Let’s go!”
“Let’s defeat the enemy!”
“Let’s show them our strength!”
“For Valhalla!”
“For His Majesty, the Supreme King of the West!”
The strongest army in Pangaea began to charge towards the port city.
***
“H-He’s coming……!”
“He’s flying……?”
“What the shit……!”
“The Supreme King of the West…… he can fly…… so it was really true?”
The Gullveig Alliance’s navy soldiers fell into a trance when they saw Kang Chul-In approaching from far. How could a man fly?
He wasn’t riding on anything, nor did he use any magic……
Suddenly, the Gullveig Alliance’s fleet admiral shouted through the magic-engineered loudspeaker.
The soldiers who got themselves together hurriedly adjusted the magic-engineered cannon’s angle and locked their targets on Kang Chul-In.
“No. 1 cannon, ready!” “No. 2 cannon, ready!” “No. 3 cannon, ready!” “No. 4 cannon, ready!” “No. 5 cannon, ready!”
The cannons charged almost instantaneously.
“Fire!” Tens of cannons fired energy balls at Kang Chul-In.
However,
“A-All miss……! We can’t hit him!” Someone shouted.
He was right. None of the energy balls landed on Kang Chul-In, but it wasn’t because he dodged them.
Instead, the massive amount of mana surrounding his body acted as a barrier, fending off the raining bombs.
Even the Gullveig Alliance’s fleet admiral was astonished. The cannons didn’t work? Then there wasn’t a way to stop Kang Chul-In from boarding their battleship. That would be catastrophic. Kang Chul-In was the strongest and most devilish man in Pangaea. A battleship would crumble into pieces the moment they allowed him onboard.
Meanwhile, Valhalla’s Trinidad fleet approached the Gullveig Alliance warships at an alarming speed. The Trinidad fleet comprised wooden battleships that were shaped like pencils, as they lacked a deck.
\r \r \r
Wooden warships…… We shall ignore those insignificant things……
The fleet admiral began to brainstorm rapidly.
What matters are the Trident fleet and the Supreme King of the West……!
How much damage could those wooden battleships inflict? They didn’t even carry any cannons. Instead, they seemed to carry soldiers to get them to board the enemy warships. It was an amusing thought. The Gullveig Alliance’s battleships weren’t the best, but they were built with steel and equipped with magic-engineered engines. All they had to do was run the wooden battleships over.
The Gullveig Alliance’s fleet admiral ignored the Trinidad battleships and decided to attack the Valhalla Kingdom’s main force.
Furthermore……
He deployed the Gullveig Alliance’s biological weapon.
The Chimeras emerged from the depths of the Khartoum river. It was a disturbing and detestable scene, but at the same time it was also a sight to behold. It was rare to see hundreds of underwater chimeras leap out from the water and into the air!
Small fries.
Kang Chul-In laughed. Even the horrifying Hydro Serpent had turned into sashimi in his hands. Those chimeras could do nothing against him. It seemed like the Gullveig Alliance’s navy force was sub-par in both the past and the present.
Flick! Kang Chul-In whipped out Kaiforce.
Ssssss……! Dark mana began to precipitate around the sword.
“Hell Road, activate.”
Kaiforce’s true ability began to reveal itself.
Ssssss……! A curtain of black mist began to envelop the Khartoum riverbed.
Tens of thousands of Chimeras! Countless apparitions crawled above the water surface and began to grab onto the Chimeras.
The fleet admiral nearly shat in his pants.
What the hell was going on? Tens of thousands of apparitions in the middle of the day?
“G-Ghosts!”
“Don’t come……! Don’t come! I said don’t come!”
They even grabbed onto the Gullveig Alliance’s soldiers by their legs. They were evidently trying to drag them into the river!
Styx is a river of sorrows; millions of soldiers would have died here over the years.
Kang Chul-In could recall the Emperor of Blood and Iron’s memory. Regardless of when, Styx was constantly plagued with battles like Esmeralda. It was a good place to utilize the [Hell Road] ability.
“T-The Supreme King of the West is a necromancer……!”
As a result, the Gullveig Alliance’s fleet admiral mistook Kang Chul-In for a necromancer.
Pow!
At that moment.
Pow, pow, pow, pow, pow, pow! Ear-shredding explosive sounds could be heard.
“T-The ship’s tilting!”
“Bombs, they are bombs!”
The Gullveig Alliance’s battleships were quickly engulfed in explosions.
“S-Sir! Look there!”
“.……!”
“Those wooden ships…… they were bombs!”
That was right. The Trinidad battleships were suicide ships full of explosives!
Bang, banggg! One by one, the Gullveig Alliance battleships began to lose balance.
“M-My god……!”
The fleet admiral finally realized that he had made a grave error. However, it was too late. The suicide ships were light, allowing them to collide swiftly with the Gullveig Alliance battleships.
The Full Metal Dragon soared across the sky and bombarded the battleships indiscriminately.
Pow, pow! Moreover, Zeppelin was firing from afar, just barely in the range of fire.
“.……!”
The Gullveig Alliance’s fleet admiral froze.
O-Our army…… has no…… air force……
Currently, all of the Gullveig Alliance’s air force had been deployed to fight Hecate’s Temeraire.
“God damn it!” He was furious.
Thump!
Suddenly, something fell from the sky.
Flick! Then there was a flash of dark light.
Thump! The fleet admiral’s head fell onto the ship’s deck and rolled.
Pssssstttt! Blood spurted out like a fountain.
And his body fell limply on the floor.
“From now on.” Kang Chul-In declared. “I will take over this ship.”
It was a declaration from the strongest man in Pangaea.
“.……”
Nobody could argue against that. The battle was already in Valhalla’s favor. It was wise to surrender now to live.
“Says who?”
There was one exception. Brynhildr! The knight in the brilliant white armor was pointing his sword Arondight at Kang Chul-In.
“Oh?” Kang Chul-In grinned. “Long time no see, cormorant.”
“.……”
“I knew you would come.”
He faced Brynhildr with an expectant expression.
Sonic Ring! It thrilled him to think that he could obtain the final piece of the Trinity Impact set.
“Did you bring your fish?”
“What the heck is this fish you always talk about……!”
“The Sonic Ring.”
“.……!”
“The artifact of god speed. The last component of the Trinity Impact.”
“H-How did you know……!?”
“Hey, cormorant.” Kang Chul-In shrugged. “I know everything.”
It was an arrogant remark, but it was true. Kang Chul-In, who had absorbed the Emperor of Blood and Iron’s memories, knew all of this world’s secrets. He had an information superiority that was incomparable to anyone else.
“Since long ago.”
“.……!”
“I’ve been waiting for you to get the Sonic Ring. For me to complete the Trinity Impact.”
“You…… really knew? That I would obtain the Sonic Ring?”
“Of course.” Kang Chul-In nodded.“Why do you think I let you off? Three times some more.”
“.……”
“Because I admire your spirit?”
That was impossible. Kang Chul-In did not tolerate challenges. He would have killed anyone else without hesitation.
“Or because you are cute?”
“.……”
“You are alive because you are my cormorant.”
“.……”
“Seems like you’ve finally obtained the Sonic Ring…… so it’s time for you to die. Let me……”
“Wait.” Brynhildr cut him off. “You really know everything?”
“What?”
“That’s what you said. Then you should know who I am.”
“Well……” Kang Chul-In replied. “I don’t give a damn.”
“.……”
“I could know if I wanted to, but why should I bother?”
He was being genuine. Kang Chul-In knew that Brynhildr was neither the Emperor of Blood and Iron’s wife nor Arshelly’s biological mother. Only the Emperor of Blood and Iron could use the Wheel of Reincarnation. Empress Brynhildr wouldn’t have been qualified to use it…… In other words, the Brynhildr in front of him was merely a lucky explorer who happened to come across the properties of ‘Brynhildr Freyja Norn Arondight’.
“You don’t know?”
“I don’t care who you are. I only need the Sonic Ring.”
“Oh really……?”
“Hand it over.” Suddenly, Kang Chul-In became a plunderer. “The Sonic Ring.”
Simultaneously,
Flick! He launched a surprise attack on Brynhildr.
“.……!”
An unexpected attack! Brynhildr hurriedly moved to dodge Kaiforce. No, he couldn’t dodge it completely. Kang Chul-In’s attack was just that fast!
Crack, crack!
That one attack which he couldn’t dodge…… split his helmet into half, vertically.
“Slow.” Kang Chul-In taunted. “Right, let’s see how this cormorant looks like……”
At that moment……
“.……!”
Kang Chul-In froze in place.
Thump! Brynhildr’s helmet fell onto the ship’s deck.
His face…… was none other than……
God damn it!
Kang Chul-In’s face crumpled.
The helmet dropped on the ground. Brynhildr, whose identity was finally revealed, began to speak.
“Even now……”
“.……”
“Do you think you know everything? After realizing who I am?”
Kang Chul-In couldn’t say a word.
Drip……! Drenched in sweat, he avoided eye contact with Brynhildr. The Supreme King of the West himself was avoiding eye contact! That was how astonishing Brynhildr’s true identity was.
“Answer me.”
“.……”
“You think you know everything?”
“.……”
“Do you still not give a damn about who I am? This ring is the only thing that matters to you?”
Such sharp criticism! Brynhildr had never gotten an edge over Kang Chul-In before, but now the tables had turned. Kang Chul-In was now on the losing end.
It was because……
Han Ye-Sun……!
Brynhildr was Kang Chul-In’s first love and Arshelly’s teacher.
Throb, throb! Kang Chul-In got a massive headache and swept his face with his hand.
What kind of bullshit is this……!? Han Ye-Sun is Brynhildr……?
He got the chills.
No…… this can’t be……
Kang Chul-In tried to deny it. He couldn’t and didn’t want to believe it, because that also meant that…… Han Ye-Sun had been lingering around him ever since his previous life, parrying swords with him.
“What……” Brynhildr, no, Han Ye-Sun spoke. “You surprised?”
She then stepped towards Kang Chul-In.
“D-Don’t come near me.”
Kang Chul-In stepped back.
“Are you avoiding me?”
“Who’s avoiding you!?”
“Seems like you are.”
“N-No, I’m not!”
“Then why are you stepping back?”
“.……!”
“Do you know that you are stepping back every time I step forward?”
She was right. Step by step, Kang Chul-In was unconsciously moving away from Han Ye-Sun.
“T-That is……”
“Avoiding me, huh?”
“Ahem……!”
“Until when?”
“Err……”
“Bastard.”
“.……!”
“Oppa…… you really are a bastard.” Han Ye-Sun began to ramble again.
“.……”
Kang Chul-In was dumbfounded. Why did his first love become Brynhildr the white knight and challenge him? Why? For what reason?
“Bastard or whatever……” Kang Chul-In replied furiously. “Why did you fight me?”
Putting his confusion aside, Kang Chul-In had to clarify a few things.
“Those who challenged me so far had two outcomes. They either died or became my subordinate.”
“.……”
“Do you want to die? If not, why would you go to the extent of hiding your identity to fight me?”
Yes, that was the question. Kang Chul-In could not comprehend her intentions at all.
“Don’t tell me……”
“Don’t tell you what?”
“You wanted to make me suffer by killing my first love……?”
“No!” Han Ye-Sun screamed.
Beep! It was so loud that Kang Chul-In went deaf for a second. If there was a glass cup around, it would have shattered……
“Is that how you think of me?”
“W-Well……!”
“Do you think I’m that trashy?”
“.……”
“No matter how much I hate you, I would never think as such! I’m no psychopath!”
“S-Sorry……”
“I……” Han Ye-Sun sulked. “I-I just……”
“.……?”
“Wanted to……” She finally revealed why she had stood in Kang Chul-In’s path. “Stop your rampage.”
“R-Rampage?”
“Yes.”
“What rampage?”
“Oppa……”
“.……?”
“You wanted to earn money.”
“T-That’s true, but……”
\r \r \r
“You craved success.”
“That’s true too, but……”
Han Ye-Sun was right. Kang Chul-In had longed to earn money and lead a successful life.
“Wait, so……” Kang Chul-In asked in frustration. “What does me craving money and success have to do with you hiding your identity and displaying your sword skills to me?”
Anyone would crave a luxurious life, especially in Korea, where it was hellish to make ends meet.
“War.”
“War?”
“You became a war-maniac.”
“.……!”
“That’s rampage. What else could it be?”
“Hmm……!”
“I saw what was written on the world community. You are constantly instigating war to fulfill your ambition.”
“Well……”
“Oppa…… many people are dying because of your greed……”
“.……”
“Why are you so fixated on war? Would you be satisfied if you had the whole of Pangaea in your hands?”
“That’s not it……”
“What’s after Pangaea? Earth?”
“Hu……”
“I don’t want you to be a demon. Oppa, please stop here.”
That seemed to be the reason for Han Ye-Sun’s efforts to stop Kang Chul-In.
“Pfft.” Kang Chul-In laughed.
“W-What!”
“Kek…… kekeke……”
“O-Oppa, are you laughing at me?”
“S-Sorry…… i-it’s too……”
However, Kang Chul-In……
“Hahahahaha!”
He ended up bursting into laughter.
***
Meanwhile, in Styx, at the Gullveig Alliance command center……
W-What the fuck!?
The catastrophe occurred in the blink of an eye. Kwak Jun couldn’t make sense of the situation.
Who is that demon……!?
That was Kwak Jun’s impression of Saturnus, a demon from Hell.
“Commander-in-chief, Kwak Jun.”
Suddenly, Milenius appeared from nowhere and spoke to Kwak Jun.
“Y-Your Majesty Andrei……!”
“It’s an order.”
“W-What order……”
“Nothing happened here.”
“.……!”
“At least until the battle’s over.”
In other words, he didn’t want the Alliance army to realize Mei Ling’s death.
“T-That……”
“As long as the command center operates well, the death of this bitch won’t leak out from here.”
Milenius nudged Mei Ling’s corpse with his foot.
“Why, you can’t do it?”
Kwak Jun did not reply.
It’s a golden opportunity indeed, but……
If he could let the Alliance army know about Mei Ling’s death, Valhalla would definitely win this battle.
In that case, Kwak Jun would have done a fantastic role as a spy, and thus receive a grand reward from Kang Chul-In…… However, that was only if he could escape that red demon and Andrei Ivanovic.
Suddenly……
Milenius’ telepathy infiltrated Kwak Jun’s mind.
T-This is……!
Your M……!
For a moment, Kwak Jun almost fainted from the goosebumps. ……
!
It was freaky. In other words, Kwak Jun had been manipulated by Milenius all this while! ……
!
Kwak Jun clenched both fists.
Fuck……!
Things went astray last minute. He had never expected things to turn out this way at the most critical moment.
“All officers……” Kwak Jun began to speak. “Focus on the battle……”
In the end, Kwak Jun chose survival. He didn’t have the luxury to consider Kang Chul-In’s rewards, when he was on the brink of death.
Milenius was satisfied.
Milenius was now bowing to Saturnus, as he had lost his power to control space and time for messing around in a forbidden zone. However, he was once the great Time Lord whom even Emilia feared. Controlling someone like Kwak Jun was child’s play.
“My son.” Saturnus spoke. “Where is Julius?”
“Yes, Master……” Milenius bowed with respect. “Your son should be fighting against Brynhildr at the Khartoum river by now.”
“Brynhildr?” Saturnus’ eyebrows twitched. “Brynhildr, huh……?”
“Anything that concerns you, Master……?”
“Brynhildr Freyja Norn Arondight is my daughter-in-law, isn’t she? Why is that meagre bitch fighting my son?”
“T-That’s not it……” Milenius explained. “This Brynhildr is merely an explorer who inherited your daughter-in-law’s possessions and swordsmanship…… as you know, only your son has the Wheel of Three Lives……”
“Hmm……!” Saturnus stroked his chin. “I see……”
“Yes, Master……”
“Well, anyway.”
“Yes?”
“I wish to meet my son now. Where is he?”
“The naval battle is occurring in that direction.”
Milenius pointed at the west.
“Is that so?” Saturnus began to make his way. “Alright. Wait for me, my son……”
A horrifying murderous intent exploded out from his blood-red eyes.
“It’s time for your father to take revenge……”
***
Kang Chul-In calmed down after laughing for a long time.
“That was the reason?” He was dumbfounded. “For hiding your identity and challenging me?”
Han Ye-Sun’s pretty face crumpled.
“Is it so funny that I tried to stop you from becoming a lunatic?”
“It certainly is.”
“W-What……? H-how can you say that……? Oppa, you are really…… you are laughing at my heart now……?”
“It’s a redundant thought.”
“R-Redundant?”
“Of course.” Kang Chul-In snorted. “I didn’t go crazy. Rampage? Nonsense. Of course, I was once like that before……”
He was right. Before he returned, Han Ye-Sun’s descriptions were suited for Kang Chul-In. In contrast, the present Kang Chul-In was working hard to inherit the Emperor of Blood and Iron’s legacy. Rampage? Ridiculous.
“Money? I earned enough.”
“Yes…… I know…… you are very rich……”
“Reputation? Hitler has nothing on me.”
“Is that something to be proud of?”
“A-Anyways.”
“.……”
“I achieved success long ago. Why would I go on a rampage?”
“B-But!?”
“.……?”
“I-I saw.”
“What?”
“You murdered Albrecht Vilhelm and Ao Xin……”
“.……”
“How could a human do that? Well, I’ve also killed people, so I have nothing to say. But to kill someone so brutally…… t-that’s too…… inhumane……”
“.……”
“Oppa…… you are that violent……”
“Enough!” Kang Chul-In cut Han Ye-Sun off. “This is too much.”
“W-What’s…… too much……?”
“Do you really believe that?”
“.……!”
“I didn’t kill Vilhelm and Ao Xin. It was Andrei, that vampire bastard.”
“R-Really?”
“What happened was……”
Kang Chul-In revealed Andrei Ivanovic’s true identity to Han Ye-Sun. It was cumbersome, but he had to. He couldn’t let this innocent lady misunderstand him anymore……
“S-So that’s…… what happened?”
Han Ye-Sun was shocked.
“Did you really think I created that mess?”
“I-I…… w-well……”
“.……?”
“I thought you couldn’t control your lunacy…… and went on a rampage…… sob……” She then began to cry. “Sob sob…… W-What a relief……”
“.……”
“You didn’t become a monster…… really…… such a relief……”
After saying that, Han Ye-Sun let go off Arondight and threw herself in Kang Chul-In’s arms.
“Oppa……!”
However, Kang Chul-In didn’t hug her back, or rather, he couldn’t.
“Danger!”
Kang Chul-In shoved Han Ye-Sun aside.
Bangggggg! With a thundering roar,
Thump! Someone fell from the sky.
“Who are you……?” Kang Chul-In questioned the stranger.
“Who else?”
A huge man.
Grin! He grinned freakily and answered.
“Julius. I am your father.” [1]
Kang Chul-In felt as if he received a blow to his head.
[1] CuppyNote: The original line here was: "It’s me." "……!" "Your father."
“Saturnus……!”
Kang Chul-In could recognize the gigantic man – no, demon – after a short while.
“Oh?” Saturnus grinned hideously. “You recognize me, son?”
“.……”
“Why the silence? Don’t tell me, my adorable son cannot recognize his father?”
Kang Chul-In didn’t reply.
What bullshit…… why is that crazy bastard here……?
He was utterly puzzled. Saturnus belonged to the deepest depths of hell (if it existed). Why was he alive? He didn’t even have the Wheel of Three Lives.
Moreover……
He’s young.
The gigantic man didn’t have a single wrinkle on his face. He was Saturnus in his prime.
“Surprising, isn’t it?” Saturnus spoke. “Your father, whom you killed, has resurrected marvelously. Isn’t it surprising?”
“A little bit?”
“A little bit my ass. Kek……!”
“A little bit.”
Kang Chul-In refused to lose this argument.
Right, I’m surprised. You motherfucker.
In fact, he was extremely astonished. He rummaged through all the data in his head, but nothing hinted at Saturnus’ return in the slightest. In other words, it was truly a surprise!
However, only amateurs express their surprise. Kang Chul-In taunted Saturnus nonchalantly.
“What’s the big deal? It’s just a retard who crawled out from hell. Why, was the hell fire a little too hot for you?”
“Kek…… keke……!”
“You dare to laugh?”
“.……!”
“You should have remained in hell. What a nuisance…… even this crazy old geezer has revived……”
He meant it. Kang Chul-In was trying to inherit the Emperor of Blood and Iron’s legacy and fight against the Agnagas. In such circumstance, the appearance of Saturnus was quite a disruption to his plan.
Mainly because……
This bastard, he’s strong.
Kang Chul-In could sense that Saturnus’ combat power was greater than any opponent he had ever faced.
“Kek……!” Saturnus laughed. “Bastard, well I guess you’re not exactly a bastard…… but I see that you are quite good at talking shit. But isn’t it time to know your place? Are you good enough to play with words, with this father of yours?”
His sharp insight was almost frightening.
“Son, you are weaker than you were 1000 years ago. Can you even protect your wife and children from me?”
Saturnus discerned Kang Chul-In’s strength without error. Versus the Emperor of Blood and Iron in his prime, Kang Chul-In only had a 30% chance of winning.
“Not bad, for an old geezer.” Kang Chul-In didn’t bother to make a false show. “But let’s get one thing straight.”
“What?”
“Who’s your son?”
“What?”
“I’m not Julius; I am Kang Chul-In, the Supreme King of the West. If you want to meet your son, try digging the ground. Maybe you can find a piece of his bones or two.”
“You expect me to believe that, son?
“Up to you to believe it or not.” Kang Chul-In shrugged. “Let me reiterate……”
At that very moment,
“I’m Kang Chul-In, not Julius!”
Swish! Emitting a beam of dark light, Kaiforce sliced through the air towards Saturnus.
It was a surprise attack!
***
Meanwhile.
“Y-Your Majesty?” In the middle of the battle, Lucia instinctively realized that there was a problem with Kang Chul-In’s health.
[Warning, warning!]
There was a notification in front of her. System Erinyes had sent her a warning message!
[Messiah, in danger! Messiah, in danger!] [Messiah, in danger! Messiah, in danger!] [Messiah, in danger! Messiah, in danger!]
\r \r \r
The notification indicated that Kang Chul-In – the Messiah – was in danger.
Ba-dump, ba-dump! Her heart began to race. Her magic-engineered heart, which was 50 times stronger than a normal heart, was beating vigorously.
[Guardian Angel system, online!]
Subsequently, her true awakening occurred…… ‘Lucia Headmistress.’
***
A thousand years ago, Dragon Lord Emilia had programmed Lucia secretly to protect the Emperor of Blood and Iron’s reincarnation.
You’ve spent your entire life under Julius’ shadow…… You love him, but…… you can’t express it…… such a tragic fate……
I, Dragon Lord Emilia, wish to make a proposal to you, Lucia.
To become a cyborg.
Of course, I’m not referring to a full machine. Just a portion of your body can be substituted by magic-engineered parts.
It will help you……
Stay by Julius’ side.
Certainly. If you accept my proposal, you can proudly stand next to the reincarnation of Julius. As his aide……
Are you sure?
Alright. Ah, and also……
I will register an extremely special system into your soul.
Guardian Angel.
This system will activate only when Julius’ reincarnation is in grave danger. You will lose your consciousness and fight only to protect him. Even if it may cost your life……
With that, Lucia went under surgery to become a cyborg and was sealed in Erinyes as a weapon to protect Kang Chul-In. She had no regrets. After all, the sole reason for her existence was to protect Julius.
Your Majesty……
Lucia pictured Kang Chul-In before she lost her consciousness.
I protect you not because you are Julius, his Imperial Majesty’s reincarnation, but because I…… I love you, your Majesty……!
Her love for him was genuine. Ever since the Great Summoning, Lucia had admired Kang Chul-In. Thus, there was no question regarding her sincerity.
Your Majesty…… I will protect you at all cost! Even if that may cost my life!
Lucia swore.
[Consciousness, halted!]
With that, she lost her consciousness.
[Unlocking the weapon’s seal!]
Sssss……! Aegis and Zenith were enveloped by a curtain of brilliant white light.
[Aegis, the Shield of God – unlocking the item seal! (Item rank changed from Unique to Epic!)]
[Zenith, the Sword of Heaven – unlocking the item seal! (Item rank changed from Unique to Epic!)]
The unconscious Lucia grasped onto the upgraded Aegis and Zenith with her left and right hand respectively.
[Messiah, tracking location!] [Messiah, location identified!] [Protect the Messiah!]
System Erinyes gave Lucia a duty.
Immediately,
Psssh! Lucia began to dash to protect Kang Chul-in!
***
Clang! Kaiforce came to a halt.
“Son.” Saturnus smiled with a hint of lunacy. “Can you even scratch me with such lousy skills?”
“.……!”
“If you want to entertain me, at least try your best.”
He was mocking Kang Chul-In.
What the fuck……!
Kang Chul-In was astonished.
So easily?
He couldn’t believe his eyes. Kaiforce, the Demon Sword, an Immortal-rank item, was parried too easily…… with one hand at that.
Well, at least it wasn’t a finger.
“Or……” Saturnus began to move. “Do you want me to entertain you?”
“.……!”
“Like this?”
Saturnus flung his fist towards Kang Chul-In’s face.
Bang! An ear-shredding sound echoed in the surrounding.
“Cough!”
Kang Chul-In vomited blood.
Insane……!
The shockwave from that attack was horrendous. How could one yield such power……? Saturnus in his prime was ‘the Pinnacle’ itself.
“Or……”
However, there was no time to be bewildered.
“Like this?”
Saturnus launched his second punch at Kang Chul-In.
I have to doge this!
Kang Chul-In instinctively rolled to dodge Saturnus’ fist. Yes, it was clearly better to avoid the attacks. Not only was it impossible to divert the impact, but it would also involve more than one or two bone fractures upon a direct hit.
Swish! Saturnus’ fist missed Kang Chul-In’s flank by a tiny margin.
I dodged it! Next is……
However,
Crack, crackkk! With a splitting sound,
“Urgh……!”
He began to feel an intense pain from his side.
[Warning, warning!]
A notification popped up.
[Ectoplasm Oversuit, 9% destroyed!]
[Absorbing the user’s mana, restoring the damaged part of the suit!]
[Ectoplasm Oversuit is absorbing the user’s mana, healing the damage!]
Surprisingly, the suit was restored in less than a second. As expected from the Ectoplasm Oversuit…… no wonder Vulkan praised that it was the greatest artifact ever made. But there was something even more astonishing.
Strong……!
It was Saturnus’ immense strength. It wasn’t even a direct hit, yet Kang Chul-In could feel its impact.
“Kek…… keke……!”
“.……”
“Tsk tsk…… you are so weak, son…… struggling after just two punches…… disappointing……”
Saturnus was totally relaxed.
Does this make sense?
Kang Chul-In was flabbergasted. What was with this monstrous power? What, and how? Even if he rummaged through all his knowledge and the Emperor of Blood and Iron’s memories, he couldn’t find an explanation to Saturnus’ strength.
“Oppa……!”
At that moment, Han Ye-Sun got herself up and joined Kang Chul-In.
“Leave.” Kang Chul-In stopped her. “You will die if you stay.”
“.……!”
“That crazy old geezer is out of your league. Don’t get involved and leave.”
“No.” Han Ye-Sun shook her head. “I will stay.”
“Didn’t I tell you to leave? Even if you stay……”
“I know. I’m no match for him.”
Han Ye-Sun knew as well. She might have perfected the light-speed sword skill, but she would still die a dog’s death if she challenged Saturnus.
Moreover,
“I…… am of no help, right?”
She would be a burden if she did try to help.
“Of course.”
“So leave……”
“Take it.”
Han Ye-Sun passed something to Kang Chul-In.
“You need this, don’t you?”
It was a ring. This glimmering, light-blue ring imbued its user with the Hyper-speed ability, and was known as the Sonic Ring.
The last component of the Trinity Impact set!
“This……!” Kang Chul-In was shocked. “So easily?”
Han Ye-Sun passed him the ring without any resistance.
“Because you need it, Oppa.”
“But……”
“I can give you everything.”
“.……!”
“Whatever it is.”
Kang Chul-In was lost for words. What followed shocked him even more……
“I gave you my heart and body long ago, anyway.”
“Ahem……!”
“I’ve never gotten anything back. I don’t plan to ask either.”
That was her true feelings.
I love you…… Oppa.
She had never forgotten Kang Chul-In for even a second. She didn’t wish to, even after he became a villain with three wives.
“.……”
Kang Chul-In kept silent as he didn’t know what to do.
Then he stepped forward.
“If you are not leaving, then step aside. You will get hurt.”
He was in the middle of a fight. Saturnus was the strongest enemy that he had met in his entire lifetime, a nemesis whom even Kang Chul-In couldn’t guarantee a win against without some luck.
“Kek…… kekeke……!” Saturnus snickered. “Interesting…… very interesting…… kek…… keke……!”
“What’s so interesting?”
Kang Chul-In gave Saturnus an unpleasant look. Kang Chul-In knew why that crazy bastard had left him and Han Ye-Sun alone for a while. It was because Saturnus was confident that he could toy with and kill Kang Chul-In at any moment!
“Is it so interesting?”
“Why wouldn’t it be, son?”
“.……?”
“Including that girl over there……” Saturnus pointed at Han Ye-Sun. “Wouldn’t it be fun if I toyed with you in front of all your women, and then boiled you to death in a cauldron? How about your kids? Do you want me to fry or dissect them from head to toe? Kek, kekeke…… Wait, no…… I should cook and put them on your dinner table as your last meal. Hehe…… hehehe……!”
Lunacy. Saturnus was spouting words that were not meant to be spoken. Moreover, the fact that he genuinely meant what he said made it even more sickening. In fact, he was sharing his own experience. This insane demon was an unprecedented psychopath.
“.……”
Kang Chul-In did not reply to Saturnus. Words were useless. Instead, fists were the better means of communication.
Tap tap! He began to walk towards Saturnus. At the same time, he placed the Sonic Ring on his finger.
[Obtained the Sonic Ring!]
There was a notification.
[Epic] Sonic Ring
Equipment type: Accessory (Ring)
Durability: 100/100
Option 1: HP +500
Option 2: Mana +500
Option 3: Attack power +200
Option 4: Muscle strength +500
Option 5: Agility +1000
* Cool time: 240 hours
The options were fantastic, as expected from a member of the Trinity Impact.
\r \r \r
Light.
Kang Chul-In could feel his body become lighter. This seemed to be the reason behind Brynhildr’s – no, Han Ye-Sun’s – lightspeed sword.
That aside,
[Trinity Impact, complete!]
A notification that he had collected all three items also popped up.
[Set item effect]
Trinity Impact: For one attack, increase in physical * magical attack power +1000% / critical hit rate +50% / Accuracy +50%
* Cool time: 8,760 hours
Kang Chul-In finally obtained it…… the absolute power, enough to even kill a god!
However,
Not now.
Kang Chul-In could not use the Trinity Force unfortunately.
It complicates things if I use it here.
He had to refrain from using his new-found ability. Kang Chul-In was currently planning for the second coming of the Agnagas, and the Trinity Force was one of his trump cards. For that matter, Saturnus was an ‘unexpected variable’, which wasn’t in his original plan.
In that case……
Clench! Kang Chul-In gripped Mitra and Kaiforce tightly.
“Let me tear open that mouth of yours.”
Immediately, Kang Chul-In charged at Saturnus.
***
The north of Pangea, in a large underground hall in Shatyameba……
“With this, I……”
Lee Ji-Tae – no, Cereb the great mind of Agnaga – mumbled to himself. Cereb looked absolutely hideous and bizarre. He had a huge brain. More massive than an advertising balloon, it dangled from an underground structure. Tens of thousands of wires linked the brain to communication devices.
“.……Can form the army……!”
Cereb, who had become one with this underground structure known as the ‘Agnaga Sanctuary’, awakened his true abilities.
Pzzt, pzzzzt!
Sparks began to fly from the wires connected to his enormous brain, and the communication devices began to broadcast on an unknown frequency.
Cereb infused his sinister ideology into the frequency.
Shockingly, Cereb was infecting the Shatyameba inhabitants with the Agnaga virus through a special frequency only known to the Agnaga. Even the most advanced technology on Earth couldn’t do that.
“Urgh, urghhh……!”
“A-Arghhhh……!”
“M-My body…… keuk…… urgh……”
“Kek, kekeke……!”
The Shatyameba inhabitants were helplessly infected by the virus. They then began to evolve due to genetic mutation. Long ago, something similar happened in Nosferatu.
Cereb did not stop there. Not only did he connect to the infected victims,
But he also gained access to their brains, which allowed him to see, hear and feel all kinds of data in real time. There was only one reason for this. Cereb planned to control all the Agnaga soldiers simultaneously. Through this, Cereb could unite the whole of Agnaga under a single influence, a hive mind. That was why he was called the great mind and commander of Agnaga. With a brain that can process information like a supercomputer, Cereb could command his army using ‘perfect strategies’ and ‘perfect battle tactics,’ making it invincible.
From this moment onwards, the infected Shatyameba inhabitants would relentlessly attack the Valhalla Kingdom.
Kang Chul-In……!
He recalled his nemesis.
I’m taking my revenge now…… just wait. The Agnaga army shall trample on your land!
The second coming of Agnaga coupled with his revenge for Alex Rothschild were about to commence.
***
Kang Chul-In decided to go all out.
[Activate Overpower!] [Activate Amplify!] [Activate Hyper-speed!]
Not only did he activate all three items in the Trinity Impact set,
Pzzzzzt, pzzzzzzzzt! But he also immediately entered the fourth phase of Overdrive.
[Amplify Brain Power!]
Moreover, he activated the Oraclomind to enhance his sensory abilities to the maximum.
Too many conditions…… what a pity.
Kang Chul-In smacked his lips.
[Full Moon], [Spellthirst] and [Violent Storms].
It would be great if he could use all the buffs he possessed in his arsenal. However, none of the buffs could be activated due to their conditions. Although, that wasn’t to say that the situation was dire.
Clang, clang! Kang Chul-In could now fight on-par with the ancient tyrant.
Kaiforce shapeshifted into a metal chain and wrapped around Saturnus’ neck.
“Keuk……!”
“Let me rip it apart.”
With that,
Grip! Kang Chul-In strongly pulled Kaiforce towards his body to rip Saturnus’ neck apart.
“.……!”
Saturnus flinched from the pain of the saw tooth digging into his skin.
“Keuk…… bastard! Getting better, aren’t you?”
“Shut up and die!”
Kang Chul-In gripped Kaiforce even tighter.
Rip, rip!
With the sound of skin tearing, blood began to drip down from Saturnus’ neck.
What the fuck……! Kang Chul-In was appalled. So little damage?
Anyone else would have had his head sliced off immediately. This demon, however, only had a small cut on his neck. How durable was his body?
Let’s see if you can handle this.
Kang Chul-In began to make his move.
Flash! He charged at Saturnus with incredible speed and positioned himself at his blind spot.
Just when Saturnus was caught off guard,
Flick, psshhh!
Kaiforce, now a gimlet, landed below Saturnus’ ribs, and a vortex followed.
Whooooshhh! The whirlwind that could rip even metal apart began to form around Saturnus’ body.
More!
Kang Chul-In refused to stop. He couldn’t. Desdemona the Ancient Black Dragon could withstand this attack too.
Saturnus wouldn’t suffer heavily from this attack, so Kang Chul-In needed an additional attack to land a critical blow.
“Keuk……!” Suddenly, Saturnus laughed. “You dare? Keuk……!”
He moved at a speed comparable to Kang Chul-In and ‘perfectly’ dodged the additional attack.
Bangggg! He then flung a horrifying punch at Kang Chul-In’s face.
I can’t survive this!
Kang Chul-In instinctively knew that he would die instantly if he got hit. That punch had devastating power, enough to demolish a skyscraper in one shot……
I guess there’s only one way……
He decided to whip out his trump card, and that wasn’t the Trinity Impact. It was the ability that made him the strongest and worst Overlord in his previous life. He had to use it, now!
Before the effects of the three items of the Trinity Impact ended!
Pzzzt, pzzzzzzzzzzzt! An incredible amount of electricity was discharged from Kang Chul-In’s body.
Outrage Drive, the 5th and final phase of Overdrive……
The strongest, most extreme secret move was about to make its appearance!
[Warning, warning!]
The augmented reality programme in the Ectoplasm Oversuit warned Kang Chul-In, as he activated the Outrage Drive.
[Power, 500% increase!]
As expected from the final phase of Overdrive, Outrage Drive displayed a magnificent increase in power.
[Stamina decreasing by 500 units/second!]
[59 seconds remaining for Outrage Drive!]
However, there was a substantial penalty that followed its use.
1 minute.
Kang Chul-In pondered hard about that short duration. He had to subjugate Saturnus and send him back to hell. Otherwise, he would be the one to rest in his grave!
Ssssss……! Kaiforce began to emit black and evil energy.
Simultaneously, Saturnus threw a heavy punch at Kang Chul-In.
“Get lost……” Kang Chul-In mumbled. “To hell!”
He then parried Saturnus’ fist with Kaiforce.
Clang……! An ear-piercing screech echoed as Kaiforce and Saturnus’ fist collided.
“.……!”
Saturnus was appalled.
“What, surprised?”
“.……!”
“This is nothing much, huh?”
Kang Chul-In, who had been pushed back so far, could now fight on equal terms with Saturnus.
“Bite hard, Saturnus.”
“.……!”
“Let me break all of them.”
Kang Chul-In was obviously referring to his opponent’s teeth.
“Bastard……!” Saturnus hissed.
Crack! At that instant, Kang Chul-In headbutted Saturnus on his nose because their faces were in close proximity.
“Keuk……!”
Saturnus’ nose bled, and his head was flung backwards. Meanwhile, Kang Chul-In grasped onto both Kaiforce and Mitra and followed up with his Hyper-speed sword skills.
Swish!
He began to slash at Saturnus without mercy.
Pssssshhh! Red blood spurted out.
It’s happening!
Kang Chul-In grinned. Outrage Drive was really incredible. Despite seemingly impossible to cut previously, Saturnus’ body was now covered in injuries and was spurting out blood.
“Die!”
Kang Chul-In stabbed Kaiforce into Saturnus’ abdomen. He believed that even Saturnus couldn’t survive the Demon Sword in his belly.
However,
Clang! Kang Chul-In was astonished.
“This crazy bastard……!”
Saturnus had bitten Kaiforce to nullify its attack.
“Kehuehue……!”
He laughed creepily with Kaiforce in his mouth. It was a truly shuddering laugh. Shockingly, he could laugh despite having a few of his teeth broken and his mouth full of blood. Kang Chul-In immediately let go of Mitra and held Kaiforce with both hands. He wanted to add more force onto Kaiforce.
“Bastard……!”
“Kehehe……!”
“Die!”
“Heh……!”
At that moment,
Crack! Saturnus grabbed Kang Chul-In by his upper body with both hands.
“.……!”
It was Kang Chul-In’s crisis now. Saturnus’ incredible grip pressured Kang Chul-In’s upper body. He was doing a ‘bearhug,’ attempting to crush Kang Chul-In!
“Urgh……!” Kang Chul-In moaned in agony. “You crazy…… fucker……”
“Kehehe……!”
It was a close match. Kang Chul-In wanted to stab Saturnus and Saturnus wanted to crush Kang Chul-In.
\r \r \r
The battle of two spears! One was sharp, and the other was blunt, but they were the same. Both of them neglected defense and focused all their strength to destroy the opponent!
[40 seconds remaining for Outrage Drive!]
However, Kang Chul-In was at a disadvantage.
Damn it……!
He couldn’t overwhelm Saturnus even with a 500% power-up. If Saturnus had gone all-out since the start, Kang Chul-In would have been murdered before he could even activate Outrage Drive…… he was indeed the ancient emperor who had cast fear onto the whole continent.
“Heh……!”
Suddenly, Saturnus’ punch landed on Kang Chul-In’s flank.
Crack! Kang Chul-In almost screamed from the sharp pain that followed.
My breathing……!
He didn’t feel good. His breath became shallow. One of the crushed ribs must have punctured the lungs. However, Saturnus refused to stop his punches. Although they didn’t carry the full power, they were still as powerful as a tank.
“Keuk……!”
Finally, Kang Chul-In couldn’t hold back his moan.
And that one punch!
Banggggg! Saturnus’ fist struck Kang Chul-In’s solar plexus hard.
“Urgh……!”
Kang Chul-In coughed out blood and was pushed back together with Kaiforce.
“Heh…… son……!” Saturnus grinned. “Not bad, huh?”
“Keuk……!”
“But…… I don’t think you can entertain me for long, can you? How long more? One minute? No, 30 seconds?”
“.……!”
“Kek, kekeke…… alright, let’s play to our hearts’ content. You will be an empty shell after a while…… I waited a thousand years for this revenge; I can wait for another one minute, no problem.”
Saturnus had sharp eyes. He could discern Kang Chul-In’s status in one look and even had room to relax. Kang Chul-In had never faced an opponent like this in his entire lifetime. Saturnus was his true nemesis and predator. Even without a single artifact or magical ability, he could display such incredible strength.
Should I use it? Kang Chul-In pondered.
[25 seconds remaining for Outrage Drive!]
He was running out of time. After 25 seconds, he would be rendered unable to fight due to the aftermath of the Outrage Drive. Kang Chul-In had to defeat Saturnus within this short duration to fulfill his ambition and uphold the Emperor of Blood and Iron’s legacy. If only the Ectoplasm Oversuit was fully synchronized…… he could have easily killed Saturnus. What a shame.
Clench! Kang Chul-In gritted his teeth.
“Hu……”
“Why, son? Are you furious at your incompetence?”
“No way.”
“Kek…… acting tough, are we? Your limits have already been revealed……”
“Any last words?”
“.……?”
“I will let you talk some more bullshit before you die.”
Suddenly, Saturnus began to feel uneasy from observing Kang Chul-In’s face— his eyes, sealed lips, and tranquil expression. His composure proved that Kang Chul-In wasn’t exaggerating.
It’s all or nothing.
Kang Chul-In decided to use the Trinity Impact. He couldn’t defeat Saturnus with Outrage Drive alone. Therefore, he had to make use of his trump card.
“You only live once.” That was Kang Chul-In’s motto. It was game over if he died. Why prepare for tomorrow then? His utmost priority was to eliminate the ‘variable’ in front of him.
“Trinity Force…… Acti……”
Kang Chul-In was about to activate his trump card when suddenly,
Thump! A blue silhouette fell from the sky.
It was Lucia, his soul mate and aide.
***
While Kang Chul-In and Saturnus were battling it out at the Khartoum river, Milenius had assumed control over the command center.
“Kwak Jun.”
“Yes, Your Majesty Andrei……”
“Prepare it.”
“Y-You mean ‘that’ thing?”
Kwak Jun was shocked. Milenius was referring to the Gullveig Alliance’s arrangement to hunt Kang Chul-In down, with Brynhildr as the bait.
“Now’s the golden opportunity to eliminate Kang Chul-In. We have to use it now.”
“Yes……”
“Execute it right away.”
“Will do.”
Kwak Jun followed Milenius’ command without resistance. He didn’t have a choice. Otherwise, he would die.
Heh…… Emperor of Blood and Iron…… and Emperor of Lunacy and Night…… an opportunity to kill the father and son……
After handing out the command, Milenius grinned.
Saturnus…… how dare you treat your creator like a slave? Me, a member of the mighty Agnaga?
That was right. Milenius had never genuinely served Saturnus. In fact, he had been forced to obey him.
“All men!” Kwak Jun ordered. “Deploy project ‘King Slayer’!”
King Slayer. It was the Gullveig Alliance’s joker card to hunt Kang Chul-In down.
***
“Back off, Lucia!” Kang Chul-In shouted. He was about to activate the Trinity Impact but couldn’t do so with Lucia around.
However……
Lucia faced Saturnus, while Kang Chul-In stood behind her back.
This is……!
Kang Chul-In immediately realized the state Lucia was in.
Emilia……!
It was obvious. The Emperor of Blood and Iron didn’t have a clear memory of Lucia, so only Emilia the Dragon Lord could do such a thing. In other words, she had programmed Lucia to protect Kang Chul-In.
“Oh?” Saturnus grinned. “Cyborg…… made by a dragon? Kek…… as expected from my son…… quite a casanova…… to have a knight in shining armor.”
Saturnus didn’t bat an eyelid upon Lucia’s appearance. There was no way he would. Lucia might have awakened, but she was still substantially weaker than Saturnus. She could only buy time for Kang Chul-In to evacuate to safety……
Brrrr……! Kang Chul-In was genuinely furious.
“I can’t let this happen……”
Lucia was very special to him. A sovereign and his aide shared a bond tighter than anything else. In addition, Lucia was a loyal subject who had accompanied him ever since the Great Summoning. How could he use her as his shield, in front of Saturnus? He could never do that. Kang Chul-In was too prideful of a man to sacrifice Lucia just for his ambition. He was the Supreme King of the West. He could never appreciate such a circumstance.
“Lucia!” Kang Chul-In bellowed. “Leave, now!”
“Didn’t I tell you? Leave.”
However, all Lucia did was reiterate her given task with a robotic voice. She didn’t respond to Kang Chul-In at all.
[10 seconds remaining for Outrage Drive!]
At that moment, a notification appeared in front of Kang Chul-In.
[Warning, warning! Outrage Drive is ending soon! 9s…… 8s…… 7s……]
It was a crisis. At this rate, Kang Chul-In would collapse due to the aftermath of the Outrage Drive.
“God damn it!”
Kang Chul-In dashed.
He then grabbed Lucia by her neck and threw her back.
Oooooongg……! Subsequently, he garnered every last bit of his strength.
One blow to finish him off.
His next task was to activate the Trinity Impact.
Now was the time, before the effect of the Outrage Drive ended!
“Come at me, son!”
Saturnus opened both of his arms at Kang Chul-In. The tyrant who turned Pangea into a bloodbath 1000 years ago was confident.
“Die, you fucker……!”
Kang Chul-In was about to activate the Trinity Impact, when……
Bangggggg! A tremendous sound echoed in the air.
Bang, bang, bangggggg……!
The Gullveig Alliance naval fleet began to explode.
“.……!”
It caught everyone off-guard. It was a serial explosion, at that.
“T-That is……!” Han Ye-Sun was appalled. “Oppa, we have to escape!”
In the sky above Khartoum River, a Gullveig Alliance aircraft was about to drop ‘something big.’
“.……!”
Kang Chul-In was shocked as well.
What kind of bomb is that……!
It was obviously a bomb, but it was absolutely enormous. Almost as big as a small castle…… its potential destructive power seemed to match that of an atomic bomb.
At that instant, Milenius’ voice could be heard from the aircraft, and immediately, the gigantic bomb fell straight from the sky. Milenius planned to kill Kang Chul-In, Saturnus, and Brynhildr with this single attack!
“Oppa……!”
Han Ye-Sun rushed towards Kang Chul-In. The bomb of the century landed on the battleship where the three of them stood.
Banggggggggggggg!
A massive explosion engulfed all of them.
Boom……! There was a large explosion and the water in the Hartum River shot up like a tsunami and swallowed everything up. The battle of Styx ended with no winner.
***
Meanwhile, at around the same time, the young Lord Lily received an urgent report from her new secretary. She was lining up her army on the training grounds according to advice from Kang Chul-In.
“What’s wrong?”
“Something big’s happened!”
“S-Something big?”
“The e-enemies……! Huk…… huk……!” The secretary couldn’t even speak properly from running all the way to where Lily was.
“P-Please calm down and tell me slowly. What happened exactly?”
“T-The enemies……!”
“Enemies?”
“Overlord Lee Ji-Tae’s army…… huk…… huk huk……!”
“Overlord Lee Ji-Tae…… the one who took over Atal Ramanujan……?”
“Yes! T-That’s correct!”
“No way……”
“Yes, Your Highness.” The secretary gasped to continue. “Overlord Lee Ji-Tae’s army is heading towards Itaracia!”
“O-Oh, dear……!” Lily was shocked. “But it’s alright!”
However, she wasn’t scared.
“The military power of our Zolushka territory is incredible! If we can use the geography of Itaracia to our benefit……”
“Y-Your Highness……”
“Yes?”
“T-The number of our enemies……”
“.……?”
“The military power of the Shatyameba territory is a-approximately…… 500,000 people!”
“R-Really?”
It was an exorbitant amount. 500,000 people. It was a number of soldiers that would appear in the battle going on in the north with the Valhalla Kingdom and the Gullveig Alliance.
“Y-Yes…… no matter how well our soldiers are trained it’s impossible to withstand 500,000 enemy soldiers……”
That was an irrefutable fact. How could Lily withstand a grand army of 500,000 soldiers? With her current ability, it would be difficult to even fight against 100,000 soldiers.
“W-What should we do?” Lily was taken aback. “There’s too many…… I can’t stop that many soldiers.”
“Your Highness, quickly request for support from the Valhalla Kingdom!”
“The Valhalla Kingdom? B-But oppa’s kingdom is in the middle of a war with the Gullveig Alliance…… I can’t ask him for help again…… he’s already helped me a lot.”
The oppa that Lily was talking about was obviously Kang Chul-In.
“I can’t do that…… Oppa won’t have any soldiers to spare……”
“No, Your Highness!”
“N-No?”
“His wife, Overlord Lee Chae-Rin!”
“Ah……! That unnie with a lot of money?”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
Lily’s secretary was a pretty smart person.
“B-But……!”
“Your Highness, this won’t be a nuisance!”
“I-Is that so?”
“Yes, Your Highness. Here, look!”
The secretary pulled out a map.
“Currently, there is a war happening in the north for control of the territory, but that’s only if this place-”
“The Baldur region?”
“-Yes, only if the Baldur region is calm is that the case. Look here. Overlord Lee Chae-Rin’s forces and the Gullveig Alliance split the Baldur region into two. We can interpret that this is to prevent a third-party from appearing for a three-way war.”
“S-So?”
“If Overlord Lee Ji-Tae’s 500,000 soldiers conquer our territory and above the Baldur region, what will happen?”
“.……Another large power will appear?”
“Yes.”
“So that means……”
“The Supreme King of the West Kang Chul-In won’t want Overlord Lee Ji-Tae to step on our territory either. He’s already in the middle of a war with the Gullveig Alliance, so if another army starts coming from behind him he’ll have to make a new game plan.”
Everything the secretary was saying was correct.
“Your Highness, please contact Overlord Lee Chae-Rin. Overlord Lee Chae-Rin is the Supreme King of the West Kang Chul-In’s wife. She’ll help us willingly. This way, we can protect our territory and help the Supreme King of the West.”
“Will we really?”
“If we ask them too late, it’ll be detrimental for both sides, so why hesitate?”
“A-Alright!” Lily made her decision. “I’ll ask Overlord Lee Chae-Rin unnie for help!”
“You’ve made a wise choice, Your Highness. Overlord Lee Chae-Rin is an affluent Lord who holds most of the wealth on the continent. She’ll be able to stop Overlord Lee Ji-Tae with money. And even if she can’t, we’ll be able to stall for time until the Supreme King of the West comes.”
“Please send a message to Lee Chae-Rin unnie immediately!”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
“Also……” Lily’s eyes flashed. “I must go to Itaracia myself.”
“Y-Your Highness! That’s too danger……”
“I have to go.” The young Lord was firm. “If I don’t step up to encourage our soldiers myself, we won’t be able to stop Lee Ji-Tae’s military! Lords are supposed to step up to the plate themselves too!”
“Your Highness……”
“Quickly send a message to Lee Chae-Rin unnie! I’ll get ready to go to Itaracia!”
“Y-Yes, ma’am.”
The secretary felt inwardly amazed by Lily while heading towards the messaging room.
Oppa!
\r \r \r
Lily thought of Kang Chul-In.
I won’t avoid it! I can do it too! I’m also a Lord!
Lily had grown after meeting Kang Chul-In. The weak young girl was now a respectable Lord!
***
After the explosion settled, in the Gullveig Alliance’s territory, a wall of the commanding center came crumbling down.
“.……!”
Everyone was shocked.
“Ke……”
It was none other than Saturnus who broke through the wall. Surprisingly, the demon had survived the incredible attack.
“Who?” The bloodied demon looked for the culprit with a smiling face. “Which one of you bastards that don’t amount to anything allowed that dull trick?”
Saturnus was extremely angry due to the great explosion. Saturnus was angry beyond imagination from being distracted from his amusement.
“Was it you?”
“N-No, sir……”
The head of the general exploded like a watermelon.
“Or was it…… you?”
“I-It was not me! P-Please! Please believe me……”
The head of the messenger soldier also broke into pieces.
“Then……” Saturnus’s gaze was fixed on a frozen Milenius. “It must have been you?”
“N-No, sir!” Milenius denied the charges. “M-Master! How could I……”
There was nothing else he could do. He might’ve been an Agnaga, but in front of an ancient emperor, he was just a mouse in front of a cat.
“F-First, please listen to me…… it wasn’t intentional……”
It was when he was starting to excuse himself……
“He gave the orders!”
Kwak Jun quickly pointed at Milenius.
Dammit!
Milenius face paled. Right now, he had to excuse himself somehow. That was the only way he could survive. And even then, his life could still be in danger. The demon from hell was a monster who was moved by sadism and rage.
But,
That crazy bastard!
Kwak Jun was pointing to him as the cause of the situation.
You dare to……!
That mere marionette called him out!
“The explosion just now was a strategy called Project King Slayer, and its purpose was to destroy the Supreme King of the West Kang Chul-In and the White Knight Brynhildr at the same time!”
“Oho?
Saturnus grinned at Kwak Jung’s tattling. It was a shiver-inducing smile from Milenius’s perspective.
“So that’s what happened……?”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
Kwak Jung bowed towards Saturnus.
“Majesty? Why are you calling me that, you lowly being?”
“Your Majesty is the strongest.”
“The strongest?”
“I know because I got a report in real-time. Kang Chul-In, the strongest in the continent, couldn’t stand against you. So wouldn’t the true owner of this continent be you? Your Majesty, you are the owner of this continent!”
Emperor. That was the only word and nickname that Saturnus liked.
“Ke…… you know how to roll your tongue.”
“No, Your Majesty. I just wish to become your faithful dog to survive.”
“I like it.”
“I-It’s nothing!”
“Anyways.” Saturnus turned to Milenius. “You……”
“M-Master!”
“You bothered me while I was spending some time with my son, hm?”
“Master! That’s a misunderstanding……”
At that moment,
Crunch! Saturnus gripped Milenius’s face.
“Kuk, kuk……!”
“Kek…… you insect…… you dare to mock me?”
“M-Master…… kuk! T-That’s……”
“Die.”
As soon as Saturnus spoke those words, the “punishment” began. Milenius’s chin began to split, and it was soon “separated.” Saturnus had pulled out his chin!
“I’ll rip you to shreds.”
“H-Heackkkkk……!”
A gruesome scene began. Arms, legs, hair, skin…… Saturnus used his brute strength to take Milenius apart one by one. A few seconds later, Milenius’s corpse was rolling on the commanding center of the Alliance.
“Kek…… that loser dared to stab me in the back…… hehe…… I suppose the human world is a fun place to play games?”
A horrifying smile…… the charisma of the Emperor of Carnage was beyond imagination.
“Find him.” Saturnus ordered. “My son isn’t dead.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!” Kwak Jun quickly replied to his orders.
“Also……”
“Please give me your commands!”
“I’ll continue to fight against the kingdom my son established. I want my son’s people’s pain, my son’s women, and my grandchildren. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
“Ke…… good…… we’ll start the war games now…… the festival of blood!”
Madness shined in Saturnus’s bloodshot eyes.
***
Son, wake up!
His mother’s voice rang in his head.
Dadddd! Wake up!
He could hear Arshelly’s voice too.
Husband!
Honey!
Your Majesty!
His wives too.
And……
Oppa, oppa!
Han Ye-Sun’s voice as well.
“Kuk……!”
Kang Chul-In opened his eyes with much difficulty.
“Oppa! Can you hear me?!”
“Where…… is…… kuk!”
“Don’t overdo it! Stay still!”
Han Ye-Sun forced him down.
“Ack!” Another shout escaped his mouth.
“Don’t move! Never! Not now!”
“Kuk……”
“Oppa, you’re hurt a lot right now…… you almost died.” Han Ye-Sun spoke in a teary voice. “You almost died…… so don’t get up…… you’re a mess right now!”
He really was. All his bones were broken, his lungs were crushed under his ribcage, and his muscles, which had been as strong as steel wire rope, were all ripped. There wasn’t a single internal organ that was fine. A severe injury. No, a critical one. They were injuries that normal people would’ve died from already.
“Ke……” Kang Chul-In groaned. “It hurts……”
“What?”
“It hurts…… a lot……”
That was it. Kang Chul-In just groaned and didn’t say much. Although he was experiencing unimaginable pain, he didn’t say anything more.
“Huk……!” Tears brimmed in Han Ye-Sun’s eyes. “S-Sorry……”
“What…… are you sorry for?”
“I-I didn’t know anything…… I-I just thought you were going crazy…… s-so……” She was finally telling the truth. “I just…… I…… couldn’t understand you. So I tried to stop you…… if I didn’t stop you…… you wouldn’t be like this…… I-I was bait.”
“It’s fine.”
“.……!”
“Those things happen…… so don’t…… blame yourself.”
Unexpectedly, Kang Chul-In’s old way of speaking came out of his mouth. It was how he spoke to Han Ye-Sun back during their puppy love days, the school days.
“O-Oppa?”
“You didn’t do it on purpose…… so let’s just move on.”
“Huk……!”
“But……”
“Hm?”
His tone quickly changed.
“Where am I?” Kang Chul-In asked. “And how much time passed?”
“A-A week?”
“The war?”
“I’m not sure…… I just know we’re in the south of the continent.”
“The south?”
“Your belt brought us here.”
“Ah……” Kang Chul-In realized how he was able to survive.
This special function will save your life when in danger. Because your defense equipment was so bad……
What the legendary blacksmith Vulkan said flashed through his mind. The Invincible-rank item, the “Iron Curtain” belt…… that was what saved Kang Chul-In and Han Ye-Sun?
“And Lucia……?” However, rather than being relieved about his survival, Kang Chul-In asked about Lucia first.
“She’s alive.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.” Han Ye-Sun nodded. “She went to see if there were any gates nearby. That belt saved all three of us.”
“That’s a relief……”
“Yeah…… it is.”
“First…… kuk!”
Kang Chul-In quickly raised himself.
“O-Oppa!”
“There’s no time to be like this.”
“No!”
“We don’t have time……” Kang Chul-In was feeling rushed. “Every second is precious…… we don’t have…… time…… soon…… he will resurrect……”
“Oppa!”
“I have to…… prepare……”
However, there were limits to his capabilities. Kang Chul-In fell over.
“Oppaaaa!” Han Ye-Sun quickly supported him. “Why are you going so far……!?”
“Earth……”
“.……!”
“Even Earth…… will be in danger…… before that…… have to stop……”
Then, Kang Chul-In fainted.
Kang Chul-In woke up one week later.
“Mm……!”
“Son, did you wake up?”
He could hear his mother, Park Sun-Ja’s, voice.
“This is……?”
“It’s a hospital, son.”
“.……!”
“Whew…… son, I understand you’re busy, but what were you doing to end up like this……”
“S-Sorry……”
“I’m upset.”
“.……”
“If I lose even you……”
Kang Chul-In shut his mouth. He didn’t have anything to say. Showing this injured side of him to his mother…… he wanted to find a hole and hide in it.
“Don’t ever……”
“.……”
“Don’t even come hurt like this. Alright?”
“Okay……”
“I can’t believe you……”
Park Sun-Ja couldn’t look at Kang Chul-In properly.
“I’ll call for a doctor, so rest up. I’ll be back.”
Park Sun-Ja didn’t try to stay in the hospital room for too long even though her son had woken up. She didn’t want him to see her tears.
“.……I’ve been a bad son again.”Kang Chul-In muttered to himself and bit his lower lip. “Dammit.”
What was he doing? He promised not to be a bad son again, but he had shown this side of himself.
“Oppa!” Just then, Han Ye-Sun frantically ran into the hospital room. “Did you wake up? What a relief! Such a relief! I thought you were really gonna die……”
“.……”
“You went to death’s door…… if we were a bit late, you would have died……” Tears brimmed in Han Ye-Sun’s eyes again. “But still, it’s a relief…… that you’re living…… really a relief……”
Kang Chul-In could feel how sincere Han Ye-Sun was. Han Ye-Sun was acting like his survival was everything to her……
“But.” Kang Chul-In opened his mouth. “Where is this? Earth?”
“Yeah……”
“Why did you bring me here……”
“There wasn’t any other way, we had to save you. There wasn’t a way to go back to the Valhalla Kingdom, and we were in the south because the Belt moved us there. We were surrounded by mountains and we couldn’t go anywhere. You were in such a critical condition that we had to use modern medicine. Of course, as soon as we arrived on Earth, I called for Alfred.”
“Alfred?” Kang Chul-In narrowed his eyes.
“Yeah.” Han Ye-Sun nodded. “That was the only way to help you. Modern medicine’s surgery, and Alfred’s Blood Heal. If it wasn’t for the two of those, no one would’ve been able to save you.”
“I see…… what about Alfred?”
“He returned to Pangaea as soon as you were treated. Along with Lucia.”
“Why?”
“That’s……” Han Ye-Sun couldn’t speak easily. “The situation…… it’s…… not…… good…… really not good……”
“That bad?”
“There’s a three-way fight.”
“.……!”
“The Valhalla Kingdom…… is fighting two forces right now…… although…… it’s more like they’re being beaten up one-sidedly……”
Kang Chul-In felt like he had been punched.
I didn’t hear wrong, right?
He didn’t know what kind of bullshit this was. How much effort had he put into stopping a three-way war? But it was happening anyway?
“A third party?”
“Yeah……”
“Is it……” Kang Chul-In spoke as if he realized who it was. “The Shatyameba territory? Overlord Lee Ji-Tae?”
“Y-You know?”
“So that’s what happened.”
He had thought it was strange. He should’ve realized it when some guy he’d never heard about became an Overlord after taking over Atal Ramanujan’s position.
“And the other one is the Gullveig Alliance, right?”
“No.”
“No?”
“It’s the Ancient Empire.”
He didn’t know what in the world she was talking about.
“You’re not saying…… Saturnus, that damned guy, called himself an emperor and took over the Gullveig Alliance, are you?”
“You’re right.”
“.……”
\r \r \r
“The Gullveig Alliance doesn’t exist anymore.”
“How ridiculous.”
It had only been 2 weeks but he couldn’t grasp how many things had gone down during that time. Saturnus, who was calling himself an emperor, and the Overlord Lee Ji-Tae. These damned bastards were beating up his kingdom after creating their forces. It seemed a lot had happened in that short amount of time.
“I see.”
However, there didn’t seem to be any concern on Kang Chul-In’s face.
“O-Oppa, are you okay?”
“Of course.” Kang Chul-In nodded. “What’s important is time, not those small fish.”
“I don’t understand what you’re saying. What were you saying right before you fainted? That Earth was in danger……”
“I meant what I said.”
“What?”
“Overlord Lee Ji-Tae…… that bastard isn’t human.”
“He’s not……?”
“Do you want to know?” Kang Chul-In turned to Han Ye-Sun. “It’ll be hard to take.”
“It doesn’t matter.” Han Ye-Sun’s eyes flashed. “I need to know what you’re doing.”
“Fine, whatever you want.”
Kang Chul-In didn’t plan on hiding anything from her.
“Everything goes back to a thousand years ago, during the rule of the Emperor of Blood and Iron, Julius Berlineta Pon Aurangzeb.”
Kang Chul-In began to explain the secret he knew, about Pangaea’s past and the system, Erinyes.
***
Meanwhile, at the same time, in the Esmeralda territory.
“Kuk!” Kwak Jung vomited blood.
“Kuk, kuk, kuk!”
Not just once. He continued to vomit blood. Vibrant red blood stained the map in front of him.
“Tactician Kwak!” Podolski quickly supported Kwak Jung. “Are you alright?”
“Do I look alright?” Kwak Jung asked back, sharply.
“O-Of course……”
“Of course not…… I feel…… like I’m gonna die…… almost to the point that I want to kill myself……”
Kwak Jung’s face was extremely pale. He looked poor. The black circles under his eyes, purple lips, dried skin, and bony cheeks would remind anyone of a sick person. No, like a patient who was going to collapse any second.
“Please take it easy……”
“Do you think I’m doing this because I want to?” Kwak Jung spoke as he wiped the blood from his mouth in an irritated manner. “The moment I make a mistake this kingdom will be destroyed in the blink of an eye. I can’t take it easy right now.”
“Tactician Kwak……”
“Please send General Drakan to the north and General Amur to the south. The enemies will come. Their scales are large. It’ll be hard to block them, so please send the Full Metal Dragon and Zeppelin as well.”
“Yes, sir……”
“When the battle begins, Saturnus will appear two hours later.”
“S-Saturnus……!”
“Then, we will drop His Highness Dorian off to stall for time and Lucia will hold our backs. If we do this…… we’ll be safe for today.”
“R-Really?”
“Do you think I’d use my Foresight because I want to die? Don’t say anything useless and go quickly. I want to rest today.”
“Yes, sir…… I hope you rest well……”
Podolski carefully left Kwak Jung’s tent.
“Kuk!” Kwak Jung began to vomit blood again. “Dammit…… am I really gonna die?”
He was using his Foresight to make up for Kang Chul-In’s absence so they could continue with the war. He really felt like he was going to die. Every time he used his Foresight, the feeling of his lifespan decreasing was like hell every day. However, there was nothing else he could do.
In front of them were the Ancient Empire soldiers, and in the south, Overlord Lee Ji-Tae’s army was beating them up. In this disadvantageous situation, if they made a mistake, it would be the end of the Valhalla Kingdom.Even though he didn’t want to, he had to use Foresight to stay ahead of their enemies.
“Shit…… please come…… please……” Kwak Jung prayed for Kang Chul-In to come again and again. “What do you want me to do when we need you the most…… ugh……!”
But Kang Chul-In was recuperating back on Earth because he was critically injured. According to what Alfred said, Kang Chul-In’s recovery wouldn’t take that long, but it was unclear when he would return.
Moreover,
“That damned bastard is playing with us!”
Saturnus only appeared when the soldiers of the empire were in danger and messed up the battlefield. Although he could sweep away the soldiers of the Valhalla Kingdom with his power, he just stepped back and observed the war, like he was playing war games.
No, Saturnus was definitely enjoying watching the Valhalla Kingdom suffer. Like a pervert.
“So please……”
Suddenly,
“H-Huh?”
Kwak Jung narrowed his eyes at the sudden dizziness.
“I-I can’t see well…… dammit……”
His vision spun in front of his eyes. He couldn’t move his arms and legs properly.
Plop! Kwak Jung fell to the floor.
“Eh…… n-not now…… no…… hehe……”
He lost consciousness. After using too much of his Foresight, he was drained.
***
“S-So……” Han Ye-Sun wasn’t able to hide her shock at Kang Chul-In’s words. “So from the Great Summoning till now…… everything is the will from a thousand years ago to stop the Agnaga?”
“As you heard.”
“I-I can’t believe it……!”
“Neither could I.”
It was true. It had taken a while for Kang Chul-In to accept the “truth.”
“But it was true.”
“Mm……”
“Anyway, the most important thing is to prevent the resurrection of Rindermergel.”
“What happens if he…… resurrects completely?”
“The end of Pangaea.”
“.……!”
“And……”
The reason why Kang Chul-In had to take over the Emperor of Blood and Iron’s mission escaped his mouth.
“The dead Agnaga will resurrect. To be exact, they won’t be resurrected, but new Agnaga will be born.”
“New Agnaga?”
“Rindermergel himself is Agnaga. He has the DNA of the dead Agnaga, and if he absorbs some energy, he can create new Agnaga. If that happens……”
“The Agnaga will come to Earth after taking over Pangaea?”
“There’s a 100% chance that will happen.”
It was true. That was the reason why Kang Chul-In had taken over the Emperor of Blood and Iron’s unfinished work. It was important to save Pangaea, but he couldn’t let the Agnaga invade Earth, could he?
“From the beginning, Earth and Pangaea were the same parallel worlds. They are connected because they’re not from different dimensions. That’s the reason why Dragon Lord Emilia was able to call us into Pangaea.”
“I-I see……”
“Anyways, as I said, Saturnus and Lee Ji-Tae are only small fish.”
“You have a way to defeat Saturnus and Lee Ji-Tae?”
“Now…… I will defeat Saturnus.”
“R-Really?”
“5 minutes is enough.”
Kang Chul-In was sure of victory.
Because……
[Ectoplasm Oversuit, synchronization complete!]
His strongest artifact, this armor, had perfectly synchronized with his body.
[Physical strength, 400% increase!]
[Stamina, 300% increase!]
[Reaction speed, 180% increase!]
[Defensive power, 60% increase!]
[Resistance, 60% increase!]
Yes, the present Kang Chul-In was strong enough to be able to guarantee his victory in a fight against Saturnus.
Right now…… I’m stronger than the Emperor of Blood and Iron.
After getting up from almost having died, he wasn’t afraid of anything. Furthermore, the Outrage Drive he was only able to use for one minute could now be used for five.
This was the reason why Kang Chul-In was scary. Every time he came back from death’s door, he would grow stronger.
“Lee Ji-Tae?” He had a sour smile. “He’s probably Cereb, the mind of Agnaga…… that disgusting squid…… kek!”
The Emperor of Blood and Iron’s memory was filled with information about Cereb. Kang Chul-In knew too well how he could bring the great mind of Agnaga down.
Saturnus? He would be finished after beating him up. Kang Chul-In wouldn’t be defeated anymore. It was showtime.
“I’ll return right away.” Kang Chul-In raised himself.
“W-Will you be okay?”
“Of course.”
He still had some pain left, but it would dissipate with some potions. There was no more time to waste. He had to leave now.
“You should rest for just one more day……”
Han Ye-Sun looked at Kang Chul-In with a regretful face.
“It’s not time to rest.”
“Still…… it’ll be so tiring…… you’ll have to do everything yourself…… this isn’t fair…… with Pangaea and Earth. You have to protect both worlds by yourself…… that’s a heavy burden…… I don’t know why you have to do it all alone…… why……”
“Because I’m a Lord.”
“.……!”
“That’s all.”
That was Kang Chul-In’s identity. The reason why he was living.
“I am the king of a land and the father of many citizens. I must take on the responsibilities if I want to rule.”
“O-Oppa……”
Han Ye-Sun painstakingly felt that Kang Chul-In was a Lord to the bones.
“Let’s go.” Kang Chul-In began to walk.
“To beat up Saturnus, that damned bastard, first.”
It had begun.
The salvation of two worlds, the path of Kang Chul-In, and the path of Blood and Iron.
“After saying goodbye my mom first.”
Kang Chul-In tossed his hospital clothing aside and looked for Park Sun-Ja. Yes, he had to see his mother before leaving for battle. He was about to rescue Pangaea and Earth at the same time. He would be a bad son if he didn’t say farewell to his mother before progressing with such important business.
Kang Chul-In was able to find Park Sun-Ja on the rooftop of the hospital.
“Mother.”
“S-Son?”
Park Sun-Ja quickly wiped her tears.
As I expected.
Kang Chul-In knew that she was going to be on the rooftop. She had done this back then, too. When his father had suffered from the traffic accident, Park Sun-Ja came up to the rooftop to cry alone.
“W-Why are you here…… you’re not exactly in the best condition to……”
“I’m fine.”
Kang Chul-In spread his arms wide apart as if to prove it.
“Son……”
“As you already know…… I’m not an ordinary human. This kind of injury means nothing……”
“Is that something you should be saying to your mom?”
“.……!”
“Goodness!”
Park Sun-Ja trembled with frustration. This was the mind of a mother. No matter how strong one’s child was, if they were injured to the point that they had to be bedridden, parents would feel like their own bone and flesh were being taken apart.
“I can’t believe you!”
“I-I apologize……”
“You’re the same!”
“Pardon?”
“You’re the same as your father.”
“Ah!?”
Kang Chul-In realized what Park Sun-Ja was saying. A forgotten memory popped up.
“Ah! It hurts!”
“H-Honey……!”
“Don’t worry too much. I’m not even that hurt, so what’s with the fuss?”
“I-Is that something you should be saying right now? You could die at any moment! It’s a miracle you’re awake right now!”
“Hahahaha~! Do you think this Kang Han will die from this? Don’t worry. I’ll be up and about soon. I can get through this with some food……”
“H-Honey!”
That was Kang Chul-In’s father, Kang Han’s, end. He had acted tough until the end and hadn’t been able to leave any sincere last words behind.
“Kek……!” Kang Chul-In laughed. “S-Sorry…… mother……”
He shouldn’t have laughed. Thinking of his father’s end and laughing?
He was so fiery…… thinking about it now…… gosh…… he was so foolish.
How could a person act so tough before they died?
“Keek……!”
Park Sun-Ja must’ve remembered it too because it seemed like she was trying to hold in her laughter.
“Son.”
“Yes, mother.”
“Dad seems foolish, huh?”
“N-No……”
“Come on~!”
“R-Really……”
“Don’t lie.”
“S-Sorry……”
Park Sun-Ja smiled. “Your father was like that.”
“Yes……”
“One day, his right shoulder was ripped to shreds after falling into the ocean, back during his younger days.”
“I see.”
“Do you know what your father said back then?”
“Hm?”
“He said some medicine would do the trick.”
Shock filled Kang Chul-In’s face.
What kind of ridiculous……!
It didn’t make sense no matter how much he thought about it. If a person was bit by a shark, they should immediately go to the hospital, but his father wanted to put some medicine on it and call it a day?
Was it that scar?
Kang Chul-In had seen a scar when he was young.
And……
“Son! Look!”
“What’s this? Did you get hurt?”
\r \r \r
“This is……”
“Yes?”
“A scar that I got when I was younger from fighting a shark!”
“R-Really!?”
“Of course!”
“T-Then, who won?”
“Of course I won!”
“Wow……!”
“That shark swam away so fast his fin almost fell off!”
“You’re so amazing, dad……!”
“Right? I’m strong, huh?”
“Yeah!”
“Hahahaha~!”
His father had put him on his knee and bragged about the “fight” with the shark.
“.……”
Kang Chul-In was speechless for a moment.
Gosh.
Looking back at it now, it wasn’t something a good son should say, but……
He was an extreme fool.
There was no denying the fact that Kang Han was a fool beyond anyone’s imagination.
“Do you know what your father said back then? He said that kind of injury was nothing for a man. He was so stubborn that we took care of it with some medicine…… two days later, he fainted from excessive bleeding. I can’t believe him. Goodness!”
“.……”
“He always went on about what a “man” was. He said it was okay to get hurt because he was a man. My son isn’t that foolish, but…… it seems you’re a bit similar, no?”
“Ahem……!”
Kang Chul-In coughed and looked away.
“Please.” Park Sun-Ja pleaded Kang Chul-In. “Everything is fine. I won’t ask you what you do outside. You’re an adult, and the king of a land.”
“Yes, ma’am……”
“But I can’t forgive you for getting hurt. Don’t be foolish like your father. Understood?”
“Understood.”
“This hole in my heart is enough with just the one your father left behind.”
Kang Chul-In couldn’t say anything at the words that kept on pricking his conscience. He knew how much his mother had suffered after his father passed away. South Korea was a horrible place for a woman to raise a child alone.
“Understood, son?”
“Yes, mother.” Kang Chul-In nodded. “That won’t happen.”
“Can you promise?”
“Of course.”
Actually, it wasn’t a promise he could keep 100%. What he was about to do was dangerous.
But……
I’ll return alive.
Kang Chul-In hardened his resolve. His ambition, and the unfinished work of the Emperor of Blood and Iron…… after he accomplished the two, he would return, basking in gold.
“Alright, go.” Park Sun-Ja waved her hand at Kang Chul-In. “You’re busy.”
“After this, I’ll be free.”
“I can believe those words, right?”
“Yes.”
“Alright, since my son is a man that keeps his word.”
That was the end. Kang Chul-In didn’t extend their conversation with useless words, and Park Sun-Ja didn’t ask what her son was going to do.
She just……
Be careful, son.
There’s no problem.
Spoke with her eyes.
“Then, I’ll be back.”
Kang Chul-In bowed at Park Sun-Ja and began to walk away.
“Whew……” Park Sun-Ja sighed looking at his back.
***
Ninetails summoned all the officials of the Valhalla Kingdom who hadn’t gone off to war.
“I, the Second Queen of Valhalla Kingdom, Ninetails……”
Then, she began to speak.
“Will now announce that our kingdom is in an emergency situation. Any healthy man who is 16 and over will be going into war.”
It was an unavoidable decision. The Valhalla Kingdom was facing its greatest crisis after being established. From the north came Saturnus’s Ancient Empire, and from the south, Lee Ji-Tae’s army. The two large forces were attacking the Valhalla Kingdom as if they had agreed upon it beforehand.
Kwak Jung had also fainted from overworking himself. If she didn’t make this decision, the kingdom would be destroyed.
“Timothy!”
“Yes, your second Majesty.”
“Release all the stored equipment and food supplies.”
“B-But……!”
“We are in a national crisis. It’s not time to worry about finances. Until my husband returns, we must go this route to stall for time. Do it immediately. If not obeyed, you will be punished according to kingdom law.”
“Yes, your second Majesty!”
Timothy bowed low and accepted Ninetails’s command.
“Also!” Ninetails didn’t stop there. “From this moment on, anyone foolish who tries to split the kingdom apart will be executed on the spot, understood?”
“Yes, your second Majesty!”
How could he not heed her orders? Ninetails were a sexy and cute wife in front of Kang Chul-In, but not in public. She was also a ruler.
Husband……! But her inner thoughts were different. Please return…… quick……!
Ninetails didn’t know what to do. Everything was disadvantageous to them.
“Y-Your second Majesty!”
It was then.
“Bad news!”
“What happened?”
“Her Majesty Lee Chae-Rin in the south…… lost……!”
“.……!”
“They lost half of their forces and are currently retreating!”
“Your second Majesty!”
That wasn’t the end of the bad news.
“In the north, our forces have lost, and Esmeralda territory is about to be invaded by enemies!”
A dead silence descended on the Lord’s Hall. Ninetails bit her lower lip.
No way……!
She didn’t understand. The Valhalla Kingdom soldiers were the strongest in the continent. Even though two forces were attacking them simultaneously, they shouldn’t have been losing like this.
Something’s strange.
She could understand that the north had lost because of Saturnus.
But……
My little sister lost? No, never.
She couldn’t believe Lee Chae-Rin’s loss.
“Your second Majesty!”
Just then, the messenger added more information.
“W-We just received news……”
“What is it?”
“I-It’s……”
The messenger couldn’t speak immediately. He couldn’t believe the news he had received.
“Quickly report. Now!”
“I-It’s…… the soldiers of Overlord Lee Ji-Tae…… all 500,000 of them……”
“What is it?”
“They’re all monsters……!”
Ninetails suspected something was wrong with her ears. Monsters?
All 500,000 of them?
***
“Where are you going, your Majesty?”
Kwak Jun asked Saturnus.
“I want to meet my daughters-in-law. Kek……!”
“.……!”
“I heard my son has a pretty daughter?”
“Y-Yes……”
“I must have that girl in my possession.”
“Pardon?”
“When my son returns, I’ll ravish my granddaughter in front of him. Hehe……! What do you think, isn’t it fun just thinking about it? Hahahahaha!”
The demon let out an evil laugh.
What a crazy bastard……!
Kwak Jun held in his curse from spilling out.
“Hehe…… how fun…… really amusing……”
“.……”
“Having my son’s daughter take my seed will do it…… hehe…… yes, that might be even better…… kek, kekekek……!”
Just how crazy did you have to be to think those thoughts? Kwak Jung couldn’t tell how mad Saturnus was.
Just……
Gosh…… that bastard…… is evil itself……
It was clear Saturnus wasn’t human.
“Then I’ll be back, so continue bothering my son’s army.”
“Yes, your Majesty.”
Saturnus began to move. His destination was the southwest, where the Valhalla Kingdom’s capital, Laputa, was.
“Your second Majesty, her third Majesty Lee Chae-Rin has suffered losses consecutively……”
“Her third Majesty was able to summon the Spirit King but lost……”
“Esmeralda is about to fall to the enemies!”
“The soldiers are discouraged…… at this rate……”
“His Majesty Dorian Explorer has been injured……”
The situation was getting worse.
Husband……! Ninetails bit her red lips. When are you coming…… the kingdom needs you……
The absence of Kang Chul-In had a great effect. Of course, it was true that Kang Chul-In was 50% of the Valhalla Kingdom’s manpower, but this was too much. What kind of army was the Valhalla Kingdom? Soldiers in the Valhalla Kingdom were trained intensely like every fight was to the death. Moreover, they were a military that had only experienced victories. A hundred percent winning rate. The Valhalla Kingdom’s soldiers were the strongest in Pangaea, but such an army was falling apart.
It wasn’t because Kang Chul-In was absent. The enemies were just too strong.
A mysterious legion of 500,000 monsters and the Ancient Empire, with the demon Saturnus. It was because they were being attacked by these two great forces.
“Husband…… please come back soon.”
It was a desperate self-muttering.
“Y-Your second Majesty……!”
It was then.
“Something bad has happened…… sad news……!”
A messenger quickly ran into the hall and bowed in front of Ninetails.
“What…… is it.”
Ninetails asked with an exhausted face. She was tired. Every piece of bad news that came was horrible. Things were so bad that she thought they couldn’t get worse.
“The commander of the White Lion Knights……”
“.……!”
“Sir Mikael……”
“No way……”
“In the battle against Ancient Empire soldiers……”
Ninetails felt her heart dropping to the ground. What kind of knight was Mikael? He was the master of internal affairs who had made Balnibarbi of rural Pandemonium into the second capital, along with Captain James. The man who Kang Chul-In had left Balnibarb to had died in battle.
It was something she didn’t want to believe.
“I…… see.”
Ninetails tried to hide her feelings of despair.
“His body.”
So she asked in the steadiest voice possible.
“Were they able to bring the body back?”
“T-That’s……”
“Answer me.”
“.……!”
“I asked if they retrieved the body.”
“They weren’t…… able to…… retrieve Sir Mikael’s body……”
“Are you being serious right now!?”
Ninetails roared. She exploded.
“Your second Majesty……!”
“He was given stars by the kingdom but you weren’t able to retrieve his body!?”
“B-But…… the situation on the battlefield was too disadvantageous to us……”
“Shut up!”
“I-I apologize……”
The messenger didn’t know what to do.
Nine tails were waving in a threatening manner behind Ninetails.
“Please…… step back……”
“Yes, your second Majesty……”
“Whew……!”
Ninetails couldn’t hold in her blazing fury. She knew that it was funny to be angry at the fact that the body wasn’t retrieved properly, but there was nothing else she could do. One of the kingdom’s pillars had fallen at the continued losses. It was hard for her to reign in her anger……
If only Tactician Kwak was here……!
Kwak Jung was half-disabled from the overuse of his ability, so he couldn’t strategize and plan for any battle tactics. No, strategizing and planning aside, he was barely living day by day with Alfred’s Blood Heal.
\r \r \r
“Husband has to come back……”
There was no solution. The only one, if there was one, was Kang Chul-In. He had to come back for the soldiers to feel encouraged again and fight back against the enemies.
“If Husband comes back……”
It was then.
Boom! With a loud explosion, the Lord’s Hall began to shake.
“.……!”
While everyone was shocked at the sudden commotion,
“Aaaack!”
Someone’s scream rang out in the Lord’s Hall. That wasn’t the end, however.
“Stop!”
“Stop them. We have to protect the Lord’s Hall!”
“Stay calm! Endure!”
“Emergency, emergency!”
“It’s an enemy.”
Shouts of the guards outside of the Lord’s Hall could be heard.
“.……”
The shouts didn’t last long, however.
Silence. The frantic commotion stopped instantly. Then, footsteps approached them.
“.……!”
Ninetails shivered after hearing the sound.
This is……! She didn’t have a good feeling about it. Demon.
That was the only word that she could think of. The being outside was scary, although they were only standing outside of the Lord’s Hall.
Boom! With an explosive sound, the door to the Lord’s Hall burst open.
And,
“Hehe……!”
A demon with a cruel smile showed itself.
“Y-You are!” Ninetails recognized the demon at once. “T-The Emperor of Lunacy and Night……”
Why wouldn’t she? If one knew the Emperor of Blood and Iron, they would know the Emperor of Lunacy and Night as well. The story of how he killed his father a thousand years ago to become emperor was still a famous one.
“Oho.” Saturnus laughed at Ninetails. “Ninetails…… I heard you’re one of my son’s women. Kek…… a whore with nine tails…… my son’s preference is quite interesting……”
“Shut up.” Ninetails exuded a cold aura. “How dare you come in here?”
“Kek…… I guess you have a temper?”
“I don’t know how you came back to life…… but I’ll split your stomach apart and chew up your liver…… you bastard.”
Ninetails was scary. There wasn’t any cuteness in her words, at all. Her seductive eyes were filled with violence and enmity.
“Hehe……!” But Saturnus didn’t even blink at Ninetails’s threat. “My daughter-in-law.”
“You crazy……! Who are you calling your daughter-in-law?”
“Do you think that mouth will still be running while under my stomach?”
“.……!”
“Even while taking my seed? Kek, kek, kek……! How amusing…… very. I’m already excited. He…… hehe!”
Saturnus wasn’t in his right mind. He never was, but it was worse now. He was mad at the thought of being able to ravish Kang Chul-In’s wives and his daughter.
“Come here.” Saturnus began to move towards Ninetails. “I’ll wake your lustful instinct…… hehehe.”
It was then.
“Stop!” With a clear beautiful voice, a girl of about seventeen years old stepped into the Lord’s Hall.
“A-Arshelly!” Ninetails shouted frantically.
Yes. The girl was Arshelly, transformed into an Arknight. Kang Chul-In’s daughter had appeared to protect the Lord’s Hall from Saturnus.
“Run away, quick! Escape now!”
“No, mom!”
“Listen to mom! Go now!”
“I won’t run away!” Arshelly didn’t listen to Ninetails’s orders to leave. “I’ll be punished for this later…… Mom.”
“It’s dangerous! That demon is……”
“I know, Mom!”
Why wouldn’t she know? Arshelly was a princess born between the Emperor of Blood and Iron and Brynhildr. The blood of Aurangzeb, the imperial family, was flowing inside of her. Furthermore, Arshelly was a true jack of all trades who was skilled in everything. There was no way she wouldn’t know that Saturnus was dangerous.
“But, I can’t stop.” Arshelly’s resolve was like Kang Chul-In’s. “We cannot give this Lord’s Hall in any situation!”
“B-But……!”
“Mom, I’m also a part of the royal family of Valhalla. With dad not here, I have to step up! It’s the responsibility of the royal family! Dad taught me that! From father to daughter, from king of Valhalla Kingdom to princess!”
She was right. Yes, it was something that the royal family had to do. Kang Chul-In didn’t raise Arshelly like a flower in a greenhouse. He taught her about the responsibilities of being in the royal family. He taught her properly instead of spoiling her.
“Daughter……!”
Ninetails was proud of Arshelly. What a beautiful heart she had. She wasn’t her biological daughter, but Arshelly was so lovable.
“Kek……” Saturnus had a huge grin on his face. “Black hair…… those red eyes…… you…… have the blood of our family. Kek…… you’re a child with my blood. Then…… you are my true granddaughter…… Julius’ daughter.”
“I don’t know a grandfather like you.” Arshelly firmly denied any ties she had to Saturnus. “So shut that disgusting mouth.”
She got ready to fight. It was fitting of Kang Chul-In’s daughter.
“Kek…… fine…… go ahead.” Saturnus had a mad smile as he began to approach Arshelly. “Let’s see what tricks my granddaughter can do…… kek kek kek……!”
***
Seoul, South Korea, in front of the 63 Building in Yeouido……
Brrr……! The flagship model of the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG screeched to a stop. As the gull-wing door, the symbol of the SLS AMG, opened, Kang Chul-In came out.
“Huh?”
“K-Kang Chul-In?”
“Is it really Kang Chul-In?”
“Whoa……”
The people in front of the 63 Building all whispered to each other. After the dungeon gate incident, Kang Chul-In was a hero and a hot celebrity. He was also one of the richest men on Earth. He earned millions every year with Galaxy Corporation.
Moreover, after the dungeon gate incident, Kang Chul-In and his family (although there weren’t many) were exempted from taxes from the South Korean government as a sign of gratitude.
Kang Chul-In’s influence had also reached far beyond South Korea. The United States, China, and Japan all wanted to work with him.
Not to mention, he was a hero who saved South Korea from the monster wave. His name would be recorded in textbooks. Kang Chul-In had everything a man could ever dream of.
“Excuse me…… are you Kang Chul-In?”
“Mr. Kang Chul-In, can we take a picture together?”
“Heuk…… Mr. Kang Chul-In…… my child survived because of you! Thank you!”
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Kang Chul-In!”
People rushed around him.
In the end, it’s here……
However, he didn’t have the mind to worry about them. Kang Chul-In was reminiscing about the past. This 63 Building was where everything began.
And Kang Chul-In……
Everything will be finished soon.
The 63 Building was a special place to him.
“Let’s go.” Kang Chul-In began to move.
“Okay, Oppa.” Han Ye-Sun followed him.
***
The Warp Gate inside the Lord’s Hall flashed and Kang Chul-In and Han Ye-Sun appeared.
“.……”
Kang Chul-In became speechless after seeing his surroundings. It was a mess. His brilliant throne was broken into pieces. The corpses of multiple people were lying on the floor.
“H-Husband…… you’ve come……” Ninetails greeted him tiredly.
And……
“D-Dad……!” Arshelly was with her.
Kang Chul-In ground his teeth after seeing Arshelly. His lovable daughter was in a horrible state. Her clothes were all ripped, her hair was messed up, and there were clumps of blood on her skin.
As a father, he felt horrible.
“Hehe……!” Just then, a burst of evil laughter rang in his ear. “Long time so see, son.”
The Emperor of Lunacy and Night, Saturnus, the demon from hell, was smiling at him.
“I was just about to play a fun game with my granddaughter, but you came at just the right time……! Ke……!”
“.……”
“After I take you apart, I’ll ravish my cute grand……”
Before he could finish, Saturnus’s head was whipped around.
“Kuk……!” He gasped for breath. His black hair was in Kang Chul-In’s hand. Kang Chul-In then slammed Saturnus’ head onto the ground.
“Kyak!” Saturnus screamed. “You……”
Saturnus growled in a low voice.
“You touched something you shouldn’t have, you son of a bitch.”
At the same time, Kang Chul-In began to grind Saturnus’ face onto the floor of the Lord’s Hall.
T-Thwak! Kang Chul-In’s smack was loud.
“Kuk…… kwek…… kuh…… keuk……!”
Saturnus was helpless.
“You dare?”
Kang Chul-In gripped Saturnus’s head and lifted him. His eyes were blazing like rubies. They were rare eyes that were the symbol of the Aurangzeb imperial family, ones you could only see on an albino person. It meant that his DNA had awakened. The Emperor of Blood and Iron’s memories and the Ectoplasm Oversuit had replaced Kang Chul-In’s DNA with the Aurangzeb family’s.
“You touched……”
At the same time, Kang Chul-In slammed Saturnus’s face down onto the floor.
Crunch. “My daughter? You bastard!”
Kang Chul-In repeatedly slammed Saturnus’ face on the floor.
“O-Oppa……” Han Ye-Sun was shocked. “H-How can…… you……”
She couldn’t react in any way. Saturnus was a strong enemy. In the fight at the Hartum River some time ago, he showed that he was more powerful than Kang Chul-In.
But……
“I can’t…… believe it.”
Saturnus was being beat-up by Kang Chul-In one-sidedly. She didn’t understand how someone who had been so critically injured could become so strong in that short amount of time.
This strength……
Kang Chul-In was also surprised while he beat up Saturnus. There were two reasons behind his power-up.
The first was the synchronization of the Ectoplasm Oversuit. Not only did it raise Kang Chul-In’s stats, it amplified all his energy. It was like the Amplifier Talisman 2.0.
The second was the Emperor of Blood and Iron’s memories. The twisted flow of time went naturally, and Kang Chul-In was able to recall all of his memories as a result of that. The Emperor of Blood and Iron was a master of battles. Kang Chul-In was able to gain his experience and tactics for free. Most of all, he knew how the Emperor of Blood and Iron used mana. The “Perfect Circulation” of the Emperor of Blood and Iron was the perfect way to use mana. There was zero mana lost in the process, and its effects increased by 150%. Perfect Circulation was a way to use a small amount of mana destructively.
That was how Kang Chul-In was able to become two times stronger just by having the Emperor of Blood and Iron’s memories.
“Keack!” Just then, Saturnus managed to escape Kang Chul-In’s hand. “Ke……!” He growled at Kang Chul-In. “You……!”
“What, do you feel like shit cause you got beat up?” Kang Chul-In mocked. “So why would you do something to get beat up, you son of a……”
Just then,
“Oh right.” Kang Chul-In turned to Arshelly, stopping himself from cursing at Saturnus. “Daughter.”
“D-Dad……”
“Would you…… leave for a moment? It won’t be good for your mind to see this.”
“Okay……”
“And…… change your clothes.”
“O-Okay!”
Arshelly quickly covered her body. Her clothes were torn up because of Saturnus. Also, Arshelly was transformed into an Arknight, so she had the body of a fully-grown woman. From her dad’s point of view, it was awkward.
“Can I leave it to you?” Kang Chul-In asked Han Ye-Sun. “Of course.”
Han Ye-Sun nodded.
“Let’s go, Arshelly.”
“M-Ms. Han……!”
“Unnie, come too.”
Han Ye-Sun left the Lord’s Hall with Arshelly and Ninetails.
They must have a lot to talk about.
Kang Chul-In had a bitter smile as he watched the three leave.
M-Ms. Han, you were an adventurer too?
Are you…… my new sister?
Arshelly and Ninetails would both have many questions.
Shit.
And Kang Chul-In would have to take care of the awkwardness that came after.
“Hehe…… you bastard……” Meanwhile, Saturnus ground his teeth. “You dare to look down on me……?”
“I don’t know what kind of bullshit you’re talking about.” Kang Chul-In refuted. “Although my father was a fool, he was a real man who loved his child. He wasn’t a psycho like you.”
“What?”
“You shouldn’t have crossed the line even after going crazy. You’ve lost it way too much…… I understand the Emperor of Blood and Iron for being a bad son. You don’t even amount to the grime on my foolish father’s toenail. Understood, Emperor of Lunacy and Night?”
“Ke…… just because you’re stronger……”
“No.” Kang Chul-In cut Saturnus off. “I made a mistake, calling you the Emperor of Lunacy and Night. You don’t deserve to be called an emperor. Maybe son of a bitch describes you better.”
“Are you…… denying me right now? My identity as an emperor?”
“Of course. You’re not an emperor. Just because you’re strong, it doesn’t mean you’re an emperor.”
“Kek…… son, you’re speaking nonsense again. If I’m not an emperor, who is? I am a great being among these pigs and dogs in this world……”
\r \r \r
“You’re the emperor of pigs and dogs.” Kang Chul-In cut off Saturnus again.
“Like you said……”
“.……!”
“In your rotten eyes, everyone seems like pigs and dogs to you, hm? Then you’re only the emperor of pigs and dogs.”
An emperor……
Kang Chul-In thought of what he had learned from being an Overlord.
They exist to rule over those that trust and follow them.
It took him some time to realize that. Before his regression, Kang Chul-In had gone crazy as well, although he wasn’t as bad as Saturnus.
What had been the result? Failure, and destruction. Because he had only trusted his brute strength, Kang Chul-In was humiliated by Rothschild.
But not anymore. What Kang Chul-In learned through his regression was what a “true emperor” was. Not only had he grown physically, but he had grown mentally. He had the right to sit on the throne of the emperor!
I’ll become the emperor. Kang Chul-In hardened his resolve. Not the emperor of dogs and pigs, but people.
His ambition turned into the foundation of a benevolent emperor. Kang Chul-In was confident that he could defeat Saturnus with his conviction…… a conviction as strong as blood and iron!
“Come.” Kang Chul-In wiggled his finger at Saturnus. “I don’t plan on talking about what an emperor is with trash like you.”
“You bastard……!”
“You’re not coming? Then……”
Just then, Kang Chul-In shot forward like a bullet and perfectly dug into Saturnus. His punch landed in Saturnus’s solar plexus.
“Kuk……!”Saturnus gasped.
“I’ll go, like this.”
That was only the beginning.
Thwak, puk, pak!
“Aaaack!” Saturnus screamed, exuding a violent aura around him, but……
He’s too slow.
Kang Chul-In landed a punch on Saturnus’ chin.
“Kuk!”
Saturnus’ neck was whipped backwards.
“I’ll show you what it means to be beaten up like a dog.”
Kang Chul-In smiled evilly.
***
In Metalia in the Valhalla Kingdom, in the VVIP hospital room of Laputa……
“.…… Has the time come?
Next to a bedridden Kwak Jung, a cookie-eating Desdemona judged that it was time to fulfill her duty.
“Yeah, I should……”
The time had definitely come. It was time to rebuild the broken continent of Pangaea.
Mom. She thought of her mom, Dragon Lord Emilia. I want to be a confident dragon now, not the shame of our species.
Desdemona had gone through all kinds of humiliation back when she was a hatchling after being captured by a human emperor. She suffered from depression from the trauma, and she became a timid and fearful dragon after the incident. Her species, the dragons, had mocked her saying she wasn’t dragon-like and weak. She was looked down on by all dragons.
But……
“Desdemona.” Not by her mother, Emilia. “I trust you. You’ll become a great dragon.”
“R-Really……?”
“Of course!”
“Hehe……!”
“Mom trusts that our daughter will become a confident dragon after overcoming the bad memories.”
“Mom……!”
“Our daughter is so nice. Anyone can tell from the fact that you don’t hate humans.”
“That’s…… because not all humans are bad……”
“Sure. You’re so kind, Desdemona.”
“Hehe~!”
After some time had passed and Desdemona became an ancient dragon.
“Daughter.”
“Yes, mom.”
“Someday, you’ll become the greatest dragon in history.”
“What……? What do you mean?”
“You’ll protect this world and rebuild it.”
A thousand years later, now, what Emilia said is becoming true.
“The present is now.” Desdemona clenched his fists. “Soon.”
She looked at the Lord’s Hall while she murmured to herself.
***
10 minutes later.
Plop! Saturnus kneeled.
“Haa…… haa…… haaaa……”
He was panting for breath.
“Yeah, that fits you.” Kang Chul-In smiled cruelly at Saturnus, looking him up and down, like how the strong saw the weak.
“H-How……!”
Saturnus didn’t believe what happened. Kang Chul-In was strong. Too strong. The person in front of him was stronger than the Emperor of Blood and Iron. No, those words couldn’t do him justice. Was there ever someone as strong as the current Kang Chul-In? There wasn’t. He could guarantee that no one had ever been as strong as Kang Chul-In.
For Saturnus, the cause of fear in Pangea a thousand years ago, to think that……
“You take it well.” Kang Chul-In didn’t care about whether Saturnus was surprised or not. “Even beating you up is disgusting. Then you should die.”
He was about to punish Saturnus mercilessly.
Kang Chul-In grabbed his arms.
“.……!”
Saturnus’ eyes filled with shock.
“A-Are you……!”
“Why wouldn’t I?”
“W-Wait!”
“.……?”
“S-Save me!”
“What?”
“Save…… me! S-Son……!”
Kang Chul-In suspected his ears for a moment. Save him? He couldn’t believe that Saturnus had said those words. Saturnus wasn’t someone to say those words over his dead body. That was how crazy he was.
“P-Please…… save me.” But the current Saturnus was different. “I don’t care about anything else you do…… just don’t kill me!”
“.……?”
“Please……!”
Thinking that something was strange,
“.……!”
Kang Chul-In read horror in Saturnus’s eyes. He was scared of death. Not death itself, but where he would go after dying.
Hell. He was scared about a “true hell” that couldn’t be explained with words.
Kang Chul-In grinned.
“You…… you were worse than I thought.”
“.……”
“You’re scared of hell? Where you have to go when you’re dead?”
“T-That’s……!”
“Seems like you were acting tough after coming into the human world after crawling the bottoms of hell……”
It was true. Hell wasn’t something to look down on. It was where the demon Saturnus had been pained. This meant Saturnus wasn’t a lunatic person of charisma, but a scared villain!
The reason why this guy was so obsessed…… might be because he was scared of death.
The Emperor of Blood and Iron’s convictions flashed in Kang Chul-In’s head. Yes, what Saturnus was most afraid of was death. Not everything ended the moment you died. A death that would send you to hell was a one-way ticket to pain.
“Sorry.” Kang Chul-In grinned. “Demons belong in hell.”
“S-Son……!”
“Die.”
At the same time, Kang Chul-In’s fist landed on Saturnus’s head. His firm head cracked like a watermelon. The scream whirled inside of the Lord’s Hall.
“Tsk.” Kang Chul-In clicked his tongue. “How pathetic.”
The ending of the one to back Kang Chul-In into a corner for the first time was so lowly and simple.
As Kang Chul-in finished saying that, someone clapped for him.
“Good work, Kang Chul-In.”
“.……!”
“Now there’s only one left, huh?”
Kang Chul-In turned around. The Black Dragon Desdemona was smiling at him mysteriously.
“One?” Kang Chul-In asked.
“Look.” Desdemona suddenly drew up a status window in front of Kang Chul-In.
The information on it was the following:
[Total ranking]
Rank 1- The Supreme King of the West, Kang Chul-In (most likely to become emperor!)
▶Required Lord Points to become emperor: 10,000 P
Rank 2- Overlord Lee Ji-Tae
Rank 3- Overlord Lee Chae-Rin
Rank 4- Overlord Hecate
Rank 5- Overlord Dorian Explorer
※The remaining Overlords have passed away!
“Mm……” Kang Chul-In murmured to himself. “Just one left…… Lee Ji-Tae? That guy that came out of nowhere?”
“Yeah.” Desdemona nodded. “He’s……”
“Part of the Agnaga military.”
“.……!”
“He’s probably Cereb. It’s obvious.”
The new Overlord who suddenly appeared, Lee Ji-Tae. Kang Chul-In already knew that the small fish was an Agnaga.
That meant……
“Y-You……!” Desdemona pointed at Kang Chul-In with surprise. “No way…… the past……? You know what happened a long time ago?”
“Of course.”
“.……!”
“Maybe even more than you.”
“R-Really?”
“I have all the memories of the Emperor of Blood and Iron. Isn’t that more than what you know?”
“Uh…… yeah…… I-I guess so……”
While the Emperor of Blood and Iron and Emilia were drawing the big picture a thousand years ago, Desdemona had been in hibernation, so there was no way she would know.
“T-Then……” Desdemona spoke up with shyness.
“What?”
“Y-You and I……”
“.……!”
“My mom said to get…… married to……”
“Enough.” Kang Chul-In quickly cut Desdemona off.
Dammit! He grinded his teeth. This was all because the Emperor of Blood and Iron had the “I don’t care as long as it’s not me” mindset.
“That’s not important right now.”
“Y-Yeah…… t-that’s true……”
“My running mate is a dragon like you…… what did Emilia see in you……”
“What!?”
“N-Never mind.”
He avoided Desdemona’s gaze.
Shit.
It wasn’t fair.
The Emperor of Blood and Iron’s running mate was the greatest dragon at the time, the Dragon Lord Emilia. Desdemona couldn’t be compared to her. Her ability as an ancient dragon couldn’t be looked down on, but she definitely wasn’t as strong as Emilia. It was understandable that Kang Chul-In was complaining.
Well, it’s better than nothing.
He decided not to grumble anymore. The head of the Agnaga, Rindermergel, wasn’t complete yet. He and Desdemona had it easier than the Emperor of Blood and Iron and Emilia, who had to face Rindermergel at his strongest. Because they hadn’t been able to take care of it a thousand years ago and it had to be repeated now. No, it was even worse. Back then, they had Emilia to create the system Erinyes, but not anymore.
There wouldn’t be a second chance.
\r \r \r
“Anyways.” Kang Chul-In spoke up. “What you said about there only being one left…… Were you talking about getting rid of Cereb?”
“Yeah.”
“The reason?”
“We have to get rid of the impurity that invaded Erinyes.”
“What are you talking about?”
This was a subject Kang Chul-In wasn’t aware of.
“Cereb is like a virus.”
“A virus?”
“Erinyes is a system for the people summoned from Earth. The fact that Cereb is inside of it means…… Erinyes isn’t completed.”
“Explain more clearly.”
“Long story short, if Cereb is in the ranking system, you can’t become an emperor.”
“What……!”
Kang Chul-In was surprised. The completion of Erinyes was one card that he had been sure about.
“The plan between the Emperor of Blood and Iron and Mom was……”
“The one who becomes emperor reigns over all artifacts, supplies, and ‘selected people’ from the complete Erinyes.”
“Yeah.” Desdemona nodded. “That’s the final reward that’s given to the one who becomes emperor. It’s a hidden quest in the system.”
Yes. The ranking system of choosing the strongest Lord was to create an emperor. The Emperor of Blood and Iron hoped that the one who became emperor would receive everything that was captured inside Erinyes and crush Rindermergel and the Agnaga soldiers. It was the goal of the big picture that the Emperor of Blood and Iron and Emilia drew. But Desdemona was saying that Erinyes wasn’t perfect because of Cereb’s existence.
Then did that mean that the strongest card to block Rindermergel would disappear?
“Says who?” Kang Chul-In gritted his teeth. “That’s not gonna happen.”
“Yup.” Desdemona agreed with Kang Chul-In. “So getting rid of Cereb is first on the list. Next…… the Gullveig? Or the Ancient Empire? Whatever their name was, you were planning on crushing the forces in the north to stack up your remaining 10,000 Lord Points, huh?”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
“And you were planning on obtaining the power of Erinyes after becoming an emperor to destroy Rindermergel, since you probably thought Cereb could be taken care of whenever.”
“That’s also right.” Kang Chul-In nodded. Desdemona was right. That was Kang Chul-In’s plan.
“But I can’t. Guess I have to take care of that bug Cereb first.”
“Right. That’s at the top of the list.”
“How ridiculous.” Kang Chul-In frowned. “There’s not much time left. Rindermergel’s will be resurrected soon. From what I can feel…… there’s about a week left. Three days is enough to take care of Cereb and gathering 10,000 P in the remaining four days is……”
“No?”
“What are you……”
“Cereb is a virus that invaded Erinyes. Do you think your Lord Points will go up because you take care of it?”
“.……!”
“You won’t get a single point. I can guarantee it. I can’t create Erinyes, but I understand its algorithm.”
“Mm……!”
Desdemona might’ve been lacking, but the ancient dragon was still Emilia’s daughter.
“Wait.”
Kang Chul-In’s face hardened. There wasn’t time to be amazed by her. A week was left until Rindermergel’s resurrection. In that time, he had to take care of Cereb and stack up his remaining 10,000 points to become an emperor.
There wasn’t enough time. It was too tight.
“Do they want us all to die together?”
“Time Lord Milenius-that sly bastard used his head well. From what I know, although his body is weak, he’s pretty smart.”
“I don’t think you should be complimenting him right now?”
“You should compliment people if they do something amazing.”
“What?”
“He’s cute!”
“.……”
“Isn’t it cute that he was struggling to do such a useless act? Kek!”
“What?”
“I’m the key.”
Desdemona said something random.
“Key? What are you talking about?”
“The key!”
“Wait.”
“What you’re thinking is probably right. Hehe……!” Desdemona smiled. “I’m the only key that can complete Erinyes forcefully. Even if you don’t stack up 10,000 points, you can become the emperor.”
“How?”
“The moment you take care of the virus, I mean Cereb, the ranking system will completely pause. It’ll be over. What do you think will happen then?”
“.……!”
“You’ll naturally……”
“I……” Kang Chul-In continued where she left off. “I’ll become the emperor.”
“Yeah, that’s it!” She shouted with excitement. “So leave the completion of Erinyes to me, and you eliminate Cereb.”
“Oho.”
Everything fell into place.
They would get rid of the virus (Cereb).
Desdemona would forcefully stop the ranking system.
After the ranking system was paused, Kang Chul-In would become emperor because he is ranked first (there wouldn’t be a need for him to gain the 10,000 points anymore).
Erinyes would be completed from the birth of an emperor.
Kang Chul-In would use the supplies from Erinyes to crush the newly resurrected Rindermergel.
Yeah, this is it!
Kang Chul-In could feel it. This was the perfect plan to complete the unfinished work that was left behind.
“Let’s do that then.” Kang Chul-In grinned. “Amazing. As expected of my running mate.”
“You were just saying I’m not as powerful as my mom.”
“It is the truth, though.”
“Hey!” Desdemona shouted at his fact-filled attack. “T-That’s not fair……”
“There’s not enough time.”
“You bastard!”
Desdemona expressed her rage at Kang Chul-In but he was already far away.
Cereb. His head was only filled with thoughts about eliminating Cereb. Because…… I’ll become the emperor soon.
Eliminating Cereb meant that his long-time ambition would finally be a reality!
***
Kang Chul-In planned to start right away. The method to get rid of the Agnaga army was too simple, eliminating Cereb. The only reason the Agnaga army was fearsome was because they were led by Cereb.
That meant……
“If I kill that one bug everything will become clean.”
The entire Agnaga army would disintegrate with Cereb’s death. This was also information that he gained from the Emperor of Blood and Iron’s memories. The emperor had suffered through many trials to learn the secret to how the Agnaga army was moved.
However, Kang Chul-In was different. He already knew it, and there was an easy way to solve it.
“I feel like it’s too easy……”
Kang Chul-In couldn’t help but feel that way because he was just putting the cherry on top of what the Emperor of Blood and Iron set up.
But……
“Who would do it if not me?”
He quickly shook those thoughts away. Who else would be able to continue with the Emperor of Blood and Iron’s work? Not just anyone could put the cherry on top. It was a cherry that only those who were toughened by hurdles and mountains could lift. If Kang Chul-In wasn’t strong, he wouldn’t even dare to attempt it.
“First……”
He looked around. A vein popped out of his forehead.
“Saturnus, that damned bastard.”
The Lord’s Hall was nightmarish. There were cracks everywhere, corpses of officials were lying on the ground, and there were also the bodies of knights and soldiers.
A bloodstained Lord’s Hall…… His backyard was ruined, so of course Kang Chul-In would be furious.
“Get rid of this.”
Kang Chul-In kicked Saturnus’s body. Eliminating Cereb was important, but taking care of his messed-up backyard was first.
Meanwhile, in the Esmeralda territory……
“S-Stop them!”
“Those sons of bitches…… we won’t hand this place over!”
“You guys can only pass over my dead body…… got it? You assholes!”
“Come at us, come!”
The Valhalla Kingdom soldiers taunted the Ancient Empire soldiers.
“You sons of bitches……!”
“Try to kill us if you can!”
“Die, die, dieeeee……!”
The current soldiers of the Valhalla Kingdom acted as if they were possessed by ghosts crazed for war, the reason being that the undefeated army that had never once lost after being established were continuing to lose. They were frustrated. Their pride couldn’t accept the fact that they were losing. It was what kept them going.
But……
“Ack!”
“Aaaaaaah!”
“Kuk!”
The odds were against them. There were just too many enemies. It was 20 to 1, and even in that situation, the enemies continued to come.
“Hmm…… is this the end of the Valhalla Kingdom?”
Kwak Jun watched the scene high above the base of the Gullveig Alliance. His face was relaxed because the current authority of the Ancient Empire was in his hands.
The reason was simple. After Saturnus killed Mei Ling, he took over the military, and because it was annoying, he left it to Kwak Jun. He had unintentionally given away his authority.
“Well, it’s not bad.” From Kwak Jun’s perspective, it was actually better. “Kang Chul-In has that bastard…… no matter how much I contribute I’ll only be known as the other one, so it might be better to rule the empire under Saturnus……”
It was true. Kang Chul-In had Kwak Jung and Lucia. No matter how much Kwak Jun worked, he wouldn’t be treated better than them. But what about under Saturnus? Saturnus was a complete psycho, but Kwak Jun could accomplish many things under him. With his wit and brains, he is able to appease Saturnus, so his chances of being killed by him is lower than other people’s. Saturnus might’ve been the best Lord for Kwak Jun to serve.
“Although, I’ll have to kill him in the end……”
Of course, he didn’t plan on following Saturnus until the end. He was already thinking of a coup, because that was the shortcut to living a long life. Saturnus was like a bomb that would explode at any moment; Kwak Jun would rather not spend the rest of his life waiting for it to go off.
“That’s not bad either…… if Saturnus can topple the Valhalla Kingdom for me, and the coup is successful……” Kwak Jun daydreamed. “Me…… a mere adventurer……!”
His ambition began to squirm.
“Becoming the emperor of this continent…… isn’t just a dream……”
It was definitely possible. If Saturnus was successful in defeating Kang Chul-In and Kwak Jun succeeded in the coup, he would become the ruler of this world.
Sadly, that dream was already gone for good because Kang Chul-In had beaten Saturnus to death. However, Kwak Jun didn’t know this. Saturnus wasn’t registered in the running system, so it was impossible to check if he was alive or not.
And to begin with, Kwak Jun was only an adventurer, so there was no way he could confirm it anyway.
“I see that you’re day-dreaming?” Just then, a cold voice pierced his ears.
“Who are you!?” He whipped his head back.
“You don’t know me?”
“Y-You’re……!” Kwak Jun was shocked out of his wits. “Assassin commander Niu……!”
“Yeah, it’s me.” Niu was looking at Kwak Jun with a cold face.
“How did you get here? We got rid of all the moles……”
“Yeah, I saw you working hard on that.”
“.……!”
“But you know……” She looked straight at Kwak Jun in the eyes. “Look.”
“.……!”
“Who do I look like?”
Kwak Jun was shocked once more. Niu’s face transformed into one of an old man’s.
“I was always next to you.”
“.……!”
\r \r \r
“Sometimes as the operator of the Gullveig Alliance, sometimes as a maid, other times as a guard, and even as a messenger who frequented your office.”
“B-But how…… I was so careful……!”
“Because it was a mess? Blood was always spilled whenever things were quiet, so it wasn’t that hard for me to hide.”
She was right. After Mei Ling was killed by Saturnus, Kwak Jun loosened his aim of catching the spy that Kang Chul-In planted. Who would be able to focus on that when incidents were happening every day? Even if Kwak Jun was smart, he couldn’t take care of everything at once.
“So…… were you watching me?”
“Always.” Niu answered.
“What are you gonna do?”
“Why do you ask something so obvious?”
“I see……”
“But it must be nice.”
“.……?”
“You can continue to dream……”
Kashing……! She brandished her shining blade.
“When you’re dead.”
“Kek!”
Kwak Jun laughed.
“Do you think I’ll go that easily……”
“No? You’re already dead.”
“What kind of……!”
It was then. Someone approached Kwak Jun from behind.
“Overlord Vito Clemenza’s tactician, Kwak Jun.”
“Huk……!”
“You have to die.” Podolski whispered in Kwak Jun’s ear with a keen flash in his eyes.
“N-No……!”
“Yes.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Kwak Jun’s head rolled on the floor.
Puak! Blood spurted up from his neck.
“Good work, director Podolski.”
“It’s nothing.”
Niu and Podolski smiled at each other.
“Tactician Kwak’s strategy is amazing as expected. To think killing Kwak Jun alone will shake up the Ancient Empire……”
“It’ll be reality. The reason why that Saturnus demon was able to gain the Gullveig Alliance so easily is because he had Kwak Jun’s help. But not anymore. With Kwak Jun dead, the Ancient Empire will crumble. When the commander falls, everyone falls with him.”
“Is that so?”
“I don’t know about the situation in the long-run, but for right now, yes. If the current Ancient Empire isn’t taken care of internally, they’ll collapse.”
Podolski was correct. The Ancient Empire wasn’t an empire; they were merely an alliance, so there were many internal problems. It was because all of their leaders had passed away. There was no way the Ancient Empire would be able to function properly.
“Then now……” Niu spoke up. “We just have to wait? Until the Ancient Empire is unsteady?”
“I suppose so.” Podolski nodded. “But it won’t be easy. We have to wait at least 24 hours……”
“That’s true……”
“We just have to focus on our duties. Infiltrating and assassinating the enemy command. That’s what we at the Bureau should do.”
“You’re right, director Podolski.”
“Then, let’s get a move on.”
“Yes, sir.”
Podolski and Niu quickly dashed away from the location of the assassination.
It was an effective attack on their enemies because they were struggling internally at the moment. This was all from Kwak Jung’s head. He had thought of a solution to the best of his abilities, even fainting to do so.
***
Meanwhile, at the same time.
“Ack!”
“Aaack!”
“Shitt!”
The Valhalla Kingdom soldiers were falling. They were at their limits. No matter how strong they were, they had constraints like any other human. Obviously, they would be exhausted.
“Secretary Lucia!” Drakan frantically shouted at Lucia. “We can’t go on anymore! We should throw the territory away and……”
“No!” Lucia was firm. “This is the land that his Majesty has promised. He announced that he wouldn’t let his place be taken by enemies again. We have to keep that promise in his stead!”
“But the entire kingdom will fall into danger at this race!”
“Retreating right now will produce the same results!”
“T-That’s……!”
“The moment this place is taken over, there is no future to this war. We have to endure until his Majesty gets here!”
The situation would’ve been better if news of Kang Chul-In’s return and Saturnus’s death was relayed to them, but it was a shame it wasn’t.
“This oldie……” Just then, the old child magician Nilus stepped up. “It must be time for this oldie to play his part. Everyone, please move.”
Nilus began to head for the center of the castle walls.
“S-Sir Nilus!”
“Hey, kiddo!”
“Do you want to die? Huh?”
The generals of the Valhalla Kingdom tried to stop Nilus, but,
“Kuku!” He laughed in a way that didn’t fit him and proceeded forward.
Your Majesty. Nilus thought of Kang Chul-In. I am your cane. I will protect this land. Please watch!
There were many loyal people in the Valhalla Kingdom, but he was the most loyal of all. He was probably the person who believed in Kang Chul-In the most because Nilus was the subordinate of the Emperor of Blood and Iron from a thousand years ago.
“You fools……” Nilus looked at the empire soldiers that were hoarding over. “Why are you running into your destruction?”
A white light began to wrap around his body.
"……مجموعة العشرین · قانون جدید لتحسین تجتمع مع نظیره المصري على ھامش قمة الاخبار قراءة تفاصيل أكثر · الرئيسة بارك"
He began to recite a spell.
"……عة العشرین · قان"
Nilus slowly began to transform into an adult while he was wrapped around by the light.
“Ah!”
“T-That’s!”
“S-Sir Nilus……!”
Everyone who was looking on was surprised.
“H-He became older……?”
The child magician was a child no more. There was only an old magician of 190 centimetres with white eyebrows, white hair, and a white beard.
But……
"……الصحف الیوم"
Nilus’ aging didn’t pause and he continued to recite the spell. It was a shame that his youth was disappearing, but that didn’t matter. If they could win the battle and he could protect the Valhalla Kingdom, his youth was nothing. It was a sacrifice that could only come from true loyalty.
جنوبية في المركز السابع في العالم من حیث واطي لدى صندوق النقد الدولي ووحدة المالية والودائع بالعملات الأجنبية"
[1] "……بالإضافة دائع تكون احتياطي النقد الأجنبي من الأوراق ال
Meanwhile, the spell seemed to be reaching its end. He raised the Epic-rank staff that Kang Chul-In presented him high into the air.
“Meteor……” He gave the command word. “Summon.”
Meteor Strike! The most powerful spell that magicians could use appeared for the first time in a thousand years.
[1] Cuppynote: As always, more gibberish from a newspaper. Truly, the most powerful of spells.
Meanwhile, in Laputa of Metalia, the capital of the Valhalla Kingdom……
“I, king of the Valhalla Kingdom, Kang Chul-In, hereby announce……”
When the Lord’s Hall was somewhat cleared up, Kang Chul-In gave his orders.
“From now on, I command that all forces in the north stop fighting and standby in each of their posts.”
The officials who heard the strange command were surprised.
“Y-Your Majesty! The Dorado forces led by her third Majesty, Lee Chae-Rin, are currently fighting against the 500,000 army in Shatyameba! Why are you asking for the army to retreat!?”
One servant admonished.
“You can’t! Ordering our forces in the north to retreat can lead to the end of our kingdom! Your Majesty, please think it through one more time……!”
“You can’t do that, sir!”
“Please reconsider!”
The officials all bowed towards Kang Chul-In.
“No.”
But Kang Chul-In wasn’t going to listen to a single thing they said. There was no point in fighting needlessly. The Agnaga army would be destroyed as soon as Cereb was taken care of. Why would he take the long way around when there was a more efficient solution?
“Sending forces to the north for backup is a waste. I have an idea, so wait and listen to my command.”
“Yes, your Majesty!”
“Understood, your Majesty!”
“Since his Majesty says that there is a way, shouldn’t we follow?”
The officials of the Valhalla Kingdom obeyed Kang Chul-In without any complaint. How could they dare to suggest anything else?
“Also.” He added on. “Announce my return to all soldiers, and let them know they’ve worked hard. Victory will be in the hands of the Valhalla Kingdom. I, the Supreme King of the West, Kang Chul-In, will make it so.”
It was an expression as strong as blood and iron…… a promise that only Kang Chul-In could make.
“Also, summon Dorian Explorer, Hecate, Lucia, and Nilus to the kingdom immediately.”
He wanted to create a kind of unit, a special forces group designed to get rid of Cereb, who was deep in enemy territory. A squad of the strongest!
***
Boom! Rumble!
Explosive sounds rang out in the sky instantly, and…… “stars” began to fall from the sky. It wasn’t just one. Hundreds and thousands of small meteorites were falling in the front yard of Esmeralda, just like the soldiers of the Ancient Empire, whose deaths were imminent.
“G-Goodness……!”
“Meteor…… Strike…… the spell that I only heard about in legends……”
“Goodness…… Sir Nilus…… Meteor Strike!”
“Ark…… mage!”
The generals of the Valhalla Kingdom were shocked at the sight that Nilus created. Yes, it was a miracle. The descent of meteorites was a spell that only a few magicians could do as it was the hardest type of natural magic. Natural spells related to rain, wind, tornadoes, snow, wind storms, and heat waves all used the environment of Pangaea. However, Meteor Strike was different. Summoning a meteor that rotated around space was a different story. After all, if the summoned meteors were too big, the caster of the spell wouldn’t be safe either. They would be committing suicide by blowing something up above their heads. It was a waste of mana and manpower. If you failed, you would be the fool of the century.
Such a miracle that only ark mages could do (there were only one to two ark mages per century) was happening right in front of them.
Shwoooo! Stars began to appear in the sky above Esmeralda from the atmosphere.
"……الوق النقد الدولي ووحدة الجنوبية في المركز"
Nilus didn’t pause the spell.
"……الدولي ووحدة الجنوبیة "
Meteor Strike wasn’t simply a descent of power. Dropping meteors meant that a part of the ground would be destroyed, and they didn’t attack selectively. Meteors didn’t have eyes. Because of this, Nilus was attempting to complete Meteor Strike after casting spells for barriers around their allies. Moreover, there had to be limits set on the meteors for when they fell.
Flash! A brilliant light scattered in front of everyone and a firm barrier wrapped around the Esmeralda territory.
“.……!”
The Ancient Empire’s soldiers were taken aback at the sudden barrier.
“I-It’s not going away?”
“What is……!”
“What kind of barrier……!”
They could only be surprised. The barrier that Nilus created was a superior version of the “Untouchable Barrier” that Arshelly had shown in the past; it was a barrier-type magic that completely separated Esmeralda from Pangaea.
Meanwhile, meteors filled the sky above Esmeralda. The first meteorite landed in the front yard.
Boom! It was spectacularly loud.
The sky and earth roared and cried.
“I-Is this a bomb?”
\r \r \r
“Magic?”
A few Ancient Empire soldiers expressed their curiosity. But it wasn’t just one meteor……
Shwooo, boom!
The meteors landed on the battlefield in an instant.
“.……!”
The soldiers of the Ancient Empire died with their eyes open, crushed by the meteorites, and not even being aware of how they died. It was a gruesome but marvelous sight.
A meteor show! It was a beautiful sight that people could only see once in their lifetimes. And it’s destructiveness? Tens of Ancient Empire soldiers were killed in the blink of an eye. It was a refreshing sight from the perspective of the Valhalla Kingdom.
“Whoa……!”
“Sir Nilus…… Meteor Strike……!”
“We…… will win…… there’s no way we’ll lose when we have such an ark mage.”
Their morale was boosted. -
Announcing to all soldiers!
Just then, a voice rang out from the magic-engineered speakers around the castle walls. -
His Majesty has returned! Once again, his Majesty has returned!
The announcement was decisive.
“H-His Majesty?”
“He’s finally returned……!”
“The god of war has come back…… the god of war!”
“Your Majesty……!”
The boosted morale from Nilus’s contribution was even more uplifted. -
Also, His Majesty said to compliment the hard work of all soldiers. Victory is the kingdom’s! His Majesty will make it so!
The victory of the war was guaranteed.
“His Majesty has returned!”
“Victory is ours!”
“Wait and see, you bastards! His Majesty will break all your necks! Hehehe……!”
“We already won, we won!”
Their morale shot high up into the sky.
“Whoooooooo!”
“Hurrah for the Valhalla Kingdom!”
“Hurrah for Kang Chul-In!”
“For victory!”
Shouts of victory came from the mouths of the Valhallan soldiers. Yes, it was already a finished battle.
***
Two hours later,
“Your Majesty, they say the defense of Esmeralda has succeeded! Congratulations on your victory!”
“Victory……?” Kang Chul-In was surprised. “Does that make sense?”
The battle at Esmeralda was hopeless. He had summoned the strongest from the frontline for the unit and was about to head to Esmeralda to fight the Ancient Empire soldiers himself, but……
“What is the reason for victory?”
“S-Sir Nilus……!”
“Nilus?”
“Meteor Strike……”
“.……!”
“In merely 10 minutes, 200,000 Ancient Empire soldiers were erased from the front yard of Esmeralda……”
“2-200,000?”
“Yes, sir!”
“Huh……”
Kang Chul-In was taken aback by the incredible number. 200,000 soldiers were killed in 10 minutes? That kind of destructiveness was like a nuclear bomb back from Earth. He couldn’t help but be surprised.
“So.” Kang Chul-In asked. “What’s the current situation?”
“Yes, your Majesty.” The servant replied. “The army of our kingdom is currently chasing after the retreating Ancient Empire soldiers. With the elimination of the enemy commander Kwak Jun, the rule of the Ancient Empire is currently immobilized, so this seems to be the best judgment for now.”
“Really?” It was some good news for the first time in a while. “Tell them to take it easy. It was a rough day.”
“B-But……”
“We’ll be victorious even if it’s not today. I’ll make it so, so tell the soldiers to stop fighting and rest up.”
“Yes, your Majesty!”
Kang Chul-In didn’t plan on getting into a heated fight with the Ancient Empire soldiers. The elimination of Cereb and the upcoming battle with the soon-to-be-resurrected Rindermergel was the most important. If these two tasks were completed, taking over Pangaea would be a matter of time.
Flash! Just then, someone appeared from the Warp Gate placed in the center of the Lord’s Hall.
“Kang Chul-In!” Dorian Explorer smiled, his entire body wrapped in bandages. “You’ve come back! You’re all better?!”
“It was nothing.”
“That’s good!”
“What about you? You don’t look too good.”
“Ah, I was beaten up by that stupid demon bastard……”
Obviously, the “stupid demon bastard” that Dorian was speaking about was Saturnus, who was beaten to death by Kang Chul-In.
“Just be grateful that you’re alive.”
“Well, I was lucky.”
Dorian grinned.
Flash! The Warp Gate shined again.
“You’ve come back?” Overlord Hecate, who dreamed of sleeping with Kang Chul-In 24/7, appeared.
They’re slowly starting to gather. Kang Chul-In smiled. Just wait, you bug. I’ll pull out your dirty antennas.
Cereb’s elimination was up next.
***
Underground of the Shatyameba territory, in Cereb’s nest……
Lee Ji-Tae worked faithfully in his position of Cereb. The twelve antennas swayed around his head, delivering brain waves to the 500,000 soldier army of Agnaga. -
Chase after them. Don’t let them retreat. -
The first legion goes to the west and the second legion heads to the east. Attack them from both sides. -
The battle has to continue. Attack the enemy relentlessly and get rid of them all.
Cereb was controlling the Agnaga army and leading the battle with his antennas.
Kang Chul-In…… Cereb thought. Where are you? My revenge isn’t too far…… Did you escape to Earth?
Cereb didn’t know anything about Kang Chul-In’s whereabouts. He didn’t have a way to gain any information about it either. He could gather tons of information every day, but that was only possible in battle. After all, why would humans give any information to the strange-looking Agnaga?
No, that’s not it…… Cereb felt anxious, thinking that Kang Chul-In escaped to Earth.
You’re not one to throw your kingdom away…… just what are you doing, Kang Chul-In? Are you in the north? It was frustrating.
A month had passed since his communication with Milenius was cut off, so Cereb knew absolutely nothing about Kang Chul-In. He just hoped that Kang Chul-In was fighting in the army against the Gullveig Alliance……
It was then.
Boom! With an explosion, the ceiling of the underground residence began to collapse. ……
!
Cereb didn’t know what was happening.
Boom! Once again, there was another explosion.
Boom! Eventually, the ceiling came tumbling down and a group of people descended.
“Are you doing well?”
The head of the group greeted Cereb. ……
!
Cereb was shocked. -
Y-You are……!
“Not the Emperor of Blood and Iron.” Kang Chul-In finished his sentence. “Kang Chul-In. The Supreme King of the West, Kang Chul-In.” ……
!
“You know what we’re here for, yes?” -
H-How……
“If you’re asking about how we knew, it was the backtracking of the brain waves.” ……
!
“There’s no way we wouldn’t know where you were after following that grotesque energy.” An evil smile appeared on Kang Chul-In’s face.
Yes, it was true. It had been too easy to find Cereb’s location. Cereb let off brain waves 24/7 with his twelve antennas to command the Agnaga army. Because the brain wave was at a very particular frequency, it was hard to find it, but that only applied to back during the Emperor of Blood and Iron’s time. Upon realizing that the army of Agnaga moved on orders from a single being, the Emperor of Blood and Iron and Emilia had to find where Cereb was through strenuous trials and errors.
However, Kang Chul-In was different. There was no need for him to do that. He, or to be exact, Desdemona, had a way to find out where Cereb was emitting the brain waves from.
Thanks to her, it was easy. Desdemona informed Kang Chul-In of where Cereb was, so all he had to do was ride on Temeraire with his companions to fly into the Shatyameba territory.
“Seems like Milenius didn’t tell you about the way to hide, hm?” He mocked the great bug. “I suppose so…… that scrawny guy probably didn’t even know how the Emperor of Blood and Iron and Emilia killed Cereb in the past. He wouldn’t have been able to imagine that the brain waves led enemies into his allies’ command.”
Kang Chul-In’s assumption was correct. The dead Milenius wasn’t able to find out how Cereb was discovered. He just thought Cereb was found coincidentally…… he couldn’t imagine any other way Cereb was found so easily.
“Well, that’s enough for the explanation.” Kang Chul-In grinned and tightened his hold on Kaiforce and Mitra. “It’s time to die, bug.”
The Agnanga army was right in front of him. After he eliminated Cereb, Desdemona would stop the ranking system. Then, when that moment came……
My ambition will become reality.
Kang Chul-In would be the final victor of the competition between Lords and climb to the position of emperor. -
Kang Chul-In……
Cereb answered. -
You’re making a huge mistake…… I guarantee that you messed up the moment you stepped in here. Yes, I’ve been waiting for you to arrive.
“Waiting for me?” Kang Chul-In tilted his head. “Why would you?” -
Kek, kek kek kek……
Cereb laughed. -
Yes, you don’t know a thing……
“What don’t I know?” -
Do you know who I am?
“The head bug?” To Kang Chul-In, Cereb was just a bug. “Then what is he?”
He turned to his companions and asked.
“I think he is a bug.” Dorian replied with an innocent face.
“He is.” Hecate agreed.
“If he’s not a bug, what is he, Oppa?”
“It is a bug, your Majesty.”
Han Ye-Sun and Lucia judged it as a bug as well.
“They say you are a bug.” Kang Chul-In looked at Cereb with a validated face. “You’re not planning to go on about how you’re a superior alien species or anything else like that, right?”
However, Cereb’s reply wasn’t about his identity as an Agnaga. -
Did you forget about Alex Rothschild?
“What?” Kang Chul-In asked. “Why are you suddenly asking about that loser?” -
Loser? Did you just…… call Alex Rothschild……
“Yeah, a loser.” ……
“He only knew how to use that gold spoon of his, there wasn’t anything else he could do. What else would I call him then? What a……”
It was then. -
Shut up!
Cereb’s brain waves shook the minds of Kang Chul-In and his companions. -
You dare…… you dare!
“.……?” -
Who do you think you are to……
“.……?”
“-Who do you think you are to judge Alex…… MY Alex, like that!?
Kang Chul-In was flabbergasted.
“My…… Alex?”
He didn’t know what in the world Cereb was talking about.
Why was the Agnaga army calling Kang Chul-In’s rival (not actually a rival, but a giving tree) “his Alex?”
“Can I ask about what kind of fresh bullshit that is?” -
He…… was my Alex.
“.……?” -
I wasn’t able to confess my sincerity, but…… he was my friend, my Lord, and my lover.
“.……!”
\r \r \r -
He……
Resentment entered Cereb’s brainwaves. -
He’s not someone you can mock!
Just then, a thought flashed in Kang Chul-In’s head.
No way.
Something felt off. Of course, it wasn’t danger he felt. It was just that he suspected that the Cereb in front of him could be “someone” he knew.
“You.” He spoke with an unpleasant face. “Are you Lee Gong-Myung?” -
Do you finally recognize me, Kang Chul-In? Finally?
It was a shocking response.
“What? Lee Gong-Myung?”
“I think I just heard something strange. Kang Chul-In, sleep with me. Then everything will be back to normal.”
“That bug was Korean?”
“The bug was Lee Gong-Myung, your Majesty?”
His party murmured amongst themselves. Lee Gong-Myung. It was someone they thought was dead. But that giant bug, the Agnaga Cereb, was calling himself Lee Gong-Myung.
“Are you really Lee Gong-Myung?” Kang Chul-In asked again. -
Indeed, Kang Chul-In.
“.……” -
I am Lee Gong-Myung.
“What the……” Kang Chul-In looked flustered. “I should’ve killed you properly back then. So that’s why the feel of the kill was off……” -
What?
“So, your new job was to become that creepy monster? No, aside from that, you guys were…… a couple? You were gay?”
Yes, that was the core of this conversation. Cereb, Lee Gong-Myung, said that Alex Rothschild was his friend, Lord, and “lover.” The nuance of his words suggested he was homosexual. -
That’s…… not it……
“It’s not? But you were lovers?” -
That’s just one-sided on my part…… technically, we weren’t lovers.
“One-sided love?” -
You can say that……
“.……” -
Yes, I loved Alex Rothschild. I loved him so much that I couldn’t spend a second away from him.
It was a completely unexpected nuclear bomb-like coming-out statement.
“.……”
Everyone was speechless.
Wait. At that moment. So that’s why? That was why?
Through his quick insight and mind, Kang Chul-In was able to realize why the genius of the century had stayed by Alex Rothschild’s side faithfully.
“I see.” Kang Chul-In nodded. “I see now.” -
What do you see?
“Why a genius like you stayed by Alex Rothschild, that trash of the century.” -
What!?
“Yes.” Not caring about whether Lee Gong-Myung was angry or not, Kang Chul-In continued with his hypothesis, no, the truth. “I guess…… if it wasn’t a one-sided love, there was no need to stay by Rothschild. There’s…… always a special reason why useful people go down with unskilled people……”
It was plain to see. Lee Gong-Myung was someone who would’ve been treated with care no matter where he went. The reason why he was so faithful to an unskilled Lord like Rothschild was because of a special reason called “love.” Looking back, he wondered why he hadn’t thought of that before. One of the great mysteries that Kang Chul-In was curious about was why Lee Gong-Myung was on Alex Rothschild’s side.
“So.” Kang Chul-In continued. “Sounds like you became Cereb for revenge?” -
Of course, Kang Chul-In.
“That’s tough…… becoming a gruesome monster like this for Alex Rothschild’s revenge……” Kang Chul-In shook his head from side to side.
It was too much, becoming like this just for revenge.
“Wow.” Dorian added on. “They say the power of love is great…… it is indeed, Lee Gong-Myung.”
On the other hand, Hecate spoke skeptically about Lee Gong-Myung’s decision.
“What’s up with that fool? I would’ve gobbled him up already. If it doesn’t seem like they’ll accept you, then can’t you just force them? You never know, Rothschild might’ve been gay too.”
It was a scary statement fitting of Hecate. Kang Chul-In trembled, and sweat beaded down his back.
Why?
I’ll gobble you someday, Kang Chul-In.
Hecate was looking at him like a predator looked at prey.
I-I…… He thought to himself. Am not Cheetos……
He wasn’t the food that he wanted to eat someday.
“Anyways.” He quickly looked away from Hecate. “I understand that you’re gay, and how much you like Rothschild. I also understand that you became like this to take revenge. -
Understand? You understand me?
“Words are just words.” Kang Chul-In shrugged. “Anyways, I understand, so prepare to die.” -
Prepare to die…… kek……!
Lee Gong-Myung snickered at Kang Chul-In. -
Kang Chul-In…… you’re making a big mistake…… I admit that you found me here…… but you didn’t know that this is a land of death? Kek, kekekek…… look, Kang Chul-In…… this is the death zone…… it’s somewhere you won’t be able to get out alive.
Dorian jumped into the conversation.
“Dang…… look at what he’s saying. Is this a gay bar? To enter freely but not being able to leave? Looks like he’ll throw dildos at our butts if we say we want to leave.”
It seemed like the European knew some stuff. A vein popped out in Kang Chul-In’s forehead.
Puk! He punched Dorian in his solar plexus.
“Kuk! W-What……”
“Watch the time and location when you ramble on, you pushover.”
“B-But, I’m right……”
“Do you want to be beaten up more?”
“N-No…… sorry…… I was wrong.”
A murderous aura flashed in Lee Gong-Myung’s eyes as he watched on. -
Fine, let’s see how long it takes you to realize the situation you’re in…… hehehe…… Kang Chul-In…… thanks for coming here on your own two feet…… I’ll finally be able to take revenge for Alex…… kek, kekek……!
Kang Chul-In didn’t plan on giving him anything but Lee Gong-Myung was expecting a lot. Of course, Lee Gong-Myung wasn’t calling his bluff. This was his nest, a core location for Agnaga. -
Come out, my guardians……!
He summoned those who protected his nest. Unidentifiable monsters appeared. -
Krk…… -
Keek, keek keek! -
Kii? -
Chik, chiiik!
But……
It’s what I was expecting.
Kang Chul-In was relaxed. He knew that the twelve beings protecting the nest were powerful, but that didn’t matter. Right now, Kang Chul-In and his party could destroy Cereb’s guardians easily.
Moreover,
That bastard doesn’t know what kind of strength I have.
His current power was stronger than the Emperor of Blood and Iron in his prime; there was no way Cereb and his guardians could stop him. Revenge? He could give that to the dogs! Lee Gong-Myung didn’t know how strong Kang Chul-In was. The revenge he had dreamed of, becoming Cereb, was impossible……
***
Meanwhile, in the capital of the Valhalla Kingdom, Metalia, in the VVIP hospital room deep inside Laputa……
“Ugh…… uhhhhhh……!”
Kwak Jung convulsed again. Alfred, who was in charge of him around the clock, frantically entered the room.
“Please wake up, Tactician Kwak!”
“Euuuh…… uhhhh…… euh……!
“Tactician Kwak!”
“Ack, aaaaaaack!”
“Dammit!”
He quickly used Blood Heal,
“Huk, huuuk! Aack, aaaaaaaack! Aack! Ack!”
The situation didn’t get better.
“Huh……!” Alfred moaned.
Kwak Jung’s convulsions got worse day by day, and that was understandable. It was a miracle that his brain hadn’t melted yet.
“N-No one……” Just then, Kwak Jung began to speak in a strange voice.
“Tactician Kwak! Are you awake!”
“No one…… expected…… Emperor of Blood and Iron…… nor Emilia…… uck, uuuuck!”
“Tactician Kwak!”
“Q-Quickly…… discover…… stop…… warn…… his Majesty……”
With that, Kwak Jung’s head dropped. He had fainted.
“Guys.” Kang Chul-In spoke. “I’ll leave those dregs to you.”
Even he couldn’t take care of all the “guardians of the nest” at once.
“Of course, oppa.”
“Then will you give it to me once?”
“Leave it to me!”
“You can let us handle it, your Majesty!”
The nuance of each reaction was different, but the unit all complied with Kang Chul-In’s orders without any complaints. Cereb’s elimination would protect both Pangaea and the Earth. Each of their desires were different, but they could all only be possible when the world existed. They had to protect it. The world was the base of life. This fight was unavoidable for the sake of each of their dreams and desires! -
Kang Chul-In…… you’ll painstakingly regret coming here!
At the same time that Cereb exuded intense brain waves, -
Keek?! -
Kyaaaaak! -
Kiiiii!
The guardians of the Agnaga began to run towards the unit.
Kang Chul-In smiled. “Now it’s one to one. Should we have a nice little chat?” -
That’s what I wanted, Kang Chul-In.
While the unit and the guardians of the Agnaga were fighting, the two who were connected by an ill fate stood opposite of one another. Kang Chul-In and Lee Gong-Myung. From the past that didn’t exist anymore to now, the fate of the two were tied complicatedly.
I’ll be able to take care of everything today.
Kang Chul-In was satisfied with the situation. He thought things had worked out for the better. His target and long-time enemy were the same beings, so he had no reason to be complaining. He could turn his ambition into reality by eliminating Cereb and letting go of his grudge. How could he not be happy about it? -
Kang Chul-In……
Cereb spoke up in a suppressed voice. -
I’ve been waiting for a long time…… Alex’s enemy…… revenge…… I gave up being human to take revenge…… but to think you’d come on your own two feet……
“Do you think it’ll be possible?” -
Of course.
Cereb was confident he would succeed. -
Today, you will be destroyed.
“Really?” -
I’ll put your head on Alex’s altar…… Kang Chul-In.
“Go ahead.” Kang Chul-In was relaxed. “Try however many times you want.” -
Yes, there’s no need for a long discussion between you and me.
Cereb didn’t seem to plan on talking for too long either. -
I’ll kill you, Kang Chul-In!
Hundreds of tentacles shot out from Lee Gong-Myung’s body and began to squirm.
“How creepy.” Kang Chul-In frowned. “I’m surprised you were brave enough to look like that.” -
How long will you……
Just as he was finishing his thought, Kairforce and Mitra were swung at the speed of light.
Crunch, crunch! Tens of tentacles rolled on the floor and squirmed disgustingly on the floor.
“They’re pretty mild.” ……
!
“Octopus legs would be tougher than this. The butter-fried octopus rings they sell at theaters would be better than this.” -
What……!
Lee Gong-Myung was shocked. -
N-No way……!
It was understandable. Lee Gong-Myung’s attacking tentacles were nearly invincible, more durable than cable wires. The tentacles were cut too easily. Lee Gong-Myung couldn’t believe it.
“What, are you surprised?” Kang Chul-In spoke in a derisive tone. “You weren’t planning on hurting me with those dirty tentacles, right?” ……
“I pray that you weren’t. It would be extremely unpleasant.” He was speaking the truth. Kang Chul-In didn’t like tentacles. Moreover, Lee Gong-Myung was homosexual, or gay. Being wrapped around by tentacles from a gay person? He would rather die after being hit at a critical point than experience something that uncomfortable.
Never.
He wasn’t going to create an embarrassing moment that would go down in history. Right now, a complete victory was crucial. He couldn’t allow Cereb to touch him in the slightest. For his mental health at the very least……
“I’ll make sushi out of you, you squid-like bug bastard.”
As soon as he finished, he dashed at Lee Gong-Myung.
***
Meanwhile, at the same time.
“Y-Your Majesty……!” Kwak Jung quickly woke back up again after fainting.
“Tactician Kwak!”
“A-Alfred…… sir……”
“Please speak!”
“I-I have to tell…… his Majesty.”
“His Majesty?”
“He’s…… coming……”
“Pardon?”
“He’s coming soon…… there’s not much time left……”
“W-What are you talking about?”
Alfred didn’t understand a single word. No one would’ve, in that position. There was no rhyme or reason to what Kwak Jung was saying. He was just listing short words, so it was impossible to interpret it.
“Please be more detailed, Tactician Kwak! Only then will be able to tell his Majesty!”
“Wrong…… he……”
\r \r \r
“.……?”
“Mistake…… not fixed…… if he resurrects……”
“Huh……!”
“No…… time…… react…… his resurrection……”
Alfred looked at Kwak Jung with pity.
“Tactician Kwak…… just what you do you want to say…… what did you see……”
But he was sure of one thing. Kwak Jung was “warning” him.Something dangerous was coming, and Kang Chul-In had to be informed. That was what Kwak Jung was saying.
“You have to…… Alfred……”
“Yes, Tactician Kwak.”
“Tell…… His…… Majesty……”
“Please hang in there a bit, Tactician Kwak.” Alfred encouraged Kwak Jung. “His Majesty will come soon. If you can wait until then……”
“Vampire……”
“.……?”
“The vampire…… made…… me……”
“W-What are you talking about?”
“Foresight…… vampire…… so I can…… speak …… foresight……”
Kwak Jung gripped Alfred’s arm with a strength that wasn’t imaginable for someone bedridden.
“Tactician Kwak?”
“Foresight…… only human…… I…… vampire…… tell…… then……”
“Just what……!”
“Bi…… me…… vampire……”
Just then, Alfred came to a realization.
No way.
It sounded like Kwak Jung was telling Alfred to make him into a vampire. Foresight was a supernatural ability that only humans could use. To completely get rid of it, getting rid of one’s humanity would do the trick. The moment that one became a vampire, the side effects that came with foresight would be taken care of as well.
But,
“I can’t do that, Tactician Kwak.” Alfred shook his head. “This old man must save you, not make you something not human.”
“Immediately……”
“I’m sorry, Tactician Kwak.” Alfred shook his head firmly even with Kwak Jung’s desperate request. “Tactician Kwak…… you do not know…… what a curse it is to live as a vampire……”
“T-Talking…… uh…… limit…… n-no more…… huk…… huk…… huk.”
“I still cannot.” Alfred was firm. “Please bear it, Tactician Kwak.”
“Pl…… ease…… hak…… euh…… uhhhhh……”
“I promised his Majesty that I’d return your health. This old man cannot disobey his Majesty’s orders and make you into a cursed being.”
“Aaaaack!”
“I don’t know what kind of warning you’re trying to say, but please deliver it to his Majesty when he comes himself.”
“A-Ack!” Kwak Jung struggled.
“Whew……” Alfred turned away from Kwak Jung. “Just what is it, huh……?”
He was frustrated because he couldn’t tell what Kwak Jung was saying.
“Please deliver it to his Majesty yourself, Tactician Kwak.” It was clear something big was going on, but Alfred wasn’t going to make Kwak Jung a vampire. “No matter how urgent it is, there are things you should and shouldn’t do…… huhu.”
He knew how pitiful the life of a vampire was better than anyone, so he couldn’t heed Kwak Jung’s request.
“Aack, aaaaaack!” Kwak Jung’s screams filled the room.
“Please hold on just a bit, Tactician Kwak.”
Alfred just hoped that Kwak Jung could endure it a little bit more. Until how long? Until Kang Chul-In eliminated Cereb and returned.
***
Plop, plop, plop, plop! The guardians of the nest fell to the floor one by one.
“Ugh…… they’re ridiculously strong.” Dorian grumbled. He was a mess.
“Yeah, I know, right.” Hecate didn’t look normal either.
“They were strong.”
“They’re pretty good.”
Lucia and Han Ye-Sun added on. The guardians of the nest were extremely powerful. If they had come here one year ago, they might’ve died……
“Kang Chul-In’s almost done too.” Dorian muttered as he looked at Kang Chul-In and Lee Gong-Myung’s fight.
“That’s Kang Chul-In for you.”
Dorian, who was pretty strong too, could see how intense the battle was. Their fight wasn’t just one between swords and tentacles. Each strike held energy that could destroy their bodies at once. It wasn’t a fancy fight, but the dangers in it were beyond one’s imagination.
But that fight was almost at its end.
Pewk! Kaiforce dug into the center of Lee Gong-Myung, Cereb’s, large brain.
“It’s the end, Lee Gong-Myung.” ……
!
“Your will…… oh, never mind.” Kang Chul-In shook his head. “I don’t have a reason to listen to your will. Don’t worry about what I have to say and just die.” -
K, Kang Chul-In……!
“You may feel wronged, but that’s not my problem.” He whipped out the whirlwind from the magic sword Kaifroce. Mana spun around fiercely. -
N-No! M-My revenge…… Alex’s revenge…… Kang Chul-In…… I can’t be killed by you…… never…… I can’t die……!
“Then don’t.” ……
!
“Don’t die, and endure it.” Kang Chul-In was cruel. “Try to endure it.”
At the same time, a large storm swirled down Kaiforce and began to whirl around in Lee Gong-Myung’s brain. -
K-Kuuuk……!
Lee Gong-Myung shouted in pain. -
Ka, kaaaaaaaack!
No one would’ve been able to endure it if a storm whirled around inside their brain.
P-Pop! The surface of his brain began to explode like pus. -
Kang Chul-Innnnnn! Kek, kuuuuuuk……!
“You can take revenge in your dreams.” -
H-Huk!
“Alright, then I hope you have a nice time in hell with Alex Rothschild. Although, I don’t know if Rothschild will accept you.”
That was the end. Kang Chul-In put all the mana he had in Kaiforce, and the mega vortex in Lee Gong-Myung’s head became so large that it was like a typhoon. -
Keeek!
Lee Gong-Myung shouted his final scream.
“Let’s go.” Kang Chul-In quickly led his party away. “If we stay here any longer, we’ll be drenched with his brain fluids.”
The party rushed after Kang Chul-In to get out of the cave. No one looked back. They didn’t want to be covered in the brain fluids of an alien bug. -
Where are you going? Where are you going, Kang Chul-Iiiiiiiin!
Lee Gong-Myung screamed. -
I, I must take my revenge……! You can’t return alive……
But, Lee Gong-Myung couldn’t endure.
Pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, pooooop!
Hwiiiiiii! With the sound of wind spinning around, Lee Gong-Myung’s brain that was thousands of kilograms exploded.
But that wasn’t the end of it. The mega vortex didn’t stop. The nest began to come crumbling down.
“Run!” Kang Chul-In shouted.
“Let’s go together, Oppa!” Han Ye-Sun followed Kang Chul-In at a scary pace.
“Woohoo! Let’s run, run! Hahaha~!” Dorian laughed maniacally. It seemed he was feeling the thrill of the moment.
“Hey, you crazy bastard. What are you laughing about?” Hecate grumbled at him.
“Your Majesty! We have to get out quickly!” Lucia just worried about Kang Chul-In, like always.
***
Meanwhile……
“Hmmm…… not yet?” Desdemona started at the status window in front of her. “Right about now……”
It was then……
Rank 2 - Overlord Lee Ji-Tae, dead!
The notification she had been waiting for finally popped up.
[Total ranking]
Rank 1- Supreme King of the West Kang Chul-In (most likely to become emperor!)
▶Required Lord Points to become emperor: 10,000 P
Rank 2- Overlord Lee Chae-Rin
Rank 3- Overlord Hecate
Rank 4- Overlord Dorian Explorer
※The remaining Overlords have passed away!
“Good.” Desdemona nodded. “That dirty virus is gone now. Alright, shall I get started?”
With Cereb eliminated, it was now possible to force the stop of the ranking system. It was time to make Kang Chul-In the final winner, the emperor!
“.……النقد الدولي” She began to recite a spell.
***
Kang Chul-In’s party put the toppling Shatyameba territory behind them.
“Whew…… we almost died.” Dorian sighed in relief. “Well, we wouldn’t have died anyway……”
Suddenly,
[Total ranking, 10 seconds until finished!]
A notification that Dorian could only consider strange popped up.
“T-Total ranking finished? What’s this? Is this a system error?”
“No.” Kang Chul-In shook his head. “It’s not a system error.”
“I-It’s not?”
“It’s a forced stop.”
“Forced…… stop? What’s that?”
“It……”
“.……?”
“It means that I’ll become emperor.”
“E-Emperor?”
“Wait for it.”
Kang Chul-In grinned.
[9, 8, 7, 6……]
The countdown began.
[5, 4, 3, 2, 1…… 0!]
[Total ranking, finished! With the forced stop of the total ranking, the final winner will be chosen based on the current ranking!]
Kang Chul-In closed his eyes. I am the final victor. It was a desire he had for a long time. The dream he had before regressing, becoming emperor! That great ambition was becoming reality.
[The final victor of the total ranking will be announced!]
[3, 2, 1!]
[The final victor is…… the one ranked first currently, the Supreme King of the West Kang Chul-In!]
As soon as the notification popped up, flash! A golden ray of light fell from the sky and swallowed Kang Chul-In.
[System Erinyes identifies Kang Chul-In, the Supreme King of the West, as the ‘Emperor’!]
[Change in title!]
[Job advancement!]
[Kang Chul-In’s title is changed from the ‘Supreme King of the West’ to ‘Emperor’! (King -> Emperor)]
[Congratulations! You’ve ascended the imperial throne!]
Kang Chul-In became sentimental upon reading this message.
Finally……!
Pzzt! He could feel the electric current shooting up his entire body. His dream finally came true. Nothing in this world could stimulate this thrill and delight. Kang Chul-In went through 10 years of trial and error, had his heart pierced by his rival’s sword, and also had his head sliced off. He then returned to the past. Seeking vengeance, he had never relaxed for the past 5 years after he had returned to the past. He worked day and night. Not only did he refine his combat abilities, but he also placed an emphasis on dealing with domestic affairs. Kang Chul-In never dismissed any paperwork and struggled to earn money to change the economic system, which previously relied on looting others.
That wasn’t all. He suppressed his bad temper and tried his best to accommodate for all the territories he had conquered. At the same time, he never neglected his family. Kang Chul-In was a filial son to his mother, and he raised Arshelly strictly to guide her to the right path. Although he came to practice polygamy unintentionally, he still managed to pull it off.
I deserve it.
He was right. Objectively speaking, Kang Chul-In deserved to be crowned emperor. Didn’t he achieve his ambition through agonizing hard work? He didn’t have to be humble. He just had to accept the title of ‘Emperor’!
[With the termination of the ranking system, the Soul Cores of all 48 Lords except the Emperor are to be reclaimed!]
This message signaled the start.
“Huh?”
“W-What?”
Dorian and Hecate were dumbfounded to see their Soul Cores vanish into thin air. Every Lord’s Soul Core in Pangaea disintegrated. At the same time, all the energy in the Soul Cores began to integrate into Kang Chul-In’s Soul Core. Countless notifications appeared in front of Kang Chul-In.
[You have obtained ownership of Temeraire!] [You have obtained ownership of Bifrost!] [You have obtained ownership of Nosferatu!] [You have obtained ownership of Zolushka!] [You have obtained ownership of Shatyameba!] [You have obtained ownership of Dorado!]
There was no end.
Excluding those that were destroyed, all the territories now belonged to Kang Chul-In.
In addition,
[You have obtained ownership of Stingray!] [You have obtained ownership of Gothika!] [You have obtained ownership of Simurgh!]
600 small and big ownerless territories now belonged to Kang Chul-In, When Desdemona tampered with Erinyes, the remaining territories in the system were transferred to Kang Chul-in, becoming his property. Yes, that was the main point. The Emperor had ownership of everything stored in Erinyes. In other words, Kang Chul-In was now the ruler of the whole continent!
Rumble, crack!
After that, the sky and ground began to split into half. The Pangaea continent, or to be precise, the ‘planet,’ rumbled, and everything stored in Erinyes was transferred to Pangaea.
This was known as the second coming, or ‘Apovigna’, and it meant that the world was about to restore itself!
***
Thick storm clouds were gathering above the whole of Pangaea. Thunder and lightning struck relentlessly. The land continued to tremble. Ocean waves grew as tall as skyscrapers, and gigantic tsunamis crashed down onto the shores. Moreover, several brilliant beams of light pierced through the clouds and illuminated various parts of the world. One by one, everything stored in Erinyes began to reveal itself.
It was a cataclysm. The reconstruction of Pangaea, planned by the Emperor of Blood and Iron and Emilia 1000 years ago, was finally coming true.
After three days. The cataclysm came to a conclusion. Kang Chul-In stepped out to address his first matter as the Emperor.
“His Imperial Majesty has arrived!” Timothy shouted as Kang Chul-In stepped onto the red carpet. He truly had the charisma of an Emperor. He had the Ectoplasm Oversuit, the black and shining armor, Kaiforce, the demon sword, and Mitra, the light sword. He also had a red cape made personally by Alfred with the best fabric and the Tiara of Reign – the Emperor’s crown. Equipped with these items, Kang Chul-In gave off an air of magnanimity.
“Long live his Imperial Majesty!”
“Hooray!”
“Long live the Valhalla Kingdom!”
“Hooray!”
All the subjects bowed to Kang Chul-In with respect and admiration. Kang Chul-In passed by the subjects without a word and sat on the throne. The throne was magnificent. It wasn’t the destroyed throne made from the gold drake’s skull. This new throne was made from a real gold dragon’s skull. Used by the emperors of the Ancient Empire 1000 years ago, it was also known as the Throne of Reign.
“Not yet.” Kang Chul-In spoke. “I haven’t become a true emperor yet.”
\r \r \r
His sentence puzzled many subjects.
“Your Imperial Majesty, what do you mean?” Nilus the Arch Mage, who was now old, asked his master. “How could you not be a true Emperor? You are clearly the absolute authority on this continent! A conqueror! Your imperial Majesty, you are truly the Emperor!”
“That’s not true.” Kang Chul-In shook his head. “The threat is still here.”
“T-Threat?” Nilus was shocked.“Pardon me, but I fail to concur with your words. The Shatyameba monster troop in the south has already perished. Moreover, the Ancient Empire in the north is segmented and can no longer match up to us. You have already conquered the whole continent, why do you say as such?”
He was right. Nobody could challenge Kang Chul-In now. Only about 10 out of the 48 Lords remained in Pangaea. The rest escaped to Earth. There was no longer any competition. Kang Chul-In had already taken control of all the territories, including the 600 other territories stored in Erinyes. What kind of idiot would dare to challenge him?
Furthermore, the remaining Lords in Pangaea were either married to Kang Chul-In or had a favorable relationship with him.
“Your Imperial Majesty, the people of the Ancient Empire have been requesting to inhabit our nation every day. That’s not all. Your Imperial Majesty now owns 500,000 soldiers that were dormant in the other dimension.”
Currently, Kang Chul-In has 500,000 more soldiers in his arsenal. This was an addition to the 500,000 soldiers he already had.
A million-soldier army! The Valhalla Kingdom had the power to fight the rest of Pangaea and emerge victorious.
“No.” Kang Chul-In disagreed with Nilus. “Not yet.”
“Huh…… your imperial Majesty……”
“We have another enemy to fight against.”
“Another enemy? Please enlighten this dull servant of yours, your imperial Majesty!” Nilus bowed.
“Please enlighten us, your imperial Majesty!”
So did the other subjects. Although the world had undergone restructuring, they had no clue as to why it happened. It was because they lacked memories from 1000 years ago.
“A thousand years ago……” Hence, Kang Chul-In decided to reveal the truth. “When this world was ruled by the Emperor of Blood and Iron, Julius Berlineta Pon Aurangzeb, an alien race invaded.”
It was a confidential matter by right. However, Kang Chul-In thought otherwise.
They have to know too.
There was still one last fight. Rindermergel, the Relentless Predator, was about to revive. To fend off Rindermergel and his Agnaga army, everyone had to fight together as one. The only way to make it possible was to instill an extremely strong motivating factor. Otherwise, they could resist the Agnaga army but never win.
In addition,
Now’s the time to protect, not extort.
Protecting his empire was more important than anything else. All his efforts to build the empire could go to waste if Rindermergel revived and destroyed this world and Earth.
I will protect my achievements.
Therefore, Kang Chul-In decided to fend Rindermergel, not only because of the Emperor of Blood and Iron’s will or a heroic intention, but also because of his wish to protect his personal achievements.
“The alien race is called Agnaga. Long ago, this race invaded and destroyed this land.”
Kang Chul-In’s words shocked everyone.
“Those bastards, those motherfuckers……” Kang Chul-In emphasized. “They are trying to revive and conquer Pangaea, and even invade Earth afterwards. I plan to stop them from doing so. I will annihilate all of those who dare to attack this world.”
Kang Chul-In had dropped the bomb.
“W-What……!”
“Y-Your Imperial Majesty! What do you mean……!”
“P-Please elaborate! Your Imperial Majesty!”
“It’s hard to believe, your imperial Majesty!”
“So our new enemy is this alien race called Agnaga?”
This was to be expected. Kang Chul-In’s words sounded too abstract for the subjects who had no memories of the past.
“Let me elaborate.” Kang Chul-In explained calmly. “Everything started 1000 years ago, when the Emperor of Blood and Iron ruled the continent.”
Just like that, the story from 1000 years ago became widely known to everyone, elucidated by none other than Kang Chul-In himself.
The next day, Kang Chul-In’s first imperial order was announced.
I, the Emperor of the Valhalla Empire, am planning to gather an army to stop the second coming of an alien race called Agnaga, which destroyed this world 1000 years ago. I’m aware that the Empire is still in its baby steps and things are disorderly and chaotic, but we are running out of time. The second coming of the Agnaga is imminent. Therefore, I shall declare a state of national emergency and issue a wartime mobilization order. Young men of the empire, the empire wants you! It needs your help to protect this world from the evil alien race! I wish for all of you to volunteer to fight for this world’s survival and reconstruction!
P.S. I will attach the information about the rationale behind my orders. Do take note.
Kang Chul-In, the first Emperor of Valhalla
The whole Empire, no, the world, simmered with enthusiasm.
“Let’s enlist right away!”
“Those motherfuckers……!”
“I will kill them all!”
“So that’s what happened……!”
“Let’s all enlist!”
The hot-blooded youths rushed to the recruiting office.
“I devote myself to this world!”
“I can fight too!”
“I’m still lively, you know!”
The middle-aged and elderly men also volunteered to enlist.
“Women can fight too!”
“If we can’t join the battle, at least recruit us in the non-combat troops!”
Women were equally enthusiastic.
“Me too!”
“I want to enlist!”
“I will fight!”
Even the kids wished to participate in the war.
“Your Imperial Majesty, everyone wishes to join the army!”
Timothy, who was in charge of the conscription, reported to Kang Chul-In delightfully.
“As expected.”
Kang Chul-In knew that he had made the right move.
Who am I? Where are we from? What’s there in the other dimension?
The above questions were common questions that the people of Pangaea often wondered. Kang Chul-In took advantage of this. By revealing the tragedy that occurred 1000 years ago, he allowed the people of Pangaea to realize their identity and induced vengeance and animosity towards the Agnaga!
“The end is near.”
After ordering his men to install a huge Warp Gate (to allow for a huge army to warp) leading to Nosferatu, Kang Chul-In clenched his fists.
“Huehue…… try reviving now, you bastard. Only my million-soldier army awaits you……”
Kang Chul-In planned to surround and annihilate Rindermergel and his army the moment they revived. It would be perfect. Even that Rindermergel wouldn’t have his full-strength right after his resurrection. Wouldn’t he be helplessly torn into pieces by Kang Chul-In?
“Your Imperial Majesty!” It was at that moment. “Your Imperial Majesty, tactician Kwak is desperately looking for you!” Alfred reported anxiously.
“Kwak Jung?”
“Yes, your imperial Majesty!”
“How is he?”
“Extremely bad! You have to find him!”
“That idiot!” Kang Chul-In immediately left his seat.
That idiot……!
On the way to the VVIP sickbay,
Didn’t I tell him to never use his prophetic ability!?
Kang Chul-In felt uneasy. He certainly knew that Kwak Jung used his ability to fill in for his vacancy. That was why he was very apologetic. Kang Chul-In suffered from the guilt of overworking his favorite subordinate to such an extent.
Also,
He should have just waited!
Even if Kwak Jung didn’t use his ability, Kang Chul-In would have returned after eliminating Saturnus and Cereb. He valued Kwak Jung’s loyalty and sacrificial spirit highly, but they weren’t absolutely necessary.
“Urgh…… urghhhh……”
Kang Chul-In arrived at the VVIP sickbay to see Kwak Jung in his worst state.
"This bastard……”
He couldn’t look at Kwak Jung properly. His eyes had turned white, he was foaming at the mouth, and his entire body was trembling. Kwak Jung was definitely not normal. He didn’t even seem sane.
“.……” Kang Chul-In was flabbergasted and bit his lower lip hard.
“Your imperial Majesty……” Alfred looked at Kang Chul-In with empathetic eyes. Having stood by Kang Chul-In’s side for the longest time, Alfred was able to deduce his master’s feelings better than anyone else could. He knew that Kang Chul-In valued his subordinates, especially Kwak Jung. He knew that Kang Chul-in would definitely be crestfallen to see his precious subordinate moan in agony.
“Is it possible to treat him?” Kang Chul-In asked.
“Forgive me, your imperial Majesty……” Alfred bowed apologetically.
“That serious?”
“Yes, your imperial Majesty……”
“Call Desdemona over.”
Kang Chul-In decided to request for the ancient black dragon’s help.
However,
“Err…… this one, even I……”
Even Desdemona didn’t have a solution.
“Hmm…… to cure this dude…… it’s difficult as of now, to be honest.”
“Is it impossible? Even for you, an ancient black dragon?”
“Not really.” Desdemona shook her head.
“So can you fix it or not?” Kang Chul-In frowned.
“I told you I can fix it. What I’m saying is that it’s difficult ‘as of now.’”
“Explain clearer.”
“I’m tired.”
“What……?”
“Ahh, getting a little dizzy here.” Desdemona sneakily placed her head on Kang Chul-In’s chest. “I’m tired…… heeng……”
“Get away.” Kang Chul-In was cold, despite Desdemona’s massive amount of charm.
“Eeeng~!” However, Desdemona seemed oblivious of Kang Chul-In’s mood. “Aaah! I’m tired!”
“.……”
“A bit dizzy…… ouch!”
Kang Chul-In gave her a clout with his knuckles.
“Hey!” Desdemona shouted. “Did you just hit me? Huh?”
“Who told you to act so stupidly?”
“You abusive husband!”
“What?” Veins popped up on Kang Chul-In’s forehead. “Abusive…… husband?”
“That’s right, meanie!”
“When did I ever hit one of my wives? Do you have any evidence?”
“I do! I saw!”
“.……?”
“You just hit me!”
Kang Chul-In freaked out at Desdemona’s nonsense.
This girl, she really……
Now was hardly the time to spout such nonsense.
“Enough.” Kang Chul-In said sternly. “Now’s not the time to joke around, is it?”
“Hmph!”
“Put your nonsense aside, and just get straight to the point. What do you mean by you ‘cannot fix it as of now’?”
“Well, that……” Desdemona replied. “Didn’t I tell you that I’m tired?”
“.……?”
“It wasn’t easy unlocking Erinyes. I have my physical limits, too.”
“Ah……!” Kang Chul-In could finally understand what Desdemona meant. “So that was what you meant?”
“Yes, you meanie!” Desdemona glared. “I can’t fix him now even if I wanted to. As I said, it’s not easy for even an ancient dragon to restructure a human’s brain. Moreover, we are still left with the battle against Rindermergel. If I expend all my powers to fix this dude here, the battle’s gonna be tough.”
“I see…… so there’s no way? At this rate……”
“Just leave him alone.”
“Leave him alone?”
“If you maintain him at status quo, then I can cure him when I regain my stamina. One or two months later, perhaps? I think that should be enough.”
“In other words, we just have to pull through that duration?”
“Yup.” Desdemona nodded. “It’s not too difficult with this kid around, right?”
She then pointed at Alfred and called him ‘kid’.
“Hmm……”
\r \r \r
“Just make sure he keeps breathing. I will settle the rest.”
“Is that all?”
“Yup.” Desdemona pounded her chest. “You don’t trust me? I’m an ancient dragon, remember?”
“.……”
“What’s with that expression?”
“N-Nothing.”
“You are skeptical, aren’t you?”
“I’m not.” Kang Chul-In shook his head anxiously.
It’s true, she’s not that trustworthy.
Desdemona’s ability as an ancient dragon had already been recognized, but she was a bit of an idiot.
“Hey!” Desdemona screamed. “You…… you are looking down on me, aren’t you?”
“Nope.”
“Bullshit!”
“.……”
“Huh? You are looking down on me, too? Huh?”
“I told you, I’m not.”
“Whatever! I’m pissed!”
“.……”
“I won’t cure him anymore.”
Desdemona began to throw a tantrum.
“Your imperial Majesty!” At that moment, Alfred intervened. “Actually.”
“Hmm?” Kang Chul-In quickly paid attention to Alfred. “What is it?”
“Tactician Kwak wished to tell you something.”
“Tell me?”
“I couldn’t really decipher what he was saying, but he seemed to want to warn your imperial Majesty about an impending threat. He was so desperate that he even asked me to turn him into a vampire……”
“What? A vampire?”
“Yes, your imperial Majesty.” Alfred told Kang Chul-In what had happened. “As you are aware, humans are the only ones who can have prophetic abilities.”
“Right.”
“Tactician Kwak wanted to become a vampire to get rid of his ability and overcome the aftermath.”
“In other words……”
“Yes, your imperial Majesty. It seems like he really wished to tell you something. Think about it, your imperial Majesty. For tactician Kwak to sacrifice himself to that extent……”
“A great danger must be approaching. For example…… an apocalypse.”
“That’s right, your imperial Majesty!”
“What, it’s nothing.” Suddenly, Desdemona intervened.
“Nothing?” Kang Chul-In asked. “Yup. It’s nothing, isn’t it?”
“Why do you think so?”
“It’s obvious!”
“.……?”
“This boy saw the revival of Rindermergel!”
“.……!”
“Don’t you think so?”
She was right. For Kwak Jung to go to such extent, his premonition could only be about Rindermergel and his army’s resurrection.
“Is it……?”
“Have you ever told this guy about the past?”
“No.”
There wasn’t any chance to tell him. Ever since they conquered Esmeralda, Kang Chul-In was too busy with external affairs to share a proper conversation with Kwak Jung. At the same time, he could focus on external affairs because Kwak Jung was around.
“That’s why.”
“Huh?”
“Let’s think from his perspective.” Desdemona explained logically. “This boy probably thinks that you don’t know anything.”
“Right.”
“What would he do in that case? He would want to inform you no matter what. Right?”
“Well, I would have done the same.” Kang Chul-In nodded.
“That’s why he even risked relinquishing his human identity to warn you. Not bad, huh?”
“True……”
“Anyway, there’s no need to pay too much attention to what he was trying to say. Just make sure his condition doesn’t deteriorate. Then I will cure him. Ok?” Desdemona’s statement was clear and straightforward.
However……
What is it?
Kang Chul-In felt somewhat uneasy.
Was Kwak Jung really trying to warn me about Rindermergel and his army’s revival?
He had a weird feeling. Based on the given information, Desdemona’s argument definitely had a point and Kang Chul-In’s opinion didn’t differ much from hers. No, they thought the same. Everyone would.
Tell me, Kwak Jung. What were you trying to warn me against?
Unfortunately, the unconscious Kwak Jung could not reply to Kang Chul-In. In the first place, Kang Chul-In didn’t voice out the question.
“What are you pondering about? Are you telling me that my deduction is wrong?”
“That’s not it.”
“Then what’s with that expression?”
“Intuition?”
“Intuitionnnnn?”
“Your theory may be flawless, but it bothers me to not hear directly from the dude himself before stepping into the battlefield.”
“Hmm……”
“I’m a little edgy because of the big matters that will happen soon. It’s not like me.”
He was right. Kang Chul-In was about to advance to Nosferatu with his entire army. In such a circumstance, of course he would feel worried about not knowing what Kwak Jung was about to tell him.
“Hmm…… I understand…… it would’ve been good to confirm that he was trying to warn us about the resurrection of Rindermergel.”
“That’s exactly my point.” Kang Chul-In nodded.
“But what can we do? Turn him into a vampire just to hear that warning? Now?”
“.……”
“Just think simply. Hmm? You are the Emperor. Don’t tell me you are losing your composure because of this?”
“Of course not.”
“Prophecies change anyway. Do you think there are only one or two prophets out there? To be honest, there were better prophets than this lad. Look at Agrippa!”
“Ah!”
Thanks to Desdemona, Kang Chul-In could recall Agrippa the Arch Witch, who told the Emperor of Blood and Iron about the future.
“Scan through the Emperor of Blood and Iron’s memories. Was Agrippa 100% accurate?”
“Nope.”
“You see. Even the experienced prophets are not always accurate. I would say about 70% accurate? Quite high in terms of statistics, but…… you can’t completely rely on this number.”
She was right. Kang Chul-In might’ve been deluded by a superstition like ‘prophecy’.In fact, Kang Chul-In trusted his own abilities more than such uncertainties.
Destiny? Bullshit! Kang Chul-In was a man who ‘paved his own future’ using his own strength.
“Well, you have a point.” Kang Chul-In tossed his worry aside. “I should prepare for the battle instead of wondering pointlessly.”
“Yup.”
They reached a consensus.
“Alfred.” Kang Chul-In turned around to face Alfred.
“Yes, your imperial Majesty.”
“Take care of Kwak Jung. Keep him alive no matter what. As Desdemona said, just make sure he keeps breathing. He must live.”
Alfred could sense how immensely Kang Chul-In values Kwak Jung.
“Certainly, your imperial Majesty. Your humble servant will keep tactician Kwak alive! Therefore, fret not and achieve greatness!”
“Alright, I leave it to you.”
Kang Chul-In gave Alfred a look of trust. It indicated the level of trust he had in Alfred.
“Urghh……” Suddenly. “Urgh…… urgh…… argh! Urgh! Huk, huk……”
Kwak Jung regained consciousness and waved at Kang Chul-In.
“Y-Your Ma…… urgh…… huk…… majes…… urgh……”
“Kwak Jung.” Kang Chul-In tightly held Kwak Jung’s hand. “Don’t worry.”
“Urgh…… urgh……”
“I know what you are trying to warn me against.”
“Urgh……”
“So don’t worry and rest well. I will destroy Rindermergel and the Agnaga army. And then……” Kang Chul-In added. “I will cure you. Just hold on there for a while. I promise you the luxury life that you’ve always wanted.”
He swore to protect Kwak Jung no matter what.
“Urgh……” Kwak Jung struggled as he held onto Kang Chul-In’s hand. “Urghhhhh……!”
“Yes, Kwak Jung.”
“A-Arghhhh!”
“Just hold on there…… a little longer…… the end is near.” Kang Chul-In promised Kwak Jung.
Brrrr……! Kwak Jung’s body trembled relentlessly as he stared at Kang Chul-In.
Kwak Jung was thinking……
D-Damn it! T-That’s not it! Kwak Jung screamed inwardly. Your Majesty! You bastard! Oi, Kang Chul-In!
He even showed disrespect to his superior, but,
“Urgh……!” All he could produce was abnormal and unrecognizable babble. Kwak Jung was about to go insane from frustration.
I have something to tell you, damn it! That’s not it! Please hear me out, please?
However,
“Let’s go.”
Kang Chul-In couldn’t understand Kwak Jung and turned around to leave the sickbay. He went to prepare for the final battle.
Eeeeekkk! Kwak Jung struggled. Please…… argh…… pleasseeeee! Hear me out, please! Stop, stop! That’s not it!
Kwak Jung shouted with all his might, but……
“Urgh, argh! Urgh…… argh!”
Unfortunately, all Kang Chul-In could hear was a mentally unsound patient’s ramble.
***
The next day……
“Your imperial Majesty, all preparations are complete.”
Kang Chul-In received a report that the installation of the ‘gigantic Warp Gate’ was successful. He had invested all of the Hearth Stone in the empire to construct this gigantic warp gate. It could instantly warp a million soldiers to Nosferatu.
It was his last resort. It would take some time for the army to march to Nosferatu, which was located in the northernmost corner of Pangaea. That was why Kang Chul-In thought of building a huge Warp Gate despite its cost.
It was definitely not easy. In fact, it was almost impossible to make one that could accommodate so many people. Kang Chul-In, however, managed to do it.
Dwarves, Ants, Nilus the Arch Mage, his junior magicians, and Desdemona the Ancient Black Dragon; these top talents were deployed for three days and three nights to construct the ‘Great Warp Gate’.
“Your imperial Majesty, the Empire’s army is ready for expedition. We are awaiting your call.” Lucia reported.
“I see……” Kang Chul-In nodded. “Ok. Let’s go.”
Kang Chul-In stepped forward to face the final battle.
Just before the army advanced to Nosferatu, Kang Chul-In got on Altaica, the God Beast of the Ancient Empire, and went towards the frontlines.
It had glimmering claws akin to a good sword, fur that bristled in the wind, and a new pair of wings. The fully mature Altaica was truly a magnificent beast.
As for Kang Chul-In, who was riding on Altaica……
Ohhh……!
Here comes…… his imperial Majesty!
As expected from his imperial Majesty!
That person…… is this world’s only hope!
He emitted a charisma commensurate with his status as the Messiah.
Little chap. Kang Chul-In smiled warmly as he observed Altaica. Even though you are so cute……
He was right. Just a minute ago, Altaica was rolling in front of Kang Chul-In with his belly facing up, like a small cat. Kang Chul-In was amused to see the same beast prowling majestically in front of the others.
Whatever. Not like it behaves like this in front of anyone.
Kang Chul-In decided to overlook Altaica’s double act. The godbeast couldn’t act like a cute cat in front of all the soldiers, could it?
“My soldiers!” Kang Chul-In bellowed. “I believe you have read the imperial order.”
The Valhalla soldiers replied. “Yes, your imprial Majesty!”
What a roar! It was akin to a roll of thunder.
“Who is our enemy?” Kang Chul-In inquired. “The Agnaga!”
An unanimous voice from a million soldiers! It was truly a sight to behold.
Excellent.
Kang Chul-In was very satisfied. He was once again proud of his decision to reveal the past. Look at them! From those who followed Kang Chul-In ever since the Great Summoning to those who just arrived from the other dimension, there was a strong cohesion due to the common goal of obliterating the Agnaga!
These people who were selected by the Emperor of Blood and Iron 1000 years ago to be placed in Erinyes always wondered, ‘where are we from?’ By providing them with the answer, Kang Chul-In made them realize their reason to fight. This was one of his best ideas thus far.
An army could never win without knowing the reason to fight. An army performed better with a clear sense of purpose. Kang Chul-In learnt these two principles through years of operating his army. They were crucial to achieve victory.
“Good.” Kang Chul-In nodded. “Let me ask all of you.”
“Yes, your imprial Majesty!” The soldiers replied.
“Are you going to lose?”
“No!”
“Are you going to relinquish this world to the evil Agnagas again?”
“No!”
“Then are you going to protect it?”
“Yes!”
“Wrong.” Kang Chul-In shook his head. “Protecting the world isn’t good enough.”
Truly, the word ‘protect’ wasn’t entirely compatible with Kang Chul-In, who was more of an attacker than a defender.
“I – no, we!” Kang Chul-In emphasized. “We shall destroy them – those damned bastards who trampled on this world in the past and came back 1000 years later to rule over it again. In fact, we shall rip them apart and wipe out the entire Agnaga race! We are not just fighting against a foreign power here! It’s revenge! Do you understand? We have to pay those bastards back for what they’ve done in the past!”
The million soldiers replied. “T-That’s right!”
“We shall have our revenge!”
“Never…… shall we forfeit this world again!”
“We will destroy every single one of them!”
“We will show the enemy our true strength!”
“We will show those fuckers how terrifying Pangaeans are when taking revenge!”
All of them expressed resentment and anger.
Couldn’t be better.
At that moment, Kang Chul-In could sense the atmosphere. His army had reached the maximum will and animosity towards the enemy.
“Good.” Kang Chul-In nodded. “I appreciate your will.”
At this point, further explanations were not needed. Actions speak louder than words! It was time to fight.
“Let’s go!” Kang Chul-In shouted.
“Yes, your imprial Majesty!” The soldiers’ voices thundered.
Suddenly, a huge black silhouette soared into the sky from behind Kang Chul-In’s back.
A gigantic black dragon over 200 metres tall let out a tremendous roar. It wasn’t Infrasonic, which instilled fear in other living organisms, but rather a victory roar! It was a buff which increased its ally’s abilities by 10% and boosted morale.
“Ohh……!”
“A-Ancient…… dragon……!”
“It’s our empire’s dragon!”
“We are fighting with the black dragon……!”
“We will win for sure……!”
As a result, the morale amongst the soldiers was higher than ever.
“Desdemona, the warp gate!” Kang Chul-In shouted at Desdemona, who had transformed into her original form. It was time to head out. All they needed was Desdemona to infuse some mana into this gigantic Warp Gate for Valhalla’s one million soldiers to teleport to Nosferatu.
However,
Desdemona’s reply was truly shocking. Veins on Kang Chul-In’s forehead popped up.
\r \r \r
That idiot dragon!
What an opportunist!
It’s provocation, for sure!
Ninetails, Lee Chae-Rin and Skadi’s faces crumpled in anger.
But the best of them was……
F-Flirting with oppa like this?
Definitely Han Ye-Sun. ……
Truly cunning. Kang Chul-In marveled.
Desdemona’s choice of words was definitely calculated. They were about to head out to Nosferatu in front of all of the Empire’s citizens and soldiers. In other words, it was an official and public platform. To call Kang Chul-In ‘husband’ in such a circumstance?
That led to the following response:
“Ohh……!”
“His imperial Majesty is a real man…… to have the ancient black dragon as his wife!”
“Satisfying a dragon is not going to be easy…… just how virile is he……?”
“Wow……!”
“To have a dragon as his concubine……!”
Desdemona had more or less officially declared that she was Kang Chul-In’s wife.
At that moment, Desdemona’s telepathy reached Kang Chul-In’s mind.
Kang Chul-In couldn’t say a word. He was frustrated to have to deal with women even in critical moments like this.
Emperor of Blood and Iron……!
He blamed the Emperor of Blood and Iron for it.
“Let’s just…… go.” Kang Chul-In was mentally tired.
Desdemona replied playfully.
She then injected her mana into the ‘Great Warp Gate’. Immediately, a beam of rainbow light began to envelope the whole Laputa castle. The castle and the million-soldier army vanished without a trace from the Valhalla Empire’s capital city.
***
Meanwhile, Kwak Jung was utterly destroyed and trapped in his own body.
N-No matter what…… I have to stop it…… at this rate…… it’s game over……
Kwak Jung recalled his last prophecy. He could barely describe the devastating and horrifying scene in words. It was a world engulfed in flames. Civilization was reverted back to primitive ages, and all living organisms were enslaved to the Agnaga. He could not withstand the scene with a sane mind.
The expedition…… I have to stop it by hook or by crook…… only doom awaits!
The key was Kang Chul-In’s expedition to Nosferatu. Kwak Jung had to stop it. Only then could he prevent the certain catastrophe. It was because the expedition to Nosferatu was the shortcut to the world’s destruction.
I have to notify His Majesty……! However, he was out of options. Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck!
He simply couldn’t move. He couldn’t talk either. Even his brain cells seemed to be deteriorating. He started to have hallucinations.
No matter what……
At that moment, he caught a glimpse of Alfred.
“.……”
Alfred, who was instructed by Kang Chul-In to maintain Blood Heal 24/7, had fallen into a slumber from fatigue.
“Your imperial Majesty…… you must…… achieve victory……” Seeing from how he even talked in his sleep, Alfred must have prayed hard for Kang Chul-In’s win,
There’s only one way……
Kwak Jung had no choice. If he could escape his current situation, he could give up his humanity without any hesitation.
Why? It was because he was a ‘human’. Kwak Jung was fundamentally different from Lee Gong-Myung, who died as the Agnaga’s over mind. In contrast to Lee Gong-Myung, who joined the Agnaga to take revenge and destroy the world, Kwak Jung planned to relinquish his human identity to prevent the apocalypse.
Wasn’t it ironic? Lee Gong-Myung was a graceful man who did not care about wealth and honor, whereas Kwak Jung was a man of greed. Strangely enough, the latter was trying to save the world.
His Majesty will take care of the mess……
Kwak Jung decided to leave the rest to Kang Chul-In and made preparations to charge towards Alfred.
There’s only one chance……
He couldn’t afford to fail. Alfred was a true vampire; any hesitation could ruin his whole plan.
“Your imperial Majesty…… please……” Alfred was about to sleep talk again, when……
“Argh!”
Kwak Jung flung out in a blink of an eye and bit Alfred’s neck hard. With a chilling sound of teeth penetrating the skin,
“Hmm!?” Alfred woke up from his slumber, with eyes full of shock. “T-Tactician Kwak?”
Alfred was astonished. “W-What’s going on……”
It wasn’t painful. There was no way a true vampire like him could feel pain from a human’s bite.
“.……”
Flabbergasted, Alfred stared down at Kwak Jung. Kwak Jung was almost inhaling Alfred’s blood in, so the end result was obvious. Since Kwak Jung drank so much of a true vampire’s blood, he would become a vampire in 5 minutes.
In fact, he wouldn’t even be a high-class vampire. In order to inherit ‘royal blood’ like Alfred, one had to undergo a special ritual. A simple consumption of blood could only turn one into a low-class vampire.
“Why are you doing this…… tactician Kwak…… huh……?”
Alfred decided to leave Kwak Jung alone. It must have been tough for him. Alfred believed that Kwak Jung had a message to relay that was critical enough to justify his desperate move.
Five minutes passed.
“Huk, huk……” Kwak Jung, who was now a low-class vampire, huffed and puffed.
“Tactician Kwak……” Alfred looked at him with sympathy. “Why……”
“Damn it, is that important?” Kwak Jung could finally talk like a normal human again. Not only was his prophet ability gone, but its side effects were also resolved without a trace.
“Argh!” Kwak Jung let out his frustration. “Damned geezer, you should have listened to me from the very start instead of rambling about a vampire’s life! I almost died of frustration! The world will be doomed if I can’t talk, so who cares if I’m not a human?”
“.……”
“Anyways, it’s your fault if the world is doomed. Ok?”
Alfred had nothing to say. To be precise, he couldn’t find any suitable words. Why was Kwak Jung throwing a tantrum?
“Look here, tactician Kwak……”
“Will you just please shut up, alright!?”
“.……”
“I’m busy. Let’s talk later.” Kwak Jung then hurriedly left the sickbay.
“.……” Alfred was left all alone, dumbfounded.
“Argh!” Suddenly, Kwak Jung’s scream could be heard from outside the sickbay. “H-Hot!”
Alfred didn’t have to look to deduce that a beam of sunlight through the window gap was burning Kwak Jung’s body.
***
Meanwhile, Kang Chul-In and his soldiers teleported to a point 5 kilometres away from Nosferatu to face the second coming of the Agnaga.
The air trembled and the lightning and thunder were relentless.
And, with a flash of light, they saw Nosferatum, covered with red pillars.
Desdemona spoke.
That was the problem. Rindermergel didn’t resurrect from a corpse. In fact, he had been asleep in another dimension and was being summoned to Pangaea. In other words, there was no way to stop the resurrection from happening. Therefore, Kang Chul-In planned to launch a surprise attack the moment Rindermergel and his army arrived on Pangaea.
“Can we go now?” Kang Chul-In asked.
Desdemona relied.
“I see……” Kang Chul-In nodded. He then alighted from Altaica.
Desdemona inquired. Now was the right time. Valhalla had to attack Rindermergel and his army before they could restore their full strength.
However, Kang Chul-In, instead of commanding his soldiers to attack, was stroking the frozen ground.
“Give me a sec.” Kang Chul-In told Desdemona.
Soil, huh……
Kang Chul-In held Nosferatu’s soil in his hand. That was the Emperor of Blood and Iron’s habit. He tended to feel a place’s soil before any defensive mission. It was a subconscious act to reaffirm his resolution to protect the land…… a habit befitting of an ‘emperor’.
Nothing much.
Kang Chul-In found this habit of the Emperor of Blood and Iron utterly pointless.
At that instant, with a beam of light,
“Y-Your imperial Majesty!” A man covered in a black robe fell from the sky.
“Who are you……”
“It’s me!”
“You are……!”
“Yes, it’s me!” It was Kwak Jung, who was now a vampire.
“Why are you here……?” Kang Chul-In was puzzled.
“That’s not the point!”
“What?”
“Never ever command your army to attack!”
“.……?”
“This is a trap!”
Kang Chul-In could hardly comprehend Kwak Jung’s words. “What are you saying……”
“God damn it!”
“.……!”
“Can’t you understand? Huh!?” Kwak Jung was crazy enough to even reprimand his superior. “That thing is a trap! A trap!”
“A trap?”
“If we go in there, everyone will die!”
“.……!”
“Rindermergel? The ancient Agnaga army? Those bastards are not in there!”
What was he saying? Rindermergel and his army wasn’t at Nosferatu?
“What do you mean, Kwak Jung.” Kang Chul-In completely ignored the mutiny just now and asked Kwak Jung. Munity was the least of his concerns. All he had to do was issue mental training for Kwak Jung later on. He was more concerned with what Kwak Jung had to say at the moment.
“Elaborate.”
“It’s not Pangaea.”
“Not Pangaea?”
“It’s Earth!”
“.……!”
“The second coming of Rindermergel and his army will not occur at Nosferatu, but on Earth!”
That was the reason. That was why Kwak Jung was so desperate to notify Kang Chul-In, even at the cost of his humanity. Rindermergel and his soldiers were planning on attacking Earth!
While Kang Chul-In was listening to Kwak Jung’s story, on Earth……
A news anchor announced desperately.
Park Sun-Ja was puzzled to hear the news. “M-Monster army……?” She pondered what it could be. “Could it be similar to that incident in the past?”
Park Sun-Ja recalled the tragic ‘Monster Gate’ incident that took place two years ago in Seoul. Monsters appeared in the city, destroying buildings and killing people.
A nuclear bomb? Russia, which boasted the second greatest military power in the world, was considering dropping a nuclear bomb on itself. The situation clearly seemed worse than the Monster Gate incident.
That would be the third nuclear bomb to be used in history.
“What to do…… oh no…… so many people……” Park Sun-Ja grieved at the news. “Are they really going to drop a nuclear bomb? Where did those monsters come from……”
Suddenly, Park Sun-Ja recalled the face of her most beloved man in the world.
“S-Son……!”
Those monsters were definitely associated with her son, Kang Chul-In’s, world.
The news anchor announced anxiously.
What followed was even more shocking.
Even a nuclear bomb was ineffective. That meant that the human race was out of options.
***
“What do you mean?” Kang Chul-In couldn’t believe Kwak Jung’s words. “Earth? The second coming of Agnaga……?”
“All of that is fake.” Kwak Jung rebutted Kang Chul-In.
“Fake?”
“Yes.” Kwak Jung nodded. “It’s Sakura [2].”
“Elaborate?”
“Right, so…… your imperial Majesty, didn’t you return to the past?”
“.……!”
“I knew it……”
Surprisingly, Kwak Jung was aware of Kang Chul-In’s secret even before hearing it.
“Is it your foresight?”
“Yes, well…… kinda…… to be honest, I didn’t see it. I deduced it.”
“Deduced?”
“What I saw was……” Kwak Jung hesitated. “Right, so……”
“Go on.”
Kang Chul-In urged Kwak Jung.
“Is that okay with you?”
“What?”
“Your imperial Majesty, your neck was sliced off by Rothschild……”
“.……”
“Haha…… that was a dark chapter in your life…… hahaha.”
“Ahem……!”
“No wonder you detested Rothschild so much……” Kwak Jung probably saw everything, even the past which no longer existed. “Keh…… Your imperial Majesty…… you were even more merciless last time, huh? Killing everyone you didn’t like, wreaking havoc everywhere……”
“.……”
“The whole continent detested you……” Kwak Jung began to list out Kang Chul-In’s embarrassing past.
Kang Chul-In raised his fist without a word.
“S-Sorry……” Kwak Jung quickly apologized. He could be killed if he rambled on further.
“I will listen to your bullshit later. Tell me what you saw.” Kang Chul-In coerced Kwak Jung. He didn’t want Kwak Jung to mention his dark past anymore.
“A-As for that……”
“.……?”
“Even after you were killed by Rothschild in the past, the competition continued.”
That was bizarre.
“Continued?” Kang Chul-In inquired. “Wait, that past should have been completely erased after I returned.”
“That’s true, but there was that damned bastard called Milenius.”
“Ah……!”
“That bastard used his time-control ability to continue with that past, which was supposed to be deleted.”
“.……!”
“Well, even though that past was supposed to be erased sooner or later, it served as a form of……”
“Don’t tell me…… he used it as a sort of simulator?”
\r \r \r
“That’s right!” Kwak Jung shouted. “In that simulation, Rothschild was the last one standing.”
“Ahem……!” Kang Chul-In didn’t want to hear it. “I guess that could be possible…… so what?”
“You wouldn’t want to believe this, but…… Alex Rothschild and his strategist over there stopped the second coming of the Agnaga.”
“.……”
“To be honest, someone else can also do this job.”
“That’s true.” Kang Chul-In agreed. The Emperor of Blood and Iron did not make arrangements to ensure that only Kang Chul-In could stop the second coming of the Agnaga.
Regardless of background, whoever emerged at the top of the ranking system would become the ruler of Pangaea and protect it from the Agnaga. It would make sense for Desdemona to cooperate with Alex Rothschild who would have become the final victor.
“That’s when Milenius noticed.” Kwak Jung spoke. “He observed how the arrangements made by the Emperor of Blood and Iron and Emilia could address the second coming of the Agnaga.”
“Hmm……!”
“Milenius then decided to put a spin on the incident.”
“To change the setting from Pangaea to Earth?”
“Yes.”
“In that case……” Everything made sense now. “If I entered that place……”
“It would’ve been game over.” Kwak Jung answered. “Inside that red pillar lies something even more sinister than Rindermergel or his Agnaga army……”
“.……?”
“It’s a huge explosion, akin to an atomic bomb.”
“.……!”
“It’s a trap to annihilate the final victor and his army, including the soldiers who were released from Erinyes.”
It was a near miss. Had Kang Chul-In not followed the Emperor of Blood and Iron’s habit, or if Kwak Jung had not become a vampire, a catastrophe could have occurred by now. Everything would have perished. If Kang Chul-In and his army were engulfed in the explosion, nothing in either Pangaea or Earth could stop the Agnaga.
“Probably……” Kwak Jung was about to continue when an explosive sound could be heard. A chain of explosive sounds came from the red pillar in Nosferatu.
A chill ran down Kang Chul-In’s spine.
“So close……” Kang Chul-In spoke. “That could have ruined everything.”
He was right. If Kwak Jung had arrived even a bit later, both Pangaea and Earth would have perished.
“Aren’t we fortunate?” Kwak Jung grinned. “We got through this obstacle well.”
“You are right.” Kang Chul-In nodded. “Well done, Kwak Jung.”
He then placed his hands on his loyal subordinate’s shoulders.
“You are the true hero.”
“Hehe……”
“Your contribution is laudable in both Pangaea and Earth.”
“Of course. I will make sure my name goes down in the history books. Hehehe~!”
“It certainly should.” Kang Chul-In acknowledged, despite Kwak Jung’s snobbish comment. Kwak Jung had seen through Milenius’ wicked scheme and notified his superior. It was an admirable contribution that deserved merit.
“I will make sure that happens. Your name will be remembered even a thousand years later.”
“Hehe…… I leave it to you, then!” Kwak Jung rubbed his hands together. “And also, can you turn me back into a human, as well……?”
“Back into a human?”
“I am currently a vampire……”
“I will find a way.”
“Thank you!”
“I can’t let my beloved subordinate remain as a vampire.”
“I trust you, your imperial Majesty!” Kwak Jung had faith in Kang Chul-In’s promise. His master never gave empty promises. He was a man who always walked his talk.
“Well then.” Kang Chul-In continued. “Now what? If the second coming of the Agnaga happens on Earth……”
Kang Chul-In was about to continue, when……
“Your Imperial Majesty!” A signaler hurriedly ran in front of him. “There’s a significant message from Valhalla!”
“Significant message?”
“Yes, your imperial Majesty! Here it is!” The signaler respectfully placed a scroll on Kang Chul-In’s hand.
The message written on the scroll read as follows:
[Breaking news!] A monster army has emerged on Earth, in Russia!
Kwak Jung was right.
“Those bastards……” Kang Chul-In hissed. “Wreaking havoc on Earth instead of here?”
He was extremely disgusted by the news. Not only did his enemy lure him into a trap, but it was also causing chaos on his home planet.
“You have to go.” At that moment, Kwak Jung advised Kang Chul-In. “If Earth gets conquered, here no longer becomes safe as well.”
Rindermergel was the leader of the Agnaga, who possessed all of his race’s DNA. If they left him alone, warpers like Milenius were bound to be born again—— those who can teleport between dimensions. There would be no future for both Pangaea and Earth.
“Of course.” Kang Chul-In nodded. “We can’t let them do as they wish.”
So what if it was the Earth? Regardless of where he fought, Kang Chul-In was confident of destroying the Agnaga.
However……
“How?”
Kang Chul-In had already used the ‘Great Warp Gate,’ so how could he open up another channel between Pangaea and Earth? Even if he wished to, there was no plausible method.
“It’s possible.” Desdemona stepped forward.
“You have a solution?” Kang Chul-In gave her a look of delight.
“We can use Erinyes.”
“Erinyes? There’s a Warp Gate in it?”
“Of course there is! How could the Great Summoning be possible otherwise?”
“Ah……!” However, there were still points to clarify. “In that case, was there even a need to make the Great Warp Gate?”
“That device was designed to be used within the same dimension. The purpose is different. Erinyes can allow teleportation between different dimensions, but not within the same dimension.”
“In other words……”
“We can go.”
It was delightful news.
“Let’s go and destroy those Agnaga bastards.”
“Alright.” Kang Chul-In let out a cunning smile. He was a persistent man. Kang Chul-In would pursue those Agnagas to the ends of the earth to destroy them.
“Soldiers!” Kang Chul-In bellowed. “It seems that the Agnagas have escaped to another world!”
There was an uproar from the soldiers.
“What? Does that mean we don’t have to fight?”
“Is that the end?”
“What’s happening?”
Kang Chul-In answered their queries immediately.
“It’s not over yet! If the Agnagas take control of the other world, wouldn’t this world be their next target?”
The Agnagas would definitely attack Pangaea afterwards.
“They will come to this world not too long after and even I wouldn’t be able to stop them! Only doom awaits if we neglect the other world for our own safety!”
The soldiers replied simultaneously.
“We will go!”
“We will help the other world!”
“If we have to fight sooner or later, we choose to fight now!”
“We will chase and hunt them down!”
There was an inundation of answers that satisfied Kang Chul-In. Only Kang Chul-In’s soldiers were idiotic enough to risk their safety for the other world.
“Desdemona.” Kang Chul-In looked back at the ancient black dragon, who would potentially become his wife. “I will leave it to you.”
“Alright.” Desdemona nodded and casted a spell, which summoned a Warp Gate from the system Erinyes.
***
Meanwhile, the situation on Earth was getting more dire by the second. The news reports were depressing.
Missiles, airstrike and even nuclear bombs. No weapons in humanity’s arsenal could stop the advancement of the Agnaga army. It was simply impossible. The firepower of Earth’s weapons was much greater than that of Pangaea’s, but it was vulnerable to even the slightest bit of magic.
That was also the case here. The magic barrier created by the Agnaga army was rather an unsophisticated one, but it was impenetrable by the human weapons. There was one simple conclusion. Humans could not fend off the alien race without magic! Therefore, the ancient Agnaga army took control of Russia with much ease.
Also……
Korea was no exception.
North Korea fell in the hands of a small portion of the Agnaga army. It was now South Korea’s turn.
In addition,
[Breaking News] Japan withdraws its Maritime Self-Defence Forces from the East Sea.
[Alliance News] The prime minister of Japan: “The situation in the Korean peninsula is unfortunate, but Japan has no choice but to withdraw its Maritime Self-Defence Forces due to its own safety.”
[Breaking News] No other reinforcements to arrive except for the USA.
Japan decided that the monster army lacked the maritime forces to invade the island and withdrew its forces from the Korean peninsula. Similarly, the USA began to adopt a conservative approach, gradually focusing its attention on the USA-Japan alliance. Korea was left alone to fight the monster army.
“Never trust anyone!” This philosophy was coming into play.
Meanwhile, the Agnaga army trampled on Pyongyang and also conquered the Hwanghaebuk-do Province.
South Korea was in danger. Once the defence line at Kaesong fell, the next target would definitely be the Military Demarcation Line. The people of Korea despaired. The monster army, which had conquered Russia, the biggest nation in the world, was right before their doorstep.
It was past all hope. How could such a small nation without a nuclear bomb, which was also useless, fight the monster army? At that moment, all 50 million people in Korea were desperately calling for a man’s name.
Kang Chul-In: the hero who saved Seoul during the Monster Gate incident. If he was here, they could possibly win this battle against the monster army.
With that, the battle between the North Korean army and the Agnagas commenced at the border of North Korea.
[1] CuppyNote: I wonder who this is. Hmm.
[2] It’s a type of card in Hwatu (flower cards/Hanafuda). Read more here.
[3] CuppyNote: Hmmmmmmm.
The battle at Kaesong was broadcasted live on television for everyone in South Korea to watch. The defense line fell in a blink of an eye. Over 3000 North Korean tanks exploded into bits.
Even the more advanced 3rd and 4th generation Russian tanks had exploded hopelessly. Therefore, it was impossible for those inferior North Korean tanks to resist the advancement of the Agnaga army. In fact, they lacked the stability to even fire properly.
That wasn’t all. MiG-17 fighter jets of the North Korean Airforce were shot down like paper planes by the Agnaga air units called ‘Stingray.’
There was an incapacitation of the army and a lack of air superiority. These two factors led to a massacre of the North Korean soldiers.
“Argh!”
“M-Mercy!”
“Arghhhh!”
“M-Monsters!”
They were helpless against the charging Agnaga soldiers. It was because the AK47 bullets made in North Korea couldn’t penetrate the thin barrier surrounding the Agnaga soldiers, and even if the bullets could, they would have lost their kinetic energy and hence be unable to inflict damage on the Agnaga soldiers’ tough skin and muscle.
The frontline of the Agnaga army became cannon fodder, allowing the main troop to charge into the North Korean army and create chaos. Ordinary humans with limited physique and hardware could not match up to the Agnaga soldiers. As a result, the entire North Korean army was exterminated.
So what if there were guns? There wasn’t even time to fire them. All the North Korean soldiers could do was run for their lives or die a dog’s death.
“Oh no…… what to do…… these poor people……” Park Sun-Ja gasped and despaired as she watched the scene through her television. Anyone would react similarly. It was disturbing to watch ‘humans’ – regardless of whether they were allies or enemies – getting ripped apart by aliens. Furthermore, South Korea was next on the Agnaga’s list. Park Sun-Ja was right to be worried.
[Breaking news!] All soldiers in the Army, Navy and Airforce are to be positioned at the Military Demarcation Line……
South Korea was in total chaos right now.
[Breaking news] Lines of evacuees getting longer…… all roads in Seoul are currently unusable……
[Breaking news] Chaebol family is leaving the country…… ready to migrate to the USA…… where is the noblesse oblige?
[Breaking news] Eschatology in the spotlight…… is the world going to end?
[Breaking news] Lim Moo-Sung, the Minister of National Defense: “No point in evacuating…… at the rate of the monster army’s advancement, South Korea will fall in just two days.”
[Breaking news] 24 hours since the placement of a mobilization order…… Ministry of National Defense, mobilizing all soldiers on service and reservists……
These depressing reports were posted on the main page of various portal sites. The problem was that they were all true. In just three days, Russia fell even with its superior military power.
North Korea? How could a puppet state last a day with old Soviet scrap metal?
At that instant, the television screen flashed the president’s determined face.
Finally, it boiled down to this. The nation’s survival was at stake. The government planned to declare a state of emergency and fight against the monster army. It didn’t have a choice. As described by the Minister of National Defense, all the Korean government could do was position the soldiers near the boundary and prepare for the imminent battle.
The president pleaded. However, it was completely useless. The main cities, including Seoul, were paralyzed by the migration of refugees.
Meanwhile, sirens blared from multiple speakers installed across the city. That signaled the declaration of emergency martial law.
“Son……” Park Sun-Ja recalled her most beloved person, Kang Chul-In’s, face. “What’s going on, son……? Not even a call…… what’s happening……”
Although Kang Chul-In was an invincible superhuman, his mother could not stop worrying. Moreover, any earthling could guess that those foreign monsters were associated with Pangaea and thus Kang Chul-In.
“Please give me a call……”
At that instant, her smartphone vibrated.
“.……!” Park Sun-Ja turned around instinctively. The screen displayed the following:
My beloved son <3
\r \r \r
010-XXXX-XXXX
Park Sun-Ja grabbed her smartphone in the blink of an eye.
“S-Son?” She then immediately received the call. It was a call from her son, whom she was so worried about.
She could hear his voice over the phone.
“Where are you? Are you okay? Are you perhaps in Seoul? It’s dangerous here! If you are in Seoul by any chance, escape right now!”
Park Sun-Ja rattled out of concern for Kang Chul-In. It was a mother’s heart. She herself was stuck in Seoul, which was definitely going to fall within 12 hours. However, Park Sun-Ja still prioritized her son’s well being
Kang Chul-In replied.
“Y-Yeouido?” Park Sun-Ja was surprised. “Son, Seoul is currently……”
“.……!”
Kang Chul-In sounded extremely relaxed and composed.
Don’t tell me……! Park Sun-Ja could sense something instinctively. My son……
Kang Chul-In only spoke a few words, but they carried much weight. He was telling her that he would stop the catastrophe.
“B-But, son…… you are strong, but those monsters are forming an army! You can’t fight alone……” Park Sun-Ja desperately tried to dissuade Kang Chul-In.
However, Kang Chul-In spoke first.
“Son!” Park Sun-Ja raised her voice. “It’s too dangerous! I don’t know what’s going on, but it’s too risky……”
“.……!”
“Ah……!” Park Sun-Ja was reminded that Kang Chul-In was the king of the ‘other world.’ “A-And? You are going to……?”
Kang Chul-In replied.
“T-That means……!”
Kang Chul-In’s message was simple and concise.
Kang Chul-In emphasized.
“.……”
She couldn’t. How could one stop the monster army that devastated the whole northern hemisphere so perfectly that no one had to evacuate? Nobody could believe this unrealistic promise. Even if it came from the president of the United States of America, it would still lack credibility.
However……
“Alright.” Park Sun-Ja decided to believe her son. No, she had to. Kang Chul-In always lived up to his word. For the past thirty years, even his mother couldn’t reason him out of his obstinacy.
“How could I not trust my son? I believe you.”
Park Sun-Ja was no ordinary woman herself. Although she did not display a fearsome spirit like patriot Ahn Jung-Geun’s mother, she harbored a strong faith in Kang Chul-In.
“I will be watching, son.” Park Sun-Ja said rather playfully. “So do your best. I will be observing how cool my son is on the stage.”
She sounded quite unnatural. It was impossible to mask a mother’s worry when she was about to send her son to the battlefield.
Kang Chul-In was aware of this as well, but he did not try to reassure Park Sun-Ja. He was a man who valued actions over a thousand words.
“Alright, hurry and go.” Park Sun-Ja spoke hesitantly. “Go save the world, son.”
“I’m proud of you.” She was genuine. Why wouldn’t she be? Her only son was about to save the world from the monster army. Nobody else in history could accomplish such a feat.
“Son……!”
Immediately afterwards, Kang Chul-In hung up.
“Right, that’s more like my son.” Park Sun-Ja smiled faintly. Her worries were long gone. Park Sun-Ja had faith. She believed that Kang Chul-In would defeat the monster army and return proudly as a hero!
***
Meanwhile in Yeouido, on the roof of the 63 Building.
“Phew.” Kang Chul-In let out a long sigh and turned to face the north. “Very disturbing.”
He let out a low growl. Kang Chul-In’s frustration was currently at its peak. He and his soldiers almost died in an explosion in Nosferatu thanks to Milenius. Moreover, he could have been left completely ignorant of the second coming of the Agnaga that occurred on Earth. This was the first-time things were so messy since his return to the past.
“Those small fries.” A small portion of the Agnaga army was now trying to attack Korea, where his mother was! “I will kill them all.”
Kang Chul-In leaped off the 63 Building and a pair of wings made from light emerged from the Ectoplasm Oversuit. Kang Chul-In flew towards the north at an incredible speed, releasing a sonic boom that was as loud as a supercar engine.
***
“Argh……!”
“You fuckers!”
“M-Mercy!”
The soldiers of the Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea fell helplessly to the Agnaga soldiers.
“Eek…… eek……!” They despaired. “Am I going to die like this? Like this? I’ve never thought I will get killed by these monsters instead of those South Korean bastards!”
They did not have any solution. The DPRK soldiers were the clear victims in this genocide.
While the soldiers were despairing, an unknown object penetrated deep between the Agnaga air units.
“Get lost, small fries.” Kang Chul-In muttered and swung Kaiforce and Mitra casually. The blades sliced straight through the Agnaga air units, almost like butter. Then, a ‘miracle’ happened. Just like how Moses split the Red Sea, Kang Chul-In opened up a path by destroying thousands of Agnaga air units in just two or three slices. It was the miracle of Kang Chul-In.
“Small fries need to burn.” Kang Chul-In refused to stop. Mitra began to emit a holy fire.
You can handle this?
Mitra said heartwarmingly. In the past, she had refused to listen to Kang Chul-In on multiple occasions. However, she now seemed to enjoy obeying his commands.
“Die!” Kang Chul-In, who had become a little delighted from this, bellowed loudly and swung Mitra. Mitra’s flame was notorious for its ability to eliminate evil existence without a trace. Truly enough, it engulfed the remaining Agnaga air units.
“W-What is that……!”
“I’ve never seen anything like that……!”
“H-How strange……!”
The North Korean soldiers were astonished. The flying monsters that had turned thousands of MiG-17 fighter jets into scrap metal were all burnt to crisp. The soldiers could not express their shock in words.
The North Korean soldiers were not the only audience.
Brave helicopters of various broadcasting stations were filming this battle from afar. Thanks to them, Kang Chul-In’s appearance was broadcasted live to the whole of South Korea.
“About time to call them.” However, Kang Chul-In did not care how the people responded to his appearance. The only thing on his mind now was to clean up this battlefield and head straight to Moscow, because the main force of the Agnaga army was there. So was Rindermergel, the Relentless Predator.
Kang Chul-In held his Soul Core high up in the air. In fact, it was no longer a Soul Core. Once the Soul Core of Laputa, the sword now contained ownership of over 900 territories. Also known as the ‘Core of Pangaea,’ Kang Chul-In’s sword was the symbol of the imperial throne!
“Come forth.” Kang Chul-In commanded. “My soldiers.”
Immediately, the Core of Pangaea began to emit a brilliant rainbow aura.
And then…… a dimensional rift formed within a 100 kilometre radius around Kang Chul-In. An enormous castle gradually emerged from the rift.
“.……!”
The North Korean soldiers were flabbergasted. What was that gigantic building? The reddish-brown castle was about twenty times the size of a domed stadium. It had an overwhelming splendor that made everyone gasp in awe.
The building that Kang Chul-In had summoned was the largest and the most grandiose building in Pangaea. It was none other than Laputa, the Sky Fortress, also known as the landmark of Metallia, the Valhalla Empire’s capital!
Flash! There was another flash of light. An airship as large as an aircraft carrier revealed itself. It was Overlord Hecate’s Temeraire.
Flash, flash, flash, flash! The flash of lights were relentless. A huge stingray with a castle on its back, a ghost ship made of ectoplasm, a gigantic whale that could swim across the sky…… various fantasy-like infrastructures appeared and floated in the sky. They were buildings that belonged to both the existing Lords and Erinyes.
Why were they summoned to Earth by Kang Chul-In? It was because Kang Chul-In was the true emperor of Pangaea – the one who ruled over all!
Flash! With a final flash, ‘they’ arrived on Earth—— over one million soldiers. Comprising 700,000 humans and 300,000 non-humans, the Valhalla imperial army made its appearance.
“Go.” Kang Chul-In commanded. “Kill them all.”
Immediately,
“Long live the Valhalla Empire!”
“Hooray!”
“Long live his imperial Majesty, Kang Chul-In!”
“Hooray!”
Over a million soldiers charged viciously at the ancient Agnaga army. The tables turned in a blink of an eye. The ancient Agnaga soldiers were nothing but livestock to the Valhalla imperial army.
Every soldier in Kang Chul-In’s army was equipped with artifacts of at least the ‘rare’ rank. Furthermore, the Valhalla magicians were highly proficient as well.
Barrier? The barrier that could fend off all weapons on Earth was no better than a piece of paper from the magicians’ perspective.
Overwhelming physical ability? Although the Agnaga soldiers were immensely strong, they could not dominate the Valhalla soldiers who managed mana to break through human limits.
Good.
Kang Chul-In gave a satisfied expression. The ancient Agnaga army? It was nothing against Kang Chul-In and his army.
A thousand years ago, the Emperor of Blood and Iron and Emilia had collected information about these alien monsters and developed various methods for subjugating them. Of course, the Agnagas of the past were totally foreign to both of them. The two of them had to bear through countless trial and error, as well as sacrifice.
This was hardly the case for Kang Chul-In. He already knew of the ways to fight the Agnagas, thanks for his predecessor. The result was apparent. Hundreds of Agnaga soldiers were dying every second. The ancient Agnagas might have indiscriminately massacred humans in the past, but it was the opposite now.
Kang Chul-In’s army of Pangaeans were committing an even more violent and horrifying genocide than the Agnagas in the past. It was revenge. The Valhalla Empire’s army was mercilessly taking revenge for the humiliation Pangaea had faced 1000 years ago!
“Rampage to your hearts’ content. Those bastards invaded our land 1000 years ago. I will approve of any deed.” Kang Chul-In added fuel to the fire.
“Kill them all. Don’t let anyone escape.”
Annihilation! It was a heavy price to pay for those who dared to attack South Korea, where Park Sun-Ja resided.
“Waahhhhhhh!”
“Let’s kill them all!”
“Die, die, dieeee!”
The imperial army became even more invigorated.
***
Meanwhile, this miraculous scene was being broadcasted live in South Korea, eliciting a huge response from the public.
[Breaking news] Mr. Kang Chul-In is destroying the monster army with his army from the other world!
[Breaking news] Is victory obtainable in Kaesong?
[Breaking news] An unexpected turn of events! Will Kang Chul-In become the savior of South Korea once again?
Mass media was inundated with news reports from the press. -
E-Everyone……! M-Mr. Kang Chul-In is commanding an army from the other world to fight the monster army in the north!
The news anchor of KBC[1] announced fervently, unable to mask his excitement. -
rhakdnjdy: Wing it, Kang Chul-In! -
ehrwkdufjqns: Kang Chul-In…… South Korea can exist thanks to you…… thank you. -
tkfkdgody: It’s like a scene from a movie…… -
ioerewc123: ★ Kang Chul-In to the rescue ★ -
HID05: This is truly a miracle…… -
dodobird: Saving the country not just once, but twice……
The netizens who had given up evacuating were also writing thousands of comments every second. Kang Chul-In’s popularity was unprecedented in the history of the Korean peninsula, and this was to be expected. Could anyone else in the world successfully defeat the monster troop?
No. Nobody could, even with nuclear weapons. That was why Kang Chul-In was being hailed as the Messiah who could save the human race from this calamity!
“Son……!” Park Sun-Ja was also watching this scene. “That’s my son! Win! Show them your worth!”
\r \r \r
Drip! Tears rolled down Park Sun-Ja’s cheeks. Kang Chul-In was certainly doing a good job. She couldn’t be any prouder.
A national hero! No, that would be insulting Kang Chul-In. This man was trying to save the entire planet, not just his nation. He was trying to accomplish a feat that even the USA could not! To be such a hero’s mother was a tremendous blessing.
“Show them, son!” Park Sun-Ja clenched her fists subconsciously. The best she could do was cheer for her son.
“Kill them all! Show them your strength!” Park Sun-Ja had long forgotten her fear for the alien monster army.
***
The battle concluded in less than an hour. As expected, Kang Chul-In and his army emerged as the victors. The ancient Agnaga army perished. Not a single monster survived……
“Wahhhhh!”
“Long live the Valhalla Empire!”
“Hooray!”
“Long live his imperial Majesty, Kang Chul-In!”
“Hooray!”
The imperial army roared. The victory cheer resonated across the whole battlefield.
“Congratulations on the win, your imperial Majesty!” Lucia kneeled in front of Kang Chul-In.
“Congratulations on the win, your imperial Majesty!” Immediately, a million soldiers kneeled simultaneously and hailed Kang Chul-In.
“.……!”
The losers – the North Korean soldiers – were lost for words. They all had the same thought.
That comrade is the most charismatic leader of all……!
They were right. Kang Chul-In was in a different league from that fat and avaricious pig they knew. Their leader was a tyrant who had 100 sex slaves, enjoyed all sorts of luxury and ate the highest-class food every meal, while his people starved to death. How was Kang Chul-In in comparison? This South Korean comrade was reigning over a million soldiers, receiving admiration and respect from every single one of them.
He was a true leader. That was Kang Chul-In’s image in the North Korean soldiers’ eyes!
“Well done everyone!”
Whatever.
“We shall rest for two hours starting from now. No cleanup of the battlefield is required. Maintain your formation and get as much rest as possible. We will advance again in two hours!”
Kang Chul-In didn’t give a damn about the North Korean soldiers and focused solely on his own army. Why would he? From his perspective, the North Korean army comprised a bunch of cowards who didn’t even have the courage to stage a coup d’état.
Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo! At that instant, a MI-26, a gigantic helicopter for transportation, approached him.
A voice could be heard from a loudspeaker attached to the helicopter.
“.……?”
Kang Chul-In, who was about to head to Moscow to reclaim the land from the Agnagas, turned to face the helicopter.
“Comrade Kang Chul-In!”
A young pig and his brawny escorts alighted from the helicopter and approached Kang Chul-In rapidly.
“.……?”
Kang Chul-In was puzzled. He had seen the pig’s face before, but he had no idea who he was.
“Who are you?” He asked.
“I’m the chairman of the Workers’ Party of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.” The young pig replied.
“What?”
“I’m Kim Jong-Oon[2].”
“.……”
“Nice to meet you, comrade Kang Chul-In!” The young pig then embraced Kang Chul-In tightly. “Hahahahhaa~!”
“.……”
“As expected from comrade Kang Chul-In! I’ve been watching you for some time! I knew you would help our country! Hahahaha~!”
At that moment, one of Kim Jong-Oon’s escorts whispered to Kang Chul-In.
“Reply quick, comrade! The chairman is giving you an embrace, so how can you stand still so arrogantly?”
Kang Chul-In did not reply.
This fucker…… simply ridiculous …… what a sly pig.
There was a reason why Kim Jong-Oon found him immediately after the battle. He was making a political gesture.
This cunning and greedy pig was trying to enhance his political image by embracing Kang Chul-In and shaking his hand! Moreover, he was planning to establish his grounds in the international stage via a favorable relationship with Kang Chul-In. It was because North Korea was already doomed.
Veins popped up from Kang Chul-In’s forehead. Kim Jong-Oon was making a critical mistake here. Why would Kang Chul-In ever help him? Most healthy male in South Korea, except for the rich ones, served the army. For South Korean males who had to devote two years of their beautiful youth, Kim Jong-Oon was their prime enemy (although his grandfather was the main cause).
That villain was disrespectfully embracing Kang Chul-In and patting his back. Kang Chul-In, the emperor who ruled the huge Pangaea continent, was simply dumbfounded.
“Comrade Kang Chul-In!” Meanwhile, Kim Jong-Oon was blabbering on excitedly without a single concern. “I shall appoint you as the honorary commander-in-chief of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea!”
Kim Jong-Oon declared as he tapped Kang Chul-In’s shoulder.
“Comrade Kang Chul-In, why aren’t you saying anything?”
“.……”
“Come, let’s go to my palace and have a feast! I will prepare……”
At that moment, Kang Chul-In’s fist struck Kim Jong-Oon’s face.
“Eek!” Kim Jong-Oon squealed like a pig and collapsed onto the floor.
“C-Chairman!”
“Oi, you bastard!”
“Have you gone insane?”
Immediately, all his escorts charged at Kang Chul-In, but they were subjugated in less than a second.
“U-Urgh……!” Kim Jong-Oon moaned in agony.
“Oi, you pig.” Kang Chul-In approached Kim Jong-Oon.
“C-Comrade Kang Chul-In……!”
“Who the hell is your comrade?” Kang Chul-In grinned.
“W-Why are you……”
“You are trash.”
“.……!”
“Even less valuable than food waste.” Kang Chul-In said coldly. “At least food waste can be given to livestock. You are simply useless.”
“.……”
“I know why you approached me, but did you think that I would happily accept your advances?”
“D-Don’t do this……”
“I don’t even want to talk to you. So……” With that, Kang Chul-In grabbed the fat Kim Jong-Oon by his collar. “Just die.”
“C-Comrade Kang Chul-In……”
Instantly, crack! Kim Jong-Oon’s head blew up like a watermelon. His lifeless corpse rolled onto the floor.
“Ew, almost got infected by this pig.” Kang Chul-In muttered and brushed his hands off, as though he had touched something filthy. To be honest, he was right. One did not need to have bad hygiene to be termed filthy.
“.……”
The North Korean soldiers were once again flabbergasted. What they had just witnessed was too unrealistic. However, one thing was clear. Nobody teared or expressed any sorrow. It was simply a pitiful end for the dictator.
***
Kim Jong-Oon’s death was broadcasted in South Korea without any filtering or editing.
[Breaking news] North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong Oon, is dead!
[Breaking news] Dictator dead in Mr. Kang Chul-In’s hands…… a pitiful end……
[Breaking news] Mr. Kang Chul-In murdered Kim Jong Oon (page 2).
South Korea was obviously enveloped in chaos. However, nobody criticized Kang Chul-In. Everyone knew that Kim Jong-Oon was a tyrant who deserved to die. Moreover, this could finally be an opportunity for the unification of the Korean peninsula after 70 years. This led to a favorable public sentiment that worshipped and praised Kang Chul-In. Of course, there were concerns that Kang Chul-In would take control of South Korea, but they were groundless. This was because Kang Chul-In was already the emperor of Pangaea……
***
“Husband, who was he?” Desdemona pointed at Kim Jong-Oon’s corpse and asked.
“Trash.” Kang Chul-In replied.
“Trash?”
“A nation’s king, but totally incompetent.”
“Ah, is that so?”
Kang Chul-In was too lazy to explain the intricacies of the Earth’s political and leadership system, so he just decided to term Kim Jong-Oon a ‘king’. Well, everyone knew that North Korea was actually a kingdom disguised as a republic, anyway.
“Seems like he was a tyrant?”
“Well, kind of. He only knew how to agonize his people……”
Kang Chul-In was about to continue his sentence, when……
Flash! There was a flash of light from the west, followed by the appearance of a huge red pillar.
“.……!”
Simultaneously, Kang Chul-In and Desdemona looked at each other.
[1]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwangju_Broadcasting_Corporation
[2] CuppyNote: I don’t really think this needs to be said, but WuxiaWorld takes no stance in regards to these politics. But, yeah, I think you guys can guess who the author is pointing at with this name.
“Could it be……”
“You are right.” Desdemona nodded. “Rindermergel must be waking up.”
“We are running out of time.”
“Yes, we have to hurry! We don’t have time!”
“I will go first.” Kang Chul-In made his move. “I will send you the coordinates when I arrive. Can you warp the imperial army accordingly?”
That was Desdemona’s role. Kang Chul-In would send Desdemona the location coordinates using the Core of Pangaea, where she would then warp the army.
“Of course.” Desdemona nodded. “I will make the preparations. Hurry and go.”
“Well then, see you later.” Kang Chul-In leaped off the ground immediately.
***
Meanwhile, the great conqueror who was never meant to exist in this universe had resurrected in the Moscow Kremlin……
Thump! With tremendous sound,
Thump, thump! ‘He’ began to make his move.
“Hu……!”
Thick sulfuric mist spewed out like steam from his mouth. It was truly a sight to behold. Over 4 meters tall, ‘he’ was even more intimidating than the great demons of hell. Red lava could be seen within the cracks on his matte black skin. His eyes gleamed with a great demon’s chaos and primitive malice. His wings flapped threateningly, as if trying to contaminate the whole world with darkness.
“Finally.” Rindermergel the Relentless Eater spoke for the first time. His voice instilled despair and anguish in his audience.
“Well done, Milenius.” Rindermergel paid his respects to the dead Milenius, but that was all he was going to do. Rindermergel was the parent of his species as he possessed the DNA of all high-class Agnagas. Therefore, all of Milenius’ efforts to resurrect him was akin to a law of nature. It was his duty. Therefore, Rindermergel did not express any more gratitude to Milenius.
Moreover, Rindermergel could create a ‘new Milenius’ once he recovered his strength over time. Why would he ever be concerned about the old Milenius’ death? Hence, his attention was directed at something else.
“Emperor of Blood and Iron…… and Emilia…… foolish mortals……” Rindermergel spoke with hatred. “Are you watching this? My resurrection? The second coming of the mighty Agnaga? You mortals even sacrificed your souls to challenge me, but it was all for naught!”
Rindermergel’s speech was useless. Unfortunately, the Emperor of Blood and Iron and Emilia were already dead for a thousand years! The fact that Rindermergel mentioned the two of them indicated how humiliating his defeat was. Truly enough, the Agnaga race had conquered countless planets before facing a bitter defeat in Pangaea.
“Mark my words……” Rindermergel gritted his teeth. “Watch carefully what will happen to the planet that you bastards tried to protect so dearly……! I will make everything go extinct……”
It was at that moment……
Banggggggg! With a tremendous echo, a huge hole gaped open on the roof of the palace.
“Don’t tell me……!”
Rindermergel had a flash of thought. According to Milenius, the Earthlings were so barbarous that they did not have any means to break through the barrier. But now his barrier was broken, and the palace roof had a hole. That could only mean two things.
Firstly, the Earthlings could have discovered a way to penetrate the barrier. Secondly, a third party which could penetrate the barrier had appeared.
However……
“Not Earthlings, I see.”
Rindermergel did not even take the first possibility into consideration. He could strongly feel a powerful presence from afar. In other words, Milenius’ plan to lure the reincarnation of the Emperor of Blood and Iron and Desdemona, the daughter of Emilia, to Nosferatu and blow them up had failed. Those beings from Pangaea had chased him down to Earth!
“It’s that bastard.” Rindermergel mumbled as he stared towards the west. He was referring to Kang Chul-In, the reincarnation of the Emperor of Blood and Iron and current ruler of Pangaea. The second powerful presence obviously belonged to Emilia’s daughter, Desdemona.
“I guess there’s no need to wait.”
Since Kang Chul-In and Desdemona had managed to chase Rindermergel to Earth, it was impossible for him to buy time to recover his strength. Therefore, Rindermergel and his ancient Agnaga army had to fight them and their alliance army.
“How dare they?”
No, Rindermergel did not plan to fight them. He brimmed with confidence. He was one of the few existences in this universe who could single handedly destroy a whole planet. It didn’t matter whether he recovered his full strength or not. According to Milenius, Kang Chul-In was weaker than the Emperor of Blood and Iron. Moreover, Dragon Lord Emilia was deemed the mightiest and most powerful dragon in history. Desdemona might be capable, but she would not surpass her ancestor!
“You will pay for opposing the mighty Agnaga race, foolish mortals.” Rindermergel was confident that he would win, even if his recovery was still incomplete……
***
Meanwhile, in the sky above Moscow……
“Good.” Kang Chul-In grinned. The root of the Moscow Kremlin, which was previously the symbol of communism and now the Agnaga’s base, was collapsing.
“Quite an introduction, I must say. Kek!”
A declaration of war? That was useless in this battle. Striking the enemy first with a Mega-Vortex was the declaration itself.
“Emperor of Blood and Iron.” Kang Chul-In mumbled. “I will complete your unfinished work today.”
He was addressing the Emperor of Blood and Iron, but it was also a pledge to himself. Completing the Emperor of Blood and Iron’s unfinished work also meant that Kang Chul-In would protect his Valhalla Empire.
“Shall we begin?” Kang Chul-In mumbled and looked back.
“Long live the Valhalla Empire!”
“Hooray!”
“Long live his imperial Majesty, Kang Chul-In!”
“Hooray!”
His army was there. The strongest army in Pangaea, equipped with burning animosity and retaliatory spirit, was waiting for Kang Chul-In’s order.
“Listen all!” Kang Chul-In bellowed.
“Yes, your imperial Majesty!” The million soldiers replied simultaneously.
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“Today – no, this moment – shall be the first and last battle against the Agnaga.”
He planned to decide the victor with just one battle.
“The victor has already been decided.”
Moreover, Kang Chul-In was confident of winning.
“Let me ask.” He faced his audience. “Who will become the final victor? Will it be them?”
“No!”
“Will it be us?”
“Yes!”
To both Kang Chul-In and his soldiers, victory was almost a given. Kang Chul-In held the Core of Pangaea high up in the air.
“Well then……” He then shouted something that was a little cringey and cliché. “Follow me!”
However, it didn’t matter. This could very well be the last time he would ever shout ‘follow me.’
“I will lead you all to victory!” The Emperor’s mighty roar shook the grounds of Moscow.
“Waaaahhhhh!” Simultaneously, the Valhalla soldiers charged towards the Kremlin palace.
The final battle had begun, and it was intense. Hecate’s Temeraire bombed relentlessly. Stingray, which had a castle on its back, spewed out a toxic energy beam known as ‘Venom Beam.’ The gigantic whale released water-type icy wind, while the ectoplasm ghost ship emitted a hallucinating wavelength to attack the Agnaga soldiers without mercy.
The magic-engineered artilleries made significant contributions as well. They could easily break through the Agnaga’s barrier, which eventually led to the death of countless Agnaga soldiers.
Moreover……
The most powerful existence of all released a terrifying roar and revealed herself.
A huge black dragon over 200 metres in length warned her allies. A ‘miracle’ then happened.
“E-Escape!”
“Queen Dragon asks us to move!”
“Make way!”
“Get away from the center!”
The sight reminded one of the fabled crossing of the Red Sea, made possible when Moses divided it. Over a million soldiers parted left and right to open up a path. A scene of such a scale was unprecedented in both Pangaea and on Earth.
Desdemona grinned widely.
Immediately, Desdemona’s body began to swell up like a balloon. The ancient dragon was about to release ‘Dragon Breath,” which boasted the greatest firepower in Pangaea.
The next moment……
Desdemona’s green Acid Breath began to erase everything in its path.
The destructive power of Acid Breath was incredible. It’s composed of a substance that could dissolve even bone upon contact. The ancient Agnaga soldiers were dissolved without a trace and splattered onto the ground.
“Keh……!” Kang Chul-In marveled. “As expected of a dragon.”
Indeed, Desdemona’s firepower was comparable to an atomic bomb. She might be a fool, but she was fundamentally still a mighty dragon!
Desdemona signaled to Kang Chul-In after spewing her last bit of Acid Breath.
“Roger.” Kang Chul-In nodded. “Follow me, central troop!”
He then began to dash through the shortcut to the Kremlin palace created by Desdemona.
“Waaahhh!”
“Let’s gooooo!”
“His imperial Majesty is on the frontline! Charge!”
200,000 soldiers followed Kang Chul-In in suit and charged straight to the enemy lines.
“Left troop, follow me!” Drakan, the dragon warrior, shouted at 400,000 soldiers.
“Right troop, this way!” Amur led another 400,000 soldiers and attacked the east.
It was a triangular formation. While Kang Chul-In led 200,000 soldiers through the shortcut to the central enemy lines, both Drakan and Amur would lead 400,000 soldiers to attack the flank!
Couldn’t be better than this. Kang Chul-In smiled as he penetrated the enemy lines. He might be tough and daring, but he was no idiot. He was a smart man. In fact, he was cunning. Even in the past, Kang Chul-In was the brain that singlehandedly led the Ishtar Alliance. Not only was he the most powerful in terms of strength, but he was also an invincible commander-in-chief! As such, he had powerful rationale behind his every move.
We will definitely win this battle as long as the triangular formation works. Guaranteed.
Kang Chul-In was 100% confident in winning. Such a simple and basic army formation was about to bring him the victory.
At that moment, a gigantic beast obstructed Kang Chul-In’s path.
Furthermore……
The generals of Agnaga, who were equipped with intelligence, appeared.
Kang Chul-In smirked because he had expected this. In any battle, the hardest part was to break through the central defense of the enemy army. However, he had to endure and do it.
The key was the central troop. Kang Chul-In and his 200,000 soldiers had to divert the attention of the ancient Agnaga army. Only then could he complete his ‘plan’ and achieve victory. Fortunately, Kang Chul-In had strong subjects and comrades who were as powerful as the Agnaga generals.
“Hey, idiot.” Kang Chul-In said to Dorian Explorer.
“Yes, Kang Chul-In?”
“Kill them all.”
“Ok!” Dorian shot out like a bullet.
“Lucia!”
“Yes, your imperial Majesty!”
“Crush them.”
“Certainly!” Lucia also began to charge at the Agnaga generals.
“Han Ye-Sun.”
“Yes, oppa.”
“Cut everything down.”
“Of course. I will never forgive anyone who dares to stand in your way.” Han Ye-Sun, who once tried to stand in Kang Chul-In’s way herself (due to a misunderstanding), was now his avid supporter.
“James! Podolski!”
“Yes, your imperial Majesty!”
“Give us your order, your imperial Majesty!”
James the leader of the guards and Podolski the commissioner were also deployed.
“Lee Chae-Rin.”
“Yes, honey!”
“Show us the power of money.”
“Certainly, hoho!” His wife was an ‘Arch Summoner’ who could even summon the Spirit King with her Epic item ‘Miss Moneypay.’
“Your imperial Majesty, you can’t leave me out!” Of course, Nilus the great Arch Mage had a role to play as well.
Good. While observing his subjects, comrades and wives, Kang Chul-In felt an emotion that he had never experienced before.
Everyone was trustworthy and reliable. Together, Kang Chul-In felt like he could win against anyone.
Let’s keep this flow going. Kang Chul-In enjoyed this unfamiliar feeling as he approached the Agnaga generals. He planned to kill them all, without any mercy!
***
A blood bath, no, a great blood bath had occurred!
The Valhalla’s imperial army was on the losing end because the Ancient Agnaga army had five times the number of soldiers compared to the imperial army. In normal circumstances, the Valhalla’s imperial army should’ve perished immediately. However, both parties were so well matched in strength that they had to resort to quarrelling. This was because Kang Chul-In alone could compensate for the discrepancy in army size!
Swish, swish! Kang Chul-In was in a zen-like trance at the frontline, swinging Mitra and Kaiforce left and right indiscriminately.
“Whoever stands in my way shall not survive.”
Kang Chul-In became the Grim Reaper himself. He had to.
“Argh!”
“Y-Your imperial Majesty…… please…… please achieve victory……!”
“Argh!”
“Urgh!”
Even at this moment, hundreds of his soldiers were dying in battle. Kang Chul-In could not tolerate that. Casualties were a natural occurrence in any war, but Kang Chul-In had the strength to reduce his soldiers’ sacrifice. The more he killed the enemy soldiers, the less the harm to his allies. Kang Chul-In was willing to be labelled the Grim Reaper if he could mitigate the damage to his allies.
He was a man who upheld noblesse oblige! That was Kang Chul-In, the Emperor of Pangaea!
“Kuhuk!”
“Argh!”
“Arghhhh!”
Despite Kang Chul-In’s amazing achievements, the imperial army still suffered a massive loss, but that was to be expected. How could charging through the enemy lines be an easy task? Realistically speaking, most of Kang Chul-In’s 200,000 soldiers could end up dead. In fact, 100,000 soldiers had already passed away in battle.
“Let’s go further! We can’t stop! I will take the lead! Follow me!”
They were moving step by step. Although his central troop was advancing slowly, it was clearly penetrating the ancient Agnaga army’s center.
As a result……
We are almost here!
After battling for almost half a day, Kang Chul-In arrived at the central area of the Kremlin palace. He had done it. He had successfully pierced through the enemy lines!
“How foolish.”
It was at that moment……
“Digging your own grave? Drawn into the fire like a moth?”
An existence radiating an eerily powerful aura was approaching the central troop’s frontline.
“Kek……” Kang Chul-In smirked. “Finally, we meet.”
Kang Chul-In could instantly recognize the stranger thanks to the Emperor of Blood and Iron’s memories. He was an individual with the title of ‘Relentless Predator,’ who led the Agnagas to conquer and destroy countless planets.
Rindermergel! Kang Chul-In’s arch-nemesis, as well as the final boss, had appeared!
“Welcome, descendent of the Emperor of Blood and Iron.” Rindermergel welcomed Kang Chul-In. “No, I should say, ‘the’ Emperor of Blood and Iron. As expected from his reincarnation, you resemble him…… including the foolishness to jump into fire like a moth.”
Rindermergel’s words did not please Kang Chul-In.
“Spouting nonsense, aren’t you.” Kang Chul-In smirked. “Who’s the Emperor of Blood and Iron? I am Kang Chul-In, the emperor of Pangaea. Also, what do you mean by moth? Me?”
It was ridiculous.
“You lost to the Emperor of Blood and Iron 1000 years ago. Who are you calling foolish?”
“.……!”
“You loser!”
What a taunt! Kang Chul-In had never lost to anyone in an argument before.
“A loser should know his place and humbly take part in a revenge match. Aren’t I right, Rindermergel?”
“.……”
“I’m the champion, while you are the challenger. Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.”
Kang Chul-In brimmed with confidence, despite facing the leader of the Agnaga. He had a reason for that.
You are already dead.
Without a doubt, Rindermergel was strong. However……
You are just an actor in this play.
These circumstances were the climax portion of Kang Chul-In’s play based on the scenario that the Emperor of Blood and Iron and Emilia had proposed a thousand years ago!
“Full of confidence, aren’t you, Emperor of Blood and Iron’s reincarnation?” Rindermergel spoke. “That, however, does not mask your weakness.”
“My weakness?”
“Even the Emperor of Blood and Iron could not handle me in the past.”
That was a fact. The Emperor of Blood and Iron was always on the losing end against Rindermergel, utterly ‘dominated.’ Without the Emperor of Blood and Iron’s trump card in the final moment, Rindermergel would have been the victor. Truly enough, that battle itself was almost a lose-lose situation.
“You are inferior to the Emperor of Blood and Iron, yet you dare to display such confidence in front of me?” Rindermergel smirked.
“Know your place, reincarnation of……”
At that instant, Kaiforce was swung towards Rindermergel at an incredible speed and clashed with Rindermergel’s arm with tremendous sound.
“.……!”
Rindermergel was shocked.
I-Incredible force……!
He wasn’t injured or anything, but the heavy impact caught him off-guard. However, that alone was enough to shock him, because Kang Chul-In’s attack itself was half-hearted.
“What, surprised?” Kang Chul-In grinned. “You thought that I was weaker than the Emperor of Blood and Iron, huh?”
That hit the nail on the head.
Milenius…… you bastard……!
Rindermergel gritted his teeth as he recalled Milenius, the previous Time Lord.
Feeding me such inaccurate information……!
According to Milenius, Kang Chul-In was much weaker than the Emperor of Blood and Iron in his prime. However, that was just now proven to be untrue. If a casual attack from him could carry such force, Kang Chul-In was undoubtedly stronger than the Emperor of Blood and Iron.
In that case……
Danger!
Rindermergel, who had not yet recovered his full strength, deemed Kang Chul-In a burdensome enemy.
Thump!
At that moment, Kang Chul-In stepped towards Rindermergel.
“So, you are that strong, huh?”
“.……”
“Show me that grandiose strength of yours.” With that, Kang Chul-In became a string of light and leaped towards Rindermergel.
“Keh……!” Rindermergel laughed. “Let me show you my overwhelming power……!”
Kang Chul-In was a burdensome enemy indeed. However, that was it. He was just a burdensome enemy. It took more than being stronger than the Emperor of Blood and Iron to defeat Rindermergel. He was the leader of the Agnaga, who had conquered tens of planets across thousands of years. He would never relinquish his life so easily no matter how difficult the circumstances were!
“Come at me, Emperor of Blood and Iron’s reincarnation!”
Immediately, Rindermergel also became a string of light and charged at Kang Chul-In. That signaled the start of the battle between Kang Chul-In, the emperor of Pangaea and Rindermergel, the leader of the alien race Agnaga.
The battle that would decide the fate of the world and the two races had begun!
***
Meanwhile, the Valhalla’s imperial army also began to move swiftly.
“Left troop, this way!” Drakan shouted.
“Right troop, this way!” Amur also responded accordingly and switched the formation.
“Central troop, split into left and right! Do not interfere with his imperial Majesty’s fight!” Lucia substituted Kang Chul-In as the commander of the central troop.
We will accomplish this mission no matter what! Focus only on your fight, your imperial Majesty! Believe in us!
Lucia, Drakan and Amur clenched their teeth and tried to accomplish their mission given by Kang Chul-In. The three of them were actually the protagonists in this play. Kang Chul-In was just the bait. Although Kang Chul-In was in charge of dealing with Rindermergel, that alone would not win them the final battle.
He needed an army. A triangular formation first, then a circular one. His one million soldiers would bring him the victory.
Yes, they were the stars in this battle!
***
The battle between Kang Chul-In and Rindermergel was intense.
He’s strong! Kang Chul-In was shocked by Rindermergel’s strength. Incredible strength…… lightning speed…… and also……
Rindermergel wasn’t just strong physically.
He’s experienced too……!
The leader of this alien race was a master of martial arts, and that was to be expected. Rindermergel had led his race to conquer countless planets throughout the entire universe, across tens of thousands of years.
Therefore, Rindermergel’s experience was even superior to the Emperor of Blood and Iron’s memories. The experience of fighting against innumerable living organisms was definitely insurmountable……
I’m getting pushed back……!
Kang Chul-In could gradually feel himself getting overwhelmed. Rindermergel was the god of martial arts. Kang Chul-In used the Emperor of Blood and Iron’s memory to analyze and memorize Rindermergel’s battle style, but he couldn’t find any weakness. It was as if he was facing an impregnable fortress.
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Rindermergel grinned.
“How foolish, Emperor of Blood and Iron’s reincarnation……!”
With that,
Bang! A compressed force struck Kang Chul-In’s chest.
“Kuhuk!” Kang Chul-In was knocked down as he coughed out blood.
“I acknowledge that you are stronger than the Emperor of Blood and Iron.” Rindermergel looked down at Kang Chul-In.
“However……”
“.……”
“Why don’t you realize that it’s not enough? I’m invincible! Nobody in this universe has ever overpowered me before!”
He pressured Kang Chul-In with his overwhelming aura.
“You can’t win me, Emperor of Blood and Iron’s reincarnation.” Rindermergel slowly approached Kang Chul-In.
“Is that so?” Kang Chul-In got himself up and replied. “On what basis? The battle has just begun.”
“You think so?” Rindermergel questioned. “Do you really think so, Emperor of Blood and Iron’s reincarnation?”
“Of course.” Kang Chul-In refused to be daunted.
Not yet. I have to buy some more time.
Rindermergel was definitely powerful. However, Kang Chul-In wasn’t going all out either. Well, he certainly wished to, but now was now the right time.
Let’s endure a little longer…… when the battle reaches its climax……
The battle between the imperial army and the ancient Agnaga army was still premature. If he invested all his energy into this now, his whole plan could be ruined.
“Shut up and come at me.”
Kang Chul-In decided to endure a little longer, just until the battle heated up a bit more……
***
The battlefield was inundated with a massive blood bath. The battle between the Valhalla soldiers and the ancient Agnaga army was gruesome, horrifying and intense.
“Die, die, die, dieee!”
“You fuckers! Die, dieeee!”
“Arghhhhh!”
“Come at me, you fuckers!”
The imperial army soldiers gave their all.
“These bastards……”
“I-I may die here…… but…… you bastards…… are going down…… with me…… kuhuk!”
“I will…… even become an apparition…… to haunt you bastards.”
Even on the brink of death, the Valhalla soldiers were engulfed in anger, animosity and fighting spirit. They would attempt a final attack even while collapsing. It wasn’t an exaggeration to term them ‘evil spirits’ based on such behavior. The Valhalla soldiers were that desperate.
They did not have a future if they lost, so now was not the time to value their lives. This battle had a different meaning altogether.
Territory versus territory? Nation versus nation? Such battles were bound to conclude someday, and the parties involved could return to their respective homes after they were done battling. However, that was not the case for this battle. Who could back out from a battle that would result in the extinction of their species?
That was why the soldiers were so desperate to bring down at least one Agnaga soldier with them.
“For the world!”
That was the predominant mindset of all of the Valhalla soldiers!
***
Pssssshhh! Crimson red blood spurted out.
“Argh……!” Kang Chul-In screamed. From the gaping wound on his chest, blood began to spurt out like a fountain. He had been cut by one of Rindermergel’s long fingernails.
God damn it……!
Kang Chul-In was appalled. Muscles tougher than Kevlar cable? The Ectoplasm Oversuit? ……
Those were useless. Rindermergel’s attacks negated all defense mechanisms.
“Do you know your place now?” Rindermergel taunted Kang Chul-In. “Have you realized how weak you are yet?”
He had the right to mock Kang Chul-In. Kang Chul-In was in a total mess. Even ignoring the open wound on his chest, he had wounds all over his body. It sufficed to say that he was utterly ‘wrecked’ by Rindermergel.
“Why aren’t you replying, Emperor of Blood and Iron’s reincarnation?” Rindermergel spoke to Kang Chul-In. “You were all talk just now. Have you finally learned your lesson……?”
“Kek……!” Kang Chul-In grinned. “Getting cocky after I gave you a few free hits?”
“W-What!?”
Rindermergel’s face crumpled like a demon.
Free hits? How could Kang Chul-In say that after getting pummeled? Rindermergel was flabbergasted.
“Ridiculous…… you gave me a few free hits? What bullshit……”
Rindermergel was about to continue his sentence when a tremendous amount of energy – as if a planet’s core had been compressed – began to radiate from Kang Chul-In.
Now’s the time.
Kang Chul-In could sense that the time was finally ripe to end this battle. The battle was now heated up to the maximum. Both parties in the war were all mingled up in a chaotic fight, so now was the time to carry out his ‘plan.’
I am…… Kang Chul-In thought as he felt his rising power. Invincible!
He truly was.
[Ability: Full Moon, activate!]
[Attack Power increasing by +20%]
[Defense Power increasing by +20%]
[Regeneration Rate increasing by +200%]
The full moon was up in the night sky, which activated the [Full Moon] ability of Alaric. Also, they were currently on the Earth, not Pangaea. The fact that the second coming of the Agnaga occurred on the Earth was a blessing in disguise. This was because the day-night cycle of the Earth and Pangaea were total opposites. It was currently the dawn of February 22nd on Earth.
[10 seconds left until February 22nd, 02:22:22!]
[Activating Violent Storms! 10, 9, 8……]
It meant that Kang Chul-In could use the ability [Violet Storms], which increased his attack power by 22,222%.
In addition,
“Activate…… Trinity Impact!”
Kang Chul-In commanded. He was about to activate the most powerful set item, Trinity Force!
[Activating Trinity Impact!]
[Attack Power, 1000% increase!]
Simultaneously, Kang Chul-In’s body began to glow in gold. At this moment, Kang Chul-In possessed the power to even kill God. He could even single handedly destroy a planet!
“W-What the fuck……!?”
Appalled, Rindermergel escaped as fast as he could.
I-If I take that blow……!
In his long life, Kang Chul-In’s attack was the one thing that he had to avoid. He could not survive that. Even his soul would perish. That was why the “Relentless Predator” shamelessly ran away.
Don’t you dare.
Kang Chul-In had no intention of letting Rindermergel off.
[7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1…… 0!]
[Violent Storms, activate!]
[Attack Power +22,222% increase!]
When his power had built up enough to even bend space, Kang Chul-In was able to reach light-speed.
“Farewell, you damned bastard.”
With that, Kang Chul-In’s attack landed on Rindermergel’s back.
Banggg!
“.……!” Rindermergel was horrified. “N-No……!”
He struggled.
“T-This is……!”
Instantly, his body vanished without a trace. Kang Chul-In’s incredible attack had completely dissolved Rindermergel’s body into nanoparticles!
However……
“No.” Kang Chul-In refused to believe that Rindermergel was dead. “This is not the end, Rindermergel.”
In the first place, Rindermergel was a psychological parasite who had a separate soul and body. Destroying his physical body was not good enough.
It’s bound to be somewhere. Rindermergel’s soul can transfer to another Agnaga’s body within a 2 kilometre radius…… this bastard is definitely running away to plan for the future……
The key was not to destroy Rindermergel’s body. He would resurrect as long as there were any Agnaga within a 2 kilometre radius. That was what made the Agnaga so terrifying. It was impossible to eliminate their existence unless they were all killed at once……
There was only one way. It was to completely eradicate all Agnagas on the battlefield at the same time. That was why Kang Chul-In had waited. He waited for the imperial army and the ancient Agnaga army to mingle with each other!
Kang Chul-In held the Core of Pangaea high up in the air.
[Magic-engineered satellite, Cosmic Force, online!]
Cosmic Force, which was located in the air above Russia, responded to the Core of Pangaea.
[Kinetic Strike ready!]
[Activate orbital bombing?]
That was right. This was the final gift for Rindermergel. Kang Chul-In planned to drop a mithril bomb from the satellite to erase the entirety of Moscow off the map, similar to the ‘Hypervelocity Rod Bundles’ project that the USA had proposed in the 1980s.
He could only send Rindermergel’s soul to hell if he eliminated every Agnaga within a 2 kilometre – no, a 200 kilometre radius!
“Kinetic Strike……” Kang Chul-In used the Core of Pangaea to order the Cosmic Force. “I approve…… the bombing!”
He had deployed his final trump card, able to drive the Agnaga to extinction!
***
In the space above Moscow, Cosmic Force began to drop mithril bombs…… over 10 of them! That was sufficient to not only wipe out Moscow city, but also the entire state. However, that didn’t matter, because not a single human remained in the Moscow region……
***
Stars began to fall from the sky.
“Here they come.” Kang Chul-In knew that those shooting stars were actually the mithril bombs. The end was near. Soon, the mithril bombs would annihilate Moscow and the ancient Agnaga soldiers, together with Rindermergel, the Relentless Predator……
Of course, Kang Chul-In and his soldiers were in danger as well.
“Time to leave.”
However, Kang Chul-In was calm and composed. He had a way to get out of there.
“All men!” Kang Chul-In shouted. “Assemble around me!”
A tremendous voice! It caused the entirety of the Moscow region to vibrate.
“His imperial Majesty is calling!”
“Let’s go! Assemble!”
“Move quick! Hurry!”
The soldiers of the imperial army were extremely well-trained. Even in the midst of battle, they immediately began to move.
“Desdemona.” Kang Chul-In turned around to face Desdemona. “It’s time to leave.”
“Alright.” Desdemona nodded. “You can go first.”
“See you later.” After a short farewell, Kang Chul-In vanished off the face of the Earth. Desdemona had teleported him to Pangaea. Soon afterwards, the Valhalla soldiers and Desdemona disappeared from Moscow as well.
Summon Legion! The fourth summoning skill of Cosmic Force had warped the imperial army to where Kang Chul-In was!
Boom, boom! The orbital bombing, which was more powerful than a nuclear bomb attack, demolished Moscow and the ancient Agnaga army.
“N-No!” Rindermergel despaired. “T-This can’t be…… t-this is ……!”
Rindermergel was trying to escape the battlefield using an Agnaga soldier’s body. The Kinetic Strike was akin to a death sentence. He could never withstand the impact with his borrowed body, which meant that his soul had nowhere to go to.
That was death. Rindermergel would vanish without a host.
“K-Kang Chul-Innnnnn!” Rindermergel screamed Kang Chul-In’s name.
Booooommmm! At that instant, the third mithril bomb landed on Rindermergel’s head.
It was game over. Just like this, Agnaga, the terrifying conquering race, went extinct[1]. They were eliminated by one of the weakest species in the universe – humans. Or to be precise, by an emperor who came from a poor background in South Korea……
It was a marvelous victory.
***
Two years have since passed from that day.
[1] CuppyNote: Well, that was anti-climatic.
Two years later, Metallia, in the Laputa Castle……
“Hmm……!” Kang Chul-In was nervous. “Hmm…… hmm……!”
In fact, he was extremely restless.
“Honey…… Why are you so restless……? You have to maintain your composure.” Lee Chae-Rin told him.
“That’s right, your imperial Majesty…… Please calm down.” Skadi agreed with Lee Chae-Rin.
“Oppa…… you are not acting like an emperor now; do you know that?” Han Ye-Sun, who had become his fourth wife after Skadi, also reprimanded him.
“Why are you so distressed!?” Desdemona, his fifth wife, pouted.
“What?” Hecate, his sixth wife, had a strange look on her face. “My husband had this side to him?”
She was right. Truly, the current Kang Chul-In did not seem like the emperor at all. Nobody would believe that he was the ruler of Pangaea. He had restless eyes, cold sweats, and fidgety fingers. In fact, he didn’t even act like a man. However, he had a clear reason for that.
“Heung…… should I get pregnant too? Will he be this anxious at that time, too?” Hecate narrowed her eyes and spoke.
“What? Pregnant?” Desdemona turned around to face her. “Hey, Hecate. What are you saying?”
“What’s wrong, elder sister?” Hecate asked.
“There’s an order to everything, don’t you know? How can the youngest get pregnant earlier than the older ones? Huh?”
“Why not?”
“W-What!?”
“Who says there’s an order to who gets pregnant first?”
That was right. Kang Chul-In was nervous because of a pregnancy. To be exact……
“Kyaaaaaa!”
Ninetails, his first wife, was about to give birth!
“Are you telling me that you will have a baby before me?” Desdemona asked Hecate again.
“Why not?” Hecate replied curtly.
“You……!” Desdemona was about to explode due to Hecate’s disrespectful behaviour.
“Kyaaaaa!” Ninetails’ scream echoed from within the delivery room.
“Wah~! Wah~!” A baby’s cry could also be heard.
“.……!” Kang Chul-In’s eyes gleamed.
“.……!” Lee Chae-Rin, Skadi, Han Ye-Sun, Desdemona and Hecate had similar responses. Kang Chul-In’s first child was finally born!
Sometime later, the midwife came out from the delivery room with a baby wrapped around in cloth. She showed Kang Chul-In the baby.
“Congratulations, your imperial Majesty!”
“C-Congrats……! R-Right……!”
“It’s a healthy boy!”
“.……!”
“You have an imperial prince, your imperial Majesty!”
It was a joyous occasion. An imperial prince? He was a blessing for the royal family and the empire.
“Oh no…… I was hoping that it was a girl……” Kang Chul-In mumbled to himself. It seemed like he had an intrinsic love for daughters.
“Y-Your imperial Majesty?” The midwife was bewildered. “Y-You have an imperial prince…… so how could you……?”
“N-No.” Kang Chul-In quickly withdrew his words. “Come, pass me the baby. Let me take a look.”
“Yes, your imperial Majesty.” The midwife passed him the baby in the cloth.
“Let’s see…… my son……” Kang Chul-In gently swept the cloth away to face his newborn son.
“This boy…… is my second child……!”
The baby was extremely cute. In fact, he already had the facial traits and the potential to grow into a handsome man. As expected from having Ninetails and Kang Chul-In as the parents.
“Who would have thought…… that I would be…… a father……?”
Kang Chul-In was deeply moved. A child? Although he was the Emperor now, he had grown up poor without a father. Therefore, the thought of becoming a father had never crossed his mind. However, now he was one.
“Kya!” Suddenly, the baby looked at Kang Chul-In and smiled, as if he knew that the awkward man was his father!
In addition……
Swish~! He even wagged his white and soft tail.
“T-Tail!?” Kang Chul-In was shocked. “My son…… has a tail……! W-What’s going on!?”
The midwife replied, “Your imperial Majesty, the first Queen is a fox-human. Isn’t it natural for the imperial prince to have a tail?”
“R-Right……!” Kang Chul-In agreed with the midwife and nodded.
At that moment,
“Here comes the Great Empress and the imperial princess Arshelly!” A servant shouted. Park Sun-Ja and Arshelly entered the room.
“Son!”
“Father!”
Kang Chul-In showed the newborn baby to his mother and his precious first child.
“Mother, look. He’s your grandson. Arshelly, you too. He’s your younger brother.”
Park Sun-Ja and Arshelly looked at the baby with curiosity.
“Oh, look at him! He has a tail!?”
“S-So cute!”
As expected, Park Sun-Ja and Arshelly were extremely delighted to see the imperial prince.
“Hmm……!” Kang Chul-In was proud.
It was a moving scene. So that was why everyone would be delighted and congratulated the parents when a baby was born? Of course, most parents would suffer financially later on, but that failed to apply to Kang Chul-In. He was the emperor of Pangaea and the savior of Earth. Money would never be a problem for him. Kang Chul-In could raise 10, or even 100, children without an issue.
“Your imperial Majesty.” The midwife spoke. “You have to give him a name.”
“N-Name?”
“According to this continent’s tradition, your imperial Majesty should be the one to name his imperial prince on the spot.”
“Is that so……”
“Yes, your imperial Majesty.”
“Hmm…… w-wait…… let me…… think about it.” Kang Chul-In pondered for a moment. “This child will be called…… Jun-Bae.”
That was the baby’s name.
“Jun-Bae. So he will be Kang Jun-Bae……”
At that moment,
“No!”
“Honey, what are you doing! That’s child abuse!”
“Daddy! That’s too hick-ish of a name!”
\r \r \r
“Son…… that’s not good……”
“My husband’s naming sense…… is so shitty.”
“Oppa…… that’s really not good……”
Kang Chul-In received an inundation of criticism.
“Eek!”
Only then could Kang Chul-In realize that he had made a mistake. They were right. Jun-Bae? What kind of hick name was that?
“I-I……” Kang Chul-In swiftly walked towards the delivery room. “I have to go tell Ninetails that she has done well……”
He was trying to escape irresponsibly by running away after making a fuss!
***
Two years passed since Jun-Bae was born. Kang Chul-In’s life was uneventful.
“Hmm…… paving roads on Esmeralda? The budget’s a little tight……”
Deep into the night, the Emperor was burning his midnight oil in his office.
“Your imperial Majesty, do rest for a while.” Alfred the Vampire butler persuaded Kang Chul-In. “It’s already 4 am. You can stop doing……”
“I wish I could.” Kang Chul-In looked extremely fatigued. “Look.”
Kang Chul-In then pointed at the enormous pile of work, which could even touch the ceiling.
“I still have a lot of work to do.”
“Y-Your imperial Majesty……”
“If I don’t settle these by this week…… then I may be nagged to death by Timothy……”
“Haha……”
“At least before the morning assembly……”
Kang Chul-In then brought his attention to the paperwork again.
Scribble, scribble scribble! His quill pen moved busily across the paperwork.
Damn it…… I want to quit already. Kang Chul-In bit his lower lip tightly. This is not what I expected……
There were so many things that an emperor had to do, and paperwork was the most troublesome of them all. Scanning through the paperwork and signing them already took the whole day. Kang Chul-In found it agonizing to devote at least 10 hours to paperwork alone, but that was the reality. There was a huge discrepancy between his expectations and reality.
***
Another year slowly passed by.
“Ah!” Arshelly screamed, and Mitra was dropped onto the floor. A black demon sword barely touched Arshelly’s neck.
“Daughter, you still have a long way to go.” Kang Chul-In smiled.
“F-Father……” Arshelly gave a disappointed expression.
Already seventeen, she was extremely beautiful. In fact, she was the most beautiful woman in Pangaea. She was the living embodiment of the term ‘peerless beauty!’ To top it all off, her nickname on Earth was ‘Squid [1] maker.’ It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that her beauty was insurmountable in both worlds.
Little girl.
Kang Chul-In was proud of Arshelly. It wasn’t because she had grown into such a fine woman. It was more because of her lovely attitude and demeanor. Arshelly was diligent. She was so busy that even Kang Chul-In had to make an appointment at least two or three hours beforehand to see her.
Studies, heir lessons, magic, and swordsmanship. She refused to neglect any of them. Arshelly was truly the ‘all-rounder.’ Furthermore, she had such a great passion for martial arts that she received one hour of personal training from Kang Chul-In every morning.
How could Kang Chul-In not adore Arshelly? Even after Jun-Bae was born, Arshelly and Kang Chul-In had a special relationship.
“My daughter.”
“Yes, father.”
“If you lack weight, overcome it with your flexibility. Don’t try to force what you can’t.” Kang Chul-In advised Arshelly. “A real master can turn their weakness into strength, but that is only applicable after a certain skill level. Don’t be greedy. A swordsman can never be greedy.”
“B-But……”
“.……?”
“I want…… to be strong too……”
“Hmm?” Kang Chul-In was puzzled. “You are already good enough to win against most people in this empire, so what do you mean?”
He was right. Across the whole of Pangaea, not even five people could defeat Arshelly. She was that strong. It was as expected from Kang Chul-In’s eldest daughter……
“I want to be strong like you, father……”
“Hmm……!”
“You are just too strong…… I feel like I can never catch up to you.”
“Haha……” Kang Chul-In let out a bitter smile. All he could do was laugh. He understood where Arshelly was coming from, but she could not replicate his strength with talent and hard work alone. In order to reach his level, one had to go through countless battles and life-threatening experiences and overcome bitter failures.
That wasn’t all, either. Luck was another essential factor. Therefore, it was impossible for Arshelly to obtain Kang Chul-In’s strength no matter how hard she tried.
“Daughter.” Kang Chul-In spoke gently.
“Yes, Father……”
“I know how you feel, but…… aren’t you being a little impatient?”
“T-That’s true……”
“Slowly.” Kang Chul-In consoled Arshelly. “I know that you want to protect the empire, but you can’t gain that strength overnight. You know it too, don’t you?”
“I do……”
“Slowly. Step by step. Getting strong quickly is good, but such a strength is bound to come with weakness.”
Anyone could say that. However, it was different when Kang Chul-In was the speaker. He was the supreme being. In fact, Kang Chul-In was almost to the point of becoming a divine existence who ruled a world called Pangaea. This led to a new cult in both Pangaea and Earth that worshipped the Emperor being created. If Kang Chul-In said so, even the most theoretical speech could become an inexorable truth.
It was because Kang Chul-In had experienced almost everything that a human possibly could.
“Yes, father!” Arshelly nodded. “I will take note! I shall not be impatient!”
“That’s my girl.” Kang Chul-In patted Arshelly’s head.
Blush! Arshelly’s face turned pink.
“I believe in you, Arshelly. And I love you.”
“I love you too, daddy!”
Kang Chul-In and Arshelly, the two of them had an unbreakable bond.
***
“Hah……!”
With a moan, “O-Oppa……” Han Ye-Sun threw herself into Kang Chul-In’s arms. “I…… f-feel so…… good…… I almost…… l-lost…… my mind……”
“Haha……!”
“Oppa…… you are really…… the best…… no other men can compare to you.”
Han Ye-Sun had just experienced the greatest pleasure.
“Oppa……”
“Go on.” Kang Chul-In gently stroked Han Ye-Sun’s hair.
“Do you know?”
“What?”
“You are…… really good…… be it our high school days or now.”
“Good at what?”
“N-Night time stuff……”
“.……!”
“No matter how much I think about it…… you are just gifted at this……”
That was the best compliment that a man could receive. Apparently, Kang Chul-In was a ‘true man’. There were ‘big and beautiful’ men around, but none of them could imitate Kang Chul-In’s technique. He could make any woman squeal in maximum pleasure. That was why his wives always wished for his services. In fact, they had to draw lots to decide who would spend the night with Kang Chul-In on Sunday. This was an inexorable proof of Kang Chul-In’s incredible virility.
“Well, that……” Kang Chul-In replied awkwardly. “I was born like that, so what can I do……?”
“Hmph! Playboy!”
“.……”
“You don’t even get tired!”
“Haha……!”
Battery wasn’t the only thing that was powerful and lasted long.
“Oh right, oppa.” Han Ye-Sun changed the topic. “Regarding that……”
“What?”
“Aren’t you going to look for the Needle of the Empress?”
“Well……” Kang Chul-In pondered for a moment. “I plan to leave it there.”
“Why?”
“I’m quite sure that the Empress’ memories lie in it.”
“Brynhildr, the wife of the Emperor of Blood and Iron? Whom I am presumably the reincarnation of?”
“I think so.” Kang Chul-In deduced that Han Ye-Sun was the reincarnation of Brynhildr. The fact that she often had dreams about events that were 1000 years ago, and that she could form a strong bond with Arshelly supported his theory.
“Just leave it there?”
“That would be better.”
“Why?”
“Because…… you are my first love.”
“.……!”
“Han Ye-Sun is my only first love, not some woman with Empress Brynhildr’s memories.”
“O-Oppa……!”
Kang Chul-In had no idea how Brynhildr could reincarnate without the Wheel of Three Lives, but he did not wish to overwrite Han Ye-Sun’s memories with Brynhildr’s.
“I want Han Ye-Sun to be by my side, not Empress Brynhildr.”
“Oppa……!” Han Ye-Sun threw herself into Kang Chul-In’s arms. “I love you……!”
“I love you, too.”
Kang Chul-In then strongly pulled her over.
“O-Oppa?!” Han Ye-Sun was surprised. “S-So fast?”
Kang Chul-In’s second assault (2) had already begun.
***
“Welcome, husband.” Desdemona welcomed Kang Chul-In from her bed. “What’s the theme today? Acting? Or SM? Or……”
“Ha……” Kang Chul-In covered his face with his hands. “Please……”
“Hmm?”
“Can you do something about your perverted taste……?”
Kang Chul-In had to face a dilemma every Friday, which was when he had to spend the night with Desdemona. Desdemona was a pervert. As expected from a dragon, she had an eccentric taste that preferred ‘hard’ plays.
“I-I was wrong…… forgive me…… master!” “O-Oink……!” “Woof woof!” “I am my master’s loyal……”
She was a total masochist, which always troubled Kang Chul-In.
“I don’t want to…… I like being handled rough……” Desdemona pouted. “I like to be dominated…… hehe……”
“.……”
“So do me as you please today as well……”
“Hold on, before that.” Kang Chul-In cut Desdemona off. “Can you at least change your appearance?”
“Hmm?”
“Even if you are thousands of years old…… Your current appearance…… I just can’t.”
“Ah, this childish appearance? ”
“.……”
“What’s wrong? You don’t have a loli kink?”
“Are you kidding me……?” Kang Chul-In was flabbergasted. Desdemona had polymorphed into a girl who looked at most thirteen. Kang Chul-In felt uneasy making love with her. Furthermore, Arshelly had once been kidnapped by the psychopath pedophile, Sheville Polanski, before, which reinforced Kang Chul-In’s uneasiness. In fact, he had established a terrifying law that entailed the castration of pedophiles.
Kang Chul-In loathed pedophiles that much.
“But I’m a dragon, you know?”
“Still……”
“I’m not even a minor! Strictly speaking, I’m the criminal here! I’m at least 7000 years older than my husband!”
“.……”
“Heh…… you are the younger one here…… I’m gonna eat you up……! Hehehe.”
“Ahem……!”
Desdemona seemed to have no intention of polymorphing into another appearance.
Damn it……
Kang Chul-In was caught in a dilemma. He felt uneasy going to bed with Desdemona, but it was impossible to argue with her. After all, she was right; Desdemona was the older one in the relationship.
“Well, then. Stop complaining and…… Break. Me. As. You. Always. Do! “
Desdemona waved her dragon butt at Kang Chul-In.
“No.” Kang Chul-In shook his head. “Not today.”
“Huh? Y-You won’t!?” Desdemona frowned.
“Why!? Why not!? Why~?” She then began to sulk.
“Still a no.”
“W-Why!?”
“I have something to tell you.”
“T-Tell…… me?”
“Something very important.”
“R-Really……? What is it?”
“Do you still have Erinyes’ programme code?” Kang Chul-In asked.
He had finally shared his thoughts with Desdemona.
[1] In Korea, ugly people are called squid. Squid maker is someone who makes other people look ugly in comparison.
“Huh?” Desdemona’s eyes widened. “The programme code of Erinyes?”
“That’s right.”
“Why do you ask?”
It was a pretty unexpected question. It had already been five years since they defeated the Agnaga. The Agnaga that threatened Earth and Pangaea no longer existed. They were perfectly extinct, so why was Kang Chul-In asking for the programme code?
“I need it.”
“Huh?” Desdemona was surprised once again. “W-Why do you need it? Don’t tell me……”
“No.” Kang Chul-In shook his head. “There’s no third coming of the Agnaga, of course.”
That certainly had nothing to do with Desdemona’s concern.
“T-Then?”
“I have a plan.”
“What sort of plan requires the programme code of Erinyes?”
“Simulation.”
“S-Simulation?”
“I plan to create a virtual world with similar conditions as Pangaea.”
That came out of nowhere. Why was he trying to create a virtual world with similar conditions as Pangaea? Desdemona could not comprehend his rationale.
“Why? Are you perhaps bored……? Could it be that you want to make your own virtual world and play in it?”
“Hmm?”
“You know. Playing lord with some humans, like last time.”
By last time, Desdemona was referring to the time when Kang Chul-In had just become a Lord after the Great Summoning. In other words, Desdemona believed that Kang Chul-In wanted to play a game.
“That’s an interesting idea.” Kang Chul-In smiled faintly. “That may be quite fun. To return to those days……”
Kang Chul-In recalled his past. That was when he had first become a Lord – 20 years ago, if he included the past that no longer existed. He could barely remember those days.
Those were the good times. Kang Chul-in smiled. That might have been the most exciting period of my life……
It wasn’t just exciting. Kang Chul-In had a burning enthusiasm when he first stepped into this unfamiliar world. The times when he had become the leader of a territory, met Alfred and went to conquer the goblins…… and even his first battle to protect his land; everything was new, fearsome and interesting for Kang Chul-In when he was younger. Although he went on a rampage five years after the Great Summoning, Kang Chul-In had vigor.
“Hmm? Is that really your plan?” Desdemona frowned. “You want to mingle with the novices and act like a novice?”
“That’s a good idea, but…… that’s not my type.” Kang Chul-In shook his head.
He knew his place. Even if he started the Lord’s game now, he knew that he could not replicate the burning passion of the past.
That wasn’t to say that he was devoid of passion. He had plenty. It was just a different kind of passion from his younger days. Currently, Kang Chul-In was diverting all his attention and passion into the reconstruction of Pangaea. He lacked the luxury to participate in some lame simulation game.
“I-Is that so?”
“Of course.”
“I had my doubts…… After all, everyone wishes to return to their past and change it. I thought you wanted to do the same, even if it were just a simulation.”
“Right, that’s true.”
“Yep……”
“However,” Kang Chul-In spoke and embraced Desdemona. Her face instantly turned red.
“W-Why so sudden……”
“Those who wish to alter the past have one similarity.”
“W-What is it?”
“Regret.”
“Yes……”
“Humans, no, any living organism with intelligence is bound to have regrets.”
“T-That’s true……”
“But not me.”
“.……!”
“Well, I can’t say I’m devoid of it…… but I do not have any agonizing memories to correct. Why would I resort to simulation for reminiscence when I have already returned to the past once? Moreover……”
“Moreover?”
“I’m already happy.”
“.……!”
“I even have…… such a cute dragon wife, so why would I obsess over something like a simulation?”
“D-Dummy!” Desdemona blushed. “Cheh…… you are usually so brusque, but now you say those sweet words……?”
“Hehehe~!”
“A-Anyways!” Desdemona changed the topic. “Why are you looking for Erinyes’ programme code?”
“For the future generation.”
“The future generation?”
“Our sons and daughters.”
“.……!”
“For our baby.”
“O-Ours……?”
Desdemona could not comprehend Kang Chul-In’s words. In fact, nobody would be able to. Why was the programme code of Erinyes essential for the future generation? The Agnaga had already gone extinct. Using it for the sake of the children did not make any sense.
“I’ve seen the emperor of Blood and Iron’s fear.” Kang Chul-In went straight to the crux of the story.
“His fear? What is it?”
“The tragedy of the Aurangzeb royal family.”
“Ah……!” Desdemona finally understood.
“The emperor of Blood and Iron, who never feared anything in the world, including Saturnus, felt terrified of someone for the first time. Do you know who that was? It was none other than Arshelly.”
“R-Right……”
“He feared that his cute daughter could change at any moment and point her sword at him. He did not fear that Arshelly would take his throne. Rather, he was more worried that his precious daughter would change for the worse. I would have thought the same. That was the tradition in the Aurangzeb family history, after all.”
\r \r \r
“That’s right.” Desdemona nodded. “Understandable. There’s a joke that the Aurangzeb royal family’s history books were written in blood.”
“No, it’s not a joke. There wasn’t a single sane emperor.”
“Hmm…… I see……”
“We are no exception.” Kang Chul-In said sternly. “There’s no need to worry for now, since I’m still alive and well…… but what about 100 years later?”
“Well, for sure……”
“There will be an internecine feud.”
“Right……” Desdemona could not argue with Kang Chul-In. Power could turn people into monsters. As of now, nobody dared to fight for the throne out of fear for Kang Chul-In. However, things could be different after his death.
“Internecine feud is not the only problem, however.”
“That’s not all?”
“What if there is a coup? An internal war? That could very well devastate the lives of the people of the empire.”
“Ah……”
“Also, what if a tyrant like Saturnus becomes the victor in such a conflict?”
“T-Then……!”
“The empire, no, the whole Pangaea will be stained in blood.”
“Hmm…… husband’s right……”
“I plan to prevent that.”
“.……!”
“I do not wish for my descendants to fight over the imperial throne. Moreover, a tyrant like Saturnus should never become the emperor in the future.”
“That’s why…… Erinyes……?”
“You are right.” Kang Chul-In nodded. “I plan to use its code to create a virtual world…… and let our descendants compete with each other. Needless to say, the winner shall become the next emperor. Just like…… me.”
“Ah……!” Desdemona gasped. “You want to let them brawl it out in the virtual world, instead of doing so in reality?”
“Wouldn’t that be better? The winner will ascend the imperial throne with the Core of Pangaea, so nobody can disagree with the game’s result.”
Kang Chul-In pointed at the longsword on his bedside.
“T-That’s a great idea!”
No. Kang Chul-In’s idea was revolutionary. Nobody else had thought of a fairer method to select the next emperor.
“This could prevent the tragedy of the Aurangzeb royal family!”
“That’s not all.” Kang Chul-In had planned further. “The competition that our descendants shall take part in…… will not be easy to win based on strength alone.”
“Huh?”
“Of course, the owner of the Core of Pangaea has to be strong…… but a brainless, brawny gangster cannot be it.”
“T-True.”
“There’s nothing more horrifying than someone like Saturnus winning the Lord’s game.”
He was right. If strength was the only factor of consideration, there was a high chance for a tyrant like Saturnus to become the emperor.
“An emperor……” Kang Chul-In continued. “Should possess strength, insight, charisma, financial knowledge, a strong will, responsibility, wisdom, political aptitude, an altruistic and benevolent mind, talent in dealing with domestic affairs, the ability to read paperwork fast, a fast hand to quickly sign documents……”
Desdemona was flabbergasted.
Husband…… I see now that you have had a hard time……
She wondered how agonizing the paperwork could be for Kang Chul-In to say that. Indeed…… even the invincible Kang Chul-In feared Timothy and paperwork.
“Anyways.” Kang Chul-In continued. “The competition shall test all the above qualities.”
“To rule out any potential tyrants?”
“Exactly.” Kang Chul-In nodded. “I will not hand down the throne purely based on bloodline. The people of the empire do not have any say in choosing their leader. Be it a benevolent leader or a tyrant, they have no choice but to follow.”
“That’s true. We dragons voted our Lord……”
“I do wish to establish democracy, but this is Pangaea, not Earth. It’s a hundred years too early for the people to appreciate democracy. So what if I give them the rights to vote and participate in politics? A right that is not earned will lose its meaning.”
“Husband…… you are incredible…… as expected from the emperor……” Desdemona looked at Kang Chul-In with admiration. He was that cool. Kang Chul-In was a true emperor, one with both strength and wisdom!
“Hundreds of years later, the people shall earn democracy of their own accord. I will even make arrangements accordingly, so until then……”
“We will choose the candidate based on the Lord’s game, right? A fair game that any member of the royal family can take part in.”
“Yes, that’s my plan.”
Kang Chul-In naturally arrived at this conclusion after pondering for a long time…… he realized that the competition system in which he himself took part in in the past was the best method.
“That was why I asked whether you still have the programme code for Erinyes.”
“Of course I do.”
“In that case……”
“Let’s make one, then. I, too, do not wish for my descendants to kill each other.” Desdemona smiled widely. “It’s a good opportunity to prove that I can be a great dragon like my mother too.”
“Excellent.” Kang Chul-In laughed. “Let’s make a new Lord’s game together, just like how Julius and Emilia did it 1000 years ago.”
“Yes……!”
That was the start of what would eventually be called the ‘Imperial Throne Ascending Game’ in the future. They called this project ‘Kaiser Maker’.
“Ah, right!” Desdemona frowned.
“What is it?” Kang Chul-In asked.
“So, aren’t we gonna do it?”
“.……”
“I……” Desdemona kept fidgeting. “W-wanna do it……”
“.……”
“Do me as you please……”
Kang Chul-In closed his eyes in fatigue.
***
Five years have passed since Kang Chul-In’s “eventful” night. Kang Chul-In was a little older, and the production of Kaiser Maker had already reached its intermediate stage.
“Hehe……” Kwak Jung, who was now a Grand Duke of the empire, laughed. He was once again healthy, as his vampire DNA had almost been completely eradicated thanks to Kang Chul-In and Desdemona.
“Your imperial Majesty……”
“.……?”
“I’m getting married next month.”
“Oh? Finally. Okay, with who?”
“Well…… hmm, hmm……” Kwak Jung hesitated. “As for that…… haha……”
“It’s Niu, am I right?” Kang Chul-In could read Kwak Jung like a book.
“H-How did you know?”
“You’ve been chasing her for 10 years. Moreover, how could I be oblivious of who’s dating the deputy director of the empire’s Intelligence Department?”
“Hehe……”
“Anyways, congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
“I will send you a lot of money.” Kang Chul-In smiled.
***
While Kang Chul-In focused on managing his empire and reconstructing Pangaea, his colleagues parted ways with each other.
Last, but not least……
***
In the Laputa Sky Fortress, on the highest spire……
“Y-Your imperial Majesty……!” Lucia was shocked. “W-Why are you doing this……!?”
It was because Kang Chul-In had hugged her from the back.
“Did you wait long, Lucia?”
“Y-Your imperial Majesty……!”
“I’m sorry.” Kang Chul-In whispered into Lucia’s ear. “You are my secretary. Maybe that’s why I hesitated so much.”
“Y-You knew……?”
“Only recently.”
That was true. A beacon does not shine on its own base. Lucia was so close to him that he had failed to notice her love.
“Lucia.”
“Yes…… your imperial Majesty……?”
“Will you……”
“.……?”
“.……Be my seventh wife?”
“Y-Your imperial Majesty……!”
“I love you, Lucia.” Kang Chul-In embraced Lucia even tighter.
Ah, ah……!
Lucia was too deeply moved to say a word. Her wish had finally come true. Her unrequited love had come to fruition!
And Kang Chul-In……
To think I have three wives and four concubines……
He had the glorious (?) experience of having multiple spouses.
***
Another 5 years passed by, slowly.
Ssss……! Cool wind swept across Pangaea. Kang Chul-In stood alone on the spire, looking down at Metallia.
“Good.” Kang Chul-In, now a middle-aged man, smiled satisfactorily. “I’m content.”
15 years had passed since the final battle. Metallia was living up to its name as the empire’s capital, displaying its majestic splendor. Furthermore, today was the 15th anniversary of the founding of the Valhalla empire. The whole capital was in a festive mood.
Everything was perfect. The empire was peaceful. It had enjoyed a reign of peace for over 15 years, and this was to continue for the next few decades. Kang Chul-In was now hailed as the legendary Divine Emperor of Blood and Iron.
However, that certainly did not mean that the story will end there. As long as he was the ruler, Kang Chul-in had to devote his time and energy in managing his empire. Only then could he keep his honourable title……
“My time has already passed, but……”
He mumbled in pity. However, it was alright. Project Kaiser Maker was about 80% complete, which meant that his descendants were about to compete for the imperial throne.
“A new era shall begin.”
Nobody could last forever. Right now, his role was to manage the empire. The intense competition was the responsibility of his descendants. All he had to do was take a step back and watch from the side.
“Your imperial Majesty.” At that moment, Alfred climbed up the spiral and handed something to Kang Chul-In. “I made this new cape. Please, try it on.”
“Thank you, Alfred.”
He looked at Alfred with affection.
“Haha…… that was out of the blue. Try it on!”
“Alright.” Kang Chul-In put on the cape with Alfred’s help.
Flip! The cape made of the highest-quality silk fluttered in the wind. It was a passionate red! Nothing could represent Kang Chul-In more aptly.
“You look great, your imperial Majesty!”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, as expected from your imperial Majesty!”
“Good.” Kang Chul-In smiled.
“Your imperial Majesty, it’s time to go now. The people are waiting for you. Please do not make them wait any further!”
“Of course.” Kang Chul-In made his move without hesitation.
“Long live the Valhalla empire……!”
“Hooray……!”
“Long live his imperial Majesty, Kang Chul-In……!”
“Hooray……!”
“Long live his imperial Majesty, Kang Chul-In……!”
“Hooray……!”
The clamor of the people of the empire could be heard from all around, even from the far distance.
THE END!