WVKWnovel Chapter 256: Arsilan's Conspiracy (4)
Chapter 256: Arsilan's Conspiracy (4)
Translator: DreamscribeThis region was extraordinarily important.
It was the center of the massive barrier that prevented Dimensional Predators from crossing over, and it was the domain of a Margrave, a figure who boasted tremendous power within the Kalsus Dimensional Empire.
The Kalsus Dimensional Empire called the space beyond this dimensional barrier the Fog Domain.
An unknown space that could not even be called a dimension.
A place where everything melted away, evaporating and thickening like fog.
The domain of Immortals worthy of being called gods.
Even the great intellectuals of the Kalsus Dimensional Empire had no idea how the region beyond was structured. But that didn't matter.
'A triumph of great intellect!'
The Molrus Family, one of the prestigious houses of the Kalsus Dimensional Empire, had long assisted in sealing the Fog Domain, helping the Kalsus Dimensional Empire to expand. For several hundred years, they had held the line at the most unstable sector where the boundary of dimensions lay.
'And a triumph of a great family.'
The power held by the position of Margrave was so overwhelming that even Legion Commanders had to grovel on the floor to curry favor. It didn't matter whether it was the First Legion or the 99th Legion. Only the Emperor and the high nobility who carried the great bloodline could stand tall before the Molrus Family.
Margrave Kalgul Molrus lifted his wine glass and gazed at the Dimensional Rift etched in the distance. The devices installed on the planets he owned formed a long stretch of barrier, and on the central planet of his vast territory, the Concept Dissolution Wave stood on standby, ready to be unleashed at any moment.
"These bastards sure know how to make wine. Good thing I only left their upper halves intact."
Kalgul maintained an enormous vineyard.
An entire continent was one giant grape farm, but it was merely a hobby. He had discovered a race skilled in winemaking, chopped off their lower halves, and kept them working endlessly.
They made for decent gifts to offer to other nobles. In fact, not only the nobles but even the imperial family loved them quite a bit, and they offered him many things in return.
His jade-white fingers stroked the wine glass once.
Feeling a slightly rough texture, he immediately set it down and frowned. When he pressed the call button, the 11th Legion Commander, who had been on standby, came running in a flustered rush.
"Your Excellency! You summoned me?"
"Welcome, Commander of the 11th Legion."
"What thoughts come to mind when you look at this wine glass?"
Kalgul's sharp gaze landed on the Legion Commander. Even though the commander was clad in ornate armor, he couldn't seem to defend against that stare, and his body trembled.
"The surface is minutely uneven. I will slaughter every single one of those wretches who dared to present such a shoddy piece to Your Excellency."
"Haha! As expected of the 11th Legion Commander. Ah! Don't kill them. Send them to the central office so they can be used as test subjects for that Evil God Disease, or whatever it's called."
"I am moved by the depth of your devotion to the Kalsus Dimensional Empire!"
The 11th Legion Commander knelt and bowed his head. Pleased by the sight, Kalgul laughed heartily and handed the glass he had been holding to the commander.
The commander cupped both hands and carefully received the wine glass as if he were being bestowed a treasure by the Emperor himself. Though wine still remained inside, he could not drink it.
Because he had no body.
Unlike the noble Kalgul, the inside of the armor was hollow, empty space.
"I've put forth your name before the Central Noble Council. There will likely be good news soon."
"Y, Your Excellency! Such grace is beyond my worth!"
The commander slammed his head to the ground.
It was an honorary title, but if he could even become a Viscount, he would be granted a body. Instead of this cold armor, he would be able to feel warm body temperature. It was a glory that only the imperial family and nobles could enjoy.
All those who were not nobles were mass-produced in artificial wombs. The bodies they were born with were unstable, all of them twisted and malformed. It didn't matter. As long as the soul existed, that was enough.
The moment they were born, they were sealed inside armor, their bodies discarded. They became soldiers of the Kalsus Dimensional Empire's army, beings who never tired and never aged until death. Perhaps the reason these soldiers cruelly massacred countless races across the dimensional realms stemmed from an inferiority complex toward physical bodies.
"I shall look forward to the day when we can share wine together."
"I will remain loyal until the day I die!"
When Kalgul waved his hand, the Legion Commander sprang to his feet and saluted. Then, as he stepped outside, he immediately gave the order to dispose of every slave involved in crafting that wine glass.
That was when it happened.
GRRRRRNK!
The grand mansion Kalgul was in shook violently. Decorative items tumbled to the floor and shattered. Kalgul frowned and rose from his seat.
The Legion Commander rushed back inside.
"What is the matter?"
"High-concentration energy has been detected from the Dimensional Rift."
"Hmph, thrashing about again."
It was nothing unusual.
It was practically an annual event that had continued for several centuries in dimensional time. Even fairly high-ranked Dimensional Predators had crossed over before, but not one had managed to escape that rift.
"We are actively responding now, so it will be over shortly."
"I suppose this sort of thing makes for decent entertainment. I should request reinforcements and fortify our defenses even further."
"A wise judgment!"
Kalgul had been using pretexts like this to extract enormous support and accumulate his wealth. The lower nobles had no choice but to send their aid with tears in their eyes.
KRBOOM! SHATTER!
The mansion shook violently, and the glass shattered as though struck by a shockwave.
A shard of glass grazed Kalgul's face, leaving a cut. Frowning, he glared at the Legion Commander. The commander pressed a hand to his helmet and received a report from headquarters.
[L, Level 6 energy has been detected!]
"Level 6? Don't spout nonsense! There's no way a Dimensional Predator with Level 6 energy could possibly have any impact on this place..."
[Level 7, n, no, it's surging up to Level 8... GYAAAAH!]
KRAKOOOOOOM!
This time, an entire wall of the grand mansion was torn clean off. Kalgul was flung backward and rolled across the floor, and the Legion Commander hurriedly rushed over to support him.
"Wh, what in the world is going on!"
"I, I'm not entirely sure myself... f, first, we must get you outside!"
The guards swiftly approached and escorted Kalgul out of the mansion. Kalgul raised his head and looked toward the Dimensional Rift in the distance. The rift etched into the blue sky had been a pleasant view in its own right. But not anymore.
The rift tore open in an instant with a drawn-out rip.
It looked as though the sky itself had split apart. The countless satellites that had been floating above the central planet crumbled and were sucked into the Dimensional Rift.
The sky turned black.
The clouds rippled as if engulfed in flames, and the air heated up as temperatures soared rapidly. The enormous vineyard in front of the mansion withered and rotted in an instant.
"Wh, what, what on earth is happening!"
Kalgul's horrified cry rang out.
This was no ordinary matter.
This was definitely no ordinary matter.
The Legion Commander frantically sent a transmission.
"What is the situation! Report immediately!"
[...the waves aren't working... it crossed over....]
It was hard to make out.
He tried to ask again, but there was no need. He could immediately tell what had happened.
Because an impossible being had torn through the massive rift and crossed over. A body had already been formed.
Three pairs of blue wings made of flame.
A massive frame that looked like the cosmos itself.
A cross-shaped blue light etched upon its face looked down upon them all.
All available energy was concentrated in an attack, but the colossal being didn't so much as flinch.
KWAAAAAH!
When the colossal being stretched out its hand, the Concept Dissolution Wave generator vanished as though it had been erased.
"Level 8...."
They had classified energy waves by density from Level 1 to Level 11. That massive entity was unquestionably Level 8. A being with enough power to devour an entire dimension.
"Un, unleash every attack! Now!"
The Legion Commander frantically issued orders.
Every bit of firepower was concentrated and poured onto the target. An astronomical amount of energy, enough to incinerate an entire dimension at once, converged in a single moment. But none of it reached the Level 8 entity.
Instead, the fleet that had been considered nearly invincible was wiped out entirely.
The Level 8 entity drew a sword and plunged it into the earth. At the same moment, the atmosphere and ground began to evaporate and burst into flames. The Legion Commander hurriedly raised a protective barrier to shield Kalgul.
THUD!
Kalgul collapsed onto the ground.
"Ha, hahaha! Th, this must be a dream. This is a dream."
"Your Excellency! We must escape from here! We have to fall back to the rear, report in, and then take measures...."
"Y, yes. That sounds right!"
Several ships quickly approached.
They were rescue vessels meant to evacuate Kalgul and the remnants of his household to the rear. Kalgul finally managed to catch his breath as he boarded one with the Legion Commander.
"How could something like this...."
Kalgul ran both hands down his face.
If the central office learned of this, his honor would be destroyed.
He had to manage the situation somehow. If he fell back to the rear and then gathered every piece of equipment available to mount a response, wouldn't something work out?
Dimensional Predator or not, in the end it was just one entity.
If he could push it back with the five legions under his command....
Just as Kalgul was thinking this.
[A Level 2 entity has appeared... a Level 3 entity....!]
[Th, there are too many of them!]
[Gyaaaaah! What is that!]
Kalgul looked out the window.
From the massive sword the Level 8 entity had driven into the earth, Dimensional Predators were pouring out in droves. The Legion Commander stared at the sight, dumbfounded.
That god-like being had not come alone.
It had brought countless Dimensional Predators along with it.
This was no longer a matter for the Molrus Family alone. If this place was breached, and then the path leading to the heart of the Kalsus Dimensional Empire was opened....
"A, aaah!"
Not only the Molrus Family, but even his own head would roll.
'Th, that's right! If I just flee to some remote dimension and hide there....'
He could easily dominate a backwater dimension like that.
But his plan was cut off before he could even attempt it. The entities spilling from the sword had seized the ship he was on. A Dimensional Predator that had seeped into the vessel like a black swamp now gazed upon Kalgul.
"Heheheh, I've found something rare."
He couldn't understand what it was saying, but the Dimensional Predator appeared to be in good spirits. The countless mouths floating upon the black swamp were stretched into long, laughing grins.
"S, stop it! Legion Commander! Save me at once...!"
Kalgul screamed, begging for help, but the Legion Commander had already been swallowed by the black swamp.
"Gyaaaaah!"
There was no one left to save him now.
Only his piteous screams echoed in the void.
* * *
There wasn't much for Jinwoo to do. He simply had to stand there and idly kill time.
The atmosphere vanished, and the rivers evaporated.
Every existing thing dissolved without form, as though melted by stomach acid. The dreadful scene of Arsilan being devoured by Erosion was being recreated, and yet Jinwoo was in a good mood.
Who knew watching a world being steeped in Erosion could be this enjoyable!
'Now this is what you call auto-farming!'
Auto-farming, hell yeah!
Before him, treasures and all manner of rare items piled up like a mountain.
As befitted a territory ruled by a high-ranking noble, the place was filled with things even Jinwoo was seeing for the first time. Gold seemed to be treated as valuable in every dimension, because there were plenty of ornaments and sculptures made of it.
The Servants had happily laid waste to the place on their own and brought back whatever was worth taking.
This was merely the beginning.
The tables had now completely turned.
Starting from this point, Erosion would dig its way into the interior of the Kalsus Dimensional Empire. The Kalsus Dimensional Empire was so enormous that it would take a long time, but that also meant there was that much more content, so wouldn't that itself be enjoyable?
'Hmm....'
Jinwoo created a space inside the enormous body.
Since it was tightly enveloped by Erosion's aura, no one could detect it. He installed various amenities inside and even set up a hologram theater.
'An outdoor bath would be nice too.'
When he repurposed the hot spring he had used before, it came out far more impressive. He pulled out his regular body and took a rest in the pleasant surroundings.
This was a real vacation!
A trip abroad, no, an extremely enjoyable dimensional trip!
Jinwoo soaked himself in the hot spring and leisurely enjoyed the scenery outside. Drinking the cold beer he had brought from Earth, it was truly paradise.
Wasn't this just one of life's simple pleasures?
Jinwoo found Erosion life quite to his liking.
To outsiders, Jinwoo still appeared dignified and imposing.
His figure, standing firm and gazing out upon the Kalsus Dimensional Empire, even inspired awe among the Servants.
"O Blade of Terror!"
A Servant resembling a massive black slime confidently approached Jinwoo. Having been resting comfortably, Jinwoo once again slipped into the Erosion body and looked down at the Servant.
"I offer you the rarest thing in this place!"
Given how boldly it was speaking, it must have been pretty confident?
When Jinwoo watched with interest, the Servant immediately opened its body. Things that had been stored inside came spilling out.
"Gurrrk! Glrrrp! Hurk!"
A being with a human-shaped body was vomiting up black water while flailing around. It looked almost identical to a human, except the shape of its pupils and the color of its hair were different. The pupils resembled geometric figures, and the hair was a perfect two-tone, with the inside and outside in completely different colors.
The moment it laid eyes on Jinwoo, its body shuddered and it passed out.
'So this is a noble of the Kalsus Dimensional Empire.'
It was indeed the rarest thing here.
Jinwoo had said he would give a reward for bringing something rare, but in truth, he hadn't actually thought of any reward. The Servant inflated its slime-like body and looked up at Jinwoo with eyes full of anticipation.
What kind of reward would please Erosion?
Gems or items would be nothing but garbage to Erosion.
They were always tormented by hunger, so perhaps something like food?
Since it would be something from Earth, entirely unrelated to the dimensional realms, there shouldn't be any concerns about problems arising.
His Subspace was stuffed with things he had brought from Earth.
He needed to clear it out someday anyway, so he might as well take care of the leftovers here!
'Well, what are they going to do if they don't like it?'
Even if they didn't like it, there was no way the Servants could rebel. And if they did rebel, he could use that as an excuse to devour them.
When Jinwoo stretched out his hand, a bag of snacks emerged from the Subspace and dropped in front of the Servant. It was a tiny bag of snacks compared to the Servant's massive size.
It was a snack made by Osung Foods, and it was actually pretty popular.
They had planned a collaboration with Arsilan Saga that ended up getting canceled, leaving them with a mountain of unsold inventory. It was a scheduling issue.
The Servant briefly floated a question mark above its head, then formed a hand and carefully lifted the bag of snacks.
"What is this?"
"Ah, this is something called a snack. Its savory flavor is exquisite."
Jinwoo introduced it as though it were something significant.
"A treasure brought from the Wall of the Abyss, from the end of the dimensional realms, from somewhere even farther beyond. Tear open the packaging and try some."
If Jinwoo said it was a treasure, then it was a treasure.
For the Servants, there was no choice but to accept it as such.
The Servant carefully tore open the packaging and cautiously swallowed one of the snacks inside.
Munch! Munch! Mun... still!
The Servant's body froze entirely mid-chew.
Its form quivered and trembled, then bubbles began to rise furiously, like water coming to a boil.
"A, aaaah!"
A voice filled with ecstasy rang out.
As though its soul had been fulfilled, as though it had tasted the ultimate pleasure, it let out such rapturous cries and shuddered violently. It was like watching a cat high on catnip.
"I can feel a great mystery! To think such a mystery could exist! This is... just what...!"
It was just an ordinary snack.
It was an ordinary product made on Earth, with no mana whatsoever and not carrying any kind of energy.
What a killer reaction, though?
Had this been posted on Arsilan Worlds, it was the kind of reaction delicious enough to rack up tens of millions of "Likes!"
It was enough to make him want to create a show called "Erosion Reviews Gukppong TV!" [TL: 국뽕/gukppong is slang for excessive or ironic Korean national pride, often used to describe content showing foreigners praising Korean things.]
As the Servant that had eaten the snack became drunk on bliss, unable to control its own body, the other Servants nearby audibly gulped.
"What on earth is it...."
"If we offer something rare...."
The Servants who had witnessed the reward went charging off like madmen.
They even fought and competed with one another.
But wait, that was just a reaction, right?
To call it merely a performance meant for show would be a little, no, a lot too much.
'Hmm.'
The Servant that had eaten the snack still couldn't come back to its senses.
Why was it acting like that?
Jinwoo found himself thrown into confusion.
*****
For 15 or more extra chapters, you can check out my Patreon here --> patreon.com/dreamscribe
If you enjoy this novel, please review and rate it at Novelupdates. Thanks! ????
To receive the latest update notifications or report mistakes, join our Discord server linked below.