Chapter 170
Chapter 170
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 169
Chapter Title: Transcendent Realm Stabilization
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“Has your energy... stabilized?”
I shrug and smile at her, eyes narrowing.
“One can’t go around leaking energy forever.”
With that, I scan the surroundings. It’s always a necessary step. To them, barely a second has passed, but for me, it’s been over three months.
‘Ah, right. I blew wind with my cough.’
And light must have leaked from my eyes too. In other words, to onlookers, it looked like I controlled it in an instant... Well, from an outsider’s perspective, it would just seem like I’d reined in my enlightenment. Hard to recognize anything abnormal.
Woooong!
At that moment, a black armored bus descends from the sky.
“Oh, the armored transport vehicle I’ve only heard about.”
“That rare Transcendent. At 25 years old, this is the least you could do.”
“You said it earlier, but... is it already confirmed?”
I’ve never openly revealed my realm. I’ve never even properly unleashed my power, of course.
The issue is how I reached the Transcendent Realm.
I ascended not in Ardania, but on Earth—and stayed in that state, completely exposed, for quite a while.
‘Lucky it was the 34th Earth.’
If it had happened in another civilization, forget Transcendent Realm; I might not have survived.
The established powers, fearing a new powerhouse, would’ve surely killed me or slapped a collar on.
“Yeah, it’s confirmed. Word’s already spreading quietly.”
“I heard they protect personal information...”
There are currently forty-two Transcendents on the 34th Earth.
‘That’s insane.’
Truthfully, it’s extremely rare for so many Transcendents to gather in one place in the greater universe. Only possible in places like Ouroboros, the top academic institution, or the dragons’ homeworld, Dragonia.
But among these forty-two, only about ten have revealed their names and identities. The 34th Earth has ironclad personal privacy protections—unless they reveal themselves, no one knows.
“You’re the exception.”
“Why me?”
Sohyang laughs at my aggrieved look.
“Why? You caused an incident. When victims ask about events tied to them, how can you hide it under ‘personal info’?”
“Incident... wait a sec.”
Only then do I realize the whole world is gray.
‘Ah, damn. Why didn’t I notice sooner?’
This isn’t reality. Not some virtual world, but a secondary plane hidden behind the surface world—the Backside World.
Obviously, I didn’t stumble into a place that requires crossing dimensions by accident.
“Finally noticed? Didn’t you make a ton of money? Living in a room tower instead of a standalone house... If a combat cop hadn’t been your neighbor by luck, the whole tower would’ve collapsed. Do you even know how many people live there?”
“...”
It could’ve been a total catastrophe.
And as always...
The 34th Earth is a demon realm where even Transcendents get arrested by police if they commit crimes.
‘Might’ve ended up in jail right after ascending.’
Sohyang boards the armored transport as I inwardly break into a cold sweat. Flower and I follow separately.
“You’re coming too, Flower?”
Flower smiles softly at my question.
“Yes, Jaeyeon. Right now... I’m also your guardian.”
Sohyang adds an explanation.
“Without Flower, even with no casualties, they’d have shipped you off to an isolation zone.”
“No, uh. Um. Thank you.”
I bow, but the situation doesn’t click.
‘Why go that far?’
Sure, Flower and I have tangled interests. She runs Oryong Net, and I’m a popular author serializing over a hundred works there.
The revenue from me alone is in the tens of billions, so some care is natural... but using her Transcendent authority too?
“Hehe.”
I turn at the absurdity, but see only a shy smile.
‘What’s that expression mean?’
Amid the confusion, the armored transport lifts off. Inside, Sohyang explains the procedures for newly ascended Transcendents, the benefits, and the mandatory duties.
If you don’t like it, leave the 34th Earth.
‘Obviously not leaving.’
Of Transcendents residing on the 34th Earth, only two were born here.
Heavenly Slaughter Sword Ghost.
Hidden Angel.
‘There are actually ancient ones too, like the [Archmage] whose name is synonymous.’
But officially, only those two count. Most current Transcendents are immigrants from other civilizations or temporary visitors.
About ten are [prisoners] captured by the elders, but anyway.
No reason for even off-world Transcendents to seek out the 34th Earth—and leave on my own two feet.
“Oh, and here’s the room tower repair bill.”
Sohyang hands over an invoice.
I take it and read. Most importantly, the bottom line.
Total: 872,110,000 KRW billed to you.
[Seoul Metropolitan Government.]
It stabs my heart like a knife.
Chokes me like a punch to the solar plexus.
‘800 million... practically 900 million.’
Enough for 90,000 Class Cards. That’s 900 Hero Cards, and even with bad luck on synthesis, at least ten Legendary Classes.
They held an empire-wide contest for one Legendary Pet, and this is ten times that—gone up in smoke!
“Uh, Jaeyeon? Should I cover it?”
Flower’s words tempt me instantly. So sweet.
But I shake my head.
“No... I’ll pay it.”
A suit from her could stretch to a gift, but asking her to cover this? No way.
I’m a Transcendent now; can’t act desperate.
“If the building collapsed, 900 billion wouldn’t cover it. Medical bills, lawsuits... If you lack ability, you slice open your belly—Transcendents must compensate fully with their bodies if needed.”
The 34th Earth doesn’t block incoming or outgoing Transcendents, but it’s no haven for crime or dodging responsibility.
If it were, Archmage Lucky Strike wouldn’t have stayed, slaving away to repay 300 trillion.
In the end, I pocket the invoice and ask.
“More importantly, what about my smart pet?”
“...You’re asking about that first?”
Her expression screams disbelief.
“What else?”
At my puzzled look, she gestures.
A soldier brings a long box. Sinister darkness swirls around it.
Gooooh—!
“Ah, forgot about this.”
It’s Hyperion.
“Looks like a demon sword. You okay?”
“Of course.”
I smirk, pull the sealed Hyperion from the box, toss it into my inventory—then realize it’s rattling noisily inside. I open my inner world and absorb its spirit body.
It seems full of complaints, but not important now.
“My smart pet?”
“Sigh, the demon sword... whatever.”
She chuckles wryly, gestures again. A door opens, and Cheda appears.
“Cheda!”
“Meow!”
“Cheda!”
“...What are you doing? It’s not even a real cat; it’s a smart pet...”
Ignoring her, I scoop up Cheda and turn on the screen.
Launch Revenge.
“Ah! Dead as expected.”
Of course. Left it on auto-hunt for months unattended—how could the character survive?
I sort my inventory and sigh.
“Man, massive losses...”
Just logging in attendance hurts. Four premium attendance rewards active, plus Battle Pass—all wasted!
Not to mention missed Chuseok, Pepero Day, Christmas, New Year events.
Heart-wrenching.
“You’re playing a game here? At this crucial moment? You reached Transcendent Realm!”
“Isn’t this what makes me the Apostle of the Game God?”
“No, Flower, even so, this is... game addiction? Not dissing games! But Revenge, not even skill-based godgame Black & White...”
Ignoring their chatter, I restart auto-hunt.
Whispers flood in toward Killiance.
UniverseStrongestHottie (whisper): Jaeyeon!? You okay? Looked like some rampage!
SupremeLawyer (whisper): Killiance logged in? What happened?
Ares (Guild Master) (whisper): Jaeyeon. Not sure if my info’s right... but Transcendent Realm?
AppleCatPhone (whisper): Bro Killiance, that news real!?
Too many to reply individually, so one guild chat line.
Killiance: Sorry, bros. Busy, so auto-hunt only.
Shut off Cheda’s screen.
Around then, the armored transport stops.
“We’ve arrived.”
“As expected, here.”
It crossed dimensions repeatedly to reach the Steel Realm.
Steel Realm.
Name of the mid-sized dimension owned by Game Master Gwandaeha. Like a spirit god with their spirit realm, Gwandaeha’s Steel Realm holds more significance than any holy site on the 34th Earth.
‘Transcendent matters naturally handled here.’
Woooong!
A massive iron wall vanishes like an illusion, revealing steel buildings.
“We’ll stop here.”
“We’ll wait.”
Leaving Sohyang and Flower at the entrance, I walk the steel corridor.
After about ten minutes, a woman appears ahead.
[Welcome, Han Jaeyeon. I’m Genie, attendant to the Game Master.]
Her outfit’s revealing, like a desert dancer. More Ardania than Earth, yet undeniably beautiful.
“Of course I know. Genie.”
She’s not human—the Game Master’s adjutant. Control AI of the Transcendent Battleship Albatross, beyond even Legion’s interference—the ultimate AI.
[Hehe. Heard about you, Han Jaeyeon, but didn’t expect Transcendent Realm. You must be busy settling your realm and mind, so let’s wrap this up quick.]
Woooong—!
A low hum, and a large iron plate floats before me.
“This is...?”
[The nameplate. Write your name here.]
“What happens when I do?”
[You join the Game Master’s infrastructure, accessible only to Transcendents... Gain resistance to all interference from the 34th Earth and beyond.]
I examine the nameplate.
Exactly sixty-one names, most unreadable like glitched noise.
About ten legible, some familiar.
[Ultimate Follower Shining]
[Overcomer of Heavenly Slaughter Gwan Youngmin]
[Doomsday Fugitive Haindel]
Transcendents’ names.
‘Maybe sixty-one Transcendents total. Or including those who left.’
So thinking, I speak.
“Only public ones show, huh.”
[Yes. Also proof of qualification. Can’t write without Transcendent Realm.]
I reach out. No need to dawdle.
[Han Jaeyeon]
I write my name. Then...
[Emperor Han Jaeyeon]
Text prepends itself.
[Oh, Emperor... that’s...]
I ask the surprised Genie.
“What’s this?”
[A title. Proves who you are. Anyway, you’re done. Free to go.]
As she says that...
A message appears before my eyes.
[The Honor God beholds you.]