Chapter 244
Chapter 244
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 243
Chapter Title: Fairy Palace and Stamina Authority
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The most dominant intelligent species on the 34th Earth went without saying: humans. But that didn't mean humans were the only ones.
Elves, dwarves, giants, dragonkin, ogres, and other demihumans, along with transcendent beings like fairies, stone elementals, and dragons—all sorts of intelligent races coexisted in the same society!
However, some radical social activists claimed that the species living on the 34th Earth were extremely biased. And they weren't entirely wrong. Among the non-humans on the 34th Earth, orcs, goblins, trolls, and even beastkin resembling humans were rare.
This stemmed from the first-generation space mercenaries—who roamed the cosmos and were affectionately called the "elders"—harboring a sense of alienation toward non-humans. They rarely rescued any except for beautiful races like elves. Once the 34th Earth's population stabilized, immigration standards became ridiculously stringent.
First, a written exam that demanded a considerable level of intelligence and effort to pass.
Second, a ten-minute Q&A with a truth god.
Third, advanced spiritual abilities or talents capable of reaching that level.
Every criterion was impossibly picky, yet applicants overflowed.
At least the standards didn't include [wealth]. No amount of money could bribe their way in if they didn't meet the conditions.
A dream planet where anyone with their own abilities and talents could seize an opportunity!
Yet Zellia, who had gone through all that to enter the 34th Earth, felt her vision go dark before the overwhelming reality.
Boom boom boom!
Rumble rumble—!
"This has to be a dream...."
As a fairy, she had immigrated to the 34th Earth and successfully established [House Fairy Company] with her kin.
Compared to her painful past of suffering at the hands of mages after her rare catalyst fairy dust or slave hunters, she now enjoyed an unbelievably safe and happy life!
But the [Fairy Palace], the crystallization of her dreams and hopes, was being destroyed right before her eyes.
"Police! Call the police! What is this!? They're smashing our palace!"
"Calm down, sis! The tenant who paid the deposit is a dragon!"
"So what if it's a dragon!? I'm calling the police and the priests of the Justice God right now!"
"No! Don't you know the law is far and the fist is near? If you butt into a fight between transcendents, you won't keep your life!"
Boom boom boom boom!
"Listen to that explosion! One hit and we're gone without a trace!"
"Even so, this is the 34th Earth! I'll—"
It was while Zellia was fuming in front of the fairies from House Fairy Company trying to hold her back.
Hum!
The shadow on the floor rose up, transforming into a tall, handsome man with long black hair cascading down. Zellia, who had been raging, flinched and shrank back in surprise.
"Shadow Dragon!?"
"...You recognized me at a glance. Must be a lot of dragons back home."
Audarkuni spoke in a calm, subdued voice. Though Zellia had been furious, facing this transcendent being instantly tempered her anger.
"G-Great one of the shadow kin. I got a bit excited...."
"No need to call the police. Just control access, and if there's a request from inside, act accordingly."
With that, Audarkuni pulled a check from his pocket, signed it, and handed it over. Zellia felt fear from his沉重 atmosphere but couldn't help protesting.
"Th-That's ridiculous! You can't just pay off our Fairy Palace with money... Oh?!"
Her protesting voice rose. Her pupils shook wildly as she saw the number on the check.
"Sis? What's wrong?"
"President? How much is it...."
"Sis?"
Amid the flustered fairies, Zellia's dazed expression bloomed into a smile as she floated there.
"House Fairy Company always does its utmost for our customers' happiness! Oh ho ho ho! Even the Fairy Palace can't stand against absolute service!"
"...Fine."
"Then! We'll assist without disturbing you!"
Leaving the fairies who vanished with polite bows behind, Audarkuni surveyed the Fairy Palace.
Thud.
Boom boom boom!
A barrier surrounded the Fairy Palace, but it couldn't block the senses of a transcendent who had approached this closely.
"So it comes to this... Word will reach the council, of course?"
A headache building, Audarkuni clutched his forehead. The events ahead were already vividly clear in his mind. As a Shadow Dragon—royalty among dragonkind—even he couldn't stop it.
'No, they'll probably reprimand me for not stopping it.'
It was while he sighed deeply.
[Graaaaaah—!]
A massive roar pierced even the barrier. Other races might tremble at the sheer pressure.
But dragonkin Audarkuni simply blushed.
"Ah, damn it. Whatever."
Shadows enveloped his body as he spat out a lament.
"Die or not, I don't care."
* * *
On the first day, the bed—plastered with all sorts of magic—shattered.
On the second, the desk, table, and sofa were wrecked.
From the third day, the bedroom and then the building itself started crumbling.
'No... Is this how relationships between transcendents normally are? So intense and noisy?'
Such thoughts arose, but responding to the Five Dragons' fervent demands naturally led to this.
"1,300 more players have arrived!"
"Send them into the dungeon! Hell difficulty as much as possible!"
"A new chef has arrived!"
"Send him to the kitchen now! Meat needs to be cooked fresh!"
"Food deliveries have arrived!"
"Send them straight to the restaurant!"
Wild Boar Castle buzzed. The legendary castle, far from small, brimmed with people all rushing about busily—enough to make one's head spin just watching.
"Deploying!"
"Got it."
I nodded, and foods like whole hog barbecue, spicy pork stir-fry, braised beef, and pig's feet poured onto the floor.
Rumble!
Of course, I wasn't wasting food. All the spilled dishes were sucked into the shadow at my feet.
Crunch!
Munch munch!
Nearly 100 servings vanished in an instant. I savored the [taste] transmitted through my body for a moment before opening my eyes.
"Swordman."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"The braised beef is too salty."
"I'll relay it immediately."
"Thanks. But... with how busy you are, do you really need to be here?"
At my question, Swordman—now streaked with white hair—smiled.
"I can't yield this rare chance to serve His Imperial Majesty. Most orders can be given from here, so don't worry."
Swordman, my subordinate from bandit days, now commanded the training grounds at Wild Boar Castle, overseeing new recruits and supplies for the entire Human Empire. We rarely met for a while, but lately, it was daily.
"Deploying!"
"Got it."
I nodded at the soldier's report, and food poured into the shadow again. I closed my eyes and absorbed it.
Swordman, watching quietly, asked.
"By the way, are you alright?"
The question came out of nowhere, but I knew what he meant.
"I'm not, that's why I'm eating like this."
"But... over 2,000 servings a day, and you're still this lean."
As he said, I was wasting away day by day. It was unavoidable.
'Crazy, really. How many times did I do it?'
It had been a week since things started with the Five Dragons.
A week in real time, but a whopping three years in Ardenia!
And throughout that endless time, I continuously expended essence.
Now accustomed to vitality, I could regulate biofactors unlike before... but not this time.
The Five Dragons craved my essence too intensely.
'Muscles dropping nearly 20 kilos per go. This is nuts.'
If I regulated my biofactors, they'd whine and cling, but I couldn't fully hold back.
In the past, I'd have dismissed their whining and refused, avoiding overexertion.
But not now.
Having received that touching event and gift... I owed a fitting reward. Even from a service provider(?) mindset, it was natural.
'Above all... despite the hardship, it's been pretty great.'
The sight of five stunning, noble beauties desperately clinging filled a man's satisfaction to the brim.
How many in the universe could witness such a scene?
"Deploying!"
"Got it."
Watching the food pour again, I thought.
'If I hadn't become All Master, I wouldn't even entertain this. Couldn't handle the muscle loss.'
Equipping [Gluttony] from legendary class [Predator] and [Shadow Hell] from mythic class [Shadow Lord] gave me the bizarre ability to eat via shadows. I could even suck in and devour monsters if I tried.
Of course, I didn't.
Shadows let me taste it.
'As emperor, I deserve to indulge in power now and then.'
Ardenia's culinary arts had advanced beyond compare, especially wild boar hindquarters rivaling reality.
Hundreds of dishes from wild boar legs!
Their deodorizing techniques were so advanced that even after thousands, meals were effortless.
"Good work. That's it for today."
"You've worked hard!"
"I just ate—what work? The real work starts now."
I chuckled and stood.
Boom!
In an instant, I was outside the castle walls. No teleport—just movement.
'This... calling it strength feels embarrassing now.'
Surpassing 1,000 strength points unlocked authority [Titan's Might], making strength transcendently powerful, unbound by muscles.
Like telekinesis, strength projected outward!
Screeech—!
I stretched dimensions. Not localized rifts but massive interference strained my limbs tremendously.
Hum!
Whoooosh—!
Advancing along ley lines, stretching dimensions. Magical sight... but pure strength training.
"Hah... hah... Ugh, gonna die."
Panting, I repeated. Food alone couldn't recover lost muscle—essential process.
"Welcome! Your Majesty!"
"Long live! Long live! Hooray!"
"His Majesty! His Majesty is here!"
Waving to the cheering imperials, I continued dimension stretching.
Extending it to one side of the castle.
[Alert] 17th Dimension Tunnel Opened [Success]
Castles connected.
"You've worked hard!"
"You've worked hard!"
"Oh! Great Emperor!"
"Long life without illness!"
Waving to the cheers again, I returned to Wild Boar, ate, and trained.
"Log out."
Back to reality for狂乱 time with Five Dragons. Flower, most desperate for affection, passed out first.
"Log in."
Back to Ardenia—eat, build tunnels, train strength.
"Log out."
Reality—狂乱 with Five Dragons again. They fainted repeatedly yet kept coming.
"Log in."
"Log out."
Repeat. Alien invasions? No issue. Emperor class All Master's buffs let me solo-cover the continent effortlessly.
"Log in."
"Log out."
Repeat, repeat.
After 14 nights, 15 days of travel.
"Haaa...."
"Incredible... too incredible...."
"Eeek...."
Finally, all Five Dragons collapsed completely.
No restaurants, world trees, or dates—just 14 nights, 15 days in the inn, yet utterly satisfied.
And I.
[Authority Stat Unlocked: Vitality]
[Target: Han Jaeyeon]
Acquired my second authority stat.