Chapter 78
Chapter 78
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: The Emperor's Arrival
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I carefully gripped the steel handcuffs, which could snap at any moment, and scanned the surroundings.
In the meantime, Gigases and monsters of unknown affiliation had gathered the film crew in one spot.
"W-what the hell are you doing? Do you have any idea how backed up our schedule is with this...!"
"Who the hell are you guys!? Do you know how many big shots sponsor our film company...!"
A few staff members protested.
'Trying to act tough when they're completely subdued. As expected of the peaceful 34th Earth... On Ardania, no one would dare raise their head.'
Naturally, the response to their defiance was merciless violence.
*Thwack! Thud!*
"Argh!"
"Wh-what the... Gah!?"
As the bloodied staff rolled on the ground, the murmuring atmosphere turned ice-cold.
"Even the director, who's 7th class, can't use magic."
"Does that make any sense? Mana nullification on this level?"
"No way there's an elder among the enemies, right? Or maybe they brought a battleship or something."
"You're crazy. How would you bring a battleship into the Dream Realm? Those things aren't cheap."
While people buzzed in confusion, I eyed the Gigases surrounding the staff.
'Ten Machine-grade, one Beast-grade.'
Gigases are divided into five tiers under the divine classification of God-Star-Human-Beast-Machine.
These steel giants, named after god, star, human, beast, and machine, possess vast disparities by rank. It's said that God-grade Gigases wield power rivaling transcendents themselves, with abilities bordering on authorities.
'Luckily... they're not genuine. Fakes.'
Having once been deeply interested in Gigases and even worked at Ungnyeo Steel, a Gigases-related company, I could tell at a glance.
Their armor bore no certification marks or logos. And as expected, their cores wouldn't be Iron Hearts but Soul Hearts.
'But that doesn't make them weak. No room for carelessness.'
Though they cost nearly ten times less than genuine models, their firepower, mobility, and output are almost equivalent.
The sole difference? They lack the Iron Heart's cheat-like feature, [Elemental Superiority].
Of course, that one gap is massive, but unarmed as I am, I had to stay sharp.
"Ugh... My strength... I can't muster any power. What the hell is this?"
Some of the stunt team who had trained in biopower were still disoriented. It meant something was wrong with the biofactors enhancing their bodies.
'But it'll recover with time. Biopower has [Resistance] and [Adaptation] abilities.'
Sure enough, the terrorists seemed aware of that, moving with disciplined precision.
"Separate the biopower cultivators! Cuff them!"
"Shoot anyone even slightly suspicious! Biopower users don't die easily anyway!"
Blending in among the crowd, I continued assessing the situation.
The terrorists numbered around fifty—less than half the film crew—but all were armed with integrated firearms. In a mana-nullification zone, they were unstoppable foes.
'And then there are the Gigases.'
The ten Machine-grade Gigases and one Beast-grade were tightening the encirclement, not just standing by but aiming their armaments at the people!
Their menace was so razor-sharp that even the stunt actors trained in combat abilities and the security guards prepared for emergencies dared not resist.
"What's with this guy? Built like a tank, but not a biopower user?"
A woman in her late thirties holding a machine gun pressed the barrel to my temple and asked. Another nearby answered.
"Ah! This guy's here. Name's Han Jaeyeon. Age 23, Sword Master."
"What? A swordmaster doing stunts? Hey, what are you? A swordmaster at 23? You must be some rich kid. Why're you slumming it here?"
She prodded my temple with the gun barrel.
I shrugged.
"Just here to earn some pocket money. And I'm no rich kid. I'm an immigrant too."
I could feel the terrorists surrounding us stirring at my words.
"An immigrant?"
"An immigrant who's a Sword Master at 23...?"
"No way, is that even possible?"
Their reactions confirmed it for me.
'Ah, as expected... they're immigrants.'
While doing stunts on the home shopping channel for a while, the self-defense product host always brought up immigrants.
On the 34th Earth, where crime always leads to arrest and corruption doesn't exist, there's little need for self-defense items.
"An immigrant... Sword Master at that age..."
"No way..."
I could feel their gazes shifting. An unwelcome change in perception.
'Ah, these idiots aren't expecting something from me, are they?'
It was a look I didn't fancy from guys who were tanking immigrant rep in real time. The woman prodding my temple even asked with hopeful eyes.
"You... your origins wouldn't happen to be..."
"Enough chit-chat! Tie them all up and watch them closely! His Imperial Majesty approaches!"
A sharp voice made the terrorists' expressions solemn.
Some of the detained staff muttered in bewilderment.
"No, what... Emperor?"
"Here on the 34th Earth of all places, spouting nonsense like..."
Regardless of the people's bafflement, the terrorists bowed solemnly.
And then he appeared.
*Thud!*
Descending with a heavy thud was a handsome young man.
A white man of average height with gleaming blond hair. Dressed in ornate ceremonial robes, he held a staff larger than himself—bigger than his entire frame.
"You've subdued them without casualties. Well done, everyone."
"Long live His Imperial Majesty!"
"Long live His Imperial Majesty!"
"Don't emphasize a title we've already lost. It's just embarrassing."
The man waved casually with refined poise and sat in a pre-prepared seat.
The film director, Alan Gray, who was bound tighter than anyone, groaned at the sight of him.
"Are you insane? A sect leader committing such crimes!"
'A sect leader?'
I shifted my gaze to the newcomer, but his face was unfamiliar. With countless sects out there, recognizing someone by face alone was tough.
"Crime? Unpleasant word. We merely took the best option available."
"The best option? You mad bastard..."
*Thud!*
"Mind your tongue, you insolent fool!"
A fierce punch sent Alan sprawling. He was undoubtedly a 7th-class high mage, but without mana, he was just an ordinary middle-aged man.
"Don't handle him so roughly, Mack. He's our mouthpiece to the world."
"My apologies, Your Majesty. I couldn't hold back..."
I turned from their obvious play-acting and scanned the area. The entire neighborhood-sized crew was fully subdued. No one had slipped away.
This time, I examined the terrorists encircling us. Resolve etched their faces.
'Resolve.'
To be expected. The 34th Earth wouldn't let this slide. Their personal justice and cause would be crushed under humanity's [Universal Justice].
"Ah, please don't be so rough. I'll come quietly."
"Let go! I'll walk on my own!"
In the meantime, new captives were dragged in: the two leads of our film, aspiring professors.
'Huh?'
I knew the female lead. Naturally. I'd come here because of her, the heroine Scarlett, to begin with.
But the male lead was familiar too.
"Yi Seongjae! As rumored, quite the looker. Uncomfortable spot, but nice to meet you."
"Hahaha. Lord Bram Wizard, I presume. Nice to meet you too, though the circumstances are rather uncomfortable."
"What? Hahaha!"
Bram laughed heartily. But unlike the laugh, his eyes held displeasure.
"You cocky little shit, do you even know where you are!"
As expected, the burly man beside Bram swung a fierce punch.
But the situation differed from Alan's.
*Whoosh!*
The fist sliced empty air. Seongjae had leaned back to dodge.
"You little...?"
"Enough. Even without mana, you'd be dead in one breath from me. Flaunting your bulk like that—aren't you ashamed?"
"You, you bastard..."
"Stand down."
Bram raised a hand, and the burly man retreated, fuming. Around then,
My eyes met Scarlett's.
"......"
"......"
No words exchanged. Not the situation for it. But as I nodded slightly, the anxiety in her eyes faded.
'Am I too trustworthy?'
While I puzzled, Bram spoke.
"Alan, prepare external comms, will you?"
"Gonna call the cops or something?"
To Alan's sarcasm, Bram replied.
"No. Connect to the Steel Realm."
"...What?"
Alan wore a disbelieving expression. Everyone around gaped.
"Crazy? Where?"
"Have you lost your mind?"
The Steel Realm.
Even by greater universe standards, it's a massive force revered by the Leonhardt Empire of the 34th Earth alike—a unique world ruled by the great and exalted Game Master, Gwandaeha.
Its population is under 100 million, its expanse limited, but as the domain of a top-tier transcendent like Gwandaeha, the Steel Realm's might surpasses the 34th Earth dozens of times over, or so it's said.
If Gwanghwamun Square is holy ground, the Steel Realm is the divine realm where the sage-god resides!
Yet these terrorists mentioned it.
"Delusional. Even as a hotshot director, I have no line to the Steel Realm. No idea where you heard that, but."
"Just make the request. Someone else has the connection."
"...What?"
"Right, miss?"
Bram turned to Scarlett.
Her face hardened like stone.
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
Her voice came out staccato. But undeterred, Bram smiled leisurely.
"Heard something amusing. The great and exalted Game Master has a sibling... and that sibling's late-blooming daughter supposedly left the Steel Realm to become a celebrity. Ridiculous rumor, eh?"
"......"
Scarlett said nothing. Instead, others buzzed.
"What does that mean... Hye-young is the Game Master's niece?"
"No way..."
Amid the spreading shock, Bram continued.
"When comms connect, signal the Steel Realm. You must have a way."
"I don't have anything like that! I'm just a failed idol turned actress! Steel Realm? No such thing."
"Ah, can't just contact normally, of course. Must inform them that meddling means the sage-god's precious niece dies."
With that, Bram raised his right hand. The massive staff beside him blazed with radiant light.
"They need to know how resolute we are!"
"W-wait! Hold on! I have a way...!"
*Crunch!*
The erupting light morphed into a massive beast, streaking through the clustered biopower cultivators.
In an instant, over a dozen heads hit the ground—
*Splurt!*
Blood sprayed from severed necks.
"Kyaaah!?"
"They killed them? Killed? They're dead!?"
"How... how could this...!"
Screams erupted. Everyone froze in horror.
'They never expected terrorists to commit [murder] in such a pinch.'
In the past, the Justice God's edicts were ironclad. A DUI, corporal punishment on a child for discipline, negligence by police, prosecutors, or doctors—all branded as sins.
Of course, things had loosened now.
Justice was far more lenient than before. Ordinary folk needn't fear divine punishment unless living like utter degenerates.
However... one rule remained strictly enforced.
Murder.
"Insane! Murder? Massacring multiple people?"
"This changes everything...!"
All eyes turned to Bram in shock.
And as they anticipated, it unfolded.
*Creak—!*
A grating sound as a tattoo etched onto Bram's right cheek: a hand severing over a dozen heads. It wasn't mere ink—alive, replaying the sin endlessly.
The Sin Brand.
The Justice God's punishment. Now branded, low priests could detect him within 15 km, mid within 150 km, high within 1,500 km.
No foothold left on Earth. He was as good as dead.
"Connect the comms, Alan."
"Y-yes, yes, y-yes..."
His earlier bravado gone, Alan unlocked the device and linked up.
Even a 7th-class was a greenhouse flower.
In a blood-soaked slaughter scene, he was as rattled as anyone.
'They're done for.'
Unlike them, my perspective differed.
Having lived 20 years in a medieval land where nobles hunted commoners for sport.
'Perfect self-defense case!'
Embarrassing now, but as a kid, I was nicknamed the delinquent hunter.
Call it what you will—mine was violence.
Yet despite countless police station visits, I was never punished. Meaning I understood the Justice God's rules well.
"Hahaha! Fools! You'll finally hear the voices you've ignored! And you'll answer! Your arrogance... Hm?"
Bram's mad laughter cut short. He'd sensed the threat.
*Ching!*
Light beast coiling around Bram spawned eight layers of barriers.
Then my right handcuff smashed atop them.
*Crack!*
Six layers shattered in one blow. Left handcuff raised, I met his eyes.
"N-no."
"Way!"
*Crack!*
The flung left handcuff tore the last two. And flew straight—
*Thwack!*
Slamming Bram's chest.