Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Aronion (3)
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“You’ve really been through a lot, Master!”
“No, not at all. Just get us back to Seoul safely.”
“Of course, sir!”
The bus driver, who had been with GH Guild since its early days, gripped the steering wheel with a face full of smiles.
“Everyone, please fasten your seatbelts!”
The driver, once hired as a day laborer, was now formally employed by GH Guild, earning a hefty salary.
“We’re heading out!”
He drove with even more vigor than he had back when he was unemployed.
He raced down the roads for hours, heading toward Seoul.
The moment Kang-hyuk returned to Seoul, he showed his face to his family before immediately heading back to Jeju Island with the Ryu Han Empire’s fleet.
“Whew...”
It had only been two days since returning to Seoul, and here he was back on Jeju Island.
Vice Master Arbon had reached the early stage of Mid Grand Master and was now guarding the Korean Peninsula in Kang-hyuk’s stead.
“Your Majesty.”
A soldier from the Ryu Han Empire handed Kang-hyuk a mask.
“Right.”
Kang-hyuk donned the mask over his pristine white uniform and disembarked in Seogwipo City on Jeju Island.
“Welcome, Your Majesty.”
An executive from the Korean Hunters Association greeted him.
“I’ll guide you to the gate.”
Kang-hyuk nodded once.
The association executive looked at him with a tense expression.
The Ryu Han Empire’s national power-level asset... If something happened to him, the empire would be thrown into chaos.
The security of the Korean Peninsula would be at risk too.
But if the emperor inflicted heavy damage on Aronion, the Spirit Race there would hesitate to attack Earth.
“As for the soldiers behind you...”
Dozens of soldiers stood behind Kang-hyuk.
The uniformed soldier at the front stepped forward.
“We’ll be accompanying His Majesty as well.”
“I... I see. Concrete walls coated in mana have been erected around the gate. Once we confirm via CCTV that you’re not from the Spirit Race, we’ll open the iron gate immediately.”
Kang-hyuk nodded once more.
“Then, good luck.”
Kang-hyuk crossed into Aronion with his soldiers.
Snap!
“We pay respects to His Majesty the Emperor, sun of the Ryu Han Empire.”
“Yes. What’s the situation?”
“The occupation of Aronion is proceeding smoothly. However, the climate in Aronion is a bit...”
“Hm?”
“It’s said that food production is difficult in most territories. We’ve also heard that Spirit Race members are concentrated in certain areas.”
“I see. I’ll hear the details from the legion commander.”
“I’ll guide you.”
Kang-hyuk followed the soldier into the command tent.
Snap!
The legion commander urgently dropped to one knee and bowed his head.
“Rise.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Report the situation.”
The legion commander elaborated on what the soldier had mentioned earlier.
Due to climate changes, agriculture had become nearly impossible across much of Aronion.
“Prices are skyrocketing. And with South Korea reclaiming the southern regions, corporate stocks have plummeted as well...”
“What’s Aronion’s population like?”
“Around 1.3 billion Spirit Race members reside here.”
“1.3 billion?”
“Yes. Hundreds of years ago, over 3 billion humans lived on Aronion, but after the Spirit Race won the racial war, their numbers dwindled to just a few hundred thousand.”
“Practically wiped out.”
“That’s about right. Other races like Beastmen, demons, Dwarves, and so on were completely exterminated as well.”
“I wonder if the other dimensions are in the same state.”
Kang-hyuk let out a small sigh.
“So, how far along is the occupation?”
“Aronion... can be considered already in our hands.”
Aronion consisted of three continents.
Two of them had such scorching weather that crop production was virtually impossible.
90% of the Spirit Race lived clustered on one continent.
“Even on those two continents, Spirit Race only inhabit certain areas. Forces from both have expressed willingness to surrender. They must fear Rispien that much.”
“Move some of Rispien to the Ryu Han Empire.”
At Kang-hyuk’s order, the legion commander looked concerned.
“South Korea might heighten their alerts.”
“Hand a few over to South Korea, and they’ll look the other way.”
“But South Korea...”
“Rispien isn’t a nuke. It’s just a weapon on par with one. Fundamentally different from a nuke, right?”
“Well...”
The United States was in no position to help Korea right now.
Much less risk their own safety to fight for an ally.
“At least Aronion still has vast untapped resources. Plus, their technological prowess will be a huge boon to the Ryu Han Empire.”
Aronion’s biggest issue was food.
Solve the food problem, and they could reap technology and resources from it.
“I should take a vacation while we consolidate control over Aronion.”
“Your family...”
“I told them I’m diving into a dungeon. Let’s go sightsee some Spirit Race cities.”
“Understood.”
Kang-hyuk rode in a vehicle to the nearest city.
Ryu Han Empire soldiers armed with rifles patrolled the streets.
The Spirit Race eyed them fearfully but continued their daily lives.
“It’s just like Earth.”
“They had this level of technology hundreds of years ago too. But once Rispien use ramped up, massive casualties occurred across the continents... It took a long time to recover.”
“Oh yeah, don’t the Otherworld Races have magic artifacts that can maintain dimensional gates semi-permanently?”
“Yes, that’s right. It wasn’t developed in Aronion, though...”
Apparently, info on magic artifacts developed in the Dwarf dimension had spread to others.
Cooperative dimensions could now manufacture them too.
Of course, Earth hadn’t received the tech transfer.
“We need to get tech transfers from Aronion too. Move their weapons to the Korean Peninsula.”
“I’ll prepare it.”
Products made in Aronion would all pass through the Ryu Han Empire before being sold to China and Korea.
“What about the Spirit God?”
“Say the emperor and legion commanders of the Ryu Han Empire banded together to take it down.”
They also planned to announce that the legion commanders had reached S1-rank.
“The Ryu Han Empire must be credited with slaying the Spirit God and occupying Aronion.”
Otherwise, South Korea would claim ownership.
Ryu Han Empire troops commandeered fleets of trucks from Spirit God-run companies, loading them with Rispien and various firearms.
Tanks, armored vehicles, and other weapons were being stripped out entirely.
As Aronion was disarmed, the Spirit Race plunged into anxiety.
Click.
The Ryu Han Empire troops distributed Aronion rifles to maintain order.
Police and prosecution leadership—every organization’s executives—were replaced with Ryu Han Empire personnel.
All pistols held by existing Spirit Race police were confiscated.
The Ryu Han Empire announced the Spirit God’s death via media and declared Aronion a territory of the empire.
Protests erupted in opposition, but the troops refrained from using force against peaceful demonstrations.
“Fall back!”
Ryu Han Empire troops facing protesters retreated, taking care to ensure civilian safety.
Mistaking this, some Spirit Race citizens charged at them.
“They’re scared! We have to drive them out!”
“Let’s go!”
Waaaaah!
The peaceful protest turned violent in an instant.
Spirit Race members rushed the troops, snatching rifles.
They immediately took Ryu Han Empire soldiers hostage.
This happened simultaneously across multiple cities.
With the war not yet fully over, the empire deployed additional forces.
“Fire!”
Bang! Bang-bang-bang!
Ryu Han Empire troops unleashed gunfire on the protesters.
Flames erupted from the muzzles of tanks rolling onto the streets.
Boom! Boom-boom-boom!
“Kuaaaagh...!”
“R-Run...!”
“The R-Ryu Han Empire troops are attacking protesters...!”
Kaboom! Kwarung—!
The Ryu Han Empire troops attacked the protesters and immediately broadcast the incident on TV and the internet.
Ryu Han Empire troops had retreated passively against peaceful protesters.
Whenever clashes occurred, they responded carefully to avoid harming civilians.
As similar footage spread from cities nationwide, a strange atmosphere brewed on Aronion’s SNS.
As protesters were massacred by Ryu Han Empire troops, the Spirit Race fell into great unease.
They feared they might suffer the same fate.
The troops rescued hostages and immediately detained those in unauthorized protests.
Of course, permitted protests criticizing the Ryu Han Empire were allowed to voice freely.
Days passed like this, and Kang-hyuk returned to Jeju Island with his empire soldiers.
The association executive monitoring CCTV jumped to his feet.
“Open the gate now!”
“Yes, sir.”
As the subordinate opened the gate, the executive rushed out to greet Kang-hyuk.
“Y-Your... Majesty!”
The 1st Legion Commander blocked his path.
“His Majesty is fatigued from battling the grand generals. If you have business, speak with me.”
“Ah...”
Kang-hyuk nodded once and left with his empire soldiers.