Chapter 202
Chapter 202
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 202
Chapter Title: 68. Transcender (3)
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"Hey there, young fella."
Christoph's voice came out in curt bursts.
The old man, who had been laughing uproariously even when there was nothing funny, was now suddenly putting on a stern face as he pleased.
"I don't know where some unheard-of punk like you rolled in from, stirring up trouble."
"……."
"But you seem to have some pride in yourself, don't you? From the way you act. Looks like you took down a few monsters back in the war days. That's why you can stiffen your neck in front of one of Kalliovan's Five Great Transcenders."
Yoo Ji-tae didn't respond.
The Federation had a massive problem right now.
"Didn't you think something like this? Back in the day, guys like me—nothing special. Now they've climbed onto the Federation's back, making a name for themselves and puffing out their chests. So really, if they got kicked off the Federation's back, they'd be about my height, right? Something like that?"
The cause of Earth being utterly wrecked in the Second Great War to come.
"Don't get cocky, kid."
They were living in the past.
"This Christoph Freeman is a hero of the Great War and one of Kalliovan's Five Great Transcenders."
Defining the present only as the past. Even looking at the approaching future, they couldn't redefine the present.
This was the atmosphere rampant in the Federation. It was a sentiment felt by everyone who had shared that immense hardship. Not just the old hero in front of him. Antonio Jefferson too. The Chairman. Even that BM.
Crushing this old man with force right here would be no big deal.
But then Yoo Ji-tae would just be seen as some unknown entity. Things would proceed inefficiently. The regressor had considered various scenarios. And he chose one. For now, let him go.
"Is that all you had to say?"
At Yoo Ji-tae's words, Christoph chuckled with a deflating voice.
"Youth is nice, huh? Yeah, real nice. Barking away without knowing how high the sky is. I was the same when I was young."
"Want me to bark some more? The great hero of the Great War shows up and all he says is he doesn't like me, plans to make my life hell, and that he's the best. Even my kid doesn't act like that. You gotta know that's childish."
The old man's deflating laughter grew a bit louder at the listless voice leaking out. It wasn't mockery—it was genuine laughter from the heart.
But when the old man sobered up, a heavy silence fell over the office.
"If I were ten years younger, I'd have grabbed you by the collar right here. Huh? You little brat."
The regressor emotionlessly recalled ten years ago and responded to his words.
"That's not it."
"What?"
The listless voice put a period on the conversation.
"Ten years ago, you'd be dead by my hand right now."
'Well, let's see you do better.' After the silence, Christoph spat those words and left the room. On his way out, the old man couldn't fully suppress his killing intent, making the air in the office tremble unstably.
Perhaps the man, who lived off the pride of being one of the Five Great Transcenders, refrained from striking the insolent junior's neck—and held back that boiling rage—because of his instincts.
For some reason, Christoph felt he shouldn't get more involved with the kid in front of him.
In any case, the conversation was over.
The next day.
The 'One' report was released, turning the command center upside down. Talk of an SS+ grade dungeon very likely appearing in the South Amazon.
An SS+ grade dungeon itself wouldn't shake the Federation, but its location near the Amazon rainforest caused massive waves.
Provisional units began forming.
"Shall we head to Central Command?"
That day, Yoo Ji-tae, Clone 1, and Kang A-jin were all busy. They had to gather people from each unit.
But units willingly cooperating were few.
"We'll think about it."
"We're booked solid until next year."
"That's tricky."
They could force it, or scare some unit leaders into complying. But Yoo Ji-tae didn't.
"I didn't get a good response either... Sorry."
Kang A-jin bowed her head dejectedly. He waved it off.
At least Antonio Jefferson used Central Command's authority to gather the most units. So that evening, the provisional staff officer of the newly formed 'South Amazon Guardian Unit' visited them.
"But as you all know... This report is too radical."
The staff officer said. He continued in a voice tinged with concern.
"If things go wrong, someone has to take responsibility for borrowing the Federation's power. Especially since it's a unit formed on suspicion alone. If not for Sir Jefferson's strong insistence, this unit wouldn't even exist."
"No need to worry. I'll take responsibility."
It was Clone 1's answer.
"Hm... Good. Even so, we might not meet the full force you want."
"It feels that way already. Is there a reason?"
"Isn't it obvious? With such short service records, who would trust you and volunteer?"
"Is that the 5th Command Room's stance?"
"What? Hey—! That's not a good attitude. I'm letting it slide because I'm a nice guy, but that was borderline insubordination. The Federation has ears everywhere. Don't talk like that outside."
"My apologies. However, additional military force beyond necessity isn't required."
The staff officer nodded.
"For an SS+ grade dungeon?"
"Yes. Just help as you can."
"What? If a dungeon really appears as you say, and we lack enough superhumans to suppress it, that's fine? Superhumans can just dodge around and survive. If it breaks out, we'll deploy more forces anyway. We have to protect Earth's lungs. From there, it's the Federation's responsibility. But..."
The middle-aged staff officer tilted his head curiously at him.
"By the way, you and your two colleagues are really strange."
"What's strange?"
"You don't ask about rewards tied to responsibility?"
"No need."
"Ha ha, no need for rewards...? What, are you saviors or something?"
"If we craved material or fame, wouldn't we have holed up after the war? We'll take it if offered. But if not, we won't seek it."
The staff officer's eyes widened at those words.
In truth, rewards meant nothing. If Yoo Ji-tae wanted, he could have material and fame anytime convincingly.
Clone 1 had just acted according to his setting. But it seemed to sit well with the commander.
"Interesting. Even post-war recluses... How can people be so free of greed? It sparks ambition."
It was a probing question. What was he after?
"As long as no one dies."
It was an answer meaning: just stop the regression.
"Hm. You talk like a real 'hero'..."
The commander misunderstood and admired.
However, one commander's personal fondness aside, the Federation remained exclusive toward them.
Another day passed, with only five days left. As the unit was hastily assembled, Jefferson—finished with secretary duties—visited Yoo Ji-tae late at night.
"The forces?"
"We're gathering for now. 10th Airborne Special Forces Squad. 'Lamia' Anti-Monster Processing Unit. 'DAN' SS Low Strike Squad. Central Command 3rd Army... Combining them gets us about 120 personnel somehow."
"120 for an SS+ dungeon. They really hate committing people."
"This was hard to gather."
"Ranker forces."
"37th, 66th, 91st, 181st. And On Seung-o is included for personal activities. Excluding Seung-o, they're all displeased, but since it's direct command, we squeezed them in."
Jefferson asked Kang A-jin, sitting beside Yoo Ji-tae.
"What did the 5th Command Room say they lacked?"
"Ah, yes. My apologies. I suggested a few times, but they wouldn't budge."
"Tch."
Jefferson rolled his eyes. Then he slightly frowned at Kang A-jin.
"You, step out for a bit."
Kang A-jin widened her eyes but nodded.
"Yes."
Once she left the office, Jefferson spoke with a hardened expression.
"Season."
"Speak."
"I want to talk a bit about the future."
"What're you curious about."
"Right now, honestly, even I can't quite grasp this SS+ dungeon breaking out."
"So."
"But if it does. What do you plan afterward? The future you predicted was three SSS+ rifts erupting. Rifts with mutual interference won't cluster. If they pop up all over the world..."
Jefferson continued in a subtle tone, then furrowed his brow.
Yoo Ji-tae glanced at the door Kang A-jin had exited through, then turned to Jefferson.
"The Federation can't block them without losses."
"Probably."
The 'great evil' was power equal to three adult dragons combined. And the army it brought would be three times that of the past East Asia Great War.
"If that's all true. With dimensional interference, SSS+ dungeons will spread worldwide. We need to somehow gather them in one place. That would minimize damage."
And Jefferson's thinking was spot on.
"But who's gonna do that? They're not just any rifts—they're SSS+."
So his sigh was justified too.
He didn't know the witch 'Valentine' could even alter SSS+ dungeon coordinates.
"There's a way. And they've already started planning."
"What is it? That amazing method?"
"Bring the witch."
"Pardon? The witch... you mean Valentine, that senile old fox?"
Calling the former Federation master's owner a senile fox. But there was reason.
"Yeah."
"Then what? Can your friend 'One' really find the witch's location?"
"Yep."
"My god... But even if you meet, the problem comes after. The witch... Valentine is a scary woman."
"It's fine. No issues."
That was when Yoo Ji-tae said that.
'Eek? Uwaaah?! Eeeek...!'
A scream-like voice transmitted into Yoo Ji-tae's mind.
A young, childish scream. It was Clone 2.
"……."
Looked like a problem had arisen.
Three minutes earlier.
Clone 2 was breaking out in cold sweat.
"What's wrong, kiddo?"
Even from meters away, the thick scent of murderous intent made his mind go blank.
How far had I gotten?
Clone 2 slowly retraced his memory.
First, he'd said he needed her help.
A big war was coming. He asked her to twist dimensional coordinates to give directionality to the rifts.
And then?
The queen-like woman laughed.
'Ten years have passed since I was dethroned as Ruler. Now I'm a powerless frail lady. And you're asking something harsh of me.'
Complaining about being given hard work.
'Me, for you. Asking me to risk my life?'
Just how tough was it? She had to risk her life.
But her words felt off somewhere. In another cycle from Yoo Ji-tae's memories, she hadn't lacked power to twist dimensional coordinates. Even after quitting as Ruler, the witch had world-topping strength. Not for nothing was she former Rank 1.
"Uh-huh..."
And that laugh.
That was weird too.
She'd never laughed like that at Yoo Ji-tae...
What's the difference between me and the Sovereign?
Why didn't she laugh in other cycles, but laughs at me?
Pondering, Clone 2 found two differences.
He, modeled after Cycle 2 Yoo Ji-tae, lacked the Sovereign's overwhelming pressure that forcibly stamped down presences.
And one more...
"I heard you well, 'kiddo'."
He was a fifteen-year-old-ish young Yoo Ji-tae.
"But. It's strange."
"What's strange?"
"For a deal, we need fitting compensation, right? If you want bread, you pay money. What do you think about that?"
"Pardon? Yes. Sure."
The witch's lips slowly curled up leisurely.
Her gaze leisurely scanned Clone 2's body. For some reason, it gave him chills.
"But what you're asking for now is my life. Right?"
"Your life? Uh, no, that's not..."
"If—"
The witch cut off Clone 2's mumbling.
"...you want my life. What fitting compensation can you offer me?"
"Uh, uh... That's..."
"Don't know?"
"……."
"It's okay. You can not know. You're still young."
"Pardon...?"
"You can learn from now on."
A long, white finger extended, pointing at Clone 2. 'Uh-hum, hee-hee-hum...' And she laughed as if he were adorable.
She crooked her white finger beckoningly. Then pointed to the spot beside her, where flowers bloomed.
"Come here."
"Pardon?"
"Come here, I said. What you don't know. Big sis will teach you from now on."
His heart sank.
No.
Can't go.
A feeling that something huge would happen washed over him like waves from his chest.
The slow, soft whisper continued.
"What are you doing? Kiddo."
Clone 2's face flushed red.
"Come on..."