Chapter 145: The Round Table

Contrary to Yongyong’s concerns, the atmosphere was not accusatory. This was not an interrogation or questioning. Rather, it was something like…

“Hmm…”

“World…”

“Is this a new pet His Majesty has brought in?”

“He always did enjoy curious things.”

“I’m simply envious it was with His Majesty all this time…”

“I want to see him soon…”

“His Majesty is…”

The heck?

For a moment, Yongyong was so thrown by the sudden shift in atmosphere that he wondered if his group was being ignored. Where had the sharp mood from earlier gone? It was as if the change in tone suggested they were far too insignificant to have any connection to Karlstein’s disappearance.

While not entirely inaccurate, to be dismissed to this extent… even Yongyong felt a twinge of hurt.

“Well, His Majesty is famous for his eccentricities.”

“Eccentricities? Mind your tongue.”

“I didn’t mean it that way.”

“That little one is so cute. Perpe was her name, right?”

“Looking at her record, her talents aren’t bad either.”

“Would you tell us about your time with His Majesty?”

As if the previous conversation had been an act, a warm breeze seemed to circulate the hall.

“A dragon… His Majesty suggested body enhancement first? Interesting.”

“And how did His Majesty seem to you, Mr. Yongyong?”

“!!”

Yongyong realized this was an opportunity to lighten the mood.

“Y-yas!”

Though his tongue stumbled, Yongyong quickly answered.

“Oh, how cute.”

“It seems the enhancement procedure was carried out properly.”

“And he appears to be fairly loyal.”

Praise could make even dragons dance!

But perhaps it was too early to feel relieved—silence fell over the meeting hall at someone’s words.

“But that one has the eyes of a female?”

“!!”

Yongyong felt a chill inside. Female?

Fortunately, he was not the subject. Tension arose as everyone’s gaze turned to a certain woman.

Virdel!

“Ump!”

Yongyong felt as if an enormous hand was squeezing him, every inch of his body pinned under insane pressure. The air itself seemed to harden into needles, stabbing into his lungs. This was beyond unsettling—it was chilling. ʀА₦ꝋ𝐁ĘṨ

Had they not just been laughing moments ago, exchanging lighthearted comments in a “who loves Oradge more” mood?

Agh…

Yongyong could not relax, even if he wanted to. The pressure he felt was heavier than when they had been bickering among themselves, even though he was not the focus of their scrutiny.

Why was Virdel bearing this in silence, her eyes fierce with resolve? Was it competitive spirit? No… it was a more… desperate and lingering emotion. Not that Yongyong could understand.

Just when it seemed something might break—

“Waaah!”

The crushing pressure snapped, dispelled by a child’s wailing cry.

“Waaaah!”

A sobbing voice, filled with pure distress.

P-Perpe!

Truthfully, Yongyong was dumbfounded. Though she acted like a child, she was actually far stronger than him. He held back a sigh of resignation.

“…?”

But to his surprise, no reprimands followed. The shadows around the round table fell speechless, as if flustered.

“…”

“Mmm…”

“Argh.”

No way, this works? Weren’t they about to rip into us?

Yongyong glanced over at Virdel, who let out a relieved sigh. Even that usually robotic Bluadge showed emotion, which spoke to the terror they had all just felt.

In any case, they survived thanks to Perpe.

“Couldn’t you have been gentler?”

“Was I the only one?”

“It’s because you act so vicious even His Majesty—“

“Excuse me?”

“Tsk tsk. It’s clear how you’d treat your children.”

“Come to think of it, wasn’t she Grand Duchess Maxien’s disciple?”

“She does have spirit, although arrogant and utterly weak.”

“Haha, the Grand Duchess would love to hear that.”

“Now that’s sudden.”

“Hmph. Maxien was just lucky.”

“Haha. Funny, when you can’t even say that to her face.”

“Excuse me?”

“Ahem. Anyway, we went too far. They’re just fragile children, after all.”

“You started it though?”

“I only said one thing?”

“Hmph! The way you try to stick your daughter onto His Majesty—“

The shadowy figures fell into a bewildering mess of an argument. Yongyong gave up trying to understand.

Just then, a clear voice broke through the chaos.

“In any case, let us get back on topic.”

It was the woman known as the Chancellor.

Come to think of it, most of them are women…?

Yongyong felt like he was onto something, but his wandering thoughts were cut short by the Chancellor’s next words.

“This is my proposal.”

She continued in an icy voice.

“We will invade all dimensions and continue the search.”

What?

Yongyong was stunned.

They’ll in-invade dimensions for a search?

But the reaction around the table was even more unsettling…

“Not a bad idea.”

“I suppose we should spread out to end the matter quickly.”

“Aren’t dimensions just planets after all?”

“I was itching for some action.”

“Hehe.”

“No need to waste time.”

Ah. What kind of place is this…?

Yongyong meekly lowered his gaze. The world here was far too ruthless for him.

***Karlstein sighed, completely unaware of the situation.

“Haah…”

He could not fathom what could be holding up the Galactic Empire. Even Perpe’s return seemed uncertain.

“Who knows if everything’s gone to hell without me there.”

In truth, Karlstein had prioritized meeting with Perpe because he assumed it would be a quick matter. And even if that were not possible, he believed the Galactic Empire and Aria would locate him soon enough.

“Should I feel happy about this?”

His subjects did have a tendency to be overzealous, so this neglect play brought him both relief and a bit of disappointment. It was an odd mix of feelings.

“Ugh.”

Putting that aside, it seemed he had no choice but to take action.

I’ll have to do it after all.

Similar to the [Integrated Dimensional Community], the Tower of Trials had a faint connection to other dimensions. While the signal was weak, a wave-type Avatar could still pick it up.

Karlstein’s plan was to synchronize the Towers and use them as a makeshift network to transmit a signal to the Galactic Empire.

Tsk, how embarrassing. What is this, some SOS signal?

The Galactic Emperor sending an SOS rescue signal? The one and only Karlstein?

Ahh… He was ashamed to show his face. This was the one thing he had wanted to avoid.

He had wished to rest while waiting for Perpe’s arrival…

Rumble-

Yet for some reason, events were taking a strange turn, spiraling out of control to the point where he could no longer stand by.

Boom-

Skree!

Standing on the edge of a building, Karlstein peered down. A crack opened in space, unleashing a swarm of Kaiju. The soldiers and Hunters below fought to fend them off.

Rumble-

“That’s already the twelfth one…”

At this rate, the world would be destroyed before he could even send his SOS. The Kaiju were growing in both strength and numbers.

“Is this some… some kind of apocalypse?”

A suppressed sigh escaped Karlstein’s lips. Even he did not expect the chaos to escalate so endlessly. His screen displayed humanity’s struggle against the Kaiju across the globe.

A mother threw herself in front of her child. Soldiers sacrificed themselves to distract the beasts. An older sister, legs trembling, wielded a stick to protect her fallen sibling. An old man fought for his family, drawing strength from sheer determination.

“…”

The sight unsettled Karlstein.

Was it pity? Partly, yes, but there was more to it.

“How familiar…”

Watching humanity being ravaged by Kaiju brought to mind memories of the Galactic Empire’s darkest days. Though such tragedies rarely came to pass ever since they reclaimed the Barrier, it used to be an everyday occurrence in the Empire.

“…”

Waves of Kaiju had once devastated their empire, ceaselessly attacking, taking lives without mercy. It was a time soaked in blood and unending loss.

“To see humanity brought so low by mere Kaiju…”

Even Korea was starting to reach its limit. A few more waves would bring catastrophic casualties.

“It’s hard to bear.”

A heavy, stony feeling lodged in Karlstein’s chest, fury rising for reasons he could not quite name.

“And I already have enough to deal with as it is.”

He made up his mind. Though it might bruise his pride a little..

Beep-

“…”

The moment Karlstein pressed the red button on his holographic screen, a surge of Ether drained from his body.

-Gaaagh! S-save me!

Coincidentally, his screen showed a Hunter struggling below, his ankle clamped in the jaws of a Kaiju.

“…”

Karlstein flicked his finger.

Bang-

An Ether bullet shot out, blowing up the Kaiju’s body. The Hunter looked around in astonishment.

Taking one last glance at the stunned Hunter, Karlstein activated the communication channel.

[Hear me, Earthlings.]

Karlstein’s voice echoed across the world through the Anarchy system.

[I am Karlstein Babylon, Emperor of the Galactic Empire.]@@novelbin@@

His expression was grave, contrasting with his usual attitude. His every word was weighted with authority.

[Henceforth…]

Until now, his claim over the planet had been in name only; in truth, he had hardly interfered.

[Earth will fall under the Galactic Empire’s dominion.]

Words came with responsibility.

[This is my will, and none of you possess the right of refusal.]

Especially when spoken by the Galactic Emperor himself.

[New subjects of the Galactic Empire.]

This time, he spoke not out of playfulness, but with solemnity.

[Welcome… the Galactic Empire.]

His promise held infinite weight as he understood the weight of words.

What he offered was salvation in the guise of invasion.

[With the glory of the Empire as your torch—fulfill your duties as subjects.]

As Karlstein finished, his voice became a catalyst, and an invisible signal pulsed from the heart of the Tower of Trials.

Rumble-

Beep- Beep-

Red and blue screens flashed and faded in rapid succession before him.

“Good. I would’ve been mad if you’d been any later.”

Karlstein raised the corners of his mouth.

Beep-

Bzzt-

He issued a command, one that resonated throughout Earth.

[As ruler of the Galactic Empire, I command you.]

Beep- Beep-

Beep- Beep-

At last, they had located him, just in time.

[Master…]

Karlstein’s eyes curved gently as an emotional whisper echoed in his ear.

[Annihilate the Kaiju.]

Thousands of portals opened worldwide, and a fleet of spaceships began descending.

[Anarchy System Loading…]

Bzzt-

[Switching to Galactic Empire Integrated Management System.]

Beep-

The forces of the Empire, freshly mobilized and ready, poured through the portals into Earth.

Rumble-

The Kaiju scattered around the globe began to be swept away by the furious tide of the Galactic Empire.