Chapter 194

An overwhelming crowd had spontaneously gathered in Gwanghwamun Square, shouting themselves hoarse.

The signs they held bore these words:

Who judges justice?

Though the atmosphere was solemn and resolute, I couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight of this protest.

If only they followed the Ardenian way; everything would be settled by now.

During my ten years in Ardenia, I witnessed numerous schemes unfold. Nobles formed political factions, guilds used brute force to wreak havoc, and merchants subtly colluded to disrupt market order.

Yet, the solution to each of these problems proved surprisingly simple:

I’d just wipe them out.

Politics is only troublesome when you lack power; with sufficient might, all problems can be neatly resolved. With limitless wealth, authority no one can defy, and transcendent military force, any intricate schemes by others are akin to a child’s play.

Of course, I couldn’t do that on Earth-34. It values human rights.

However, at their core, Earth-34 and the Human Empire aren’t significantly different. Those immigrants seem to think they’re fighting a winnable battle, but it’s just a massive misconception by naive fools.

“Jaeyeon! What are you doing?”

At that moment, Ruby descended into the training room wearing shortsleeved shirt so short her bellybutton showed and tight-fitting pants.

Despite her small stature, she boasted a perfect curve with well-defined contours that accentuated her feminine figure.

It seems like my skin is becoming more exposed each day.

I nodded as I pondered this thought.

“Just doing some light stretching.”

Gurgle…

I had just escaped from Body Hell, the ambitious creation of a specialized fitness equipment company. Despite only being set at the highest level for an hour, sweat poured down my body like rain, and steam rose from my entire frame. If it weren’t for the ventilation system, the training room would have been shrouded in fog.

Ah, indeed, discipline can only be achieved on Earth.

The science and magic of Ardenia were advancing by leaps and bounds thanks to the power of the answer key, but even so, they couldn’t yet produce transcendent-grade gym equipment.

The dwarves, who were reverse-engineering a gigas every day, might be able to produce something similar if they ever managed to secure a steady supply of them.

As I lamented my situation, Ruby raised her hand towards me.

“Wow… check out those muscles.”

“What are you fiddling with?”

“Squelch…”

“Ruby?”

“Hat! No, no! I’m not usually one for such things, but I can’t help it. You really have an impressive physique.”

Since signing the contract with the star dragon and moving to this new residence, I had naturally grown closer to the members of the F·D team.

I’ve been thinking this all along.

This time, as I watched Ruby playfully pinching my abs, the thought crossed my mind again.

Why is she so friendly? She seems to flirt quite often too. It feels like there might be some sort of agreement among the five of us…

As a Transcendent being, it was inevitable that I would possess a strong ego. After all, dragons were renowned for their arrogance and lack of manners—hence the nickname “Proud Dragon.”

Yet F-D exhibited none of these traits.

Snow and Flower, known for their inherent kindness, naturally treated me with warmth and consideration. Even Sapphire, though reserved and formal, showed remarkable thoughtfulness in everything she did. Hwakyu, famous for his reticence, went out of his way to be considerate. And Ruby, despite her cute appearance and reputation for occasional outbursts, proved incredibly caring towards me at every turn.

Honestly, I’m grateful for this treatment, but I can’t help feeling puzzled.

Life as a Star Dragon left nothing to be desired. With five beautiful women, each possessing unique charms, loving and cherishing me, how could there possibly be any room for dissatisfaction?

I’d heard he liked humans with a hero’s spirit, but I wasn’t sure if I possessed such a thing myself… Even if I did, it seemed rather excessive.

“Smile.”

“Ruby. You’re sweating a lot.”

“So what? A hero’s sweat is free of impurities.”

I stroked Ruby’s hair, which was draped over my thigh. After gaining control of my life factors and minimizing their leakage, I had relentlessly trained my body. This had resulted in me growing to a height of 7 feet 6 inches and weighing in at 617 pounds. The petite Ruby fit perfectly into my embrace.

Now what about our schedule…?

As I pondered this, I watched the news. It reported that descendants of immigrants who arrived on Earth-34 long ago now made up more than half of the population, and they were beginning to exert political power as a cohesive group.

“Jaeyeon-ssi.”

At that moment, Flower entered the training room. She was dressed in leggings and a loose-fitting t-shirt. Seeing Ruby, she spoke:

“Ruby. Aren’t you clinging on too tightly?”

“I just happened to be taking a break. Are you planning to exercise, Flower?”

“No, not at all. Jaeyeon-ssi has a guest here.”

“A guest?”

Ever since moving into the Star Dragon’s Tower, I had been completely freed from annoying interactions. This wasn’t surprising, as there were now seven Transcendents living in the tower, including myself. On Earth-34, few beings dared to approach us casually.

The tower boasted its own gate and even a recall magic circle, rendering any wait outside futile. As for illegal intrusions or espionage attempts, they weren’t worth considering.

“Yes. They mentioned they have something to say about the current Stigma situation.”

”…I think I have a general idea of who they might be.”

I moved Ruby from my thigh, then lightly washed up and changed clothes.

As we entered the break room on the fifth floor, I saw two burly men and a white woman with sparkling blonde hair.

Their power levels were quite high, around 8th class or so.

Hmm. Now I understand. It’s a kind of… inflated ability. I suspected it was too much for an 8th class.

I couldn’t confirm this now, but Bram, the 8th-class mage who had attacked our movie shoot in the past, must have been in a similar situation.

This could happen when someone used special techniques, spells, or elixirs to artificially raise their power level.

It must be very expensive to boost your level like this… Could such things really exist?

If there was ever a place to use Ardenian, I thought as I opened my mouth.

“You said you had something to say about the stigma situation.”

I went straight to business; while I valued social etiquette, these people weren’t worth it.

“How rude! Still, I expected at least some basic courtesy.”

“It’s me, Han Jaeyeon.”

The woman’s eyes narrowed at this curt reply. Despite her exceptional beauty, her mask-like expression made her seem artificial. She set down her cup of tea.

A man standing behind her spoke up:

“We’re in the presence of Elizabeth V, Queen of the mighty United States and Protector of Faith. If you’re from Earth-98, show some respect.”

“Oh, it’s you again, Celestial Society? What should I do with these fools…?”

A sigh escaped me involuntarily. I had suspected it might be true, but to have my suspicions confirmed…

The man standing to her left bristled at my lament.

“You insolent wretch!” he snarled. “Having tasted power, you dare betray your very roots—”

“Where did you…”

His raven-black hair swayed as Hwakyu materialized beside me with a coquettish smile.

“Who do you think you are, raising your voice here?”

Boom!

An overwhelming presence radiated from him—a cold aura as menacing as a beast’s jaws snapping shut around one’s neck.

The men who had been about to raise their voices fell silent. Even Elizabeth, whose face had been relaxed moments ago, now looked pale.

How pathetic.

On Earth-98, both science and magic flourished, though not to the extent of Earth-34. Still, there were quite a few high-ranking ability users in this world.

However, there were no Transcendents among them.

Whether it was due to a lack of such talent or some other reason remained unclear… In any case, this absence seemed to have led these people to not take the concept of Transcendents seriously. They mistakenly believed that the difference between Class 8 and Class 9 was minimal, akin to just one step on a ladder.

“Don’t be too hard on him, Hwakyu,” I interjected. “He simply lacks proper understanding.”

Hwakyu chuckled at my words.

“Heh-heh. While I despise civilizations that dismiss Transcendents outright… even this is irritating in its own way. My apologies for interrupting; please continue as if I’m not here.” With that, Hwakyu sprawled out, resting his head on my lap, completely ignoring the others around us.

I gently stroked his shoulder before turning to look at Elizabeth.

“I know you desperately wanted to see me. You even came looking in person and bombarded my mother with calls.”

But none of it was any use. I only contacted a handful of close friends and barely left the house. I didn’t go for walks or exercise, and never showed up at the restaurant down the street. There was nothing they could do from their end.

Even if it’s just a studio apartment, isn’t it impossible to illegally break into a building right in the heart of Seoul? And since I didn’t even step out into the hallway, it was even more difficult.

“Of course… Aren’t you one of Earth 98’s proudest talents, who succeeded through your own strength? To those powerless immigrants…”

”…I thought we’d use her face.”

”…”

This [Justice Crisis] must have been long in the making. The process of corrupting justice would require both time and risk.

Corrupted justice, disciples of a rampaging God of Justice…

Such an event would surely stir great social upheaval, and indeed, countless immigrants were swept up in it. However, every social movement needs a focal point—a charismatic leader around whom dissent can coalesce.

How beautiful the picture might have been if, when the immigrants rose up to demand their rights, they had found at their head a Transcendent from Earth 98—that is, an immigrant himself!

Perhaps it was inevitable that after reaching the Transcendent realm, he would attempt to recruit this individual once more—having failed at his first try.

“What is your ultimate goal?”

”…I’ll be taking my leave now. It seems we’re not communicating effectively.”

“Purpose.”

”…!”

In that instant, Elizabeth’s eyes unfocused.

How naive they are.

Their carelessness was so evident it raised suspicions of a trap. These beings held too vague a notion of the Transcendent’s might. The fact that one of the highest-ranking members of the Celestial Society had ventured into the lion’s den—no, the dragon’s lair—with merely two subordinates spoke volumes about their arrogance.

I suppose he imagined himself negotiating from the very jaws of danger.

This move also demonstrated his faith in the God of Justice. He was certain no harm would come to him, even in the enemy’s territory.

But isn’t it ironic? To trust so deeply in the God of Justice while trying to exploit that very gap to bring down my opponent.

In that case, my task is clear: I must show her how utterly futile such blind faith can be.

”…Judah…”

“What?”

My intense gaze causes Elizabeth’s eyes to widen dramatically.

“Freedom!” she cries out, having crumbled under my psychological pressure. “I wanted freedom from God!”

“As you boasted about democracy and paradise, you refused to relinquish any of your privileges on Earth-34! You claimed to live in an equal world without nobles or commoners, but sir! Those old natives, revered by everyone, they’re the true aristocrats with all the advantages!”

The politician, who had always been a shrewd manipulator, let her true feelings slip as she grew agitated.

“Immigrants can never seize power! No matter how many supporters they have or how numerous they become, they’ll never rise above their station. And even though we far outnumber them now—!”

“I see,” I interrupted her. “So that’s why you felt justice was such an obstacle when trying to gain power like before.”

People on Earth-34, whether knowingly or not, were constantly exposed to the concepts of Justice and Truth. Even I had experienced this when I made significant stock purchases and received a call from a priestess of truth.

However, there exists a profession where individuals are judged far more continuously than any ‘average person’. These people are politicians.

It goes without saying that such refuse, with their hearts overflowing with lust for power, could never pass through the sieve of the God of Justice.

“No!” she insisted. “We merely seek to overcome divine oppression! This is true democracy…”

“What?” I burst out laughing at this absurdity.

I recalled the introduction her subordinate had given me:

Guardian of Faith and Queen of the Great United States.

“She wraps herself in heavenly pretense,” I scoffed, “clinging to a glory that’s nothing more than an illusion. She divides humanity into commoners and nobles.”

It was nothing short of a comedy of errors.

“Democracy indeed!”

This wasn’t about Earth-34 being a true democracy. Strictly speaking, it wasn’t a world where citizens were the masters.

The true masters of Earth-34 were known only to a select few.

The Game Masters reign supreme.

Without this knowledge… these fools’ revolution would never succeed. Their leniency was nothing more than a facade hiding their ruthless nature.

“R-right! Let’s get out of here!”

“Yeah, let’s go!”

Finally snapping back to reality, they fled from the tower like scared rabbits. I saw no need to chase them; it would be pointless.

“Oh, my dear friend.”

“It seems you’re finally ready to move,” said the shadowy figure as he rose and transformed into a handsome man with jet-black hair that shimmered like the Milky Way.

I nodded in agreement.

“Yes. As per your suggestion… I’ll appear on that variety show. Please inform them that it’s fine to air commercials during my segment.”

Now that I understood the objectives of the Celestial Society and other noble factions, I could grasp the Three Gods’ intentions and predict future events.

And when the angle is set…

A sly smile crept across my face.

It’s time to seize the opportunity and reap the rewards like a true adult.