Chapter 144 – Hymn

Chapter 144 – Hymn

After learning that Seongjae would make a great contribution to the development of Magitech Civilization in the future, I searched all the people around me one by one in the Assistant AI.

‘Rai also has an impressive resume….’

Apparently, the more they were in the Engineer Guy line, the more so.

For example, Kang Deokchan’s resume was also extensive.

The most unexpected was Seongjae’s younger brother, Seongmin.

The Man, who had recently received all sorts of training from Seongjae, Rai, and Deokchan, boasted an impressive career history no less remarkable than Seongjae’s.

However, it wasn’t as if those not in the Engineer Guy lineage didn’t contribute. For instance, Suana, Seoyeon, and Minju all seemed to have contributed to some extent. Furthermore, the longer career was…

“Why is this so long…?”

I was the same. In particular, my future self seemed to be the one who personally designed various machines.

‘Was it because I was The Man…?’

Perhaps a lot was explained.

Many of the machines I could use were precisely to my taste, as if they were made just for me. For me, The Man and Pro Gamers, my taste was a matter that went beyond simple preference.

Machines that boasted extreme efficiency, capable of taking on a leading role in battle. That was The Man’s taste.

For example, like the Assault Cannon or the Interceptor.

But no matter who created them, the Magitech Legion’s machines suited my taste perfectly. It was as if they had scanned the machines in my mind and brought them to life exactly as The Man had envisioned.

But now, The Man could understand the reason.

[Seong Siwoo]

[20XX, ……]

[20XX, Led Assault Cannon design.]

[20XX, Led Interceptor design.]

[20XX, Led Aerial Mothership design.]

[20XX, ……]

Almost everything I liked was actually designed by me. Of course, there were some that weren’t.

For example, the Magitech Armor, the Mountain Breaker Soldier, and even the submarine patrol boat resembling a merman, were matters I hadn’t participated in designing.

‘Was this why I felt like something was missing…?’

They were all things that were slightly lacking from the standard I desired. It seemed fair to assume that the matters I designed myself were generally those that my future self deemed necessary.

In other words, they were proven machines.

Occasionally before, I had felt a vague sensation similar to, ‘When I looked for what I needed, the Magitech Civilization already had it.’

This was also the reason for the immense trust I had in the Legion’s machines. The Man felt as if that question had been resolved.

From now on, I need to focus on these guys…

Looking at The Man’s machines, I nodded.

***

Meanwhile, I also revisited the questions I had asked before. First, starting with the fact that the Magitech Civilization was founded by humans—.

—So, why did The Man create the Magitech Civilization?

[The Magitech Civilization was created to counter the Monsters.]

—Where did the creators of the Magitech Civilization come from?

[Earth, exactly the same as the Successor.]

Looking back now, there were hints everywhere.

In particular, the biggest hint was that the Assistant AI had information about Eugene Fitzgerald, who was the Archmage Villain, and Kim Taesu, who was the Evolution Villain.

…Why did I only notice this now?

I felt a great sense of incongruity even then, but if the information held by the Assistant AI was based on the future, it was a problem that could be easily solved.

I even referred to myself as ‘Magitech Civilization’. I thought it was because the name of my ability was ‘Successor of Magitech Civilization’. It seemed that this was indeed the reason for the name of my ability.

Meanwhile, as I began to ponder over these various hints, I felt confused.

This is a complete time paradox…

It felt like for every problem solved, more questions arose.

What exactly is the true nature of this ability?

It was when I asked myself that question.

[The manifestation of abilities is known to be similar to that of other species. However, given the unusually high number of special individuals on Earth, an theory was proposed in 20XX by Ha Seongjae that Earth itself might be a special individual…]

Is it you again…

It seemed to be Seongjae’s theory again. However, the quality of information was different from when it was the sixth Essence.

[…As a result, methods to make past Earth a special individual were also discussed.]

What?

It seems that even making Earth a special individual…

It seemed to be the humanity of the future.

***

On the other hand, there were some parts that worried me a little.

‘Now, I can truly trust the Magitech Civilization.’

It was disappointing that I couldn’t save the alliance I had hoped might exist somewhere in another dimension or world. However, nothing was as trustworthy as the machines I had personally designed.

In other words, since this situation was one I had overcome before, it gave me confidence that it was entirely possible if I just put in the effort.

But this very trust was also the source of my concern.

‘I need to reconfirm why the Ark was needed.’

After all, any machine must have been made out of necessity.

The Assistant AI answered with all its might.

However, there wasn’t much new information compared to last time.

It was about how when the Dimensional Predator arrived, most ordinary people who weren’t protected would die due to the rapidly rising contamination level.

The Ark was a facility built to temporarily evacuate ordinary people from the contamination level.

Afterward, a Dimensional Barrier seemed to be needed to return the contamination level to a normal state.

Meanwhile, the Final Predation Day was drawing even closer.

[Time remaining until Final Predation Day: D-112]

It was said that it would arrive faster in proportion to the number of dead monsters. It seemed the impact of this battle was significant.

‘I’ll need to accelerate Ark production.’

I began sending messages to various regions via Apoin.

The time given was not that much.

***

We headed home again after a long time.

[Time remaining until Final Predation Day: D-104]

Instead of going to South Africa directly, the US Western Alliance, which I had previously influenced, decided to take charge of evacuating the refugees.

The way home was mostly smooth, but-

“Screech!”

As always, it was delayed a bit thanks to the many monsters.

However, while one fallen Photon Destroyer was being replenished, Minju’s significantly grown abilities allowed us to get one more Photon Destroyer each from Incheon and the Western United States Alliance.

My fleet now had four Photon Destroyers.

‘She’s been going to so many market restaurants these days, you see.’

Minju would go three or four times a day at her busiest. Thanks to this, her abilities had grown to the point where she could even move a Behemoth-Class Photon Destroyer if she pushed herself a bit.

Thanks to this, we didn’t lose too much time. We headed further east, crossed the Indian Ocean, passed through India once more, and made a brief stop in Vietnam.

They greeted me with extreme hospitality, as always.

“Ah, Lord! Welcome!”

“It is an honor to see you again!”

I decided to make things clear to them this time.

“Why don’t you just join my faction this time?”

It was in the form of a suggestion, not a question, but in reality, it wasn’t even a suggestion. Join my faction. It was almost compulsory.

Of course, this was also for their benefit. They were within my sphere of influence, but they hadn’t been completely integrated into my faction. This was the problem.

‘Soon, all ordinary people must be put on the ark, and it would be a headache if Vietnam, which still maintains its independent power, resisted.’

Population is power.

Especially after abilities were awakened. In such a situation, to say that people would be taken somewhere? They would hardly permit it with a smile.

“Is this about the ark you are producing this time?”

…No, it shouldn’t have been.

“That’s right. A big event is about to happen. Let’s just say there’s a need for everyone to evacuate.”

“Thank you so much for not forgetting us and for your consideration. As we have always done, we will join-.”

“I understand that you find it difficult. However-.”

“……?”

“……?”

Water notes crossed above each other’s heads. It seemed he had already made up his mind, even before I could say anything.

Dumbfounded, I suddenly grew curious about the identity of the man who was beaming in front of me, offering to join my ranks.

“What did you say your name was, sir?”

“It’s Tteonjung. Nguyen Tteonjung.”

The man bowed deeply towards me.

***

Tteonjung, a Scout with Transparent Ability, had witnessed the Photon Destroyer’s first Artillery Barrage firsthand.

His overwhelming Information acquisition and analysis ability had earned him a significant position as a High-ranking official within the faction currently leading Vietnam.

And he had originally intended to be content with that.

“This is our chance to break free from the shackles of Magitech Civilization—”

“That’s a good idea. We are the Viet people of Fire Manipulation Cave.”

…Before he realized that unimaginably foolish people occupied key positions. His face turned pale at the words he primarily heard among the Vietnamese elite.

‘This cannot continue.’

He was a survivor who had witnessed the Photon Destroyer’s ruthless Artillery Barrage. He knew its destructive power better than anyone.

He had to prevent that Artillery Barrage from being directed at them.

So, he decided.

‘I need to have more say. At least more than those idiots.’

He decided to get directly involved in this matter.

Thus, he began to gradually increase his political influence using his existing status. And those who tried to keep him in check and stop him…

Thwack!

He assassinated them, utilizing his Transparent Ability. There wasn’t a hint of guilt on his face as he wiped the bloody Dagger with a handkerchief.

‘This is all your fault for being foolish.’

If he were to leave those fools be, at least tens of thousands of people would have died.

As time passed like that.

When the Magitech Legion returned, the man saw the 4th generation Photon Destroyer and was once again convinced that he had not made a mistake.

“Yes, I did well.”

‘How could I possibly fight against something like that?’

The man nodded repeatedly.

***

I looked at the man named Tteonjung, who was grinning at me, and tilted my head. He seemed to have considerable political influence, but he was being overly polite compared to the man.

‘Well… does it matter?’

But it was good that things were good. Thanks to the man’s very cooperative attitude, I was able to clearly ‘explain’ that ordinary people should be taken to the ark without difficulty.

…And this was an ‘explanation,’ not a ‘persuasion.’

Furthermore, the man made various requests to me.

“That’s why, Lord. If it’s alright, would you please build a Production Facility here as well?”

“An ark Production Facility?”

“Yes, and besides the ark Production Facility, it seems that the Western United States Alliance also has-“

It was a request to appeal to be incorporated into My Faction.

And very actively, too.

I decided to live up to the man’s expectations.

“Alright. While we’re at it, I’ll leave a Photon Destroyer here as well.”

Seeing Tteonjung’s face filled with joy, as if he would die of happiness, at my words, was a little burdensome, but…

‘Well, it’s good that things are good.’

It was good that things were good.