The Chairman of Pharmaceutical Company is a Poison King (Novel) - Chapter 150 - Keeping Your Distance

Chapter 150 – Keeping Your Distance

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Translated by Pratt

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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Around the time Tae-ju was in the cultivation room busily absorbing the qi of the Heavenly Peach,

the whole world fell into shock.

Because the true nature of the Moscow civil war, which until now had drifted about only as rumor without definite information, was finally revealed in full.

The European Empire’s intelligence bureau M-19 released information about the undead to the press.

Where exactly the nuclear blasts had gone off, and what results they had brought about as well.

They also released footage.

Though it was only a short drone video of less than one minute, it was more than enough to provoke fear in people.

The army of undead demonic beasts numbered beyond counting.

Their forms too were varied, some relatively intact, some with the skin peeled off so that the inside was plainly visible, some with one of their limbs torn away, some half intact and half bone, and some that were nothing but bones to begin with.

└ So a nuclear blast went off in the demonic-beast concentration zone, and the demonic beasts that died in the explosion revived as undead?

└ Terrifying. Undead, something we’d only ever heard about.

└ The Moscow civil war itself was suspicious from the start.

└ Right. There were already lots of people saying the Moscow bomb terrorists weren’t human.

└ I saw it too. Even the terrorists were undead. This is a planned war.

└ Should I start packing my bags now?

└ I heard a rumor that the Black Mafia is behind it.

└ A mere crime syndicate? It’s a mana side effect, obviously.

└ I believe the demon-descent theory. Someone must have carried out a demon-summoning ritual.

└ It’s been 300 years since the world was covered in mana. What would even be impossible anymore?

└ Ordinary demonic beasts are terrifying enough, and now undead demonic beasts?

└ Long live His Majesty Emperor Alex Caesar!!!

└ Let’s go to Moscow!

└ Run them over with tanks!

└ No need to worry about waves, so we can use modern weapons all we want now.

└ Isn’t this actually a good thing? The demonic-beast concentration zone got wiped out, right?

└ Hmm, that is, if they can stop it.

The whole world was watching Moscow.

Every nation declared its intention to support the European Empire in various ways against the army of undead demonic beasts.

Some nations were even considering dispatching troops.

The Samhan Empire was the same.

It had issued an emergency order so that the Siberian Pioneer Corps could be投入 into the battlefield in an emergency.

If a request came at any time, they would be deployed.

The Siberian Pioneer Corps was one of the Samhan Imperial Army’s elite formations.

It would surely be of help.

But,

“I heard that bastard Alex refused.”

Geum Su-ho, secretary of the Imperial Palace, shook his head as he reported to Emperor Ryu Tae-hyeon.

“I expected as much. That scheming bastard is more dangerous than the undead demonic beasts.”

“It’s a trick to make himself stand out. At the same time he’ll expand his territory, and now that the stage is set, his backside must be twitching.”

“Exactly. He must have been waiting for this situation.”

When they had first requested an investigation into the Black Mafia, the European Imperial intelligence bureau had feigned ignorance and denied knowing anything.

At the time, they had truly believed that.

But even when the Moscow terrorist attack occurred and then spread into civil war, the European Imperial government did nothing.

It had merely repeated, parrot-like, that it would intervene.

Was it not an obviously suspicious act of terrorism to anyone who looked at it?

The existence of the undead had already practically been revealed from then on.

They could have responded in the early stages, but there was no doubt they had simply left it alone.

That was why it had come to this.

“Do you think that bastard Alex can handle the undead demonic beasts?”

“It’ll be difficult…, but possible, I’d say. He still has an army, after all.”

“Hmm, true enough. If he’s stepping out personally, it must be because he has confidence.”

“Annoying though he is, he’s outstanding when it comes to strategy and tactics. It’s not as though he won the Emperor’s seat by playing cards.”

In any case, from the Samhan Empire’s point of view, the invasion of Europe by the undead demonic-beast army was not someone else’s problem.

Europe and Asia were connected.

There was no guarantee that the undead crisis would not occur in the Samhan Empire too.

“Ah, right! What about Chairman Kim Tae-ju? Has he still not come out of the cultivation room?”

“I asked discreetly, and it seems it may take longer than expected.”

“I see.”

Rather, that was fortunate.

If he had seen it with his own eyes, he surely would have flown over there again.

And if something were to happen to him?

Even thinking about it was horrifying.

Chairman Kim Tae-ju’s value was not only in martial strength.

MRC and the various new medicines, and the ships that could cross the Pacific.

He was humanity’s hope.

Even if Europe, or even the Samhan Empire, were to fall, Chairman Kim Tae-ju alone had to be protected.

* * *

The Immortal Realm multiplex.

At long last, the configuration of the Immortal Realm intranet was complete.

They had safely installed the final equipment Tae-ju had sent not long ago.

‘Shall I check?’

Tang Gun-ak opened a spare smartphone.

‘Hmm.’

[SG-GIGA-LINK]

The name of the Immortal Realm Wi-Fi.

The signal had been caught.

But with this phone, nothing at all could be done.

It could only confirm that wireless connection was possible.

It could not make use of the countless data inside the Immortal Realm main server, shopping-mall use was impossible, and SNS did not work either.

A dedicated smartphone was necessary.

And it would take quite some time before another delivery arrived.

“Great Hero Tae-ju must have consumed the Heavenly Peach safely, right?”

The immortals gathered on the first floor in groups of three and five as they talked.

“It’s only a bite-sized thing, isn’t it?”

“But he did say that when he ate those poisons before, they were difficult to digest.”

“Poisons are on a different level. This is a Heavenly Peach, after all.”

There was a reason Heavenly Peaches were treasures.

Even an ordinary person without immortal roots, if they consumed a Heavenly Peach, could ascend to immortality directly without any intermediate process like enlightenment.

“By the way, where is that monkey bastard?”

“He went to the Yellow Springs Realm to carry black-darksteel ingots.”

“Tsk, I was thinking of making him run an errand.”

“Heh heh heh, true. These days, when he isn’t around, it feels strangely empty.”

The efforts Great Sage Equal to Heaven was making to be acknowledged as a member of the Immortal Realm were gradually bearing fruit.

But there were immortals who could see blind spots others could not.

For example, Learning Immortal Galhong.

“It’s not good to rely too much on the monkey.”

“Why?”

“What if later Great Sage Equal to Heaven turns errands into a paid service?”

“Hm? That can’t possibly…”

“No, it’s persuasive. Even now, to the point that we feel it’s a pity when he isn’t visible.”

“Heh heh, as expected of a cunning fellow.”

There was a high possibility it would happen.

After all, were not immortals precisely the beings that ranked highest among the Upper Realms in laziness?

“Well, even if errands become a paid service, so long as the coins are reasonable…”

“And what if he raises the price later?”

“Then we’d throw him out.”

“That’s right. That monkey bastard with no proper roots…”

That was when it happened.

“Poison Immortal! P-poison Immortal! A-a huge thing has happened!”

It was the flustered voice of Immortal Danzhu from outside the multiplex.

“What’s with that man again?”

“He went out for his morning jog, so did he see something he wasn’t supposed to?”

“What is there in the Immortal Realm that one shouldn’t see?”

“There is. For example, He Xiangu.”

“Hmm, …I rather like it though.”

Immortal Danzhu burst through the door.

He even missed his footing and rolled across the floor.

“Aiyakuya!”

“That was funny.”

“Truly, he is a genius of slapstick.”

“Let’s give him some applause.”

“At this rate, if things go well, we may see the first immortal ever to die in the Immortal Realm.”

The immortals laughed at him, but Immortal Danzhu sprang to his feet and said,

“Ta-Tae-ju…”

“Hm? Tae-ju, as in Great Hero Tae-ju?”

“That’s right. Great Hero Tae-ju is here.”

“What kind of monkey-wide-body-hair-removal nonsense is that?”

As if frustrated, Immortal Danzhu slapped his own chest and pointed outside the door.

“I’m telling you, he’s here!”

“A human on Earth? Have you gone senile?”

“Look over there! Are you all blind? Great Hero Tae-ju is over there…”

The immortals’ heads all turned at once.

Their gazes fell upon the parking lot in front of the multiplex.

One person stood there.

“…”

“…”

“…”

“What?”

“Ueoh…”

Sword Immortal tilted his head.

“Hmm, is this another dream?”

Then he said,

“Great Hero Tae-ju! We meet again. Have you been well?”

“Yes, and thank you for back then. I didn’t even get to greet you properly.”

“Heh heh heh, what need is there for that between us…, wait! This isn’t a dream.”

Tang Gun-ak too moved his feet as if possessed.

That was right.

How could he not know?

The same soul from another world, the human who was as good as himself, Kim Tae-ju.

“…Tae-ju?”

Tae-ju too, upon seeing Tang Gun-ak, felt his chest well up.

Through three soul linkages, the two of them had merged into one consciousness and shared memories and experiences.

But this was the first time seeing him in person.

‘If I grow old, would I look like that?’

A strange feeling impossible to express in words.

It felt like a dream.

The Immortal Realm and the immortals he had seen only in videos.

There was so much he truly wanted to say.

This was all thanks to having eaten the Heavenly Peach.

He had thought only that he would awaken Poison Spirit and that there would be yet another soul linkage, but to come directly to the Immortal Realm?

So Tae-ju too walked closer and spoke.

To his own self from another world.

“Poison Immortal…”

But right at that moment!

Chijijijik, chijik! Chijijijik!

Beams of light passed back and forth between the two of them.

They looked like chains binding an object.

At the same time,

sseureureureuk!

Tang Gun-ak’s body was automatically pulled toward Kim Tae-ju.

And Tae-ju was no different.

“Hk!”

“What?”

Sseureureureuk!

His body being dragged toward Tang Gun-ak.

Watching that, Ghost Valley suddenly came to his senses.

Being more intelligent than any other immortal and thoroughly versed in Earth’s learning, he instantly understood what this phenomenon meant.

Two identical souls existing in a single world.

In that case?

Ghost Valley shouted at the top of his voice to the immortals.

“St-stop them!”

“…Stop who?”

“Both of them! At this rate, they’ll merge with each other!!!”

“Merge?”

“They’re the same soul! Pull them far apart!”

“Ah!”

Sword Immortal moved first.

With a speed like lightning,

spat!

he rushed to Tae-ju and,

“Pardon me for a moment.”

wrapped his body in an embrace.

Papapapapat!

He leaped away from the multiplex.

The immortals rushed toward Tang Gun-ak as well.

“H-he’s being dragged awaaay!”

“Hurry and hold him down!”

“Uh-oh, his pants are coming off.”

“Get on top of him! Make it impossible for him to move.”

“…A hamburger?”

“Press him down!”

“Aigo! A little more gently…”

Once some distance had opened between them.

Sseuseuseuseut!

The chains of light vanished.

“It’s all right now.”

“That was close.”

“Everyone remember this! Those two must not be brought together. Isolation is the top priority.”

“Heh heh, this is like social distancing for COVID or something.”

The distance between Tae-ju and Tang Gun-ak was about one hundred meters.

Once they were separated by that much, the pulling force disappeared.

They were two people closer than anyone else, and therefore two people who absolutely must not come close to each other.

* * *

Two identical souls existing in one dimension.

That was why they had nearly merged into one.

But once they were separated by at least a certain distance, the merging phenomenon no longer occurred.

The chains of light did not appear either.

Hence, keeping your distance.

Tae-ju and Tang Gun-ak were standing far apart.

Tang Gun-ak stood alone, lonely and forlorn.

By contrast, the side where Tae-ju stood was crowded with immortals.

All the immortals flocked to Tae-ju.

They squatted down in front of him and stared as if it were a wonder.

How wondrous a phenomenon was this?

A human from another world ascending into the Immortal Realm?

Ghost Valley and Galhong stuck close to Tae-ju’s side and examined his body through pulse diagnosis.

The immortals, unable to endure it, wriggled their hips and fidgeted.

“Is it ascension?”

“…Surely not?”

“It can’t be.”

“Then who will bring us Earth goods in the future?”

“Will we no longer be able to drink Earth alcohol?”

“And chicken and beer?”

These were the immortals’ greatest concerns.

Tae-ju too was flustered.

Was this really ascension?

‘Then what about Earth?’

Taehong Bio, new drugs, MRC, the ships to be made from black darksteel.

There was still too much he had to do.

And the people too,

Baek Seo-yeon, Baek Hong-pyo, his disciples, Jeong Yeon-hui, Jeong Uk-cheol, Igor, Emperor Ryu Tae-hyeon, Secretary Geum Su-ho, and his father…,

he would no longer be able to see them either.

His thoughts were tangled.

What should he do about this?

Right then,

kuk, kuk, kuk.

He felt someone poking at his leg.

When he lowered his head,

one immortal had somehow sidled close and was poking Tae-ju’s calf with a stick.

“…Why?”

“Ah, pay it no mind. I was just checking whether you might be a ghost.”

“…”

Kuk kuk kuk kuk.

Seeing that sight, Tang Gun-ak shouted from far away,

“What are you doing right now? Do you think Tae-ju is some laboratory rabbit? Why are you poking at his leg?”

Then, when he tried to come closer,

“Have you gone mad? Do you know where this is!”

“Keep your distance!”

“Do not come any closer.”

Aaaah!

The person he had wanted so badly to see, yet a situation in which he could not come close.

At that moment!

Ghost Valley withdrew his hand from Tae-ju’s wrist and said,

“All right, all right, we’ve reached a conclusion.”

The immortals fired questions urgently.

“So is it ascension?”

“No.”

“Then because of the Heavenly Peach?”

“It is true that he came here because of the Heavenly Peach.”

“Ghost Valley, explain it in detail.”

“Ahem!”

After clearing his throat once,

“Dimensional mismatch, though we call it a multiverse, according to the second law of thermodynamics, as entropy increases, the macroscopic state governs the mass of all microscopic existences…, and thus, from the perspective of quantum mechanics, before we observe it, it exists as a wave, but once observation begins…”

Ghost Valley’s explanation went on and on.

“Hmm.”

“I see.”

“That’s what I had thought.”

“It goes right into the head.”

“I understand it all.”

“Me too.”

In truth, they understood none of it.

Tae-ju was the same.

‘…What is he even saying?’

Even Ghost Valley did not know what he was saying.

He was merely babbling whatever came to mind in order to show off his knowledge.

Tae-ju’s ascension had little to do with scientific laws.

“By such a principle, two identical souls cannot coexist in one dimension. Since the worlds differ, complete ascension also cannot happen, so this is, shall we say, a temporary phenomenon. Thanks to the qi of the Heavenly Peach, it would be best to understand it as a temporary visit.”

In the end, it really was because of the Heavenly Peach.

“Therefore, Great Hero Tae-ju will be able to remain in the Immortal Realm for six hours from now. Since the remaining qi of the Heavenly Peach will have dissipated by then. Once the qi is gone, he will naturally return to Earth.”

Six hours?

Far too short.

It was a relief that he could return, but…

‘What a pity.’