Chapter 86 – Temple of the Dragon (7)

There was almost no information about the fourth race. This was because not only were there few who had met them, but the number of the fourth race was also not large.

However, those who had met and conversed with the fourth race admired them and referred to them as demigods.

Beings that were infinitely close to gods.

That was the final race, the ogres.

“I don’t know if we’ll be able to meet the ogres.”

“They are a race infinitely close to gods. If they do not wish it, we will not be able to meet them, but in such a precarious time, won’t the ogres also feel a sense of crisis?”

Just as the trolls had done, only a very small fraction of the ogres jumped into the previous war.

There were many who said that if they had properly participated, the direction of the war would have changed. The ogres possessed that much powerful strength.

However, they were a race that was difficult to understand easily.

Living quietly like old trees for a very long time in their own land, they did not show any interest in the outside world.

“Even Badurbarok did not try to touch the ogres if he could help it. So the ogres did not care either. If the ogres participate, the aspect of the future fight will dramatically change, but it’s better not to expect too much.”

Kaorak became talkative as they headed to the land of the ogres. Kaorak had a lot of interest in the ogres.

“Do you like ogres?”

“I have admired them since a long time ago. Aren’t they cool? Meeting the ogres was one of my wishes.”

“Are you fulfilling your wish thanks to me?”

Se-min chuckled.

The ogre was the last disaster demonic beast that appeared on Earth. However, it died by its own decision, not by a Raider. It blew itself up after wrecking a country in Africa.

Looking at that case, Badurbarok did not easily touch them, but he did not leave them completely alone either.

So Se-min did not doubt that the ogres would also agree that they had to eliminate Badurbarok.

Perhaps they were cautiously waiting for the time, just as the trolls had done.

“That is the Starlight Mountain Range.”

Kaorak pointed to a distant place. A mountain range rising high enough to touch the sky was situated there.

It was the home of the ogres, called the Starlight Mountain Range because it was high enough to cover the stars in the sky.

Indeed, true to its name, the upper part was hidden by white clouds. The shape of the summit could not be confirmed.

“Will we be able to go up there?”

“…”

Everyone was overwhelmed and could not answer immediately.

Kaorak took the lead.

“Everyone, just follow me.”

***

Kaorak grabbed the hem of Se-min’s clothes and clung to him.

“Let’s rest a little before going.”

“Shut up.”

“I-it’s hard.”

“Didn’t you tell us to just follow you?”

“…”

Se-min continued the forced march without resting.

The party members were all exhausted and began to gasp for breath. As the altitude became high, oxygen was scarce, making even breathing difficult.

“Still, just a little…”

Se-min drew Rufus without a word. Kaorak was greatly shocked and criticized Se-min.

“No matter how hard it is, do you intend to stab your companion with a sword?”

Se-min, instead of answering, leaped forward and swung Rufus. A demonic beast that had been hiding in the shadow collapsed while bleeding.

Kaorak muttered.

“To think there would be a demonic beast even here…”

“It means Badurbarok is also conscious of the ogres. The news that we have come might have been delivered.”

“If we happen to fight here, will the ogres help us?”

“Fat chance.”

Se-min straightened his back and looked up at the upper part of the mountain range, whose end could not be seen.

Se-min had also never seen such a high mountain. The Starlight Mountain Range was entirely made of rocks, so climbing it was not very difficult.

However, it was too high.

Not only Kaorak but also the other party members were exhausted, and their speed slowed down significantly. Only Kubar maintained his composure, while the rest staggered.

“Let’s rest a little.”

When Se-min spoke, everyone lay down just as they were.

“An ogre, I’m really looking forward to it.”

Kubar said as he stood in his place and loosened up his body.

Worthy of a former Orc practitioner, he was showing a stronger aspect than the other party members in many ways. Se-min approached and helped Kubar stretch.

“Have you never met one either?”

“There are not many who have met an ogre. I have also only heard stories. The Elder Orc met the ogres a long time ago, and he evaluated them very highly.”

Se-min nodded.

“That’s why they even hear the word demigod.”

Then he ran over a large rock, swung Rufus, and returned. There was blood on Rufus.

“There are many rats.”

“I have a bad feeling. Let’s go up quickly.”

“We should. We depart again after resting just a little!”

Se-min shouted as he expanded his sensory perception.

A few demonic beasts were caught.

It was a movement as if scouts were grasp the situation.

Se-min clicked his tongue. It was the first time he had seen demonic beasts act like this. Originally, they just moved as they pleased and attacked living things. They were not this cautious.

It meant that Badurbarok was also that careful about stimulating the ogres.

It was unknown how the demonic beasts would react to the appearance of Se-min’s party.

“Let them come if they will.”

Se-min muttered as he rolled Rufus in his hand.

As he continued to expand his sensory perception, something else was felt besides the demonic beasts.

Se-min looked up at the summit of the Starlight Mountain Range hidden in the clouds.

Beyond that, there was something powerful. A vague but massive presence was felt. The ogres were up there.

Se-min recalled the words he had heard from the ferryman when leaving Hesse, the Island of Trolls.

‘Ogres do not move easily. They are like trees. There is no race for which the title of demigod fits so well. If they participate, we would gain a tremendous ally, but it won’t be easy.’

Se-min recalled the events that occurred on Hesse, the Island of Trolls. He also reflected on the facts he had learned there.

On the way here, he accessed the Transcendent Network frequently, but he could not meet Dokgo Cheonma. She seemed to still be busy.

Se-min checked the bulletin board once more. Only the other transcendents, excluding Dokgo Cheonma, were talking merrily.

That bastard Alastair was hitting on Sister Iana again, but right now he did not have the leeway to pay attention to such things.

Se-min went to the tips bulletin board and checked the Cosmic Style. And he strove for the improvement of the Cosmic Style while reciting those difficult phrases.

It was a habit now.

Although he had memorized all the phrases of the Cosmic Style, sometimes it was better to read them directly with his eyes.

It seemed like a series of contextless nonsense, but this was a code and a treasure map.

Once the mental image became clear, his mind could also be closely connected to a certain point in the universe.

Se-min felt awe toward the predecessor martial artists of the sect who had created such a thing.

“Kik-kik, looking in the mirror again?”

When Kaorak bantered, Se-min put the hand mirror into his pocket and declared the resumption of the march.

The other party members criticized Kaorak. Kaorak also blamed himself. Se-min did not reverse his decision.

Se-min assassinated the hiding demonic beasts while climbing the Starlight Mountain Range.

The demonic beasts fell one by one.

He did not know how they exchanged contact, but by this time, the news of them must have been delivered.

Se-min increased the marching speed.

They crossed the clouds.

Looking back, it really felt like standing in the sky.

“Just how much more do we have to climb?”

“It’s still far.”

The Starlight Mountain Range was high enough that Earth’s Mount Everest could not even be compared, but strangely, the temperature was maintained at an appropriate level. Oxygen also did not fall below a certain level.

Se-min kept moving his steps while repeating the Cosmic Style in his mind. He had now reached a level where his head and legs moved separately.

It was when he had continued just walking for a while like that.

Someone spoke to him.

[What business does the Emperor have here?]

Se-min looked around for a moment.

There was nothing. He looked at the party members following from behind. They still had exhausted and weary faces.

It seemed that no one had heard that voice.

[Over here, Emperor.]

Only then did Se-min realize that it was not a voice.

He had just mistaken it as having heard a voice, but it was close to a transmission of meaning delivered directly to the head.

To find an expression, it was telepathy.

[The Emperor of humanity has changed. How long has it been since the previous Emperor came that it has changed already? Ah, was it a long time for humans?]

Se-min looked at the ogre in front of him.

[Don’t stare too much. I’m embarrassed.]

Se-min had thought it was a rock. But it was not. The ogre scratched its head and looked down at Se-min.

The ogre was big like a giant.

It was twice Se-min’s height.

A massive body with granite-like skin, and eyes shining in between.

It was an appearance like a golem, but looking closely, one could tell it was a living creature. The skin was also just a rock-like color, not that it was actually a rock.

The ogre slowly stretched out its hand toward Se-min.

[Humans express friendship by shaking hands.]

Se-min clasped hands with it. It did not go well because the ogre’s hand was large, but anyway they did shake hands.

“Nice to meet you. I am Lee Se-min. The new Emperor.”

[I am Maladuk. Se-min, what brought you all the way here?]

“The same reason as the previous Emperor.”

[Fighting Badurbarok?]

“Right.”

[Mmm…]

Maladuk scratched his head again. The ogre’s movement was sluggish and slow.

[I must meet the elders. Follow me.]

Maladuk slowly moved his body. Se-min’s party, who followed behind, looked at Maladuk as if it were fascinating.

As their gazes focused, Maladuk slowly turned only his head and said.

[I’m embarrassed if you look too much.]

It was an ogre with a cute side.

The ogre took a step with that characteristic slow movement.

Se-min worried that it would take a long time to go to the land of the ogres like this. But it was a needless worry. The ogre was just easygoing, by no means slow.

Maladuk kicked the ground and leaped.

He jumped once and flew to an invisible distance.

“…”

Looking at that back, everyone lost their souls.

“Damn it.”

Kaorak muttered. He was anticipating what would happen. Indeed, as he thought, Se-min ran.

They suddenly started mountain running in the Starlight Mountain Range.

***

Se-min was surprised several times.

As he reached the village with Maladuk, the surrounding environments began to move. All were ogres.

Se-min felt pressure among them and broke out in a cold sweat. It was not for nothing that they were referred to as demigods. An unidentified power was felt from everyone.

Soon, the ogres leaned their bodies toward each other.

Se-min realized that the ogres were having a conversation of their own. They would be sharing their intentions through a kind of telepathy, just as Maladuk had done earlier.

Se-min waited until their conversation was organized.

Meanwhile, the other party members arrived one by one.

“There are many ogres.”

Biryu said.

The ogres’ gazes were directed here. However, they did not strike up a conversation. The ogres kept conversing among themselves while staring at Se-min’s party.

Se-min asked, unable to hold back.

“Maladuk. What are you talking about?”

Maladuk slowly turned to Se-min. For Se-min, who was quick-tempered, even that minor movement was frustrating.

[Yeah, we were talking about how the weather is good today.]

“…”

Se-min’s blood pressure rose for a moment, but he held back. These were the ogres who were even referred to as demigods. There would be some deep meaning.

Perhaps it was a code. They might have expressed things like their future or the fate of the world by comparing them to the weather.

[If you wait a little longer, the weather story will end. Will you wait?]

“How long do we have to wait?”

[Just a moment, a moment. Half a day will do.]

“…”

***

After pestering Maladuk, Se-min’s party was able to receive the hospitality of the ogres.

They were living at the summit of the Starlight Mountain Range.

[We live by drinking moonlight and starlight.]

“Do you just stay like this?”

[Looking at the above and the below. There is a sea of stars above, and everything on the ground below.]

They lived looking at the sky and the ground from the summit of the mountain.

It was different from the life of ordinary creatures. They did not eat food, nor did they perform any act to live. They just existed here and were contemplating the world.

The entire life of a creature was nothing but a mere instant to them.

“People called you demigods.”

[We are not gods.]

Maladuk smiled broadly.

He had thought it would feel out of place if rock-like skin stretched like an organic body, but the smile suited him very well.

[We are also just a single race like you. It’s just that the way we exist is different.]

“I agree with that.”

The lifestyle of the ogres was remarkably different from other races.

So Se-min’s party did not even have a proper place to stay.

Ogres do not have houses or property. They just sat in a place they liked and remained stopped until they felt like it.

When other ogres appeared, they sometimes conversed with the voice of the mind, but sometimes they just kept silent for several years.

Even after the news that the Emperor of humanity had come was delivered to the ogres, no other ogres came to visit.

Only Maladuk stayed by their side to help Se-min’s party.

[Badurbarok is a scary presence. We ogres saw the things he did.]

Ogres had the power to see very far places from the Starlight Mountain Range.

Se-min asked.

“Have you ever seen Badurbarok directly?”

[We haven’t. Badurbarok always hides himself.]

“Do the ogres have no intention of fighting Badurbarok?”

[I don’t know that either. Since we cannot know the thoughts of the ogres.]

It seemed the ogres did not know the thoughts of other ogres either.

“What do you think?”

[We must fight someday.]

This was the problem.

The ogres were too indifferent. They had the attitude that they had to stop Badurbarok someday, but at least not right now.

“Later, the world will be destroyed, and only you will be left, though?”

[Then it can’t be helped. Ogres are often late!]

“…”

Se-min wanted to smack the back of the head of this rock-block bastard, but he held back because he thought his hand would hurt more.

“I got it. For now, we will search for a place to stay, so you just sit there.”

[It takes a long time to sit down.]

“Then stand.”

Se-min’s party found a suitable place.

The Starlight Mountain Range was entirely rock, so they carried out leveling work to make a place to lie down. Se-min loaded aura into Rufus.

“Hey, Maladuk. Is it okay to shave this rock a bit?”

[Of course. You don’t need to ask my permission.]

“I thought it might be your brother since it resembles you.”

At Se-min’s words, Maladuk’s body began to shake.

It was a remark that could sound insulting depending on how one heard it, but Maladuk trembled and laughed for a long time.

[Emperor. You are really funny!]

“…”

It seemed it would be really difficult to understand the ogres.

Shozen said to Se-min.

“As for food, we can just catch demonic beasts down below. Kubar says he will go.”

“Yeah. Kubar, please.”

“Don’t worry.”

Excluding Se-min, Kubar, who was the strongest, stepped forward. The demonic beasts of the Starlight Mountain Range chose to run instead of fight, making it not easy to pursue them.

“Since they know we’ve come, the demonic beasts might take action.”

“With the Orcs’ case, would they do that easily?”

“If they pour in several self-destructing demonic beasts like back then, there’s no reason they can’t.”

“…”

Shozen closed his mouth. This was because the wasteland created by the self-destructing demonic beast, Gaigatus, came to mind.

It was no different from a living nuclear bomb.

The Grand Marino Forest, which had been so lush and beautiful, became a wasteland with nothing. The fragments of the shattered Gaigatus polluted the land, turning the forest into a dead land where not even weeds grew.

If such things marched toward the Starlight Mountain Range, would they be able to block them?

If they met Gaigatus again on the battlefield, would they be able to stand against it?

It was unknown. It was like a problem pushed to the back because a reply could not be thought of at all. The appearance of Gaigatus was that shocking.

Where was the limit of Badurbarok? Was it even possible to stand against such a guy?

As Shozen wore a dark expression, Se-min grinned and tapped his shoulder.

“Don’t worry. Look at the ogres over there. They are no joke.”

“Yes…”

“If such guys get angry, the demonic beasts will just die. Their behavior is a bit strange, but their power is the real deal. Can’t you feel it? The power they harbor? The expression demigod isn’t wrong.”

As Se-min spoke while pointing at Maladuk, Maladuk slowly turned his head.

[Don’t call me a demigod. I’m embarrassed if you praise me that much.]

Se-min burst into laughter.

The ogres seemed to be somewhat detached from the real world.

They live facing the vast universe in the Starlight Mountain Range. Looking at the scenery of the heavenly bodies for a long time would not be different from the process of Se-min learning the Cosmic Style.

Slow but majestic beings.

If the indifferent-looking ogres were to have some emotion, and if that were close to anger and hatred, just what would happen?

“…”

Imagining that scene, Se-min smiled without realizing it.

And he shrugged his head.

“I have really changed too.”

Smiling while hoping for beings like Maladuk to jump into an unfortunate war was certainly not the attitude of a proper human.

However, it could not be helped.

He had already changed. If he did not change, he could not win.

“Maladuk. When do you get angry?”

[I don’t know because I’ve never been angry.]

“Even if I hit you?”

[If you hit me, you’ll be the one getting angry, right?]

“Yeah. It’d be better not to do it… Don’t you ogres have a boss? An ogre like a leader or a king.”

[There is the ogre who has lived the longest. He probably has the strongest strength too.]

“Who is that?”

[He is sitting at the summit, and he said he even forgot his own name because he sat for too long.]

Se-min looked up at the top of the Starlight Mountain Range. Even though he had climbed up a lot, the summit was not visible.

“Will I be able to meet him?”

[If you go up, you’ll be able to meet him.]

“What is his personality like? Is he fierce? He won’t just swing his fist if I talk to him, right?”

[I have never seen such an ogre, but since he has only been thinking for a long time, I don’t know how he turned out.]

Se-min kept in mind the ogre at the summit of the Starlight Mountain Range.

***

Se-min began to climb the Starlight Mountain Range alone.

It was the night time when everyone was asleep.

Se-min looked up at the sky. Perhaps because the sky was close, the sea of stars spread out in front of his eyes approached much more clearly.

The distant star that usually just shone now seemed to show its brilliant shape to his eyes.

Se-min came to meet the ogre who was said to have lived the longest in the Starlight Mountain Range.

However, that ogre was not felt in his sensory perception.

According to Maladuk’s words, that ogre had been lost in thought for too long, so it was possible that he could no longer remember who he was.

He did not know if such a thing was possible, but looking at the ogres, it seemed like it could happen.

“Where is he?”

Se-min looked around and searched for the ogre. No movement was felt. Se-min climbed higher.

He soon reached the summit.

Se-min stopped his steps.

The Starlight Mountain Range was known as the highest mountain in the world. Se-min was now standing at the highest place in this world.

Perhaps because it was the highest point, the concentration of starlight seemed to have changed. The radiance of the stars was so clear.

Se-min looked up at the sky and fell into thought.

“Where is the ogre?”

He was at the summit of the Starlight Mountain Range, but let alone an ogre, even a moderately large rock was not visible. Se-min thought he should have brought Maladuk.

“Mmm…”

He fell into agony.

He wanted to let out a loud roar from the bottom of his heart, but he was reluctant because it was night.

So he plopped down on the ground and pulled out the hand mirror.

Accessing the Transcendent Network when there was nothing to do was a recent habit. He wanted to hear about the sect through Dokgo Cheonma.

The presence that was said to have easily traveled between dimensions with a mysterious power was definitely Se-min’s grandmaster and the teacher of Dokgo Cheonma.

The fact that Dokgo Cheonma had not been visible recently also seemed to be related to Se-min’s current situation.

After posting a text explaining his situation roughly, Se-min checked the posts of the other transcendents.

One or two dimensions should have been in crisis, but everyone was living peacefully and well. It seemed he was the only one suffering like this.

He felt sorrowful.

“Author: Emperor Lee Se-min”

“Title: Standing at the Highest Place in the World”

“Hello. It has been a long time. This is Lee Se-min, who has now become Emperor.”

“I am sorry that an inadequate person like me has risen to the position of Emperor, but I think this is also the demand of the times and I am working hard.”

“I am now standing at the highest place in the world. The wind does not blow as much as I thought. The stars are just bright. Celestial bodies that I could not see before are clear here. But the bottom is not visible.”

“Standing at the peak like this, the top is visible but the bottom is bound to be hidden. I just stretch out my hand to go even a little higher…”

“The loneliness of the transcendent brothers and sisters seems to be felt through my skin.”

“But isn’t this also our destiny?”

“The life of those who bow their heads and silently walk the path they must go.”

“The path of true men who, if they can float starlight in a wine glass and drink a cup, take comfort in that.”

“When you are lonely, please do not just chew on the loneliness but call me, Se-min. I will relieve the loneliness of my brothers and sisters.”

“Respected transcendent brothers and sisters, I love you all. I will stop here.”

Se-min wrote an emotional post after a long time.

The reaction was not bad.

“Dragon Lord Imunkazer: Ah,,,,, my little brother,,,, touches the heart,,,, and rings the heartstrings,,,~~!! Loneliness,,,, my old friend,,,~~!!”

“Sword Demon Ferzen: Se-min writes posts really coolly too. Did you read some books in the old days?”

“Grand Wizard Iana: Did you drink? Just sleep.”

“Death Lord Geherz: Loneliness is the destiny of absolute beings. If you cannot win, you have no choice but to become friends. Today too, the wind brushes the wine glass.”

“Night Emperor Alastair: Today is recognized, lol.”

“All-Knowing Beggar Kim Bong-hak: Soak it.”

Se-min smiled contentedly. If he wrote a post containing sensitivity like this once in a while, the transcendents’ reaction was not bad.

Se-min replied to each comment.

But in the midst of that, an unexpected post was uploaded to the Transcendent Network.

It was Dokgo Cheonma.

“Author: Greatest Demon of All Time Dokgo Cheonma”

“Title: Only my disciple should read this.”

“No content. Leave a comment.”

Se-min left a comment immediately.

“Emperor Lee Se-min: Brother!”

Dokgo Cheonma did not leave a comment for a while. Se-min kept refreshing and waited for him to leave a message.

“Greatest Demon of All Time Dokgo Cheonma: I heard you are going through a lot of trouble. Are you doing well?”

“Emperor Lee Se-min: Yes, it’s hard but it’s manageable. How have you been, Brother? You seemed busy…”

“Greatest Demon of All Time Dokgo Cheonma: Mmm. Because of that, I have something to tell you.”

“Emperor Lee Se-min: ???”

Se-min put his face close to the hand mirror and waited for the next comment.

“Greatest Demon of All Time Dokgo Cheonma: I think it’s time to tell you about my master.”

Se-min looked up at the sky for a moment upon seeing that post. Countless stars were pouring down toward him.

Se-min’s life was saved by Dokgo Cheonma and he came out into the world.

Everything started in his small back room. Without that single word of Dokgo Cheonma, he would have lingered there and died.

Dokgo Cheonma saved him, and Se-min became a Raider.

Now he had become Emperor and was standing against Badurbarok.

“Greatest Demon of All Time Dokgo Cheonma: My master was someone who obtained a treasure called the Primordial Core and could cross dimensions at will.”

Reaching this point, now the connection with the grandmaster was linked.

Cosmic Style.

Where did that vast flow start, and just where was it connected to?

Se-min could not know.

***

Se-min came to know the secret history of the previous Heavenly Demon, who was Dokgo Cheonma’s master and Se-min’s grandmaster.

He had accidentally obtained the treasure called the Primordial Core. Although nothing was known about its origin, using the power of the Primordial Core, he could open the gate of time and space to cross over to another dimension.

Although he was already an unprecedented expert, he did not settle in that position, and began to cross dimensions to obtain clues about the next state.

What was born in that process was the Cosmic Style.

In the midst of that, the previous Heavenly Demon suddenly disappeared.

Dokgo Cheonma saw that the events happening in Se-min’s dimension were related to the disappearance of the previous Heavenly Demon. He had not been able to access the Transcendent Network because he was investigating this.

Se-min agreed with Dokgo Cheonma’s speculation.

In this world, a legend about an unidentified expert who wore a dragon robe and led wolves was widely spread.

Dokgo Cheonma said that those who rose to the position of Heavenly Demon in his dimension always wore clothes with a dragon drawn on them.

Dokgo Cheonma was the same.

Therefore, for some reason, the previous Heavenly Demon’s Primordial Core passed to Badurbarok, and the speculation that Badurbarok used that power to begin invading other dimensions seemed reasonable.

“Grandmaster is really something too.”

Se-min sighed. His head was complicated because he had heard an unexpected story.

He thought the Transcendent Network being connected to him was a coincidence, but in reality, was it a destiny arranged under the dense net of the universe?

Then what happened to the grandmaster?

Could he have been defeated by Badurbarok?

It was something that could not be known even by thinking. Se-min organized his confused head and slapped his cheeks.

Ruminating on the past was not helpful at all.

He decided to focus on what he could do.

“I wonder where the Ogre King is.”

Se-min arbitrary gave the title of King to the ogre who had lived the longest and hummed a song.

Since Maladuk said he was at the summit of the Starlight Mountain Range, he would be somewhere here.

“This is the summit.”

Se-min sat down on the flat area at the top of the mountain range.

“Did he roll down after staying too long?”

Standing at the summit of the Starlight Mountain Range meant standing at the highest place in this world.

The emotion was fresh.

Unlike Earth, it was also good that a proper temperature was maintained. It could be the power of the ogres, or the sacredness of the Starlight Mountain Range itself.

“Ogre…”

Se-min muttered.

The ogre still did not appear.

He just sat plopped down and looked up at the sky. Looking at the night sky from the highest place felt vivid, as if a layer of packaging had been peeled off.

Look at those countless stars.

That implies the infinite scale of the universe.

A vast world that would paralyze the mind was woven under a single law.

“Blue sideburns mustache…”

And what implemented that was the Cosmic Style.

Se-min muttered the phrases of the Cosmic Style. Then, brilliant starlight began to pour down. The starlight passed through his body and settled on the summit of the Starlight Mountain Range.

Se-min repeated the contextless words of the Cosmic Style.

Then a star rose.

A microcosm was created.

The world rotated.

Se-min raised his aura and formed the universe with the principle of the Cosmic Style.

If he could utilize this power, he would be able to defeat anyone, but such a state still felt far away.

Se-min closed his eyes. Drawing the vast scenery of the universe, Se-min muttered those code-like words once more.

“Blue sideburns mustache…”

The small universe shone even more brilliantly.

Se-min closed his eyes while feeling the flow of the Cosmic Style.

It was then.

[….]

He heard something like a voice.

Se-min opened his eyes. He did not actually hear it, but it was the ogre’s conversation method delivered directly to the head.

“Who is it? Are you here?”

The opponent did not answer. Se-min looked in all directions. It was definitely not an illusion.

He called the ogre for a while, but the telepathy did not return again.

Se-min let out a deep sigh. And he cast the Cosmic Style again. The vast flow swept the summit of the Starlight Mountain Range once more.

[….]

Se-min suddenly heard a whisper blowing into his ear.

No, he did not actually hear it.

However, it felt as if someone had really whispered in his ear.

Beyond transmitting meaning, it was a high-level telepathy ability that inputted a sensation close to hearing into the opponent’s nervous system.

“Ogre?”

Se-min said. This time too, there was no reply. Se-min expressed his will using the Cosmic Style, as if he had realized something.

Then the ear block rang again.

[You…]

This time it was certain.

Se-min jumped up from his seat. The appearance of the ogre was not visible. He gave up searching and focused his mind.

[Who are you?]

He was asking Se-min.

Se-min answered.

“I am the Emperor.”

[Emperor…]

“I came to kill Badurbarok.”

[Badurbarok…]

The owner of the telepathy was silent for a while. Se-min expanded his sensory perception to find the ogre.

Then at some moment, the ground shook.

Se-min touched the ground.

“Ugh…?”

As the ground kept shaking, Se-min lowered his posture and took balance.

The vibration continued for a while. And at the end of it, Se-min could know why he had not found the ogre.

The ground he was standing on was itself the ogre’s body.

Se-min leaped from the ground and stepped on the air. When he looked at the summit from the dropped place, the shape of the ogre began to be revealed to his eyes.

The actual top of the mountain range was lower than where Se-min had stood.

The ogre sitting at the summit had sat for so long that he had really turned like a rock, becoming a part of the mountain range.

As he rose, debris fell down to the floor.

[Human.]

The ogre was really big.

He stared at Se-min.

[Human.]

He repeated the words and tilted his head as if trying to revive his memory. And he transmitted the meaning to Se-min again.

[How do you…]

At his subsequent words, Se-min’s eyes opened wide.

[Know blue sideburns mustache?]

***

The name of the huge ogre was Mukudu. Mukudu questioned Se-min about blue sideburns mustache.

The one who was curious about that was Se-min as well.

The two repeated the same words.

“How do you know blue sideburns mustache?”

[How do you know it, rather?]

“Speak first.”

[Human, speak first.]

“No way.”

[I cannot either.]

“If you speak first, I’ll tell you.”

[If you speak, I will tell you too.]

The two spent time like that.

One might think what kind of bickering this was over such a trivial thing, but the ogre was more stubborn than expected, so Se-min could not proceed with the conversation.

Se-min could not speak about the Transcendent Network, and because of that, his explanation was limited.

Mukudu wanted more than that.

“I said I learned it from my master.”

[Who is your master?]

“What are you going to do if you know?”

[How does your master know blue sideburns mustache?]

Se-min let out a groan. Like an ogre who had not moved for a long time, he was tightly blocked.

As a guy like a huge rock-block stared at him blankly with shining eyes, it was extremely burdensome.

“Don’t stare.”

[How do you know blue sideburns mustache?]

“I learned it from my master.”

[What is your master’s name?]

“It’s a secret.”

[….]

If he did not reply, he immediately shut his mouth.

As seen before, those guys called ogres were easygoing. They did not seem to be tired of this kind of dialogue.

Just as Se-min was contemplating whether to access the Transcendent Network and ask Dokgo Cheonma for understanding.

The sound of footsteps was heard from below.

It was Shozen.

“What’s going on?”

“Your Majesty. A problem has occurred.”

In times like this, stories about demonic beasts usually come up.

“They say demonic beasts are gathering below the Starlight Mountain Range.”

“No way, they are going to attack here? When there are ogres?”

“We don’t know the details, but it’s certain that a massive number of demonic beasts have gathered.”

Shozen spoke like that but was not conscious of Mukudu at all.

Because Mukudu was sitting with his back turned to Shozen, from his perspective, he would just look like a strangely grown large rock.

[Demonic beasts?]

Mukudu turned his head.

A look of astonishment appeared on Shozen’s expressionless face, and he took a step back.

As Mukudu looked down at Shozen, a huge shadow fell. He was that big of an ogre.

[You say demonic beasts are coming?]

“Yeah.”

Mukudu looked down. Unlike his behavior so far, it was a serious expression.

[The Starlight Mountain Range is not allowed for demonic beasts.]

“But they are coming anyway?”

[Did they chase you?]

Se-min shrugged his shoulders.

[Block the demonic beasts.]

“The demonic beasts?”

[Yeah.]

Mukudu said.

Se-min tilted his head. There were many ogres, so there did not seem to be a need for them to step forward. He also wanted to see the power of the ogres.

“Won’t the ogres block them?”

[No. No. Your strength is needed. Human.]

“Mmm…”

Se-min thought for a moment, then coughed and asked in an implicit tone.

“Fine, I’ll help.”

[Thank you.]

“Instead, there is a condition.”

[What is it?]

“If I block the demonic beasts, tell me about blue sideburns mustache.”

[Understood.]

It was a futile ending compared to the stubbornness he had shown.

Se-min let out a deep sigh and lifted Rufus. He did not know if this was a good deal, but for now, he wanted to converse more with Mukudu.

Se-min ran down the mountain range toward the residential area of the ogres.

Far away, the swarm of demonic beasts began to be visible. Se-min increased his speed. Just as it took a long time to climb high, going down also took a long time. Se-min accelerated. Gradually, the scenery of the ground came into view.

As he tumbled down along the mountain ridge, the demonic beasts lifted their eyes.

Se-min kicked the earth, leaped up, and jumped into the center of the demonic beasts. He was surrounded in an instant. The demonic beasts were flustered and wore puzzled expressions instead.

It was a reckless-looking surprise attack.

However, to know the sideburns mustache, he could do at least this much.

Se-min’s sword moved gorgeously. The demonic beasts were decomposed helplessly.

Gradually, demonic beasts gathered. Se-min blocked the attacks flying from all directions and even managed to counterattack instead. Se-min cleared the demonic beasts with a military valor of one against a hundred.

Then, from somewhere, a familiar killing intent was felt.

Se-min swung Rufus and blocked the rear. The sound of weapons clashing occurred. A blade appeared in the air, aiming at Se-min.

“We meet again. Did you tail me?”

It was Han Su-in. He was still like a shape of gathered darkness.

He did not even speak to Se-min and swung his weapon. Se-min cut down the demonic beasts while mocking him from time to time like a slick snake.

Han Su-in’s attacks became fierce.

Se-min also did not lose and struck down Han Su-in with killing intent.

He avoided it leisurely. Se-min increased the output of the Tai Chi Accord. Han Su-in hid his form in the darkness.

“Come out.”

The reply came from the demonic beasts, not Han Su-in.

They covered Se-min all at once. Se-min strove to survive while swinging his sword in all directions.

If he killed a demonic beast, the next demonic beast covered him, and if he killed them all, the next lineup rushed at Se-min. It was a swamp-like fight.

Se-min raised a large aura and shook off the demonic beasts.

“Han Su-in!”

Se-min flew through the air and chased him.

Han Su-in was standing in the sky with black wings spread out. Se-min discharged aura toward him, and Han Su-in blocked it skillfully.

“Bring it on!”

The two mingled.

The combat skill of Se-min and Han Su-in was indeed neck-and-neck, so a conclusion did not easily come out.

Demonic beasts were continuously being replenished. The tall monster walking far away was Gaigatus, which had completely destroyed the Grand Marino Forest.

“Do you intend to blow up the Starlight Mountain Range?”

[….]

Han Su-in just grinned and did not reply.

“If you do that, the ogres will get angry like the Orcs and try to fight you. You must know what kind of existences the ogres are.”

[You don’t need to worry.]

Se-min looked over Han Su-in’s shoulder and bit his lip. The number of Gaigatus was gradually increasing.

[I want to tell you one piece of good news.]

“Good news?”

Han Su-in smirked. The outline of his mouth curved thinly in his body made of darkness.

[Don’t you want to know what happened to Earth currently?]

Se-min glared at Han Su-in and grinned.

“Not curious.”

And he rushed in again. Their weapons collided, causing an explosion. The demonic beasts were blown away by the aftermath.

The fight between Se-min and Han Su-in caused a disaster of the level of exploding cannons or missiles rather than a clash of cold weapons.

“Guys like you would at best lie to shake the opponent or talk stimulating nonsense. Are you some kind of half-witted guy to kindly explain the situation of Earth to me?”

As Se-min mocked, Han Su-in’s face stiffened again.

[Earth is…]

Han Su-in twisted his mouth once and tried to continue speaking, but Se-min attacked without giving him a gap.

He did not even want to hear it.

Stories like Earth being completely destroyed might come out.

It did not matter now. No, even if it mattered, there was no need to know right now.

He just had to kill Badurbarok.

That was what he could do, and that was what he had to do, so he did not want to be shaken by the story of Earth.

[I see. You must be afraid. That’s why you refuse to listen.]

Han Su-in smirked as if he understood.

Se-min ended up laughing back because that expression was pathetic. The Raider who was referred to as a legend on Earth turned into a strange shape and his level seemed to have plummeted to the bottom. The appearance of risking his life on a minor psychological war was trivial.

“Does thinking like that comfort you?”

Se-min’s Rufus became faster.

Han Su-in was pushed back.

Se-min rode the momentum and kicked Han Su-in’s body. The shocked Han Su-in faded into black smoke, then formed a dark shape again and rose in the air.

Se-min mocked while mimicking his tone.

“I see. You must be afraid. After getting hit a few times by me, did you feel like you had to engage in psychological warfare? Did you think that if you mentioned Earth’s news, I would be surprised and lose focus while urging you?”

[….]

“I am different from you.”

Se-min thought of Dokgo Cheonma. He also recalled the grandmaster who was said to have disappeared.

His sect seeks to embrace the principle of the world through the Cosmic Style. He no longer cared about the likes of Han Su-in who submitted to Badurbarok, or his cheap tricks.

“So get lost.”

The Cosmic Style rose.

In front of the Grand Marino Forest, Se-min had fought a fierce battle with Han Su-in. At that time, the two were neck-and-neck in skill.

However, time did not flow equally for everyone.

Passing through Hesse Island, and meeting the ogres of the Starlight Mountain Range, Se-min’s world expanded more and more.

He advanced to a deeper universe. The Se-min of the past and the Se-min of now were different. The future him would be different again.

Until he killed Badurbarok, he would not stop.

[Impressive.]

Han Su-in’s darkness became much thicker. The black blade popping out from his hand became longer and sharper.

[I’ll just tell you. We completely destroyed one country. We thought about killing them all, but we made all the living ones slaves.]

It was indeed a trivial content.

[I met a guy named Kim Gyu-jin there.]

Se-min’s eyes shook for a moment. Han Su-in’s voice became much brighter.

[Although he was somewhat strong…]

Se-min kicked the air and rushed. Han Su-in, as if he had been waiting, swung his sword from bottom to top and shot a black air current.

While Se-min hesitated, the offensive passed to Han Su-in.

[You must be acquainted with Kim Gyu-jin?]

“Then why is your face in that shape?”

Se-min, who was blocking Han Su-in’s attacks, caught a gap and threw a punch at Han Su-in’s face. It was a clean hit. Han Su-in’s waist bent backward.

“Concave is better than flat, right?”

Han Su-in could not continue speaking further.

Se-min’s attacks became intense. Rufus became two, and two became four. A brilliant light rose in the sword energy of the Cosmic Style that multiplied infinitely.

Like the Milky Way embroidering the night sky, the countless blades shone as if stars dwelt in them and split Han Su-in’s darkness.

Darkness was nothing more than the absence of light.

The shining sword energy cut Han Su-in’s black body, and the crack tattered without being able to join again.

[…. Let’s stop here.]

Han Su-in said as he retreated. Se-min was dumbfounded and asked.

“Stop what here?”

[I have no time to play with you further.]

“Wow. Are you really Han Su-in? You know it’s extremely disappointing, right?”

[Arrogant bastard. You talk like a newborn chick while knowing nothing.]

“Try to make me stop talking, then.”

[The ogres cannot leave this place. Even if you try, it’s in vain. The goblins, Orcs, and trolls you coaxed will eventually become slaves like the humans of Earth. Everything is because of you. Lee Se-min.]

Se-min looked back.

While fighting Han Su-in, Gaigatus had already advanced close.

The number was large. Se-min discovered that Gaigatus’s heads loomed even on the outside where he had not seen.

It was not a small number.

No, it was extremely large.

The Gaigatuses were surrounding the mountain range area at regular intervals.

[Do you know how much the ogres love this mountain?]

“Since the word love comes out from your mouth, it really makes me hate to hear it.”

[The moment the ogres try to leave the mountain range, the Gaigatuses will turn this entire mountain range into a plain.]

“…”

Se-min clearly saw the power of Gaigatus. It was a destructive power like looking at Earth’s nuclear weapons. Just a few Gaigatuses turned the Grand Marino Forest into ashes.

Such guys came in large numbers and surrounded the mountain range.

If there were a sufficient number of Gaigatus, they would be able to destroy the mountain range.

“You are going to take the mountain hostage?”

[Yeah.]

“Won’t they run out and decapitate you before that?”

[A human-like thought. Don’t worry, the ogres will waste several decades just discussing what to do about this with each other.]

“…”

It was a plausible thought.

Se-min swung Rufus irritably. The surrounding demonic beasts were killed. Se-min walked up the air and looked around.

The surroundings of the mountain range were occupied by the Gaigatuses. Below the Gaigatuses, small demonic beasts were gathered, and a strange sticky substance was spreading like the floor of the city seen beyond the gate.

It was a problem that could not be easily solved.

“Damn it.”

Se-min swung Rufus wildly in frustration. Everywhere, the ground was dug up and the chopped bodies of the demonic beasts scattered.

“See you later.”

Se-min glared at Han Su-in and returned to the Starlight Mountain Range.

As he climbed the mountain range and looked around, indeed the Gaigatuses were standing at regular intervals, looking at the mountain range.

It also meant that the demonic beasts were that wary of the ogres.

Se-min increased his speed and rushed toward the summit of the mountain range again. Advancing alone without the party, he traversed a long distance in no time. Se-min soon stood before Mukudu again.

Mukudu was crouching his huge body and looking at the distant horizon.

“Mukudu.”

[Human.]

“I couldn’t defeat the demonic beasts.”

[Why?]

“That’s…”

Se-min explained about the monster called Gaigatus to Mukudu. Mukudu listened to Se-min’s story blankly with a rock-like face.

[….]

Even after Se-min’s story ended, Mukudu kept silent.

Se-min asked him.

“What are you doing?”

[Thinking.]

“What thought?”

[I am contemplating what to do.]

“…”

Han Su-in was precisely grasping the ogres. Mukudu showed no sign of trying to move.

“Mukudu. What are you contemplating?”

[There is a need to think about it.]

“You can just go and crush them all.”

[Violence is not right. The Starlight Mountain Range is precious.]

The plan of taking the mountain hostage worked brilliantly.

Se-min let out a groan. The plan to persuade the ogres and strike Badurbarok was scattering.

“Mukudu, don’t contemplate too long. Just commit it and see.”

[I will consider it.]

“Yeah. Slowly… no, think quickly. Quickly.”

Se-min said like that and turned his body.

While Mukudu crouched at the summit of the Starlight Mountain Range and contemplated something, Se-min went down and joined the party.

“Your Majesty, nothing happened to you.”

“Nothing happened? A lot happened.”

As Se-min explained Han Su-in’s plan, everyone wore a serious face.

Everyone was surprised at Badurbarok’s force that could mobilize monsters like Gaigatus to that extent, and in addition, they let out a sigh again at that simple yet effective plan.

They said they would destroy the mountain range, so what could they do?

“As long as the ogres cherish the Starlight Mountain Range, it will be difficult.”

Shozen said.

Gulad shook his head.

“Why don’t we just commit it like the Orcs’ case? If the mountain range disappears, won’t those ogres also fight in anger?”

While speaking like that, as his gaze reached Kubar, he coughed.

Se-min’s party had a record of inducing attacks from the demonic beasts to make the Orcs participate.

Although it succeeded as a result, the Grand Marino Forest disappeared. It was not content to talk about in front of the party concerned, Kubar.

“It’s a good thought.”

Se-min nodded.

“But since there was the Orcs’ case, the demonic beasts won’t be easily fooled either. Unless the ogres step forward, they won’t detonate Gaigatus first. The boss over there is by no means foolish.”

“Argh…”

Everyone put their heads together, but a sharp plan did not come out.

“Why are the ogres so easygoing? Sheesh. The fate of the world is hanging by a thread, yet they are this leisurely.”

Kaorak grumbled.

Se-min shrugged his shoulders. To the ogres, the fate of the world might not matter.

They lived like rocks for a long time in the Starlight Mountain Range, and set when the time came. They were those for whom just existing was enough.

“Let’s just call Maladuk. A plan might come out if we talk with him. He is the relatively alert guy.”

Perhaps because he was a relatively young ogre, Maladuk had a faster side than other ogres.

Kaorak went back and forth among the ogres fussily, and eventually brought Maladuk. Maladuk scratched his head and said.

[Strange guys came around the mountain range. Do you know who they are?]

“They are demonic beasts. Badurbarok’s subordinates. They say if the ogres leave the Starlight Mountain Range or attack them, they will detonate the mountain range and erase it.”

He expected Maladuk to be angry or have his pride hurt, but Maladuk rather blinked his thick eyelids and laughed.

[The ogres have no reason to leave the Starlight Mountain Range anyway. They are doing useless work. Foolish guys.]

“Why is there no reason to leave? You have to go with me to kill Badurbarok.”

[Then they say the mountain range will detonate and disappear, though.]

“Because the precious Starlight Mountain Range disappears, you have to take revenge on Badurbarok.”

[If we don’t go out, it won’t disappear.]

“Then are you going to be trapped here forever?”

[Yeah. For reference, we are not trapped.]

Se-min said as he tapped Maladuk’s shoulder.

“Is it okay even if the other races all die and disappear? How boring would it be if there are only ogres?”

[Even now, we only live among ourselves.]

“I’m saying you won’t be able to see them forever in the future.”

Maladuk was peaceful.

Se-min could not find any way to make the ogres stand against Badurbarok with them. It seemed like it would be the same even if Han Su-in had not surrounded them with Gaigatus.

“It’s hard.”

As Se-min rose from his seat, Shozen asked.

“Where are you going?”

“To meet that ridiculously big guy at the summit.”

Mukudu would still be there.

Since other methods could not be thought of, he decided to just interrogate him about ‘blue sideburns mustache’.

Se-min walked while touching his own sideburns for no reason.

But there was a large shadow following behind.

“What is it?”

[I also want to meet him. It’s amazing that you woke him up.]

“Mukudu?”

[Is his name Mukudu? It’s a cool name.]

“My name is cooler.”

[I’m embarrassed if you suddenly praise me.]

“No, I said ‘my’ (nae) instead of ‘your’ (ne).”

Mukudu was still sitting at the summit.

As Se-min appeared with Maladuk, he slowly turned around.

Maladuk spoke toward Mukudu. At those words, Se-min was startled.

[You woke up, Father!]

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