# Chapter 470: Side Story 143
Guryong Sky was a metro city counted among the world’s top 10.
The population living in the city alone was 80 million.
Skyscrapers of over 500 floors were lined up everywhere, and neon signs reminiscent of visual pollution were flashing day and night.
As was the case with any major city.
The power that ruled Guryong Sky was a mega corporation, a massive conglomerate.
Wanghong Group was the ruler of Guryong Sky.
They monopolized all power in the city, including administration, public security, and the judiciary.
In Guryong Sky, if the Wanghong name was attached to something, there was nothing that could not be done. Even impossible things became possible.
All the other countless corporations were merely subcontractors of Wanghong Group.
Of course, there was a distinction in rank depending on whether one was a first-tier, second-tier, or third-tier subcontractor.
Geumhwa Security, a subcontractor of Wanghong Group, was a comprehensive security company encompassing both armed forces and intelligence.
Steve Chaeng was the CEO of Geumhwa Security.
Today as well, he was monitoring in real-time the dimensional gates that might open somewhere in Guryong Sky.
A large holographic 3D map spread out in the center of the monitoring room. Yellow dots were constantly blinking within it.
“Nothing unusual, right?”
CEO Steve Chaeng asked an employee while sipping synthetic coffee full of caffeine.
“There are no noteworthy mana flows.”
Yellow dots indicated that mana or internal energy was being used.
“What’s that yellow dot over there? It’s blinking quite frequently.”
“Ah! There’s a territorial dispute occurring between Kobold and Elf scavenger clans in area B-89.”
“Those garbage collectors, they fight at every opportunity.”
“Don’t worry. We’ll send suppression forces in a little while.”
It was just a fight happening in a garbage dump. Competition between scavengers trying to secure slightly better quality trash.
In truth, no matter how many yellow dots blinked, there was no need to pay attention.
On the other hand, when an orange dot blinked, it needed to be watched carefully.
It was evidence that a large amount of mana was being used. Either a battle between strong fighters had broken out, or a rare-grade artifact had appeared.
But the signal that required the most vigilance was different.
A large, distinct red dot. That was a warning that a dimensional gate had appeared.
When red appeared in the hologram, an emergency would be declared throughout security. Just like right now!
-Beeeeeep!
“Huk!”
-Flash flash flash!
The hologram shook violently along with the warning sound. A red dot was blinking.
“A g-gate has a-appeared.”
Steve Chaeng was also startled and approached the hologram.
“Damn! …What are the readings?”
“MS 3,506.”
Three thousand five hundred six. It seemed to be a fairly strong dimensional traveler. But it was not an opponent they could not handle.
But then?
“…Huh?”
“What is it?”
“The gate that just appeared….”
“What about it?”
“It matches a gate fingerprint already registered in the database.”
“Hm?”
The gates of dimensional travelers were not all the same. Each had different characteristics and unique properties. This was called a gate fingerprint.
“Who….”
-Spit!
The face of an elf appeared on the hologram screen.
“Ah!”
He knew who it was.
“It’s Nerian.”
“That’s right. It’s definitely that bitch.”
Nerian had returned. A criminal whose name was widely known.
An elf who had hidden her identity in Guryong Sky for a long time and acted like an upstanding businesswoman, only to eventually reveal her true colors.
A woman who had managed to break through the encirclement and the Dimension Travel Prevention Field during the arrest process and escaped.
“Ha! This is ridiculous.” If she had escaped, she should have just stayed hidden instead of coming back. How brazen of her to return? Does she have no fear?
“Forces have been dispatched, right?”
“An emergency was declared the moment it appeared.”
“Report to Wanghong Group as well.”
“Yes.”
Steve Chaeng was extremely tense.
It was either a crisis or an opportunity.
Geumhwa Security had not originally been a first-tier subcontractor of Wanghong Group. They had only recently contracted with Wanghong.
What happened to the security company that had previously contracted with Wanghong? It was forced into bankruptcy. Why? Because they had let Nerian escape.
Wanghong Group did not tolerate mistakes. If you slipped up, they would discard you without mercy. Geumhwa Security was no exception. One mistake and they would be discarded.
That was why they had to capture the returned criminal, Nerian.
Steve Chaeng’s expression was anxious. By now, the forces should have arrived.
In that moment! Flash! A blinding red light filled the monitoring room. The entire hologram was red.
“Wh-what?”
“An-another d-dimensional g-gate has opened.”
What? There was one more person?
“What are the readings?”
“MS 381,456….”
Haa. Three hundred eighty thousand? Is that even possible?
“Check again.”
“Umm, MS 456,622….”
It went up even more?
“I-it keeps going up. It’s exceeded 600,000.”
“What on earth?”
And then. -Swoosh!
“Uh? The readings have disappeared. It shows as immeasurable.”
“…Ah!”
Now he understood.
“It’s a system error.”
“It seems so.”
“Huu.”
Steve Chaeng wiped the cold sweat flowing down his forehead.
“What are the engineering teams doing? Not doing maintenance on time.”
“I’ll give instructions to correct the error.”
Surely Nerian’s gate fingerprint was not an error too, right?
Before long.
“Report received! Nerian has been confirmed.”
“Tell them to arrest her. It doesn’t matter if they kill her—we just need to secure the DNA.”
“Yes!”
“Connect the cameras.”
* * *
Guryong Sky. The city on Cyberpunk Earth where Ju-hyeok had arrived. The place where Nerian’s company, World Tree Trading Company, had once been.
It was a quiet, deserted clearing. It was dark despite being broad daylight.
“Wow!”
His mouth dropped open.
“It’s like a jungle.”
Skyscrapers built packed tightly together.
“How many floors are those?”
The sky was nearly invisible.
Having many skyscrapers usually meant there were also many people living there.
“The population concentration in cities is severe.”
“It’s because people can’t live outside.”
“Why is that?”
“It’s a contaminated area. You can’t even breathe. The rivers and oceans are polluted too, and climate change is serious.”
“I see.”
“The cities are livable because they run large-scale purification systems.”
He could imagine.
How much nature must have been destroyed to build such a massive civilization.
Do these people not know about sustainable development?
“Um, Ju-hyeok-nim.”
“Yes?”
“Since you opened a dimensional gate, you’ve definitely been detected.”
“That’s probably right.”
“Shouldn’t we hide for now?”
“Why?”
“It might be too much for just the two of us.”
Nerian looked anxious.
That was right. There were only two of them. The dimensional gate she had opened was already closed.
“I thought the others were coming through together.”
“Ah! They’ll be here soon too.”
“Through a dimensional gate?”
“No. They come right away when I call them.”
They come when called? How?
It was then.
-Whirr! Whirrrr! Whirrrrrrr! Countless flying objects covering the distant sky.
“Those are Dimension Travel Prevention Field drones. The field will be….”
-Swoooooosh!
An unfamiliar wave of mana spread throughout the entire city.
‘Oho.’
So when this is deployed, you can’t open a dimensional gate? Let’s test it. To see if it opens or not.
Ju-hyeok held up the Judge’s Mallet. Where should he open one?
‘To the Rabong Trading Company in Kalzenia….’
-Whirl! Bzzzzt! The moment he spun it, a dimensional gate opened.
What? It opened too easily.
Nerian’s mouth hung open in a daze.
The field had definitely been deployed. Of course one could overpower it, but he was opening it too easily.
‘Has the field weakened?’
So Nerian tried as well. She spread both arms and drew a large circle, but.
‘…It won’t open.’
Ju-hyeok could do it but she could not.
‘Well.’
Given the gap in power. There was nothing strange about it.
But then? -Shuuup! A person’s head emerged from the dimensional gate Ju-hyeok had opened.
“Kyaa!”
Nerian jumped in surprise.
“Oh my, goodness. Sorry for startling you. Excuse me, but could you perhaps be…?”
“Huh? Ralf-ssi!”
“Oh! Ju-hyeok-nim.”
It was Ralf, a fellow dimensional traveler and Enhancer.
“So you opened this, Ju-hyeok-nim.”
“Were you still in Kalzenia?”
“Yes, yes, I went back to my hometown, and when I returned, no one was there. Geez! Where did everyone go?”
“Oh dear, I should have told you.”
“About what…?”
When traveling to Fusion Earth 561.
Ju-hyeok had established the White Academy in Daejeong City, Republic of Korea.
He had asked the Kalzenia dimensional travelers to help because he needed people to teach the students and manage the academy regularly.
So they had all crossed over to Earth 561. They were probably still there now.
Among them, Cheonma would be in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region for the revival of the Demonic Cult.
Only Ralf had been left out. He was not there at the time.
When he explained this situation.
“Wow, I feel betrayed. How could you leave just me out?”
“I’m sorry.”
“Anyway, may I cross over?”
“As you wish, but a battle might break out soon. Will you be alright?”
“Haha, why would I need to worry when I’m next to Ju-hyeok-nim?”
-Shuuup! Ralf the Enhancer crossed over completely.
-Spit! The dimensional gate closed.
“Right! Please introduce yourselves. This person is also a dimensional traveler.”
-Flinch! Ralf was startled and slowly backed away.
“Come on, you’re overreacting. It’s obviously not the same soul.”
“…What do you mean?”
“There was no merging phenomenon.”
That’s true.
Ralf scratched his head and spoke again.
“But why are you waging a dimensional war instead of dimensional travel?”
“Well….”
Ju-hyeok explained to Ralf how he came to be here.
“R-really?”
“Yes, Ralf-ssi, you’ve become a criminal just by coming here.”
“What the hell!”
Ralf’s face flushed red.
“Are we some kind of virus or germs?”
“Right?”
“I’m joining the fight. I’ll sulk if you don’t let me.”
Of course, Ralf was also qualified since he was a dimensional traveler, but.
“It will be dangerous.”
“I can take on a supporter role. I’ll provide Enhancement Stones.”
Huh? Enhancement Stones, he said.
“Oh, our dear Ralf-ssi, stay with me until the end. I’ll even give you a residence permit later.”
“Huh? A residence permit, you mean….”
Right at that moment! -Tseup! Tseup! Tseup…! Countless humans surrounded Ju-hyeok, Nerian, and Ralf.
-Tseup! Tseup! Tseup…! They kept coming.
-Tseup! Tseup! Tseup…! They filled every direction with no space to step.
At a rough estimate, several hundred—no, seeing as they were still pouring in, it would be well over several thousand.
“Be careful. Those are AI androids designed for anti-personnel combat.”
So they were not human.
Perfect.
“You shouldn’t underestimate them. They’re strong.”
“In terms of martial arts level?”
“Hwagyeong level or above. We should escape first.”
In truth, Nerian could easily handle a few android units.
But there were too many of them. If they came crashing in like a wave, she would be helplessly swept away.
Meanwhile, Ralf was calm. Because he knew Ju-hyeok’s abilities.
“There are a lot of them. It seems like we need to call some people?”
“Yes, we should call them.”
And then. -Spot! Spot! Spot! Spot! Spot! Spot…! All combat-type Summoned Beings were summoned at once.
“Sabonggaeng!!!”
Kozak shouted with a roar as soon as he appeared.
“Is this Sabonggaeng?”
“Yes, smash everything.”
“It’s Sabonggaengggg!!!”
-Spot! Kozak burst forward. Daggers in both hands.
-Slash! Slash! Slash! The heads of androids were cut off.
“Hoeeeeek! Honggaeng!!!”
-Clang! Spin spin spin! Thud! Thud thud thud! Rajiks’s body slam.
-Tseeeeet! Gwangma’s crescent Force Qi also swept through the androids.
“You fools!”
Gyeon Dal-rae’s talismans scattered through the air.
“Warrior does Sabonggaeng.”
-Rip! The monstrous strength of the enlarged Gobang tore apart an android.
“Light!”
Bardin’s shield.
And then. -Bzzzzt! Ka-boom! Splash! Captain Vae’s magic gun, which he had not seen in a long time.
“Sabonggaeeeeng!!!!”
Nerian was dumbfounded. These were the people she had met in a space called the White Tower.
‘So this is what he meant by calling them?’
It was practically a cheat-level ability. No matter how she thought about it, Bong Ju-hyeok did not seem human.
And that cry those people shouted at the end of every sentence. Sabonggaeng. Nerian also knew what it meant.
“…This might actually be possible.”
“What might?”
Ju-hyeok asked Nerian, who was talking to herself.
“S-Sabonggaeng.”
Ju-hyeok chuckled. Of course it’s possible.
“But the main game hasn’t even started yet.”
“Uh, th-the main game?”
Let me show you now. What a true android is.
* * *
How to apprehend dimensional travel criminals. It was a race against time.
That was why Dimension Travel Prevention Field drone bots were deployed first.
They indiscriminately spread the field over areas where dimensional gate openings were suspected.
Suspect search came next.
It began after the android combat units arrived.
Approximately 5,000 android units.
They spread widely across the suspected area, maintained close contact with each other, and searched as if catching mice.
It was the same this time.
The difference from before was that the discovery was very fast. At this rate, it was as if they had been found right upon arrival.
Geumhwa Security monitoring room.
The view was shared with the combat AI androids.
At the same time, the field situation was transmitted directly to the hologram screen.
“There are 3 of them.”
“Yes, it seems they brought accomplices, given who they are.”
Steve Chaeng’s expression was full of mockery.
“Idiots, as if they’re mentally challenged.” Did they think bringing a few more people would let them defeat anti-personnel combat androids?
Had they only faced dimensional travelers once or twice?
Were they not just humans who were slightly stronger than others?
There were a full 5,000 android units at Hwagyeong level, Master level, and 8th Circle level.
All connected by artificial intelligence, switching between offensive and defensive postures and changing tactics were instantaneous.
There had been no failures until now.
It would be the same this time.
But right at that moment!
“…Huh?”
What is that?
-Spot! Spot! Spot! Spot! Spot! Spot….
People suddenly appeared from thin air.
Then they charged forward and began cutting down the androids.
“What the….”
Steve Chaeng’s hand holding the synthetic coffee tumbler trembled violently.
“Who are those people?”
“I d-don’t know.”
“How did they appear?”
“I’m not sure.”
The 5,000 android units were being dismantled piece by piece.
Every time one was destroyed, Steve Chaeng’s heart broke too. How much did each of those cost?
At this level of damage, they would go under whether they caught the targets or not.
But that was not the end.
There was one more highlight.
-Whoong, whoong, whoong, whoong….
Suddenly the hologram screen turned white.
“…Haha.”
“Th-this is insane!”
“My god….”
“What on earth?”
Everyone in the monitoring room was shocked by the sight they were seeing for the first time in their lives.
Am I dreaming right now? Is this real?
-Thunk!
CEO of Geumhwa Security, Steve Chaeng’s synthetic coffee tumbler fell from his hand with a thunk.
* * *
If you compared the scientific capabilities of Main Earth and Cyberpunk Earth, which would be ahead?
Judging coldly, Cyberpunk Earth was far ahead.
That was in terms of scientific capability alone.
However, Main Earth had a crucial difference from Cyberpunk Earth.
That was Divine Power and dimensional energy.
Take androids for example.
Main Earth’s androids had Divine Power and dimensional energy applied to them.
The most representative example was the Archangel.
That’s right.
Ju-hyeok possessed the Archangel android.
It was a gift from his elder brother, First Poison Dang Gun-ak.
It had been destroyed during the past Dragon God expedition in Dracoland, but El had finished repairing and modifying it.
In fact, strictly speaking, Ju-hyeok’s Archangel was different from regular Archangels.
It had been enhanced to +5 with Enhancement Stones and was bound to Ju-hyeok.
Thus, the Archangel moved by multiplying with Ju-hyeok’s power.
This seemed good, but it had weaknesses too.
Once multiplication started, it would greedily draw on Ju-hyeok’s energy like a parasite.
The Summoned Beings did not like it much. How dare it use the Summoner’s power without permission?
So El had modified it.
The main energy was dimensional energy, with Ju-hyeok’s energy as auxiliary.
Then where would the dimensional energy come from?
It could not be mined.
The amount of dimensional energy needed to operate the Archangels exceeded imagination.
A few storage rods that the White Tower possessed could not handle it.
In the past on Main Earth, they had even reduced the amount of dimensional energy used in other fields just to operate the Archangels.
But there was a Supreme Dimension Stone.
The one received from the god Wignar upon succeeding in the Demon God selection mission.
Doctor El had made it into a battery pack and used it as the Archangels’ energy source.
Ju-hyeok’s bound Archangel androids began multiplying.
-Whoong, whoong, whoong, whoong….
Their numbers increased endlessly.
Nerian’s soul completely left her body at the sight.
The numerical disadvantage was not on their side but on the enemy’s.
The white wave moved. It spread out in all directions.
-Pashashashashak!
The security anti-personnel combat androids crumbled to dust and vanished.
It happened in the blink of an eye.
Not a single one remained.
Nerian looked at Ju-hyeok with a dazed expression.
Excuse me. And you’re saying you’re not a god?
From what I can see, you’re undoubtedly a god.
“Nerian sunbae-nim.”
“…Uh, yes, yes.”
“What’s the largest corporation in Guryong Sky again?”
“W-Wanghong Group.”
Cyberpunk Earth, where corporations ruled the world.
“What’s the closest Wanghong Group subsidiary from here?”
“There’s a bank. It’s called Wanghong Bank.”
“Good. Please lead the way. Let’s rob it.”
“…What? R-rob it?”
Why is she so surprised? As if she’s never robbed a bank before.
This was a world where dimensional travelers were criminals.
How unfair. She had not done anything wrong.
So he made a decision. If anyone considered him a criminal, he would repay them with actions befitting one. He would gladly become a criminal.
“Let’s go. To rob the bank.”
“Sabonggaeng!”
“Sabonggaeng!!”
“Sabonggaeng!!!”
…
Tens of thousands of Archangel androids soared high into the sky.
There was nothing that could stop them.
