Chapter 26: A Mutually Beneficial Relationship

It took a full half-day to eradicate the alien race that had infiltrated the Academy.  

Though most of the aliens were killed early on, tracking down the remaining few took quite some time.  

It took a long time. 

I’m sorry. 

“No, if it weren’t for you, everyone would have suffered more. Well done.”  

Thank you.  

The First Apostle, now a High Apostle, knelt and offered a reverent prayer of gratitude. 

A radiant halo glowed behind them, and others, seeing it, followed suit in prayer.  

Well, with a halo like that, even an atheist like me might stare in awe.  

I snapped out of my daze, captivated by the holy presence of the High Apostle.  

“System, there are no aliens left in One Direction, right?”  

[None remain.]  

“Good. High Apostle.”  

Speak, my lord. 

“Keep the dimensional tunnel opened at the Academy active. And if any of those creatures try to cross over, burn them all to ashes without leaving a single one.”  

I obey your command. 

This should prevent us from being caught off guard by the aliens’ attacks.  

“Second Apostles.”  

Speak, my lord. 

“Are the weapons I mentioned being produced?”  

We haven’t made many yet, but we have a few prototypes. 

The Bloodkin Second Apostle promptly brought out a thick lump of charcoal.  

This is an unquenchable fire. 

When thrown, it will burn the enemy until they die.  

“Excellent, it passes. Anything else?”  

We’re also working on throwing burning oil. 

It’s still too dangerous, so it can’t be used until we deem it safe.  

“Use it for now. Transport it to the Academy.”  

I obey your command.  

The weapons crafted under the leadership of the two Second Apostles will be hurled into that dimension.  

If those creatures propagate through seeds, they surely can’t move much.  

Let’s see if they can survive this inferno.  

“High Apostle, once all preparations are complete, set fire to that dimension. Burn it all to the ground.”  

I obey your command. 

That’s all I need to assign to the High Apostle.  

Now, while the work is being completed, I can increase the time scale and take a break.  

“This is exhausting, so exhausting.”  

I rubbed my eyes and reflected on this incident.  

“The nature of these aliens far exceeds my predictions.”  

Up until now, I’d only seen the Bloodkin and Tinyfolk.  

Naturally, I assumed all alien races would be like them, but that was an arrogant assumption.  

Who could’ve imagined they’d exist as plants and invade through seeds?  

“Next, they’ll probably be using psionic powers or something.”  

I might even encounter aliens wielding magic or supernatural abilities.  

The best approach would be to understand every alien race, but anticipating and preparing for every possibility is nearly impossible.  

So, I need a backup plan.  

“I need a way to gather information about the enemy. System.”  

[Speak.]  

“You said that as your capabilities grow, we can learn more details about other dimensions, right?”  

[Correct. Your authority to interfere with dimensions increases.]  

“Then we need to absorb as many dimensions as possible. For survival.”  

Dimensions without alien races.  

By absorbing those one by one, we can strengthen the system, avoid dangerous races, or absorb and merge with manageable enemies.  

“I need to push dimensional research further.”  

If necessary, I’d grant scholars powers similar to Apostles to enhance their capabilities.  

At the very least, we should identify and subjugate one dimension every 35 years—or one per week in this time scale.  

“Easier said than done.”  

To train scholars, I need to nurture the Bloodkin, and to do that, I need to expand their influence beyond what it is now.  

I quietly opened Dimensional Observation and looked at the Bloodkin First Apostle.  

With the Tinyfolk First Apostle advancing to High Apostle, a hierarchy has formed between the Tinyfolk and Bloodkin.  

Of course, the Tinyfolk First Apostle will try to treat them equally.  

“That’s my will and my hope.”  

But I’m not sure if everyone will see it that way.  

The best scenario would be the Bloodkin First Apostle advancing to High Apostle too.  

A stage only achievable by offering their life and soul to me.  

It’s practically the stage of fanaticism.  

Even if it’s efficient and has a significant correlation with future progress, I won’t force it or even hope for it.  

I just want things to go smoothly.  

Reading the self-deprecation in the Bloodkin First Apostle’s eyes, I turned off the observation.  

Spending a whole day on this has left me drained.  

I’d love to rest like this, but…  

“Ugh, I have to work.”  

Now it’s time to handle real-world tasks.  

Damn it.  

***

[Dimension synchronization completed.]  

[Congratulations. You have become the master of a destroyed race’s dimension.]  

[You can now observe this dimension.]  

[The Dimension Management System has been enhanced.]  

Sorting resumes for new hires, compiling a list of bakery owners joining Local Bakery, selecting brand management staff… and so on.  

While tackling the relentless pile of work, the system displayed a message.  

“Destroyed race… You mean we wiped them out completely?”  

[Correct. Would you like to observe the dimension?]  

“Yeah, open it up.”  

The system unfolded the map of that dimension.  

It was pitch black.  

The First Apostle and the search party said it was a dense jungle when they went there…  

Perhaps due to my order to burn everything, it had all turned to ashes.  

“Phew, should I call this a job well done…?”  

That race could’ve been useful if handled well.  

A small pang of regret crept in, but I shook my head to dispel the thought.  

If we’d tried to use them and they’d turned the tables on us, it would’ve been a headache.  

It’s better to wipe them out like this.  

“System, show me the environmental data for the dimension.”  

Even if the race is useless, the dimension might have some value.  

That was my hope, but…  

[Dimension Environment: Desert (98%), Others (2%)]  

The land, aside from the ashes, was entirely desert.  

I wondered why it ended up like this, but it seems the aliens drained all the nutrients.  

Truly a race that screws us over from start to finish.  

“At least the sand might be useful. Oh, System, will this dimension ever recover to its original state?”  

[It will take approximately 300 years for the natural environment to be restored to its previous state.]  

“And that doesn’t include the aliens, right?”  

[The species is extinct, so the likelihood is zero.]  

“…Let’s be satisfied with the lack of threats.”  

For now, I’ll consider it a source of sand, and if a better use comes up, I can decide then.  

“Summon the High Apostle.”  

I greet the Master of the Dimension.  

“You worked hard conquering the new dimension.”  

Not at all. 

Thanks to the preparations you provided, it wasn’t difficult.  

“I’m grateful you think that way. Now, here are your next instructions.”  

Speak, my lord. 

I conveyed long-term strategies through the High Apostle.  

“Invest heavily in dimensional research personnel. Find and secure new dimensions, and use them as a foundation for further progress.”  

Understood. 

“Oh, and it’d be better to centralize all dimensional portals in one location.”  

Currently, the iron dimension is connected to the First City, and the desert dimension to the Academy.  

If we leave it unchecked, it’ll cause issues with material and personnel transport later, so it’s better to establish regulations now.  

“Set the location on the outskirts between the First City and the Academy, and designate it as the Dimension Zone.”  

Then we’ll train reserve Apostles there and manage the dimensional portals.  

“That’s a great idea.”  

Combining it with an Apostle training institution would elevate it beyond a mere dimensional management site.  

That’s a pretty good plan.  

“Continue discovering and absorbing new dimensions consistently.”  

I obey your command.  

“Do your best, Seitus.”  

…Thank you. 

I ended the conversation by calling the High Apostle by name.  

This might be the last time I speak with the High Apostle.  

The Tinyfolk have short lifespans, and the High Apostle is already quite old.  

They’ll likely pass away in a few days.  

“The first High Apostle, huh.”  

Someone who vowed to dedicate everything to me.  

No matter how much of a sociopath or psychopath I might be, such a being is bound to be special.  

I can’t just let it pass.  

“Bloodkin First Apostle.”  

You called? 

“An Apostle training institution will be established soon. Ensure Bloodkin Apostles are trained there as well.”  

I’ll instruct my disciples in advance. 

“And erect a statue of the High Apostle at that site. Make it so everyone can look upon it with awe.”  

…Understood. 

If Seitus’s likeness remains at the Apostle training institution, they’ll remain a special figure to me and future Apostles.  

And then.  

“Bloodkin First Apostle, Haid.”  

Yes, Master of the Dimension. 

“You’re not lacking or inadequate.”  

 ! 

The Bloodkin First Apostle’s eyes shook visibly.  

I don’t need to see it to know.  

He’s probably been consumed by guilt, feeling inferior to the Tinyfolk First Apostle.  

But there’s no need to feel that way.  

“You’re just as precious to me.”  

High Apostles are indeed special.  

But they’re not precious just because they’re High Apostles.  

Apostle or not, everyone in this land is now precious to me.  

“So don’t blame yourself. Who knows, maybe one day you’ll reach the same level as Seitus.”  

I’m sorry for showing my shortcomings. I’ll strive harder. 

[Eureka!]  

[By meeting specific conditions, Medieval Theology Technology is imparted for free.]  

[Apostles will gain specialized roles.]  

[Upon appointment as an Apostle, they will learn more powers, blessings, and miracles.]  

[The strength of blessings, powers, and miracles will increase.]  

Was it the Bloodkin First Apostle’s profound realization?  

A new Eureka! has occurred.  

Yes, you don’t need to become a High Apostle to be precious.  

It’s an honor to believe in and follow you. 

“I’m the one who’s grateful for your faith and loyalty.”  

With that, my conversation with the Bloodkin Apostle concluded.  

How will the dimension change next?  

“I’ll have to keep watching.”  

I need to ensure I’m worthy of their faith and loyalty.  

It felt awkward at first, but I guess I’ve gotten used to it.  

I brushed off my thoughts and stared at the mountain of paperwork before me.  

“For that, Ribbon Corporation needs to grow well.”  

The dimension needs to grow for me to grow, and I need to grow for the dimension to thrive.  

A mutually beneficial relationship—that’s exactly what this is.  

“Let’s get to work.”  

There’s a ton to do.  

Looks like I’m not getting off work today either.  

***

“Aloha! I’m back at work.”  

“Did you have a good time?”  

“Thanks to you, I had a blast, but the office looks a bit empty, doesn’t it?”  

“No matter how you look at it, just a desk and two chairs is a bit bleak.”  

I’d filled the office a bit through a vendor I know.  

Marketing department, accounting department, branding department, and so on.  

All tailored to the needs of Ribbon Corporation moving forward.  

While setting up the departments, I handed something else to Yuha.  

“A welcome-back-from-vacation gift.”  

“What’s this?”  

“What do you think? It’s yours.”  

Yuha stared blankly at the item in her hand.  

I splurged a bit to get it.  

“Like it, Vice President?”  

“…Does a vice president matter in a company with just two people?”  

“It’s about to matter.”  

A vice president’s nameplate.  

Anyway, now that Yuha’s here, it’s time to get serious.  

“Let’s hire some people.”  

It’s time to start recruiting in earnest.