Chapter 64: The Fairy Race, And….

Observing beyond the dimension was impossible.

Because that dimension hadn’t been conquered yet.

Thus, all I could do was wait.

“System, how long has it been since the troops crossed the dimension?”

[2 hours have passed.]

2 hours.

If the dimension is vast, it would be hard to uncover anything meaningful in 2 hours.

Just looking at One Direction, circling the dimension once would take over 5 years even at a blood noble’s pace. Since it’s a place that has steadily received dimensional energy, getting something in 2 hours would be difficult.

“Hoo.”

But the problem was that those 2 hours felt like several to me.

Whether a battle occurred, if it did whether we won or lost, and what the outcome of victory or defeat would be.

There were many factors to consider, many things to think about.

“It would be nice if the apostles at least contacted me.”

For some reason, the moment they crossed the dimension, the consciousness link with the apostles was severed.

The system said it was because it was connected to a dimension too far away.

“I should have left at least one as a contact.”

As I was blankly staring while pondering various things.

Numerous figures crossed over from beyond the shimmering dimensional passage.

Gulp.

I tensed, wondering if they were enemies, but fortunately, they were the troops that had gone on the expedition.

There were no traces of battle on them.

Their expressions gave a strong sense of disappointment.

‘From their expressions, no war broke out.’

Then, was it resolved amicably?

Or was there some other measure?

I watched with the feeling of checking a lottery win, and the apostles who had left with the troops began to appear one by one.

The apostles who crossed the passage had expressions quite different from the troops.

They were seriously debating something, exchanging discussions intensely.

Just as my curiosity was reaching its limit.

[The first apostles of each race seek the Master of the Dimension.]

The first apostles had returned.

“I will converse with the apostles. Call all apostles this time.”

[Executing the command.]

As the system moved, the consciousness of all apostles connected simultaneously.

With nearly 10 consciousnesses linking to my mind at once, my head throbbed.

‘Ugh…?’

My stomach churned, but I endured.

I couldn’t show weakness in front of them.

“Are all apostles gathered?”

-We greet the Master of the Dimension.-

Receiving the apostles’ greetings, I breathed slowly.

My nape throbbed, but I was gradually adapting.

“Report what happened.”

At my words, the apostles glanced at each other, and the blood noble first apostle raised a hand and stepped forward.

-I will report. First, regarding the environmental structure of that dimension.-

Blood nobles are specialized in research.

It was no different for apostles.

-The environmental structure of that dimension wasn’t much different from One Direction… but it was somewhat devastated.-

“Elaborate on the devastated part.”

-Yes, we’d need to investigate with experts in the field, but the soil quality was confirmed to be significantly degraded.-

That wasn’t all the blood noble first apostle confirmed.

Investigating with the blood noble second and third apostles, the water quality and the state of flora and fauna were all poor.

The blood noble first apostle continued.

-There have been reports of dimensions exhibiting this form of environment.

“What type?”

-A dimension that is slowly fading away.-

Fading away.

It had to be seen as a phenomenon caused by the leakage of held dimensional energy.

That meant, for quite a long time.

That dimension hadn’t been managed.

‘He couldn’t manage it since he started getting sick.’

Leaving one meaningful speculation, I moved to the next report.

“I understand the environmental structure of that dimension. So, what did you experience?”

-We encountered one other race there.-

As expected.

Another race existed.

I clenched my fist and listened to the continuing report from the blood noble first apostle.

-They had small wings on their backs and used Korean as their native language, just like us. Judging by urban development level, their civilization level was slightly lower than ours.-

“Civilization level was lower?”

-Yes, and there were no forces that could be classified as troops.

A dimension without soldiers.

Because it was an abandoned, withering dimension, they had no capacity to respond to attacks from other races.

“How was their reaction?”

-They were wary, but not hostile. Thus, we were able to converse with the apostle of that race.

Thanks to Chairman Han Kang-seong imparting Korean, there were no difficulties from differing language systems.

As a result, the first apostles could converse with the other race’s apostle.

-They called themselves the Fairy Race.-

They probably didn’t name themselves that; likely Chairman Han Kang-seong named them.

From his perspective, races beyond the dimension would be like fairies anyway.

-They also had a master of the dimension, and like us, they achieved great civilization under the care of the master of the dimension.-

“Great civilization meaning what level?”

-Um, several centuries ahead of us.-

Several centuries ahead….

Developed to modern, no, contemporary civilization level, I suppose?

‘If it was a civilization that advanced that much, why is it like this now?’

And this question was quickly resolved.

-Then, a problem arose, they said.-

“A problem?”

-Yes, they called it dimensional war.-

According to what the blood noble first apostle heard, it was like this.

During their civilization’s growth, they experienced not a single dimensional war.

Thus, they weren’t aware of the dangers of war.

They couldn’t prepare.

-They said they suffered devastating damage from the other race. Only a few barely survived and endured.-

“So, everything reset just as the civilization was about to advance further.”

-That seems to be the case. We checked information on the other race they encountered, but it wasn’t a race we’ve faced.-

There’s another race we haven’t encountered yet.

That race wages dimensional wars, conquering dimensions.

This fact wasn’t welcome, but it was fortunate to know early.

Even if not a big help for development, the steady investment in securing troops would pay off.

“We’ll discuss that race later. What happened to the Fairy Race after?”

-They said the other race turned that dimension into a wasteland and then completely disappeared. They judged they returned to their own dimension.-

“Hm.”

In my thoughts, ‘They wouldn’t have retreated nicely.’

Conquering a dimension produces clear evidence of conquest.

A race that has been conquering wouldn’t be unaware of that.

Rather than retreating out of ignorance, it seemed like they were waiting.

Waiting until the Fairy Race grew back to a level worth plundering again.

‘So that’s why he said to take good care of them.’

Take good care of the Fairy Race that was massacred but survived.

I didn’t see Chairman Han Kang-seong that way, but he has a strangely sentimental side.

Wanting to protect the Kangseong Group, wanting to protect the Fairy Race.

“What’s the current survivor count of the Fairy Race?”

-Confirmed to be about 523.-

“Few.”

-Yes. Among them, there are no armed forces, and most are farmers.-

From conversing with the apostle, the Fairy Race seemed specialized in production.

The agriculture they practice always yields bountiful harvests, with production nearly doubling.

Hearing that, an image of One Direction formed.

Livestock for aquatics, academics for blood nobles, woodworking and technical crafts for Tinyfolk.

If farming specialists, the Fairy Race, were added?

“…It would truly be perfect.”

-Master of the Dimension?-

“Nothing. So, they have no intention of being hostile to us?”

-That’s right. Rather, they said they’d follow willingly.-

Easier than expected.

Since I anticipated some resistance, it felt too easy.

“Then, what did they think about accepting me?”

-They said betraying their master would be difficult no matter what.-

“If they don’t accept, and face horrific consequences?”

-They said they’d all die.-

Stubborn.

Unlike other races met before, perhaps because they have an existing real master.

‘But I can’t just wipe them all out.’

Accepting the Fairy Race would surely be a great help.

Hmm….

-Master of the Dimension.-

As I pondered briefly, the Tinyfolk first apostle spoke.

-If it’s alright, how about accepting them amicably.-

“Accept them amicably?”

-Yes, maintain only a certain level of trade relations with them.-

The Tinyfolk first apostle’s proposal meant not complete subjugation, but maintaining distance while exchanging only necessities.

-In exchange for us partially utilizing their agricultural abilities, we protect them.-

“Acknowledge their territory?”

-Something similar. Leaving them in their current dimension without migrating to One Direction is also an option, I think.-

The Tinyfolk apostle’s opinion was decent in its own way.

However, the one who opposed was the aquatic first apostle.

-Trusting and following others invites anxiety.-

The surviving aquatics now survived at the cost of abandoning the water god they trusted.

-If they harbor other intentions, we’ll suffer great damage. Even if only a tiny few survive! It’s right to make them serve the master.-

They’d all die?

Then kill them.

Instead, spare only those who believe and follow.

The aquatics proposed enacting exactly what their ancestors experienced.

Like during war, aquatics have an aggressive side unlike what the system assessed.

Or, are only such ones left?

“Both opinions have merit.”

I embraced both views for now.

“They’re not very threatening since they have no soldiers. But considering their civilization development level, they could become a threat anytime.”

I hate laughing as friends and then getting stabbed in the back.

So, prepare a countermeasure.

“I’ll accept all apostles’ opinions and implement them. The Fairy Race maintains their current system, but their territory is limited to their dimension.”

They can never cross to One Direction.

“In exchange for us protecting that dimension, we’ll take half of the crops they produce.”

In diplomatic terms, it’s extortion level, but what can be done.

From the Fairy Race’s perspective, guaranteeing freedom for their civilization and relieving worries of external threats would be satisfying enough.

“And add one more condition. If there are Fairy Race members who follow me, allow them to reside in One Direction.”

Unlike the fading Fairy Race dimension, One Direction’s dimension is continually developing.

By converting steadily secured dimensions into dimensional energy and investing in One Direction, it’s becoming increasingly fertile.

Currently, it’s like the difference between rural countryside and Seoul’s Gangnam in Korea.

If they believe in me, they can live in Gangnam land.

This alone might bring some of the Fairy Race over.

“Apostles, convey these matters to the Fairy Race and adjust details as needed.”

-We receive the command.-

As the meeting with the apostles concluded, my mind cleared.

This seemed to wrap up the Fairy Race issue.

For the time being.

-Master of the Dimension, other races have invaded the Fairy Race’s dimension.-

Ah, shit.