Chapter 143: The Price of Order

“I don’t know that either. I haven’t met him for a long time. But if I had to guess, it would be for our species.”

“Because without the Dimension System, Crystals are born?”

Iselin said.

“Exactly. The Dimension System, meant to prevent the birth of that monster, also prevented our birth.”

“So that’s why there are so few Crystals left.”

“Yes. After the Dimension System was implemented, no more appeared. After that, living long became the greatest blessing.”

Iselin showed respect.

What species could risk extinction and act for another species?

Even the four species bound by the Union were together because they were prosperous; if one species had to sacrifice for another, war would naturally break out.

“You don’t have to do that. Even if no new Crystals are born, that energy is with you. The energy that the Dimension System distributes is actually the source from which Crystals are born.”

“So if the Dimension System is destroyed, space overlap will start again, that monster will be born, and all species living in the Dimensional Sea will perish. Except for the Crystals.”

“Exactly.”

“The Crystals made a great choice.”

Lagan smiled warmly.

He was also one of the Crystals that made that decision, so he couldn’t help but be pleased.

Talking about the background of the Dimension System’s creation was something that happened once in a hundred years.

“I have something I’d like to ask too. Where does that power of Lord Outer come from?”

Iselin and Dielka also looked at Choi Kangjoong.

They were also curious about where his alien power came from.

‘The Outer Mind is a setting that came from another Dimensional Sea…’

That was how it was written in the Dimension War setting book.

The Outer Mind was a giant hive mind that had crossed over from a place governed by different laws, even grotesque, compared to this Dimensional Sea.

That was why it couldn’t be explained by the laws of this Dimensional Sea, and living beings couldn’t understand it.

‘Should I tell them that?’

What kind of expression would Lagan make if he said he had become a race from the game he played every day?

As he hesitated, Lagan opened his mouth.

“Or should I check how Lord Outer is recorded in the Dimension System for you?”

“That would be good.”

Choi Kangjoong was also curious about how he was recorded in the Dimension System.

It felt like taking a psychological test.

And when he awakened, an error occurred in the Dimension System, so he might find out the cause of that as well.

“Just hold my hand and think of it as giving permission.”

Choi Kangjoong took Lagan’s outstretched hand.

Lagan closed his eyes and connected to the Dimension System.

More precisely, he connected to Arcaeon and used the terminal of the Dimension System to approach its center.

Lagan wanted information about Choi Kangjoong.

The Dimension System, reading his will, summoned a huge square.

Its surface was smooth, without any patterns or letters.

Lagan’s hand touched the square.

At this rate, security should be lifted and he should be able to access Choi Kangjoong’s records.

But the surface of the square turned red.

“That I can’t open even with my authority.”

Lagan looked up.

A single Crystal floated in the air.

“Salika. You did this.”

“Recorder Lagan. If you want to see that, come directly to the Dimension System Core.”

Salika waved her hand.

Lagan moved away from the square, and his connection to the Dimension System was forcibly terminated.

As his eyes snapped open, Dielka asked.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

“What is Lord Outer recorded as?”

“I couldn’t see it even with my authority. Salika locked it herself.”

“So Salika saw Lord Outer’s records?”

“Right.”

“Seeing it alone! What a cheater.”

Lagan chuckled lightly.

“To see that, you have to go directly to where Salika is.”

“Where is that?”

“From here, go straight up in the direction of the Mana Sun. The Dimension System Core is near the Mana Sun.”

“Wouldn’t destroying that core destroy the entire Dimension System?”

“That’s not the case. Even if the core is destroyed, the Dimension System elsewhere operates fine on its own. It just becomes harder to manipulate.”

“I see. That’s a relief.”

“It was made by Crystals.”

Lagan showed pride.

“I feel Source Energy from Lord Outer. You also use Root Magic, right?”

“I do use it well.”

“But there’s probably no system. You must have figured out the usage on your own.”

“That’s also true.”

“Should I teach you a little?”

For Choi Kangjoong, who wanted to learn Root Magic but had no one to teach him, this was very welcome news.

Iselin and Dielka also listened closely.

“Root Magic is, as the name implies, changing the root. So it’s different from ordinary magic.”

“How is it different?”

“Ordinary magic starts from oneself. You observe the mana inside you and create fire or wind around you.”

A flame appeared in one of Lagan’s hands, and a whirlwind in the other.

“Root Magic is different. It starts from the surroundings. This is Stage 1.”

Lagan changed everything in the room to absorb light.

The room instantly darkened and then brightened again.

“Being able to do just this allows you to do things no magic can.”

“What is Stage 2?”

“Stage 2 is changing oneself. It seems easy, but it’s very difficult. It’s hard to even start. Because any living being tries to maintain itself. Moreover, if you touch it wrong even a little, you yourself change and can no longer use Root Magic.”

Lifting his left arm, the Crystal turned it into a human arm, then back to its original form.

“I could become human like this, but I can’t return to being a Crystal. To become a Crystal again, I would have to gather Root Magic as a human and accumulate the Crystal’s Birth Energy.”

Choi Kangjoong understood simply.

It was easy to change an ant into an Apocalid, but it was hard to change it back into an ant.

And if he himself became an ant, he would lose his abilities as the Outer Mind and live as an ant.

“Once you get used to Stage 2, you can do almost anything. Like the Crystals you saw fighting in your experiences.”

“Can Elves also learn it?”

Iselin asked.

“Of course. Anyone can learn and use it.”

Iselin glanced at Choi Kangjoong.

It meant she wanted to be taught later.

“The final Stage 3 is changing the world. Once you master Stage 2, you can change the world you are in while maintaining yourself.”

“Can all Crystals use Stage 3 Root Magic?”

“No, not many. Only Analon, Salika’s father, and a very few Crystals could.”

“So the Dimension System was created with Stage 3 Root Magic.”

“Correct, Iselin.”

The conversation continued through the night.

Thanks to Lagan, who had lived long, traveled through countless worlds, and kept records, there was never a dull moment.

“Have a cup.”

Sierra, who was resting in the next room with Arthil, set down a teacup.

Arthil took a sip and nodded.

“The flavor is well steeped.”

“I practiced a bit. Is it hard serving the Queen?”

“No, it’s always enjoyable.”

“I’m dying of exhaustion. You know Lady Dielka’s personality, right?”

Sierra spoke as if complaining.

Arthil just added interjections and listened.

“When she suddenly told me to lead the Knight Regiment, I really thought I was going to die.”

“But Sir Sierra, you seem to have a really good personality. Speaking so casually to me like this.”

Arthil mocked harshly, but Sierra took it at face value.

“I don’t talk to just anyone. Especially Elf nobles.”

It was very common for Elf nobles to subtly discriminate against and ignore Dark Elves, even if they wouldn’t do it openly.

“I’m an Elf noble too.”

“Lady Arthil, you have a cold impression, but I never felt you disliked me because I’m a Dark Elf.”

“Elf or Dark Elf…”

Arthil did not think Elves were special or greater than other races.

Having seen all sorts of things good and bad by Iselin’s side, she considered them rather more insidious or petty.

The arrogance of Elf nobles in particular was a thorn in her side.

The two Elves, who had formed a bond over that, enjoyed a break of sorts while the conversation continued in the next room.

After returning home, Choi Kangjoong first lay down on the bed.

The blanket softly wrapped around him, and a wave of comfort washed over him.

“Ugh, drained.”

If he set his mind to it, he could be in front of the camera for a whole week, but still, being home was the most comfortable.

“Still, I gained a lot.”

The background of the Dimension System’s creation, the stages of Root Magic, Salika’s purpose, and so on.

“I don’t think Lagan was lying. Silvius must have been fooled by Salika.”

But not all questions were resolved.

According to Lagan’s explanation, Crystals were a good race contrasted with Demons.

Then why did they open a Gate and massacre hundreds of young students?

“Should I go ask directly?”

There was another question.

‘Since we’ve met, let me give you a gift. Go west from the Dimension System Core. Here, that would be northwest. There will be something useful for Lord Outer.’

‘What is it?’

‘Unwrap the package yourself when you get there.’

Dielka begged to know several times, but Lagan wouldn’t say.

“For now, let’s send them that way.”

Choi Kangjoong organized a small reconnaissance team consisting of one Light Titan, one Sky-eye Giant, one Central Stealth Scout, one Air Scout, and an escort force, and sent them northwest of the Union.

“I need to go back to the Iant colony.”

It couldn’t be helped because of the giant colony.

To send the reconnaissance team quickly, Choi Kangjoong opened a Gate and sent them through.

A distance that would take over a month to cover was crossed in a second.

“Should I devour this too?”

He always debated whether to swallow the Giant Iant colony.

If he consumed it, he could gain a lot of nutrients, but it was also used as a live training target for Marsala or Earth Hunters.

“Let’s leave it until the full-scale invasion begins.”

The Iant colony kept increasing its numbers, and when land became scarce, it would launch a large-scale invasion of the surrounding area to take land.

And the only place to invade around the Giant Iant colony was Marsala.

“Where should I go next?”

Choi Kangjoong spread the Black Market Map.

It was a reduced version of the map that was in Ladespina’s Lair.

“The Demon Realm is still a long way from the truce, so let’s exclude that. Should I attack Salika’s side first?”

It would take a long time for Salika to gather her forces and attack again, so it would be good to attack first and restore the Dimension System.

“There are humans living here. And a huge number of them.”

If you go straight west from the Enterprise Union, there was a sea region where humans lived.

According to the map, the population was as many as 3 billion.

If Ladespina had conquered the Enterprise Union, that would have been the next target.

“Should I talk to them about joining the Union too? I’ll need to discuss it with Iselin.”

Choi Kangjoong was about to move immediately but then buried his head in the pillow.

“Let’s rest a bit before going.”

After becoming one with the bed for a whole week like that, he finally contacted Iselin.

-You want to try contacting them?

“It seemed like a good idea for them to join the Union too.”

-Please wait a moment. The reports from the informants I’ve sent there are very negative.

“How so?”

-Come to my office. I’ll show you.

Choi Kangjoong slowly got up from the bed and headed to Iselin’s office.