The Foreigner on the Periphery

While Hyung-no was manipulating the video conference panel, Carbite looked at the interviewer’s profile. As was the case with all their seniors, sensitive information could not be accessed under his authority. Nevertheless, the narrative of an event that could not have been hidden caught his eye. 

‘Right. She’s the woman who said she had a major accident and served a prison sentence.’ 

She was an end-on-down treatment, emphasizing strict moral consciousness and duties as she was of higher status. ‘It’s very inefficient. How can someone with such superior abilities and property be subjected to reform through labor? A person of worth should be treated differently even if they commit the same crime… Anyway, they seem like people without measures.’ 

Endelion’s thoughts and tendencies don’t fit well with Carbite in so many respects.

‘The accident was not disclosed.’ 

The fake identity during the reformed labor sentence was also hidden. ‘Even Endelion would not have sent the princess into exile to a dangerous place.’ 

He must have been released from the so-called ‘God-given position,’ like administrative chores. As prisoner life had passed a little over a hundred years, only the tip of her tentacles was briefly soaked and removed. 

“It’s ready.” At this, the older brother stepped back. Then, an image began to appear in the air, and the image of the opponent was then realized. 

It was the princess of Endelion. Through the twenty-six rays of tentacles that stretched out radially, eyes like the abyss could be seen. At the moment when Carbite was about to pay her respects to the royal family…

“Damn!” A short scream rang out that did not fit the place and situation. 

“····?!” 

The air then cooled rapidly. The end of the voice was crushed as if it had been suppressed too late, but the water had already spilled. A bigger problem was that, due to the nature of the video conferencing system, it managed to find the speaker and automatically displayed it on the screen. 

The artificial intelligence recognized the person who made the sound as the speaker and accordingly caught the brother-in-law close-up, which should not have been captured in the original image. And so, the princess and the commissioner saw the prisoner trembling in the corner. 

“Uh-huh… Sorry… Sorry!” 

Knowing that he was reflected in the hologram, Hyung-no became contemplative. He had a big accident. “What the hell are you doing, you idiot!” 

At this, Carbite turned her head again and apologized over her screen. “Forgive me. I put on a video that seemingly looks ugly. As you may know, the committee uses the flesh of the human race as a punishment. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not like warm seawater by hiding through an open door.” 

However, the princess’ reaction was different than expected. Despite the well-known instinctive displeasure that this species felt toward small mammals, the princess remained calm and quiet. 

She felt startled, she didn’t scream, she was terrified, she didn’t wield her tentacles, and she refused to show hate. Instead, she looked at her slave with boredom. Hyung-no, who had been classified as ‘Bezny,’ trembled when he saw the princess reflected on the screen. The fear in his eyes was too deep to believe that it was simply because he had seen a race called Endelion for the first time. Moreover, the reaction of his body…

“What are you doing? Erase your video from the screen quickly!” 

“A-Ah, sorry!” Hyung-no chose to manipulate the panel. At this, the figure of the slave disappeared from the hologram. 

The princess also chose this moment to open her mouth. “It seems that the prisoner is not originally a human species.” 

Momentarily, Carbite forgot about the anger in lieu of admiration. 

“How did you know?” 

“The movement was unnatural. It’s like wearing clothes that don’t fit.” 

“It won’t be long after they’ve been caught. You must be getting used to that body.” 

Even as she answered, Carbite looked puzzled. Endelion found awkwardness in humanoid gestures? Humans who saw cockroaches only thought that it was disgusting, but did not feel the need to carefully observe the movements of the antennae and legs, and even if there was a subtle difference, it was quite difficult to tell. Likewise, it was surprising that Endelion was keenly aware of mammalian gestures, no matter how intelligent the opponent 

He then asked the princess indifferently. “What is your original race?”

This was information that should not be disclosed to the prisoner himself. Gadwick touched the panel in front of him instead of answering with his voice. Then, a short word appeared on the screen that the princess saw. 

After reading it, her eyes lit up. A slave from Stan who had just started life as a prisoner… 

“There were a lot of mistakes. How can I help you?” 

The princess answered calmly. “I want to ask you to say hello.” 

Sheesh, that was it? Carbite grumbled inwardly. She knew that, while holding down her antipathy, she was able to maintain her manners. This was because she knew very well how these guys treated mid-level executives on the committee. However, just because there was a difference in status did not mean that Gadwick must grant their request. 

Above all, although she was an ancient race, she was still a member of the Endelion royal family, not a committee member. “Ah, you did. Let’s take a look around so we can help you as much as possible. Who would you like to recommend to us? Of course, it would be a great companion if it was supported by the Endelion royal family…” 

“It’s me.”

“…” Carbite was silent for a moment.

“Yes? Sorry. I think I heard wrong now…” 

“I heard it right. I am the one to ask for.” Gadwick shook the fur all over his body in embarrassment. 

“Then hire me.” 

Gadwick was confused. It was in a way he didn’t want to understand, in a way he couldn’t understand. It was not uncommon for children of noble rank to be parachuted into committees. They were a race that handed over all harsh and nasty things to prisoners, but they also took on the responsibility of the committee themselves, and the door was always open if they would want to use it as a way of self-actualization. 

However, most of the people who requested the solicitation were their parents. Come to think of it, did they get permission from the mother king? Moreover, according to the profile he had just looked at, that woman was not even a play-and-eat princess. 

“As far as I know, the princess is in charge of the internal affairs of Endelion…” 

“I know what you are worried about. An agreement within the royal family has already been reached. I’m looking for my job, so I’m just doing the requests myself.” 

Carbite read the hidden meaning behind it. Her mother probably put a condition on it. To the princess who wanted to work on the committee instead of staying in the mother dimension, she must have replied that she would allow her if she negotiated her own job. While pointing out that she was already a princess, her status was brandished as a weapon and an advantageous condition. 

This was a typical Endelion style parenting method – putting unnecessary stress on your children. Carbite decided to listen some more. “Is there any seat you want?” 

The princess’ answer was more specific than expected. She said, “I want the position of Chairman of the Board of Directors for Dimension #22-189. Is it vacant now?” 

“Yes? It’s definitely one of my jurisdictional dimensions, but it’s a 4th level in the Far East, and one of the outskirts of the frontiers. There is a reason why it is still vacant…” 

Carbite, who had been saying that, suddenly blurred the tail of her speech. ‘Dimension #22-189?!’ Her head was muddy again. 

Why? That was the dimension to which Asif-666, who had upset his mind a little while ago, was dispatched. Also, the timing had been proven to be very odd. “Can you explain in more detail as to why? The position of the representative director presiding in one dimension is by no means an easy one. No matter how the Endelion royal family, they have no committee experience… Oh, excuse me.” 

“I understand. It’s a reluctant place to parachute, right? I would rather leave it vacant.” 

“It is also an important seat and a place where a lot of backstories will be given. And so, you need a reason. Why are you interested in such a marginal dimension?”

Endelion brought out the prepared words without hesitation. “You know that our people are very interested in Asif-1’s soul fragments, right?” 

“Yes? Ah yes. Sure. Why is that…” 

It was an open secret that the committee put a large bounty on it and mobilized prisoners to find it. However, it was not well known that there were differences of opinion within the ancient tribes that made up the committee. 

For example, Carbite would consider it an impossible mission. That was why, in the first place, she also opposed giving prisoners that task. However, it was not intended to respect them and avoid torture of hope. It was because she didn’t want to draw unnecessary attention to the existence of Asif-1. 

In Endelion, on the other hand, these idealists were full of enthusiasm to find it. “We hypothesized a long time ago. About what form the fragments will be floating in space.” 

“Yes, I know. Since the soul is already fragmented and shattered, did you see that the possibility of taking full control of the body of another intelligent being is low?” 

“Yes. So, the fragments are either sleeping inside someone’s body, hidden by a normal soul… or nestled in a special object. Considering Asif-1’s life history, it is highly probable that the object was a ‘sword’.” 

Carbite seemed to know where the story was headed. “Are you sure you found a clue?” 

“Yes. We have solid evidence that an artifact presumed to contain fragments of Asif-1 has flowed into Earth.”

The other ancient races were sure to have a bitter reaction, and so he decided to come out of the Endelion dimension himself, but the princess had already seemed to have applied for the position. However, if the Princess of Endelion were to move while revealing her purpose openly, there was a high risk of provoking criminals looking for fragments. 

And so, she needed another excuse to stay on Earth. “Certainly… it’s a suitable place for an ancient race to stay for a long time in such a remote dimension.” 

Even with that said, Carbite had already made a decision. After letting it sit for a few days, she would have to answer that it would be difficult at all, with a ‘crazy sorry’ expression on my face. 

“Now… Please understand that we cannot give you a definite answer at this time. We will review and reply in the most positive way possible.” 

After the princess disappeared from the screen, Carbite thought for a moment more. ‘Why is it that dimension?’ 

She could have dismissed it as a coincidence, but somehow it bothered her. In particular, the part where that princess once served as a prisoner… ‘What if there was any contact at that time? Am I being too paranoid?’

The worries didn’t last long. She then opened the network and called Tess. “Make a list of the prisoners Asif-666 has come into contact with during the following period and send it to me.” 

It was too light a task that required scouring all kinds of databases and getting approvals from more than six heads of departments. To make matters worse, as soon as he heard the deadline mentioned by his superior, Dotes felt an unbearable murderous intention. “······It seems impossible before work today.” 

“Then how long will it be?” 

“At least for a week…” 

“Until tomorrow. I can’t keep the Princess of Endelion waiting so long. The answer is decided anyway, but I’ll have to dig it up and throw it away.” 

Beyond the screen, Tess swallowed the curse down his throat. “Gadwick, do you know? Information about Class Asif inmates is largely confidential. If you are released, your personal data will be deleted immediately.” 

“Even if the personal profile is deleted, won’t the mission performance record remain in that dimension?” 

“Some of the dimensions Asif-666 worked during the period you mentioned are under Gadwick’s jurisdiction, but there are also other cadres. If they don’t cooperate…” 

“I know, so dig as much as you can.”

After Dotes, whose pale complexion had disappeared, Carbite muttered to herself. ‘I smell something fishy… What the hell is the plot…? Let’s dig up somewhere, Princess.’ 

*** 

After returning to Korea, Minjun stayed home for a few days. His purpose was to organize his returned memories and get meaning from them. He still had holes in it, but it wasn’t difficult to arrange them in order. 

‘It seems that the old memories came back first.’ 

The part that came to mind when he killed Changcheon seemed to be the oldest of the returned memories. Minjun’s original race, called the ‘first race’ to borrow the prophet’s expression, were truly dragons and devourers. For some reason, they gathered in Ellahu-Praga and fell asleep. 

Sleeping for a very long time, dreaming false and happy dreams. In the meantime, the dragons they were raising spread across all dimensions except for the borders, acting like a tyrant. That was, until the ancient races returned. This part was consistent with the history he knew as a prisoner. ‘Am I the only one who woke up first? how? Why?’ 

According to the nightmare he had after touching the patriarch’s head, he seemed to have come into contact with Carbite after waking up. They then asked the location of Ellahu-Praga, saying that they would wake up the rest of their people.

In answer to that question, he finally… He could remember the words he desperately exclaimed as he watched the scene from the perspective of a dream observer. Minjun regarded the act as a fatal mistake. He could only think of one reason to feel that way. 

‘Are you finally feeling betrayed?’ 

The result would then be present in the present world. A world in which an ancient race dominated the world instead of dragons. The reality was that only they could mine a lot of talents in a proper way. 

This was the financial power built up by the blood of Minjun’s people. He felt a surge of anger. ‘Then what should I do from now on?’ was the biggest concern. It was said that the denomination that worshipped the original race as a god intended to awaken other races in time for the upcoming cycle. 

However, Minjun thought that it was not the right way. And so, what was the right way? There was insufficient material on which to base the decision, ‘The revived memory is still incomplete.’ 

Then?

‘I need more memories. I need to revive it more.’ 

It was all thanks to the divine power of the Patriarch that Minjun was able to recover even the current level of memory. Such was the ability to shed nightmares to awaken the primordial race. The moment he touched it, Minjun also had a nightmare, and in the process, he recovered some of his memories. 

‘I’ll have to try one more time in the same way.’ 

There was no reason to hesitate as a high-ranking priest was staying in the basement of the shopping district. From an alien’s point of view, there was nothing to be entertained about, so they must be wasting their time with prayer or contemplation this whole time. Thanks to this, the divine power consumed in Germany has already been filled to its fullest, and his mind must have been purer than ever. 

At this, Minjun went downstairs without hesitation to meet the judge.