The Lone SF Transmigrator in the Otherworld Forum
Chapter 177: Divine Might (1)

“Huh?”

Karlstein’s spirit caught something.

Tzzzt-

The sensation was entirely new to him. More accurately, it felt like a new sensory input, originating from a newly formed part of his brain.

“Dimensional…rift?”

After checking a hologram to see what this new sensation was about, he confirmed signs of a dimensional passage opening.

“Hmm.”

Was it because he had absorbed Longquan? Or because he had absorbed the Ziwen Mirror?

Karlstein felt all-powerful, as if he could close the dimensional rift by simply willing it with his Ether projection. It came naturally to him, like using telekinesis with Ether.

But there was no need for that. He sensed a familiar energy from the other side of the passage.

“I had forgotten.”

He considered going out to greet them, but he was about to have a private meeting with Maxien.

Drawing on Longquan’s expertise, Karlstein cast a spell, infusing it with Ether. As he spoke the spell, golden Ether dissolved in the air and vanished.

Crack-

Instantly, the dimensional passage Yongyong and Raymond were passing through shook, changing their destination and dropping them back to where they had been staying…along with Karlstein’s message.

“Didn’t think I could even do this. Pretty convenient.”

Naturally, Yongyong and Raymond’s triumphant spirits were instantly crushed.

What the! This is crazy! How is this possible?!

Gasp! Impossible!

The sheer possibility of his doing such a thing was terrifying.

In any case. After briefly addressing other issues, Karlstein was able to meet privately with Maxien.

“Maxien….”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Did you call for me?”

He noticed how cold her face had become. Though her atmosphere seemed unchanged from his usual private meetings with her, Karlstein did not think so. Even subtle shifts in her expression were noticeable to him.

Remembering how radiant her smile used to be made this especially clear.

When we first met, she was a girl who laughed heartily at small things.

Time and her divine punishment were cruel. So when he thought about what he was about to say…

“Maxien.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Please speak.”

Karlstein’s face clouded over as he continued.

“…I may not be able to keep the promise I made to you.”

“Your promise?”

Maxien’s brow furrowed slightly.

“Yes.”

“…May I ask, which promise?”

“About Prohiden.”

“…”

Prohiden was Maxien’s sworn enemy.

She was of Asterian royal bloodline. Though childhood abuse had instilled aversion toward her homeland, its destruction shifted her perspective.

She seethed with fury at the Kaiju and, in particular, Prohiden.

“…In the past, Your Majesty said you would help exterminate Prohiden, the enemy of the Asterians.”

Maxien’s tone was flat.

“It’s fine. Even without Your Majesty’s support, I can achieve it myself. It might take time, but if I push a little, I have enough strength left to finish it off.”

“…”

Even though this meant she would completely lose her emotions, Maxien did not seem to mind.

Karlstein shook his head.

“No. I will no longer deploy you in combat.”

“…Your Majesty?”

“I forbid you to fight in my name.”

“Then am I to take this as an order to forgo my revenge?”

Maxien looked clearly into Karlstein’s eyes, which seemed somewhat sad.

“Yes. And…perhaps…if you refuse, I may stand in your way if you try to kill Prohiden.”

“…”

Maxien paused, her face impassive, before nodding.

“I understand. My revenge was just a formality anyway. I never liked the Asterians to begin with.”

Maxien accepted much too simply, which ironically pained Karlstein’s heart.

“Maybe my hatred was what an animal feels when its prey is stolen. Because the kingdom was destroyed before I could properly face and settle the past.”

No, it was different. Maxien was not so heartless when she was a young girl.

Despite her outward fury at having her goal of personal judgment taken away, there was a clear lingering attachment to her homeland and family inside her. It stemmed from both love and hate.

“Please don’t worry too much about such a minor matter.”

“…”

This was why Karlstein could directly feel that she was not in good condition.

But then, he wondered if his concern was hypocrisy. He would not allow her revenge regardless, after all.

“Won’t you ask why?”

“…Why do you wish to spare Prohiden?”

Maxien had no interest as to the reason, but still she asked because she felt the worry and apology in his voice.

“There’s something I need to confirm. Perhaps it’s…”

But as Karlstein tried to explain the reason as calmly as possible…

“No, Your Majesty. Please stop speaking.”

Maxien interrupted him.

“I feel it’s been a while since Your Majesty has been so troubled.”

Seeing the pain in his face, she stopped him.

“Your Majesty. There’s no need for me to know why. Your consideration alone is more than enough for me.”

Maxien carefully touched the vacuum tube pendant Karlstein had given her, which she still wore around her neck.

“Your Majesty. For some reason, I feel as if Your Majesty’s emotions are seeping into my heart right now.”

Mysteriously, Karlstein almost felt like he saw a smile flicker on Maxien’s lips.

“…”

“So please, don’t feel disheartened.”

Karlstein fell silent at Maxien’s consolation.

Since the result would not change, he had no choice but to accept her comfort.

***

Karlsten’s return was eerily coincident with the start of the Kaiju attack.

-At this rate, the second defense line will fall.

-Don’t worry about that and focus on retreating!

-But what of the price we paid to conquer this place!

-Are you disobeying orders?

-N-no, sir.

-Haah. Listen carefully. This is an order from above.

-Didn’t you say Grand Duchess Maxien recently retired…?

-It’s from even higher up.

-Th-then, His Majesty Karlstein?

-…He says he’ll handle it personally.

Karlstein Babylon was renowned as a great hero, yet the notion of him single-handedly defeating a massive Kaiju army seemed improbable.

This had nothing to do with faith or loyalty. It was illogical for one person to manage the entire front line.

Despite their uncertainty, the leading troops were forced to retreat. Having twice expanded beyond the barrier, ceding the hard-won territory felt like a profound loss to them. But how could they dare defy their emperor?

Around the time the withdrawal of the Galactic Empire’s outer barrier garrison was completed, Karlstein Babylon stepped forward alone.

Everyone focused on his actions.

What could His Majesty the Emperor be thinking? Why did he come out alone after withdrawing the army? Was he really planning to stop that great army alone?

But everyone had to realize that he had not stepped out alone without any reason.

-A-Am I seeing this right? This video isn’t manipulated, is it?

-Please refrain from statements doubting His Majesty.

-You know that’s not what I meant, right?

-I know. To be honest, I can’t believe it either….

-His Majesty might not be huma—

-Watch it!

No one could believe their eyes and ears. They could not believe it even seeing it directly with their own eyes.

How could one comprehend the scene of a single human folding the universe?

Everyone panicked at this phenomenon that could not be explained physically or scientifically.

Of course, it was a happy kind of panic.

-His Majesty has finally become the god of humanity.

-Fool! His Majesty was a divine being from the start. We were just too ignorant to know!

-Ah! Please save humanity!

-The pillar of the Galactic Empire! The light of humanity! Ohh!

Karlstein approached the barrier alone as if going for a walk. And when he placed his hand on it and chanted a spell, the barrier began to shine golden.

The barrier, which was originally an invisible collection of formless Ether, took on a golden hue and materialized.

And at the sight that followed, everyone was speechless.

No researcher had ever uncovered the principle of the barrier. They simply used it without any attempt at control. Yet it had begun to move, drawing elaborate patterns.

Writhe-

The barrier, like a spreading cloud, enveloped humanity’s territory before unleashing red Ether from a golden sphere.

A red torrent of Ether, resembling solar wind, eradicated the Kaiju everywhere, leaving no trace.

No living Kaiju would remain, not within Humanity’s domain.

The impossible miracle led everyone to the same conclusion: Karlstein was humanity’s god.

No one dared to question his authority anymore.

***

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