The Lone SF Transmigrator in the Otherworld Forum
Chapter 184: Resolve (1)

The merger with Sephiroth proved to be a bigger boon for the Galactic Empire than expected.

Space jump technology, which had seen little progress since the use of the Astral Dimension for intra-dimensional warping, underwent a major transformation.

One day, Karlstein Babylon burst into the research facility, summoned dozens of people with a single gesture, gave one order, and vanished.

“Take their dimensional travel abilities and knowledge. Figure it all out and absorb it.”

“Yes! Should we use them as test subjects?”

“No. Treat them as collaborators.”

The Sephiroth clan members, suddenly summoned to the Galactic Empire’s research facility, broke out in cold sweat at the mention of test subjects, but fortunately, they could breathe a sigh of relief.

However…

“Their physical durability is on par with enhanced humans. So work them, work them, and work them some more as research personnel. Make sure to produce results.”

The clan members felt chills down their spines as they saw hundreds of human researchers in the facility, their eyes gleaming with near-madness as they sipped black drinks.

“Ha, ha. Pl-pleasure to meet you. How curious. How are our words being translated…?”

“How may we assist you?”

“We were just told to cooperate…”

They had an ominous feeling as they watched the researchers grinning and preparing trays of drinks, calling them healthy stimulant sets.

“W-wait!”

“Please explain the situation first!”

But their pleas were silently buried beneath the researchers’ near-manic sincerity.

The time acceleration formation Karlstein deployed in the lab was tantamount to unlimited research funding. Plus, the infinite refill of specimens(?) made it impossible not to produce results.

The advancement of the Galactic Empire’s dimensional travel technology was all but inevitable.

***

After greatly advancing their dimensional travel technology, Karlstein’s next policy was the integration of the Galactic Empire and the Community.

[Welcome to the Dimensional Integration Community.]

[Verifying Imperial ID.]

He activated the Community for the Empire’s citizens, charging a fixed registration fee.

In truth, the Imperial citizens could not feel much difference between people living in other galaxies or star systems and those existing in the Community’s other dimensions.

There was no difficulty in the emotional integration of Community users and Galactic Empire citizens.

-How dare you call His Majesty the Emperor by this strange title ‘Oradge’! This is nothing short of treason!

-Uh, that’s just who he is. What the hell…?

-GYAAAAAAH!

-Hello people. Heard you guys don’t have this kind of technology, yes? How about a trade? Anyone interested send a message to XXX-XXX…

-Hmph! We’ve already been using imperial products!

-I’m not talking about military tech. See this? A beautiful android that looks just like a human…

-Ahem. Anyone interested in a shaman magic potion for virility?

There was some commotion, but the Community did not find the newly joined Imperials strange.

However…

-Is this for real?

-The shipping costs are a bit high, but not unmanageable for individuals!

-Haha. As expected of Emperor Karlstein! Who would have thought such an era would come.

-It seems warp technology is finally expanding to civilians!

The ability to exchange Credits for Karma Points to buy, sell, and transfer goods was just as shocking to the Galactic Empire citizens.

Until now, they had to rely on military warp ships or galactic shipping companies, but now individuals could easily use the service if they had enough points.

Thus, Sephiroth’s spatial abilities met Galactic Empire technology, bringing about a massive change. Some enthusiasts even called it the Third Space Revolution.

And Karlstein, who had brought about this revolution, was dumbfounded.

“Just how lazy was she?”

The more Karlstein managed and learned about the Sephiroth clan, the more surprised he became. Their abilities were more versatile than he had thought.

While their reproduction rate was much lower compared to other races, the individual abilities of each member far surpassed those of humans.

While their long-standing conservatism had been an issue, it was irrelevant now that he had gained handed full authority by Sephiroth.

-This is absolutely unacceptable!

-Th-this goes against Mother’s laws…!

There was some resistance, but it mattered little.

-Mhm, no. Just do it.

With full authority over Sephiroth, his every word was as good as divine revelation.

-Hm? You don’t want to live anymore?

-N-no, that’s not it!

If they did not want to die, they had to do as they were told.

As Karlstein promoted the merger of the Galactic Empire and Sephiroth, he realized the time had come.

“The Galactic Empire is to reorganize its military and then attack Three Thousand.”

[Understood, Master.]

Karlstein first issued an attack order on 《Three Thousand》. This was a necessary step for the grand integration of dimensions.

[Is there a reason you’re not taking action personally?]

Aria realized from Karlstein’s order that he would not be taking direct action. Of course, she was not asking because she wanted Karlstein to participate in the attack on 《Three Thousand》.

She was simply curious why he was not taking action directly despite gaining such overwhelming power.

“I have other things to do.”

[I understand.]

She also noticed from Karlstein’s response that he had no intention of revealing what he planned to do next. Her curiosity was piqued, but she held back.

She thought that if he was hiding something when he usually did not keep secrets about most things, there must be a reason.

However…

[I hope you’re not planning to rush into something dangerous…]

She could not help but worry. Usually, when Karlstein concealed his actions, it was when he intended to face danger alone.

“Don’t you know? I’ve become incredibly strong.”

Aria fell silent as Karlstein exaggeratedly flexed his arm, posturing. If there was any difference from the past, it was that his abilities had become incomparably stronger than before.

[…Haah. I understand. Please take care of yourself.]

“Thank you as always, Aria.”

With that, she had no choice but to let him go.

After entrusting the conquest of 《Three Thousand》 to Aria, Karlstein headed for his Imperial ship.

He had requested a full setup from Aria, so he could confirm that the core ship was stocked with his weapon vault containing his main armaments, charging materials, and sufficient fuel.

“I’m sorry, Aria.”

Karlstein offered a meaningless apology. It could not be heard as he had temporarily cut off his connection with Aria.

If Aria had known his true purpose, she would surely have tried to stop him. She might have even tried some cute tricks to prevent him from leaving.

Of course, that was not really why he hid his purpose from her, but rather…

I can’t make her worry for nothing.

If he told her he was leaving alone to subjugate the other Single Numbers, even Aria would be shocked.

Originally, the Galactic Empire had long since established its own plans for subjugating the Single Numbers. It was only natural for an empire to establish attack strategies in preparation for any contingency.

It was just that there was much to prepare to increase the chances of success, and this was true even for the current Karlstein.

“Even I can’t guarantee success against No.1 and No.2 right now.”

Moreover, there was a huge gap between the Single Numbers he had subjugated so far and those he had yet to face.

“Even the Galactic Empire couldn’t gather sufficient information on them.”

Currently, numbers 6, 9, and 10 had been conquered. 7 and 8 would not be a problem either.

With the abilities he received from 《Sephiroth》, Karlstein could pinpoint the locations of the remaining Single Numbers whose positions were hard to observe due to distorted dimensional coordinates.

And if he weakened their powers with the Ziwen Mirror obtained from Mount Shengluo in 《Three Thousand》, the battle would not be too difficult.

But beyond that, there were only a few records, possibly true or false.

-It was a dream. A terrible nightmare from which one must never wake. Comrades who had been laughing and playing cards just yesterday suddenly turned into monsters, and the sacred relic of humanity left by the first Emperor melted away like a candle in the wind.

-We couldn’t even approach. Even ships made of Ailite metal, said to be eternally indestructible, were torn apart like paper. Even the hero of heroes, the great hero Sir Caradin, was cut to pieces the moment he entered their domain, as if sliced by giant scissors.

-This is a calamity that humanity cannot overcome. Just as no one tries to solve the source of a typhoon to defeat it, we must simply endure until it passes. In the deep darkness that swallows even the sun, surely the legendary Netherworld exists. A world of souls where only the dead can go. The reason for thinking this is clear. Those who come into contact with the darkness inevitably—to the point where it can be said that out of a hundred, a hundred meet their loved ones suffering in hell. Their precious ones who have already died. What’s even more terrifying is that those who meet their loved ones in hell and return alive spread a terrifyingly contagious madness and eventually take their own lives…

When the era of galactic exploration opened due to the development of warp technology in the past, interstellar travel became possible, and humanity, which had grown explosively, was led by the great first Galactic Emperor.

The first Emperor had god-like abilities and led humanity in great strides, creating the space age. Even after a long time had passed, the bloodline of his descendants contained mysterious powers, to the extent that the first Emperor wrote a myth.

One might ask why there’s talk of myths in an age where scientific technology runs rampant.

Current historians and Karlstein knew that the implausible myths of the first Emperor were not false. They could also roughly guess the reason.

The explosive growth of humanity in the space age caused an enormous accumulation of Karma.

And that Karma undoubtedly caused tremendous miracles for the Emperor of the Galactic Empire, the pinnacle of humanity.

And even the previous emperor, whom Karlstein had casually overthrown, had formidable abilities originating from that bloodline.

Not that I ever received that bloodline power.

It was not for nothing that he had been neglected as an illegitimate child during his initial transmigration. But what did that matter now?

“In the end, lesser skills crumble before greater power.”

Karlstein put aside his musings and activated the Imperial ship.

-Please set the travel route.

“To the Aldehyde Star System.”

Karlstein set the course for the nearest point where an Astral Dimension passage was open. Once he entered the passage, he planned to move directly to his target using Sephiroth’s abilities.

“Prohiden…”

The hesitation in Karlstein’s eyes gradually disappeared, replaced by firm resolve.

***

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