Chapter 16
CHAPTER 16
Majesty from Another World (5)
...had turned into nothing more than a mere scrap of cloth, utterly devoid of power.
"This... this is unfair...! A rookie Majesty couldn't possibly deserve a qualification like this!"
Mars's knees slammed into the ground.
What rested upon his shoulders was not simply the weight of the sky.
It was the punishment of thousands of years of humanity's spilled blood, the curses of the defeated, the resentment of fallen soldiers, and the immeasurable suffering of history crashing down upon him all at once.
**Crack!**
His arm snapped, and his spine shattered.
"Gggghhh... AAAAAAAARGH!!"
**Crunch! Craaack!**
At the same time, his body was crushed into the ground as every bone in his body splintered apart.
Yet at that very moment, a laugh resembling one final act of defiance escaped his lips.
His bloodshot eyes bulged from their sockets.
Even as blood poured from his mouth, he stretched out his hand.
As though trying to pick up the crimson helmet lying on the ground once more.
But the helmet had already become nothing more than a light piece of cloth.
"Kheheh...! But... the others... won't leave you alone...! The plundering has only just begun..."
His eyes rolled back, bloody tears streaming down his face.
His body, crushed beneath the weight of the world, was swallowed back into the relic.
At that moment, voices echoed from every direction.
Ju-Heon stopped and looked around.
"...The whole world is watching?"
"We won!"
"We actually won!"
Ju-Heon turned toward the city where the cheers were erupting.
Something resembling a hologram floated before the citizens.
Nor was it only the city.
Above the sea, over the desert, across the skies...
Thousands—tens of thousands—of eyes from every corner were focused on this place at the same time.
Seeing his expression, Majesty Yu Jae-ha casually explained,
"Because Mars declared a **<Majesty War>**."
"So... Seo Ju-Heon really defeated that invader?"
Having walked over without anyone noticing, he added with an irritating grin.
People were cheering as they watched Ju-Heon on the broadcast.
Judging from the situation...
"The moment a Majesty declares a Majesty War, the Rulebook turns the battle into an interdimensional live broadcast event. The losing world becomes a **colony** of the winning world."
"A colony?"
> [Beginner's luck.]
>
> [Even a rookie Majesty is still a Majesty. Charging in without gathering information first? What an idiot.]
"The moment your world becomes a colony, you might have to pay taxes under the pretext of protection, or even offer up your lifespan depending on the ruling Majesty's political ideology. Either way, your entire way of life changes. Of course, declaring a Majesty War is basically an all-in gamble, so nobody uses it unless they're certain of victory. That fool actually used it so recklessly."
They spoke lightly, but everyone understood the truth.
There now existed someone who had utterly crushed a fellow Majesty like Mars.
And the Executors would surely see someone like Ju-Heon as an obstacle.
Meanwhile, after the crimson helmet and triumphal arch shattered and scattered into fragments, the broadcast screens disappeared, replaced by a system window.
*So that's how it works.*
Just as expected, Majesties from other worlds were thrown into an uproar.
> **[Invader 'Mars O'Connell' has been defeated.]**
>
> **[Rewards Granted: Heart Retrieval / Merit Acquired]**
> [Mars... lost?]
>
> [Impossible. There's no way he could have fallen...!]
>
> [...As expected, a world possessing the 'Domain of the Chief Gods' is special.]
The Majesty's Heart fell to the ground like a crimson crystal.
Picking it up, Ju-Heon muttered quietly,
"...A Majesty's Heart."
The instant he grasped it, a familiar blue status window appeared before him.
Possessing something so valuable also meant becoming the target of countless others.
As though reading Ju-Heon's thoughts, Majesty Yu Jae-ha spoke.
> **[You have obtained a Majesty's Heart.]**
>
> **[A Majesty's Heart possesses value equivalent to an SSS-grade relic and may be used as a physical artifact.]**
>
> **[Mars O'Connell's Majesty Ability: Authority of the Conqueror]**
"Just use it. After all, Mars lost to a rookie like you, so his market value has probably plummeted."
He smirked casually.
Ju-Heon frowned.
"You can use absorbed Authorities to defend your territory. Besides, **Authority of the Conqueror** suits someone as stubborn and overbearing as you."
*Authority of the Conqueror...*
Even as he said that, Majesty Yu Jae-ha chuckled.
*I wonder how much it's worth as an actual item.*
"Well, it's not like Mars was some high-ranking Majesty. Don't expect too much."
Ju-Heon's eyes lit up.
*Hmm... so it's a dud?*
*If it's a Conqueror-type relic, will it produce conquest effects like Chairman Kwon's?*
Just as Ju-Heon began fiddling with the heart in disappointment...
*Well, I suppose it's still a decent ability...*
> **[Using my Devouring Ability, I believe I can modify it to better suit Seo Ju-Heon's personality.]**
Oh, that's right.
The pig crow that devours everything—even the sun.
You're actually useful at times like this!
> **[New Ability: <Fight Among Yourselves> (S Rank)]**
>
> **[Effect: Whether superior or subordinate, allies will regard one another as the Conqueror and start beating each other senseless.]**
"..."
> **[Modifying to match Majesty Seo Ju-Heon's personality.]**
>
> **[Success!]**
A vein popped on Ju-Heon's forehead.
It was the perfect ability for turning enemy ranks into utter chaos.
But the name itself was downright evil.
"...Hey, Crow. I was expecting something cool and stylish."
> **[This is merely an honest reflection of the Majesty's vicious personality.]**
"What? Vicious personality? You little—!"
> **[It's simply a fact.]**
"Guys, bring me some boiling water."
> **[Aaaagh!! If you pour water on me now, I'll dieeeee!!]**
Standing amid the chaotic headquarters, Majesty Yu Jae-ha narrowed his eyes as he secretly observed Ju-Heon's newly acquired ability through his miniature book.
*...An S-rank?*
Cup Noodle Yu Jae-ha burst out laughing.
> [As expected of Captain! Your personality never changes! Even the relic understands its owner perfectly!]
Ju-Heon turned his head and declared coldly,
"Shut up."
According to Yu Jae-ha's calculations, that Authority should have remained around **B-rank** at best.
But the moment it encountered the variable known as **Seo Ju-Heon**, its rank skyrocketed.
The relaxed smile gradually disappeared from Yu Jae-ha's face.
Then it happened.
> **[The Rulebook is enraged that Majesty Seo Ju-Heon is still alive.]**
>
> **[It is confused, asking why you are still alive.]**
>
> **[New Title Acquired: Majesty of Chaos]**
[Your presence has increased significantly.]
[Wherever you are, incidents and disasters will never cease.]
[The probability of being preemptively attacked by relics has increased slightly.]
Ju-Heon let out a dry laugh.
Looking at the message, he grinned.
"I won the Majesty War. That's all I get?"
"Oh, nice. A self-defense buff."
He had only been joking.
But the crimson message window reacted with visible outrage.
[You have received an appropriate reward from the Rulebook for winning the Majesty War.]
Its interpretation was broader than all five oceans combined.
It had completely misunderstood what "self-defense" meant.
Still, Ju-Heon's grin stretched nearly from ear to ear.
[Reward: 1 Majester Title acquired.]
"Giving a reward to the enemy? What's that stupid book thinking?"
"The Rulebook can't escape its own rules either. You got yourself something valuable."
Ju-Heon turned toward his team members.
Hearing Yu Jae-ha, they looked at the two of them as though they were exactly alike.
But their stares weren't what mattered right now.
"We can't leave Jae-ha like this. We'll have to restore him somehow."
"...Captain."
"I'm going to rescue my daughter and this idiot. You're coming too, Yu Jae-ha. You're my emergency rations."
"You all stay behind and protect this world. They'll try to plunder it while I'm gone. A world without a Majesty is prey by definition."
"Captain...!"
"We're coming with you!"
At that moment, Majesty Yu Jae-ha hurriedly stepped forward.
Yu Jae-ha cried out in despair.
[I'm a personnnnnnn!!!]
"No."
"...!"
"Someone has to protect this worldline. You heard what the Rulebook said earlier. It periodically issues missions, and if you fail them, it imposes penalties on the worldline. Succeed, and you'll receive Merits instead."
After taking a brief breath, he continued,
"Besides... you'll have to stop any Majesties who come to plunder this place. Of course, it's rare for a Majesty to come personally like Mars did. If a Majesty dies, their entire worldline collapses. So sending only their subordinates is usually enough."
"...How long have you been listening?"
"From the very beginning."
Irene's voice never trembled.
Though it was obvious she was desperately holding back her tears.
In other words, the team would have to face disasters and invaders themselves.
Just then, a familiar voice spoke.
"You're leaving?"
"...!"
It was Irene.
She threw herself into Ju-Heon's arms.
He froze for a moment before slowly placing a hand on her back.
"You're going to find our daughter, aren't you?"
"Yeah."
"It's dangerous."
"Yeah."
"But... you still have to go?"
"...Yeah."
Irene tightly gripped the collar of his clothes.
For a long while, neither of them spoke.
Ju-Heon gently pulled her closer.
"Irene."
"..."
"I'm the greatest thief."
"...What's that supposed to mean?"
"I've never once come back empty-handed."
I know.
Ju-Heon smiled faintly.
At that moment, every team member's gaze turned toward him.
Meeting every one of those eyes, Ju-Heon nodded.
"Good. Stay here with Irene. Protect this world and accumulate Merits. They'll become my strength."
"...!"
"Captain..."
Irene looked up at him.
Her eyes were red.
"...Promise?"
"Yeah."
"If you lie to me... I'll bankrupt you."
Receiving the Mini Rulebooks from Ju-Heon, the team members clenched their teeth and nodded.
"Even so, it'd still be safer if we went with you...!"
"Yes. We'd be able to help."
Talks nicely... acts like a complete lunatic.
Ignoring them, Ju-Heon turned toward Majesty Yu Jae-ha.
No words were necessary.
That single look was enough.
Majesty Yu Jae-ha shrugged.
"Well... when you're dealing with other Majesties, being a good person probably won't get you very far."
He opened his palm.
Resting on it was a tiny black bean.
Ju-Heon frowned.
"I'm warning you in advance. Every Majesty has a rotten personality. Every world's got its own brand of lunatic."
"...What's with this cheap-looking bean?"
"This is a dimensional travel relic."
Ju-Heon's expression didn't change.
"A dimensional travel relic?"
"I'll take responsibility if we die. You just open the path."
At those words, Yu Jae-ha smiled bitterly, as though someone had come to mind.
Majesty Yu Jae-ha dropped the bean onto the ground.
The instant it touched the pavement—
Rumble!
"Jack and the Beanstalk."
KRAAAACK!!
The asphalt split apart as a massive green vine burst forth, writhing like a dragon as it shot into the sky.
Ju-Heon's eyebrow twitched.
Not for the reason one might expect.
"...Damn it. How the hell are we supposed to climb that?"
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Even the team members stared in disbelief.
The vine grew faster than the surrounding skyscrapers.
Within moments, it pierced the heavens and reached an unknown Dimensional Rift.
A gigantic emerald ladder now stood in the middle of the city.
Everyone stood frozen, mouths hanging open.
"Isn't... isn't this that thing from the fairy tale?"
"Wouldn't dying be the better option...?"
"Couldn't you have at least made a door or an escalator instead?!"
"...Captain, this is..."
Listening to their complaints, Ju-Heon rubbed his forehead.
"Shut up. Follow me. Maybe you'll build some muscle by the time we reach the top."
The team members immediately took several cautious steps backward.
Seeing that, veins bulged on Ju-Heon's forehead.
"Hey. Didn't you idiots say you were coming with me?"
"...Captain, didn't you tell us to stay here and guard the place?"
"...On second thought, we'll stay behind after all."
These little bastards...!