Chapter 882 – Reunion
『You may have guessed it from what you heard from the bishop a while ago, but the Transcendent Church succeeded in securing a significant number of ‘offerings’. In order to proceed with their plan, they have put the vast majority of their people into dimensional hibernation.』
In a cold tone, Illax emphasizes that Seongil’s current achievements are close to luck, as the Transcendence Church is in a very vulnerable situation.
『In such a situation, how long do you think you can achieve victory? It seems clear that you to have acquired advanced skills related to dimensional travel. However, the moment the true power of the Transcendent Church is unleashed, you and your species will never be able to avoid the Transcendent Church’s pursuit. I guarantee it.』
“Even if that’s the case, it’s the result of our choice, and it’s not your place to argue.”
In addition, Seong-il cannot tell you how, but he strongly appeals that he has powerful skills to escape and avoid the pursuit of the Transcendence Church. In the end, unable to persuade Seong-il, the captain repeatedly runs parallel lines, and Illax sighs.
『You’re so arrogant.』
“That’s something a guardian of reason can say because he knows nothing about our ‘Eden.’ I want to warn you this time.”
Seong-il strongly encourages Illax to tell the ‘truth’ to the humans currently being managed in the Ark. Although he will not touch people who agree after hearing the plan to modify the human body, he implicitly warns that if the procedure is forcibly carried out without their consent, Eden and the guardian of reason may come into conflict.
♠Phew… Then, you are an unknown person. What do you want? Can you tell me that?』
“Before that, I want you to give me an answer first.”
Seong-il gave the sacred object to Illax without any compensation. Also, he strongly appeals that he came to the ark even though he was in a situation where he could not be trusted.
『I guess that makes sense. What are you curious about?』
“What on earth is a barrier? Why are you trying to destroy it?”
『Ah, the dimensional barrier. It’s simple. It is a strong protective barrier that hides us from ‘them’. However, if we use it, it will also become impossible for us to move to the outer dimension.』
‘Ah, so Illax and other guardians of reason were trying to break down the dimensional barrier? That’s why I can’t escape…’
Illax explains that since many of the Transcendental Cults have recently fallen into dimensional hibernation, they are desperately trying to neutralize the dimensional barrier by using the power they have saved to attack the Cult of Transcendental Cults desperately.
“What happens when the dimensional barrier breaks? Will AI appear?”
『To be exact, the pursuit will accelerate or the possibility of being discovered will increase. Rather than being caught immediately.』
However, as a huge causality is tied to the plan that the Transcendent Church is carrying out here, Illax explains that once the dimensional barrier is broken, there is a high possibility that the AI will chase down the Transcendent Church very quickly.
‘In effect, whether humanity and its compatriots die or not, they will break the barrier, turn their bodies into machines, and then escape.’
In some ways, the plan of the guardian of reason can be seen as cruel and selfish. However, Seong-il doesn’t blame him because he thought that even Ilax would try to operate like that. Even in the midst of difficult times, the guardian of reason felt guilty towards humanity, and even in a situation where resources were scarce, he did his best to rescue some humanity and try to continue their legacy.
『Are you sure you don’t want to join us? It would really be of great help to you.』
“No. My group and I will walk our own path and fight against the Transcendence Church.”
『Hmm… I guess so. So what is your purpose? Honestly, I don’t feel that you are that foolish. Because it doesn’t make sense that a powerful being who knows our plans in the first place, can kill even the bishop, and can even control causality is foolish.』
‘I can feel it.’
Seong-il begins to think carefully, feeling that his fate can change depending on how he answers Illax. Here he feels that if he does not win the sympathy of Illax, he may become an antagonistic force to him, or he may become a complete stranger, receiving no help from the guardian of reason.
‘Hmm…!!’
While Seongil was thinking, one memory passed through his head. When the advice given by the inspector of the Onmyanggwan in the past suddenly appears in his head, Seongil realizes that the scene is the correct answer and slowly opens his mouth.
“I plan to kidnap all of Earth’s humanity and hide them in another dimension. And although I can’t tell you how… I can say that I have discovered a way to prevent or block the Transcendence Church’s pursuit.”
『Hmm…』
“What is certain is that although I hate the Transcendence Church and want to spoil them, I have no intention of opposing you, the guardians of reason. However, as I said a little while ago, under the condition that my people are given a chance to choose.”
Seong-il implicitly recommends that if there are any compatriots who oppose being converted into cyborgs, they should be sent back to him.
『Whew… We thought this was the only way to repay the sins we committed against your species. However, the person concerned may not understand. I understand. It will be so.』
Illax tells Seong-il that if there are humans who do not want to be converted into cyborgs, they will be sent to Seong-il’s forces.
“Good. By the way… Is it really true what that ‘Bishop’ said a moment ago? That all preparations have been completed.”
『Hmm… That’s probably half true.』
“… Half?”
Seong-il frowns at Illax’s words that if it’s true, it’s true. If not, it’s not, but it’s only half the truth.
『Nearly ten years ago… So, at the time when our guardian of reason was trying to become independent of the Transcendence Church. For some reason, the policies of the Transcendence Church have started to become more extreme.』
Illax tells me that the internal flow has begun to change little by little, very secretly. He tells Seong-il that this information is secret information that he would never know if he were not a former bishop of the Transcendent Church.
『For some reason, the Transcendental Church changed its policy to provide suitable ‘bodies’ only to the upper class.』
“… Suddenly?”
“Exactly. However… I don’t know exactly why. I guess I spent all my attention on preparing for betrayal, so I didn’t want to be suspicious of high-ranking officials…』
“… That’s why they were reluctant to actively acquire information.”
『That’s right.』
However, Illax tells Seong-il that since he was a high-ranking priest in the past, he had some guesses.
『Perhaps… The Apostle tricked most of his compatriots into falling into dimensional hibernation… So he revealed his true colors to prevent them from being able to challenge his authority, or maybe he really felt something was in danger. Maybe.』
“Hmm… Then… What happens to the rest of the transcendental believers, excluding the upper class? Are they not given a body…?”
If they leave only a few alive and leave like a lizard, their runaway compatriots may frantically pursue the Transcendence Church, so Seong-il does not understand why they would take such a dangerous risk.
『Ah, I guess I misunderstood. It does not mean that the body is not given to the laity.』
“… Then?”
『The story was that I would be given a body with flaws.』
“…!!”
Illax tells us that, absurdly, the Transcendental Church will give most believers a dummy created from the body of a person with physical enhancement abilities, or a body of a person with double ability whose physical abilities are less ripe due to the level B to A, and will be given to laypeople.〈 Br〉
“Why such a choice…?”
『Well… I don’t know that either. However… Considering their cruelty, such a choice is not surprising.』
“… What does that mean?”
『Think about it. Anyway, the Transcendental Church is a group of fanatics united by the consciousness of the chosen people. They carelessly treat other intelligent races like livestock. But wouldn’t such people really regard the lower class as slaves?』
“Hmm…”
『Actually… In order for the high-ranking members of the Transcendental Church to easily control the laymen, it may be better to give up such flawed bodies. That’s because it’s cruel. This is just my guess…』
Illax thought that if the new body did not live long, the Transcendentalists would initially resent the high-ranking officials… But as time went on, there was a high possibility that they would be swayed by their survival instinct and become obsessed with ‘producing heirs’.
『Actually, wouldn’t all laymen have any complaints? I don’t know, but there’s a good chance that quite a few people are suppressing their anger and just waiting for ascension. But… What do you think it would be like if all the existing believers were completely replaced..? And the leadership ‘directly’ taught and ‘controlled’ only the newly born believers? Wouldn’t it be easy to control dissatisfaction?』
“…!!”
Seong-il frowns as he feels goosebumps and disgust hitting his heart at the same time after listening to Ilax’s explanation.
‘Certainly… They treat other races as livestock… But there’s no guarantee that they don’t treat the lower class like slaves.’
