Above Your Head

Vol 2. Chapter 7: A Transcendent at the Minimum? (7)

As soon as I came back to reality, Genie's urgent voice resonated in my head, Captain-nim! Are you all right?!

'Ahh... Yeah. I'm fine. How's the situation?'

We're in the middle of a troop deployment after declaring an emergency situation. They're currently in the atmosphere...

'They still haven't arrived yet?' I expressed my doubts. It was a given. I was kidnapped and taken to an alternate dimension. Then, I met the Primordial God and talked to her for a long time. It should have taken about a good 40 minutes. It wasn't an exaggeration, but it wouldn't be strange for the Albatross ship to have flattened Earth if that much time had passed. However, they were still in the middle of the troop deployment?

Captain-nim, it has been 24 seconds since you were abducted, and it has only been 6 seconds since the assault started. I am guessing that you were kidnapped to a dimension with a different time axis. How much time did you feel has passed?

'It's been a little over 30 minutes.'

However, contrary to Genie’s assumption, it wasn't that the alternate dimension I went to had a different time axis. In the first place, it didn't seem like the Three Musketeers had that much ability. Also, more importantly, there was no difference in the time scale since the time Genie had declared an emergency situation.

It was a conjecture, but it was highly likely that the Primordial God manipulated the time. Although time was referred to as an absolute property, it wasn't a difficult task for her, a High-rank God, to manipulate time.

"Is there some sort of problem?"

"No, there's none, noona. Thank you."

The court lady, who was standing along the path towards Gyeonghoeru Pavilion, spoke to me. The noonas standing on each flight of stairs were quiet, as if they were mute. However, seeing that the court ladies outside the building would strike up a conversation first, it seemed that there was a hierarchy even amongst them.

'For starters, send back all the troops that were dispatched. Get the Albatross ship to go back to stealth mode too.'

It's already been taken care of. However, can you come back to the ship for a while, Captain-nim?

'Why?' I asked. There wasn't any difficulty in going back. The Albatross ship had a "Recall" function for its crew members, so all they had to do was return from a place that wasn’t within anyone’s sight. However, once I went back to the ship, there was no way to come back out.

In scientific technology, spatial control was a high-level skill that could only be accessed after exceeding the middle phase of a Stage III Civilization. However, it was different in terms of soul energy. When the recall function was activated, the Lee Family would surely be able to detect it.

Didn't you leave the management system on the individual dimension for a while? You might suffer from physical and mental problems, so please return to the ship as soon as possible for a medical examination...

'Ahhh, it's fine. I don't need it.'

But...

'I said I'm fine.'

It's worrying though...

I forced a smile at Genie's voice, which was full of heartfelt sincerity. I then went back to Gangnyeonjeon, which was the accommodation I was staying at. I opened the door and nodded to the court lady, who was standing right next to the door like a shadow. Shortly after, I went up the stairs to go to the upper floors. It was then...

Authority of the God of War!

'Hmmm? What are you talking about, Ares? Putting that aside, for what reason have you been so quiet?' I asked curiously. Come to think of it, I have not heard a single word from Ares this entire time. Aside from when I was being ambushed, he was also silent when I met the Primordial God. Of course, it may be because the connection was disconnected as soon as I entered the individual dimension, but what Ares said next seemed to prove otherwise.

It's the Authority of the God of War, Dae-ha. Practice the Authority of the God of War!

'What's that?'

It's the most perfect path to reach the realm of transcendence!

For some reason, I clicked my tongue at the sight of Ares being in a fit of excitement. 'Agh, I'm not buying. I said I'm not buying.'

It's not like that! You punk! Even before I was born, there were wars that took place in order to obtain the Authority of the God of War...

I went up to the third floor while ignoring Ares, who started to preach about the glory of the past. I briefly greeted the court lady who was still standing watch at her position. As expected, it was still the girl I ran into when I left the room earlier. 'How many hours do they stand watch here? It's making me want to complain to the Department of Labor instead.'

The type of job with the highest percentage in the stronghold of the Lee Family, Gyeongbokgung Palace, was the position of a court lady. It wasn't even a joke, since two-thirds of the personnel I had witnessed at the Lee Family were court ladies. Not only were they put in charge of the security within the palace, but they also provided all kinds of services related to the convenience of the members of the Lee Family, as well as visitors like me. They were even in charge of cleaning, so rather than a court lady, they were more like servant maids or an all-rounder maid.

Wiiiiingggg. Clack! The door that was sealed by the spell opened, and I entered the accommodation that was provided to me. Considering that it was a guest accommodation, it was pretty well furnished. Despite it being a private room, it boasted a size of more than 30 pyeong[1] and was furnished with almost all kinds of home appliances, including personal PCs and TVs. I could eat food at the cafeteria, but if I requested it from the court ladies, they would bring it to my room. Moreover, when I bring out the laundry, they would even dry it and return it. Hence, I did not have any complaints even though I met a great father and lived a well-off life. 'It's more like a hotel than a guest room. Should I think of it as a hotel with a unique theme, because its structure is that of a royal palace?'

I changed into the simple clothes that were prepared in the wardrobe and jumped into bed. In the meantime, Ares kept blabbering on, Therefore! That is why you have to practice the Authority of the God of War!

'Agh, okay I got it.'

Please listen to me sincerely.

Ares put on a pretty pitiful expression, but I didn't feel anything about it. After all, the expression was coming from a gray-haired giant that looked about 2 meters tall. Things might have been different if it was Genie who was acting that way. Anyway, I thought he would sulk if I ignored him too much, so I asked, 'Is that a good thing?'

Of course! It's the Divine Skill of God that was born along with me! To be honest, even though you rode on me as you pleased, one was originally supposed to be sufficiently skilled in the Authority of the God of War to earn the qualifications of a pilot. Ares, who had a sculpture-like appearance in more ways than one, was boasting proudly. Even though Ares was not a real person, but an augmented reality reflected by the Magic Armament Udjat, he looked so natural that it felt like he was actually standing in front of me.

I thought about it for a while, as I saw that scene unfold before my eyes. 'Since you said it's a good thing, then I guess it won't hurt to practice it.' However, I asked for confirmation. That was because I suddenly had an ambiguous gut feeling about it. 'How do I practice it? Do I have to train it in a simulation, like how one would do with martial arts?'

It's displeasing if you compare it to such substandard things! The Authority of the God of War has a completely different training method than those!

'What's the different training method you're referring to then?'

War! You will only be able to grow the power and light of the God of War through war!

I clicked my tongue and shook my head. This was because I could guess the style of the Authority of the God of War at first glance. 'It's an aggressive power, isn't it?'

Then what? Do you expect there to be a peaceful war that exists in the world?

"To hell with that," I couldn't hold it in and ended up saying those words. In the first place, why did this unfavorable situation happen? Why did the Divine Spirit, which I thought had calmed down, explode like that? Anger. That's right. It was just a moment of anger. The moment I was sincerely angry at the human scums who tried to kidnap and kill me, whom they thought had no power, just because they were displeased with me. At that moment, my Divine Spirit exploded forth.

Yes, it was just a moment of anger. The moment he was sincerely angry at the human end-of-life who tried to kidnap and kill someone he thought would have no power, just because he didn't like it. 'His' divinity exploded just then.

I thought I had separated my Divine Spirit and completely sealed it off, but in reality, I dealt with it in such a sloppy way. It was as if an elephant tried to weave us into wooden reeds. I obtained it easily, so I took the concept of the Divine Spirit too lightly.

Why, why?

I conveyed my apprehensions and Ares hesitated, perhaps because he could read the irritated expression on my face. I muttered nonchalantly, and needed to be careful, because I had a tendency to carelessly talk to myself in front of others. 'My Divine Spirit is already unstable as it is in this situation where I had to complete the extreme Calm State of Mind. So, it would naturally be like that. Looking at the mood, it seems like it's a power that affects the mind.'

Wh-Why are you saying like it's definitely going to have an adverse effect? The Authority of the God of War will lead to the courage that is hidden inside the practitioner...

'That's the adverse effect.' Since it was a soul energy that was built into the God-rank Gigas, there wouldn't be a problem when compared to black magic or the wicked art. However, things wouldn't change in this situation, even if I enhanced my belligerence. If I trained in the Authority of the God of War or whatever the heck it was called, 'I' might take over my body as if he had been waiting for this moment.

I recalled the words of the Primordial God, who was the protector of mankind despite only looking like a young girl, "Be careful. Your nature and ego are becoming excessively isolated. At this rate, a new ego will be born."

"That kind of thing... I'm just drunk on the Divine Spirit, so it isn't a separate ego, right? It's just that I can't control it right now, but I would be aware of it over time."

"If you had accepted the Divine Spirit, then that would've been the case. However, not anymore. You were actually completely separated earlier on, weren't you?"

"That's..."

"If you go at this rate, it will eventually be a matter of time."

I maintained an unusual state that was unprecedented even in the vast Great Universe: High-rank Divine Spirit, Status of a Low-rank God, and the quality of a mortal.

To explain it in simpler terms, it was as if I was the successor of a conglomerate that used to command the world and completely inherited its wealth (Divine Spirit). Also, since I was the successor of a conglomerate, I had a certain stake in the position of Chairman (Status of God). The problem here was...my own competence (Divinity)!

In reality, if I was a common mortal, I would have had to acquire both the Divine Spirit and the Status of God with my own capabilities. Unfortunately, I had obtained them without putting in any effort. Just like the ancient gods, I was simply born with authority and godly powers. Moreover, if I did not want to see the easily-gotten wealth turn into a disaster, I had to learn the method to control it.

Sigh. I shook my head to shake off the deep sigh that I suddenly let out, but I could not shake off the gloomy mood. When I was in the universe, I thought I could live a peaceful life as soon as I returned to Earth. However, I can't believe that that wish went down the drain as soon as I came back.

As I sat on the bed blankly, while experiencing an aloof mood, Genie spoke, What about the producer-type if you have to train the soul energy?

'...Producer-type?'

Yes, Captain-nim. The Kendler tribe's method of training is expected to be the safest, most peaceful, and the best suited for your aptitude.

'Hmm.'

The training method is recorded in the research lab, and above all, the materials and samples are well prepared. The ultimate direction to pursue is also provided.

'You're talking about the Golden Knight Order, huh...'

That's right.

The latest and most advanced combat weapons, the Golden Knight Order, was created while focusing on all the technological skills of the Leonhardt Empire. It belonged to the Palace Knight Order who existed to protect the Emperor. If it was to be described in a single line, it would be 'A Human-rank Gigas that did not require a pilot.'

This was not something that was easily seen, even in the Leonhardt Empire. In the first place, if unmanned weapons were more efficient than manned weapons, would the Empire employ the Gigas pilots while maintaining an enormous annual salary, various infrastructure, and a universal Scout System (Just like the one installed in the arcade in our town)? Human-rank Gigas that did not require a pilot, also known as Magic Golems which handled soul energy, certainly did exist. However, that was a special product and very few of them existed.

'But then again, I'm sure that's the case. The Golden Knight Order was a product made by the transcendents while pouring in astronomical resources.'

It reminded me of the two Giant Soul Soldiers that stood in Gwanghwamun Square, Sejong and Sun-shin. Surprisingly, they almost had the same power output as the Golden Knight Order. Of course, if the Golden Knight Order and the Giant Soul Soldier fought one-on-one, the Giant Soul Soldier would be pushed back one-sidedly. However, it was because the Giant Soul Soldier did not have an Iron Heart, which was the innovative Magical Energy Organ that overwrote a new war history for the Great Universe. It was not because the Giant Soul Soldier was lacking. After all, Iron Hearts were luxury goods that were by no means inferior, even if it was offered to the Leonhardt Empire as an offering. Earth was out of the question.

Of course, you can't reproduce the Golden Knight Order. Iron Heart is something that only the Kendler tribe could create, even in the Great Universe.

Even the prideful dragon species, or the Saints who boast all kinds of Bobae, would not be able to reproduce the Iron Heart. Hence, it was a fact that they all relied on the import of Iron Hearts. This meant that even if a production-type ability was honed to the level of a transcendent, it would not be able to create a Gigas like the Golden Knight Order. If they needed something, there was no need to grind their abilities with so much difficulty. Instead, it was a more reasonable action to rip off the good Gigas from the Empire.

However, what I needed now was not a weapon. I needed a method to train myself. 'Alright. Let's think about it for a second.'

Excellent judgment, Captain-nim.

Er-Erm. The Authority of the God of War is...

'Shut your trap.'

...What a jerk. Cheap bastard.

'What is a dark-skinned hunk like you whining for?' I casually ignored the whining Ares and buried my head on the pillow. "Hahhh... What do you mean the realm of transcendence." I could only sigh at the outrageous reality. "The realm of transcendence..."

1. Pyeong is a Korean measure of unit for area and floor space, and it is equal to 3.3 square meters or approximately 36 square feet.