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Park Jinseong’s whisper was as sweet as the temptations wrought by an Evil Being.

Especially the weight of that proposal from a Shaman was distinctly different from what ordinary people might offer, making it hard for Ivan to easily dismiss.

Long ago, Augustine once said of Evil Beings, “They disturb elements under divine acquiescence and shake the hearts of those lacking or void of faith.” This speaks to how Evil Beings exploit the gaps and vulnerabilities within a person’s heart, leading them to corruption, and Park Jinseong’s words bore striking similarity.

He was now touching on a part of the desires that Ivan held.

“Words are so polished, much like other Shamans,” Ivan remarked.

Yet sin is said to stem from willpower.

The mindset of a Warrior who has honed his combat skills for many years was incredibly solid.

Moreover, having spent a long time in a harsh environment, Ivan’s psyche was akin to that of a seasoned practitioner. Even if it was somewhat twisted, it was hardened enough to withstand breaking. Much like a Diamond.

Training in the extreme environment of the Universe.

Natural asceticism and the refined spirit that results from it.

Ivan’s spirit could indeed be likened to a diamond born from high heat and pressure.

Regardless of its shape, that was its essence.

And those with such a spirit… do not easily waver due to external influences.

Even if a biting wind blows or ominous flames pass, transformation does not happen easily.

Even if transformation does occur, it can be controlled and assimilated.

Thus, even before the rewind, this Warrior was a formidable opponent for Park Jinseong.

This Warrior was not only strong due to the traits gained from transformation but also in his insights about space and sheer mental strength… he was purely robust and hard to find weaknesses in.

“Right…,” Ivan muttered, almost complaining.

And then he swung his sword again.

Crunch.

The sword moves. This time, it slips between the spaces.

Drawing a curve while reaching the target point in the shortest time possible, the sword traces a trajectory.

Despite being a curve, it was a curve faster than a straight line.

A bewilderingly unmatched swordplay.

Thus, the advancing sword once more slashed at Park Jinseong.

Once connected, Park Jinseong’s body, looking as if it wanted nothing more than to be rid of him, was again chopped up and spilled onto the floor.

But such precisely crafted killing strikes were of no use.

Park Jinseong’s body, barely touching the ground, scattered like flames, shattered like sand, and began to reassemble as an insect with many legs.

Even if his swordsmanship transcended space, it mattered not.

No matter how much one slices and dices, like the water that merges back after being multiplied, it was as meaningless as a sandcastle that crumbles yet reform.

Before his eyes, the Shaman was not a physical body.

It was like a clone made of insects.

Just as illusions become useless, no matter how much he swung the sword, his rage remained nothing more than that.

“…Shaman. If your purpose isn’t revenge from the Soviet era, then what is your purpose?”

But paradoxically, this very sight gave Ivan a strange sense of trust.

The fact that he had prepared so thoroughly despite not seeking revenge made Ivan feel that he was worthy of conversation.

No, it wasn’t about being worthy.

It’s better to say, ‘a being deserving of time.’

A being worthy of discussion that could be expressed as ‘one who deserves to have time spent on them.’

Setting aside training and activities in the Universe to speak as people.

Even if it meant temporarily putting aside matters with priority, it seemed worthwhile to converse person to person.

Swoosh.

Park Jinseong grinned at Ivan’s inquiry.

Gathering his shattered insect body to restore himself he said,

“A sailor who loves the sea wouldn’t tolerate its pollution. Those who adore lakes can’t stand to see them defiled, and mountain lovers would object to their cherished peaks becoming barren. Therefore, Ivan, beloved of the Universe, to what extent can you tolerate the Universe’s pollution?”

In the past, the Universe was a pristine area.

A virgin land untouched by humanity.

A territory humanity didn’t dare to conquer, an uncharted expanse.

Great Terra Incognita!

But what is it like now?

With spacecraft sent to the Moon, humans concluded that the Universe could help establish national hegemony.

What has become of the Universe, now reached by human hands?

Its purity long gone, tainted by humanity’s touch, fake stars forged by human hands now circle the Earth in the sky where only stars once existed. Footsteps and flags mark the Moon, as robots and golems buzz about collecting its minerals, conducting geological research deep within.

In fact, some countries are banding together to create greenhouses on the Moon to see how the environment affects crops, while in America, massive funds are being gathered to practice terraforming.

One by one, satellites that were shot up are now colliding into one another, and those lost or unrecovered have become space trash, floating around Earth and obstructing humanity’s expansion into the Universe.

“The once-brilliant blue planet may now bear rings like Saturn. Just as Saturn spins stones as rings around itself, will Earth too twirl iron refuse created by men as its own rings?”

The Universe continues to be sullied.

As the world grows chaotic, the Universe is further defiled.

It would have been better if peace reigned and thoughts of exploring the Universe were kept close.

Yet when the world is in turmoil, and the thought of venturing into the Universe drifts far away, it degenerates into merely a garbage disposal space, its value fully diminished.

A multitude of pollutants born during wars.

Bioweapons difficult to utilize or dispose of despite being created through biological experiments.

Dangerous items, those hard to recycle, toxic substances, magical waste…

During World War III, humanity resolved to use the Universe as a space for this ‘problematic trash.’

Instead of expanding human territory or venturing into space, they turned a blind eye to the cradle Earth, declaring the end of youth – instead using it as a suitable method to dispose of trash at ‘minimal cost’ amidst the ceaseless madness of war.

This might be a very efficient choice.

During times of peace, the astronomical amounts of expenditure made it tough to justify space research.

Yet, amidst the storm of insanity brought by war, to pay attention to the Universe?

With vast funding and talented researchers put to work?

It would be madness not to consider it.

In a situation where they might have to prepare weaponry to counter neighboring countries at a moment’s notice, the Universe was merely a daydream.

Thus, they made a rational choice.

Blind to the risks concealed behind that rational decision.

And thus, a single Warrior descended to Earth.

Whether that Warrior came down in fury over the project of dumping trash in the Universe is unknown.

Unless one asks them, it remains a mystery.

It could just be coincidence.

Unrelated to the project, perhaps they were merely annoyed by the war on Earth, or they had fallen into the trap of obsession and succumbed to a demonic nature, or perhaps they had lost their sanity from long exposure to life in space.

The true reason remains unknown.

For no one has ever asked that Warrior the reason.

Even if someone did ask, there would be no one left to hear the answer.

Just speculation, nothing more.

A very simple speculation…

Thus, the Warrior who descended to Earth began spreading his ideology by sword.

Slitting the throats of leaders.

Slaying the tongues of demagogues.

Beheading tyrants.

Thus, he became a calamity.

Therefore, what Park Jinseong does is also based on speculation.

“If there are those who wish to pollute the Universe, would you truly allow it? If you could drop their heads and extinguish their lives to thwart the project, would you willingly use that power?”

“Project?”

“The Star Ocean Project. A plan to deploy special-purpose satellites, multipurpose satellites, and military satellites across the Earth.”

Right.

Speculation.

Whether this Warrior doesn’t wish for the Universe to be sullied remains mere guesswork.

Yet that speculation bore a high probability.

“…I’ll hear your story.”

Park Jinseong splendidly hit the jackpot on that high probability.

 

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