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Chapter 331 - Artificial God (1)

He was expecting it, but the moment he entered, Kang Shin-hyuk momentarily lost consciousness. A world that transcended the boundaries of time and space couldn’t be ordinary. The blowing wind, the hazy dust, and the moving earth all vehemently rejected him. It was simply because it was unacceptable for Kang Shin-hyuk’s existence, who ignored the independent rules of this world — the laws that went beyond time and space to still remained subordinate to the outside world. However, if he conformed to the currents of this world, he would lose his ego and be scattered. He had to endure it.

“Hoo-woo, hoo...”

It was only after what felt like a long time he could even open his mouth to breathe. He had to be quite prepared to stay sane even after breathing in the air of this world. However, Kang Shin-hyuk learned the ability to perceive the passage of time through his body after his spiritual strength had grown to a certain extent. Two months had passed.

“Are you crazy?”

This way, it would be no wonder if about 100 years passed by the time he found Eunah, and 1,000 by the time the Hero Universe was completed. The flow of time outside was completely separated from this place, so there was no need to worry, but at this point, his mind would be torn apart.

‘Is Eunah okay? I’d like to believe she is because she’s much better at handling energy than me.’

If he let his guard down, he would lose consciousness. Kang Shin-hyuk got his mind upright and spread his spiritual power throughout the world. At the same time, he activated his trait with his full power to interfere with the world and twist his senses. It was a miracle possible from the power of the Heavenly Dragon.

‘This is my first time working alone.’

This tragic work interfered with the whole world and beat the legitimacy of one’s existence. After reincarnation, even when he was doing something on his own, he always felt the presence of the administrator, but now that even that was blocked, he truly felt alone. Even when he was asleep, a merciless passage of time came to distract his concentration and dissolve his mind. He was lonely, but not even Tsukuyo or Janus would’ve been able to withstand it. He was fortunate to be alone now.

“Whoo, whoo...”

He didn’t eat or sleep, no. He spent a year using only the Heavenly Dragon. That’s how much time he was able to recognize, and it was also the time it took to secure a unique area that wasn’t restricted by anything. However, whether it was the reward of his suffering or not, it became the power to divert not only himself but those he wanted from the currents of the world. Only then was he able to call out Vita and Onyx.

“Dad, are you okay?”

-Myu?

He felt better to see their anxious gazes after fighting alone for so long. He responded by patting them both, neither of whom knew how dangerous the world was.

“It’s fine. Rather, it should be considered the peak.”

Although his trait grew and became the Heavenly Dragon, he didn’t have a chance to reveal his power against Gaia properly. However, since he entered a world that was completely disconnected and engaged in a spiritual struggle for existence, it could be said to be the optimal condition for his growth.

“Now I have to go find Eunah. Oh, don’t go too far from me.”

“Eunah? Is she here? But apparently, a person named Janus...”

“Ah, that’s resolved. Janus didn’t do anything bad as I had thought, but rather, she played a role in preventing the bad guys from interfering in the world...”

Kang Shin-hyuk briefly summarized what had happened to Vita, and her face gradually became distant. The owner of the Gaia system who oversaw the entire universe died, and Kang Shin-hyuk would create a system to replace it.

-Myu!

While Vita’s mind whirled, Onyx quickly began to search for Shin Eunah’s presence. He never expected such an animal-like movement from him, but maybe he remembered Shin Eunah’s smell like a trained dog? No, he was following the traces of metal she had on her.

-Myu!

“Yeah, yeah, go.”

He felt like he wanted to hear himself, but he had already put too much effort into creating the unique domain. In this world, each object, from the wind on his cheek to each grain of sand, was too powerful, so it wasn’t easy for him to penetrate through their resistance and search for Shin Eunah’s presence. But the story proved to be different for Onyx, who had mastered only one thing. He led Kang Shin-hyuk and Vita by collecting and analyzing information on all kinds of metal in the world using the thorns on his back like an antenna.

“Only the wasteland...”

“Nothing else can stand here. There’s no life or death. If we hadn’t come, it would’ve been that way.”

“Ah, dad, I received it.”

Kang Shin-hyuk’s footsteps stopped moving. Vita had just received a message from Claire. Maybe she had received more than that.

“Mom said that now, the child kicked her stomach.”

“Already?!”

He had thought there would be a gap between outside and their time, but now really couldn’t go back until the child was fully grown...!

“She’s kidding. It’s punishment for going on a date with only your daughter...”

“...”

Vita laughed bashfully in a way that resembled Claire. But, no way could they say this situation was a date. Still, it felt like he was having a direct conversation with her, so he felt a little relaxed.

“If they come in, tell them I’ll be healed after seeing them.”

“Huh?”

Then, Vita seemed to realize what he meant. She frowned at him but didn’t say anything more as she looked at him expectantly. Kang Shin-hyuk felt that expression was dangerous, but he didn’t know why, so he decided to avoid talking more about the topic.

-Myu!

“Yes, he found it. Then it will be soon.”

-Myu!

It was impossible to know how wide the world was or how fast they were moving, but under Kang Shin-hyuk’s domain, it was meaningless. Even if it were one step away, it couldn’t be reached even if it took a lifetime. Even if it were on the other side of the world, it was possible to reach in an instant.

Like now.

-Myu...

When Onyx stopped crying out, Kang Shin-hyuk and Vita’s steps also subsided. The world was still only red soil and wind, but there was one thing that was decisively different from their surroundings, and that was Kang Shin-hyuk’s party that had invaded the quiet world.

“Ah.”

What was before them now was a huge golden crystal in which Shin Eunah slept. Trapped inside a crystal of mana completely cut off from the outside. No, she must’ve locked herself up. Otherwise, she knew she would be caught up in the flow of the world.

-Myu!

“No, how did you find her sealed like this?”

-Myu!

It would’ve taken a long time if it weren’t for Onyx. Kang Shin-hyuk took a deep breath while watching the motionless Shin Eunah, trapped inside that crystal, then carefully extended his hand. The moment his finger touched it, ripples arose as if water on a calm surface. Shin Eunah’s eyes opened.

“You can come out now.”

Did his voice reach her? Shin Eunah nodded a little and stepped forward. The golden crystal collapsed, and she was right in front of him without being swept away by the world’s currents. Only then did he realize she was not influenced by his domain.

“...You can stand alone?”

“Yes. I was too bored being alone, so I sealed myself.”

“No matter how...”

She had placed a seal on herself that wouldn’t be released unless there was an external stimulus. However, did it make sense that she had sealed herself not because she was in danger but because she was bored being alone?

“Because I don’t like being alone.”

Shin Eunah spoke quietly and grabbed his hand. The smooth and cool texture confirmed her existence.

“I don’t want to be alone anymore.”

It felt like a nail was stuck in his heart. Kang Shin-hyuk set aside everything he wanted to say and quietly covered her hand.

“I’m sorry for being late.”

“Yes.”

Shin Eunah shook her head firmly at his words and fell into his arms.

“It won’t fall now.”

“Yes, let’s do it.”

She was a little surprised when he agreed to the subject she had hoped for all this time.

“Are you really okay?”

“I’m not a small enough guy to come this far and quit.”

“...You’re a little different.”

Shin Eunah examined him for a moment, pulling away, before quickly embracing him again with a satisfied expression.

“Yeah, I like it.”

That moment, he felt the world change. It was still disconnected from the outside, but the cold air was transforming into a subdued warm wind, and little sprouts were coming out of the dull red soil. The jumbled flow of time and space were neatly established as the heart of the world began to beat.

“Eunah, you...”

She was the master of a disconnected world that even Gaia couldn’t manage. She was more like a god than a human, which had to mean something.

“You could’ve come out on your own!”

“Yes.”

Kang Shin-hyuk felt it was absurd as she nodded calmly.

“But why were you sealing yourself? If I couldn’t find you, it would’ve been a big deal...!”

“I said it before; I don’t like being alone.”

She said it like it was extremely natural. Her cheeks puffed up, and she pushed her head against his chest.

“If you didn’t come to find me, it was meaningless to go back...”

“...You confessed strongly and went to hide because you were scared?”

“Ugh.”

“I didn’t like grandpa; I said that.”

“Ugh.”

It seemed like that was the right track. He thought she had grown up mentally, but apparently not as much as he thought. No matter how scary the reaction, she had sealed herself in a disconnected world and waited for him to come... Kang Shin-hyuk sighed.

“Yes, now I’m trying to stop with grandpa.”

“...!”

Instead of flicking her, he swept her hair away and kissed her forehead.

It was the moment when what had started when he met that five-year-old young girl in his previous life came to an end that no one would be ashamed of.