SIDE STORY 2
Juhyeok entered the temple to complete system registration.
The procedure wasn't finished yet, so summoning the summoned beings was impossible.
He ended up being left alone.
How long had it been since he was by himself like this?
Still, he didn't feel anxious.
Just a little dazed.
Kalzenia Dimension, was it?
Judging from the name, it seemed like a fantasy-type civilization.
And once the elevator doors opened, what came into view—
Looks like the inside of a building. They did say it was a temple.
A huge circular hall.
Along the walls at the perimeter were all kinds of magic circles and devices.
Magic circles, spell arrays, large mirrors, transparent gates, cylindrical capsules, wooden doors, iron doors—and even the elevator Juhyeok had ridden in.
Could these be…
Transportation methods for other dimensional travelers?
Seems likely.
So calling it popular wasn't wrong.
Anyway, I really did come to another dimension.
An unexpected mishap had occurred—
a clash between authorities.
Naturally, that was something to take issue with.
Someone wielding the power of an outer god had flowed into a world ruled by a native god.
But thanks to Whitey–Godback, the deletion of the White Tower System was prevented.
The fragment of divinity he had given Juhyeok—
using that as a medium, negotiations were conducted with the native god.
Amazingly, it was accepted.
Just what exactly is a fragment of divinity?
Whatever it was, its value clearly wasn't trivial.
That must be why the native god allowed it.
Just then,
the red-haired old man approached Juhyeok and spoke.
"Traveler, are you experiencing any inconvenience?"
"Ah! I was just thinking… but who are you?"
"Oh right, my introduction is late. I am Pope Calius III of the Church of Kar."
So the proxy was the pope.
"I'm Bong Juhyeok."
They exchanged brief greetings.
"Well, may I ask you something?"
"Ask as much as you like."
"What exactly is a fragment of divinity?"
Since he was the pope, he might know.
"Ah, a fragment of divinity."
"Is it something like divine power?"
"Hoho, it's different in nature from such one-time power."
Not that?
"You can think of it literally as a part of a god."
"Uh…"
"For example, it's like you cutting off one of your fingers and handing it to me."
What?!
"Then… can it recover later?"
"Just as a severed finger does not regenerate, a fragment of divinity that has been separated cannot be restored."
That made him feel awful.
It was far more precious than he thought.
To pay such a huge price just to travel dimensions?
Was there no way to return it?
"Is a refund for the fragment of divinity possible?"
If refunds were possible, he should go back and return it to Whitey–Godback.
At that, Pope Calius III put on a serious expression.
"I'm sorry, but refunds due to simple customer remorse are not possible."
"…."
"That is the revelation given from above."
"…."
So it had already been completely swallowed.
Nothing to be done.
Since such a high price had been paid—
"Can I use my unique system skills now?"
"Not yet…"
Why?
"Separate registration is required. There is a designated cost in that process as well."
What?
Another cost?
"I already paid with a fragment of divinity."
"That was received as the permission fee."
"…."
"The registration fee is set separately, according to the law of equivalent exchange."
Damn it.
Isn't this double billing?
At this rate, he'd become a sucker.
Still, there was no turning back.
The fragment of divinity couldn't be refunded.
Backing out now would be an even bigger loss.
By the way—
"Do all dimensional travelers register a system?"
"Yes. It is mandatory."
"What if they refuse?"
"They cannot enter Kalzenia. The god will impose sanctions. They may even be expelled."
Strict.
"So it's basically surveillance."
"Correct. As you know, dimensional travelers are not ordinary people, so minimum safety measures are necessary."
That made sense.
Even if not outright threats, they were certainly people to be cautious about.
"Well, regardless, everyone does it."
Why?
"Our Kar System is convenient. There are many benefits gained through system registration, so travelers are satisfied."
A status window really is useful.
There's a reason people call it the king-of-status-windows.
"Moreover, the Kalzenia Dimension is the most popular hotspot among travelers. Look around you. All of those are dimensional travel devices."
That word again—hotspot.
"Then do other dimensional travelers delete their existing systems and re-register?"
"Not at all."
Huh?
They don't delete them?
"They never had systems or status windows to begin with."
"Ah!"
"So there's no reason for collision errors."
I see.
"But Traveler Bong Juhyeok already possesses an external dimensional system."
Meaning it has to be deleted and reinstalled.
Or pay a price and have the existing system acknowledged.
Damn it.
Of all places, it had to be like this.
"What do you take the registration fee in? Gold? Goods?"
"Of course, we take the universal currency of dimensional travelers."
Oh?
Don't tell me—
"Top-grade magic stones."
"Ah!"
Of course.
Since auction currency is top-grade magic stones.
"So how much?"
"First, we'll unify the unit according to your convenience."
Pope Calius III took out a round crystal ball from his robes and asked,
"What measurement system does your dimension use?"
"The metric system."
"Please wait a moment. I'll set it to metric."
"… You know the metric system?"
"Hahaha, of course. This is a place many travelers visit."
Meaning travelers from Earth had come here before.
"Is it expensive?"
"Not really. The average registration fee is 300kg, at most 800kg. Once registered, re-registration is unnecessary."
Cheap.
"But since yours involves grafting an external dimensional system, I'm not sure how the fee will be calculated."
That was unsettling.
"Still, you should recover quickly."
Recover what, exactly?
"Why do so many dimensional travelers come to Kalzenia?"
"There must be something special."
"Yes. If you dig the ground here, magic stones come out. You have to dig well, though."
Oh!
They come out just by digging?
Such precious magic stones?
So that's why travelers come—
to bid on items at the top-grade magic stone auction house.
"Can we take all the top-grade magic stones we obtain?"
"… After deducting 10% income tax."
Hm.
Where there is income, there is tax—
a universal truth.
"Please place your hand on this crystal ball. We'll begin the registration process."
Juhyeok placed his hand on the crystal ball Pope Calius offered.
The crystal ball began to glow.
Then—
Charr-r-r!
Juhyeok's status window floated in the air.
"This is your unique status window, correct?"
"Yes."
"Understood. We'll begin registration."
But then—
"Huh?"
Calius's expression stiffened.
"Th-this… um, well, that is—"
He even started stuttering.
"What is it? Something wrong?"
"Ah, um, the registration fee seems to have been calculated very high. It shouldn't be this expensive."
Expensive?
Maybe around a hundred million?
"… I-it is 3,501,430kg."
Oh come on.
I thought it'd be something serious—
just 3.5 million.
Still, it was surprising.
Normal travelers paid between 300kg and 800kg.
Meanwhile, Juhyeok's fee was about 3.5 million kg.
More than ten thousand times higher.
Of course, to Juhyeok it was pocket change.
Rajiks alone held around one billion kg of top-grade magic stones.
Paying 3.5 million wouldn't even sting.
But he couldn't let himself be treated like a sucker.
So he put on a serious face.
"That's expensive."
"… Yes."
"And I already handed over a fragment of divinity…"
"Th-that is true."
"Sigh, it feels like the god of Kalzenia is especially harsh on me."
Juhyeok let out an exaggerated sigh, lamenting.
The pope, looking guilty, fell silent.
"Even if I emptied my entire fortune, I don't think I'd reach 3.5 million."
After laying the groundwork like that—
"Then… are you saying you'll forgo registration…?"
Was he crazy?
He'd already handed over a precious fragment of divinity.
He was going to squeeze out every last drop of value.
"I'll register. But someone else is holding the top-grade magic stones, so I need to call them."
"What?"
"For now, please let me temporarily use my system status window."
"That requires the god's permission—"
"There are trial versions for things like this, right? You're not new to business. Talk to them."
"… Understood. I will ask."
Pope Calius knelt on the spot and began to pray.
As expected of a pope—
he could communicate directly with the god.
After some time—
"The god has granted permission."
And then—
Ding!
"For three hours, the traveler's unique system will be temporarily registered."
Done.
Status window check.
Traits intact.
Skills fine.
Then—
"Vanguard group summon!"
Spot! Spot! Spot! Spot!
"Summoner Bong!"
"Summoner!"
"Young master, we were worried."
"Are you injured anywhere?"
"Who's this red-haired old man? Should I take care of him?"
"Hoee!"
Everyone had arrived.
"Come over here for a moment."
Juhyeok explained the situation they were currently in.
The summoned beings listened carefully, nodding along.
"Hah, that's shameless."
"They swallowed a fragment of divinity whole and still demand a registration fee?"
"Summoner, just say the word. This warrior will flip this place upside down."
"We can't just let this slide. This is some city punk scammer ripping off country folk."
"Watch your words. Are you calling our young master a country bumpkin?"
"Ah—no, that's not what I meant."
"Hoek!"
So then—
"I think one of you needs to negotiate with that god's proxy."
"Don't worry. Cooking old men like that is my specialty."
Right.
We have Kosak, the master of threats—no, negotiations.
"I'll be back before the liquor gets cold."
What liquor?
Anyway.
Kosak strode toward the pope.
"Hey now, isn't this a bit much? You're not some scam artist—especially not with the title of pope!"
Pope Calius staggered back a step and asked,
"S-scam…?"
"You threaten to delete systems, huh? You swallow a fragment of divinity whole, huh? And then you demand a 3.5 million registration fee, huh? If this isn't a scam, then what is it?"
"It was unavoidable due to procedure—"
"No matter the procedure, do you really think we'd just sit still after getting stabbed in the back like this?"
"Th-that is—"
"If that's how it is, then we've got ideas too."
Kosak's pressure was terrifying.
"What kind of ideas…?"
"Ibongkkaeng."
Ibongkkaeng?
What the hell is that?
"When Summoner Bong goes to another world and wrecks the place!"
You abbreviate that into three syllables?
"Seems like you thought we were pushovers. Want us to show you what kind of person Summoner Bong is?"
Then—
"Dimensional errand-runner, play the footage."
"Hoeng!"
Sssht! Sssht!
In an instant, a hologram projector and surround speaker system were set up.
The video began playing immediately.
The conquest of the fallen Celestial Realm.
Crackersus spreading its wings and gliding.
At the same time, countless nuclear bombs falling.
Because it was a hologram, it felt like standing right in the middle of the nuclear explosions.
"This is Ibongkkaeng."
Pope Calius could only gape, mouth hanging open.
What… what was that?
Dozens of meteors falling simultaneously.
No chant time whatsoever.
Thudududud! Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa!
A world was being annihilated.
Gulp.
What if that scene were recreated in the Kalzenia Dimension?
"Should we go out for an hour and take a lap? Wreak a little havoc?"
"I-if you do that, the god may exile you all—"
"Do we look like we're scared of exile?"
"N-now, wait a moment. Please calm down."
Cold sweat poured down Calius's face.
Then—
"… Tell us what you want."
"Service."
"Pardon? Service?"
"We paid a fragment of divinity and 3.5 million top-grade magic stones. You ought to throw in some service."
"What kind…?"
Kosak continued with a sly grin.
"In the system status window, there should be a traits section."
"Yes, I've confirmed that."
"There's a number listed for simultaneous summons."
"The one that says fifty?"
"Change that number. Preferably to unlimited."
"…"
"And while you're at it, remove the manifestation time limit for our summoned beings."
As expected of Kosak.
How did he know Juhyeok's heart so well?
What Juhyeok desperately wanted—
Unlimited simultaneous summons, removal of the manifestation limit.
Sure, there was the ultimate summoning trait skill, Summon All Catalogued Summoned Beings, but—
A 24-hour cooldown and only 7 hours of presence.
The limits were clear.
"That exceeds my authority."
"We're not asking you to do it, Pope. Ask upstairs."
"The god?"
"Then who else? Tell him if he refuses, we'll Ibongkkaeng."
Well done, Kosak.
The summoned beings chimed in one after another.
"Ibongkkaeng, huh? Sounds fun."
"Hohak!"
"Our errand-runner never hesitates."
"Do you think the title 'Dimensional Annihilation Demon' came from nowhere?"
"Our Greenie's gotten a lot faster too…"
Pope Calius shook his head helplessly, then knelt down again and closed his eyes in prayer.
Would it be accepted?
Honestly, this much was the least they could do.
Otherwise, the balance was off.
You can't just swallow a fragment of divinity and call it even with mere system permission.
Time passed.
The pope opened his eyes again.
"The god has delivered his response."
And the result?
"It shall be… done according to Traveler Bong Juhyeok's wishes."
Ding!
" The traveler's unique system has been massively upgraded by the sacred authority of the god Kar."
Yes!
"It worked."
"Congratulations."
"Now we can summon everyone."
"And the manifestation time limit is gone."
"Hoek!"
So the updated status window was—
It had definitely changed.
Better register it before they change their minds.
"I'll pay the registration fee."
"Ah! Yes, yes."
"You accept tickets too, right?"
"Do you mean subspace storage tickets for magic stones? Of course we do."
Sssht, sssht.
Before anyone could say anything, Rajiks had already pulled out the tickets.
Large amounts as tickets, smaller amounts as physical stones.
A total of 3,501,430kg.
"Registration fee confirmed."
Ding!
" The traveler's unique system has been successfully registered in the Kalzenia Dimension."
Registration complete.
But then—
"Um…"
Pope Calius asked cautiously.
"Yes?"
"Have you perhaps visited this place before?"
"No? It's my first time."
"… Are you certain?"
"You saw me register the system from scratch."
"Hm. Somehow, it doesn't feel like your first time."
"On what basis?"
"Well… you'll understand once you go outside."
What?
That was random.
Anyway—
"How do we leave here?"
"Go through that door."
"Oh! I see."
"I wish you a pleasant journey."
That's the plan.
Time to enjoy ourselves.
Tour the Kalzenia Dimension.
Dig the ground—top-grade magic stones come out, right?
Might as well mine some while we're at it.
Actually, let's strip this dimension clean.
Summon all 355 White Tower summoned beings.
What?
They come out just by digging?
From now on, dig all you want—nothing will come out.
I'll show you what true resource depletion looks like.
Juhyeok and the group stepped outside the temple.
The scenery outside caught their eyes.
Towering stone buildings, various restaurants and shops, people passing by.
It was extremely exotic—no, otherworldly.
"It's magnificent. This isn't some run-of-the-mill fantasy world. It looks far more advanced than the world I lived in."
"Indeed. Not a speck of filth on the streets, and the people look clean as well."
"Everyone looks lively."
"I smell something delicious. The warrior is hungry."
"Let's eat something first."
"Shall we?"
That was when—
Something caught their eye ahead.
"Huh?"
Roll, roll.
A lump of pure white fur rolling around.
"That's Rajiks?"
Why is he rolling around over there alone?
Again, acting on his own.
"Rajiks! Come over here!"
"… Ho, hoe?"
Huh?
That reply came from beside him.
It was Rajiks.
Standing right next to Juhyeok.
"What…?"
That's definitely Rajiks.
"Then the Rajiks rolling over there is—"
Did I see it wrong?
No.
That is Rajiks.
Fluffy fur.
Short torso and limbs.
A backpack on his back, a pickaxe in his hands.
"… Uh…"
And there were more.
"Huik!"
…There.
"Hoiing?"
Over there too.
"Hoit!"
Good heavens.
There are so many Rajiks.
"Th-there are many workers."
"… Copy and paste?"
"That can't be."
"My guess is that this is the world our errand-runner once lived in."
That's it.
There's no other explanation.
The Kalzenia Dimension.
Rajiks's homeland.
A world where labyrinths exist.
"I can't tell them apart."
"What do you mean you can't? Our dimensional errand-runner is fatter."
Meanwhile—
Rajiks was trembling all over.
Was he happy to be back home?
Not a chance.
A creeping sense of unease.
An overwhelming feeling of crisis.
Too many errand-runners.
Here, there—everywhere was nothing but errand-runners.