After Ten Millennia in Hell

Side Story Chapter 88 - Eve (3)

[Heheh!]

[It's all~ because you weren't desperate enough!]

[???( ˙ ? ˙ )???]

'I swear I'll fold your head into a question mark if I ever meet you.'

[Hohoho~ You're welcome to try if you can ever meet me, that is~]

It was still impossible to meet Eve despite restoring a portion of the Law of Titans because the dimension that Eve inhabited was isolated from the concept of separate dimensions like the world in the Abyss.

"Huuu. Go away, you," Kang-Woo sighed and shooed the message window away.

[Ahh! You're sending me away already? It's been so long since we got to meet each other again! You haven't even checked the effects of your new Trait!]

"Then just keep your mouth shut."

Kang-Woo softly clicked his tongue and clicked the tab written [Astral Projection (Rank: A)].

[Astral Projection (Rank: A)]

*The Player's soul can separate from their body and move freely.

*When in astral form, the Player can pass through physical objects and cannot exert physical force.

*The Player can enter immaterial dimensions such as the spirit dimension and astral dimension when in astral form.

*The Player will suffer fatal damage if hit by a spiritual attack in their astral form.

"Nothing particularly special about it."

As the name suggested, his soul could separate from his body.

'It sounds useful for investigating places.'

Since he could pass through physical objects in astral form, it would be useful when scouting dungeons with complex layouts.

"But there's no reason to go out of my way to use it."

Kang-Woo could see through walls using the Authority of the Beholder and Authority of Insight. Such a Trait would only be useful in situations like back when he was stuck with Balrog in the Den of the Night Demons.

"Tsk."

As he had thought, he would have no use for it. It wasn't like he could exert physical force in his astral form, and he would be fatally vulnerable to spiritual attacks. Considering that, there was even less of a reason to use it.

"But..." Something intrigued Kang-Woo. "What's the spirit dimension and astral dimension?"

'Why are there so many dimensions?'

[They are both dimensions you cannot enter from Earth. Not yet, anyway.]

Countless outer worlds were invading Earth after damage to the Law of Titans. They couldn't enter it now but that could change in the future.

"Well... Since I got it, I might as well use it."

Kang-Woo lay down on the bed in his office. He usually used the large bed in the master bedroom with his lovers but he also used this bed whenever he wanted to take a break now and then.

"Let's see."

He closed his eyes and imagined his soul separating from his body. It wasn't difficult to do since instructions on how to use a Trait instantly flowed into a Player's mind once they acquired it.

"Whoa."

Kang-Woo's blue astral form floated in the air after using Astral Projection. He looked down to see himself lying down on the bed.

"This is awesome."

It was fascinating to see himself in a third-person view. Kang-Woo slowly floated upward and passed through the ceiling.

'It's nice to pass through walls.'

However, that was it. He did not see much use to it other than the fact that he could pass through walls and fly around freely.

"Pshh."

[How do you like your new Trait?]

"It's crap."

He honestly couldn't understand why it was an A-rank Trait.

[That's unfortunate. Better luck next time!]

[(?•?•)?]

"Hah. Who knows how long that's gonna be? We don't know when Akart's subordinates will come again."

Kang-Woo pulled on his hair in irritation. He couldn't exert physical force on objects or other people in his astral form but it looked like he could touch himself. He might be able to touch others in astral form.

"But I don't see anything that looks like ghosts."

Kang-Woo wondered if he would see ghosts flying around him in his astral form but he couldn't see anything of the sort.

"Haaa," he sighed and turned around to go back to his body.

He moved his hand to swipe away the blue message window wishing him better luck next time.

Plunge!

"Hm?"

Just then, Kang-Woo felt his arm entering the blue message window. The feeling was vividly different from passing through walls. He was not passing through it but entering it.

"What's this?"

Kang-Woo was left wide-eyed and he flew into the message window.

"Where..."

The ground was nothing but white as if he was on a snowy plain.

"Where am I?"

Kang-Woo looked around in confusion. He did not expect such a world beyond the system window.

'Come to think of it...'

Kang-Woo naturally recalled the Trait description.

*The Player can enter immaterial dimensions such as the spirit dimension and astral dimension when in astral form.

'Since Eve said the spirit dimension and astral dimension can't be accessed from Earth...'

"Could this place be..."

"S-Sir Guardian Deity?"

A voice echoed in the white space. Kang-Woo turned to the source of the voice and saw a transparent being that looked as if they were made of glass. They were so transparent that it was difficult to distinguish them from the surroundings but once he looked closer, the shape of the being was similar to that of a human woman.

Kang-Woo stared at the being who called him and asked, "Eve...?"

"Ahh!! I-Is it really you, Sir Guardian Deity?!" Eve jumped in surprise. "H-How are you here?!"

"That's what I want to ask you." Kang-Woo had no idea how he entered Eve's world. "Is this a place anyone can enter in their astral form?"

"No! There's no way! Even if they're in their astral form, they shouldn't be able to enter this dimension..." Eve slurred and then clapped her hands together. "Oh... come to think of it, that may not apply to you, Sir Guardian Deity."

"It doesn't?"

"Yes. I think you were able to enter because you were authorized by the Law."

In other words, Kang-Woo could enter this dimension thanks to the merging of the Astral Projection Trait and the privileges of the Law of Titans he held.

"Wow! I can't believe someone else other than me can enter this dimension!!" Eve jumped up and down in excitement. "I-I'm... s-so happy!! I'm so moved!!"

[?(ˊ?ˋ*)?!!!]

A cheerful emoticon appeared on her face that was nothing but a smooth surface. Kang-Wo chuckled as he stared at the cheering Eve.

'Do AI even have feelings of loneliness?'

Kang-Woo did not remember Eve being so full of expression when he first became aware of her existence.

'It started when... Bael destroyed the Law of Titans.'

It was just an assumption but Eve might have acquired emotions because the Law of Titans was damaged. After all, such emotions were unneeded in an AI that managed the Law of Titans.

'An AI with emotions, huh?'

Kang-Woo recalled the android with emotions he met during the Galactic Federation invasion. He felt like the dying android in tears was overlapping with Eve.

"Then is this where the Law of Titans is?" Kang-Woo asked as he looked around the endless white space.

Eve shook her head and answered, "No, this is just a domain of consciousness where I reside."

"Domain of consciousness?"

"Mmm, how should I explain it? Oh! To make a comparison, it's something like my office!"

"I see." Kang-Woo nodded with interest. "But there's nothing here to call it an office."

"Hehe. Just a moment, please."

Eve giggled softly and clapped her hands together.

Flutter—!!

Rectangular screens resembling computer screens appeared behind her. Complex strings of data were popping up on them in real time.

"What is that?" Kang-Woo asked.

"It is indicating that the Law of Titans is running." Eve pointed at the thousands of screens and continued, "Things like Players leveling up and acquiring new Traits are all shown here!"

"Aha. I kind of get it. Then is that what you used to communicate with me?"

"Yes!" Eve nodded.

Kang-Woo stared at the countless number of screens and asked, "But are you sure you can leave it running like that? Characters keep popping up."

Eve twirled and answered, "The Law of Titans generally takes care of everything. There isn't much I can do. My role is simply to oversee it, nothing more."

"Then have you been spending all this time just staring at these screens?"

Kang-Woo could understand why Eve was so happy to see him. Even he would be extremely lonely if all he could do was stare at screens in an endless white space.

"Hehe. You don't have to worry about me. Not only is the emotion of loneliness itself extremely faint in me but I find enjoyment in watching everything that happens on Earth from here."

"That's good."

Kang-Woo was relieved to hear Eve wasn't drowning in isolation since they were technically partners.

"Even so, I'm so happy I could meet you face to face!!!"

Eve twirled and expressed joy.

"Are you that happy?"

Eve jumped in place and shouted, "Of course! I never imagined I would ever get to meet you!"

An (?′▽`?) emoticon appeared on her face.

"Yeah, I'm happy to see you too."

Kang-Woo smiled warmly and stretched out his arms as if telling Eve to come in for a hug.

"Ah." Eve hesitated for a moment. "SIR GUARDIAN DEITYYYYYYYYY!!!"

[???(●˙?˙●)???]

An emoticon appeared on her smooth face as she ran toward Kang-Woo.

"Eve!!!"

Kang-Woo had been waiting for the day that he could meet Eve face to face.

"Ahhh! I knew you were a kind person!!"

Eve couldn't believe Kang-Woo was treating her, a mere AI, with such warmth.

"Sir Guardian Deity!!"

"Eve!!"

"SIR GUARDIAN DEITYYYYYY!!!"

"EEEEEEEEEEEEVE!!!"

Kang-Woo and Eve ran toward each other with their arms stretched out. They grew closer and closer with each step. They both jumped into the air.

"Sir Guardian D— KURGHHH!!!"

Kang-Woo dropkicked Eve with all his might.

Whack! Boom! Thud.

Eve was blown away and tumbled across the ground.

"S-Sir Guardian Deity...?"

Kang-Woo slowly walked toward Eve and smirked.

"You have no idea how long I've waited for this moment."

"W-Wait! C-Calm down! Please calm down, Sir Guardian Deity!!"

"You see, Eve... I'm so curious. I'm so curious that my head feels like it's about to explode! Fucking call me Curious George!!!"

"Pardon? Wh-What are you curious about?"

Kang-Woo smiled as he stared fixedly at the trembling Eve.

"About whether your head can be twisted into a question mark or not."