Chapter 120

I had never once mentioned God.

I had only explained to Kwak Hanmuk that I seemed to be connected to the System.

Other than that, I hadn’t even made a mention similar to God.

It was only natural.

Who could I tell? If I did, I would be treated like a madman immediately.

But now… Je Hyun-oh asked me if I was God.

Not the System, but specifically referring to me as ‘God.’

I should have pretended not to know and denied it right away, but I couldn’t.

I had no choice.

Je Hyun-oh’s question wasn’t a question.

It was a message saying that he knew my true identity.

The Veil of Protection, having run its course, crumbled into a golden light.

Sitting beneath the shattering golden fragments, Je Hyun-oh looked as if he were enveloped by a starry sky.

He took off his goggles. Dark purple eyes with golden pupils were revealed.

“There is something I am looking for.”

A metallic hand reached out toward me.

I was on edge, but the metal hand did not touch me.

It merely stopped right in front of my chest, with only a tiny gap.

Je Hyun-oh moved his fingers slowly, maintaining a distance that was just barely within reach.

The metal hand, positioned to pierce my heart directly, floated as if caressing the empty air.

“It feels like it’s connected to you.”

His long, horizontal eyes curved very softly.

A beastly voice, incongruous with his feather-like, ticklish smile, asked me a question.

“Do you know anything?”

I barely managed to move my lips.

“What… are you looking for?”

“God.”

I was breathless at the single-word answer.

Je Hyun-oh is looking for God?

No, before that.

Which God…

It was then, while I was frozen in incomprehensible bewilderment…

Dominic, perched on my shoulder, let out a low hmm.

“As I mentioned before, the master of this place is a very rude man.”

He looked intently at Je Hyun-oh.

“In the training grounds, he mimicked Roasted Chestnut’s subordinate to create an illusion, and as if that weren’t enough, he even made contact without permission this time. It seems he was checking to see if he could make him his subordinate.”

Already reeling from shock, I became even more confused by Dominic’s words.

A god existing in Cell-X tried to make Je Hyun-oh his subordinate?

‘Those octopus legs?’

Is that why Je Hyun-oh is completely soaked in seawater?

A low voice lingered in my ears.

“Even if Roasted Chestnut is young, to commit such rudeness.”

I… felt a strange sensation.

I had been engulfed in a peculiar feeling ever since the moment Je Hyun-oh said he was looking for a god.

But after hearing the story about the Octopus Tentacle touching him and the attempt to make him a subordinate…

He is my subordinate.

My eyes burned hot as if they were about to burst, my heart pounded, and hot energy radiated through my veins.

In truth, in this situation, I should have been feeling surprised or flustered.

But for some reason, I was seething with anger.

‘Why am I so angry?’

Without knowing the reason, I tried to calm my emotions first.

However, the heat that kept surging up was making me dizzy.

“Goyo.”

At the sound of the voice, I parted my lips slightly and let out a gasp.

Je Hyun-oh’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“Pull yourself together.”

In a slightly dazed state, I mumbled a belated answer.

“Well… you might not believe it, but I know nothing, and I don’t know any gods….”

I really didn’t know much. I was a god in name only.

Even then, I only realized, “Ah, I was a god,” when another being referred to me that way.

In a state where I lacked even proper self-awareness, there was no way I possessed any great knowledge.

“But… Lieutenant Colonel Je…”

My mind wouldn’t function properly.

Random thoughts flooded my mind, but even those wouldn’t connect; they kept snapping off one after another.

I stared blankly up at Je Hyun-oh.

Unable to withstand the rising heat, I spat out the words that had been swirling in my mouth.

“Why did you meet another god…?”

A warning sound echoed in my head at the gaze directed at me.

It was a warning not to speak any further, but my mouth moved on its own.

I took a step closer to Je Hyun-oh.

The metal hand, which had been maintaining a precarious distance, suddenly brushed against my chest.

My clothes were torn about a handspan wide in an instant.

If Je Hyun-oh hadn’t nimbly pulled his hand away, my skin would have been torn along with it.

But I didn’t care.

As soon as the metal hand was removed, I moved closer to Je Hyun-oh as if I had been waiting for this moment.

I wanted to look inside.

“Did another god cause this frustration too…?”

The light flowing from my eyes grew even brighter.

Cell-X was always a place shrouded in a wisp of darkness.

Light settled into a space that was gloomy and overcast despite it being broad daylight.

Eyes sparkling golden like stars stared directly at Je Hyun-oh.

“My subordinate?”

At that moment, Je Hyun-oh burst into laughter.

The low-pitched voice, which could not be called human, startled me, and my reason returned.

‘Crazy.’

I got goosebumps as the words I had just spoken came back to me.

‘I messed up.’

Even if the other person was Je Hyun-oh, the remarks I made were far too abnormal.

I had no idea how to fix this.

“Lieutenant Colonel Je, I-I’m sorry, I was just a moment.”

He abruptly cut off my stammering apology.

“What are you sorry for?”

“…….”

I shuddered even more at his question, which seemed to feign tenderness.

It seemed I had completely ruined everything.

“Goyo.”

“Yes…?”

With eyes full of laughter, he spoke with utmost delight.

“Let’s go into <Zero> together.”

<The Cellblock X> was the first new trial meteorite to fall since that day four years ago.

The heads of trial response agencies from the 20 major nations participated in this international conference.

The remote video conference utilized Samra’s technology to provide perfect real-time interpretation.

The speaker’s voice was heard exactly as it was in the language of the designated country, and the quality of the interpretation was also impeccable.

Since it reflected even cultural differences between nations, the assistance of a veteran interpreter was unnecessary.

Looking at the screen divided into 19 sections, Jang Seokyun opened his mouth.

“I am Director Jang Seokyun of the Trial Response Agency.”

Samra, who was seated with him, also spoke up.

“I am Samra Mansang of the Trial Response Agency.”

His chest, devoid of breath, did not move even a twitch, and his emotionless gaze was fixed straight ahead without blinking once.

It was a sight where all traces of the organic life that life ought to possess had completely vanished.

The alien presence that made no attempt to hide the fact that he was an AI android caused a slight disturbance among those appearing on the video conference screen.

When the Republic of Korea’s Trial Agency attempted to create an AI android using items acquired from a near-future Trial, the vast majority predicted failure.

The TRA, who was attempting the production, was also skeptical.

It was only natural, given that while a massive budget was required, the probability of success was extremely slim.

The situation was so critical that it even sparked a fierce internal conflict of opinion.

Lieutenant Colonel Je Hyun-oh, who had demanded the production of the android, put an end to the heated debate over the item he had brought with a single sentence.

“I’m retiring.”

He had effectively announced that he would leave the service if the android was not produced.

No matter how high the budget was, it was no match for Je Hyun-oh.

To avoid losing him, the TRA had no choice but to immediately begin production of the android.

However, it was ambiguous to say that the TRA had fully created Samra.

Not only the TRA but also the most talented researchers from private companies were mobilized to produce the android, yet current technology was insufficient.

Ultimately, the robot produced as a humanoid felt lacking in many ways.

Nevertheless, Je Hyun-oh said that this was sufficient.

Unbeknownst to the researchers, the item used as the core contained software of Over Technology¹.

Based on the body of a crude humanoid robot, it evolved by modifying and reconfiguring itself.

It did not take long for it to take on its current form.

Other nations that had ridiculed the creation of androids belatedly began striving to receive Samra’s assistance.

Although there were various debates regarding Samra within the international community, it was eventually accepted as an entity for the sake of humanity.

Samra prioritized South Korea and acted in accordance with its objective of serving “humanity.”

It became an indispensable entity in defending against the trials hatching globally.

“The Trial Response Agency currently estimates the grade of this trial to be four stars, or Class A according to international trial standards.”

Simultaneously with Jang Seokyun’s statement, Samra collected every single change in emotion revealed on the faces of those appearing on the screen.

Jang Seokyun’s statement is a lie.

Based on the information shared through communication with Han Goyo, Samra estimated the Trial’s rating to be at least five stars.

However, Jang Seokyun deliberately lowered the Trial’s rating when announcing it.

Before Han Goyo appeared, there were nine instances of Trials being shut down worldwide.

Of those, South Korea accounted for only one case, shut down by Captain Kwak Hanmuk of the Field Team 3 Response Team of the current Trial Response Agency.

It was the one and only shutdown in South Korea, accompanied by significant losses.

However, Han Goyo had already recorded four instances of shutdowns.

If unofficial shutdowns in <Call of the Void> were included, the total would be a whopping five—a truly unbelievable ability.

According to international treaties, the status of Trials worldwide was required to be shared in real-time.

It was impossible to conceal the fact that Trials were being shut down one after another in South Korea.

Of course, given Samra’s abilities, this was not impossible, but it was ultimately just a temporary measure.

No matter how hard one tried to hide a being like Han Goyo, it was bound to be revealed eventually.

It was the same reason the Trial Response Agency did not conceal the success of Samra’s production.

“The current entry force consists of a total of five people, four of whom are soldiers belonging to the Agency.”

Jang Seokyun, who had naturally grouped Han Goyo together with the Agency, continued his remarks.

“And CEO Cha of Paseong has entered.”

As soon as he finished speaking, notifications requesting a comment popped up all over the screen.

Jang Seokyun ignored them and continued speaking.

“With the cooperation of Lieutenant Colonel Je Hyun-oh and CEO Cha, it seems the Trial will be cleared smoothly. We will release the relevant data after the clear. Now, I will take questions.”

Samra, standing beside Jang Seokyun, gave the opportunity to ask a question to the person who would be the most suitable to speak first, considering the international situation and various other circumstances.

On the surface, it appeared as though Jang Seokyun had made the choice, but in reality, Samra had selected the speaker.

The person who received the opportunity asked a question immediately.

“I understand that recently in South Korea, a specific soldier has been shutting down trials one after another.”

“I ask for your inquiry regarding this trial.”

Jang Seokyun cut him off abruptly and tried to pass the right to speak to the next person immediately.

However, before the Director of the TRA could open his mouth, Samra spoke first.

“Due to the meteorite that fell today, significant fluctuations in BT levels have occurred worldwide.”

A huge commotion arose across the 19 screens.

The attention that had just been focused on Han Goyo immediately shifted to Samra’s remarks.

Samra opened his mouth after confirming that enough eyes had centered on him.

“Based on the analysis of observational data, 128 meteorites will hatch within seven days. Also, within nine days…”

The dry tone continued.

“34 trials will explode.”

¹To be honest, from my end, this is the first time I’m hearing about this, so I’m not actually sure what they’re talking about. I assume it’s regarding technology gained in a trial.