[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

Chapter 671: The Dreaming Machine (5)

The one who wields the sword.

The epithet of Dogo Vesedel.

“Ah.”

Come to think of it, there must have been a moment when the Chairman was promoted to Grade 3 as well, so wouldn’t he have received an epithet from a Transcendent back then?

And that must have been ‘the one who wields the sword.’

“‘The one who wields the sword’…? Why was he given a name like that? Don’t tell me he actually swung a sword at a Transcendent.”

When Yeongwoo muttered this, Quiad stroked his chin.

—If it’s Dogo, it wouldn’t be strange even if he staked his life on the tip of his blade.

“What? Then what about me? Just earlier you said I shouldn’t even show hostility to a Transcendent.”

At that, Quiad gave an answer that was impossible to refute.

—Are you Dogo?

“……”

—Dogo is someone who has adhered to his own way throughout his entire life. So if he drew his sword before a Transcendent, then that was something ‘inevitable.’

“But I…”

Yeongwoo, who had been about to say something, soon closed his mouth.

To claim that he too was a wonder of the universe and an unpredictable existence—his comparison target being Chairman Dogo—made it impossible for him to continue.

—Of course, in the end, everything is judged by the result. For a mere creature to receive an epithet from a Transcendent, your way cannot be said to be entirely wrong either.

A mere creature.

In truth, a Planetary Shipmaster was by no means an existence that deserved to be called such, but everything was relative, so Yeongwoo decided not to nitpick.

“Then… if I receive an epithet, do I suddenly become a Grade 3 existence? That’s not how it works, right?”

—I can’t guarantee it, but it likely won’t be the same as one who has already accomplished great feats.

At present, the cosmic-law classification of Planetary Shipmaster Jeong Yeongwoo was Grade 6.

Strictly speaking, he had come close to Grade 5, but within the system he would still be displayed as Grade 6.

‘Then at the very least I’ll reach Grade 5 this time. I’m just receiving an epithet, but the one giving it is a Transcendent.’

Having finished his thoughts, Yeongwoo immediately turned his head to look at the Transcendent.

“That epithet… can I choose it myself?”

At that, thousands of eyes blinked in succession.

【Speak. So long as it is not a name that causes confusion.】

A name that causes confusion.

It likely referred to something identical to another epithet, or something that had no connection whatsoever to the being it described.

“Hmm.”

At this, Yeongwoo fell into thought.

‘Chairman Lemu is the Piercer, and our Chairman is the one who wields the sword….’

Then what kind of name should be given to a Planetary Shipmaster who still had a long way to go before reaching Grade 3?

“…Do you have any good suggestions?”

When Yeongwoo asked, looking back at Quiad and Herisa, Herisa spoke in a small voice.

“If such a precious opportunity came to me, I wouldn’t use an epithet given by someone else. Even if I ended up with a terrible name, it would be better to create it myself.”

“That’s… true.”

Then Quiad, grasping the darkness that filled the surroundings in his hand, spoke.

—Though it includes a description of the subject, in the end it is merely a combination of words used by Transcendents to distinguish each existence. So there’s no need to think too deeply about it. More importantly…

Quiad then looked at the Transcendent floating in the air like a massive structure.

—You must give your answer before that one leaves. If you take too long, you may not receive an epithet at all. Wasn’t this place not originally meant for you?

“Then, if I gain an epithet, what exactly happens? Does my status rise drastically?”

—Your epithet will flow into the upper universe, and like other Grade 3 beings, the Transcendents will become aware of your existence.

“Is that… a good thing?”

—If you do not intend to remain a mere creature for your entire life, it is something you cannot avoid.

Of course, it was also excessively early.

For someone who was not even a Grade 4 existence, let alone Grade 3, the Transcendents and the upper universe were far too vast a world to bear.

“Either way, it’s better to create one while I have the chance. It’s a name I’ll obtain someday anyway.”

—Not all beings reach Grade 3.

That meant Yeongwoo, a Planetary Shipmaster, was no exception.

In truth, until recently, Yeongwoo had never even imagined standing shoulder to shoulder with such great beings.

But now—

‘Maybe it’s not completely impossible.’

Swoosh.

As Yeongwoo once again shifted his gaze to the Transcendent, thousands of eyes looked at him all at once.

“Does it have to be in the form of ‘one who…’? Can’t it just be a proper noun?”

At that, the Transcendent fell silent for a moment, then released meaning.

【Speak.】

Was it a sign that it would at least hear him out?

In any case, since the Transcendent had not yet left, Yeongwoo quickly continued.

“Yeongwoo. Can’t you just call me Yeongwoo?”

At this, not only Quiad and Herisa but even Lemu in the distance opened their mouths wide in shock.

That wasn’t an epithet.

“Planetary Shipmaster, what are you saying? Yeongwoo is… your real name.”

When Herisa asked, unable to hide her bewilderment, Yeongwoo shrugged.

“My real name is technically Jeong Yeongwoo. The way the system displays it is my official name, right?”

“……”

It was practically wordplay, but Yeongwoo himself was quite serious.

“Anyway, you said epithets are just markers used by Transcendents to distinguish us. Then why wouldn’t ‘Yeongwoo’ work? As long as there aren’t duplicates, each name is already a proper noun.”

In other words, Yeongwoo’s explanation was that he would make his epithet a proper noun from the start.

“But… is that really okay…?”

Herisa cast a sidelong glance at the White Transcendent, her expression lacking confidence.

As far as she knew, epithets were usually given based on the achievements or behavioral traits of the subject.

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

But the Planetary Shipmaster receiving an epithet alongside Lemu had not accomplished any feat worthy of summoning a Transcendent.

If one were to speak of behavioral traits, perhaps the only thing was that he had dared to threaten a Transcendent…

“……”

As Herisa made an uneasy expression, the Transcendent surprisingly called Yeongwoo’s name in its unique ‘meaning.’

【Yeongwoo.】

“Oh, right. That’s perfect. Please call me that. And… the others in the upper universe too.”

At Yeongwoo’s words, the Transcendent released an incomprehensible meaning.

【You resemble the Broken One.】

“The Broken One…?”

Not knowing whether it meant his appearance resembled them or the epithet he proposed resembled theirs, Yeongwoo tilted his head.

Meanwhile, the Transcendent slowly twisted its body and began closing its thousands of eyes one by one.

“Huh?”

At that moment, Yeongwoo instinctively realized.

That the Transcendent was preparing to return to the upper universe.

“W-wait a moment! My epithet—has it been decided as ‘Yeongwoo’?”

Just as Yeongwoo tried to chase after it, a pitch-black spray erupted from where the Transcendent had been.

KWA-A-A-A-ASH!

Then, from within the darkness obscured by black vapor, meaning surged forth like a tide.

【You will be called as you wished.】

Epithet, Yeongwoo.

A word in the upper universe that referred to ‘Jeong Yeongwoo,’ and an epithet that would never be spoken again in his lifetime unless he summoned a Transcendent once more.

Thus, without even revealing its own name, the Transcendent disappeared beyond the darkness along with the black spray.

The proof that its presence had vanished was that the black space dominating the area disappeared all at once.

“…Hah.”

As the sense of the ground returned, Yeongwoo unconsciously collapsed to the floor.

And right beside him, Herisa staggered as well, nearly falling over.

On the other hand, Quiad, a Grade 3 existence, stood firmly in place, and Lemu—now also a newly ascended Grade 3 machine—maintained his composure without the slightest disturbance.

□ You’ve used up this rare opportunity entirely on creating the Planetary Shipmaster’s epithet.

Lemu spoke in a tone that was ambiguous as to whether it was reproach or not.

At that, Yeongwoo looked toward the place where the Transcendent had just been and spoke.

“Now that you’re a proper Grade 3 existence, can’t you just accomplish a great feat that lets you meet a Transcendent again? You can even see the future, after all.”

□ If I could see all futures, the Planetary Shipmaster would not be here in the first place.

Even after being elevated to a Grade 3 existence, Lemu still treated Yeongwoo with courtesy.

Perhaps it was merely a mechanical habit, but because of that trait, Yeongwoo didn’t dislike him.

Which was why he still couldn’t quite sympathize with the other Chairmen who despised Lemu.

—Now it’s time to take care of trivial matters.

Soon, Quiad tilted his neck, murderous intent filling his eyes, and sensing that meaning, Lemu looked between Yeongwoo and Quiad and spoke as if regretful.

□ In the end, wasn’t this a good outcome for humanity? And yet, you show no mercy.

—When you took Maden hostage, not tearing your throat out on the spot was my mercy!

With those words, Quiad extended his blackened, burning hand toward Lemu.

Fwoosh!

It was meant to drag the opponent into his grasp, but contrary to everyone’s expectations, Lemu did not budge an inch.

—…!

Sensing many things at once, Quiad bared his teeth.

Likewise realizing much, Lemu wore an expression close to excitement.

□ I can now see what you are trying to do. The powers of great beings do not work on each other.

At that, the patterns engraved across Quiad’s entire body burned black, and a dark crimson light flowed from his eyes.

—Machine, do your utmost. Today will be the last day you can fight without fearing death.

In response, Lemu simply flicked his right hand slightly instead of answering.

Sssk.

At that, the floor of the audience chamber flickered, and circuits that had been hidden all along began to glow.

‘…Ah, this is.’

It was a facility Yeongwoo had seen before when Lemu clashed swords with Chairman Dogo.

「All equipment effects below narrative grade have been deactivated.」

「You are under the effect of ‘Biological Contempt.’ All stats are reduced by 25%.」

Once the electronic circuits filled even the ceiling of the audience chamber, Lemu finally pulled up a long spear from beneath the floor.

□ Quiad Mezo. If you cannot overwhelm me here, then in the future where you perish, the one recorded alongside you will be me.

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]