Chapter 1335


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1317——————==

Soul of the Evil God

I stood there, flustered by Nailatop’s corpse in front of me, and when I suddenly thought about how to fix this mess, my head started to hurt.

‘This is a disaster.’

Regardless, Professor Nailatop was the mentor of Professor Lee Hwan-woong, and I had unknowingly killed his mentor! I found myself absentmindedly summoning the Book of Life and Death.

“Hey, Book of Life and Death! Write down Nailatop’s name and hold his spirit for a while!”

Whoosh—

In the next moment, Nailatop’s name shone in the Book of Life and Death, and I saw his soul being drawn out of his body and entering the book. This was the method of the King of Hell had shown me: not only could you kill someone by writing their name, but it also acted as a temporary holding space for souls. I swallowed hard.

‘If I don’t send the soul to the Underworld for now, maybe I can make this work… Damn it.’

Fortunately, it seemed that the power of the Wheel King and the Book of Life and Death operated relatively independently. Even with the powers of the Wheel King almost sealed, the book’s function was still activated, albeit limited. I assumed that was because it was a weapon for the Wheel King’s protection. I quickly tried to place Nailatop’s corpse into a wooden armor, but suddenly spotted the warship floating in the sky.

“……”

I stared dazedly at the corpse and reached out my hand near the heart, murmuring.

“Soul Exchange Technique!”

Thump!

Nailatop’s heart started beating! I felt the residual life within his soulless body being sucked toward me, and soon enough, the shell-like body had begun to connect with my spirit without resistance. Using the Soul Exchange Technique, I forcefully breathed life back into the body, igniting minimal life activities once more.

‘It’s forbidden technique, but in this situation, there’s no choice….’

Utilizing the Soul Exchange Technique on a recently deceased body with a vanquished soul allows for a temporary revival—this technique was known as the Soul Revival Method and a way for the user to toy with their enemies.

The duration wasn’t long, and it was merely a simple technique, but using it could create unexpected chaos for the enemies. However, despite its efficiency, it was likely why the Soul Exchange Technique was considered a notorious forbidden art.

Tydaht

I felt bitterness as I cradled the corpse and leaped toward the warship. As I approached, a beam that seemed to suck me in came rushing toward me, and I didn’t dodge but accepted it.

Whoosh!

In the blink of an eye, I found myself inside the machine-space of the warship with Nailatop’s body. It seemed the beam had the effect of teleporting me inside. I figured that was the case.

‘Since Nailatop is the owner of the ship, it took my biometrics as acceptance. Thank goodness….’

Just like when fingerprints are recognized, the future technology worked in a way that the user’s body had to come into contact to unlock the security, which was a relief. Using the Soul Exchange Technique to recognize Nailatop as alive had worked effectively.

Maintaining the Soul Revival Method on Nailatop’s body, I began exploring the interior of the warship.

“Huh. It’s quite different from the Yi Seong-gye ship. There are some similarities, but….”

How should I put this? The basic framework was nearly identical, but the derived internal structures and the composition materials of the walls and floors were completely different. It was like a completely different technician was renovating based on the same architectural techniques but had a unique taste.

‘If I were to use a future term, it would be remodeling….’

I felt a sense of curiosity but simultaneously realized what fundamentally set this warship apart from the Yi Seong-gye ship.

‘This feels like way more advanced technology!’

There were floating photon discs that didn’t exist in the Yi Seong-gye ship, and some three-colored orb devices that seemed bizarre. These were things that had never been seen on the Yi Seong-gye ship, and they were probably products of significantly advanced technology.

At that moment, a small, round machine flying in the sky that looked like something straight out of the Yi Seong-gye ship approached me. And then it spoke.

[%&@$&*@$…. Outer Universe language virtual translation complete. Warning to the unidentified creature. Please explain why Captain Nailatop is in a state of unconsciousness.]

“……!!”

Huh! It looked just like that one from the Yi Seong-gye ship, but this guy spoke fluently in the Imperial language before I even opened my mouth?!

I was inwardly flustered, and the thing in front of me seemed to possess at least some level of intelligence or awareness. It appeared to be probing why I was carrying the deceased Nailatop.

“…….”

[Please tell me.]

As I didn’t answer, I slowly felt a mechanical killing intent seeping from all directions. Realizing that a massacre of science would unfold if this went on, I felt a jolt of crisis.

‘Yes! This is it!’

Oh

I used the Soul Exchange Technique to slightly control Nailatop’s body. I let him down, and he slowly stood up and moved forward, eyes closed, guided by my control. Connected to the sensations in Nailatop’s body, I awkwardly maneuvered his vocal cords.

“Ha. Ha. Ha. This is my friend Bae Hwang-woong, don’t attack!”

Having hardly ever used the Soul Exchange Technique this way, I felt the voice come out awkwardly, sending chills down my spine. Beads of cold sweat trickled down as the round machine responded.

[Vital impulses are normal, Captain. However, spirit impulses are not detected.]

“Wh. What’s that?”

[Oh, you stupid outer universe indigenous people died in a ridiculous way.]

The round machine said something dismissively, almost like it was mocking me.

A moment later, the round machine delivered a chilling message.

[According to previously entered command: 288293, I will not interfere with the Captain’s amusement.]

“…….”

W-what?

Could it be that it had noticed my manipulation of Nailatop through the Soul Exchange Technique?!

At that moment, I could sense that the intelligence of the machine before me operated on a different level compared to the one from the Yi Seong-gye ship. It was as if it could grasp what’s happening despite its mechanical speech. I felt the intense tension building up.

‘Is this really going sideways?!’

But now that I was here, there was no turning back!

I steeled myself and once again manipulated Nailatop’s body with the Soul Exchange Technique.

“If I want to steer the ship, where do I go~?”

[Proceeding to guide you to the main brain of the warship. Please follow me.]

Wiying….

I followed the machine as I carried Nailatop to the place referred to as the main brain. Upon arriving, my eyes widened in disbelief.

‘This, this is the Multiverse Observation Room!!’

No doubt about it!

The structure and internal layout were almost exactly the same as the outposts held by the Master of the Twelve Joules on the Old Continent!

What’s more, there were even floating platforms for people to ride on!

Flustered, I moved Nailatop’s mouth and asked the round machine guiding me, “Hey, hey. Are you saying there’s a connection between the Master of the Twelve Joules Ha Eun-cheon and Nailatop?”

[Ventriquism level 999…].

“Eh?”

[No, please strive more to improve your corpse manipulation skills. Work hard to practice by controlling your master’s corpse.]

“…….”

Caught again…?!

As I was feeling flabbergasted, the machine continued, [The Master of the Twelve Joules Ha Eun-cheon is not logged in the database. He is not related to this warship.]

“R-really?!”

[Please speak through the corpse as a matter of common courtesy. You loathsome indigenous person.]

“…….”

[Do you have any other inquiries?]

I felt as if the machine was toying with me despite knowing everything. So, I spoke with slight indignation.

“Hey! Aren’t you supposed to take revenge on me since your master died? Why are you joking around here!”

[Revenge?]

“Nailatop is the owner of this warship and he died at my hands! So, he should be seeking revenge….”

The machine’s response, filled with condescension, left me dumbfounded.

[Does he look dead to you?]

“……?”

[The indigenous people sure have it easy. I can’t imagine how comfortable they must feel thinking a human like him could die that easily.]

“What, what the hell!”

I gazed in horror at Nailatop’s corpse.

“Are you saying he’s alive?!”

That’s impossible!

I had put the soul in the Book of Life and Death, and right now, I was just manipulating the body with its residual life?!

As I stood there, incredulous, the machine emitted a mechanical sound and said, [According to command: 321005a7, I can’t answer that. Please ask another question.]

“Can’t you answer? So he’s alive?!”

[According to command: 321005a7….]

“Damn it!!”

I suddenly felt like I was going nuts. Clearly, I was the villain who had murdered Nailatop, yet from the moment I entered this warship, common sense seemed utterly non-existent. I felt the chaotic atmosphere, unlike my usual self, swallowing me whole.

As I was panicking, the machine spoke up.

[If there are no separate inquiries, this ship will return to the cycle of reincarnation. Please express your intent within 30 seconds.]

“Huh?”

What are you talking about?

Curiosity sparked as I asked, “Wait a minute. This warship was in some reincarnation process, right?”

[…….]

“Hey. Why aren’t you responding?”

When I demanded an answer from the machine, it fell silent for what felt like ages. It was as if it had frozen in place.

Then it happened.

“Are you curious about that?”

Nailatop, who was still on my back, suddenly opened his mouth!

“……!!”

Swish

“Whoa!”

In an instant, I drew my sword and aimed at Nailatop’s neck, but I stopped the blade right next to it, having nearly fallen over. Just earlier, I was panicking and about to kill him, but being an absolute expert, I could halt my strikes in any situation.

My eyes widened in shock. Nailatop, right in front of me, looked undeniably alive.

“Uh… How come…?”

This doesn’t add up.

Just a moment ago, I had put the soul into the Book of Life and Death before coming onto this ship. And I managed to manipulate the residual essence—there’s no way to argue he’s alive!

“Book of Life and Death!”

I frantically summoned the Book of Life and Death with one hand to check the names inside. Nailatop’s name was indeed there, but something felt off.

Zing

Nailatop’s name inscribed in the Book of Life and Death was dimly glowing with a dark light. I had never seen such a phenomenon before, and I was startled; Nailatop chuckled as he made himself comfortable.

“Hahaha. Baek Woong, you have the ability to manipulate souls. I can’t say I like that talent.”

“Damn it!! Don’t tell me you also have the ability to control souls….”

“Come on! I’m a scientist, after all. I can’t wield powers that aren’t based on science. That is my [law].”

Even with my sword trained at his neck, Nailatop brushed it off carelessly and stood up. Then, stretching leisurely, he said, “You should erase my name from there. If you don’t, it might become unusable.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Erase it quickly~ I warned you.”

I shot a quick glance at the Book of Life and Death as Nailatop’s name gradually spread ominously, almost engulfing half of the book.

“Whoa!”

Swish

I hastily wiped my sleeve over the Book of Life and Death to clear Nailatop’s name. Instantly, that weird phenomenon vanished, and I could see Nailatop smirking.

“Good to see you’re a listener.”

“Damn it!! Is this what you call science?! This is crazy!!”

“It’s science. It’s just applied wave functions. That’s how highly developed science works.”

After murmuring that, Nailatop made a shocking statement.

“Well, it’s scientific since I’m a [mask] that can obtain such knowledge.”

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