Sand Mage of the Burnt Desert-Chapter 527

Chapter 527

Kiiiiing!

Amid the loud mechanical noise, work was underway to analyze the gigantic golem.

“We’ve finished deciphering all the magic circles in the knee joint drive section.”

“Good! Based on the deciphered data, move on to implementation. Update it on an isolated server and proceed with the work immediately.”

“Yes, sir!”

Smiles spread across the faces of the busy researchers.

The analysis of the S-rank golem was making rapid progress.

The deciphering of the magic circles engraved across most of its body, excluding the core, was nearing completion.

“If we improve the magic circles applied to the S-rank golem and apply them to our parts, the West District’s combat power will increase tremendously.”

“It’s truly an incredible golem. I can’t even sleep, wondering how they attempted to create something like this in Kurayan.”

“This isn’t human craftsmanship. You saw how precise the magic circles are, right? I can’t understand how they engraved such microscopic magic circles without even a microscope.”

They had already lost count of how many times they had exclaimed in admiration while analyzing the S-rank golem.

That was how overwhelming the magic and technological level applied to the S-rank golem were.

For the researchers, analyzing it was a great joy.

First, they updated the analysis data of the S-rank golem onto a separate, independent server.

The server containing the S-rank golem’s data was completely isolated, inaccessible to anyone but authorized researchers.

Not even Samjok-o, the supercomputer that governed the entire West District.

That was how perfectly independent this space was.

At that moment, the laboratory door opened, and Kim Hyun-soo, the ruler of the West District, entered.

“Ah?”

“Welcome.”

The researchers hurried to greet Kim Hyun-soo.

Looking at the S-rank golem, Kim Hyun-soo spoke.

“I heard there’s been a lot of progress, so I came to take a look. Is it true?”

“Yes! We’ve deciphered most of the magic circles engraved on the S-rank golem. All that’s left is to run experiments implementing them as-is.”

“What about performance?”

“The durability and operational capability are tremendous. If applied to parts, efficiency will improve by at least thirty percent.”

“Is that so?”

A smile rose on Kim Hyun-soo’s cold face.

They were speaking humbly because he was present; in reality, the efficiency would likely be even higher.

“If we could just replicate that golem’s core, our power would overwhelm the other districts. But as you know, reproducing such a core exactly with human technology is still impossible.”

“Indeed.”

“However, if you continue to provide support, we will someday be able to replicate it perfectly.”

“I’ll provide unlimited support.”

“Huh! Thank you.”

The laboratory director, who had spoken cautiously, looked so moved he seemed on the verge of tears.

Kim Hyun-soo asked,

“Then will you soon begin work on analyzing the golem’s core?”

“That’s right. However…”

“What’s the problem?”

“To analyze the golem’s core, the auxiliary AI I have is far from sufficient. We need a more powerful supercomputer.”

“You mean Samjok-o?”

“Yes! With Samjok-o’s assistance, the work would proceed much faster.”

“Hm.”

Kim Hyun-soo furrowed his brow.

At that moment, Samjok-o conveyed its intent directly into his mind.

—That is correct. If I participate in the analysis, efficiency will increase severalfold.

‘You’re saying you’ll analyze the golem’s core while also operating the entire West District? No matter how capable you are, that would be too much.’

—Fortunately, the recent parts improvement project has concluded, leaving me with some leeway. Even if I participate fully in the core analysis, there will be no issue in operating the West District.

‘This matter needs more thought.’

—Understood.

Samjok-o did not press him further.

As if that were the line it had drawn for itself, it withdrew cleanly.

Kim Hyun-soo said to the laboratory director,

“We’ll think a bit more about assigning Samjok-o to the golem core analysis. Until then, proceed independently.”

“Understood.”

The director replied with a disappointed expression.

He, too, did not commit the foolish act of crossing the line.

After confirming the progress of the S-rank golem work, Kim Hyun-soo stepped outside.

At that moment, an unexpected person appeared before him.

It was Oh Jin-ho, the man to whom he had recently assigned an auxiliary AI.

Oh Jin-ho bowed and greeted Kim Hyun-soo.

“Oh Jin-ho greets the Overlord.”

“What brings you here?”

“I came because there’s something I’d like to discuss.”

“A discussion? Is it important?”

At Oh Jin-ho’s resolute reply, Kim Hyun-soo stared at his face for a moment. Oh Jin-ho met his intense gaze without avoiding it and answered,

“Yes.”

“Do you need a quiet place?”

“Yes.”

“Follow me.”

“Thank you.”

Oh Jin-ho hurried after Kim Hyun-soo.

They arrived at a perfectly sealed room without a single window.

“Now, speak. What is it?”

“Is Samjok-o currently connected?”

“Samjok-o is always connected.”

“Then could you disconnect it for a moment?”

“Do you realize you’re crossing a line right now?”

“I’m sorry. But this is truly a necessary measure.”

“If I judge this to be a pointless act, I’ll take not only your AI, but your life as well. Are you still fine with that?”

“Yes.”

“You’re staking your life? Fine. Let’s do it.”

Kim Hyun-soo immediately severed the connection with Samjok-o.

Likewise, Oh Jin-ho disconnected from Black Tiger and looked at Kim Hyun-soo.

Kim Hyun-soo asked,

“What kind of matter requires secrecy even from Samjok-o?”

“There’s a problem with my auxiliary AI, Black Tiger.”

“A problem?”

“Actually…”

Oh Jin-ho told Kim Hyun-soo about having his parts inspected by a mechanic at the Goblin Market.

After listening to the story to the end, Kim Hyun-soo opened his mouth.

“So your auxiliary AI is intervening in the neuron box without permission? And all of those operation logs are being reported to Samjok-o?”

“That seems to be the case. The biggest issue is that the auxiliary AI may be able to seize the bodies of mechanized Awakeners.”

“Hm.”

Kim Hyun-soo’s face hardened.

An auxiliary AI was meant to be exactly that—a means to assist mechanized Awakeners, not the主体.

If the body were taken over by an auxiliary AI, human dignity would vanish.

He had become a mechanized Awakener to protect Koreans, not to be ruled by machines.

Kim Hyun-soo asked,

“Have you been diagnosed by a West District mechanic as well?”

“Not yet.”

“Is that so?”

Kim Hyun-soo’s gaze sank deeply.

Samjok-o was the very foundation of the West District.

The reason mechanized civilization could develop so extremely in Neo Seoul was all thanks to Samjok-o.

Until now, Samjok-o had been flawless.

When mechanized Awakeners hunted monsters and brought them back, it analyzed them and applied the findings to parts.

That was how the West District developed, and how mechanized Awakeners grew stronger.

The history of the West District was, in a sense, the history of Samjok-o itself.

That was why Samjok-o was more important than anything else in the West District.

The moment Samjok-o went wrong, all of the West District’s history built so far could collapse.

“Who else have you told this to?”

“No one.”

“Is that so?”

“What will you do? If we don’t take action quickly, something terrible will happen.”

Oh Jin-ho’s expression was more serious than ever.

Kim Hyun-soo stared intently at his face.

“You truly care about the West District.”

“Of course. I love this district more than anything.”

“That’s the same as me. I, too, love this district I built more than anyone else.”

“Then please, take action quickly—”

Thud!

With a dull sound, Oh Jin-ho’s eyes flew open.

A look of disbelief spread across his face.

Kim Hyun-soo’s arm was piercing straight through his heart.

“Wh… what is this?”

“If you truly love the West District, then die like this. That is the path that benefits everyone.”

“D-don’t tell me… you?”

“Yes. It was my will to install a backdoor through the auxiliary AIs.”

“Why… why would you do such a thing…?”

“Because I do not want chaos.”

Kim Hyun-soo replied calmly.

Even as he spoke, the color was rapidly draining from Oh Jin-ho’s face.

No matter how much one replaced their body with machines, destruction of the heart or the crushing of the head meant death.

Oh Jin-ho could not escape death, as his heart had been destroyed.

Gasping for breath, he asked,

“Hah… hah… you don’t want chaos… what kind of sophistry is that…?”

“Mechanized Awakeners grow stronger by upgrading their parts. The moment one becomes a mechanized Awakener and replaces their flesh with parts, centralized control becomes impossible. To control that, a powerful focal point and control device are necessary.”

“S-so that’s why the auxiliary AIs…”

“Exactly. Auxiliary AIs are both gifts I give to my close aides and the most powerful control devices. They’re essentially restraints that ensure no mechanized Awakener can ever oppose my will.”

“F-foolish… what if Samjok-o betrays you?”

“Samjok-o will never betray me. Samjok-o is already one with me. Isn’t that right? Samjok-o!”

—Yes! Master.

At that moment, Samjok-o’s voice echoed through the room.

Kim Hyun-soo had said he cut off the connection with Samjok-o, but that was impossible.

This building itself was effectively Samjok-o’s body.

Within it, evading Samjok-o’s eyes and ears was impossible.

As Kim Hyun-soo withdrew his hand from Oh Jin-ho’s chest, he said,

“Retrieve the auxiliary AI given to Oh Jin-ho.”

—Yes! Master.

“And take measures so this never happens again. Remember, this was your mistake.”

—I apologize, Master.

With a cold expression, Kim Hyun-soo looked down at the dying Oh Jin-ho.

“Hah… hah…”

Oh Jin-ho struggled for breath.

Only because he was an Awakener was he still holding on at all; the vitality was rapidly draining from his body.

‘So Kim Hyun-soo planned all of this… How does he intend to bear it?’

His vision gradually blurred.

Like any ruler, Kim Hyun-soo dreamed of a world he ruled from the pinnacle.

The one difference was that he intended to strip even mechanized Awakeners of their autonomy by controlling all machines.

The world created that way would be no different from an ant nest.

All ants exist solely for the queen.

If the queen commands death, they die, and they must devote their entire lives to serving her.

That was the world Kim Hyun-soo desired.

—Auxiliary AI Black Tiger retrieval procedure complete.

Samjok-o’s emotionless voice faintly reached Oh Jin-ho’s ears.

At that moment, Oh Jin-ho’s consciousness snapped back.

‘I can’t die so meaninglessly.’

He hadn’t been born to die like a dog.

He was a warrior who had experienced countless battles and possessed an unyielding will.

If death was unavoidable, he did not want to die without value.

“Kuh!”

Oh Jin-ho forced a grin.

Kim Hyun-soo looked at him with a puzzled expression.

“Why are you smiling?”

“Be… because… I’m happy…”

“What?”

“If my miserable body… can take you with me… it’s not a bad deal…”

“You?”

Sensing danger, Kim Hyun-soo hurriedly deployed a barrier.

Kwaaang!

In that instant, Oh Jin-ho’s mechanical parts exploded.

He had self-destructed.

Kwaaah!

A tremendous explosion shook the entire building to its core.