Meaning the chief causes of the dimensional wars were environmental problems and resource depletion; each dimension saw Earth as a place to migrate to, and was waging war to secure resources.
Coexistence with them was impossible.
In the demihuman dimensions, a great many humans had been exterminated or worked like slaves, after all.
"They regard the human race as lowly. From basic physical ability to whether one holds mana, and even lifespan...... in everything, humans lag behind the demihumans."
To be treated as an equal being by such a lowly race?
They would surely scoff at the very idea.
In the end, for peace, there was nothing for it but to meet them with overwhelming military might.
"Taking out the rulers to put the demihumans beneath our feet would be the most effective approach."
Wiping out every last demihuman down to the last one would be quite difficult.
Better to subjugate them by force and achieve coexistence.
The problem was resources.
"I'll have to hope a dimension rich in resources gets connected to Earth."
While Kang-hyeok received his report from Arbon, in Ryuhan territory the damaged structures were being demolished, foundations laid over them, and new buildings raised.
Korea, meanwhile, set out to secure resources in North Korean territory.
At Korea's unilateral conduct, the U.S. even floated the withdrawal of USFK.
But strong opposition to a USFK withdrawal arose within the U.S. as well.
It would only increase China's influence over Korea.
[Korea's modular-construction apartments finally take shape!]
[A 150-unit apartment built in a single month?!]
[Ryuhan Empire's citizens move into the 100-plus apartments built by Korea's three major construction firms!]
[Korean businesses set up shop in Ryuhan territory commercial buildings......]
[Ryuhan Empire, having received technology transfers from Korea...... at last brings its factories online!]
For the time being, even electricity had to be relied on from Korea.
Water resources, at least, were fairly abundant.
With dams built as well, the Ryuhan Empire's basic infrastructure was put in place one piece at a time.
As Jeolla and Gyeongsang were restored and development began in Korea's north, the spirit race and beastmen didn't easily cross over to the peninsula.
Thanks to that, Korea was able to regroup domestically before the year was out.
Meanwhile, as many buildings went up across Ryuhan territory, it soon took on the shape of a city.
Modular-construction apartments and officetels soon numbered in the thousands, and Kang-hyeok steadily summoned new Homunculi.
[The Ryuhan Empire's population, swelling at breakneck speed......?!]
[China finally decides to pull its hands off the peninsula issue......! Requests support from Korea and the Ryuhan Empire?!]
[The beastmen begin attacking Beijing......!]
[Chinese government proposes a huge payment to the Ryuhan Empire...... GH Guild likewise promised a huge payment by the Chinese government!]
The Chinese side, hoping a State-Power-Class force would move, promised an astronomical payment.
Of course, the Korean government and the massive guilds received requests from the Chinese government too.
They asked Japan for help as well, but Japan found it hard to move its State-Power-Class Hunter.
Its clash with the demon race was still ongoing, after all.
[Ryuhan Emperor conveys intent to stand with his blood-ally, Korea......]
[Korean government: sending Hunter Park Kang-hyeok abroad endangers the peninsula's security......]
In the end, Korea and the Ryuhan Empire formed a joint army and decided to cross into Liaoning Province, which bordered the Ryuhan Empire's northern frontier, to attack the beastmen.
With GH Guild committing a number of S-rank Hunters too, the Chinese government expressed its gratitude to the Ryuhan Empire and Korea.
For reference, due to strong U.S. pressure, the Korean military itself wasn't committed.
The U.S. took a cautious stance on aiding China.
Hunters, however, were another matter.
They took no orders from the government, and could be committed under a mercenary-like status.
[Chinese government officially recognizes the Ryuhan Empire as a nation......]
[Chinese government moves to normalize diplomatic ties with the Ryuhan Empire...... their intent?]
[Ryuhan Empire to receive cash worth tens of trillions of won as a commission fee from China? Payment may be substituted with goods later......]
[Ryuhan army crosses the border into Manchuria.]
[For Korea's security, GH Guild Master Park Kang-hyeok will not be committed.]
[GH Guild's S-rank Hunters cross over into Ryuhan territory.]
A great many Korean Hunters crossed into the Ryuhan Empire and began advancing across the Yalu River alongside the Ryuhan army.
CRASH—! Ka-ka-krash!
While the Ryuhan army and Korean Hunters crossed the border to attack the beastmen, Kang-hyeok — masked — loosed slashes at the city of Shenyang.
Shwaaa—!
Kang-hyeok laid waste to the cities of Liaoning Province, drawing the beastmen's attention.
The beastmen attacking Beijing were thrown into confusion.
"C-China recognized the Ryuhan Empire as a nation?!"
"Yes, and they requested support in exchange for an astronomical payment! The Ryuhan Emperor is destroying the cities of Liaoning Province! On top of that, 300,000 Ryuhan troops and over a thousand Korean Hunters——!"
Rokna's beastmen fell into deliberation.
Should they pull their forces back now and fight the Ryuhan army?
Or press on and occupy Beijing?
Occupying Beijing right away was difficult.
Beijing had a State-Power-Class Hunter mounting a counterattack, after all.
And as the capital, Beijing had a staggering number of Hunters stationed there.
Inside and outside the city, the Chinese military kept up gunfire and shelling.
Rrrrumble!
Buildings crumbled and explosions bloomed all over the city.
Smoke rising into the sky.
Fwooosh—!
"......?!"
A crimson beam of flame shot up into the sky.
"Damn it! For now, retreat!"
"Yes, understood!"
In the end, as Rokna's beastmen began withdrawing to Liaoning Province, the Ryuhan army and Korean Hunters also pulled back at the right moment, minimizing their losses.
At that, Rokna's beastmen fumed.
"What? The Ryuhan army withdrew?!"
"Yes, that's right."
"Those bullshit creatures......!"
"It may have been a move to break the assault on Beijing......"
The beastmen gritted their teeth.
"Attack the Ryuhan Empire!"
"Then it's highly likely the Chinese military will move. For Beijing's safety, they'll want to reclaim Liaoning Province."
"Damn it!"
Rokna currently held Manchuria, the Primorye, and about 20% of Mongolia.
They couldn't easily push north.
Russia had the Dragonkin — said to be the strongest even among demihumans — stationed there.
"For now, why not pass through Mongolia and seize Chinese territory bit by bit? Through Chinese territory, we could push all the way to the Middle East. There are plenty of resources in the Middle East, they say......"
"Ngh......"
"There are currently two State-Power-Class forces on the Korean Peninsula. Rather than trying to fell them and seize the peninsula, occupying the western nations would be the greater gain."
The peninsula had excessive fighting strength relative to its size.
So Rokna's beastmen had no choice but to push reclaiming North Korea and attacking Beijing down their list of priorities.
The Ryuhan army recrossed the Yalu River and returned in just two days.
With a single attack, Beijing had escaped its crisis.
The Chinese government signed an FTA with the Ryuhan Empire and kept a wary eye on Rokna's beastmen.
There was no telling when they'd attack Beijing again.
When that time came, they'd have to rely on the Ryuhan army's help once more.
Especially at the news that the Emperor had attacked the city of Shenyang alone, the Chinese government expressed deep gratitude and sent tens of trillions of won in cash and 200 billion won in goods.
The Ryuhan Empire also issued a new currency and conducted currency swaps with Korea and China.
"Card payments are now possible in Ryuhan territory as well. The central bank manages the entire computerized system, so......"
Importing all sorts of facilities from Korea for financial transactions, the Ryuhan capital of Pyongyang became capable of online and card payments, too.
"Besides banks, government offices and various public institutions have gone up, and the subsidiaries of LK Group — run by the imperial house — have begun full operations. We purchased cargo ships from Korea, making trade with China possible, and newly summoned Homunculi are receiving basic education and being committed straight to the field."
Of course, the Homunculi enjoyed freedom of occupation too.
If they wished, they could resign, and switch jobs freely as well.
"Monthly rent for the apartments and officetels is 100,000 Wid, with maintenance fees set at 80,000 Wid. Water and electricity are pricier than in Korea...... but I believe it's still manageable."
Ryuhan Empire workers currently earned a monthly wage of around 1 to 1.2 million won in Korean terms.
Thanks to extensive support from Korea, the Ryuhan Empire was able to grow at a rapid pace.
And thanks to normalized ties with China, the industrial complexes built in the Ryuhan Empire quickly came online, with the needed labor steadily filled by Homunculi.
Beyond that, as Korean businesses began investing in Ryuhan territory, its GDP was projected to post figures unthinkable for a newborn nation.
The problem was population.
[Ryuhan Empire citizens discovered on the islands of the Yellow Sea......!]
[Ryuhan imperial house: survivors among the empire's citizens estimated at over 16 million......]
[Two million Ryuhan Empire citizens discovered on Heuksando?!]
[Ryuhan Empire citizens who fled the peninsula to escape the spirit race......]
[Ryuhan Empire citizens begin migrating to Ryuhan territory......]
The Korean government let out a cry of shock at the Ryuhan Empire's population figures.
Counting the soldiers, it came to some 18 million.
The citizens who began migrating received the imperial house's support in finding jobs and were provided housing as well.
They couldn't just hand out subsidies without limit.
So for the sake of settling in, the imperial house lent out 5 million Wid interest-free.
The Ryuhan Empire poured its heart into economic development, rapidly developing its capital Pyongyang, the trade city Nampo, Kaesong — where a massive industrial complex was built — and the border city Sinuiju.
"Down to highways, high-speed rail, subways, trams, and more......"
Back at GH Guild's 2nd Headquarters, Kang-hyeok checked the report and squeezed his eyes shut.
"The Imperial Palace is nearly complete, they say. It might be good to hold an event commemorating the reconstruction and conduct exchanges with the surrounding nations."
"Whether I wear the mask or reveal my identity......"
"I believe it's premature to reveal your identity. The demihumans currently think two State-Power-Class forces are stationed on the peninsula. If you reveal your identity...... they may attack the peninsula while you, Master, are away."
Kang-hyeok nodded once.
"That could be so."