Chapter 383
Chapter 383
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 383
Chapter Title: 2-5. The Red and White World (3)
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#05
Rtanhie showed no sign of recognizing me at all.
Of course.
In this world, I was a moron who didn't even know about the existence of Nebula Klazie.
I'd probably stayed a penal soldier the whole time and died after gawking at the giants.
I crouched down in front of her, still unable to move.
"You're upset. I know you, but you don't know me."
"Y-you know me?"
"Yeah. You're the great Archbishop of Nebula Klazie, aren't you? Looking like a drowned rat, I guess Abel's plan fell apart."
"...!"
Rtanhie's eyes widened as if they might pop out.
I got it.
Anybody would react like that if some random punk suddenly rattled off their past and the organization's ultimate goal.
"Who the hell are you...?"
"My name's Ronan. That's all the info you're getting, so from now on, just answer my questions. What were you doing here?"
"W-what out of nowhere... U-um, could you please unlock this first?"
Rtanhie held up her handcuffs.
Glittering mana flowed along the chains connected to the floor.
"Th-the restraints are draining my strength... It's so painful. I'll answer honestly, please..."
Rtanhie bowed her head pleadingly.
She looked ready to lick my shoes if I told her to.
After being such an arrogant bitch, what the hell had happened to her?
"Fine. Promise?"
"Yes! Yes! Of course! I'll tell you anything!"
I swung my sword lightly.
The restraints binding her limbs shattered.
Clear marks remained on her pale wrists and ankles.
"...I-I'm really! Really free!"
Rtanhie, who had been dazed, cried out in shock.
She couldn't believe the situation.
Tears like chicken droppings streamed from her big eyes.
"That good now?"
"Yeah... It is. I thought everything was over, but to think a day like this would come..."
Rtanhie sniffled.
Suddenly, she pointed at me and whispered something.
Boom!
A heavy shockwave slammed into my gut.
"Damn."
It felt like getting hit by a cast-iron ball.
My body flew straight back and crashed into the opposite wall.
From afar, I heard Rtanhie's mutter.
"I don't know who you are, but I'll never forget this. Lord Rohan... You're truly my benefactor."
Rtanhie stood up and bowed to me.
Her etiquette was so polite it was downright insane.
Was this Nebula Klazie's way of saying thanks?
"I need a bath first. Change clothes... No, to get sympathy votes from the resistance scum, this look might be better..."
"It's Ronan."
"Huh?"
I brushed off my shoulders and stood.
Even a rotten herring has its uses—they said. My back stung.
If I hadn't blocked the shockwave with my scabbard at the same time, I'd really be pissed.
"Rohan? No, Ronan. Turn around again, you wasp-stinging bitch."
"What? Why are you alive... Eek!"
Rtanhie was mid-sentence.
Her right ear fell to the floor.
"...Huh?"
She looked down and saw a familiar ear.
She reflexively touched her face and gasped.
There was nothing on the smooth cut surface.
Squirt!
Hot blood spurted through her fingers.
"My ear! My ear!"
Rtanhie screamed and collapsed.
She hadn't even noticed when it was sliced off.
She pointed at me, wailing.
She seemed to try casting magic again, but it failed.
The second joint of that finger was already gone.
"Hiiiiaaak?!"
"Sliced it off with the last one. Guess you didn't notice."
Another scream erupted.
The severed finger rolled at her feet.
Like the ear, I'd cut it during her defense, but she noticed this one late.
"Ah... Aaaah...!"
Rtanhie sobbed cluelessly.
Even I'd be confused where to focus if my finger and ear got cut off at once.
I approached her, hands in coat pockets.
"Miss. I'm decent at slicing and smashing, but fixing? No talent for that."
"D-don't come closer!"
"I freed you nice and easy not 'cause you're pretty. It was to check if you Nebula Klazie fucks are rotten in this world too. And yep, you are."
Rtanhie froze like a statue.
Even as an archbishop, she'd get the picture by now.
I pointed my sword at her throat and continued.
"You guys were total shitheads."
"Hiiik...!"
A sudden stench of piss wafted up.
She'd pissed herself from fear.
The blade I'd withdrawn returned.
Thud.
Her waist-length hair fell with a heavy sound.
"Next is your head."
Rtanhie still hadn't noticed even a hint of the sword strike.
Was I stronger, or was she weaker? Maybe both.
I leaned in close to her face and continued.
"So don't rack that brain for lies. Spill it. What were you doing here?"
"I-I'll talk! I was managing the roots!"
Rtanhie shouted.
Her terrified eyes darted wildly.
No more room for deception.
People only wise up after getting roughed up.
She panted and went on.
"Really... Sniff, it's more like tending than managing."
"What's a root?"
"Huh? This structure we're in... You don't know about survivors? Did you come from another planet... Eek! S-sorry! You said no questions... Forgive me!"
Rtanhie banged her forehead on the floor, begging.
I hadn't even said anything, but she was terrified of me.
"Cut the whining and explain. Nice and slow, like to a kid."
"Y-yes! Okay. So the roots... They're like massive mining rigs."
"Like in mines?"
"Yes. The great ones... N-no. Those filthy invaders implant roots into every conquered planet. To suck life force more efficiently. The roots absorb the planet's vitality and separate it into pure energy and waste, then release it."
The filthy invaders meant the bald giants.
She'd started with "great ones" but changed it—watching my reaction.
If she'd acted right from the start, no finger or ear would've been lost.
"That red water the waste?"
"Yes. This area's where absorption and separation happen. It sucks in power periodically, mixes with seawater, and ejects. My role... Helps separation go faster."
"You don't look like someone doing delicate work."
I glanced at the broken restraints.
Even charitably, she looked like a prisoner.
Or a perv enjoying time with a sadistic partner.
Rtanhie's brow furrowed.
"Right. It's nominal. Really, I just sit until absorption and ejection finish. My body's mana promotes separation, they say."
Rtanhie bit her lip.
She confessed to enduring drowning agony three times a day.
Lifelong loyalty to the church earned no glory or immortality.
"All us executives are like this. Thanks to Abel that bastard sharing the invaders' power. If I'd known it'd end like this..."
"Bastard, huh? First thing I like from you."
I chuckled unwittingly.
The privilege of giant authority became shackles binding the zealots.
Her tone showed how much she hated Abel.
"Speaking of, what happened to Abel's plan? If it went as that fucker intended, you wouldn't be like this."
"Plan?"
"Yeah. Absorbing the baldies' origin to become king himself. And more."
"...No idea what you mean. Abel's promise was always making us transcendent, from the start. By sacrificing souls of the unchosen."
Rtanhie shook her head.
Something was off.
It contrasted the original world, where absorbing giant origins led to transcendence.
'Weird. That was the key.'
Thinking back, stealing the giant king's throne was his secret even there.
So why had the future changed?
The answer came quick.
"Ah, it failed."
No need to overthink.
Reviewing, without me, Abel's secret op had high failure odds.
He'd sneakily snatched the origin while I fought the bald king.
"Dumbass... So what's Abel now?"
"Probably dead. Non-surrendering followers were all killed. Giants broke their promise, tried exterminating us. Abel resisted fiercely. No one's seen him since."
"What a farce."
A bitter laugh escaped.
Too pathetic an end for a total betrayer.
That was enough on Abel.
"Wanted to meet him, but oh well. Back to roots. Waste I get, where's the separated power sent? That altar on the finger?"
"Yes. You know exactly."
"As expected. Should've cut the rest too."
"...Huh?"
Rtanhie's face twisted suddenly.
Gulp.
She swallowed hard and asked back.
"W-wait... You destroyed it? The transmission tower?"
"Call it a transmission tower, huh. Sliced it finger and all."
"H-how... No, why would you! They'll notice for sure...!"
Rtanhie clutched her head.
Reaction as intense as when I cut her finger.
"We're totally screwed. Staying here's hopeless..."
Her mutter was fast.
Her pale face showed full panic.
Suddenly, her body floated up.
"Hey. Where you going?"
"N-not the time to stay! I'll lift you too—hurry and escape!"
Rtanhie pointed her intact left index finger.
Invisible force lifted my body.
Cute that she knew I couldn't be ditched, but explanations lacked.
"Gotta know what's what. Why?"
"They're coming. Anything but life force transmission can glitch. Happened before... No time!"
It was instant.
Rtanhie screamed suddenly and raised both arms.
Our bodies shot up like fireworks.
Soon, the ceiling of giant doors appeared.
"N-no! With this power...!"
Despair crossed Rtanhie's face.
Frantic spells leaked from her lips.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Five or six massive shockwaves hit the doors dead-on.
Smoke cleared, revealing unscratched doors.
Rtanhie was about to scream again.
"Hup."
I silently drew and struck.
Two white lines slashed across the doors.
Cuts slowly parted, cross-sliced doors crumbling.
Rumble!
Delayed roar echoed.
"Kyaaak!"
Rtanhie barely dodged debris.
I drew again, swinging a few times.
Falling metal chunks split into four and scattered downward into darkness.
Rtanhie's eyes bulged.
"Y-yo-you?!"
"Dunno what, but if we're going, let's go."
Seemed like no talking without leaving.
Rtanhie nodded.
She pulled us up at her max speed.
"Almost there!"
Felt like plummeting skyward.
Tiny hole rapidly widened.
Cool daylight bathed our faces.
About ten meters left.
『Who did this?』
So very familiar.
Deep and low like ocean depths.
The bald race's voice, stirring the chest, resounded from above.