Rejecting the Reptilian Bargain
――But I refuse. ……………
The moment I took Makerberg's hand, chills ran down my spine. Cold didn't even begin to describe it. It felt like grasping ice or a chunk of metal. Far from the warmth of a living primate…… more like a reptile.
"A wise choice."
Makerberg said. And then――the world twisted.
"……Ugh!?"
The hallway ahead blurred into streaks. The walls, ceiling, and floor stretched into lines and were shoved backward. An unbelievable……indescribable speed. A car? No, faster than a plane. Way past the sound barrier.
Yet my body was fine. No impact from acceleration, no wind resistance. Makerberg was just walking. Slowly, casually. But the scenery around us whipped by like mad.
I had no idea where we were going. My head spun. I felt like I might puke. I squeezed my eyes shut.
…….
How much time passed?
"We've arrived."
Makerberg's voice snapped me back. The place I stood now…… was inside a building. No clue where. A vast space. High ceiling, metal walls. No windows, no visible doors. And machines everywhere. Unfamiliar devices crammed the walls.
"This is……."
"Our species' secret outpost. Not far from the Awakener Association HQ."
Makerberg replied.
……Reptilian outpost.
I finally grasped the situation. I was deep in enemy territory.
Makerberg turned to me.
"Now, let's discuss how you can return."
……………
"Straight to the point."
Makerberg said.
"Take Kang Haneul and Baek Sehee and vanish."
"……Pardon?"
"Abandon your duty as an Awakener to protect humanity."
I couldn't believe my ears.
"What are you talking about? Exactly――"
"Precisely that. If you earnestly plead with them, those two will gladly forsake humanity to stay by your side."
Absurd. Kang Haneul was an EX-rank Awakener. Baek Sehee too. Sure, they might have personal goals. Money, status, whatever. But they fight to protect humanity. That's unchanging.
Them abandoning humanity to run off with me?
"No way. They're……."
"Wrong. Your ability has eroded their minds."
Makerberg cut me off.
"The higher the rank, the stronger the influence. I already explained that."
"I get that, but……."
"Per the Causality Calculator's analysis, the probability they won't choose you is 1.557%."
1.557%.
Nearly certain they'd pick me over humanity.
"……Impossible."
I didn't want to believe it. My mouth denied his claim. But deep down…… I'd suspected.
Kang Haneul and Baek Sehee. Both obsessed with me. Possessive. Could that obsession make them betray their duty, their nation, humanity?
……I don't know.
Truly, I didn't.
"With the EX-rank Awakeners gone from Seoul, our species takes over."
Makerberg continued.
"Then we establish a beachhead. Our forces from the homeworld can come and go freely, at no cost."
"………."
"And throughout, you're safe."
"Safe……you say?"
"We'll physically isolate Kang Haneul and Baek Sehee. Separate spaces where they can't meet."
His vertical pupils fixed on me.
"No clashes. No killing each other. You won't die either."
"Then……."
"In that state, you can choose both, or one. Live happily."
"……."
"Pass the trial of the transcendent being."
My chest tightened. His path was clear.
Convince Kang Haneul and Baek Sehee to flee. In exchange, Reptilians seize Seoul, then Korea. Isolate the two to prevent mutual slaughter. I live happily with one, or both. Pass the trial.
End of story.
But.
"Impossible."
I shook my head.
"How do you subdue and isolate Kang Haneul and Baek Sehee?"
"Physically subduing them is difficult, of course. But we have you."
"……Me?"
"If you calm them and appeal to their emotions, we can separate them into isolated spaces in the meantime."
Makerberg's hand moved through the air. One wall machine lit up, projecting a hologram.
Two mansions appeared. Each in isolated spaces.
"Keep them from meeting, and no clashes."
He pointed at the hologram.
"You can travel between them as much as you want. Or pick one."
"………."
"With our cooperation, it's entirely achievable."
……………
Makerberg's proposal was shocking. But plausibly feasible.
Kang Haneul and Baek Sehee were influenced by my ability. Their minds eroded by obsession and possessiveness. That could make them abandon duty, nation, humanity.
Korea's top two EX-rank Awakeners vanish, Reptilians easily take Seoul. Set up the beachhead, bring in homeworld forces. And I…… prevent them killing each other. Live safe, happy. Pass the trial.
……I could do it.
The thought flashed through my mind.
But another followed.
'Seize Korea, establish beachhead.'
That stuck. If Reptilians control Korea, freely import forces via beachhead……
……They'll invade the whole Earth.
Obvious. Makerberg, the Feystagram CEO guise, infiltrating human society. Helping me out of goodwill? No. To remove me as a Causality Calculator obstacle, and use me to neutralize Haneul and Sehee.
He's acting for Reptilian gain.
A chill ran down my spine.
'Time to play along.'
I'd gleaned much info already, but needed more. Their true goal. Know that to plan next moves.
And one certainty: Makerberg's Causality Calculator can't predict external universe intervention.
So it won't see through my lies or acting. I'm a possessor from another Earth, sent by the three goddesses.
"……I see. Your proposal is quite reasonable."
I aimed for a calm voice.
"But before accepting, one question?"
"Ask."
"Why invade Earth?"
Makerberg paused.
"Honesty suits local collaborators."
His hand waved. Hologram shifted.
This time…… a brain. Human brain.
"The Causality Calculator requires intelligent brains."
"……Brains?"
"Yes. As biological processors, intelligent brains are highly efficient."
His voice stayed emotionless.
"Earth has 8 billion. Invaluable to us. From your perspective…… like drilling a mega oil field. Value? Roughly several quintillion dollars."
"………."
My jaw dropped.
Earth: a quintillion-dollar oil field. Reptilians see humans as…… fuel, batteries, resources.
"Understood?"
Makerberg asked.
"Yes."
Short reply.
He nodded.
……Right. No choice.
I steeled myself inwardly.
"What about your species'…… Yeouido Dimensional Gate invasion?"
"Ongoing."
"So Baek Sehee and Kang Haneul are still fighting."
"Yes."
Makerberg replied.
"But we're deliberately stalling, no full assault."
"……Why?"
"To buy time for this conversation."
"I see."
I nodded.
"Then I'll call Kang Haneul and Baek Sehee."
"A call?"
"Yes. Right now. Need to talk to convince them."
"Understood."
Makerberg nodded.
"Deactivate signal jammer then."
His hand waved. A wall machine's light died.
"Deactivated."
"Thanks."
I pulled out my phone. Opened messenger, invited Kang Haneul and Baek Sehee to a group chat. Hit call.
Ring. Once. Twice. Before the third――
"Yujin!?"
Baek Sehee's voice burst out.
"Yujin-ah?"
Kang Haneul's too.
"What happened?"
"You okay? What's wrong?"
Their voices overlapped.
"I――"
I took a deep breath. And shouted.
"I've been kidnapped by Reptilians!"
"What!?"
"Yujin-ah!?"
"Sehee-ssi, I told you I sewed an ultra-precise tracker into my clothes! And my phone has GPS! Track me quick and come rescue――"
Crackle――!!
Suddenly sparks flew from the phone.
"Ugh!"
I reflexively dropped it. The fallen phone smoked and melted.
I turned. Makerberg stood there. Laser gun in hand. Faint heat rising from the barrel.
"Didn't you accept the proposal?"
His slit vertical pupils glared.
I couldn't help but laugh.
"It was certainly tempting."
"Then why?"
"――But I refuse."
Makerberg's vertical pupils dilated slightly.
"My favorite thing…… is refusing the demands of someone who thinks they're overwhelmingly superior."
A cool rejection. The three goddesses probably watching thought it was pretty badass too.
'Well, really just quoting my favorite character's line.'
I love that mangaka. Way more than his hand-fetish serial killer villain.
Makerberg didn't reply. The laser gun's barrel just began to glow faintly.