Bomb Necklace Standoff
A bomb necklace? What era is this!? ………… My mind finally cleared.
The first sensation was the cold floor. The distinctive chill of hard metal dug into my back. I forced my eyes open, and a ceiling came into view. High up, gray, crammed full of unidentifiable machinery.
Where... is this?
I pushed myself up. No restraints. My hands and feet moved freely. But—something was wrapped around my neck. I brought my hand to it and felt it out. A metal collar, like a necklace. No matter how I thought about it, this was blatantly suspicious.
"Have you regained your senses?"
That's when Zerk Makerberg's voice rang out. I turned my head, and there he stood, a few meters away.
"What... is this?" I pointed at the metal lump around my neck.
"A bomb necklace."
A flat answer.
"Our species doesn't use such unnecessary devices, so we had to hurriedly procure a primitive human bomb necklace."
"……."
Hurriedly procured, huh. A statement that proved reptilians were operating in human society. I had no idea where he'd gotten the bomb necklace from, though.
"It has three activation conditions." Zerk Makerberg held up three fingers. "First, strong impact will detonate it. Second, leaving permitted zones without deactivation will detonate it. Third, an explosion signal will detonate it."
I swallowed hard. My Adam's apple shifted, and the metal tightened slightly around my throat—a chilling sensation.
At least they didn't kill me right away? He could've just shot me with that ray gun, but he'd kept me alive. Though he'd put a bomb on my neck.
Honestly, it felt a bit stupid on his part. If I'd accepted Zerk Makerberg's offer, I might've actually passed the three goddesses' trial this time. But I'd refused, and this was the result. Trapped in a reptilian secret base with a bomb necklace.
What an idiot I was.
A twinge of regret washed over me. I'd made an irrational choice. I'd kicked away the best shot at clearing the trial.
But I couldn't join hands with Zerk Makerberg. I couldn't accept his proposal. I'm no hero. Just an ordinary guy. And yet...
I can't sacrifice eight billion people just to save myself.
That would leave a terrible aftertaste. I didn't want that. So it couldn't be helped. Refusing Zerk Makerberg's offer.
I let out a self-mocking chuckle, and Zerk Makerberg spoke up.
"If we kill you, who invaded our universe with the power of transcendent beings, we don't know how or where you might resurrect or return."
"……."
"That's why we tried to cooperate instead of killing you. But if you respond like this, our species has no choice but to counter accordingly."
...Ah.
His words lit up my mind like a flash. Zerk Makerberg—the reptilians—were misunderstanding. If I, as Moon Yujin, die, I return to the original world's café where the three goddesses wait. I don't come back to this world.
But Zerk Makerberg thinks that if I die, I'll resurrect somewhere in this world.
If I play this right...
No need to correct him. Better to exploit it fully.
"Fine. Since I'm uncooperative, you could kill me. With this." I tugged lightly at the bomb necklace. "But as you said, Mr. Makerberg... what if I resurrect somewhere far away after you kill me here? Like another country, or an entirely different planet?"
Zerk Makerberg's vertical slit pupils trembled faintly.
"I judge your statement could be a bluff."
"Is it?" I shrugged. "Why don't you test it?"
Zerk Makerberg didn't reply. He just observed me silently.
"You just said silence is a form of answer. So can I take this as an answer too?"
"……A waste of resources."
Zerk Makerberg finally responded. "If you resurrect elsewhere, we'd have to track you down and kill you again. It would create a major error in the causality calculator. But that would be an extreme waste of resources. Our species avoids such waste."
"I suppose so."
It worked.
My bluff had landed. Zerk Makerberg couldn't dismiss the possibility of me resurrecting far away.
"So it's not too late even now." He continued. "Your false betrayal caused Baek Sehee and Kang Haneul to withdraw from the front lines. This is actually a good situation. Cooperate with us."
"……Hmm."
I didn't answer. To buy time until Kang Haneul and Baek Sehee arrived, what should I say? Refuse? Accept? Neither seemed particularly great.
Then—
A shrill alarm blared suddenly.
BOOM—!!
Right after, a massive explosion rocked the entire building.
……………
The mechanical voice echoed. BOOM—!! BOOM—!! Consecutive blasts shook the structure, pounding my eardrums. The ceiling machinery rattled.
They're here...!
My heart pounded. Kang Haneul and Baek Sehee were coming. To rescue me.
The alarms didn't stop. The mechanical voice carried a hint of urgency.
BOOM—!! BOOM—!! The explosions drew closer. Walls trembled, vibrating the floor.
Yet Zerk Makerberg remained expressionless. Then, suddenly, he muttered.
"...Earth humanity's civilization can't even properly harness planetary energy. They've developed disproportionately around military capabilities. Inefficient."
"Our species underestimated the combat power of these 'Awakener' individuals."
Zerk Makerberg's voice stayed monotone. "However... the intelligent beings' brains were too depleted. It was unavoidable."
Brain depletion? What did that mean? Had they overused the causality calculator in their reptilian homeworld, running out of fuel—intelligent brains? That's why they'd invaded Earth.
BOOM—!!
In that instant, a tremendous blast tore open one wall. Actually, less an explosion and more... torn apart was more accurate. The thick bulkhead split like paper and crumpled inward. Dust and debris flew everywhere. Hot air blasted my face.
And—
"Yujin!"
Kang Haneul's voice rang out.
"Mr. Yujin!"
Baek Sehee was there too. The two stood side by side, glaring at Zerk Makerberg.
They came!
My chest swelled. Kang Haneul, Baek Sehee. They'd come to save me.
Life as Moon Yujin hadn't been easy. Tormented by Kang Haneul, half-raised by Baek Sehee. But it had all been worth it. These two EX-rank Awakeners had stormed a reptilian base for me.
I'm saved...!
Relief flooded me. Tension released, my eyes heated up. But that thought didn't last. The tears welling in my eyes vanished without a trace.
The smoke cleared, revealing their faces properly. And both looked... terrifying.
Kang Haneul first. Her expression was vicious. Lips twisted in rage, eyes bloodshot with killing intent. And on her knuckles, bits of flesh clung.
Like she'd grabbed and torn something apart... barehanded.
Baek Sehee was the same. The gentle smile she always showed me was gone. Teeth bared, oozing murderous aura. Her white suit was splattered with bloodstains.
...Ugh.
Nausea rose. I could imagine how they'd gotten here. Slaughtering every reptilian they encountered, brutally and mercilessly.
Then their gazes met mine. In that moment, their expressions shifted. The ferocious snarls softened. Eyes filled with murder gentled.
Kang Haneul's grew misty; Baek Sehee closed her bared teeth.
"Yujin, you okay?" Kang Haneul asked.
"Mr. Yujin, any injuries?" Baek Sehee asked.
Their voices... well, the killing intent from moments ago was completely gone. Even a touch of affection seeped through.
"Ah, yeah. I'm not hurt... at all."
"Thank goodness..."
"Really, such a relief."
They sighed, shoulders slumping.
Then—
"As you can see for yourselves, Moon Yujin is still unharmed."
Zerk Makerberg's voice cut in. Kang Haneul and Baek Sehee's faces twisted again. Killing intent poured from their glares at him.
"Don't move."
Zerk Makerberg pointed at me. "Any funny business, and the bomb necklace on Moon Yujin's neck activates."
Their gazes shifted to my neck. They'd see the metal collar wrapped around it.
"Furthermore." Zerk Makerberg pointed at himself. "This device is linked to my biometric signals. Kill me, and Moon Yujin's bomb necklace detonates automatically."
Instead of replying, they froze. Silence fell.
"If you want to save Moon Yujin, cease hostilities immediately," Zerk Makerberg said.
Kang Haneul ground her teeth—loud enough to hear the grind. Baek Sehee bit her lip until it bled, glaring at him.
But neither could move.