Chapter 150
Chapter 150
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 150
Chapter Title: Ep. 150
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'Mega Corp's Noble Capital is here looking for me?'
This was the far edge of the star system containing Saigil-08.
It was essentially unclaimed territory, beyond the influence of the Cult Empire and a long way from Mega Corp's domain.
Nern quickly scanned his surroundings. The massive docking bay of this giant spaceship held not only Cult escape shuttles but also a wide variety of ships and fighters.
White warships built by Mars' Prime Capitals, rectangular patrol vessels from the Noble Capital families famous for space city construction, and even carrier-based fighters commonly used by the Star Union.
As far as he knew, Mega Corp's Noble Capitals were extremely exclusive. Even when operating ships of the same class, they customized armaments and internal structures.
If they were truly from the Yujin Family, they wouldn't be operating such a diverse fleet that transcended families and species.
"That's quite the varied fleet for the Yujin Family. Suspiciously so."
"You seem to know a lot about my family."
"Mega Corp is a potential enemy of the Empire, so of course I know."
Sihyun Yujin slightly raised the corner of her mouth, apparently pleased by his words. She withdrew the blade pressed to Nern's neck. Her arm, which had formed a sharp blade, instantly reverted to normal.
The figure in the bizarre suit who had been holding his subordinate also released the restraint.
"...What are you doing?"
"We need to talk. Follow me."
With no other choice, Nern meekly followed Sihyun Yujin. The bizarre suited figure handed the crewman to other crew members and trailed behind Nern.
"Treat him as a guest, so no need to worry."
Sihyun Yujin assured the constantly glancing Nern.
After passing through a pristine white corridor, she led him to an old-fashioned reception room.
She naturally sat in a chair by the mahogany table. The bizarre suited figure leaned against a wall, acting disinterested.
'I thought that was a subordinate?'
The figure wore a strange suit that covered body and face completely, making species, gender, everything unknown.
"Have a seat, Captain Nern."
Whatever their relationship, it wasn't important now.
He sat across the table. Sihyun Yujin pushed a plate of cake toward him.
"You must be starving. Eat this first."
"...What do you want? There must be a reason you brought me here."
She didn't answer his question, merely gesturing at a slice of cake with her eyes.
The atmosphere said no talk until he ate, so Nern reluctantly cut into the cake with a fork and took a bite.
And he was shocked.
"It's a high-calorie chocolate cake developed to provide both flavor and energy. Someone who shares my goals helped a great deal."
Sihyun Yujin's gaze briefly flicked to the bizarre suited figure, but Nern didn't notice. As the fluffy cake went down his throat, vitality surged through his body.
"There's one reason I sought you out. To buy information only you know."
She got to the point as he devoured the cake.
"Information?"
"Captain Nern, you led battleships to repel the Outspacer invasion war in the past. For that, you were appointed captain of the Empire Mothership 'Judger of Damus-08'."
"You've done your homework on me. But I have no obligation to answer."
"Something odd came up during my investigation. Could a few battleships really defeat an unprecedented Outspacer horde?"
"......"
"Even for a brilliant strategist, it's no easy feat. So I dug deeper."
Nern's eyebrow twitched at her words.
"Records show a Cult aboard your battleship used an unidentified relic. He wiped out the Outspacer horde and vanished immediately, leaving only a drained relic behind."
"How do you know that...?"
"How I know isn't important, Captain Nern. The battleship crew deemed the relic dangerous and stored it at a specific point on a very hazardous planet. Correct?"
Hearing that, Nern understood why they'd come for him.
"You're after that relic."
"Yes. Just tell us its location."
"You think I'll go along with that?"
"Yes. Because I can give you what you want."
"Ha, how would a human like you know what I want?"
Nern scoffed.
But his expression hardened at Sihyun Yujin's next words.
"The council probably won't send another Empire Mothership to Saigil-08. They're wary of the prophecy's side effects."
"What?"
"Without a ship or connections in the council, you'll retire like this. Spending your life harboring hatred for that monster."
"......"
Nern didn't deny her words.
"You've seen the relic's power. You know it could turn that 'monster' to dust."
"I could refuse to help you and go find the relic myself."
"Maybe? But the storage site is extremely dangerous. A former Empire Mothership captain might manage, but not you now."
"...Damn it. You really know everything."
Nern muttered a curse.
"Tell us where the relic is hidden, and we'll take down that bastard."
"Fine. But I come along when you kill it. I'll guide you to the site myself."
Sihyun Yujin faintly smiled at his hate-filled eyes.
'What the hell?'
This was the first time my senses linked to the metal mass yet my ears itched.
'Come to think of it, Aimorphs don't have ears.'
Aimorphs lack ears and noses; instead, they have slender auxiliary tendrils under the jaw.
Two up to Subadult stage, four from Near-Adult. These detect air currents for sound and smell, even intangible energies like electromagnetic waves or psychic power. Truly an all-purpose sensory organ.
Thanks to them.
Even fused with the Cult guard ship via Nightmare Horizon trait, I could monitor this elongated rhombus hull down to the finest details like it was my own body.
And more. Far more precise than any ship's detection sensors, the auxiliary organs missed no space debris.
Right now, erosion tendrils on the hull were ceaselessly clearing incoming trash and rocks.
We're flying not over the planet's surface, but through endless darkness.
A few hours ago, Nightmare Horizon's cooldown ended. Having prepared everything, we finally left the Cults' holy site, PH-101.
Some left young kin behind, others traces of family slain unjustly.
But none regretted it.
The Sky Mother wanted to be buried on the planet after all revenge.
'She knows my plans.'
As a Ranker, she vaguely understands Aimorph ascension conditions. Even that her life might fuel my evolution.
Yet her thirst for vengeance outweighed survival, so she chose to join me.
'Of course, the future is uncertain...'
If she must become material, I'll ask again then.
Do you truly wish death for revenge?
I hadn't planned to before, but now I owe her a debt.
'Her reaction was expected, but No. 26's attitude surprised me.'
I know it chose me over kin.
Still, I expected some sadness leaving the planet, but it seemed excited.
After taking the ship, I psychic-probed: it answered it'd grow by eating new prey and tell its kin. It hoped its kind prospered in the planet's seas.
'It has a new dream.'
Dreams are intelligent beings' privilege. Abstract, long-term future plans.
When I first met No. 26, I hoped it'd meet kin someday.
That goal partially realized: it inherited dead Seedmon power, communed with other Bubble Amoebas.
Now, No. 26 shared its ambition first. Setting its own new goal.
'Growing not just in strength, but mentally.'
Is this how parents feel?
As a human, I had few good memories of family love. My childhood was hospitals, antiseptic smells, pain.
Yet watching No. 26 grow stirs warmth in my chest. Maybe parental love.
"Great One?"
A psychic wave snapped me from bittersweet reverie.
Adhai before me tilted its head.
"What's up?" "Me" "Explaining"
[Zuzuzu zuzu zuzuzuzuzu (Sorry. Was lost in thought)]
"Great One" "Tired" "Me" "Later" "Explain" "Possible"
[Zuzuz (It's fine)]
We hadn't warp-jumped yet despite leaving, to scout the route ahead.
Our destination: uncharted by normal ships. Remote, dangerous cosmic depths.
'Galleron's nest.'
When saving Adhai at T&C's special trade hub, we contracted. It'd guide to the dragon's nest if protected.
Now its turn.
'Galleron has homing instinct.'
No matter the distance, they instantly know nest direction. Psychic power or beastly instinct? Unknown.
'It'll take time.'
Ship has ample food. Or hunt others mid-way. No issue.
Adhai sent another wave.
"Me" "Need" "Map"
[Zuzu (Map?)]
"Twinkle" "Twinkle" "Light" "Map"
It drew a circle in air with forepaw.
'Hologram map?'
Before seizing ship, Adhai and I searched inside.
I sought survivors/tools; it saw hologram remnants in bridge then.
'Let's try.'
Ship is my body. Psychic hologram rose beside assimilated reactor.
"There" "Zoom" "Request"
Adhai pointed wingtip at spot. Zooming, it stabbed another with wing.
'No way?'
Repeated dozens times with wings/paws, revealing a sector. Nodded at outer planet.
"Here" "Dragon Nest"
'Holy shit.'
I'm not easily surprised, but this time yes.
Planned using its homing as living GPS, but it plotted full route here.
Unbelievable even watching live, I asked.
[Zuzuzu zuzu zuzuz (How'd you do it?)]
"?" "Me" "Constellations" "Remember"
[Zuzuzu (Constellations?)]
"Stars" "Positions" "Map" "Compare" "Easy"
Casual reply.
'...Thought it was size mutant, but maybe intelligence?'
If other Gallerons match this smarts at nest, no confidence beating them.
I stayed quiet; it added.
"Kin" "Constellations" "Don't know" "No interest"
[Zu (Oh?)]
"Kin" "Strength" "Strong" "Remember" "No need" "Brain" "No need"
Nest Gallerons not as smart.
Adhai embodies "weak body, strong mind."
'Good.'
"Great One" "Question"
Relaxed, Adhai called.
"Me" "Dragon Nest" "Explain" "Great One" "Contract" "End"
[Zu (Yeah?)]
"Great One" "Me" "Abandon?"
Same half-reclined pose, but body stiff, wings trembling. Tense.
'Right, contract was guide for life.'
Feared abandonment.
'Maybe before.'
Not now.
Can't pet fused to ship, so extended erosion tendril, gently stroked head.
[Zuzuzu zuzuzuz zuzuzuz zuzuzu (You're my most precious beings)]
"Truth?"
[Zuzuzu zuzu zuzuzuz zu (I'll never abandon you)]
"Relief!" "Joy!" "Joy!" "Joy!"
Sensing my heart, Adhai flapped happily, circling reactor-me, tail wagging.
Near its neck nape, faint white scale glimpsed. Gone on second look.
'Thanks to Adhai, quick arrival.'
Distance needs months even warp, but fine.
'Time to go.'
Inputted Adhai's coordinates/route into ship computer.
Next target: 'Dragon's Nest.'