Chapter 201
Chapter 201
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 200
Chapter Title: The So-Called Galactic Railway
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It's commonly known as the [Galactic Railway].
'I'll be riding this thing.'
Naturally, it's not a facility just anyone can use. Even on the famously wealthy 34th Earth, less than 1% of the population gets to experience space travel. So the users of the Galactic Railway are probably chaebol heirs, super-high-rankers, high-ranking officials, generals, and space mercenaries.
[Hello to our new passengers boarding Longinus 7.]
I turned my head at the sudden spirit speech.
There stood a being wearing a deeply pulled-down cap to hide their face as much as possible, dressed in a crew uniform emblazoned with 'Longinus 7' that anyone could easily recognize as flight attendant attire.
Obviously not human. Even with gloves and a uniform wrapping their entire body tightly, the exposed parts of their face showed only a bright halo of light instead of eyes, nose, or mouth.
[I'm Fast Sunset, the conductor of Longinus 7. I'll check your tickets and guide you to your seats.]
"Ah, we've ridden this several times, so just guide the maknae."
With those words, Shin Jiyeon pulled out her mercenary badge. As the glossy black card flashed, the area around her seat rose up and transformed into a wall with a door, creating a partitioned space. A small room had been formed.
[Oh! You're from 34th Earth! Game God is the best! I believe in him!]
The Fast Sunset conductor approached me with a laugh. Their attitude was flippant, but the words seemed sincere.
"Are you a priest of the Game Master?"
[Unfortunately, no. But I am on a quest! I'll become a priest soon enough!]
Naturally, even among gods, the top-tier Game Master has priests who follow him.
'Well, I am an apostle of the Game God myself. Though I'm a hack without skill books or stat books thanks to the Revenge system.'
Priests of the Game Master are appointed through a completely different process from those of other gods. They must complete what's colloquially called a 'class change quest' to wield the Game Master's divine power as priests.
And that power is entirely different from ordinary divine power.
'Absolute divine power for Giggas pilots.'
Priests of the Game God can use powers utterly unlike those of other gods' clergy, and they exhibit extreme efficiency when piloting a Giggas compared to normal times.
Even Giggas pilots of equal skill can have their value double—or up to ten times higher—depending on whether they're Game Master priests and what rank they are. No need to say more.
"Conductor! We'll stow our luggage in the cargo hold ourselves."
[Thank you for handling it so smoothly.]
Fast Sunset, the conductor with their cheerful tone, waved a hand, then turned back to me and began explaining.
[Longinus 7 is the 13th of the 52 Galactic Railways produced. It mainly circulates through Leonhardt Empire territory, maintaining 5 to 8 cars. Currently, Longinus 7 has 6 cars total, and this is Car 3. You can visit other cars if you like, but please keep quiet!]
Following their guidance, I sat in my seat. Each private compartment was two or three times the size of a normal train seat, with only 6 seats, so each had plenty of space.
"Not bad... I thought it'd be more cramped."
I sank into the seat, plush enough to envelop my body like sinking into a bed, and Fast Sunset began explaining.
[The wall can be adjusted with the visible lever to view space or videos—it's a kind of display. And...]
The seat was quite luxurious. Various snacks and drinks on the side table next to the sofa refilled instantly upon consumption, allowing worry-free indulgence. There was a small summon orb for summoning game consoles, karaoke machines, and other entertainment or exercise facilities anytime, plus cushions for smart pets.
At this point, it was more like a small hotel room than a train seat.
[Wow, isn't it amazing? Long ago, there was only one Galactic Railway running through Ouroboros, but now there are 52, with even more spacious interiors. Truly the grace of the Game Master.]
"Ah, yes..."
The conductor, from the Candler race said to possess the universe's most advanced science and technology, seemed like a huge Game Master fanboy. Well, that explains why a Noblesse like them was working as a train conductor.
[As you can see, you can keep it as open seats or raise partitions to make it a room like this. If you need assistance, press the call button by the door.]
"Yes, thank you, Conductor Fast Sunset."
[Then, have a pleasant trip.]
I sat in my seat. Cheda climbed onto the table.
I patted my stomach and launched Revenge.
-Entering Astral Channel.
-Current entrants: 123 people.
Revenge isn't a game with a massive user base. In terms of subscribers or concurrent users, it doesn't even crack the top 10 in sales, let alone number one.
But flipping that around, it means they focus intensely on a select elite(?) clientele. That's why a game like this treats VVIPs exceptionally well—even letting them run the game in the backrooms world or the astral realm.
"No one else around means auto-hunting is smooth. Shame the raid boss isn't spawning, though..."
I set auto-hunt and sat properly to begin transcription.
The elders were sleeping or eating, but I didn't need to.
I could eat and sleep in Ardenia.
'Lately, Ardenian cuisine has gotten pretty decent. Progress really comes from leisure, huh.'
I transcribed without rest.
The elders paid me no mind. I wasn't just some regular maknae—I was a transcendent.
Zing.
While continuing the work, the compartment door opened.
"Oh! Humans, huh? You must be those famous space mercenaries."
"34th Earth, right? The one with billions of Masters?"
Those who appeared looked somewhat similar to humans, but they were beings too ambiguous to call subhuman.
'...Monkeys?'
The three monkeys were dressed differently. One in flowing Eastern-style robes. One in a suit with glasses. And a short one in a simple shirt with a knit sweater.
The suited monkey spoke up.
"Keep your voices down, you lot. We have to mind our manners in public. Because of guys like you, us Stone Monkey Clan gets..."
Our eyes met as the calm-speaking monkey trailed off. His intellectual gaze narrowed.
"Hoo... impressive."
"What's up, Professor?"
At the small monkey's question, the monkey grinned.
"Good find. Vital force is incredible. For a discipline that's barely a few centuries old."
He nodded slightly in greeting as our eyes met. I returned the nod, and they passed through our compartment to the next.
I was surprised.
'An incredible powerhouse.'
A sensation far beyond mythic monsters, even clearer and more distant than Police Chief Cheonhyeonil.
'Come to think of it, Stone Monkey Clan.'
The race commonly called stone monkeys. Famous as the kin of the heavenly battle god Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong, they hold significant power even among the Noblesse.
'Harder to spot than dragons, and I run into them... Other cars probably have more like them?'
Curiosity struck, and I stood to scan the compartments.
"Butler. Pet me."
"Yes, young master."
"Butler. Bring food."
"Yes, young master."
There was Praya lounging on the sofa, snoring away, served by his butler.
"Oh, another new powerhouse. The universe is vast indeed..."
A transcendent-level warrior sat in lotus position.
"Zzz..."
A fairy dragon curled up asleep.
'As expected of the Galactic Railway.'
Not a single passenger was ordinary. Sure, a few seemed just rich, but even they were probably prominent figures in their civilizations.
"Interesting."
Instead of approaching them, I returned to my seat.
'No need to make a fuss when it's just the start.'
Thus, 30 hours after departure.
[Next stop: Lute Planet in Leonhardt Empire territory. Passengers disembarking, please use the right-side door.]
[Repeating: Arrival at Lute Planet in 1 hour, 4 minutes, 51 seconds.]
The elders listening to music or reading began standing one by one. I paused transcription and donned my suit.
'Fast, indeed.'
Traversing a distance that would take eons even at light speed—in just 30 hours. With over 50 such trains flying the universe, the 34th Earth's name echoes across the cosmos despite ruling a mere solar system.
[Initiating warp. 3. 2. 1...]
Flash!
We crossed space together.
'Another civilization...'
Having gone between Ardenia and Earth, stepping into a new realm in the stars felt thrillingly fresh.
Different stars, different civilizations.
That is—
Boom!
"...What? Warp accident?"
Han Seokdu looked around in confusion.
We hadn't arrived at a facility, but a ruined wasteland.
"No, this is the right spot. Seems the situation's worse than expected."
As Tom Holiday said, a deeply etched magic circle lay underfoot.
And far off on the hill—
Rumble!
Jet-black battle aura surged toward the sky.
"Operation starts. Skill book! [Giggas Call]."
"Skill book! [Giggas Call]."
"Skill book! [Giggas Call]."
"Skill book! [Giggas Call]."
Nearly simultaneously, four Giggas appeared and engulfed the elders. From spatial rift to boarding, the flow was so natural and swift that blocking it would be nearly impossible.
[I'll start setting up the barrier.]
Han Seokdu's In-Grade Giggas Jangbogo cleaved the earth like water and dug in.
Beside it, Shin Jiyeon's In-Grade Giggas Nightingale attached.
[I'll provide ranged support.]
As the two Giggas vanished underground, Tom Holiday's In-Grade Giggas Carlos took a light step back.
[Hold point and commence sniping.]
Whoosh.
The over-4-meter giant vanished like smoke.
Suddenly, only Gatsu and I remained.
Gatsu looked at me.
[31 hours, 30 minutes, 11 seconds until the next train. Solve it in time, we go home early. Miss it, we're stuck another week.]
Even sensing the transcendent monster's aura afar, his tone was casual. I smirked and nodded.
"Let's hurry."
[Good attitude. Alright~ Let's go~!]
Boom!
The In-Grade Giggas Carellin charged like lightning.
'...Elders aren't ordinary, as expected.'
No need for detailed plans. They were battle specialists with nearly—or over—a century of combat.
'Focus on my job!'
Bang!
I kicked off the ground and charged.
[Whoa?! Fast!]
I overtook the startled Gatsu in an instant, crossing the ruins in one stride. A narrow road and quaint buildings appeared.
"Hurry to the shelters!"
"Evacuate!"
Alien tongues translated via the mercenary badge into my ears.
For reference, untranslated sounds were like this.
"Woof! Woof woof!"
"Meowwww!"
"Baa~!"
"Wow... knew it, but still."
Animals dressed in clothes ran along the road.
Not beastmen.
They wore clothes like humans, walked on two legs like humans, but their forms were fully animal.
And small—average height barely topping 60 cm.
'This is Lute, the famous resort planet.'
Commonly known as Jutopia.
Kaboom!
"Hahaha!"
"Damn it! Fire! Keep firing! Don't retreat!"
"But we can't hold it!"
Animal soldiers armed with advanced weapons bombarded wildly. But neither laser barrages nor protective barriers worked.
"Th-that monster...!"
"How with just one sword...!"
Dobermans in military uniforms swallowed hard. They pulled triggers nonstop, firing lasers, but no attack breached the protective aura.
"Hold until Power Force arrives!"
"Damn! Not enough firepower! Any more Giggas?"
"All destroyed! This is everything we've got!"
Overhearing Dobermans and Pitbull Terriers, I advanced.
Dogs finally spotted me and yelped.
"Monster!?"
"No, human. That ID code... space mercenary!"
I kicked the ground. Drew the magic sword Hyperion from inventory and charged the man massacring cute animals.
Clang—!
The clash of sword auras split the earth.
"Grk!? Who the hell are you...!"
Aura power was even. But physical performance, especially strength, wasn't.
Thud!
Locked swords in a strength contest, his body yielded helplessly.
Amid surging joy, I grinned wide.
"Nice to meet you."
Perfect timing.
"Demon Sword King."
I'd draw another Hyperion.
And thus, make a spare sword with combat sockets filled.