Chapter 113
Chapter 113
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 113
Chapter Title: Chapter 37 - Northern Black Tortoise Chaldea
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Before Schwarz could be crushed by the water pressure, Luther safely completed the recovery operation and, instead of diving back underwater right away, surfaced once more.
He needed even a brief rest.
[There’s a possibility that mid-tier dragonkin are attempting to observe us from the surroundings.]
It was a reasonable opinion, as expected from Integra, but Luther decided to take the risk.
Even after changing into a new suit and taking all sorts of measures, the accumulated mental fatigue was considerable.
He needed just a short time to bask in the sunlight with his bare face and breathe comfortably.
[Well, it should be fine.]
[We’ve moved a decent distance anyway, and there are no aquatic dragons in sight.]
[We’re also disguised with Schwarz’s camouflage.]
[Moreover, since they shouted Master’s name several times, they must already know about the events in the Malkuth Kingdom.]
[From the Hecatoncheires’ perspective, today’s events have made Master’s full capabilities even more unknowable, so they’ll likely keep their distance and observe for the time being.]
All her points were valid, so Luther nodded a few times before lying back on the cockpit seat of Schwarz, still in Aqua Beetle mode.
‘I want to sleep.’
He wanted to close his eyes and fall into a deep slumber just like this.
But that wouldn’t do.
So, forcing his drooping eyes open, Luther resolved to do something interesting.
Like listening to Integra’s briefing on the fourth fragment.
[Alright, shall we begin now?]
Integra, who had switched back to her teacher persona, asked, and Luther slowly nodded.
At that, Integra created a blackboard in augmented reality and began her explanation.
[The key point is that the fourth fragment is much larger than the previous ones and preserved a vast amount of data—intact data, no less.]
Looking at the blueprint of the fragment on the blackboard, it was clearly different in appearance from the earlier fragments.
It wasn’t a simple cylinder, and including the buried portion, it was nearly five times the size of the previous fragments.
“Did they transform the fragment itself into a drone?”
[Similar, but not quite. The fragment was originally in a drone-like form.]
[Presumably, the fourth fragment is less a piece of the spaceship and more akin to the ‘9th Generation Combat Nanosuit Einherjar’ that Master newly equipped.]
She phrased it as “akin” because there were parts beyond the nanosuit as well.
“Couldn’t it be that a portion of the spaceship carrying the nanosuit broke off along with it?”
[That’s the most likely scenario.]
[In any case, securing Einherjar has revealed facts about the spaceship.]
[The mothership’s information was stored in Einherjar.]
With that, Integra pointed her pointer at the air, forming a model of the spaceship made of light.
A white spaceship shaped like a sharp triangular pyramid.
Despite its simple shape, the complex panel lines and two-tone coloring gave it a sense of packing substantial information, evoking the feel of a small spaceship operated by a handful of crew rather than a battleship for masses.
[According to the data, it’s a 30-meter-long combat vessel.]
[Its name is—]
“Lightseeker.”
Integra blinked in surprise at Luther’s answer, then composed herself and asked,
[A ship from Star Savior?]
“Yeah, the second ship Luther boards. A sort of follow-up base.”
In Star Savior, the final ship Luther boarded was the predecessor civilization’s ultimate weapon, ‘Lost Ship Mistilteinn,’ but Lightseeker’s existence held significant meaning in itself.
‘It’s a clue to pinpoint when Luther arrived on this planet.’
Luther Lightseeker, one of Star Savior’s protagonists, arrived on the planet of Dragon Hunter Origin—right before Dragon Hunter Origin begins.
So, at what point did Luther come to this planet?
Right before Star Savior starts? Mid-story? Or after the final battle?
“At the very least, it’s after the mid-game.”
Lightseeker and Einherjar proved it.
Both were elements obtained only after the mid-game.
“Well, that’s just the gist for now.”
In truth, this alone wasn’t enough to pinpoint the exact timing.
In Star Savior, Luther continued using Lightseeker even after acquiring his final form, Lost Ship Mistilteinn, by combining them.
‘But if it’s after the final battle…’
Then perhaps not just Lightseeker, but Mistilteinn itself might exist somewhere on this planet?
Of course, it was mere speculation for now.
Even if it existed, its condition was unknown.
[But you can’t help feeling excited about it—that’s human psychology, right?]
Lost Ship Mistilteinn.
A decisive battle weapon from the Star Savior universe that rivaled—no, surpassed—the Sword Emperor’s Eight Divine Armaments.
A miraculous warship born from the lost technology of a predecessor civilization before the Galactic Federation.
Luther nodded at Integra’s voice, tinged with excitement as if her heart were pounding, and said,
“Still, I’m grateful enough for just Einherjar right now.”
The nanosuit Luther had worn before was closer to “general-purpose” than “combat-oriented,” despite Integra’s modifications.
But Einherjar was a true combat nanosuit, developed for battle as befitting the name “Warrior of God.”
Thus, a clear gap existed beyond mere performance differences.
[And…]
Integra trailed off, pursing her lips and looking at Luther with expectant eyes. Luther chuckled and gave her what she wanted.
“Dragon Burst is there too.”
[Hehehe.]
Integra smiled at Luther’s words but then shrugged boastfully.
[Ahem, well… it’s nothing that impressive?]
Her expression, tone, and voice were completely at odds with her words, but that only made it cuter, so Luther just laughed, preparing to shower her with mindless praise.
But perhaps sensing his intent, Integra turned serious and said,
[However, Master, with great power comes great responsibility, and Dragon Burst has its weaknesses.]
[As an overboost that abnormally raises output, it strains the Triple Drive system itself right after use, preventing normal output for a while.]
[Especially if you use Spiral too, output drops to nearly 50% of normal for a bit after Dragon Burst’s effective time ends.]
It was a significant penalty, but it made sense.
Dragon Burst was that powerful.
Dragon Burst was a technique that overboosted the Dragon Heart.
In other words, equipping a stronger Dragon Heart would yield far higher output than the base Dragon Burst.
[It’s a bit regrettable we missed Calyot, in hindsight.]
Considering stability, running four Dragon Hearts simultaneously was impossible for now, but replacing one low-tier dragonkin Dragon Heart with a mid-tier one would have been feasible.
“Let’s not be too greedy. We survived, didn’t we? And we’ve gotten much stronger.”
Integra nodded in agreement at Luther’s words, then raised a finger and said,
[I award one shop point to the master with such an excellent character.]
[Just a few more, and you’ll hit 10 points?]
“Oh, so at 10 points, I finally learn what the reward is?”
[Um… probably?]
Integra grinned slyly at Luther’s question, erased the ‘Lightseeker’ projection, and pointed back at the blackboard.
[Back to the main topic: besides Einherjar, we gained two major things.]
[One is the teleportation system you’ve already experienced, and the other is successfully activating the fourth core system.]
[Activating the fourth core boosted overall specs and unlocked various systems, but listing them all would just go in one ear and out the other for Master, so I’ll skip that and focus on the teleporter.]
As expected of his support AI, Integra knew Luther well.
Luther nodded, and Integra raised both hands like a scale.
[As you’ve probably seen in Star Savior, material teleportation is now possible.]
[Not anything anywhere indiscriminately—just teleporting Master’s registered gear to Master.]
It was similar to yet different from spatial leap magic.
Living beings couldn’t be teleported, only pre-registered gear to Luther, and only within a certain range.
But its utility was tremendous.
As shown in the fight with Calyot, he could instantly equip desired gear without transport hassle.
‘In short, it’s the game’s inventory system.’
From now on, he didn’t need to carry gear personally—he could load it onto Schwarz.
“Of course, it guzzles energy?”
[Unfortunately. But there’s room for improvement here.]
[Worst case, slap on a few more Dragon Hearts, and it’s solved.]
“Hmm, sounds a tad ethically dicey, but point taken.”
Integra chuckled at Luther’s reaction and explained a few more changes. Overall, it seemed acquiring the fragment had greatly enhanced her computational power and data interpretation.
“Hey, then…”
[Then?]
Integra tilted her head questioningly, and Luther flushed slightly, averting his gaze as he stammered,
“No, I mean… I was wondering if that got extended too.”
That.
Extension.
Integra blinked at Luther’s question, then blushed, facing him with a mix of shyness and desire.
[What do you mean?]
[I don’t understand what you’re talking about.]
Her voice dripped with feigned innocence, making Luther realize he’d stepped on a landmine, but there was no helping it.
Actually, on second thought, was this even something to be embarrassed about?
But what came out of Luther’s mouth was awkward once more.
“You know, that thing. That.”
Anyway, that thing.
The one you already know.
The one you’re pretending not to.
Integra toyed with pretending a bit longer before bursting into laughter.
[Oh, that? You mean that?]
“Yeah, that.”
[LOL, look at Master getting all embarrassed.]
[Your face is totally red, you know?]
Yours is too, right now.
But instead of pointing it out, Luther just gave her a slight side-eye. Integra giggled, then cleared her throat as if suddenly shy.
[21 seconds.]
[Up by 7 seconds, now 21.]
[A huge leap forward, right?]
Indeed.
From the initial 7 seconds, it had tripled.
“Ahem, I see.”
[Ahem, yes.]
A brief silence followed.
Unable to bear it, Luther donned his visor again and said,
“Anyway, shall we get going? You know where Northern Black Tortoise Chaldea is?”
[Yes, Master. Of course.]
Integra, still chuckling, erased the augmented reality images and displayed the navigation to Northern Black Tortoise Chaldea.
“Hmm… then, let’s go?”
[LOL, yes, let’s. Master.]
With that, Integra positioned herself behind Luther as if boarding the Aqua Beetle, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist.
21 seconds.
The distinct presence of Integra felt through his back.
Luther gazed at her hands around his waist for a moment, then smiled faintly and set the Aqua Beetle in motion.
The direction: south.
Toward the submarine tunnel mentioned by Northern Black Tortoise.