Chapter 168
Chapter 168
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 168
Chapter Title: The Superhuman Summit
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Superhuman Summit.
Superhuman Summit.
They called it a summit, but in truth, it was more like a gathering of superhumans.
That said, riffraff weren't welcome.
Only vice-captains from each superhuman unit or equivalents qualified to attend.
Given its informal nature, the Superhuman Summit covered a wide range of topics.
Everything from casual chit-chat to intel on their respective frontlines, newly emerged alien species, and more.
Anything superhuman-related could make the agenda.
But the Superhuman Summit wasn't held often.
Just once every three years.
Even then, irregularly, and with frontline duties tying people up, attendance was spotty at best.
Still, it was crucial because it offered the rare chance to meet face-to-face with the era's biggest names.
'Where else are you gonna see superhumans of that caliber?' Superhumans stayed busy.
They spent over 330 days a year at their posts.
The only way out for a superhuman was if the aliens vanished—but that future looked pitch black.
And vice-captains and above rarely ventured out.
Which made the Superhuman Summit the one place they actually showed up in person.
"I hear even the captain qualifies."
"I got a message not long ago asking if I'd attend. I put off replying since I wasn't sure about my schedule..."
"As long as nothing like this mess happens again, you'll have the time."
Colonel Lungren was right.
My schedule was looser than most superhumans'.
I'd been tied up briefly by the swarm assaults and Beholders, but before that, paperwork was the only thing keeping me busy.
'I have to go.'
No two ways about it.
Even if solidifying my influence on the Styx Front mattered, opportunities like this didn't come often.
Miss it, and it'd be at least three years.
In the original story, these titans of the era only showed up mid-game onward—no connections for me then.
Plus, no need to worry about leaving the Styx Front empty.
Just attending would boost my name, earning me the credibility I needed.
"Think it over. Commander Revel views your attendance positively too."
"Really?"
"No matter how new the frontline is, what's the point if your partner's rep is lightweight? The heavier your name weighs, the more clout our words carry."
"I hadn't considered that."
Colonel Lungren's words woke me up.
'Right, there's that issue.'
Being sent to the Styx Front as a mere 'provisional superhuman unit' could make it seem like the danger there was overhyped to outsiders.
Even if it wasn't true, no guaranteeing it wouldn't sway the coalition's decisions forever.
'They promised two years, but sooner the better.'
The more merits we racked up, the quicker it'd come.
"Don't take it the wrong way—just saying."
"Understood."
"...It's late. Let's call it. I'll head out first."
The commanders rose and left.
An attendant guided me to the docked shuttle.
Time for another patrol.
*
A chilling pain pierced my mind.
Like my brain was being yanked apart.
Even after repeating it so often, this agony never got any easier.
"Urgh... that's it for now...?"
I clutched my throbbing head and reined in my senses.
Then marked spots on the map before me.
Unverified sites spotted this patrol.
"Here."
"Thanks."
I took the drink Roze handed me and scanned the surroundings.
The high-speed assault ship's interior came into view.
To minimize distance, I sat at the lowest point, right up against the hull.
"You found more again. This is seriously convenient."
"Aside from me doing all the suffering..."
"You'll get better. Brains get stronger with training, like muscles."
"...This is training? You musclehead."
Roze's enthusiastic cheer drained my energy.
"Musclehead! Rude."
"So how do you train brain muscles?"
"Curious? I could teach you."
"...Nah, I'm good."
Nodding felt like it'd lead to something horrific, so I passed.
Still, what really happened if you trained brain muscles?
Looking at Roze, it clearly didn't make you smarter.
Did your hair grow or something?
"Why not? It's great."
"Drop it. Wanna go on a trip next month?"
"T-Trip...?"
Roze blinked at the sudden suggestion, flustered.
"Just us? It's not even vacation time."
"Yep."
Her eyes darted wildly.
Fidgeting hands betrayed her nerves, so I reassured her.
"If you've got stuff to do, no big deal."
"It's not that...!"
"It's for the Superhuman Summit. Need a plus-one—anyone'd do. Asked Merdi, but she said no."
"Oh... okay...?"
She seemed relieved.
But was that a glare? Nah, probably imagining it.
Roze sighed, then spoke like she had no choice.
"I'll go."
"You don't have to force it..."
"I'm going, you glutton."
Glutton? Who knew Roze used that as an insult.
Seeing me freeze, she plopped down opposite, showing interest.
"So what's this Superhuman Summit thing?"
"Where superhumans gather. Mostly big shots."
"Tough ones?"
"Yeah. Minimum vice-captain rank. Lots send proxies 'cause they're busy, but some captains'll be there."
Roze's eyes sparkled with fighting spirit.
No forcing her now—she'd go even if I begged her not to.
"When? How soon?"
"About 35 days left. Factor in travel, we gotta leave within the month."
"Not much time."
"And we'll probably see Sihim and Barton there too?"
Half the reason I wanted to go was them.
'Haven't seen them in forever.'
They were the most important people since coming to this world, but I'd neglected them.
Sure, a year apart wouldn't ruin our bond, but even sworn allies grow distant after a decade.
Then Roze clapped.
"Oh, that's what that meant."
"What?"
"Got a mail from them recently. Ended with 'see you soon,' thought it was just a sign-off. Guess it was about the summit."
"They reached out?"
"Yeah. We message once a month or so?"
"...I see."
I'd only done it three times total.
Why the weird feeling?
'Friends staying in touch—nothing wrong with that.'
Roze hadn't contacted me after becoming a superhuman, even chewed me out for it when we reunited on Clotho.
Given that, of course she'd kept it up steadily.
"One month left? Hmm..."
Suddenly, Roze fell deep in thought.
She kept glancing me over.
I waited, clueless, until she broached it obliquely.
"We might not have enough time."
"For what?"
"All tough guys there, right?"
"Yeah."
"Then Lemon's gotta measure up."
"...I think I'm strong enough."
I knew where this was going—my voice shook.
"Hmm... you really think so?"
"Maybe? Compared to graduation, I've grown a ton physically and in combat experience."
"True. But pure skill, stripping that away?"
Words caught in my throat.
'What do I have?'
I'd gained plenty.
The sense to detect aliens I still used, Beholder energy absorption, simplified crimson cannon, biometal bone traits, etc.
All boosted my power.
But without them? What was left?
Had my core martial arts truly advanced?
'Barely any change.'
My style had focused on leveraging my arsenal.
No choice there.
Abilities others struggled to get even two of.
Master them, and I'd grow fast—no need for more.
Like reaching for tasty food first.
Same principle.
But I'd neglected the basics.
Roze nailed it.
"It's not the wrong path. Just that without honing your raw skill, you'll hit a ceiling."
"Ceiling..."
"Right? No matter how good the seasoning, it can't beat a perfectly grilled chicken wing."
Got it.
Totally got it, but why the cheap analogy?
I burst out laughing.
"...Pfft!"
"D-Don't laugh! I racked my brain for that...!"
"I get it. Stick to the basics, yeah?"
"Yeah. And with all those tough guys? You're our leader—can't have you ignored."
"Thanks. For thinking that far ahead. But with only a month left, how am I supposed to level up? Think it happens on a whim?"
Compared to Roze, I was nothing special, but I was still a skilled martial artist.
Polishing that in just thirty days to the next level? Near impossible.
Everyone knew it took red-belt masters—saber level—an average of fifty years to advance.
Me, only three years in? Absurd.
Roze nodded like she got it, then spoke.
"I don't expect miracles. You're not a pure martial artist like me—can't hope for too much."
"Then?"
"At least learn to handle your body properly."
"...Thought I'd passed that stage."
"Joking, right?" For a second, Roze's voice chilled me.
That wasn't a smile.
Lips curved, but she was pissed.
'Too careless.'
Forgot Roze brooked no compromise on martial arts.
I forced my stiff jaw to move.
"Of course joking. You just stressed basics."
"Good. Was worried you'd regressed, not grown."
"Uh..."
"Anyway, don't sweat it. Your changes made it risky before, but now we can tweak things."
The 'changes' meant my biometal bone trait.
My skeleton had been reinforcing through secondary loading.
Using ultra-rare ores from the Black Yak freighter raid and crystalline extracts from the Bishop.
'Better than primary loading by half.'
Not just bones—connected muscles, deep tissues too.
Using original knowledge as 'author,' I'd maxed what Nexter got, reaping huge benefits.
Changes finished recently.
Without secondary loading for the Hive Nest assault, it'd have been way tougher.
Hell, I might've gotten in over my head following the stork.
"So 'tweaking' means...?"
"We did it plenty before. Forgot already?"
Like I'd forget that beatdown training.
Thought with new 'trainees,' I'd be off the hook.
"I know you're busy, so just eight hours a day."
"..."
"Heh. Truth is, you've grown so much, I couldn't handle more anyway."
"N-No, that's plenty."
Plenty? Way more than.
"Then starting today..."
"Wait."
Might as well get it over with.
I stopped Roze as she started to rise.
"Yeah?"
"First, clean up the Hive Nest remnants. I have to be there."
"Oh, right. Tomorrow then."
Roze grinned and stuck out her hand.
Fist with ring and thumb extended.
"Promise."
"...Yeah, promise."
Shackles.
I held back tears and met her hand.
Today, regretted teaching her that gesture.