Chapter 171
Chapter 171
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 171
Chapter Title: Superhuman Summit
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After meeting Saladian, we headed to the waiting room.
We killed time there until the meeting drew near, then set off again.
Inside the conference room we entered was a single round table.
It was so massive it could easily seat a hundred people.
But there were empty spots everywhere, making it look mostly deserted.
Only eight people had arrived before us.
'The turnout's lower than expected. Or maybe it's just early.'
It was premature to be disappointed over a mere eight attendees.
I scanned the faces and was inwardly surprised.
'They're all big names from the superhuman units.'
First up was the woman whose hair was styled like a work of art.
It looked just like she was wearing a crown, with the rest cascading down past her waist.
She wore neat Eastern garb of indeterminate origin, her skin strikingly pale—a beauty.
With such a unique look, there was no mistaking her identity.
'Gongseungsimeum Ring Ring. Captain of Sancheonrim.'
One of the captains active on the front lines.
She had plenty of descriptors, but being on the front lines said it all.
She'd come alone, with no one sitting next to her.
On the opposite side, three people sat together.
The one who caught my eye was the man in the middle.
Short, maybe 160 cm, but behind him loomed a glaive over three times his height.
The blade and pole were one seamless piece, etched with indecipherable runes.
His face was average, but the glaive gave him away.
'The chatterbox Gideon. Seems he's in silent mode now.'
Gideon was infamous for rambling nonstop once he started.
His ability strengthened the less he spoke, so he kept himself well in check.
The glum look was probably from the agony of holding his tongue.
'With Ring Ring and Gideon in the same room, I've already seen the highlights.'
I turned to check out the remaining three.
But Roze tugged at my sleeve.
"Not sitting?"
"...Oh!"
Only then did I realize I'd been standing the whole time.
No assigned seats, so I picked a spot somewhat apart and sat.
A voice called out.
"You look awfully young. Sure you're in the right place?"
It came from a man across the table, legs crossed.
He had one companion, who stood diagonally behind like a servant in a strictly vertical relationship—didn't even sit.
'To be in the conference room means at least vice-captain rank.'
That attitude was baffling.
But I knew one person who could pull it off.
'El Hazad's prince, El Quaisa? The one behind must be the knight order captain.'
They were a special bunch.
They saw themselves not as superhumans but as knights of the El Hazad Order, prioritizing their kingdom's defense over humanity as a whole.
They could attend the superhuman summit because the El Hazad Order was an independent unit like my Golden Fleet.
They didn't run it entirely on private funds, though.
The Alliance covered half the costs, so they cooperated just enough—but they were loudmouths for sure.
"What, cat got your tongue? Can't even introduce yourself?"
"Those two are the protagonists of the recent solo Hive Nest raid."
"Who asked you?!"
El Quaisa whipped around and barked at his subordinate.
The knight captain didn't flinch—clearly routine—and bowed.
"My apologies."
"Whatever. Names?"
"The man is Leonard, direct lineage of the Monarch family. He's currently interim captain, with high odds of formal appointment soon."
"Interim captain, huh? And the one next to him."
"Roze, no family name. Interim vice-captain, a martial artist of exceptional talent."
"Hm, pretty face and talent to boot... Hey!"
El Quaisa suddenly leaned forward, raising his voice.
He was calling Roze.
"Yeah, you! Roze, right? Come under me. You've got potential—I'll look after you."
"..."
"Better than sticking with that nobody. My El Quaisa knights would suit you way more."
"What did you... ?!"
Roze looked incredulous, then flinched.
She glanced at me for permission.
She was pissed but unsure if she should snap back.
I pondered it myself.
'I figured something like this would happen.'
The superhuman summit was no ordinary meeting.
No polite chit-chat and bonding here.
More like territorial beasts gathering to bare their fangs and growl.
'Staying quiet will just get us looked down on.'
The way to shut down provocations like that was to show some force of our own.
I gave a slight nod of approval.
But Roze didn't get the chance.
"Can't even mind your place."
The conference room door opened, and in strode a man with a massive greatsword slung over his shoulder.
The air grew heavy instantly.
All eight already inside tensed up toward the newcomer.
I was no exception.
'Bashmut.'
Unmistakable.
The current strongest, and he'd hold that spot for years to come.
A key figure in the original story, deeply entangled with the protagonist.
As Bashmut advanced, slowly pressing with his presence, El Quaisa glared wordlessly.
"Remove that look right now, or I'll carve your eyes out."
He'd do it if he said it.
But El Quaisa couldn't swallow his pride, refusing to turn away easily.
Just before blood could spill.
The knight captain stepped between them.
"Please spare him this time. Our prince didn't offend you that badly, did he?"
"A filthy rat coveting treasure is crime enough."
"So, you'll resort to force?"
Their eyes locked.
The knight captain didn't yield an inch, even before Bashmut.
And as the captain said, El Quaisa hadn't truly slighted Bashmut, so it might pass.
But the next moment, Bashmut swung down the greatsword from his shoulder.
A monstrous slash!
Incredible weight, yet too fast for my eyes to fully track.
"Urgh...!"
The knight captain blocked it.
Pushed back pathetically, but he stood firm, ready for the next.
"That'll do. You've got the qualifications."
Bashmut eyed the knight captain, then turned away.
He picked up a toppled chair from the shockwave and sat.
"Same as always."
Ring Ring muttered low.
She'd anticipated it, shielding her area from the blast.
The rest were covered in dust.
"Wow..."
Roze, unfazed, sparkled with excitement.
Squirming in her seat, clearly fired up by Bashmut's slash.
'No point stopping her now.'
Whatever wild move she might pull, I let it be for the moment.
Once stimulated this much, it was pointless anyway.
The summit was like that by nature.
"Haha, looks like some folks beat us here."
Right on time, a crowd poured in.
Saladian from earlier, Heavy Tank Rhino who'd approved our attendance, captains and vice-captains from various units.
Finally, Sahim and Barton appeared together.
"Ah...!"
Roze spotted them, eyes widening as she jumped up and ran over.
"Sahim! Barton! Long time!"
"Long time."
I followed and greeted them.
The awkward reunion thawed with the warmth of our clasped hands.
I guided them to seats, asking briefly after them.
"No trouble?"
"Trouble aplenty. Same for you guys, I'm sure."
"Haha, we'll catch up later."
Looking around once seated, total attendees: 37.
Mostly pairs, so about twenty units represented.
'Not a bad turnout.'
Low compared to all superhuman units, but average for this—nothing to lament.
Everyone settled, time passed.
Then an unused door opened, and Darmosa and Tana entered.
"Ah, why so many? Don't you all have work?"
Darmosa scanned the room, chattering.
Light words for the host.
But attendees fired back casually, like old habit.
"Why'd we come if not called?"
"You think I wanted to?"
Lively atmosphere.
Darmosa bantered, asked questions, took jabs—time flowed that way.
Realizing it wouldn't change, everyone got it.
This was the superhuman summit.
'But it covers what's needed. Listen if you want.'
Such an atmosphere only worked with Darmosa.
His long years of dedication earned universal respect.
A position of honor beyond raw power.
Sadly, no such scene in the original.
"Oh, all our rookies showed up. Most of you don't know each other—give a wave."
"Waving? You're joking, right?"
Formal tone for the official setting.
Darmosa grinned at my reply.
"Joking? Dead serious. They know the stories even if not the faces. These two broke a Hive Nest with just three people."
"That true?"
"Party's here. Ask 'em yourself."
Gathering eyes like that, huh.
Over half had been zoning out; now all focused.
El Quaisa too.
He opened his mouth to speak but remembered earlier, glanced at Bashmut, and shut it.
"Hm, I can't buy it."
Then a voice pierced the silence.
A hulking man with an angular face.
Heavy Tank Rhino.
"Didn't they say first-year official superhumans? Potential's one thing, but this? No way. How do you swallow that bullshit."
"What can't you buy? Jealous 'cause you couldn't pull it off?"
"What, picking a fight, pup?"
"Fight my ass. Evidence is ironclad, and you're calling it crap—your thick skull's the problem."
Someone jumped to our defense.
Less fondness for us, more itch to bicker.
"Rho's right. Gullible to buy shaky intel. No offense, but what were you doing year one? Probably wiping alien asses."
"Watch that loose mouth." It grew rowdy.
Even the observers chimed in, voices rising.
Parties involved stayed quiet, though.
Darmosa sat like he couldn't care less, staring at his wrist.
'Off in his own world.'
Hobby time during the lull, probably.
With the host idle, arguments escalated wildly.
Hard to believe these were all captains and vice-captains—pure trash talk.
It boiled to standing and fists about to fly.
"I'll get you-"
"Nice swing-"
Sudden silence fell.
Mouths still moved, but no sound emerged.
Bickers noticed, frowning toward one person.
"Quiet down."
A clear voice cut through the hush.
Ring Ring.
Her ability had devoured all sound.
Can't argue without words.
They shut up, faces sour.
Rhino, alone with fist raised, sat back sheepishly.
Sound returned.
'Real fight-happy bunch.'
I let a wry smile slip.