Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Kill the Alien
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Energy Vessel.
The meat sizzles on the grill, and a greasy aroma begins to fill the inside of the nest.
But even this is starting to feel a bit tiresome after eating it nonstop.
It's already been seven days for me.
Time spent grilling nothing but raw meat for every single meal, with no changes in seasoning or cooking methods.
I desperately miss the gochujang waiting back in my dorm.
"So, like..."
Luckily, I didn't need to lead the conversation.
Roze was spilling every single story from during the test right next to Merdi, who was eating slowly but steadily.
After hearing everything up to yesterday's events, she looked at us.
"You're the one who healed me?"
I just shrugged.
I couldn't reveal that I'd used the healing solution.
Especially not the fact that it was basically my saliva—that secret had to go with me to the grave.
"You did well."
"Huh?"
An unexpected word popped out of Merdi's mouth.
Since I hadn't even thought about any quid pro quo from her, I looked at her in slight surprise.
But Merdi avoided my gaze and turned her head to Yun Ji-hye.
"You touched my clothes?"
"Uh, um?"
"If you're gonna do it, do it right. What is this? It's not even rags."
Yun Ji-hye looked like she was about to cry.
To me, those clothes had looked like trash, so repairing them that well in such a short time seemed impressive.
Fortunately, the wrap-up went smoothly this time too.
"Next time, do better. Not that there'll be a next time."
"Ah, no! If I get another chance, I'll do even better!"
Yun Ji-hye was overflowing with pointless enthusiasm.
Even if she did her best, she wouldn't get much reward.
I clicked my tongue inwardly.
Still, it was a heartwarming end, unlike what I'd braced for with potential drama.
Merdi was the one I was actually worried about.
This incident must have been quite a shock, since her voice tone hadn't risen once.
Was that Merdi actually feeling down?
'...No way.'
Roze stuck close to Merdi the whole time.
Staying that way until the practical test ended seemed to be bringing back some of her usual self.
Unlike the end of the first semester when we'd gotten urgent missions, we were able to return to the dorms leisurely.
*
"Huaaah! That was long..."
Roze stretched as she vented her feelings.
The moment she got off the shuttle, she'd headed straight for the cafeteria.
Only after a storm of a meal did she seem to come back to her senses, leaning back in her chair.
"Did everyone do well on the test?"
"We'll know once we see the results."
Barton, who'd joined late, answered while devouring his ice cream.
According to what Roze had said while eating, Barton had hunted three high-risk species.
Considering the distances between high-risk zones, he must have moved incredibly diligently.
Especially since he'd had to locate them himself, it was clear he'd suffered far more than me, who'd had it easy.
"You think you can get first place?"
"Not sure. I wasted too much time traveling. The fog made visibility tough too."
The west side had bad conditions too.
Compared to the northern swamp or the southern semi-desert terrain, it was no walk in the park.
'Ah, so the central zone was the better choice after all.'
I'd chosen center based on prior info before the test, but it was fair to call it good luck.
I nodded in agreement with Barton.
In any case, taking down three high-risk species under those conditions was undeniably impressive.
Yun Ji-hye, who'd been listening quietly, spoke up.
"After the sand, it's outing period again."
"Oh, right. This one's pretty long, huh?"
"First semester it was outings, but this time it feels more like vacation."
"Vacation? Feels like I'm back in high school."
After even-numbered semesters that wrap up the year, the outing period is on the longer side.
Even poor grades get two weeks; top scores can stretch to a month.
Usually, it's about three weeks.
That's enough time to go back and forth to pretty much anywhere from Cradle of Heroes Academy.
"Ji-hye, what are you doing during the outing?"
"Me? Going home, of course. I miss my family."
"...Ah, family."
Roze, who had nothing particular to say about family, trailed off.
The rest of us were the same.
Among us, Yun Ji-hye was the only one with a good relationship with her family.
Merdi had been abandoned by hers (though she thought she'd abandoned them), and Roze only had her grandfather, her martial arts master, as her sole acquaintance.
Then there was Barton's family—they all had personalities similar to his.
I suspected it was because of their ice-manipulating abilities, but while none were as strong as Barton, they all had pretty cold demeanors and minimal interaction.
Less like blood relatives, more like dealing with business partners.
'Still, their hearts aren't bad.'
Truth be told, it just looked that way on the surface.
From my perspective after spending time with Barton, it seemed like an issue of expression.
The original story didn't reveal much about Barton's family, so there was no way to know for sure.
In any case, he never brought up home at all.
And finally, same for me.
I'd been showing improvement lately, but it was widely known that my relationship with my family had been rocky since the semester started.
"Uh... Did I say something wrong?"
Yun Ji-hye shrank back a bit, sensing the mood.
I couldn't just leave it like that, so I changed the subject.
"Nah. I was just thinking about what to do during my outing."
"What about you, Lemon?"
"Me? More importantly, aren't you doing any dojo raids this time?"
Roze answered the question with a bored look.
"Not fun. The small ones had nothing special, and the famous places wouldn't even face me?"
"So that's why you smashed them all up?"
"They ganged up on me first. It was unfair."
She grumbled in an aggrieved tone.
Knowing she'd smashed every place she challenged alongside Merdi, all I could do was hold back a laugh.
"So this time, I'm thinking of just training alone."
"By yourself?"
"Yeah. I have this itch that needs some time to scratch."
I was stunned inwardly.
Was that time already approaching?
At her current level, getting a core weapon would let her crush everything.
'Come to think of it...'
I'd been living with them, so I hadn't realized, but the group was always progressing.
Barton, Sahm, Merdi—all of them.
Same for me, but instead of closing the gap, it felt like it was widening.
'Jeez...'
We're only twenty now.
An age where you grow just by breathing and eating.
Where would they be a year from now?
"What about you, Barton?"
"I'm going with the family business."
"Because of the succession?"
"No. I can't inherit it. Just for the experience."
"...Ah, right?"
Superhumans aren't forbidden from side jobs.
They just don't have the time.
Superhumans aren't military but are all assigned to the superhuman units under the Human Alliance, treated no different from soldiers.
When deployed to the front lines, they're thrown into every mission, with no time to breathe.
Doing something else on top?
Unless it's a hobby, it's nearly impossible.
'I'll have less and less time to worry about it as things go on.'
Unless Barton retires early, one of his siblings will take over the family business.
"Don't you think it's a waste?"
"The money? No worries. Thanks to you, I'm pretty well set."
"Haha."
"Why you, Lemon?"
"Eh, just something. Next up..."
I glanced at Merdi, then naturally looked away.
No need to ask her.
"Aren't you gonna ask me?"
But apparently that didn't sit well, and she spoke up out of nowhere.
"...I was about to get to you."
"Listen to me first."
"Sure, go ahead..."
I shut my mouth.
Honestly, for Merdi, I'd thought she'd stay in the academy.
Or maybe go shopping on Terra.
She constantly imported accessories and clothes for dressing up from outside, so it was a reasonable guess.
But what I heard was a more surprising plan than expected.
"I'm heading to Yumaha."
"...Yumaha? Ah! Your home planet?"
Roze clapped in reaction.
Yumaha Planet.
One of the planets forming the outermost edge of human civilization, part of the fourth defensive line.
"Right. I heard bugs are infesting my land. So I'm going to clean house."
"Bugs? What's that?"
"You don't need to know."
Merdi answered Roze's question with a wicked smile.
Even when Roze tilted her head and asked again, she didn't say.
'She's not talking about bugs in the literal sense.'
I gave a wry smile.
On Yumaha, Merdi was like a queen.
Not through wealth or politics, but through fear.
They bowed to her out of terror from Roze's ability.
Something possible only on a backwater planet like Yumaha, but impressive nonetheless.
"Tch. Don't wanna say, then don't. What about you, Lemon?"
"Me..."
What should I say?
Things I needed to do came to mind.
Even with the period doubled, the tasks overflowed.
'But it's different from the first semester.'
Martial prowess, influence, wealth.
A lot had changed.
Especially wealth.
The money I could wield was on a whole different level now.
First semester, it was just pocket change for a rich kid.
Now, I was the real owner of the research lab that's the hottest topic in the Human Alliance.
And this world runs on money.
A little thought expands the range of what I can do endlessly.
'Among them, tackle the most important ones first.'
This outing would be hectic too.
*
The semester ended.
Today was the first day outings were permitted.
"Long time no see. You been good?"
I placed my hand on my private shuttle, still boasting its sleek curves, and slowly stroked along the lines.
The body was spotless, maintained by the storage company—no dust anywhere.
My heart pounded.
I opened the door and sat in the cockpit.
The familiar feel and scent of the seat seeped deep into my lungs.
After sitting, running system checks, and requesting takeoff clearance, a moment later...
-You are cleared for takeoff.
I completed the familiar procedures and lifted off.
The powerfully thrumming engines freed the shuttle from the satellite's gravity.
'Alright, first...'
The top priority destination was Terra Planet.
Considering my status as an academy cadet, the Salmon Research Institute was located on Terra too.
Three hours until arrival.
After an enjoyable flight...
The research institute looked exactly as I'd seen in the videos.
A massive dome-shaped building, chosen to minimize internal info leaks.
Expensive to build, but I'd heard it was secure.
Moreover, Salmon specialized in weapon research for automated combat machines.
Fortified thoroughly against intrusions, it couldn't be breached by ordinary forces.
And unless war broke out, it was built to withstand a year or two sealed up, with heavy investment in the internal environment.
'Money well spent.'
In any case, to the outside, Salmon Research Institute's identity was a military weapons lab specializing in automated combat machines.
Probably because Fontana Unte and his outputs skewed that way.
But in reality, that's not what Salmon mainly did.
Automated combat machines were handled by Director Fontana and a few researchers; most others filtered, interpreted, and combined the 'information' Fontana Unte had once vetted.
-Welcome.
The greeter was a robot.
A combat machine model of the War Spider, currently in military supply, deformized just enough to avoid scaring civilians.
Whoever the designer was, it had a pretty cute look.
"I have a reservation."
-I'll check.
"Here."
-Confirmed. Nice to meet you, Leonard. This way, please. My unit name is R3D3. Call me whatever's comfortable.
R3D3?
I'd heard that name somewhere before.
Probably named by Fontana himself.
Likely after that movie I'd chattered about last time.
I followed R3D3 across the lobby.
The lobby was spacious but buzzing with people.
'Ah, those are the people related to that project?'
I'd heard in reports that the factories kept expanding lately, with work exploding.
Most of them were probably involved in that.
As the factories scaled up, shipment units would change too, so it made sense they'd gather like this.