Chapter 78
Chapter 78
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: Clotho's Defiance
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"I'll preserve some of your assets."
"That's not enough."
"It's a demand based on the Grand Principle. We've sent warnings multiple times. We're done talking."
"...Damn it! That goddamn Grand Principle! Isn't that just a law you bastards made up on your own? Do you have any idea how much I've lost because of this? I'm as good as ruined already! And yet...!"
The Grand Principle.
It had been mentioned in passing before, but after the Aliens appeared, it took on a precise meaning.
It was the constitution named: 'Members of the Human Alliance spare no effort in opposing the Aliens.'
This even infringed on the most basic rights of individual humans.
Yet the Human Alliance had no choice but to act under the Grand Principle.
The early days of the Alien invasion had left humanity on the brink of extinction.
In the end, the Human Alliance wielded this Grand Principle to do whatever was necessary, and that's how they protected humanity.
'A nose ring if it gets caught on your nose, an earring if on your ear.'
But from the victim's perspective, it was a law that inevitably drew complaints.
Especially since most of those affected were 'the haves.'
Would the wealthy really hand over their possessions without compensation?
People with possessions cling to them more fiercely than those without.
And the head of the Clotho family was no different.
"Are you refusing?"
"Try me! You think I'll just sit here and take it?"
He gestured.
At his signal, the armed soldiers who'd accompanied him rushed into the reception room, surrounding us.
I eyed their armament.
'Impressive. Where'd they get this stuff?'
They were heavily equipped.
Several recognizable pieces were renowned anti-personnel weapons, and the unfamiliar ones looked just as formidable.
No way they assembled this on the fly.
They'd clearly planned this from the start, waiting for us.
Zzzt!!
That wasn't all.
As the armed forces took position, a barrier rose around the reception room, isolating the interior from the exterior.
Then, a barrier similar to those used in training arenas formed along the inside of the shield.
A transparent secondary barrier also separated us from the armed forces.
It crackled with enough current to suggest deadly consequences if touched.
'Completely sealed us in.'
I had to admit it.
They'd put real effort into this.
Once the barriers were fully up, the armed soldiers grew bolder.
They aimed their weapons at us, threatening to fire at any moment.
Tana slowly scanned the surroundings, then spoke again once the changes settled.
"Hostile actions against a superhuman on official duty are punished severely. You know that, right?"
The response came through the speaker.
Clotho's smug voice rang in our ears.
-Superhuman my ass! How long do you think we'll keep fearing superhumans?
"This is really going to end badly for you..."
-Take you out and vanish. Think you can find me in this vast universe!
By the end, he was practically screaming.
At this point, there was no turning back for him.
"Haa..."
Tana let out a deep sigh.
"...Things just keep getting messier."
"Does this happen often?"
"You know it."
Tana's voice remained calm.
No trace of tension.
'As expected from the Central Superhuman Unit.'
If the superhuman here had been some low-tier nobody, Clotho's scheme might have worked.
But Tana Silva was from the Central Superhuman Unit.
A top-tier operative who assisted Darmosa up close.
With my Core Weapon, I figured there'd be no surprises anyway.
'Might as well watch the senior in action.'
I was settling in to spectate when Tana suddenly nudged me.
"What're you doing?"
"...Pardon?"
"We need to see what our newbie can do."
Ah, so that's how it is.
Looking at Tana's grin, it finally clicked.
'Well, it is a good opportunity.'
Still, I had no desire to tangle with these armed grunts.
Aliens were one thing, but these were fellow humans.
I knew I'd have to get blood on my hands someday, but not today.
"Um..."
Tana eyed me expectantly.
The soldiers hesitated on a preemptive strike, waiting, but they wouldn't hold off forever.
I reexamined the double barrier enclosing us.
'Should be doable...'
Crank up the output, and one shot ought to suffice.
I finished my calculations and raised my left arm overhead.
"R3D3. Type 2."
-Transforming to Type 2. Beep!
R3D3 wrapped around my left arm.
Once fully encased in its robotic body, my left arm swelled to nearly 3 meters long and thick, control released.
"Ooh...?"
Tana let out a small sound of admiration at the sight.
The armed soldiers tensed up, startled by the sudden move.
Since I was aiming at the ceiling, they held off on action.
-Idiot! You think that'll break through?
Ignoring Clotho's voice, I kept ramping up the output.
Too strong, and excess energy could cause unintended damage.
Energy from the horn converted to explosive force, building steadily.
My muscles writhed nonstop, struggling to contain the gathered power.
But I kept feeding in drive until I reached the desired level.
'R3D3's support is perfect too.'
The clothed R3D3 absorbed the heat and vibrations from my arm.
This should stabilize even long-range bombardment.
After that buildup, I hit peak output.
Amid Clotho's ongoing rant, I unleashed the power in my left arm.
KABOOM!!
The blast shattered the double barrier in one go.
The remaining force punched through the ceiling, soaring into the sky, breaching the atmosphere, and streaking into space.
'...A bit overkill.'
By the time I had that thought, chaos reigned in the reception room.
"Uwaaagh...!"
"E-Earthquake!"
The barrier's destruction sent shockwaves rippling through the building.
The violent tremors knocked the armed soldiers flat, and the generators linked to the barriers overloaded and exploded, collapsing the ground below and triggering a mild quake.
Naturally, the house crumbled.
Tana and I escaped the collapsing structure.
After we emerged, survivors began crawling out from the debris one by one.
Clotho emerged unscathed too, helped by his attendants.
He was covered head to toe in dust, his hair turned stark white.
"............"
Too stunned to speak even upon seeing us.
Tana smirked at his state and spoke.
"Want to go again?"
Clotho shook his head.
His face was pale with terror.
'That should do it.'
No way he'd come at us again looking like that.
Then Tana suddenly poked me.
"Pass."
"Ah, thank you."
"But I didn't know you had an ability like that. Wasn't in your profile."
"Well..."
How to explain?
No intent to hide it, but no easy way to describe.
"...Never mind. We'll talk later. Let's clean up first."
Tana started walking.
And so, the head of Clotho's petty rebellion was quelled.
*
Superhumans are strong.
But organizations are stronger.
Even the mightiest individual has limits, and superhumans are no exception.
That's why plenty of people underestimated superhumans.
This trend especially grew among powerful groups facing survival threats from Aliens, as they began building their own militaries.
Until now, it hadn't surfaced much.
Too busy fighting Aliens to sabotage allies with internal strife.
But lately, things had changed.
The fourth defensive line had been breached, but for nearly 20 years prior, they'd held the front.
Even after the breach, they'd swiftly established a new line in the Triple Link region.
To the power brokers, this was a signal.
Ah, now we can pursue our interests without restraint.
The power players began dreaming new dreams.
Ways to solidify their influence outside the stifling single system of the Human Alliance.
Not ready for open rebellion yet, so quietly from the shadows.
Their amassed forces had reached a level that bred confidence.
But one unresolved issue remained.
Superhumans.
The epitome of asymmetric warfare.
No matter how formidable their stockpiled military, a single superhuman could turn the tables disastrously.
Naturally, the power brokers racked their brains for countermeasures.
"This is pretty decent. Mind if I take it?"
"Go ahead."
Tana replied nonchalantly.
I was surprised checking the confiscated gear.
'Better than expected.'
Lots of weapons I'd never seen.
Some even felt threatening despite my Core Weapon.
Underestimating them could've led to embarrassment.
"You sure? I can dispose of them as I like?"
"Headquarters has way better stuff. These'll look like toys by comparison."
"Urgh..."
A groan escaped me.
"Got tense?"
"Not dangerous?"
"Not really. The truly dangerous ones don't cause much trouble. They cooperate just fine."
Meaning Clotho was amateurish.
'Fair point.'
Moirai's planetary rulers were upstart power brokers.
Rich folks who'd lost control with their short history and wealth, banding together over the Triple Link region's potential, evolving into a dominant force.
Lacking depth as a result.
Compared to 'true' elites, their actions were clumsy and radical.
"Ah, headache."
"...More business?"
Clotho was currently detained.
Hostility toward a superhuman meant severe punishment.
Likely lose most of his assets.
But nothing worse.
The Human Alliance needed the planetary rulers' support to stabilize the defensive lines.
Push too hard, and other rulers might turn completely, hurting us more.
"Plenty left. The next one's the real deal."
"Where?"
"Lachesis family."
Lachesis.
One of Moirai's planetary rulers, like Clotho.
But not quite the same.
'The most influential.'
The planet owned by House Lachesis served as the capital in the Triple Link region.
Hence the most developed, with the largest Drive Gate.
"Ah, Lachesis."
"You know them?"
"...Just what anyone would."
I clamped my mouth shut to avoid seeming pretentious.
She didn't seem to care.
"...Yeah? Anyway, they were reasonable before, but suddenly flipped."
"Reason?"
"Guesses, but nothing solid. No talking now."
In my final semester, RTA Tactics gave me deep intel on the region.
Including Lachesis, the planetary ruler, and their house.
'Heard they were pretty moderate.'
As the de facto leader, less radical than others.
Actively fostering Human Alliance ties, handling this unrest well.
But if Tana was right, they'd turned.
'Hold on...?'
Mid-thought, something clicked.
The 'list' from the principal.