Chapter 47
Chapter 47
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: Salvation in Suffering
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The ‘giant eye’ that appeared on the ceiling began to roll around.
*Beep. Beep. Beep.*
With mechanical movements, like a factory inspector weeding out defective products, it scrutinized the alien beasts one by one.
Among the endless horde of alien beasts, target marks were etched onto the bodies of specific individuals.
As Shin-ju chanted an incantation, dozens of water droplets shimmered and rose from the Old Book.
The droplets grew larger and flew toward the marked alien beasts.
*Swoooosh—*
In an instant, dozens of alien beasts were enveloped in water droplets and floated into the air.
Each time they struggled in mid-air, the collars they wore flashed with a red light.
Having secured the safety of the collared alien beasts, Shin-ju immediately recited the next incantation.
The giant eye had vanished, and the space slowly began to crack as a black hole started to open.
Shin-ju’s party was now protected by a barrier, unaffected by the black hole.
A moment later, a black, viscous fluid dripped down from the air.
Soon after, the mouth of the black hole gaped open.
*Gurgle-gurgle-gurgle.*
Thousands of alien beasts stretched like taffy as they were sucked into the black hole.
*Screech. Screeeech.*
One alien beast clung to the barrier and began to claw at it furiously.
Furen raised her gun, but Sharin stopped her, gesturing for her to wait and see.
The alien beast opened its mouth wide and let out a monstrous shriek.
A desperate will to survive emanated from it.
The alien beast, which had been stretching like taffy, began to break into long, thin pieces like spaghetti noodles.
Before their eyes, the spectacle of the alien beasts being compressed and disintegrated into tiny particles unfolded.
*Shwoooosh.*
As Shin-ju closed the Old Book, the black hole closed simultaneously.
The surroundings fell silent in an instant.
"Ho, impressive."
"That was so satisfying."
Furen's soft voice of admiration and Sharin's mutterings could be heard from the side.
Jekovic looked around warily before speaking to Shin-ju.
"I'm not exactly comfortable with leaving the collared alien beasts here."
Shin-ju looked up at the alien beasts struggling inside the water droplets.
"There's a high chance they're the guard dogs for this place. No need to create an opening by violating the agreement, right?"
Jekovic nodded as if he understood.
"That's true. No need to give them an excuse."
"By the way, Jekovic, did you explain about the alien beast collars to these ladies?"
"Of course. I managed to explain it somehow. At the very least, from what I could gather, they definitely didn't touch the collared ones."
"Okay. Got it."
Shin-ju trusted Jekovic without needing further confirmation.
As Jekovic finished speaking, Furen walked up to Shin-ju.
"Are you the human named Park Shin-ju?"
"Ah, yes! I am."
*Whoosh—*
She removed the goggles and mask she was wearing.
*Sway—*
Her blue bobbed hair fluttered.
Shin-ju's mouth fell open, his eyes wide.
Jekovic, who was behind him, also stared at her blankly, his eyes wide in a daze.
With her swaying bobbed hair, an incredibly beautiful Elf stood tall before them.
Strong, dark eyebrows and sharp eyes that looked resolute.
A high nose and firmly set lips.
Having weathered countless battles across various fronts, she exuded a toughness that no one could imitate.
Furen offered Shin-ju a formal handshake.
For a moment, Shin-ju's eyes widened slightly.
It was a calm reaction amidst his surprise.
*Wait a minute, she knows about ‘handshakes’?*
"I heard about you from Sharin."
Shin-ju casually took the hand Furen offered.
He could feel a firm and powerful strength.
Sharin and Katrin had approached them by then.
"I heard you took good care of our Enri, helping her adapt to Earth. Thank you."
Shin-ju nodded and smiled.
"Don't mention it. I only did what was natural."
Furen glanced down at the Old Book tucked into Shin-ju's belt.
"But... that was incredible. That book you have."
Noticing Shin-ju's troubled expression, Furen quickly reassured him.
"It doesn't seem like a simple object, but if it's difficult to explain, you don't have to."
Shin-ju quickly changed the subject.
He looked up at the transparent cylinder installed next to him.
Inside the cylinder, a female alien was floating, submerged in a light green liquid.
"By the way, who is that? She looks like a local from Bluerobic."
Furen glanced up at the cylinder.
"I don't know who she is either... but she's definitely one of ours."
Furen pursed her lips for a moment as if in thought, then spoke again.
"My guess is that she's someone of high rank who was in urgent need of treatment."
"...Treatment, you say?"
"Yes. Do you know anything about this planet, Taumiel b1?"
"I only know it as a planet where horrific biological experiments are taking place."
Furen nodded at Shin-ju's words.
"That's right. But... it's also an undeniable fact that cures for incurable diseases have come from those 'biological experiments'."
Furen stared at the cylinder with an indifferent expression.
"For some, the existence of this planet... is their last hope."
Shin-ju wore a slightly uncomfortable expression.
"I understand what you mean, but perhaps..."
Furen smiled and looked at Shin-ju.
"I know. I'm not saying I condone biological experiments. It's just that what is terrible suffering for some can be a light of salvation for others."
A flicker of sadness passed through her eyes.
"It's quite ironic, isn't it?"
"So you're saying she likely came here for treatment?"
"That's my feeling. Looking at her, I can somehow feel her pain."
"Wait a minute. Then why did all those alien beasts flock to this place?"
"Ah, right, I should tell you about that."
Furen continued the conversation as if she had just remembered something.
"I lured them. I became the bait."
"...You lured them?"
"Yes. While rescuing my kidnapped comrades, I discovered thousands of alien beasts and was looking for a way to wipe them out in one go."
Furen gazed into the distance.
"And just as you predicted, the collared alien beasts were the guard dogs protecting the alien in that cylinder."
Shin-ju nodded as if it were obvious.
"Ah, so that was it..."
She nodded and looked up at the alien beasts struggling in the water droplets.
"Yes. From those monsters' perspective, I'm the intruder."
Furen turned her head to look at Shin-ju and gave a faint smile.
"Thanks to you, this ended quickly. Thank you again. I was starting to feel a bit overwhelmed."
She expressed her gratitude calmly.
"Not at all."
"Furen."
Sharin called to her from the side.
Furen turned to Sharin with a warm gaze.
For a brief moment, Sharin's gaze softened as well.
"So where are the rest of our comrades now?"
"We found a passage to escape this space."
Furen placed a hand on Sharin's shoulder, as if to tell her not to worry.
"While I was acting as bait for the alien beasts, Kirina led the refugees to that passage."
"Kirina... it's been a while since I've heard that name."
Sharin nodded as if she knew the name.
Her eyes seemed to say that person could be trusted.
"For now, follow me. I know the way."
"Alright."
Sharin and Katrin answered in unison.
Meanwhile, Shin-ju was staring blankly up at the giant cylinder.
*She looks exactly like Kai.*
He recalled the self-portrait resembling Kai that had been hanging in the bookstore before he discovered the pile of corpses.
*Could that woman be one of his family members?*
*What is he involved in?*
Thinking it over again, he found it hard to believe that Kai was entangled in a situation like this.
In a corner of his mind, the image of Kai shyly calling himself a fan still lingered.
Shin-ju recalled what Furen had said just a moment ago.
[Looking at her, I can somehow feel her pain.]
*‘Pain?’*
"Park Shin-ju! What are you doing!"
"Ah, yes!"
At Sharin's call, Shin-ju snapped his head around.
His party had already finished their preparations to leave.
"Yes, I'm coming!"
Shin-ju glanced up at the cylinder one last time before running toward his companions.
Shin-ju's party was walking down a corridor.
It certainly felt much more comfortable now that the alien beasts had been dealt with.
As Shin-ju walked, deep in thought, Furen quietly approached him.
"Park Shin-ju."
Shin-ju turned to look at Furen.
Her face, unlike before, now had a mischievous look.
When Shin-ju gave her a quizzical look, she glanced back at their companions following them, then leaned in close to Shin-ju and muttered.
"I've actually been to Earth once before."
Shin-ju's eyes widened.
"Ah! Is that so?"
"Shh—this is a secret from Sharin and Enri."
Shin-ju glanced back at Sharin before looking at Furen.
"When did you visit?"
"In the year 6754... I was a pretty renowned explorer back in my hometown when I was young."
"Uh... the year 6754..."
When Shin-ju looked perplexed, Furen's expression showed she had misspoken.
"Ah, my apologies. How should I put it... Ah, right! When I arrived on Earth, the entire planet was in the midst of a war."
"If the entire planet was at war..."
Shin-ju's mouth fell open.
"During World War I, or II...?"
"That's right. I remember now. It was during World War I when I arrived."
According to her, she had visited Earth around the 1920s.
"Is that really true?"
Shin-ju asked in a disbelieving tone, keeping his voice as low as possible.
Furen smiled, finding his expression amusing.
"There's quite an age gap between me, Sharin, and Enri. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say I played the role of their 'mother'. I started working quite early to provide for them."
"Wow... that's fascinating."
"Hmm, you still look like you find it hard to believe."
Shin-ju gave an awkward smile.
"Yes, to be honest, I do."
"Right... Then what would it take for you to believe me?"
Furen's eyes widened as if she had another idea.
"Right. In the midst of that war, I met a human. A very special connection."
"Who did you meet?"
"Yes. What was his name? He was definitely a scholar-turned-soldier..."
Furen pondered for a long time before finally remembering and whispering to Shin-ju.
"Ah, I remember! John Ronald Tolkien! Yes. Tolkien... that was his name."
Hearing the familiar name, Shin-ju's expression relaxed, and he played along.
"Ahhh, Tolkien! Haha, oh my! Of course, I know him well..."
Suddenly, his expression turned serious, and he stopped dead in his tracks.
"...What's wrong?"
As he stopped walking with a stern look, Furen looked at him with concern.
"Tolk..."
Shin-ju's pupils trembled violently.
"Tolkien, you said?!"