Chapter 50
Chapter 50
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: The Direction of the Wind
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Bluerobic men and women surrounded Sharin and Furen.
As the area quickly became chaotic, Shin-ju and Jekovic quietly stepped aside.
Their faces were a mixture of relief that Furen was safe and joy that Sharin had returned alive.
Katrin was tightly embracing a male Elf who appeared to be her lover, tears streaming down her face.
After checking on the refugees one by one and exchanging a few words, Furen turned and formally introduced Shin-ju and Jekovic.
“Ah, let me introduce you. These are Park Shin-ju and Jekovic, the aliens from the planet called Earth I mentioned before, who helped us.”
“Ah, hello. For the record, I'm not an Earthling, but I'm temporarily residing on Earth due to certain circumstances.”
Jekovic raised a hand and added a clarification.
Shin-ju greeted them in the Bluerobic fashion, showing his palm.
“Hello. I'm Park Shin-ju. I work to catch criminals on the planet Earth.”
*Murmur-murmur-*
The Bluerobic refugees murmured amongst themselves, their wariness apparent.
One person from the crowd stepped forward, their expression a mix of curiosity and caution.
“We… can understand each other…? Do you know how to speak our language?”
“Ah, yes. I have learned some Bluerobic, but on Earth, we have an alien language translator called ‘Connect’.”
Shin-ju took a small capsule from his inner pocket.
“I always carry this Connect with me. It translates languages like Bluerobic well enough and outputs it as speech.”
When Shin-ju finished speaking, the murmuring grew louder.
Furen, who had been observing the situation, added an explanation.
“For your information, these two are colleagues of Enri, who arrived on Earth before us, and they work together.”
Furen glanced at Shin-ju once before continuing.
“After that, Sharin also arrived on Earth and, with Shin-ju and Enri's help, adapted to life there. He is without a doubt our ally.”
Furen narrowed her eyes and gestured toward Sharin with her chin.
“Seeing that fiery Sharin behaving herself should be proof enough, wouldn't you say?”
Her joke significantly eased the wariness in the refugees' eyes.
“I still can't trust them!!”
Kirina, who had appeared beside them, shouted in a sharp voice.
Furen turned to look at her.
“Being cautious is not a bad thing. However, in my presence, refrain from words and actions that tarnish etiquette and honor.”
“Ah… Yes! Understood.”
As Furen admonished her with a steady gaze, Kirina lowered her head, looking slightly intimidated.
Presently, Furen turned her head.
“Everyone, listen up! I have an announcement!”
With a serious expression, Furen gathered the Bluerobic refugees.
She looked over them all and raised her voice.
“Until now, you must have all been overwhelmed by the war with the Planet Destroyer. First of all, thank you all so much for surviving.”
The refugees looked at one another and smiled.
“However, taking advantage of that chaos, a mercenary group opened a portal and abducted our warriors to this planet.”
Sharin and Katrin listened quietly to Furen's words.
“We were on our way to Earth after receiving the Bluerobic song, ‘Homeland of the Wind’.”
Shin-ju and Jekovic also listened attentively to Furen.
“But we received another message containing the screams of our comrades here and came to this place. And we succeeded in rescuing some of them.”
Among the refugees, some Bluerobics could be seen with injuries on their bodies.
“However, from what I can see, there are still comrades we haven't found remaining here.”
Furen shot a quick glance at Sharin before looking back at the refugees.
“Among them, there might be some who are moving on their own or have already escaped.”
Furen turned her head to look at the long passage stretching into the distance.
“But given the circumstances, there must be comrades who cannot move, waiting for a helping hand. Therefore, I will remain here and continue the search operation.”
“Then we will too…!!”
As soon as Furen announced she was staying, several refugees stepped forward as if they had been waiting, wanting to join her.
In that moment, Furen stopped them with a sharp glare.
“You all will go to Earth.”
She continued bluntly.
“You will go to Earth and regroup with Enri and the comrades who have already arrived there.”
Her eyes were blazing with fighting spirit.
“We must form a new combat organization once again.”
At the words ‘combat organization’, a sense of unease began to slowly bloom in a corner of Shin-ju's mind as he listened quietly.
A civilian organization on Earth composed solely of aliens was always a sensitive issue.
Of course, if it were formed legally after a review, there would be no problem.
Shin-ju resolved to have a proper talk with her once everything was over and they were back on Earth.
Furen turned her head to look back at Shin-ju and Jekovic.
“I hope that you, Mr. Shin-ju, and you, Mr. Jekovic, will guide our comrades safely to Earth.”
At Furen's words, Shin-ju and Jekovic looked at each other.
Presently, Shin-ju gave a slight nod to Jekovic, then turned to Furen and spoke.
“That is a reasonable request... but I believe Jekovic alone will be sufficient to lead them to Earth.”
“No, in fact, this friend's animal instincts are superior, so he'll be able to carry out the task more swiftly and accurately than I.”
“Then what do you intend to do?”
Shin-ju smiled at Furen.
“I will also stay here and help you, Lady Furen.”
Furen's eyes widened, and she stared at Shin-ju for a moment without a word.
Behind her, Kirina scowled, glaring at Shin-ju with a displeased expression.
“While helping Lady Furen, I also need to continue investigating the incidents that occurred here.”
Furen smiled and nodded as if she finally understood.
“Mm, I see. You have a duty to catch bad aliens.”
Shin-ju nodded in response.
“Yes. That's right.”
Furen looked back at Sharin.
“What about you?”
“I'm staying too. Honestly, this place is way more fun than going to Earth right now.”
Sharin answered with a grin.
“Hmph.”
Furen's lips curled into a slight smile as she nodded.
“I... I'll stay too!!”
Not to be outdone, Kirina shot her hand into the air.
Furen looked at her as if she had expected it.
“Yes. Of course. You are my right hand.”
Kirina replied energetically, her expression determined to do well.
Jekovic sidled up to Shin-ju.
“Hey, so where do we go now?”
“Well... we'll have to look.”
“The gate won't open from here, right?”
“Yeah, I've been trying since earlier, but it seems they've installed some kind of special device. It's no use.”
Jekovic hesitated for a moment as if he had more to say, then looked at Shin-ju.
“Hey, I've been sensing something for a while now...”
His gaze drifted toward the ceiling.
“We have to go up, no matter what. I can feel some kind of energy from up there.”
“Energy?”
“Yeah, like a gentle breeze...”
Jekovic muttered as if entranced.
Shin-ju looked at Jekovic's shimmering mane and nodded.
His animalistic sixth sense was far superior to that of any animal on Earth.
Shin-ju trusted his senses completely.
“Alright. If you say so.... Lady Furen, Lady Sharin.”
Shin-ju looked back at the two of them.
Furen and Sharin had already grasped the situation.
“Yes. We know.”
Furen looked at Kirina.
“Kirina, lead our comrades. We must find a way up. Understood?”
“Yes, ma'am!”
Kirina lined up the refugees.
Meanwhile, Jekovic had already perked up his ears and fur, sniffing the air and moving his head around outside the vent.
“…How is it?”
At Shin-ju's question, Jekovic frowned as if something was strange.
“There's suspiciously no scent at all. But I can definitely feel the airflow.”
His fur was still trembling slightly.
“Alright. Let's follow that flow. Can you lead the way?”
“Hoo~ I'll give it a try.”
“My colleague, Jekovic, will search for a way up.”
Shin-ju could see the Bluerobic refugees gathered in small groups before him.
“Jekovic and I will take the lead, so please follow us.”
Furen, Sharin, and the Bluerobic refugees all nodded in unison.
Shin-ju unfolded the miniaturized Old Book from his pocket.
He searched for any spells that could support Jekovic.
As he chanted the spell, a white, glowing orb floated up from the Old Book.
The orb brightly illuminated the path Jekovic was about to take.
*Sniff, sniff, sniff*
Jekovic started walking forward on all fours, sniffing the air.
As the orb of light flew into the distance, a pitch-black passage was revealed ahead.
Soon after, Shin-ju followed behind Jekovic.
As the two took the lead, Furen, Sharin, and Kirina moved forward with renewed determination.
The group of refugees, including Katrin, also began to move slowly, following them.
“What in the world is this place?”
Jason grumbled, panting.
“It seems to be about forty stories high...”
Enri walked down the corridor, looking around.
Speeder followed behind Enri with a worried expression.
The trio, who had infiltrated the Bio Vanguard building, was lost.
There wasn't a soul to be seen in the building's corridors.
“It looks like the upper floors are barely used.”
“I think it was around here that we found the Bluerobic child last time...”
Enri didn't really react to Jason's comment.
“Come to think of it, Lady Enri. Did you get any information from that child?”
Without stopping, Enri thought for a moment before answering Jason's question.
“...She said she ‘escaped’.”
“Escaped...? That little kid, all by herself?”
“She said she vaguely remembers someone helping her, but she couldn't recall it clearly.”
“Then maybe her Bluerobic comrades managed to get the child out first?”
“Hmm... maybe, maybe not... It seems there's another alien in there.”
“Another alien... In any case, it's a relief the child is safe.”
Speeder also nodded and blew her whistle.
The sound of something activating was heard.
The trio turned their heads in unison.
Before them, a single room door was closed.
Jason signaled to Enri and Speeder.
He quickly drew his pistol and moved, muffling his footsteps as much as possible.
“Be careful.”
Enri and Speeder, who had taken out their telescopic batons, guarded Jason's back and watched their surroundings.
“The sound definitely came from inside this room...”
Jason stood in front of the door and gently placed his hand on it.
He took a breath, applied a little pressure, and the door began to slide open.
Discovering something inside the room, his expression turned peculiar.