Chapter 50: Emergency
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 50: Emergency
Emergency. Please wake up immediately.
It came like a surprise attack.
Approaching under the cover of darkness, it was so stealthy that it didn't make a single footstep. Devoid of breath, warmth, and even life, it was already beside me by the time I noticed.
Emergency. Please wake up… Third attempt, failed. Based on inductive logic, I have determined that further repetition will be meaningless.
Something drew near my sleeping form and chattered away. A faint voice, as small as its body. Perhaps it was a fairy, the kind that visits in secret while you sleep.
But this fairy, it seemed, couldn't fly. It couldn't even get onto the bed, which was only knee-high, and instead hopped up and down below, trying to peek over the edge.
I ignored the faint presence and tried to go back to sleep. Not even the tooth fairy or Santa Claus himself could disturb my slumber. If they had business with me, I wished they would just get it over with while I was asleep and be on their way…
In accordance with the emergency response manual, I will now activate the forced-waking protocol.
I heard a sharp intake of breath.
WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEN!
“Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”
The deafening roar that shook my eardrums sent me bolting upright, kicking the blankets away. Calming my startled heart, I looked down to see a faintly glowing crystal sphere looking up at me.
“A golem?”
This is State Signaller Captain Abbey. Due to an urgent situation, I was forced to…
“How dare you wake me. I’ll put an end to your long years of service today. It’s time for you to return to the scrap heap. Trainee Shei! A golem has escaped…!”
Just then, the golem kicked my shin with all its might. An attack from far below my eye level. Unable to read the golem’s thoughts, I could neither dodge nor resist.
Worse, the golem was made of steel, several times harder than my own body. And a collision between a shin and another object is an honest battle, where victory is decided solely by strength and hardness.
My eyes flew open in agony.
“Guh, ghk.”
My mouth gaped open as I clutched my shin and collapsed back onto the bed. A tear trickled from my eye. I glared at the golem, my eyes a mess of rage, resentment, and pain. The golem, with a creaking arm, snapped its twisted leg frame back into place and looked back at me.
There is no time. I am warning you. Respond immediately.
“Ghk, to what? What in the world is so important that you have to wake someone up in the middle of the night?”
An intruder. Someone is attempting to infiltrate the facility.
“What? An intruder?”
I mulled over the golem’s words for a moment.
So, someone was trying to break into Tantalus right now? And the golem detected this and wants me to stop them.
An intruder breaking into my residence. In a normal situation, one would be tense. But I felt none of the tension that should have come.
Clutching my aching leg, I lay back down on the bed.
“Are you sure you’re not mistaking them for a castaway? Maybe someone just missed a step and fell?”
Infiltrating Tantalus? That was like swimming in the sky or grilling fish underwater. The subject and verb simply didn't match. Why would anyone break into a place you can’t escape from once you’re in, a place with nothing worth stealing?
“Well, it’s not the Resistance or something again, is it? If the Resistance is attacking again, the Military State is truly incompetent. Seriously.”
Of course, if they had a bomb, that was an exception. With a bomb, a man could soar through the sky, and fish could be cooked underwater.
Bombs solve most things you thought were impossible. So, if you ever find yourself stuck, and there’s a bomb nearby, you should try using it.
The subject’s intentions are unknown. He is unarmed. However, the very fact that his intentions are unknown makes the situation all the more urgent.
“Unarmed? Hmm. Seeing as the night lights are on, it must be night outside, too. Oh, come on. It’s probably like that story about the famous philosopher who was looking up at the stars, didn't watch his step, and fell. Let’s just pray for his soul together.”
…One cannot break into this place by merely falling. He must have thrown himself into the Abyss with the clear intention of coming here.
“No, I’m telling you, that doesn’t make any sense. Who in their right mind would come here on purpose? Look, if he gets in, I’ll feed him, so just come and get him later.”
At my nonchalant attitude, the golem stopped talking and began to observe me carefully. I narrowed my eyes and studied the golem in return.
A brief staring contest ensued. I was the victor.
…You are skilled in such negotiations. Does this mean you will not move unless I provide the relevant information?
“Huh? What are you talking about?”
Permission granted. By raising your threat level by one, I will temporarily increase your information access rights.
“No, I mean, what are you…”
Why was it arbitrarily raising my threat level? What was it even talking about? I was just too lazy to get up.
Tantalus is the Abyss. A land completely separate from the surface. This place can never be reached by ordinary means.
“Ordinary means?”
Falling. An ordinary fall will only make one lost in the Abyss; it is impossible to pinpoint the coordinates of Tantalus that way.
“Since when was ‘falling’ a normal, ordinary means of transportation? Historically, falling has always been a quick, one-way ticket to heaven.”
That was a little different from what I knew. As expected of the Military State. A crazy nation that twists even common sense to its advantage.
Oh, wait a minute.
“But I was just thrown into the Abyss while tied up, wasn't I…? Ah, I get it. So that wasn't normal, was it?”
…If you understand, we will move on.
The golem hastily cut me off and continued its report.
Tantalus is a place that can never be reached by anyone not authorized by the Military State. That is why, despite being a level 5 facility, there are no particular security measures at the prison entrance.
“Well, that’s the State’s fault, isn’t it? To be so careless with a major facility. Tsk, tsk.”
…In any case.
I thought I heard a crackling sound just now. I hoped it wasn't the golem’s circuits shorting out.
While monitoring the interior and exterior of Tantalus, this unit detected that the illusionary magic covering the Abyss was broken approximately seven minutes ago. I immediately came to find you, the only available personnel. The intruder is heading straight for this location and is expected to arrive in approximately three minutes.
“So. What do you want me to do?”
Eliminate him, if possible.
“Hey, why are you people always trying to kill someone? Do you get hives if you don't kill at least one person a day?”
First the Undying, now this person falling from the sky. It was always ‘kill them’ at the first sign of trouble. I waved my hand in emphatic refusal.
“How can a good-hearted citizen like me, who couldn't even harm a single dog, kill someone? Stop talking nonsense.”
Query. In that case, how did you handle the Resistance?
“The blades were still, but they were the ones who threw their necks at them. They tried to fight Trainee Shei and flaunted a rosary in front of Trainee Tyrkanzyaka. A high-class suicide, wouldn't you say? Well, if they had any intention of living, they wouldn't have dropped in here with a bomb in the first place.”
In any case, if someone was coming, I had to go and greet them. It was always better to read their intentions beforehand to gauge whether they could be of use. If they seemed useless, I’d just have the Regressor and the vampire kill them.
Since I was going out anyway, getting a bit of information from the golem was a small gain. I put on a Clothing Packet and prepared to leave.
“Alright, alright. I’m going. Just wait here.”
The golem quickly grabbed my pant leg.
Please take this unit with you. I am obligated to observe any anomalies within Tantalus.
“No thanks, you’re heavy.”
You are a level 0 laborer assigned to Tantalus and are obligated to follow the instructions of this unit, the supervising officer of this location. If you do not wish to be penalized for insubordination, please comply with my instructions.
“Did you really think talking so stiffly would make me listen? Oh, my heart aches so much I don't have the strength to lift a golem.”
As I feigned weakness with theatrical flair, the golem realized threats were no longer effective and spoke.
…What do you want? I must warn you in advance that demanding any material compensation from a soldier on duty is a serious crime.
“I have no intention of getting anything from a golem. Come on, try to be a little cute. Charmingly. If possible, I’d like you to sound childish, with a lisp.”
……There is no time…….
“If there’s no time, you’d better hurry so you’re not late. Now, how would you like me to carry you? On my shoulders? A piggyback ride?”
….…
I could hear a grinding sound coming from the golem, and I worried a part of its frame might have broken. I whistled leisurely.
Whew, whew, whew. After about the third whistle, I heard a teeth-gritting sound from the golem.
A-a piggyback… ride… please.
“Tsk. The ending is still a bit stiff. A golem’s body may be hard, but its heart should be soft.”
Snap. I heard a sound like a twig breaking from beyond the microphone. After some indescribable static, a trembling voice began to flow from the speaker.
Piggy… back… ride… Oppa….
“I didn't ask you to call me Oppa. Still, you sound much more pleasant when you speak softly. Isn't it nice when we all get along?”
In any case, it was a request from my little sister, who was so precious I wouldn't mind putting her in my eye. I had to grant it.
I lifted the golem and placed it on my shoulders. It had asked for a piggyback ride, but I was worried that would block my vision. This was my own small, considerate gesture.
With the golem’s legs draped over my shoulders, I stepped into the hallway.
“Oh, and for the record, I am following the State’s orders. I didn't offer you a bribe, so if you give me a bad mark for this, you'll be the one letting personal feelings affect your evaluation. Surely a State Signaller wouldn't bear false witness out of personal sentiment, right?”
---!!!
“Is it broken? Seems like there’s a problem with the communication. Why can’t I hear a human voice?”
Swish, swish. I deliberately swayed my upper body as I walked to give the golem a thrill. In response, the golem grabbed my hair with its hard fists and pulled. I could hear the sound of my hair roots tearing.
Okay. She’s found my weakness. I’d better stop.