Chapter 296
Chapter 296
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 296
Chapter Title: S5. Stellaria of the Storm ~The Budding Dawn~ -2
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Life is unpredictable—even a genius mathematician can't foresee what might happen just one step ahead. Isaac Newton himself proved this by losing 90% of his fortune in the stock market.
But if someone on Earth takes a loss, doesn't that mean someone else gains? Such is the mysterious harmony of yin and yang.
Enter one Joseph Williams.
He was a math major who'd started studying to prove that the world ran on neat, mathematical rules.
He was terrified by the idea that people could just randomly get hit by a car or struck by lightning and die. He believed math would ease that anxiety.
At least sudden death wouldn't feel unfair. Getting killed by a falling coconut would be tragic, but if you walked into a high-risk zone where coconuts drop 70% of the time, that was on you.
His grand ambitions didn't match his talent or grades, though. He got knocked out by linear algebra and barely scraped a B-. Like many college kids, booze was his best friend.
Then, in his junior year, his life took a turn.
"Joseph, check this out—it's called Bitcoin. It's virtual online currency that doesn't even physically exist. I think it's got huge potential. It's gonna moon for sure!"
"No idea who the idiot was that came up with it, but it's a stupid idea. I'm never investing in something like that."
The rational, sharp-minded college student Joseph Williams shot it down flat.
"...Fiiiiiine, fuuuuuck it, let's do it! Better than rotting away like thiiiis...!"
But drunk, irrational Joseph Williams—who couldn't tell left from right—was a different beast. He went all in like a wild animal.
And ten years later.
"What the...?"
Joseph Williams had become a billionaire on the level of a nation-state.
Who could've guessed that dumping his entire fortune into Bitcoin while blackout drunk would pay off like this? Not even Newton up in heaven.
Money changes people. The poor mathematician Joseph turned into a smug, penny-pinching rich guy. He even wrote in his autobiography without shame: "Frugality changes lives."
At the root of it all was anxiety. What comes easy goes easy. What if he lost it all overnight?
He pondered deeply what to do with his vast wealth. His conclusion? No matter how much money you have, you can still die anytime.
If nuclear war broke out, rich or poor, everyone dies equally. The only survivors would be the prepared rich. Yeah—to protect his fortune, he'd invest it.
"Build underground bunkers around the world. Lots of them."
And just in case, add cryo pods too.
That was how Stellaria HQ and New Stellaria HQ came to be—products of Joseph's survivalist mindset.
Joseph's survival-frugality philosophy, which had sprouted hope in a world shattered by the Great Monster, had come full circle to become Gordius's stumbling block.
"You want to use the backup generator too? No way. That's for emergencies—if the main power cuts out, we'd lose hot water entirely."
"Killing the Great Monster solves everything!"
"Still no."
Could he do it? Could Gordius really topple the Great Monster? And if... he failed? After pouring in all those resources?
Then they'd need a Plan B.
Yanking up New Stellaria's foundations to build a giant robot only for it to become the Great Monster's plaything would doom the entire community.
"We need to dismantle the mid-sized robots and recycle the parts."
"Hey, those mid-sized bots are New Stellaria's workers. Without them, we can't stand up to the deranged Great Monster cultists or farm resources from outside. Don't you know what resources are? Ever played Starcraft?"
"I'm saying we're short on precious metals for Meteor No. 2!"
"We're short on workers too!"
So, they had to pinch every penny. That stance clashed head-on with Gordius, who was charging full tilt at a clear target.
"Really done in three months?"
"Yes."
"Last question—are you absolutely sure?"
"Yes."
"How's three months even possible?"
"......"
Huuuuuh...
Gordius took a deep breath to suppress his boiling frustration.
Joseph wasn't refusing investment outright. But he was half-assing it, constantly weighing future survival against the current fight. To Gordius, that was a path to losing both rabbits.
He'd rallied most of the research team to build Meteor No. 2, but ultimately, releasing facility assets rested with Joseph. He had to convince him.
The conflict peaked over the pilot issue.
"Type III engine prototype—complete."
"...Heard from the tech department they were skeptical. Too hard to control. They'd need ten people just to operate it. All that big talk, and you make a prototype that's this impractical?"
"I'll pilot and control it myself, so it doesn't matter. It's built for a mage or genius, so of course the controls are tough. We need this output to take down the Great Monster."
"You made it so only you can use it? Then if you die, it's all useless. A cutting-edge engine no one else can operate?"
As they snarled at each other without grabbing collars, one-armed girl Kim Yun-seo passed by and placed her hand on the Type III engine.
Vreeeeem—!
"It works, though?"
"Huh."
Kim Yun-seo was a genius.
If Woo Chae-rin could finely manipulate the magic engine with her high intellect, Kim Yun-seo could handle the Type III thanks to her superior magic control. Born in another world, she'd have been a grand mage.
Engine control difficulty scales with output.
With a pilot this capable, they could push output higher and still manage. So Gordius proposed a dual-pilot system.
"Two cockpits. Each handles a separate magic engine—they'll complement each other. Odds of taking down the Great Monster go way up."
"So... we'll fight together, Mage! I'm ready. I'll do my best!"
Unlike the fist-pumping Kim Yun-seo, Joseph shook his head firmly.
"No."
"Joseph!"
"Send that kid against the Great Monster? She's barely out of diapers! No, absolutely not. Without her, we have no one reliable for external scouting!"
"Commander, I said I'd go. I'm grateful you took me in and raised me, but you don't get to dictate my decisions—"
"I opposed picking up that frozen human from the ground too. We made a promise then—no more dangerous missions! Yun-seo, you planning to break it?!"
Bam!
Gordius slammed the desk with magic-infused force. The metal desk crumpled pathetically, twisting hideously.
He was a mage. Joseph knew it—he'd seen him levitate massive parts without touching them during Meteor No. 2's construction.
That kind of power could easily crush a person. Like that desk. Joseph flinched in fear. The world's savior could become its destroyer.
But Gordius didn't go further.
He just spoke flatly in a low voice.
"Ten years ago, this facility existed too. Some of the materials Dr. Woo Chae-rin salvaged were probably yours. You acted the same then—investing just enough for future prep. Safely. Right?"
"...I..."
"One thing's clear: if you'd invested more in Stellaria back then, the Great Monster would've been dead long ago. We lost by just one week."
"......"
The mage turned and walked out. Pilot Kim Yun-seo followed.
Left alone, Joseph clutched his head, lost in thought for a long while.
No genius mathematician can predict the immediate future. So...
An amateur mathematician who'd skipped grad school couldn't read it either.
A week passed.
Meteor No. 2 stood at 100 meters tall.
Still under construction... but compared to No. 1, it had more refinement. Notably, the right arm was designed for a special mount.
That was where Meteor Strike—a pile bunker powered by rocket thrusters—would attach.
Gordius jotted notes on his clipboard. After clashing with Joseph, resource shortages meant skimping on less critical parts.
Weak legs meant losing everything. Frail arms meant no offense if they broke. If cutting costs, the cockpit heart was best.
Sacrifice pilot safety for attack power. That was Gordius's bitter call.
Then.
One-armed pilot Kim Yun-seo ran up energetically.
"Mage Gordius! Uncle Joseph wants you."
"...Me?"
"Yeah. Says he has something to say. Not in his office—in his room. If he says anything weird, I'll chew him out, so don't worry!"
Quiet for a while, now the arena opens again, huh.
Gordius rolled up his sleeves. He swept all the research docs off the desk. If the investor wanted proof, he'd talk till his ears bled.
If he still cut budget and materials, Gordius would seriously source them solo. Block that? He'd call it a coup invitation.
He opened Joseph's door.
"You came? Have a drink."
"......"
Joseph was sipping soju from a wine glass. Eyes glassy—he was already plastered. Gordius frowned.
"Got nothing to say to a drunk."
"No, listen. My best life decisions come when I'm wasted. That's why I called. Hear me out. First off—sorry."
"...?"
"Must've been frustrating. I get it. Go big or go home. But... failure means total ruin. Real ruin. That's terrifying. Hey, wanna see something fun?"
Joseph chuckled to himself, patting an empty wall.
Acting like a bug? But pressing a spot made it sink in with a click. Then rrrrumble—the wall rotated.
A secret vault inside, golden light pouring out.
Gold bars. Piled floor to ceiling.
Joseph sighed.
"Early in the Great Monster crisis, I thought it'd end quick. Bought some food and materials with my cash, but converted most to physical assets like this. Wasn't drunk then."
"...Pretty trash now."
"Yeah. Who knew the world would end? Those shiny bricks are worthless—can't eat 'em. If I'd bought something else... You have no idea the regret. Investment's a bastard son. Always breeds regret."
Should've built bigger bunkers.
Should've stockpiled iron, food—essentials—instead of gold.
Should've dumped everything into Stellaria.
"...And in some futures. Damn it, should've gone all-in on that mage. Too scared of the regret. Might be... the last chance."
"Made your decision?"
"—Yeah. Take it all, mage. All-in. My boldest investment ever! Take it all... and don't let me regret it in the future. Please."
Gulp. Joseph squeezed his eyes shut and chugged the soju bottle. He trembled with fear of the future. Truth be told, Gordius did too.
But conviction lies beyond fear. Gordius spoke with firm assurance.
"You will, Joseph. I promise. Best investment you'll ever make."
"...Hahaha! Slick talker. You win. You."
Joseph muttered nonsense, laughing.
"...Hey, mage. Can you time travel? They do it in movies."
"Different school of magic. Not sure it's even possible. Heard the Azure Magic Tower's researching it."
"Skip the lore. Just a joke. But if anyone goes back... grab me by the collar and make me invest right. That's all I meant..."
With that, he slumped on the sofa, snoring away.
Gordius pried the soju bottle from his hand, set it on the table, draped a carpet over him like a blanket, and left.
"...Next time I need to convince him, get him drunk first."
The young mage now carried Joseph's regrets. Weightless, yet his shoulders ached. Was this how Dr. Woo Chae-rin always felt...?
But he wouldn't stop. Like Chae-rin.
He'd march toward the future.
"Joseph, using this."
"No! That's three million dollars!"
"This too."
"That's five million, for crying out loud!"
"This?"
"That's... a gift."
Crash!
"Nooo—!!"
Gordius mercilessly popped the sports car's hood and looted the contents. Joseph's wails echoed sadly in the raided garage.
He rolled around cursing his drunk self for weird investments, but he didn't stop Gordius—just writhed pathetically nearby.
With all resources focused, Meteor No. 2's development skyrocketed. The robot took shape fast—nearly complete.
Meteor Strike finished too. New Stellaria threw a small festival to celebrate the ace up their sleeve against Yongrin.
Three key figures gathered at a small table: commander, pilot, mage. After hashing out plans, they chatted during a break.
"Mage, what happened in Stellaria? Can you tell us?"
"...Pay up. Bring that tuna can, and I'll spill."
"Hey, that's my tuna! Huh? Yun-seo, you just stole the boss's meal...!!"
"Got it!"
Gordius smiled and recounted Stellaria tales: first stepping in following trucker Kim, first impressions clashing with Dr. Woo Chae-rin, joy at the magic engine prototype's completion...
Sad, joyful. Joseph went through handkerchiefs—three of them—laughing and crying.
At the end, Kim Yun-seo raised her glass.
"This time, we win. For sure."
"After all my investment? We better. Right?"
"Yes. We'll put the period at the end."
Clink.
The final pre-launch party ended like that.