Chapter 299
Chapter 299
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 299
Chapter Title: S5. Stellarria's Nova Fury ~The Emerging Dawn, Once More~ -2
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The past.
One day, while out shopping for a change of pace at a department store, Chae-rin Woo spotted a hamster trapped in a small glass enclosure. The tiny rodent was diligently running on its little wheel.
"......"
Chae-rin crouched down, meeting its gaze, and tugged her crooked beanie firmly down over her head.
The wheel was uncomfortably small compared to the hamster's size. And there was nothing else in there—no other toys or equipment. All it could do was keep running on that cramped wheel.
It was just like her.
The wheel of society that she'd worked so hard to climb onto felt far too narrow for her.
Back to the present.
"Chae-rin, could you organize this Excel file for me?"
"Ah, sure... But about that personal research project I mentioned last time..."
"You should get your lab duties squared away first before bringing that up, right? You're not here to do personal research."
"Ah, yes... Understood."
It didn't seem like something the lab's least efficient member should be saying to the one who churned out the most work. But she couldn't retort. She'd learned that lesson the hard way.
Even if she pushed back now and claimed she'd done dozens of times more work than them, they'd just dodge with sophistry like, "So, were you planning to slack off as the new hire?"
She knew rejection had nothing to do with intelligence or logic.
She'd thought everything in the world could be resolved logically, but people didn't work that way. In this lab, where things ran on the whims of the majority clique rather than efficiency, opportunities never came to Chae-rin, the outcast.
Was she doomed to keep living like this?
She probably was. There were no other options, and she didn't want to abandon all her hard work so far for some new gamble. Statistically speaking, that would be an unstable choice.
She just had to grit her teeth, build up some tenure, and then bail. Right now, Chae-rin was nothing more than a researcher with no credentials beyond her academic awards.
If even this place—where they'd scraped together all of Korea's top talent—was like this, other labs would be no different.
"I hate it..."
What if someone...
What if someone suddenly appeared, acknowledged her talent along with a hefty sum of money? Maybe she'd bump shoulders with some Middle Eastern oil tycoon on the street and land a job at a foreign lab that way.
Or win the lottery from a scratch-off she bought for fun and become an overnight millionaire. Or have some admirer of her papers swoop in and headhunt her.
Yeah, all pipe dreams.
Things like that didn't happen in reality...
"I love your papers. There's an open head researcher position in the organization I'm founding, Stellarria. Would you be interested in taking it?"
"...Huh?"
...Didn't they?
This wealthy foreigner who showed up out of nowhere at the lab had just offered Chae-rin a head researcher spot. In any normal organization, they wouldn't offer that to someone not even thirty yet.
The other researchers' wide-eyed shock proved just how staggering the offer was. It was almost too good to be true.
So she'd tried to be suspicious at first. But for some reason, he felt strangely familiar. Even the bouquet he'd brought oddly warmed her heart.
Gordius followed up with a knockout blow.
"Accept now, and I'll throw in a mountain of jewels."
"...That doesn't seem like a big deal?"
"Or would you prefer cash over jewels?"
"Wait, have we... met somewhere before?"
At Chae-rin's words, Gordius's expression darkened. He suppressed his emotions and replied as evenly as possible.
"I doubt it."
"......"
"If you need time to think──"
"I'll do it."
After agonizing for a long while, Chae-rin accepted Gordius's offer.
What swayed her wasn't anything else—it was the faint teardrop glistening at the corner of his eye.
...Was my paper really that good, to make him cry?
===============================================================
Gordius showed Chae-rin around the research facility he'd thrown money at like it was going out of style to build in record time. The young scientist's eyes went wide at the massive setup straight out of a movie.
"This is Stellarria. And this is Joseph, our investor."
"...Hello, Joseph. You must've sunk a fortune into this place?"
"That damn mage forced my money out of── Mmph!"
"Now, now, Uncle, don't get in the way. Over here."
The investor Joseph clearly had more to say, but a middle-school-aged girl appeared from behind and swiftly subdued him, dragging him off.
"...Who's the kid?"
"Pilot, Kim Yun-seo."
"Pilot? What, are we building airplanes or something here?"
"Giant robots."
"Pardon?"
Did I hear that wrong?
Gordius began explaining in front of the stunned Chae-rin.
"A catastrophe will come in the future that will collapse human civilization. No science alone or magic alone can overcome it. Only the fusion of the two can make it possible... And that's why we need you."
A cult?
"Um... I think I came to the wrong place. Where's the exit?"
"I know it sounds crazy. But the technology doesn't lie... Right? See for yourself—your sharp mind will accept it."
Gordius smiled confidently and flipped a switch.
Rumble rumble rumble!
The partition rose, revealing a prototype 5-meter robot with glowing eyes in its head. Accompanied by the hum of its magic engine, the iron giant moved fluidly.
The robot picked up a nearby test truck with ease, then set it down. Chae-rin's mind filled with question marks.
CGI?
Thud. Chae-rin dashed over in her lab coat. The truck was loaded to the brim with rocks—properly heavy—and the giant robot was no hollow shell or CGI trick either.
It was solidly built inside and out. She could feel it.
Thoughts of "crazy doomsday preppers" vanished from her head, replaced by burning curiosity: How did they make this? Can I take it apart?
"...How? How did you do it?"
"Magic engine. A masterpiece from a genius scientist and mage collaboration. I've prepared the textbooks— you get one day to study."
"One day?"
"We're short on time. Two weeks left. We need to finish the giant robot by then."
"But it's already done, isn't it? The giant robot. Do we just need to boost its performance?"
Gordius quietly shook his head as Chae-rin tapped on the 5-meter robot. Then he revealed Stellarria's immediate goal.
"100 meters."
"......?"
"The Great Kaiju Slayer Meteor is 100 meters tall."
"You're saying... in two weeks, not even 10 meters, but a 100-meter giant robot?!"
Are they insane?
===============================================================
It wasn't insane.
"Weight Reduction. Hands of the Earth."
"......"
Gordius was a mage. A real one, straight out of movies or fiction.
He demonstrated miracles: lightening materials' weight and assembling the giant robot with dirt arms that used neither manpower nor electricity. As long as the materials and parts were ready... a 100-meter robot wasn't a dream.
Terrifying. This "magic engine" held infinite potential. Its key feature was the mutual conversion between magic power and electricity.
A 100-meter giant robot empowered by this new force called magic power. If the pilot turned rogue, it could topple nations.
(Chae-rin briefly wondered if Stellarria was a massive terrorist group.)
Though right now... it was a massive power hog.
Earth lacked ambient magic power, so the engine had to convert electricity to magic power.
"A lot?! We're pulling power from China and Japan because we can't handle the consumption──"
"Joseph, looks like half your account balance is still there. Budget's plenty—don't worry."
"How can I not worry with the thief who blew half my fortune sitting right here?!"
"Uncle Joseph, but it's a worthwhile investment, right? No regrets?"
"Can't you see I'm regretting it right now, you brat?!"
She'd even gotten used to this atmosphere.
Joseph was Stellarria's wallet—and lowest in the pecking order.
Middle-schooler Kim Yun-seo was second, agile like a tiger thanks to her magic power control.
"...Coming along well?"
"Ah, yes. Smooth sailing."
"Knew you could do it."
"......"
And the top dog, the mage Gordius, who occasionally shot her complicated looks. For some reason, he had infinite trust in Chae-rin.
Gordius had all the knowledge needed for forging the giant robot. He'd methodically elevated Meteor's completion using Joseph's funds, leaving no room for Chae-rin to contribute.
Traces of a researcher far more capable than her were everywhere.
A perfect upgrade, basically. She'd thought few in the world were smarter than her, but encountering someone on the same path with superior stats sparked jealousy.
It felt like what her future self might achieve if she staked her life on research.
Since Gordius had chosen her, didn't she owe it to prove her worth? The pressure was building.
So what was she doing?
"We need to prepare for Phase 3."
The Great Kaiju's final wide-area suicide spell at the brink of death. Unless they nullified it, humanity's "victory" wouldn't count.
The giant robot wasn't the priority—it'd be done in two weeks with Gordius around.
The key was the theory to erase that desperation pattern.
Days passed, one after another... Time marched on mercilessly. The human extinction day foretold by the mage Gordius drew steadily closer.
And Chae-rin learned more about him. He wasn't crazy—sharp, especially lenient with her, and had a cool back.
His eyes burned with a sense of mission, his testimony consistent. So Chae-rin came to believe in the Great Kaiju's emergence too. How could she deny reality when magic itself was real?
From there bloomed her own sense of mission.
Stellarria alone knew of the world's crisis. The oblivious masses lived peaceful days—festivals had even been held in Seoul just yesterday.
Thinking of this civilization and peace all vanishing...
"...Yun-seo? Could you grab some fatigue recovery drinks? Thi... "
"Three bottles?"
"Three boxes."
No time to rest.
Study, brainstorm, crunch equations, experiment. Another day gone, chug stimulants, study, debate. She ran like a runaway locomotive.
And on a certain shadowy night, one week before the Great Kaiju's arrival...
"...Goldie, Goldie!"
Crash!
Chae-rin bolted down the hall clutching a single sheet of paper. She knew. She'd figured it out.
High on intellectual euphoria as she ran, she collided with someone at a dark corner. Thud.
"Ah...!"
"Ugh...!"
Luckily, the other person cushioned her—no injuries. Chae-rin pushed off their chest to stand and tried to run again.
"You okay? Sorry, apologies later—I'm in a rush right now... Goldie?"
"...Chae-rin?"
Adjusting her glasses, she realized it was the man she'd been looking for. Gordius looked like he'd been rushing too—his clothes a mess.
And... he held a sheet of paper too.
In the darkness, their eyes met. A fateful tension hung in the air. Maybe they were thinking the same thing. A premonition hit.
"......"
"......"
With a bit of tension and anticipation.
"Chae-rin, looks like we both have something to say."
"...On three, we say it together?"
"...Sure."
One, two.
At the count's end, mage and scientist spoke the answer in unison.
Three.
"The magic engine's magic-to-electricity conversion. Amplify that trait to decompose the Great Kaiju's final spell into raw power."
"The magic engine's electricity-to-magic conversion function. Max it out and turn the Great Kaiju's desperation pattern into a lightning storm."
"Magic-centered blueprint would...
"Science-centered keeps variables stable...
What the heck.
"......"
"......"
Snap.
Chae-rin and Gordius simultaneously snatched each other's papers to pore over.
And about 10 minutes later.
"Magic's the way to go! Approaching machines like that kills efficiency. Did you skim your magic studies? If you forgot formula 2 on page 233 of the textbook I gave you, I'll remind you—the coefficient p varies by state──"
"Goldie, use your head! You keep putting magic at the core, but with solid urban infrastructure, why chase ambient magic that isn't even there? Just use what's available—clean and simple?!"
The mage and scientist ended up grabbing each other's collars and rolling on the floor.
The three-hour marathon debate yielded the blueprint for the special equipment to cap the Great Kaiju War: Meteor Fall.
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A massive construction site had suddenly sprouted in the city center. Surrounded by walls blocking the view, rumors swirled it was a huge new department store.
In truth, it was the launch site for the giant robot Meteor. Magic camouflage blocked external surveillance—no one had caught on.
Meteor's cockpit stood open, with Gordius and Kim Yun-seo perched side-by-side on its shoulder, staring into the sky.
That space would shatter, and the Great Kaiju would emerge from the rift.
Beep. Comms from the control room came through her earpiece. Chae-rin monitored the emergence point on the big screen and spoke to Gordius.
-...It'll come, right?
"It will."
-Goldie, what if... it doesn't? What if your prophecy magic was wrong, and this giant robot's just a massive overreaction?
Gordius replied calmly, wind brushing his cheek.
"Then we're lucky. Worried about losing your job? I paid you plenty—no more money worries."
-That money's all reinvested in Meteor. With the world's fate on the line, how could I hoard it?
"Future Joseph did."
Static. An irate Joseph cut in over comms.
-I didn't know, you bastard! How was I supposed to predict a monster that laughs at nukes? Anyway, if no Great Kaiju shows, you're dead meat. Got it?!
"Your fortune's already a giant robot—what're you gonna do?"
-Hey!
"Kidding. I'll alchemy some gems for you, Joseph—don't worry. Humanity survives thanks to your investment."
-Joseph's gone. Too embarrassed.
Chae-rin took over comms again.
"Chae-rin?"
-Yeah, Goldie?
"Once it's over... dinner?"
-Pfft...
"Don't laugh. I'll sue for emotional damages."
As Chae-rin stifled untimely laughter at Gordius's awkward invitation...
────Boom.
A soul-shaking roar echoed. Faster than expected.
-Three hours early. Dangerous variable, Goldie?
"Nah. Probably because we're using magic power via the engine—drew the Great Kaiju a bit sooner. No issue."
Prep was complete anyway.
────Crack, craaaack!
The twilight streets stood empty. Evacuation was done. No casualties, no matter how the monster rampaged.
The rift in the sky was starkly visible, expanding with each boom.
Belching thick magic power in all directions, as if to taint the world itself.
────Rumble rumble rumble!
Gordius and Kim Yun-seo boarded Meteor. The magic engine roared to life, and the 100-meter behemoth began to stir.
"Let's go, Stellarria."
-All systems green. Counting on you, Goldie, Yun-seo.
"Uncle Joseph, watch close! I'll show you me saving Earth!"
-Yeah, brat. Why're you always so sweet to me...?
It had begun.
===============================================================
The Great Kaiju was wriggling through the rift.
That was an arm.
A sharp, beast-clawed appendage touched a building beside the rift. As if annoyed by the obstruction, it slowly applied pressure.
Riiiip──!
The building crumbled in seconds. Concrete shattered like soft gravel, rebar bent like paper. The severed midsection collapsed.
Rumble rumble...
But no screams.
The Great Kaiju twisted its neck in confusion. Why? The agony and terror should have been there. Instead...
The opposite emanated from the construction site shrouded in tarps. The scent of resolve and hope.
Whoosh. The tarps fell away──
The giant robot finally revealed itself to the world. Silver armor plating, a frame rivaling the Great Kaiju, the world-shaking roar of its massive magic engine.
Its name was.
Great Kaiju Extermination Weapon Meteor.
The giant born solely── to smash the monster that would crumble human civilization!