Chapter 301
Chapter 301
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 301
Chapter Title: Epilogue: Stellaria Engine
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To Gordius, the crazy magic professor and the empire's Second Prince seemed on pretty intimate terms. Even after using the prince as a shield, his head was still firmly attached to his shoulders.
Rumors had long circulated that the crazy professor was one of the Second Prince's close aides, but he'd never imagined they'd be this close.
The crazy wizard hiding behind his prince-shield spoke casually.
"I'm banking on His Highness's magnanimity. I trust he won't get mad over me just ducking slightly behind him."
"For some reason, I don't feel even a fingernail's worth of desire to live up to that trust. I clearly said I wanted a quiet one-on-one, but maybe it's because you dragged along a student swinging a club behind you?"
"It'll benefit us all. I'm not that rude, am I?"
"I think you're lacking in a whole different way... but I like the confidence. Have him sit, too."
Irid waved dismissively.
The crazy wizard let out a sigh of relief and sank into the sofa. Gordius hesitated, still clutching his club, before taking a seat. He unsummoned the club.
He didn't have the nerve to carry a weapon in front of the prince. The crazy wizard treating him like a human shield clearly had a screw loose.
But he wasn't giving up on payback. Glaring at Mima, Gordius muttered inwardly. Just you wait, crazy professor. I'll gift you a nice lump on that head of yours.
"Crazy wizard, explain."
"Ah, yes. It's about the resurrection and emergence of the provisional identifier 『Giant Monster』. Please review our data."
Flash.
Mima flicked his finger, and a hyper-realistic hologram sprang up over the empty table in an instant. It was a sight Gordius knew well.
A miniature projection of a South Korean urban center.
Moments later, a rift tore open in the heart of the city, and the 『Giant Monster』 emerged. Message windows popped up over it, detailing the creature's traits.
"Powerful brainwashing abilities, unbound by form, cunning, hostile to humanity. A monster we anticipate appearing in this world soon. In a form even stronger than the footage."
"...If my eyes aren't deceiving me, this video has precise scale ratios. If a human is this size, then the monster's roughly—"
"100 meters. But we can't predict its real-world manifestation. It might be bigger, or smaller. Still, we expect traits similar to the footage. Keep watching."
The hologram fast-forwarded. A giant robot appeared and clashed with the 『Giant Monster』. The beast shifted into phase two, sleek and cloaked in pitch-black dragon scales...
Irid's face hardened the instant he saw the form. He clearly had suspicions.
"......"
"Oh? You know it?"
"That's my question. You seem to grasp it deeper than I expected... or don't tell me you're—"
"Aha... so that's why you summoned me today. I figured there was something brewing with the imperial family. Listen to the end first. The proposal comes now."
Ding.
The hologram zoomed in on the giant robot, displaying mana-equivalent output for each component and the core mana engine's functions.
"Giant robot... the 『Meteor』 unit. What do you think? Grab one of these, and you can sleep with legs stretched out easy, right?"
"To counter it?"
"Exactly. Truth is, it's been that way from nearly the start."
"Good. Then you're the developer. State your name."
In a dialogue like a Zen koan—dropping subjects, skipping key details—the Second Prince Irid's gaze locked onto Gordius.
Gordius's mind raced.
It felt like puzzle pieces snapping together. Why the crazy professor sent him to another world. How he knew the 『Giant Monster』 was coming. Why the prince took him as a confidant.
One answer.
To Gordius, they were members of a secret society like 『Stellaria』, operating in the shadows to thwart the inevitable 『Giant Monster』.
The crazy professor's fervent lessons on illusion magic countermeasures for students? To shield against the brainwashing waves.
Sending him to another world? To uncover countermeasures against the 『Giant Monster』.
And crashing his kiss to arrange this meeting? To induct him into the secret society's inner circle...!
Gordius's anger meter dropped about 50%. Dr. Woo Chae-rin would understand—an emergency summit to save the world.
So, confirm it solidly, beyond guesses.
"Disciple of the Golden Magic Tower Master, wizard Gordius, greets Your Highness, the empire's noblest blood. One question. Will the 『Giant Monster』 appear in this world too?"
After his introduction, Gordius asked plainly to dispel any misconceptions. The response was more vertigo-inducing than he'd braced for.
"...Yes. If it reveals itself, it'll wield power rivaling the Goddess."
"Ha..."
A 『Giant Monster』 bearing a god's might.
The crazy wizard chimed in from the side.
"We'll need a unit that can thrash even gods. What say you, Gordius? Ready to save the world?"
"Prepared or not, duty demands we stake our souls. If the 『Giant Monster』 invades my homeland—my world—I'll wager every asset to destroy it."
Gordius spoke with iron resolve. Sure, he had the adorable ulterior motive of building the ultimate giant robot with imperial backing and wizard aid, but the grand cause burned true.
The crazy wizard grinned, pleased, and bantered.
"Well, Your Highness? Raised him good, huh."
"Not you—fate did. Very well, Gordius. Board the carriage waiting outside. We're off to the capital."
"Hold on. You're not taking him for good, right? We've got the 『Academy Team Competition』. If he skips, my personal entertainment..."
"We need the prototype frame first. We'll use it quick and send him back. No worries."
And so Gordius's capital trip was sealed.
Interlude. A straightforward exchange. They shared intel.
"'That thing' is sealed within me, Your Highness. Will you believe it?"
"I believe you. His Majesty called it hide-and-seek, but he was wrong. You're not 'that thing'."
"You're not planning to stab me in the back after saying that, right? I'd cry. Truth is, I lack snap-proof physical evidence... somehow..."
"Your purity was proven when you charged the holy sword to save folk in the holy city. We'll talk deeper later. Prep safety nets."
And they pledged to reconvene.
Inside the carriage bound for the imperial capital's Crown Hall.
Second Prince Irid stripped Gordius's motives bare. He couldn't plumb depths like the crazy wizard, but a bit of savvy and sleight sufficed.
"That's how... you beat the 『Giant Monster』."
"Well told. Tough road, I'd wager. I've had similar."
"Ah, Your Highness visited another world too..."
"Toured the future empire. Didn't save it, mind."
Drawing out the tale was simple.
Sudden monster outbreak, shattering world, humans thrashing amid ruin. And... Gordius, forged stronger in the crucible.
Inventing the 『Mana Engine』 was talent, but world-saving experience? You don't just wish for that.
Irid smiled, content.
New hands always welcome.
Those who'd 'definitely' probed another world via crazy wizard ties... Irid tallied eight: himself, First Princess Elaine, hero Bennett's party, Envers Redburn, Capital Knight Commander, and now Gordius.
Rumors pegged 『Blue Rose』 as another, but unconfirmed.
The solid list alone screamed diverse picks.
Mima's tête-à-tête clarified the fog. 'That thing' sealed in his flesh; black wizards scheming to unleash its power; crazy wizard smashing their plots time and again.
Damn impressive. Through raw skill and cunning, he'd dragged a doom-bound fate to this pivot.
Yeah—even the academy escapades, the blows to Irid's foundations. All maneuvers against 'that thing'.
Old grudges? Forgiven.
In the thawed vibe, Gordius ventured cautiously.
"Apologies, but... possible to return quick?"
"Hm? You too hyped for the 『Academy Team Competition』 like that crazy wizard?"
"No, left someone behind—an unsigned contract..."
Expression.
That expression.
Irid read Gordius's face in a flash. Matched his own mirror-gawk after botching the Centra kiss, snapping awake.
Faint hope, he probed.
"Woke right before the kiss, by chance?"
"......!!"
Gordius jolted—did the prince's acuity hit mind-reading? But calmly scanning Irid's face, realization dawned. That expression!
Spitting image of his.
"Your Highness too...?"
"Right before."
"......"
"......"
Inner rapport spiked.
Gordius fidgeted his sleeve in turmoil, then voiced the nefarious theory zapping his brain.
"...The crazy professor did it on purpose."
"On purpose?"
"Yes. Could've given more time but yanks right before. Big time gap inside-out, so—"
Irid raised a hand, halting him.
"Quirky, sure, but I refuse to peg him as that vile. Forget you said it. What do you make of the crazy wizard?"
"Slip of tongue."
"Right—he toils for the world. Wouldn't pull... that."
Wouldn't. Probably.
But if. If truly, some vile tic forcing returns kiss-preemptively.
That instant, eyes spoke sans words.
Beat him senseless.
Silent pact. Proof hits? Prince and wizard team up, physically enlighten the lunatic prof...
The imperial carriage halted before a massive building in Crown Hall's inner circle. Heavily armed knights flanked it, saluting in ranks.
Second Prince Irid introduced to Gordius.
"Capital Knight Order Team 3."
"Greetings, Your Highness! And hale, lad! Ronald here, Team 3 captain—!!"
"...H-hello. Booming voice. But why the Capital Knights...?"
"Two reasons."
Irid held up two fingers.
"First: sole unit running power armor live. 『Mana Engine』's potential boundless, but tech rough spots show. Improvements from their suits."
"Wise indeed..."
"Second: walking mana furnace here cuts research costs. Her."
"......?"
Gordius turned where Irid pointed—a pint-sized girl. Middle-schooler vibe.
Overlapping pilot Kim Yun-seo, Gordius fished a candy from his pocket, offered.
"Hi, who's this?"
"Kim Lulu! Capital Knight Commander! Dig the no-fuss vibe!"
"...Huh?"
"They say you amp power armor? Mana's yours free. But craft one extra suit. Got a giftee!"
Capital Knight Commander?
The sublimation-realm monster, rumored over 2 meters tall? Looked sunny girl.
Gordius glanced bewildered at Irid, who nodded serene. He bowed deep.
"My ignorance..."
"Psh, fine! No biggie. Ronald, drag him in? Dying to see."
"Aye! Lad—even with Highness's nod! No collab yet! We'll eye that engine's punch firsthand!!"
"You'll love it. Demo time."
......
Rumble-crash!!
"Uhyahahaha—!! Lightning wizard now—!!"
Kim Lulu, strapped into the 『Mana Engine』-powered suit, Ram Jet Thunder pose—unleashing sky-shattering lightning barrage.
Massive mana to juice? Walking thunder storm.
This show? Collab locked. Ronald stroked his static-spiked mustache, queried Gordius. Romance demands it.
"Engine name, lad?"
Gordius paused, then intoned firm.
"『Stellaria』—none other."
The name etched worldward.
Woo Chae-rin pondered.
Definitely—kiss-threshold. Felt Gordius's breath closing in clear. Waited ages, yet no tactile hit.
What. Why zilch. More wait? Already landed? Eyes okay...?
That inner whirl.
Slowly.
Woo Chae-rin cracked eyes.
Pop!
Mini fireworks barrage.
"Welcome, self-awareness bloom~! Same Korea crew, yeah? No clue the wait."
"Dizzy? Ease breath, reel consciousness. One, two. One, two."
"Commemorative cake ready! Your guy and girl still pending..."
"Ho ho ho. Family grows—joy. Confusing now, adapt soon. Tea?"
What.
Really what...?