Chapter 11

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Translator: Silver Dragon

Chapter: 11

Chapter Title: Veterans' Hand-Holding Guide (3) (Image Added)

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– Bang! Rat-tat-tat!!!

I immediately unloaded with my gun.

"Gahhh! What the hell is this?!"

Flashes erupted from all directions.

The wave of bullets crashed over the alien.

However.

– Ting! Tiiing!

The bullets bounced off harmlessly.

Even after blasting away for what felt like forever, our weapons couldn't even scratch the thing.

"Grraaaah!"

As if announcing that it was its turn now.

The creature let out a beastly roar toward us.

And then it charged straight at us.

"Pweeeeng!"

One of the Eggies in the lead got snatched right up in its grasp.

The monster immediately started ripping it to shreds.

"Captain... we're screwed!"

"Don't say it so damn cheerfully!"

If our weapons were useless against this thing.

There was only one option left.

"Run!!!"

Quick decisions were the only way to survive.

I turned tail and bolted immediately.

"Grraaaah!"

– Thud! Thud!

As soon as we started fleeing, it gave chase.

Unfortunately, one ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Eggy got caught and torn apart.

But thanks to that nameless Eggy's sacrifice, we bought ourselves more time.

I sprinted with everything I had.

After running for a good while, the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠thing finally vanished from sight.

"Thought we were really goners there."

Only then could I catch my breath.

Listening to the gallery folks, one question popped into my head.

Seemed like even the gallery folks didn't know the reason.

'Guess I've gotta figure it out myself.'

I resumed my search.

This time, I stuck to safer areas instead of risky spots.

'Gotta find a computer first.'

This device I'd picked up.

According to the gallery, it seemed likely to be a storage drive.

Since the Chiltoom who'd turned into a monster was holding it until the end, any clues were probably here.

"Found a computer!"

One of the Eggies searching sent me the info.

The search team, including me, all headed there.

Sure enough, there was a computer.

I slotted in the storage device right away.

A ton of files popped open.

I clicked through them one by one, but I couldn't make heads or tails of any.

"Good thing I have unpaid slaves for times like this."

I fired up the gallery and posted right away.

I decided to follow the gallery's advice.

Still, I couldn't just sit idle, so I poked around the area a bit.

After about an hour of scouting here and there.

I learned a few new things.

'This must be a residential district.'

I had a few reasons for that guess.

The biggest clue was the layout.

The area was packed with structures that looked like apartment buildings.

Inside each unit, there were traces of people having lived there.

'With this scale, tons of people must've lived here.'

Just this residential zone alone probably housed at least a thousand.

That naturally led to one question.

'Where'd they all go?'

I looked down at the streets below.

This abandoned city was eerily quiet.

As if no one had ever lived here.

I hadn't thought much of the silence when I first landed.

But now that I knew people had once lived here, a chill ran down my spine.

"Fuck... did they all turn into monsters like that?"

If that was really the case.

Where were they now?

As an indescribable dread started gnawing at me.

The gallery notification shattered the mood.

I dove right into the file.

『Anomalous Entity - 82137, hereafter "Mriya," is a seed-shaped anomalous entity discovered in the Room - Mriya star system.』

【Research Log 1】Encounter

[Author]: Science Division Chief Akalaatoom

We detected ether levels 800 times above average in the Room - Mriya star system.

This anomaly was occurring on a planet we've designated Illusion - 4157.

We've renamed the planet "Room."

Planet Room hosts a massive temple of unknown origin, emitting unbelievable levels of ether energy.

We've reported this to Chief Researcher Ehilaatoom and requested permission to explore the ruins.

Request approved. We'll dispatch an exploration team soon to investigate the facility.

【Research Log 2】Exploration

[Author]: Exploration Captain Suhariltoom

While exploring Room's temple, we encountered an intriguing native species.

We've designated them "Roomtoom."

Roomtoom are primitive intelligences with rudimentary sapience.

They communicate via a primitive language of strung-together words.

As their crude language suggests, their brain development is extremely low.

We struggled to communicate, but fortunately succeeded.

According to the Roomtoom, the temple on Room is dedicated to their god.

On gods and the temple, they offered only mythical explanations—no useful info.

We've reported to Chief Researcher Ehilaatoom and requested an archaeological team for further study.

【Research Log 3】Securement and Containment

[Author]: Exploration Captain Philoomtoom

At Chief Researcher Ehilaatoom's request, we deployed military forces.

Our troops used heavy equipment to destroy the temple's internal barrier.

The barrier appears to be a measure against intruders.

However, exploration didn't go smoothly.

Our team faced interference from various security systems.

The temple was protected by dozens of security types—creative enough to astonish veteran explorers.

Its builders clearly despised outsiders entering.

But our valiant warriors overcame all threats, bringing the facility under full Chiltoom Republic control.

Finally, in the central crypt, we secured a metallic object radiating immense ether energy.

We've named it "Mriya."

Mriya resembles a seed, gleaming bright silver.

Though only pebble-sized, its mass is a staggering 3,000 tons.

Requested additional equipment from Chief Researcher Ehilaatoom to transport it to the ship.

This mystery will soon be ours.

【Research Log 4】Sudden Incident

[Author]: Warrior Rahaltoom

While deploying heavy gear to transport Mriya, we were ambushed by numerous Roomtoom.

Not sure if they went mad, but Roomtoom across the planet turned aggressive.

To defend the facility, we unavoidably used force—minimal, per engagement rules.

Short commotion, but all threats neutralized.

【Research Log 5】Infection Occurrence

[Author]: Exploration Captain Philoomtoom

Regrettable news.

An explorer showed symptoms of an unknown infection.

The individual had multiple physical contacts with Roomtoom in combat.

Likely contracted a local pathogen during contact.

However, no symptoms in Roomtoom suggest it's harmful only to us.

Our flesh isn't invincible—a shock.

Patient transferred to ship infirmary. Will return after on-site investigation.

【Research Log 6】Shocking Truth

[Author]: Exploration Captain Suhariltoom

Shocking discovery.

Room temple's builders were the Roomtoom themselves.

Astonishingly, 300,000 years ago, they had interstellar travel capability.

For some reason, the Roomtoom Empire collapsed abruptly.

Archaeological evidence points to the Roomtoom destroying their own empire.

They razed it, built this temple in the capital, then vanished.

Survivors degenerated over hundreds of thousands of years into the inferior species we see today.

What the hell happened here?

【Research Log 7】Worst-Case Scenario

[Author]: Chief Researcher Ehilaatoom

An unidentified infection is spreading aboard the ship.

Can't trace the vector.

Infected were fully physically isolated.

Yet this mystery disease spreads rapidly.

First victims: doctors observing the patient. No contact or shared space.

Infection first collapses the mind, then mutates the body.

Mutation starts with unidentified mold in neural circuits, spreading to overtake the body.

Once overtaken, they evolve into grotesque mycelium, dispersing spores that infect even machinery.

How did this pathogen bypass our medical systems?

Physically impossible.

But it's happening now.

We're fighting infected. Worst situation unfolding.

Can't control it, so discussed requesting homeland support with department heads.

Some heads vehemently oppose, fearing spread to homeworld. Divisions deepening.

Some extremists advocate self-destruct to end the tragedy here.

What to do?

Must we choose such an extreme for the greater good?

I don't know.

May Ahoraatoom help us.

【Research Log 8】■■■ ■■ ■■■■

[Author]: Warrior Rahaltoom

Never look at it.

Don't even wonder about it.

The moment you learn of it, it gains power.

Don't fear it either.

That's what it wants. Any thought—fear, resentment, joy, desire, hate, worry, anxiety—strengthens it.

The only solution is oblivion.

If you're reading this, remember:

Traveler, if you don't understand this, you're not infected yet.

Stop wondering about what happened here. Leave now.

Let us die here.

Forget this place quietly.

It lives, and acknowledging it is torment.

If you've already seen it, it's too late.

I choose death to preserve my dignity.』

After reading the entire record.

One thought dominated my mind.

'Fuck, we're really screwed.'