Chapter 43

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Translator: Silver Dragon

Chapter: 43

Chapter Title: Secrets of Debenna Planet (4)

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The hunting methods of the Corpse Hounds were unique.

They induced fear in any intelligent being they encountered using a variety of tactics.

Eerie, repetitive sounds.
The revolting stench of rotting corpses.
And even extreme visual shocks that were utterly horrific.

They exploited sight, sound, and smell to maximize the victim's terror.

As long as the target was an intelligent being capable of feeling fear.

That being would soon be consumed by overwhelming dread.

Fear paralyzed the prey's rationality.

A victim engulfed in extreme terror would quickly lose the will to fight and flee.

Once things reached that point, the hunt was as good as over.

—Thud, thud, thud.

But this man was different.

Far from running away, he strode boldly toward them.

The heads, witnessing this, whispered among themselves.

—What the hell is this guy…?

—Why isn't he succumbing to fear?

—Is our power not working on him?

The heads were flustered.

They had hunted countless intruders before.

But this was the first one who hadn't been gripped by fear.

No, it was the opposite.

Their high-sensitivity optical sensors pierced the man's combat helmet, revealing the face hidden within.

The man inside the helmet was smiling at them.

The moment they saw that smile.

The heads began to be overtaken by a new emotion they'd never felt before.

It was an emotion they inflicted on others so often.

But one they'd never experienced themselves.

Fear.

—Click!

The man who had approached right before their eyes chambered a round.

He then pointed the muzzle straight at them.

“Is this the extent of your mental erosion that you strutted around so proudly?”

At that exact moment.

Their instincts and intuition screamed.

Run away.

You have to escape this monster right now.

The Corpse Hound realized this too late and began backing away.

—Boom!

But it was far too late to flee.

* * *

The difference in power was so overwhelming.

It couldn't even be called a fight, not by any stretch.

The plasma blaster was more than enough to tear it apart.

The robot body was completely destroyed, losing all function.

The surviving heads looked at me in terror.

I strode toward the fallen heads.

—Kieeeek!!!!

The heads screamed in their own ways.

The noise was grating.

I'd originally planned to crush their skulls under my combat boots.

But looking at their filthy state, incinerating them cleanly seemed more satisfying.

I cranked the plasma to maximum temperature and sprayed it over them.

The ultra-high-temperature plasma blazed fiercely.

The light from the flames alone lit up the floor.

No aberration could withstand this firepower.

The flames grew, swallowing the aberration whole.

I snapped a photo and uploaded it to the gallery.

The gallery folks seemed to be getting used to my exploits.

Now, instead of being surprised, they were blaming the stupidity of the aberrations that came at me.

Right then, a new comment appeared.

It was a familiar nickname.

I paid attention to her comment.

Item drops, huh.

Better take a look.

I flipped over the pile of ashes with my combat boot.

After rolling it a few times, something emerged from the ashes.

It was a half-melted executive badge.

Probably a card key for accessing important facilities.

I replied to Ragna.

Right away, another new comment popped up.

This time from a high-nick.

A gallery user in commerce, huh.

They really knew their stuff in this area.

I started searching for the database as advised.

—Kieeek!!!

I occasionally ran into more Corpse Hounds.

But they weren't much of a problem.

They always charged in trying to scare me.

Each time, I charged back and burned them all.

After it happened a few times, whether rumors spread or not, they started fleeing first upon seeing me.

Even I felt a chill down my spine when true madness showed itself.

Maybe that's exactly how those aberrations felt.

For some reason, right now, I could a little bit understand their terror.

I continued searching for a while.

Soon enough, I found a door that looked important.

I approached it.

The machine recognized me and demanded identification.

I held out the executive badge I'd just acquired.

The scanner read it.

Soon, the door hissed open with steam.

I entered, following the guidance voice.

Inside was a server room on a massive scale.

Hundreds of computers at a glance.

In the center was what looked like the main computer.

I approached it.

Then, as instructed by the high-nicks Space Engineer and Laniakea, I began operating the computer.

Recently, various corporations have been eyeing expansions into our head office's business divisions.

Debenna still holds its edge as the galaxy's only planet-scale amusement park, but if this trend continues, we could lose our top spot.

To counter this, we deem it urgent to introduce a groundbreaking new adventure that overwhelms competitors.

Per the last meeting, we agreed to introduce an unprecedented, radical adventure.

Accordingly, our division actively reviewed Research Director Chelna's proposal.

Chelna's idea was to create an adventure using ancient artifacts discovered on Juno 371.

Ancient artifacts ZN-21 and ZN-37 from Juno 371 were identified as devices for simulations.

ZN-21 is a data storage unit containing simulation info, and ZN-37 is a simulator that runs simulations based on ZN-21 data.

After years of research, our team figured out how to power and operate this simulation.

Analysis shows it depicts the war between the Chiltoom Republic and the Utrmaher Empire from the 'Eternal Conflict' era.

Creator and purpose unknown, but likely made by powers like Belid or Mifran to assess ancient species' military strength.

Development Division proposes using this device to offer customers an astonishing hyper-real experience.

Our assessment: As it covers ancient history, this content has tremendous potential.

Moreover, hyper-real experiences can deliver intense stimulation unlike anything before.

Implementing it would bolster Debenna's entertainment edge, shake off competitors, and solidify our industry lead.

Research Director Chelna uncovered new info.

He claims this simulator isn't Belid or Mifran tech.

Research shows it's tens of thousands of years older than their civilizations.

Report states it's manufactured by the Utrmaher Empire.

Chelna voiced concerns, urging halt to the project based on this.

However, our division rejected this for the following reasons:

1. Being Utrmaher-made doesn't inherently mean danger—logically baseless.

2. As a non-weapon simulator, stability is fine; assessments already cleared it.

3. Chelna's overreacting irrationally just because it's Utrmaher tech.

Department meeting result: Chelna's claims rejected.

Project proceeds as planned.

Chelna again opposed in a meeting, causing a disturbance.

This violates Article 21 of company rules; HR resolved to fire him.

Upon firing resolution, Chelna was immediately executed.

New issue arose.

New Research Director Hoellan reviewed Chelna's data and uncovered unknown facts.

ZN-37 isn't mere data.

ZN-37 is a miniaturized closed universe created by copying real spacetime at reduced resolution to cut data volume.

I.e., ZN-37 is a cosmic-scale storage device the Utrmaher Empire made to preserve their defeat history.

Unclear how, but Hoellan warns it's potentially very dangerous as a simplified copy of actual spacetime, not just data.

Our division held an emergency meeting.

Delaying adventure opening by a month: min. 300 billion gold loss projected.

Full cancellation: HQ bankruptcy.

Hoellan insisted on cancel, but Stability Assessment Team says simulator stabilized, no major issues.

Thus, our division strongly recommends proceeding as planned based on their analysis.

Continuous malfunctions reported in Adventure 3 facility.

Adventure Management Team reports concerns.

Artificial planet 'Ekalshame' in the adventure keeps deviating from scenarios, acting independently.

Research Director Hoellan advises simulation entities may try entering real space.

Another worry: Recent mysterious disappearances.

Disappearances plus missing park robots, all near Facility 3.

Rumors spreading; staff reluctant to work Facility 3.

Right as I read that.

I recalled the Corpse Hound robots roaming outside.

That explained their state.

Linked to Facility 3 after all.

I tried loading the next data.

But no data came.

That was when it happened.

A red eye suddenly appeared on the interface.

That mechanical gaze glared at me.

“Seems you're under some delusion.”

I stared back at the eye and said,

“The one who needs a chance isn't me—it's you.”