Identity for the Outer God
Visitor: “Th-then, Master... you granted official status to a being suspected of being an Outer God avatar...?”
“You understand perfectly.”
This was insane.
Outer God. Outer God. An overwhelming extraterrestrial existence that, by its mere presence, plunged all living beings in the universe into despair and agony. To grant one of its avatars official Galactic Federation identity? Once I grasped it, I realized just how utterly mad it was.
No, what I couldn't wrap my head around even more was...
An Outer God helping us? And acting like a normal human? Does this even happen?
Outer Gods were symbols of destruction and despair, plain and simple. A prime example was the Outer God codenamed Zakura Mog.
A mid-tier god in Outer God rankings, it had a grotesque appearance like a scorpion and centipede fused together—the kind that infested the planet Earth, home to the Terra race. A monster the size of a dwarf planet, hundreds of kilometers in diameter. Just looking at it filled you with revulsion that made you want to hurl.
True to its looks, it wielded equally repulsive powers: spreading deadly venom and plagues everywhere it went. Dubbed the “Bringer of Plagues,” Zakura Mog commanded billions of giant insects—from one-meter pests to two-kilometer behemoths. It destroyed planets simply by passing by, turning them into toxic wastelands overrun with pestilence.
Decades ago, Zakura Mog wiped out a planet in the Galactic Federation's F Sector in an instant. The inhabitants were a respectable species that had been advancing their science and technology with Rubaran tribe support. Yet they fell in just three days. All because Zakura Mog happened to pass by.
To prevent further casualties, the Federation lured it to a void with no nearby galaxies, neutralizing the threat. Thankfully, over thirty years had passed without reports of Zakura Mog inflicting damage—presumably still wandering that void.
That was an Outer God for you. An overwhelming existence mortals couldn't even dream of opposing. Even the Galactic Federation, which dominated the current universe, could only chase them into the void to minimize harm. True “gods” in every sense.
If Yujin was one of those, then why? This base, and worst of all, Yupiter and I ourselves—our memories could draw it straight to Meias planets. What madness drove my master to aid such a terrifying entity?
“Rowi, the galaxy is mistaken.”
“About what, sir?”
Yupiter smiled faintly at Rowi Hendrick's question.
“Not all Outer Gods are hostile to us. In fact, we can't even tell if they view us as enemies. They're simply threats by virtue of existing.”
Fundamentally, Outer Gods didn't antagonize cosmic lifeforms. Sure, some harbored infinite hatred toward them, but most were utterly indifferent to life. Why would they care about insignificant bugs that crumbled and died just from proximity?
Cosmic beings feared and labeled them enemies simply because getting close was suicidal.
“Just as some among us take interest in lowly insects or microbes, so too do some among them—curious researchers, if you will.”
And occasionally, they even helped cosmic lifeforms. Creating entirely new species and civilizations, or granting primitive races power and wisdom to transform them.
“Of course, it's just them succumbing to curiosity or boredom. But to us, that acts as 'good.'”
If typical Outer Gods—non-hostile yet threatening by existence alone—were deemed “evil,” then those who helped out of idle curiosity could be called “good,” right?
And for such benevolent Outer Gods, shouldn't we reciprocate as best we could? Though with beings beyond common sense, who knew if our gestures even registered as help.
“He spared our lives, didn't he? That alone proves he's 'good' to us.”
“...So, a good god deserves good treatment in return?”
“Better than offending one who seems friendly toward us, no?”
“......”
Fair point. No need to rile up an Outer God who's shown us goodwill. Better to stay on its good side, express gratitude, and avoid displeasing it even slightly. One wrong move, and we'd vanish without a trace—mere mortals that we were.
“...Understood. I'll be careful, sir.”
From now on, Rowi Hendrick resolved to follow his master's lead and convey their thanks properly.
“He's probably aware of our every word anyway. No point hiding it.”
Suddenly, something occurred to Yupiter. He eyed Rowi Hendrick and added,
“But he doesn't seem to want his identity known. Keep your mouth shut about it.”
“...Yes, sir.”
With that, they wrapped up and turned back toward headquarters.
“Elder Yupiter. So this is where you were.”
“...?”
Someone spotted them and approached.
“And you are...”
Turning, they saw two figures. Blue skin, gray eyes without pupils, elongated heads stretching back. One had dark teal hair, the other brown. Classic traits of the Galactic Federation's elite race, the Rubaran tribe.
“I'm Leus, head of the Federation's Space Environment Management Division. And this is...”
“Allegros. Deputy Director of Space Safety Countermeasures.”
Leus and Allegros, straight from Federation HQ.
“What brings two HQ staffers to this old man?”
At Yupiter's question, Leus narrowed his eyes and held out a photo. It looked like an ID shot of a Terra youth—black hair, black eyes.
“You know this man?”
“...!!”
“Th-this is...”
Yupiter and Rowi couldn't hide their shock upon seeing the photo Leus held. It was Yujin's ID picture—the same Yujin they'd just been with.
“You vouched for him and issued his ID. Where is he now?”
Leus's gaze remained sharp. Allegros behind him looked equally grim. Anyone could tell they were hunting him for no good reason.
“...Whatever the reason, if it's bad, I recommend dropping it.”
Not wanting to risk offending him, Yupiter tried to dissuade them.
Allegros shoved past Leus, charging at Yupiter and bellowing,
“Hey, old timer! You have no idea how serious this is. Elder status or not, that don't fly! This is a major space safety crisis!”
He jabbed at Yujin's photo in the picture and continued.
“That tourist ship from the Skull Nebula you were just on? Got hit with a mental attack. And get this—some sibal Outer God popped up a ways off, right in empty space.”
Estimates put the Outer God's size and power at upper-level or higher.
“Mental attack from 2 billion km away the moment it appeared? Could be a freak like Nyarlathotep for all we know!”
Nyarlathotep. One of the horrific upper-level Outer Gods that, centuries ago, paralyzed dozens of planets and space stations in just ten minutes of presence. Known for mental assaults that shattered minds even a light-year away.
It lingered ten minutes, then tore through dimensions and vanished, leaving chaos in its wake. Despite the brief appearance, it earned the moniker “The Crawling Chaos.”
“This Terra guy's linked to that Outer God somehow. We gotta investigate.”
“So spill it. What's his deal? Where is the bastard?”
Yupiter silently shook his head. A clear “don't look.”
Refusing to cooperate here might just extend his suspension or get him permanently stripped of elder status. But selling out Yujin to these hostiles? The repercussions were unimaginable.
“Hmph, fine. He's somewhere on this base anyway. Let's go, Team Leader Leus.”
“Yes, Deputy Director Allegros.”
As they tried to push past Yupiter and Rowi,
Swish—
Yupiter summoned his staff, blocking their path.
“I said no. Back off unless you want to die.”
“...Ha! This old coot's lost it.”
At that instant, veins bulged on Leus and Allegros's elongated heads.