Terraforming: The Provocation Plan

That said, I'd anticipated a rebel raid to some extent and prepared accordingly. After all, I had plenty of cards up my sleeve worth playing.

"I've got a plan."

"A-already?"

"Yeah... but it's kinda hard to explain."

"What? Why?"

"You have your secrets, and I've got a few of my own."

"You too? And more than one? What the hell are they...?"

"I'll tell you one. Fair's fair—you shared one with me. You know the ability you think I have regenerates stamina, right?"

"Yeah. Not just wounds, but energy too..."

- Whirrr.

I raised my right hand and covered my face with my palm. At the same time, Deceiving activated.

When I pulled my hand away, Lee Kangin's face stared back from where mine had been. Even the structure of my vocal cords had changed. If I spoke ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠now, his signature sharp voice would come out.

I demonstrated it to him.

"Turns out one person can have more than two abilities."

- Whirr.

My palm covered my face again and lifted, deactivating the skill. My original handsome features returned.

The whole thing took barely two seconds.

"...You're insane."

"Pfft, haha. Why so shocked? Abilities aren't fully understood, right? What's wrong with having a few?"

"W-well, yeah. No precedent in Shelter history, so it caught me off guard."

"About as likely as hitting the lottery twice in a row. Probably?"

I shrugged and changed the subject. No point wasting time explaining abilities now—we'd never get to the main point.

I laid out part of the plan for Lee Kangin.

"I use this to copy Gerard's face, then declare war on the 11th Sector combatants. Won't that put the Shelter on high alert and get them battle-ready?"

"Definitely... Then we'd have to storm their base."

"Nah, better to fight them right in our front yard. Lure them in."

"But they won't come here. It's not a real declaration of war."

"Hm... I've got a surefire way to provoke them. Trust me on this. But like I said, explaining the 'how' is complicated. Just roll with it."

"I won't pry for every secret, so that's fine... But won't that put you in danger? You'd have to go to their base yourself to bait them."

"I'll be fine."

"...You know you have a lover waiting for you, right?"

"I know. No plans to screw up twice."

"Twice??"

"Don't worry about it. It's nothing."

I muttered it like a promise to myself. If things went according to plan, there'd be no danger. I had zero intention of putting Chris through that pain again.

"Anything I can do to help?"

"Your help kicks in once the fight starts. For now, you've done your part by pinpointing their base."

"...You're saying I'm useless, but real nice about it."

"Oh, you caught that?"

"Heh."

"Just trust me and sit back."

"Fine. Guess I'll ride my genius friend's coattails. When do we kick this off?"

Sooner was better, but I needed prep time too. No physical prep required—I could head out right now. But I wasn't alone.

I needed time to convince Chris.

"Three days."

Three days to win her over.

*

The 'Item Information Check Lv2' was easy to spot in the shop window. The problem was...

"Goddamn expensive..."

50,000 karma. And shockingly, I already had exactly that much. I could buy it anytime.

But not right now. I needed to save karma.

"Just in case I end up facing Gerard and my power falls short—I might need to pump stats..."

The description showed it wasn't urgent. I closed the status window and headed out.

Toward Chris, who was waiting for me.

- Step, step.

The best part of being a combatant? Unlike trainee days, we got private rooms. More freedom to spend time with your lover.

Not that this visit was for that, but still.

- Knock knock!

"Coming!"

- Creeeak...

The door opened, and orange hair peeked out. I ruffled it lightly as I stepped inside.

Chris greeted me warmly too.

When do other couples really feel their connection? For me, it's moments like this—walking into your lover's room like it's natural, and them accepting it just as casually.

These little things were the best.

"You know, you never swear around me."

"I make an effort. It's stuck to my mouth after all these years—real pain."

"Yeah, you've probably had it glued there for years..."

"What? Don't tell me Chanyoung gets turned on by girls who curse...? Do it next time?"

"As if."

I laughed along with her joke. Easing the mood before the real talk was key. It'd make her more receptive.

"Phew! At least I don't have to fake it anymore!"

"Hey, Chris. What if I said I was gonna do something dangerous?"

"...Dangerous?"

"Yeah."

"...How dangerous?"

"Zero if it goes to plan. A bit if it doesn't?"

"...Seven years ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠ago, it was 'zero risk if it goes to plan,' right? Then it went sideways?"

"..."

I stayed silent, conceding her point. Her eyes turned icy.

As expected, she hated seeing me hurt. On 11th Sector patrols, she'd always keep me out of the fray, protecting me. Easy to guess.

Getting her approval wouldn't be smooth. But I'd tell her part of the plan anyway.

She might wonder why bother explaining. I could just do it, come back, and report.

...That'd be a nightmare to deal with after.

Seven years ago, I'd accidentally deceived her once and got forgiven. But twice? No way.

Forgiveness is easier than permission? Only the first time. Even for lovers bound tight, trust matters more—especially when danger's involved.

If I hid this and she found out later... that unconditional trust would crack.

Truth is... if I could hide it perfectly, I wouldn't say a word.

Scummy, but unavoidable. I'd face crises in novels plenty—can't report every one to Chris. Reason I'm telling her now? No way to hide it.

Better to ask nicely. Smart for the long haul.

"What exactly? I'll hear you out."

"Okay."

Her face uneasy, eyes squeezed shut, she gave the go-ahead. I slowly explained the plan.

Of course, that meant demoing Deceiving for her first.

- Whirrr!

"A-an ability? You have two?!"

"This isn't an ability."

"...What? Then what the hell is it...?"

"Remember what I promised to explain? Your fractured leg healing suddenly. This ties into that."

"..."

- Whirr!

I kept explaining. I skipped telling her Lee Kangin knew the future, but she didn't seem hung up on the gaps. She listened without interrupting.

Eventually, I covered the whole outline.

"...So, that's how I'll lure them in..."

"No."

Her patience snapped at the end, voice trembling as she cut me off. Eyes still shut tight.

"No. Absolutely not."

"Chris..."

Predictable rejection. Her eyelids lifted, eyes locking on me—pupils shaking as fiercely as her voice.

"Chanyoung... why are you always so nice?"

"I'm not nice."

"Then! Then... why sacrifice yourself for all those people?"

Back then, it was a hard-mode quest. Now, for Terraforming's completion. I take risks for clear gains.

Couldn't explain that. Had to correct her misunderstanding calmly.

"It's not a sacrifice. That implies I lose something, right?"

"You could die! You know that, so why say it like that...?"

Her logic shut down my quibble easily. I'd never convinced her with words before anyway. That's why I aimed for three days.

"Plus, your plan's full of holes! You can't escape Gerard!"

"I can."

"...You stubborn idiot..."

- Whoosh!

Chris shot up from her chair. My calm face must've convinced her I was set on it.

Good—she was following my lead. Just needed a little more prodding.

"You really think that? Gerard, me, Brack—we've got seven years on you. Even if you were the strongest back then... not now!"

"Probably. But I won't get caught."

"Chanyoung, you know you're not thinking straight, right?"

"This isn't stubbornness."

- Sigh...

"...You need to cool off in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠my custody. Sorry... I'll let go once you're thinking normally again."

- Swish!

Her slender frame lunged, mana flaring to pin me down. I slipped away effortlessly with Saneon Kick.

"Huh...?"

"Told you, you can't catch me."

"J-just now..."

She gawked at me beside her, baffled. It wasn't raw speed. I'd evaded fluidly from my seated position, naturally flowing past her hand. That's what stunned her.

Now, just dodge her full-force charges repeatedly until she got it. Until she believed I'd be safe.

Days if needed.

"Try again."

"..."

- Swishhh!!

She came faster this time. But I dodged.

Saneon ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Kick read even the swift White Ape. And excluding agility, my stats matched hers—buffs included.

Even if she sped up way more, I could barely evade.

"W-what is this? Chanyoung, what..."

"I'll explain everything soon. All my secrets. But focus now. I'll dodge till you get it."

"...Gerard's slower than me, sure. But there are tons of them! Not one! What if they surround you?!"

"Told you. Till you believe it."

"...You're impossible..."

"Stubborn? Love you."

"...Jerk. Love you."

Chris gritted her teeth and charged. Dead set on subduing me.

- Whoosh!

But slower than last. Her ploy was obvious: outlast me.

She figured my mana was limited.

Sure, Saneon Kick burns more than basic enhancement...

But I could spam mana endlessly. Refill on Earth when low.

No scenario where I got caught—not by Gerard, not by Chris.