Chapter 66: The Paradise to Be Completed (3)
Seed.
They were beings known to possess the only power capable of killing the Ghost of Destruction.
-How do you recognize a Seed?
At so point, Diesel had once gone to River and asked her that question.
Unexpectedly, she had willingly given him the information.
-Basically, a Seed is an Awakened.
Not all Awakened were Seeds, but a Seed was always an Awakened.
That was because the most important ability they possessed could only be obtained through the phenonon called Awakening.
-What’s important is the nature of the Awakening ability the Seed has.
An Awakening ability capable of interfering with the power called ‘the surreal’.
Only those who possessed such power were called Seeds.
-For example, Lady Herja’s ‘The Plundering Shadow’ can devour not only physical force but also power generated through the surreal.
And the ‘Surreal Awakening’ I possessed was an ability that allowed to see and handle all surreal phenona.
My older brother and younger sister were the sa, able to see and handle all surreal phenona as well.
-The best way to find out whether soone is a Seed is, of course, to directly confirm their ability with your own two eyes. But since that’s impossible, that’s why you’re asking…….
River explained several thods as concretely and in as much detail as possible.
As if she herself were an expert in that field.
-If the other party isn’t an otherworldly species, you should be able to check using what I just told you. Of course, it’s not as easy as it sounds, but if it’s you, sir, I’m sure it’s possible.
To determine whether Kang Da-hee was a Seed, I didn’t need to use all the thods River had told .
I was able to find out with just the simplest first attempt.
It was a thod where, with flesh pressed against flesh, I directly projected various surreal phenona and observed the reaction.
Like performing an allergy test on an arm.
‘The reaction was definite.’
In the past, Councilman Kang Leon had probably conducted similar tests on Kang Da-hee as well.
Using a ‘machine’ that tested thods similar to mine.
But the reaction that appeared would have been negative.
That wasn’t strange.
‘Even to , it felt extrely faint.’
I recalled last night, when I had held Kang Da-hee’s thin hand.
It was a very weak reaction that even precise asuring instrunts couldn’t distinguish, but I, who had senses far more sensitive than any machine, could tell.
Without a doubt, Kang Da-hee showed a specific reaction to every surreal phenonon I emitted.
〈Master, we’ll arrive soon.〉
Before I knew it, the final destination of this operation, the mana reaction chamber, was right in front of us.
[It’s so quiet that it makes nervous.]
Matafil said that while holding his rifle and keeping watch on the surroundings.
Pinkbit also nodded as if agreeing with his words.
[I can’t feel any Spirit Core reactions for now.]
[That ans……]
[At least it ans there’s still a chance to steal the Spirit Core.]
[That’s so good news, at least. How are we going to enter?]
[Let’s check the internal information first.]
Matafil advanced down the last corridor with his weapon raised.
Then, as he approached the shielded door, he nodded to the team as if to say it was safe.
〈Ar, can you hack the CCTV?〉
〈I’m sorry. The Electrosphere security here isn’t lax.〉
Ar had been trying to hack into the power plant’s internal network for a while now, but it seed she was struggling due to the fairly high level of security.
〈Don’t push yourself.〉
〈If only I could scout directly…….〉
In this world, flying spirits were quite common, so counterasures against them were also thorough.
From jamrs that forcibly dispelled a spirit’s manifestation, to traps that could even cause a spirit rampage, there was a wide variety.
Because of that, I couldn’t recklessly send Ar into an uncertain area.
〈It’s fine. You’ve done enough, so hide well now.〉
I stroked Ar and tucked her deep into my chest.
‘There’s no information at all in here.’
While preparing for the operation in earnest, I had tried to obtain the power plant’s blueprints sohow, but I couldn’t get them anywhere.
Even Boss Kim hadn’t been able to find them out.
‘But we have a trickster.’
And one who specialized in spatial magic at that.
Although she didn’t provide much help in terms of firepower during combat, she was an extrely useful position in a pitch-dark situation like this, where we had no information at all.
[Pinkbit, I’ll need a favor.]
I closely observed every action Pinkbit took.
A series of processes designed to scout an unknown space was about to begin.
【Starting.】
She displayed a brief text hologram, then first extended both hands with white fur forward.
At the sa ti, a single fingernail-sized portal opened.
‘Checking for spatial disruptors first, I see.’
The portal was maintained for only a very short ti before closing.
Pinkbit sniffed with her nose, checking the atmospheric components that had leaked out in that brief mont.
‘So she’s also checking for hazardous substances.’
Special neural receptors installed in the ethmoid bone of her nose.
I recalled the cyberware installed in her.
When the asurent result ca back as safe, she pulled out thick goggles from her waist and put them on.
As she waved her hands around, a bluish-green mana light flickered rapidly inside the goggles.
‘……That’s an incredible speed.’
Like the shutter of a high-speed cara, portals opened and closed.
Pinkbit’s large artificial eyes didn’t blink even once as they recorded all of it.
Soon, on the team’s closed communication channel, images of the inside of the reaction chamber gradually took shape, as if they had been printed out with a 3D printer.
【End.】
The ti it took to complete was only about 30 seconds.
It was data that detailed even a single ant crawling on the floor.
[As expected, you’re amazing. It’d be hard to find a trickster like you anywhere.]
At Matafil’s praise, Pinkbit casually cracked open a mana soda and gulped it down.
But she didn’t seem able to hide her pink ears twitching happily.
‘First of all…….’
Among the many objects shown in the data, I focused on the three most important ones.
One was the Type-19 Spirit Core, the target of this operation.
[Core location confird. Looks like they’re in the middle of inserting it into the reactor.]
[Confird.]
Another was the enemy who had orchestrated all of this: Heavyskull.
‘This is probably him.’
A figure wearing an unidentified robe.
[He’s on the 5th floor corridor. That skull bastard.]
Matafil muttered, having apparently spotted him as well.
‘And lastly, Kang Da-hee…….’
I couldn’t find her anywhere.
There was no way Pinkbit would have missed her, so it seed she wasn’t in the reaction chamber.
‘The possibility that she escaped on her own…….’
Wasn’t very high.
Given Heavyskull’s personality, he would try to make use of her no matter what.
The probability that he had locked her up sowhere was the highest, but I didn’t have ti to look for her right now.
I marked icons on the team’s interface.
[We’ll split into two directions. I’ll go to the cover beyond this door, and you two go straight for the Spirit Core.]
[Are you sure you’ll be okay alone?]
[Don’t worry about . You can open two dium portals simultaneously, right?]
When Pinkbit nodded, I reminded her of sothing.
[Keep this in mind.]
[We’re not supposed to kill the skull bastard?]
[Right.]
Matafil made a dissatisfied expression, but he understood better than anyone why we had to keep that bastard alive.
[Then we’re going in.]
With my short command.
Krrrrrk……!
A bluish-green portal opened before my eyes.
* * *
[One Spirit Core secured.]
At Matafil’s transmission, I looked toward where the core had been stored.
Pinkbit, having finished the check, was carefully placing the Type-19 Spirit Core into its case.
‘Why……?’
The operation was proceeding according to plan, yet my eyes wavered more than ever.
[Diesel. I can’t see the other one.]
‘Why is he just standing there……?’
My gaze turned toward the fifth floor.
A posture as if looking down at .
Heavyskull, still draped in his robe, hadn’t moved an inch.
[Diesel?]
[For now, we pull out of here as planned.]
[No, there’s one core missing.]
[We can’t help it. Let’s get outside first and…….]
[Then who’s going to take this?]
[What?]
[This Spirit Core. If not you, which one of us is going to take it?]
[…….]
An unforeseen situation exploded into being.
If there had been none at all, that would have been one thing, but I hadn’t expected the target to be only half present like this.
Originally, the cores that went into the reactor were a set of two.
‘Wait, if that’s the case…….’
As I sank into thought, Matafil spoke in a firm voice.
[I told you. We need this core.]
That was true for as well.
After coming all this way, return empty-handed?
Whatever story the other side had, I couldn’t give up either.
‘So this was what he was aiming for.’
Heavyskull knew very well that for Matafil, Pinkbit, and to all be satisfied, there had to be two cores.
[The remaining core is probably……. not here.]
[……So what are we going to do?]
Impatience crept into Matafil’s voice.
And as if pushing us from behind—
Papap! Suddenly, all the internal power shut off.
[W-what is it?]
Then a red light flashed, and a blaring alarm rang out from the speakers.
[Unauthorized intruder detected, all personnel move imdiately to the reactor. Unauthorized intruder detected…….]
Caught in the sudden turn of events, Matafil fell into confusion.
[It was a trap after all……!]
[Calm down for now and co over this way.]
When there was no response to my command, I looked toward Matafil.
[What are you doing. Hurry and co this way…….]
[We can’t leave without the core.]
Desire settled into his eyes.
[Don’t tell , you two right now…….]
Before my words could even finish.
Pinkbit emitted a bluish-green mana light.
‘Ha…….’
So that was it.
They were trying to get out like this.
Yes.
For those two, that would be the best choice.
They had already obtained the goal they wanted, and with the alarm sounding, they needed to escape imdiately.
If I were in their position, I would have made the sa choice.
‘He really set the board perfectly.’
A way to eliminate the enemy without taking any damage.
That was to cause internal division.
‘A sly bastard…….’
With that, I spoke in a serious voice.
[Pinkbit.]
[…….]
[Think carefully. Like Matafil said, this is a trap.]
Perhaps the opposite portal hadn’t been connected yet; space rely rippled without opening.
[I guarantee it. If you ride that out, you’ll die, no matter what.]
Though it was only conjecture, I put force into my voice.
Seemingly persuaded, Pinkbit scowled deeply and looked back and forth between Matafil and .
[You’re moving exactly as Heavyskull intends right now.]
Her hesitation dragged on.
And then, at last.
Krrrk……!
The portal opened.
[Ha……. I’m sorry. It was an unavoidable choice.]
Matafil muttered as he stepped toward the opened portal.
And then.
“Either way, if not for you, I’d already be dead.”
His voice ca from behind .
“I trust you, Diesel.”
“Yeah.”
“Pinkbit, give that to Diesel, quickly.”
“…….”
“You connected it here knowing that, didn’t you?”
But even at Matafil’s words, Pinkbit only fidgeted with the hand gripping the case, unable to hand it over.
She wanted to live, but didn’t want to give up the core as well.
Understanding her feelings, I spoke.
[Just keep it safe for now. It’s fine for the mont.]
At that mont.
The blaring alarm stopped, the lights ca back on, and from above ca the sound of clapping hands.
“This truly is a remarkable decision.”
“That bastard…….”
“You chose the only answer available in this place.”
When he removed his robe, a gleaming tallic skull appeared.
“As expected, Diesel, you truly are no ordinary individual.”
“So.”
“Hmm……?”
“Where is she?”
At my question, Heavyskull answered.
“Ah……. You an the other core? That is a sowhat disappointing question, but……. I thought soone like you would have noticed, of course.”
He tapped the railing lightly with his finger as he continued.
“Unfortunately, you won’t even get a look at the other core. So it would be wise to give up now…….”
“No. Not that.”
I widened my eyes.
“Kang Da-hee.”
“…….”
“Where is she.”
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