Chapter 48. Tree (2)
"Welcome. Have you had some rest?"
Carrot greeted us as he stood up. He still appeared pale.
There were six of us gathered in the room: Carrot, Celestia, Eric, Nadia, Licorice, and me. It seemed the others couldn't make it due to work commitments, or perhaps there was no need for them to be here.
The interior of the room looked hastily assembled, with dust that hadn't yet been cleaned. It was closer to an empty warehouse than a proper meeting room.
Everyone was giving me friendly looks. I didn't feel bad. After seeing monsters all day, it was calming to be around normal people. At least they wouldn't suddenly start smashing up stores and causing chaos.
Under Carrot's direction, Licorice sat down first. Nadia and I followed suit, while Carry took a spot behind us, switching to standby mode.
"I'm sorry to get straight to the point, but could you tell us what happened in Heaven? We're severely lacking information and need your help."
Carrot spoke with a serious expression. Since the broker—no, Licorice—had already mentioned it, Nadia and I exchanged glances and nodded in agreement.
It wasn't a monumental secret I needed to take to my grave, and sharing information was crucial for survival. We needed to stick together to survive against the grotesquely mutated monsters.
"When we first arrived in Heaven...."
I began recounting everything slowly, trying to recall the events.
Starting from witnessing a person end their life before turning into a monster called ghoul, to the fact that although security barriers had come down properly, the monsters used ventilation ducts as conduits, rendering it meaningless.
There was a group responsible for bombing the communication area's server room and deliberately paralyzing the maintenance area, and given their use of archaic gunpowder weapons, it's likely that the pureblood supremacists were involved.
Noting the reactions of the ghouls, it seemed the creatures held other emotions aside from murderous intent.
For reasons unknown, the monsters collected corpses, and the mining base Heaven was packed with those horrific monsters.
We shared all our memories. Since everything had happened in a blur, I discussed uncertain events with Nadia to relay the most accurate information possible.
As I narrated the occurrences in Heaven while taking sips of water, the conference room fell silent. No one wore a light-hearted expression.
Celestia and Licorice, who had communicated with us and knew somewhat about the situation, also looked very grave.
Carrot was the first to break the silence.
"... It's a miracle that you returned alive. And now there's the possibility that the pureblood supremacists still exist... that's not good at all."
"We need to start building defensive facilities as quickly as possible. If there are surviving humans and not just monsters, they could soon discover this location."
Agreeing with Eric, Carrot turned to me.
"You refer to them as ghouls, which means you've seen the data I provided. Did you acquire any samples? It sounds like you had plenty of contact scenarios."
"While I thought securing samples would be wise, we didn't have the luxury at that time. Carry's thrusters were damaged from overuse, and, more crucially, we hadn't confirmed whether we were infected or not...."
On the way here, Nadia mentioned that she had a tough time sanitizing my suit after I collapsed into a deep sleep, scrubbing off the ghoul's bodily fluids.
'... Thinking back, it's a bit embarrassing.'
While Nadia didn't faint, I did. It's not that I underestimate her, but it's a little unsettling, to say the least. Maybe it's embarrassing.
"Ah, don't misunderstand. It's just an occupational habit of mine to ask. You, having directly dealt with them, understand their danger better than anyone. As you mentioned, infection is still unconfirmed. Obtaining samples can wait until the research lab is set up. If we're able to leave here by then, there might be no need at all."
Recognizing my hesitance, Carrot gestured sympathetically. He inquired if I was certain about seeing ghouls taking bodies, and I confirmed it.
We realized the creatures' odd behavior when the numerous corpses that should have been in the base disappeared. While hiding in a bathroom stall, we heard ghouls gathering the bodies and later confirmed them gone.
"Are they taking them for energy consumption or for another purpose... Did you encounter any mimic types?"
"No, we didn't. We mostly saw ghouls in a dormant state."
"Dormant state... indicating they kill but perhaps not for nourishment. Their energy might be sustained not by caloric intake, but by the embedded Blue Crystal ore."
While Carrot muttered to himself, sinking into deep thought, I pulled something from my belt pouch and placed it on the table. I assumed it would no longer be there when I woke up, but the bracelet was still intact, surprisingly.
"I wouldn't call it a substitute, but I brought this. One's synced with the base; the other isn't."
"That's the trace of the pureblood supremacists you mentioned?"
"I found it on the gateway from the communications to the maintenance area. I thought there might be something, but it was locked."
"Leave it to me. However high their security measures are, they're garbage."
Licorice snatched up the bracelet with a confident grin. Seeing this, the others remained silent. It was an unspoken affirmation of trust.
Licorice still fiddled with the bracelet, sending discreet communications.
- Lee Hyun-woo. I couldn't tell you earlier, but if you want to disguise your rank, you need another bracelet. Once used, it can't be reused.
- ... Is that true?
- Why would I lie to you? Tricking systems isn't easy. It's not a lack of ability on my part; it's just that manipulating them isn't an option. Trying to deceive with a previously used one will get it locked immediately. Understood?
- I get it... but why tell me now?
- So you can say goodbye to the bracelet you obtained.
Once the work is complete, the bracelet won't retain its current form. With a hint of sorrow, I bid it farewell.
Goodbye, bracelet. Thanks for keeping me alive. Thank you, Tyler!
After promptly bidding farewell to the bracelet's original owner, I answered inquiries about the situation at the base.
"The cargo shuttle station was wrecked by the explosion, making a mess of shuttles and decks, but the warehouse still has a lot of salvageable materials. If we get a shuttle, everything there is ours. Though who knows what'll ha—... Why the look?"
Speaking earnestly, I faltered under the peculiar stares. Nadia, noticing the others' hesitance, took the lead.
She perked up her ears and patted my hand.
"Hyun-woo isn't wrong. He's just being practical."
"All of a sudden?"
"It was just very pirate-like. Or maybe more like a treasure hunter trying to lure naive people with a treasure map."
"... Really?"
Pirate or treasure hunter, hearing that made me ponder if my words seemed so strange. Still rubbing my chin, Celestia shook her head.
"No, you're right. We're building the array antenna structure based on the communication module you recovered. However, it won't be a short-term project, so we need to gather what we can. Even if the facility is completed, communication is another issue."
Celestia mentioned the pureblood supremacists' complete blockade of satellites. Originally, Myosotis's rescue team should have arrived, having noticed something amiss, but this wasn't the case.
There was a specific situation preventing the rescue team from arriving, but without restoring communications, they couldn't know for sure. Thus, they considered the possibility of a long-term entrapment on Saturn's icy moon Titan.
Celestia tapped the table lightly before continuing.
"Despite the store being activated, we can't be picky. If the situation worsens, the store system won't remain unaffected. Especially since you experienced it firsthand in Heaven, you understand the severity and necessity."
"Right. I'd never want to go back, but if necessity demands it, not with this gear. We were lucky this time; returning with these would mean certain death."
Just as Celestia said, there was no room for selectiveness. We needed to utilize everything. Even if it meant taking risks.
I still hadn't given up on returning to Earth. I still yearned to see the blue sky there. It was the driving force pushing me forward, practically my entire being. How could I ever give up on that dream?
This mission was perilous but ultimately successful. Besides some minor injuries, we survived. Nonetheless, I understood that luck wouldn't always protect us.
To be honest, a sense of compulsion weighed on me. The dread that once our luck ran dry, death might swallow us lurked persistently at my core, constantly oppressing me.
It was not an impulsive rush to act, but a compulsion to be prepared. Even now, when I close my eyes, the ghoul's horrifying screams echo vividly, almost deafening, from the dark base. The imagery of monsters' hands aggressively reaching for us also resurfaces clearly.
Though I maintained a facade of calmness, the sense of impending doom, the instinctive mental alarm of danger, lingered like an echo, tormenting me. Because of this, when sharp noises occasionally disrupted the silence, my grip reflexively tightened.
"I'm still looking for shuttles. There may be no more cargo shuttles, but a command shuttle might still be around. Once its location is confirmed, I'll inform you immediately."
"Thank you, miss Celestia."
"... Miss Celestia?"
Momentarily taken aback, Celestia soon regained composure.
"We have a gift prepared for you. Eric."
"Yes. Mr. Hyun-woo, if you're interested in enhancing your current equipment, I can introduce you to someone."
At Celestia's call, Eric stepped forward, examining our essential tool, the plasma cutter, from different angles.
"That's possible?"
"There's someone with expertise in this field. We might not alter it entirely without creating a new one, but we can rectify its flaws."
"That would be wonderful for us. We've been dealing with quite a few inconveniences."
Although it could be used as a spear-like weapon at maximum output, there were ample shortcomings. After all, it was originally a tool, not a weapon.
"However, it won't be done today. All available personnel are currently working on the colony's external wall installations. Once the basic framework is up, we'll contact you."
"We appreciate it."
We exchanged nods, relieved and joyful. Having addressed pressing concerns, we discussed the current state of the 1st-generation colony town.
Air purification systems,
The absence of protective shields and insufficient filters meant it was impossible to install them in every building,
The need to procure more refined Blue Crystals to build makeshift solar furnaces or to channel the surplus energy from the base Heaven,
And the necessity of a comprehensive exploration of sealed underground tunnels.
The nitty-gritty details were enough to cause headaches, and before long, we bolted before we ended up overwhelmed.
- From now on, just call me by name. There's no need to use "miss". Please, don't refuse. You've already been doing that well.
Catching the excuse of still being slightly tired, I naturally rose and slipped away, only to receive a message.
'Ah.'
Reading Celestia's message, I sighed inwardly. I immediately grasped what she referred to.
It pointed to that moment, when there wasn't time for formalities due to urgency.
Embarrassed, I glanced back. Celestia, smiling gently, wiggled her fingers at me, as if knowing I'd turn back.
- ... Sure.
With a curt response, I quickly exited. For some reason, my face felt flushed. I couldn't tell if it was embarrassment or something else.
【 ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌ ) 】
Alternately observing Celestia and me, Carry gave a thumbs up.
***
As the light receded beyond the horizon and Saturn's shadow deepened, Licorice called me in to reveal that she had unlocked the pureblood supremacist's bracelet.
Instead of the room we visited earlier, I was directed to the broker's quarters, where she leaned back in an armchair, arms crossed. Her tired eyes suggested she had been through quite an ordeal.
"Didn't you say their security was garbage?"
"... Keep quiet."
With a low grumble, her response to my remark about the delay lacked any bite. She was too drained to be threatening; even Nadia's playful growl appeared more menacing.
But knowing how sulky she could get, I handed her some purified water in a pouch, and she eagerly drained it. It quickly shriveled into a husk.
"Any interesting findings?"
"There was. Despite being a mere grunt, they bafflingly used high security, making me think they had more to conceal...."
"And what did you find?"
Gesturing lazily toward the dismantled remnants of the bracelet, Licorice indicated I could see for myself. The bracelet lay in pieces, fully exposing its inner workings. Thin cables connected it to a playback device.
The stored voice logs replayed, resonating with the voice of an unfamiliar man. It evoked an eerie sense of being inside a cave.
- The Holy Tree watches over us.
We shall mend this tainted world, restoring purity.
Our corrupted flesh and spirits will return to purity.
Awaiting the day of reckoning, offering our lives willingly so it may come.
Then, as purebloods, we'll be reborn as pure entities, embracing eternal life.
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=【ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌ )】