Chapter 125. Dispatch #3
Building surface.
A person caught by a tentacle let out a faint groan.
It seemed like their life was still hanging on.
【Pururu】─What’s that? Is that a person?
【Mysticism】─🤔 Can’t tell because they’re wearing a helmet!
【Mir-Stin】─Be cautious. It could be a monster.
【Pururu】─But is that an SF world? The gun next to them looks pretty strange.
I didn’t know exactly what it was either.
But I decided to try rescuing them first.
Whatever they were.
Since Iris had detected a life form from a different race, they shouldn’t be the same species as those monsters.
The creature itself also only had an E-rank threat level.
─［Threat level E. If equipment is included, D-rank.］
“Iris, can you save that person for now?”
─［Confirmed.］
Once I made up my mind to rescue them.
I had to get that person away from the tentacle as quickly as possible.
If I left them like that, they’d likely die soon.
It looked like their life was slowly being drained by the tentacle.
─［Black Magma Slime. Initiating rescue operation.］
─［Suung?］
─［Charge forward and rescue that life form. Begin.］
─［Suung!］
【Pururu】─Why is she always ordering Black Magma Slime to do everything?
【Mysticism】─🤭
【Yumi】─But Black Magma Slime follows Iris’s commands well. Even though it was tamed first and has a higher threat level.
【Luna-chan】─Maybe because Black Magma Slime is nice~ Black Magma Slime kawaii! ><
Black Magma Slime crept toward the building.
At that moment.
A horde of monsters burst out from inside, screaming, and the tentacles covering the building launched a collective attack on Black Magma Slime.
Unlike Iris.
They all seemed to have a ferocious nature.
─［Suung!］
Black Magma Slime rapidly grew in size.
Then, in an instant, it swallowed all the enemies at once.
The tentacles and monsters enveloped by magma melted away without resistance and disappeared.
Even the buildings melted down without a trace.
On the other hand.
The person who had been tied up by the tentacle remained completely unharmed.
Their equipment was intact, and the gun they had been holding, presumably taken by the tentacles, was also untouched.
【Mir-Stin】─Huh? What’s going on? Why is that person perfectly fine? Didn’t you say they were E-rank?!
【Pururu】─Our Black Magma Slime can selectively damage only enemies. Lol
【Mir-Stin】─Oh! Selective attacks are amazing!!
【Luna-chan】─Black Magma Slime is awesome! o_O
【Mysticism】─🤭
The person, now freed from the tentacle, collapsed weakly to the ground.
When they didn’t move, Iris quickly approached and checked their condition.
─［Life signs confirmed. Merely unconscious.］
After reporting this.
Iris extended her tentacles and carefully wrapped them around the unconscious person.
She didn’t remove the helmet.
Without it, they might not be able to breathe properly on this planet.
─［The recent commotion has alerted nearby life forms to our presence. Moving to a safe location.］
After moving to the outskirts of the city.
Iris gently set the rescued person on the ground, and while waiting for them to wake up, we worked on the Otherworldly Creatures Guidebook. Of course, the illustrations were drawn by the Centaurides.
73
■Otherworldly Creature B-1
─Threat Level: E-rank.
─Equipment Threat Level: D-rank.
【Mir-Stin】─Wow! You’ve drawn it really well again! I want to commission you for something later!
【Pururu】─If I could draw that fast, I’d probably be rich by now.
【Mysticism】─🧐 It’s B-1, not A-2?
【Yumi】─That’s because they’re a different race from the creatures presumed to have invaded this planet.
About 30 minutes later.
─“Ugh…”
The person we had laid down groaned and began to regain consciousness.
As they came to, they sat up and looked around, locking eyes with Iris and Black Magma Slime, who were tending to them nearby.
─［Greetings.］
─［Suung!］
Iris waved her tentacles in greeting.
Black Magma Slime followed with a harmless splat of magma, offering its own greeting.
Seeing the two, the person screamed in shock.
─“A-Aaah!!!”
They hurriedly grabbed their gun and pointed it at Iris.
It was an understandable reaction.
Iris resembled the monsters that had invaded the planet.
Anyway, this was where I needed to step in.
“Wait a moment. We have nothing to do with those monsters from earlier.”
My voice echoed through dimensions, transmitted to that world via Iris.
My face was displayed on Iris’ screen.
─“What… what? A human face…?”
Though still terrified, they lowered the barrel of their gun slightly.
The wariness remained.
But at least it seemed like they were willing to talk.
***
The misunderstanding cleared up more easily than I expected.
As I listened.
It turned out.
The leaders of the creatures invading that planet were highly intelligent, but they treated other species like insects and rarely initiated conversation. Except to taunt their prey, that is.
In other words.
Even though they were intelligent, they were impossible to reason with.
But we were different.
We didn’t attack without reason and even attempted to communicate rationally.
Furthermore.
We had rescued them from danger and hadn’t killed them while they were unconscious.
Considering all of this.
They told me they had gradually realized we were different from the invaders.
【Pururu】─Why did you scream at first then?
【Mir-Stin】─Isn’t that obvious? If a monster were right in front of anyone after waking up, they’d scream.
【Yumi】─I think the reason they only pointed the gun and didn’t shoot is that they belatedly realized Iris had saved them.
【Rizenova】─If it were me, I’d have attacked immediately. This person is very calm.
Not only calm.
They were also quick to judge.
That’s probably how they had survived for so long in a world on the brink of destruction.
─“I didn’t realize it was an entirely different species rather than a mutant… They look so similar it’s hard to tell.”
The man said while looking Iris up and down.
At first, he had thought Iris was a mutant.
For reference.
Although we hadn’t removed his helmet, his voice made it clear he was male.
There was no way that voice belonged to a woman.
I didn’t consider the possibility that he could be genderless like Rize.
─［Warning. Do not make rude comments. We do not look alike.］
─“Ah, I’m sorry.”
As Iris voiced her displeasure, the man bowed deeply in apology.
Then he raised his head again.
Looking at my face being displayed on Iris’ screen, he asked.
─“But… are you really a god from another world?”
“Yes. More precisely, I’m something like a novice god.”
I had already introduced myself to him.
I roughly explained that I traveled between dimensions to help humans in need.
Why did I help humans?
I simply said that showing such goodwill was the path to becoming a true god.
Of course.
He didn’t believe me right away, and his eyes were full of suspicion.
─“Why would a god address me with such respect…?”
“Because I’m a polite god.”
【Mir-Stin】─Wait, was he a god?
【Pururu】─You’re lying.
【Mysticism】─🤔 Why bother lying?
【Yumi】─Because it’ll make receiving support easier later. After setting up the dimensional altar, he’ll receive support through offerings like tribute to a god.
【Rizenova】─Well, claiming to be a god isn’t a bad idea. Receiving grace from a transcendent being is more impactful than from a fellow human. By raising the authority now, you can ensure that support won’t be cut off in the future.
【Rizenova】─The gratitude of the recipient fades over time, especially for their descendants. But if you start by declaring yourself a god, those descendants will fear divine punishment and offer sacrifices regularly.
【Pururu】─Summarize in three sentences.
【Mir-Stin】─Long messages give me a headache.
【Bubble Bubble】─Hmm. But isn’t Gauntlet higher than a god?
【Luna-chan】─Right~!
I continued talking with the man.
In the process.
I learned that the planet’s name was Kendora.
And that the man was a native of Kendora. Among other things.
Just as Iris had assessed.
Kendora had been invaded by alien monsters about 35 years ago and had since been on the path to ruin.
─“Actually, those creatures aren’t that impressive overall. But the ones called Overlords and Lords are exceptions. They not only have high intelligence but possess incomprehensible strength.”
“So those called Overlords and Lords are the leaders of the invaders, I assume?”
─“Yes. They are very dangerous. If it weren’t for them, humanity would never have lost.”
As I conversed with the man.
I was deep in thought about one issue.
‘He said there were about seven hundred survivors left…’
I was at a crossroads.
Should I subdue the invaders and force support out of them?
Or should I help the natives, earn their gratitude, and receive support in return?
I had to choose one of the two options.
‘If I want to get more support, making a deal with the invaders is the way to go…’
I could likely communicate with this Overlord character.
But I really didn’t want to side with the invaders.
Even if I could gain a lot from it.
I didn’t feel right about making a deal with beings who had invaded a species similar to mine.
‘But helping the survivors doesn’t seem profitable either.’
I couldn’t decide easily between the two.
I didn’t have any sort of moral obligation to help the weak.
As I always say, just because someone is weak doesn’t mean they’re good.
I was still wrestling with my decision when it happened.
─［Ho.］
A colossal voice echoed as a massive shadow fell over us.
─［I sensed a new life form I’ve never felt before… and there are two of you I’ve never seen.］
Iris quickly shifted the camera to reveal the owner of the shadow.
【Pururu】─Oh shit! What is that?!
【Mir-Stin】─That looks incredibly dangerous!!
【Mysticism】─😱😱😱
【Yumi】─It’s a giant skeletal octopus!!!
【Rizenova】─What a grotesque sight.
【Bubble Bubble】─It looks pretty strong, judging by its appearance.
【Luna-chan】─Hmm. It’s hard to tell how strong it is from just watching through the screen. Iris, please tell us the threat level quickly.
【Mir-Stin】─Luna-chan, your character’s slipping. Please be mindful.
With the appearance of the giant skeletal octopus, the man trembled and took a step back.
─“W-Why is a Lord here…?”
─［It had been approaching for a while. You’re slow to notice, inferior species.］
─“What?! If you knew, you should have told me! In any case, we need to flee right now! No weapon can harm a Lord! Maybe if we knew its weakness, but we don’t know this one’s weak points, so there’s no way to fight it!”
So that thing was one of the Lords, huh?
I felt a bit let down.
I’d thought Lords were supposed to be something extraordinary, but it was only C-rank.
It seemed the monster in the center of the city was at the Lord level.
So, the Overlords were likely B or A-rank.
─［Hmm. That green one down there resembles some of our species, though much uglier.］
The Lord spoke, lowering its gaze.
The man aimed his gun at the Lord and shouted to us.
─“You should flee first! I’ll distract the Lord, and in the meantime—”
─［Eliminate.］
Before the man’s desperate cry could even finish.
Iris’ cold voice echoed through the air.
Ziiing-!
A green light flashed from Iris’ eyes.
A beam of light tore through the air, hurtling toward the Lord.
The light ruthlessly pierced the Lord’s body, slicing it in two as easily as cutting paper.
─“Wha…?”
Time seemed to freeze for a moment.
Then, in the next instant.
Thud!
The Lord’s bisected body collapsed to the ground.
─［Ugly creature eliminated. Don’t make a fuss when trash appears, inferior species.］
─“······.”
The man stood frozen in place.
For a while, he was unable to say anything.