Chapter 126. Dispatch #4
The Lord of the Invaders.
That being, classified as a C-rank threat, appeared with a majestic figure.
However, it was soon split in half by Iris’s laser and met a futile death.
【Mir-Stin】─Wow! She killed that monster in one blow!!!
【Bubble Bubble】─It was a weak creature, contrary to its appearance.
【Mysticism】─😮 Iris is strong too!
【Rizenova】─Don’t state the obvious. Don’t forget that Lady Iris is also classified as an S-rank threat.
【Luna-chan】─Don’t underestimate S-ranks~
【Yumi】─That’s right. Iris is an S-rank too, isn’t she? I momentarily forgot because I’ve never seen her step forward herself.
【Bubble Bubble】─To be honest, seeing labyrinth monsters every day has dulled my sense of reality as well.
【Mir-Stin】─I thought Iris had no combat abilities since she was only giving commands to the Black Magma Slime.
【Yumi】─But why did she step forward this time?
【Bubble Bubble】─Maybe she got angry because someone called her ugly?
【Pururu】─She must have been really pissed off to step in herself. LOL
Beyond the now quiet screen.
The man from the otherworld was still silently staring at the corpse of the Lord.
Even without seeing his face through the helmet, his expression was obvious.
‘Is this real?’ He was probably thinking that, mouth agape.
Anyway.
It was slightly disappointing that Iris, ever so cold, had eliminated the Lord without a second thought. I had hoped to have a brief conversation since a highly intelligent Lord had appeared.
Well, she must have had her reasons for acting that way.
“Iris.”
─［Answer.］
“Why did you kill the Lord just now? You had a reason, right?”
─［Ugly. Elimination target.］
“… Any other reason?”
─［None.］
“……”
─［Joking. In fact, the hostility from the creature called a Lord was very strong. I judged that communication would be impossible.］
【Luna-chan】─Then, you had to kill it~ You did well, you did well! ><
【Bubble Bubble】─I didn’t know Iris could joke. This is the first time I’m hearing it.
【Pururu】─Iris, no BS. Just admit you killed it because it pissed you off by calling you ugly.
【Mysticism】─😟 Iris is emotional.
【Yumi】─But does Iris even have emotions?
【Mir-Stin】─Well, she’s a living being, so wouldn’t she?
【Yumi】─All the Irises I’ve seen seemed emotionless. She acted more mechanical than Omega.
【Rizenova】─That’s not the case. While it was true at first, recently, there have been Irises that show emotions. It seems you’ve missed that, Lady Yumi.
I glanced at the chat from the assistants.
Just as Seo Dan-bi had said.
It did seem like Iris had acted emotionally.
Maybe it was due to Melody Fox’s buff, but this Iris had recently become quite talkative and developed a bit of emotion.
“Iris, you didn’t get mad because the Lord called you ugly, did you?”
─［……］
“It’s okay to answer honestly. Since it’s true the Lord had strong hostility, I don’t intend to criticize you for eliminating it based on emotions.”
─［Emotion mixed at 20 percent.］
【Pururu】─Is it really 20 percent? Are you kidding me?
【Mir-Stin】─Pururu, your language is harsh.
As expected, there was some emotion mixed in her decision to eliminate it.
Since she admitted it honestly, I decided to let it go.
“Ah, and don’t eliminate targets just because they’re ugly. That’s discrimination based on appearance, and it’s not a valid reason to kill someone.”
─［Understood. The Lord was eliminated not simply for being ugly, but because it was trash that insulted others despite being ugly itself. I do not eliminate targets merely for their appearance.］
【Mysticism】─😶 From what she’s saying, it sounds like Iris has some inferiority complex about her looks.
【Yumi】─Hey! Watch your words! You might get eliminated for that!
【Luna-chan】─Iris has pretty eyes, just look at them~
After finishing my conversation with Iris.
I spoke to the man who was still standing there, dumbfounded.
“Hey. You’re not unconscious on your feet, are you?”
─“……”
“Hello?”
─“Ah, ah… Yes!”
It seemed like he had finally snapped out of his shock.
Well.
Considering that we had just killed the leader of the invaders who had destroyed their planet in one blow, it was understandable that he was disoriented.
His reaction was perfectly normal.
I spoke to the man again.
“I’d like you to guide us to where the survivors are now.”
─“Yes! I’ll guide you right away!!!”
【Mysticism】─🤭 Suddenly, he’s all stiff and formal!
【Pururu】─Now he might think Geon is truly a god.
【Mir-Stin】─When you witness such overwhelming power beyond reason, it’s natural to start believing.
【Bubble Bubble】─That’s strange. If it were me, I’d be more cautious after seeing that kind of power. He doesn’t seem to be very wary, unlike his initial impression.
【Luna-chan】─I agree. Bringing someone with that much power could lead to the extinction of his own kind. He should be more suspicious and cautious. ><
【Yumi】─I thought he had good judgment.
【Rizenova】─Fear likely clouded his judgment.
With the man’s guidance, we headed toward the last remaining humans, about 700 survivors.
Of course.
We still hadn’t decided whether to side with the invaders or the natives.
We were just planning to meet them and think it over afterward.
Later.
Following the man down a steep mountain path, a weathered cliffside came into view.
The man approached the cliff and cleared away vines and moss.
Then, a large, concealed steel door appeared.
It seemed to be the underground bunker the man had mentioned.
─“Um… Since Lady Iris looks quite similar to the invaders, our people might misunderstand and act rudely when we go in. I ask for your understanding in advance.”
─［Warning. I do not resemble the invaders. I look very different.］
─“I-I’m sorry!”
─［Please be cautious.］
【Mysticism】─🤭
【Pururu】─Iris, come on. You look exactly like them. Admit it.
【Luna-chan】─No way. The invaders are grotesque, but Iris is radiant and beautiful!
【Pururu】─You look like Iris.
【Luna-chan】─Don’t insult appearances.
【Pururu】─?
【Mir-Stin】─Luna-chan, that was the meanest thing to say.
Around the large steel door.
The man skillfully operated a disguised control panel.
Then,
*Thud!*
With a heavy mechanical sound, the door began to push inward.
And the emergency lights inside gradually lit up, illuminating the depths of the bunker.
─“Please come in.”
─［Confirmed.］
─［Yes!］
As the man and the dispatch team entered the bunker, the massive steel door automatically closed with a loud noise.
After confirming that, the man slowly removed his helmet.
His face was covered with a scruffy beard.
The face revealed under the helmet was no different from a human from Earth.
【Pururu】─Looks like you don’t need a helmet in there.
【Mysticism】─😮 He’s just an ordinary guy.
─“Now that I think about it, I haven’t properly introduced myself yet. My name is Amuteroso, and I’m the search team leader among the survivors.”
The man finally introduced himself.
“Search team leader? Then, the rest of your search team…”
I trailed off.
Perhaps the rest of his team had died on this search.
─“The other search team members are resting inside the bunker. I came out alone for this search today.”
I guess I was wrong.
I was about to offer my condolences but stopped myself.
─“Now, please follow me. I’ll guide you to the survivor living area.”
***
Just as expected.
Upon arriving at the survivor living area, chaos erupted.
People screamed and ran at the sight of Iris.
Others immediately grabbed their guns and pointed them.
Bad reactions were breaking out everywhere.
Amuteroso barely managed to calm the situation.
He began explaining how we had saved him.
He told them that Iris was from a different race than the invaders, that I, shown on Iris’s screen, was a god, and that we had slain the Lord in one strike.
It took quite a long time.
He relayed everything they had experienced outside and introduced us to the survivors.
Of course.
Only a few people believed the search team leader’s words.
Most didn’t believe that we had killed the Lord.
─［Playback.］
As the doubts persisted.
Iris broadcasted evidence footage.
It seemed she had recorded the scene when she eliminated the Lord.
─“W-what the hell… The Lord really is dead…?”
─“They really killed the Lord? No way…”
─“Couldn’t it be a fake video?”
─“But didn’t the search team leader say he witnessed it? There’s no reason to create a fake video to deceive us, right?”
─“Unless the search team leader has betrayed humanity, he has no reason to lie.”
─“Um… Is there any chance the team leader was possessed by the invaders…?”
─“If that were the case, we’d all be dead by now. Have you ever seen the invaders go through the trouble of doing something like this?”
─“Exactly. Killing us would be easier than squashing bugs, so unless they’re trying to mock us, there’s no reason for the invaders to do something so tedious.”
Gradually, the scattered opinions began to converge.
In a direction that leaned toward believing us.
‘It seems we’ve more or less proven that we’re not enemies…’
After some time had passed.
Once the survivors had let their guard down a bit, I gathered them all together.
As I briefly explained about the altar and mentioned that I could help them if they made regular offerings, something happened.
─［I see.］
A chilling voice suddenly echoed.
It seemed that Iris had already sensed it, as she slowly panned the screen over.
─“G-grand Lord?!”
─“How is the Grand Lord here…?!”
─“See! I told you! The search team leader really did betray us!”
At the sight of the new arrival, the people began to murmur.
They were so terrified that they couldn’t even think to grab their weapons, their bodies trembling.
‘Is that the Grand Lord?’
It seemed like he had sensed the Lord’s death.
He must have secretly followed the search party.
Iris had likely noticed him long ago but hadn’t mentioned it.
Judging that he wasn’t dangerous since his threat level was only A-rank.
‘The Grand Lord coming to us on his own, this is perfect timing. After finishing the conversation with the survivors, I was hoping to talk with the leader of the invaders as well.’
Invaders and natives.
Representatives of both sides had gathered in one place.
It was clear that I could have a constructive conversation with this Grand Lord.
Seeing as how he followed the search party without attacking, he seemed to have accurately gauged the difference in power between himself and us.
─［Ah. First of all, I would like to formally apologize for the rudeness of one of our Lords towards such esteemed individuals.］
The Grand Lord bowed politely towards Iris.
─［I also apologize for following you in secret.］
【Yumi】─This one’s surprisingly polite, unlike the invaders we’ve encountered so far.
【Mysticism】─😮 It seems to be highly intelligent!
【Pururu】─Is that the Grand Lord? He looks really weak.
【Mir-Stin】─I agree. He seems weaker than the Lord.
【Pururu】─Didn’t they say the invaders never initiate conversations? That they treat all other species like bugs?
【Mir-Stin】─That probably only applies to weak species like us. The stronger they are, the more they dominate the weak.
The Grand Lord, having raised his head again.
He introduced himself next.
─［I was late in introducing myself. My name is Bururu, one of the five Grand Lords.］
【Pururu】─?
【Yumi】─Gasp?
【Mysticism】─😱 Bururu?!!
【Mir-Stin】─LOL It’s Bururu! Sounds like Pururu!
【Bubble Bubble】─Could they be related?
【Rizenova】─Pururu, it seems like your birth secret is being revealed here.
【Luna-chan】─Now that I look closely, they do seem a bit alike~
【Pururu】─We’re not alike. And shut up, Rizenova, with your stupid jokes. Damn it.
Pururu… no, Bururu continued to speak.
─［I overheard your conversation. You claim to be a god, and you said that if we make offerings at the altar, you’ll provide help… does that also apply to us?］
“Yes. I was planning to propose it to the survivors first, but if they refused, I was going to meet with your kind and discuss it.”
─［That’s wonderful to hear, O Supreme Being. In that case, I humbly suggest installing the altar on our side. Those lowly beings would have nothing to offer you, after all.］
“Well, that’s true. But what could your kind offer?”
─［There is much we can offer. Nothing would be too precious to offer to the Supreme Being.］
【Pururu】─Why is this guy sucking up so much? It’s excessive.
【Bubble Bubble】─He must have instantly realized the difference in class.
【Mysticism】─It’s so groveling! I don’t like it! 😠
The Grand Lord pointed at the survivors.
─［For example, those lowly creatures over there. If you desire, we could offer their lives in large quantities. We have countless planets under our control and many lower species we raise as livestock.］
【Pururu】─Geon, reject it. This guy’s trash.
【Mysticism】─🧐 Can you even offer lives to the altar?
【Bubble Bubble】─I’m sure it’s possible.
【Yumi】─Even if it’s possible, what would we do with lives?
【Rizenova】─Since you can receive coins equivalent to the value of an offering, I assume lives can be converted to coins.
【Bubble Bubble】─And perhaps souls can be used to charge coins? According to Gauntlet’s theory, coins are fragments of desire, and for that species, other species’ lives might be their desire.
“Pururu.”
─［Yes, O Divine One.］
【Pururu】─It’s Bururu. Damn it.
“Aside from lives, what else…”
I trailed off for a moment.
After a sigh, I summoned the Black Magma Slime.
“… Never mind. Blamas.”
─［Yes?］
“Kill him.”
─［Yes!］
After hearing the words about offering lives as tribute, I lost all interest in making a deal with that species.
Even if it meant taking a loss.
It was clear that dealing with beings like the invaders wasn’t worth it.
Their way of thinking was fundamentally wrong.
─［W-wait! O Divine One, please listen to me for just a moment longer! If lives don’t please you, I can select the most beautiful individuals from our species─］
─［Yes!］
The Black Magma Slime’s magma engulfed the Grand Lord.