Chapter 241 – Into the Storm
Before her final departure, Artemis handed over the remaining time to Rose, Chrollo, and Kids.
Even so, I was able to see her face thanks to the situation report that was always conducted at 10 am.
There is nothing more to share. All it takes is a greeting and a hug for the final resolution.
Rose and Chrollo gave me their trust as always, but she couldn’t help but feel the anxiety that clung to them like a shadow.
He is just walking calmly, holding both of my arms one by one.
“I am a very happy man. Even when I go, I go in such a flashy way.”
“I can’t believe I’m leaving…”
“Oh, it means I’m going on a business trip.”
I kissed Chrollo’s forehead as he looked up sadly.
I wanted to pat his head, but the other arm was occupied by Rose, so I couldn’t do anything.
We walked down a long hallway.
Is it out of respect for Artemis? Even though she left her place, Rose and Chrollo didn’t want to kiss me goodbye.
“You are the same as always.”
The kids floating a little ahead look like their usual optimistic self.
[Because I believe you will succeed, Manager. What do you have to worry about? You’re going to kill all the alien monsters, retrieve the vaccine, and come back, right?]
A 2D planetary model of Tanis appeared in front of Kids. On the planet, a flag with my face on it was waving.
Does this guy think I’m some kind of doom guy?
However, looking at those bright eyes full of infinite trust, I don’t want to correct them and say, ‘This is a fucking dangerous takeover operation!’
“Yes, it never fails.”
[No problem!]
* * *
The interior of the transmission room looks like a forced mixture of a Western-style wind orchestra and an Eastern-style folk orchestra.
The former are products produced by extraterrestrial technology. A horseshoe-shaped oval warp device, and devices attached to it whose purpose is unknown.
The warp device was large enough to fit several elephants, but there were no signs of welding, let alone bolts or nuts, as to how it was fastened.
The latter are machines made with Earth technology. Monitors, power supply devices, coolers, etc. Are connected.
These are familiar. It’s angular, covered in metal and plastic, and you can find bolts, nuts, and packing everywhere.
Both sides are connected with rubber wires of large and small thickness.
The warp device that will receive us from Tanis is dormant, so we need to add additional power here.
I heard that this is highly inefficient in the transmission process and causes a huge amount of energy waste. So much power has to be put into it.
Since the current broken spaceship couldn’t handle it, we had to patch it up with Earth’s technology.
“Even though it was a difficult to compatible device, they prepared it very quickly. “It is truly an incredible capability.”
“Please give your praise to Artemis. “It’s all her work.”
“It’s already been done several times. “I was almost ignored.”
“That can’t be helped.”
“Furthermore, just as superiors are partly responsible for the mistakes of subordinates, isn’t the same true for the public? “As the owner, you too should be praised for her hard work.”
I looked at him with a sad face.
“You are already in the same boat, so you can stop flattering me. “I can’t get bitten anymore, old man.”
“What do you not know? Even if you know it’s flattery, if you keep listening to it, you’ll eventually feel better.”
“… Somehow it seems right.”
When I recall the memories of dealing with high-ranking people in the military and at the shelter, I cannot just deny it.
Chwiik.
After injecting the last coolant, the droid closed the valve and left the transmission room carrying an empty container.
Sentry guns and first-generation security robots were camped in the hallway that was briefly visible.
[All ready. We will supply power as soon as the signal is given.]
Artemis’ voice came out from the earth speaker.
She is looking down at the warp device and our expedition team from inside the temporarily installed tempered glass control room.
There is no operator headset or communicator, which is essential in these types of scenes. Because she doesn’t need any mechanical devices. Only her silver crescent-shaped earrings sparkled.
“Let’s give it a try.”
She made a circle sign with her finger.
Dalkak.
Lamps on the wall and cooler blink. Numerous thick wires began to supply enormous amounts of energy.
At the same time, security robots waiting outside came rushing in and took shooting positions in various places.
This is to prepare for the possibility of infectious agents coming over when connected to the other world.
Guuuuung.
The sound of machines waking up from sleep.
Woowoowoowoo.
It soon turned into the cry of a sad animal.
What followed was an ominous vibration. It was at a weak level at first, but it quickly amplified and became large enough to shake various devices.
The muzzles of the robots vibrated like electric razors, and even I, who was wrapped in a suit, felt slight stimulation on my skin.
“Artemis.”
[Why are you doing that?]
“Are the soles of your feet itchy?”
She looked at me as if I was laughing and laughed.
[It tickles a little. Will you come and scratch it?]
“Wow.”
Normally, she would have scolded me for being rude, but given the situation, she accepted it leniently.
Wow!
A standing lighting device in the corner fell and shattered loudly.
It was fortunate that there were no scientists working overtime here. Otherwise, there would have been one or two broken coffee cups by now.
Kiyiing!
With a sharp sound, everyone’s eyes focused on the epicenter.
A single entity supported by numerous mechanical devices and wires.
The circular ring in the center of the transmission room rotates slowly.
[Auxiliary power input.]
The rotation speed gradually increased and eventually reached a speed that was considered dangerous.
If you walk in there now, you’ll look like an elk that got hit by a truck. No, it would be worse.
As the rotation speed approached that of the helicopter rotor, a stream of plasma spewed out from the outside of the ring.
They gathered in the center of the rotating ring.
Rumbling!
After a thunderous roar, a red sphere the size of a soccer ball was formed.
“That’s amazing.”
“Everyone says that when they see each other for the first time.”
The driving sound that filled the room amplified to almost a scream, and the red sphere continued to grow as if it was eating up the scream and growing.
All monitors spit out numbers and graphs like crazy. The range of fluctuations is extremely unstable.
“This seems more like a realm of magic than science.”
“Sufficiently developed science and technology.”
“Indistinguishable from magic.”
This old man learned a lot in a short amount of time.
Pajik!
Some power supplies sparked and shut down.
[No problem. I think the energy supply to the target point is almost finished. The amount of energy required is gradually decreasing.]
Artemis said.
“She is right. One-way energy transfer and warp are difficult to start with, but quickly stabilize once in orbit.”
When the size of the sphere becomes large enough to touch the rotating ring.
There was a sound like igniting gas, and the sphere that was red like the sun turned white.
Keying.
The ring, which was rotating at an incredible speed, is slowing down to the point where it can be seen.
When it finally came to a complete stop, there was only a clear, shining white sphere rippling like the sea.
All driving sounds, vibrations, and plasma disappeared, and silence came.
Crash.
Kirik.
I could hear the stalker robots checking their guns again.
One aging alien, a former soldier, and four robot soldiers stand in front of the door to an unknown world.
[Administrator, we are recording without any gaps. Could you please take a look here?]
Kids said.
Inside the transmission room, there were multiple cameras in all directions, and among them, Kiz was on top of a uniquely large and precise documentary camera.
[Please leave something nice to say.]
“Hmm.”
Artemis comes out of the control room and crosses her arms with a neat face.
There are no more bitter or wanting-to-stop expressions. You probably want to send me off with a good face so that I don’t have any burden or regret.
“Something suddenly occurred to me. Should I say that it’s a dream I couldn’t achieve and that I definitely want to do when I come back?”
[What is that?]
I turned my gaze away from the kids.
“Artemis. When I come back, can I really live like that?”
“You live like that?”
“I spend every day in pleasure, immersed in the natural forest until I die.”
Artemis made a dumbfounded face.
“You have the courage to ask something like that calmly in front of me.”
“I think she’s a really generous woman in this way.”
“I think you promised that kind of life from the beginning on the condition that you never leave here?”
It certainly was. I just wanted to tell a joke before I leave.
“But I am a generous woman, just like you said.”
She smiled faintly.
“If I return safely alive, what kind of wish can I not grant? Whether you fill the swimming pool with the finest liquor or fill it with women and swim over their skin, we’ll make it happen. Please, just come back to my arms.”
Nevertheless, she went beyond being cool and gave the best answer. On the contrary, it was embarrassing to me.
“Really?”
“Before my eyes is a man embarking on the most dangerous and important journey in human history.”
Artemis looked at me with faint eyes.
“But what more can I say? “I need to think about removing even a little bit of anxiety and increasing my motivation.”
“Oh!”
Over there, Kids was shaking both fists excitedly.
Surely they won’t just send this out as is? I believe they will edit it somehow!
“Huh. Haha…”
I took a deep breath and looked at the white sphere.
Now there are no more jokes or jokes to chill with. There is only progress.
“Let’s go.”
When I nodded to Solaver in front, he responded by bowing deeper than me. To me and to all the women waiting for me.
And then I take a step.
Toward the entrance to another world.
Shuwoouk.
With the sound of being sucked in, his figure disappeared beyond the dimensional door.
Stalker robots follow them. Without a single bit of hesitation or fear.
Alpha.
Heavily armed and in a hip-fire stance, he sank into the white waves.
In order, the muzzle, barrel, gun body, finger and toe on the trigger, and even the body.
Shuwoouk.
Charlie.
In addition to the individual military equipment, it also carries equipment for measurement and detection.
Shuwoouk.
Tango.
It is equipped with small asymmetric autonomous weapons.
Shuwoouk.
Eco.
It is fully equipped with engineering equipment that I am also familiar with.
Shuwoouk.
I am the last one left.
I stopped for a moment and looked back when I saw the white light in front of me.
All cameras, security robots with guns raised, and four AI assistants are looking at me.
If I fail, the person I am now will be the last person I see. Maybe a shelter, and even our world.
I raised my right hand.
Salute to them all. I hope this will be the last salute of my life.
And then I turned around and went in.
Shuwoouk.
A blinding white light surrounds my whole body…
The constraints of gravity have disappeared.
