Chapter 236 – Persuasion
Accompanied by an old guide and four robot soldiers, he goes on a mission to take over an alien planet occupied by infected entities.
If you listen to this point, it’s absolutely crazy. But there are factors to consider.
First, because the planet does not have a large population and has a bleak environment, the scale of the infectious agent will be weaker than that of Earth.
Secondly, it is expected that there are many individuals that have been encroached for a long time and are hibernating in an inactive state.
Thirdly, since it was the place of last hope, it was guarded by elite troops, so the number of infected entities they defeated would be quite high.
Fourthly, after the space leap, the distance to the research institute where the vaccine is located is not as far as expected.
Fifth, each of the troops to be mobilized for the infiltration operation is a combatant, and they do not hesitate to use themselves as consumables such as shields in case of emergency.
There were many variables that would preserve my life and help the mission succeed.
If I were reckless and obsessed with publicness, I would have already died during my military service and been buried in a national cemetery.
The problem is that, unlike me, who evaluates these variables quite well, Artemis sees them as crazy.
“I know very well what you are thinking.”
Artemis said with a cold face.
She is sitting in my chair in the central control room.
She seems quite displeased with her arms crossed, her legs crossed, and her shoes on her toes.
Despite her haughty and arrogant personality, she respected my authority as her manager and did not touch my exclusive seat.
However, he eventually exploded when I told him I was leaving to retrieve the vaccine.
She said, “Do you want to leave this comfortable place and tumble into danger? “Are you a masochist?” He shouted.
She said she didn’t deserve to sit on the glorious management chair, so she kicked me out and sat herself. But she can’t give up here.
“Once you listen to my story for a little bit…”
“Sit down.”
“Huh?”
“Why should I look up to such an ungrateful man?”
As she sat in her chair, the composition naturally looked up at me as I stood. The golden eyes are raised so that the twin wicks rise.
I quickly lowered my posture. She politely knelt down in front of her in the Japanese-style sitting position.
“I always chose the best food for you, fed you, and took care of even the slightest condition. “I pamper you like a son in the womb.”
“I am always grateful for that infinite love.”
“But, even though I have no intention of repaying you, do you think it is possible to throw away everything and jump into the den of death?”
The black nail polish was shining on the fingertips as she made an absurd gesture.
“Should we catch anyone who is going through hardships in the outside world and ask them? “There is not a single fool who wants to leave this place right now…”
The beautiful voice that was firing like a rapid fire subsided. Artemis looked at me, bit his lip, and snapped his fingers.
Perfect!
I am now very good at making clear sounds like playing a xylophone.
After a while, a serving robot came and placed a small chair in front of me.
This is a plastic bath chair commonly provided in public bathhouses.
“Sit there.”
Artemis crossed his arms and slowly turned his head.
“Did I tell you to sit or kneel? “Don’t show me like that.”
“Huh. Thank you.”
After the clattering sound of the plastic support scraping against the floor, we looked at each other again.
“If you want to make an excuse, do it now.”
“First, let me be clear: this is not crazy. Although the probability of failure is much higher.”
“We decided to call that crazy?”
When she got upset and tried to get up, he pushed her thighs and made her sit back down.
“Anyway, listen.”
I explained to her the tactical advantages I had envisioned earlier.
“When we first go to that planet, we will focus on ensuring the safety of the surrounding area. Just take a quick look to see what the planet’s conditions are like and whether it’s actually worth jumping into. What if you think no? “We will immediately stop operations and return to Earth.”
Knock tock.
Instead of answering, Artemis shook her shoes off her toes.
“In some ways, it may be safer than being on Earth in a helicopter or armored vehicle. They have to return to the same amount of time and distance as the ride, right? Then you might get chased.”
She operated the PDA and showed the simple jumping device inside the spacecraft.
“On the other hand, the moment you give up on this operation, you can just go back to the device and press the button. Then voila! And it is the Earth.”
“Yes, I will come right back to Earth. Specifically, to a spaceship that will be surrounded by a huge army of infectious agents.”
A satellite image was displayed on her screen as she pointed at her chin. A large colony of infectious agents advancing toward the spacecraft is displayed in real time.
“Maybe the directions overlapped by coincidence?”
“You probably know that I hate gambling with puns like that.”
“Even if I get trapped, it will be possible to pull my body out of the air via helicopter. If all goes well, let’s use robots as ladders again.”
“Did you know that some kind of accident would happen in the meantime? Shall we give you an example? Think of a juggernaut rushing towards a helicopter floating in the air. “It spins around with a huge body hanging from it and then falls in the middle of a swarm of infected organisms.”
It wasn’t a very difficult idea. That guy’s jumping ability is amazing. I could picture recreating a scene from the movie Hulk.
“Being roasted in flames due to an explosion, being crushed by a helicopter, or watching monsters approaching you while barely surviving. “It won’t be a satisfying ending either way.”
As for helicopters crashing, I have seen them once during my deployment. This is because it was tasked with recovering the injured and dead bodies inside.
There were no survivors and the bodies had turned into human butter. It was a terrible sight.
“Compared to that, wouldn’t it be satisfying to play, eat, and live in a paradise where everything is provided? It’s paradise for you. Its numerous residents, resources, facilities, and… And…”
Artemis, who was trying to say something, gradually lowered her voice.
“It’s all up to you.”
In the end, I glossed over it.
“While others are suffering to death in a ruined world, you are as resilient as a pillar! I spend my days lazily living in the forest. Here forever!”
She stretched out her index finger and pointed at the wall of the central control room, or more accurately, at the world outside. Her fingers move back and forth vigorously, as if pointing.
Again.
Is it because of the intense movement?
Her shoe rolled off her foot.
“It’s not like you to say that you’re the owner of the land.”
“I know.”
A shy smile comes out at the tempting temptation that everyone can’t help but welcome.
Although she often feels it, I don’t think Artemis wants a handsome or strong male figure.
Rather, she wanted to live a life as a virtuous woman, something that most women would find repulsive. Within the width of her skirt.
“I think your criteria for assessing risk acceptance are too lenient. Have you ever thought about that?”
“Thanks to you, I was promoted quickly in the military.”
I picked up the shoes and carefully put them on.
She was about to shout, ‘Don’t talk back!’ But quickly quieted down when my hand touched her foot.
It feels so warm and soft that you don’t want to wear it over thin stockings.
I got up from the chair and approached Artemis.
She grabbed her thighs and calves and unwrapped her legs. I dug deeper into it.
“It’s really the last time.”
He sat down on her knees and held her two beautiful white hands together. Unlike her warm feet, her hands are cold, as if they represent her feelings.
“I’m not going there to die, and I’m not going there with a reckless hero mentality. I promise. “I will put my safety first.”
I grab Artemis’ chin as she tries to turn her head and carefully turn it towards me. Her long eyelashes fluttered.
“I have thought countless times about the face you would make when you were left behind in the city if something went wrong. It’s not just this operation. “It was always like that on many previous expeditions.”
“You have no idea how anxious I was while providing support.”
“Know. But thanks to that, we can join hands like this, right? “There is a stunningly beautiful girl in front of me.”
“…”
“Look at that map.”
Now, the remaining time shown on the satellite map is about 16 hours.
“It’s completely like a tsunami. It’s also a tsunami full of red tide. Plankton bite everything they touch and spread disease. Even if it is miraculously prevented, a second or third tsunami will come.”
“You just have to hide. It can last 50 or 100 years. Because their teeth and claws will never penetrate.”
“In history, if you hid like that, the besieging side would run out of supplies and retreat. But this war is different. The outside world will be completely annihilated, and we will be isolated.”
The map displayed on the screen has faint noise. Although it is still small, it will soon grow at an alarming rate.
Now you won’t even be able to sense the presence of enemies coming in like that.
Artemis herself would know this best.
“Until now, you only had to worry about going outside when it rained heavily, right? You found a few leaks and repaired them, and you chatted with me while grumbling that you didn’t like the wetness. That was all that happened in this city, but after that…”
I thought of countless colonies of infectious agents marching toward the south.
“You’ll have to be on your toes 24 hours a day, all year long. There are monsters coming to the front door and bashing their heads in, there are monsters climbing up the mountain and wandering around the helipad entrance, and there are even monsters digging through the ground and coming in. You will have to live with infinite care. I don’t like it when you do that.”
“The noise between floors is just getting worse. “Our city will never be breached.”
“Is that really the case? And the vampire sea anemone that burrows through asphalt and concrete underground in Bloodtec? “What about the unidentified monster that was chasing us in the Global Seed Vault?”
Seven red eyes chased after dozens of trees in the ground, shaking them and shaking the ground.
I still vividly remember the pressure I felt on the helicopter that barely flew by.
“If it looks like that outside, danger and anxiety will continue in the future. It is impossible to walk on the beach together like before, go on a trip to a place we have never been to, or even launch a yacht in the sea.”
I looked up at the ceiling of the shelter. Artemis follows me and looks up.
“You will never be able to reach the moon that you so desperately want. “There are monsters all around, so where will the space shuttle be assembled and where will the launch pad be built?”
“… That damn thing.”
I stretched out my index finger and blocked Artemis’ lips.
Her obsession with the moon, which was her value, dream, and pride.
I wanted to prevent her from denying it herself.
“I think this is my last chance. But if 16 hours pass, and they arrive here, they won’t be able to even attempt that.”
“So in the end, you’re going to leave me behind and go to another world.”
I think I’m almost convinced now.
Because Artemis was crying as she looked at me.
“I wish I could say it was a business trip? “I’ll bring you a nice gift when I come.”
I stood up and pretended to tie a suit and tie that wasn’t even there.
“You fool.”
Artemis eventually showed a smiling face.
Silver tears and golden eyes mix together to shine, and with a smile hanging above them, it is truly beautiful.
I stretched out my finger and wiped the tears from my eyes.
I promised myself that this would be her first and last time making her cry.
