Chapter 240 – Representative of Humanity
I don’t remember at what point I fell asleep.
As I was held in Artemis’ arms, I felt confident that everything would turn out well.
Her touch swept away all the tension and anxiety in my heart, like a farmer’s scythe harvesting fully grown wheat.
When you naturally come to consciousness, it is already time to leave.
“Aren’t you sleeping?”
The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was Artemis’ face looking down at me, lying on her side.
“There’s no way I can sleep. “My every second right now is much more precious than that of the students taking the college entrance exam.”
“It’s a kind of touching yet strange metaphor.”
I heard that Artemis’ body can sleep, but sleep is not essential.
“Maybe I should have just stayed awake. “I think I slept for no reason.”
“You are the one who will head to the battlefield. “Sleeping was the best choice.”
I reached out my hand and touched her cheek.
“After I actually slept, I felt a rush of regret, thinking, ‘I should have looked at this face more.'”
“Then you can keep rolling around here with me.”
Artemis smiled and pulled down the chest of her top with her index finger.
A valley that seemed to flow with peaches instead of water spread out before my eyes.
“Let’s get up!”
I jumped out of bed. It felt like I would have passed over if I had watched it for just a few more seconds.
“Tch.”
I heard Artemis click her tongue and prepared to relax her body.
My own static routine that includes bending her arms and back, stretching her, and adding a few stretches.
I felt something strange about this act, which I had done thousands of times over the years.
Her body was not stiff at all.
Even though I woke up, every part of my body moved flexibly as if I had just done gymnastics.
“Why are you doing that?”
Artemis had a worried look on her face.
“Because my condition is so good. “At this level, I don’t even need to warm up.”
“Oh, that was it.”
Her worries were erased, and her pride rose.
“Is this also the power of the suit?”
“That’s right. “It maintains homeostasis so that your body is always in full condition, both internally and externally, whether you are conscious of it or not.”
“I guess homeostasis isn’t a word used in that sense?”
“Because while wearing that suit, ‘best condition’ is the default condition.”
The sight of her lying down on the bed and resting her chin is overflowing with sexiness.
It seems like she hasn’t given up on her plan to get me back into bed.
Her large breasts pushed down under her weight, but did not completely succumb to her gravity. The proud and elastic breast buds struggle to raise their heads.
As I was looking at that admirable sight, everything became bothersome. She wanted to run into her arms and bury her face in her voluptuous breasts.
[Large colony of infectious agents, 3 hours before arrival.]
But that’s just a momentary complaint. The moment she heard the manual’s emotionless beep, she came to her senses.
“Shall we go soon?”
“So then.”
Artemis sighed softly at my words. But she is the one who woke me up at this time in the first place.
He still wants me to give up on leaving, but he wants to stop entirely by my own will.
Because she always followed my final decision.
As we boarded the previously prepared helicopter and flew by the shortest route, the spaceship was immediately visible.
Infection in the ship and long-term neglect.
Forced landing on the ground for something developed exclusively for space navigation.
Afterward, a skirmish occurred during the takeover operation.
It appears to have been damaged in several places due to the three beats. It’s probably impossible to fly again.
All sentry guns, surveillance cameras, and mobile repair shops installed in the vicinity were dismantled and recovered.
This is because it was intended to defend against small to medium-sized groups of predators or infectious agents, and was not intended to invade a large colony.
It’s a waste of effort to install it, but it’s better than wasting it pointlessly.
Solaver was waiting at the entrance of the spaceship.
He is wearing an Exos-made closed protective suit recovered from a spacecraft. It is said to provide excellent protection in all kinds of situations with an appearance similar to a thin spacesuit.
“For the last time, I will ask you, do you really have no regrets?”
“Doesn’t exist. “The only opportunity is now.”
“Thank you. Thank you so much.”
“Let’s move. There is still quite a bit of time left, but you never know when the situation may change.”
In the satellite map displayed on the PDA, the infectious agents are heading straight in this direction without the slightest change in route.
I don’t know if it’s a coincidence or if there’s something in the mix among them that has a special interest in this ship.
The place we were headed to was not a transmission room with a simple warp device.
This is because there was one procedure that must be completed before warping.
We stopped in front of a door decorated with huge, understated splendor.
“Welcome to the simple conference room.”
Solaver, who ran ahead, opened the door and welcomed me with an attitude similar to that of a butler.
Inside, there was a huge space reminiscent of the main conference hall of our country’s National Assembly building.
“Come in.”
I went inside as if I was fascinated by the man beckoning me.
There are glorious seats arranged in an orderly manner where only one person per planet can sit.
The flags of numerous civilizations hang down from the ceiling. Also, each piece represents one planet.
A variety of flags that combine all types of symbols, letters, and pictures that can exist in the world.
I am somewhat familiar with grandeur, having traveled all over the world, experienced numerous cultural heritage sites, and lived in a shelter.
Nevertheless, this place was on a different level.
“Is this a liver?”
It looked too majestic to be a liver.
“The real conference room is on another planet. “This is nothing more than an alternative location for when a top meeting is needed urgently.”
Well, as the interests of numerous civilizations are intertwined, incidents and accidents will occur from time to time, so all meetings cannot be held on just one planet.
“As I said before, you must be a member of the Space Federation to use the simple warp device.”
“Something similar exists on Earth. “It’s the European Union.”
I touched a nearby seat. I poked my finger at the luxurious and soft-looking exterior.
“As it is, a proposal for a new member state to join must be agreed upon by 20% of all member states before it can be presented. But now, if I agree, it’s 100%, so it’s meaningless.”
“What next?”
“If this agenda item is submitted, a waiting period of at least six months will be required. However, if you register it as an urgent agenda, you can start the meeting immediately. 40% of the members must agree to this.”
“What good are percentages now? “It’s like your own empire.”
“That is correct. Now it’s my own union. But the expression “Empire” Is not very good. It’s so barbaric.
Solaver smiled bitterly.
“Finally, the approval of new member countries requires approval from 70% of the total membership and the three oldest countries. “The editor, us, Exos, and Crix.”
It is approved by the three oldest countries. Is it some kind of permanent member of the UN? Aside from the editor and Exos, the third name was also familiar.
“By Kryx… You mean this giant killer whale-like species?”
“That’s right. The reason they write welcoming speeches for new member countries is not simply because they have excellent literary skills.”
“All right. Then let’s get started.”
I glanced towards the wall. To be exact, the infectious agents that are coming from beyond.
“They will come here soon.”
“And it will be wasted.”
Solaver ascended to the highest podium.
In Korea, it was a place decorated with great care, like the Speaker of the National Assembly.
“Life in the world is all similar.”
“What are you talking about?”
“That hammer over there.”
There was a set of brown gavels that seemed to be made of luxurious wood on the podium.
“And you suit that position very well, old man.”
“Thank you for the compliment, but isn’t it obvious? This was originally my place.”
“Oh.”
He held a hammer and assumed a solemn and very familiar-looking posture.
“It’s going to be a full-fledged process, so is it okay if we don’t have to do rehearsals?”
“There is no need. “Who else can see it?”
After saying those words, Solaver took a few deep breaths and looked straight ahead seriously. The smile on his lips completely disappeared.
“We are beginning to present urgent agenda items regarding new members of the Space Union.”
Bang! Bang!
He lifted the hammer and struck it twice. A clear sound echoed in the empty conference hall.
Whiing!
At the same time, light came into the entire conference room and all the seats emitted a resonant sound.
I was shaking a bit and then unconsciously took a motionless stance.
This is because holograms appeared all over the seats in the conference hall.
“It is said that it is a ceremonial appointment when the position of representative of a given race is vacant. The original owners of that hologram are already deceased.”
Numerous races were looking at us with various appearances.
All seats are empty. However, an intense pressure was felt everywhere, as if hundreds of ghosts had descended.
Not like ordinary ghosts of the dead, but like the ghosts of monarchs summoned from the forgotten past.
It was different from the fear of death caused by a hail of bullets or explosions on the battlefield.
It was an intimidating feeling in this place where many important decisions were made over an immeasurably long history.
“Seo Jin-soo, the representative of humanity, stands at the podium.”
Sola Ver spread his palm and pointed in front of him.
I stood in front of him with a refined attitude, recalling the award ceremonies I had experienced during my military service.
“I am Solaver, chairman of the Supreme Council of the Space Federation, representative of Exos, and representative of the three oldest nations.”
The kind and easy-going impression I had just now disappeared somewhere, and there was a face in front of me that I had never seen before.
It was as if a carnivore had suddenly awakened somewhere in his memory.
“On behalf of all civilizations not present here, I would like to review your qualifications as a member of the Space Federation.”
Kwaak.
My fists gain strength. If I wasn’t wearing the nanosuit, my fists would have been full of sweat.
“Kneel.”
I bent down on one knee and followed his instructions.
Sola Ber, looking down, is full of severity in his eyes. However, there was a warmth that could not be hidden on one side.
“Avoid selfishness
“Keep fear close.”
A deep voice with a different utterance rang out.
“To beasts that are weaker and more frightened than you
Approach first and extend your hand.
Even if my hand gets bitten
Consider that pain as pride.
Pursuing justice amidst injustice
Remembering regrets in the past
A little bit of the world you belong to
Lead in a better direction.
That is a great duty.
You and your species
Will you join us in this task?”
I didn’t answer right away.
It may not mean much, but I reflected on whether there was a connection between what Solaver said and the past I lived and the future I will live in.
“We will do this together. I’m ready to make everything right.”
Solaver raised his gaze and looked around the conference hall.
What does he feel when he sees the holograms shaking like ghosts?
Regret? Yearning? Or some other emotion? I can’t even imagine it.
Soon his gaze returns to me.
“Get up. Our new comrade and hope for unity.”
I got up and stood with my chest out.
“On behalf of all those who have already perished, I welcome you, humanity.”
The clear sound of a hammer.
However, unlike when it first started, the sound of the hammer died down in an instant.
This is because thunderous applause erupted.
Hologram lawmakers floating in numerous seats were clapping their palms in their own way.
Hundreds of palms of all different sizes and shapes were blessing me in this empty space.
Perhaps this too is a ritual. It is a process to bless even those who are not present when a decision is made.
Click.
A hammer fell from the podium.
Above him was Solaver with an indescribable face.
His gaze seemed to wander to various places in the conference room, and then he cupped his face with his palm.
“… I’ll go to the transmission room first.”
“Thank you.”
I left the conference room behind him who bowed his head to me.
“Administrator.”
Rose, Chrollo, and Kids were waiting outside the entrance.
About 10 steps beyond them, Artemis is leaning against the wall.
