Chapter 413 – Convergence (8)
A skinhead woman happily massaging Chrollo’s shoulder. She pointed at her and mouthed her magic words.
“Status window.”
Deering.
[Name: Miranda]
[Affiliation: Shelter Maintenance Team 1]
[Taste: Lesbian]
[History: Smuggling, prostitution]
[Characteristics: Dexterity, strength and weakness, armpit fetishism.]
[Shelter Resident LV 3]
[Repair Technician LV 3]
[Scientology Follower LV 2]
(Prison life wasn’t bad, but the shelter was paradise and a well-stocked buffet for Miranda.
Chrollo is her ideal man, even in her dreams. I want to sneakily touch her breasts while massaging, but I’m desperately trying to hold back.
Miranda has no regrets about smelling the air outside. Since the shelter opened, she has not applied to go out even once.
She is grateful for her underground female kingdom, protected from the seedy masculinity.
That feeling led Miranda to Scientology. She reveres Artemis and adores Chrollo.)
“Hmm.”
If you look closely at her, you can see that her fingers are strangely touching Chrollo’s armpits while massaging her shoulders.
This information is not caused by a supernatural force like the status window in mass media.
It is a combination of information obtained through physical observation and medical examination.
“This is much more detailed information than before?”
“Because he is a resident with a unique attitude.”
Loving women and serving science. It seems to be referring to these two things.
“Do you know about Scientology?”
Artemis asked.
“Roughly. I know it as a religion that makes science itself an object of faith. The impact was higher than expected, right? Many famous Hollywood stars also believe in it.”
“I know very well. However, as stated in the explanation, it is completely separate from that of the mainland. “They are true believers in science who live in shelters.”
Artemis pointed one hand to her chest and the other to Chrollo.
“Faith in science and technology and its essence, AI managers. The number of people who have reached this level of religion is increasing. “Not just in the shelter, but also outside.”
“It’s not particularly strange.”
Shelter residents are guaranteed the best food, clothing, and shelter in the world.
Although it is not omnipotent, it cures diseases more effectively than any other religion, and answers people’s pleas and prayers.
Even outside, you can see the shadow of the shelter everywhere, driving out terrifying infectious agents and protecting peace.
Through research on Lamprey Mother, we have solved the problem of infertility and old age, and created new edible livestock to fill people’s stomachs.
It is closer to the realm of God than any other existing religion, both in its technology for managing life and in its power to exorcise evil monsters.
In difficult times like now, it will provide people with more comfort and salvation than true religion.
“If this trend continues, what will people’s views on religion be like in the future?”
Hehe.”
Artemis smiled at the thoughtless remark.
“Goddess~ Goddess~, I really feel like I’m going to become the god of a new world.”
I have called Artemis a goddess countless times.
But that’s not because she truly considers herself a divine being.
It was a nickname sometimes used as a joke, sometimes as a compliment to an achievement, and sometimes to express overwhelming affection.
But now her presence in the world has become too big to be dismissed as a nickname.
“Humans always want someone to rely on. Since most existing religions have lost their power, it is not strange to look for something to fill the void.”
When these two things, aliens and infectious agents, appeared, the vast majority of religious doctrines were shattered.
Religious leaders tried to maintain the people’s faith somehow, but it was impossible.
Not only the country, but also many strongholds of faith were destroyed during the war, and the focal point disappeared.
Even as terrible infections rip apart friends and family, the gods remain silent.
Even devout survivors quickly began to abandon religion.
“No matter how much I pray, lightning doesn’t fall from the sky and burn the infected body. But bullets fired by our drones and helicopters simply solve the danger. Not to mention vaccines.”
“Isn’t it better than having pseudo-religions proliferating?”
As existing religions collapsed, a huge number of pseudo-religions were created and disappeared repeatedly.
Needless to say, the chaos, waste, death, and looting that resulted.
Compared to that, a society controlled in an orderly manner through reason and technology might be better.
“No matter what happens, we won’t face any difficulties from a pseudo-religion.”
I held a lock of Artemis’ hair in my hand.
“What kind of difficulty do you mean?”
“It’s about being shamed for claiming to be the incarnation of God in a human body. “He talks about being omniscient and omnipotent, but then, embarrassingly, he gets dementia and can’t even say his own name, or he’s doing it tomorrow because of old age.”
He brought the hand that had been playing with her hair to her cheek. The texture is as soft as the cheeks of a newborn baby.
“Because you will never grow old and will maintain this beautiful appearance and great intelligence for a thousand and ten thousand years.”
“Of course.”
She lifted the glass that had been left on the floor and drained the remaining half of the wine.
The delicious liquor soaks your tongue and throat.
However, there is no stickiness that remains in the mouth. It gives a good taste as if rubbing alcohol volatilizes and then leaves cleanly.
“Where should I see my evaluation?”
I pointed at myself with my thumb and opened my mouth.
“Status window.”
Deering.
[Name: Seo Jin-su]
[Affiliation: Shelter Domination Level]
[Taste: Heterosexuality]
[History: Smuggling in live ammunition]
[Characteristics: Savior, military spirit, reinforced human, pervert]
[Shelter Manager LV 1]
(Shelter’s only highest level manager.
After overcoming many hardships, he finally returned with peace and tranquility.
He prefers grilled skewers sold on the street rather than rare 5-star dishes, and is a stubborn person who gets itchy if he is not directly instructed on site.)
“Get rid of that damn pervert!”
“No. “It’s true, right?”
I waved my hand to erase the writing on the blue screen in front of me, but it was no use.
Additionally, his criminal history is also recorded. It seems to refer to the shotgun shells being left behind before the shelter recovery operation.
“Okay, let’s see how you are. Status window!”
He pointed at Artemis and shouted.
Deering.
[Name: Artemis]
[Affiliation: Shelter Domination Level]
[Taste: Heterosexuality]
[History: None]
There were countless doctoral degrees written on the characteristics.
(This is Shelter’s unique central control AI.
The most beautiful, intelligent, noble, and merciful being in the world.
A woman who has everything doesn’t have one thing: men’s clothes.
She meets a perverted husband and has a hard time accepting humiliating demands every day.
However, this is also something that she must endure as a wife.)
“…”
“What?”
My gaze saying no is not working at all.
“It’s done. “If that’s you, then that’s probably it.”
“Hmph!”
Deering.
An additional notification appeared even though I didn’t even call the status window.
(When you see people casually asking to do a footjob under the table in a restaurant while they are eating, it is usually not a pervert.
When he handed her the cleaned stockings as a gift, Artemis wanted to hit her husband’s forehead with her plate.)
“Hmm.”
Honestly, I had nothing to say about this.
* * *
I came down from the central factory where work was in full swing and entered the lower area.
The number of residents has decreased to one-tenth of the past, but it feels more lively.
This may be because there is a large ranch where horses run around and various facilities and machines are operating continuously.
I also had a pretty amazing experience.
“Wow!”
We encountered a guard dog that was walking and patrolling under the guidance of a security guard, and the dog barked at us.
I reflexively looked behind me, but there was nothing.
“What? “Can you see us?”
“That can’t be possible.”
This time, even Artemis looks embarrassed.
The guard dog also tilted his head as if he didn’t know why he was barking.
It doesn’t look like it recognizes our presence.
“Bibi, what’s wrong?”
After the security guard patted his head and walked away, he ran towards us without even looking at us.
“There are things in the world that cannot be explained by science.”
Unlike me, who shrugged my shoulders, Artemis had a serious expression.
After that, I wandered around the lower region. Free from the influence of gravity, they jump tens of meters per month, and sometimes fly like Superman or Superwoman.
I wandered around the hydroponic cultivation facility responsible for food, intoxicated with the scent of various flowers, and watched the protocols practiced by security forces at the parade ground right up close.
As I passed through building after building, I unintentionally entered the restroom and encountered an embarrassing sight.
But the highlight is when we reach the nuclear fusion power plant.
Excluding the main body of Artemis, it is the most important facility, so regular patrols are required for administrator duties.
It’s a place I’ve visited countless times, but now that I’m in a spiritual state, it’s become an even more special visit.
[Loyalty. Welcome to visit, Manager.]
Pass through the strictly guarded security robots and sentry guns and enter the generator area.
If you look at the wall, you can see traces of it being destroyed and then repaired.
This is the part that was destroyed by the tentacles of the giant nest when the shelter infection broke out.
Warning. No access.
Cross the red border barefoot without any protective clothing.
The same was true for Artemis walking next to me.
Buzz!
The sound is small, but the vibration that seems more dull than anything else in the world hits the whole body.
I crossed the forbidden line and even passed through the external components of the generator to enter it.
A spherical space appears with a thick silver metal pillar in the center.
Blue-white plasma is rotating around the pillar.
The majestic scene resembles Planet Miller in the movie Interstellar, where tidal waves constantly come and go.
Although the scale is much smaller and there is plasma circulating instead of clear water.
A special detection system and camera installed inside the generator are visible.
Perhaps those are what serve as my sense organs now.
“I can feel it.”
I muttered as if possessed.
“The power of the sun.”
My hands, which are in a soul state, catch the huge waves of energy.
It is a true power that cannot be faced, grasped, or felt.
“This is just the beginning.”
Artemis’ hand touched my shoulder.
Her will turns into code and flows into my soul.
Connects my eyes and senses to the nuclear fusion generator and expands them even further.
“!!!”
Then, I could feel the enormous energy in my grip flowing throughout the shelter.
The compression press machine provides the force to settle down and adds light to the lighting of the hydroponic cultivation facility.
Drones and helicopters with their wings folded are given the strength to fly again, and the Stalker’s arms, which have run out of strength to fight, are given the strength to twist the infected body’s neck.
You can also feel the warmth circulating in every corner by taking advantage of the convection system that circulates throughout the vast underground world.
I just ‘felt’ everything I had only seen through graphs on the monitor.
Shelter is a living creature.
Just as my body is an organic collection of numerous organs and cells gathered under the banner of the human body.
I was able to feel and understand it more simply than an explanation of a hundred words.
“Now I can say that I have become a true shelter manager.”
Artemis said.
“It’s still a bit lacking, but this should be enough for the first attempt. How do you feel about looking at a world like mine?”
Artemis floating safely among the scorching plasma.
Her appearance was truly divinely majestic.
