Ch.126Now, it’s an eternal farewell

# Chapter 126: Now It’s Time for an Eternal Farewell

But right after we escaped with the explosion.

-KWAAAAAANG!!!!

An even more magnificent explosion surged through the gate…

The Leviathan, a massive vessel dozens of kilometers long, was flung away like a leaf fluttering in the wind.

“KYAAAH!!”

“KYAAAAAAAK!!!”

In such a crazy situation, it was only natural that we inside the ship would be in chaos.

People without separate seatbelts or other safety devices were literally turned into living bouncy balls, being thrown around inside the ship.

As a result, quite a few people suffered injuries to their arms, legs, necks, and spines…

Meanwhile, there were Purge Unit members who were enjoying this situation.

Minister Vermut, who held on with the mechanical tentacles attached to his body and grabbed others to protect them.

And Ash, who regained consciousness and created tentacles and mats made of nano-machines for protection.

Thanks to the efforts of many post-human beings, miraculously, there were no fatalities.

In addition, since the Allied Fleet that had been engaged in fierce battles with the nano-machine fleet until just a month ago was around the gate.

We were able to receive help from the hospital ships and workshop vessels of the Allied Fleet at the scene, repairing our ship and announcing that this damn war was finally over.

————————————-

[Event: Destruction of the Extinction Device!]

[The massive self-destruction left as a final struggle ultimately failed to destroy you and your ship, its intended targets.]

[And through that struggle, all possibilities of the Extinction Device’s revival have been blocked.]

[Praise for you and the Holy Sebelli Empire is resounding throughout the galaxy due to your achievements!]

[Galaxy-wide goodwill toward Arto Virtorius Sebelli +100]

[Goodwill of various nations toward the Holy Sebelli Empire +50]

‘Mmm, yummy.’

With such a sweet reward, I could neatly bury all the painful events of the past several months in my mind.

Of course, some might say I’m overreacting to mere goodwill points…

‘Hmm, permanent goodwill is so sweet.’

Usually, when gaining goodwill through events, it typically came with an expiration date.

Generally measured in years, but sometimes they’d give rewards of goodwill lasting only a few months.

In a way, it could be considered an extremely stingy reward.

But this time, perhaps because it was equivalent to saving the galaxy from an enormous crisis?

To give dozens of permanent goodwill points with no expiration date.

How could I not feel good about such generosity?

‘That’s right, sometimes things like this should happen.’

Perhaps because of that thought, I was able to converse with a feeling that was somehow more ‘refreshed’ than usual.

And in the midst of all this.

Perhaps the massive explosion had damaged the gate on Riksy’s side?

The gate, which hadn’t been in great condition even before we came out, showed signs of gradually collapsing as the spatial connection point was severed.

And there were those watching this scene:

“Well then, we’ll be on our way now.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“Th…thank…you…everyone…for…your…hard…work…on…this…raid…@)))))))))))”

The Allied Fleet, which had gathered to respond to the nano-machine fleet continuously emerging from the gate, was watching the gate’s final moments.

And now that there were no more nano-machines and the gate had become useless.

The Allied Fleet, consuming massive military resources, voluntarily disbanded and naturally began returning to their respective countries.

“Minister, look at the gate.”

“Hmm…”

Moreover, perhaps most of the gate’s constituent material was nano-machines…

-Fsssssh…

The gate, unable to withstand the magnificent explosion, slowly began to crumble, both inside and out.

Very slowly, emitting large amounts of silver powder.

And while everyone was holding back their words in this situation,

-Ding♬

[Time Pause]

I was checking the newly appeared event message with the notification sound that had changed at some point.

[Event: The Method of Final Struggle Is Always Predetermined]

[The Extinction Core, believing it had control over all situations, suffered irreversible massive damage due to that carelessness.]

[Especially since the core part responsible for most calculations was completely annihilated, it would normally have waited for death in an almost vegetative state… but…]

[By chance, part of the Extinction Core’s consciousness succeeded in avoiding eternal death and surviving.]

[Now moving solely on hatred and anger, the Extinction Core has activated its final method to annihilate you along with this planet, disregarding even its own death.]

[The Extinction Core’s final command has been activated! All nano-machine planets and fortresses in the universe are self-destructing, causing massive damage to their surroundings!]

[In particular, the universe where the Extinction Core is located will be completely destroyed regardless of planetary systems and affiliations when the time limit ends!]

[Time remaining: 0 days]

[Successful escape within the time limit, additional rewards will be given according to the conditions]

[Reward: Understanding of Nano-machines trait added to the Holy Sebelli Empire (Nano-machine related technology research +5%, Nano-machine mining possible in a random star system within the empire)]

[Time Pause Release]

‘Hmm, not bad.’

Perhaps because the event’s reward was better than expected.

“Minister, there seems to be a problem with the gate… are you okay?”

“Hmm? Of course.”

Despite the gate being completely destroyed, I wasn’t as angry as one might expect.

‘Well, it’s not even our gate in our territory anyway…’

If anything, the Riksy Congressional Territory, which had been grinning at the thought of acquiring gate technology after this war ended, would be the one wailing.

We have no reason to be sad.

But my reaction seemed strange to Riel, who had brought the news of the gate’s collapse, as she tilted her head and said:

“That’s strange. There’s no way our Minister would be this calm hearing this news.”

“What on earth are you talking about, Riel?”

At being treated like some strange being, I thought it might be time to take out the Etiquette Injection Rod Mk.58 from my pocket again…

But seeing my reaction, Riel thought for a moment, then as if realizing something, hit her palm with her fist and said:

“Ah, Minister, did you think I was referring to the Riksy gate over there?”

“…Hmm?”

“What I wanted to tell you about wasn’t that one, but our gate.”

“…?”

——————————-

And without understanding what Riel meant, while on our way back to the Empire after the war ended.

“By the way, didn’t you say there was a problem with the gate?”

“Yes, the sealed gate in the Cardian Black Hole.”

At Riel’s words, I immediately headed toward the sealed warp gate located in the southern Cardian Black Hole, leading the Leviathan.

Just in case any remaining nano-machine fleet or surviving Extinction Core might try to establish a foothold within our Empire’s territory.

I headed to the Cardian Black Hole, bringing along the Imperial fleet that had joined us on our return journey, but…

The sight I saw there was:

“…”

Our gate, built with Sebelli’s capital, manpower, and technology, made by our own hands…

-Fssssssh…

Had it been infiltrated by nano-machines in that short time?

The Cardian Gate was showing signs of gradually fading away before our eyes.

“Damn it.”

Naturally, seeing such a sight, I felt a surge of irritation at the thought of the Holy Sebelli Empire’s capital and diplomatic power being wasted.

‘So that’s why Riel said that to me.’

Indeed, as Riel had said, once I became aware of the situation, it was impossible to remain calm.

But that was only by my standards.

Minister Vermut, who had personally been involved in the design and construction process, and unlike other gates, had created this one himself…

“AAAAAAAAAAH!!! N-NOOOOOOO!!!!”

He was showing the kind of wailing that might come from someone who had lost a close person, no, a direct family member within two degrees of kinship.

And it was so desperate that it naturally evoked sympathy from those watching.

If only the object of his grief wasn’t a ‘gate.’

Still, in a way, this confirmed that the nano-machines and the Extinction Core were finally finished.

As I freshly realized that we had successfully overcome the terrible crisis of the latter part, I felt a sense of satisfaction welling up inside.

“Minister, you seem happy.”

“Hmm… I suppose anyone would feel that way after successfully stopping the nano-machine fleet.”

Of course, excluding Minister Vermut who was wailing over there.