Ch.250The Great Invasion (3)

I moved with Ireh to the National Research Institute as our base.

The research facility was located on the coast, close to a military base. Rustila Kersil’s unit was definitely stationed at the nearby base. The effect of the “Great Triangle” was still ongoing.

But we didn’t even have time to look around the research facility.

WAAAAAANG!

The siren warning of a monster invasion sounded.

“They’re attacking right away…”

“That’s just like those Darwin’s Legion creatures. Once they start, they strike hard and fast.”

I looked up at the sky through the laboratory window. The ceiling was red. And something was falling.

Flesh. Dark red chunks of meat were raining down. They took root in the ground like seeds. Ireh explained.

“They’re spores. They feed on nearby nutrients and become monsters.”

“It looks like several fell in the front yard of our research facility?”

“If we don’t deal with them in time, this place is finished too.”

Seti clung to my side, trembling.

“B-brother. Isn’t this dangerous?”

“Of course it’s dangerous. What, do you regret staying here?”

Seti shook her head desperately.

“Why did you stay anyway?”

“Because I was worried you might die!”

“As if you could do anything to help.”

“I can’t do anything? Hey, if that’s how you feel, spit out the money. Pay back the research funds!”

Seti grabbed my collar and shook me up, down, left, and right.

“I try to worry about you and this is what I get! You’re only staying here because you’re worried about Rustila unnie too!”

“Sigh.”

This kid hit the nail on the head.

It’s true. I’m worried about Rustila. Even though she’s stronger than me, I’m still concerned something might happen to her.

No, come to think of it, my situation is different from Seti’s.

“At least I serve as a totem. Who are you clinging to?”

“Listen to yourself, talking about totems.”

“Both of you, please don’t fight. This isn’t the time.”

Grooooar.

Monsters began growing in the research facility’s garden. Each one had a grotesque appearance.

[Announcement from inside the research facility. Monsters have currently infiltrated the facility. Civilians, please evacuate promptly with the help of nearby military and police…]

We needed to move.

“Sonia, assist me. Ireh, please protect Seti.”

“Understood.”

Sonia and I took out our calipers simultaneously. Seeing this, Seti made a dumbfounded expression.

“Is that weapon trendy these days?”

“Everyone carries a tool like this in their pocket, don’t they?”

“From what I can see, this guy is a foreign god too.”

“No time for jokes. Let’s go quickly.”

We turned down a double corridor with two bends. A pig monster came down from the upper floor. It had particularly thick forelegs. It must have been a spore that ignited on the rooftop.

Grrrr!

The pig monster charged at us, its rotten flesh wobbling.

“Leave it to me.”

Sonia swung her calipers in a long arc. The pig monster’s head was forcibly lifted. The monster fell backward, foaming at the mouth.

[— <Stun>, <Submission>]

“When it wakes up, it will be our ally.”

“Ah, not this nonsense again.”

Seti staggered, holding her forehead. I yelled at her.

“Augh, you useless burden! If you can’t fight, at least stay still!”

“No, do you actually believe what Sonia said? You think hitting it once with a tool will make it submit?”

“Uh.”

“This idiot has finally broken Sonia.”

In truth, Seti’s reaction was normal. A skill that turns a beaten monster into an ally? That would be impossible without contracting with a Descartes-type foreign god.

Gurgle, gurgle.

“Eek! L-look at that! It’s getting up!”

“Just wait a moment.”

The pig monster blinked its protruding eyes and became docile. More precisely, it wasn’t attacking us. Sonia smiled expressionlessly.

“From now on, your name is Picnic.”

Seti held her forehead.

“What’s with the name Picnic…”

“Pig foreleg meat.”

“Ha.”

My sister seemed to have given up on thinking.

Just then, another monster was coming down from the rooftop. This one looked like a lizard.

“Go, Picnic. Take that one down.”

Gurgle, gurgle!

The pig monster dragged its massive forelegs and took a crouching start position. The lizard opposing it jumped up quickly.

The pig and lizard clashed. The result was a draw. They both bit and tore at each other until they both retired.

“That was a good show.”

“Let’s go down now.”

“Did we really have to watch that?”

Seti looked at Ireh with tearful eyes. Ireh turned away, avoiding her gaze. Seti’s heart crumbled like a poorly constructed apartment.

Monsters were coming up from the lower floors too. That’s when I realized the situation was serious. Ireh asked the question first.

“Wait, what about Professor Feynman?”

“Ah.”

Professor Feynman had said he would return to Stellarium by tomorrow. In other words, he was still here today.

In short, we were screwed.

“The professor is in danger.”

My pace quickened.

“Professor! Professor! Professoooor!”

I immediately went up to the upper floor. Seti followed, grabbing the back of her neck. Sonia and Ireh did the same.

“Eidel!”

Professor Feynman was cornered at the end of the corridor by a centipede monster. As soon as I heard his voice, I threw my calipers in that direction.

SWISH!

The tool cut through the air and hit the centipede monster’s head.

I hurried to close the gap. I picked up the calipers. I struck the stunned centipede monster randomly. Before Sonia and Ireh could do anything, the monster went limp.

[— You have acquired 1500 Pron as a reward for the kill.]

“…Phew.”

I shook off my hand covered in black fluid. It felt disgusting.

“Professor, are you alright?”

“Student!”

Professor Feynman hugged me tightly.

“I was preparing to leave when suddenly that monster barged in. I really thought I was going to die! Sob sob!”

“It’s okay now, Professor. Let’s focus on getting out of here.”

I was more terrified than Professor Feynman. I had almost lost my mentor. I wouldn’t have been able to write papers with him anymore. Fortunately, I wasn’t too late.

“Sonia will protect me, and Ireh will protect Seti… I’ll protect you, Professor.”

“Ah, student. Thank you. I’ll make sure to get you all the way to postdoc, no, I’ll take responsibility for getting you to professor.”

“Gasp…”

The corners of my mouth turned up. Ah, I shouldn’t be doing this.

Ireh, who had been examining the centipede monster, spoke up.

“…This is an EX-class monster, a Centipede.”

“Is that so? I guess I was able to catch it because it was a surprise attack. I got lucky.”

Catching EX-class monsters often depended on luck. Your performance could vary greatly depending on your condition that day. That’s because I wasn’t a soldier.

Later, several soldiers in power suits came up to our floor.

“Lord Rheinland! You were here!”

“Thank goodness you’re safe!”

Click.

Ireh pointed her gun at them.

“What are you suddenly—”

BANG! The gunshot rang out before the soldier could finish speaking. The holy bullet grazed the side of the soldier’s head.

SCREECH!

A monster that had appeared out of thin air jumped and collapsed. It looked like a chameleon.

“Th-this is!”

“A Tilozhu. A monster that specializes in camouflage. You should watch your back.”

Ireh, wiping her gun barrel, gave a nod of acknowledgment.

***

“All clear.”

The monsters that had fallen on the research facility were quickly suppressed. There weren’t many spores to begin with, and the initial response had been nearly perfect.

“I can’t help but admire Lord Rheinland’s foresight time and again.”

“I simply prepared thoroughly, Professor. By the way, your schedule has been disrupted. Are you okay with that?”

Professor Feynman sighed.

“With a reason like this, it can’t be helped. Anyway, this incident has made one thing clear. Humans are powerless. We need to make some invention or discovery that can directly counter the foreign gods…”

This was my opportunity.

I casually suggested:

“Why don’t we try to discover gravitons as soon as possible? To understand the physics of foreign gods, we need to understand gravity in more detail. If we could even observe gravitons, it would be a major advancement in research.”

“That’s a good idea. When this is over, I’ll create a proposal and submit it.”

“You’ll be able to secure substantial research funding too.”

Just imagining it makes my mouth water.

So the professor and I waited under the protection of the military and police until the situation was resolved. The battle was still continuing near the coast. Occasionally, we could hear the screams of monsters.

GRRRROAR——!!

A roar like thunder shook our eardrums. We all covered our ears. The vibration left our ears feeling numb.

“What was that sound just now?”

[“It’s saying, ‘Why isn’t my mental attack working!’]

Mental attack.

If by any chance it was an avatar using an attack that increases Pron levels, it would be useless since I was here. As I was making such a guess, I could see the silhouettes of sword masters in the distance.

The woman at the forefront was particularly distinct. Blonde hair, blue eyes. Black suit. A sword in one hand, and something that looked like a blood sausage in the other.

Just making eye contact with her felt chilling.

Rustila.

It was her.

THUD!

Rustila carelessly threw away the sausage-like object and dusted off her hands. I was curious and tried to analyze it, and I couldn’t hide my surprise.

[— Head of <Ocean Tyrant> ‘Midhrma’, avatar of ‘Emperor of the Elegant Finale’]

“All size and no substance.”

Her tone was cold as frost.

Yes, this is what a sword saint is like.