Ch.272Queen Aurore (2)

Despite interference from the outer gods, the fleet successfully entered the Delaus planetary system. This completes the first phase of the recovery plan.

“This is just the beginning,” said Leo of the Lion Palace in a solemn voice.

“Some recovery ships from the left and right divisions will join us. We’ll advance immediately to restore the Aether Belt, so I hope Commander Rheinland is fully prepared.”

“Understood.”

The knights took what little rest they could.

Meanwhile, I finished the final review with the technicians on the most efficient methods to recover the Aether Belt.

Soon came the welcome news that communication with the east and west divisions had been established.

Leopold gathered the knights.

“Everyone has endured well. From now on, we begin our counterattack!”

Snap!

The soldiers stood in formation and saluted. Determination shone in their eyes.

“Drive out the outer gods and reclaim our territory. All fleets, advance!”

Today.

Finally, today the war ends.

It may not be the end of everything, but we’ll overcome a major hurdle.

Boom boom boom.

The ships all increased speed at once. Hundreds of recovery vessels advanced toward the edge of the galaxy.

The largest recovery operation in history, with humanity’s survival at stake.

Operation Double Sickle had begun.

I returned to the control room to monitor the situation. Asteroid clusters covered in flesh were approaching like a flock of sheep.

[Enemy approaching from the front!]

[It’s Darwin’s Legion!]

“Intercept them!”

The turrets simultaneously fired lasers. High-temperature plasma indiscriminately destroyed the approaching flesh clusters that flew like dandelion seeds.

Nevertheless, some nests survived and attached themselves to the ships like barnacles. Eshu of the Scorpio Palace yawned as he preheated his Plasma Sword.

“My division will handle the intruders inside the ship. Everyone, follow me!”

The knights moved to their positions.

The medics bustled about behind them.

Zernya, my parents, and other members of the Rheinland family.

All familiar faces.

Everyone was fighting desperately in their positions, and I felt uncomfortable just standing by. If not for my position as head of the family and commander, I would have joined Sonia in battle long ago.

“Eidel.”

Ireh approached.

“It’s almost time.”

I nodded.

“Yes, not much longer now.”

“Whether the trap works, they split apart, or the Iron Fortress captures the Queen from behind—we just need to hold out. Then we can win.”

But can we really call this victory?

Cosmic horror.

I’m reminded once again of this world’s genre.

“True victory only comes when we defeat the Queen,” I said abruptly.

“But without graviton bombs, we can’t banish the outer gods. We can’t kill them either.”

“…That’s why we need to make them quickly. That would be much more reassuring than these stopgap measures.”

Ireh chuckled.

A rare smile from the protagonist.

“What’s so funny?”

“Nothing. Just that everyone else is focused on the present, but you’re looking far into the future. I’ve been worried too. Even if this war ends, I think another outer god will invade.”

“It’s overwhelming, isn’t it?”

“Overwhelming, yes. But not as depressing as before.”

Ireh looked up at me and continued.

“Because I have you.”

“…Yes. Hearing that makes me feel better too.”

“Why?”

“Because I have you, Ireh.”

Wow, double the physics majors!

With more researchers for the graviton bomb, the path to a happy ending should be shorter, right?

Lately, Ireh has been coming up with many interesting ideas, showing the results of her consistent studies. I look forward to her future progress.

“By the way, when this is over, you should write a paper too, Ireh.”

“About physically modeling the neural network of outer gods… right?”

“Yes. The research topic is practically rolling in by itself.”

Outer gods.

Ireh’s first research subject is the outer gods.

Not fragments or avatar corpses, but the actual entities themselves—a perfect topic for someone crazy, but Ireh has a special constitution, so she’ll be fine.

Plus, now we have the synergy of the Great Triangle.

Our destination was now right before us.

“Look, Eidel.”

“…The Aether Belt.”

We’ve finally arrived.

Between stars that sparkled like salt dried in the sun, a faint cloud zone stretched out. Space was perforated like a sponge.

“It looks like a structure similar to porous ceramics.”

I laughed at Ireh’s observation.

“Why are you laughing?”

“You just sounded very scientific.”

When we first met, I never would have expected such sentences to come from Ireh’s mouth.

Ireh folded her arms and sighed.

“It’s because of you.”

“How is that my fault?”

“Staying by your side all day has made my thinking and even my way of speaking similar to yours. I’ve been feeling self-conscious lately. So take responsibility.”

“Monsters are attacking from all directions, and you’re making jokes?”

“Shut up. This is your fault too.”

Ireh turned her head away sharply.

While we were talking, the recovery ships reached the border zone. Soon, an announcement came from the command tower that they would activate the recovery equipment.

And then the next moment.

Boom!

The ship tilted to the right and blared warning alarms. Ireh and I lost our balance, staggered, and rolled into a corner.

Since there was a wall right behind us, we didn’t fall too hard.

However, our bodies pressing together was unavoidable.

“Young master! Miss Hazlen!”

Sonia’s ash-gray eyes widened in shock as she reached out a moment too late. It was understandable. Ireh and I were tangled together with our limbs intertwined and bodies pressed against each other.

Our faces were close too.

Ireh’s expression was turning pale in real time.

“…You two need to get up now.”

I snapped back to reality.

Meanwhile, the ship tilted even more. It was about to stand vertically like a stranded vessel.

I regained my balance with Sonia’s help, then helped Ireh up.

“Are you okay?”

“Uh, uh, uhhh.”

“Ireh? Ireh!”

This is bad. She’s turned to stone from excessive physical contact.

“Ireh Hazlen——!!”

“Huh, what?”

“Now is not the time to space out! The outer gods might be attacking. We need to prepare quickly!”

A few seconds after the problem occurred.

Boom!

This time the hull shook in the opposite direction.

It returned to its original position, but the two impacts were enough to shatter the calm atmosphere. The monitoring screens also turned red around this time.

“Eidel!”

“Darling!”

Rustila and Zernya came running. Other knights also gathered around the command center and control room. The command center housed the recovery equipment and its control tower. If this was destroyed, we’d be finished.

The Pisces Palace knight, who had used his skill to mitigate the physical impact, shouted:

“Everyone, don’t panic and hold your positions!”

Despite the Great Omega knights’ command, the situation wasn’t completely under control. The atmosphere was clearly different from before.

“Report! Knights are complaining of headaches and nosebleeds!”

The knight delivering this news soon staggered and spat a mouthful of blood.

It was strange.

The Great Triangle effect should be active.

The only ones who seemed relatively fine were the 12 Palace knights, Sonia, and those with Great Triangle constellations: Rustila, Zernya, Ireh, and myself.

This could only mean one thing.

Something of a different caliber was coming.

[— Everything existed. Yet nothing existed.]

Even my status window was spewing ominous messages.

Creeeeak.

At the sinister sound, everyone including myself looked up. The ceiling was being torn apart. No, it was transforming into a living creature.

[— When the play ends, the actors must exit. Yet the finale continues. To send off the protagonist on their way. That is elegance and nobility. This is true madness.]

[— Behold the madness.]

[— Behold, and know your final path.]

Crack crack crack!

Shark teeth sprouted from the ship.

The area around the sprouting teeth turned black. Then the teeth opened into a maw, and brilliant light poured out. It was so bright that I had to squeeze my eyes shut.

And.

When I opened my eyes again.

A woman stood there.

A woman with large red eyes. Just her presence radiated a different level of madness.

She floated in the air, looking down at us arrogantly. Her expression and posture suggested this was the appropriate eye level between her and us—utterly haughty.

After a moment of silence, she smiled. Her white, pointed teeth were fully visible.

Human yet not human.

Like Cartesia, an inhuman entity wearing the appearance of a person.

Undoubtedly an outer god.

The outer god’s eyes glowed as she spoke.

“My dear inferior species.”

A gentle voice, as if soothing a child. Yet her tone itself exuded arrogance.

“Congratulations on not dying upon seeing my noble visage.”

Softly.

The outer god descended to the ground as if folding space.

“However, I’m afraid you won’t be able to pass on tales of your heroism to future generations.”

The outer god looked at a knight in front of her and curved her lips into a smile. The knight’s stomach began to swell. Soon, the knight retched violently, vomited a large egg mass, and collapsed lifelessly.

“Because… all of you will become factories here, giving birth to as many of our legion as you have killed.”

Aurore, the Monarch of Elegant Finale.

A chapter boss appears without warning.

But it didn’t matter.

[Estimated time until trap activation: 10 minutes.]

Whether it was the Queen or any other outer god, after this war, they’d all be heading to the laboratory.

It seemed the losing side would suffer a harsh fate, regardless of which side it was.