Chapter 124

Chapter 124

From Cosmic Rascal to Professor.

Episode 124: The Last Of Yours (6).

“The young master has requested pressure on the exchange.”

I know what that means. It means marking all those who invested over there.

“He wants to delist them entirely.”

That’s illegal.

“I was collecting data from biological experiments just a moment ago. Surprisingly, their security was lax.”

Aha, they started it first? Then the story changes.

— One.

“Professor Stranov, this is Aidel’s exclusive aide speaking. I should be able to visit within three hours.”

I’ve asked the President to open a direct portal to Eruyel. Be careful; it’s confidential.

“Understood.”

Make sure to detach any Outer Gods properly.

“It shouldn’t be a problem.”

— Two.

“Yes, Master. This is Sonia.”

I’m in the north right now. I’ve set aside 30 emergency ships, so if there are any critical patients, call immediately using the number I sent.

“Thank you for your consideration.”

No need for such thanks among family.

“I am an android.”

You’re family, too.

— Three.

Sonia looked up at the ship calmly, its hull trembling from faint vibrations.

A Block is clear. Captain Padrmont has successfully evacuated the civilians.

The possessed entity exited through Exit 7, moved through C Block, and is now heading straight to E Block. Captain Malcram is currently engaged there. The Reinhardt student who came with the patient is also reported to be in E Block.

The follow-up team will capture the remaining researchers, and we will search E Block. Avoid combat with the monster if possible, and only bring back the injured. Let’s go; today, we cut off the darkness known as Adelwein.

Sonia watched as the soldiers moved purposefully in one direction.

Now, it was clear what she must do.

As a maid, she simply needed to go out and greet the young master.

Used ‘Cartesia’s Hair’.

An Outer God will manifest in its prime for a certain time.

Time remaining: 03:00:00

Black fog enveloped the space.

Hair tangled like a ball of thread cascaded down, intermingled with navy blue tentacles. A white book, radiance, and madness.

Though she retained a semblance of human form, it was fractured, like a mosaic pieced together from broken fragments. If I had to describe her, I would say she resembled a humanoid slime, yet undeniably recognizable.

Cartesia.

“What is it?”

She manifested before me, albeit imperfectly.

“Attempting to manifest in prime form when you can’t even manage a partial one, are you insane?”

“Being exiled makes it difficult.”

She continued to communicate with me telepathically, a clear indication that she couldn’t manifest vocal organs in her true body.

“That’s why you can’t escape being treated like a half-baked, Cartesia. You can’t beat me with an incomplete form.”

The Outer Gods of the Descartes Legion are inferior in combat compared to Maxwell.

But I didn’t summon Cartesia to fight.

“Hey, you unethical bastard!”

I raised my voice, determination fueling my words.

“How lacking in leadership, do you have to be to kill six of your comrades and still fail to capture me? Do you even qualify as an Outer God?”

“…Are you out of your mind?”

“Have you ever apologized to those Outer Gods? Or did you at least negotiate properly? Or did you just oppress them with brute force?”

‘Steel Flowing Like the Earth’ is displeased.

Finally, Safaul, having lost its composure, sent out its tentacles. But none of them hit me. Unlike just moments ago, I now had a reliable shield.

“Oh, really?”

Cartesia. With her sweet voice, she let out a sharp resonance.

“Daring to touch my host? Do you have a death wish?”

Once again, a reminder. The Descartes and Maxwell Legions share a notoriously strained relationship, particularly when it comes to the Outer Gods of the Descartes faction, who are allied with Safaul. They profess a bond that unites them, yet in truth, their alliance is tenuous at best—a fragile arrangement that could easily unravel at any moment. What’s more, they remain blissfully unaware of this precariousness. They’ve been gaslighted into believing in their unity. Now, it’s time to gently lift their blindfolds.

“Cartesia is tens of thousands of times better than you. At least our Outer God doesn’t kill weaker Outer Gods. They understand the principles of give and take.”

‘Goblet of Bloody Winds’ tilts its head.

“She provides clothing and coins. The distribution of coins is particularly noteworthy—it’s done without discrimination. The income is substantial, ensuring that everyone is satisfied.”

‘Bridge of Joy and Displeasure’ shows interest at the mention of coins.

“Cartesia even shows mercy. When an ignorant Outer God attempted to siphon energy from her black hole, she didn’t kill him. In contrast, what does your leader offer…?”

‘Swelling Heart’ expresses discontent over the unjust sacrifices of fellow Outer Gods.

Good, it’s working.

I spread my arms wide and raised my voice.

“Dear Outer Gods present here, please listen. Is it right to appoint someone willing to endure countless sacrifices just to eliminate a single human as your leader? I don’t think so.”

‘Rainbow of Melancholy Silence’ nods.

‘Void and Reality’ hesitates.

‘Wealth and Concealment’ leaves a tribute for the fallen Outer Gods of the Darwin system.

I know all too well what kind of character Safaul is.

And I also know how he would fall.

“Honestly, if it’s just about killing just one person, I could do a better job than him. Any of you Outer Gods think otherwise? Hands?”

Hypocrisy.

Those who are different, both inside and out—whether human or Outer God—are destined to be rejected. They become trapped by the very ideals they pursue.

Naturally, support cannot be obtained.

‘Goblet of Bloody Winds’ raises its tentacles.

‘The Swelling Heart’ raises its tentacles.

‘Void and Reality’ hesitates, then raises its tentacles.

‘The Bridge of Joy and Displeasure’ wonders about the source of the coin supply and raises its tentacles.

‘Rainbow of Melancholy Silence’ gives a hollow laugh at your eloquence and raises its tentacles.

……

The Art of War, Strategy 20.

Create confusion to catch the fish.

Stir the water to catch the fish.

“Don’t be fooled! They’re trying to sow division! If we want to survive and resist the ‘Apocalypse’, we must unite…!”

“Survive? All of us? We’ve already lost nearly half our comrades.”

“Because of you, the Darwinian comrades were forced to abandon their immortality. And yet, shamelessly, you threaten us with your survival of the fittest doctrine.”

“Where has the grand cause gone? The grand plan to drive out Laplace using this woman’s body—where has it gone?”

“You’re just a moderately strong guy.”

I did nothing.

Similarly, Cartesia did nothing except block the incoming attack.

“We’ve killed all the weak Outer Gods, so now it’s our turn.”

“Killing that boy here is meaningless. Cartesia cares about him, which would only create more enemies.”

“The original plan has gone awry. What shall we do about this?”

“In that case, we have no choice but to mourn those who have fallen.”

I merely nudged the Outer Gods, pushing them toward conflict.

‘Goblet of the Bloody Wind’ and seven other Outer Gods declare.

“I warn you in advance: even if you all come at me together, you won’t defeat me. If you want to save your lives, cooperate in killing that human instead of me!”

‘Oppose the Steel that Flows like the Earth.’

“You bastards, of all times, now!!”

The fierce attack suddenly halted.

A civil war broke out.

The Outer God Life Research Institute descended into chaos in an instant.

Other Outer Gods unleashed their Incarnates, hoping to capitalize on the storm’s effects. Safaul writhed in resistance, and in the ensuing turmoil, a sinkhole opened in the central corridor of Building E.

“I’ll cover you, so get to the dock somehow.”

Cartesia urged me, shielding me from the flying debris.

It was undeniably a favorable situation, yet worry overshadowed any sense of joy.

Sorry, Rustila, I think I’m going to get pregnant.

“Outer God, are you alright?”

“Are you, a mere rookie, worrying about me?”

The God of ‘Wisdom and Curiosity’ uses .

In an instant, we found ourselves in front of the dock. I used ‘we’ because Captain Malcram, Officer Rockdalman, and Ire were also with me.

The inspectors, who had been on standby, rushed over in surprise, their eyes drawn to Captain Malcram’s injured arm. Although the bleeding was severe, I heard that, thanks to the sponsor’s protection, she had a chance of survival.

As for Mr. Rockdalman, well…

“He suddenly collapsed.”

I quickly briefed the inspectors and hoisted the unconscious Ire onto my back. I threatened them, insisting I needed to take her to her father, and they stepped aside without protest.

“Young Master!”

Sonia came running from the opposite side.

“Are you alright?”

“Somehow.”

“Ms. Hazlen has been secured. I’m glad things are going well. Let’s hurry.”

“Wait a minute, over there…”

Cartesia is still there. I almost said it out loud suddenly.

“Is there anyone else?”

“…No.”

I shouldn’t be worrying about the Outer God. Instead, I should be focused on what might happen to me.

Thud, thud, thud. The rescue ships began to dock one by one.

“They were sent by the Lord.”

Once I confirmed that Mr. Rockdalman and Captain Malcram were boarding the rescue ships, Sonia and I quickly climbed aboard as well. Time was of the essence.

Considering the theory of relativity, it would take two hours to reach the portal and another thirty minutes from there to Eruyel Academy. We had to arrive before Cartesia’s incarnation time ran out.

In the worst-case scenario, the northern research lab could explode, and both I and Ire could die here.

“Professor, this is Aidel. Yes, I’ll be there shortly. Yes, I understand. You’re saying it’s in the trial run now? Got it!”

I didn’t know about anything else, but I knew one thing: the professor was always on my side.

Cartesia was on a similar level to Safaul. However, unlike him, she was not an Outer God specialized in combat. Over time, she had grown repulsed by violence and turned to scholarly pursuits as a pastime in the ‘exile land.’ Moreover, she was bound by invisible chains, making full manifestation impossible—a half-baked Outer God. It was questionable whether such a being could even be called an Outer God. Despite her vast knowledge and wisdom, Cartesia remained ridiculously fragile.

“Ha, fools. Is this the end of it all?”

Defeat was inevitable.

The Outer Gods that had once colluded with Safaul had betrayed him. However, Safaul, a combat specialist from the start, still held a slight advantage. Crossing between void space and real space, he purged eight traitors and reduced Cartesia’s true form to rags. As a result, the research lab was completely destroyed in two and a half hours, leaving a 2-kilometer radius transformed into a wasteland.

“You fools. Didn’t I tell you? Even if you gang up on me, you can’t defeat me alone.”

If she had fully manifested, Cartesia would have won. If it weren’t for her exiled body, she would have triumphed. If she had been more belligerent and adept at exploiting humans, she would have emerged victorious. She lost because she was incomplete.

Safaul stood before Cartesia, holding a device that resembled a cutter. He placed it on her liquid-like, drooping shoulder.

“I am merciful, so I’ll give you a chance. If you and your kind swear loyalty to me and never betray me again, I’ll let you live.”

— Time remaining: 00:00:30

“Even if we fight like this, we won’t stand a chance against Laplace. Once they start acting in earnest, all causality will flow in their favor.”

— Time remaining: 00:00:20

“No one wants everyone to die. Neither the inferior mortals nor our superior race. So surrender. Yes, Cartesia. Kill that mortal and reclaim Ire Hazlen’s body.”

— Time remaining: 00:00:10

“Then we’ll let you join our club.”

Cartesia, the incarnate of knowledge and scholarship, recognized this as politics. The underlying intention was to secure the absolute loyalty and integration of the remaining Outer Gods by getting her to join him.

— Time remaining: 00:00:05

Cartesia.

“…I refuse.”

She stiffened her neck and looked up.

“I like that kid much more than you.”

— Remaining time: 00:00:00

With those words, she ended the manifestation. At that moment, Safaul felt all the strength drain from his body.

Vroooom.

Vroooom.

Vroooooooooooom———