Rescue Fantasy (35)
'Could it be the pureblood supremacists?'
That was what I thought when I saw the town in shambles, as if it had been ravaged. Rage flared up in an instant, but I didn't act rashly.
My heart sinking was just how Celestia felt as well. Having just barely regained her composure after the shock of losing her brother, Celestia felt her anxiety flare up again.
"Hyun-woo, the town..."
"Wait a moment."
"Do, don't go in...!"
Even though she was struggling to move due to her injuries, Celestia grabbed onto me, saying it would be dangerous if the pureblood supremacists showed up.
"We're not going to rush in. Since the situation looks bad, we'll observe as much as possible from here before we enter."
"In the end, you're still saying you'll go in..."
"If it doesn't seem especially dangerous, we have to check. We're the ones who went all the way to the central sector, after all."
I examined the town closely. Celestia, sensing I wasn't about to back down, also joined in observing.
The town nestled between the ice mountain ridges—the small colony we had rebuilt together—was now a testament to all that effort being for nothing.
There wasn't a single intact part. The outer wall, which we kept reinforcing, was crumbled, revealing unmistakable signs of a massive explosion and charred black marks everywhere. Beyond it were the residential buildings where the survivors mostly lived.
Of course, those buildings also showed signs of fierce combat, though not as badly as the surroundings.
'The worst damage is still to the combat-related structures. The laser cannons are all ruined too.'
We had replicated and installed tank-mounted laser cannons on the outer wall. Many of them were not simply destroyed, but had overheated and melted down from being fired until they broke.
The inside looked such a wreck that, even without going in further, the rest of the situation was clear. Several facilities must have been destroyed.
"There's no one inside. There was definitely a fight, but not even bodies remain."
"Did they maybe retreat in time during the battle?"
"That's the most likely scenario now..."
Unless all the bodies were collected, it shouldn't be so empty. But I kept that thought to myself. No need to stir up more anxiety. Celestia was already nervous enough.
We had returned here on hover bikes. There were no signs that anyone had tampered with the supplies or that anyone had come near.
Which meant Carry did not come in this direction. Either it broke through the distance alone, or it joined up with Kanna and returned to the town together.
I didn't consider the possibility that Carry had failed to make it back. That was impossible. It always looked a bit scatterbrained, giving thumbs up at odd times, but it was clever and determined.
And there were the last words I had entrusted it with. Carry would have done whatever it took to reach the town and deliver the biocell.
'It took us roughly two days to get back here from the underground sector.'
Counting the day we left the town, nearly four days had passed. For the town to have ended up like this during that time meant it had fallen in a short period.
If the energy shield generator was supplied with enough power, holding out for days against a bombardment was no problem. Either they couldn't hold out until we got back, or...
'Was there a reason they *had* to abandon the town?'
Whatever it was, it must have been extremely dangerous. Who would have thought home would end up like this after just a few days away?
'If something's going to fall, I'd rather Heaven fell instead.'
It was like I'd gone to see someone else's house collapse, only to find out it was my own. I almost felt like crying.
I changed my mind. Entering the town was not a good idea. Even if it looked empty, there was no guarantee it was safe. If it were truly safe, surely they wouldn't have left it like this.
'What would Licorice have done?'
She wouldn't have simply retreated. She would have trusted that we could make it back and left a message for us.
I turned my gaze, putting the town at the center and surveying the surroundings. If they didn't have time to leave a message, maybe a shuttle landed at a specific time.
Perhaps they were waiting for us to come, to pick us up.
As I was thinking that, Celestia came to the same conclusion before me and grabbed my hand, pulling me.
"Come with me, Hyun-woo."
"Did you find something?"
"That, and toxic gas has been detected. From the town's direction."
Celestia tapped her helmet visor. She continued,
"It's a type not filtered by basic respirators. And since it's colorless and odorless, it's definitely military-grade."
"... Don't tell me Kanna...?"
That suspicion only lasted a moment. I shook my head. Just because we shared an enemy didn't mean they were on our side, but I judged that they weren't the type to cause division.
They were stubborn to the point of continuing with a mission that even Captain Edward had failed. They had no reason to destroy the town.
With all the military bases destroyed, the functioning colony was too valuable; they would have gritted their teeth to protect it, not break it. Celestia agreed.
"Since the military bases were all taken by pureblood supremacists, the supplies probably came from there."
"Then where are we going now?"
"A strange signal was detected. It's not far but let's take the bike to get there quickly. Hop on."
"Will you drive for me this time?"
"Only if you don't mind falling into a crevasse."
"Just get on behind me."
At my grim reaction, Celestia pouted a little. Worried I'd sounded too blunt, I hurriedly added,
"Celestia."
"Yes?"
"I'm really glad I came with you."
"Huh, so suddenly?"
Celestia's eyes widened in mild embarrassment, maybe caught off guard by the spontaneous remark.
"I tried to do some thinking myself, but I can't keep up with you."
And I meant it. On my own, I would have wasted too much time. Celestia seemed touched by my sincerity and let out a soft, awkward cough. Her expression lightened.
We mounted the hover bike. Before departing, I checked the coordinates Celestia provided—it really wasn't far, just a little over a kilometer.
'Hoo...'
I let out an unconscious sigh, surprising myself. That's when I realized how tense I was.
We had just seen the town had fallen. Nadia and Carry were nowhere in sight. Same for Licorice and the others.
Clearly something had happened, but not knowing the exact damage, ominous thoughts swirled and multiplied in my mind.
'It'll be okay.'
I kept telling myself that, starting up the bike. To avoid thinking more, I sped up. The blue flames from the thrusters left a trail in midair, pushing us forward.
The freezing wind cut into my not-yet-healed wounds, turning the sting into a throbbing ache. Thanks to the heating unit barely maintaining warmth inside the suit, my body did not seize up.
Not long after, we reached the source of the ongoing signal. Like elsewhere, snow had piled up, but we dug in right away.
I judged there must be something underneath, and I was right—a signal device. A hologram unit was attached.
「Activate it.」
That short phrase popped up, with no further explanation. I burst out laughing. The blunt, but deeply caring, manner of speech belonged to none other than Licorice. My anxiety finally began to ease.
"I'll activate it."
Celestia operated the device. Lights came on, and the device began emitting a much stronger signal. What had only covered the area near the town instantly expanded.
And the enlarged range reached those who had been waiting.
—Knew you'd come back, friend!
As the comms connected, Roxy's voice came through.
"Roxy!"
We hadn't been apart all that long, but hearing his voice was a huge relief.
—I just took off, so hang tight a bit. Oh, don't go into the town. But you probably already know why.
"I noticed toxic gas was leaking—what happened there?"
—Let's talk later about the details. Just get ready for a surprise present.
"It's not really a surprise if you tell me in advance."
—It'll still surprise you, so that's fine!
Roxy laughed, "Hahaha."
Celestia and I looked at each other and giggled. Judging by Roxy's tone, most people were safe.
We quickly rubbed snow on our faces, getting ready for the reunion. Our suits may have had a self-cleaning function, but we hadn't properly washed for days.
Despite being called a wastewater treatment facility, the water there was very clear and pure, but we suspected the mutation of plants had started by absorbing that water.
Even if there were no immediate issues, it was better to erase as much evidence of having been there as possible.
Celestia sniffed her arm. I sniffed myself, too. Luckily, we only smelled the cool scent unique to ice.
We waited in those half-hearted attempts at freshening up until the familiar shape of a shuttle appeared in the sky.
Now an armed shuttle, it barreled toward us, quickly beginning to land. The angle of the thrusters adjusted under Roxy's control, letting the heavy vehicle touch down safely.
The shuttle remained hovering high above ground. Right as I wondered why it wasn't coming down further, the door burst open. Someone's boots boldly jutted out.
'... Huh?'
It was only the tip of a boot, nothing more. I couldn't even make out the silhouette properly, yet I felt a jolt run through my whole body.
If my guess was right—if what I was seeing was real—the owner of those boots was...
"Nadia—!"
I shouted for the one I most wanted to see at just that moment. A blue silhouette shot out from the open shuttle door.
It was the light from the thrusters of a flying carrier robot, and the fluffy tail painting the air like a brush.
"Hyun-woo—!"
Unlike the last time I saw her, Nadia looked in great condition as she rode Carry down, coming fast—almost like she was crash-landing.
I opened my arms wide to catch Carry and Nadia. Right before reaching me, Carry fired his reverse thrusters to slow down.
The impact was not great, and even in my current condition, I endured it. Once on the ground, Nadia leapt off Carry, and Carry stretched his arms wide too.
「Ｏ(≧∇≦)Ｏ」
"Carry...! I knew you'd do it!"
「(„• ֊ •„)੭」
"I believed in you, really! It must have been rough. You did great! Really, really great!"
「✧*｡٩(ˊᗜˋ*)و✧*｡」
As I patted Carry and praised it heartily, Carry bounced with excitement. It snuggled up, saying it knew we'd make it back safely, too. Nadia and Celestia watched and laughed at the scene.
As always, but especially right now, I loved Carry so much I could burst. Having fulfilled my duty as a Carry-lover, I now turned my attention to Nadia, who stepped forward.
"Nadia."
"Yeah, Hyun-woo."
Looking at my condition, Nadia bit her lip, on the verge of tearing up, then clamped her mouth closed. Her lips moved, but she didn't say anything else.
Instead, she tried her best to show a bright face, as if to say her recovered state was thanks to me.
Her fluffy tail swaying gently, her fur gleaming as if just washed in the clouds, her clear green eyes meeting mine, her perked ears, her fidgeting hands.
And the smile on her lips.
Seeing her fully healed after a good rest, my throat tightened for some reason. I also felt my eyes prickle with heat.
Honestly, going around Heaven's central sector this time, I'd gone through every hardship imaginable.
Caught in Lobelia's schemes, I ended up in the Sewage Treatment Facility, and barely managed to escape after it flooded.
I fought Whiteout along the way and even got trapped in a strange space, nearly dying. Just considering my current injuries, it was clear how tough it was.
It was hard. No doubt about it.
But the fact that I had saved Nadia, just as she had saved me, melted away my fatigue.
That overwhelming feeling, that sense of accomplishment, that emotion on the verge of bursting—I could momentarily forget all my hardships.
Unable to say anything, Nadia sensed my state and approached first. As though words were unnecessary between us, she embraced me tightly.
It looked to outsiders as if I held her, but I felt as if she had taken me in her arms. That was incredibly comforting.
"Thank you."
"... Thank you, too."
A cold, bitter wind blew, but all I felt was warmth—the warmth Nadia gave me.
That warmth was so comforting, and the feel of her fluffy tail brushing the back of my hand was so delightful that I couldn't let her go.
Until Roxy, who had landed the shuttle, grinning at us from the doorway, finally lost his patience,
Until Celestia's gentle smile turned slightly awkward,
Until Carry, flying around us, insisted on joining the hug—
Nadia and I just couldn't let go of each other.
***
Mining Base Heaven, Hydroponics Chamber, East Tower, Top Floor.
Lobelia was sitting on the edge where she could observe everything outside. The East Tower was barely holding together, and could no longer serve its purpose.
The harsh outside wind swept through the town, freezing the crops, but Lobelia sat in a place where not even the wind could touch her.
A transparent barrier surrounded her, not a product of science, but a force called a supernatural power—or "miracle"—by some.
Lobelia had her eyes closed, but when she opened them, she muttered softly,
"The town has fallen, and now the first 'root' has passed into the hands of the pureblood supremacists."
Thanks to outside help, there hadn't been heavy casualties, but the small colony could no longer protect those who once called it home.
They had a card that could strike back at the pureblood supremacists. But the survivors missed their chance. Even though she had sent them a signal, her clone hadn't made full use of it.
'No matter.'
Lobelia didn't blame her clone for its limitations. In fact, she was looking forward to it. She knew every little twist only made things more interesting.
Just recalling the looks on their faces when they realized the pureblood supremacists attacked for the mine's sake, it amused her. Things never going exactly as planned was more her style.
"Some of Heaven's secrets are revealed now, so this place is meaningless."
The lab in Heaven's underground sector, after Lee Hyun-woo and Celestia fell in, would no longer receive visitors. Now fully submerged, it would let no one else in.
The fact he couldn't learn more was a regret. Celestia subconsciously sensing her brother's existence was an interesting development. As expected, kinship ran deep.
'I've handed over the most important thing.'
Even if it was only a tiny fragment, it would be a great help for him to recover his original power. That would make things even more interesting. Thinking of that made her smile.
"Where will it be next, I wonder?"
Lobelia's gaze fell on a map floating in the air. The spot marked on the map was the Archive, said to be somewhere on Titan. That would probably be the next major battlefield.
'Should I give my clone a little more of a hint?'
Lobelia chuckled at the thought, but the smile faded quickly.
The stars were watching her. All the stars were watching her. Not only those yet to awaken, but those already awake, and even those losing their will after being outwitted by Earth's government.
The gazes of these great beings pressed down on her shoulders. 'Awaken us as soon as possible. Bring forth the age of purity. Give us freedom, give us liberation, give us glory!'—that was the meaning in their stares.
'They're expecting too much from me.'
Lobelia shook off the oppressive feeling from the stars. This was never her style to begin with. She decided to focus only on what needed to be done now.
That was when it happened. Among the many corpses at her feet, one man barely regained consciousness. The markings on his suit identified him as a pureblood supremacist.
She turned to look at him. He glared at Lobelia with sheer resentment. If it's possible to kill someone with murderous intent alone, then his killing aura could have killed her a dozen times over.
"Cough... Why... Why did you betray us...?"
This group of pureblood supremacists had approached in an attempt to recover a fragment of the Holy Tree in Heaven's underground sector. They were massacred by Lobelia, who had been waiting for them.
"Betrayal? I was never on your side to begin with, how can that be betrayal?"
"You wretch...! Cystus will not forgive this! You're so close to purity—why defy us...?!"
"You and I started out at completely different places. And as for hostility? I've never had it. You were just in the way, so I removed you. It's not like I hated you or anything."
Lobelia did not so much as bat an eye at the mention of Cystus. Her interest had already shifted elsewhere. Now how could she shock this dying supremacist? That mischievous thought filled her mind.
"..."
"Curious why? Want me to tell you? Do you want to know?"
Lobelia crouched low, whispering in a playful tone.
"Only those received into the embrace of the Mother of All can overcome the end. We are those survivors."
"... What? What's that supposed to..."
The man couldn't understand Lobelia's words. The faint hope in Lobelia's eyes quickly froze over.
"You must be a very low-ranking grunt. I went out of my way to explain, but you can't even understand this? I'm disappointed. You're just no fun."
Rising to her feet, Lobelia pronounced her verdict. Anything that failed to catch her interest was worthless.
"Blackout, clean up."
「As you wish.」
"W-wait—"
When Blackout closed its eyes and opened them again, darkness swept over everything and then receded, as though the very space itself had blinked along with Blackout.
And all the bodies vanished, as if they'd never been there. The man coughing blood and dying vanished as well, leaving no trace.
Lobelia turned her gaze to the horizon again. She was looking at something beyond it.
"It's time to move to a bigger stage, Ian."
By now he should know. An unavoidable fate was approaching. The clash of more lives was starting to generate the heat needed to melt the ice. Once swept up by those rapids, there was no escape.
Even now, the fire was spreading, making peaceful resolution impossible. From here on, it would be nothing but struggle.
Ian Myosotis. Even if his assimilation rate was higher than that of others, it was still something that only happened once every few hundred years at best.
Throughout her long life, Lobelia had seen those with even higher rates. And yet, as a survivor from the era of the apocalypse, she chose Ian. There was no grand reason for Lobelia to pick him. She simply found him interesting.
"Show me one more time. What you carry within you."
Lobelia recalled the time she struck a deal with Ian. Though he had been broken by countless experiments, the light in his eyes never died. It was like the light of the stars.
Lobelia was captivated by that light. Through all her endless years, there was little she ever wished to possess. But that light—she wanted it above all else.
Even if, at the end, it meant her own death.
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
With supernatural power being mentioned, I expect Hyun-woo to become OP soon.