In life, fortune can change like the tide. Not even a genius mathematician can predict what will happen in the near future. Even Isaac Newton proved this when he lost 90% of his fortune in the stock market.
But if someone on Earth has suffered a loss, doesn't that mean someone else has gained? The balance of yin and yang is truly profound.
Here stands a man named Joseph Williams.
He majored in mathematics, believing he could prove that the world operates under clean, mathematical rules.
He was afraid of the fact that a person could just happen to get hit by a car or struck by lightning. He thought that math could soothe this anxiety.
At least he wouldn't feel unjust if he died suddenly. If he died from a coconut falling from above, it would be heartbreaking. But if he had entered a danger zone where the probability of a coconut dropping was 70%, it would be his fault.
Despite his grand ambitions, his talent and grades were average. He was getting pummeled by linear algebra, struggling with a B- grade. Like many college students, alcohol was his closest friend.
Then, in his third year of university, he encountered a turning point.
"Joseph, this is something called Bitcoin... It’s a virtual online currency that doesn’t exist in the physical world. I think it has enormous potential. It’s definitely going to take off!"
"I don’t know who invented this nonsense, but it’s a foolish idea. I would never invest in something like this."
Rational and bright, college student Joseph Williams rejected it outright.
"But what the hell, let’s give it a shot! Might as well, since I'm wasting away like this...!"
Unlike his rational self, drunk Joseph Williams, the big dog soaked in alcohol, threw in everything he had with a beastly spirit.
And ten years later.
"What the hell?"
Joseph Williams had become a multimillionaire with national-level power.
No one, not even the great Newton in the sky, could have predicted that his drunken decision to invest his entire fortune in Bitcoin would turn out like this.
Money changed him. Joseph, who had once been a poor mathematician, became a stingy rich man with a swagger, writing in his autobiography without hesitation, "Frugality changes your life."
But underlying it all was anxiety. What if he lost this wealth overnight? The fear of that possibility.
He pondered deeply about what to do with this enormous fortune. He concluded that no matter how much money one has, anyone could die at any moment.
If a nuclear war breaks out, the rich and the poor die equally. In such a situation, only those prepared will survive. Yes, he decided to invest his wealth to protect it.
"I’ll build underground bunkers around the world. Lots of them."
And just in case, he added cryogenic capsules too.
The headquarters of Stellaria and New Stellaria were facilities born from Joseph's survivalist tendencies.
In a world destroyed by the Great Monster, Joseph’s self-preservation sprouted the seeds of hope. But it had now become an obstacle for Gordius.
"You want to use this power source too? No way. This is backup power for the facility, and if the main power goes out, you can forget about hot water."
"Killing the Great Monster would solve everything!"
"I said, no."
Can he do it, or can’t he? Can this man Gordius defeat the Great Monster? If he fails, then what? If resources are poured in but it ends in failure?
Then preparations must be made for what comes next.
They had uprooted the pillars of New Stellaria to build the giant robot. If it became a toy for the Great Monster, the whole community would be in danger.
"We need to dismantle the medium-sized robots and recycle their parts."
"Listen, those medium-sized robots are the workforce of New Stellaria. Without them, we can’t fend off the crazed monster followers, nor can we bring in resources from outside. Haven’t you ever played StarCraft? You don’t know about resources?"
"I'm telling you we lack precious metals for Meteor Unit 2!"
"And I'm telling you, we lack workers!"
Therefore, they had to save wherever they could. Gordius, clearly aware of this, clashed head-on with Joseph, who was prepared to defend his stance.
"Are you really going to do it in three months?"
"Yes."
"Is that truly possible?"
"Yes."
"How does three months sound?"
"..."
Sigh
Gordius took a deep breath to hold back his frustration.
Joseph wasn’t refusing to invest. He was just indecisive, constantly weighing between future survival and the current battle. In Gordius’s view, this was the path to losing both.
He was leading most of the research team to build Meteor Unit 2, but ultimately, the decision to release the facility's resources rested with Joseph. Gordius had to persuade him.
The conflict reached a peak over the pilot issue.
"Prototype of Engine Type III, completed."
"The technical department expressed skepticism. They said the difficulty of operation is too high. You'd need about ten people just to operate this thing. You bragged, but what you built is an engine with no practical use?"
"I'm the one who’ll pilot it, so it’s fine. This was made with a wizard or a genius in mind, so of course, it’s challenging to operate. Without pushing the output like this, we can't defeat the Great Monster."
"So, you made it so only you can use it? If you die, it all becomes pointless. If only one person can use this newly developed engine, then what’s the point?"
Today, though they didn't grab each other by the collar, the argument was fierce. At that moment, one-armed girl Kim Yoon-seo placed her hand on Engine Type III.
Whirrrr—
"It works."
"Huh."
Kim Yoon-seo was a genius.
If Woo Chaerin could control the magic engine with precise manipulation, Kim Yoon-seo had such a high ability for magic control that she could operate Engine Type III. She would have been a great mage if she were born in another world.
The operation difficulty and output of an engine are directly proportional.
If they had a skilled pilot who could handle such output, they could increase the power even further. So, Gordius suggested a double-pilot system.
"We'll build two cockpits. Each will control a different magic engine, which will complement each other. This will significantly increase the probability of defeating the Great Monster."
"So... we'll fight together, right, Mr. Wizard? I’m ready. I'll do my best!"
While Kim Yoon-seo cheered, Joseph firmly shook his head.
"No."
"Joseph!"
"You're going to make that kid fight the Great Monster? She's still just a kid! No, I won’t allow it. We need her for outside exploration!"
"Commander, I told you I'm willing to go. You took me in and raised me, but you have no right to interfere with my decisions—"
"I was against bringing back that frozen corpse in the first place. You promised back then. You promised not to go on dangerous missions anymore! Kim Yoon-seo, are you going to break your promise?"
Bam!
Gordius struck the table with his magic-infused hand. The metal table crumpled, twisting into a mess.
He was a wizard. Joseph knew that. He had seen Gordius levitate enormous parts while building Meteor Unit 2.
If he could exert such physical force, he could crush a person as easily as he crushed that table. Joseph shuddered with fear. The savior of the world could also be its destroyer.
But Gordius didn’t go beyond that.
He simply said in a low, steady voice,
"Ten years ago, this facility must have existed. Among the materials Dr. Woo Chaerin brought in, there must have been items you sent. You must have done things then, just as you do now. You must have invested enough for the future, safely and cautiously. Isn’t that right?"
"...I..."
"One thing is certain. If you had invested a bit more in Stellaria, the Great Monster would have been dead already. We lost because we were a week short."
"..."
The wizard turned and walked away. Pilot Kim Yoon-seo followed behind him.
Joseph, left alone, held his head in his hands and fell into deep thought.
No one can foresee what lies ahead, not even a genius mathematician.
A week passed.
Meteor Unit 2, towering at 100 meters, was still under construction but looked sleeker compared to Unit 1. Notably, it was designed to mount something on its right arm.
It was set to equip the Meteor Strike, a pile bunker powered by rocket propulsion.
Gordius scribbled instructions on his files. After his clash with Joseph, resources had become scarce, and he considered making some less essential parts more cheaply.
A shaky leg would cost them everything. A frail arm, if it broke, would eliminate their offensive capabilities. If he had to cut costs, it would be at the heart, where the cockpit was.
Reducing pilot safety to boost firepower, that was Gordius's uneasy conclusion.
Just then, one-armed pilot Kim Yoon-seo ran up excitedly with news.
"Mr. Wizard, Mr. Joseph is calling you."
"For me?"
"Yes. He said he has something to say. Not in the office, but in his room. Don’t worry, if he says anything strange, I'll step in!"
It seemed a new round was about to begin.
Gordius rolled up his sleeves, swept the research materials off the table, and decided to convince Joseph to fund the project, even if it meant making his ears bleed with persuasion.
If Joseph still insisted on cutting the budget and resources, he would go and get them himself. If that was blocked too, he would interpret it as a call for a coup.
When he entered Joseph’s room, he was met with—
"You're here? Have a drink."
"..."
Joseph was sipping soju from a wine glass, his eyes slightly glazed over. He was clearly drunk. Gordius frowned.
"I have nothing to say to a drunk."
"Listen, I make my most brilliant decisions when I’m drunk... That’s why I drank. Just listen. First off, I’m sorry."
"...?"
"You must have been frustrated. I know. It’s either go big or go home. But if we fail, we’re really, truly doomed. That’s terrifying. Want to see something funny?"
Joseph chuckled to himself, feeling around the empty wall.
Just as Gordius wondered if he was mimicking an insect, Joseph pressed a part of the wall, which sank inward. Then, with a rumbling sound, the wall rotated.
Inside was a secret vault, filled with a golden glow.
Gold bars, packed to the brim.
Joseph sighed.
"At the start of the Great Monster crisis, I thought it would end quickly... I used my money to buy food and supplies, but I also turned most of it into physical assets. Back then, I wasn’t drunk."
"It’s pretty useless now."
"Yeah. Who knew the world would collapse? Those golden bricks are worthless now. You can’t eat them. If I’d bought something else with that money... I can’t tell you how much I regret it. Investment is a damned bastard. It always brings regret."
If only he had built bigger bunkers.
If only he had prepared for the future by stockpiling steel or food, things that were urgently needed.
If only he had supported Stellaria by dumping all resources.
"...And in some futures, damn it, I should have gone all in on that wizard. The thought of that regret was terrifying. This... might be the last chance."
"Have you made up your mind?"
"—Yeah. Take it all, wizard. I’m all in. This is the most thrilling investment of my life! Take it all... just don’t make me regret it in the future. Please."
Joseph closed his eyes tightly and gulped down the soju bottle, trembling in fear of the future. Gordius felt the same.
But conviction lies beyond fear. Gordius spoke with confidence.
"You’ve made the best investment, Joseph. I promise."
"...Ha-ha! What a line. You win. You."
Joseph muttered a few meaningless words with a laugh.
"...Hey, wizard. Any chance you can time travel? Like in the movies?"
"Different school of magic, so no. I’m not sure it’s even possible. I hear the Blue Tower is researching it."
"Forget the complicated stuff. It’s just a joke. If anyone could go back in time, I’d ask them to drag me by the collar and make me invest in the right place... That’s all I wanted to say..."
With that, he slumped sideways on the couch and began snoring.
Gordius gently took the soju bottle from his hand, set it on the table, and covered him with a nearby rug, stepping out of the room.
"...Next time, I’ll have to get him drunk before convincing him."
The young wizard bore the weight of Joseph’s regrets. Although regret had no weight, his shoulders felt heavy. Was this how Woo Chaerin always felt...?
But he wouldn’t stop, weighed down. He would keep moving forward.
"Joseph, I’m using this."
"No way! That’s worth three million dollars!"
"And this one too."
"That one’s worth five million dollars!"
"What about this?"
"That one... was a gift."
Crash!
"No—!!"
Gordius mercilessly tore the roof off the sports car and took everything inside. In the garage, only Joseph’s mournful cries echoed.
Though Joseph rolled around, lamenting his insane investment while drunk, he didn’t stop Gordius. He merely writhed pitifully on the side.
With all available resources pooled, the development speed of Meteor Unit 2 soared. The robot was rapidly constructed and was now nearly complete.
Meteor Strike was also finished. In celebration of completing the trump card that could pierce the monster’s scales, New Stellaria held a small festival.
At a small table, three key figures gathered. The commander, the pilot, and the wizard. They discussed future plans, sharing a brief moment of relaxation.
"Mr. Wizard, can you tell us what happened at Stellaria?"
"...If you pay me. Bring me that can of tuna, and I’ll tell you."
"Hey, that’s my tuna! Kim Yoon-seo, are you trying to steal the boss’s meal...!!"
"Got it!"
With a smile, Gordius recounted tales from Stellaria. How he first entered following truck driver Kim, the first impression of Dr. Woo Chaerin and their squabbles, and the joy of completing the first magic engine prototype...
There were both happy and sad moments. Joseph laughed and cried, needing three handkerchiefs in the end.
At the story’s conclusion, Kim Yoon-seo raised her glass.
"This time, we’ll win. For sure."
"With all the money I’ve poured in, we’d better. Right?"
"Yes. We’ll put an end to it."
Clink.
Thus ended the final party before their departure.