novelraw Chapter 41
Chapter 41
Chapter 41
After Jin Crow returned, unlike the peaceful atmosphere of the Central Special Service Academy that showed no great disturbance, the media companies slowly began to catch a scent.
‘Why is it so quiet?’
……That question arose.
That the 17th Fleet had been dispatched to Atla Colony over the matter of Rermal Planet was not exactly a big secret.
Yet there was no news.
Originally, when the government delayed follow-up announcements on an incident, there were only two possibilities.
Either they were laying the groundwork to inflate a minor achievement.
Or they were buying time to bury something that had gone wrong.
Either way, it was good news.
In the silence, the ethics of media companies that spat out the truth were buried beneath the countless noises and static, and in order to survive, they had to seize a scoop no matter what.
And the government’s blunders were always nothing more than prey that media companies loved to tear into.
“What happened to Atla Colony?”
“It was on LD News! Please give us a comment!”
“The operation is still ongoing, so the details are…….”
“Looking at the statement recently distributed on the dark net by the Red Hand, it says that Atla Colony was also invaded by Creatures. Is it possible that the colony has already been destroyed?”
“That’s a groundless claim, as we said last time……!”
“What do you think about the conscience declaration of an officer saying that the federal government is covering up the incident right now?!”
“Hey! Turn the camera off! Fuck, this is really pissing me off!”
And media companies that caught a scent were always persistent.
How many days passed like that?
Just as the citizens were growing weary of the flood of questions and tabloids, the federal government finally opened its mouth.
「Respected citizens of the Human Composite State, the officers and soldiers of the 17th Fleet rescued the Rermal Planet refugees of Atla Colony even in a desperate situation, and in the process arrested and summarily executed Satra Ruin, who led an insurrection, part of the Defense Force, and officers of the Red Hand on the spot. The arrested Defense Force personnel have been referred to a military trial…….」
At the announcement, the citizens cursed the atrocities of the Red Hand and the Rermal Planetary Defense Force that had committed an insurrection at such an unfortunate time.
But to those who had experienced it firsthand, it was content that could only draw a laugh.
‘So they’ve slowly set the direction of censorship again. If anything, it almost feels late.’
From the outset, the part about the Creatures was not even mentioned, and the detailed circumstances and the parts related to the top-tier Special Service Academy were also omitted.
It was not incomprehensible.
Whether they were federal government politicians or soldiers of the Ministry of Defense, how much of a headache must it have been.
‘Just when they had barely ended the war with the Empire and were trying to foster a peaceful atmosphere, something like this had to happen.’
Of course, the purpose was not so much to ease the citizens’ anxiety and fear as it was the benefit of the vested interests.
Clink-.
The medal that had just been pinned to his chest shook as if in agreement.
「Iron Cross Knight Medal, 2nd Class」
A medal he had received in exchange for killing Liberto.
The Ministry of Defense was already waging a war of public opinion by touting the achievement of killing a 2nd-class wanted criminal on the spot, but it was not something he needed to concern himself with.
The position of instructor at the Central Special Service Academy was heavier than one might think for him to be bothered by ‘mere’ public opinion warfare.
Thinking that, Jin Crow removed the medal, tossed it onto the sofa in his quarters, and stepped out of the room again.
With midterms already right around the corner, most of the lectures had been switched to theory and delegated to Sub-instructor Ginatio.
That did not mean he had been lazing around.
Of course, there was no way that was the case.
‘Three weeks. It was tight.’
Jin Crow glanced at the watch on his wrist and left the instructors’ quarters, heading toward the research building.
Perhaps because lunchtime was approaching.
There were quite a few cadets and instructors walking around the campus.
Of course, just as expected, the moment they spotted him heading for the research building, they were busy whispering among themselves.
‘You get used to being cursed at, too.’
His mouth turned bitter for no reason, and he took out the hip flask he had filled with low-grade alcohol received from Obia and tilted it back.
Next to ‘drug addiction,’ the modest letters ‘5min’ floated into view.
As he tried to move on while deliberately ignoring the whispers around him, the whispers brushed past his ears beyond his sharpened senses.
“What, then that was real?”
“I told you it was.”
“……Wow, even if he was a 2nd-class wanted criminal, that’s a bit much.”
It was backbiting no different from usual.
Yes, it should have been just that.
Yet for some reason, a strangely unpleasant feeling grabbed at his ankle.
When he turned his head, he saw cadets chatting away without even realizing that he was looking at them.
‘Second-years, I guess.’
For a moment, he considered grabbing them and getting into a scuffle, but he did not have much time.
Because of that, he moved past the cadets, leaving the inexplicable unease behind.
“Oh, he passed by. Anyway, tell me again.”
Meanwhile, unaware that their conversation had been overheard, the cadets were busy chattering among themselves while looking at Jin Crow’s receding back.
“So they say Instructor Jin Crow smiled while killing the Red Hand soldiers who were begging for their lives.”
“……As expected, he wasn’t right in the head.”
“And they say he ripped out the neck of that 2nd-class wanted criminal while he was still alive.”
“……That’s creepy. It suits him.”
If Jin Crow had heard it, he would have answered.
‘……What kind of bullshit.’ That is.
When Jin Crow arrived at the research department building, a familiar face standing guard at the post immediately snapped to attention and saluted.
“Ah, loyalty. Is it Professor Lillian again today?”
“Yes.”
“I heard about it. An Iron Cross Knight Medal, 2nd Class. I’m jealous.”
When he had first seen him, he had clearly been disciplined beyond what one would expect of a corporal, but after seeing his face a few times, he had loosened up completely as if that had never been the case.
Still, perhaps he had heard the rumors as well, because he maintained a sharp bearing for a corporal.
“Before I get discharged, I’m going to aim for a 1st-class knight medal too. Just wait.”
“How long do you have left until discharge.”
“Oh, didn’t I tell you? I’m getting promoted to sergeant soon.”
“What?”
Just as he was about to exchange a few pleasantries and move on, Jin Crow turned his head at the unexpected words and looked at him.
“Why?”
“Ah, well, I did think about it a bit, but the adjutant kept recommending it so much that I applied.”
“……I see.”
He briefly considered stopping him, but soon passed by after offering only a small prayer of condolence.
Because he knew all too well that once you fell into the adjutant’s mire, it was hard to escape.
“Ah, you’ve arrived, Instructor.”
As he stepped into the building like that, perhaps because he had already visited several times, the android handling work in the lobby merely offered a brief greeting.
And soon, Naomi, the chief researcher, came out personally to greet him.
“Instructor, you’re here.”
“It’s finished?”
“Yes. To be precise, it’s closer to a prototype, but…….”
Was it because of Lillian’s personality, which was hard to call sociable?
Or because of her position as chief researcher?
Up until now, Naomi had been in charge of communicating with Jin Crow, so she responded quite casually and guided him toward the back entrance of the building.
Before long, the two exited through the back door and moved with familiar strides toward an external research facility that looked like a hangar.
-Kwaaaaaang!
-Success! It’s a success!
-I can sleep now! I can sleeeep!
He always felt this way, but although it was a place full of researchers, it somehow felt noisier than the academy itself.
Perhaps Naomi felt the same, as he sensed her avert her gaze for no reason.
How long had they walked like that?
They soon arrived at a research facility near the very end and opened the door.
“Ah, you’re here? Ngh.”
The first thing that caught his eye was Professor Lillian, sprawled face-down on a sofa sitting alone in the middle of the corridor, separated from the inner laboratory.
With a somewhat oddly shaped massager placed on her waist, she waved her hand while puffing on the electronic cigarette she had been smoking since the first time they met.
“I heard about it. They said you got some cross-whatever medal?”
“Well, that’s how it turned out.”
“Yeah. Congrats, huuaam.”
As she let out a long yawn, the horn-rimmed glasses that had been precariously perched on the bridge of her nose slid down.
“Ugh.”
She slightly furrowed her brow, adjusted her glasses, then twisted her stiff body a few times before finally standing up.
Then she spoke to Jin Crow.
“I made it like you said……. Well, you’ll understand once you see it yourself.”
They passed down the corridor and entered the isolated inner area.
Her pink, messy hair, evidence of several sleepless nights, gave off a musty smell, but since it wasn’t a stench that assaulted the nose, he followed behind her as-is.
“Hey! Secure that properly!”
“Did you check the power output?”
Whether they had been told that Jin Crow was coming, or whether they had simply already been busy to begin with, the researchers moved briskly as they prepared the test.
However, what was peculiar was that all of Lillian’s researchers were women—and that their eyes seemed slightly unhinged.
“Do you have a drink?”
“Oh my, you already finished them all. I’ll bring some right away.”
“Suan, let’s do this kind of thing in advance, okay? What are the three major nutrients for humans? Nicotine, caffeine, and alcohol.”
“I’m sorry, senior.”
It was to the point that even the energy drinks they were consuming felt suspicious.
‘I already tried it, but what was scarier was that it was just pure caffeine sludge.’
……To the point that drug addiction had activated for one minute.
Considering the toxicity of the stimulants he was taking, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say he was burning his lifespan to use them.
Whether she knew what he was thinking or not.
Lillian couldn’t hold back and let out another long yawn before speaking.
“Huuaam, it’s starting now. See it with your own eyes.”
And the moment her words fell, one of the chief researchers alongside Naomi shouted.
“Activate!”
Soon, everyone’s gaze turned toward the inside of the glass wall separated from the desk.
-Sssss.
Along with a metallic sound mixed with a voice exhaled like a short breath, familiar—yet slightly duller than in memory—eyes scattered their glow.
The thing slowly straightened its hunched back, twisted its body, and pushed itself up by leaning on the long spear shaft attached in place of a hand.
And before long, it fully rose and slowly approached the glass wall.
-Sssssssss.
“Oooooh!”
“It’s a success!”
At the sight of it moving smoothly, albeit a bit sluggishly, the researchers with dark circles deeply set under their eyes erupted into cheers.
But at that very moment.
-Sss.
Letting out a short metallic sound as its eyes flared, the thing raised its massive arm and slammed it straight into the glass wall.
Kuuuuuuung!
The laboratory shook from the blow, and the flustered researchers’ gazes tangled together.
“Huh? Why, why is it doing that?”
“It looks like an error occurred because the training protocol learning hasn’t been completed yet!”
“T-Then what do we do?”
“F-Force shutdown……!”
Jin Crow also narrowed his eyes and placed his hand on his sword, preparing for any unforeseen situation.
But Lillian, who was standing right beside him, calmly took a drag from her electronic cigarette and walked toward the cracked glass wall.
“Professor, step ba—.”
“Suup, Poppy.”
For a moment, he couldn’t believe his ears.
“Poppy?”
What followed—the words and the scene—was truly absurd.
“Sit!”
Kuung!
-S, ssss.
The Creature, Pawn, plopped itself down and blinked its glowing eyes as if acting cute in front of Lillian, and Jin Crow had no choice but to return the words she had once said to him.
“……You’re a lunatic.”
At least in that moment, even the researchers couldn’t help but agree with his words.