EP.125 Good News, Good News!
A joyous event that makes one want to boast to everyone is called a celebration.
When a celebration occurs, people want to brag to everyone, and as they congratulate each other and share their joy, their friendships grow deeper.
It was the same for me.
I headed to the warehouse to receive congratulations for the celebration of Jiseon's visit. On the way, I greeted the regressor who was leaning against the wall deep in thought, then entered the warehouse and stood before a box with its lid closed.
Inside this box, some unfortunate being was trapped. I was about to open the lid and free that being....
"Nyat?"
A wild butterfly had appeared. I made eye contact with the butterfly that had squeezed its way into the cramped box.
"Why are you in there?"
"Why are you the one disturbing nyal's rest?"
The butterfly glared at me with a "what are you looking at" expression. I gestured toward the butterfly.
"Hand over what's stuck under your butt."
"Nya?"
Then the butterfly cleverly moved its body even within this small box. Twitching, its head went down and its tail shot up, then it rolled over like a fetus swimming in a womb and stuck its head out again.
In the butterfly's mouth was a golem, bound with wire and twitching.
"Nyaa. Take it-nya. Nyal doesn't need this tin toy-nya..."
Saying so with it still in its mouth, the golem's body rattled up and down. I tickled the butterfly's chin and took out the golem.
The butterfly glared at me with slightly raised eyes and muttered.
"Nyaa. That large female, she gives off a dangerous scent-nya."
"Isn't that better than the magic herb smell coming from your body?"
"Tributes are sacred-nya!"
No nicotine addict I've ever seen calls cigarettes sacred. Just how addicted is it?
The butterfly grumbled inside the box.
"Compared to that, that one is somehow dangerous-nya. Stupid doggies can't even feel something's wrong and just wag their tails, but nyal knows-nya... Nyal can't be deceived-nya..."
This guy who's been trained by drugs and manipulated by cat beastfolk sure talks big. I couldn't hold back and said.
"If it's someone you can't beat, they're bound to be dangerous. In that sense, isn't most of the people here dangerous to you?"
Stabbed by an undeniable truth, the butterfly hissed.
"Nyak! Consider it fortunate that nyal is in here-nya! If not, nyal would have punished you right now-nya..."
When I closed the lid, the noise died down. When it became so narrow it couldn't move, I could hear a satisfied purring sound reach all the way here.
An animal that likes narrow spaces, what a strange creature. Some golems groan when tied up, you know.
I left the butterfly as it was and started assembling the golem.
First, I reattached the speaker to its mouth, untied the wire binding its arms and legs, and removed the blindfold covering its eyes. Then.
『...Puh-hah!』
The golem had revived.
The golem, having regained its senses after a long time, kept its mouth tightly shut for some reason. I tapped the golem's head and said.
"You roughly know what's going on, right?"
『....』
"Kekeke. You do know. Jiseon-nim has come here, you see."
Since it's been monitoring the ground, it couldn't possibly not know.
And it probably knows why Jiseon came too. This signalman, maybe because it's the Tartarus administrator, seems to know a lot in a peculiar way.
Toward the signalman who had nothing else to do but watch this situation, I boasted about the celebration that had occurred in Tartarus.
"Hahaha. What should we do? It seems like we'll be going outside soon!"
『...Ugh.』
"Moreover, Vice Admiral-nim is personally getting us out! Kya. Doesn't that make it legal?"
『Denial! Absolutely inexcusable! A laborer such as yourself must receive punishment based on military law, and leaving your duty station without authorization before completing your labor is a serious crime!』
"But what will you do when Vice Admiral-nim says she'll eliminate the Abyss? As a mere... Captain?"
『...Ugh!』
"Come down and stop us then?"
『If only I could!』
That's really amazing. It's clearly a golem, but it has more voice variations than any person I know. Right now it's making a sound like it's biting its lips.
『Such a thing will absolutely never happen! Even if the military authorities release you! I will not forget your cruel and atrocious acts...!』
How many cruel and atrocious things did I do? I only played with a golem and forced answers.
Still, for a golem that can't read thoughts, it's easy to understand.
I asked subtly.
"Um, Administrator. Would you perhaps like to see what's happening here right now?"
Then the golem responded as if it had completely forgotten that it had been pouring resentment on me just moments ago.
『...If, you can?』
"What would I need to do to make that possible?"
Learning is not exclusively a human domain, but human learning is a bit faster and has an a priori aspect.
The golem, which had been conditioned by me until now, hesitated a bit but still decided faster than before.
『...Shall, we take a walk together, oppa?』
"What? Who's your oppa? Do I look like some pushover who'll do everything when called oppa?"
The golem's joints creaked momentarily. Right after, it looked up at me with a pitiful expression.
Human learning is a bit faster and has an a priori aspect, so even when the existing reward circuit is broken, it quickly feeds back that fact.
It would be fun to not grant the request and shove it back in the warehouse, but it's too early to break it.
"That's right! I am a pushover! Come on, let's go!"
Before the golem could say anything, I picked it up and walked away.
In the yard, food and supplies were neatly stacked in boxes. Most of the food was stored as canned goods. The military nation's canned food can be recycled if one knows how to use alchemy, so we decided to utilize it actively.
Thanks to that, I struggled a bit. Since I'm the only one who can use alchemy here.
I took out a can from the box and opened it. Inside, tightly packed fresh rice was shining white. I held it in front of the golem's eyes.
"Here. Look at this. We're packing our belongings. These are the things that will feed us when we escape from here."
『...Kuh!』
It seems to feel real when seeing it with its eyes. Carrying the groaning golem, I walked and boasted about the celebration that had happened to us.
"Who is all this thanks to? That's right, thanks to Jiseon-nim who came here!"
Ta-da. I pointed at Jiseon, who was sitting in the lotus position in the middle of the yard. Jiseon, who had been feeling the pulse of this land, turned her head upon sensing me and the golem's footsteps.
"Ah. Is that the military nation's herald. It has been a while since we met... But what should I call you?"
"Please call me Hughs! If we're not close enough to use names yet, you can also call me hey, you, punk!"
"How could a traveler be so rude. I will take the liberty of calling you by your name."
"Thank you! Yes! Jiseon-nim called my name!"
Having Jiseon directly call my name. That's a life achievement. If I boast to the old engineer corps members in the city, they'd probably die of envy.
Anyway. I held out the golem tucked under my arm forward. Then the golem hastily saluted as if overwhelmed.
『Loyalty. Military nation signalman Captain AB! I have been monitoring and managing Tartarus, and first, I welcome the Vice Admiral's return!』
"Thank you. However, I have not returned, I have simply come to eliminate the Abyss."
『I have something to report regarding that! Vice Admiral, couldn't you give a little grace period before eliminating the Abyss?』
When the golem suggested this, Jiseon slightly raised her eyes.
"Is that the military nation's will?"
『Affirmative. The military authorities have not yet conducted an environmental assessment regarding the disappearance of the Abyss. Not to mention there's no certainty that the Abyss can be destroyed...』
"There is no need to worry. I have confirmed it multiple times."
『...In addition, the international situation that will change drastically due to this, or the sporadic problems caused by the trainees' escape...』
"That too is not a problem for the military nation to worry about. The Abyss disappearing and the earth's vital energy returning is the will of the Earth Mother Goddess, so humans must adapt to it, and from what I have seen, the people in here were good enough that they shouldn't be in the Abyss."
If we had shown evil aspects, was she planning to send us to the Earth Mother Goddess in one blow? Phew, what a relief. I didn't do anything wrong, right?
"Moreover, the military nation has no right to say such things. Didn't the truly evil ones already escape? Before reprimanding me, you should reflect on yourselves."
『Then, at the very least.』
Despite the consecutive reprimands, the golem steadfastly continued its persuasion.
『...Shouldn't you inform the followers who followed the Vice Admiral? Shouldn't they also witness the moment the Abyss disappears?』
For a very brief moment, a crack appeared on Jiseon's face. Jiseon, who had been sitting in the lotus position, let out a deep and heavy sigh.
"How much longer must I wait?"
When Jiseon asked, the golem, mistaking that her mind had changed, said in an excited voice.
『1 year, no, it can be pulled forward a little more than that. During that time, Vice Admiral, please contact the followers scattered throughout the military nation. The military nation's public relations department will assist you.』
It probably thinks it's a very important proposal, but unfortunately, it was wrong.
Because Jiseon didn't really want to meet them.
"...How could I make them wait even more. It was I who drove them onto a thorny path. To those who remember that tragic failure, if I were to breathe great hope into them once again, only to drop them into the abyss once more."
A resolute light lingered on Jiseon's face as she muttered bitterly.
"I will take action first. After eliminating the Abyss, I will only deliver the news that the Earth Mother Goddess's wrath has calmed. Along with the words... that I'm sorry for granting your wishes too late."
『Vice Admiral.』
"I have already made my decision. Whatever the military nation does afterwards doesn't matter, I will carry out my task."
Jiseon's words seemed unstoppable and unalterable, like a rolling boulder. Having realized that point, the golem quietly looked at Jiseon, then raised its hand again in salute.
『...I wish you fortune in battle, Vice Admiral.』
It acted like it would kill me if I disobeyed military orders, but to Jiseon it wishes fortune in battle. Isn't this discrimination?
Come to think of it, someone like Jiseon deserves special treatment. Acknowledged.
It wasn't a situation to talk any further, so I carried the golem and headed into the prison. Meanwhile, the golem hung limp at my side.
I said to the golem.
"Anyway, you understand now, right?"
『...About what?』
"I didn't leave my duty station, the duty station disappeared. That's as big a difference as falling and jumping. In other words, I have no guilt regarding this matter. Understand?"
『You can say that all you want, but the fact that you are an accomplice who caused the fortress to fall does not change.』
"I'm telling you I didn't kill anyone. How could an ordinary person like me harm a general? I wouldn't even be able to touch a hair on them."
『The military nation does not know such facts. If you wish to prove your innocence, turn yourself in and cooperate with the investigation after leaving Tartarus.』
"Like I'd ever do that."
『...Agreed.』
The golem let out a groan.
『Though a gray star, the Vice Admiral's name is renowned throughout the military nation. Especially in the military nation, there are many who respect her regardless of rank. So I warn you, you must not harm the Vice Admiral even by chance.』
"What are you talking about? Why would we hurt Jiseon?"
『...I emphasized it just in case. Everyone who has fallen here so far... has all met bad endings.』
"I'm dumbfounded. Leaving aside the lack of intention, we don't even have the ability!"
Except for exactly one person.
Anyway, whether from listening to stories or reading memories, Jiseon doesn't seem like the kind of person who would commit acts worth remaining in a regressor's memory.
What on earth is happening?
It's one of two things.
Either the regressor is actually a psychopath who believes they're a regressor.
Or there's something enormous hidden at the bottom of the Abyss that could completely overturn Jiseon from the roots.
Should I seriously consider the first hypothesis even now, I was wondering.