Chapter 401: Half Side: A Clever Way to Use Matches and Pumps

Author's Preface
Since we broke the 400-chapter mark, I was planning to just drop some lore/setting notes, but my pen started flying much faster than I expected, so I'll drop them in this chapter instead.

Just by saying "Fan fiction is OK," various derivative works suddenly started popping up, and I can't hide my bewilderment every day. I'll do my best... with various things.
For now, let's play Ira! (Good smile)

"No reaction... did it run away...?"

That bastard, trying to pull off a cheeky surprise attack from the ground. If it wasn't for the ultimate finishing move I awakened to right in the middle of that fierce battle—the "Three Steps Forward, One Step Back, Take Another Step and Blow Them Away Attack"—that would've been a close call... But that move is way too risky, so I definitely need to practice it. If I mess it up, I'll literally just be a radish throwing myself onto a grater.

"Gah, shit... the moment it realized it was cornered, it chose to flee with its tail between its legs..."

Drop your materials! Hand over the EXP! Learn from the Orca and the Scorpions; those guys never gave up on hunting me down even when they were half-dead. Then again, conversely, because they kept putting my life in danger until they were nothing but materials, maybe I should actually be grateful to the Worm-kun who selfishly ran away as a perfect compromise.

"Now then... should I say it's been a while?"

"Um, err... it's been a while, right?"

The Mage girl Reena's face clearly displayed the doubt of whether we were even on good enough terms to rejoice at this reunion.
Rather than the starter-equipment vibe she completely oozed when we first met, she was now wearing what could be called a lightweight witch's outfit—one that retained the motifs of a witch while prioritizing mobility and adapting to the chaos of a battlefield. Her appearance served as visual proof that they, too, had grown by accumulating a corresponding amount of playtime.
On that note, my appearance hasn't changed at all from Level 1 all the way to Level 136; if I had to point out anything, it's just the weird patterns crawling across my body.

That being said, taking a closer look, compared to the equipment of that pervert who could basically be called a Front Arts Magician, their gear is one rank... no, by my estimation, a full three ranks inferior.
How should I put it, it completely lacks the custom-made feel unique to top-tier equipment. It looks strong, sure, but it can't shake off the feeling of being mass-produced—a characteristic extremely common among mid-tier gear.

".........?"

No, wait... come to think of it, they felt strangely weak earlier, or rather...

"Say, what level are you guys right now?"

"I'm Level 81!"

"I'm 74!"

"I am 89... Um, what level are you, Sunraku-san?"

"Me? 136."

"Huh?"

Too weak. Even assuming they managed to get on a ship bound for the New Continent, there's no way they could break through the Sea of Trees at that level.
Even using a self-inflicted rocket-launching stepping method with 【Bradyon】, I still couldn't avoid getting into combat a few times, you know? Just what kind of secret trick did they use to... hm?

"Aren't your legs kinda transparent?"

"Ah, right, about that—. We ended up getting randomly teleported by that perverted old man, see—. Hey Sunraku-san, do you know where we are?"

"This is the desert area of the New Continent. Under the current circumstances, this is probably the absolute frontline."

"Seriously!? Hey hey, you two, do you think we can reach a save point in five minutes?"

No, that's impossible. Apparently, there's a Bugman settlement somewhere in the desert, but I highly doubt you could find it in just five minutes. The Sea of Trees? Go ahead, try it.
The three of them, whose bodies were already completely transparent up to their ankles and turning translucent beyond that, began to panic and flail around.

...I smell the scent of Unique (Information). Should I throw out a bluff and try to extract some intel?

"Say, Sohma-kun, if you don't mind, could I hear the details of how exactly you ended up here?"

"Eh? Uh, well, we went to the 'Master of Sky-Crossing, Vergant' so Reena could learn teleportation magic."

Tch, if it's teleportation-related, then at the very least it's not entirely undiscovered. Party dismissed. No, don't dismiss.

"And then there was this really perverted-looking old man, and he went, 'Experience the true essence of Sky-Crossing with your own body—!' and teleported us..."

"Yeah, yeah. And before we got blasted away, we got advice from a pretty older sister who was his number one apprentice? or something—. She was like, 'The Random Teleportation [Shuffle] that old man uses sends you to a random location, buuut—, it absolutely always sends you near a save-compatible hub, sooo—, if you try really hard, you can mark a town you've never been to before... you can mark it real deep and clear!' or something like that."

"Oh, Kahho, you're really good at impressions."

"That did sound a bit like her."

Yeah, I knew instantly who was calling herself the 'number one apprentice.' I'm betting she placed a ridiculous amount of emphasis on the words 'deep and clear' and 'mark', all while staring directly at Sohma's crotch area.
However, I've got a grasp of the general situation now. Basically, these three were blasted to the New Continent by the magic of that Vergant-whatever guy. And due to the nature of the spell called Random Teleportation[Shuffle], they were sent near a save-compatible hub—which in this case, meant they were dropped near the Bugman settlement.

But it's not like there are convenient signs planted in the ground saying '100 meters to the Bugman settlement!' or 'The settlement is this way!' Without even a map, the three of them were forced into a bullshit RNG situation where they had to pick the correct route out of 360 degrees, pulled the short straw, got chased by a worm, and wasted their time limit for absolutely nothing.

"Well, whatever. From what I've heard, you just ended up stepping onto a losing route. I only just got here myself, so I have no idea where the hub is either."

"I seee—, what a shame."

If they can't find a hub, and if there are no monsters they can defeat, then there's probably nothing else for them to do but chat until the effect of Random Teleportation[Shuffle] wears off.
Well, they're nostalgic faces, so I can at least keep them company for a chat. Plus, thanks to Worm-kun throwing a massive tantrum earlier, it seems all the other monsters have run away anyway.

"Um... Sunraku-san, is the New Continent just full of monsters like that?"

"Eh? No..."

I was about to say 'that's not true,' but flashing through my mind were the three-headed T-Rex, the two-headed pterosaur, Metal Baldy, the violent swarm of mini-dinosaurs, the Thoroughbred (Muscle Deer) Triceratops...

"...Yeah, well, it might actually be somewhat like that."

If anything, I'd go so far as to say that Worm-kun, who only has broad, telegraphed motions, is actually easier to fight. Even if you're not on Rei-shi's level, if you have a tank equipped with a blunt weapon launch a suicide charge and then hammer magic into the resulting crushed wounds, it feels like it would be a stable fight.
Besides, how should I put it, there were an unusually high number of body parts where damage seemed to pass through easily... There were sections where the color of the outer shell was slightly different, and places that looked like weird, twitchy scar tissue... Could this be the exact same individual Rei-shi fought? Come to think of it, I never actually asked if they killed it or not.

...No, wait.

"...Scripts, Scenarios, Crises, Evolution..."

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing?"

I feel like I've just realized a tremendously horrifying fact. The kind of fact that absolutely must not be known by fiends or perverts.

"Excellent... This is a place I've never seen before. Did I draw a winning ticket, I wonder〜?"

If I whisper to them with a binaural voice, the authority on teleportation magic will easily listen to what I say.
The Sage—who could practically use 【Random Teleportation [Shuffle]】, a spell normally restricted exclusively to NPCs, entirely without limit through a method that was simple yet so unorthodox no one would ever think to try it—looked up at the snow-covered rocky mountains and formed a wide smirk.

"Nnn〜... This cold air feels like it's violating my lungs. As expected of ShanFro〜... Ooh, chilly, chilly."

The 【Magic Torch】, its effects multiplied by the power of the 【Rod of Actualization, The Desire】, began to radiate a warm heat using magical power as fuel.
To an outside observer, she was a bizarre mage with a sphere of light floating above her head, but the fact that the snow at her feet was steadily melting away hinted at the intense amount of heat it generated.

"Even a mock-torch can become a lethal, headbutting weapon if you crank up the firepower... See〜? I get it, in other words, a Head F—"

"Gahaha, run, run, Claymore!!"

"Ngh, I really thought we had it this time!!"

"It seems we won't be able to sever its head unless we master it to the point of being clad in the 'Flame' of a Hero!!"

Zuzun, Zuzun, the ground trembled. At the exact same time, voices that sounded as if boisterous, open-hearted bravado had been given physical form echoed from the depths of the cave.
And then, bursting noisily from the cave were a duo of men whose Appearances seemed to be in their mid-thirties... However, it was instantly obvious at a single glance that their size was not a mere two meters or anything close to it; they were massive.

".........Wow. If there are giant women too, doing it with just heads might actually be realistic〜?"

Hiding behind the shadow of a rock and watching the path the two fleeing giants were taking, the Sage... Deep Slaughter formed a smile mixed with surprise and delight.
However, that smile changed its shape upon seeing the small swarm of white dragons that emerged as if pursuing the two giants.

"───Aha, found youu〜."

Perhaps a trial, perhaps a sacrificial pawn, or perhaps...

A spice meant to make the main dish shine even brighter.

Author's Afterword
Since this is a timeline I actually created in a single day, it's pretty sloppy in various places, and I can't deny the possibility that changes to the lore might occur later on.
However, if you just remember the key terms here and there, you might go "Oh!" later down the line.

Divine Age Timeline

Divine Age Year 1:
Discovered a planet that met the tolerance values required for humanity to live at an extremely high standard. Following an investigation, no intelligent lifeforms were confirmed, bringing the 296-year stellar journey to a close.
The discovered planet was named "Utopia."
The 1st Investigation Team was annihilated. Due to the incredibly gruesome nature of their deaths, extravehicular investigations were postponed indefinitely. The Countermeasure Research Team was formed.

Divine Age Year 2:
No progress. Twenty civilians defied the regulations of the Three-System Government and went outside; all died.
Unmanned weapons were deployed against the [Information Restricted] that appeared. B-2 Leviathan and B-3 Behemoth suffered severe damage to their interstellar navigation systems but successfully subjugated it.
As a result of thoroughly examining the retrieved corpse of the [Information Restricted], it was discovered that all of its body tissues were constructed from the exact same element.
Furthermore, communication with an unmanned investigation satellite that had been lost was restored, revealing the full scope of this planet.
Based on the facts revealed by this, Julius Shangri-La named the continents "Aether" and "Erebos."

Divine Age Year 10:
The Supreme Director of the Countermeasure Research Team committed suicide. Julius Shangri-La took over as the successor. Edward Oldcling was assigned as his assistant.
Alice Frontier, a research assistant, was placed in charge of restoring the data that had been deleted by all the previous Supreme Directors of the team.
A Magic Operation Theory analyzing the tragedy of the [Information Restricted] re-contamination incident from two years prior was submitted by Dr. Amatsuki Setsuna, and the doctor was assigned to the Countermeasure Research Team as a Special Advisor.

Divine Age Year 11:
Mass production of 3rd Generation Devices based on the Magic Operation Theory succeeded. Following a petition by the B-3 Behemoth Government Army, the indefinite postponement of extravehicular investigations was lifted, and the 2nd Investigation Team headed out to investigate the exterior, which had been prepared by unmanned terraform machines.
Absorption of mana particles by the 3rd Generation Devices was confirmed, proving that extravehicular activity for the human species was possible. In light of this great achievement, the arbitrary and unauthorized actions of the [Information Restricted] General were punished with a mere suspension.
[Historically Unrecorded Information] Alice Frontier's "Experiment" began.

Divine Age Year 16:
A plan to deploy B-1 Ziz, B-2 Leviathan, and B-3 Behemoth to separate coordinates to increase terraforming efficiency was approved. Per Julius Shangri-La's petition, B-1 Ziz—which retained the only capability for extra-atmospheric navigation—was placed on the lunar surface in unmanned operation mode, and it was decided it would observe the planet.
Research on 12th Generation Devices began. The terraforming of the Aether Continent progressed to 80 percent.

Divine Age Year 17:
Distress signal from B-3 Behemoth. Unidentified lifeforms appeared, and Sites-3, 8, 12, and 26 were completely annihilated. Other sites also suffered massive damage. Estimated casualties exceeded eight million.
B-1 Ziz reported the outbreak of unidentified lifeforms across the entire Erebos Continent. B-3 Behemoth shifted to anti-foreign-enemy combat mode. Following the decision of the B-2 Leviathan Government, B-2 Leviathan remained on the Aether Continent; rescue efforts were handled by B-1 Ziz via orbital bombardment from the lunar surface.

Divine Age Year 18:
B-3 Behemoth Government collapsed. The cause is believed to be that the hatches of Behemoth were left open for a long period, taking in the outside air. B-2 Leviathan restarted its oxygen generation system.
An anomaly occurred in B-3 Behemoth's AI, and it initiated abnormal operations while rejecting all external interference.
B-1 Ziz's planetary observation systems began experiencing bugs. Cause unknown.

Divine Age Year 19:
Unidentified lifeforms were observed on the Aether Continent. According to reports from the re-formed Countermeasure Research Team, it was discovered that the unidentified lifeforms discovered thus far possessed the exact same elements found deep within this continent. A deep-sea investigation by B-2 Leviathan was proposed but ultimately abandoned due to protests from civilians belonging to B-2 Leviathan.
Communication from B-3 Behemoth was suddenly restored. Through Andrew Jitterdoll, who had assumed the role of temporary representative without approval, the state of affairs following the government's collapse was revealed.

Divine Age Year 20:
Completion of armaments designated for convenience as Anti-"Genesis Kin." The attack on B-3 Behemoth was defined as the 1st, B-2 Leviathan's retaliation was defined as the 2nd, and the 3rd Genesis Kin Annihilation Operation was executed.

[Information Restricted]

[Information Restricted]

Divine Age Year 23:
In light of the failure of Project Alpha, the indefinite freezing of Project Omega was decided. The completion of codename [ABCED-Ω] was deemed likely to cause a fatal tragedy, and the progression of its manufacturing was halted.
The manufacturing halt order for codename [ABCED-Ω] was shut out. Due to the actions of local engineers who bet their lives, the work successfully entered a continuous loop.
Anti-Beast Project initiated. Dr. Sieg Lindwurm was appointed as Supreme Director.
Considering the fact that conventional weapons were no longer effective, development of codename [F.I.N.] began. Furthermore, the [6.6.6.] Project was initiated by the B-2 Leviathan Government.[Information Restricted]

Divine Age Year 25:
Communication with B-3 Behemoth was lost. It was presumed to have submerged deep underground, but B-1 Ziz's observation systems were already completely severed, making it impossible to verify the truth. B-2 Leviathan decided to submerge to the seabed upon the completion of codename[6.6.6.].
The 20th Generation Device was completed based on the theories and blueprints left behind by Dr. Amatsuki Setsuna.

Divine Age Year 26:
Following the defection of B-1 Ziz, the B-2 Leviathan Government committed mass suicide. The former Countermeasure Research Team, now the "Baton Pass" Execution Team, assumed the role of government proxy. Project Number One was initiated alongside the remaining 218 individuals of the human species. Consequently, the Central Core Piercing Plan using codename [6.6.6.] was abandoned. Research was continued on a partial basis.
Communication with B-3 Behemoth was restored. As a result of contact with the AI calling itself "Ivory," the General Manager of B-3 Behemoth, it was decided that [Q.E.D.], which had entered the final stages of development, would be installed onto B-3 Behemoth.

Divine Age Year 27:
Project Number One frozen. Edward Oldcling absconded.

Divine Age Year 28:
Project Number Two and Project Number Three initiated. Consequently, the freeze on Project Number One was lifted. Alice Frontier, who submitted the report data from the[Information Restricted] experiment, was appointed as Supreme Director of Project Number Two.
Due to the replacement of the biological brain for codename [6.6.6.], the limited use of [Q.E.D.] was approved.

Divine Age Year 29:
Project Number One completed. Consequently, Project Number Two entered its final stage.
Third Project abandoned. Andrew Jitterdoll, Supreme Director of the Third Project, transitioned to the role of Supreme Director of the "Reconquista" Project.

Divine Age Year 30:
Reconquista Project completed. It was determined that it would activate 500 years later if Project Number One progressed smoothly.
Just before the final stage of Project Number Two, abnormal behavior was observed in ultra-massive Genesis Kin. B-2 Leviathan suffered contamination from mana particles.

[Information Restricted]

[Information Restricted]

Remaining Log:
───
───
Julius certainly accomplished it. Those shitty errand boys were put to sleep by a greater will. My cute child Siegwurm did well too. If I could, I would've loved to praise him immensely and pat his head... but both my arms are blown off, and my proud son... oops, excuse me, with everything from my waist down blown off, I don't have much longer. I received first aid, but I won't use a prosthetic body, and I won't cling to those shitty particles. I want to die as a human.
I feel bad for 'Isana'... Even though it's an AI, it can be treated as an individual now. Funny coming from me, who opposed it all this time.
Come to think of it, since my father's generation landed on this shitty planet... has it been about thirty years? For the end of a species, it's far too shallow a history... but it was a long battle. Ah, my greatest masterpiece, my proud son Siegwurm... I wonder if he'll do alright. It's my fault his personality got weird because I kept telling him nothing but fairy tales of heroic epics stuck in the corner of the information database, and honestly, I feel bad about it. Just please don't ruin Project Number One and Number Two that Julius and Alice staked their lives to accomplish.
My body is cold. Shit... It pisses me off that I understand that bastard Andrew's feelings a little bit now. That perverted engineer probably wanted to die as a human too... Although I'll never understand blowing yourself up while surrounded by a massive amount of dolls with the exact same face, even if I die.
Shit, if civilization is going to be reset, I feel like leaving this log is pointless... No, no, that's wrong. The new humanity will definitely reach this point. We believed that they would still live on this shitty planet. Above all, Julius went that far for us. If we don't believe, who will?
Ah, ah... was I sleeping? No, was my soul about to slip away? How many grams was a soul again... Ah, no good, no good. If I think about unnecessary things, I'll just die right here.
Ah, well whatever. If there's someone listening to this. If you're listening to this without knowing anything, well, it can't be helped. Just remember that a senior from a long, long time ago is cheering for you.
And, if you have the brains to understand the record of our battle... Please, please don't forget about us. And please, keep that lifeline connected for a long, long time. That's what we fought for, and that's what we're dying for. Please don't let the fire lit on the baton we passed down go out.
Ah, finally... If, if the one listening to this meets a golden dragon who loves heroes... Ah, whatever. Just tell him that your papa, Sieg Lindwurm, praised you, saying, 'You did well.'