Bab 31: Chapter 31: The price of the mask
-Finally some fresh air!
I was getting tired of the dusty air of the Lower World, how do Bajomundians keep from getting lung problems?
-I think I heard something over there.
-It wasn't your imagination, was it?
Luckily, I hid as soon as I heard footsteps approaching in my direction.
It is now dawn in the Overworld and there are Crinargenta Guards patrolling everywhere. It seems that our presence has forced Belobog to go into curfew at night.
As a first step, I must of course go to the Neverwinter Workshop and meet a certain mechanic and former researcher from the Architects Technology Division, Serval Landau.
*Knock knock*
There was no response.
*knock knock!*
I knocked harder, no response either.
-There's no choice, I'll have to use my secret weapon.
I pulled out Richard, Stelle's Thing Finder, I borrowed it from him before I left; and it seems my "just in case" was the right decision.
-Do your thing.
I said and then...
[Bip, bip... Bip, bip... Bip, bip... Bip, bip... Bip, bip... Bip, bip... Bip, bip... Bip, bip... Bip, bip... Bip, bip...]
-How noisy!
A beautiful, blonde-haired woman opened the workshop door abruptly.
-Do you know what time of the morning it is? You...! Hm...? Wait, why does your face look so familiar...?
-Hi, I'm Nadie, and I'm the most wanted criminal in Belobog at the moment.
-What...?
After remembering the drawings... the "Wanted" posters scattered all over the Administrative District that were portrayed by his younger brother Gepard Landau, Serval understood who I am.
-I came to meet you because I heard Bronya say you were her mother's best friend, I need your help to overthrow the tyranny of Cocolia and seal the Stellaron.
When Serval heard the word "Estelaron", she immediately yanked me into the workshop.
-I'm sorry to be abrupt but there are Crinargenta Guards patrolling everywhere, please elaborate on what you just said.
Without further ado, I proceeded to explain in detail the situation in which we found Serval, the discovery we made about Cocolia and the Estelaron, I also explained that Bronya is safe in the Underworld.
-Cocolia is being manipulated by the Estelaron.... ha, what a bad joke.
-Unfortunately, that is the reality.
-I'm sorry, I wasn't trying to contradict you. I just find it ironic...
-So you believe me?
-Of course, or do you want me to doubt you?
-Not at all, I was just asking.
At that moment, my eyes blinked pink.
-Of course... To tell you the truth, even I'm a little surprised at how easily I accepted your explanation, but I can feel the sincerity in your words. Besides, my intuition tells me that you are a good person, and my intuition never fails!
Talent belonging to the Path of Exultation: Assimilation.
As long as I find myself crossing glances with my target, I can assimilate our subconsciousness to access their emotions and understand their true nature; by activating the effect in reverse, I can make my targets perceive my emotions as sincerity in an amplified way.
-Okay, I'll help you with your Coup d'Etat. In exchange, I want you to take me with you to meet the Estelaron.
-Deal.
With the alliance done, we can finally take the next step.
-So, what do you need my help with?
-Simple, I want you to take me to meet the Engine of Creation.
-The Engine of Creation...? You mean the giant geological transformation unit...? Why do you want to meet it?
-If Cocolia gains access to the Stellaron's power, we will have no choice but to rely on a unit capable of rivaling devastating weapons. Don't worry, it's just a safety measure and we won't use it unless Cocolia uses the Stellaron against us.
Since, if Cocolia doesn't fuse with the Stellaron, taking a direct hit from the Engine of Creation would kill her instantly.
If possible, I would rather try to save Cocolia and reduce casualties to zero, as I did in the Space Station incident. I'm willing to allow the plot to unfold but I'd rather save the innocents if possible.
-All right, I'll take you to the Engine of Creation. Bundle up more because it's going to be very cold outside.
...
..
.
The trip took about an hour.
Thanks to my various skills, evading the guards as only two people became an easy task.
-It's too big...
The view is even more impressive than in the game...
-I reacted the same way when I saw it for the first time. Come, it goes up here.
The Engine of Creation, an ancient construction machine created by the Architects of the past during Alisa Rand's rule; these massive units were classified as a Geological Reconstruction Unit. Just by hearing their name you should understand how terribly huge they are.
After accessing the interior of the Engine of Creation, I took out the tools I had already prepared in my inventory; courtesy of Herta.
-Serval, I entrust you with the surveillance.
-Leave it to me.
-Okay, time to get into action.
I stretched a little and thundered my neck, then closed my eyes and connected my connection to the Aeon of Erudition....
(The Engine of Creation...)
-I want you to help me repair it and improve it if possible, Nous.
(Easy.)
I didn't even have to explain what my intention is in doing that, Nous calculated all possible futures in a matter of microseconds and came to the conclusion with ease. Dealing with Cocolia merged with the Stellaron is easy for me, but that will certainly wear down my stamina to a great extent, leaving me exposed against Nanook if he decides to make a move.
The final fight against Cocolia, I have no intention of intervening, I'll let the plot run its course. Improving the Creation Engine will first work as insurance against Cocolia; second, it could be very helpful when Nanook comes into action.
(This should be enough. With the improvements you made under my instructions, the performance of the Engine of Creation should increase by 120%.)
-That easy?
I checked my cell phone clock, it's only been 2 system hours since we started this?
(It's because I've been helping you and you have the Path of Erudition on your side.)
-Incredible. As expected of you, Nous.
(Will you wear the mask?)
As expected of Nous, the Aeon of Erudition, he saw completely through me.
-... If the situation forces me, I will have no choice.
To tell the truth, I'm afraid to wear Aha's mask. And that is the third reason why I am upgrading the Engine of Creation.
This mask... if a normal Pathstriders of Exultation were to wear it, it would temporarily acquire power comparable to that of an Emanator. So what happens if I wear it...?
------
This event happened a few years ago, it was after my return to the Space Station, already ending my escape.
Returning to my job as Herta's secretary, I went with one of her dolls to Kasbelina-VIII for a business trip; as that planet was at war, Herta was abnormally strict in monitoring me.
That extreme attitude annoyed me and prompted me to run away from work, it was then that I met a nice girl, we became very good friends after several events and obstacles (all my fault), she was always very patient with me despite my stupidity and that's why I am very fond of her. The one I'm talking about is neither more nor less an aureolian singer with a cosmic fame, I'm talking about Robin.
-Nadie, it's not a good idea to enter the war zone.
-It's okay, I can take care of myself. Besides, didn't you come to Kasbelina-VIII to spread the word of Harmony? I'll help you with that so you wait here, Robin.
As usual, I got caught up in the spur of the moment. I mean, how could I call myself a man if I don't make stupid decisions even though I know it will go wrong...? Luckily, that impulse of mine only comes up very occasionally.
Later, I would regret that decision. The immaturity that led me to take such a stupid action...
-Thank God that... *cough* you're fine...
-R-Robin...? Why did you come...?
In front of me, Robin's body lay on the ground, sprawled in a pool of her own... blood.
A stray bullet that was about to hit me... Robin appeared at the last moment to push me sideways; in return, she took the bullet in the neck.
-N-Nadie idiota... I-I could never leave you alone... you're a mess without me....
Robin's voice was barely audible... her once angelic voice could now barely utter coherent sounds....
-Stop talking, you're losing too much blood! Now I'll heal you right away so don't worry!
Maybe it was due to the nervousness of the moment, it never took me this long to heal a wound before....
Since I found out that I'm immortal, I worried little about my well-being, as I know that I will always come out unscathed in everything. But, to the people around me, I am an idiot risking my life for idiocies.
-Damn it, why did you come here?! I told you I can manage on my own....
By this time, Robin had lost consciousness. At least, I managed to save his life without any risk; but... a scar remained. For some reason, I am unable to heal that scar; it's as if "something" is preventing me from doing so.
At this point, my anger hit rock bottom.
I don't know when it happened but at some point the war field came more to our side, soldiers fighting for their lives and their beliefs were everywhere; they are thousands... but, I felt unable to hear anything.
I got up from the ground in silence. When I get angry, I am one of those who do not speak, I directly take action. So, I summoned Aha's mask.
(AhaAhAhHAhhaAHahhAhJAHaha~ Are you going to use me~? Are you going to use Aha's mask~? LET THE PARTY BEGINNNNNNN!)
After putting on the mask... the next thing I knew, I lost consciousness...
When I woke up again...
-...die! Nadie! You're finally awake!
-...
My mind felt sluggish... I find it hard to think clearly. In exchange for temporarily acquiring power greater than that of an average Emanator, the price... was my own sanity.
Robin's screams were coming in one ear and out the other, it was as if I had contracted a disability in concentration.
Drop of Life can heal any injury, illness, even genetic problems of the user. But mental health, that's another story.
-178 seconds, that was the limit of your transformation.
That voice... belongs to Herta. At some point, she came to my side.
-Are you all right? Do you remember what happened? You are now in the most prestigious hospital in Kasbelina-VIII, so you can rest easy.
Only Robin and a doll of Herta are in the room. As injuries are not a problem for me, I don't need assistance from any medical team, the problem lies in the mind....
Robin is trying to hold back the tears and Herta, she...
-The power you showed in the war zone was undoubtedly unimaginable, a completely absurd scene. Thanks to your intervention, Nadie, in just 178 seconds you caused the death of more than 20,000 soldiers and the story doesn't end there, your transformation so traumatized the Kasbelina-VIII high command that they decided to end the war this very morning.
The war is over...
-Congratulations Nadie, you brought peace to the world in just 178 seconds.
More than congratulations, Herta's voice sounded like sarcasm.
-Herta, I...
-Don't say anything, just... don't say anything.
Seeing Herta's anguished look for some reason broke my heart.
-Don't ever wear that mask again, is that clear to you? Even though this research subject is incomparable, the price you paid was too much. The next time you use that power, if you exceed 3 minutes, I can't guarantee that you will regain your sanity; the damage will be irreversible.
I couldn't say anything, I was unable to answer anything....
For the next 3 days, I was treated like a disabled person in a wheelchair. Even trying to control my muscles became difficult. Luckily, Herta and Robin were there to take care of me.
Thanks to Herta's research, she created a serum capable of revitalizing my mental health to a great extent. According to her, Ruan Mei collaborated a lot in creating the serum.
Soon after, I also met Sunday. Apparently, he rushed to Kasbelina-VIII after receiving the news that his younger sister Robin was wounded by a stray bullet; the one who revealed the news to him was Gopher Wood.
-Thank you for saving my sister's life.
-Saving her life...?
When I saw Sunday bow to me, I never felt so humiliated in my life.
-Don't you dare say that again, Robin ended up with that scar because of me.
-...
Sunday said nothing. After hearing Robin's side of the story, he didn't blame me either. His kindness... disgusts me; no, it's me who disgusts.
------
-You finished? That was fast.
When I emerged from inside the Engine of Creation, there I found Serval sipping a hot chocolate while keeping an eye on the surroundings.
-I see you're enjoying a picnic, Serval.
-I thought it would take you longer, so I brought something hot to drink. Would you like some?
-I'll take you up on your offer while we're at it.
I sat down next to Serval and we both watched the sunrise.
-If you guys manage to seal the Stellaron, will the Eternal Ice really disappear?
-100% sure, although the change will not be immediate.
-For me, that's more than enough.
We silently sipped our chocolate.
In a few days, a great historical event for Belobog will break out, taking advantage of moments of peace like this is what makes life beautiful.
After finishing our hot chocolate, we cleaned up any traces we had left and returned to the interior of the city.
Thus, I called an end to the first preparations.
.
Author's note:
Compared to all the previous chapters, this one was especially deep and more developed. I hope you have understood that this facfic will not only be comedy but also plot.
With this I hope you readers will understand how big the scale of the final battle against Cocolia will be and how deep the future development of the plot will be.
If I have to give my opinion, among all the surprises I will give with this fanfic, Belobog's arc is the smoothest compared to Xianzhou Luofu and Colonipenal. So look forward to it.
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Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone