Otherworld TRPG Game Master - Chapter 290



Chapter 290 – S5. The Echo of Stellaria ~Hope Slumbering Beneath the Ruins~ -3

Where civilization sleeps, beasts awaken.

Harming other lives for one’s own safety. Relentlessly plundering to propagate one’s DNA. For those born as animals, this is an instinct that cannot be hidden, and in a way, it is only natural.

Rather, humans have been suppressed by the immense society that stifles their inherent instincts.

Once, civilization was a virtue. Acts of kindness, sharing laughter, and considering others were highly valued socially and brought tangible benefits. The image of being a good person helped in various ways.

But now?

There is no gain. No one acknowledges kindness. It only gnaws away at one’s chances of survival.

In the wake of the “Great Beast” incident, the concept of a nation has become meaningless. People chose to revert to beasts for survival rather than clinging to their scattered dignity.

Bang──!!

A gunshot echoed through the lofty sky. A clear warning.

Everyone froze in their movements. The convoy transporting various materials in trucks had to come to a halt in the face of that violent threat.

“Stop. You’ll have to leave everything you have here.”

“…What?”

“There are snipers on the rooftop, and this guy next to me has pyrokinesis. If you try to run away recklessly, you won’t even save your life. If you understand, everyone get out. Living as a slave is much better than burning to death, right?”

“… … … …”

The beasts waiting to seize the truck revealed their fierce claws, reeking of gunpowder. The disparity in their power was evident, and submission was the wise choice.

Pressing the accelerator to attempt an escape was futile, as the road was blocked by barricades. They were completely trapped. The group in the truck fell into despair.

Among them.

The driver was a man in his mid-forties, with a slight build, and his eyes trembled, unable to find their focus. He was undoubtedly terrified as well.

Yet, the truck driver stepped down from the driver’s seat and stood before the beast leader, pleading.

“This is material to take down the ‘Great Beast.’ Please, reconsider.”

“…Do you think this is a situation for negotiation?”

“If you must take the truck, then take it. I will, yes. I will live as a slave. But please, do not take the materials inside. I beg you…!”

The driver prostrated himself on the ground, bowing his head.

It goes without saying that this was not a request that would be entertained. Both the raider and the driver knew that. They had come to raid with the intention of taking everything they had.

Still, what should one call the act of standing up to such a threat, risking one’s life?

Gordius dismissed it in a single phrase.

“Folly.”

“…What are you doing, ugh!”

“You won’t get any investment by holding a business presentation for a beast. Approaches should be made to those who truly understand the value of research.”

“Awakened one! Sniper, fire!”

It’s hard to build, but easy to tear down. Gordius felt this sentiment as he looked up at the building where the sniper was stationed. It must have taken months to construct that building.

“Fall while standing, ‘Ground Subsidence.’”

“The building is tilting… aaah!”

Kuwung──!!

It took less than ten seconds to demolish it.

The raider group was buried beneath the rubble. As the dust settled, Gordius approached the driver, who stood frozen in shock.

“Are you heading towards Stellaria? I’m on my way there after listening to the radio broadcast.”

“Ah, yes, yes…! That’s right. I was transporting materials for constructing a giant robot, and thanks to you, I haven’t been robbed… Thank you!”

This man seems more concerned about the materials than his life.

No, wait. More importantly.

“A giant… robot?”

“Yes. Dr. Woo Chae-rin said that this is necessary to penetrate the ‘Great Beast’s’ misfire ability…”

Sparkling. Gordius’s face instantly filled with vigor. At the same time, his internal familiarity with Dr. Woo Chae-rin skyrocketed. A giant robot!

He urged the driver to get up.

“Let’s go right away. I’ll take my payment in the form of directions.”

“Ah, yes. If you get in the back seat…”

He was lucky. Gordius joined the material transport team of ‘Stellaria’ and was able to reach their bunker without getting lost.

—

At the entrance of the underground bunker, there was a heavy security presence. The road leading up was lined with obstacles arranged in an S-shape, and armed soldiers were stationed at every point, keeping watch.

Among the survivors Gordius had seen, this was undoubtedly the largest group.

After a brief wait, a guard holding a fluorescent baton came out to greet them.

“Stop. Stop. Is Mr. Kim here? Uh, what’s this? I see a foreigner I haven’t seen before.”

“Yes. Thank you for your hard work. We were ambushed by raiders on our way here… and this awakened individual helped us. Truly an impressive person. They even smashed through buildings!”

“Ah, damn… this is a problem. I can’t speak English. Where are you from? Europe?”

“From what I heard on the way, you speak Korean quite well.”

“Oh, I was worried for nothing. Mr. Kim, you can go in… uh, you, come over here for a moment.”

The guard called Gordius aside and had him sit on a convenience store chair. No matter how much he had helped during the ambush, verification was necessary, especially in times like these.

“What’s your name?”

“Gordius. I came after hearing the radio broadcast. It seems you need an expert in magic.”

“…magic?”

“Yes. It’s the study of systematically harnessing magical power. I’m a wizard from the Golden Magic Tower, so I may not know much about other types of magic, but I should be better than most.”

The guard’s expression grew increasingly gloomy. Another lunatic born from this era had appeared!

Since the radio broadcast had echoed, many people had visited the Stellaria underground bunker. Some wanted to help as awakened individuals, while others insisted they would do anything if only they could be taken in.

And among them were many who had lost their minds.

“I am the Second Coming of Christ, and I can walk on water!”

“I’m a Sun/Cold Mage. It seems I’ve awakened game abilities, and if I just gain some experience, I can even advance to the fourth class…”

There were even con artists who took it a step further.

“I’m a genuine shaman who wrote and published books on magic before the crisis even hit. This magical power is actually the will of the Earth, and the great monsters were created by Gaia’s power to combat environmental pollution—”

He couldn’t forget the sight of the man who claimed to be a magic expert without even having awakened. After suffering so much, it was hard not to feel deflated when this Western-looking young man started babbling about being a wizard.

Gordius sensed the guard’s apprehension. He smiled calmly.

“How about a bet?”

“Excuse me?”

“If I’m a real wizard, you’ll buy me a can of food later.”

“Well, it’s not that I don’t believe you…”

From noble mtl dot com

Tick.

Drdrdrdrdrdr──!!

“Uh, uh uh?!”

As Gordius snapped his fingers, the ground trembled, and a colossal hand surged upward. Boom, boom! With a thunderous roar, a three-meter-tall giant sculpted from earth revealed itself.

It was unlike any other awakened being. Its scale, its abilities, its intricacy—everything was different.

The giant was well-formed, with thick armor and intricately engraved patterns that brought it to life. This was the first awakened being with such operational capability.

This was a specimen that even a slightly mad young man who fancied himself a wizard would have to accept.

Moreover, if this man truly was a wizard, possessing systematic and sophisticated theories… perhaps a miracle could occur. The guard sprang to his feet, beaming with excitement, to greet Gordius.

“Please, come in. Our doctor has been waiting for you for quite some time.”

“I’m glad to see I’ve made an impression. However…”

“Yes? Did I perhaps offend you in some way…?”

“No. I understand the circumstances. It’s hard to believe in the fictional term ‘wizard’ in this world. However… I was wondering if you might consider paying the entrance fee.”

“……..”

The guard unwrapped a chocolate bar he had stashed in his pocket.

—

Clank. Clank. Squeeeak—

The heavy door of the underground bunker opened, revealing steel and heat.

Bang! Bang! Clang!

The sounds of metal being hammered, various footsteps, and voices exchanging ideas and pushing projects echoed all around.

“Alright, the materials have arrived, so let’s move this over here!”

“Captain, we can’t use this as it is. Don’t we have any leftovers from last time?”

“That, uh, what was it? The supply team went to raid the space center. We’ll have to wait.”

Countless people were bustling about. The world had grown increasingly somber since the emergence of the great monster, but within this underground bunker, one could feel a sense of fervor and hope.

It was a matter of purpose.

The clear goal of defeating the ‘great monster’ had become the light for those living in the bunker. The guard, in charge of guiding, puffed out his chest with pride.

“Can you feel the difference in the atmosphere?”

“Yes. Everyone seems… lively.”

“This is all thanks to Dr. Woo Chae-rin. At first, people didn’t believe it, and to be honest, I was skeptical too. If you look over to the left… do you see it?”

“……..”

Clank, clank. Whoosh—!!

Various machines were whirring as they assembled a massive robot. The body resembled a crane cockpit, with arms designed to attach something. And the lower body was on treads.

Above all, its size was enormous. Roughly estimating, the giant robot stood about 50 meters tall. Though parts of its frame were visible, indicating that there was still quite a bit of work left before completion.

It was an incredible feat to have pushed this far in just a month.

“How did they manage to create that? Dr. Woo, he negotiated with the president who fled to Jeju Island to secure materials. Gathering manpower… even making good use of the awakened ones.”

“…That’s so impressive. I’d almost want to marry him.”

“Don’t say that in front of others. There are quite a few who almost got kicked out for being too forward with Dr. Woo… You can’t be talking about that robot, can you?”

“Can people in this country marry robots? I’d love it if that were possible.”

The guard, seeing Gordius’s dazed expression, decided it was just a boring joke. He didn’t want to think of a capable awakened one as a mere machine.

As Gordius looked around the production facility, he spotted a tall, slender cylinder being managed separately from the massive robots and asked, “What’s that?”

“Oh, that? It’s… you know, a rocket? The kind that shoots into space. That’s a propulsion device brought over after the Kaiju incident. Dr. Woo claimed it as his retirement bonus. I think he plans to launch a rocket punch with it.”

“Wow, can I marry that too?”

“Please don’t ask me questions that are hard to answer. I’m almost there, you know? Dr. Woo is waiting inside. Go have a chat, and if you get the green light, you’ll officially join us.”

After guiding Gordius to Dr. Woo Chae-rin’s office, the guard hurried back to his duties, almost fleeing. The mage from another world placed a hand on the doorknob, suppressing the fluttering in his chest.

What kind of person is Woo Chae-rin? There was nothing about her papers or robots that didn’t appeal to Gordius.

Does she have dreams too? If so, they could talk about giant robots/golems all day long. With excitement, he opened the door. And beyond it, there stood a scientist in a white coat.

She wore thin, round glasses and had her hair tied back low, cascading over her shoulders. Her first impression was remarkably elegant, like a lotus floating on a tranquil lake.

She looked at Gordius and introduced herself.

“I am Woo Chae-rin, leading the ‘Stellaria.’”

“I am Gordius, the mage of the Golden Tower.”

“I’ve heard stories about you. A remarkably powerful awakened one, said to manipulate earth. And you claim to be a mage? What does that mean?”

“I am the person you’re looking for. In the world I lived in, there was an abundance of magical energy, which led to its establishment as a field of study. It’s different from primitive, haphazard magic.”

At his words, Woo Chae-rin gazed intently into his eyes, as if trying to peer into his innermost thoughts. Gordius did the same. And there was a scientific connection between them. They both thought at the same time.

There’s no time, and the quicker the verification, the better. That way, the conversation flows faster.

Woo Chae-rin pulled out a notebook and pen from her drawer, and Gordius naturally took the writing tools and began jotting down the foundational theories of magic. Simultaneously, they started negotiating.

“What do you want? There must be a reason you came after hearing the broadcast.”

“Technology. I will cooperate fully, so please share your robot construction technology. That’s why I came to this world.”

“Sounds like you’re asking for industrial espionage. It feels like something out of a novel. The president would say something about not exporting state secrets, but I’m different. If your knowledge is solid, I’ll share it.”

“You’ll be satisfied.”

With a swift motion, Gordius filled three pages of the notebook and punctuated his writing.

Woo Chae-rin took it, examining it carefully, and even tried using it herself to see if she had the magical aptitude of an ‘awakened one.’ A spark ignited on her fingertip with a tick.

“You’re right about academia. It’s logical and doesn’t seem like nonsense at all. You truly are the person I’ve been looking for.”

“On my way here, I saw a giant robot under construction. It looked incredibly massive and powerful. Is there a reason you’re looking for a magic user? Perhaps we could defeat the ‘Great Monster’ with pure scientific power alone.”

“…For now, the social infrastructure is in shambles. The need for alternative fuel is just a small part of it.”

There was a larger reason.

“Since the emergence of the ‘Great Monster,’ we’ve assembled a separate observation team to conduct an in-depth analysis of the creature. And… as of now, we’ve concluded that our attack power and endurance are lacking.”

We don’t know where the monster’s weak points are. We don’t know how much damage it would take to kill it. It even seems that the creature possesses regenerative abilities.

So, to safely subdue it, we need to continuously and repeatedly apply enough force to tear through its flabby exterior.

If the social infrastructure had been normal and the power of the state had been concentrated in one place, the story would have been different. But now, in this devastated and tattered state, even gathering all resources is insufficient.

“Science alone is impossible. That’s the conclusion I’ve reached.”

“Magic alone is also impossible. Even if we start nurturing it now, it would be too late.”

“Then we must seek answers at the intersection of the two disciplines. Let’s do our best moving forward, Gordius.”

“I look forward to working with you, Dr. Woo Chae-rin.”

The collaboration between the two geniuses was established dryly and simply. There was no need for additional words or lip service. Sharing knowledge was enough.

They felt each other’s necessity and were already bubbling with various ideas in their minds.

“First of all, here… I have a magic engine that I was developing.”

“Oh, what a coincidence. I was also working on an engine using magic…”

The organization ‘Stellaria’ aimed at defeating the ‘Great Monster.’ And the beautiful and intelligent leader, Dr. Woo Chae-rin. Gordius found himself joining hands with those who had not lost hope even in the face of national disaster.

Thus, his journey began smoothly—

—

—or so he thought.

“Magic is supposed to work like this! Even if you shove that into a machine, it won’t be efficient. Magic is undeniably a part of academia, and forgetting that while crunching numbers leads to this mess. This is waste! Waste!”

“Gordy, if you have a brain, please think! You keep trying to overlay science onto the magic-centric approach, but magic is merely a support in this project!”

“Did you not say yourself that we’re short on fuel? But we can have awakened individuals charge the magic! Wouldn’t it be reasonable to go with magic as the main focus then? Are you just being stubborn now!?”

“I acknowledge your discipline, but you’re the only expert here! If you make a mistake, everything goes up in smoke. Are you confident you won’t make a mistake? Considering stability, it would be better to build on the solid foundation of science that has already been verified countless times—”

Woo Chae-rin and Gordius fought daily, shaking the entire neighborhood. They didn’t grab each other’s hair, but just by looking at each other, it seemed like they wanted to hasten the other’s baldness.

Whenever a clash occurred, the argument would only end after one side was convinced, leading to unlimited discussions.

The hybrid of the two disciplines… started off somewhat awkwardly.