Otherworld TRPG Game Master - Chapter 291



Chapter 291 – S5. The Echo of Stellaria ~Hope Slumbering Beneath the Ruins~ -4

The enemy is just one: the ‘Great Monster.’

Only one, but that one is overwhelmingly daunting.

That entity has triggered a nuclear war on the other side of the Earth using hypnotic waves, obstructing humanity’s power from coalescing in one place.

Thus, perhaps the only organization capable of actively opposing the great monster is “Stellaria.”

The fate of the world rests in their hands.

They must utilize all available forces to overthrow that colossal and terrifying creature. However, resources are limited, so their use must be approached with caution.

In this regard, scientists and magicians reached a consensus.

“We need to deliver a counterpunch to the characteristics of the great monster.”

“We must develop a robot that can neutralize the monster’s abilities.”

“…Goldie, don’t mimic me.”

“What’s the point of mimicking when you’re stating the obvious? If you want to make such claims, you should at least patent your expressions—”

After the childish argument, the organized plan was as follows.

※ First, the patterns on the surface of the great monster’s skin scatter all ‘aiming’ efforts. Detection methods like radar are also significantly distorted.

Research indicates that the point where the mis-aiming effect disappears is within a radius of 50 meters from the great monster.

Considering that the monster’s size reaches 100 meters, it’s essentially the same as having to shoot from right in front of it. Just moving its arms and swinging its tail could bring down buildings, exposing them directly to its physical power.

Thus, a giant robot was conceived.

“It must withstand the physical attacks of the great monster while simultaneously being able to deliver effective strikes. I thought about size and weight. To make it capable of facing the opponent, we need to match the scale.”

“And if we’re going to make it big and heavy, there’s no need to prepare other weaponry. Just delivering a heavy blow will suffice.”

It would be a giant robot that swung its fists.

“…Don’t look at my robot with that expression, Goldie.”

“It’s our robot now.”

※ Second, the great monster possesses a magical barrier that reduces a certain amount of physical force.

“An estimate of about 40% reduction, perhaps.”

“Dr. Woo Chae-rin, this is why we must somehow complete the magic engine. If we strike with infused magic, we can ignore the reduction effect up to 30%.”

“That 30% damage reduction is an option we can’t afford to ignore… I’ve spent many sleepless nights trying to get that option. But you keep obstructing things, making the research drag on like a slug. Compromise with the world a little, will you?”

“If we don’t heed the words of experts carefully, we will face ruin. You seem to enjoy games and think of magic lightly, but real magic doesn’t just click into place like that.”

“That doesn’t mean we should abandon everything we’ve built so far and start anew with a different robot—!”

It made sense.

The study of magic operation in this world was based on the human body, so while there might be slight variations due to individual differences, four limbs and a head were necessary.

Thus, Gordius argued that to enhance the efficiency of the magic engine, the giant robot must take a form akin to a human. He predicted that the prototype currently being created, which was closer to heavy machinery than a person, would not yield good efficiency.

He criticized the choice of replacing legs with treads as the worst decision.

After Gordius suggested throwing away all the investment made so far, Woo Chae-rin engaged in about thirteen arguments, but in the end, they decided to create a new one.

The difference in performance was clear.

Woo Chae-rin was astonished as she reviewed the 32nd experiment report.

“…Why is the efficiency like this?”

“There’s nothing as harmonious as the human form. Dr. Woo Chae-rin, since I won the bet, the robot’s head will be painted red. No exceptions.”

“No, I mean this mysterious, intangible force. What principle allows it to fluctuate in efficiency based on its form… Why exactly?”

Woo Chae-rin was momentarily confused by the incomprehensible laws of magic, but soon accepted it. With such a significant difference in figures, it was indeed right to start over.

“Don’t be disheartened, Dr. Woo Chae-rin. There might be a chance to use the prototype somewhere, and making the first unit will be much easier. Let me show you what the wizard of the Golden Magic Tower is capable of.”

“Get your hands off my shoulders.”

『Stellaria』 halted the development of the existing prototypes and began work on the first unit, which would take on a human form. At the same time, the completeness of the magic engine gradually improved.

Gordius’s earth magic was a great help. Even without a large crane, a single gesture from him allowed for seamless assembly and movement.

“Gordy, lower the size while you’re at it.”

“It’s fine. Arms can be this big… Oh.”

“I said to reduce the size—!”

Of course, being too large sometimes led to accidents.

At times, Gordius was wrong, and so was Woo Chae-rin. But when one side was mistaken, the other was right. The scientist and the magician moved forward, choosing the correct answers through their arguments.

At first, they truly believed they simply “didn’t match”…

“Your last idea was quite good. I didn’t expect you to approach the joints that way.”

“I… still have much to learn about science. I have a chocolate bar I got last time, Doctor. Can I use this for a lecture?”

“Is that acceptable? One chocolate bar is too little for a doctoral-level tutor. Propose a better deal, Gordy.”

“…Two?”

Now their thoughts had changed. The two had become well-matched partners.

Gordius pursued romance but had a cold-blooded side, while Woo Chae-rin sought reality but surprisingly had an emotional and impulsive streak. They could fill each other’s gaps.

Even if their debates intensified, there came a point where the data would reveal the truth.

So, moving forward, even if they bickered, they would ultimately reach a consensus. Days of noisy yet harmonious research were expected to continue, but—

There was a crucial point of friction.

“It has to be unmanned. No matter how many safety devices you add, it’s inside a robot fighting a hundred-meter monster. The risk to the pilot is too high!”

“We need to have a pilot on board. The presence of a pilot who can respond on-site will increase the success rate of the operation. Just one pilot can yield meaningful results!”

It was a matter of whether or not to have a person inside the giant robot.

—

A pilot. The necessity arises from the characteristics of the magic engine.

The magic-power process that absorbs the magic in the atmosphere and converts it into electrical energy, and the power-magic process that transforms internal power back into magic. The magic engine, nearing completion, was designed to convert energy forms in either direction.

And it was made to move with either type of energy.

It was a remarkable feat.

Even without a giant robot, if the magic engine were activated, it would be possible to use magic to cast spells—then absorb the aftermath of that magic, reclaiming it as an energy source, enabling recycling.

The efficiency increase had already reached 15% even in this developmental stage.

Unless one were a sublimation-grade monster, whose magic never ran dry, or a genius so intelligent that they could unleash hundreds of spells with just a trickle of magic, efficiency improvement was a coveted effect among many mages.

There was a slight… well, a significant drawback in size, but that was trivial for now. After all, it would be mounted on a giant robot.

When operating a giant robot equipped with a magic engine, the best way to achieve the theoretical maximum efficiency was to operate with a mix ratio of 40% power to 60% magic.

It was at this point that the problem arose.

Magic could not—at least for now—be precisely controlled by computers or machines. Without the clear will of a mage, achieving a delicate ratio of 4 to 6 was nearly impossible.

Thus, a pilot with magical aptitude was necessary to board the giant robot.

“The data proves it. We need a pilot. Dr. Woo Chae-rin, until now, you’ve accepted the data, so why are you being so stubborn?”

“…There must be another way.”

“There might be. Perhaps there is. But that would only be possible in the distant future. What we… have created so far is a miracle. You even said it yourself, that it feels like some divine being is helping us. You expressed doubt about whether you could create such a masterpiece again in your lifetime!”

“So, we should research more! We need to find a way to operate the magic engine remotely, by any means necessary!”

It was an idealistic notion.

Gordius shook his head. Woo Chae-rin was placing too high a value on human lives. This was a state of emergency that could topple nations. In such times, could the lives of one or two individuals truly matter?

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to save lives. When the ‘Great Beast’ appeared, Gordius had used magic to rescue refugees.

But the moment he confirmed the existence of the hypnotists, he gave up. At that point, choosing to save lives would incur too great a loss.

Even now, the stakes weighed too heavily on the other side of the scale against a single pilot.

“There is no way to end this without sacrifice. Everything has its gains and losses, and using a drone would lead to significant losses, Doctor.”

At Gordius’s remark, Woo Chae-rin gasped as if struck in the gut.

She was capable enough to lead a group, yet she was fragile. He had often seen her unable to sleep at night, worrying whenever the ‘Stellaria’ search team went out.

That was why he needed to be even more cold-hearted. Gordius thought to himself.

After a moment of silence, Woo Chae-rin spoke.

“…Then, I’ll pilot it myself.”

“That would be a loss too. You are the leader of ‘Stellaria,’ the focal point, and a scientist. It’s not your place to fight in a robot. Are you not considering the possibility of failure?”

“Gordius, then who else will you put in the cockpit?!”

Without hesitation, Gordius pointed to himself. Woo Chae-rin shook her head firmly.

“No.”

“You’re just opposing everything since earlier.”

“No, even if we choose a pilot, it can’t be you. It’s the same logic you mentioned. You’re an irreplaceable asset. To prepare for failure… Gordius, you must not pilot.”

You are the only magician.

“……..”

It was a stalemate. When thinking about the future, neither of them could become the pilot.

From noble mtl dot com

Thus, the dangerous and weighty mission of confronting and overcoming the great monster had to be entrusted to someone else. That was the rational decision.

“……..”

“……..”

A cold silence filled the space between the two. They hesitated, but in the end, they did what had to be done.

Under the banner of reason, the two conducted a complex magical aptitude test across the entirety of ‘Stellaria.’ They placed a higher weight on the talent for internal coordination rather than the ability to release magic externally.

In this way, five pilot candidates were selected.

Woo Chae-rin explained the role and dangers of being a pilot. The candidates murmured among themselves. It was a matter of life and death. Naturally, they couldn’t help but hesitate. They exchanged glances, remaining silent…

In the midst of that quiet commotion, a middle-aged man stepped forward.

“I’ll be the pilot.”

“…You?”

Gordius recognized his face. He was the truck driver who had been moving materials for robot construction.

The man who had stepped forward to plead with the raiders, asking them to spare the materials for humanity, even if it meant he would be treated as a slave. Gordius asked him.

“Do you have a reason for volunteering? This is a dangerous mission, and I must remind you again. You might die.”

“Yes. I know.”

The truck driver adjusted his horn-rimmed glasses and smiled gently.

“…My daughter is six years old this year. She’s just about to enter elementary school, and childhood memories are really important. People live on the memories of their youth.”

“……..”

“So… I want to show her that the world wasn’t always like this. If we catch the great monster, we can return to the peaceful days of South Korea. Our child will be able to attend school properly. So—”

I want to gift my child a peaceful future.

Isn’t that worth risking my life for?

“…Is that so.”

Gordius nodded heavily.

Thus, Mr. Kim, the truck driver, became the pilot.

—

The giant robot steadily increased its level of completion, and Pilot Kim began training in robot operation and magical engine manipulation.

The height of Unit 01 is about 80 meters. It stands 30 meters taller than the prototype, and its once skeletal frame has become robust. It was enough to make existing robots look shabby.

The exchanges between Gordius and Woo Chae-rin had dwindled. Their conversations had become more businesslike, and the integration of opinions was quicker, yet there lingered an emptiness… a sense of regret that couldn’t be shaken off.

Then one night, late.

While Gordius was engrossed in a problem set, Woo Chae-rin came to visit.

“…Goldie, do you have a moment?”

“My time is a bit expensive… What you’re holding, is that alcohol?”

She was carrying three bottles of soju.