Otherworld TRPG Game Master - Chapter 297



Chapter 297 – S5. The Explosive Stellaria ~Awakening Dawn~ -3

‘Meteor’ Unit 2 and its auxiliary weapon ‘Meteor Strike.’

Equipped with the embedded Type III magic engine and multiple power sources, an advanced joint structure compared to the previous generation, and shock-absorbing external armor made from special alloys.

Completion.

After walking for about ten minutes outside the underground bunker, a low hill appears, upon which stands a nameless gravestone.

A rough cross made from a wooden block, with a rosary draped over it. Various religious symbols hang or are engraved nearby.

The reason for the burial here isn’t that the person was a follower of multiple religions. This is a graveyard for the missing.

The man who said he would go out to find food, the man who left the bunker clutching a pistol, claiming that his parents had enemies among the local raiders, the woman who set off on a long journey believing her daughter lived in another bunker…

What happened to them afterward remains unknown.

Missing in action. Whether they are dead or alive, only the heavens know.

What humans can grasp is simply that, for some reason, they seldom return.

The one-armed pilot, Kim Yoon-seo, looked down at the gravestone and spoke to Gordius.

“Honestly, my heart sank when I heard the story. The… pilot you mentioned. A middle-aged man driving a truck, with the surname Kim, and I thought, could he possibly be my father?”

“…….”

“When I heard that he had a daughter, I felt such relief. I’m an only child, so he couldn’t have been my dad. But then, where could he be? When the ‘Great Monster’ appeared, my father was out on a job.”

“He must be alive.”

“Thank you. Yes, he must be somewhere, alive.”

Kim Yoon-seo held onto her optimism, but the two bouquets in her hands betrayed her true feelings. She likely believed her father was already dead.

She laid flowers at the nameless grave.

After a moment of silence for remembrance, Gordius gently asked,

“Aren’t you afraid?”

“Of course I am. You are too, right?”

“Yes. I am afraid. But I’ve taken on a debt. Having inherited the obligation to safeguard the future, I must repay it. What about you?”

“…Well, it’s not as noble as that. I just… want to live. I feel like I won’t be able to survive unless I confront the ‘Great Monster’ myself.”

Kim Yoon-seo quietly surveyed her surroundings.

The once-brilliant modern civilization was no more. The dense forest of buildings, the tidy roads, all lay broken and stained with cold hues.

Only after layering memories over it for a while could she glimpse the landscape of the past.

In her irises, the time when everything was intact reflected back. Civilization was whole, but the colors of memory were dark. In the past, she had been a middle school student, and she was depressed.

“I had a hard time adjusting to school. The kids bullied me terribly, and I just couldn’t muster the courage to stand up to them. So, I begged my dad. I wanted to transfer schools. I asked if we could move.”

“You didn’t confront them.”

“No. I chose the easier path… After I made that request, my dad’s work hours started getting longer. Watching that, I felt more joy than guilt. Finally, I thought, I might be able to transfer.”

Though she lacked the courage to face the enemies swarming at school, why did she find the courage to sacrifice her family? In the end, she moved her home and school… and soon after, the ‘Great Monster’ incident occurred.

Kim Yoon-seo’s new home was located near where the ‘Great Monster’ first appeared.

The house collapsed, and at that moment, Kim Yoon-seo’s mother died. She lost her arm. The whereabouts of her father, who was on his way to work at the time, remain unknown to this day.

If they hadn’t moved, she wouldn’t have been directly involved. Her mother, and her arm, would have been intact.

Before the move, her father’s company and their home were close together, so he would have rushed to pick up the family in his car. Then, the chances of a permanent separation would have been low.

“I brought this upon myself. So, while this won’t atone for anything… I felt like my heart would crumble if I didn’t kill the ‘Great Monster.’ The reason I kept picking up things, even though Joseph opposed me, is because of this.”

“………”

“It’s ridiculous. I can’t muster the courage to fight a middle schooler who’s about 160 centimeters tall, yet I’ve resolved to fight a 100-meter monster.”

So.

“I won’t run away or anything like that. Don’t worry, Wizard.”

“That’s a relief. You’re a capable… If you had studied magic, you would have been among the top at the Magic Tower. Not to mention your courage. If you run away, this project will be ruined.”

“……… Is this consolation?”

“Usually, I prefer to offer consolation in the form of jewels, but right now, I have nothing.”

Kim Yoon-seo chuckled and pulled a cigarette pack from her pocket. Gordius’s eyes widened at the shocking sight. He had never seen her smoke before, so he thought she was the type to lead a clean lifestyle.

Ping. The sound of a Zippo lighter opening.

Chick-chick. Sparks flew, and soon cigarette smoke billowed up. Kim Yoon-seo took a deep drag of nicotine and offered it to Gordius.

“I save these because they’re precious. Looks like I have two left. Want to share one?”

“……… If it’s something like mana grass. Hmph, cough, cough, cough…!!”

“A wizard can conjure clouds, but can’t handle cloud snacks, huh?”

“……… Cough, I belong to the Golden Magic Tower. I can’t conjure clouds in the first place… Ugh.”

The two sent their mixed emotions of smoke and sorrow up into the sky. One did so naturally, the other awkwardly. Hoping that their feelings would reach a precious person somewhere far in the sky.

—

Everyone has a peculiar memory.

Chocolate chips in chocolate dough, strawberries atop whipped cream shortcake, and the sharp horn at the tip of a golem—there are special memories that stand out more than any other.

Waaah──!!

“You must win! We’ll cheer for you from here!”

“Glory to ‘Shin Stellaria’! Victory to ‘Meteor’!”

The young boy was moved as he watched the back of a knight clad in rough armor, wanting to recreate the sensation he felt. And the boy grew into a young man.

He thought that this sensation might come from size, so he dreamed of a giant golem that everyone, from tiny children to large adults, would have to look up to—but now he knows.

“Gordius the Wizard, Kim Yoon-seo. Once you step out, you can’t turn back. So… since you’re going out anyway, leave behind a line that will be remembered in history!”

“………”

That day, the knight’s back looked so trustworthy—

“──Today, the ‘Great Monster’ will not fall to the might of human civilization.”

“What then, Gordius? What on earth can defeat that beast?!”

“The three months you have invested, holding onto the thread of hope even in this waning world—those very three months will bring down the ‘Great Monster.’ Watch closely. Your victory, the victory of ‘Divine Stellaria’!”

Waaah──!!

“System all green! ‘Meteor’ Unit 2, launching!”

The cheers propel ‘Meteor’ forward. The colossal robot, towering at a massive 100 meters, took its first steps toward the world.

Thud. Boom. Boom!

Is that the heartbeat of an excited crowd, or the trembling sound of a cowardly rich man afraid of the investment’s outcome, or perhaps the earth itself rumbling?

None of those. This is the sound of a young man who has determined his path, advancing without hesitation.

Like a clumsy knight who stood against countless bandits to save a boy. Like that person who bore the desperate hopes and expectations of a young boy, fighting until the very last moment.

What he carries on his back. What he bears in his soul. He will embrace it all and overcome.

—

Inside the cockpit, connected side by side, the one-armed pilot Kim Yoon-seo skillfully maneuvered the robot’s movements. Meanwhile, Gordius’s role was to assist with the left arm’s movements and oversee the magic engine.

Beep. The display powered on, and the external cameras began to operate. Screens from various angles filled the view.

There it is. The ‘Great Monster,’ once again wrapped in its white shell.

“Distance to the ‘Great Monster’ is about 1 km; it still appears to be in a dormant state. Should we rush in and grab it by the hair?”

“No. It possesses a keen ability to sense magic. The ‘Meteor,’ with its magic engines plastered all over, has likely already been detected.”

“But… there’s no movement?”

“It’s a ruse. It’s a cunning creature.”

But they already knew its characteristics. They wouldn’t be fooled twice. ‘Meteor’ approached cautiously, never forgetting its guard.

Then, the lower camera captured unnatural movements in the ground.

“…What is that?!”

“It’s its tail. It seems to be hiding its tail underground, ready to strike like a ‘Ground Spike’!”

“So it’s coming in like a serpent? Leave it to me!”

Suuu…

Boom──!!

The white tail burst forth, shattering the ground. Simultaneously, the magic engine whirred to life, supplying power to the boosters attached to ‘Meteor.’

Zzzzt!

The boosters on the front of the shins flared briefly, quickly activating. ‘Meteor’ pulled its legs back to evade the attack. And then.

Crack!

“I got it!”

I grabbed the tip of the tail with my hand. The giant monster twisted its body, seemingly flustered.

“What are you planning to do?”

“It seems like it enjoys being knocked over, so I’m going to make it fall too!”

Screeeech──!!

The magic engine trembled. The boosters on my shoulders, arms, and waist all fired simultaneously, applying force as I pulled on the tail.

Thud thud thud! Boom!

The tail was yanked from the ground, and the massive form of the ‘giant monster’ toppled backward. Since I was still holding onto the tail, there was no chance of an attack from the side!

‘Meteor’ didn’t miss the opportunity. I charged forward and slammed my heavy fist into the slippery head of the giant monster.

Splat! Bang! Bang──!!

Each punch landed with the acceleration of the boosters. And the size of the body was now 20 meters larger than the first unit. The mass being struck was different!

“I’ll respond to the giant monster’s movements. Keep hitting it.”

“You told me to hit evenly, right?”

“Yes. In the previous battle, we entered phase two after ten minutes of fighting. It becomes much more agile, so be careful…”

“Uh, it’s tearing out right now?! We haven’t even hit five minutes yet?”

This wasn’t a variable. Rather, it was a boon. It seemed the damage had been greater than expected. Gordius smiled slyly and calmly issued orders.

“We’re going according to plan!”

“Operation ‘Decoy,’ confirmed! Continuing!”

Zzzzt. Zzzziiing. Whack!

Kya-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha──!!

The soft, white exterior was torn apart, revealing the black dragon. Its gaping maw opened, unleashing a roar that was almost a laugh. Just hearing it sent shivers through my emotions—a wicked roar.

In phase two, the black dragon moved with the speed of a wild animal.

Swish, smack!

The ‘giant monster,’ having quickly rolled away, struck twice with its flexible tail in that brief moment. The armored lower section broke off, and the durability indicator on the display turned yellow.

It had been a deliberate release. There was a reason I hadn’t firmly secured the mount position.

Whoosh-!

As the tail swung continuously, ‘Meteor’ guarded with my right arm while gradually creating distance. A moment later, Kim Yoon-seo reported.

“…The tail length has increased since earlier! Our prediction was correct!”

The giant monster’s phase two was encased in a solid, dragon-like form, appearing extremely hard and metallic. However, Gordius suspected one thing from its cunning.

In the fight with the first unit, despite having such rapid mobility… it finished off the battle in a ‘hugging’ manner. If that had been intentional?

Because it is lightweight, it seems like the best approach is to press down with weight, but what if it becomes more dangerous the closer you get to it?

From this, a hypothesis was formed: shape-shifting. There’s a possibility that it still retains the traits of Phase 1, which had an amorphous body.

“If I embrace it… it’s expected to shoot out sharp thorns from its entire body, stabbing like a chestnut burr! I think that’s right!”

“Yes. We’ll keep our distance and look for an opportunity. Stay calm.”

“Calm… calm!”

Stay calm.

Kuwung! Kuwung!

The fierce battle continues. The giant monster attacks mercilessly with its claws and tail, while ‘Meteor’ gradually wears down, accumulating damage.

Even when attempting a counterattack, the mobility is different. Even swinging a fist with boosters, the ‘Giant Monster’ easily dodges. It felt like a slow death.

Still, stay calm.

“Right arm glove transmission! Should I spread it out instead?!”

“Even if it’s bent, let’s use it to the end. It’s better that way. Just cut off the mana supply going to that side’s mana engine!”

“The power source condition is bad! Ugh, can we hold on…?!”

“…Alright, lower the output of the mana engine!”

Wuuung──.

The ‘Meteor’ shakes. It looks as if fatigue has accumulated, making its movements sluggish. The ‘Giant Monster’ grinned, its mouth wide open. It seemed like the time to end this game was approaching.

Bang! Kwang!

It pounds. It pounds until the guard opens. With a clear advantage in range and speed, it’s possible to unleash attacks alone. Thus, the exhaustion accumulates, revealing a fatal opening.

The tail of the giant monster shot out like a black spear. It glided, yet with great force, towards the place where the mana of two people could be felt.

It was a direct hit trajectory aimed at the head of ‘Meteor’ Unit 2. Even trying to move the body to dodge was too late, and the armor wasn’t thick enough to block the tail.

Gordius and Kim Yoon-seo steeled themselves as they watched the tail flying in from ‘slightly above.’ This was the last chance.

This place was the decisive point.

…Calmly, they feigned death.

‘Meteor’ Unit 2 had, unlike before, moved the cockpit to the area near the chest. And it had two Type II mana engines placed on its head, designed to resemble a person.

It had been set up as bait from the very beginning.

Swaaack──! Kwajik!

The head of ‘Meteor’ was pierced. The machine crumbled as it lost its pilot… feigning destruction. The ‘Giant Monster’ laughed. And now, to completely ruin its prey, it raised its claws.

Now.

“Now!”

“Confirmed, all magic engines operating at maximum output! Zero adjustment!”

“Orbit stable. Operating within error margins. Ready.”

“『Meteor Strike』 all ready!”

Wheeeeeeeeee──!!

Light flashes. A blue glow radiates in all directions from the engines running at 120%. Clank, clank! The unarmed 『Meteor Strike』 unfurls its external cover, revealing its true form.

From noble mtl dot com

A massive stake, its sharp tip spiraling.

“Launch──!!”

Kwaaah──!!

The rocket propellant roars to life. The output that sends human civilization soaring into space is unleashed solely to take down a single monster. The tip of the stake made contact with the beast’s chest.

And then.

Grrr, grrrr!

As if mocking the scales, it tore through everything that obstructed its path.

Fwooosh──!!

In an instant, a sound like thunder echoed through the sky. A massive hole had been blasted into the monster’s chest. The creature shook its head, as if unable to comprehend the situation.

The monster did not even scream.

“⋯⋯⋯⋯.”

“⋯⋯⋯⋯.”

A silence fell, as if time had stopped.

Kim Yoon-seo, who had tightly shut her eyes at the moment of launch, slowly opened them and murmured.

“⋯⋯Did, did we get it?”

“You, what do you mean by that⋯⋯.”

Before the words could finish.

Gooo.

From the gaping wound in the monster’s chest, an immense surge of magical energy began to swirl.

“Hey!!”

“Ah, no! Then what should I say, did we get it or not?!”

“Just wait quietly⋯⋯!”

“Is this my fault?!”

Could it be that there was a third phase? Gordius bit his nails, glaring at the monster. That flow, he had seen it before. It resembled the moment when Woo Chae-rin self-destructed.

Only this time, the magnitude was beyond imagination.

Are you planning to leave a surprise gift until the very end? This was no longer just about the pilot’s survival. If that thing explodes, I instinctively felt that the world would be in danger.

Kihihihi, uhhahahahaha!

An ominous laughter echoed from within the magical barrier. Gordius speculated that its true nature was a vast information bomb, filled with things that could shatter a person’s mind.

I can’t leave it like this. I’ve won everything, but I can’t let it end in tragedy at the last moment. I had to find a way. But… how?

At that moment.

Flash!

Gordius noticed that the tattoo on his wrist was glowing. The light from the tattoo grew brighter, enveloping his entire body in an instant.

He squeezed his eyes shut against the brightness that rivaled the sun in the sky.

—

And when he opened his eyes again.

“Congratulations.”

“………”

“You can leave the rest to me. This was… a preparation for this moment.”

In the empty white space, Gordius faced the mad wizard.