STL

Chapter 27: One-Man Army

Added 2025-06-15 18:31:04 +0000 UTC

Scent (4)

Comet exchanged a few pleasantries with Kanputcha, the diplomat from the Plun Empire.

She didn't want to exchange pleasantries while the Chairwoman and government officials watched with eerie silence, but she had no choice since Kanputcha was doing so.

"I would like to continue our conversation, Comet, but due to a busy schedule, I must depart. I ask for your understanding."

Kanputcha bowed its mechanical body politely.

"If you are busy, I cannot stop you."

"I will visit you again next time. Farewell."

Kanputcha turned and walked away from the Han River. The mechanical body slowly disappeared behind the building.

The silence that had enveloped the Han River, save for the voices of Comet and Kanputcha, was soon broken by the chatter between the Chairwoman and the Japanese diplomat.

As the focused gazes dissipated, Comet sighed in relief.

"I wonder what kind of schedule the Empire's diplomat has?"

『Hmph. Don't think too highly of it. It's probably going to find a place to stay. Since there isn't an Imperial embassy here, it will have to hurry or it will be sleeping on the streets.』

"Uh... it feels strange when you give such a realistic answer."

『Hmph!』

Comet looked at the Han River. A Magic airship was obstructing the flow of the river as it landed.

"Kanputcha looks like a small jellyfish, just like the Princess. What's the connection?"

『A commoner wouldn't understand. And this body is not a jellyfish!』

"I see."

『Your reply is lukewarm? Did you understand?』

Comet took in the Han River with her eyes. Whatever had happened here, the river flowed on serenely.

As she focused her mind, alien phenomena appeared along with letters.

<The King's Road>
Congratulations, Black Comet.
You, the guide of souls, the terror of the living, and the dazzling 13th star, have earned the right to challenge the throne.
Defeat the challenges of the mighty stars and ascend to the throne.
Objective: The Throne of the Korean Peninsula
Reward: Diplomatic Rights of the Korean Peninsula
Comet stared intently at the reward section at the bottom.
Diplomatic Rights.
Diplomatic Rights...
Diplomatic Rights...

While she was spending time in her room, the Chairwoman called for her. Following the aide, she arrived at a huge swimming pool. A Magic airship was floating in the pool. It was clearly smaller than the airship the Japanese diplomat had arrived on, but it wasn't small either.

Researchers from the National Defense Science Institute, or so it seemed, were around the airship with mechanical equipment, and the Chairwoman was watching the research site next to them. It seemed they had temporarily placed it in the swimming pool for research.

Noticing Comet's arrival, the Chairwoman approached.

Comet looked at the airship.

"Where did you get this?"

"The Japanese diplomat handed over three of them. Very generous."

"There are two more?"

"Not right now... More importantly, take a look while you're here. See if any Necromancy methods have been implemented."

"Shall I?"

After asking for the researchers' understanding, she examined the airship. It was a fantastical airship without sails. The design seemed to straddle somewhere between practicality and fantasy.

『Not bad. It reflects Earth's culture well! But it would have been better if it had a pirate flag. A ship should have a pirate flag, don't you think?』

"I don't think that would be a good idea."

Entering the airship, she saw that there was living space, though not spacious. Unlike what one might expect from something made by jellyfish aliens, it was designed for human use. It was truly bizarre.

Entering the bridge, she saw the control panel. It was a wheel-shaped helm.

"How do you steer this?"

"It's said to be similar to the methods of pre-modern humans. Isn't that amazing?"

"Wow."

The Chairwoman pressed a button on the control panel. The walls and floor of the bridge turned transparent, and the situation outside the airship was clearly visible. She could see the researchers examining the airship from the outside.

"Oh..."

"Does it seem like Necromancy?"

"Not at all. I don't think Necromancy is reflected here at all."

"I thought so too?"

"What do the Magic scholars say?"

"They say they will work hard to understand the technology."

She exited the airship. The Chairwoman lit a cigarette.

"I sent two airships with diplomats. To Japan and China. I wanted to send one to the United States, but it's too far, and it would be a waste to send one of the research airships."

"What about the monsters attacking the airships?"

The severance of diplomacy and trade was largely due to the fact that communication was blocked, but also because the sky and sea routes were blocked by monsters.

"Surprisingly, or perhaps not surprisingly, these airships are said to be immune to monster attacks. They say it's been magically treated."

"That sounds too good to be true."

"Hahaha!"

A cigarette burned quickly. The Chairwoman threw the finished cigarette into the trash can, took out a new cigarette, and lit it.

"An inferior democratic nation..."

The elected official exhaled cigarette smoke. The white smoke floated and then dissipated.

"A government that doesn't uphold the constitution, is it still a democratic government?"

The Chairwoman muttered softly.

One of the researchers handed out bags of bread to the researchers. They also handed out canned drinks one by one. It seemed they were planning to eat simply on-site and continue working.

The Chairwoman threw the finished cigarette into the trash can.

"Japan has changed its political system to be centered around the Emperor and has established diplomatic relations with the Empire."

"Oh..."

Comet twisted her side hair. The Chairwoman grabbed the hand twisting her hair and gently lowered it.

"I know what you're thinking with the Empire mixed in with Japan, but don't think that way. The Japanese diplomat also explained it politely, and this Emperor has always been proactive in clearing up past history. It didn't have much effect because he didn't have any real power. If it's changed to be Emperor-centered this time, it's not so bad."

The Chairwoman pointed to the airship.

"A debt of the heart, they say."

"Isn't that what we used to say to Vietnam?"

The Chairwoman shrugged.

"We've sent diplomats to neighboring countries, so it would be good to recover Incheon sooner than planned. So, I'm asking you. Could you find out the locations of the relay and blocker in Incheon?"

"Of course."

Comet arrived in Incheon in the morning. Dan Ga-yeon, who had become extremely busy thanks to the appearance of the Kanputcha diplomat, did not come along.

『Commoner, you've finally left Seoul. Congratulations!』

"It's just the next town over."

『If you're going to be like that, isn't China the next town over from here?』

"Does it work like that? Amazing."

It was an easy task since she only needed to obtain the data from the devices. She just needed to create a pool of blood and use the Magic that the Princess taught her in various places.

As she walked down the street, a few citizens, though rare, offered their thanks. She heard them lightly as she passed by, but thanks were thanks.

Comet unfolded a discarded newspaper. A large photo was on the front page. It was a photo of Dan Ga-yeon and Comet holding bouquets at the ceremony. Only communication in Seoul had been resolved, but it seemed that the media was starting to become active outside of Seoul as well.

Comet slowly read the contents of the newspaper. It was critical of the government, but the content about Comet was favorable. It seemed that Comet's identification of the cause of the communication blackout and rift occurrence, and her proposal of solutions, were impressive.

"...Princess, what was I going to do here again?"

『Aren't you going to kill people?』

"That's right."

Comet felt strange.

"I really should refrain from taking night walks now."

『Does your conscience prick you?』

"I don't know about conscience... It's just that if my killing spree gets reported in the media, it'll become noisy."

『Huhu. How amusing. If you're confused, let me explain that that's not conscience. It's community ethics based on self-interest. But the result is the same, so you can be proud.』

"Princess, you're really subtly helpful."

『Why do you insist on using the expression "subtly"? This body is incredibly helpful!』

"Yes, yes."

Comet moved towards the coastal pier. Many companies had gone bankrupt due to the severance of trade. There would be plenty of abandoned buildings near the pier. If she wandered around such places, she might encounter looters or criminals.

Comet stood in front of a pier warehouse. There was no one there, and the door was locked. The windows were closed, and there were even blinds inside.

"Don't you think there's something here?"

『What makes you say that?』

"First of all, it feels like they're hiding too much. And there's not much dust on the handle. How often would you need to use a pier warehouse when there's no trade?"

Comet pointed to the sliding door handle.

『I see. Good observation! Let's go inside quickly.』

"Just a moment."

Comet grabbed the warehouse handle and pulled it to the side. As expected, it was locked.

"...How do I open this?"

『You just need to break the lock.』

"It's clearly private property, isn't it? What if I break it and the warehouse is perfectly fine?"

『That's probably not the case.』

"Princess, you have no conscience."

『...Is it okay for me to be angry about this?』

"But it's true."

Comet circled around the warehouse. Unlike the large door on the front, there was a door on the side that only people could pass through. Comet examined the doorknob. It was opened with a key.

"I can go in here."

She raised her Spiritual Power. The Spiritual Power that entered the doorknob touched and pushed the internal structure one by one, unlocking it. It wasn't a magical technique. The principle is the same as opening a lock with a clip.

With a click, the door opened.

『How are you so skilled at this?』

"I've never stolen anything."

『I haven't even asked that yet.』

"I've just unlocked a few locks as a hobby. You never know when it might come in handy."

The warehouse was filled with food. There wasn't much dust, the types were mixed up, and the arrangement was clumsy. It was clearly the result of looting. She didn't expect much, but there was also someone lying down, like a looter.

The looter was asleep on top of boxes of beer cans, wearing pants that had a bit of blood on them.

Comet approached and nudged him awake. The looter opened his eyes with a dazed expression. He looked tired from living a diligent life of looting under the cover of night.

When their eyes met, Comet lightly bowed her head.

"Hello."

There was no response. The looter was terrified and gathered Mana at his fingertips. Before the Mana could turn into magic, Comet swung her knife. The looter's arm and wrist were separated. The Mana, which was about to turn into lightning at his fingertips, lost control and scattered. A follow-up strike killed the looter.

Comet crouched down in front of the pool of blood. The blood splattered around was messy.

"Princess's magic is good, but the way you use it is too dirty."

『What? Am I, of all people, supposed to hear that from a Necromancer?』

Comet dipped her index finger in the blood and drew a square. After a while, she was able to obtain the data.

She slightly damaged the corpse and filled a tumbler with blood. Now, all that was left was to move to another location and use magic.

"Even if I collect more data from a few more places, I'll still have time left. Did I come too early?"

『Then let's stop by other places.』

"Where?"

『Isn't there that religion in Incheon?』

If she was talking about the pseudo-religion where Kwon Hyun-seung was staying, then yes.

"That's right. But I left the map with the location in my room."

『Hehe. Don't worry. I remember the location!』