Chapter 171

Episode 171. The Beginning of the End (3)

****

[Prophecy]

[Author: Dr. Kim]

[A document recording conversations with deified entities contained or allied with the Foundation, on the topic of whether “something big is about to happen.”]

[The reliability of the statements made by the contained deified entities cannot be guaranteed. It’s better to understand them in context rather than taking them at face value.]

—-

[First. Chloe]

[What? The Foundation Headquarters plans to retrieve the Director. They see Dr. Kim as something they created.]

[Dr. Kim will understand what I mean.]

[The Administrators have lived for decades with a power that makes the term “god” pale in comparison, as the entire material world absolutely obeys their every word.]

[Their arrogance knows no bounds.]

[※ It’s hard to take Dr. Chloe’s words at face value, but this is the most reasonable and logical conclusion we’ve reached so far.]

—-

[Second. The Black Dragon’s Egg]

[It’s coming.]

[Wake me.]

[※ Niguras-4, the Black Dragon’s Egg, was recovered from Lee Se-ah’s personal locker. We learned today that it can communicate in Morse code. The Head of Research is the root of all evil.]

—-

[Third. Ganymede]

[I intend to help the Foundation, especially Dr. Kim. I, Ganymede, was born to aid the Foundation, and I have used every possible means to support the Foundation’s activities in all situations!]

[That said, I’m not sure what the current crisis is or when it will arrive.]

[※ Ganymede was imprisoned in the isolation room along with other mechanical artifacts.]

[※ By the way, the medium allowing us to communicate with Ganymede is a fragment of a hovercraft that was destroyed on Jeju Island.]

—-

[Fourth. Jörmungandr]

[Destruction accompanies all humans.]

[All humans, and everything created by humans, will eventually return to the Abyss.]

[If you have an unsolvable problem, bring it to the Abyss. I’ll show you how even the most beautiful and powerful things eventually become worm food.]

—-

[Fifth. Cernunnos]

[You’re back again.]

[Have you come to beg for power? Pathetic little creature. If you want my power, accept the blessing of the Garden.]

[※ I have no idea what he’s talking about. Why does he keep rambling about unrelated things…… Cernunnos didn’t seem to be in a good mood today.]

—-

[Sixth. Popo]

[Friend. Danger.]

[※ That was all. Popo cannot speak more than one word at a time.]

—-

[Seventh. ■■■-■]

[]

[※ ■■■ ■■■■■.]

****

Research Department, Basement Level 5 Special Weapons Research Building.

“Take a look at this, Dr. Kim.”

“Is this a mechanical supernatural phenomenon?”

“No. This is something we made.”

What is he talking about?

The Head of the Mechanical Division had his face covered with a mask and goggles. He was wearing a lab coat that had turned almost black from grease stains.

The Foundation’s researchers are a peculiar bunch, but the lab coat seems to be the Mechanical Division Head’s way of dressing formally.

There’s no logical reason to wear a lab coat over maintenance overalls.

“The Clockwork Angel was the most powerful supernatural phenomenon we’ve encountered, at least physically. I’ve been wondering why that was.”

“You’ve been wondering?”

“Well, we believe it’s due to the Fragments of the Clockwork God. It seems the angel was created as part of the Clockwork God.”

I’ve been curious about that too. What was that Clockwork Angel made of that it didn’t die even after being hit by a Vulcan cannon? It didn’t make sense.

“So it was a Fragment of the Clockwork God.”

“With this, there are now three Fragments of the Clockwork God stored in Facility 82: one eye, a pair of wings, and the Clockwork God’s heart.”

“The heart?”

“Yeah, you know, the one we took from the Clockwork Dragon at the abandoned factory.”

“Ah.”

That must have been Wilson’s debut. Probably.

“The Clockwork Heart was an item managed by the Soviet military. The related documents were destroyed when the Soviet Union collapsed, so it’s a bit of a mess.”

“I see.”

“Anyway, let’s get to the point. We’ve recreated the wings used by the Clockwork Angel. If you equip them, you should be able to fly.”

“Have you tried them?”

“I have. They fly.”

Interesting.

The Mechanical Division Head gestured toward a pair of wings hanging on one side of the lab. Wings made of brass machinery. They didn’t feel cold.

They were crafted to resemble feathers. On the other hand, it felt a bit unsettling.

What kind of wings did Icarus use when he flew too close to the sun? Weren’t they wings with brass feathers? It’s a bit…… bitter.

“Thank you.”

“You don’t look too happy?”

“No, it’s fine.”

“Even if you don’t like them, give them a try!”

It’s not that I don’t like them. It’s just that they remind me of something symbolizing the arrogance of trying to reach the sky, which made me feel uneasy for a moment.

I picked up the mechanical device.

“But this isn’t connected?”

“Yeah. How should I explain it? It’s a hovering type of wing that floats behind your back. Having it directly attached and flapping would look a bit ridiculous.”

Fair point.

I strapped on the harness and moved the Clockwork Wings behind my back. The sound of gears meshing and the rustling of metal feathers could be heard.

“But the shine is a bit disappointing.”

If it’s this exposed, I doubt it’ll be practical. Won’t I just get shot down as soon as I take off?

“We’ll paint it gray.”

Come to think of it, there’s no reason it can’t be painted. If it can be modified, it can be painted.

I probably won’t use it during the day anyway. I’d just get shot. Maybe I can try flying at night.

I crossed my arms and moved the wings.

Since it’s a Fragment of the Clockwork God, it should be able to block bullets and allow flight. But wouldn’t it be more useful as a close-combat weapon or a bulletproof shield than for flying?

“Thank you.”

“It’s an honor to serve, Director.”

The Foundation’s technology has advanced, but making humans fly is still a distant dream.

At least without supernatural phenomena. Personal jetpacks and the like are just too cumbersome, complex, and noisy.

Icarus flew too close to the sun, and the wax on his wings melted, causing him to fall.

It can’t be helped. Let’s just not fly when the sun is up. Icarus’s sin was arrogance.

I need to remember that I’m human. I need to remember that humility is the key to survival.

****

Peace achieved through strength.

It’s one of the Foundation’s most basic principles. Force is the simplest way to control a situation. In that sense……

“I heard you made weapons for the Hero. Can’t you make something similar for me?”

Hasti tilted her head.

“Of course.”

I had been planning to. It had just been a plan until now, but my thoughts have changed.

If we need to prepare for war for whatever reason, shouldn’t I give my people as much power as possible? Until now, their safe containment was the priority, but the situation is different.

Here’s the list I’m thinking of:

Nanami, Dr. Chae, Ahn Yuri, Hasti.

A direct team of high-grade humanoid supernatural phenomena capable of facing an army alone, controlling the weather, and altering the terrain.

I’m not sure if it’ll work, but if we have to wage war, it’s worth a try.

“Still thinking. A full-body suit with artificial muscles and bulletproof plates. Maybe a pistol. Want to try a replica of an invisibility cloak? Combined with magic, it might make you completely undetectable.”

Hasti tilted her head.

“That’s nice, but I think those are all secondary issues. For a mage, the staff is the most important.”

Hasti doesn’t get it. The basics are always the most important. A soldier needs socks and a canteen even if they don’t have a gun.

Anyway.

“Then we’ll provide the equipment, and you can adjust it with our alchemy team and magic. We’ll think more about the staff. You need something powerful for the staff’s core, right?”

“Yes.”

The Foundation’s standard-issue magic staffs usually use gemstones engraved with runes.

Hasti probably wants something more special than lab-grown gemstones…… What would be good?

“Take a look around and pick something. We’ll make the staff body from Cernunnos’s horn, finish it with meteorite iron, and find something for the core.”

There are plenty of options. Really plenty.

****

Meanwhile, a gift from the Foundation arrived at the Anomalous Phenomena Response Bureau. Foundation staff in heavy armor brought a suspicious icebox in a bulletproof refrigerated truck.

Administrator Lee took off her sunglasses.

“Are you the Director? We’ll deliver it directly in front of the Director of the Anomalous Phenomena Response Bureau.”

“That’s me.”

The scientists from the Anomalous Phenomena Response Bureau received the icebox from the Foundation’s truck.

Administrator Lee and the Director of the Anomalous Phenomena Response Bureau quietly watched as the icebox was delivered.

“There are 240 syringes. No need for refrigeration. Administer them to someone who has just died or is about to die. If it looks like they’re going to die, you can administer it just before combat.”

“What is it?”

“A second chance.”

Administrator Lee frowned slightly.

Inside the icebox was the Popo Serum the Foundation had been stockpiling over the past few months. There’s a reason we haven’t used it until now……

---