BXBX NOVEL Chapter 284: The Competitor (4)
“Hmmm…”
This civilian ship was navigating this remote area without fear. Then they launched a preemptive attack in response to their communication attempt. He still couldn’t believe it. However… that was nothing compared to now.
“…Vice Captain, what does that look like to you?”
“…It seems like a human.”
“Hoo! So, you mean there’s nothing wrong with my eyesight, right?”
Although it was an outdated aircraft, it was still a large ship. Therefore, about 400 unmanned fighters were sent out to capture them as intact as possible. However, only one human came out of the opponent’s hangar in response.
“A human? He doesn’t even have a respirator device!”
Instead of protective gear, he had a sword at his waist.
“…And he has two eyes? Are there members of the unevolved human race still in our galaxy?”
“Is that possible? It seems that he is a challenger.”
“A challenger… I see. That’s why he’s doing such a crazy thing…”
Captain Maenuvin finally relaxed. He felt silly to think it might be a trap.
“Then, that old battleship is also an item, right?”
“Yes. Why don’t we just blow up the whole thing away since we can’t use it anyway?”
“Are you sure? Besides, if he’s a challenger or whatever, we can still sell him as a pet.”
After making his decision, Captain Maenuvin entered the capture command into his main control box.
Then-
—What are you doing now?
A communication came from the enemy ship. The content was completely incomprehensible.
—You have to run away quickly!
At first, they thought it was delivered to them by mistake. However…
—If you lose to such a savage captain who knows nothing of the elegance of naval space battle, the entire space civilization won’t accept it!
It was the mournful voice of a teenage girl. Nevertheless…
—Screw you! Why are you staying still? Are you an idiot? If you don’t want to do it, I will!
The three ships at anchor began to move in unison. It was unbelievable, but the control of their battleships had been handed over to the opponent.
“That cheap aircraft crossed the firewall without docking?”
“Captain! The engine is running at full power!”
“What are you doing? Hurry up and block the fuel first!”
Maenuvin quickly gave instructions to the crew members. He didn’t know how this was possible, but it should stop if the fuel supply were cut off. And was that judgment right?
Thump-!
Their ships stopped. However, he didn’t have a chance to breathe a sigh of relief.
“C-Captain! The cut-off fuel system is not working!”
“…What? What does that mean!”
The space battleship was stopped. But the fuel wasn’t cut off?
Maenuvin reflexively operated the screen to display the engine exhaust pipe.
“Damn it.”
Due to the nature of Raijin fuel, the flame was colorless, but he could see dimensional refraction indicating they were firing for all they were worth.
Whoooooosssssh-!
But that’s why it didn’t make sense to him even more.
“…Then why did it stop?”
The engine power was enough to put the enemy vessel so far away they couldn’t be seen. But they weren’t moving? No, rather…
Whoong-!
They were being pulled.
—Aah, it’s already late…!
“It’s too late? What are you talking about?”
—…That crazy captain has no intention of letting you go!
“Captain?”
Maenuvin operated the screen again to display a human figure standing in front of the hangar. The human, holding a sword in one hand, spread his empty palm toward them.
“Are you saying this is what that human is doing?”
—You’re wrong.
“…?”
—Our captain is not a human being…
It was a sorrowed voice.
* * *
“One Change.”
The moment Yoon-seok’s sword fell, hundreds of unmanned aircraft exploded in unison like firecrackers.
—…You screwed it up in the end.
Yoon-seok tilted his head. How could she say that even though the Captain came forward to stop them?
‘Come to think of it. She told me to stop when I left the hangar earlier.’
Why the hell was Lynn like that?
—T-the meaning of my existence…!
Yoon-seok realized the reason belatedly. Maybe Lynn wanted to show off.
‘…I feel sorry about it now.’
Even if he went back, he would make the same judgment. After all, a captain had to let go of their self-interest and make tactical decisions.
-Tactics? What tactic is that to smash the enemy with a single sword!
Yoon-seok tilted his head.
“…?”
Tactic. To put it bluntly, it means fighting skills. In that sense…
‘Using a sword is my tactic.’
—So what tactic is that!
‘Then what’s a tactic?’
—Tactics are generally the most effective… a-and efficient…
Lynn sighed loudly.
-Huh! Nevermind. I won’t say anything!
Yoon-seok turned his attention away from Lynn and looked at the enemy’s main battleship. It seemed like it was trying to widen the distance, so he used his Magic to pull it in… then the engine went out at some point, and now it was being pulled powerlessly closer.
‘I’ll have to finish it first.’
Yoon-seok raised his sword. But then, Lynn urgently dissuaded him.
-Wait! Can’t you see the white flag over there, Captain?
There was a white flag hanging over the ship. They must have lost their fighting spirit when they saw the unmanned aircrafts exploding a while ago.
Yoon-seok sheathed his sword.
‘Did I win…?”
—Stop pretending it was a tough battle!
Easy or difficult, the battle was over.
‘…So what now?’
As a civilized person from Earth, attacking an enemy showing a white flag was a no-go. It was hard to let them go, but he couldn’t bring them along either. Lynn sighed and offered him advice as his worries deepened.
—It’s rather good.
‘Good?’
—The Autemer Alliance is the second-largest rebel force here.
‘Rebel? You said they were space pirates!’
—…It’s something similar.
Anyway, that must mean that the home planet was around here.
‘Even if it’s such a country, it’s a little bit too far to go there and wipe it out…’
—Who asked you to do that? I was trying to say that using their warp gates as a condition for returning the prisoners can greatly reduce our travel time.
Lynn explained that it would be possible to arrive in a day if they could use the portal.
‘In short, it’s a blessing in disguise, right?’
—Where in the world is the disguise? Captain?
‘…Then let’s say good fortune rolls in.’
It was like catching a mouse while stepping back from a cow, but anyway, it was good that the travel time could be reduced. Yoon-seok docked with the battleship with Lynn to negotiate.
“I’m Captain Maenuvin of the Autemer Alliance’s Third Plunder Fleet. I hope you will only take my neck, the commander’s, and show mercy to the crew members according to custom.”
Was there a manual even in this situation? The enemy’s captain stood with a solemn look, gathering hundreds of people in one place behind them.
This made Yoon-seok look like a pirate.
“I promise you. I, the Captain, am not going to kill anyone here today.”
Yoon-seok, who reassured them politely, copied what Lynn said. In short, he said that they would now be used as prisoners of war and as a means of negotiating the use of their Warp Gate.
“Using Warp Gate…”
The third eye on Captain Maenuvin’s forehead began to scatter a strange light. Was he determined to die here for the sake of his country?
“Are you not happy with this offer?”
“N-no, it’s not like that. It is just… it is just strange that you would visit the Alliance just because of a Warp Gate.”
“…?”
“Simply put, is it okay as long as you can warp?”
That’s right. That’s why we’re going to your Alliance.
When Yoon-seok nodded, Maenuvin carefully continued.
“Then how about opening the Gate here? It should be enough for your single battleship to go over.”
“Hmm…”
Seeing that he was looking straight into Yoon-seok’s eyes, it didn’t seem like he was lying. But then, why did Lynn give such an inefficient route?
Lynn’s expression already told him.
-Ah…!
‘You must have forgotten.’
* * *
After about thirty minutes of energy condensation, a spiral resembling a black hole emerged in space. For some reason, it looked ominous to rush in, but…
—I didn’t expect it had already reached an era when a battleship could open a Warp Gate.
From what Lynn was saying, there seemed to be no problem.
“Okay, so let’s pass through.”
—…Rokai.
Yoon-seok crossed the Warp Gate after being seen off (?) by the Third Plunder Fleet. He didn’t know how it worked, but it was a unique experience.
Flash-!
A momentary flash of light blinded him. All sense of direction was lost, and darkness came. Of course, it wasn’t long. After a second later, another flash of light exploded, revealing a new stretch of space.
—That green planet is Zarostan.
Shaking off his daze and looking to where Lynn pointed, Yoon-seok saw a green planet ahead. He was curious about what kind of culture existed there…
Well, they didn’t come here for sightseeing.
“So, where is she?”
—Identification will be required.
Lynn closed her eyes to find Cheon-ma’s location. But did it not go well? Soon after, she opened her eyes again, frowning.
“Are there any problems?”
—Coordinate identification is not working.
“You didn’t forget something this time, too, did you?”
—What the hell do you think of me?
“Then why can’t you find her location?”
Lynn paused for a moment.
—Judging from the fact that biometric information couldn’t be identified, she must have gone to a place where she could not be tracked.
“A place where she cannot be tracked.”
When Yoon-seok tilted her head, Lynn mentioned the Space And Time Prison.
—And, coincidentally, today is the time for the released fusion energy to be supersaturated.
Lynn’s guess was likely to be correct if this information was true. Unless she went back to the Tower, that was the only reason why Cheon-ma couldn’t be tracked.
“How long does it take to get there?”
—It will take about three hours at maximum acceleration.
“Then can we arrive before the entrance closes?”
—Yes.
Of course, there was the possibility that Cheon-ma didn’t enter the Space and Time Prison. However…
‘…There will be no danger wherever she is.’
If they had to discuss the urgent part, it would be Lee Su-yeon. Without hesitation, Yoon-seok headed to the Space and Time Prison.
Bzzzzzzz-!
A few hours later, a planet colored with blue light and emitting something sparky could be seen through the screen. This was the Space and Time Prison, but…
—I don’t see any of the Imperial Forces that should be guarding nearby.
“We are going to break through anyway. Isn’t it a good thing?”
—That’s right, but… there is something unpleasant about it.
Yoon-seok also felt it strange after listening to Lynn.
“You said it’ll close soon. Let’s just hurry up and go in.”
It didn’t change their decision. Before long, a blue light immediately enveloped them. Then…
‘I didn’t expect this…’
A message that could only be seen in the Tower appeared.
[You have entered the Space-Time World.]
[The number of people currently entering is 9,412,781.]
Looking back, this type of message also appeared in the Heavenly Sword Cave. If so, did this mean this place was also artificially created by someone?
[There are a total of 10 rankers from the Arena that are entering.]
[Special rules are applied.]
Ten duel rankers?
Was this a hot tourist destination?
“It’s interesting.”
Yoon-seok’s lips curled up.