Chapter 31: One-Man Army

Question (4)

Comet exchanged greetings with Kanputcha.

"Nice to meet you, Kanputcha Diplomat. I didn't expect to see you here."

"I am equally pleased to be greeted so warmly."

Comet nodded and continued organizing the paper shopping bag.

"What were you doing?"

"I was just splashing around since I had some free time. What brings you here, Kanputcha Diplomat?"

"I came to speak with Black Comet."

Kanputcha leaned against the rooftop railing. It looked as if it were taking in the surrounding scenery, but Comet couldn't fathom how a headless mechanical body could appreciate the view.

"A beautiful landscape. Although circumstances have led to some destruction, one can still sense the traces of a brilliant civilization."

Comet also leaned against the railing and surveyed the scene. She could see Kwon Hyun-seung and the pseudo-religious leader still negotiating in the surrounded clearing. Other than that, familiar modern buildings met her eyes.

"That is why it is all the more regrettable. The pulse of civilization is fading. Do you not feel it, Comet? The tremors of a declining civilization."

Comet directed her gaze toward where the head of the mechanical body should be. Then, realizing it was headless, she lowered her gaze to the aquarium on its torso.

She could see a small jellyfish alien.

"Indeed. I feel it vividly."

Comet smiled faintly.

"I was hoping to have samgyetang today, but I don't think I'll be able to find a restaurant that's open."

"You enjoy eating, I see."

"I wouldn't say I enjoy it that much, but it's delicious."

Comet suddenly had a craving for jellyfish salad. She didn't voice the thought.

A mechanical arm gestured in the air, and the space rippled. A plate appeared in the mechanical hand, containing a slice of cake and a fork.

"This is an Imperial special strawberry cake. Please, have a taste."

The plate was offered. Comet stared at the slice of cake for a moment before accepting it. She placed it on the railing and picked up the fork in one hand.

"Do you have cake in the Plun Empire?"

"Of course not. This was specially prepared for Black Comet. It would be uncomfortable to eat standing, so let me arrange a seat for you."

The mechanical hand snapped its fingers, and a tea table appeared on the rooftop. Comet blinked. She didn't know what kind of Magic this was.

Kanputcha pulled out a chair, inviting her to sit. Comet went to the chair and sat down. Kanputcha sat in the chair opposite her.

A teapot was tilted, and coffee was poured. Comet stared at the offered coffee for a moment before taking a sip. It was black, without sugar. Did they give her black coffee because her name was Black Comet?

Black Comet smiled faintly.

"How humorous."

Comet didn't drink any more coffee after that.

Instead, she picked up the fork and cut off a small piece of cake. She stabbed the piece and put it in her mouth.

Comet's eyes widened. Sweet, soft, moist, and tangy. Fantastic.

"You seem to like it."

"This is really delicious!"

Comet took another bite of the cake.

And she gave Kanputcha a sincere smile.

"It's really delicious."

The Princess sighed.

『What if she likes bribes for building rapport...?』

Comet ignored the Princess and ate the cake. She cut a strawberry in half and placed it on the cake before putting it in her mouth. Tangy and sweet. Strawberries and cake went well together.

"It's really delicious!"

"You can take your time."

She nodded and finished the cake.

A moment later, Comet's voice had softened considerably.

"Wow, thank you. That was nice. It's been a while since I had such a satisfying dessert. But next time, I'd prefer a caramel macchiato for the coffee. I don't really drink black."

Comet subtly implied that it was only natural to give her something to eat next time as well.

"My apologies for the oversight. Understood. I will prepare accordingly."

Comet looked at the empty plate, smacking her lips, when she suddenly remembered a promise. She had promised Dan Ga-yeon that she would treat her to strawberry cake.

"Could I possibly get the recipe for this?"

"I will write it down for you now."

Kanputcha conjured paper and a pen from thin air and began to write quickly. It was a seamless gesture.

Comet accepted the recipe. She read it through.

Difficult...

Comet blinked and returned the recipe to Kanputcha.

"On second thought, I don't think I have a suitable place to make it. I'm sorry, even though you wrote it down so meticulously."

It would be better to treat Dan Ga-yeon to Comet's special strawberry cake.

"Not at all. It only took a moment. There is no reason to apologize."

Kanputcha destroyed the recipe. Flames erupted from the mechanical hand, and the ashes scattered in the wind.

Comet watched the scattering gray ashes. The ashes swayed in the air before disappearing. Beyond them, she could see a concrete building with broken windows.

Gray and more gray.

"What are your thoughts on human civilization, Comet?"

Perhaps thinking that the atmosphere had been sufficiently lightened, Kanputcha broached the main subject.

"I'm not sure. I don't understand the intention of your question."

"Humanity has achieved a brilliant civilization. It has passed through the prehistoric era, arrived in the historical era, passed through antiquity, stopped in the Middle Ages, stepped on the modern era, and arrived in the present."

Comet smiled without saying anything. This alien civilization seemed very interested in humanity. She wondered how much they had investigated.

Kanputcha rose from the chair and walked toward the rooftop railing. The mechanical arm was placed on the railing.

"A beautiful landscape."

Comet didn't follow and leaned back in her chair.

"That is why it is an even more regrettable landscape. Why did it come to this?"

Comet lifted the coffee cup. It was cold.

"I heard somewhere that it was thanks to the intervention of an external civilization."

Kanputcha removed its arm from the railing and turned around.

"Do you suspect the Empire?"

"I wouldn't know."

The mechanical body approached and leaned forward respectfully, placing one hand on its torso.

"There seems to be a misunderstanding. That is also why I have come."

"I see."

"The Empire is saddened by the state of humanity."

"Are you saying you're going to help?"

"Precisely."

Comet smiled faintly. The coffee cup clinked as it was placed down.

"Thank you. I'll express my gratitude on behalf of humanity."

"I am relieved that the misunderstanding seems to be resolved."

Comet doubted whether Kanputcha truly believed that the misunderstanding had been resolved. Wasn't it just an attitude of indifference as long as they didn't openly mention and antagonize each other? That was what diplomats did, after all.

"I appreciate the offer of help, but wouldn't it be more appropriate to speak with the government? I'm strictly a civilian."

"There are many concerns within the Empire. Humanity made a wrong decision during the modern era."

The mechanical arm moved, gesturing broadly at the surrounding scenery. Dreary concrete buildings stretched out.

"The ideal of democracy."

Kanputcha clenched its fist.

"An irrational, inefficient, and unreasonable system. An idealism that forces the capable and the thoughtless to have an equal vote."

Kanputcha approached the railing.

"Humanity has been deluded by a false religion."

Comet didn't know where the headless mechanical body was looking, but it seemed to be looking down at the clearing.

"The Empire is concerned that humanity will once again fall into a dream."

So, they considered it an inferior democratic nation?

Comet smiled faintly, resting her chin on her hand on the table.

"Since you're an Empire, I assume you have a monarchical system?"

"No."

Comet blinked at the firm answer.

"If you are thinking of the monarchies that humanity has experienced, that is not it. The Empire has adopted a bureaucratic monarchy."

"Uh... what's the difference?"

"It is a political system in which bureaucrats who benefit from advanced scholarships run the country, and the monarch is responsible for the results. It would be difficult for humanity, which has experienced monarchies at a level of civilization where it is embarrassing to even call it scholarships, to grasp."

(TN: Scholarship: the pursuit of academic or intellectual excellence. It involves a deep, systematic study or research in a particular field. It’s about contributing to the body of knowledge, often through rigorous inquiry, critical thinking, and the production of new insights or ideas.)

Comet was a little confused.

"Doesn't democracy change policies every term without responsibility and attempt power struggles to gain approval ratings? The bureaucratic monarchy consistently supports government officials with a monarch and promotes policies based on advanced scholarship. The monarch exists, but it is not a caste system. The monarch signifies the one who takes responsibility."

"Uh... I see."

Comet nodded vaguely. She didn't think it was necessary to understand it deeply.

The mechanical body slowly approached.

"The Empire will help Black Comet transition to a bureaucratic monarchy through a transitional autocratic monarchy."

The upper body of the mechanical body bowed respectfully. The small jellyfish floated in the aquarium.

"Enlighten humanity, which has fallen into a dream. The Empire will support you."

Comet looked up at the sky, her chin resting on her hand.

It was a blue sky.

White clouds floated by.

『Hmph.』

The Princess scoffed.

Hearing that, Comet smiled lightly.

"I don't really know much about politics. I'll think about it."

"I await your wise decision."

After a little more conversation, Kanputcha left.

Comet examined the magical residue of the vanished tea table. She wasn't well-versed in Magic, so she didn't know what it was.

"Princess, I have a question."

『What is it?』

"You say it's not a caste system, so why do you call me a commoner?"

『...Hmph! It's my prerogative!』

"Using strange personal pronouns like 'this body, this body,' you're a very odd person."

Comet shook her head.

The Princess fell silent. She seemed sulky.

After a while, Comet gave up observing the spot where the tea table had been. She couldn't figure it out at all.

She walked to the railing. The open space where Kwon Hyun-seung and the cult leader were negotiating came into view.

An unexpected sight caught her eye.

Comet blinked.

A gunshot rang out.

The monster shrieked and fled.

Kwon Hyun-seung's civilians and the Awakened cult members cooperated, chasing after the monster.

Comet examined the fleeing monster. It was a round, massive lump of flesh, with the shapes of several monsters visible in mottled colors. Tentacles acted as hands and feet, moving quickly.

An Alchemist's bio-chimera.

As the chimera fled, it swallowed a cult member. Before long, the shape of a person emerged on the chimera's body.

It seemed to be self-growing.

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