NoveLight ™
“Hm. Is everything roughly sorted out?”
Though it had only been a few days, Kalstein had pushed things forward quickly and decisively. Now, things were running smoothly enough that they could function without him for the time being.
The fortress's defenses were solidified by automated machines, and the fleet and elite soldiers took turns managing external expansion.
Under Keisha Winsler’s leadership, the supply and resource management were being handled efficiently, and the fortress was quickly being expanded.
‘She definitely has a talent for internal affairs.’
Maybe I’ll send her for training with Aria later?
“Eek?!”
Startled by Keisha, who seemed to suddenly get the chills, Kalstein moved on to inspect the research complex near the silver spring inside the fortress.
“Ah!”
“Oh, welcome!”
“Your Majesty Kalstein!”
“I’ll call the staff to attend to Your Majesty right away!”
“P-please, come right in!”
“Hm.”
He nodded.
“Alright. Continue with the work.”
The metal-built research complex was tightly packed together, and more buildings were being added.
Though the research complex had just begun construction, the Lich King, the High Elf, and various talents from Debra and the Wulin were brought in to assist Selena.
Kalstein dismissed the personnel and finished the inspection.
It would take some time before results were ready. Most likely, researchers from within the Galactic Empire would be collaborating remotely to continue studying the World.
The work related to the research complex wasn’t something that could be solved quickly.
Kalstein activated a hologram and also checked the nearby industrial complex.
Reports filled with complex figures and graphs flooded his view, changing rapidly.
“Hm…”
He was able to grasp the general situation.
“Impressive.”
Leather and internal components, treated with special solutions, were aligned and moved into large mechanical equipment.
The materials that had undergone first-stage processing were sent to other facilities for second, third, and fourth-stage processing, each stage tailored to the specific materials.
Here and there, Debrains moved busily, checking quality and inspecting for any issues.
They were pressed into enormous presses, further compressed, and stacked neatly into massive warehouses.
Some materials were sent to the research facility, some to the ether treatment plants, and others were immediately repurposed into war materials.
Nodding.
“This is going smoothly as well.”
Materials that couldn’t be immediately used were stored as samples and sent to the ether treatment plant to be recycled into energy sources.
The ether produced was used to maintain the fortress, and the rest was sent to the Galactic Empire.
“The efficiency is beyond expectations.”
Kalstein’s smile widened as he observed the results, which were on par with the [Dimension Shop].
“Quite satisfying.”
The individuals recruited from the community were performing better than expected.
Each had their own reason for applying.
Kalstein planned to reward them appropriately after a future interview.
The Emperor of the Galactic Empire personally offering rewards?
They’d have to prove they were worthy of receiving them.
“So far, so good.”
Due to their aggressive expansion, the Sephiroth and the monsters had been retreating. It looked like they were pulling back for now.
However, it wouldn’t be possible to expand indefinitely.
Would they allow all of the World’s resources to be taken?
Kalstein thought not.
They would probably start counteracting soon.
Until then, he would keep pushing forward, waiting for their response.
Alright.
For now, he’d wrap this up and take a rest.
Kalstein entered the capsule designated for the possessed body and disconnected.
***
[The momentum is unusual.]
[If it were just momentum, they wouldn’t have gathered like this.]
[Hmph….]
[To be pushed back by mere humans... This is a disgrace.]
[Watch your words.]
[Can we not consider these humans as anything other than simple beings?]
Figures surrounding the small silver spring.
They had gathered urgently to hold a meeting, spurred by the appearance of a type of human they had never encountered before.
[Is this the work of human technology?]
[Such... is it really something made by human technology?]
[The power is absurd.]
[It doesn’t seem like magic, even if it's an artifact.]
[The numbers aren’t small either.]
It was baffling.
A formidable army clad in metal.
It was clear that these were humans operating the machines, but they were unlike anything they had seen or heard of before.
How could humans have reached such a point?
[They are constantly expanding.]
[How long do we retreat?]
[Some among them are not to be underestimated.]
[Ugh.]
It was humiliating to feel threatened by humans, unable to ask for help from their superiors.
[What are the high-ranking clans that arrived here doing right now?]
[They’re probably performing the ritual.]
[The ritual to connect with the mother…]
The being known as “Mother” by their clan, Sephiroth, the dimensional entity. The root and origin of the Sephiroth clan. The Alpha and the Omega.
[If the ritual succeeds…]
[Of course, we’ll have to drive out those chaotic beings and those… humans.]
[Sigh…]
[What if we all join forces and end it in one go? If we take some losses…]
Though they had been retreating to minimize losses, what if they ignored that and launched a direct attack?
[Didn’t we all feel that during the last battle?]
[That’s…]
[It’s not something to take lightly.]
[....]
But the reason they couldn’t do it was because an impossible being had been observed on the human side. An existence that even the commander couldn’t handle.
A hint of fear leaked through their serious expressions.
[It’s not something we can simply dismiss as an Overlord.]
[This is not something we can decide amongst ourselves.]
[Damn it.]
The frustration of the current situation, unable to take action.
Dealing with the chaotic monsters had already been exhausting.
The humans, armored in metal, were rapidly expanding, forcing them to keep retreating.
[But we can’t just leave the holy relics that we’ve lost, can we?]
[Even if it’s a low-grade relic, we can’t let it fall into the hands of humans. It must be reclaimed.]
[We don’t need to speak about how much of a ripple it caused when a single relic fell into the hands of the chaotic beings.]
Indeed.
Losing the holy relics was a huge mistake for them.
That’s why the commander had given a strict order of silence and had personally returned to report to their superiors.
[How about quietly asking another high-ranking clan with connections to help us?]
[That’s…]
[Isn’t there someone with connections to the elders here?]
[Er’el…]
[That’s dangerous. It would be an open act of defiance against the commander.]
The commander, while not incompetent, was extremely cautious when it came to politics.
[If the main force finds out, our treatment will worsen.]
[So, let’s each return to our squads and handle things quietly.]
By the time the commander returned, no clear solutions had emerged.
[For now, just focus on minimizing the damage.]
[Sigh…]
Their sighs grew deeper with each passing day.
***
Meanwhile, the community was in an uproar.
[Did those guys get picked?]
[No way, aren’t those all named characters?]
[Is being a named character the basic requirement to join the socializing group?]
[Looks like there are some newbies among them.]
[A newbie got picked?]
[They’re probably just lurking and watching.]
[They all look like they have something to offer.]
[Aren’t they just the rumored transcendent beings?]
[No, we want to join too!!!]
Grumbling about the socializing group came first.
[Anyone who didn’t make the cut?]
[111]
[22]
[I didn’t make it either.]
[Ugh, PTSD kicking in.]
[Why did I get rejected? I’m sure I’m stronger than that Lich guy.]
[Yeah! At least tell us why!!]
[Right!]
[It’s well known that the Lich wasn’t picked for his strength.]
[Maybe we didn’t praise Juduk enough?]
[Sigh... I really wanted to get picked.]
[Damn it, hahaha.]
[Don’t you have to save a kingdom from your past life to get picked? Haha.]
[Why are there so many people who didn’t make it?]
[Everyone acted like they weren’t going to apply, haha.]
[Exactly, hahaha.]
[I’m just jealous.]
Complaints from users who didn’t make the cut filled the community.
Their common concern?
[Exactly. The ‘Juduk’s reward’ from the announcement. Who wouldn’t drool over that?]
[How big is the reward promised by Juduk?]
[A reward from the SF overlord?]
[Drooling already.]
[How can they stand it?!]
[Eek!!]
However, only fewer than ten people had been selected.
[Ah, Juduk!! Please increase the quota!]
[Exactly! There are at least 10,000 people waiting!]
[(Open the door)]
[Please!!!]
[Master, open the door!!]
[Let me in! I don’t even care about the rewards!]
Everyone was invested.
Juduk had mentioned there would be additional recruitment later, but the community users weren’t exactly known for their patience.
Various memes and complaints flooded the chat, and there were signs of an impending revolt.
But, there was one person who managed to calm them down.
“Yongha! Yongha! Did you all wait for me?!”
[At least show us the prize, keep the broadcast going.]
[Hurry up, pack mule.]
[The dragon is the weakest?]
[The Lich King logged in, and the youngest logged out, lol.]
[The youngest, hahaha. Where’s the dragon’s dignity?]
[So, when are we getting the enhancement procedure?]
[Hahahaha.]
[They even showed the counseling session on the last broadcast.]
[Hahaha, they said they’d think it over until today, haha.]
The community’s trickster, YongYongTV, was soothing the users' complaints.