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Chapter 518: To the Edge of the Galaxy (1)

Reset Administrators.

Those scheduled to visit as successors to the late planetary director, Nezra.

Why they would bother to come all the way to this dangerous Earthship in person was something Yeongwoo still couldn’t understand.

Perhaps it was simply a mandatory visit to proceed with the next steps, since “Earth” itself was still undergoing Reset.

‘Since Nezra’s dead, they might be here to hold someone accountable.’

Whatever the case, as the proper planetary representative now, Yeongwoo could not avoid facing the Reset Administrators.

From today—no, from this very moment—whatever was about to fall from the skies would be known only to the Reset Administrators.

And so, Yeongwoo…

“…Hmm.”

Silently picked up the receiver.

Click.

“Yes, hello?”

The moment Yeongwoo answered, an unfamiliar, alien tone flowed from the other end.

—Are you Jeong Yeongwoo07?

“That’s right. You knew who I was before calling, didn’t you?”

Instead of answering, the caller threw another question.

—Are you the one who killed Nezra?

“…Yes.”

At that, Yeongwoo felt a slight pang of guilt.

Perhaps these people were Nezra’s colleagues at work.

But what followed was nothing like he expected.

—Then make a formal pledge.

“What… what kind of pledge?”

—That you will not make us into the next Nezra.

“……”

It turned out these guys simply didn’t want to end up like Nezra.

So Yeongwoo, a bit deflated, nodded.

“As long as you don’t attack me first, you won’t be joining him anytime soon.”

—Then sign it officially.

At those words, glowing strings of text flickered into view beside the receiver.

A pledge document.

An oath not to exercise force except in self-defense.

“You people do like things in black and white.”

Well, in this harsh universe, a spoken promise wasn’t worth much.

Especially not when dealing with someone who could be called a villain.

“Fine. But if it’s self-defense, I’ll do it thoroughly.”

After quickly reviewing the document, Yeongwoo drew out Bastard.

And like the chairman, he signed with the tip of the blade.

Shhhhhh!

A crimson trajectory lit up the air, sketching the crest of Renaissance’s ship cannon.

“Done? Then let’s set the meeting at the Grand Assembly Hall in Gwangjin District. Earth will send you the coordinates.”

With those words, the floating pledge sheet was sucked into the receiver.

Flash!

And soon the caller replied.

—Very well. We shall meet shortly, Jeong Yeongwoo07.

Click.

The line went dead first from their side.

Lowering the receiver, Yeongwoo found his heart pounding.

Was it because the first contact had gone so differently than expected?

Or perhaps…

‘Of course I’m excited. It was Reset that pushed me this far.’

And now he was about to meet the very ones managing that Reset.

As a survivor who had endured a Reset world, it would have been stranger not to feel both thrill and anticipation.

‘Soon, I’ll be able to peel back part of the unknown.’

Beyond the mysteries of the cosmos, Reset itself was another enigma.

‘I just finished the call. Are you attending the meeting too?’

Yeongwoo asked Earth through consciousness, and at once, the entity stirred.

○ Of course. Meeting a second Reset Administrator will be a once-in-a-lifetime event for me as well.

Indeed, cases where a planetary director was killed by one of their own citizens were exceedingly rare across the universe.

‘Funny—they don’t seem to want conflict. I thought they’d come seeking revenge for the former director.’

○ Looks like they’re purely here for business. Even I don’t know the details about the Reset Administrators.

So even for Earth itself, native to this planet, this was an area of mystery.

○ I’ve just sent them our exact coordinates.

‘So they’ll be here soon.’

○ See you at the Assembly Hall.

* * *

8:14 AM.

In front of the Grand Assembly Hall in Gwangjin District.

For Yeongwoo, this was a very early start to the day.

‘Not even a single day of proper rest…’

Most Earthlings, by contrast, were still nestled in bed.

And those with enough money could pay for extended lodging and remain under the covers well into the afternoon.

‘Well… if one person’s hard work means the rest can live in peace, I guess it’s not such a bad trade.’

The problem was that the “one person” was himself.

Clank.

When Yeongwoo reached out toward the grand doors of the Assembly Hall, the heavy iron gates creaked open, revealing the vast interior.

『You’re quick.』

As soon as he stepped inside, Earth, who had arrived earlier, raised a hand in greeting.

“They’re not here yet?”

Yeongwoo returned the gesture, glancing up at the ceiling.

Earth followed his gaze toward the transparent dome above.

『They’ll be here soon. Within two minutes, maybe?』

“You don’t know how many are coming?”

『No idea. Their ship hasn’t even appeared yet.』

“You said they’d arrive in two minutes, but their ship’s not visible?”

『Doesn’t seem like they’re bringing a ship.』

“So what? Are you saying they’re riding in on starlight or something?”

Actually, it wasn’t such an impossible idea.

Yeongwoo knew that once you surpassed a certain level, it was possible to cross space without a ship.

Back during the greeting ceremony with the stars, hadn’t the Chairman visited Earth in just that way?

He had suddenly torn open space and appeared, facing off against the Centauri brothers.

『Well. It depends on who’s backing the Reset Administrators… but judging from the current situation, it doesn’t seem like they’re arriving with a ship.』

Earth explained that by now, there should already have been fluctuations in the relay zones near the Earthship’s territorial boundary if a ship were approaching.

『Though Nezra may have lost to you, the force controlling Reset itself seems to be no ordinary power.』

“True. Linking closed planets to the rest of the universe isn’t something you can oversee without enormous influence.”

Yeongwoo was speaking more and more like a spacefarer now.

And he had already met Chancellor Herisa, someone far his senior, so he was in an unusually humble mood.

“So then, who exactly is backing those guys…”

Just as Yeongwoo’s brow knit slightly with that thought, Earth suddenly jerked its head up.

『Huh?』

“What, are they here?”

There was no need for Earth’s reply.

From above the conference hall’s ceiling, a blazing light poured down.

KWA-A-A-ANG!

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『Wha… what immense energy.』

Startled by the sheer force, Earth staggered back a few steps, but Yeongwoo, as the planet’s representative, didn’t so much as twitch an eyebrow.

They had already agreed not to resort to violence, so whether the opponent was strong or weak made little difference.

KUUUUNG…!

A heavy mass of light settled onto the floor of the hall, and Yeongwoo and Earth saw it.

Ssssshh…

An oval-shaped sphere of steel lay tipped onto its side.

“…What is that?”

As Yeongwoo tilted his head, vertical lines split across the sphere.

KWAJAAAT!

The sphere broke apart in every direction, revealing mechanical soldiers.

It turned out the oval wasn’t a solid sphere at all, but a formation of soldiers packed tightly together, shields interlocked.

And at the center of these soldiers stood the attendee of this conference—the Reset Administrator.

Tududuk.

Unfolding his hunched body, the Administrator rose to a height of three meters.

Though his figure was hidden beneath a crimson robe, the glimpses of his limbs showed machinery—like the designer Lemu.

But his head looked as though it were made of translucent glass.

‘What the… is that space itself?’

Instead of a face, a section of the cosmos was projected there.

An unknown star burned within.

『Ah, w-welcome… I am Earth.』

Earth inclined its head slightly in greeting—though only slightly, watching Yeongwoo’s reaction, never bending fully at the waist.

―Ah, I’ve heard the rumors. You’ve become quite well-known.

The Administrator nodded, pretending familiarity.

Then he turned that cosmic face toward Yeongwoo.

―Then this must be you.

“Yes. I am Jeong Yeongwoo 07.”

Yeongwoo stood ramrod straight without bowing, and instead the Administrator inclined his head slightly in respect.

―Did you not defeat Nezra by legitimate means? You deserve respect.

“Uh… yes. Thank you.”

This was not at all the development Yeongwoo had expected.

And legitimate means…?

‘All I did was beat him to death. What’s “legitimate” about that? Does a one-on-one duel count as proper?’

This universe, running on the logic of force, was a baffling world indeed.

“Well… in any case, shall we get to the main point?”

When Yeongwoo finally prompted, the Administrator pushed through the soldiers and approached the round table.

―Then I will begin with a formal introduction.

He drew his right mechanical arm from inside his robe and laid it on the table.

KWOONG.

―I am Dumer, the Executor, assigned to |l||I-Earth in place of the former Administrator, Chairman Nezra.

Executor Dumer.

There was a reason he had not come bearing the title of “Chairman.”

―At present, Earth… no, let me correct myself—the Earthship is in a special situation.

“A special situation?”

―Indeed, Reset is ongoing, but the Council is no longer necessary. Now that you have departed orbit and gained the status of a ‘Main Character,’ decisions no longer need to be entrusted at a planetary level.

“Ah.”

That explained why an Executor had come instead of a new Chairman.

But then—what exactly was he here to execute?

“Then doesn’t that mean you no longer need to concern yourselves with us? We’re connected to the universe through Reset, and we’re adapting just fine on our own.”

At that, Dumer tilted his head slightly.

―It’s true that |l||I-Earth has achieved more than its intended purpose. However…

“…However?”

―There is still a procedure that remains.

“Ha, damn it.”

That damned procedure again.

Yeongwoo had to fight the urge to plant his fist into Dumer’s face.

“And if we refuse? You can’t pursue us in real time anyway, can you?”

―That’s correct. But in that case, |l||I-Earth will remain in a permanent Reset state.

Meaning everything would stay petrified, nights plagued by abnormal climate—the way things were now would never change.

At that, Earth carefully interjected.

『Then… what if we accept the procedure? Would Reset no longer be permanent?』

A crucial question.

And Dumer nodded.

―Earth’s next procedure is the final stage. Once completed, Reset will come to its end.

“What?”

Yeongwoo’s mouth fell open in shock.

Earth quickly pressed again.

『Th-the… the final stage, what exactly is it?』

―Re-verification.

At this, Yeongwoo’s brow furrowed.

“Re-verification? What do you mean?”

―|l||I-Earth has already passed through the filtering stage with the annihilation vote. But we must confirm that the impurities have truly been purged.

“…And by what method?”

Yeongwoo’s eyes widened, realizing something.

Dumer raised a mechanical forefinger.

―A re-vote. The same annihilation vote that was held during the first filtering will be conducted again.

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