I Became an Evolving Space Monster - Chapter 300
Episode 300 – Infiltration (3)
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In a cult society, a knowledge manager is a position with a fairly high status.
The role of the knowledge manager is to assist the captain and help the ship complete its mission safely.
In order to perform their given roles, they have acquired knowledge across a wide range of areas. In addition, I learned psychic skills to exchange that knowledge with other knowledge managers.
Although it is a cult with strong psychic power abilities, becoming a knowledge manager was not an easy task. Only through hard work over a long period of time can one achieve the honor of carrying out a sacred task.
Because of that, knowledge manager is a very prestigious position, regardless of its importance. The rank itself is lower than that of a captain or warrior leader, but it is no less inferior to them in terms of stature.
Charas, a knowledge manager belonging to the Aur System Surveillance Office, also earned the respect of the ship’s crew. Because thanks to her, the ship escaped danger more than once.
However, contrary to the perception of the flight attendants, Charas did not attach much importance to his job. For her, becoming a knowledge manager was one of the gateways she passed through during her long life.
Her ultimate goal is to become a member of the Imperial Parliament.
That was the only way for her to become a member of the National Assembly, as she had no faction and only had ordinary goat horns.
‘It’s not long now.’
Since boarding the ship belonging to the Observatory’s elite fleet, she has made numerous achievements. Perhaps thanks to that, a few months ago, I received an offer from the Providence faction, one of the prominent factions of Berzan 02.
If you are interested in the future of the empire, wouldn’t you agree with them?
‘If you’re a fan of providence, it’s not a bad start.’
The Providence Sect suffered a significant blow after Jason, the leader of the Providence Sect, was overthrown for taking responsibility for the ‘Saigil 08 disaster’. However, recently, talk about the great invasion of Outspacers began to emerge in the National Assembly, and the Providence faction gained strength again.
The core ideology of the Providence faction is that strong force must be actively used to serve Providence and protect the security of the empire. They are opposed to the revolutionary faction that advocates disarmament, and they gain power as the empire becomes more unstable.
From Charas’s perspective, the future of the Providence faction looked quite promising. In fact, looking at the information gathered while performing the duties of a knowledge manager, not only the empire but the entire universe was in a state before the storm.
The destruction of Megacorp’s space city, Star Union’s military provocation, and the recent crash of ‘Kesha Arma’. Unprecedented events are happening in a short period of time.
The point is that when the universe becomes chaotic, the providential faction, which advocates the realization of providence using force, gains strength. It is highly likely that the Providence faction will continue to be strong for some time.
‘It’s a benefit to me as a rookie who needs meaningful political experience.’
She took in the rosy future for a moment and then got back to work.
Currently, the ship she was on was waiting at the point where an unidentified magnetic field occurred. This was to check immediately if an abnormality occurred again.
Apart from the mission the ship received, the Observatory gave her another mission. We are reviewing the information she sent regarding its connection to the ‘three-headed devil’, so please continue to organize and send the information.
After working non-stop for several hours, her work was done. The organized information was also reported to the surveillance office using transmission techniques that only knowledge managers can learn.
‘Should I go out and drink something?’
My head was pounding, perhaps because of the excessive use of psychic power. In this case, the Berzan 02 style cocktail is perfect.
Charas left the room, imagining the sweet taste of the cocktail. I have no regrets about this ship, but the only thing I was disappointed with was the delicious cocktails served at the ship’s bar.
After passing through a hallway decorated with geometric shapes and arriving at an unmanned bar, she ordered her favorite Berzan 02-style cocktail.
Could it be that I was exhausted from the heavy workload? Or was it because of the headache? She drank more cocktails than usual. Thanks to this, I was able to leave the bar feeling refreshed instead of having a headache.
Now that the headache is gone, all that remains is to go back to the room and sleep.
‘ah.’
Except for one thing.
‘You said you were hit by a meteorite earlier, right?’
I heard a story from the situation room in the afternoon. It is said that a meteorite hit the outer wall of gun number 15, causing the protective wall to malfunction. In fact, there was no report from the gunner in question, so I forgot about it.
‘It’s annoying…’
It’s highly likely that the ship’s technicians have already taken care of it by now, but it’s still a good idea to check. There shouldn’t be any noise until you enter the Providence Sect.
She turned around and headed to the ‘Shield Management Center’, which manages the ship’s protective walls and shields. If the organization that engages in close combat with the enemy on board is the warrior corps, the shield management office is the organization that protects the ship itself.
She walked down the hallway leading to the Shield Management Center with slightly disheveled steps.
It was the same at the bar, but there were no flight attendants in the hallway. This is because many of the crew members went to sleep.
“….”
The hallway is no different from when I went to the bar earlier. It was the same as the hallway she usually walked through, with only a different geometric pattern.
But she felt anxiety creeping up her spine.
As a knowledge manager, she knows everything about every nook and cranny of this ship. Cameras are installed inside the unique patterns on the hallway walls.
She does not know that she is being monitored in real time in the situation room. Still, an unknown ominous feeling was stabbing her head like an awl.
Something terrible lurks beyond the brightly lit hallway.
When I thought that, I sobered up as if I had poured cold water all over my body.
‘Something is wrong.’
Charas is a cult that has learned various psychic techniques. I know very well that this feeling cannot happen for no reason.
She immediately traced the decorative patterns on the wall. There was a clicking sound, the shape of the pattern changed, and a small communication device popped out. It is a communication device directly connected to the ‘ship surveillance team’ that manages the cameras in the hallway.
“This is the middle of the hallway leading to the Shield Management Center. “Is there anyone in this hallway?”
“This is the shipboard surveillance team. Currently, the knowledge manager is alone in the hallway. “No one came since two hours ago.”
“Two hours ago?”
“yes. Is there a problem?”
“no. it’s okay.”
“We will keep a close eye on you just in case.”
“Thank you for your consideration. I hope you have a good night.
I was able to feel at ease only after hearing confirmation from the ship’s surveillance team that there was no one else in this hallway except her. Unless the cameras throughout the hallway are broken, what they say is probably true.
The anxiety that was weighing down her spine was gone, but this time a new problem tormented her.
‘What is this smell?’
A smell I had never smelled before in my life was permeating the air.
It was something strange that is difficult to describe in words. A foul odor permeated my nose and mouth, as if insubstantial insects were trying to burrow into my body.
The closer we got to the Shield Management Center, the stronger the foul smell became.
‘…I have to check quickly and go back.’
The alcohol was almost gone. She almost ran towards the Shield Management Center.
Fortunately, other than the smell, there were no other abnormalities. She reached her destination safely.
When I opened the door, the lights inside glowed brightly, recognizing the new visitor. As the ship’s surveillance team said, all the technicians had left work two hours ago, so there was no one inside.
She quickly checked the computer. I quickly checked the shield and protective wall, but there was nothing particularly problematic. The technicians seemed to have taken care of the fact that gunner number 15 did not report it.
‘I don’t know who it is, but I’ll be reprimanded tomorrow…’
She was about to shut down the computer after having a hard time because of shooter number 15.
At that moment, I heard a sound in my ears.
“!”
Startled, she quickly turned her head. Under the bright lights, nothing was visible except the deactivated cult-style computers.
“I heard it wrong… inhalation?!”
Just as I was about to think I heard wrong, I heard that sound again. It was similar to the sound of several small metal skewers hitting the floor.
Charas realized that it was the sound made when something with many strong legs crawled across the metal plate.
she saw An object bigger than the head of the cult slipped out between the computers, playing with its long legs.
‘Well, I guess I saw it wrong, right?’
She swallowed her saliva and focused her psychic power on her hands. If he showed up again, I was planning to shoot him right away.
“…!”
Then I heard a sound. A black shadow with many legs passed between the computers.
‘We have to get out now!’
Not everyone who is a knowledge manager learns excellent combat skills. She knew that fact better than anyone else and quickly ran towards the door.
But suddenly, the computer close to the door fell forward for no reason. She immediately fired the psychic technique she was preparing, ‘Psychic Impact’, at the computer.
The psychic impact disappeared in the air along with the sound of air exploding. At the same time, someone came out from behind the computer with both hands raised.
“Don’t shoot!”
Charas almost screamed when he saw the cult man appear in an unexpected place.
“you are?”
“I am the gunner in charge of the ship’s guns.”
“Maybe number 15?”
“Yes yep! I came in earlier to take care of it before Knowledge Manager Ji came. I was about to leave after finishing everything, but the department manager….”
A cultist who introduces himself as gunner number 15. As he said, he was wearing a gunnery uniform in charge of naval gunfire.
“You can’t believe they’re trying to handle it this way without even making an official report. “Are you out of your mind?”
“I think I was immature because I just became a gunner. sorry.”
“It’s no use apologizing to me. I will begin disciplinary proceedings tomorrow morning…”
Before I could finish speaking, the sound of a strange creature was heard. Her and gunner number 15’s heads simultaneously turned in the direction of the sound.
“What did you just say? “Have you heard anything?”
Is it because I have more colleagues around me? Charas’ thoughts changed slightly.
‘If we take care of the problem here…’
Instead of contacting the ship’s surveillance team, she decided to use this stupid cult to solve the problem.
He had sneaked in here anyway and was in no position to claim credit. What this means is that all the credit he has earned will be hers. Before joining the Providence faction, I am doing my best one more time.
“There is an unknown creature somewhere here.”
“yes?”
“For now, please help me. “If this is handled well, we will consider lowering the level of disciplinary action.”
“Oh, I understand!”
His confused appearance was not trustworthy at all, but he still received basic military training as a gunner. At least in terms of military power, he will be superior to Charas.
“The sound came from the tool room.”
As she said, the tool room door was slightly open. The lights did not react to the strange creatures, so all that was visible was pitch black darkness inside.
“Can you make lights?”
“Oh, I’m good at that…”
Without asking any more questions, she created a light with her psychic power and illuminated the inside of the tool room.
The inside floor was full of tools that spilled out when stacked boxes collapsed. The monster that had messed up the tool room was nowhere to be seen.
“If you find him inside, kill him immediately.”
“All right.”
“Stop screaming like an idiot like before…”
“Why are you doing that?”
As she spoke, she closed her mouth. This is because, through a conversation with Gunner 15, I realized that something was strange about the situation.
“I said you can’t start a fire, right?”
“uh? yes.”
“When I came in here the light just came on, but before that…”
Gunner 15 just said he couldn’t start the fire.
That means he operated the computer from a place where he couldn’t even see an inch in front of him.
Even if the lights were turned off to secretly operate the computer, something strange remained.
Said by the shipboard surveillance team.
No one has come down the hallway that leads here for two hours.
So what was gunner number 15 doing in the dark and with a strange creature for two hours?
“Aha, the light.”
Gunner number 15 said as if he hadn’t thought about that.
no.
‘It’ wearing the shell of gunner number 15 spoke.
There was not just one monster at the Shield Management Center.