by Okina Baba
Did he just casually admit that he’s been spying on us?
Well, there are a few surveillance bots in my Detection range right now, so I guess that’s not too surprising.
But has he been watching us from outside my Detection range somehow, too?
With Panoptic Vision, maybe?
But Panoptic Vision is a skill, so I feel like that would register on Detection, too.
Wait, was he using some physical means like a telescope or something?
Hrm. I guess I wouldn’t be able to detect that.
There were times when he seemed to lose track of us, so I’d like to think he hasn’t been watching us around the clock, but there’s no way to be sure.
Besides, there’s someone else here who’s probably been monitoring us, too.
I steal a surreptitious glance at the pontiff.
He might look like a kind, harmless person, but considering the timing with which he arrived here, he was almost certainly keeping an eye on us.
Otherwise, how would he show up right after that UFO thing appeared?
The elves and the Word of God religion… I guess two major groups have been spying on us, then.
Maybe I can report them as stalkers to the police?
Oh, I guess there isn’t any police in this world, huh? Riiight.
“Look at this.”
Reaching into his breast pocket, Potimas produces a spherical, palm-size object.
There’s a round hole in the center of the ball, which starts emitting light that projects a three-dimensional image into the empty air.
Ooooh! Now, that’s pretty futuristic.
I get excited for a second, but that lasts only until I take a look at the image.
It’s unmistakably a projection of that UFO.
“What is this?” Güli-güli asks, sounding perplexed.
“Can’t you tell?” Potimas responds coolly. “It’s the schematics of that floating weapon, code name ‘G-Fleet.’”
Wait a second.
Why the hell do you have that?
“Why in the world do you have such a thing?”
The pontiff voices my question out loud.
“Do I really need to spell it out for you to understand?”
Potimas simply sneers mockingly at the pontiff and gives no further explanation.
I could swear I see a little vein popping on the pontiff’s placid face.
You can practically hear the air crackling as the tension reaches a breaking point.
Hmm. So my guess was right, then?
This elf bastard must be the one who developed that UFO!
Otherwise, why would he have the schematics for a weapon that’s clearly supposed to be top secret?
Why would you make something like this, man?!
“So this whole mess is your fault, then.”
The Demon Lord takes a long, slow step toward Potimas.
“Do not rush to conclusions,” Potimas responds calmly, practically rolling his eyes. “Yes, I created the plans for it, but I did not create it. In fact, I did not even know it had been made until now. Otherwise, why would I come all the way here?”
Somehow, his attitude seems to imply that anyone who would fail to understand such a basic fact and recklessly attack him is nothing but an annoying fool.
The Demon Lord seems to sense that he’s mocking her, too; she’s smiling like always, but it doesn’t reach her eyes.
I imagine a grating noise as the air gets even heavier.
“Long ago, I gave the schematics to a certain nation in exchange for funding and supplies for my research. I thought they would simply use parts of the designs to create other weapons, but I never imagined they would actually build it to completion like this.”
He heaves a deep, heartfelt sigh.
The rest of us stare at this uncharacteristic state in confusion.
“Who would develop a thing like that? It’s simply not realistic. I wasn’t even completely serious when I created those plans. Frankly, it’s nothing short of shameful to see it take form like this.”
Apparently, Potimas has his own unique standards.
To him, the existence of that UFO is…an embarrassment, I guess?
I don’t get it.
But, well, I can see why he would say it’s not realistic to actually make that UFO.
I mean, look how huge it is.
That must have made it crazy difficult to create.
Even on Earth, building something that colossal would take an unthinkable amount of time and money.
How many hours did it take to make that several-miles-long UFO?
Not to mention, when it was finally finished, they buried it deep underground without even using it, only to bust it out randomly so many years later? What a massive, confusing pain.
“So that is why you intend to assist us?” Güli-güli asks, but Potimas shakes his head.
“No. That is only my personal feeling on the matter. I have another reason to help: If we leave that thing to its own devices, it could very well destroy the planet. Obviously, even I wouldn’t be thrilled about that.”
Sorry, what?
Did he just casually say something about destroying the planet?
Seriously? Is this UFO really that dangerous?
“Is that true?” Güli-güli asks dubiously.
“Sadly, it is the truth. I would be much happier if it was a joke.” Potimas almost looks meek. “The G-Fleet itself does not have that much destructive capability. The problem is the bomb that is most likely loaded on board.”
Potimas touches the ball in his hand that’s displaying the 3-D schematics.
The projected image changes into a new object: a sphere.
It’s a small ball, not much different from the projection device Potimas is currently holding in his hands.
“The GMA bomb. The more MA energy it is filled with, the more powerful it becomes.”
Potimas’s explanation is short and simple.
Everyone reacts to the phrase “MA energy”—including me, of course.
“Hrm. And what is the difference between this bomb’s minimum and maximum power?”
The pontiff looks at the image of the bomb thoughtfully.
“Hmph. Is there really any need to discuss its minimum power? That would mean its state when the bomb has no MA energy at all. It cannot run without fuel. In other words, it would not explode. Was that not quite obvious?”
Potimas’s tone is obviously insulting.
Instantly, the pontiff’s normally genial expression goes flat.
Crackle, crackle. There’s serious electricity in the air now, and not in a good way.
“And its maximum power is as I just said. In the worst-case scenario, it could blow away this entire planet. However, that is only a theoretical maximum; it would be impossible to extract that much MA energy. According to my simulations, the damage would probably be limited to destroying this continent at the most. Although, that would really not be much different from the destruction of the planet.”
Oh. Uhhh. Um.
Is this a joke?
No, Potimas isn’t the type to make that kind of joke… So it’s true, then?
For real?
That UFO is carrying a bomb that could wreck this continent?
Well, shit!
This thing already seems like it could wipe out humanity without much trouble, but it’s also got a bomb that could destroy this entire continent?!
Dude, this is even worse than I thought.
“Why do you believe it’s equipped with this bomb?”
“That, too, is a schematic I gave to that nation. The plans for the G-Fleet, along with the plans for the GMA bomb. And the G-Fleet is designed to carry the GMA bomb. That way, if the G-Fleet has insufficient fuel, it can draw energy from the GMA bomb. Essentially, it is a backup fuel source. If these people went so far as to make the G-Fleet, I doubt they would leave out such a crucial component.”
“I see.”
; In other words, the UFO is designed to work as a set with the bomb, so it’s probably best to assume that it’s got one on board.
“And according to my observations with a MA-energy measuring instrument, it is all but certain there is a GMA bomb on board.”
Potimas looks at the UFO in the distance.
There’s a way to measure MA energy?
And he’s saying the results somehow confirm that the UFO has this bomb?
I guess it must have detected the MA energy being used by the bomb or something.
“Fortunately, it does not seem as if the G-Fleet is going to drop the GMA bomb right away. As you may imagine from the GMA bomb’s power, the G-Fleet is only designed to drop the bomb from outer space, high enough that the G-Fleet will not be caught in the ensuing explosion. Since it has not ascending to that height, it is safe to assume that it is not actively attempting to drop the GMA bomb.”
Well, if the designer of the damn thing says so, I guess he’s probably right. Still, it’s not exactly reassuring.
“However, it is possible that it will passively drop the GMA bomb.”
Great. I knew I was right to still be nervous.
“There are several emergency situations in which the G-Fleet will eject the bomb. For instance, if the G-Fleet is shot down.”
The damn thing self-destructs?!
I mean, I guess that’s kinda poetic, but come onnn.
But now I can guess why Potimas came here so quickly.
If Güli-güli had unknowingly brought the UFO down, it would have dropped a bomb that might have destroyed the whole continent.
Bringing the UFO down apparently won’t prevent the bomb from exploding, either.
So Güli-güli could have acted as an administrator to protect the world from danger, only to end up pulling the trigger that destroyed the world instead.
Yikes.
“You said ‘several,’ did you not? What are the other conditions?”
“If it enters a confrontation with a dragon.”
Potimas’s utterly casual response makes the rest of our expressions freeze.
“It was originally designed as a countermeasure against dragons, you see. Is that really so surprising?”
So if Güli-güli, the dragon boss, tries to attack it, it’ll automatically drop the bomb?
We’re screwed, then!
Hmm. Wait a minute, though.
Doesn’t that seem a little too convenient?
“Is that really true, I wonder?”
The pontiff seems to have the same suspicions as I do.
He might look like a kindly old man, but the way he’s glaring now, he could probably kill someone just by looking at them.
“If you doubt my words, why not find out for yourself?”
Potimas ignores the pontiff’s glare, turning to stare at Güli-güli.
In response, Güli-güli closes his eyes, looking conflicted.
Is Potimas lying? It’s entirely possible.
We definitely can’t completely trust anything this guy says.
But even if some of the information he’s given us is false, it would be impossible to tell which parts, and I don’t know what he would gain by lying.
If any of what he’s said so far isn’t true, the only reason I could think of is that he doesn’t want to let Güli-güli deal with the UFO, which doesn’t make a lot of sense.
I don’t know what he would want instead, and we don’t even really know if he’s lying.
“Well, whether you believe me or not, there is something I would like you to do if possible.”
As all of us mull over our doubts about Potimas, the man himself throws us another curveball.
He manipulates the projector in his hands again, displaying a different schematic.
The new floating image is…an octopus?
Some kind of multi-legged machine anyway.
“This is another weapon schematic I gave those same people. It is a defective weapon, however—since it has no use except for the G-Fleet, I assumed it would not be made.”
Potimas smiles at his own folly.
It’s a very specific kind of pathos, like someone whose stupid drawings of “legendary weapons” from their nerdy past had been made into reality and shared with the world.
That might even be how Potimas feels right now.
“The G-Meteo. A disruptive weapon that is meant to pull in asteroids from among the moons and drop them onto this planet.”
…Wait, what?
For a second, I don’t understand what Potimas is saying, but you can’t blame me.
Moons? Asteroids? I guess those aren’t words you’d normally hear in this world.
I’m still learning the language around here, okay?
But once I understand the words, it makes even less sense.
Seriously, what?
Dropping asteroids on the planet?
“Ariel. Did you see anything get fired up toward space?”
Potimas looks at the Demon Lord.
She pauses for a moment, maybe searching her memories, then makes a face as she remembers.
I remember, too. I saw it.
The flare that spewed up from the ground before the UFO appeared.
And in that flare, the shadow of something flying up toward space.
The Demon Lord and I both saw it.
If what we saw was the octopus thing Potimas is talking about, then it’s already well on its way into space.
“I did,” the Demon Lord says, looking reluctant to admit it. “I don’t know if it was this thing or not, but something definitely shot up there.”
“I suspected as much. If they made the G-Fleet, then I feared they might have made this as well… So they really did, did they?”
Even Potimas looks pained now.
Guess I don’t blame him.
The weapons he semi-jokingly designed have all been made into reality.
I mean, those octopus things are weapons designed to drop meteors, right?
How could that possibly be anything but a joke?
A meteor falling from the sky? That’s the kind of thing you talk about as an apocalypse-level disaster, no matter what era you’re from.
The kind of end you can’t do anything about.
Good-bye, world. That’s what a giant falling meteor means.
And you’re telling me this guy intentionally designed a weapon to do just that?
How stupid can you get?!
Why would you make something like that?!
If you thought about it even a little bit, anyone would realize you could never use it!
“Ugh, what the hell were you thinking when you designed this thing?”
The Demon Lord shakes her head tiredly.
“It was so long ago that I’ve long forgotten, but I was probably just blowing off some steam after a long stretch of research.”
Great. Now the entire world is in danger thanks to you “blowing off some steam.”
“All right, first things first. I’m gonna kill you.”
“Just so we’re clear, I designed those weapons, but I did not actually make them. The blame lies with the people who actually built these things.”
“So you’re trying to say it’s not your fault that the world is about to be destroyed? That’s a bit of a stretch, don’t you think?”
“I certainly do not. I simply provided the knowledge—what they decided to do with it is none of my business. I’ve done nothing wrong.”
The Demon Lord and Potimas glare at each other.
The tension in the air is snap, crackle, and popping now.
“Enough. Debating where the blame lies is pointless.”
Good thing Güli-güli’s here to intervene.
The Demon Lord huffs anyway, looking even more irritated.
But she still drops her fighting stance because she’s an adult… I guess?
“For now, let us summarize the situation. Firstly, that floating object is a weapon called a G-Fleet. It
is equipped with a so-called GMA bomb, which has the capacity to destroy an entire continent. And the G-Meteo, a weapon that can catch asteroids and drop them onto this planet, is already flying into space. Does that sound right so far?”
We all nod at Güli-güli’s simple summary.
“These weapons’ goals are currently unknown. However, since they have been activated without purpose, it is possible they will begin destroying things indiscriminately. The G-Meteo, in particular, may already be trying to drop asteroids onto this planet. Is that correct?”
“It is.” Potimas nods grimly.
So these weapons have activated their attack mechanisms solely to fend off intruders, then.
Hmm? Wait, does that mean we’re also at fault for activating those things?
If we hadn’t entered the ruins, the UFO might have stayed sleeping underground.
…Let’s not bring that up.
Wouldn’t want people to start blaming us.
“Whether they plan to begin wreaking havoc or simply stay on standby, we cannot leave them be. Now, let us begin our plan of attack for each weapon. Potimas, you want me to deal with the G-Meteo, correct?”
“I am glad you understand, Güliedistodiez. Now that the G-Meteo is in space, you are the only one who can destroy it.”
Of the weapons we have to destroy, one of them is already flying into space.
And the only one of us who can do anything in outer space is Güli-güli, being a god and all.
We don’t have any other choice.
“Then the role of dealing with the G-Fleet will fall to our remaining number, yes?”
Potimas looks at the Demon Lord, the pontiff, and finally, me.
Hey, don’t include me in this!
And why is the Demon Lord nodding in agreement?!
“Is it not possible for me to assist with the G-Fleet before moving to deal with the G-Meteo?”
Ooh, good thinking, Güli-güli. But Potimas shakes his head.
“It would be best if you didn’t. As I said before, that is an anti-dragon weapon. And one loaded with an extremely dangerous self-destruct feature, no less. What do you think will happen if a dragon like you approaches it?”
Güli-güli falls silent, unable to retort.
“Besides, either way, we cannot waste time waiting for you to return.”
Potimas manipulates the projector device again, showing a new image.
It’s live footage, probably taken by a remote recording device.
