[Translator - Night]

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Chapter 668: The Dreaming Machine (2)

‘…Something that might happen.’

In other words, it meant one would even be able to foresee variables of the future.

However, according to Lemu, a clearly observed future necessarily comes to pass, so the “unexpectedness” seen through Maden’s Observation Device would amount to possibilities of a future not yet observed.

In short, the range of futures one could see would expand.

“Boss… just how far into the future are you seeing? A thousand years? Or… do you even know things a hundred million years ahead?”

At Yeongwoo’s question, Lemu smiled faintly.

□ Even now, countless futures are being collected in the Machine Tower, but among them, only an extremely small portion is something I can interpret.

“Interpret…?”

□ It is not that I can choose which future to see. The observed composition scatters innumerable futures like dust. And each of those futures differs in both time and space. Thus, I can only see what my knowledge permits me to understand.

In other words, while it was possible to observe countless futures, only a very small portion among them could be properly comprehended.

Even Lemu did not know all things in the universe.

“But as time passes, there must be cases where you naturally come to understand their meaning later, right? Futures you once overlooked without realizing their significance.”

□ Of course. I hope that someday I will be able to read the countless futures accumulated in the Machine Tower. And…

“And?”

□ I hope that someday I will be able to observe the moment of my own annihilation as well.

“The moment of annihilation…?”

Didn’t that mean death?

“You said an observed future necessarily happens. Then if you observe your annihilation, doesn’t that mean you’ll definitely die at that time?”

□ Instead, one can predict it and prepare. Nothing is as great a threat as the unpredictable.

“…Ah.”

Was it because he was a machine?

Lemu’s way of thinking was entirely different from that of ordinary living beings.

“It could also be that that future isn’t observed because you won’t die going forward.”

□ That is also a possibility. However, it is more likely that my annihilation is contained within a future of unexpectedness.

“Well, you basically have multiple lives, so unless unexpectedness triggers, it would be hard to…”

Only then did Yeongwoo feel like he understood.

Why Lemu wasn’t merely content with peeking into the future, but was trying to uncover even unexpectedness.

It was both a condition for ascending to a 3rd-grade existence, and at the same time an attempt to confirm his own end.

□ Planetary Vessel Lord, your future is also highly likely to be included in the futures of unexpectedness. Compared to other beings, the frequency with which you appear in the composition’s records is low.

“But it could also just be that you couldn’t see it because it’s recorded on the opposite side, right? You said you can’t collect all futures in the universe.”

Even as he said this, Yeongwoo thought Lemu’s speculation made sense.

Because the planetary vessel itself was unpredictability.

Thus, rather than being recorded in the “observed future,” which could be considered a kind of official history, it was highly likely to be written in the future of unexpectedness that materializes with a faint probability.

“Then, if you perfectly activate that Observation Device, does that mean you’ll be able to see my future clearly too? That’s not great.”

As Yeongwoo’s eyes darted rapidly after finally reaching an important realization, Lemu shook his head. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

□ Planetary Vessel Lord. I highly value your unexpectedness, but this is already an observed future, and therefore necessarily will come to pass.

Then Lemu opened the silver-white outer plating on his chest, revealing the detonator inside.

□ Mezo, receive the divine artifact and carry out the reinstatement.

It meant that if they did not act as previously discussed, he would immediately detonate the Observation Device and blow away the planet Maden.

At this, Quiad, wearing a complicated expression, reached out toward the divine artifact that Herisa was holding out.

Whoosh.

The dagger-shaped divine artifact was drawn into Quiad’s grasp, and soon began to emit a brilliant light.

—There is no other way. Pray that your future does not get caught in that machine’s net.

“Huh? You’re just going to turn Boss Lemu into a top-tier fortune teller like this?”

Well, otherwise they would have to annihilate the inhabitants of Maden, and that was already no longer an option.

—We shall meet in the ‘future.’

Quiad spoke as if offering a farewell.

Then, astonishingly, he plunged the dagger into his own chest.

Craaack!

The divine artifact, wrapped in strange colors, seeped into Quiad’s body, and soon a silver light began to billow out from his pupils like cigarette smoke.

“What—”

As Yeongwoo staggered backward, he saw bizarre patterns begin to emerge on Quiad’s skin.

At this, Chancellor Herisa stepped behind Yeongwoo and spoke quietly.

“It’s the pattern of the 11-star system.”

“…The 11-star system?”

“It’s the territory Quiad possessed before his confinement in Pahalufe. The star system Maden belongs to is also included within it.”

In the meantime, the patterns that had covered only Quiad’s forearms and shoulders began spreading across his entire body.

Before long, a strange pattern flashed even across his forehead.

And then, at last.

Bzzzzzzzing!

With a sharp, ear-piercing sound, an intangible wave swept through the hall, and Quiad’s entire body shone brightly.

It was also at that moment that the sense of his presence, which had been felt all along, changed in a peculiar way.

As if one were facing a celestial body that had taken human form.

“D-did it… work?”

As Yeongwoo blinked, Chancellor Herisa dropped to one knee and bowed her head.

“I pay my respects to Quiad Mezo, master of the 11-star system!”

—…….

Looking back toward Herisa, Quiad no longer appeared human at all.

If judged by appearance alone, he was closer to a mass of light.

And yet, was he not one who had completely cast aside his pride for the sake of his kin?

Quiad was an unequivocally complete human.

—I will provide the source energy for your Observation Device. So the moment that activates, leave this place. And never return.

At this, Lemu bowed his upper body politely.

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

□ With a single perfect activation, I will be able to construct the observational lens I desire. Therefore, after today, you may dismantle that Observation Device.

—I told you never to return.

As Quiad’s gaze filled with killing intent, Lemu turned his eyes toward space.

□ If you have no point of contact with the moment of my annihilation, then there will be no occasion for us to meet again.

In other words, it meant that even the future of unexpectedness would need to be examined to give an answer.

—In the end, we will meet again.

Quiad declared that he would one day become Lemu’s enemy.

At this, Lemu let out a low laugh.

□ There is such a thing as karma in this universe, so perhaps our reunion is engraved in the foremost future.

Having said that much, Lemu turned his back without hesitation and walked out of the audience chamber.

To confirm with his own eyes the pillar of light from the Observation Device faintly visible in the distance.

□ Show me the future.

—…….

At Lemu’s words, Quiad quietly opened his palm.

A pure white sphere formed above it, and soon began to churn like boiling water.

「The source energy of the planet Maden is being released.」

It was at that moment that a system message addressing the entire planet appeared in midair.

At last, Maden, having regained its planetary representative, released its source energy.

And almost simultaneously—

Piaaaaaat!

The pillar of light from the Observation Device, which had appeared as a faint line in the distance, suddenly became vivid.

“My goodness.”

Estimating the output level of the Observation Device, Herisa covered her mouth with her multicolored prosthetic arm.

Meanwhile, Lemu, his pupils glowing white, staggered forward as if entranced by something.

□ Ahh…

He was likely receiving the new information being transmitted from Maden’s Observation Device and the Machine Tower’s observation equipment.

Indeed, around him, clusters of light resembling nebulae flickered, and from time to time, blue streaks of lightning cut chaotically through them.

“……!”

And the moment Yeongwoo saw it, he understood instinctively.

That this was what Lemu had called “unexpectedness.”

A collection of variables spreading like a spiderweb between the present and the future.

Just as Lemu had claimed, he was peering into futures where unexpectedness had been triggered, and it seemed he had found something extraordinarily striking within them.

Because the expression that had been one of ecstasy was soon overtaken by fear.

□ Ugh…?

As Lemu suddenly groaned and bent forward, Yeongwoo reflexively moved toward him, only to stop in his tracks.

Lemu had raised his arm to block him.

□ I—I cannot see it.

For the first time, Lemu—who was a machine and moved with certainty in all things—stammered.

Yeongwoo tilted his head and asked,

“…What do you mean? Your annihilation?”

At that moment, Quiad pushed Yeongwoo back and stepped forward.

—What do you think is the greatest unexpectedness known to that machine? It means it could not find the trajectory of the Planetary Vessel Lord.

“What?”

As Yeongwoo’s eyes widened, Quiad seized Lemu by the neck.

Crunch!

—You have obtained what you so desired, so now release Maden from your grasp. Before the ‘work’ begins.

Work.

As a mere creature, Yeongwoo could not possibly know what that meant, yet Lemu, Quiad, and even Chancellor Herisa all seemed to have already foreseen the next event.

Above all, Chancellor Herisa took out a small bead from her bosom and threw it at her feet.

Immediately, her presence shrank to the point that it was almost nonexistent.

“What is it, Chancellor? Are you hiding right now?”

Sensing danger, Yeongwoo placed his hand on the Illegitimate One at his waist and asked. From beyond that faint presence, Chancellor Herisa spoke.

“Prepare yourself, at least mentally. You’re about to meet a 2nd-grade existence.”

[Translator - Night]

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