Chapter 149

This time, I was the one shocked.

As my face hardened, the administrator looked as if he had realized his mistake and pulled his head back.

- Sorry. You must have been surprised... I’m not trying to scold you, I’m just asking to verify.

The administrator pressed down on his undulating hair with his hand, waiting for my answer.

How did the Galactic Trading Post administrator know the Rabbit Butler and the Cat Butler?

Until now, I had believed that when a Trial was closed, the NPCs disappeared as well.

I thought that since the Trial’s meteorite vanished, everything associated with it vanished too.

But... thinking back, the butlers of 3Clean were out-of-spec NPCs.

They had asked me for my cosmic account or requested the interstellar communication codes.

They were already utilizing the civilization of Akasha.

There was a high probability that they existed outside the Trials.

Furthermore, I knew of a case where an NPC from a closed Trial survived.

’I saw Deadzones paranoid researcher in PTB!’

If NPCs didn’t completely vanish when a Trial closed...

And if they could exist in the outside world...

Smiley, the researcher siblings, Edel, the Fire Dragon twins, the creatures...

They might also exist somewhere in the universe.

Of course, the probability was slim.

I didn’t even know what conditions had to be met to emerge from a Trial.

Still, the important thing was that it wasn’t 0%.

Every time I parted with someone, I had felt only a sense of helplessness, but now I could hold onto a sliver of hope.

At the same time, a new thought occurred to me.

Then, what does "closure" actually mean?

No, what is a "Trial" in the first place?

I felt as though I had reached a fundamental question.

However, it was a problem that couldn’t be solved with the knowledge I currently possessed.

First, I answered the waiting administrator.

"The Dark Star remnants were given to me by the butlers."

Upon hearing my answer, the administrator nodded as if he had expected as much, yet he also seemed surprised.

- What possessed them to...

Judging by the administrator’s reaction, it seemed the butlers had never handed over Dark Star remnants to anyone before.

The administrator called out to me cautiously.

- Kid.

"Yes."

- I’d like to communicate with the butlers for a moment to verify the facts; is that alright? If you’re reluctant to contact them, I’ll verify it separately.

First, I checked the pudding slime on my shoulder.

Dominic gave no reaction.

I think I understand now. The Rabbit Butler and the Cat Butler are likely Dominic’s subordinates.

They had guarded the mansion as subordinates, waiting for a master who never returned.

Now that the signet ring has been recovered.

There was a high possibility that Dominic had recognized his subordinates.

But even when the butlers were explicitly mentioned, he didn’t show the slightest reaction.

Was it because he hadn’t fully recovered his essence, or...

Was he simply uninterested in his subordinates?

The latter seemed more likely.

I pondered for a moment.

Should I allow the communication link to the butlers?

I had closed 3Clean, where the mansion was located, and instead of returning the butlers’ master, I had turned him into a cute slime.

From the butlers’ perspective, firing a beam at me would be an understatement.

In this situation, if the administrator communicated with them, they would likely say things that would land me in a cosmic prison.

It might actually be better for me to join the call and apologize for my wrongs.

’Since it’s a video call, they can’t fire beams anyway.’

I needed ten billion star fragments.

I suddenly missed the Dark Star remnants that Mr. Black Block had given me in S2P.

I felt like going back into the already closed S2P just to scavenge for some pocket change.

"It’s fine to connect the communication."

- Great. I’ll connect right away.

The administrator moved his crystal hand, and a new screen appeared.

I now had two screens before me.

As I waited for the connection, my heart began to beat faster.

It wasn’t just due to fear or tension.

The anticipation of meeting beings I thought I’d never see again was also clearly enveloping me.

The ringing continued for a long time, as if the butlers were reluctant to pick up.

The administrator’s face crumpled ruthlessly, and he used his authority as the Trading Post manager to force the connection.

And then, for the first time in a very long while...

- I’m busy. Hang up.

I heard the Rabbit Butler’s voice.

Although a video call was placed, it seemed the screen wasn’t connected, as only the voice came through a black screen.

The administrator snapped back with an irritated expression.

- Hey. You think I’m not busy?

- I’m busier.

Just as the Rabbit Butler was about to cut the line, the administrator spoke quickly.

- Cooperate with the inquiry. Did you distribute Dark Star remnants?

- ...Dark Star remnants?

While the Rabbit Butler fell silent for a moment, I softly spoke.

"Butler..."

And before I could even finish the sentence, the screen snapped on.

I was faced with a sleek rabbit face made of pitch-black metal.

- Roasted Chestnut!

A mouth full of sharp teeth split wide open in a beaming smile.

- It really is Roasted Chestnut! You made a communication code? How commendable.

The rabbit face that filled the screen was suddenly pushed aside.

- My goodness, Roasted Chestnut!

The Cat Butler, who had pushed the Rabbit Butler away with a refined gesture, smiled at me.

- It has been a truly long time, Roasted Chestnut. Unexpected moments of reunion are always joyful. Have you been well in the meantime? I have thought of you, and thought of you again. Of course, you must have thought of us as well!

- Roasted Chestnut. I thought of you more.

- Oh, come to think of it, I should call you Little Lamb now... It’s not easy to change a nickname that has stuck. Would you perhaps allow me to continue calling you Roasted Chestnut as a pet name?

- Is it okay to call you Roasted Chestnut?

I froze at the barrage of words that poured out the moment the connection was established.

I had braced myself to face a cold reception...

Why was it filled with nothing but affection?

I glanced at Dominic, but he was still quietly watching.

He was hiding his presence even in front of the butlers.

First, I stammered an answer to the butler’s questions.

"Roasted Chestnut... is fine. Um, have you butlers been doing well?"

- Very.

The Rabbit Butler pressed his face close to the screen.

- We’re building a new mansion on a new planet. Roasted Chestnut will love it.

- It’s a place far more wonderful than the previous one. I can’t wait to show it to Roasted Chestnut.

At that moment, the administrator interrupted the conversation.

- Hey, butlers. I connected this call for you to explain the Dark Star remnants...!

- Explain, you say. Do you mean the Dark Star remnants we gave to Roasted Chestnut? That was a legitimate reward received for Roasted Chestnut’s diligent work. It is clean money with no issues whatsoever.

- We definitely gave it to Roasted Chestnut.

The butlers answered the administrator curtly and immediately shifted their focus back to me.

A chilling question was directed my way.

- Roasted Chestnut. When are you coming?

I felt a shiver run down my spine. This wasn’t a situation I could escape with a lie.

Therefore, I gave an ambiguous answer that was neither a lie nor the full truth.

"I haven’t been able to keep my promise yet. I’m sorry."

I had promised the butlers that I would find their master and bring him home.

I had found the master, but I hadn’t brought him home, so it was true that I hadn’t kept the promise.

This time, I expected the butlers to get angry or press me.

However, their reaction was far beyond my expectations.

After looking at each other for a moment, the butlers both smiled, their mouths splitting wide.

- Hahaha

The sound of their loud laughter gave me goosebumps.

They stared at me side by side.

Even though they were sleek metal faces with no eyes, only mouths, I could feel their gaze.

- We trust Roasted Chestnut. And we know how to wait.

- It’s okay.

Their words were unusually kind. As if they would have stroked my head if I were standing in front of them.

The butlers filled the screen with their faces and spoke to me.

- We shall await the day you return to the mansion, Roasted Chestnut!

- Roasted Chestnut. I’ll be waiting.

And then, they cut the connection.

The screen vanished, leaving only me and the administrator.

The administrator stared with wide eyes and muttered in disbelief.

- What manic bastards.

I stood still, chewing over the words the butlers had said.

Why didn’t they ask about their master?

The reason they said it was okay and that they would wait... was it because they trusted me that much?

Or did they believe the master had already been found?

Still, since I hadn’t returned to the mansion, it would have been natural to ask at least once.

I couldn’t fathom the butler’s intentions.

While my mind was in a whirl, the administrator called me.

Kid. Do you perhaps... Nevermind.

The administrator seemed about to say something but stopped.

However, I couldn’t stay curious for long. I immediately heard a shocking piece of news.

- The verification is complete, but procedurally, to lift the account freeze, you have to visit the institution in person and submit documents.

"...Excuse me?"

- Visiting the nearest interstellar financial institution... wouldn’t be possible for you, would it.

Realizing that I couldn’t possibly own a spaceship or anything similar, the administrator wore a look of profound pity.

I was already a beggar, and now I had become a beggar who had lost his economic capacity.

It was a moment where my violent urges toward the pudding slime grew even stronger.

- I’ll look into a way to solve this.

I replied with a lifeless "Yes."

I thought the administrator was about to end the call, but for some reason, he kept staring at me.

- Kid. Originally, Akasha had regulations to protect young gods. But you are the master of a planet. Do you know what that means...?

There was no way I knew.

As I waited for the following words, the administrator explained in a calm voice.

- It means a lawless zone has opened up for you. A god with a territory is no longer a subject of protection.

The administrator’s hair was now undulating and moving on its own.

His diamond pupils stared directly at me.

- Be especially careful of the Old Gods. If they find someone who piques their interest, they become obsessively attached.

It sounded like something I had heard before. Unable to contain my curiosity, I asked.

"Why is it harmful if the gods take an interest?"

- Well... simply put, they’d eat you. Or turn you into a toy, or keep you as a pet. And in cases worse than that...

The administrator continued to say something.

But I couldn’t hear it. It was because the administrator’s voice had become grotesquely distorted.

A mixture of screeching sounds, like a broken machine, and static noise from a mismatched frequency poured out.

Unaware that I hadn’t heard, the administrator apologized to me.

- Sorry. That wasn’t something to talk about in front of a kid.

The things I had just heard sounded bad enough, yet there were cases far worse than that.

I couldn’t even imagine what those unheard cases were.

Suddenly, Dominic let out a low chuckle.

He spoke in a voice he hadn’t used even in front of the butlers.

"There is no need to worry too much. Does Roasted Chestnut not have me?"

He spoke reassuringly, saying he wouldn’t let such things happen.

It seemed that even to Dominic, those "worse cases" were unpleasant.

The administrator looked at me wistfully and lamented.

- Its been so long since I’ve seen a young god... Even though I find it intriguing, I’m truly worried...

I think I understood why Dominic said it would be good to get to know the administrator.

The administrator felt like a fairly kind and conscientious alien.

While gauging the pudding slime’s reaction, I cautiously asked the administrator one more question.

"What about using a sponsorship system?"

- Sponsorship...

The administrator’s hair wavered. He continued cautiously.

- That... varies too much depending on the contract details. However, having a sponsor is not a bad choice for a young god.

Since there is a need for protection...

After seeming to deliberate alone, the administrator spoke with a deep furrow in his brow.

- If you do enter a sponsorship contract, show it to me. I’ll check it for you.

I couldn’t believe such a kind alien existed.

Having gained a reliable ally, I quickly thanked him.

"Thank you so much. I will definitely show it to you, Administrator."

- Right... I’ll try to resolve the account freeze quickly as well.

The administrator spoke with a complicated expression.

- And kid, take this.

His hair seemed to tap the air, and a space opened up above my head, dropping an object.

It was a cubic cube mixed with turquoise and purple.

- It’s a one-time pager. Call me with that if something happens. I’ll help you as much as I can.

The administrator of the Galactic Trading Post is helping me?

The gloomy mood I had from the account freeze brightened a little.

Watching me hold the cube, the administrator gave me one last warning.

- I’ll say it again and again, but you must be wary of the Old Gods. Got it?

And then the communication ended.

But immediately after, I saw a message appear before me.

[Kid. Be careful. The butlers’ master is the oldest god of all.]