Chapter 165: Velber is a Grand Planetary Core, How Could It Get One-Shot by Someone?
Normally, an Umbral Star Vanguard created for the purpose of being a weapon is designed with no function other than that of a weapon. Naturally, they would not possess any capabilities a weapon should not have.
Therefore, if Velber intended to devour Titan Altera, according to Velber's own calculations, the Umbral Star Vanguard would not resist. It likely believed this would be a very simple matter.
But that was not the case.
If it were in its prime—rather than in a state where its residual consciousness could be suppressed by Noah for a hundred years—the Umbral Star Vanguard would be unable to resist even if she wanted to.
But it was currently too weak.
Furthermore, although such messy elements were not included in the original design, Noah remembered the lore.
In the settings, it was mentioned that Altera's personality and traits were preserved through the white Titan after a certain civilization she once destroyed was consumed.
Thus, the current Titan was born—introverted, possessing the composure and tolerance of an elder, yet still adhering to her purpose of destruction.
Under these circumstances, with Velber having lost its absolute power of suppression over the Umbral Star Vanguard, its attempt to directly erase Altera's ego naturally met with resistance.
"Still, it seems that even so, if I didn't save her in the simulation, her ego would eventually have been wiped out by Velber."
"It's just that the process might have taken a bit more time—the suppression the Planetary Core exerts on an Umbral Star Vanguard is truly terrifying."
[It seems that because of what happened with Velber just now, Altera is actually somewhat fearful of you. After all, compared to the damaged Velber, you, being completely unharmed, could easily erase her ego and turn her into a purer weapon. She wouldn't even be able to resist.]
[But you didn't do that. Instead, you simply discussed the situation with her and asked about many different things.]
[You learned from her that Great Qin pursued Starship Velber 01 and Starship Velber 03, even fighting their way out of the solar system.]
[Those two starships were forced by Great Qin's fleet to rely on normal navigation to try and cross the Plasma Barrier at the outermost edge of the solar system. The Great Qin fleet, led by the First Emperor himself, gave chase into the deep void.]
[She said she had never seen a civilization resist so fiercely after being invaded.]
[She also asked you whether the destruction of the remaining part of the civilization on this planet should continue.]
[You modified this command. After the Titan retracted her Starship, you had her transform it into a suit of pitch-black full-body armor that she wore. You then guided her to Earth.]
[Following the sudden appearance of the White Knight, you announced that there would be a Black Knight in the future.]
[The task you assigned to Altera was to subjugate foreign enemies. For your territory now, the only foreign enemies were the Huns.]
[When Attila saw Altera, she recognized her immediately, even though Altera was clad in the full-body armor transformed from the Starship.]
[She feared being consumed, and she did not want to be consumed, but she was no match for Altera.]
[Thus, she was captured by Altera. After Noah brought Altera to speak with her for a long time, he finally announced before all the citizens that the former Scourge of God and Great King of the Huns had surrendered. As a sinner seeking atonement, she would serve as the leader of the expeditionary force, becoming the sword and spear of the Empire, conquering for the Empire for five hundred years before regaining her freedom.]
[The people had no objection to your proposal. Although they felt five hundred years was a bit excessive, they could accept that the enemy who once represented divine punishment would now become the sword to expand their country's borders. After all, even they had to admit that the power of this Scourge of God was truly terrifying. Rather than killing her, it was far better if she could be utilized.]
[You were well aware that both Altera and Attila viewed themselves as weapons, at least verbally, because that was all they had done for so many years. Directly stripping them of that identity might actually leave them lost. Therefore, during this period, you didn't force them to integrate into the nation immediately. Instead, you sent them out separately to launch conquests against the surrounding areas.]
[You intended to let them gradually integrate into the nation while they continued to perform tasks similar to those of a weapon.]
[The conquests launched by the two of them were devastating to the surrounding tribes and small nations.]
[Although you gave both Altera and Attila orders not to completely annihilate everyone, they still ruthlessly slaughtered any who resisted.]
[The people then discovered that after Attila and the Black Knight began their conquests, not a single report of defeat returned. Instead, the national territory grew larger and larger. This made them even more approving of your previous decision. Even those who had originally opposed recruiting the Scourge of God, believing she should be broken instead, stopped complaining.]
[Because facts proved that you were always right.]
[After you made these arrangements, the Huns were gone, foreign enemies were gone, and the territory grew larger. Then, your land entered a period of rapid advancement following the popularization of alchemical equipment.]
[Meanwhile, you sent people to search for the underground groups of Magical Beasts, while also secretly preparing to shatter any incoming meteorites outside the planet or change their orbits if they were to fall.]
[But as it turned out, while you did discover the underground Magical Beasts in advance, the meteorites never came.]
[With the materials from these special Magical Beasts, the alchemical culture within your territory became more developed and diverse. Morgan even proposed establishing a school for Alchemists and a National Alchemical Workshop, both of which you permitted.]
...
[However, amidst this situation that should have been a happy ending for all, you were actually secretly keeping an eye on two issues.]
[First, Velber's residual consciousness escaped and has yet to be found.]
[Second, after you quickly resolved the Umbral Star issue, Manaka Sajyou did not show up this time.]
Seeing these two points, Noah was not surprised.
As for Velber escaping, he had expected it. It was one thing to seize the Starship and the Umbral Star Vanguard, but killing or capturing a being like Velber would indeed not be that easy.
As for Manaka Sajyou... if it had been before he received the memories of the last simulation, Noah might not have understood her situation. But now that he had those memories, he understood to some extent.
Although his "idiot" self in the last simulation didn't see it, Noah realized quickly after receiving the memories that Manaka Sajyou seemed to have some inexplicable modicum of goodwill toward him.
Could this be a bonus brought by the identity of King Arthur?
Noah wasn't clear on the specific reasons, but he knew that Manaka had proactively sought him out last time because she felt that bringing the truth about the Huns, offering the Holy Sword Excalibur, and helping him fight the Huns together constituted a qualified tribute of loyalty.
Now, she likely knew that he had resolved the Hun problem quickly on his own, so she felt the weight of her tribute was insufficient and thus didn't come...
Thinking of this, Noah shook his head. These two matters combined felt a bit tricky—both Velber and Manaka Sajyou. It seemed he would have to plan carefully when he truly started his move.
Otherwise, he couldn't exactly count on Manaka Sajyou delivering Velber's residual consciousness as a tribute, could he?
Noah felt that was impossible.
After all, as the consciousness of the Planetary Core, Velber surely couldn't be insta-killed by Manaka Sajyou, right?
If that were possible, he would on the spot... cough, never mind, let's keep reading.
Noah recalled that the last time he had been this arrogant was during the sword-pulling ceremony. Fortunately, no one knew he had mentally joked about eating Caliburn and the stone plinth, otherwise, he would have died of embarrassment.
But as Noah saw the next paragraph, he lamented that he truly was becoming more and more prescient.
Because the next part of the simulation was...
[Manaka Sajyou has come to defect to you. This time, her tribute is the Holy Sword Excalibur, and... the residual consciousness of Velber.]