[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

Chapter 520: To the Edge of the Galaxy (3)

Planetary Representative Vlog.

At this bizarre proposal, Earth gaped in shock.

『Wh… what did you say you’re going to do?』

“A vlog.”

『So you mean…』

“People need to know before they can even decide whether to vote or not. They need to see what kind of things their so-called planetary representative is doing out in space.”

Then, unlike before, Yeongwoo added in a slightly less confident voice:

“…Besides, I’ve actually done personal streaming before.”

That was true.

Before all of this began, Yeongwoo had quit his job and thrown himself into internet streaming.

That, in turn, led to him spending years later in a factory dormitory in Gumi when the first day of Reset struck—an event that would ultimately lead to the birth of the legendary “Strongest Sword of Gumi.”

『But you… failed back then.』

Earth had somehow managed to recall Yeongwoo’s dark past.

“What? The hell, how do you know about that?”

『Isn’t it obvious? You lived your entire life upon my soil.』

Naturally, Earth possessed the life data of everyone who had ever lived on it.

It didn’t remember everyone all at once, but if it wanted, it could pull up anyone’s past.

“This son of a—”

Yeongwoo’s face flushed as he grabbed Earth by the collar, but Earth went on without flinching.

『No, I’m the one who should be asking. You really mean to try again at something you already failed at?』

“Don’t you know failure is the mother of success?”

『Let me remind you again: without a solid 70% approval rating, you die, and so do we.』

That “we” included not only Earth, but also Yeongwoo’s mother-in-law Moro, and the entire Solar System.

“That’s why I’m doing this. To build that support. To show humanity ‘space.’”

When Yeongwoo spoke with earnest conviction, Earth couldn’t muster a rebuttal.

After all, the choice was Yeongwoo’s, and it would be he who bore the consequences.

It was around then that the Executor, Dumer, cautiously raised his hand.

Ssshhk.

―Uh… then you accept the re-vote?

At that, Yeongwoo released Earth’s collar and shifted his gaze toward Dumer.

“Yes. But first, I have a question.”

―Please ask.

“As I understand it, no more mutants or monsters will be appearing. So what happens starting today?”

Dumer then lifted his head, gazing up at the transparent ceiling of the grand hall.

―By the original plan, raiders were meant to appear.

“…Raiders?”

―You could call them pirates. Invaders whose aim is planetary conquest.

“Ah.”

So even in the later stages of Reset, if a native world still hadn’t lost its sovereignty, the system was prepared to unleash foreign invasion.

“At that point, isn’t it basically impossible to pass the planetary test…?”

Yeongwoo muttered, and the Executor elaborated:

―Indeed. Natives who manage to protect their home planet are exceedingly rare. This is why everyone needs a new planet.

“…Wait. So those who were supposed to fall from the sky today—most of them are refugees, aren’t they?”

Instead of answering aloud, Dumer simply nodded.

Then he added,

―However, the Earthship will not be facing raiders.

“…Huh? Why not?”

Yeongwoo asked reflexively, then quickly realized.

“Oh, because we’re always moving.”

―Correct. Reset is fundamentally a planetary test. But Earthship lacks one of the basic conditions of a planet: an orbit.

Thus, its real-time coordinates couldn’t be fixed, which meant no raiders could be dispatched—so Dumer explained.

“Absurd.”

―Such is the nature of a planet-ship. This is my first time seeing one myself.

Dumer cast his eyes around the surroundings anew.

Yeongwoo immediately turned back to Earth.

“That conversation’s all recorded, right? Do we have a video log?”

『Every event on Earth is recorded within me. Don’t worry.』

“So thanks to becoming a planet-ship, we don’t have to deal with raiders or invaders at all.”

『Seems the Reset administrators aren’t all-knowing after all.』

At that point, Dumer pulled a small iron orb from his robes.

Ssshhk.

“What’s that?”

―‘The re-vote.’

With a flick of his finger, he sent the orb floating into the air.

Pazzzzzzt!

Lightning-like sparks leapt out, and a system message appeared overhead.

「By approval of the planetary representative, a re-vote has been initiated!」

Then, a large timer materialized in the air.

「Seven days from now, the Annihilation Vote will commence!」

[167:59:58]

Seven days.

A countdown of roughly 168 hours had begun.

Seven days later, shortly after 8 a.m., the Annihilation Vote would once again take place.

“So, no turning back now.”

Staring up at the timer, Yeongwoo muttered. Earth, eyes also fixed skyward, spoke flatly.

『You’ll either become the perfect representative with undeniable legitimacy and support, or else one of history’s most terrifying mutants.』

“Either way, history will remember me.”

『If Earth still exists by then.』

As the two conversed, Dumer pointed skyward and asked:

―I presume you have no intention of providing us with your coordinates.

“You mean so you can send raiders?”

―……

His silence was confirmation.

Yeongwoo’s brows furrowed as he drew Bastard.

“So that’s why you had us swear that self-defense oath—so you could spout garbage like this.”

―Then my business here is concluded.

For some reason, it felt like Dumer was smiling.

The mechanical soldiers around him began to reform their ranks.

Through their lines, Dumer slowly walked, then turned back to Yeongwoo.

―I wish you success.

“Let’s not meet again.”

Yeongwoo waved his Bastard Sword in mock salute, and Dumer inclined his head.

Then—

Kuguguk!

The mechanical soldiers raised their shields in unison, forming a massive oval formation.

It resembled nothing so much as an alien spacecraft.

And then—

Fwooooshhh!

Wrapped in radiant energy, they shot upward in a pillar of light.

Kyaaaaaaaahhhhhh…!

An awe-inspiring discharge of power, even on a second viewing.

If they ever had to go to war against such beings… what would happen?

“……”

Yeongwoo swallowed unconsciously, eyes fixed on the direction the Executor had vanished.

Earth’s curt voice cut in.

『Now you’ve got seven days left to live.』

“No—seven days left until I become great.”

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

Of course, it wasn’t as though Yeongwoo was blindly optimistic.

He knew well enough that there were always rebels in any society.

Not to mention, the issues of race and nationalism couldn’t be overlooked either.

If the current planetary representative were voted out, the throne would be empty again.

In other words, it would be a chance for each nation, each people, to seize hegemony.

‘So the only option is to make it widely known that the current representative is irreplaceable.’

In that sense, it was truly fortunate that he had obtained the Golden Nebula Decree.

The ability to spread golden rain across the entire Earth was something only he could wield.

『So, what will you do now?』

Earth looked around the empty assembly hall and asked Yeongwoo.

He glanced at the massive timer floating in the sky and scratched his cheek.

“What else? Campaign for the election.”

* * *

At the same time, Shandong Province, China.

Zhang Jaham, one of the Shandong's Twin Evils, skipped breakfast and had stepped outside.

“What in the world…”

「Seven days from now, the Annihilation Vote will commence.」

[167:56:42]

The absurd words were plastered across the sky above Shandong.

“The Annihilation Vote? Don’t tell me…”

It had to be that vote.

“……”

As Zhang Jaham wore a bewildered expression, his counterpart, Wu Qingjin, came rushing over at incredible speed.

“You’ve seen it, haven’t you? The Annihilation Vote is happening again…!”

But then, seeing Jaham already staring up at the sky, he slowed his pace.

“They say the planetary representative approved it.”

“The planetary representative?”

Jaham’s brow twitched.

“That would be Lord Jeong, wouldn’t it?”

“He’s practically committed suicide.”

“Why would he…?”

Confusion.

Jaham asked himself:

Was there some deeper reason, beyond the grasp of someone as small-minded as himself?

Or had Jeong simply made a fatal misstep?

“Either way, we’ll need to be careful.”

Wu Qingjin’s words made Jaham turn his head toward him.

“What do you mean by that?”

“The Annihilation Vote. Naturally, we thought first of Lord Jeong, since he’s stronger than us. But do you think everyone else would think the same way?”

“Heh.”

He was right.

The first and most obvious target would indeed be the planetary representative, Lord Jeong Yeongwoo.

But other powerful figures were far from safe.

After all, the Annihilation Vote was a chance for the masses to drag down any famous figure they disliked.

That meant the Shandong's Twin Evils themselves could easily end up as candidates.

And the same held true for other regions as well.

In short, the past deeds of every strong figure were now being placed on the judgment stand.

“This is madness. Why would Lord Jeong do something like this?”

Wu Qingjin spoke with visible anger.

But Jaham waved his hand to calm him.

“The situation won’t unfold the same way as last time. Now everyone knows—if you sow karma, you reap retribution.”

He was talking about mutants.

When someone was struck down through the Annihilation Vote, there was a high chance they would return as a mutant.

And those mutants always came back to their own homeland.

If someone in Shandong voted down the Twin Evils, then it would be Shandong itself that paid the price.

“And there’s no way Lord Jeong acted without a plan. He’s not that foolish…”

Jaham trailed off—when suddenly, a massive screen appeared above the timer in the Shandong sky.

Fwoooosh!

And there, the face of Jeong Yeongwoo, the Man Immune to Swords, loomed large.

《Greetings. I am the current planetary representative, Jeong Yeongwoo 07.》

“…What.”

Wu Qingjin stared up at the screen in shock.

Jaham too looked on, his face shadowed with concern.

On screen, Yeongwoo scratched his chin and began to speak.

《As you all know, in seven days, another Annihilation Vote will be held. This means you have the chance to replace your planetary representative.》

“…!”

Jaham’s eyes widened.

Whether intentional or not, Yeongwoo had just drawn the people’s attention back to himself, right when it had been about to turn toward other local strongmen.

《But before that, don’t you think you should know what you stand to lose if you remove me?》

Then the camera shifted, revealing the bridge of the Earthship.

Shhk.

《From now on, I will be giving real-time status reports to the entire planet.》

《What I’ve been doing out in space, and what responsibilities someone would have to take on if they were to replace me… see for yourselves.》

Then, already seated in the captain’s chair, Yeongwoo gave orders toward Earth, which hovered before the navigation console.

《Coordinates confirmed? Let’s head out to collect donations from the arms dealer, Koatu.》

Earth, with its blue halo marking it as a planet, reluctantly nodded.

『…Yes, Captain. Commencing voyage to the Galactic Extremes.』

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