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Chapter 527: Headbutt (3)

Emergency evacuation.

Emergency evacuation in name, but in practice, it would mean no more than fleeing to the nearest city.

The next star, Nurpf, wasn’t far, and if they wanted, they could launch a headbutt in just minutes.

“Alright, let’s move.”

When Yeongwoo pointed out toward the space outside the cockpit, Earth stared at him in disbelief.

『Shouldn’t we at least give them some time to evacuate……?』

He was referring to Chiba and Tokyo.

Yeongwoo just shrugged, answering nonchalantly.

“Why? You want us to just sit here waiting around for dozens of minutes?”

『Even so…….』

“If that’s the case, they shouldn’t have let their approval ratings hit rock bottom in the first place. Space always pays you back in karma, doesn’t it?”

Then he added,

“And besides, I don’t think Tokyo or Chiba will get destroyed. When I smashed Golux, there wasn’t any collateral damage.”

『But this time you’re hitting the ocean. If the shield fails to absorb the impact, a massive tsunami could swallow Japan.』

“Ah… yeah, that could be bad.”

While Yeongwoo and Earth were talking, the old star Golux quietly rose from his seat.

The bastard was trying to sneak away before they left for the next star.

But then—

Whip!

A streak of silver hair shot out and coiled around Golux’s arm.

『…Ugh?』

『And just where do you think you’re going without permission?』

It was none other than Sun Moro.

Golux wore an expression of disbelief, but his voice came out unusually respectful.

『But surely… I’ve already done what I was supposed to. I pointed you to the next star, didn’t I…….』

After all, Golux hadn’t actually wronged anyone here.

He was just existing peacefully as a natural body—until he was suddenly assaulted with a headbutt and taken prisoner.

It was only natural he felt wronged.

But Moro wasn’t about to let him go.

『Done your part? You stay here until the second headbutt is complete.』

『Wh-why?』

『When this Nurpf complains, showing him your sorry state might help smooth things over.』

『…….』

To make matters worse, Yeongwoo chimed in.

“You’ll have to come back here anyway. Don’t bother tiring yourself out.”

『Come back? Why……?』

“I’ve got some business with the arms dealer who lives in this system.”

This was the official first business venture of Renaissance, the philanthropist.

For Golux, ignorant of that fact, it was a nightmare.

“Alright, let’s head out. They’ve had enough time.”

Yeongwoo gave the order, and Earth reluctantly stepped up to the navigation console, piloting the Earthship.

Rumble…!

A deep roar resonated outside the cockpit as the Earthship shifted, and soon the starry void outside was replaced with a holographic veil.

They had entered the relay sector for interstellar travel.

『We’re just going to ram in headfirst again, aren’t we?』

Earth asked, and Yeongwoo nodded.

“Of course. You think they’d let us if we asked? No one willingly takes a headbutt.”

『…True.』

“Don’t forget—we’re the protagonists. The path is ours to carve.”

『Being the protagonist doesn’t give you the right to bully others.』

Before Earth could finish scolding him, the relay sector outside flashed twice.

Two star systems were crossed in an instant.

And then, as the relay faded, the black of space returned.

Flash!

『There… that’s Nurpf.』

Even before Yeongwoo asked, Golux pointed it out.

Nurpf was much like Golux—a yellow star of similar size.

『At least this one looks calmer.』

Earth scanned the system, nodding.

Unlike Golux’s, Nurpf’s system lacked a chaotic asteroid belt.

“Good. The calmer the better. Let’s get this done quick. Time is money.”

But just then, as if it had heard, the cockpit ceiling turned a sickly yellow.

Ssshh—

Nurpf had sensed the disturbance in its system.

《Who are you people? And why is Lord Golux here?》

Nurpf’s voice dripped with confusion.

Golux bowed his weary head.

『Forgive me… It seems a great calamity has befallen our galaxy.』

《Pardon? What do you mean…….》

At that moment, Yeongwoo’s voice rang with wicked cheer.

“As captain, I give the order! Full-speed ramming course!”

《What?!》

With Yeongwoo’s command, the Earthship hurled itself forward.

An immense pressure swept through Nurpf’s system—unsurprising, since the Earthship was itself a planetary system.

It was one planetary system charging headlong into another.

《W-wait! What are you doing?!》

The star’s voice quaked, horrified at such an unthinkable act.

Seeing Golux battered and present here, it feared the worst.

And then at last—

『Hyaaaah!』

With Earth’s battle cry, the second Stellar Headbutt was unleashed.

BOOOOM!

The Earthship slammed into Nurpf’s side near the Pacific Ocean.

CRUUUUNCH!

This time, the crash was far deeper—Nurpf was 15% larger than Golux.

“Whoa, that’s a heavy hit. How’s the Pacific holding up?”

Yeongwoo clutched the armrest as he asked, and Earth rolled its eyes.

『S-surprisingly fine?』

To its relief, Chiba Prefecture wasn’t flattened or drowned.

But then—

Ssshhh—!

Earth winced, smoke rising from its right jaw.

『You bastard.』

The collision scar this time had struck right at its jaw.

“Oh… not a bad spot.”

Meanwhile, Nurpf, blindsided by the attack—

『Uwaaargh!』

—let out a hideous scream as its yellow glow dimmed, and then—

Thud!

A robed figure fell into the cockpit.

Unlike the elderly Golux, Nurpf appeared as a middle-aged man in a green-blue robe—with two eyes, no less.

‘So that’s why he showed Golux respect. Even stars revere their elders, huh?’

And why not?

The older a star, the more of the universe it had witnessed.

In a cosmos that valued rarity, venerating ancient stars made sense.

But Yeongwoo had no such scruples.

“Hey, Nurpf. You’re younger—you can handle another round, right?”

He grinned down at the collapsed figure.

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Nurpf lifted his head and coughed blood.

Splurt!

『W-what…?』

“…Never mind. Looks like you can’t.”

Apparently each star could only hold one collision scar.

Still, at least Earth had gained one on its jaw.

“This is bad. Stars are weaklings one after another.”

『You don’t feel even a little sorry for them……?』

As Earth chided, Yeongwoo noticed something.

“Huh?”

A scar gleamed on Nurpf’s right hand.

“Wait, this guy scored big time.”

Grabbing Nurpf’s arm, Yeongwoo smirked.

『W-what are you?!』

“Who else? The benefactor who gifted you this arm.”

Now, unbelievably, he was strong enough to wrestle a star’s arm.

“So what’s next?”

He asked Earth while clutching Nurpf’s hand.

『Next? What do you mean?』

“We’ve got to make one of these too.”

He meant a collision-scar-empowered fist.

But Earth shook its head.

『No more stars nearby are small enough. To find another, we’d have to go beyond the galaxy.』

“Outside the galaxy? Then we’d better meet the arms dealer first.”

Yeongwoo pouted, but Nurpf yanked back his hand and shrieked.

『You maniacs plan to go around assaulting stars?! Aren’t you afraid of the consequences?!』

“Consequences? What are you talking about? You got a great weapon out of it.”

Yeongwoo shrugged, but Moro finally spoke up.

『There will be consequences.』

“Huh? What do you mean?”

『We’ve already warped nature’s order by leaving our orbits. But now we’re deliberately scarring other stars…? Unforgivable.』

“Unforgivable? By who—the galaxy itself?”

Moro nodded.

『The moment we broke orbit, the galactic core began watching us. And once we performed the stellar headbutt……』

It would have begun pursuit, she said.

“Pursuit? What for? To kill us?”

Yeongwoo frowned, but Earth interjected.

『Neither Moro nor I have ever been to the galactic core. We don’t know what judgment they’ll pass. But one thing is certain.』

Earth pointed outside at the void.

『From the galaxy’s perspective, we’re a huge nuisance. We’ve destabilized its structure and we’re carving collision scars. We’re disrupting its equilibrium.』

“So… someday, the galactic core will come after us? To kill us?”

Moro shook her head.

『No. Only you will die.』

“What?”

『The reason we draw ire is because we’re moving unnaturally. If Earth and I are stripped of our ship forms and returned to orbit, the galaxy’s form will be restored.』

Nature itself, Moro explained, had no place for a self-proclaimed “protagonist.”

“Then… what if we escape to another galaxy?”

『We are ships, yes, but also celestial bodies. Wherever we go, we’ll destabilize that galaxy too. The chase won’t end.』

In other words, nature’s wrath was inescapable.

“Goddammit… who knew running a ship would be this hard?”

Yeongwoo longed for contact with the previous planet-ship captains.

How had they solved all this?

“Well then—”

As Yeongwoo started to say more—

Beep-beep-beep!

A sharp alarm flared, and his vision lit up.

“Oh, this is…”

He knew this glow.

It was none other than an Achievement Notice.

[Achievement Unlocked: Rebel]

|Achievement Grade: Cosmic

|Rank Achieved: #9

「A planet-ship has acquired two or more collision scars.」

Apparently, there was even an achievement for stacking collision scars like Earth just had.

And to rank ninth meant—

“What the hell….”

Yeongwoo’s eyes widened, but then—

Earth’s entire body glowed white, system text blazing.

「|l||I- Earth’s Purpose is being Reassigned.」

“What?! Purpose reassignment?”

Yeongwoo blinked, looking to Moro, the highest-ranking being present, but even she had no idea.

Even Golux, the oldest star here, was baffled.

『Isn’t… isn’t this dangerous?』

Sensing doom, Golux backed away.

Then the cockpit filled with crushing energy, and Earth opened its mouth—

『Uwaaaahhh!』

—unleashing a pillar of light.

At the same time, system text flashed before Yeongwoo’s eyes:

「Purpose Reassignment Complete」

|New Role: Combat Type

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