Chapter 79: S2. Resentment To The Stars - 2

Chapter 79: S2. Resentment To The Stars - 2

The journey to find the mathematician Lot was arduous. It was only after asking survivors from the university about his location and fighting off the crazy people who attacked them that Bennett and Niolle were finally able to find him.

They found themselves at the end of the 4th floor of an apartment building.

It was evident from here that he was no ordinary person, as the door had been welded shut from both inside and outside, making it impossible to open. The reinforced windows also suggested that he had no intention of leaving, as if he was prepared to die inside.

[Would it be better to cut out the door?]

"Let’s⋯⋯ knock first.”

Knock knock knock.

After he knocked on the door three times at a regular beat, a voice suddenly rang out from inside. It was a bright and clear voice. Just by listening to the way he spoke, they could tell that he was an eccentric person.

“Multiply 42 times 3, what is it?”

"⋯⋯⋯⋯?"

[⋯⋯⋯⋯.]

Taken aback by the sudden math question, Bennett and Niolle looked at each other. What does he mean by that? Did I hear that correctly?

After about 3 seconds of silence, mathematician Lot opened his mouth.

"Seeing that an answer didn’t immediately come to you, I can guess the performance of your brains. I’ll consider you monkeys and converse with you in kind. Why. Are. You. Here?"

"⋯⋯⋯⋯."

The condescending kindness dripping from every syllable as if he was soothing an infant caused Bennett's forehead to vein. Niolle gently patted Bennett’s shoulder.

[Calm down Bennett.]

“Looking at you monkeys grooming each other, I speculate you possess some social skills. I mean, if your intelligence isn't up to par, at least your sociability should be. In addition, have you not learned how to speak? You look like you’re at least a month old.”

[Should we not hold back, Bennett?]

"⋯⋯We need to. We’re the ones who are asking for a favor.”

B if he gets on our nerves one more time, I’m breaking that welded door in half and teaching him a lesson. Bennett resolved to do as such.

“In case you forgot, I’ll ask you once again. Why. Are. You. Here?”

“Do you know Abraham, the astronomy professor?”

[⋯⋯⋯⋯.]

Niolla prepared a spell on the side, ready to cast Spell 「Door Breaching」 if Lot spoke ill of Abraham.

“He was one of few that I was able to actually get along with. His only flaw was being too soft-hearted.”

“We’ve come to ask you for assistance to calculate the research left behind by Abraham.”

“In this era where time itself is screaming, and monsters that make biologists despair are flying around? You have to be either crazy or a physicist. In case you didn’t know, those two words mean the same thing.”

“Just tell us if you’re going to do it or not.”

Bennett nearly added “If you don’t want to get fucked.”, but held it in

“Hmm⋯⋯ hand it over then. I was about to run out of crossword puzzles anyways. I thought about jumping out if I ran out of things to do, but luckily, it seems I'll be living a little longer.”

Click.

Under the welded door, a small gap, used to receive mail, opened up. Bennett slid Abraham's research through the gap. He didn't worry about what would happen if he just went silent after receiving it.

If that was the case, he was going to break through the ceiling or the floor, get in, smash his head in, and leave after retrieving the research.

Fortunately, Bennett didn’t need to waste his mana.

"This is⋯⋯ quite interesting. So you want the Alpha value?”

“Could you calculate it?”

“It won’t even take a day. I would be using my lovely brain cells for the first time in a while. Now leave.”

“How would we receive the results?”

There was no answer. Frustrated, Bennett pounded on the door. Lot shouted irritably.

“You’re like a savage monkey! Disturbing a person that’s concentrating!”

“I asked how we’re going to receive the numbers⋯⋯."

"355!"

Swish. A walkie-talkie was thrown roughly through the gap. Bennett picked up the walkie-talkie and secured it within his grasp. The number Lot shouted was probably the radio frequency for further communication.

Lot was undeniably a strange and eccentric person, but considering that all great wizards had some screws missing, his actions were understandable. Abraham wouldn’t have mentioned him without good reason, so his capabilities must be sufficient.

However, Bennett felt some uneasiness in his heart, and firmly warned Lotbeyond the door.

“If you don’t contact us by the end of today, I swear we are going to blow this house up. And I am going to carve humility and modesty in your skull as well.”

There was no answer.

[⋯⋯Will it be alright?]

“We can only hope for the best⋯⋯. Even if this fails, we’ll find another way somehow. Don’t worry.”

[⋯⋯⋯⋯.]

Bennett and Niolle decided to return in a hurry. They thought it was unlikely that something would happen while they were away, but leaving Tara unprotected was a risk they weren’t willing to take.

===============================================================

"⋯⋯That’s what happened.”

“So that’s why you said we just need to wait⋯⋯."

Tara stared at the walkie-talkie on the table. When it rings, the final challenge would begin. A challenge she can’t take part of.

She considered stubborn only, but after recalling the recent ordeal—how she was nearly overpowered and subjected to a horrific situation by just one man—she realized that staying behind might actually be more helpful.

Tara's hands were shaking as she held the hem of her skirt. Is this appropriate? I might die of embarrassment. Should I just close my eyes and go through with it? Aside from the embarrassment, what if Bennett feels too burdened?

As a war raged inside Tara's mind, the hand holding the hem of her skirt moved up and down the middle of her thigh.Observing her almost dangerously fluttering skirt, Bennett quietly looked at the ceiling and asked.

"⋯⋯What are you planning.”

"⋯⋯Eung, eung?! Wh-what do you mean by planning?!”

“What are you trying to achieve by seducing me? Social execution⋯⋯?"

"⋯⋯⋯⋯!?!"

Tara realized how visible her inner conflict was from the outside, so she pulled down the hem of her skirt and curled back up. Embarrassment surged through her so hard she felt steam rising from the top of her head.

“I-It doesn’t hurt anymore. Go away, shoo, go away Bennett!”

"Stop kicking! I don't understand what’s up with her⋯⋯."

Operation failed due to the embarrassment.

Still, since Bennett told me he was tempted, so wasn’t it a half-success? She then hit her own head with her fist, berating herself for her thoughts.

===============================================================

How should I approach him? Should I ask him to go into the bathroom together?

While Tara's brain was trying to come up with strange plans due to her series of failures, Bennett sat quietly next to Tara, whose mind was wandering off all throughout the day.

She almost went through something so terrible for a woman, so even though Tara was a brave person, the trauma must’ve remained deep in her heart. Her strange behavior was probably due to the stress. That was what Bennett thought.

He quietly called Tara’s name out.

“Tara.”

“Uh, eung?!”

"There's no need to push yourself like that. You've done your job well already. Without you⋯⋯ we wouldn't have come this far. Perhaps the world would’ve already been destroyed."

"⋯⋯⋯⋯."

He’s comforting me. Tara felt both happy and distraught. Although she knew there was no chance that Bennett would suddenly confess, it was human nature to imagine absurd things that have no chance of happening if they hoped for it hard enough.

Still, isn’t this a good chance?

Tara quickly looked around. Sally was curled up like a shrimp and slept, and Niolle was nowhere to be seen. Maybe she went to the bathroom. Okay, now’s the time.

"⋯⋯Be-Bennett!”

“I’m listening.”

“Hey, you know⋯⋯ I mean. Uh, that⋯⋯."

“Tara, you can speak slowly. I’ll listen to whatever you say, after all.”

Deep breaths. Deep breaths. Tara's heart was pounding uncontrollably. It was pounding so hard that she was worried that Bennett could hear her heart beating. She caught her breath, pushing away the hesitation and anxiety. Then, these feelings...

⋯⋯These feelings will!

"Bennett, I lo──."

BEEEEP-!!

The walkie-talkie placed on the table blinked with a red light and beeped. Bennett jumped up and headed towards it.

Tara laid down on the floor. She felt so cheated that tears came to her eyes. Why? Why right now⋯⋯!

It’s fine. It won’t be too late by the time Bennett returns⋯⋯.

Tara comforted herself and wished that she had better luck next time.

===============================================================

Everyone in the party gathered in front of the walkie-talkie. When they tuned in and connected to the frequency, they were greeted by several bursts of static before Lot's voice came through.

-⋯⋯’ve⋯⋯⋯⋯longer.-

[I can’t hear it.]

“If we change the direction of the antenna⋯⋯."

Static crackled and hissed.

-I’ve lost the will to live any longer.-

"⋯⋯⋯⋯."

-I’ve realized that the end of humanity is nigh. There’s not even enough time to build and launch a rocket. We won’t be able to escape even if scientists from all over the world combined their efforts.-

-The pace of our current scientific advancement simply cannot keep up. Humanity will be erased. Even my intellect could not conceive of a way to prevent this cosmic extinction. Everything will end. Perhaps if I hadn't known this, I could’ve died in peace.-

-The truth is unbearable. This message was pre-recorded and serves as a will. The Alpha value is as follows⋯⋯.-

The mathematician recited a lengthy and intricate string of numbers. He repeated it five times in case the listener might’ve forgotten.

-At the very least, I wish to choose the manner of my death. Rather than becoming dust scattered in the crevices of space-time, I will die here first.-

The sound of footsteps. Click. The sound of a bullet being chambered. Bang. The sound of a gunshot.

Dead silence.

And then, the recording began to play again..

-I’ve realized that the end of humanity is nigh⋯⋯-

Bennett solemnly turned off the walkie-talkie.

“⋯⋯We’ve got the Alpha value. Let’s move.”

[Yes, Bennett.]

In an eerie silence, Bennett and Niolle finished their final /genesisforsaken