b

Transformed into Cosmic Horror in a Sci-Fi Universe – 2

EP.2 Encounter with the Unknown

Since it was a bit too far to travel by spaceship, I used my main body's ability to teleport the spaceship close to the tourist ship.

To avoid startling them, I teleported it just outside their detection range and then flew towards the tourist ship.

"…Ah! Good. I can speak normally with the clone."

The clone was an exact replica of my former self, so there was no discomfort in moving or speaking.

Moreover, it didn't seem to destroy anyone's mind just by encountering or talking to them.

Living like this, almost as a form of amusement, might be enjoyable.

I could keep my main body hidden far away in space to prevent any potential victims and send out clones to observe and directly experience their lives.

Hmm, but would I need an identity for that?

I could create one if necessary, but I would need to register my clone's information in the Terra race database… Alternatively, altering the perception of the entire universe might be quicker.

…But that's such an absurdly omnipotent ability that I don't really want to use it.

It's like a game. Using cheats makes progress and growth fast and fun at first, but it quickly becomes boring.

Since I have become an eternal being that must live even if the universe disappears, I can't afford to make the game boring too quickly.

I should enjoy it leisurely and slowly.

"Oh, I've arrived."

While I was thinking that, I reached a distance close enough to touch the tourist ship.

…But how do I get in there?

Will they let an outsider in?

What if they suddenly attack, thinking I'm an enemy?

Damn… I came here without any plan, thinking I wouldn't be a threat.

Being overwhelmingly powerful can be quite inconvenient.

Even if they attack, it would only result in the clone disappearing, but it would be a waste not to take advantage of this unexpected opportunity.

"Huh?"

Something seemed off.

The inside of the tourist ship appeared to be in utter chaos.

Even though it was just a clone, it was still created by a god-level being, so when I got close to the ship, I could sense the internal situation as clearly as if I were seeing it with my own eyes.

People were in pain.

Oh, aliens.

There were also some with strong energy.

No, no.

Why am I just admiring at this?

People inside are in complete turmoil.

They are suffering immensely.

Alright, I'll use this opportunity to get inside.

And then I'll help them.

Saving people in distress by chance and starting a new life in another world.

It's a common cliché, right?

I teleported the clone inside the tourist ship.

Even at this distance, teleportation is possible.

As expected of an Outer God… anything is possible with just a thought.

"…What the hell, this is crazy. What's going on?"

The internal situation was even more chaotic than I sensed from outside.

People were fainting, vomiting, and some were even bleeding from their eyes, nose, and mouth.

"Ugh…!"

Even the species that were holding on were clutching their heads and staggering.

This is… a symptom of mental contamination.

Something is directly interfering with their minds, affecting their brains.

What could it be? I didn't sense anything around here capable of such a mental attack.

The Meias youth gathering energy over there or the elderly man next to him might be capable of this level of mental attack.

They look like Terra race… humans, but the amount of energy inside them is different, making it easy to distinguish.

Ah, they call it 'mana,' right?

Anyway, since the Meias are also suffering, they don't seem to be the source of this mental contamination…

"Ah."

I realized it in an instant.

'The moment they see, hear, or perceive 'me' in any way, their minds collapse and they either die or become insane unless they have mental defense measures in place.'

It's me? I'm the culprit.

It must have been because of that moment when I unconsciously said "Oh."

Isn't this too much?

Even at a distance of 200,000 km, just me saying "Oh" caused this much devastation.

This turns the cliché of saving people in distress into me being the villain who put them in danger!

"..."

No, this is not the time to be thinking about that.

Mental Purification.

Swaaah─

I removed the mental contamination from the people.

Even though I can collapse minds just by being perceived, surprisingly, I also have the ability to purify and clear minds.

However, if I use it on someone who has directly seen me and had their mind collapse, it causes a rapid cycle of mental collapse and recovery, turning them into complete idiots.

So, in reality, it's a largely meaningless ability.

But in this case, it's different.

They didn't fully perceive me; they only heard my voice briefly from a great distance.

If I perform mental purification now, there won't be any further confusion.

"Ugh, what was that?"

"My head suddenly felt like it was going to explode…"

"Hey! Raymond! Snap out of it!"

"Ugh… Hoo, everyone, please calm down and remain in your seats. We will assess the situation immediately."

Fortunately, everyone seemed to regain their senses, and the chaos subsided quickly.

Phew… I almost shattered the minds of hundreds of intelligent beings within 30 minutes of my reincarnation.

That would have been quite the achievement for an Outer God known for bringing only pain and despair… Haha.

But then, the young Meias man approached me.

"…You. What did you do?"

"Huh?"

Oh no! What, what is this?

Did he figure it out?

That I shattered their minds…?!

Is he going to realize I'm an Outer God?!

"When you arrived, everyone's minds recovered. You didn't seem to use any special energy… How did you do it?"

Ah, I see… that's what he's curious about.

Well, it's not like the clone needs to use energy.

I just used the main body's abilities.

An Outer God, a transcendent being, doesn't use energy.

It simply causes phenomena.

There's no energy interference in a natural phenomenon akin to a law of nature.

But I can't just say that outright…

"I have some unique abilities that allow me to help in situations like this. It's a bit complicated to explain, but I'm glad I could assist."

"Ha, haha. I'm an adventurer who travels through space, and I've encountered mental attacks quite often. So, I developed this myself. It sends electromagnetic waves to the brain to adjust the mind, which is probably why you didn't see any energy flow."

I said this while pulling out a rod-like device made of mechanical parts from my pocket.

Of course, it's a lie.

I just created this fake invention using material creation.

But it's not entirely a lie.

I actually made it have the ability I just described while creating it.

With a single button press, it emits waves that remove mental contamination within a 100-meter radius.

Of course, it can't handle the mental contamination caused by me, but it can cure most mental attacks.

As expected of a creator god-level ability… anything can be made just by thinking about it.

"…I see. That's impressive. To invent something like that. You could make a fortune if you patent it with the Galactic Union."

"Hahaha. I'm considering that too."

The Galactic Union.

It was established by the 'Lubaran Race,' who first proposed and built the space society, and is composed of representatives from numerous intelligent beings across the universe.

It's the highest institution in the current universe.

…Or so my knowledge tells me.

In simple terms, it's like a global summit or the United Nations.

Most intelligent beings currently active in space are under the management of this Galactic Union.

Even newly discovered wild planets, like some of the planets in the Skull Nebula right in front of us, are isolated and managed as soon as they are found.

If intelligent beings appear, they are sometimes inducted into the Union, or if they are hostile, they are exterminated.

It's an organization with immense power across the entire universe.

Wow… it's nice to start with all this information.

I can just search my mind for anything I'm curious about or don't know.

…But why is this Meias guy speaking so informally to someone he's just met?

It's a bit annoying.

I should have left his mind unpurified.

"…Wait! This isn't the time for this. Master… according to your words, we're about to encounter a being we should never meet…!"

At that moment, the rude Meias man hurriedly returned to his seat.

He started talking to the elderly man of the same race.

"Master, let's at least get out of here. Those foolish Terra race members won't listen even if we tell them to leave quickly!"

"…It's alright, Lowie."

The old man calmed him down and then suddenly stared intently at me.

"…?"

His eyes seemed to pierce through me.

Ah, that old man… he seems to have figured something out.

"It seems it's not yet time for us to die. We've encountered a benevolent and gentle god."

"What? What do you mean…"

Ah, as I thought… that old man has somewhat grasped my true nature.

But is it okay?

If he starts to perceive me, his mind might collapse…

Ah, it's probably fine since he hasn't directly seen or heard me.

The form he sees now is the Terra race clone, after all.

…Still, just in case, I should talk to him later.

I'll assess his mental state and warn him not to reveal my identity.

It wouldn't be fun if my identity is exposed right from the start.

…Hmm, but maybe I could just erase his memory?

No, let's save the main body's abilities for truly dire situations.

Like how I created the mental purification device earlier.

As I mentioned before, using cheats in a game makes it boring quickly.