Chapter 26: Visitor

"What? Another elf village?"

Muwan was shocked and widened his eyes as he asked again after hearing the returning scouts' report.

The scouts nodded and continued.

"Yes, Muwan. During our patrol, we discovered other elves who explained through gestures that they were from another elf village."

"Since we couldn't understand their language, we communicated through gestures, so it's not entirely clear…"

"To get a better understanding, Yeonhu and Jigang headed to their village."

"…!!"

Hearing that the scouts named Yeonhu and Jigang had gone to an unknown elf village, Muwan frowned deeply.

"You fools! What if something happens to them?"

Oh, Muwan seemed to be a cautious one.

It appeared that even among elves, there were those who were more wary.

Well, different races have different traits and personalities.

There's no rule saying elves can't be cautious.

"…? They're fellow elves. What danger could there be?"

"It was a friendly atmosphere."

Most of the elves seemed to wonder what Muwan was so worried about.

Due to their strong sense of kinship, they were confident that other elves wouldn't harm them.

Well, it seemed that the other elves were right in this case rather than the cautious Muwan.

The other village seemed to be welcoming them warmly.

Still, Muwan wasn't entirely wrong.

Such caution and prudence were necessary traits for a leader to protect the village.

There was always the possibility that these elves might be the kind who would kill even their own kind.

Muwan was indeed one of the particularly intelligent elves I had been observing.

His thinking was different from the other elves who strictly adhered to their racial traits.

"Raise the alert level. We don't know what might happen."

"…Understood."

If Lasi was a friendly leader who encouraged cooperation and camaraderie, Muwan was a competent superior who issued somewhat forceful commands.

Because of this, even when Muwan gave orders that the elves didn't understand, they followed, believing there was a reason behind them.

It seemed that different types of leaders had their own pros and cons.

If Lasi had given such an order in this situation, the elves might have questioned why or suggested it wasn't necessary.

Unlike the tense atmosphere in Muwan's village, the other village was quite cheerful.

"Oh ho! So there are other elves!"

"Judging by their gestures, it seems they have a sizable community, similar to or even larger than ours."

Unlike Muwan, they seemed to warmly welcome the outsiders.

It wasn't that they particularly liked other elves; their overall atmosphere was more relaxed and joyful.

This was likely because they were located in a higher, more secure area, which, despite having slightly less food, faced fewer external threats.

With fewer crises, the elves' atmosphere became more relaxed.

Because they had more leisure time, they began to lay the groundwork for farming earlier than other elves.

They started by planting fruit seeds and plant roots in the village soil.

Living in a slightly elevated area led to food scarcity, which in turn accelerated the development of farming.

However, since they were still at the very basics, the fruit seeds and plants didn't grow well.

At best, they sprouted and then withered.

It was still too early to say they had truly begun farming.

However, what if this event led to an exchange between Muwan's village, located downstream with much more fertile and soft soil, and the other village?

Muwan's sharp mind would quickly grasp the concept of planting seeds and growing crops.

The fertile soil would help the seeds grow well, potentially ushering in the first agricultural era in the southern hemisphere.

Wow… This feels like watching a documentary on human development while playing a simulation game. It's really fascinating.

"Hm? What's this here?"

Oh! Scout Yeonhu had just discovered an elf planting seeds.

Although they couldn't communicate verbally, Yeonhu used gestures to ask what the elf was doing.

"Ah, we've started having babies, but food is scarce. We thought it would be better if we grew our own food."

The elf used body language to show fruits from trees and edible plants.

"…Oh."

Yeonhu and Jigang immediately understood their actions.

If they returned and reported this to Muwan… Hm?

While engrossed in watching the elves' development documentary, I suddenly sensed something approaching.

A personal spaceship?

No, it wasn't just any personal spaceship.

It was the famous space adventurer, Kon Arche's ship, who had interviewed Yujin.

He had won the Mage Tournament and had another interview to commemorate his victory.

It seemed he had come here to write a book, as he had planned.

I had known about his plans since I started focusing on Yujin.

I hadn't kept up with other information to concentrate on the elf civilization simulation, so I didn't know he had already arrived, but I knew he would come eventually.

Well, there's no risk of being discovered.

The massive and bright nebula created by the supernova explosion emitted immense energy and radiation, making it impossible for most life forms to approach.

Kon Arche would likely just come close enough to observe.

He could never imagine that within that nebula, a star system had already formed, and a new race had emerged, creating a civilization.

…Hmm, just in case, should I scare him away so he doesn't come closer?

If he suddenly risked his life to enter the supernova and discovered the star system, reporting it to the Galactic Union would be problematic.

But Kon Arche, the famous space adventurer, was intriguing.

A Terran who had enhanced his body with Lubaran serum, learned Meias magic, and incorporated various technologies he acquired during his adventures… truly a super soldier.

Even if he discovered and reported me, I could just erase his memory or the information itself.

Since it had come to this, I might as well take a look at him in person.

I knew his face and features, but it's like going to a zoo to see a tiger even if you already know what it looks like.

The elf planet… It should be fine without me for a while.

The supernova's energy and radiation defenses were solid, and everything was running smoothly without my interference, except for that cult.

Swoosh—

#

I moved towards the direction where Kon Arche was approaching to examine the remnants of the supernova explosion.

I had reduced the distortion effects that caused mental collapse, so his brain wouldn't suddenly melt from getting too close.

"…Wow, a freshly exploded supernova. What an incredibly bright nebula. If I get any closer, I'll be roasted by the gamma rays."

Kon Arche leisurely observed the massive nebula, jotting down notes in his memo pad.

I watched him quietly from the side.

I had camouflaged my body by blending with the surrounding energy and visible light, making it almost invisible. Even with a body as large as Jupiter, it would be hard to spot me.

"Ugh… my head…"

However, it seemed I had gotten too close, as Kon Arche started to complain of a headache.

Although I had minimized the distortion effects, I couldn't eliminate them entirely, so they still had an impact even from a considerable distance.

Well… 30,000 km is practically next to each other in space.

Moreover, I'm the size of a planet.

That means my influence is vast.

Due to the distortion effects causing a headache and possibly altering his optic nerves, he suddenly spotted me.

"…Huh?"

Ah.

Damn, I've been seen.

I thought I had blended with the light wavelengths.

Something strange must have happened to his optic nerves, as he looked directly at me.

This was unexpected.

There was no future information about changes caused by myself, so I had to observe in real-time.

It seems that even if I camouflage myself with light, I shouldn't reveal myself in front of living beings.

Who would have thought that just by getting close, I could alter his optic nerves to see me through something other than light wavelengths?

I hadn't tested this by approaching living beings before.

But I had taken precautions to prevent mental collapse, following the method of my friend, Cthanyd.

So, his brain wouldn't explode just from making eye contact with me.

"Huff, huff… Huff…!!"

Oh no, this is strange.

He looks like he's about to die from hyperventilation.

Damn, he's just terrified.

This won't do. I've achieved my goal of seeing Kon Arche's face, so I'd better leave quickly!

Swoosh—

I retreated far back into the supernova.

Geez… I still seem to lack the self-awareness of being an outer god.

Almost causing someone to die from hyperventilation just because of curiosity?

Or maybe, as a true outer god, it's right to satisfy my curiosity regardless of whether someone dies from hyperventilation?

No, no!

I decided to be a benevolent outer god.

One who enjoys space adventures with an avatar and secretly observes the elves' ecosystem in secluded places.

Yes, yes.

Retreating quickly was the right thing to do.

Let's see if Kon Arche is okay.

If he plans to report the presence of an outer god near the G-Sector supernova to the Galactic Union, I'll have to erase his memory.

"Huff… Huff…"

He seemed to be feeling a bit better after I disappeared, still clutching his throbbing head and catching his breath.

"What was that just now? A giant monster…? Or… was it the 'outer god' I've only heard rumors about…?"

Fortunately, he didn't seem to have a clear grasp of my existence.

Knowing it was dangerous, he should just quietly back off.

"This… This is it. I have to write about this in my book…!"

…??

'The moment I met its enormous eye, an unbearable headache struck me. Just by facing it, the amount of information exceeded what my brain could handle.'

Wow, this guy is something else.

A super soldier who almost died from hyperventilation, and the first thing he does afterward is take notes for his book?

And what's with that content? Is this the prologue to a Cthulhu mythos story?

Unbelievable…