Chapter 353: …This Has Nothing to Do With Me, Right?
After giving his brief self-introduction, Steven quickly realized that… he really didn't have much else to say to these Emperor's Blades.
They weren't exactly close, after all.
"So, uh…" Steven scratched his head, then glanced at the pile of ashes that used to be the giant Collapsal. "Do I get some kind of reward for helping you deal with this thing? I'm a simple guy—don't need anything fancy. Cash works fine."
He stretched out his hand expectantly.
If Ursus wanted to give him some kind of honorary medal or ceremonial banner, he'd take it without complaint. But let's be honest: money was always the most reliable reward. Extra compensation was good news; if not, he wouldn't push it too hard. At most he'd gripe later about Ursus being stingy.
Still, the Emperor's Blades were clearly caught off guard by how blunt he was.
Rewards were natural, yes—but wasn't he supposed to sit there silently, waiting for them to offer it with trembling hands? Maybe even pretend to act humble and aloof?
Who immediately stuck out their hand and said "cash is fine"?
Apparently, this one did.
"…Of course, there will be a reward," the lead Emperor's Blade said at last, his voice calm even through the rasp of his respirator. "But if you would allow us some time to make preparations… Ursus will not let a hero such as yourself go unrewarded. You will receive proper compensation, I assure you."
Naturally, none of them carried bags of gold or valuables while hunting Collapsals. But Steve's request—money instead of status or favors—was, in their eyes, something of a blessing. If all it took was cash to secure his help, then His Majesty would be overjoyed.
Money was never really a problem for Ursus. And if coin could buy the aid of someone who could walk into the far north and obliterate a Collapsal… then every nation would gladly pool their treasuries together to hire him.
Steven sighed, waving a hand. "So basically, you're broke. Fine. Then maybe you can at least tell me something useful. Like, how the hell are these things getting into the border snowfields? Last time it was one, this time three. And each stronger than the last. Don't you people have, I dunno, guards for this?"
He narrowed his eyes slightly. "Feels like it's happening way too often."
Because if Collapsals just casually wandered into Ursus whenever they wanted, then the empire would already be overrun. The oppression of the Infected wouldn't even matter—survival would be the real problem.
Just look at Iberia for a case study. That disaster was what happened when an abomination like the Seaborn ran unchecked.
So for them to be appearing more frequently in Ursus? Something was definitely wrong.
"This…"
The Emperor's Blades froze. Steve's directness left them momentarily speechless.
The movements of Collapsals were supposed to be top-secret information—classified beyond anything civilians were allowed to know. Yet after what he had just done, could they really refuse him?
This man had singlehandedly destroyed not one, but two Collapsals already. If anyone could be considered on the same side as Ursus in this war, it was him. And sharing intelligence might even strengthen the northern defenses.
The Emperor's Blades exchanged quick glances, then gestured for Steven to wait. The leader pulled out a communicator, whispered into it for a moment, then stepped closer and gave a solemn nod.
"As a hero who has resisted the Collapsals, Mr. Steve, your actions have proven your identity. For that, you have earned the friendship of Ursus. Therefore, you are granted permission to access certain intelligence regarding the Collapsals."
"To speak plainly…" His tone grew heavier, voice grave beneath the mask. "The far northern tundra has undergone changes we cannot explain. By all accounts, we should have contained humanity's knowledge of the Collapsals. And yet—they continue to grow stronger."
"This is not normal. None of the nations that fight the Collapsals have leaked their research, nor have rumors or superstitions spread among the people. By rights, there should be no 'cognitive nourishment' for them to feed upon. And yet… they are evolving."
"It is as if… another land entirely has begun to recognize them, and is somehow feeding them strength."
The mask hid his face, but his voice carried the weight of grim worry.
Steven tilted his head.
That… sounded about right, but it wasn't something he had felt personally.
The "Collapsals grow stronger through human cognition" mechanic was a cheap cheat in his eyes. Both the ones he'd fought had been easily dealt with, so he hadn't exactly felt the supposed pressure of their growth.
But then the Emperor's Blade said it—another land's cognition.
Steven froze, a thought flashing through his mind that made his smile go a little stiff.
"…Since when has this change been happening?" he asked, coughing lightly to cover his sudden unease.
"About two months ago," the Emperor's Blade answered readily. "It began around the time we pursued a stray Collapsal here. At first we suspected it might have caused the change itself, but… it created no panic, nothing that could explain what followed."
Steven's polite smile was starting to look more and more like a grimace.
This whole thing… maybe, possibly, probably, just a little bit… had something to do with him?
Because he knew exactly what kind of weight he carried. With the entirety of Minecraft's systems and mods consolidated within him, if he really cut loose, calling himself a walking Creator God wouldn't even be an exaggeration.
Which meant… he wasn't just one man. He was the embodiment of an entire Minecraft world.
And if his knowledge counted as the knowledge of that world itself—well, then the Collapsals feeding off "foreign cognition" suddenly made a lot more sense.
Honestly, it was lucky for Ursus that the creatures didn't seem able to fully digest his particular brand of recognition. If they could, he was certain they'd be much worse than what they'd seen so far.
"Mr. Steve, do you have any insight?" The lead Emperor's Blade's tone shifted from report to plea. "You seem unusually skilled at combating these creatures. If possible… we would like to invite you to the very frontlines. To sit with us, and lend your strength."
The Emperor's Blades watched Steve's thoughtful expression and assumed he was on the verge of revealing some profound insight. Their voices carried a trace of anticipation as they extended their invitation once more.
Steven, however, waved them off.
"Ah, come on. What kind of opinion could I have? It's simple—if I see one, I kill it. You guys are the ones in charge of keeping these things out of Ursus. Shouldn't you be the ones tightening your defenses?"
The blame was tossed back at them without hesitation.
How could this possibly be related to him? The problem obviously lay with the Collapsals themselves.
And as for that "feeding on cognition" mechanic… that wasn't something he could fix.
Well, if he had command blocks and console commands, he could patch the system. But that was Minecraft's rule set—no way this world would let him get away with importing that.
Besides, it wasn't like he could prove any of this was connected to him. More investigation was needed before jumping to conclusions.
"As for visiting your frontlines… I'll pass. I'm not the sit-around kind of guy. Let's just say we'll meet again if fate allows."
With a casual wave, Steven refused their invitation outright, already turning on his heel. If he stuck around any longer, they might actually drag him all the way to meet Ursus's Emperor. And considering he was technically aligned with Talulah's side for now, walking straight into the den of Ursus's final boss would… send the wrong message.
Not to mention, he had no patience for pomp and ceremony. Gold was simpler. Cleaner. Honest.
"Next time we meet," Steven called back over his shoulder, "I expect you'll have my payment ready. Oh—and if there's any more Collapsal business, feel free to get in touch. Like I said, I've got a real interest in those things."
He didn't wait for an answer. His steps carried him away, back in the direction of the guerrilla squad.
One of the Emperor's Blades half-moved to call after him, but another quickly stopped them.
Better to let someone like that act on his own terms. Interfering with his choices—risking his displeasure—wasn't worth it.
To make an enemy of a man who could casually unleash explosions that looked like the end of the world itself…
The leader of the squad stared after Steve's retreating figure, an involuntary shiver creeping into his voice beneath the mask.
Yes. That boy was far more terrifying than any Collapsal.
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Note:
Basically, the boost that the Collapsal got from being known by Steven is the equivalent of a world-wide recognition, but due to some difference between Minecraft and Arknight, rather than a whole world, the boost is only at a single Nation level.
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Note: Character Illustration is in this Google Drive:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1iuyfwNVFHzIi9H4rWNT_lAm7jTSiah_M
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