Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID
[DATA RECALL: VOICE_MEMO_SANTA]
//*
[DATA RESEARCH. . . echo NOW<<<]
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.
▶SANTA: The dangers of Outer? legend Why are you asking me something like that? action Didn’t you already receive all that information through a data card?
▶SANTA: Hmm. athlete Well, that’s true. ability After all, experience is precisely the foundation of being a veteran, isn’t it?
▶ASH: That is correct. armor However, such simple data cannot compare to Elder Santa’s practical experience.
▶ASH: Exactly.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.
▶ASH: The terrain?
▶SANTA: For starters, Outer is made up of ruins. atomic Ruins that have been abandoned for thousands of years. abandon Nobody knows when they might collapse or what kind of strange traps they might be hiding. amateur I knew a guy like that. apron He was a bastard who bragged about having some pretty expensive Cyberware, but he stepped in the wrong place just once and ended up as a mass of flesh……
▶SANTA: Fine. absorb Whatever, I’ll explain it to you. apron Santa’s first special lesson. acid Watch out for the terrain!
▶ASH: I shall keep that in mind. album What comes next?
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.
▶SANTA: Yeah. portal They’re living beings infected by a disease of unknown origin called ‘Grotesque Disease’. atomic And the important thing here is precisely that it affects living beings. audit Animals, insects, humans, and even plants. anchor If they contract Grotesque Disease, they inevitably end up turning into monsters.
▶ASH: Grotesque?
▶SANTA: ……Ahem. shadow Next are the enemies. shadow And the ones you’ll encounter most frequently are probably the Grotesque.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.
▶SANTA: I can’t explain it. atomic Every individual has a different appearance. amateur Although, if they have one thing in common, it’s that they’re all fucking hideous. atom Anyway, the Grotesque have a habit of forming groups, so if you find one, it means there are probably several dozen nearby. atlas You’d better be careful.
▶ASH: Then may I regard them as beasts that attack in packs?
▶SANTA: Uh…… Yeah, technically, but when you see them in person, you’ll understand that it feels a little different.
▶ASH: Monsters…… What do they look like?
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.
▶ASH: What do you mean? All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com
▶SANTA: It’s just a little strange hearing you say that.
▶ASH: I understand. harbor Ah, and what about the Sentinel? abstract According to the data card, I must remain alert for Sentinel…… Why are you looking at me like that?
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.
▶ASH: I see. timber However, what does that have to do with me?
▶SANTA: ……You’re a machine too. alpha And a suspiciously peculiar one at that. atlas Tell me the truth. beacon You have some connection to the Sentinel, don’t you? avalanche That swordsmanship of yours isn’t something from the ancient civilization too, is it?
▶ASH: No.
▶SANTA: The Sentinel are machines. echo You can think of them as defensive systems manufactured in ancient times. avalanche That’s why there are many types. agent Turrets that appear out of nowhere, autonomous combat drones, and even small Walkers that simply charge straight at you. harbor Some even have self-repair functions.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.
▶SANTA: Of course. shadow There’s still the most important one. airport To be frank, forget about the Grotesque and the Sentinel. action The truly dangerous thing is something else.
▶ASH: ……Do you not have any other advice?
▶SANTA: I’m sure there’s something. beacon I have that feeling.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.
▶ASH: What is it?
▶SANTA: Remember this well. album The most dangerous thing in Outer is……
Sector Gamma 7.
*//
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.
A small group was making its way through some part of those ruins.
“Sir! adopt Look at this!”
It was Ash, who was still reflecting on Santa’s advice, and Akina, who was crouching in a corner of the ruins.
An area known as the ‘Underground Labyrinth’ because it was the largest among the Level 1 regions.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.
“Is that so?”
“This is called an Energy Cell. advance Apparently, it uses a completely different method of storing energy. arch That means it can store much more energy while taking up far less space!”
Akina illuminated something with a portable flashlight and murmured cheerfully.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.
Outer.
He was doing so to remain prepared for any possible threat.
Ash responded distractedly to the girl’s words while continuing to constantly observe his surroundings.
All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.
The appearance of Outer, which until then Ash had known only through data, conveyed a much gloomier atmosphere than he had imagined.
In other words, the ruins of the ancient civilization.
For starters, everything was collapsed ruins.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.
Furthermore, because of all kinds of sediment that had accumulated over thousands of years, not even a single ray of light could enter, as though they had descended into a basement.
Even the air gave off a stale smell, and every step left a footprint in the gray dust.
To Ash, absolutely all of it represented a threat.
Occasionally, when the wind swept through the interior passageways, it resonated between them and produced a deep sound that spread like an echo.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.
It was impossible for him to lower his guard.
But Akina was different.
From the moment they entered the ruins, she had meticulously inspected everything she came across, from the cables in the walls to circuit boards whose purpose she did not know, constantly letting out cheerful exclamations.
He was already in a completely unfamiliar place, and on top of that, the atmosphere was ominous.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.
Ash pondered those questions even as he kept his gaze fixed on the dark passageways.
An excessively enthusiastic Technomancer and an excessively cautious Assault.
What could give her so much confidence?
Where did such courage come from?
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.
At first glance, they might seem like a rather comical combination.
As a Technomancer, Akina had to find anything in those ruins that could be turned into money.
However, surprisingly, both were faithfully fulfilling their respective roles.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.
“Hmm. antenna But it’s broken. armor This one is no good either.”
Akina tossed aside the Energy Cell she had been examining with shining eyes just moments earlier.
The empty Energy Cell rolled across the floor.
And as an Assault, Ash’s primary task was to protect Akina while she did so.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.
At Ash’s question, Akina nodded.
“Does that have little value as well?”
“Is that not precisely why we accepted the ‘Mapping’ commission?”
“Yes. anchor It’s junk. amateur Although that was to be expected. crystal There’s no way to easily find something valuable in a Level 1 zone. arch The other Pathfinders must have already looted everything.”
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.
“Hehe. afford Exactly.”
For Pathfinders who explored outside the city, commissions were an inseparable part of their work. Visit indratranslations.com for more free chapters and updates.
Commissions.
After all, they were people who explored an unknown world, so every one of their experiences constituted extremely valuable information.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.
That was Mapping.
Go to an unexplored area and create a map.
The commission Ash and Akina had accepted, Mapping, could be considered one of the most common.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.
At Akina’s question, Ash opened the map of Gamma 7 that he had previously stored.
The map appeared over his optical sensors, and after performing the calculations, Ash replied.
“Sir. atom How much farther until we reach the commission area?”
“Approximately two kilometers remain in a straight line.”
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.
Akina thought briefly before making a decision.
All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.
“We won’t get anything this way. sphere I think it would be best to ignore everything from now on and head straight for the unexplored area.”
“Hmm.”
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.
In reality, Mapping commissions were not particularly well paid.
“I’m sure we’ll find something good there, right?”
“I agree.”
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.
If they were going to head into an unexplored area anyway, why not earn some additional credits in the process?
Mapping commissions were precisely that kind of additional income. Read original high-quality translation at indratranslations.com.
Even so, many Pathfinders accepted them because, in other words, an unexplored area was virgin territory that no one had looted yet.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.
“Don’t say things like that in such a refined tone. galaxy Sometimes it seems like you care about credits even more than I do.”
Ash knew this as well, so he nodded.
“There will undoubtedly be some quite valuable things.”
Akina burst out laughing.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.
“We have a debt, do we not? aspect And to Elder Santa, who has treated us so favorably, no less. agent The most important thing for a debtor is to repay their debt as soon as possible. wizard Do you not agree?”
Akina answered in a strangely evasive manner.
Ash looked at her.
“……Uh, yes…… I suppose.”
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.
“What? voyage Of course I intend to pay him back.”
“……Do not tell me you had no intention of paying him back.”
“When?”
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.
“……In ten years?”
What kind of little devil was this girl?
Ash shook his head for a few moments and began mentally preparing a lengthy lecture on morality.
She had even stolen an arm before.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.
“If there are only two kilometers left, we’re already close! album Let’s go!”
Akina immediately noticed and hurriedly set off.
Ash watched Akina advance without the slightest fear and let out a sigh.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.
To be precise, since he lacked respiratory organs, he simply reproduced a similar sound through his voice module.
***
“Haa……”
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.
How long had they been walking through the passageway?
“Shh.”
Ash suddenly grabbed Akina by the shoulder as she walked ahead of him.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.
“What’s wrong?”
Her voice was barely a whisper.
Startled, the girl opened her eyes wide.
Before Akina could say anything, Ash covered her mouth.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.
“Can you hear it?”
“Hear what?”
Shortly afterward.
Ash did not answer immediately and kept his gaze fixed on a certain point in the darkness.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.
All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.
Coincidentally, the direction Ash was looking was precisely the path they needed to follow.
“A sound. acid Beyond that darkness…… there is something.”
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.
“I-is it a person?”
But this was no time to worry about that.
Akina’s voice trembled slightly, apparently frightened.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.
There was something there.
Ash slowly drew the steel sword he carried on his back.
“I am not certain. altitude However, it does not sound like something produced by a person. adapt It is something a little more savage…… As though it were suffering.”
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.
“Yes, sir.”
That simple fact was enough to immediately put an end to the relatively cheerful atmosphere that had accompanied them until then.
“Miss Akina.”
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.
“Assess the situation and, if we believe we can handle it, fight our way through. airport Which would you prefer?”
“And the other?”
“We have two options. anxiety One is to abandon this path and look for another route.”
“Fight our way through. aluminum As long as you agree.”
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.
“I think the same.”
“From now on, I shall take the lead.” This novel translation is officially hosted on indratranslations.com.
Ash took a step forward.
Akina nodded silently.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.
After passing through the remains of collapsed buildings and piles of debris, they finally approached the source.
The two began slowly advancing toward the source of the sound.
After a certain point, even Akina began to hear those strange groans.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.
Finally, he reached the end.
The shriek echoed much louder than before.
Ash gestured for Akina to wait there and advanced alone through the passageway, which gradually grew narrower.
— Screeeech!
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.
“Screeeeeech!”
“Grrrrgh……!”
And there, Ash discovered the true source of those sounds.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.
One was a human who supported himself on the ground with four arms.
Another had such a prominent skeleton that he appeared to be completely emaciated.
They all had different appearances.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.
One had dozens of legs.
And another violently flailed his limbs as though he were dancing.
They only vaguely retained a human silhouette.
Although calling them humans was far too generous.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.
But the few traces they still retained from when they had been human only intensified their grotesque appearance.
Perhaps it would have been less disturbing if they had completely taken the form of monsters.
Their faces appeared to have melted, and their bodies were even covered in scale-like structures, creating a chilling sight.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.
All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.
Grotesque.
— Although, if they have one thing in common, it’s that they’re all fucking hideous. Indra Translations protects the hard work of translators and authors.
Ash quickly understood what those creatures were.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.
They were competing with one another as they voraciously devoured something.
The creatures Santa had told him about.
Beings completely deformed after becoming infected with Grotesque Disease.
Ash adjusted his optical sensors and focused the image.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.
Just like him and Akina.
It was the corpse of a human.
Perhaps he had been a Pathfinder who had come to perform Mapping in that unexplored area.
Ash decided not to think about it any further.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.
And all of them were completely focused on feeding.
There were four Grotesque.
At the same time, he determined that this was the perfect moment to attack.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.
Ash immediately emerged from the passageway and closed the distance in a single movement.
One of the Grotesque struck by its blade was split in two, spilling black blood.
The steel sword he held traced a flash through the air.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.
Everything happened in an instant.
“Grrk?”
After cutting down the skeletal one, Ash swung his sword again before the enemies could even comprehend the situation.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.
They were the one that kept flailing as though dancing and the one that possessed dozens of legs.
The remaining two let out shrieks and lunged at him.
The head of the four-armed Grotesque was pierced through.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.
First, he cut down the closer one, the one that appeared to be dancing, and at the same time pierced the face of the many-legged Grotesque.
Anyone might have been shaken at the sight of such creatures, capable of defying all common sense, attacking simultaneously from both sides.
Ash simply remained unperturbed.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.
On the contrary, it began struggling and attempted to kick Ash with its countless legs.
Ash straightened his blade and slashed vertically.
Despite having been completely pierced through, the Grotesque did not die.
“Scree, screeeeech!”
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.
“……”
An icy silence descended upon the chamber that, just moments earlier, had been filled with grotesque sounds.
The only thing left standing there was a humanoid holding a steel sword.
The Grotesque split in two, and thick black blood began to trickle down its body.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.
As though he had died harboring deep resentment, his eyes remained wide open.
Ash was about to call Akina over immediately when he suddenly lowered his head.
His gaze fell upon the human who, until just moments ago, had been devoured by the Grotesque.
Translation of Cyberpunk Swordsman - Chapter 8: ENTER THE VOID by Indra Translations.
He bent down and gently closed those already cold eyelids.
Ash could not simply turn away.
Then, even if only for a brief moment, he prayed for his soul to rest in peace.
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