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[Translator – Seraph]
[Proofreader – Draxx]
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Chapter 452
“Amorph? What's wrong?”
I was dazed, but snapped out of it when I heard Isabel's voice.
“Is something the matter?”
“…That person, Kisaragi Yujin, are they a Ranker by any chance?”
Both of them seemed surprised to find me just staring blankly at the hologram. I shook my head.
“No. It's just, seeing that name after such a long time was unexpected.”
I hadn't thought I'd encounter it here, at the underground base in Edgerton, so I was just momentarily taken aback.
“Kisaragi Yujin. Born on Earth, a Nobel Capital, and an authority in genetic engineering. She has experience participating in projects related to Hulk Mutants and artificial organism creation.”
“You know someone like that? How?”
Now that I thought about it, neither of them knows about my past.
‘There's not really a reason to hide it.’
Given the circumstances, the chance that the Screamer mutant sisters would become hostile to me and leave is extremely low. It should be fine to talk about what I've been through.
I briefly explained what happened: how I woke up from stasis aboard a megacorp spaceship as a hatchling, met Number 26, Kisaragi Yujin's death, and the battles with the Spacedog swarm and Si-Hyun Yujin.
I didn't mention anything afterward since it wasn't relevant to the current situation. There would be plenty of opportunities to talk about it later anyway.
“I figured you might have eaten people before, but to think you devoured a Nobel Capital right after hatching…”
Having heard the whole story, Isabel shook her head in disbelief.
“Should’ve expected it. Incredible ability to adapt.”
“The strategies exploiting the weaknesses of androids and AIs were rather fascinating. Would you elaborate with a detailed explanation?”
“I'll tell you the details later. Right now, I want to check the experimental records, if that's alright?”
“Understood.”
PS-111 blinked its camera lens eyes in disappointment but didn't push any further.
As it manipulated the computer, the letter-filled hologram flickered to show a video from the experiments.
｢This is Kisaragi Yujin. I am preparing to present my research on ‘Inducing Radical Evolution through Extraction of the Genetic Mutation Potential in Marine Life.’｣
There was some noise and the video quality wasn’t great, but the woman’s face was still recognizable: a sharp-featured beauty, Kisaragi Yujin herself.
‘That background looks familiar?’
She continued speaking in a businesslike tone. Looking at the background, I realized it was a place I'd seen before.
‘It’s the room where I ate the pet cat.’
Given the video quality and the fact that marine bubble amoeba experiments were being discussed, this must have been recorded aboard the ship where I first woke up not long after I'd met Number 26.
｢Currently, I'm using the primitive marine organism, bubble amoeba, as a specimen to promote radical evolution…｣
The video was soon filled with a series of graphs and figures, appearing and disappearing rapidly results from experimental work on the bubble amoeba. I supposed Number 26 was among those specimens.
｢As you can see, the only specimen showing significant results was number 26. Thus, further research was narrowed to focus solely on this specimen.｣
“Is ‘number 26’ a reference to the main controller?”
“Probably. The containment cell it was in was labeled as number 26.”
“So that’s why it’s named number 26? They could’ve given it a better name.”
Honestly, back then I never thought things would turn out like this. I only let it out because I judged it would increase my chances of survival. There was even a moment when I considered eating it myself.
In the end, I missed my opportunity to give it a different name.
‘…It feels awkward to change it now.’
I glanced at Number 26. The subject in question was sound asleep, soaking in warmth from the storage unit.
The name ‘Number 26’ carries the weight of everything we’ve been through together. Maybe that’s why, but I don’t feel right about replacing it.
‘It’s just my own sentimentality, isn't it?’
Not something worth saying out loud, so I didn’t respond to Isabel’s comment.
“……”
She, who’d been looking at me, soon turned her eyes to the hologram.
｢Though specimen 26 has shown ‘remarkable achievements,’ unfortunately our research team currently suffers from a shortage of experimental specimens. Additional time will be needed to produce further results…｣
The video was nearing its end.
‘Well, that ended anticlimactically.’
Hearing a familiar name in an unfamiliar place, I’d hoped there might be a clue to something important, but that seems not to be the case.
‘Did the research stop because I devoured her?’
Possibly. If I hadn’t, maybe she would’ve sent Number 26 here or worked on other projects.
Then, Kisaragi Yujin said something strange.
｢However, considering the results so far, it appears specimen 26 fits your research team’s definition of an ‘Abnormal Superior Species, PS Model.’｣
‘Huh?’
｢It displays abnormal reactions to psionium, unusual growth curves, and superior adaptability to its environment all traits aligning with the PS Model. For precise comparison, I propose joint research with Edgerton’s team…｣
Soon after, the video ended.
I’d expected an ordinary ending, but the final term caught me off guard. I called PS-111.
“Search the stored records for ‘Abnormal Superior Species’ and ‘PS Model’.”
“Already searching.”
“PS? Do you think it’s related to your sister?”
“Most likely.”
The term, ‘Abnormal Superior Species, PS Model,’ mentioned in the video, undoubtedly refers to PS-111’s original, Penelope.
‘This lab participated in the Screamers’ development.’
No wonder it was hidden beneath the sea on a resort planet. Who would imagine there’d be a Screamer cloning facility for Rankers stashed away in a place like this?
It was only by coincidence, with several improbable factors aligned, that I made it here at all. Otherwise, I'd never have found it.
‘Anyway, that aside…’
The word I hadn’t expected to hear in this video was:
‘Abnormal Superior Species.’
I’ve scoured dozens of research institutes and databases until now, and I’ve never come across that term.
‘It seems this world’s researchers use it to refer to Ranker clones.’
What’s surprising is that Number 26, who isn’t a Ranker, was also labeled an Abnormal Superior Species.
‘Could it be because Number 26 possesses sea demon genes?’
PS-111’s body contains a small amount of sea demon genetic material. That’s why Number 26 calls it a friend.
Kisaragi Yujin may have accidentally discovered this fact during her research and misunderstood it.
‘Or maybe there’s something I don’t know.’
Even I don’t fully understand what makes it special.
At first, I thought Number 26 was just a bubble amoeba with the potential to grow into a sea demon. And that was true, to some extent.
But now, looking at Number 26, it’s very different from an ordinary sea demon. It’s much smarter and stronger. Above all, it continues to grow beyond the limits of its species,
Almost like a player.
“I found it. A total of 32 records have been located.”
While I was contemplating this new term and Number 26, PS-111 spoke up.
The hologram filled with letters and numbers vanished, replaced by dozens of listings occupying the empty space.
When I saw it, I couldn't help but feel disappointed.
“However, there is a problem. All these records have been marked as deleted.”
True to its words, only the titles and dates of the experiments remained. Unlike the records left by Kisaragi Yujin, these were marked in red, indicating they were inaccessible.
“Is there any chance to recover them?”
“They were deleted by physical methods. Recovery is impossible.”
‘Damn.’
Though spoken in its usual dry tone, I sensed a faint hint of disappointment.
PS-111 was the one who suggested coming here. We came to uncover the secrets left by Pyra Eleven, so this must be frustrating.
‘No. It’s too soon to give up.’
If Kisaragi Yujin’s footage mentioned clues midway through the experiments, then some leads might still exist.
I conveyed my thoughts to the machine.
“That's definitely a possibility. I’ll check once more.”
“If you try to verify everything on your own, it will take a long time. I’ll help too.”
Even for PS-111, it would take a while to comb through all the records. Before Isabel and the others helped, I had some things to do first.
“Where are the samples stored?”
“There’s a freezer at the end of the C line. Although the facility has been shut down, it appears to still be operational. We assume genetic samples are stored there.”
“Got it. I’ll deal with the samples first, then help you.”
“We appreciate both of your dedication.”
Leaving PS-111 to express its gratitude, I stepped outside the data center.
‘Since this is the F line, maybe I should head left to get out.’
I moved back down the corridor opposite the way I’d come. Not long after entering a hallway marked with a C, I spotted a door that wasn’t patched up.
Opening it, a cool breeze greeted me.
‘It’s been a while since I last saw this.’
Test tubes containing biological parts and a freezer holding genetic samples chilled with cold air. All things I liked.
Standing before the evidence that would fatten me up, I smiled.
***
In the starless void, deep in the heart of space.
A place nestled between star systems, like a gap in the cosmos, where only the occasional spacecraft piloted by intelligent beings wanders.
But now, the five presences in this empty expanse are not ships.
｢Rrrr. The waiting drags on.｣
A massive, nearly 100-meter-long red monster, resembling a giant pill bug, emits resonant waves. Next to it, a monster shaped like a black bat answers the signal.
｢The Mother has commanded. We must wait. We must obey.｣
｢Krrk! I am strong. No need to wait.｣
｢We agree.｣
Annoyed, the red monster grumbles, while a white, semi-transparent monster affirms quietly.
On the other hand, the blue-yellow jellyfish-like monster watching the conversation disagrees.
｢The Empress instructed us. There are too many variables. We must ensure the safety of the Grand Queen.｣
The four monsters gathered in this place are all powerful creations, forged by the one known as the Empress.
Different appearances, abilities, and personalities, but with one common trait: high intelligence, autonomy, and immense power.
They exist for a single purpose: to serve and protect the Empress’ beloved, the Grand Queen.
However, perhaps because of their intellect, even with one goal, their opinions sometimes differ as now.
The red monster, growling at its siblings who didn't share its view, shifts its gaze elsewhere.
Where it looks, a unique figure floats a being much smaller than the four monsters, looking like a beautiful human woman with features of various other creatures blended in.
｢Rrrr. Grand Queen, what do you think?｣
This appearance neither wholly human nor entirely monstrous belongs to me, the Outspace Grand Queen.
｢…….｣
Endowed with both overwhelming power and astonishing beauty, She stared at her terminal screen in boredom.
｢Grand Queen?｣
｢Tsk. This show is boring too.｣
She clicked her tongue and threw the device away.
｢Right. What were we talking about again?｣
｢We must obey the Mother’s command.｣
｢We disagree.｣
｢The Empress said to move cautiously.｣
｢Rrrr. I ignore the cowards. We attack now.｣
｢Alright, I get it, enough.｣
She raised her hand and silenced the monsters, drifting quietly through the void, pondering.
｢How many Gigacrackers are out there?｣
｢Krrk. Displeasing steel ones. There were two.｣
｢Well, I can handle up to three of them by myself, so even if reinforcements arrive it shouldn’t matter. Nothing wrong with moving forward, right?｣
As she seems to agree with the red monster, the blue-yellow jellyfish hastily sends out its signal.
｢I respect the Grand Queen’s decision. However, caution is needed.｣
｢I’ve thought it through. There are so many places still to subdue if I wait around forever, it won’t help her the Empress. Gotta get this over with quickly.｣
｢The uncertainty the Empress worries about has not been resolved.｣
｢Even if you call it uncertainty, it’s just a few parasites getting killed. They’ll be back to normal in a day or so, anyway.｣
｢I request you reconsider. The Empress’ will…｣
｢Ugh, enough. Quiet.｣
When they keep objecting, her patience runs dry. Her eyes glint pitch black, and not just the jellyfish but all the others let out cries and cower.
｢My will is the Empress’ will. Do I need to explain this again?｣
｢The Grand Queen is the Mother’s beloved. I will obey your will.｣
｢We follow.｣
｢Rrrr. Grand Queen is strong. I submit to the strong.｣
｢We’ll wait one more day, and if she says nothing, we move. Understood?｣
｢…We obey the Grand Queen.｣
Having cowed the monsters into submission, She turned her gaze to the dark universe.
Beyond the veil of deep shadow lies the prey her monsters crave.
Humans call that star system NEO-3.
｢We’ve already scouted once. Nothing big will have changed since then, right?｣
She is certain NEO-3 will soon join the many conquests of our legion.
And that’s something she does not doubt.
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[Translator – Seraph]
[Proofreader – Draxx]
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