Rescue Fantasy (22)
"I don't have any remaining biocells, but I do know where you can find what's left."
After finishing the conversation with Celestia, Kanna came up to me and said this out of nowhere.
They were among those who survived in Heaven's central sector, so they seemed to know most information and got straight to the point instead of beating around the bush.
I decided to do the same. The less time wasted, the better.
"Where are they?"
"They're in the standard supply crate we got for our operation. There's other equipment too, so it should help."
Kanna explained that this was what they'd brought from the shuttle when their numbers were larger. With no one left to carry it, they hid it away.
"And what do you want in return?"
"I'm requesting your cooperation. I heard you're strong enough to handle special entities called Buds. The evidence is right in front of us, too."
Kanna glanced at the Whiteout's head I'd put on display. It was only for a split second, but anger flashed through her eyes. It wasn't the entity that killed her comrades, but it must have dredged up those memories.
"What kind of cooperation? How much?"
"Until we complete our mission in the Reactor Chamber."
"That's not possible. I have my own reasons. Didn't you hear them already?"
Undertaking the second phase of the security protocol might very well be the key to escaping. But before that, I had to protect the Town—Nadia, and many others there.
Delivering the biocell was the priority, and since the pureblood supremacists might attack the Town, it wasn't a good idea to be away for long.
Besides, the operation wasn't simply about reaching the Reactor Chamber. It required perfect timing and couldn't be wrapped up quickly. That made it all the more impossible.
"Is the supply crate close to the Reactor Chamber? Can I retrieve it on the way?"
"... It's the exact opposite. We left it behind us."
Just as I was about to reiterate my refusal, Kanna spoke urgently.
"Communications are down, aren't they? That's because the pureblood supremacists set up jamming devices on the approach to the Reactor Chamber. Could you at least help us disable the jamming devices?"
"I know that mission is important too. If the situation were better, I would have helped. But my partner is dying. If I don't get those biocells quickly, his condition will get worse."
I answered firmly. Whatever happened, getting the biocell came first. Everything else was secondary.
Kanna was surely just as desperate. She'd followed the traces left by Captain Edward but all she found was the death of her comrades.
With less than half her original team, continuing the mission was nearly impossible. Celestia stood silently, as if to respect my decision.
Kanna, looking at me in silent supplication, eventually realized I wouldn't yield and quietly backed down.
"... Understood. Then at least please accompany us to the central hub."
"That's on our way out anyway, so it won't be hard."
Her demeanor was almost overly deferential.
'It's not like I overpowered her or anything, is it?'
Maybe she was acting like this because she realized Celestia was Myosotis. Now that I think about it, they hadn't reacted much since our first encounter.
No matter how convincing it looked for me to be lugging around Whiteout's head, suspicion would have been natural. That would be the typical reaction, after all.
But they looked too drained to even manage that. Once they realized that Edward, whom they had believed would definitely save them, was probably dead, they lost all drive, and despair clouded their faces. They looked like they'd given up, but they still hadn't let go. That was obvious in those tightly shut, then flickering, eyes.
'The two of them look unstable, but the other three still seem okay.'
They weren't without symptoms of psychosis, but they were holding on—driven by the single conviction to continue Captain Edward's mission.
While I watched them, Kanna sent us a data file.
"This is the location of the supply crate. I hope you find it helpful."
I looked at Kanna in surprise. I hadn't expected she'd just give it to me—I thought she'd try to negotiate an exchange.
I'd fully expected something like, "Tell me where the supply crate is. Right now. Or else, right here and now..."
"I'm telling you regardless of the mission. Carrying out the mission is our duty anyway. It was always our job to handle this. Even though the situation is like this...what has to get done hasn't changed."
Her calm explanation pricked at my conscience. Had I refused her too coldly?
Though we hadn't discussed it in detail, her team didn't object. It made me think Kanna had truly earned their trust. She wasn't standing in for Captain Edward by chance.
'I wonder if we'll ever see each other again.'
So far, we'd been lucky not to run into the pureblood supremacists, but the closer we got to core facilities like the Reactor Chamber, the more likely we'd encounter them. That would lower their chances of survival even more.
Pureblood supremacists were practically devils—they did whatever it took.
Just as I was about to say something—
「Ki-ee-ee-ee...」
An animalistic rasp scratched at my ear. Not human—a monster. We must have stayed in one place for too long.
All the soldiers, including Kanna, went stiff. Overwhelming tension immediately gripped them. After all their encounters with mutants, their bodies had learned to fear.
"You can have your gear back, but I'm not telling you to go fight. Just rest. If you fought like this, you'd only get hurt worse."
"A-Alone...?"
"Just watch. This'll be over soon. When else will you get a chance to rest?"
I returned the military equipment Carry had confiscated from them. The mist wavered. From within its rolling, swallowing folds, I sensed slight movement. Was it that thing—the one said to look just like Whiteout except for the color?
'It's showing up on my detector, so probably not.'
They said the black one didn't appear on detectors even if you saw it with the naked eye. Thirty or so signals showed up on my detector, even though no enemy was visible yet.
That was quite a lot—but it changed nothing. I just needed to move a few more times and it would be over.
"Carry, I'll try not to miss any, but just in case, prep the flamethrower. There's a little fuel left, right?"
Carry colored the battery compartment red to show there was very little left—enough for one or two shots. That would be enough.
As the small mutants hurried toward the seed vault, I swung the plasma cutter at the perfect moment. Or, at least, I would have.
Had the creatures not stopped dead in their tracks, ready to push through at any moment. Most of them scattered unbelievably fast, as if they'd never been there.
「Kyaaahhh?!」
A few who did enter freaked out and ran away as if they'd seen something they shouldn't have.
At the end of the creatures' collective gaze stood Whiteout's severed head, which I hadn't had time to hide. They didn't just recoil from seeing me—when the ghouls saw the head, their brains overloaded.
I'd said this all seriously, but their slapstick rush to push each other aside and escape shattered the tense mood like a comedy sketch. I found myself loosening my grip without realizing it.
"Hyun-woo, just when did you get so strong...?"
I wasn't the only one surprised. Celestia, about to provide covering fire with her smart pistol, was utterly shocked. I think she misunderstood—thinking I'd scared them off by sheer intimidation.
'Something similar did happen when Nadia was injured before, but...'
It felt different this time. Because I really hadn't done anything.
"I didn't do anything. If I did anything, it's this. They ran away after seeing this."
"Whiteout's head..."
"Since it's a higher entity, maybe it has something to do with that?"
"Then this head basically served as a totem?"
"If my guess is right."
As I was speaking speculatively, I felt piercing stares. Not just one—five. As I turned, Kanna met my gaze, halfway between standing still and reluctantly approaching.
Were they misunderstanding, too? Thankfully, no. They were just coveting Whiteout's head.
Kanna pleaded despite her embarrassment.
"... Could you possibly lend that to us? If we can safely reach our destination, the mission's success rate would go way up...!"
"Hmm..."
I pondered for a moment. Not because I was reluctant—just because I wasn't sure if it really acted as a totem to repel ghouls.
"This could just end up being a burden without effect. Are you sure you want it?"
"Would you really give it to us?"
"I mean, it's not a perfect trade, but let's say it's in exchange for the biocell. Do you want it?"
"Yes...!"
"Then it's yours."
I took a sample for Carrot and handed Whiteout's head over. There was still Whiteout's tail left, so that was enough material for my use.
The head wasn't especially tough or anything, apart from its appearance. If it really had repelling power, they needed it more than we did. As for us—we just tore apart whatever got near.
With the exchange complete, we each went our separate ways. Celestia, Carry and I were leaving; the Keter base soldiers were staying.
Originally, we would have moved together. But after confirming that Whiteout's head worked as a totem, there was no need.
The soldiers badly needed rest. As soon as they felt confident they could catch their breath, they set up a watch and moved straight into rest.
Noticing Kanna drinking from the canister attached to her suit, I decided to make small talk before leaving.
"You have stuff to drink? Is it because it's a military suit? Does it collect moisture? That's purified, right?"
"Yes, it's purified. Automatically, yes, something like that."
Unlike her usual self, she replied hesitantly, as if reluctantly, so I decided not to ask any more. She looked seriously troubled.
"You're leaving now?"
"We have to. To get those biocells. Thanks to you, I feel a bit relieved. There aren't any left in the medical sector, so things were looking hopeless."
With her team fast asleep, Kanna saw us off.
"I won't ask why the leader of Myosotis is here. That's not what's important. I hope we'll see each other again, alive."
"Same here. Sorry for hitting you earlier. That guy's a teammate, that's all."
"I understand. Actually, I should apologize."
「৻(≧ᗜ≦৻)」
Carry readily accepted Kanna's apology. Celestia and I looked at each of the soldiers in turn.
Though circumstances forced us to part, they didn't seem like bad people, and I hoped we'd meet again safely. They'd be a big help in facing the pureblood supremacists.
"Do you have anywhere to go after your mission?"
"We'll probably return to the base. It won't be in good shape, but there must be something to salvage."
"If you're okay with it, join us in the Town after your mission."
"Would that really be all right?"
"Why not? Frankly, we'd welcome you. Let's take revenge on the pureblood supremacists—together."
Kanna already knew about the Town from Celestia—the story of more survivors, of people striving every day to escape. Kanna's deliberation was brief.
"We'll join you soon. The others won't object. As for a gift...the shuttle landed beside the Reactor Chamber's outer wall should be enough?"
"More than enough. I'd thought it would be good to have an extra shuttle anyway."
After exchanging parting words, we headed off in different directions. After just a few steps, thick fog already obscured the seed vault from view.
When I felt we'd gotten a good distance, I asked softly,
"Do you think that went well?"
"I don't think we misjudged them. There was some misunderstanding at first, but we cleared it up quickly. As long as we have pureblood supremacists as a common enemy, it doesn't matter where we're from—we'll stick together."
True. If they'd meant us harm, we'd already have been attacked from behind.
I hoped we'd see them again—a genuine hope. Relationships weren't something you could form just because you wanted to.
At first, it was normal to keep your guard up. You had to slowly pour in the water of trust for the wall to grow soft, for a connection to form.
They showed goodwill by simply sharing the supply crate's location. I had no idea if the crate would still be there, but it was better than having no clue at all.
I decided to trust them. That was why I gave up Whiteout's head—hoping the trust exchanged between us would lead to a stronger bond.
The enemy we faced was powerful. To stand against them, we had to unite as well.
Thinking that, I set course for the central hub of the hydroponics facility. As I advanced, Celestia kept glancing at me like she had something to say. It was a bit annoying since she wouldn't let it go.
"What is it? Did I take a wrong turn?"
"No, that isn't it."
"Then what?"
"It's nothing. Really..."
But for someone insisting it was 'nothing', Celestia didn't look away. She kept scrutinizing me, and it felt awkward.
'What's with her?'
I didn't think I'd done anything wrong. Though puzzled, I focused on pushing through the thick, stubborn undergrowth—if I got distracted, it would wrap around my ankles.
'The supply crate...'
Once I retrieved the crate, I could return to the Town. That thought gave my steps new vigor.
***
'Hoo...'
Celestia let out a silent sigh after giving her vague answer. Though she hadn't told Hyun-woo, she remembered what happened while her mind was blurred.
Or, rather—she remembered up until the very end, just before she completely lost herself.
When Whiteout, that mutant, said it wanted Myosotis—though it was alarming, she figured the pureblood supremacists' creation must be trying to forcibly seize authority in any way possible.
Unlike general clearance, the rights to a megacorp like Myosotis were encoded into the owner's genes, making it impossible to obtain without their cooperation.
That thought lasted only for a second. Celestia was much more shocked when she realized Whiteout wasn't pointing at her, but at Hyun-woo.
Whiteout had said it wanted Myosotis, but the special mutant had pointed at Hyun-woo. Did that mean Hyun-woo was Myosotis?
'That's impossible.'
She was the only surviving Myosotis in this world. If there was another, it would be her brother, Ian.
'Could Hyun-woo be my brother?'
No way. He didn't even pass Town's authentication before. Not to mention, they didn't look alike. Celestia remembered her brother's face vividly.
She resembled her brother so much that she could never forget. Every time she looked in the mirror, in her own eyes, she saw him looking back at her.
Hyun-woo's very hair color was different. Just in case, she'd sampled his hair—it was natural, not dyed, and genetically didn't match. His eyes, too: They should have resembled midnight, not blue gems, if he was truly her brother.
'An illegitimate child?'
Impossible. Her parents were not that kind of people. She'd checked for herself—and there was nothing. Myosotis had been massacred, vaporized in the sky that day.
The memory stung; Celestia bit her lip hard before relaxing her mouth. If there was no chance among direct descendants, there was only the remote possibility—a distant relation.
It was a wild idea, almost a delusion. If Hyun-woo had some connection to Myosotis in the past—to the point where some of that blood flowed in him, and that's why Whiteout called him Myosotis...
'... But still.'
Could that truly make him Myosotis? Without the special genetic code, he couldn't be called that.
'What is he?'
Was this the sick joke of a mind-controlling mutant? Or a clone?
She doubted that. Whiteout had focused on Hyun-woo, and Hyun-woo didn't feel like a Titan-made clone.
A more likely answer was enhanced human. His strength went far beyond normal humans.
Enhanced by Myosotis tech?
With a serious expression, Celestia stole glances at Hyun-woo as he advanced. His temperament did somewhat remind her of Myosotis.
He was someone who—however battered and bruised—never gave up and always saw his determination through to the end. That was how she saw Hyun-woo.
'I often feel like I have to run ahead because he's a bit too stubborn.'
But from the moment she realized there was more to him than that, Celestia saw Hyun-woo in a new light.
Even now, he was risking everything to save his wounded partner. He didn't just talk about what had to be done—he acted.
When Hyun-woo had to fight, he could be quite forceful. An unyielding determination to burn away anything in his path. Perhaps that determination was what kept him going—or more accurately, it was surely the case.
He fought as if pouring his whole being into the flames, like an avenger burning with vengeance. Seeing that sometimes pained Celestia, but she had no intention of blathering about the futility of revenge.
After all, even she was moving for the sake of her own revenge.
The pureblood supremacists should pray that Ian Myosotis is still alive. Otherwise, even she didn't know what she might end up doing.
She was even considering dropping dozens of nukes on the pureblood supremacists' base. Even if rebuilding Myosotis's power alone wasn't enough, she had no intention of limiting herself.
'Brother...'
Even though they were separated when she was young, she remembered his face clearly. If she closed her eyes, it felt like she could hear his voice; if she opened her eyes, she half-expected to see him grinning, saying, "I finally found you."
But all she saw was a hellish reality. Realizing this anew, she involuntarily clenched her fist.
She reached out without thinking to grab Hyun-woo's hand, then was startled by her own action and quickly withdrew.
All she could do was keep him in her sight—constantly turning over in her mind why Whiteout had called him Myosotis.
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
Celestia noticed that, huh.
【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】