Rescue Fantasy (25)
After leaving the central hub control room on the upper floors, we headed toward the sky bridge connected to the tower.
Once the fog vanished, the landscape that had been hidden until now was revealed in stark detail. It definitely struck me as abnormal. I'd sensed it in the north tower too, but the east tower was in even worse condition.
The east tower, where trees had been planted for those who wanted to sightsee in the central sector of Heaven. This time, the trees weren't just vaguely suspicious—they had clearly grown right through the ceilings of each floor. As a bonus, the undergrowth reached up to our waists.
'Looking at the external cameras, even the outer wall of the tower was punctured.'
I suddenly recalled how roots and branches, having wormed their way into cracks in the structure, protruded out of the tower. The parts that were exposed to the outside had frozen solid, as if even with overgrowth, they couldn't withstand the external temperature.
Celestia muttered as she gazed at the ecologically abnormal hydroponics lab filled with strange greenery.
"Do you think the Blue Crystal is affecting the plants' growth, too?"
"This phenomenon itself could be a mutation."
Just as there were mutants like ghouls and mimics, I thought there could also be aggressive plants with a will of their own. When I said that, Celestia made a disgusted face.
〈Hydroponics Lab – East Tower〉
「Water supply system has ceased operation. The air purification device is currently running. Due to excessive plant growth, facility durability is significantly compromised. Please initiate incineration procedures for stabilization.」
'Facility durability has weakened... That's concerning.'
That message could be seen everywhere within the hydroponics lab. That spoke to just how bad the facility's state was.
"Red, shouldn't we carry out the incineration procedure, too?"
"Push aside the undergrowth and look underneath."
At my question, Licorice shook her head and pointed to the ground. As per her instructions, I pushed aside the brush, revealing black powder floating atop the artificial soil, sodden with moisture.
What is this? I was pondering when Licorice explained that it was the remnants of burnt plants.
"The incineration procedure that can be done from the tower has already been triggered."
Yet the surrounding area remained densely overgrown. Had it not activated properly? Or had the plants somehow resisted it? Licorice leaned toward the second option.
"They probably burned but kept regenerating because they weren't completely incinerated. Look at the wall there. The scorch marks are clear."
The incineration procedure was literal—burn everything to erase the source of the abnormality.
Traces of just how intense the flames had been were all around. Examining my surroundings, I saw the charred corpses of small mutant creatures, like mutated clones, scattered here and there. Their cores had been destroyed by the sheer heat.
I turned my gaze forward. The wind, coming in with the whir of a small fan meant to circulate the air, carried the lingering scent of ashes. It was the same scent Licorice herself gave off.
It was a smell of something that had burnt everything away and, with nothing left to burn, still searched for something more.
'It's different from what I'm used to.'
I found it odd, but I still hadn't fully dismissed my suspicions about Licorice. It might sound trivial—just a smell—but I tended to trust my instincts.
Even if faint, a clear warning had been ringing in my mind ever since I first met her.
'Not yet.'
It wasn't time to act. Even if I did, it would be after we retrieved the biocells. Once I acted, there'd be no going back, so I needed to be cautious. Maybe the problem wasn't with her, but with myself.
I needed certainty. Was I under some kind of mental manipulation, unable to keep a clear mind, or was what I was feeling now completely normal?
As I crossed the mid-level of the hydroponics lab, I reached out and touched one of the plants blocking our path. The leaves trailing off a thick branch rustled and tangled around my fingers—not just caught by my grip, but actively winding around me of their own accord.
Slow, but still—self-moving. That was significant.
"The undergrowth is okay, but don't get too close to the trees. Seeing them move, they might snatch you up in a flash."
"I just saw it now, too."
Shuddering, Celestia pointed out a spot. There were some corpses beyond a patch of undergrowth; branches stretched out from the trees wrapped around the bodies like they were fruit.
It reminded me of how Creeps absorb organic matter, except these corpses were dried out like mummies instead of decomposed.
It was a creepy space. I used to love dense forests on Earth, but nothing about this place felt comfortable. If there weren't a supply crate here, I never would have even considered coming in.
Celestia whispered warily as she kept watch.
"Hyun-woo, the regeneration rate of these plants is abnormal. I collected some samples, and I could actually see them regrowing—they're even larger than before. But it's only the originals regenerating, and it feels just like..."
"Like a ghoul's regeneration?"
"Yes. Maybe you were right, Hyun-woo—maybe the plants really have mutated. Or maybe there's something they're absorbing..."
Our gazes naturally drifted downward. All sorts of water pipes ran underneath each tower, and below that was the sewage treatment facility.
That was where all the water used in Heaven eventually flowed. Normally, the plants in the hydroponic lab got their own water separately, but now that the roots and branches had grown abnormally and broken through the ceiling, walls, and floors, maybe they were absorbing something we didn't know about.
I hadn't forgotten Carrot's warning that there was something underground. Licorice, who had been silently watching us, suddenly spoke up.
"Maybe they're drinking water infused with Blue Crystal."
"... That can get infused?"
"No idea. Just talking."
She suggested it might not be directly infused Blue Crystal, but that perhaps blood from entities influenced by it had flowed down to the sewage system.
Heaven, the mining base, covered in corpses—some facilities had flushed the blood from the sector's pipes for decontamination. Everything flowed together; all the blood from mutants killed by security robots, all the people killed by monsters—it all pooled below, where it was potentially absorbed by the plants' roots. That was Licorice's theory.
It made sense, and as we stared at the leaves, greener than ever, we swallowed dryly. It was a matter of perception. Merely thinking of these as mutated plants was bad enough, but adding in the idea that they'd grown by drinking blood was twice as unsettling.
The stems almost blocked the hallway, so we had to use a plasma cutter to carve a path. Every time the superheated blue blade passed, clear sap would spurt out, and occasionally, some severed parts would spasm.
The way their bodies contorted reminded me of the parasites inside Creeps. Since I was at the very front, leading the way, the sap sprayed all over me.
Either it was filtered internally or something, but no toxins were detected. To be honest, I wanted to incinerate everything with Carry's flamethrower, but we were almost out of fuel.
Feigning ignorance, I asked:
"Carry, could you stand in front of me?"
「( 乂˙-˙)」
Carry immediately signaled refusal, as if to say it knew perfectly well why I made that request. That's the downside of an intuitive robot. Still, there was no need for it to recoil in disgust. I didn't raise Carry to be like this.
Celestia snapped off a protruding branch and moved closer to me.
"Hyun-woo, wasn't the fog inside the tower caused by a burst water pipe? Or at least, that's what we thought."
"That's right."
"Mm..."
"What is it?"
"Looking at this, maybe it wasn't after all."
I followed Celestia's pointed gaze—to a water pipe that had burst open as if torn apart. The nearby plants had shoved their way into the gap, greedily soaking up the water inside.
That's when I realized what she meant. The plants' greed was so intense, the inside of the pipe was bone dry.
I touched the thick, engorged root, and it felt damp—its shape was enough to make my skin crawl.
"If the fog originated from the water pipe, it shouldn't be blocked up like this. There's no way for water to leak out now. What if the fog didn't come from the pipes, but from these trees?"
"But the fog disappeared when the pipes were sealed, right?"
"The air purification unit sucked it out. Or maybe, since the plants aren't getting enough water anymore, they can't make as much fog."
This place just generated endless questions. But then, wasn't it the same anywhere we went?
Just as I reaffirmed my resolve to find the box and get out quickly, Celestia tapped the back of my hand. She must've bumped me because we were standing so close.
Just as I pulled back to put some distance between us, I felt something grab my hand—a leaf marked with an X. It was the sign we agreed to reveal if something felt off.
Celestia's gaze shifted to Licorice, right in front of us. I shot a glance at Licorice, quietly following us.
Wrapped in her adaptive camouflage cloak, half-concealed, her expression was unreadable. Was she lost in thought or staring at something else? Her eyes weren't on us.
But only for a moment—perhaps sensing my gaze, she turned her head, and the corners of her eyes curved smoothly when our eyes met.
"Congratulations."
"... Huh?"
Her words were so random, I blurted the response without thinking. Licorice simply gestured wordlessly ahead. Celestia also let out a gasp.
"Oh, Hyun-woo! There it is, the box!"
"...!"
I snapped to attention at the news that they'd found the supply crate. In my sudden field of vision, the tallest tree at the center of the chamber stood out, followed by a box wedged at an angle halfway up the trunk.
It was a sturdy-looking metal case inscribed with the military base Keter mark—exactly the supply crate Canna had described. The crate was in a pretty high spot. It looked like the tree's mutation had lifted it up from where it had been fastened to the floor.
"At least you weren't lying, Hyun-woo."
"I just want to find the biocell and be reassured. Wait here, I'll be quick."
That's what I said as I pushed off the floor. If Nadia had been here, she could've just ridden Carry up and grabbed the crate, but since she was recovering in the town, I had to do it the old-fashioned way.
Thud! I bent my knees and leapt high. Each time I started to fall, I kicked the trunk, rebounding upward. Ascending quickly like that, before long, the crate was right in front of me.
It was only possible because the tree trunk was leaning back a bit—if it had been vertical, even I couldn't have done it this way.
"Hup...!"
I dangled from the edge of the crate. Up close, I could see it was embedded in the tree, so gently prying it out was impossible. Given the urgency, I just pulled downward with all my strength.
The trunk of the tree partially shattered, and the crate thudded down heavily to the ground. It looked sturdy enough to survive a shock like that easily.
Having done my job, I-nimbly leapt backward and dropped quickly to the floor. I could have safely slid down clinging to the trunk, but I just let myself fall—I didn't want a single extra second of contact with these mutated plants.
"I'll open the crate right away!"
Following Canna's instructions, I simultaneously pressed the buttons on the crate's corners, disengaging the lock. Whoosh, the air was released, and the crate opened. As expected of a supply box, inside were various military supplies.
It wasn't anything too special—just standard supplies—but there were plenty of biocells, other medical items, and a fair amount of ammunition for pistols.
Celestia was delighted, saying that this ammunition type was compatible with her smart pistol.
I couldn't hide my own joy as I split the biocells into my belt pouch and Carry's cargo box. There were enough to share with those back in the town.
'Thank goodness.'
There really was a supply crate just as Canna said, its contents were intact, and now I could save Nadia.
'Just wait a little longer. I'll be right there.'
My relief was short-lived. A voice from behind startled me, making my body tense up in an instant.
"Congratulations again. You found it—the biocell you so desperately sought."
"Yes, thankfully. By the way, red, Nadia's alright, right?"
I quietly asked with my hand on the plasma cutter. The most important thing—the biocell—was secured, so it was time to resolve the storm of doubts raging inside me.
Ideally, I'd just walk away now and part with no incident, but I couldn't do that without first untying this knot. I couldn't just bring her along to the town as is.
If Licorice was truly the Licorice I knew, no problem. Then I'd be a crazy person, making a fool of myself. But I decided I'd rather be called crazy than not go through with this.
"Oh, Nadia. Of course. She's resting well."
Once again, she used the name "Nadia."
That only deepened my suspicion, and I exhaled a small sigh.
"As you wished, Hyun-woo, you saved Nadia."
"Nadia..."
I rolled her name around in my mouth. I'd saved her. At first blush, it was a sweet thing to hear. But strangely, it felt like she was mocking me.
'What am I missing?'
Or is it just my imagination? My mind kept swinging between thinking I shouldn't do this and wanting to draw my weapon immediately. Even though I'd already made up my mind.
"It's so strange. Everything's true, but why does it all feel so fake?"
"What does?"
"Everything around us."
As I spoke, I pointed the plasma cutter at her. I hadn't powered it up, but with the press of a button the plasma blade would surge to full power and could blow a head clean off.
"What do you think you're doing?"
Even with death literally staring her in the face, she didn't show a hint of surprise. The only thing passing through her empty eyes was interest.
"Whoa? Hyun-woo, what are you doing?!"
Celestia couldn't hide her panic. Frozen by the sudden turn, she immediately began cramming as much ammo as she could into her pack—with Carry helping.
'Licorice would never have come alone.'
She wouldn't have dared come to the Heaven central sector without being sure that the active camouflage would fool the ghouls—she wasn't the gambling type, especially if her life was on the line.
Celestia's reaction in the control room, Licorice's conveniently dropped information, the completely different scent, and the same name that kept popping up in my mind.
I pushed aside my hesitation and held fast to my conviction. This time, I wouldn't waver.
"Who are you?"
"Heheh, how did you know? No, since when did you know? Was it from your first glance at me?"
She didn't deny my question. I expected her to act flustered and deny it, but instead, she watched us calmly, as if observing us.
"That person doesn't call Nadia by her name. She calls her 'Woof-woof'."
Licorice was a supremacist, after all—even if she didn't admit it. I kept that thought to myself and said something else.
"Are you Lobelia?"
At my low question, "Licorice"—or rather, the one impersonating her—bowed her head.
Her shoulders shook. I became even warier at her suspicious movements. But then, a clear, bright laugh rang out.
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
Is it that easy?
【「(°ヘ°)?】