Evolve(6)
"I can't believe this kind of structure exists... I knew it wasn't an ordinary plant, but I didn't expect it to be like this."
That was what Carrot said after scanning the sprout placed on the analyzer.
He kept murmuring in admiration, adjusting the scanner's magnification.
He had stayed silent until now, but even though he made a noise, it didn't seem like an invitation for conversation.
So I just leaned back against the chair. Fatigue washed over me.
'I should've just stayed in bed a bit longer.'
After parting with Celestia last night, I went straight back to my room and fell asleep.
I got up at dawn when Carrot messaged me, saying he finally had time and I should come by the lab when I could.
He said it didn't matter what time I arrived, as long as it was in the morning, but the moment I saw the message, I headed straight there.
My mind was so cluttered that I had been tossing and turning anyway.
I let out a silent sigh as I watched the sprout strike poses like a model being photographed.
The sprout was being well-behaved now, thanks to our dramatic agreement, but up until then, it had been complete chaos.
Having placed the sprout on the analyzer was not easy.
I'd hoped to finish while it was subdued, but it regained consciousness in the middle, setting off a commotion.
It suddenly sprang up, causing a scene and making a mess of the area.
I'd tried to grab it with telekinesis, but not once could I catch it.
It was so good at dodging.
If Carrot hadn't enticed it with a new type of container and promised the scanning process wouldn't be rough, I might still not have been able to catch the sprout.
My face involuntarily puffed up in annoyance.
The sprout and I were now supposed to be one body.
Maybe not that literal, but it was true we were tightly linked.
And yet, did the sprout really think I'd do anything to hurt it?
Everything I did was for its sake.
People wouldn't treat it well unless they were absolutely sure it was safe.
But there it was, faking every possible complaint—leaving me speechless.
Oblivious to my feelings, the sprout waggled its lush leaves.
It seemed to be saying it was doing fine, so I should keep watching.
'Feels like raising a child.'
And I haven't even been married. Is this what the phrase "responsibility without pleasure" is about?
Since I only watched and didn't respond, the sprout suddenly stopped.
A staring contest began between me and the sprout.
It might not have literal eyes, but I could feel a kind of gaze.
Our "eyes" met mid-way.
Just as the sprout began to express growing dissatisfaction—like asking why I was ignoring it—Carrot let out a small cough.
A signal to just play along if I wanted the inspection to finish quickly.
In the end, I had no choice but to wave at the sprout.
When I reacted, the sprout's complaint melted away. It gave a little wave of its leaf and returned to the proper scan posture.
Which, admittedly, was just bending or stretching its leaves.
Still, even that apparently allowed for a lot more data.
'Good thing I'm playing along now.'
Today, the sprout was far more active.
The reason was that there weren't many people around—the ship was quiet since everyone was sleeping, which probably made the sprout feel at ease.
Five, then ten minutes passed.
The sprout now looked exhausted, its leaves drooping.
Carrot looked like he wanted to keep running tests all day.
When he saw the sprout's state, he swallowed his disappointment.
We had agreed not to overdo it, so even if he wanted to continue, he had no excuse.
Carrot, who had been staring intently at the test display, leaned back.
"That's about it for the tests."
"About it? Haven't we been at it for almost two hours?"
"We're peering into the completely unknown. Two hours isn't enough."
That was fair.
Carrot was being humane in his approach; had the sprout ended up in the hands of the pureblood supremacist group or another faction, its cells would've been completely dismantled by now.
'Should we do a bit more?'
The sprout looked tired, but I knew it was just pretending.
It wasn't really exhausted. This was a silent protest born of boredom.
'Haaa, fine.'
Forcing someone to do what they truly didn't want to never sits right.
We'd gotten enough data by now.
"Good job. Come here."
As if it had never lost energy, the sprout whizzed over to me.
I took out the special container I had prepared earlier.
The old sample container only allowed viewing from the outside when the lid was open, but this one Carrot gave me could be twisted to open a transparent window.
Originally, it was so you could check samples without opening the inside.
For the sprout, though, it was like having a new window. That feature won the sprout's heart.
"Ah, put this in too."
"Is that dirt?"
"Cultivation soil. Seeing as it's plant-shaped, I figured it might like this."
Carrot held out a pouch of soil. The sprout tapped the air with a leaf, as if asking for a closer look.
When Carrot poured a handful of soil on the table, the sprout hopped over and poked through it, then gathered some into a pile with its leaf, apparently pleased.
It looked like it wanted to take it inside, so I helped.
I figured letting it transport the soil was meaningful too.
The sprout, dumping the carefully gathered soil into its container, settled down in earnest.
After patting the soil a few times, it burrowed into the center.
I sensed its genuine satisfaction.
"It says it likes it—it's soft."
"Haha, that's good. Does it need nutrients?"
"No."
I nodded.
Although it looked like a sprout, it was something else entirely.
It didn't need to carry out the usual metabolic activities. If it got tired, it just needed to rest a bit.
"When will the analysis results be ready?"
"I can answer some of your questions right now. Want to hear it?"
I nodded enthusiastically, and Carrot chuckled. He transferred the scanner data and tapped the table, unfolding a holographic display.
"As you know, this isn't a regular plant. It looks like one, but inside, there are no cellular structures. It's closer to energy with physical form."
"Energy?"
"Yes, energy. I suspect it's psionic energy."
Psionic energy—what let me use supernatural power.
"You told me you're closely linked to the sprout, right? You can sense its emotions and thoughts, directly or indirectly?"
"Yes."
"The reason you can't use your power properly right now is probably because that energy is not readily charging. That might be the sprout's influence."
Carrot mentioned the so-called "holy tree" worshiped by the pureblood supremacists.
If the thing they worship was in the same category as this sprout, that would mean the sprout's maturation potential was as immense as its outward appearance implied.
"So... I'm supposed to cultivate it?"
"Indeed. Even if it doesn't need to consume organics like we do, it still needs some form of energy. Growth always requires a great deal of energy. No matter how supernatural, unless you're an omnipotent god, nothing comes from nothing."
It was a perfectly logical point. All beings need energy, just of different kinds and quantities.
"Try feeding it Blue Crystal. No, 'feeding' isn't the right word. Absorption. Yes, see if it will absorb it."
Carrot, just in case, had brought a refined Blue Crystal and placed it firmly on the table. I hesitated, unsure.
Blue Crystal was a mineral with enough locked-up energy to change society itself.
I had thought of it first, too.
But I hadn't voiced it because there was something about it that I still found off-putting.
Blue Crystal had become indispensable for society.
Even after learning the gruesome truth about Blue Crystal, we couldn't put it down.
If we gave up using it just because it felt wrong, there'd be nothing we could do.
The Albatross wouldn't be able to fire up its engines, we couldn't turn the lights on at night, the life-support would stop, oxygen production would cease, and we'd need respirators even inside the ship.
Blue Crystal was too deeply integrated into our lives. There was no alternative.
"I know what worries you. That's why I brought the refined version. Besides, I don't have any unrefined ore anyway. And if you don't want to, I won't press you."
Carrot left the choice to me. He said I could just see how the sprout responded before deciding.
"Hmmm..."
I knew too little about the sprout to decide alone. Watching its reaction, as Carrot suggested, seemed safest.
"Come out for a second."
The sprout, having just gotten comfortable, rattled its leaves in protest.
I really don't know what it takes after, but it's not me.
"Don't be cranky. Just take a look—do you need something like this?"
When I showed it the refined Blue Crystal, the sprout showed some interest.
But that was all.
It tapped it a few times, then turned away, as if it had lost interest.
It must not be the sort of energy it needs to grow.
I shrugged my shoulders.
"How about that other thing? Didn't we bring some Rare Metal from the underground lab?"
"Oh, the Rare Metal?"
Honestly, I doubted the sprout would be interested.
If it needed it, it would have already thrown a tantrum to get it.
Its communication was clear enough that any show of interest would've happened instantly.
Still, I figured I should check.
"Remember the sample we cut? Can we test with that? What I had, I already gave to Kyle, so it'll take some time to get more."
Rare Metal resonated well with me.
I'd experimented out of boredom with my telekinesis and found it was much easier to move than regular objects.
I guessed the Rare Metal amplified psionic energy, even on its own.
I had already handed my stock to Kyle, since I thought we could make equipment out of it.
There hadn't been enough to keep any for myself.
"Of course we can. Wait a second."
Carrot brought over a needle-shaped piece of Rare Metal.
The sprout showed interest toward the new material, but soon lost interest again, as if it too wasn't right.
'So picky.'
It dislikes this, dislikes that—I had no clue what it really wanted.
If only we could talk, I'd go find it for the sprout.
"What do you need, then?"
It definitely understood my words.
But the sprout just waggled its leaves as if it didn't know, or as if explaining would be pointless.
'I've recovered to some extent, myself.'
The psionic energy that powered my telekinesis had gradually filled up as my physical condition improved.
Yesterday, it ran out after just ten seconds of use; now I could use it for about three minutes.
By tomorrow, it should be more, though I doubted it would reach past five minutes—my limit was just small.
Carrot guessed the limit was due to the sprout's low maturity, but that wasn't the real reason.
The awakening of my supernatural power had indeed been thanks to the sprout.
But growing that power was entirely up to me.
Still, the sprout's maturity was not a side-issue to postpone; it was a goal I had to keep in mind at all times.
Considering what I'd eventually have to face—monsters that devour stars—I couldn't stay in this state forever.
The sprout stood as the antithesis to those colossal gazes I'd seen in my visions.
Perhaps this really was the only key that could open the future.
No—I was sure of it.
The sprout would grow into a chimeyo, and the chimeyo would become a mighty tree—I was meant to help that happen.
No one had told me that. I just knew, instinctively.
Carrot laughed kindly.
"I think what we need now is time. What the sprout needs to grow will have to be worked out as we go."
"Thank you for spending time on this, even though you must be tired."
"Oh, it's my pleasure. Revealing hidden truths is a researcher's job, after all. I'll let you know more after a thorough analysis—now go rest a bit. You look more exhausted than me."
At Carrot's words, I touched my face. I was tired, but not so badly that it should worry anyone. I peeked out the window.
It was dim when I came to the lab, but now it had turned from morning to afternoon.
The artificial light was filtering through the misty sky.
There was nothing left to do here, so I stood up, bidding farewell.
Carrot stood as well.
He looked like he wanted to stay and pore over the data, but he also had to care for the wounded, so he left the lab with me.
"Ah, I almost forgot about the miniature shielding device. It's too soon to say for sure, but maybe we can apply the data you got today. I think I can design a more efficient circuit using psionic energy."
"Oh. If you need my help, just ask."
"I will."
After leaving the lab, Carrot and I went our separate ways. I soon bumped into Nadia and Carry.
"Found you!"
Nadia shouted, riding atop Carry.
Her previously glum face brightened all at once.
Her bushy tail shot up, nearly brushing the ceiling.
"You're awake?"
"I've been up for ages!"
"And you're not in pain?"
"Nope! Look, all my visible wounds have healed!"
Nadia spun around. Her wagging tail covered her entirely, so I couldn't really see, but it was clear she was much better than yesterday.
Her bones were still mending, so she needed Carry's help, but that too would soon be over.
Every time, I had to admit—technology was amazing.
Then, suddenly, Nadia let out a sharp yelp and reached for her lower back, where her tail was attached.
"Yikes!"
"What's wrong?!"
Alarmed, I hurried over. Nadia, face twisted in a grimace, kept touching where her tail joined.
"It hurts... I must've strained my tail from wagging it too much..."
"..."
Granted, her tail had been wagging nonstop.
I never said it, but if her tail were a propeller, I felt like she could fly with it.
"... Maybe you should wag less."
"If I could control it, I would! My tail's the only part that never listens to me!"
Nadia turned around, asking me to massage the startled muscles and calm them down.
She couldn't get enough force with her own hands, so she wanted me to do it for her.
"Here?"
"Not there... just a little higher..."
"Here?"
"Yeah..."
Because her tail was so fluffy, I initially missed the right spot, but that only happened the first couple times.
I gently pressed the soft area.
Whenever I kneaded the deep, tense knot where the nerves were concentrated, Nadia's tail shivered.
Soon, Nadia was leaning against me, fully relaxed.
To a bystander, the position might have seemed a bit embarrassing, but I wasn't bothered.
It just felt nice to be close to a warm body.
While I was taking care of Nadia by the hallway, the sprout and Carry started a subtle rivalry.
Well, to be precise, it was one-sided jealousy.
Carry, seeing the sprout sitting on my shoulder, could not conceal its discomfort.
Carry waggled its support arms at the sprout, but couldn't reach it.
The sprout haughtily crossed its leaves.
「(ꐦ°꒫°)」
Carry's expression was completely crumpled.
It picked the fight, and was now red with indignation at the response.
I really wished they'd get along, but for some reason they just didn't.
I petted Carry as if to calm it. I never ran out of things to do with my hands.
When Nadia's tail had finally recovered and began to wave gently again, I spotted an armored car moving away outside the window.
Since a trailer was attached, it looked like they were heading out for more mining.
"The morning meeting must be over."
"I just came from there. Want me to fill you in? There's not much that's different from yesterday, though."
"That'd be great."
Nadia began to relay the contents of the meeting.
The Albatross's armor repairs were proceeding well.
The processing facilities weren't bad, so the new armor would not be as good as the original, but would still be durable enough.
"Since we're low on metal reserves, we'll be staying here for a while to keep mining."
"We brought a lot back yesterday. That's still not enough?"
"They said it never hurts to have more. Since nobody knows when we'll find another mining point, it's safer to stock up now."
It made sense. The pureblood supremacists had suffered too much damage to act rashly, making this our last window of respite.
While waiting for injuries to heal, it made sense to maximize profit with the idle workforce.
"They also brought up the purification protocol."
"Oh, I know about that. I heard it when I went out with Licorice yesterday."
"Then there's nothing else to add."
Nadia shrugged, saying the other stuff was trivial.
With almost half the group stuck in bed, hardly anything was being properly carried out—meaning there wasn't much for the meeting, either.
"Was Licorice at the meeting?"
"Of course. No meeting happens without her."
"How was she?"
"How was she...? In what way?"
Nadia tilted her head.
"I mean, overall. Did she look tired or sick or anything like that?"
"Hmm... her complexion wasn't great."
Even yesterday or maybe earlier, Licorice hadn't been able to shake off her fatigue.
It was unclear whether she'd been bottling it up and it finally broke, or if this was a recent development.
Licorice was almost as diligent about self-care as Carrot.
If she couldn't even hide how unwell she was, it probably meant things were even worse than they appeared.
- Is it okay if I stop by for a moment?
I messaged Licorice.
If she didn't reply, I'd head straight to her cabin. I didn't want a repeat of finding her collapsed and puking up blood.
- All of a sudden?
Luckily, she replied right away, so she hadn't fainted.
Before I could even ask about her well-being, a curt message arrived.
- Busy. Talk later.
"..."
Is this what it feels like to get rejected before you even start?
"What'd she say?"
"She's busy."
"She did look that way."
Nadia asked what I planned to do now. I just shrugged, since I had nothing pressing.
"If you've got time, brush my tail. I haven't kept up with grooming lately."
"I'd love to. Where should we go?"
"Hyun-woo's room!"
"Sure. Let's go right now."
I spent time with Nadia.
In this hectic period, I fully enjoyed a brief moment of peace.
I even tried to get Carry and the sprout to make up. Of course, it was pointless.