Evolve (7)
At the time when the artificial light had completely sunk beyond the horizon, a small groan leaked out from a room as dark as the night sky—so utterly pitch black that not even a trace of starlight shone through.
The one letting out pained groans, as if tormented by nightmares, was Licorice.
She was curled up on the bed, her face scrunched up in an expression that perhaps had been there for some time, dripping with cold sweat.
"Haaah! Huff...!"
Licorice, who had been tossing and turning restlessly—either to hide herself or to break free—suddenly took a deep breath.
Her eyes snapped open wide, but they darted around, lost and unfocused.
Her red eyes, unable to calm down, still lingered in the scenery before fully waking.
"Haa...! Haa...!"
She raised her upper body and hugged herself with her arms, gasping for breath.
The tremble of anxiety lasted only for a moment.
As her red eyes gradually settled, her breathing slowly returned to normal.
Her breath still trembled at the end, but the wildly swaying emotions were now sorted out.
'... It's damp.'
Once I came to my senses, Licorice's first sensation was the cold, sticky discomfort.
The blanket was soaked with her cold sweat.
Unshaken from this unpleasantness, Licorice irritably wiped her face and sighed.
Only then could she process what was happening.
After repeatedly failing to hack the military base on Titan and extract data, she'd taken a break to tinker with her restraint device and, overcome by fatigue, had simply passed out.
'What is this mess the moment I took a nap?'
Her heart was still pounding, her fingers trembling slightly.
Licorice tried to force strength into her hand to hide the trembling, but her hand wouldn't obey.
It was a pointless action.
'Again.'
Licorice had known this would happen. This wasn't the first time she hadn't been able to sleep properly.
From the moment she'd learned she was a clone and Lobelia was the original—from the moment she realized Lobelia could seize control of her body at any time—Licorice began to suffer terrible nightmares.
The content of Licorice's nightmares changed each time, but they were always bizarre and alien.
Filled with scenes she had never witnessed before.
Colossal beings devouring galaxies beyond stars; her body exploding under the sole pressure of their gaze; curses whispered endlessly; unfamiliar landscapes replacing those self-proclaimed gods.
There were dreams where monsters, different from mutants, clashed against an army in gleaming armor;
dreams of a tree so tall it reached the sky burning in flames;
endless people dying meaningless deaths;
civilizations forming and vanishing;
witnessing it all from afar.
Sometimes, she became the gaze itself—crossing a mirage-laden desert, the taste of metal on her tongue; passing over a tumultuous sea where waves tens of meters high rose constantly; flying through the sky and, at some point, drifting into space to watch a cradle from the moon.
Then, she'd be back on Earth—amid remnants of a ruined civilization.
It felt strange. And yet familiar.
Licorice knew why.
Everything she experienced in these dreams emanated from the original—they were Lobelia's memories.
It hadn't taken her long to realize that.
"..."
A sharp headache throbbed in her skull.
Licorice gritted her teeth silently.
The original was the cause, but it wasn't one of Lobelia's schemes.
There was no reason for the original to deliberately leave a loophole for a copy to peek through.
Even if Lobelia did have a nasty streak.
'Just how long have you lived?'
Licorice could not fathom how long Lobelia had lived.
It was so long she couldn't even see its beginning.
An immortal monster.
And now I was a copy with the same appearance as that monster.
Thinking so, Licorice looked into the mirror.
A woman with a haggard face, the result of neglecting self-care, stared back.
'Don't like this.'
An immortal monster?
A clone with an identical body?
So what?
Licorice had no intention of just letting things be.
That's why she had built the restraint device: so that, if control of her body was ever stolen again, Lobelia wouldn't be able to run wild; so the original's interference wouldn't ruin her plans.
'It's almost done.'
Licorice rubbed her bracelet and activated a hologram screen.
She sent a message to Lee Hyun-woo.
- Lee Hyun-woo. I'll come now. Wait for me.
Ding.
There was a notification sound indicating a reply, but Licorice didn't check it.
She simply staggered to her feet and picked up the device from the table.
***
Knock, knock.
Someone tapped at the door.
Leaning against the wall as I waited, I immediately sprang into action.
The only one who would come at this late hour, send a message, and not check the reply was Licorice.
I shook my sleepy head awake and opened the door.
"Licorice, there's no need for some secret exchange—...wait, are you okay?"
I stopped mid-yawn, sensing that Licorice's condition was far from good.
Her hair was matted with sweat as if she'd just exercised intensely, fatigue evident around her eyes, and her steps weak.
Yet, despite that, she was holding some equipment in her arms.
"... I'm not okay, so take this."
Licorice tried to hand over some devices she had shown me before, but lost her balance and nearly collapsed.
I ended up catching both Licorice and the devices.
She was always like this to some degree, but tonight she seemed particularly frail.
She was so weak that instead of recoiling in horror as usual, Licorice simply rested her face against my chest, letting out a shallow breath.
Not knowing what to make of it, I furrowed my brow in concern.
'If it were up to me...'
I wanted to say we should talk when she was feeling better, but I swallowed the words.
When Licorice was stubborn, there was always a good reason.
For now, I helped her sit on the bed.
A furry bundle rolled off the edge and landed with a thud. Licorice frowned at the traces of brushing on it.
"... Is this Woof-woof's fur?"
"Oh, yes. I didn't have much to do today, so I decided to groom her tail since I had the time."
I'd tried to clean up, but forgot about the fur ball.
When I kicked it under the bed, Licorice looked at me like she was watching a child.
This time, she pointed at the tumbler on the table.
There was a faint mark where someone had placed their lips.
"... And this?"
"Oh, that's... Celestia must've left it. She stopped by earlier."
I cleared the tumbler away.
Licorice's gaze changed.
Was it my imagination or did she look at me differently?
Whatever she thought, I didn't feel good about it.
Before Licorice could find fault with anything else, I changed the subject.
"So, what's this thing we need to talk about in the middle of the night? Does it have to do with you not feeling well?"
"It does. I'll explain, but first, take this."
"...?"
I took the device Licorice handed over.
It was about the size of a fingertip, with a tactile button inviting a press.
So I pressed it.
Almost at the same time, Licorice—wearing another device she'd brought—yelped in surprise.
"Kyaa...!"
A device attached to her shoulder suddenly deployed, restraining her. A wire unfurled with a zip, instantly wrapping around her.
Since there was only one device attached, not her whole body was restrained, but as a result, Licorice ended up in a rather compromising pose by her own standards.
Her face blazing red, Licorice yelled at me, not looking at all as weak as she'd been a moment ago.
"What are you doing...! Hurry up and release me!"
"H-how do I do that?"
"Tha—!"
"That?"
"... I haven't installed the release function yet. It's not finished."
Then what was I supposed to do?
Unable to hide my fluster, Licorice looked at me with a face full of things to say, which quickly became words.
"Why did you press it without warning?! I didn't even tell you to!"
"I pressed it out of habit! You, on the other hand, should have explained what it was first!"
"I was about to explain! Couldn't you wait just a moment?!"
"... Sorry! I didn't know it was this kind of restraint device! Why did you make this, anyway? It's dangerous!"
For a moment, I almost misunderstood that Licorice was developing a new taste.
Was that why she wanted to see me late at night?
It was a ridiculous thought, at least until Licorice started fuming.
"Because it's related to Lobelia! That woman could suddenly take over my body at any time!"
"... What? What did you just say?"
"I didn't want to reveal it like this. What a mess..."
Licorice looked as if she might cry. No tears actually formed, but that's what I felt.
It was closer to frustration.
'Lobelia can take over her body? Licorice's body?'
From her expression, I could tell Licorice was not making a bad joke.
"... Explain in detail."
I grabbed the wire and simply tore it off. It was tough, but not enough to withstand my strength.
Now freed from restraint, Licorice quietly placed her hands on her thighs.
The heavy air she exuded made me hesitate to speak. I sat beside her in silence, waiting.
Licorice bottled up her emotions, letting out a breath that lingered between a sigh and a deep inhale. Finally, she spoke.
"As I said, I'm related to Lobelia. Asking 'how much' is meaningless. Lobelia is my original."
Lobelia is the original.
That implied there was a copy—that would be Licorice.
I parted my lips to say something, then stopped. Now wasn't the time for questions.
"At first, I just suspected it. When you told me you saw someone with the same appearance as me in the hydroponics lab, remember?"
"...."
"I felt nothing but disgust. I thought it was just a monster mimicking me. But I was wrong. It wasn't imitating me—the truth is, I was made in her image."
"What does that mean... how did you know? You two never even met."
If Licorice had been doing external activities, maybe, but she played a support role inside the ship.
She hardly ever went outside. Even if Lobelia had appeared somehow, I would've noticed.
At least, I thought so. But Licorice shook her head, looking at me.
"There was a moment. And it was fairly recent."
"Recent?"
"The hack of the Keter military base's defense systems. I never said this before, but that wasn't me. I lacked the skill. Though I almost finished, I'd have missed the timing if I'd kept at it."
"Don't tell me..."
"You're right. At that point, Lobelia directly controlled my body. When I was cornered, she suddenly appeared inside me, scolded me, and hacked the system in a flash—something I couldn't do."
Licorice looked up as if recalling that moment. She spoke as calmly as she could, but I could tell.
She was struggling to suppress her discomfort and anger.
Without realizing, Licorice was clenching her fist, her already pale skin turning even whiter.
I silently placed my hand over hers—it felt as cold as ice.
"That was the first time I lost control. But even from a single instance, I realized I'm just Lobelia's copy. She even said outright that I was a clone."
"...."
"What did she say...? Oh, right. She said: 'Let me borrow your body for a bit. Anyway, you're my double, so it should be fine. Think of it as paying back my kindness for keeping you alive.'"
Licorice quoted Lobelia in a self-mocking tone.
That was the day we retrieved Albatross from the Keter military base—the day Licorice was found unconscious and coughing blood.
Now I finally knew what caused that. It was the price of Lobelia seizing control by force.
"Since that day, I keep having nightmares. I suspect all those dreams are Lobelia's memories. When control swung back, it must have left some kind of gap. It's a bypass that'd never exist if we weren't related."
"You're sure of that."
"Yes. Even if that was the first time I lost control, I'm sure it wasn't my first time being influenced by the original. She's been watching me all along. No, watching here through me. Watching all of us, including you."
I closed my mouth tightly.
My mind was so tangled that I couldn't articulate my thoughts.
While I was digesting our conversation, Licorice continued.
"I have no idea how much I've been influenced. Since it's done through suggestion, it doesn't remain in my memory. I didn't even feel anything odd, so I never noticed."
Yet, Licorice admitted her suspicions. She started listing times she was likely influenced.
When she picked me up in the back alley, when she gathered troops waiting for me at the central tower before the terror attack, when she felt deja vu at the town's mining site, and more.
About half of them involved me. I'd been called Lobelia's plaything before, so now I just let out a hollow laugh.
If Licorice was right, then Lobelia was essentially an immortal being. That meant this entire situation had been set up by Lobelia herself—she'd been orchestrating things since long before the 100-year plan of the pureblood supremacist group.
"Now that I think about it, my situation is similar to yours. I have no past memories, either. I just woke up one day in Titan's secret workshop, the only things around me were robots. I was thrown into this like you."
My eyes widened. It was the first time Licorice had spoken of her past. As she said, we were indeed alike: both tied to Lobelia.
Licorice glanced down at her hands.
She mumbled that she finally realized she didn't stop growing—her growth had simply been artificially set that way.
"I used to think I was working as a broker by my own will. But really, everything went just as Lobelia wanted."
"... We were being played from the start. Not just you, all of us."
"Right. Even our struggles were factored into Lobelia's calculations. That's the truth."
"Then is it okay to talk like this? Isn't it dangerous if she can watch?"
"She can't just intervene at will. It seems she can only interfere in certain circumstances. If she could do whatever she wanted, she wouldn't just be watching now—she'd have interfered directly. There must be a restriction."
In other words, no matter how much we badmouth Lobelia, she can't—or finds it hard to—respond.
I honestly wanted to curse her, but since Licorice would be the one hearing it, I reined myself in.
Silence hung for a moment.
I was busy sorting my thoughts, while Licorice fidgeted nervously, watching me anxiously.
The uncharacteristic gesture made me curious.
"What's wrong?"
"... Aren't you disgusted by me?"
"Me?"
"Who else is here besides you? It's just us."
"I just don't get the question. Why would I be disgusted by you?"
Licorice trembled at my confused expression.
After some hesitation, she opened her mouth—closing her eyes tight as if bracing for my answer.
"... Because I'm Lobelia's clone."
"What are you talking about...? Then I should be disgusted too. I was Lobelia's plaything."
"That's different!"
"What's different? It's the same thing. We both got swept up. If anything, I'd love to get even, but since there's no way, I'm just staying quiet. If I could, I would."
"... Really?"
"Of course. And it's not like I could ever dislike you. Even if Lobelia meddled at our first meeting, everything after that has been your will. Sure, there were times she interfered, but nothing dangerous. So don't blame yourself. I mean it."
When I squeezed her hand gently, Licorice dropped her head.
She now looked noticeably drained, making me sigh without meaning to.
This wasn't Licorice's fault. If anything, I felt a little guilty—for not noticing sooner.
I guess it was better to know late than never.
Licorice fiddled with her fingers, then tightened her grip as though resolving something.
"Do you know what I hate most?"
"... People?"
I answered carefully since I knew Licorice distrusted humans. But that wasn't it.
Licorice shot me a glare.
"Wrong. God, fate, miracles. Those are the things I hate most. Do you know why?"
"Um..."
When I hesitated, Licorice continued as if she never expected an answer.
"They all play with people. They tempt you with all sorts of hopeful words, but when it really matters they betray you or say, 'You're responsible for your own problems.' Pretending it's all your fault."
"...."
"When that happens, people are left powerless. With no other options, you're just forced to accept everything, no matter what. Tragically, that's all people can do—helplessly get dragged around."
Licorice wore a bitter expression, then turned her head to look me in the eyes.
"To you, it must seem I hate people. But I don't. If I did, I wouldn't be sticking close to you like this."
She was certainly close.
When I helped her onto the bed, I'd left some space between us, but at some point we'd drawn nearer.
"What I hate are people who let themselves get fooled by things like that. I like those who rely on their own will, not on gods, fate, or miracles. ... Not that I go out of my way to show it."
Come to think of it, her attitude was different.
I'd assumed it was just her being moody, but now I saw there was a clear standard.
"In that sense, Lee Hyun-woo, I like you—no, uh, trust! Yes, I trust you. Because you're reliable. I believe that, whatever happens, you'll keep your promises."
The look in Licorice's eyes was so intense I flinched.
Instinctively, I tried to pull my hand away, but found it firmly clasped in hers.
Her grip was much stronger than expected; Licorice drew even closer.
"That's why I'm giving this to you."
"This is the restraint device's switch. Why are you giving it to me...?"
"Even if Lobelia can't move freely, she's sure to intervene in our plans at least once. I'm wary of that. Until now, her help has benefited us, but there's no guarantee that'll happen again."
The device was prepared for that moment—so that if Lobelia took over Licorice's body, she wouldn't be able to do anything reckless.
Licorice explained that, though she was still working on it and it wasn't perfect yet, once complete, even if her body was taken over, Lobelia wouldn't be able to do anything.
"Giving you this is like entrusting you with my life. Do you realize what that means?"
"... That we're in the same boat?"
"... That's true, but more than that—... Never mind. Just think of it that way. That's not so bad."
"Come on. Don't give up halfway."
"It's fine. Just remember this: no matter what, you have to get back at Lobelia."
No matter what, get back at her. That was an anxiety-inducing statement; I couldn't help but ask again.
"You mean, not just survive, but get back at her?"
"Surviving isn't the goal. Retaliation is. You know my personality—I don't just sit back and take it. Your role is the most important. You'll have to notice the moment I lose control."
Honestly, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried. I could only imagine what determination Licorice must have had to hand over the switch.
Entrusting the switch to me was a huge risk for her as well.
Depending on when, how, and in what situation it was used, it could decide her life or death.
"... Alright. Trust me."
"Then I'll trust you, always."
With not a hint of hesitation in her promise, my cheeks flushed.
Her usual cold demeanor had its charm, but her gentle smile lit up the atmosphere completely—a smile that startled my heart.
"Smile like that all the time. It suits you much better."
"W-When did I smile! I never did that!"
"You just did—"
"So what's on your mind? I told you everything, so you have to talk, too."
Licorice quickly changed the subject. Her ears, not just the tips but all over, were bright red from embarrassment.
I could've kept teasing her, but restrained myself.
"It's nothing. Well, it is something..."
"Spill it."
"I think I've fused with Celestia's brother."
"Okay. ... Wait, what?"
Licorice nodded, then after a beat, her eyes went wide as she registered what I'd just said.