Ch.135Beyond the Deep Sea (5)

“Wow! We won!”

“I” “Victory” “Awesome”

In front of the marine monster’s corpse, No. 26 pulled out just two tentacles and struck a victory pose. Adhigh Orr climbed on top of the monster, spread his wings wide, and savored the joy of victory.

“I thought I’d lived in this world for quite a long time, but this is my first experience of this kind.”

The Sky Mother, transformed into a Griffon, was admiring the creatures performing their victory ceremony.

[Zzzz zzzzzz(They’re clever creatures)]

“…I had to borrow it during the battle. I’ll return it.”

As I approached, she returned the spear she had been holding in her mouth.

‘Seeing how well she works with Adhigh, I should leave him in her care in the future too.’

Adhigh is still an immature Green Gallergorn, and being a mutant, his body is small. If he becomes a White Gallergorn, he’ll be much stronger than now, but that will take more time.

Using the Sky Mother to fill in his shortcomings isn’t a bad method.

I was thinking about lending her the Golden Spear of Shaman later when No. 26 approached us.

“Big baby! We taught the bad guy a lesson!”

[Zz zzzz(Yes. Well done)]

“Yeah! But who’s your friend?”

During the fight, there was no time to introduce the Sky Mother. I briefly explained to No. 26 who she was.

“So is your friend also a family leader?”

“…No. I have no family.”

“Why? Aren’t you a mother? Mothers should protect their babies.”

“All my children are dead. My husband too. Now I am alone.”

“I see.”

Sensing the Sky Mother’s sadness, No. 26 emitted a dark pink light. Come to think of it, No. 26 might have had similar experiences.

‘All of his kind died during experiments.’

No. 26 is the last survivor among the Bubble Amoebas on the research ship. Among us, he might be the only one who can understand her sorrow.

He remained still for a moment as if thinking, then emitted another wave.

“Mothers need to be strong enough to protect their babies.”

“…Yes.”

“So I’ll call you middle baby.”

“What?”

The Sky Mother questioned as if she had misheard. No. 26 ignored her reaction and continued emitting waves.

“Friend is a mother but couldn’t protect her babies, so she’s still a baby. That’s why middle baby.”

“Uh…”

Confusion flowed through the eyes of her eagle-like face. Her gaze shifted from side to side before settling on me.

Since I showed no particular reaction, she had no choice but to accept it. As she nodded, No. 26 emitted a brief light and added one more thing.

“Let’s work hard together so middle baby can protect her family too!”

“……”

The final words No. 26 left seemed to strike a chord with her. The message about gaining strength to protect family made the resistance in her eyes fade.

“Thank you.”

No. 26 and Adhigh Orr are creatures that communicate only through their unique waves or thought waves. So the Sky Mother is using a special necklace around her neck to send thought waves and communicate.

The thought wave she just sent contained more sincerity than before.

After finishing the conversation with the Sky Mother, No. 26 called for me.

“Big baby, there’s somewhere we need to go.”

[Zzzz(Somewhere to go?)]

“Yes. If we don’t go quickly, we might be too late.”

An urgent matter.

I thought about what No. 26’s wave might mean.

‘Now that we’ve caught the Pale Mask, there shouldn’t be any new threats… Ah.’

Come to think of it, No. 26 mentioned before. In his words, the bad baby, meaning the Pale Mask, had put his friend’s family in danger.

‘Friend’s family, huh.’

Given the circumstances, it’s clear that “friend” refers to the Sea Demon. By family, does he mean other Sea Demons?

‘That can’t be right. Sea Demons, and not just one but a group, wouldn’t lose to a Pale Mask.’

Family must refer to the Bubble Amoebas that live with the Sea Demon.

To be honest, I’m not interested in Bubble Amoebas. Even if they contain gene essences I don’t know about, I can’t eat them in front of No. 26.

‘But I can’t refuse to go either.’

There must be something I don’t know, which is why he wants to go with me. I nodded.

‘I need to wait a bit longer to consume the Pale Mask anyway.’

There’s about 30 minutes left until I can use the Hunter’s Emblem. There’s no problem in taking care of other business in the meantime.

Before leaving, I told Adhigh to continue eating.

“I” “Head” “Meal” “Impossible?”

[Zzzzzz zz zzzzzz zzzzzzzz zzzzzz zzz(There’s poison in the head, so you shouldn’t eat it)]

“Understand” “Ugly friend” “Together” “Meal”

“Wait. By ugly friend, do you mean me?”

“You” “No tail” “No horns” “Ugly”

“…Hah.”

Leaving behind the Sky Mother and Adhigh Orr engaged in their strange banter, No. 26 and I entered the water again.

“This way.”

No. 26, with his long fins spread wide, led me deeper into the sea. He swam past the deep-sea research facility and into the trench below the adjacent submarine canyon.

Following him in, I was greeted by darkness so thick it was hard to imagine.

‘Just like space.’

We often use water-related concepts and words when describing space. Calling space-traveling machines spaceships, or using terms like “navigation” instead of “space flight.”

This space, without a single point of light, was another form of universe, different from the one above.

At that moment, No. 26 in front of me emitted light like a self-luminous star in space. That light was neither as intense as sunlight nor as pale as moonlight reflected from the sun.

It was just a soft light that gave a mysterious yet comforting feeling, lifting the veil of darkness.

After descending for some time, I witnessed an amazing sight.

In the distance, grain-like lights began to appear.

‘Stars?’

Stars that shone with a pink light similar to No. 26’s in the darkness.

They were No. 26’s kind, Bubble Amoebas. They were emitting light as if resonating with No. 26.

“Friend’s family is alive!”

No. 26 was relieved to see this.

She sent intermittent light signals to the group of Bubble Amoebas. Unlike when communicating with me, her body emitted light mixed with various colors.

‘This must be how Bubble Amoebas communicate with each other.’

After all, I communicate through waves created by monster tentacles, so it’s bound to be different.

Having confirmed the message from our side, various colored lights flickered from their side. Another nearby group saw No. 26’s light and joined the conversation.

The sight of the Bubble Amoeba group simultaneously illuminating their bodies for communication resembled either a meteor shower or the Milky Way on a clear night sky.

To think that the weakest creatures could emit such strong light at the dark and heavy bottom of the sea where life seemed impossible.

Even the most emotionally barren person would feel awe at this sight.

‘…It’s beautiful.’

The multicolored light ball held on a stage draped with a black curtain was surprisingly beautiful.

I’ve never seen such a scene in the game. Even if such an event existed, could a VR machine capture even 1% of this captivating scenery? I declare it impossible.

The dialogue of light and color, which seemed like it would last forever, ended unexpectedly quickly. No. 26’s body, which had been emitting various colors of light for communication, returned to pink.

“They say they’re all okay.”

The Sea Demon that protected them died, but the powerful competitor, the Pale Mask, also died. They should be safe now.

Other humans might invade, but with Muriel, who had connections with high-ranking Cult officials, dead, the surveillance network for this planet is unlikely to be lifted.

From now on, they will live according to the laws of nature again. Sometimes they’ll encounter predators and either flee or be eaten, and sometimes they’ll meet new members of their kind and thrive in groups—such is the cycle.

However, hearing what No. 26 said next, I realized that the conversation wasn’t so simple.

“Friend’s family asked me something.”

[Zzzz(Asked?)]

“They want me to become their mother.”

I know what No. 26’s wave means.

‘Is he staying here?’

The moment I understood the meaning, I was greatly surprised. The sense of loss I felt at the thought of parting with No. 26 was unexpectedly large.

Even as I remained silent, No. 26’s waves continued.

“Friend’s family is weak. If there’s no one to lead the family, they’ll have a hard time when another bad creature comes.”

I wanted to refute that. That it’s the law of nature, that this is the natural ecology of Bubble Amoebas.

“I know what it’s like to lose family. When family hurts, I hurt too.”

No. 26’s species is the Sea Demon.

Just as it’s AMorph’s inherent nature to steal gene essences from other creatures, it’s natural for No. 26 to live in the deep sea, with family, with other Bubble Amoebas.

‘But.’

I can’t let go of No. 26, who has exceptional abilities, here when I don’t know what challenges lie ahead.

On the other hand, I also want to respect his wishes.

‘…What should I do?’

While I was unable to decide what to say, No. 26 made the decision for me.

“But I said no.”

[Zz(What?)]

“I have family to protect too.”

No. 26 pulled out one tentacle and stroked my head.

Through the point of contact, I clearly felt the emotions No. 26 held. Just as he occupies a significant place in my heart, he also cherishes us.

“Big baby grows fast and is stronger than me, but still a baby. I need to protect you.”

Only after hearing his honest words could I send a wave filled with my feelings.

[Zzzz zzzzzz(I feel the same)]

“Yes!”

The wave was short, but I can proudly say that the emotions contained within were by no means lacking. Understanding my earnest feelings, he brightened his body with joy.

With that, our business in the deep sea was finished. I prepared to ascend.

The lights emitted by the Bubble Amoebas are pleasant to look at, but I feel anxious that if we stay here any longer, No. 26 might decide to stay.

On the other hand, No. 26 seemed to have unfinished business.

“Big baby, friend’s family says we should go down further.”

[Zzzzzzzz zzzzzz zzzzzz(Below here is dangerous)]

Going further down would lead to the bottom of the trench, where Dread Hydras live. Though they’re merely the main prey of the Pale Mask, they’re not entirely weak.

But No. 26 emitted light indicating denial.

“They say there’s a treasure left by friend that we should take.”

‘Treasure?’

What could be a treasure at the end of this deep sea? Moreover, a Sea Demon’s treasure is beyond my imagination.

‘But let’s go check it out.’

Perhaps there might be valuable equipment dropped by the semi-boss level creature, the Sea Demon. I decided to go down further with No. 26.

We advanced towards the depths of the deep sea, breaking through the immense water pressure.

After proceeding for a while, No. 26 stopped in place. In front of him, who was swimming gently, was a massive object.

‘What’s this?’

It had an appearance similar to No. 26, but its size was incomparably larger.

The terror that breathes in the deep sea, the devil of the ocean.

The dead Sea Demon was waiting for us at the bottom of the world.