Ch.204Whom the King Fears (1)

The Cult cruiser landed in the forest quite far from the nest I had built.

After landing, I sent the eight survivors out of the situation room to clean up the scattered corpses.

I inserted my corrosive tentacles into the situation room and absorbed the bodies one by one. While doing so, I noticed something strange.

‘The Knowledge Manager is missing?’

The Knowledge Manager is the core adjutant and chief technician of Cult vessels.

True to being a race that uses psychic powers, Cult can transfer information stored in computers to individuals. That’s why Cult doesn’t have central information processing agencies like Megacorp’s data archives or Star Union’s Starlink database.

Perhaps the Prophet Council, one of the Empire’s three major power institutions, serves a similar function.

Anyway, Knowledge Managers aboard ships are individuals who have primarily acquired various information necessary for navigation, such as combat, routes, ship structure, and trends of the Empire and other powers.

While other factions heavily rely on ship computer performance, Cult differs in that computers and Knowledge Managers work together to assist navigation.

‘As far as I know, cruisers must have a Knowledge Manager.’

They often don’t board patrol ships, but they do board medium and large warships from destroyer class and above.

Yet among the corpses scattered in the situation room, the Knowledge Manager was missing.

[Zzzzzz zzzz(Where is the Knowledge Manager?)]

“Huh? I subdued them earlier with ‘Ice Spirit.’ They should be in the situation room.”

Sky Mother answered my question through the wavelength I sent.

Currently, she’s in another area of the ship looking for equipment worth taking as spoils. After hearing her answer, I searched through the corpses again but still couldn’t find them.

Knowledge Managers look identical to regular Cult externally, but they wear a special badge on their clothes. It’s shaped like the Cult’s eye, often called the Illuminati in the community.

‘Are the bodies too mixed up? I can’t find it.’

While I was rummaging through the clothes of each corpse, PS-111, who had been hovering around the computer, asked me:

“What are you looking for?”

[Zzzz zzzz zzz zzz zzz(A corpse wearing an eye-shaped badge)]

“I ate that corpse before ‘AMorph’ arrived.”

[Zzz zzzzzz zzz(You ate it? When?)]

“While ‘middle child’ was working on the computer. I didn’t realize it was an important target. I apologize.”

PS-111 bowed and apologized.

‘Why would it do that when it normally doesn’t?’

Though it always nags about energy supplies, it had never touched prey first. While it’s certainly a special unit, it’s still under machine control. I thought the possibility of a mistake was low.

Moreover, though it was the same monotonous female voice mixed with mechanical sounds as always, it felt subtly different.

‘Hmm.’

I observed it closely. There was no change in PS-111’s face, which is half-machine. But both its voice and expressionless face felt different.

If I had to describe the feeling that had seeped into its pure white facial surface…

‘Emotion?’

Previously, it had shown a sullen appearance when scolded by No. 26. Back then, it had a strong artificial feel, like a machine expressing itself according to specific situations.

But now it looked much more human.

‘A humanlike machine.’

Being a new model Screamer and a commander-level unit, it has relatively high autonomy. So it’s unclear whether this change is according to its design or if it’s evolving into a new being.

‘It’s similar to No. 26 in this respect.’

I had similar concerns when I first met it. Back then, I decided to keep an eye on it, and that decision ultimately helped me greatly.

‘Let’s wait and see.’

If it intended to deceive me, there would be better ways than this awkward attempt. Since it didn’t do that, I should assume it doesn’t intend to harm me.

After brief consideration, I decided to overlook PS-111’s “mistake.”

[Zzzzzzz zzzzzz(Be more careful next time)]

“Thank you.”

With that, I put the Knowledge Manager issue aside and continued absorbing the corpses with my corrosive tentacles. After cleaning up all the bodies, I exited the cruiser with PS-111.

“Big child and friend came out.”

“What took you so long?”

[Zzz zzzz zzzz(Had something to do)]

When we came out, Sky Mother and No. 26 were waiting for us.

Sky Mother had attached a string to the Demolisher and slung it over her right shoulder, with the Champion Shield on her left wrist. It was similar to a Temple Guardian’s setup, but she wasn’t wearing dragon scale armor.

Volf cannot wear regular armor except for special material equipment. This is because of their transformation ability. When they transform, their bodies grow more than twice in size and change shape, so ordinary clothes would be instantly ruined.

Beside her, No. 26 was holding a backpack full of spoils with its tentacles.

[Zzz zzzz zzzzzz(Let’s return to the nest)]

“Are we going to flap-flap?”

[Zz(Yes)]

“Sigh…”

No. 26 consistently loved flying. As I lowered my body, it bounced up onto my back. Sky Mother, who despite her name didn’t enjoy flying, sighed before following No. 26.

I took off into the sky with PS-111 also on my back.

‘I’ll rest a bit at the nest, then go hunting for new prey.’

Now that my existence is known, a fight with Gallergorn isn’t far off. Any group will try to exclude me.

The black Gallergorn group that exiled Adhigh Orr won’t welcome a new competitor. Ham Oort, whom I’ve met before, won’t attack immediately because of our agreement, but I can’t be too comfortable. He might be more wary, thinking I’m targeting Adhigh Orr.

‘I originally planned to prepare more, but I have no choice.’

A Gallergorn group is as tricky an enemy as players. I had planned to acquire more than ten Apex traits before tackling them, but I need to change my plan.

‘Let’s deal with Sharkbear and Nom first.’

A creature that never descends to the ground after birth.

A noble being called the whale of space.

The Skywhale.

–

“The Lord of the Red Forest” “is dead?”

Upon hearing the unbelievable news, the Snow White Queen asked again, and the white Gallergorn nodded.

How could a king who was perfectly fine until recently suddenly die? Ham Oort couldn’t understand the situation.

“Odd Grad” “killed him?”

“Nel Germa” “denies” “king” “already” “dead”

She asked just in case, but it wasn’t the case.

“Corpse” “brought”

What the white female Nel Germa offered was only a wing fragment left by the Lord of the Red Forest. Seeing this, Ham Oort barely suppressed a sigh.

Such a small piece has little significance. This means they must find another red king somewhere on this planet.

“Ham Oort” “commands” “search for” “new Lord of the Red Forest”

“Nel Germa” “objects” “kin” “tired” “rest” “needed”

It was unheard of for a youngster to object to a leader. Moreover, Nel Germa was one of the most obedient kin. Her objection meant the situation was quite bad.

Besides, Ham Oort rebelled against Odd Grad because she disliked how he overworked their kin. If she forced her command here, she would become just like Odd Grad.

“Ham Oort” “amends” “Nel Germa” “kin” “rest comfortably”

“Grateful”

After sending Nel Germa away, Ham Oort quickly thought.

She didn’t have much time. For now, that cruel black dragon was leaving them alone on a whim, but no one knew how long that would last.

If Odd Grad intervened now, many kin would die, even if she sacrificed herself.

So before that, she needed to make the Daughter of the Meteor a savior as quickly as possible. Ham Oort entered the nest with the wing fragment.

In the spacious cave lay a small kin.

Green scales, smaller than other young ones, with a plump tail—this was Adhigh Orr, the Daughter of the Meteor.

Unlike when they first met, she now had small white spots on her wings, like scattered stones on the ground. She raised her head.

“Red Forest Lord” “dead?”

“Yes”

Adhigh Orr spoke as if she already knew everything.

Recently, she had been practicing how to use psychic power delicately. Now her detection range included not only the cave but also the forest outside.

While nothing could be more joyful for a mother than seeing her daughter grow, Ham Oort couldn’t be entirely happy. This was because Adhigh Orr was constantly thinking about escaping from her at every opportunity.

“Big Elder” “hunted” “certain”

“Ham Oort” “denies” “Lord of Red Forest” “not weak” “ugly kin” “hunting” “impossible”

“Big Elder” “changes” “appearance” “true” “form” “much” “cooler” “strong” “strong!”

She had been saying this ever since Ham Oort had difficultly brought her the Snake King’s corpse. Ham Oort knew who Adhigh Orr meant by “Big Elder.”

The ugly kin who was with Adhigh Orr when she was discovered.

As she remembered, “Big Elder” was a bizarrely shaped being, so much so that it was uncertain if it was truly kin. If it hadn’t communicated in a way similar to kin, she would have mistaken it for a different creature.

Of course, the magnificent horns on its head weren’t bad, but that was all. It was small and didn’t look particularly strong. It was a miracle that the Daughter of the Meteor had survived while traveling with such a weak being.

“Kin” “cannot change” “appearance” “Daughter of Meteor” “mistaken”

“No” “Ham Oort” “wrong” “don’t know” “at all” “don’t know”

Seeing Adhigh Orr speak so impudently, Ham Oort felt the urge to hit her but forcibly restrained herself. She threw the wing fragment in front of Adhigh Orr.

As she began nibbling the wing fragment with her tentacles while holding it with her front paws, Ham Oort announced:

“Eat” “after eating” “place” “to go”

“Place to go?”

It was impossible to eat the Lord of the Red Forest right away. So they needed to handle the next task ahead of schedule.

“King of the Sky” “hunt”

“King of the Sky?”

“Ham Oort” “Daughter of Meteor” “go together”

If the Daughter of the Meteor ate the King of the Sky, she would reach a level similar to Ham Oort in one go. So Ham Oort decided to gamble.

If her daughter was truly the savior…

She would achieve her goal.

–

A cave boiling with geothermal heat.

The floor was covered with precious minerals and gems, while the walls and ceiling were filled with fragrant fruit.

In the middle of this unusually luxurious natural cave lay the black master.

The being was curled up asleep, but still emitted considerable pressure.

Six curved horns grew from its head, and its wings were as vast as rain-bearing storm clouds. Its legs and body were packed with solid muscles, and its claws were as sharp as lightning in a storm.

This was the Black King, the great Odd Grad.

As usual, he was deep in sleep, warming his body with geothermal heat. But today was slightly different. Despite being clearly asleep, his tail trembled uncomfortably.

Soon after, he jerked his head up. As the massive body moved, the entire cave shook violently.

“What was that?”

Odd Grad’s eyes trembled with anxiety before gradually stabilizing. He had had a nightmare while sleeping.

In his dream, he saw it.

A kin rushing at him and cutting his neck.

Despite vividly seeing himself falling with his neck severed during flight, strangely, the being that cut his neck remained blurry.

It wasn’t clear whether it was large or small. The only certain thing was that the opponent’s body was black.

“…The future?”

Odd Grad has one very special ability.

He can foresee the future, through prophetic dreams like this one or visions.

Since becoming aware of his future prediction ability, he has always moved in ways to avoid ominous futures. Otherwise, it would have been impossible for him to survive this long.

Anyway, at this point, there was only one being who could molt into black scales.

The white female who rebelled against him.

Odd Grad was using some method to prevent his kin from “growing.” Somehow, that insolent female must have discovered molting conditions unknown to him.

The future shown in prophetic dreams hasn’t yet materialized. Based on past precedents, there’s still considerable time before the dream becomes reality. So the white female is likely still in the process of molting.

Odd Grad called for his companion outside. When the white companion entered, he commanded:

“Odd Grad” “commands” “all kin” “prepare” “traitors” “eliminate”

The waiting is over.

It’s time to execute the traitors he has been ignoring.