Ch.222Reorganization (3)

After clearing Space Survival, I woke up in a hospital.

My parents, who had separated after I became an adult, embraced me and wept. They held me tight, constantly murmuring how thankful they were that I was alive.

It might be normal for some people, but it was unfamiliar to me. When I was in the hospital before, my parents always blamed each other.

But perhaps I too had been longing for a harmonious family? For some reason, tears welled up in my eyes, and I cried along with my parents.

After finally calming down, my parents told me.

Let’s start over, they said.

Though legally we’re already strangers, they wanted to slowly rebuild our relationship.

Seeing this, I realized something I didn’t want to acknowledge.

That I was currently dreaming.

My parents loved me, but their relationship with each other was never good. Even if I died, there was no way they would ever reunite.

The moment I became aware it was a dream.

I opened my eyes on a swamp.

‘How long did I sleep?’

I checked my lower body and tail. My tail, covered in mucus, was completely intact without a single wound. Even the claw that had been entirely lost was properly restored.

Perhaps because I had glimpsed reality through my dream, I suddenly thought it would have been nice to have such healing abilities when I was human. Then my parents might never have divorced, and I might never have lived a lonely life at home without any close friends.

‘…Useless thoughts.’

I don’t know why memories of the past suddenly appeared in my dream when I wasn’t even evolving. It only ruined my mood.

I shook my head to clear away the negative thoughts along with the mucus. The ripples I created on the swamp’s surface were blocked by an object in front of me.

It was Ham Oort, the White Gallergorn, lying down with symbiotic spores attached.

Compared to when we entered the nest, he had improved a lot, but he wasn’t in good condition yet. His broken legs and torn tail had healed, but his wings hadn’t even regenerated halfway.

The horn on his head remained broken. We’d have to wait longer, but there was a possibility it might never fully recover.

After checking Ham Oort’s condition, I got up. The first thing I saw outside the nest was a giant, bright pink jellyfish.

It was No. 26, inflated to maximum size. Between the pink tentacles, I could see the heads of Gallergorn with blue scales. Just like on the cruiser, it was embracing the Blue Gallergorn who were vulnerable to cold.

“Big baby, are you feeling better?”

[Yes. I’m fine now]

Seeing me, it waved one of its tentacles gently.

Looking around, I noticed several pits that weren’t there before I fell asleep. They were covered with branches.

‘They must have been hiding here.’

The Green Gallergorn and Blue Gallergorn probably dug holes to hide in after the cruiser left. I could tell immediately because we had maintained our body temperature in a similar way after the fight with Jason.

Currently, the pits contained corpses of other creatures instead of Green Gallergorn.

“Middle baby brought them. Big baby can eat too if you’re hungry.”

Recovery of the body and hunger in the stomach were separate issues. I gladly followed its advice and took out a corpse from one of the pits.

It was a Snow Banshee, its body grotesquely twisted and its tongue pulled out. Judging by the coldness I felt in my hand, it had been dead for quite some time.

I had eaten this creature a few times before. It tasted like a mix of beef jerky and dried squid.

I put the meat in my mouth and chewed. Since it originally tasted like bar food, it was still decent even when cold.

As I chewed the cold Snow Banshee, I asked No. 26:

[Where are the others?]

“The flappy ones went hunting. Middle baby said it had something to talk about with little baby and big flappy one.”

The “big flappy one” it referred to was Nel Germa.

No. 26 spoke through waves and pulled out one tentacle to point toward the forest.

“They went that way together.”

[Thank you]

After quickly finishing one corpse, I crawled in the direction it pointed.

I could see a forest that existed only in black and white, like a chessboard. Snow lightly covered the ground beneath black trees. Light dimly filtered through the densely intertwined branches.

As I passed through the gloomy forest, I sensed the movement of three creatures of varying sizes.

And the smell of blood.

The blood scent lingering low on the forest floor was quite familiar. It was White Gallergorn blood.

‘Adhigh Orr must have eaten a Gallergorn corpse.’

As if they had noticed me too, one small creature approached from that direction. Soon, the Sky Mother in her Wendigo form appeared between the trees.

“You’re here? How are you feeling?”

[Very good. I’ve filled my stomach thanks to you]

“I’m glad. We caught a lot since we didn’t know when you’d wake up.”

[How did you bring Ham Oort here?]

“Oh, before that, there’s something I need to tell you about Adhigh.”

[Speaking of which, where is Adhigh? Has it finished growing?]

She fell silent at my question. She scratched her skull with her hand covered in black fur.

“It’s difficult to explain… you should see for yourself.”

She beckoned me to follow her.

For a moment I wondered if something had gone wrong, but her demeanor didn’t suggest that. Her reaction was closer to the awkwardness one feels when seeing something unexpected.

Following her, I came to a small clearing. Nel Germa, the white Gallergorn, was among pieces of meat scattered on the ground. He slightly bowed his head when he saw me.

And behind him was a Gallergorn I hadn’t seen before.

It was about 4 to 5 meters long, slightly larger than the Sky Mother in her Griffon form.

Six horns on its head, bundles of tentacles hanging from its mouth, a long snake-like body—all typical Gallergorn features. But there was one crucial difference.

The wings. The small Gallergorn had 4 wings instead of 2.

Gallergorn wings are located on the back, close to the chest. The Gallergorn behind Nel Germa also had large wings attached to its back near the front legs.

But additionally, it had small wings attached near where the hind legs connected to the tail.

In the game, there was only one type of Gallergorn with four wings.

The Red Gallergorn, the strongest among Gallergorn and a being with power as formidable as Voltex One.

‘But…’

Red Gallergorn, true to their name, have red scales. The scales of Red Gallergorn, which use Dragon Power instead of Psychic Power as their unique energy system, emit a mysterious luster like red diamonds.

However, the color of the Gallergorn behind Nel Germa wasn’t red.

Or more precisely, the red diamond color was limited to its wings and horns. Its horns and wings glowed bright red as if they had absorbed the Gallergorn blood flowing on the ground.

But the rest of its body remained as white as the snow piled in the clearing.

Small thought waves flowed from this hybrid Gallergorn of red and white.

“Great One” “I” “failed” “sorry”

Hearing Adhigh’s apology, I couldn’t say anything.

Was I disappointed? Honestly, it would be a lie to say I felt nothing, but that wasn’t the main reason.

The real reason for my confusion was that I couldn’t understand this situation.

‘A half-grown Red Gallergorn?’

Such a being didn’t exist even in the game. There weren’t even any events featuring one.

To begin with, Red Gallergorn are raid bosses and transcendent beings that rule over all Gallergorn. It’s impossible for their growth to be incomplete.

Moreover, wouldn’t it be natural for a White Gallergorn that fails to become a Red to turn into a Black Gallergorn? I couldn’t understand why Adhigh had become a state with half White Gallergorn and half Red Gallergorn characteristics.

With my mind in confusion, I examined it again. No matter how I looked, it definitely had 4 wings. They were drooping over its eyes, but there was no doubt. Both its wings and horns were blood-red.

Then I met its eyes. Its pupils, beautiful like amethysts embedded in ice, were filled with anxiety.

Having seen similar eyes long ago, I flinched for a moment.

When my parents fought, I used to hide in the closet. Each time, I would face the mirror attached to the closet door.

The look in its eyes now closely resembled someone’s eyes reflected in that mirror back then.

‘…Calm down.’

Forcing myself to calm down, I sent waves to it.

[What happened?]

“I” “betrayed” “Great One’s expectations”

[No. I’ve never once thought you betrayed my expectations]

That’s the truth.

No. 26, Adhigh, Sky Mother, and even PS-111.

I’ve never felt disappointed in any of these creatures who help and support me. They’ve all done better than I expected, filling in where I lack.

Sensing my emotions, Adhigh seemed to calm down a bit. Seeing it stabilize, I asked again.

“Corpse” “after feeding” “during growth” “felt bad”

[Bad feeling?]

“Growth” “complete” “I” “savior” “change” “savior” “sole ruler of kin” “Red Queen”

[Yes. When you grow, you’ll become a red kin]

At my words, Adhigh shook its head and looked at me with sad eyes.

“Then” “I” “no longer” “protect” “Great One’s side”

[What?]

“Red Queen” “must lead” “kin” “to prosperity” “that” “only mission” “Great One” “Little One” “friend” “sick child” “all separate”

Hearing that, something suddenly occurred to me.

In the lore, Red Gallergorn are similar to the king of Gallergorn. They command all Gallergorn and reign over them.

And a king cannot exist away from the kingdom.

“I” “pondered” “kin” “Ham Oort” “hate” “but” “don’t want” “to see” “dying” “so” “I” “thought” “I’d walk” “savior’s path”

Adhigh continued to emit thought waves toward me as I listened quietly.

“I” “chose” “savior” “Great One” “both” “I will have”

[So you gave up becoming a red kin?]

At my words, Adhigh sent a thought wave of denial.

“I” “Red Queen” “my mission” “refusal” “impossible” “just” “postponed”

[Postponed?]

“I” “Red Queen” “still” “inadequate” “Great One’s side” “much” “to learn”

It came out from behind Nel Germa and approached me. Then it bowed its head respectfully before me.

“I” “belong” “Great One’s group” “Great One” “will you” “accept me?”

While I was sleeping, Adhigh had made an important choice.

Although it was a decision made in a short time, I didn’t think it was hasty. Even if it was, I couldn’t disparage its decision.

It chose to give up the throne and stay by my side.

‘Adhigh is helpful to me.’

I don’t know how strong it has become, but it must at least be superior to an ordinary White Gallergorn. With luck, it might even be able to use Dragon Power, the unique power of Red Gallergorn.

It will be a useful combatant not only in the fight against Odd Grad but also in future battles against other powerful enemies.

‘…But that’s not all.’

If I had intended to let it leave, I wouldn’t have come this far. Just like No. 26, I will never give it up to others.

I approached it and reached out my arm. As it flinched, I stroked its head and said:

[You’re always welcome]

It’s uncertain whether it can later grow into a Black Gallergorn or Red Gallergorn. However, judging by the nuance of its expression about postponement, it didn’t seem impossible.

So while Red Gallergorn might be uncertain, it might still be possible for it to grow into a Black Gallergorn later. Though I don’t know the method for growth.

‘I’ll figure that out as we go.’

Adhigh with its new appearance.

It could be useful when fighting against Odd Grad. Even if it hasn’t become stronger, it doesn’t matter.

Red horns and wings.

The Gallergorn probably understand what those symbols mean better than I do.

‘If we play it right, we might be able to cause internal strife.’

Thinking this, I continued to stroke Adhigh’s head.