Ch.327Savior (2)

Isabelle poured out her grief with her entire body.

While watching the small Coldblood wailing, a question suddenly occurred to me.

‘How did she recognize it?’

It’s true that PS-111’s original form was a Coldblood, but its appearance is completely different. Except for part of the brain, there isn’t a single element in the rest of its body that resembles the original.

Moreover, MPS-05 is a subordinate terminal that PS-111 created based on its own face. It should be impossible to identify the original by looking at it.

‘Even with X-ray vision, it shouldn’t be recognizable.’

I had seen PS-111 before, but I couldn’t figure out which Coldblood was used as its material. I could only see its manufacturing number and entity name, with no other information available.

‘Does she possess some detection technology I don’t know about?’

Thinking back, there was a clue.

When I first met Isabelle, she immediately noticed I was an AMorph ranker. I didn’t find it particularly strange at the time. After all, I’m the only AMorph who conceals my body with a ‘mimicry organ.’

But looking at it again, it is strange.

There are many possibilities—Cults hiding with psychic techniques, disguised humans, and so on—but why would she specifically identify me as an AMorph? Unless she already knew I was an AMorph through some means.

“Help. Help.”

“……”

The mini Screamer held by Isabelle struggles. Isabelle’s reaction changes from wailing to something else. Her pale scales gradually return to their original blue color. Her heart and muscle movements also stabilize.

After calming herself down, Isabelle puts down MPS-05. The small Screamer busily moves its metal legs and climbs onto my back, hiding itself in my thick fur.

“…That.”

The small Coldblood who had been watching speaks up.

“Where is my sister’s original?”

“Original?”

“That’s a machine made by cloning my sister.”

It’s certain now.

Isabelle possesses detection means far superior to common detection technologies like X-ray vision.

“This conversation seems like it might get lengthy.”

The Sky Mother interjects.

“Let’s talk in the warehouse.”

Isabelle’s gaze lingers on the basket in my hand. After a moment, she nods.

“Alright.”

We moved to the warehouse where the Coldblood slaves were hiding, just like we did yesterday.

After arriving at the basement of the warehouse, I handed over food to the slaves who were praying.

“We thank the savior who has bestowed grace upon us.”

The slaves bowed, just like yesterday. Though she must have heard such expressions of gratitude many times before, Isabelle looked somewhat awkward.

After handing over the food, we went back up to the warehouse. Isabelle, having quickly finished cleaning up, looked at me—or rather, at MPS-05 hiding in my fur—and spoke.

“Tell me now.”

Both Isabelle and the Sky Mother’s gazes are fixed on me.

‘What should I do?’

There’s no doubt that PS-111 is an important entity to her. If I use this well, I could extract more information from her—about the rankers she knows, about this world that I don’t know.

Also, establishing a friendly relationship with her would be beneficial later. It would mean bringing a ranker with the ability to read information to my side.

‘As much as I’d like to have that ability myself…’

If Isabelle’s ability comes from a Perk, considering eating her would be a viable option. Of course, my relationship with the Sky Mother would be completely ruined, but the ability to read information is very attractive.

The problem is if it’s not a Perk but comes from a trait or some other ability.

If I eat her while using ‘Hunter’s Icon,’ I would almost certainly gain one trait, but there’s no guarantee it would be the trait I want. If I eat her and get some irrelevant trait, the loss would be severe.

‘In that case, it’s more beneficial to maintain a friendly relationship for now.’

After organizing my thoughts briefly, I explained to Isabelle about PS-111.

When I met it, what kind of entity it is, and who was responsible for turning it into a mutant Screamer. I summarized what I knew and conveyed it to Isabelle.

Isabelle listened without saying a word from beginning to end.

“…I thought it was strange.”

After the long story ended, Isabelle spoke inadvertently.

“There was a weird code number next to my sister’s name.”

“A strange number?”

“PS-111 and MPS-05. It seems like the P stands for the first letter of my sister’s name.”

“That means you two are those twin rankers…”

“Yes. Me, ranked 22nd, and my sister Penelope, ranked 18th. We’re those twins.”

As the conversation turned to her identity, MPS-05, which had been hiding, carefully crawled out. The main body in the mansion must also be listening to our conversation.

“Is Penelope, I mean PS-111, listening too?”

“Yes. She’s in a different location.”

“I see. Do you also know what happened to the real… the real sister?”

Instead of answering, I extracted someone’s genes that were latent within my body. A small cocoon on my back tore open, and from it crawled out an insect with a human face—that of a male Cult.

“Did you call for me?”

Jason’s face-bug, which I hadn’t summoned in a long time, appeared much more submissive than before. There was no trace of the aggressive demeanor he had shown when fighting me.

“Is that…?”

“The 10th ranked Cult ranker, Jason. One of those who was hunting you.”

“Ha.”

Isabelle let out a hollow laugh. Of course, she only made the sound of laughter with her mouth; her eyes didn’t laugh at all.

“To think that the oh-so-great Jason would end up like this. The world is truly unpredictable.”

“Isabelle?”

Isabelle spat out curses in a calm tone.

Her grudge must have been deep, as she immediately cursed someone she had only referred to with derogatory terms when speaking to me. The Sky Mother also seemed surprised by Isabelle’s intense reaction.

“There must have been others besides this bastard?”

“Besides Jason, the only one who died is Cynthia. I haven’t met the rest yet.”

“You killed Cynthia?”

“Yes.”

Hearing my words, her antennae twitched. She seemed as shocked by Cynthia’s death as by Jason’s.

‘Well, strictly speaking, I wasn’t the one who caught her.’

I didn’t bother mentioning No. 26 and Adhigh.

“…So that’s why.”

She muttered quietly to herself, then turned her eyes to me. She seemed to have guessed why I had brought out the face-bug.

The reason I brought out the face-bug here is simple.

Jason had hunted other players in the past. In the process, he had also fought with Isabelle’s companions.

I wanted to confirm once more what happened to the players he hunted.

“You know about Isabelle, right?”

“Yes. I remember her face.”

“What did you do to her companions?”

“I killed them and took their Perks.”

At Jason’s confirmation, Isabelle tightly closed her eyes. Her eyelids trembled.

While watching this, the Sky Mother placed her hand on Isabelle’s shoulder. As she comforted her, I retrieved Jason’s face-bug.

“So in the end, all that’s left is my sister’s shadow.”

Isabelle said in a trembling voice. Then she let out a sigh filled with many meanings.

“There must be a reason why that AMorph is being so kind. What do you want?”

The Sky Mother answered for me.

“About the plan to transport the Coldblood in the basement. I think we need to revise it.”

“Revise it?”

“We have our own circumstances that make it difficult to increase the parasites. We need to make it so the Coldblood can move and leave on their own. Or you could go with them.”

“As I said before, that’s impossible…”

“I want you to lead them, that family, to the end.”

“Family…?”

Isabelle’s eyes widened at those words.

“I don’t know why you’re staying here. But is it more important than being with your family? They need you. No, you need them too. Not just for life here, but to continue living from now on.”

The Sky Mother had lost her family before her eyes. It was advice she could give because of that experience.

Perhaps because she had just heard about her sister’s death, Isabelle couldn’t immediately refute. Seeing her antennae shake and her gaze wander, she seemed to be contemplating quite a bit. The Sky Mother quietly waited for her decision.

After a long time had passed, Isabelle nodded slightly.

“I’ll do as Seoa says.”

After much deliberation, her choice was to follow us.

“Really?”

“Yes. But I’ll need time.”

“That’s fine. We need to prepare too.”

“And AMorph.”

Isabelle called out to me.

“Your sister’s clone, PS-111, is on this planet, right?”

“Yes.”

“Could I meet her before we escape?”

I couldn’t readily agree to Isabelle’s request. The reason I only brought MPS-05 was because PS-111 has difficulty moving around. Preparations would be needed to allow them to meet.

‘She seems to know that too.’

Seeing her eyes trembling slightly, she seemed to realize it was a difficult task. But her desire to see her sister must be greater.

‘Well, it’s not impossible.’

Now that she’s decided to join us, there’s no reason to spend much time in the fortress. We could use the warehouse we’ve already rented.

“I think it’s possible at a specific location.”

I told her about a place where we could meet. She immediately nodded.

“If it’s there, we can meet.”

“Good. Let’s meet there at this time tomorrow.”

The result was more satisfactory than I had expected.

I had considered threatening her if things didn’t go well, but there was no need for that.

Even just before leaving, Isabelle bowed to me and the Sky Mother. It was a completely different attitude from yesterday when she left without saying anything.

“I’m glad it ended well.”

“We still have a long way to go. Both us and her.”

“Indeed.”

The Sky Mother kept looking back, seemingly worried about the devastated Isabelle.

I checked on MPS-05, which had gone back into my backpack.

“Are you okay?”

“No problem.”

It was the same response as usual, but I sensed that it was interested in this situation. It had always wanted to confirm the entity that was its original. I wonder if the main body in the mansion is thinking about what conversation to have with Isabelle?

‘I should also think about what to ask.’

About the illusion, about the Cult rankers on this planet, and so on.

Actually, I could ask after leaving Beryan02, but it wouldn’t be bad to ask bit by bit whenever the opportunity arises.

With such thoughts, I returned to the mansion on the airship.

–

“Nothing special happened today?”

“Yes. The ‘tool’ is taking headache medicine, but it won’t be a significant variable.”

“Medicine, huh. That’s not something that can be stopped with medicine. Leave it be.”

“Additionally, there was an increase in brain activity during sleep and an increase in compatibility metrics.”

“Oh?”

“Yes.”

“Interesting information. I’ll relay this to ‘the other side’.”

As usual, Isabelle reported today’s events to the entity beyond the Monolith.

“You’re doing well. Keep watching and report if there’s a problem.”

“Yes.”

“Then that’s all for today…”

“May I ask one question?”

“Hmm?”

Usually, she would just report and end it, but today was different. This afternoon, she had heard words that could be a major turning point in her life.

Having heard that, she had to confirm it, even if her life was at risk.

“I’d like to ask about Cynthia, who guided me to the plan. Is she doing well?”

“Cynthia? Why are you curious about that?”

A reaction as if asking why she would ask such a thing. Isabelle continued naturally.

“Thanks to her, I was able to avoid becoming addicted to this world. It’s all thanks to her that I serve for the plan.”

“Hmm.”

“She left for another place to carry out the great plan, but I was worried about how she’s doing. That’s why I asked.”

After saying that, she prostrated herself before the Monolith.

From the Monolith, which had been floating silently, a modulated voice flowed out again.

“Cynthia is actively working hard to carry out the plan. No need to worry.”

“Is that so?”

“Of course. She left for another place specifically to find your sister. Of course she is.”

“……”

“I’ll convey your feelings to her. Well then.”

With those words, the other party immediately turned off the Monolith. The deactivated Monolith fell in front of her head.

Even though the Monolith was turned off, Isabelle remained prostrated, not getting up. It was to hide her emotions.

Right now, she was consumed by anger she had never felt in her life.

The other side had told her a blatant lie.

They had been lying all this time, even though her sister Penelope had been dead for a long time. They were even hiding the fact that their own comrade had died.

With this, the direction she should take became clear.

To shatter what they call the ‘Great Plan.’