Ch.328Savior (3)

The next morning, I left the mansion with PS-111.

Today, Sky Mother stayed behind to spend time with the children. Although we were pretending that the owner of the mansion was away, it would be strange if there was no one there at all. In case an outsider visited the mansion, she remained.

“I’m excited to meet someone who knows me.”

“You saw her yesterday, didn’t you?”

“This is the first time I’ll be seeing with my own eyes.”

He pointed to his eyes with his hook-like claws. The red camera lenses that replaced his eyeballs expanded and contracted repeatedly.

He had been like this since yesterday. Despite most of his body being mechanical, his inner excitement was clearly visible.

‘This is his first time meeting someone who knows about his original.’

After watching the Mutant Screamer production video on Pyrrha Eleven’s ship, PS-111 began wondering about his original form.

Isabelle, the twin sister of the deceased 18th-ranked Penelope, would be able to satisfy his curiosity.

We took an airship to where the warehouses were located.

The warehouse district was like a massive pyramid, with each warehouse stacked as a block. At the bottom of the pyramid was a large warehouse I had rented under Charas’s name.

I disembarked first after landing in front of the warehouse. The shielded door opened immediately when I authenticated with Charas’s terminal pad at the automated warehouse.

PS-111, who had been at the controls, entered the warehouse with the airship.

“There are no cameras here. You can get down.”

Hearing my words, the biomechanical being crawled out of the airship, moving its eight long legs.

“When can I see ‘little sister’?”

“She’s working, so it’ll take a few more hours.”

“Since you said they’re twins, she must be genetically identical to me.”

“Well, maybe.”

“Meeting another ‘me’ that hasn’t been cloned—it’s an impressive experience.”

In reality, the chance of them being identical as he thought was low. Isabelle and Penelope being twins was a real-world thing.

Players who fell into Space Survival were born with bodies completely different from reality. Not only did their bodies change, but many weren’t even human anymore.

So the two sisters probably had little in common except being the same species. The timing of their arrival in this world would be quite different too.

But explaining this would be too complicated, so I decided to keep quiet.

Time continued to pass. Just as I felt it was about time, there was a knock at the door outside.

‘She’s here.’

I operated the warehouse terminal to open the door. Isabelle appeared, wearing a robe that covered her entire body and a gray mask. Since there were cameras around, she had disguised herself to enter secretly.

She nodded slightly to me as a greeting and quickly approached PS-111.

“Pleased to meet you. I am PS-111.”

“……”

Isabelle silently removed her gray mask and reached out her hand. PS-111 lowered his body to make it easier for her to touch his face.

Her thin, delicate hand moved slowly and touched PS-111’s face.

When she touched the cold metal skin, Isabelle’s hand trembled. I could feel her emotions surging.

“…It really is my sister. Almost exactly as I remember.”

She threw away her mask and caressed PS-111’s face with both hands.

“You know my face?”

“Of course I do. How could I not recognize my sister’s face after seeing it for years?”

“I am a Coldblood. My current face is very different from the original.”

Isabelle shook her head at PS-111’s words.

“Haven’t you ever wondered why my sister, who was once broken, became like this?”

“It’s because of the energy from the main controller that makes up my body and the organic matter provided by AMorph.”

“Then why did you take this form? You could have taken a more efficient form.”

PS-111, whose body is over 80% machine, usually speaks without hesitation. But this time, even he couldn’t deny it.

‘Come to think of it, that’s true.’

It was something I hadn’t questioned until Isabelle pointed it out.

‘The current PS-111’ is a being created after being destroyed fighting the Ice Horror, absorbing No. 26’s psychic power and the organic matter I provided. Compared to the Screamer produced by Star Union, the external differences are extremely significant.

Even looking at the Mutant Screamer designed by Pyrrha Eleven, it was closer to a hybrid with randomly mixed genes, not a standardized form like his.

‘It was as if there was an invisible mold.’

Especially the face part. It’s becoming increasingly similar to a human female face. Except for the red eyes and pale chrome skin, there isn’t much difference from a human face.

Isabelle stood on her tiptoes, narrowing the distance with PS-111. She got close enough that her Coldblood’s protruding snout almost touched the pale chrome skin.

“This is my sister’s real face.”

She said in a firm voice.

“Real face?”

“Yes. Both my sister and I. This is the face we had before becoming our current bodies.”

“You mean both my body and little sister’s body have changed?”

“I don’t know exactly, but I think it’s similar.”

“So we were both test subjects. I’ve acquired important information and will record it.”

Isabelle laughed at PS-111’s strange response.

“I have many questions for little sister.”

“Don’t call me little sister, call me Isabelle.”

“Verification failed. Insufficient authority to reclassify code name to ‘Isabelle’. I apologize.”

“Oh well, can’t be helped. What do you want to know?”

Isabelle asked in a gentle voice. It was a mild attitude that would be impossible to imagine compared to when she fought me.

PS-111 excited like a child receiving a gift, Isabelle transformed into a completely different person. Both showed sides I had never seen before.

I watched the sisters chatting happily from a distance.

Surprisingly, Isabelle didn’t ask many questions. Perhaps knowing that the other’s memories were incomplete, she spent time answering what PS-111 was curious about.

After about an hour, Isabelle, who had been sitting next to PS-111, got up. She put on her gray mask again and approached me.

“Leaving already?”

“Yes. I’m busy today, so I need to leave early.”

“I see.”

“Thank you for arranging this meeting.”

The hostility from when we first met was completely gone.

“We’ll be seeing each other more often, so no need to thank me yet.”

“…That’s true.”

“I have a lot to ask you too.”

Hearing my words, she made a sound like laughter. After showing a smile for the first time, she left the warehouse.

After Isabelle left, PS-111 approached me.

“How was it? Was it a satisfying time?”

“If I could feel regret, I would regret not being able to spend more time with little sister.”

“I’m glad you liked it.”

“Especially after collecting unexpected information, I now have a new purpose.”

“New purpose?”

“Yes.”

As I was touching the terminal to leave the warehouse, he chattered beside me.

“Little sister said that in the past, I had many family members.”

“Family? Ah, you mean the Coldbloods underground.”

“Yes. Although they are biologically unrelated individuals, my original made an irrational decision to save them.”

“Really?”

I thought Isabelle had saved them, but apparently not.

‘Did the 18th-ranked save them and she inherited them?’

“Little sister judged them to be my sister’s legacy and continuously supplied material resources.”

As if reading my thoughts, he immediately resolved my question.

‘So that’s why she looked awkward.’

Whenever the slaves called her their savior, Isabelle showed a strange reaction. I thought it was because she was embarrassed, but that wasn’t it.

The real savior wasn’t her but her sister.

As PS-111 put it, the 40 Coldbloods were a legacy left by her twin sister.

‘Responsibility, and guilt.’

Responsibility to protect those her sister left behind, guilt from surviving alone when she saw them. All elements that bound Isabelle.

“But little sister maintained an irrational decision while being a slave. An AMorph would have consumed them all to minimize weaknesses.”

I wanted to deny it but couldn’t. Because that’s likely what I would have done.

“I shouldn’t be the one to say this, but ‘irrational decisions’ aren’t always bad.”

“Is that so?”

“If I had stuck to rational judgments as you say, no one would be left around me.”

When I found out No. 26 was a Seed Demon, I considered but ultimately didn’t eat her.

When I first met the mutant Gallergorn Adhigh Orr, I considered whether to eat him or not, but chose to spare him.

I didn’t take Sky Mother’s life either, keeping her as insurance, but now she’s become a reliable companion.

“I thought about killing you too at first. You were too dangerous.”

“I agree. I was a collection of imperfect elements, so elimination would have been reasonable.”

“But I didn’t.”

“Did you invest in me thinking I would be useful in the future?”

“Not exactly, but similar.”

In my case, I acted because I judged that having the kids with me would be more beneficial. The 18th-ranked Penelope saving slaves must be understood in a completely different context.

‘Probably for moral reasons.’

I’ve never directly met Penelope in this world, but judging from her twin sister Isabelle, that seems likely.

Taking pity on slaves living miserably and wanting to help them.

‘When you look at it that way, they are similar.’

The sister who takes care of other slaves while being a slave herself, the sister who tries to save her kind living unfortunate lives.

They were like mirror images of each other. They could be called the savior sisters. But that doesn’t mean the sisters need to meet the same end.

‘Once we leave here, much of what troubles her will disappear.’

The 18th’s legacy will live in a safe place, and PS-111 will somewhat alleviate the pain of losing her sister. Even if emotional scars remain, no one knows what will happen afterward.

“I’m interested in what results irrational decisions might produce. I will continue to observe the family left by my original.”

“Yes. Once we leave this place, you’ll be able to continue seeing them.”

Having adjusted the warehouse door to open automatically when the airship approaches, I boarded the airship with PS-111.

“Or you could talk to Isabelle. She would know better than you.”

“I agree. Little sister will be a great help to my development.”

“It’s good that you’re getting along as sisters.”

If PS-111 upgrades further, it’s a big benefit for me.

Also, Isabelle would want to be near her sister. I was convinced after seeing her today. She would likely move with me, if only to take care of PS-111.

‘If Isabelle becomes an ally, we can more easily respond to threats from other rankers.’

The reason I’ve been moving secretly to avoid rankers so far is because of insufficient information about enemies. With Isabelle, I could move much more actively.

The information and potential she has. Not a bad harvest.

PS-111 and I returned to the mansion with happy hearts.

And the next day.

Sky Mother and I waited in a secluded alley, the meeting place with her.

But no matter how long we waited, Isabelle never appeared.

–

When Siheyon Yujin opened her eyes, she momentarily thought she hadn’t woken from her dream.

After obtaining the relic, she always slept in a bio capsule. But the sensation she felt throughout her body now was far from the artificial comfort typical of a bio capsule.

The mattress gently massaging her back and waist, the appropriate weight felt on her chest. All things that couldn’t be felt in a bio capsule.

Currently, she was lying on a luxury bed. Only after recognizing this did she realize she had fainted.

“Are you awake?”

At that moment, the door opened and a familiar face walked in.

It was the maid who attended to her at the hotel. The unusually small Coldblood crossed the spacious room and placed a tray with a towel and cup beside the bed.

“Where am I?”

“This is the recovery room. You were found collapsed in your room and moved here.”

After saying this, the Coldblood maid handed Siheyon a drink.

“It’s juice made from wild cactus and various fruits. It will help with your headache.”

Hearing it would alleviate pain, Siheyon immediately drank the juice. And she was surprised.

She had thought it was just a saying, but the effect was remarkable. The pain that felt like a press machine crushing her entire head completely disappeared.

“…That’s good.”

“If you wish, I can check if we can supply this juice to your ship right now.”

“That would… be excellent. Please do.”

Siheyon’s ship is scheduled to leave Beryan02 this morning. If she has plenty of this effective drink, she won’t have to suffer from headaches for a while.

“Is there anything else you need?”

“Not at the moment.”

“Then I’ll take my leave.”

While Siheyon was resting against the bed, the maid quietly tried to leave the room. Seeing this, Siheyon impulsively called out to the maid.

“May I have a moment?”

“Yes?”

Was it because her body suddenly deteriorated? Since becoming a clone, no, even before that, she had never acted impulsively like this.

So while she was the one who called out, she was greatly surprised inside. Of course, she didn’t show it outwardly.

“I’d like to talk.”

“Understood.”

The maid, following Siheyon’s call, brought a small chair and sat next to the bed.

“What’s your name?”

“I am called Isabelle.”

“Isabelle? That’s unusual, not a Cult name.”

As Siheyon tilted her head, the Coldblood maid, Isabelle, bowed respectfully.

“It’s a name given to me by those I loved most.”

“I see. Good. Isabelle. Would you be interested in working for me?”

While calling Isabelle earlier was due to a momentary impulse, this was sincere. During her stay at the Water Fortress, Isabelle had perfectly assisted Siheyon without any discomfort. So Siheyon quite liked this small Coldblood maid.

“Work for you, Siheyon?”

“Yes. If you pledge loyalty to me, I’ll remove the yoke of slavery. All those under me are free people.”

Isabelle was silent at Siheyon’s offer.

After a moment, the Coldblood shook her pointed snout from side to side.

“Thank you for the generous offer, but I must decline.”

“You’ll continue to remain a slave?”

“I have something I must do. Something far more important than a slave’s work.”

“……”

Isabelle spoke calmly. Meeting the Coldblood’s eyes, Siheyon was slightly surprised to realize that the other party was more determined than she thought.

Having worked as an assassin for a long time, she could roughly read what others were thinking. Isabelle’s heart was too firm to be considered a slave.

‘That’s a shame.’

After confirming Isabelle’s resolve, she had no choice but to give up.

“It’s rare for someone to reject my offer so decisively.”

“I apologize.”

“I’m not criticizing you, so don’t worry. And thank you for the drink.”

After briefly expressing her gratitude, Siheyon got up from the bed. Since she disappeared while preparing to depart, there must be quite a commotion on the ship.

“Siheyon.”

Just as she was about to leave the room, Isabelle called out to her.

“No matter what trials you face in the future, please remember who you are. Even if something tries to erase you, don’t be erased—resist.”

“…Is that a Coldblood saying?”

“Slightly different, but similar.”

“I hope you also remember and don’t lose yourself.”

With this strange farewell, Siheyon left the recovery room.

Isabelle looked at the closed door and whispered softly.

“…Not a tool.”

She too. Me too.

She swallowed the final words without uttering them and began tidying the recovery room.

A few hours later, Siheyon Yujin’s ship left Beryan02 as scheduled.