Chapter 33
Tower Master Yuna had rarely been as surprised in her life. Who wouldn’t be shocked if a completed fireball suddenly said, “Hello, Creator! I am about to explode. It’s been a short life but a pleasant one!”?
From the perspective of her experience as an Archwizard, it appeared that the unintended synergy between self-operating artificial intelligence and the faith-based power source of the variant had been unleashed.
He probably didn’t intend for this to happen. If he had, Yuna would have been informed beforehand.
“What on earth have you created?!”
Yuna shrieked, directing her gaze towards the campfire. They were quite a distance apart, so their conversation was only a faint vibration to her, but both Yuna and Pero had a good idea of what was being talked about.
First and foremost, communication was essential. Yuna felt their objectives were aligned toward the same happy ending to this story. Being able to communicate would be a substantial help.
She needed to hear the boy’s heart—the things he desired and how he wanted the story to unfold.
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The campfire flickered.
After Pero walked into the darkness, Learo wiped the smile off his face. The remnants of anger swirled in his eyes.
After burning everything built upon his heart, only embers remained in the ashes.
Learo confessed honestly, “This is petty revenge.”
“…Against whom?”
“Against Espero. In the end, I know this entire story is meaningless. Raising my voice in condemnation won’t bring back my ruined hometown. If you asked me if it was truly Espero’s doing, I would probably say no.”
Learo’s gaze sank. His hair fell slightly, casting an ash-gray curtain over his eyes. His once lively voice had completely drowned.
“Moreover, I know this story probably won’t strike a chord with you. It’s merely someone else’s tragedy.”
“Then why are you telling me this? Learo.”
“Espero seemed quite happy. I—I don’t hate him enough to stab him to death, but I’m not noble enough to watch him live happily. I wanted to at least spit on his image.”
Elaine frowned at the subtle repulsion she felt. So, she asked, “Is there a reason why I need to hear this story?”
“I expected you would ask that. However, this story concludes with why having Espero as a companion is dangerous. You probably want to assess the danger that comes with the boy, Lady.”
.
Bound by the value of survival, Elaine couldn’t dismiss Learo’s words. Despite feeling a slight discomfort in her mind, she mechanically nodded.
This was how it had been for her until now.
Elaine, while fondly tolerating the unavoidable physical contact with the boy, had kept her heart distant and maintained her suspicions. Pure innocence was rare in this world; even more so in a world on the brink of destruction.
The boy who gazed at her with pure eyes might harbor sinister intentions. That brief moment of joyful laughter could very well be a burden that needed to be cut loose.
“Espero has the power of healing. He showed kindness to guests visiting our village. Thanks to him, news of a boy with healing powers spread quickly—and reached the ears of dangerous individuals.”
.
It appeared that Pero and Learo’s hometown had been razed by plunderers targeting the boy’s power. The individuals who died in the Plains of Meeting that Pero mentioned were probably from their hometown.
One question had been answered: how the little boy had survived. It was because he possessed a healing power coveted by all.
“That’s the first reason. Even after Espero fled beyond the wastelands, many continued searching for him. Why he returned now, I don’t know. But if you keep traveling together… you will definitely catch their eye.”
Another reason to cut the boy off was piling up.
The scale tipped.
A gem brings substantial trouble to those without power to protect it. If they were a group that survived encounters with variants, their combat strength must be considerable. If they were mediocre, Elaine could wipe them out, but one must always consider the “What ifs.”
What if she faced an opponent she couldn’t handle…?
No. No!
Elaine shook her head slightly. If the boy used his healing powers for her, the group pursuing him might not be as threatening as they appeared. Furthermore, she could receive help from him in various perilous situations.
She scooped up the reasons not to abandon Pero, the boy’s usefulness, and added it to the other side of the scale.
Learo smiled enigmatically. And once again, he opened his mouth.
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The boy’s story had to be heard.
But in this situation, effective communication was impossible. If that was the case, magic could resolve it.
The Archwizard dwelling in the boy’s body stretched out her hand into the air. Just like in modern sessions, the only abilities she could use were Pero’s due to the constraints of the Illusion Magic, yet that didn’t matter.
The magic format she conjured was telepathy. By connecting her consciousness with Pero’s, she planned to converse without wasting any time.
Nothing had changed. If she firmly believed, she could achieve it. Yuna was a Master of Illusion Magic and the Tower Master, and this was just Illusion Magic—
…But if it could think and talk, wasn’t that not be Illusion Magic?
Puff.
“Kyah!”
The magic failed due to inner demons that suddenly approached. A purple burst of light flared briefly and then disappeared. Yuna internally cursed her disciple for a moment before successfully casting the spell. The minds of the boy and the Archwizard connected.
…
“Um, H-Hi? Nice to meet you. I’m Yuna… Uh, who are we? Uh, about that, I don’t think it would be good for you to think about that right now…”
…!
“Eh? Ah, yeah! That’s right; I’m the variant that entered when you drank that water… No, no! Don’t cry! You don’t need to cry; I’m a kind variant! I’ll leave on my own soon! No, I’m not saying I’ll split your skull open to get out!”
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“How do you think I managed to encounter you in this vast Plain of Meetings? By chance?”
…
“I came chasing the trail of a giant variant. Usually, it wouldn’t have stepped into the Plain of Meetings, but I thought I needed to figure out the cause. If the ecology has changed, I’d have to be cautious in the future.”
Learo produced a shattered sphere from his bag. It was the bait that Pero had retrieved from his bag and that Elaine had kicked to dodge the giant variant.
“From there, I found this bait. It was used back in our hometown. Seeing this shell, I thought, ‘Espero has returned.’ On the day our hometown crumbled, both Espero and I grabbed one each and fled.”
“I believe we were discussing danger, weren’t we?”
“This is not an irrelevant story.”
Learo stepped on the sphere and sliced it in half with a knife. Inside was something white. It was something unlike any animal she had observed before. If one sought the closest resemblance, it would be an insect.
“It’s a variant’s larva. If it enters an animal’s body, it infects the brain. And then it transforms them into a bizarre appearance. That’s their method of reproduction. During the early infestation stages, hallucinations and illusions occur. In the later stages, they become unable to control their own bodies.”
…
“Variants also have another habit: they tend to protect their not-yet-mature offspring. As if they possess some maternal instinct despite their appearance. This bait exploits that trait of the variants.”
Elaine flinched, shuddering.
The giant variant had appeared from nowhere, relentlessly tracking their group. If Learo’s words were true, it was high likely it was chasing after this variant larva.
Then, did that mean they were pursued because of Pero’s bait?
That didn’t seem to fit. While Pero was fragile, he wasn’t foolish. She recalled the bait being meticulously sealed in cloth. During the process of Elaine kicking it away, the cloth had ripped.
The cloth surrounding the bait acted as a barrier. That was a logical deduction.
“…Why did you think you were being pursued?”
Learo asked. This wasn’t so much a question as it was coaxing the listener to a realization. Elaine found the answer; it was because someone had been infected by the variant larva.
It couldn’t be Elaine. She had only been in this foreign world for merely five days. Moreover, she hadn’t sensed even a hint of any symptoms.
This left only one conclusion; Pero had been infected.
Pero was someone who had fled from his besieged hometown, eventually returning after a long journey guided by a compass. So, it wouldn’t be strange if he had become infected at some point. But what if…
A memory flashed through Elaine’s mind of Pero drinking from a contaminated puddle. What if that puddle had contained a variant’s larva?
If this were true, it would mean she had led Pero to his doom.
Elaine concealed her trembling hands.
“Here’s the second reason: it’s highly probable that Espero is infected. If you travel together, all the nearby variants will converge. The risk it presents for the sake of his healing powers is astronomical; no matter how strong you are, you will die.”
Another reason to cut the boy off had surfaced.
The scale tilted once more.
Given the anticipated assault from the giant variant, Learo’s words held a high probability of truth. If all the variants in the vicinity pursued Elaine, she would inevitably tire. And then, death would follow.
While she felt pity for the boy’s unfortunate plight, Elaine had to prioritize her own survival.
The aging emperor’s expectations implored her to keep living. Her duty as a pillar supporting the Empire—she had lived for that. Struggling against obstacles, eliminating rivals, and swinging her fists toward an imperial throne she never desired.
Initially out of responsibility, evolving into fear, and now, a mere inertia driving her forward.
Thus, even if the boy’s tragedy were a result of her own mistakes, she couldn’t waver.
No, but still…
Elaine grasped her hair tightly. Nothing was certain. She had only circumstantial evidence. That giant variant could have merely been a coincidence. She couldn’t exclude the possibility of Learo weaving lies for vengeance.
She placed the guilt that stuck to her and the awkward self-deception on the opposite side of the scale.
Learo whispered.
“Wasn’t it merely a fleeting connection from not too long ago, Elaine? If you felt any positive emotions, it’s likely just an illusion. Even if you did, it loses its meaning in the face of survival. That meager fondness might just be Espero wagging his tail to borrow your strength. And if you’re still agonizing over your uncertainties…”
He pointed with his bony finger beyond the campfire.
“Just look at Espero.”
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The boy claimed he liked Elaine.
When the Archwizard inquired about his reason, the boy said he saw something similar in her eyes—eyes of a runaway, lost and directionless, merely running for the sake of running.
The boy revealed he felt the same way, having lost his hometown and only running away, wandering through unfamiliar lands while merely trying to survive. The journey towards Paradise with the compass from the old woman was merely another part of his aimless wandering.
He expressed he didn’t have anything genuinely wanted, nor a dream that excited his heart.
He remarked that Elaine seemed similar. While he couldn’t ascertain what Paradise meant for her, he sensed it was just something she was blindly chasing. The shared sense of belonging, finding a kindred spirit in the vast wastelands, brought him joy.
Then, at last… a wish formed.
“I wanted to convey my feelings.”
The boy said it bashfully.
He confessed he was afraid that if Elaine discovered his healing ability, she would regard him with greedy eyes like the plunderers who attacked his hometown. So, he concealed it.
He also feared confessing during their journey; what if he burdened her? What if she rejected him? He kept it hidden.
He hadn’t intended to postpone it indefinitely.
Once they discovered Paradise, ensuring their survival, and having nothing left to worry about, he thought it would be alright to confess then.
“That’s way too late!”
The boy, chided by the Archwizard, chuckled awkwardly.
“I didn’t expect to be on borrowed time. I didn’t know variant larvae could hide in slime, but I’ve learned that now…”
“I told you I’m not going to crack your skull open!”
“But still, esteemed Variant Larva? You can’t just stop when you want to, right?”
“I’m a genius larva, so it is possible! Just release me into a roadside puddle, so don’t worry and merely focus on conveying your feelings!”
“I’m somehow a bit happy. It seems humans can befriend even variants.”
Misunderstood as a variant larva, the Archwizard ruffled the boy’s hair. It would have been nice to talk more and clear up misunderstandings. But there was no time.
Wasn’t the malicious wizard spilling all sorts of slander into the ears of the princess?
The Archwizard and the boy agreed they had to move. After some trial-and-error moments of coordinating their right and left limbs, Pero (Yuna) approached the campfire.
To convey his feelings before it was too late.
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At the spot pointed out by Learo’s finger, Pero was unmistakably staggering, unable to control his body. Pero called out awkwardly with a smile.
“…Elaine!”
“Pero…”
It was the unmistakable signs of infestation.
Elaine’s pupils trembled. Guilt surged up to her throat, constraining her breath. The old emperor’s voice rang in her ears. One glaring truth rattled in her mind.
Pero was infected and would soon become a variant, attracting nearby variants and causing a disaster.
Even if he didn’t mutate, possessing a healing ability made him a target for plunderers.
He embodied danger, just wearing the skin of a human.
Just like how he had been in the past.
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Using the trauma as a trigger, I plunged deep into focus. The narration pressed in.
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Elaine— You remembered the days in the Pagoda Palace.
The beginning of your obsession with survival.
In that place, there lived four imperial descendants.
First Princess Elaine.
Second Prince Irid.
Third Prince Sledo.
And First Prince /genesisforsaken
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