｢Wow! We won!｣
｢I｣ ｢victory｣ ｢coolness.｣
Facing the carcass of the sea monster, Number 26 extended two tentacles and struck a triumphant pose. Adhai climbed onto the monster, spread her wings wide, and savored the joy of victory.
｢I thought I had lived in this world for quite a long ti, but this experience is a first.｣
The Mother of the Sky, transford as a griffin, admired the celebratory ceremony of victory, watching with awe.
[ZZZ ZZZZ ZZZ ZZ (clever ones, aren’t they?)]
｢…During the battle, I had no choice but to borrow this. Take it back.｣
As I approached, she handed the spear she had been biting with her mouth.
｢Given how well Adhai and I sync, I might have to rely on her in the future.｣
Adhai, being a young green Gallagon and a mutant, is still small. Becoming a White Gallagon would make her much stronger, but it will take ti.
Filling in her shortcomings using the Mother of the Sky was not a bad idea.
Thinking about giving her the priest’s golden spear later, Number 26 approached us.
｢Big baby! We took care of the bad guy for you!｣
[ZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZ (Yes, you did well).]
｢Yeah! But who’s the friend next to you?｣
Since there was no opportunity during the fight, I hadn’t introduced the Mother of the Sky to the children. I briefly explained who she was to Number 26.
｢So, is the friend also the leader of the family?｣
“…I don’t have a family.”
｢Why? Not a mom? Moms have to protect their babies.｣
｢All my children are dead. My husband too. I’m alone now.｣
｢I see.｣
Whether Number 26 sensed the sadness of the Mother of the Sky or not, it emitted a dark pink light. Co to think of it, Number 26 might have had a similar experience.
‘Since all its kin were experinted on and died.’
Number 26, the last survivor among the Bubble Amoebas on the research ship. Perhaps, it understands her sorrow better than any of us.
He remained silent for a mont as if pondering sothing before emitting waves again.
｢Mom has to be strong enough to protect her babies.｣
｢…Yes.｣
｢So, I’ll call you the middle baby.｣
｢What?｣
The Mother of the Sky questioned, seemingly confused. Ignoring her reaction, Number 26 continued emitting waves.
｢Your friend is a mom but couldn’t protect the babies, so she’s still a baby. That’s why the middle baby.｣
｢Uh…｣
A perplexed emotion crossed her eagle-like face. Her gaze shifted left and right before settling on .
Since I showed no particular reaction, she had no choice but to accept. As she nodded, Number 26 emitted a brief glow and added a few more words.
｢Let’s all strive to be strong enough to protect our family, even the middle baby!｣
“… ”
These were the last words left by Number 26. Its words about growing the strength to protect family seed to resonate deeply within the Mother of the Sky. Her resistance seed to diminish from her eyes.
｢Thank you.｣
Number 26 and Adhai communicate solely through their unique wavelengths and telepathy. Thus, the Mother of the Sky communicates with them using a special necklace around her neck to transmit telepathic ssages.
The telepathic ssage she sent now seed to contain a bit more sincerity compared to before.
After finishing her conversation with the Mother of the Sky, Number 26 called this ti.
｢Big guy, there’s sowhere we need to go.｣
[ZZZ ZZZZ (Go where?)]
｢Co with . We might be late if we don’t hurry.｣
It seed urgent.
I pondered over what Number 26’s wavelength ant.
｢I’ve already captured the Pale Mask, so there shouldn’t be any new threats… Oh.｣
Co to think of it, Number 26 ntioned sothing before. To borrow its expression, it ant that a friend’s family was in danger because of the Pale Mask, which it referred to as a “bad guy.”
｢A friend’s family.｣
Given the context, it seed certain that the friend referred to the Sea Demon. If it ntioned family, was it referring to other Sea Demons?
‘That can’t be it. Sea Demons, not just one, but a group wouldn’t have lost to the Pale Mask.’
It probably referred to the Bubble Amoebas dwelling with the Sea Demon as family.
To be honest, I wasn’t interested in Bubble Amoebas. Even if they contained genetic essence I didn’t know, it wasn’t my place to catch them in front of Number 26.
‘But I can’t refuse to go.’
It must be wanting to go with because there’s sothing I don’t know. Hence, I nodded.
‘After all, we’ll have to wait a bit longer to prey on the Pale Mask.’
There’s about 30 minutes left until I can use the ‘Symbol of Hunt’. It wouldn’t be a problem to attend to other matters during that ti.
Before leaving, I instructed Adhai to eat.
｢I｣ ｢head｣ ｢al｣ ｢impossible?｣
[Zu zu zu zu zu zu zu zu (Don’t eat because there’s poison in the head).]
｢Understood｣ ｢ugly friend｣ ｢together｣ ｢al.｣
｢Wait. Who are you calling ugly?｣
｢You｣ ｢tail｣ ｢none｣ ｢horn｣ ｢none｣ ｢ugly.｣
｢… Sigh.｣
Leaving behind the bizarre conversation with the Mother of the Sky and Adhai, Number 26 and I subrged back into the water.
｢It’s this way.｣
With its long fins spread wide, Number 26 gradually led deeper into the sea. Passing the depths’ research base, he swam beneath the ocean trench below the abyss.
Entering along with him, I was greeted by a darkness so dense it was unimaginable.
‘It’s like the cosmos.’
When we commonly describe the universe, we often use concepts and words related to water. For example, we refer to spacecraft as spaceships, and instead of using the word “space travel,” we say “voyage.” This space, devoid of even a single beam of light, was another form of universe above.
At that mont, Number 26 radiated light like a star in the universe, shining on its own. The light was not as intense as the sunlight or as pale as moonlight reflected by sunlight.
It simply, mysteriously, yet simultaneously, emitted a warm feeling, dispelling the veil of darkness.
As we descended I witnessed an astonishing sight.
In the distance, specks of light began to appear.
‘Stars?’
In the darkness, stars shining brightly in a pinkish hue, much like Number 26.
They were Number 26’s kin, the Bubble Amoebas, shining in resonance with him.
｢My friend’s family is alive!｣
Number 26 exclaid with relief upon seeing them.
She sent scattered beams of light to the Bubble Amoeba clusters. Unlike when she conveyed her intentions to , her body emitted a mixture of various colors of light this ti.
‘This must be the communication among the Bubble Amoebas.’
Considering that I communicate through wavelengths created by the monster’s tentacles, it’s not surprising that their thod would be different.
As if acknowledging the ssage sent from our side, lights of various colors flickered from their side. Another nearby cluster, upon seeing Number 26’s light, joined the conversation.
The sight of Bubble Amoeba clusters illuminating themselves for communication was akin to teor showers or the Milky Way on a clear night.
The fact that the weakest creatures could emit such strong light in the dark and heavy depths of the ocean floor, where it seed life didn’t exist at all, would surely evoke awe even in the most emotionally dry individuals.
‘…Amazing.’
The kaleidoscope of colorful lights on the stage veiled by darkness was stunningly beautiful.
I’ve never seen such a spectacle in gas. Even if such an event existed, could a VR machine truly capture this enchanting scenery even by 1%? It’s safe to say it’s impossible.
The seemingly endless conversation of light and colors unexpectedly ended abruptly. Number 26’s body, which had emitted lights of various colors for communication, returned to its pink hue.
｢They’re all okay.｣
Although the Sea Demon protecting them is dead, its archnesis, the Pale Mask, is also gone, hence they are now safe.
There might be other humans intruding, but with Muriel, who had connections to high-ranking cultists, dead, the possibility of surveillance on this planet being lifted is low.
From now on, they will live in harmony with the laws of nature. Sotis encountering predators and fleeing or being devoured, and sotis eting new kin and thriving as a group. That’s the cycle.
However, upon hearing the continuation of Number 26’s words, I realized that the conversation he shared wasn’t as simple as it seed.
｢My friend’s family asked for a favor.｣
[ZZ ZZZ (A favor?)]
｢They asked to be their mother.｣
I understand what Number 26’s wavelength ans.
‘Is Number 26 staying here?’
The mont I understood its aning, I was greatly surprised. It was because the sense of loss I felt upon thinking that Number 26 would depart was unexpectedly imnse.
Even as I remained silent, Number 26’s wavelengths continued.
｢My friend’s family is weak. Without a leader in the family, it’ll be tough when other bad ones co.｣
I wanted to refute that statent. That it’s part of the natural order, that the Bubble Amoebas’ ecology is inherently like that.
｢I know the pain of losing a family too. When family mbers are in pain, I feel it too.｣
Number 26’s species is the Sea Demon.
Just as an Amorph has the inherent habit of plundering genetic essence from other creatures, it’s natural for a sea demon to live with its family, the other Bubble Amoebas, underwater.
‘But…’
With uncertain challenges ahead, I can’t just let Number 26, who has exceptional skills, stay here.
On the other hand, I also want to respect his intentions.
‘…What should I do?’
Unable to decide what to say, Number 26 made the decision for .
｢But I can’t. I have family to protect too.｣
Number 26 extended a tentacle and patted my head.
The emotions embraced by Number 26 from the area where we made contact were clear. Just as much as it occupies a significant place in my heart, it also values us dearly.
｢The big baby grows quickly and is stronger than , but it’s still a child. I have to protect it.｣
After hearing its sincere words, I could finally send a wavelength filled with my emotions.
｢Yes!｣
Although the wavelength was short, it was brimming with emotions. Number 26, who understood my heartfelt feelings, brightly lit up with joy.
With this, our business in the deep sea is finished. I prepared to ascend slowly.
The lights emitted by the Bubble Amoebas were pleasing to the eye, but I feel uneasy about staying here any longer, fearing that Number 26 might stay.
On the other hand, Number 26 still seed to have unfinished business.
｢Big baby, my friend’s family wants us to go down. Shall we?｣
[ZZZ ZZZZ ZZ ZZZZ ZZ (It’s dangerous down there than here)]
Going further down would lead to the bottom of the trench where the Dread Hydra dwells. Although it’s nothing more than a main target for the Pale Mask, it’s not necessarily a weak creature.
But Number 26 emitted a glow with negative intent.
｢My friend left behind a treasure. He said to take it.｣
‘A treasure?’
What kind of treasure could be at the bottom of this deep sea? Moreover, it’s a Sea Demon’s treasure, which I can’t even begin to guess.
‘Still, shall we go and see?’
Perhaps there might be valuable equipnt left behind by a quasi-boss-level creature like a Sea Demon. I decided to go further down with Number 26.
We pierced through trendous water pressure and headed towards the depths of the deep, deep sea.
As we continued forward for a while, Number 26 stopped in its tracks. In front of the gently drifting creature, there was a massive object.
/What’s this?/
It had a similar appearance to Number 26, but its size was incomparable, a behemoth beyond imagination.
The terror lurking in the depths and the demon of the sea.
A dead Sea Demon awaited us in the depths of the world.
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