The Core of Evil
Fuyuki, the Cold Temple Woman
"You're heavier than I thought..." Noah also complained while walking slowly to match my movement that was still limp
But I just kept quiet, as we continued walking. What I wonder is, why he rejected everyone who intended to help earlier
One of the male staff who offered to help me earlier could have just transported me directly to our destination room, Mother's laboratory
But Noah refused, arguing 'You know what the woman would do if she was interested?'
All the staff were scared, right...?
"You're skinny, but heavy..."
He's really noisy...
"Unique facts. A person will become heavier if they cannot hold their own weight, or become stiff"
The voice spontaneously made Noah startled, as he violently turned away despite not hurting me
"Pinky! Stop making people surprised!"
He then looked up when he saw another figure that I had just realized when he turned towards Pinky
Behind the girl who was wearing all pink, there was another girl who looked very innocent and empty in comparison. More specifically, that person was Fuyuki
"Sorry to surprise you, Noah-sama, Arthur-sama. But, we happened to have just passed by so Pinky-sama became interested" Fuyuki said, while bowing respectfully to us
"And this cute girl couldn't help but make an extra appearance in front of her two best friends! Now praise me!"
We both immediately put on a flat face looking at Pinky's behavior, while she started to frown because we didn't show the reaction she expected
"Fuyuki's. If you can help, it'll be better, won't it?" Noah asked for help without hesitation
After rejecting all those people, now he's the one who's asking for help?
"understand"
Uh-uh?
Uwah-wah!
Without being able to show the slightest reaction, I felt my body lift up so that it folded over an object that felt a little stiff and hard
Trying to sort out what had just happened, I also realized that Fuyuki was carrying me over her shoulder without seeming distress or objection
H-huh??
Fuyuki is this strong?? He lifted me up as if my weight could be likened to a cotton sack!
And why are you wiping my sweat like I'm Noah's burden??
"Arthur-sama is shorter than me, so I have no problem" he said to Noah
"Okeh~! Now, we just need to take her to Mother Hera's room" Noah proposes
We were all silent for a moment as the confused looking Fuyuki tilted her head to Noah
"Who?"
...
Wait for. Don't tell me he doesn't know who Hera is?
"May, Fuyuki... That's the guy Noah meant..." I said, making Fuyuki start to sound understanding
"understand"
Ah, he only understands if he knows the code name well huh...? It seemed like this Fuyuki rarely met a certain few people
He confirmed my position on his shoulder, again as if I had no weight, as we were all led by Noah began to walk toward Mother Hera's lab room
But I was wondering why she couldn't recognize Mother Hera's real name, even though she had been in this Fleet longer than me...
...----------------...
{{{ Laboratory Room Hera }}}
"Well, wah~? We have many guests today" A man greeted us and came out with a cute little figure holding his hand
"Sister Arthur. Welcome to"
Ahaha. I'm glad Cassidy greeted me, but the others look a little envious...
I who sat leaning against the wall could only wave my hand slowly to him who seemed to be starting to worry that something was wrong with me
"Sister Arthur... It hurt?" He asked, as he approached and planted his chin and little finger over my right thigh
"so. There was a fake priest who hurt him, and made Arthur's brother like this" Noah tried to explain in a friendly way, although still making Cassidy look surprised
"But Ulysses never hurt anyone" Cassidy denied Noah
Noah just clucked and put on an annoyed face when he heard the name
Cassidy's horn suddenly started to light up, making me and Fuyuki by my left was immediately shocked to see it
What he said afterwards also made us remember that we couldn't lie to him
"... That evil creature, hurt you again..."
...
...
"Good, fine. You've had enough time with Arthur, because he needs to be checked out now" the man with Cassidy said to him
I began to realize who it was, after recalling the voice we called this morning
"You amaze me, Hera..." I also commented, making the figure of Hera's man also smiled widely because I had revealed his identity
My other friends, unfortunately, did not anticipate it and immediately simultaneously let out their own surprised voices
Although Pinky sounded not at all in earnest in surprise
"Yes. That's Mama" Cassidy clarified further, as she approached and hid behind Hera's feet
"This Body Hop of yours is scary..." Noah was shaking
"I found a good specimen early today, and couldn't miss to test it. It turned out like this" Hera replied while showing us her whole new body
Pinky's smile suddenly faded, as well as making Noah and Fuyuki become wary of her
The atmosphere produced in this room simultaneously made everyone uncomfortable, especially Cassidy and I who knew nothing and could read the situation without using any force
"You'd better restore the man's body, Hera" Noah said
"He's a corpse. And I did some original research before I made this body one of mine"
...
...
...
I get it now
So like that, how could he do Body Hop. The body he uses...
It's a corpse. If not some, then all...
"That's... Morally wrong" I commented
"There's a scientist more ruthless than me, Arthur. You know very well what they are
And I just want to stay alive to continue my research of the world. This body will also be very unfortunate if it becomes unkempt rot"
That's also a very crazy thought. Not one bit he feels guilty to the man whose body is gone
Not a bit of respect...
"Take him to room 3. Any special treatment I happen to have prepared there to operate on Malefic's infection" he gave Fuyuki orders
"understandable. But I will stay together with Arthur-sama just in case..." Fuyuki also spoke in a cautious tone
...
...
...
"Me too" Noah followed
"I don't want to come, but I'm curious" Pinky said
So even Hera had no power to argue, making sure that I wouldn't do anything while agreeing to their requests, so I managed to get down to room 3 in the lab
The room looks like it's special for surgery. And Hera made me lie on a special wheeled mattress like the one in the hospital
Various kinds of tools that I did not know their function began to emit light that examined my entire body, while issuing a robotic sound that was quite noisy
Not daring to move, I just let each of those things do their job, while Hera and some of her Android started to manually make some health notes
"normal patient. Just showing a little turmoil that made a shock from his Maledict energy" One of the Android was conveying to Hera
Hera tore off a piece of paper she had just written and separated it from the others. Then handed the object into the hands of the Android at once began to talk
"good job. Bring him a prescription as it's written and do a 24-hour monitor in case his Maledict turmoil happens again"
"Outside the lab, or inside?"
"Outside. We will not banish its normal activities"
"understand"
The Android began to move as ordered, looking for the needed medicine from a cabinet near us
"Looks like Ulysses pushed you too hard hm?" Hera turned her attention to me
"... He offered to train me. But I'm still wondering if this is gonna be really bad or really good" I'm being honest
"It could be both, if I assume. The opinion regarding the outcome is in your hands"
The Android that was ordered earlier managed to bring what Hera asked for: a small bottle containing several pieces of pills that read Alkaris
"Special medicine for you to use now and then. I've written the recipe as well" Hera explained, as I received the medicine and began to swallow one of its contents because a glass of water was thrust at me by another Android
My body immediately felt a little lighter, although I still felt that Corruption's energy was still struggling in my body
Ughhhh... This fucking creature...
"What's it?" Noah, who was approaching with the others, asked
"It's boring, isn't it...? Like a regular health check..." Pinky grumbled
Meanwhile, Fuyuki was just silent, still nailing her eyes to Hera
"Need help?" Noah then offered it to me
"No. Also, we better get back to the room now..." I replied to him, immediately making him pull his hand back and nod in understanding
We also say goodbye from before Hera as soon as possible, forced to drag Pinky who looks unwilling to move because of boredom
But, Fuyuki who was still silently staring at Hera in silence made me pause for a moment so that Noah could not continue the way forward and instead took notice
I don't know what they were talking about when Hera looked back at him, but Fuyuki finally turned towards us while walking out quickly, taking us along while going ahead without looking back
...
What's the matter with her...?
...----------------...
"1 time each practice with Ulysses, he wrote..."
Hera apparently can not feel serious or mysterious once in a while huh...?
I mean, I've never seen a doctor write a prescription at once shoot right to the point of trouble
As I looked at Hera's prescription medicine, two thoughts flashed through my head at once. First, I have not agreed with Ulysses on his offer. Second, I'm still thinking about the corpse that Hera used as that body
"Fuyuki's cake is indeed the best~!" Pinky's impressed voice suddenly sounded, making me who was lying with my mind full on the bed was instantly out of focus
Ah yeah. For some reason, the two girls are now in our room. And only by being offered to make a few snacks, Noah immediately agreed without rejecting further
"His name is mochi, if I'm not mistaken" Noah said with his mouth filled, replying to Fuyuki's slow nod that was making tea this time
From the smell, it looks like green tea
Ew. I don't like the taste. I'd better refuse if he gives me a glass
...
...
*Sniff*
...
Coffees...
"Wait, why are you making a cup of coffee too?" Noah asked in a loud voice
"Arthur-sama at that time drank my coffee casually. So, I thought he might like coffee" Fuyuki replied
Ah... He meant about the day they infiltrated Rodrigo Space back then
After serving green tea to the other two, he brought the only cup of coffee on the tray to me, who began to sit on the bed
"Please drink, Arthur-sama. Make sure not to drip it on the bed" she said, handing me the coffee
Well, at least better than green tea. And I can't deny the fact that the taste of his coffee at that time tasted so good
And this is the same black coffee. It smells the same
"thank you. But, I don't drink too much coffee"
This cup is too big...
Where'd he get this thing? I don't remember the drinking utensils in Noah's room having a cup this big
"I'll remember it for another time. Please enjoy"
It doesn't feel changed. But I can't drink more than half a cup of this coffee
So, after the coffee reached half the big cup, I asked Fuyuki to take the cup back
"You are very obedient to our words. Why is that, Fuyuki?" I asked, as he re-tidied every dirty piece of equipment we ate back onto the tray
"Because I'm glad to be able to serve others. It's just that, during Terra, I couldn't do it without orders" Fuyuki said
"I thought you were from Terra. That temple lady's dress of yours is really very distinctive"
"It's a gift from Mr. Hector when he made me a member first"
Heeh~ Hector who gave her the gift hm...?
"I didn't know Hector had any taste for temple women" I commented, making Noah laugh as well
"No. He only gave it away because I happened to work at the temple back then. Merely, my clothes used to not be called worthy"
Ah, so...
"I only know that he used to work as an assassin before being taken by the temple" Noah commented
"I have to say, he's the one we're the easiest to get into this fleet with. Just need to sit down, drink that delicious green tea, and she agrees after a few negotiations" Pinky added
"I agree because you are sincere. The temple priest also said I can do what I like, as long as it is not troublesome" Fuyuki told more clearly
"The old man immediately protested when you decided to come with us" Pinky said again, chuckling and remembering the temple priest's face
"So, Noah and Pinky had already joined before Fuyuki?" I asked later
"No. He went in first, then me, Cassidy and Mother Hera, and Raggot. Among the four remaining people, including this strange pink girl, I don't know whose order goes first other than the chairman" Noah replied
"And it's secret~!" Pinky adds with the usual lagak
Ulysses, Pinky and Hector are not known in order hm...? Because it was clear that our chairman was the first
"That means, I'm the tenth. And, 3 more people we still have to find to fill the empty pillar throne" I said
"You're the hardest to get in, although Mother Hera, Cassidy and Noah also tried to kill us when we invited them" Pinky spoke again
Wait for. Why was Cassidy's name between two maniacs called Pinky just now?
"Oh come. You guys used to be very suspicious!" Noah protested
"Fuyuki doesn't know how to communicate, and Ulysses doesn't help either"
...
Noah was silent when he heard the name Ulysses, making us also follow the silence of our friend
"... There was no need to discuss" Noah spoke
I just seemed to know nothing when I saw everyone turning their eyes away from each other
...
"You're lucky, Noah-sama..."
The voice broke our silence, as 3 pairs of eyes began to head towards it
The voice that was usually silent and answered when necessary, suddenly gave his own personal statement. Something that is not {ordered}
"You're lucky to have something to remember" he continued, and stopped there
Fuyuki, looking down after giving that statement to all of us, sat down with her thighs folded next to Pinky, and was seen staring blankly as usual. But I knew that behind that blank stare, there was something she was thinking, but could not feel
...
...
...
Uh! I better switch topics
"Fuyuki's. Can I have a Mochi recipe? I'm sure I might be able to make it" I immediately carried out my intention
"Can. But, I only know the traditional recipe" Fuyuki spontaneously replied
Ahah! He quickly read the situation
"Quick give. I can't wait to try it"
Noah must have liked it too, seeing him eat Fuyuki's artificially
We both immediately went to Noah's kitchen area to start making Mochi again. Or so Pinky and Noah see while they're busy pestering each other
I deliberately took Fuyuki to the kitchen just so that the situation did not run out. For the first time I'm also grateful Pinky is here to distract Noah
And now I have to deal with Fuyuki who still looks moody, even though she tries to act okay by giving me instructions on making Mochi
...
"You know, Fuyuki..."
Fuyuki who heard his name I called it softly immediately flinched until it paused for a moment
"We don't need to talk about it anymore, Arthur-sama. After all, there was nothing to discuss about me" he said
He surprised me because he said it as if the meaning of the sentence was something ordinary
...
...
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Alright...
I don't need to talk anymore. Everyone has their own safe zone, and I have no right to break that line
...
The more I studied every pillar member in this Fleet, for some reason...
I feel sorry for all of them...
They are very mundane, for a collection of beings that are not completely normal
Noah once had a mother who is now gone
Cassidy had always been suffering and tried to preserve her childhood while she could
Pinky just put on a mask
Raggot also lost something valuable to him
Hera fears death more than anyone else
Ulysses gets a curse he doesn't want and curbs him for life
Fuyuki had no past to remember
And Hector...
I don't need to talk about him...
...
...
Ah yes, Hector...
Fuyuki's here. He might be able to help me talk to Hector
"Fuyuki's. About Hector..." I said, making Fuyuki make a sign that she is paying attention
"I... Want to try talking to him. Can you help...?"
...
He was silent, but Fuyuki's eyes that glanced at me as her hand did the other work gave me one hint
He agreed, but he would watch
I let out a sigh of relief because he agreed, as he turned back to the dough he was making
Yep. I need to talk to Hector again
Least...
I want to be friends with him too...
