The Core of Evil
Traveling Attacker
The sound of the coffee machine spilling its contents into a cup could be heard in the entire control room right now, followed by the sound of the spoon stirring while clanking later
Flair, Hector's subordinate, on orders from him is now brewing a coffee to drink
"Want coffee? Flair makes the best coffee you can drink to freshen up" Hector offered me
"No thank you. I'm too young to drink coffee"
"Is that so? Though I sure heard that you wanted to drink wine inside the VIP room earlier"
"... So you heard it huh...?"
"I heard a lot of things. From what I want, and not within a radius of 100 to 50000 meters depending on my preference
You should have been aware of that, right...?"
...
They seem to know too much. Even if they pay attention to those small details, I don't want to know the big details they know
Or forget. I might want to know. Who knows it will be useful for Arcadia in the future
...
"Just get to the point. I only have one offer for you"
The offer...?
Huh! Of all the things he's said, this one is the one that sounds the most funny
I even laughed when I heard it just now
"Or can you say coercion by threatening one side" I said with a mocking smile
Hector was silent not answering my question, nor did the other 2. They were still busy in their respective positions with their respective duties as we both sat looking at each other and tried to argue with each other
"... I'm not forcing, O-2507. I only want one thing, and you can consider it, even after we let you all go"
"First of all!" I shouted at him, for a moment before he spoke again
"Don't call me by that name again! I have a name, and that name is Azure Pandruwin
Then the second one! You did not let us go at all. We're the ones who let you go for the lack of personnel this time..."
...
...
...
Hector tilted his head while continuing to look at me with a confused face
"That's not your name. Amitha gave you the name O-2507 in a lang-"
"I warned you, Hector. Even Amitha just pissed me off when she called me that name..."
Hector somehow suddenly looks upset. He still had a flat face, but he let out a sign that he was not happy at all
"... I wonder who gave you my late friend's last name...?"
"He wasn't your friend after you betrayed him and turned into a full-fledged Maledict
And that 'friend' of yours is what gave me a name from birth. Because he's my father, you idiot"
He then looked at me as if he was judging, for some reason
Then his eyebrows rose, indicating that he had understood something just now
"I remember now. She slept with Sylvia, although I'm not sure they're officially married in public"
He even knew my mother's name
"So... You're the two of them, hm?"
"... Sure oes. Still doubt it?"
Silence came again between us as I waited for a meaningless response from him
She still doubted me for some reason. What makes her think I'm not the son of the father who took care of me and the mother who died giving birth to me...?
Hector suddenly smiled for the first time, from behind the hand that covered the bottom of his face. Smiling as if she wanted to laugh
"What's so funny...?"
My frustration peaked, even though I tried to hold him back as hard as I could this time. A little more, and I might hurt someone in this room...
The coffee made by Flair was eventually served to Hector. But not to my liking, he also presented me with one cup
"I told you I don't want coffee, did I...?"
Hector once again smiled as if he wanted to laugh
"Just enjoy it, Azure. You're gonna need it to swallow all the information I'm gonna tell you"
...
"There's something wrong with you. But I'm not sure what..."
"I'm just trying to kill you, Hector. In the most painful way..."
...
Hector took his breath. His smile disappeared as if he was disappointed, as the coffee cup he put back on the table
My cup then she pushed me closer. While I remained silent, only moving my eyes watched his movements
"You don't know who Lloyd Pandruwin is. I was wrong to ask for judgment from someone like you" a sentence she said until I looked back at her
What did this guy say try?
"... You who spoke revolved since then and wasted time! Just get to the point without bringing up the past can you??"
"Hm... You're right"
Of course I'm right...!
I'd better just drink this coffee to distract...
"If we go back to the core...
Oh yea. I want you to join us"
*FFT!!*
...
Uh...
I accidentally spouted the coffee in my mouth towards Jay and the girl called by the name of Shape until their faces were covered by my bursts just now...
But sorry...?
WHAY??
"Join with you guys...?" I asked with a face of disbelief
"Hm... I realize that most of my words are not deceived, but this time I will make it simpler. I want you, to come with the four of us and-"
"You're just repeating the same meaning with a different sentence!"
"Ah... Is that so...?"
I can understand everything he's said so far, except this one. I don't understand this one at all!
"Why specifically should I...?"
Hearing the question, Hector also glanced at Jay who was still being held
Then I don't know what he did with that look, Jay suddenly just looked down as if unconscious
Scribbles. He's totally unconscious. Hector must've put her to sleep just now
He wanted to speak to me without any witnesses...
"He will have only minor amnesia. I made sure he was in a beautiful little dream" Hector then said to me back
"Tch. What a concern" I replied to him
And it's best that the girl let go of my friend...! After all, he can't fight either...?
"Do I have to take it off?" Shape asked
Hector rolled his eyeballs as breaths flew out of his lips
"Just do. But make sure you're-"
*bruk!*
"-- Laying the child down first..."
Hector hasn't finished talking, Shape really took Jay off until he fell to the floor. But even with such a blow, Jay still could not wake himself up
The girl just laughed awkwardly as she lifted Jay back up to lean him on the sofa where Jay was sitting. But the wound on his head started to drip blood so that Shape awkwardly began to ask Flair for a handkerchief or something
...
"So, O-2507? You agree with my offer...?"
...
"You mean to lose my humanity and fall in crime?? No thanks!"
They're crazy to think I want to betray my friends like they do. And I hate them insisting I have to join them
"I'm different from you. I can control my power without going crazy or anything like that
I also have no intention of being controlled by this core of Maledict in my body. Because this one is the worst of us all, right?"
"... I can't deny that"
The Maledict core had their own thoughts. And if I wear it too much, it might try to take my mind
Even he is trying to do it now because I was able to bring out my power a little earlier
And give up my humanity to such immoral creatures? Not going to, either now or later!
"... Then I have one question, O-2507"
...?
"Do you know what Maledict looked like and lost control of his own body?"
...
...
...
L'm...
Can't answer that one
Hector's question got me down and thinking about all the possible answers to his question
Because I really don't know. I just look at the data records, regardless of what kind of experiment has been run to get the results
"They behave outside of their normal activities. Sometimes saying things that don't make sense and can't be understood..." Hector spoke again
That sounds exactly like you somehow...
"Then the last phase..." Hector paused for a moment, before continuing with, "Maledict was going to die"
...!
Die off?
But how?
Maledict's core needs a nest to survive. That is a fact known to the majority of the inhabitants of this universe
"'The essence of Maledict needs a nest to survive', you think so, don't you?"
"... Appropriately. You read exactly as I had in mind"
The way he read my mind was terrifying...
"I'll say one thing. The information you got was wrong. A Maledict nucleus does need a living creature, but to nest alone"
...
Ber... The nest...?
"really. They just need their host to mature like a caterpillar in a cocoon. And if it's not needed, you know what happens to a cocoon..."
They 'dead' and become useless. Just being an empty and dry shell
But in our case, we will indeed die, because we are a living 'chrysalis'
...
"How do you know all this?" I asked a question
...
"Because a Maledict died before me first. And after looking at it, I realized that fighting on Arcadia's side was useless"
What's... What did he mean?
"... If you want to know, go to area 25 at the main headquarters. You'll find something there, something I wish I hadn't seen"
Area 25 main headquarters...
He wanted me to go to one of the forbidden areas that only Venia and Primus rank personnel could access
"Then what am I supposed to do there?"
"none. Just watch what you see"
...
"Hectors! Give me a new shirt soon!"
!!!
The new voice again surprised me, because AGAIN came from behind
All of these people really should stop approaching someone from behind without a sign!!
Hmr...
Now what kind of figure will I see behind me...?
...
Okay-all
She's naked...!
The man is naked...!
He's the guy Jun was fighting, right? The guy called Span or something?
Red eyes, short black hair that was messy, as well as stature as if he was extremely rough and disorganized
He's the one who's in the news of the planet Suthon. The man who was with Hector had kidnapped Raggot Roper
I gotta say, too, that body is nice
Ahem!
I wish I had a body like that later. Not too big, but at least there are abdominal muscles that can follow the shape of my thin body
For now I don't have. And I'm sure this guy's height can make me intimidated...
It seems like I should follow Jun's advice to get out and exercise occasionally, rather than keep busy modifying my cannon inside the workshop...
But his body isn't a little big, is it? How can these people have more meat and height than I try?
"Huh? What do you see, you little boy...?" Span suddenly insinuated me
...
...
...
Okay-all
He offended me
"First, you don't even look older than me"
"I'm 17"
"And I was 16 to 17 in 3 Mensis revolutions, stupid"
"I don't understand what you're talking about..."
His brain is slow...
"Then the second one, you're naked. So tell me how I can ignore... That thing I saw"
He didn't even try to cover it up...! Even in front of 2 girls at once...!
Where is your shame as a man...!?
"Turn around and close your eyes. Easy right?"
Even his advice sounded very short-sense...
On the other hand, these girls didn't even seem to care about what they saw. It seems like I'm the only one who's reacting too much right now
...
Put that aside...
"You didn't hurt Jun, did you?"
"Huhuh??"
Heh? Why is he even surprised to try?
"Hurt that guy?! I can't even touch what's nearby in the slightest, except for the tip of that sharp sword!"
...
It seemed like this fellow had lost heavily in the fight against Jun. But I wonder how he managed to escape here without Jun following him from behind...
Hector's right. Jun couldn't possibly lose against this fellow. This Maledict only has abnormal regeneration ability, but without any good technique or brain based on my observations just now
His blurring ability is also amazing, I must admit
...
"So, about the offer..." I tried to get back to that topic
"You refused, didn't you? So you'd better see what I suggest" Hector replied to me, while giving me a neat shirt and pants that he took from the body of the spacecraft pilot who was still unconscious
So I have to see first huh...?
Even though I am 100 percent not going to follow them right now, my curiosity is also getting gnawing longer
Hector is right again. I have to look at Area 25 with my own eyes...
If I were to ask a high-ranking Arcadia personnel, they would probably twist the actual facts to avoid an argument
"So, we're leaving now?"
"Yes. Our job here is done"
Just as he finished saying that, a light suddenly shot out from behind his body, right behind the sofa he was sitting on
A blinding light, so it took me a while to figure out what it was
And apparently, what was behind him was some sort of portal or fragment of space. Evidently from his body that had half entered the object when my eyes had just gotten used to seeing clearly
But I can't see where the shards of space are taking them. I just know that it's cold, from an abnormally changing temperature for no scientific reason in this room
"Use an oxygen tank for yourself, Flair. The three of us don't need to"
Flair only gave a small nod in response to Hector, before dispensing a portable supply of oxygen no larger than a small drinking bottle
Really? He would go into space without protection, wearing only temple lady clothes like that?
"But what about his body? He'll freeze to death if he doesn't wear a special suit in space despite having an oxygen cylinder"
After all, why am I worried about the existence of my enemy?
"Hm. At least you still have good empathy"
"All normal humans must be, Hector"
"There's no harm"
Hector once again smiled, before returning to say, "But there's no need to worry. What Flair was wearing was not an ordinary suit, but a disguise-mode combat tool"
A cover-up? In that practical-looking form?
"I use it to speed up my speed of movement. The captain gave me this tool because I was the only normal human in our group" Flair explained to me
You are the most normal in the group...? You are very strange because you are too polite and robotic...?
I don't want to know about the other members...
"Remember, O-2507" Hector reminded me of being momentarily distracted. "Area 25's. Pass the guards at 12 p.m. They numbered the fewest in that hour, and the alarm that was triggered would also only wake the half-asleep soldier..."
"... Looks like you've been an expert in infiltrating there huh...?"
"Because it was an unpleasant experience. You're storing trauma more clearly than happy memories in your brain"
Ugh. Why does he have to be right?
Hector entered completely into the space fragment, followed by Flair behind him without long intervals
Then Shape came in next, before he cheerfully mentioned see you and left
And the last one is still here, looking through the entrance of the control room for some reason
"Don't go with your friends?" I asked Span
Span slowly turned towards me with a riled face for some reason
"I still want to fight someone. But, seeing the difference in my ability with Venia it makes me a little..." A sigh came out of his mouth before he hooked up with, "... Disappointed..."
Hmmmm...
He was a barbarian type
"Then, good luck finding an opponent more equal to you" I said to him, patting him on the back of his shoulder a little while I was fully standing
...
"I want you to be my opponent next time"
Hm...
Apparently I was the target of curiosity huh...?
"Why? Want to try to die because of the power of my virus?" I tried to scare him
"That kind. I can't die either, so I want to know what it's like to be hurt by that virus"
I couldn't tell if he was a barbarian or a masochist
But...
"I'll try to fight you next time. But don't expect me to hold back" I replied
Noah suddenly acted strangely while rubbing the bottom of his nose. I also realized that his face was a little red somehow
He may blush someone is taking him seriously
Never mind. There's something more important I still have to take care of
"... My real name is Noah. See you next time"
...!
Those were Span's last words before we parted for the first time
I haven't had a chance to turn around, the fragment of space was closed after he had fully entered. The four people disappeared from before me, as if they were just a passing dream
...
Although I wish I wouldn't see them again, I'm sure we'd cross paths with each other again. Sure
And I'm sure it won't take long for them to come face to face with me again
...
Noahs. The name is pretty good for him
I should have told you my name was Azure before he left...
Ah already. Hector will tell him
The coffee cup I gulped down as the space fragment that suddenly appeared slowly disappeared
...----------------...
They're on a planet with no name right now. A cold and inhospitable planet to live on
"Oh my God, this place is so cold"
"just get used to. You're a Maledict, so you wouldn't just die in a place without an atmosphere like this"
"Hector's right. Look, even I'm dressed in the open can still feel comfortable because I'm used to it"
"You're older than me, after all, living 200 years like you, I'm sure you're very used to it, aren't you, Shape?"
"Call me by my real name. That shape doesn't sound cute at all..."
Noah simply stared at Shape full of judgment
"After all, why should the chairman teleport us here? Isn't there a warmer planet?"
"There was, but he wanted to eliminate the tracks and overwhelm the Arcadia search team"
All his friends were confused by Hector's explanation. Till...
Hector pointed towards Noah who immediately looked astonished
"Please take off your shirt here. It's been contaminated by the O-2507 virus"
...
Hector already knew I was putting something on Noah's shirt
More precisely, when I patted his shoulder earlier, I also stuck my Virus ability on his shoulder in a small form so that no one would be aware
But Hector knew one thing from me since he was watching closely
"The boy is clever. He's looking for an opportunity to at least touch one of us and implant a virus that he can track this down"
He's been watching since. My eyes, my body movements. And from there he could deduce all the possibilities that were on my mind. A gap they negligently gave
Noah clucked angrily, before taking off the shirt he had just worn and handing it to Hector
Hector just smiled as he received Noah's shirt and replaced it with a new one
His smile appeared, either out of satisfaction, pride, or amazement. Maybe it could be all three
"I must admit, the captain did have a good taste in choosing new members, even though the person was from Arcadia though"
Noah's shirt was placed slowly on the surface of the no man's planet, before inviting others to go to the next portal that was not far in front of them
