Story Reader / Main Story / 23 Wintry Shackles / Story
It is already nighttime when Luna and Alpha finish sharing their journeys.
Hetero-Creatures, the twins... So this is how far the Punishing Virus has evolved.
Gabriel's ambitions inevitably killed him in the end.
Luna sounds calm when she mentions Gabriel's name again.
Can the creations born from pure Punishing Virus reach the same end?
What end?
Luna does not explain. She just looks at Alpha with an apologetic gaze.
It's something I'll only understand after becoming an agent, isn't it? I figured.
Alpha continues, not persisting.
In that case, why is Vonnegut getting interested in those Hetero-Creatures?
And The Merciful One I encountered in the underground tunnels where they were developing the Hetero-Hive Mother said she was here for the "glad tidings."
Even though they can't reach the end, it can be used as a test for the filtering. I suppose Vonnegut was trying to encourage more "worthy" seeds to sprout this way.
As for The Merciful One...
Luna looks serious and puzzled.
I used to think that she was just an eccentric agent, but after I reconnected with the Ascension-Network, I realized that she might be more than meet the eyes.
I cannot tell if she really is an agent even now...
So, I have no idea what she thinks of those Hetero-Creatures.
Still, Vonnegut worries me more out of the two of them. Even though his people are the ones on the field most of the time, they are always acting under his authorization.
The recent desertion on Babylonia was likely his doing.
You were investigating it?
A defecting Construct ran into my blade and thought I was the Ascendant who recruited him.
After I made him tell me everything, I caught a few more defectors and interrogated them.
They all said similar things that pointed toward Vonnegut and his lackeys.
You didn't use to care about things like this.
I don't care about Babylonia, but that man is linked to the humans. He was the one who gave out information about you.
Even people who were there in City 075 didn't know Babylonia had you. He, on the other hand, knew your exact location.
That wasn't information that a nobody could find out. He couldn't have known just by planting spies and informers.
He must have collaborated with some of those people. In a way, he was culpable for their decisions.
Not to mention that he was thinking about abandoning you on the moon. That alone makes him my enemy.
Humans are never a unified people. Even the same person can make different choices in different situations.
I'm not surprised that some of them would want to work with an agent.
What we have to worry about is what humans have promised that agent. Or, what made them so confident that they had something even an agent would be interested in?
Should we investigate?
Luna pauses and ponders before shaking her head.
This is something that concerns Babylonia, not us.
Although all his manipulations seem to have failed so far, it doesn't seem to bother him.
He is obsessed, but he isn't mad. That makes him a dangerous opponent.
Whatever he does, he can't upset the Ascension-Network. He won't give up his position as an agent, either.
I don't worry about the Ascension-Network. I worry about you, Luna.
Even though you aren't as obsessed with the filtering as you used to be, you're more entangled with the Ascension-Network than ever.
Thank you, Sis.
I'm aware of my situation, but moving forward is the only way to the future. There's nothing but regret if we turn back now.
Alpha pouts, letting go of the topic.
Forget it, then. What should we do next?
Should we look for more "seeds" that can pass the filtering like before?
No. We can stop doing that for now...
Luna stops hovering and sits down at the edge of the stone fountain. Gazing at the garden aimlessly, she considers their next step.
...
Do you want to go in and take a look if you can't think of anything right now?
Alpha looks at the battered garden. Dust settles on the shattered window; the white paint on the wall has peeled off, revealing the yellow and rotten wood structure underneath.
Even though there is nothing left.
Sure. Let's take a look before we can decide on our next move.
They walk toward the door and notice some strange symbols painted in red. The color has faded, but the shapes are still recognizable.
What's that?
...
Luna suddenly chuckles as if realizing something.
Hearing that, Alpha turns around, confused.
What is it?
Nothing. I guess it's some kind of puzzle?
Luna shakes her head and stops laughing, but there is still a smile on her face.
Sis...
What?
Do you miss the days with Roland and Lamia?
Why do you ask...? I can accompany you if you want to look for them.
That's not necessary. If they want to find me, they will.
Luna gently pushes open the door. The rotten wood and rusted metal creak while dust slowly falls.
But I suppose they both have something they want to do before that.
Look at what this place has become...
Moonlight enters the house for the first time in years.
A Hetero-Creature is crawling on the floor. Its front claws, strong enough to tear apart metal plates, curl near its chest like a mole's.
Although this "mole" is at least half a meter tall, even when it is curled up, the threatening beast is cowering under the pale girl's gaze.
There's nothing unusual here...
Alpha walks out from one side of the building and finds Luna staring at the Hetero-Creature before her.
Is something wrong with it?
Luna retracts her gaze from the Hetero-Creature and turns to Alpha.
It's afraid, Sis.
Alpha watches the spikes surrounding the Hetero-Creature silently. The reflection of light from the barbs on the spikes screams danger.
Yeah. Understandable.
Luna waves her hand, and the spikes formed by the Punishing Virus dissipate into crimson particles.
The curling Hetero-Creature quickly runs off as if being spared.
Looking at where the Hetero-Creature went, Luna contemplates.
Since when have you been interested in Hetero-Creatures?
I'm just surprised it can feel fear... Let me explain.
Sensing a hint of surprise from Alpha, Luna elaborates.
These Hetero-Creatures might be structurally different from the Corrupted, but their behavioral patterns are identical, both driven by their primal instincts.
The way they identify enemies is pretty straightforward. They're programmed with a target, or they determine it by sensing if the Punishing Virus is present.
You're saying that they wouldn't attack an Ascendant unless someone's controlling them.
And they shouldn't be afraid of us.
Fear indicates resistance, and resistance will lead to rebellion.
...Is it scared of you or an agent?
I don't know. It could even be something else.
Where did you find it?
It was just crawling around here, but it immediately tried to run away after sensing my presence.
Hetero-Creatures are not animals—they don't have natural predators. And I have the Punishing Virus with me, which made its behavior extremely strange. So I trapped it.
Did you discover anything?
Luna shakes her head, but it does not seem to be a great loss for her.
I'm not sure why. Could be the way it was programmed when it was born, or it could be an accident.
You've shown a newfound interest in Corrupted and Hetero-Creatures on our way here.
I suppose I'm hoping to find a new possibility from the way they evolve and change.
Luna looks up. A few white clouds adorn the blue sky, the satellite that has accompanied this planet for millennia nowhere to be found yet.
Nothing remains constant, be it Ascendants, humans, or machines. Now, even Hetero-Creatures exhibit unexpected changes.
So is the standard of the filtering. The Ascension-Network is looking forward to new possibilities.
New possibilities, is it...? If there's something you want to do, do it.
Of course. And you? Is there something you want to do, Lucia?
Me? Perhaps there will be.
Right now, staying with you and not losing you again is good enough for me.
They still believe they have plenty of time to discover their paths to the future.
