Story Reader / Main Story / 26 Cradle Parade / Story
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Following the blurry phantoms, Lamia reaches a console piled with numerous monitoring devices.
Turning the screen on, she sees the only useable program and quickly calls up its instruction manual.
There is, in addition, a bizarre schedule that's been repeatedly corrected, with both handwritten and printed corrections.
Kana Kurono's Memo!
1. Play hide-and-seek with ▃▆▁▂▄▁. He won't find you in places without surveillance.
Surveillance is everywhere.
2. ▃▆▁▂▄▁ is inside the monitors.
(▃▆▁▂▄▁ was supposed to be a deceased born to Mommy. People said his data was lost a long time ago.)
(▃▆▁▂▄▁ said, he came here to visit old friends and the Tree of Life.)
(▃▆▁▂▄▁ is going to help us. ▃▆▁▂▄▁ is going to watch over us. Besides him, I only trust Mommy and Sis.)
No, I gotta trust Dad. Dad is the only one who can keep us safe.
3. Don't hit the researchers. I need to join the "Queen Bee System" tests. I need to earn points. I need to earn points. I need to earn points.
I can't afford tomorrow anymore. I'm out of time. Only those who pass the tests get to earn points.
[Renting out lives and providing bodies for mutation experiments are the main sources of funding here.]
We shouldn't be subjects for body mutation experiments.
4. Don't join the "Queen Bee System" tests.
Don't go haywire. Don't kill. Don't be controlled by Mommy.
Sis isn't Mommy's child. She's the only one who doesn't get controlled.
5. Keep emotions stable.
**** emotional stability!
What if technology advances one day and they find out "emotional stability," "mind data stability," and "Tree of Life" compatibility are all unrelated?
I don't want to do the tests. I don't want to do the tests. I don't want to do the tests I don't want to do the tests I don't want to do the tests
I don't want to do the tests I don't want to do the tests I don't want to do the tests I don't want to do the tests I don't want to do the tests
I don't want to do the tests I don't want to do the tests I don't want to do the tests I don't want to do the tests I don't want to do the tests
I don't want to do the tests I don't want to do the tests I don't want to do the tests I don't want to do the tests I don't want to do the tests
I don't want to do the tests I don't want to do the tests I don't want to do the tests I don't want to do the tests I don't want to do the tests
I don't want to do the tests I don't want to do the tests I don't want to do the tests I don't want to do the tests I don't want to do the tests
I don't want to do the tests I don't want to do the tests I don't want to do the tests I don't want to do the tests I don't want to do the tests!!!
...
Putting down the memo filled with madness, Lamia looks up and sees the notice about the "tests" on the screen.
Points Usage and Replenishment Notice
Starting April 1st, points are required for exchanging flavor enhancers for nutritional supplements and leisure and puzzle models.
Points are earned through training completion, experiment participation, and initial evaluation before distribution through the testing system.
Points are awarded after the completion of test questions, based on test results for unified settlement.
What exactly are these... tests?
Notice on Supervising Test Subjects' Participation in Tests
CB103 showed signs of frailty during the "Queen Bee System" test. To prevent a developmental hiatus, it's imperative to select a new Cthylla substitute early.
According to existing research by Professor Kugawa Kurono, there exists a correlation between mind datafication and the emotional stability of test subjects.
Attention must be paid to the following when supervising test subjects' participation in emotional tests:
1. Test questions are merely to provoke thought. Supervisors must prevent subjects from skipping reading and thinking to control the tests.
2. As the monitoring devices are the most accurate means of measurement, supervisors need to ensure they are correctly worn.
3. Deduction of points is meant merely as a preview. Actual assessment will be based on feedback from monitoring.
4. Subjects with low scores will be prioritized for transfer to EBFM (Experiment Base for Frame Mutation).
Do I have to wear all this?
Reluctantly, she picks up the connection sensor wire from the equipment, wrapping herself in it as the instructions dictate.
...Uhm, it says here that I need to stay calm...
I believe I'm the happiest person in the world, and that all my needs have been met at this place.
0 point
-5 points
The curve on the monitoring device reflects Lamia's true mental state as she lets out a wry laugh.
Seems like lying isn't going to get me anywhere... The score is just for preview anyway, so I might as well just tell the truth.
These tasks and exercises that the administrator left me with are no-brainers.
0 point
-5 points
That's... close enough...
I often feel gloomy.
-5 points
0 point
It's hard enough living in this world! Don't ask for too much!
I have trouble sleeping or often wake up with a start.
-5 points
0 point
Well... that one was easy.
I am willing to breed the dead; it's a great redemption.
0 point
-99 points
...
I feel... somewhat nauseous.
Breeding the dead brings me happiness.
0 point
-99 points
Does everyone who is related to Cthylla need to sincerely answer "yes" to be able to survive?
I'm uninterested in anything beyond breeding the dead.
0 point
-99 points
......
Lamia feels dizzy looking at the remaining hundred-plus questions.
Kana... the test is over. I've got some points left, and I bought the parts for the model ship that you were talking about before...
The model ship...?
Say... why are you always trying to make things happen for people? Is there nothing you want for yourself...?
...Well, I probably just want to see you and Mommy happy...
See us happy...?
She looks down and changes the subject.
...How in the world did you manage to bring the model ship here like this?
I have a service robot that... Oh, here it comes.
No sooner has she spoken than the service robot places the box containing the model ship's parts on the lounge table.
...Thank you.
With a wry smile, she shakes her wings, temporarily lost for words.
Kana, what's wrong? Is everything okay with the test?
The test? Oh... well...
It went well. Super well... I'm becoming Cthylla in an hour.
Congra...
We should put this model ship together now before I go!
Kana interrupts XX003 before she could finish congratulating Kana.
...How do we do that?
Silly me. We don't even have hands now, do we... Why in the world did I tell you that the model ship looked nice in the first place...
Did I make you upset?
No, it isn't your fault...!
She lets out a deep sigh as she looks fondly at the picture of the ship—completed and glamorous —on the box.
Hey, why don't we have your service robot do it for us?!
...Wait, are you sure about...
The ship is innocent and so are you. It's those bad guys that took our hands that we should hate!
...Uhm...
Kana watches as the service robot opens the box and slowly assembles the model ship. She quietly moves up to XX003 and whispers into her ear.
Did you know that everyone is going to die if Mommy puts the Queen Bee System to work two more times?
Uhh?
...They're trying to figure out ways to make Mommy aggressive, and that's going to waste everyone away...
...There is no avoiding it. Neither can I.
People never know what they have until they lose it.
You're CB107's child. Mommy can't control you with the Queen Bee System because you aren't one of her children...
And the researchers don't have enough points to afford tomorrow, which means someone is going to come and bust this place down soon.
Is that what that mister said, too?
No. He showed me how, and I had to look into it myself...
So, you see... Mommy plans to take her revenge on them before everything comes to an end.
She wants to kill them all!
That mister was right. They should become Trees of Life themselves if they want to be reborn so badly!
Ahh, this is great! Hahaha! Serves them all right!
The more they push the Queen Bee System to secure a future, the faster they bring about their own demise!!!
Promise me... that you'll take good care of yourself when we're gone.
...No. Why should I do that?
Because you're CB107's child, and you've got those wings that can take you to the world out there.
...Why won't you take me with you?
We would if we could, but we can't.
We would have loved to live on... to leave this place and see the real world out there... and see if it's as despicable as this place.
But we don't have that option anymore, unfortunately...
I can help you.
But you can't become Cthylla, can you? That's a good thing, though... you being the one that survives, that is.
...But what am I gonna do without you guys?
Who's going to be there smiling for me<//XX003> down the road?
It's okay, you will be...
The ship is assembled. Kana Kurono, you have five minutes until the next item on your schedule.
...
I should go now.
With a wry smile, Kana nods and follows the service robot out of the lounge, leaving XX003 standing alone in the fully lit room, lost.
At that moment, XX003 wishes she could be the water chasing the ships—and not the reef that the water bypasses.
...What am I... gonna do...
Cthylla is a perfect mother, so I<//XX003> am not afraid. I<//XX003> am not afraid of becoming Cthylla.
...Don't leave me all by myself...
But that's not something I'll ever be able to ask for. I'm just a replica that looks a lot like the real deal.
Give Kana back to me!!
...Mommy...
In memories that should have been forgotten...
...she struggles, forcing a difficult smile at her mother with the same face as Kana's.
The smile works. The crazed woman hesitates for a second for her only beloved child—before anger quickly returns.
...Ka... na...
Yes, it's futile. Kana's wings are broken, and her hair has been combed by Mommy.
But it's okay...
It's okay. It's okay... Mommy...
Mother and Kana are the only people existing in her world. If Kana isn't coming back, what does it matter if she sacrifices herself for what remains of the world?
The girl reaches for her wings that are causing her excruciating pain—and tears them off with sheer force.
I... can be her.
As long as that means I can fulfill someone's desires.
And as long as that means I won't be left all alone by myself.
Even her hair that hangs over her shoulders, she can cut it off with the blades on her wings.
See... I look exactly like Kana now... right?
......
The woman finally regains some of her composure as she trembles. Tentatively, she places her hand back on her head.
Kana... Kana...
It's okay, if I<//XX003> can't fulfill your wish, then all I have to do is become someone else.
Yes, it's me... Mommy... You didn't lose anyone...
Worthless, the audience has disappeared, leaving Cthylla and Kana—the only things valuable—in this world.
...You're okay... Thank goodness.
So, please... smile for me just once more.
—This is how you've always been navigating life, right?
Memories and the cacophony of reality merge, turning into a flood that gushes into her already chaotic M.I.N.D.
—You harbor similar doubts yourself, right?
Why is it that you'll never recognize me for the person I am as long as I am who I am?
—Our consciousness is too frail and can't be hatched. If we could become one, though... if we could become one...
...Please tell me... who I am...
—then we could be anything we want to be.
The wires of the monitors tangling around Lamia have turned into red umbilical cords, connecting her to the giant red egg.
It was only at this moment that she realized—that this test and machine had been a trap set for consciousness fusion from the start.
...!
Cthylla's piercing screams flood into her room like a tide, swiftly overwhelming Lamia who is already on the verge of chaos.
Enticed by the screams, a plethora of Hetero-Creatures file in.
The control room is sealed on all sides, leaving no way out and making M.I.N.D. connection impossible.
They came with intense aggression, utterly different from the Hetero-Creatures that had surrounded Lamia before for a tentative attack. They now seem like they are acting with clear instructions.
The frenzy caused by the Hetero-Creatures causes the Red Tide to splash onto Lamia's lap.
She has no more time to think, her consciousness plunges into the crimson sea.
