Chapter 38
Chapter 38
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Translator: Mod7
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Chapter 5 - Chrysalis
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Our journey to retrieve the rifle was postponed.
There had to be a reason for Jenny’s reluctance, and I couldn't force her.
I had to listen to the females born on this planet. Alraune and Jenny sensed things we didn't.
“Whine-”
So, I sat with Jenny for about ten minutes, trying to comfort her. Whatever she had seen or sensed seemed to be deeply troubling her.
“Jenny, it’s okay. There, there.”
She snuggled into my arms, whimpering and shedding tears.
Her usually sharp tail drooped, and her claws were retracted, her body trembling.
The characteristic whimpering of a still-developing offspring.
She sought comfort and nourishment from the being she perceived as her parent.
“Amy, let’s postpone the rifle retrieval and head north today.”
“Yes.”
Amy obeyed without question.
Every moment was a struggle for survival, and we had to avoid any potential dangers.
We rarely had the luxury of choice. Usually, we were simply reacting to circumstances, fleeing from one monster to the next…
“Hopefully, we’ll find something useful. Some kind of self-defense tool. A stun gun, perhaps…”
So,
Today, we would follow Jenny’s lead.
I wasn’t resentful. This brief respite was thanks to her.
Without her, I would have spent the night being tormented by the flesh-lumps…
***
Day 64 of isolation.
11:07, planetary rotation standard.
Clear skies.
21°C, pleasantly cool.
“Amy, how much further?”
“1.2 kilometers.”
Walking through the forest consumed far more energy than walking on flat terrain.
The incline was steep in some areas, suggesting we were approaching a mountain.
“This isn’t easy…”
I missed the monotonous days in the lab. Having led a sedentary life, I wasn't used to strenuous physical activity.
…But I no longer struggled to breathe, teetering on the brink of collapse, like before.
I was getting used to the physical demands of this environment.
Carrying supplies had strengthened my body, and Alraune’s influence had enhanced my physical capabilities.
I was sweating profusely, but I kept walking. While it was still tiring, my body and mind felt stronger.
My main concern was how to wash my sweat-soaked hood and uniform. I could use water from a lake or river and dry them in the sun, but…
This simple task was incredibly challenging for me.
I had to be careful around water.
Aria's chilling words and expression still haunted me.
“If not weapons… at least a good supply of water would be nice.”
The ration kits contained a rehydration drink and a 500ml bottle of water, but wasting them on laundry was unthinkable.
I had to conserve my food and water.
While maintaining a comfortable environment and indulging in small comforts could improve my morale,
My current situation was too precarious…
“Kyaaagh-!”
As if understanding my concerns,
Jenny roamed freely around us, searching for food.
Thud-
Even the agile birds couldn't escape her tail. Witnessing her hunting technique was awe-inspiring.
The sharp tip of her tail, which she usually wagged like a playful puppy, became a deadly weapon, impaling her prey.
The unfortunate birds became Jenny’s snacks.
Crunch- munch-
“Ugh…”
Jenny devoured her prey with her strong teeth, her appetite seemingly insatiable today. I worried she might damage her teeth.
I would have to examine her mouth later.
Her teeth resembled human teeth, but her canines were more pronounced, larger and sharper. And unlike human teeth, they seemed incredibly strong and resilient.
“Kyaooo… yawn…”
After her meal, Jenny circled me, then,
Rubbed herself against my leg, as if asking to be held.
It was a little inconvenient.
I carried her like a child as I walked, but she was getting heavier, and the mountainous terrain made it even more tiring.
“M-maybe it’s because she ate so much… she feels heavier than before…”
“Kyagh!”
Even though she couldn't understand my words, she seemed to sense when I was teasing her, and she would react angrily. She was a strange creature.
Like the flesh-lumps, Jenny seemed to possess a high level of intelligence. This meant I could potentially teach her, educate her to a higher level.
So, after we finished our tasks for the day, I planned to test her intelligence and start teaching her how to speak.
She was growing rapidly, and we needed to establish a proper form of communication. We couldn't rely on instinctive gestures forever.
“Doctor, we have arrived.”
Sweating profusely, Jenny in my arms,
We finally reached the supply pod’s location.
It was a Paradise pod.
We were searching for human supplies, or perhaps one of the black boxes [he] had shown me,
Hiss-
And this one was filled with miscellaneous items.
“Damn it. Jackpot, but… this is going to take a while to sort through.”
It seemed we had found the crew’s personal belongings container.
The container, larger than my current cave, was filled with a chaotic jumble of items.
Perhaps my music player and notebooks were in here as well. It would be nice to retrieve them.
“Amy, scan the contents and report anything useful. Just give me the names of the items as you find them.”
“Yes.”
Amy began scanning the items, cataloging anything that might aid in our survival.
“-Multi-purpose battery, military backpack, work uniform-”
“Ooh, nice.”
I was grateful for the discarded belongings of others.
“-Plastic wrap, insect repellent, grenade-”
“What?”
“A grenade. An outdated model used by humans in the 20th and 21st centuries. Someone has preserved it in resin.”
Good heavens.
It was Dan’s.
“Was it real? Not a dummy grenade?”
“A live grenade. Removing the resin should render it functional.”
“…Dan, thank you. You weren’t bluffing.”
I remembered Dan visiting my lab, excitedly showing me a grenade encased in a clear resin cube.
He had claimed it was a centuries-old grenade he had purchased at an auction, even going into debt to acquire it…
And that debt, he claimed, was what had forced him to enlist.
It sounded like a ridiculous story.
Who would go into debt and join the military just for an old grenade?
“I’ll put it to good use.”
But his seemingly foolish purchase now offered me a glimmer of hope. My eyes welled up.
“…I wish you were here.”
***
Today had been a productive day.
I had filled the military backpack with various items, the most important of which was the grenade.
It was a shame there was only one.
But it was enough to deal with the flesh-lumps.
“Good. One grenade, pepper spray, laundry detergent pods…”
I had also found another valuable item,
Something the crew called a “Ready-Set.”
It was an ingenious invention.
A palm-sized packet containing a moist sponge, used for a quick wipe-down.
A marvel of modern technology.
“Sigh…”
It was exactly what I needed. I had been craving a shower, and the Ready-Set provided a refreshing alternative.
I felt much better after cleaning myself.
“Okay, Jenny. Ready to learn?”
And now, I had the opportunity to share my knowledge with another intelligent being.
What a privilege.
“Where did she go?”
“She’s at the back of the cave.”
But Jenny, as if sensing my intentions, had hidden herself.
“Jenny?”
I had planned to lure her out with a chocolate bar and begin her lessons.
“What is this?”
Jenny had created a strange, cocoon-like structure.
Or perhaps it was flesh.
A pulsating, organic cocoon, enveloping her curled form.
“…”
I had a bad feeling.
Tonight would be a long night.
The moon would rise,
Casting a chill over the world.
The creatures would return.
And I had no idea what Jenny was preparing for.
It was like watching an insect spinning its chrysalis.