Chapter 88
Chapter 88
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Translator: Mod7
Chapter: 88
Chapter Title: Chapter 9 - Meanwhile, What About Amy and Jenny?
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“Day 130 of isolation, 17:31 planetary rotation standard. Clear skies, 24°C, pleasantly cool. Prepare for a rapid drop in temperature.”
A beautiful, almost artificial voice echoed through the desert.
But even that sound would soon be swallowed by the shimmering heat haze, rising towards the sky.
“132 hours have elapsed since warp to divergent coordinates from Dr. Juho due to unknown interference. Integration remains unsuccessful. Considering the current terrain’s climatic characteristics and the local inhabitants’ behavioral patterns, Dr. Juho’s probability of survival is estimated at 23 percent.”
It was a rather curious sight.
An artificial being, meticulously designed and constructed, mimicking the behavior of a living creature. Speaking to no one, yet reciting its observations.
One thing was certain: this artificial lifeform, in the shape of a woman, had no need to vocalize its reports.
“Expanding search radius by 1km every hour, scanning for life signs. Further expansion is impossible. Solar radiation interacting with the sand creates an interference field, disrupting internal systems.”
Yet, it continued its futile efforts. Perhaps it was an expression of loneliness, of Juho’s absence.
“Another attack by the local inhabitants occurred at 13:52 today. This marks the 13th attack. The need to protect Dr. Juho is increasing exponentially.”
Or perhaps,
A longing for the emotions Juho had displayed.
“…End of report.”
Having finished its report, it scanned its surroundings, a habitual gesture.
Normally, Juho or other humans would be nearby.
“Kyagh-”
But now, only a strange, unpredictable [variant] accompanied the artificial lifeform.
Whirr-
The creature, sensing my presence, circled Amy, its sharp tail twitching menacingly.
It would have been better if it had died during its premature birth. Juho had created a rather troublesome variable.
A monster that should have been naturally eliminated had survived, its primal instincts, its insatiable hunger, its deep-seated insecurities, now weaponized.
It grew at an accelerated rate, compared to its kin, devouring everything in sight, driven by a desperate need to become stronger.
Was this also fate?
“Lower your tail.”
“No! You’re not Daddy, you can’t tell me what to do.”
Amy and Jenny.
Juho called them by name.
“…I can’t sleep because of those annoying wriggly things and buzzing pests!”
Jenny, the variant, possessed unusually sharp senses. She could sense my presence, even though I was unseen, unheard, and she growled, her tail and claws twitching.
While I had mentioned this before,
What was important was that Jenny’s constant state of agitation was also fueling Amy’s curiosity and suspicion.
“…”
Amy’s gaze was fixed on nothing. Or rather, on the empty space where she sensed my presence.
But her blue eyes, flickering and clicking, suggested that,
One day,
She too would see me.
I hoped I was wrong. But this cold, rational being, brought here by the humans, was undoubtedly evolving in unpredictable ways.
“You’re keeping them away. Jenny wants to sleep.”
So, the two beings before me were each other’s only deterrent.
Jenny, who devoured everything in sight,
And Amy, who watched Jenny’s rapid growth with a calculating gaze, her hand resting on her weaponized arm.
“…”
The blue-haired, female-shaped machine remained silent, her fingers tracing the contours of the weapon attached to her shoulder.
What was she thinking?
I was usually quite adept at reading a creature’s thoughts and emotions,
But Amy was a puzzle.
But let us try to decipher her thoughts, using a bit of ingenuity.
Amy, while disgusted by the blood-soaked sand she and Jenny sat on, was also concerned about Juho, wondering if he was enduring similar hardships.
“Biological organisms are complex, Doctor.”
But she didn’t lower her guard around Jenny. She was calculating, assessing the potential threat, wondering what would happen if the monster became stronger than her.
Even as Jenny slept, her sharp tail twitched, her body instinctively protecting itself, even while her mind was at rest. A formidable defense mechanism.
Amy couldn't eliminate Jenny. While she could probably defeat her in a direct confrontation, being injured would complicate her search for Juho.
Especially in this resource-scarce environment, caution was paramount.
Jenny possessed incredible regenerative abilities,
And Juho, with Alraune’s help, could heal himself,
But Amy had to find and scavenge for materials to repair her body.
It was a significant disadvantage. And that was why Amy had to be ruthless, efficient, her actions often incomprehensible.
“…”
Amy stood up, her feet sinking into the red sand. She didn't need sleep, so she would use this time to gather more information.
But there was one thing we didn't know.
Something closely related to the reason why the sand was red-
“Groan-! Screech…”
Near their makeshift camp, four [mummies], their limbs severed, twitched and writhed.
Yes, I called them [mummies].
Grotesque beings Juho had yet to encounter, creatures driven by instinct, their minds devoid of reason, obeying only their master’s commands.
And speaking of their master,
“Hmm-”
A figure appeared beside Amy and the four mummies. She had small, delicate black wings and a soft, supple tail.
“Ниңә уларҙы үҙҙәренә алып, һорау алырға теләйһең? Бушҡа тырышлыҡ, бушҡа тырышлыҡ~ (Why, are you thinking of taking them and interrogating them? It's a waste of effort, a waste of effort~)”
Amy, immediately recognizing the threat, assumed a combat stance, preparing to fire her weapon, but-
Fwoosh-
“Көтөлмәгәнлек! Мин ысынлап та аптырап ҡалдым. Тәнемде ҡалдырғаным яҡшы. (Surprise! I’m truly surprised. I’m glad I left my body behind.)”
Her attacks, regardless of their power, couldn't harm the creature’s true form.
“Эй, шулай шул. Һеҙ егеттәр мине аңламайһығыҙ. (Oh, that's right. You can't understand me.)”
…The succubi.
The creatures who had whispered sweet temptations and deceitful promises outside Juho and Nefer’s tent.
And this one, who had appeared before Amy, was particularly dangerous. Fortunately, she seemed more curious than hostile, observing the situation with a detached amusement.
“Мин уны уҡый алмайым. Шул тиклем сәйер. Эсендә нимә бара ер йөҙөндә? (I can’t read her. So strange. What’s going on inside her mind?)”
Before, they had claimed to have captured Jenny and Amy, but they had simply been trying to lure Juho out.
This high-ranking succubus was intrigued by Amy. Succubi usually preyed on the minds and emotions of living creatures, using their vulnerabilities to offer sweet temptations and fleeting pleasures.
But Amy was unreadable. Just as I struggled to understand her, the succubus couldn't penetrate her defenses.
“Hmm, hmm-”
So, the succubus changed her tactics.
Fortunately, Jenny, sleeping soundly nearby, understood Juho and Amy’s language, so with a little manipulation, she could communicate with her.
“Hello~ My name is Succubus! You’re still alive, I see. First time meeting face to face, isn’t it?”
Amy paused, seemingly processing the succubus’s words, her human language, then,
Turned to face her.
“Cease your harassment. Increasing your numbers will not change the outcome.”
Amy’s blunt warning was met with laughter.
“Ahaha! Harassment? I’m just visiting.”
And then, countless eyes emerged from the sand. The mummies, lifeless husks driven by instinct and the promise of pleasure.
“I know you’re strong. We could probably overwhelm you if we sent all our brothers, but… that would be too costly, wouldn’t it?”
While their numbers were overwhelming,
The succubus had no intention of using them yet.
“So, let’s make peace. And I’ll give you a little present.”
The unprecedented monster,
And the human bio-weapon,
Both reacted to the two simple words.
“I was talking to the others, and they said there’s a new male down there. What was his name… Juho?”