Chapter 54
Chapter 54
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: Taming the True Ancestor (2)
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1.
Besides Arbel, who serves as both diffuser and attachment cushion, a new family member has arrived!
A bunny girl version fake True Ancestor, no less.
“Poksoon, come here!”
“…I refuse.”
“Oh? Rebelling again?”
“…….”
Sion shuffles over like a cow being dragged to the slaughterhouse.
“…I, I am… not Poksoon. I am Sion Tsukimiya, the sole red moon… the True Ancestor….”
“No, your name is Poksoon from now on.”
I snatched an item the Golden Carp Clan dotes on endlessly.
In a situation like this, I can't casually call her Sion, or True Ancestor, or fake True Ancestor.
“They say even birds listen when you talk at night.”
“Then why… of all names….”
“Want me to change it? Pokdori it is.”
“…….”
Sion clamps her mouth shut, eyes brimming with tears.
Ha, what a refreshing feeling.
Webnovels are full of tropes like ‘wins the lottery without knowing while the boss rages with insane power harassment,’ and I wondered what the appeal was.
This is it!!!
The true delight of power reversal harassment!!!
Never had a job, so I didn’t know!!!
“Poksoon, give Master’s shoulders a rub.”
“Are you telling your concubine to wait on you like a proper wife?!”
“Yeah.”
“Tr-treating your concubine like this. Aren’t you scared?! Show some respect, human…!”
Unable to contain her rage, Sion plants hands on hips and stamps her heels.
Ha, still needs more training.
“Hey.”
I turn serious, and Sion flinches, fingertips trembling.
“Ha, fucking mood killer. Who said anything about serving me? Just rub the shoulders. That hard?”
“…….”
Lips twisting as she trembles, Sion finally places her delicate hand on my shoulder.
“I… sniff! Once I regain my strength… then I’ll really… you bastard… hngh….”
“Silence!”
“………………sniff.”
Looking at her now, I get why that cat bastard stays top-tier pet material.
Inner beauty? Worthless. You can’t see it.
This world runs on looks in the end.
She’s cute to behold, so I don’t entirely hate her.
A sharp observer might point this out.
No, the fake True Ancestor bolted last round, so why cling in a bunny girl outfit this time?
Last time she stuck around because I played nice, but normally she’d flee the second I step out.
Hypnosis app or what?
Fair point.
To explain.
About 5 hours ago.
2.
Through countless rounds, I’ve gained solid confidence in my strength.
You feel it just walking the streets for 5 minutes.
Necropolis is fundamentally a savage city.
Every citizen’s weakling-despising instinct is purely animalistic.
What I mean is, back when you first entered Necropolis and walked the streets?
Nonstop eyes scanning you relentlessly.
Neighbors wondering what drop item you’d spill if stabbed in the side, tails glued to you.
But now, no one dares fling such impudent gazes on the street.
They even avert their eyes if they meet mine.
No need to strut around saying ‘beat me up,’ the natural aura of gravitas and confidence seeps out.
Strong enough to work like mosquito-repellent spray.
I’m confident I can handle a fake True Ancestor just fine.
-Roarrr!
“Don’t die.”
A newly acquired technique.
Black flames bloom from my fingertips, pouring toward Sion… only for me to hastily swerve the direction.
“…What are you doing?”
Sion, whom I figured would counterattack, cowers with both hands hugging her head. Eyes squeezed shut.
“Le-let’s talk, talk it out… human….”
“…….”
No, even a 0-rank fake True Ancestor originates from a True Ancestor?
This pathetic?
I shoot a sidelong glance at the True Ancestor peeking through slitted eyes.
“What magic can you do?”
“Il-illusions…. And a bit of blood chains. So no violence….”
“Blood chains? Show me.”
A BB-pellet-sized droplet of blood gathers at the True Ancestor’s fingertip and shoots shh shh shh into the air.
I stare blankly as the BB barrage vanishes into the dark space.
No explosion, nothing.
“That’s it?”
“Of course not…!”
“Lie and you die.”
“This is my current power….”
Almost fucked up bad.
If I’d carelessly slapped her with Death Verdict, the round would’ve ended right there.
I clearly realize this.
“Wow, Sedric’s senses are totally shot.”
A hollow laugh bursts out.
So the only magic she knows is that ‘True Ancestor Bloom’ from last round.
A blood shot with just enough power to nick an ear? That’s it? For real?
Just a one-trick pony bluffer?
I fell for that bluff and lost my shit?
“Hey, come here.”
“Do-don’t bully me…! I am… the sole red moon… Sion Tsukimiya…. Sh-show respect!”
Striding over, Sion curls up tight, making weird noises.
Her hands clutching her head tremble spasmodically.
“No, fuck….”
What’s with the overreaction?
I haven’t even flicked her forehead once.
In that instant, a passage flashes through my mind.
[Case 61.]
Compliance orders and submission procedures implemented. Subject uncooperative with all commands. Resisted even under torture. Died days later from cardiac arrest and cerebral hemorrhage.
[Case 66.]
Subject exhibits extreme fear and hatred upon sighting experimenter. Confirmed lingering personality and memories from Case 65. Initialization failed. Disposed.
[Case 82.]
Memory erasure procedure conducted first. However, observed ‘memory continuity’ where the subject’s consciousness data overlays post-factor injection. Doll presumed to inherit memories immediately upon receiving the factor.
“…uu, I hate pain…. I-I’ll obey… no more pain….”
“No… no, fuck.”
This is shitty.
Makes me look like the villain.
Did I screw up?
She bled me dry to the bone when the bluff worked, but the second it’s exposed, emotional manipulation?
No such luck.
“Hey, you think the world’s that easy? Play pitiful and it’s over? This is Necropolis, bitch.”
I’ll collect it all, principal and interest.
Good thing I’ve got an idea.
“Fine, I won’t hurt you.”
“Really…?”
“Strip.”
“…Wh-what….”
“Strip, I said.”
Her red eyes well up with shame and terror.
But she eventually bows her head in resignation.
“Yo-your concubine’s first time… in a place like this….”
To Sion, shedding teardrops like pearls while shedding her restraint suit…
“Here, put this on.”
I hand over the freshly procured Sion-exclusive bunny girl outfit.
A moment later.
The rustling stops, and Sion shuffles out bashfully.
Pink suit plastered to her body. Fishnet stockings squeezing her thighs, perky bunny-ear headband and all.
“Kya! Knew you’d look cute!”
The quality is unreal!
“Th-this indecent outfit…! Who do you think I am!!!”
“Damn, your rebound’s insane.”
As if the sobbing was a lie, Sion jumps around protesting furiously.
Anyway, after that, I explained the general situation and shared information.
“The Golden Carp Clan’s after you. Twilight Resource Development too. They were both plotting to dissect you while keeping you on ice. But I snuck you out.”
“Really…?”
“Don’t believe me? Run now. Back to lab rat life.”
Trauma hits, and Sion freezes.
“Th-then… what should I….”
“I’ll take care of you.”
“Take care…?”
“Feed you, clothe you, house you, the works.”
Sion rolls her eyes anxiously before asking.
“Wh-what do you want from your concubine…?”
.
.
.
Rewind to the present.
“Ca-can I suck… just a little more…?”
“Hey, mind your tone?”
“Eut… eut…!”
I flick the forehead of the pitifully clinging Sion.
She twitches and trembles but gazes up at me desperately without fleeing.
“What do you say when begging?”
“Kuhuk…!”
“Say it.”
“Ma-Master…. Please let me suck a little more….”
“Good girl.”
I extend my fingertip…
As if she never had any pride, she wraps it preciously.
“Hahp….”
Then lolls out her tongue to slurp at the wounded tip.
“Churp… chup… chuu….”
Soft, hot sensation.
Like a cat lapping at milk, Sion drinks my blood.
Why the hell was I ever scared of this sweet thing?
No shred of dignity left on second look.
Proves first impressions are everything.
“Enough.”
Too much and she’ll get anemic.
I try to pull my finger free.
“Chuuuup! Chuuuup!!!”
Sion pursues, sucking greedily.
“Hey! Hey! Hey! This bitch at it again!”
Anyway, long story short, the negotiation’s sealed.
I guarantee Sion’s safety, food, shelter, and clothes.
In exchange, she handles Arbel familiarization, robot vacuum duties, bunny girl stand, massage chair, attachment cushion, emotional trash bin.
One critical issue remains unresolved, though.
[Confirmed possible to create familiar bypassing the main body’s but process rapidly depletes subject’s life force.]
This one.
Last round, I only saw it in documents, so it was vague.
Fake True Ancestor familiarization drains life force? Got it.
So what happens when life force runs out?
According to her…
‘If I make a familiar in this state, I’ll die anyway…!’
Yeah.
Twilight Resource Development’s fix was the ‘Crimson Jade’.
Life force external battery, basically.
With it, the fake could familiarize without dying.
“But the project tanked while making the Crimson Jade?”
“That’s what I know. That’s why I fell into a long sleep.”
Dead end, practically.
No way I can whip up a Crimson Jade they abandoned.
Ends with Sion having to sacrifice her life for familiarization…
“Poksoon, just grit your teeth and die for me?”
“Hiyaaak!!!”
Even I wouldn’t do that.
Actually, I’d turn ghoul and shit myself out on the way down.
Point is, threats, pressure, coercion won’t work here.
“Hmm….”
“Do-don’t throw me away. I’m super useful.”
I stare, and Sion sneakily gauges my mood.
No plans to discard, obviously.
Picked up the cat, might as well raise it through.
Fake’s power alone can’t familiarize Arbel, but without Sion, we can’t even start.
A life-affinity mage might find a breakthrough.
Here’s the catch.
The second I blab about the fake True Ancestor to anyone, risks pop up.
Could derail my whole ‘DIY familiarization to save Arbel’ goal.
Need to keep my mouth sealed tight and find someone unmarked by Twilight Resource Development or Overnus Pharma.
And I’ve got a candidate in mind.
.
.
.
Feels like ages since I last hit up Isis Clinic on Aquarium Street.
-Bang bang bang!
“Isis! Open up!”
“Closed for the day.”
“What the hell are your hours?”
“2 to 5 p.m.”
“What… French bank or something?”
Today’s Isis appears through the peephole, face blank as ever.
She says that, but she opens up reliably.
“Emergency patient. Cash on hand.”
“Come in.”
True to money-ghost form, she peeks at the jingling pouch and unlocks the door.
“What hurts?”
“Stomachache.”
No suspicion, she palpates the belly of the patient deep in a hood.
Right on plan.
“……!!!!”
Her eyes bulge saucer-wide.
Snaps her head around to glare daggers at me, the guardian.
“You… you… you… hey! You fucker…! What the hell did you bring here!!!”
“Damn, spotted it instantly?”
Told you.
Isis is a life-affinity mage.
Mystery meat quack doctor for some reason.
Money-grubbing, sure, but skills are legit.
And above all, that info I confirmed before?
‘Quack doctor Isis abides by a precept never to disclose patient information.’
[‘Isis Yojora’s statement is true.]
[「Truth Coin Toss」 remaining uses (2/3)]
Exactly.
“Pl-please take good care of her.”
“You fucker!”
Mouth’s foul as hell, but perfect fit for the job.