Chapter 67
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: Monster of the Abyss (6)
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"Tell it I turned off the screen."
[He turned off the screen. And his gift has arri...]
Before the words could even finish, a dormant flying unit, as if on standby, snatched the phone and shot across the nest.
In the nest's highest level, the being that had reappeared the moment I said I'd turned off the screen was visible.
A masked girl... with soft, shimmering black hair that flowed down nearly to her hips.
The flying unit dropped the phone into her hand.
"Where's Kang Do-yeon? Where is she?"
[She is currently in a corner of the nest, receiving nutrients and sleeping to relieve mental fatigue. The Legion has never once shown your gift to Kang Do-yeon first.]
"You can't be serious. Does it see my sister as a competitor? She's my sister."
[Well, that means nothing to the Legion. The only things that matter right now are your feelings. And the hierarchy. Its rank is higher than Kang Do-yeon's.]
"Ha..."
My mind was in turmoil for many reasons.
Sending my sister to the Legion was a necessary choice to save her life.
But still, throwing a kid who just started high school among alien monsters was a terrible thing to do.
In such a situation, the efficiency-obsessed Legion wouldn't make any 'human-friendly' accommodations, so she must be struggling, even if she doesn't show it.
[I have informed it of the video's save location, and the Legion is now attempting to view the video you sent.]
Just then, the Legion, which had been tapping the screen, began to watch the video I sent.
"...?"
[...It seems to be quite flustered.]
The video the Legion played first was my video message.
It was ostensibly for my sister, but after watching for just a few seconds, the Legion sent a tremor through the entire nest and hid itself at incredible speed.
It plunged headfirst into the flesh wall, disappearing in an instant through a newly formed crack until only its feet were visible. Soon, even those vanished.
My voice mumbled from the pathetically overturned phone.
"I can feel its emotions surging. But why?"
[It seems seeing your face was unexpected. The Legion has been curious about your face but has intentionally avoided it.]
"My face?"
[The same principle as hiding its own face, I suppose.]
Soon, Kang Do-yeon arrived on the scene. From her scowl, it seemed she'd been forcibly woken by the Legion's command.
"It's just a video from Oppa. There's no need to be embarrassed."
She picked up the phone and called out into the empty space.
After a little time passed, the squirming wall split open again, and the Legion revealed itself.
"I'm not embarrassed. I was just..."
"I can feel your emotions too. You are embarrassed."
"No, I'm not."
"...It's no use blocking the emotions flowing into me. It's obvious."
"I said I'm not."
A sudden back-and-forth erupted between the two.
From that, I could be certain of the emotion the Legion was feeling.
[Are you relieved?]
"I'm not sure. At least it seems like it will listen to me."
I sighed and leaned back in my chair.
The scariest thing would be for the Legion to grow up a bit and start completely ignoring me, acting on its own whims.
It's a relief that I still seem to have a strong influence, but if that influence wanes, I'll no longer be able to control the Legion with my own power.
In the worst-case scenario, the Legion could invade this place, bury me alive in the nest, and keep me alive only to supply nutrients.
"Let's just watch it properly. It looks like this is a video Oppa sent to me. What if the battery dies?"
Acting more maturely, Kang Do-yeon stopped the bickering and played the video again.
My sister's eyes trembled as she watched the video.
After all, it must have been a very long time since she'd seen my face—or any human face for that matter.
Watching her eyes gradually well up with tears, my heart felt heavy.
"Th-this is Oppa talking to you, too. Listen carefully."
It was even more so seeing her grasp my intentions and convey them to the Legion.
"Is there any chance the Legion will let my sister go someday? If I ask, wouldn't it send her back?"
[That would depend on you.]
I asked, even though I knew it wouldn't be much help.
The answer was, as expected, painfully obvious.
"You fought well...? You were cool...?"
[The Legion is now immediately re-evaluating the information on the soldiers used in the last battle.]
Meanwhile, the Legion's mood was improving in real-time with just a few of my words.
For a transcendent being that commanded countless troops and wiped out numerous species in this labyrinth, in this respect, it was still like a child, incredibly simple.
That sight confirmed it again. My influence over that child is still significant.
I had to make that influence stronger and more solid before it diminished.
This, too, was a kind of battle. A battle to see whether my influence on the Legion's ego was greater, or if its innate nature and other environmental factors would have a stronger effect.
"It's too early to celebrate. There's one more video. This must be a gift from Oppa too, right?"
And in this battle of influence, my sister's help, who managed to understand the current situation, was immense.
Although she was bound to follow the commands of the Legion, which considered battle and growth a true blessing, in this regard, she was properly playing the role of an elder.
Having somehow gotten the Legion to sit beside her, Kang Do-yeon played the second video. It was the footage of me learning Ji Chang-hyun's power from him.
"This breathing method doesn't have a specific name. It's literally just breathing. Once you master it, you'll be able to circulate the power within your body just by breathing."
Ji Chang-hyun explained that this breathing method was the foundation for the powers I would learn in the future.
I learned it while breaking a sweat. It's not easy for a person to continuously control and be conscious of their breathing while doing other things.
"Creating an unconscious circulatory structure through the repetitive act of breathing, and using the power of that circulation to resonate with energy. The circulation is similar to the Celestial Soul Art, and the resonance is similar to the Divine Tree."
But for the Legion, a being capable of immense multitasking and manipulating its own body down to the cellular level, it would be incredibly easy.
The Legion watched the video and, remarking that it was easy, immediately manipulated its body.
"Oh. I can do it too."
And the same went for Kang Do-yeon, who was a part of the Legion. I sighed in a daze.
When something is that blatantly overpowered, the desire to even compare vanishes.
[The newly learned art has begun to merge with the pre-existing Celestial Soul Art and the Moonlight Fairy's art. A new concept of application, overlapping resonance with resonance. With that power, its strength is further amplified.]
The Legion extended its arm.
A crimson-black power erupted in an instant, coiling around its arm, then began to condense at the palm's tip into the shape of a massive, swirling drill.
The Legion unleashed it straight ahead.
A part of the nest erupted in a massive explosion with a deafening roar.
The nest is also the Legion. The moment the impact hit, it projected a barrier using Form Power.
But the projected energy shattered the barrier completely, blowing away a part of the nest and even the bedrock behind it.
"Amplification, over 80% on average."
The Legion looked at its hand with a satisfied smile.
I froze for a moment at the sight.
What in the world just happened? It deciphered the otherworldly art I showed it in an instant, mastered it, combined it with its existing power, and created yet another advanced, new system of power.
"Let's refine this power a bit more and teach it to Oppa. It'll definitely be helpful."
Kang Do-yeon, who shared its knowledge, had also mastered the power.
And my sister once again presented a groundbreaking idea to the Legion.
"Oppa will be happy."
"Happy...?"
At that, the Legion latched onto the suggestion after hearing just that one word.
"After receiving that, I'll obviously have to prepare something in return."
[What will you give?]
"...That's the problem."
Now practically buried in my chair as if lying down, I stared blankly at the screen.
Looking only at their appearances, they really seemed like two girls their age, putting their heads together and playing.
Except for the fact that their bodies were monstrous, made of carapace and tough leather.
Right now, those two are filming a video to send me.
However, I couldn't just watch with a peaceful mind.
A new worry was making my head throb.
The Legion is strong. Too strong. It might be an arrogant thought, but I believed in the Legion, in that child.
That's why I couldn't help but think about countermeasures.
Until now, I had never once interfered with that child. I had only watched and empathized through emotions.
If I were to give an order or make a request, would the Legion listen to me, even if it went against its own nature?
This was my biggest worry right now.
[But you, at least, should not be too complacent.]
"What does that mean?"
[It's a matter of principle. Among the Units, Players... and the factions connected to them participating in this game, there are many who should not be underestimated. Therefore, the Legion must naturally grow even stronger.]
At that moment, as if timed perfectly, words flickered before my eyes.