Chapter 41
Chapter 41
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Wax-01
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Sihyun Yujin sat in a garden thick with foliage and dense greenery.
Perched on a tree branch, she stared blankly at a small bird chirping away.
At that moment, servants appeared from somewhere, wheeling in a cart laden with food.
Miss. It's time for your meal.
……
At the butler's words, she turned her head. The holographic garden vanished, replaced by a sterile white laboratory.
The servants set up a simple table and placed dishes of food atop it one by one.
The butler introduced the meal with a polite bow.
The main dish is duck roast topped with maple sauce.
The Star Union forbade its members from owning private property or indulging in luxuries. The Machine Committee dictated that all cyborg citizens consume only prescribed foods and nutrients.
As such, anything beyond basic necessities—even slightly unusual ingredients—was hard to come by, even in major cities.
She gazed down at a dish as rare in Wax-01 as plucking stars from the sky, her expression utterly blank.
Miss?
……
Miss, this is one of your favorite dishes.
She knew that.
Even when infiltrating the Space Dogs, she had craved this dish so badly.
'Right. This is what Sihyun Yujin likes.'
As if reading her mind, the butler's voice grew stiff.
The miss instructed us on the side effects of cloning technology, demanding that we match her exact foods, living habits, clothing—everything down to the last detail.
……
Humanity had mastered faster-than-light travel, but some paths remained beyond their reach.
One such frontier was manufacturing cloned humans.
Even the Yujin Family, pinnacle of genetic science, found it no easy task—especially since Mega Corp had banned it.
Replicating the body perfectly was possible, but duplicating thoughts and behaviors was another realm entirely.
Much less transplanting the original's memories to make the clone act identically—that was the domain of gods.
What Mega Corp tech couldn't achieve, Sihyun Yujin had managed by delving into the unscientific.
She had learned from a Cult master how to use psychic powers to transfer souls and memories.
This bizarre figure, who shunned his real name for a wild title like Beast King, had taught her much at the behest of her father, Jeongu Yujin.
Not just combat techniques, but how to wield various equipment, even the gene types and applications of countless creatures—he knew it all.
Among his teachings were methods to protect and transfer souls and memories via psychic power. Thanks to that, she hadn't lost her mind when forced into the shadows against her will.
She speared a garlic clove fried in duck fat with her fork and popped it into her mouth. The sweet crunch teased her taste buds, but she felt no pleasure.
'This isn't my joy.'
The soul transfer had succeeded. All her memories up to death had transferred intact to the clone body.
'So why do these thoughts plague me?'
The Beast King hadn't warned her of such side effects. He'd made it sound like a simple trick anyone could pull off.
Of course, Sihyun wasn't naive; she'd suspected psychic soul transfer alone wouldn't suffice.
It was a technique that could grant true immortality if conditions were met, so unknown drawbacks were inevitable.
To counter that, she'd used Star Union precision engineering to build a machine recalibrating the clone's brain to her soul and memories. Now, she was nearly identical to the original.
The only real difference was incomplete genetic modification.
She'd also given her subordinates detailed orders on clone maintenance and handling soul-transplanted clones.
She had prepared for any side effects.
But she never imagined feeling such profound alienation from her own body. Even during meals, the thought that this was what Sihyun Yujin enjoyed wouldn't leave her mind.
...Damn it.
After forcing down the meal, she received reports from her subordinates.
The board meeting is approaching soon?
Yes. Intelligence says Akira Yujin is visiting the T&C Special Trade Center for tourism.
Tourism. Looks like the old man's picking up a sense of humor in his dotage.
She spat the words coldly, lost in thought.
Akira was paranoid about his life but no coward. He wouldn't hole up on Earth during a massive event like the board meeting.
'Akira always brings at least two shadows whenever he moves.'
He didn't know it, but Sihyun had all their weaknesses mapped out—even those of Code Blacks stronger than her.
Even in her weakened state, she could take one lesser Code shadow.
How's the Galleron transport disguised as a Fairy Wing?
Per Jade's report, it's still safely in the city.
Even if the Galleron attacks, if shadows are with him, the old man will try to escape somehow.
High likelihood.
The original plan was for her to eliminate Akira's guards personally, slip away, and leave the rest to the enraged Galleron. With rivals Noble Capital and Prime Capital unlikely to protect him, no guards meant he was as good as dead.
'The old man doesn't know I'm alive.'
No matter how shrewd, he'd never suspect a dead woman's clone plotting his demise.
The assassin's best edge: the target believing no one's gunning for them.
Exploiting that gave her solid odds, body weakened or not.
'And chances to wreck a space city don't come often.'
It was a shot to wipe out Prime Capital nobles like Layla Chamberlain. No way she'd delay or delegate over her condition.
What will you do?
...Proceed as planned. Tell Jade no changes.
Understood, miss.
Dismissing her subordinate, she gritted her teeth.
That bastard...!
All her pain and confusion stemmed from him.
She vowed to tear the monster who killed her into shreds.
Two days had passed since Sander gifted me the mutant Galleron.
I hadn't killed it.
'The nest offers better rewards.'
Eating Galleron meat was a gamble. Good luck might yield powerful traits; bad luck, nothing.
Trading with it offered no immediate gain but eased the path to my next evolution.
'Finding a Galleron nest solo is a nightmare.'
In the game, hunting down nests was pure agony. Knowing the location was a huge perk.
Assuming it survived that long.
Big Baby. Look.
Number 26 on my shoulder spoke up, snapping me from my reverie.
I'd given one of Sander's tributes to 26 to aid its growth.
Not just any prey—ones with useless traits for me or too few for meaningful Predation Effects.
Right on cue, it'd met growth conditions; now it sported an extra tentacle. Three in total.
Big Baby. New arm.
[Zzzzt (Yeah)]
Thrilled by its growth from my gift, it kept showing off the tentacle. Each sway released shimmering purple translucent energy that sparkled and faded in the air.
'Definitely stronger than before.'
I couldn't gauge 26's exact power, but visually tracking its growth was handy.
IFoodThanks
[Zzzzt zzzt (Wasn't me)]
Little AdultThanks
The Galleron atop my head, Adhai, thanked 26 for sharing food.
It had introduced itself as a member of the Odd herd—Adhai of the Odds—and asked my herd's name. I had none.
It swore loyalty to me, an adult. Lacking a herd, its name simplified to just Adhai.
Must protect little one too.
26 on my shoulder glowed with vibrations, expressing joy.
It looked like a kid puffing out its chest, so I absentmindedly stroked Adhai and 26.
'No enemies like this in the game.'
A fascinating, intriguing change.
An outsider Aimorph, surviving and evolving solo, now trailed by two creatures.
And not just any—the untameable Galleron and Seed Demon from the game.
Upon arriving in this world, my goals were threefold: survive, hunt, evolve.
And reach Ascension.
Those hadn't changed. But the journey was far from what I'd imagined.
'Am I changing as I blend into this world?'
Humans were my most-consumed prey. Maybe their genes influenced me.
Humans are social animals.
They don't survive alone but form packs.
Some animals mimic predators for survival.
Perhaps I was evolving to match, from lone Aimorph to pack-hunting predator.
Lost in such thoughts, I neared the residential district.
Slipping through the secret passage, evading surveillance, I entered the complex.
As I scaled the apartment exterior, my auxiliary organs detected an intruder.
'Huh?'
A man stood before the neighbor guy's door. Rough features, tattooed arms—he didn't look like ordinary folk.
He seemed to be waiting, bored, kicking the hallway wall idly.
'Not cops. Who then?'
I told 26 and Adhai to hide, then activated Mimicry.
Striding down the hall as the neighbor guy, he eyed me.
That fucking bastard, when's he showing up?
He muttered curses, ignoring me entirely. Clearly clueless about the homeowner's looks.
'Should I ask?'
Pretending to enter Ras's place, I spoke up.
What's the matter?
...None of your business. Go crash somewhere.
You need something from my neighbor?
He glared irritably, sighed.
...You know the guy here?
Yeah.
Fuck, then you know he's the prick stealing other guys' girlfriends?
Pardon?
I love my girl tons, so I hacked her comms a bit. No contact for a week—checked, and it says she's here.
He flashed his comm screen: an internet map of the district, red marker pinpointed right here.
See? She's inside plain as day, but he's playing dumb.
I see.
This was unexpected.
Lloyd having a boyfriend? The guy who hit up joints with Ras for depraved fun—I'd never guessed a separate lover.
'No, this might work in my favor.'
Feigning concern, I scanned the complex with auxiliary organs. No cops or androids nearby.
His actions screamed illegal—tracking a missing girlfriend solo instead of reporting.
Hmm. Maybe she stepped out shopping.
No way, I've been waiting forever...
Don't be like that. Wait in my place. She'll be back soon.
He sized me up. At my face, he flinched slightly but nodded.
...Fuck it, whatever.
My mimicked build was slighter than his. Weird face or not, he figured he could handle trouble.
I opened the door; he entered without suspicion.
I beckoned 26 and Adhai, peeking from the hall end.
What the fuck, live cleaner, asshole.
Sorry.
And what the hell's that shitty smell...
He turned—and froze. 26 and Adhai now blocked the door.
Guess no one told you as a kid?
Wh-what?
Never follow strangers.
I shut the door.