Echoes of the Dead Nebula: The Promise
Nahibi's truth, driven in like a wedge, turned my mind upside down. The increase in xenoforms was the harbinger of a massive catastrophe.
I closed my eyes for a moment and pictured the Federation's map.
Sectors. The order in which the Federation conquered our galaxy, the measure of civilization. If Sector 1, the first to be pioneered, was the symbol of prosperity, higher numbers meant the fringes. Among them, Sector 11.
The stage of the Great Invasion where I lost Lumina.
That place was now a ruin more backward than the frontline Sector 12. Reconstruction costs alone ran into trillions of credits. Even the Federation couldn't bear it and had left it abandoned—a bitter loss. But what if another invasion happened there? If a disaster struck that made sprinkling salt on an unhealed wound seem tame?
"……It would be irredeemable destruction."
I bit my lip.
The fall of the Federation. The crisis of humanity. Some might despair, but I felt a strange thrill.
Maybe it's good news.
Laughter threatened to burst out, so I bit my lip harder until blood welled up.
After losing Lumina, the Federation was no longer a homeland worth protecting. They had driven her to her death and covered her sacrifice with a scrap of a medal—hypocrites.
My rage at the Federation that cost me Lumina began to stoke my reason into flames.
Yeah. Right now, I'm not on humanity's side.
I had sworn to become Eve's knight. To never lose the warmth that had returned to me.
Then, wasn't it a knight's duty to eliminate everything that threatened Eve? I was planning to turn against humanity anyway, right?
So….
My gaze slowly shifted. To Lydia in front of me. To the slender nape of her neck as she held Eve in her arms. And to Bani, tormented by nightmares in the next room.
Are they… really allies?
What if they learned Eve was a xenoform queen? What if they realized she was the monster leader that would destroy humanity? Would they still smile and hug her like now? Or would they point guns at her in terror?
They were risks. Obstacles blocking Eve's path. I had to deal with them now. Nip it in the bud.
All of them die. Energy from my heart surged through my body. My vision tinted red. Killing intent boiled over.
If I kill those two who might interfere with Eve, and all the Federation bastards who'll threaten her in the future…!
Slap!
My head snapped to the side. My cheek stung.
Who!
I whipped around, radiating killing intent on reflex. There, floating in the air, was a white slime blob—Nahibi.
[Tch. Get a grip, lowly human.]
Nahibi's eyes gleamed coldly.
"……I'm perfectly sane, Nahibi."
"As Eve's knight, I'm just removing the dangers approaching her. You said it yourself before—prove if my blade can turn on humans. I'm showing you the answer now."
Slap!
This time, the other cheek. A much heavier blow. My vision flashed white. I staggered but barely kept my footing.
"What the hell!! Nahibi!! Keep interfering like this, and I'll kill you first!!"
The violence inside me erupted uncontrollably. I reached for Nahibi, channeling my constellation power to crush it.
[Fool.]
Nahibi's voice reverberated in my brain. In an instant, its floating body swelled massively. The white slime morphed into a giant serpent, coiling around my entire body and squeezing.
"Guh!"
I couldn't breathe. Couldn't move. Overwhelming difference in power. Nahibi's body, filling part of the room, bubbled. It formed a face and approached mine.
Dozens of red eyes filled my vision.
Dizziness hit me at the sight, and Nahibi spoke again.
[There is no truth at the extremes.]
Nahibi stated flatly.
"What're you saying! So… you're saying leave Eve in danger like this?! Is that what a guard says?!"
I thrashed and yelled.
[Do you think a guard would choose to abandon Her Majesty?]
"Then! Why are you stopping me!"
[Because you haven't realized it—that's why I'm holding you.]
"Hngh."
Even channeling my constellation power couldn't break Nahibi's grip.
Nahibi seemed calmer watching me struggle and asked,
[Lowly human. Who are you looking at right now?]
Nahibi's tentacle gently wrapped my cheek. Cold, but strangely soothing.
[Kal. I'll ask. Whose servant are you?]
"……I'm Eve's knight, protecting her."
[Right. Then, who must you prioritize above all? Who should you think of first?]
"Obviously Eve."
Nahibi rubbed my cheek as if I'd answered well.
[Yes. A guy who knows that so well.]
Nahibi forcibly turned my unyielding head. The strength was beyond imagination.
My gaze landed there….
[How dare you. Plan to make your master sad!]
Nahibi bellowed, slapping my cheek once more.
Only then did I see. Not in Lydia's arms. Eve, clinging to my leg, looking up at me through tears.
"Eve???"
"Hwahhh… K-Kal…!!"
Eve hugged me with all her might. Eyes filled with fear—not of me, but of losing me.
The killing intent I'd exuded, the madness overtaking me—it had made the child cry.
"……Ah."
My mind cleared in a flash. The bloodlust vanished like mist. I stared blankly down at Eve.
What was I about to do? Kill Lydia? Right in front of Eve?
"What… Nahibi, what the hell was I…."
Nahibi checked if I was truly back, then slowly released me, shrinking to its usual small slime form.
[As I said earlier, weak-minded fools get devoured in the sea of words.]
Nahibi clicked its tongue.
[One-sided growth disrupts balance and leads to collapse. Pathetic weak-minded human.]
It reverted to its usual tsundere tic.
"……Thanks, Nahibi."
I meant it from the heart. Without it, I'd have crossed an irreversible river.
[Hmph. Whatever. It wasn't for you. Hurry and comfort Her Majesty.]
Nahibi acted aloof but subtly made space. Grateful for the consideration, I took heavy steps forward.
[You made Her Majesty cry, so next time, prepare yourself—I'll massage your brain to strengthen your mind if I have to, so it never happens again.]
I knelt before Eve, still sobbing pitifully.
"Eve."
"Hic. Sniff. Hic."
Eve tried to stop her tears, but her ragged breaths wouldn't calm. No trace of her usual spunk—just a scared child. Seeing me brought relief, and fresh tears poured out.
"Waaah…."
I carefully lifted Eve into my arms. Warm, tiny body. What had I nearly done with this little life in my care?
"Sorry, Eve. God, what got into me…."
"Kal… bad! You're my knight…! Wahh."
Eve pounded my chest. Punches that didn't hurt.
"Yeah, you're right. I was bad. Sorry, Eve. Really sorry."
"Won't listen… dummy!"
"Yeah. Total idiot, right?"
I patted Eve's back, hoping my heartbeat reached her. The calm one, beating just for her.
"Sniff. Hue…."
Eve buried her face in my chest. After a while, the sobs faded to occasional hiccups.
"There, no more crying. Blow your nose."
I wiped Eve's tear-streaked face with a handkerchief. Her red-rimmed eyes looked up at me.
"Kal…."
"Yeah?"
"I… thought I lost you."
Eve's voice trembled.
"Your eyes earlier… scary. Not you. Like you were going far away."
My chest ached. The kid's instincts were spot on. I'd been about to shed my humanity and become a monster.
"Sorry. Really sorry, Eve. Won't happen again."
"I… like you now."
Eve clutched my clothes tight.
"Not scary you. The one who laughs with me."
"……Thanks for liking me, Eve."
I pressed my forehead to hers.
"Kal."
"Yeah."
"Family stays together. You said that. Living together is family."
"Right, Eve."
"So… never leave me again. Don't go on your own."
Desire swirled in Eve's eyes, binding me. But,
"Promise."
I hugged her tighter. This bond was my salvation.
"Yeah, Eve. I will."
"Promise."
"Yeah. Promise."
Eve snuggled in, relieved.
I stroked her back, gazing at the dark nebula outside. Echoes of the Dead. My nightmare. But no longer frightening. I had my anchor here.
I just didn't see it. Eve's red eyes in my arms, gleaming eerily in the darkness.
Maybe, as Nahibi said, I was already on an irreversible path. But it didn't matter.
As long as this child could smile and enjoy peaceful days.
Nothing else mattered.