Wild Space: A New Xenoform on the Queen's Bridge
A new xenoform presence appeared on the bridge of the queen's ship alongside Eve. Its lower body was supported by thick vines twisted into a sturdy coil, while its upper body resembled a priest shrouded in a black robe. Behind a thin veil covering its face, sharp, intelligent eyes gleamed coldly.
[Greetings for the first time, Lady Eve.]
With an air of refined arrogance, it bowed politely.
[I am Mebi, the third child of Lady Silia. It is an honor to meet you like this.]
Mebi.
The "scholar" type child of a queen that Nahibi had mentioned. Nahibi sent a brusque telepathic wave upon seeing it.
[Thanks to that black barrier you made, we were able to block the main cannon. Belated gratitude.]
Nahibi said curtly. The mysterious black curtain that had devoured Cerberus's main cannon earlier—that had been this one's doing.
[Gratitude? I merely did what was expected, Nahibi.]
Mebi acted as if Nahibi's thanks meant nothing, immediately lifting its head to stare at Eve. The gaze from behind the veil reached Eve with obsessive greed.
[Indeed. I understand now why Nahibi was so desperate. Still incomplete, yet the vessel it holds... it's beautiful. Utterly awe-inspiring.]
From within Mebi's veil, a slender vine tendril extended. As if it dared not touch the queen's sacred form, it stretched worshipfully into the air before regretfully withdrawing. It was utmost courtesy—and at the same time, fanatic obsession.
That's when I stepped forward and spoke.
"I don't know who you are, but what's your business sneaking onto our ship without permission?"
Mebi's movements froze. The gently swaying vine tendril halted in midair, and the veil covering its face slowly—ever so slowly—turned toward me.
[......?]
I felt the gaze from behind the veil. A blatant displeasure scanning me up and down. Indifference and chill, like looking at a bug crawling on the roadside.
[Since when does a lowly creature interrupt a conversation between escorts?]
Mebi's voice held no emotion. That made it all the more chilling.
[To begin with, a human? Why is one of that inferior race—we've been at war with them for over a century, the kind we should exterminate—standing by Her Majesty's side?]
"What?"
[Nahibi. To let such filth yap in Her Majesty's presence... I'm disappointed. Whatever it is, this lifeform is harmful. Filth that shouldn't sully Her Majesty's sight.]
Mebi's voice dripped with clear contempt. The characteristic arrogance that didn't even consider humans worthy of conversation, boiling with hostility.
Nahibi hesitated, about to say something, but I was faster.
"Lowly creature, huh..."
I let out a hollow chuckle and took a step forward. I'd heard it so often from Nahibi that it didn't sting anymore.
"Hey. When you're a guest on someone else's ship, shouldn't you start with manners? No greeting, just straight-up calling me filth."
[Haa... It doesn't understand words. Is blindly barking without knowing its place just an animal instinct?]
Mebi flicked its vines irritably.
[Guess I'll have to remove it. It's dirtying Her Majesty's view.]
One of the vines supporting Mebi's lower body whipped toward me like a lash. A strike loaded with clear killing intent that would tear flesh and shatter bone on a mere graze.
But.
I didn't dodge. Instead, I summoned my constellation power and caught the incoming vine barehanded.
And I wasn't the only one blocking that vine.
Squelch.
White slime covered my hand, absorbing the impact. It was Nahibi. She'd reacted at the same time, blocking Mebi's strike alongside me.
[Nahibi...?]
Clear surprise came from behind Mebi's veil. For a kin like Nahibi to shield a human—something it couldn't have imagined.
"The one who needs to know their place seems to be you."
I gripped the vine tightly.
At the same time, I felt the black stone embedded deep in my heart—the fragment of Elisia, silent until now—pulsing violently.
An explosive surge of energy, far greater than usual, poured out. The aura enveloping my body filled the corridor, crushing the air. That power transcended physical grip strength, flowing back through the vine I'd seized to reach Mebi's core.
[Kgh...!]
Mebi groaned and staggered back. The countless vines comprising its body shrank in fear.
[Th-this presence...?!]
Mebi's voice trembled. The contempt and arrogance from moments ago evaporated, replaced by shock and confusion.
[Why... why does the pulse of Elisia, the progenitor and truth herself, emanate from a lowly creature's body?!]
The origin of all xenoforms, the queen of truth whose absolute influence persisted even now. That power was emanating from a mere human.
"I have no obligation to explain why."
I released the vine and snapped coldly.
By then, Nahibi had reformed on my shoulder and clicked her tongue, sending telepathy to Mebi.
[You idiot. What a temper. You should've checked the situation before lunging.]
[Nahibi... what in the world...]
[Explanations later. What you should worry about now isn't Kal or Lady Elisia's pulse.]
Nahibi's voice lowered.
[Look below. Lady Eve is... very angry.]
[Huh? Why would Lady Eve be angry?]
Mebi quickly looked down. And there—
[!]
Eve glared at Mebi with eyes blazing in fury. Not her usual clear, innocent red pupils. Her gaze burned brightly, pulsing in time with her heartbeat: thump, thump.
The space itself resonated with the queen's rage, humming ominously.
[Mebi.]
Eve called its name calmly. But that calm was a warning more terrifying than a shout. Mebi instinctively realized it had touched a forbidden scale.
Plop, plop.
Mebi's vines went limp, drooping to the floor. In an instant, it prostrated itself, pressing its head to the ground.
[I-I'm sorry, Lady Eve. How dare I...]
Eve gazed down at it for a long while. During that silence, Mebi couldn't even breathe. A cold sweat-like sap trickled down its back.
Step, step.
Eve's footsteps echoed in Mebi's ears. The presence above its crown reduced it to a mere insect—an absolute aura overlooking the universe.
'Ahh, my queen. You who are worthy of pure worship.'
Mebi didn't dare lift its head, pressing its face and body flat to the floor, trembling all over. A shiver of terror and awe. Eve approached right in front of it. Then she bent down and lightly tapped the veil covering Mebi's face with her small hand.
[Kal is mine.]
Eve's wave imprinted deeply in Mebi's mind.
[My knight, my family, my possession.]
[......!]
[I don't like that you dared touch what's mine, but I'll overlook it this once in recognition of saving Squishy.]
The killing intent vanished from Eve's voice.
[Rise.]
[Yes! I'm sorry, Lady Eve! I won't forget your mercy!]
Mebi bowed repeatedly, tears of and relief streaming down. The queen's mercy and presence stimulated every xenoform instinct.
And then, Eve's overwhelming presence dissipated.
Her blazing red gaze faded, returning to her usual childlike eyes.
With the situation resolved, I smirked and stepped forward. I scooped up Eve, who was still huffing in lingering anger.
"Eek!?"
Eve floated into the air and looked at me in surprise.
"Eve, since when am I yours? You little rascal."
I put on a stern face and booped her nose.
"Mew! Kal, you gotta stay quiet here! I was setting the mood!"
Eve flailed and whined.
"And Kal is mine! I called dibs!"
"Hey now. I'm no one's."
"Hing...? For real...? Not Eve's...?"
Eve looked up at me with big, teary puppy-dog eyes. A killer move that could spill tears any second. But I'd built up some resistance by now.
"Fake crying won't work."
"Tch."
Eve immediately hardened her expression and stuck out her tongue.
"When did you get so sly? Who'd you learn that from?"
"Heehee, dunno! Bleh!"
Eve stuck her tongue out from my arms, playing around. She was so cute I couldn't help it—I grabbed her chubby cheeks with both hands and stretched them.
"You little punk!"
"Aang! Kal! It hurts~ Let gooo~"
Eve wriggled, trying to pry my hands off while mumbling. We giggled and horsed around.
And Mebi, still prostrated on the floor, lifted its head and stared blankly at the scene.
[What... is this...]
The queen who had just disregarded the universe... nestled in the arms of a lowly creature—no, a human male, cheeks puffed out, laughing?
Mebi's thought circuits ground to a halt at the incomprehensible sight.
Then, Nahibi slithered over beside Mebi.
[You should thank me for saving your hide, Mebi.]
Nahibi sent a smug wave.
[If Kal hadn't blocked you, or if I hadn't joined in and he'd gotten hurt... you'd be fertilizer under Her Majesty's wrath by now.]
[......]
[That settles the debt from blocking the main cannon. Got it?]
Mebi remained frozen in sheer shock.