Chapter 32
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Regrettable Change
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"At this very moment, it's deeply regrettable that you've changed."
Silence stretched on as we walked down the corridor.
The only sound was the sharp click of heels on the floor.
The one who finally broke the quiet was none other than the Commander.
He stared piercingly at Sage's back as she led the way, then abruptly turned to me.
"But something feels off."
"What does?"
"Axiom's a pretty old organization. Yet all the members are way too young."
The Commander glanced at Marigold, then met my eyes again.
"Sage is like that, you're like that, Asrania. Marigold too. What do you guys eat to stay alive? All vampires or something? Popping preservatives?"
In that instant, a chill swept in from beside me.
It was Esira.
"Did you just bring up age in front of a lady? Showing off how uneducated you are?"
"Uh, whoa. No, I didn't mean it like that..."
"Shut it. My mom's beauty defies time itself. Not like some slob who doesn't even take care of himself."
Esira glanced up at me proudly, then turned back to the Commander with a frosty glare.
"At least she's a hundred times brighter than someone who claims to like her but can't even remember or take responsibility."
Oh my. That wasn't just a jab—it ground him to dust.
The Commander opened his mouth a few times, then shut it, at a loss for words.
That's when Marlboro cut in with a serious face.
"It's not just baby faces. Sage is a special case."
The Commander tilted his head.
"What do you mean?"
"Sage's heart doesn't beat normally. It's wrapped in mana, forced to keep going."
"With mana?"
This time, Marigold jumped into the conversation.
"Yeah! This building's still standing thanks to big brother number five's heart."
Marigold pointed at the ceiling with a bright smile.
"The whole place is basically one massive magic artifact. His heart pumps the energy through it. Strictly speaking, his body's more like..."
Marigold trailed off, giggling mischievously.
"...a finely crafted doll."
Calling a person a doll.
It was an outrageously rude way to put it, but Sage showed no reaction.
'The whole building runs on mana, huh.'
"So if big brother number five dies and his heart stops—or if it breaks—he dies, obviously. And then..."
Marigold spread her hands wide, mimicking an explosion.
She even added a cute sound effect: "Boom!"
"This whole building crumbles to nothing. No trace left."
A massive illusion conjured by magic. If the heart bursts, this towering structure vanishes like a mirage.
'Insane.'
If Sage died right here?
We'd be buried alive under hundreds of tons of debris before we could escape.
Or the building turns to dust, leaving us floating in midair.
Sage never died in the original story, so the building's fate was unknown, but I didn't want to imagine it.
I stared at Sage's back as she walked ahead.
Even with her weakness exposed, she remained utterly silent.
Was this not even worth keeping secret?
Or did she truly not care about her own life?
Either way, it left a bad taste.
Her silhouette looked strangely hollow.
Screeech—
A massive door swung open.
A vast hall appeared, filled with the Axiom members who'd evacuated earlier.
The first to approach was Dancing Butterfly.
"Commander, you actually survived? Color me surprised. Thought you were goner."
She eyed the Commander with an ambiguous gaze—contempt or curiosity, hard to tell.
He scratched the back of his head sheepishly.
"Not all the answers are in yet."
I said flatly.
"We wrapped it up, more or less."
"More or less?"
"Don't ask for details. We're both beat."
Dancing Butterfly seemed about to press, but caught my exhaustion and nodded cautiously.
"Call on me anytime you need help."
"Thanks."
I hoped she meant it.
Then—
Squeeze.
A soft, warm sensation pressed into my palm.
Looking down, Esira had grabbed my hand tight with her tiny ones.
Like clutching a treasure chest she refused to let go. I could even feel her determination.
Her eyes sparkled like a puppy wagging its tail.
"Heehee. I love you so much, Mom."
"Yeah. Love you too."
I stroked her head because she was adorable, and Esira beamed, rubbing her cheek against my arm.
My heart softened a bit at my little girl's antics.
Then—
Thud, thud.
Something approached from where the Axiom members gathered.
Sleek metal joints. A silhouette evoking a tuxedo.
Axiom Number 2. Arachnoid Type α.
He stopped before us, placed a hand on his chest, and bowed politely.
"Pleased to meet you, Lady Asrania. And honored guests."
His voice mixed mechanical tones but carried a surprisingly gentle cadence.
"I'll need to update the database. I calculated the Commander's survival odds below 0.4%. Nicely overturned my hypothesis."
Arachnoid Type α's optical sensor flashed red.
The Commander whistled in admiration.
"Beats gacha game rates."
"And what percentage is that?"
"Under 0.3%."
"That's not a game. That's gambling."
Arachnoid Type α stated firmly.
He raised a hand, summoning a hologram window.
"No data on why the Commander's here. By protocol, this is Axiom members only. Outsiders barred."
Arachnoid Type α's gaze lingered on Esira, glued to my side.
His red glow flickered, and he shook his head.
"With your daughter here, I'll make an exception this time. Fairness is my aesthetic, after all."
A flexible robot. He couldn't boot out my daughter, and singling out the Commander would've looked odd.
So he generously included the Commander and Reina too.
"Thank you."
As the Commander bowed, he whispered to Marlboro.
"Marlboro, that robot's Axiom too?"
The Commander's eyes sparkled like a kid spotting a limited-edition alloy toy.
"Axiom Number 2. Name's Arachnoid Type α."
"Number 2? Second to join, or... person?"
"...Yeah, something like that. Why, interested?"
"Any guy sees tech like that, heart skips a beat."
Arachnoid Type α fell silent.
His optical sensor narrowed.
He scanned the Commander, then slowly turned to me.
"Lady Asrania."
"Yes."
"May I make a suggestion?"
What followed was chilling.
"At this very moment, it's deeply regrettable that you've changed."
As if asking, 'Why not just kill him?'
"This specimen is mere noise and impurity in your journey. Data suggests disposal here would've been optimal for you."
I swallowed once. My grip tightened unconsciously on Esira's hand.
Then, Reina, unable to hold back, stepped forward indignantly.
"That's too much! The Commander is...!"
Arachnoid Type α ignored her completely. Like dismissing a yapping pup, his gaze fixed solely on me.
"Yet you spared him."
"..."
"Inefficient, unlike you. Bearing such a heavy burden needlessly."
I looked at Arachnoid Type α.
"This man..."
I deliberately stripped emotion from my voice. To avoid weird misunderstandings this time.
"Feels different. Like he drifted here from some distant world beyond this one."
Because he really crossed dimensions.
"A type I've never seen among humans. Piqued my interest."
I stared straight into the Commander's eyes and added.
"Felt a shame to snap and kill him right away."
I said it like a collector spotting a rare specimen.
Arachnoid Type α's sensor blinked red. He paused, processing my words, then nodded.
"Hm. You rate this Commander highly."
"Not because he's valuable."
"Then what?"
"Like driftwood washed up by unfamiliar waves, out of place in this murky pond."
Arachnoid Type α nodded.
No telling what calculations he'd run. Robot poker faces were harder to read than humans'; impossible to guess his thoughts.
"I offer respect for embracing the unpredictable and your patience."
Praise or insult? Felt like the former.
"So, what kind of man is this Commander you've observed?"
"I'll answer that."
The Commander stepped forward confidently.
"The guy who got headpats from Asrania."
...Headpats? What's that?
First I'd heard the word. Operation codename? Some tactic only he used?
I glanced at the Commander.
'Prove your worth. Show your value.'
That's clearly what I'd meant.
Why bring up my name?
"...Uh."
Arachnoid Type α's mechanical voice glitched faintly. His red sensor whirred, iris contracting and dilating.
"I see."
After a long pause, he nodded slowly.
"My apologies. Overstepped with my question."
He retreated politely.
Hard to believe this was the same robot talking disposal moments ago.
"Didn't calculate your relationship ran this deep. Human emotions remain beyond my database."
What the hell was he talking about?
Then, the Commander muttered softly.
"Feels like a blank check now."
Ridiculous.
I eyed him suspiciously.
"Spit it out straight. What's 'headpats' mean?"
"Er, well. In translation? Being treated kindly?"
"...I see."
Kindly, huh.
Not entirely wrong.
Third parties seemed to think I viewed him favorably.
And I had cut him some slack.
That's when.
"Perhaps we wrap up this pleasant chat?"
Sage, who'd listened silently, finally spoke. He wore a friendly smile, but his eyes darkened slightly.
"Time is money, as they say. Reunion's nice, but let's get to business."
Arachnoid Type α whipped his head around. Red glow fixed on Sage's face.
"Sage. Have you lost your mind?"
"Pardon?"
"Speaking so normally, unlike you. Done drugs?"
Genuine concern in his tone.
Sage's brow twitched.
"...Let's get to business."
He brushed it off, pretending not to hear.
I clicked my tongue inwardly.
'Robots or humans, eyes see the same.'
Arachnoid Type α narrowed his lens suspiciously, then nodded in acceptance.
"Fine. Regrettably, Axiom #3 and #1 couldn't join..."
Axiom #3 had turned into little Marigold, but no need to mention.
"In high-uncertainty scenarios, cross-verification boosts survival odds keyly."
Arachnoid Type α extended his palm courteously, like asking a dance partner.
"We've been too disconnected despite being one organization."
"..."
"Time to reconnect closed circuits, exchange greetings, build ties. What say you?"