Chapter 38
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: The Blood Cell Outbreak
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"Nothing's more hellish than waiting around without knowing a damn thing. I'd rather stay by your side. I'll watch over you right there."
"Are you beating around the bush, saying I'm not human right now?"
Beatrice shook her head, looking a bit confused.
"No, that's not what I mean. There's literally no data. Normally, you'd at least pick up faint vital signs—that's what you'd expect."
She pointed at the monitor.
"The machine can't read any signs of life from you at all."
I could definitely feel my heart beating, though.
"Must be a machine malfunction."
"This is a first for me. It might be rejecting the scan because our database has no samples like you."
Asrania.
The original owner of this body I possessed.
I only knew her from the game lore—nothing about how this body worked biologically.
She was definitely human, but given the abilities she'd shown, she seemed like some off-spec entity.
Of course, that just meant she wielded immense power.
But was she really human?
Or something wearing human skin?
I shouldn't overthink it.
Like Beatrice said, it could just be a simple glitch.
That was the most likely explanation.
Beep!
It was then. An alarm blared from Beatrice's wrist terminal.
"...What the hell."
Beatrice's brow furrowed sharply. Without asking permission, she connected the call.
"This is Beatrice. Don't you know I'm in the middle of a scan?"
[Doctor! Emergency!]
A near-scream of a report burst through the terminal.
[Massive energy surge detected! Blood Cells are multiplying exponentially!]
"Blood Cells?"
My ears perked up.
Beatrice glanced at me, then pressed the terminal to her mouth.
[Location: Kitesh!]
Kitesh?
No idea where that was. First time hearing it.
'Was there a place like that in the original? No, there wasn't.'
But since I got isekai'd mid-game, it must be one of those unreleased areas slated for update.
[Dozens of reactions popping up simultaneously!]
Impossible.
I didn't know where Kitesh was, but unless someone smuggled them in on purpose, dozens couldn't appear at once.
'No event like this in the original game either.'
If this was before the original timeline, the scenario had derailed. Big time.
Because of me?
[Upper command's in chaos right now. Nearby hunters, mercenary bands—even the heads of state are mobilizing forces!]
"...Insane. Got it. Keep reporting."
Click. The call ended, leaving an awkward tension. Like the walls were closing in.
The unwritten rule around here: one Blood Cell sighting, and everyone scrambles like their eyes are on fire.
Dozens of them?
I didn't know where Kitesh was, but my condolences to anyone living there.
"So, where the hell is this Kitesh?"
"...A ruined city that popped up out of nowhere a month ago."
A city if it's a city, ruins if it's ruins.
A ruined city appearing out of thin air? Sounds about as real as hot ice Americano.
"Doesn't make sense. Can a city just pop up like that?"
"The weird part? It looks like it sank into the ocean and got dredged up—flood marks everywhere."
"Not curious about that. How'd it get made?"
"No one knows. Rumor has it Axiom was involved."
Ah. If Axiom's tangled in it, that kinda makes sen—
Who am I kidding?
Did our organization have some lunatic who could conjure a whole city?
Plenty who could wreck one, but create? None.
Sage, maybe?
Even Sage making a city would burn insane power. And it's not even possible.
"Thought you might know something."
"If I say I don't, will you believe me?"
"Yeah."
Tough spot. I genuinely had zero guesses.
I slipped back into my clothes, buttoning them one by one like a mantra to myself.
'None of my business.'
I'm not the old Asrania.
Not a killing machine. So ignore it, play dumb—
'Ugh.'
Blood surged backward through my veins.
"...Ngh."
A burning thirst clawed at my throat.
'Damn it, what's this?'
The instinct of a starving beast catching thick blood scent, drooling madly as it charged without reason.
Did I get infected or something?
When was the last time I felt this filthy urge?
'Fighting the Abyss.'
Lately, Abyss energy had been creeping near our house. They're strong—could swallow top hunters in seconds.
'If I'm not careful, even Esira could get dragged in.'
Scenario off the original rails.
Meaning this mess was deeply tied to me.
Should I go?
If there's something there I need to find.
The source of this bizarre hunger. Why it pulled at me like madness. I had to check.
"I'm going too."
Beatrice froze mid-gear-up.
Her half-open lips trembled in shock.
"Y-You're going?"
The woman who wouldn't blink at most monsters was seriously rattled right now.
'Fair enough.'
I got why.
Blood Cells were the old Asrania's reverse scale.
Per original lore, anyone nearing one—Axiom or civilian—got sliced without mercy.
Obvious how I looked to her now.
A disaster awakened by blood scent.
A monster heading to turn a city center into a bloodbath.
"Loosen up that face."
I said it casually.
"You look like you've seen a ghost."
"You know our objective."
"...Blood Cell recovery and destruction, right?"
Blood Cells were the culprits plunging the world into chaos.
Cursed rocks that numbed reason and fueled endless war.
Plus, I was Axiom. Someone who knew their secrets to a degree—and got labeled a psycho over them.
Beatrice had every reason to be wary.
I smirked.
"I'm just going to check it out."
No plans to kill you lot.
I left Beatrice behind and stepped out of the lab.
It was noisy. The whole base was on high alert.
Esira, Marigold, and the Commander stood side by side.
All with grim faces.
The most relaxed among them? The Commander, as expected.
"Why's the Commander hanging here instead of going?"
With chaos like that, on-site command should be priority, right?
"Not handling field control?"
"Already delegated situation assessment to my aides."
The Commander shrugged, arms crossed.
"Couldn't focus if I left without hearing your scan results. Felt off."
In my eyes, the Commander wasn't normal either.
"My scan results over a disaster? Didn't know the Commander's job was that cushy."
"A good commander makes sure the organization runs even if he's away briefly."
What a shameless face. Never thought he'd say it himself.
Not competent—just a pervert.
"No major issues, she said."
"...Ah."
Esira finally exhaled the breath she'd been holding. My girl, who'd worried the most.
"Thank goodness. Really, really thank goodness..."
"Sis, no hiding anything, right? You're not, like, terminal or something?"
Marigold, terminal? Read too many novels?
Her eyes rolled, scanning my complexion.
The Commander just narrowed his eyes. With Beatrice clamming up, no opening to probe now.
'He'll grill her the second I step out.'
Beatrice had no reason to hide. My condition was genuinely fine. She could speak freely.
"Heard the news. Blood Cells in the middle of some ruined city."
Suspicious as hell. My body's weird reaction aside, this whole off-rail situation was the biggest variable.
"I'm heading there too."
The air froze instantly. Different reason this time.
"For real?"
Marigold's face hardened in a flash. She knew better than anyone what Asrania turned into near Blood Cells.
"...Mom, can't you stay?"
Esira clutched my hem tight. Her fingertips pale.
"It's dangerous there."
"When have I ever been in danger?"
"...Then I'm coming too."
What?
Thought I misheard. Hell, I wished I had.
'Is she in her right mind?'
Why go there? My barely-held mask shattered.
I couldn't contain my boiling blood pressure and bowed my head.
Rubbed my face up and down repeatedly. Even dry-washing couldn't clear the stuffiness.
"I might not be able to protect you."
"Mom, I'm strong enough! I might not match you, but I can pull my weight."
I knew. Esira was top-tier even in the original.
But parents don't work that way.
"Send you alone to a death trap while I lounge here with legs stretched?"
The kid who'd normally obey was digging in today.
"Nothing's more hellish than waiting around without knowing a damn thing. I'd rather stay by your side. I'll watch over you right there."
Didn't expect her to push this hard.
No means no.
Then the Commander chimed in, chin propped like it was fascinating.
"Take her. I'll provide support."
"You're going anyway. As Commander."
"Not just as Commander."
The Commander looked serious.
"Going as Esira's daddy too."
"..."
Sounded like a joke, but that brazen face said it wasn't 100%.
Esira glared at the Commander. Her innocent eyes flooded with killing intent. Fierce aura. If looks could kill, he'd be diced.
Tzzzt, crackle.
Something shimmered at the edge of my vision.
Marigold.
Faint golden threads rose like heat haze from her fingertips. Looked like she was about to garrote him.
My blood pressure would pop before any Blood Cell did.
"I get the sentiment."
I cut straight to the Commander.
"Commander. Fix the title."
"Yes, ma'am."
Sighed inwardly a dozen times.
I turned to Esira.
"...Fine. But promise me. Stay by my side, no matter what. Always behind me."
"Yeah! Promise!"
Esira's face lit up instantly. Seeing relief wash over her tearful expression tickled my chest oddly.
"Unexpected. Didn't think you'd bring her."
"Esira's young but strong. She can handle her share. Why worry?"
"Nah. She might even be your leash."
Beatrice's gaze flicked between me and Esira.
"If she's the only one who can hold you back, bringing her might minimize variables."
Situation settled, Marigold scratched her head, arms still crossed.
"Argh, seriously, no choice! Can't bail when the mood's set."
Marigold sidled up beside me. Playful tone, but heavy words.
"By the way, sis. It's been forever since you went back to your old self?"
To the Commander or Esira, it might sound like teaming up as Axiom.
But to me, it rang different.
'Back to those bloodbath days?'
Felt like Axiom #3 Calendula asking, not Marigold.
I answered slowly, swallowing the boiling thirst inside.
"As if."