Chapter 38
Chapter 38
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: His and Her Hidden Identity (6)
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Alpha's life began in a tomb made of glass.
Later, overhearing chatter among the corporate researchers, it was said that Alpha's birth was nothing short of a miraculous byproduct.
- Wow, this could usher in a new paradigm for the enhanced human industry.
- The problem is the body's perfection is too high. We just need to compensate for the low cybernetic synergy. For now, let's mass-produce other samples.
Eventually, the transparent glass walls became massive iron bars imprisoning Alpha.
A 1.5-meter-diameter incubation capsule.
That was Alpha's entire world.
- Hey, be more careful. Can't you see the R/B (Risk-Benefit) warning? You treating maintenance like this casually?
- Yes, yes, got it. ...Ugh, what a pain swapping out an incubation capsule. Fucking white trash job. Hey, where's my screwdriver? Did I drop it somewhere?
With thick shackles binding both arms, she couldn't even move her body freely.
As it was a secret experiment, there were no such things as "life ethics" or "safety protocols" that should exist in normal research processes.
The intensity of the experiments grew day by day,
and Alpha could only watch the other test subjects dying inside the incubation tanks.
- What're they saying from upstairs?
- What else? Funding's cut off, no profitability. They're shifting the experiment's purpose to assassinating human resources.
- Ah, we were so close...
- Well, can't be helped. Alpha's stats were too varied between peaks and lows. I thought the "artificial psyker" angle would sell, but maybe the risk of government interference is too high. Anyway, dispose of all but a few Alpha samples. For the next Beta batch, let's aim for balanced average abilities.
The discarded test subjects were all used in subsequent experiments, not even leaving bone fragments behind.
Alpha hadn't learned concepts like humanity, ethics, or morality, but she could easily sense that what was happening here was far from normal.
However, Alpha didn't act rashly.
She quietly observed the corporate researchers laughing and chatting beyond the glass walls, biding her time.
On the monitor displays, Alpha always appeared to be in a sleep state, so as the experiment dragged on, it was inevitable that the researchers grew complacent and lazy.
- ...What's this project's name? IMP? Wow, we've been stuck on this for years? No wonder the staff keeps turning over.
- And they left the original test subject just sitting there. Tsk, it's an eyesore. Let's move it first. Yeah, swap the incubation capsule. Before calling maintenance, drain the contents to save time.
Thanks to the negligence of the replacement researcher,
Alpha was able to escape her prison.
"Wh-what the...? What is this? How? Both arms were securely restrained... Where the hell did that fucking screwdriver come from?!"
She didn't bother responding.
The corporate researchers never answered the test subjects' questions either.
Alpha took a deep breath.
"...Ah."
The air, unblocked by the special solution, was so clear and fresh.
Her whole body felt light with liberation.
But Alpha wasn't satisfied yet.
This was only the beginning.
To rescue her imprisoned comrades,
and to exact revenge.
Just before leaving the lab, Alpha absentmindedly glanced at the wreckage of the incubation capsule she'd emerged from.
Alpha's name wasn't there.
Just an illegible warning etched on the shattered glass.
And that was enough for Alpha.
'......Liberra.'
It was the moment the girl who had lived her whole life as test subject Alpha gained a new name.
Liberra quietly continued her story.
"Without Kanpu and Runrun, it would've been hard to get everyone out together. Even if it was just me, there were a lot of other kids there too."
"......"
"And of all places, the secret corporate lab was in the 10s district... You have no idea how much we struggled to escape."
"......"
"After coming down to Area 49, nothing major happened. ...Ah, we met the Hotdog Man. Thinking back, not everything was bad."
I nodded several times as I listened to Liberra's tale.
"So, how old are you─"
"We did make some kind of deal with other corporations along the way, but it involved confidentiality, so I'll stop here."
No, I asked your age.
Liberra kept dodging my question until the end.
Even when I asked again several times, no answer.
Anyway.
Since it was just a question to lighten the heavy mood, it was better to ask again later.
I crumpled the empty cola can flat.
Listening to Liberra's journey made my throat tight in more ways than one.
I needed carbonation.
The crisp refreshment of ice-cold soda.
"The 10s district... Exact location?"
"...Pardon?"
Liberra responded with a puzzled look to my question.
I asked again.
"The corporate secret lab."
As I naturally stood up, Liberra's gaze followed upward.
"Yes, of course I remember. ...But why do you ask?"
"Why? To get revenge sooner or later."
Grudges and favors must be repaid double.
Sometimes the Code of Hammurabi is right.
I felt my head boiling, just like when I stormed the Bogers Gang hideout.
Even if revenge wasn't possible right now.
I could start preparing from this moment.
"......Ah."
Liberra let out a dazed voice at my unexpected response, then scratched her head and added,
"...The revenge is already done."
"?"
I sat back on the sofa.
Liberra chuckled softly.
"We all assassinated the chairman there... Actually, that's what led to the contracts with the other corporations."
It was quite a shocking fact.
Revenge already complete.
I never expected to hear about assassinating a corporate chairman so casually.
This time, Liberra stood from the sofa.
It seemed like she hesitated midway, but she didn't stop.
"We are Project IMP."
She brushed her shaggy hair aside.
Her golden eyes fixed on me.
"...Test subjects created for assassination."
This was the first time I properly saw Liberra's face.
I'd glimpsed it briefly when we first met, but it was just a passing glance.
Pointed ears naturally protruded from the sides of her face.
Honestly, she looked more like an elf than an imp, but Liberra seemed to have a huge complex about her appearance.
"This creepy face too, because of that..."
"It's just cute, nothing more."
I responded without thinking.
Liberra seemed not to grasp what she'd just heard.
Her large eyes blinked.
A moment of silence passed.
Her blushing cheeks were hidden again by her black hair like a curtain.
"Wh-what..."
I stroked Liberra's head.
The girl who couldn't affirm herself.
Just like before I knew anything.
......
She probably wasn't older than me anyway.
"It's not your fault."
The name they called her imp, the reason she had to seek revenge, the cause that led her to care for the kids in Area 49—none of it.
'Imp, huh...'
At least her speech was normal, which was a relief.
If it were like the imps from some game or the nymphs from a novel, that might've been tricky.
I couldn't see her expression as she hid her face behind her hair again.
"...Is that so."
At least she didn't seem to hate it.
That was enough for now.
And then.
"Is he really the boss's boyfriend...?"
"I told you it's true. Tch, if it weren't for the Hotdog Man, I'd take him out right now..."
"I finished my popcorn. Someone get more."
"Hey, wait... I can't see from my spot! Move aside, anyone!"
"You're late, your fault."
"...Ah! I really hate you, Runrun!"
Noisy voices came from beyond the door.
Liberra noticed too and quickly stepped back a few paces.
Her sharp gaze turned to the kids.
"......You lot."
"Ack, caught!"
The kids scattered at her growling, scary voice.
Just seeing that told me their daily life wasn't unhappy.
'But living together in a place without even proper doors is a bit much.'
Liberra's family home was quite spacious, but that was it.
With winter approaching and no proper heating, spending it there wouldn't be easy.
"......"
Fortunately, I had a universal solution to all these problems.
Inside the peaceful grocery store.
Michael spotted me and waved.
"Hotdog Man! Was just looking for you."
"Why."
He pulled out a paper densely covered in writing and diagrams from his pocket.
"In Risk City, where inflation is accelerating, leaving a large sum idle is a loss. I scouted some good investment spots..."
"All spent."
"......Pardon?"
Michael froze stiffly.
He always kept a poker face, but now he looked utterly flustered.
It was a whopping 500,000 dollars, after all.
Not an incomprehensible reaction.
"...May I ask where you used it?"
I sat at the grocery counter and answered calmly.
"Donated to an orphanage."
"...An orphanage? Does this city even have one?"
It does.
Not official, but it was still a place taking care of kids.
And even if money was left, blindly following someone into stocks felt off.
This guy's scary.
Michael left the store looking downcast.
Just as peace returned,
[......Du.]
A turret slowly emerged from the grocery store ceiling.
That mechanical sound sounded terribly sad.
I tried explaining to poor Nova, who couldn't speak properly without speakers.
"...I didn't really spend it all there, so don't worry too much. I'll ask Walter later."
[Du....]
"No, it's not that I forgot..."
There were extenuating circumstances.