The King's Singular Offer
Maya’s lips pressed tightly shut, as if she had no words left.
Perhaps at this very moment she was thinking something like this?
*Can someone wearing Anastasia’s daughter’s face spout words like that?*
That was the feeling I got.
Maya and our mother had been very close friends. A truly noble person with clear convictions.
Because of that, Maya had kept the fact that I was alive a secret from our mother.
The daughter she believed had barely returned alive was, in reality, a corpse devoured by a monster inside. She hadn’t wanted to tell her.
I had used that perfectly.
In the end, our mother had made a trap for me before she realized I was alive.
Maya’s gaze had grown ice-cold.
“…You have no right to throw words like that at me.”
“Well, I’d say this much advice at least is within my authority.”
“What?”
“After all, this body I occupy is Anastasia’s daughter and a comrade who fought beside you on the battlefield, isn’t it? The daughter of a friend—surely I can speak like this?”
“You!”
Maya’s brows knitted with displeasure.
Hearing advice from me was unthinkable for her.
“It is beyond disgusting. A monster that parasitizes others’ bodies, yet a youngling dares to lecture me on the weight of years and a mother’s duty before me.”
“Well. You must be mistaken about what ‘young’ means.”
I shrugged my shoulders. It was only something a Receptor could say.
“A Receptor has a far longer history than you imagine. In truth, I am infinitely older than you.”
“….”
“Think of it as advice from a senior of many centuries and take it to heart.”
It felt strangely satisfying to speak to my mother’s friend in this way.
As long as the truth was not revealed.
Maya stared at me with pure astonishment.
Deciding that further argument was pointless, she closed her eyes and let out a sigh.
“…You don’t want to hear any more.”
“Really?”
“However, I will accept the advice at least.”
“….”
“As a mother, I must support my child. I will never forget that.”
I hadn’t expected her to yield so easily. If I had known how Maya felt, I would have pressed harder—especially since I had made my resolve.
Perhaps she had thought of our mother?
*A mother can do anything for her child.*
“…Ho. Why are you looking at me while saying this?”
“You will eventually be held back by your ankle. Whether it is Anastasia or your friend—you will surely come for your neck.”
It was clearly a warning.
I wasn’t the least bit afraid.
On the contrary, I welcomed it. Only when karma returned could I taste the desolation I had created.
“Ah, and the king has summoned you. It would be good to drop by when you have time.”
Maya turned sharply and walked away down the dark corridor.
I watched her retreating back, leaning against the wall at a slant.
*Whatever it takes…*
I had issued a warning. A mother who had lost her daughter would do anything for revenge.
Yes, just as our mother had done for me.
“….”
It was over. After all, it was all in the past.
I remembered Maya’s final words as I tried to shake off the heavy mood.
*Now that I think of it, why did the king suddenly call you?*
Was he about to give me a new mission?
◆◇◆
The place summoned by the Sandrobel King.
A mood-based personality who becomes terrifying when angry, yet drops oddly comedic lines at other times. Truly an unpredictable man.
He skipped all pleasantries and went straight to the point.
“You have no intention of creating more Receptors.”
“…?”
I had been slightly tense, but one sentence shattered my firm resolve completely.
What? Create Receptors?
I stared at him fixedly, then opened my lips askew.
“I would prefer if you first told me why you ask.”
I countered his question with another question. I wasn’t unaware of overstepping the line, but I thought again about just how serious that question was.
How to increase one’s own kind. The Sandrobel King knew well.
The king’s lips curved upward—not with anger, but with amusement.
“Why? Simply. Because I find you quite pleasant.”
“…Really?”
“You are the last Receptor left on this land. Yet I cannot understand why, even in the face of extinction, you refuse to increase your bloodline.”
It was only natural.
Why would I care? I was human, not a Receptor.
*How about imitating the spores? They spread ruthlessly, even causing storms. Why do you just sit there saying, ‘Ah, it’s fine. Everything will turn out well.’?*
“Ha…”
I could not hold back and let out a dumbfounded laugh.
Was he that brazen?
Comparing spores and Receptors was funny, but the way Receptors multiplied their numbers was different from spores.
Spores spread roughly through the air.
Receptors…
Had to be born inside a womb.
In other words, the infection process was far too difficult. Perhaps that was why Receptors had gone extinct long ago.
“I wonder why you seem more eager than the person concerned—me. Are you acting in the role of the Receptor Protection Association against extinction?”
“Not eagerness, but mere pity.”
The king caught my sarcasm with ease.
“As I said earlier, I find you pleasing. It would be a shame to let such a being go extinct like this.”
“….”
“If you are hesitating because you lack a medium to increase your species, I can immediately gather some decent men from outside.”
My expression cooled instantly.
This could not be covered by any excuse.
I disliked women, but men even more.
“I refuse. I cannot accept.”
If he called men, I would immediately destroy this place and run away.
This was unacceptable.
“Ho. The great you, trembling so. Truly, you have no intention of spreading even a little seed?”
“…None for now. I will handle it myself—do not meddle with what does not concern you.”
I should have said ‘none at all,’ but to avoid suspicion I said ‘none for now.’
The king shrugged with regret.
“Stubborn. If you dislike being forced by anyone, there is one man in this world who is far superior and perfect.”
Oh, no.
The chill that ran down my spine—the same feeling as before.
“…I have no interest in who he is. Do not speak of him.”
I had cut him off in advance.
Do not say it.
I hated the act of mixing flesh with a man.
Without reading my meaning, the king spoke with his usual ease.
“What if I offer you my own bloodline?”
“…?”
What nonsense had come out?
Kyahahah! The real Receptor is dead. Even a fake one is dead, in a sense.
I met the king’s two eyes. I had desperately hoped it was a joke, but there was no trace of play in his deep pupils.
*…Should I just tear out his tongue and run right here?*
Rebellion burned in my chest, but I forced down my killing intent.
“…This is too much of a joke.”
“Did I sound like I was joking? I am quite sincere at this moment.”
The more sincere it sounded, the more terrifying it was, you madman.
“No.”
I made up some excuse to back down somehow.
“A Receptor does not mix with anyone. It is far more difficult than you think. Especially with someone as strong and alien as you, it is out of the question.”
“What do you mean by ‘alien’?”
“If you forcibly try to mix with me, the waves will collide and your life force will be devoured by mine and you will die. We can never mix.”
It was a cleverly fabricated lie.
At this moment I spoke it with absolute truth. Perhaps more sincerity than usual.
“…It is no good for you to get entangled with someone like me. Nothing good will come of it.”
The king laughed heartily without displeasure.
“If your resolve is so firm, then there is nothing I can do. It was only a light courtesy—I will not hold a grudge.”
“….”
I turned and fled the room as if escaping.
It would have been better if he had been angry. That was far easier.
Alone in the corridor, my tension melted and a headache surged in. I pressed my throbbing forehead and replayed the conversation just now.
*What exactly is he plotting?*
Compassion? I did not think so. I did not think he would speak such words because he truly liked me.
Could it be that he suspected something? That I was not a Receptor?
Hmm.
“Elia~! Are you okay~?”
An familiar voice came from the end of the corridor. I looked up and saw Red approaching at a quick trot.
“…Red.”
“I heard the king suddenly summoned you~ What on earth did he say? Your face looks bad.”
“He seems to be clinging a lot to bloodlines. He said he would personally help ensure the Receptor bloodline does not cut off.”
Immediately, the air around us turned icy cold.
Red’s expression turned ashen in an instant. He was about to rebel. If someone had egged him on, he would have grabbed his gun and charged without hesitation.
“Ha… shit… What did you answer?”
Her tone had grown vicious. Had she gone back to the old Red? The time when she cursed at me?
I closed my tired eyes and answered.
“…Of course I refused. That cannot be done.”
The terrifying killing intent dissolved like smoke.
“Haa…”
Red let out a deep sigh, ran a hand over her chest, and returned to her usual bright expression.
“You did well. Really, you thought well, Elia~”
There were too many mood-disorder patients in Sandrobel. It would have been better to be a human who committed evil deeds than me.
Red spread her arms wide as if to hug me.
I turned and dodged.
“…It is hot. Do not stick to me.”
“Ah, why is this~ We are on good terms! Do not be so standoffish and come here!”
While watching Red grumble, a strange curiosity arose.
“Does mixing with others make you so disgusted?”
Red let out a dumbfounded laugh.
“What do you mean ‘disgusted’? Of course I am not. Do you think I like crazy things?”
“…Because I am in Elia’s body? Are you afraid Elia will get dirty?”
Red’s bright mask melted away slowly. Her eyes sparkled as if tears of blood would flow. She opened her mouth in a split voice.
“Just like I said to you before.”
“What?”
“Before arriving in Phaestus, you said this, right? ‘Elia, the one who will save your life twice and throw herself into the flames again does not exist.’”
It was a line I had spoken to her before Phaestus.
“…Yes. I did say that.”
“Because you stubbornly insisted that you were not the real Elia. Now that you are this Elia, I will spread some Elia rumors.”
Suddenly?
Was I supposed to feel wounded?
Hadn’t I been kind to you back then?
Red closed the distance. Her blatant gaze made me take a startled step backward.
With a bright smile she said.
“I like Elia too much.”