Chapter 51 : Gaze

[Hello, Human]

At the sound of someone’s voice, I opened my eyes, and a sinister creature greeted me.

It resembled Daengdaengi’s body shape, but its fluid skin, like that of a Sarkas, and its heterogenous eyes staring directly at me created a terrible harmony.

Accepting the existence in front of me as reality required tremendous courage.

“….Who are you?”

I tried to speak calmly. It was a decision made based on the judgment that it was likely a being with intelligence comparable to humans, since it had spoken to me first in human language.

[Seeing your heart beating, I judged that you would be surprised and faint, but you’re surprisingly calm.]

It didn’t move its mouth, but its intentions were conveyed to my mind like thoughts. As I described earlier, it had a terrible appearance, but its form resembled Daengdaengi no matter how you looked at it.

“…Daengdaengi?”

[Daengdaengi? Is that the name of this Osteon?]

It spoke as if it were another being that had entered Daengdaengi’s body.

“What the hell are you..?”

[I am both Daengdaengi and not Daengdaengi. Daengdaengi’s component makes up about 50% of my composition.]

“What are you talking about? Speak so I can understand..!”

[Very well.]

At my question, it changed its posture and stood up. Then, it began to transform into a very heterogenous shape.

[I am a being born from envy. Humans call me this.]

Even though it was a thought, a vivid voice, as if speaking right in front of me, resounded in my head.

[‘Invidia of Envy.’]

A shock, as if I had been hit on the head, coursed through me.

‘Invidia, who I should have defeated with Yuri, why…?’

[It’s not strange that you think that. Originally, I should have disappeared.]

“…!”

It showed signs of reading my thoughts and answering.

[That I survived was purely luck. Human, do you remember the tentacle I shot?]

When I was aiming at the immobile Invidia, one of the tentacles it extended attacked me. However, Daengdaengi took the blow instead, and Invidia’s tentacle eventually pierced Daengdaengi’s core.

[The moment the tentacle touched that guy’s core, I had this thought: If I take over this body, I can move and avoid the crisis.]

“..So, this is the result of the takeover..?”

Invidia shook its head and answered.

[It’s a half-success. The plan to dominate this Osteon was, in fact, a failure.]

It quickly sent its genetic information through the tentacle that pierced Daengdaengi’s core. However, the time was too short to deliver the full amount.

As a result, it failed to send enough information to take over Daengdaengi’s body completely, and they combined into one being—neither one nor the other.

[The current Daengdaengi and I are completely combined. As another being that is neither an Osteon nor a Sarkas.]

‘An Osteon and a Sarkas, combined..?’

[As proof of that, I have the power to control your body, but I’m not doing it. Attempts to have such thoughts are blocked by a strange power.]

That’s probably Daengdaengi’s will. It’s a reality that’s hard to believe—that two entities have combined—but since it appeared in front of me like this, I have to accept it.

[..By the way, you’re a very peculiar individual among humans. You have the mind of a human male, but the body of a female.]

‘It can even know that?’

Just as the Osteon shares memories and emotions with the Spirit Master, it was no exception.

[Besides, based on your memories, you are originally from another world.. ]

When it said that, the treatment room door opened, and someone came in.

‘Oh no, if someone comes in now…!’

If someone saw this, they would think it was not a normal situation, no matter how they looked at it.

“Are you feeling better……? Huh?”

The one who opened the door and came in was Instructor Iris, who looked exhausted from the hard nursing. As I expected, her eyes were fixed on the suspicious creature.

“..Iris. I’ll explain everything. This is, so..”

I tried to think of something, but no matter what I said, she honestly wouldn’t believe it.

“Daengdaengi was alive…!”

“…Yes?”

At her words, I looked to the side, and Daengdaengi was really sitting next to me. Iris approached him and stroked him happily.

“No wonder Daengdaengi’s soul stone couldn’t be found no matter how hard we searched on the battlefield. It was alive and well. I’m glad.”

“Th-That’s right..?”

I don’t know what happened, but it accepted Iris’s touch in the form of Daengdaengi without any resistance.

“I should let the others know. Get some rest, Saya.”

She left happily, and I was left alone with it again.

“What happened? What is that form?”

It, who was clearly mixed with Sarkas, had turned into the normal appearance of Daengdaengi when Iris came.

[Form? Do you mean transformation? Although I’m mixed with this guy, half of my body is Invidia. Changing appearance is nothing.]

Invidia was a Sarkas capable of transformation. And that characteristic remained intact even when mixed with Daengdaengi.

“Anything you’ve seen is possible?”

[Not perfect. Too large or too small individuals are impossible, and unlike before, I can’t imitate abilities. Only the appearance changes.]

The original Invidia could freely use not only the appearance of what it imitated but also its abilities. I know it well because I saw with my own eyes that it imitated Violet and used his power.

[Violet? Was that the name of that Spirit Master?]

When I thought of Violet, it sent a response through thoughts.

“Yes. It’s Violet.”

[Imitating that guy’s body was a mistake. I never thought he wasn’t an independent entity..]

“..What do you mean by that? Independent entity?”

A hard-to-understand word came out.

[I can only fully imitate independent entities. If I imitate an entity where multiple beings exist in a complex way, the body can’t withstand it.]

It explained that such a complex being is called a complex entity. Originally, only the power of the Osteon should exist in the human body, but in cases where it has the power of other beings—like me now.

“…Does that mean, perhaps Mr. Violet too..?”

[That guy was more terribly intertwined than us. At least two or more entities were mixed. It’s already strange to call that human.]

Now, not human, but some other being beyond that. It claimed that he should be called that. Then, was brainwashing Carne really Violet’s power..?

[Using power while being subordinate to the human body is more tiring than I thought. I’ll sleep and rest for a while.]

It returned from Daengdaengi’s form to its original form.

“Wait, I still have things to hear..!”

I tried to grab it, but its body scattered like smoke and flowed into my body.

I stared at the empty space where it disappeared and tried to organize my complicated thoughts.

‘That Invidia entered my body..’

Invidia, which once brought about the end of the world, was alive, not completely gone. And that too, inside me.

What is Invidia’s purpose? Is it simply a choice for survival?

It would be nice if that was all, but it was impossible to fully trust it.

If it shows even a slightly suspicious attitude, then I may have to make a bold decision.

Even if it means ending the life of Daengdaengi, who is now combined with Invidia, with my own hands.

After the Invidia hatching incident, the academy lost 47 Spirit Masters. The number of injured Spirit Masters was also considerable, and there were also many who were cut off from their path as Spirit Masters.

In a solemn atmosphere, a funeral service was held for the departed Spirit Masters. As it was a disastrous tragedy, most of the Spirit Masters could not control their emotions.

“..May the protection of the Osteon be with you.”

The one who recited those words next to me was Yuri, dressed in black. Although her poisoning symptoms had not yet fully recovered, she said she was determined to participate.

Seeing Yuri’s appearance, I also quietly closed my eyes and put my hands together.

[Humans are strange. You’re all different entities, aren’t you? Feeling emotions from the death of other entities, I can’t understand it.]

‘..You’re really Sarkas itself.’

I was a fool to expect it to reflect on its actions even a little. No matter how much it was mixed with the Osteon, it was still a Sarkas in the end.

The prayer to mourn the dead stopped, and someone climbed onto the platform.

“..On behalf of the currently bedridden commander, I, the combat instructor, will deliver the message.”

It was Instructor Cled in a solemn attire, unlike his usual self. On behalf of Commander Violet, who was seriously injured, Cled, who took the lead in battle and served as a staff officer, took his place.

“..First, to the Spirit Masters who sacrificed their lives… Commander?”

‘Commander?’

He was speaking, but suddenly he called the commander. Violet, leaning on a crutch, was walking up to the platform with difficulty.

“..I will continue. Cough.”

“Commander, you should still be lying down..!”

“I’m fine. I’m fine with this. Please let me.”

When Violet showed him a strong-willed look, Cled no longer stopped him and stepped aside.

“..If you say so.”

Violet, who regained his place, continued his memorial speech to the Spirit Masters. It was clear that it was not simply a speech using his position, but a heartfelt memorial as a fellow Spirit Master.

“All those who have departed will remain forever with us under the protection of the Osteon.”

He was almost finished reciting the memorial when it happened.

“Finally, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the two girls…. No, to the two Spirit Masters who bravely saved the world. Please, come forward.”

“..It seems like he’s calling us, Saya.”

When Yuri got up first, I followed her and climbed onto the platform.

When I greeted Violet up close, he was much thinner, and his complexion was darker than before.

“If it weren’t for you, I might not be breathing like this now.”

“..You’re flattering us, Commander.”

At Yuri’s answer, he shook his head.

“No. You deserve to hear these words. The two of you did what even I couldn’t do.”

He took out two gold medals from a tightly closed box.

Receiving a medal meant the highest honor a Spirit Master could receive.

“Saya, and Yuri Freesia. I hereby award both of you the Medal of Valor.”

He pinned the medals on our chests, and we calmly accepted them. I remembered the difficult battle, and my chest swelled a little without realizing it.

[What value does this inedible metal lump have? You humans have strange tastes.]

It would have been a pretty good atmosphere if it weren’t for this guy chattering with his thoughts.

After the medal award, he offered us a handshake. Violet offered me a handshake first, and I readily accepted it.

[Wait! Keep holding hands. Human.]

While holding his hand, Invidia sent a thought.

‘What..? Why?’

[It’s a chance to find out what’s in that guy’s body. I’ll read the information, so maintain contact for a few seconds in that state.]

‘I’ll be suspected..!’

“…Hmm?”

When I didn’t let go of his hand, he looked at me with a puzzled face.

‘..Is it not over yet, Invidia!?’

[Wait…. Wait… It’s done! You can let go of your hand now.]

As soon as its permission was given, I let go of Violet’s hand.

“I apologize, Commander. I was too nervous..”

“I understand. I will always bless you, Saya.”

After finishing the handshake with me, Violet approached Yuri.

“I pay my respects to your admirable ability, Freesia.”

Yuri accepted the handshake he offered.

“..Thank you, Commander.”

As the handshake lasted longer than expected, Yuri raised her head and looked at Violet.

This time, it was Violet who didn’t let go.

“…Commander?”

“For a long time, there was a decision I had been worrying over. Seeing you today, I realized that it was a useless worry.”

Violet, holding Yuri’s hand, asked seriously.

“Yuri, would you like to be my successor?”

He was saying that he wanted to entrust her with the position of the next commander of the Spirit Masters.