Book 16 Chapter 49
Science VS Psychic Power,
Ahn's technological prowess is the best in the world (12)
“We have a problem.”
Nils said.
Lin replied.
“What kind of problems do you always have?”
At the same time, a wrench and a pipe hit the top of Lin's head! A pain that almost made her eyeballs pop out! Friede said.
“What's the problem?”
“There are too many chimeras. Compared to the number of Heart Bombs in storage, the ratio is 1:12.”
Friede sighed.
“Damn, why so few?”
“Heart Bombs are an invention that can only be made by pushing Greta Viser's Abyssal Purification technology to its limit. In fact, if there were more, that would be stranger.”
Lista, who had somewhat recovered her condition, stroked her chin and said.
“Can Nils make them again?”
“I can make them, but I have to extract the Abyss.”
“Then couldn't we just use the [King's Flesh] that Greta Viser had?”
At Lin's point, Friede whistled and clapped his hands.
“Yes, that would work. There's a ton of it. Just what we recovered from underground seems to be 70% of the flesh we've collected so far.”
However, Nils shook his head decisively.
“[The King's Flesh] is not an Abyss that can be researched. It is literally the King's Abyss. If something like that were exposed to ordinary people, even if there were no side effects, they would become drooling madmen.”
Above all, it had been just over a year since [The King's Flesh] appeared. Greta Viser also had not conducted research to create Heart Bombs using this.
“Then what should we do?”
“We could go to Trident Point and extract the Abyss of the Labyrinth… or there's also the option of going to the Great Demon Front, but for the latter, even return is uncertain, so there's no choice but the former.”
“Then what about these chimeras? Who's responsible? My barrier isn't going to last indefinitely, you know.”
That was precisely the problem Nils was trying to bring up.
Should they temporarily leave them with the Papal Court?
But what if the chimeras couldn't withstand the light of the Yellow Dragon Legion and died?
Even if they entrusted them to the Papal Court, there was the difficulty that Friede would have to stay here from the moment they contacted the Papal Court until they returned from Trident Point.
“And another problem is… the restoration I initially envisioned using Heart Bombs was for Link and that hero. Whether these ‘failures’ can withstand that power…”
Just then, the scrap metal floating beside Lin spoke.
[Master, human entities eroded by the Abyss have been confirmed within the facility, so Purification Order No. 4 will be executed.]
“What are you talking about?”
[According to Purification Order No. 4, the current facility will change the priority of all power, and upon expending power for Order No. 4, the current facility will enter an indefinite charging state after the situation ends.]
“Stop talking about things only you understand.”
[Additionally, brainwave-responsive memory disturbance, which you previously authorized, will proceed. According to archive records, a repulsive force field against the corresponding brainwaves has formed in your cerebral cortex, so you will be excluded from the area of influence of this execution order.]
At the time, she couldn't understand what guardian proxy qLaFos was saying, but to summarize it, it meant 'restoring the chimeras to their original bodies.'
The cost was beyond imagination.
For some important reason, the facility, which <The Ones> had concealed at its establishment, would completely exhaust its power.
“What is it? What's happening?”
As the ice wall melted, the mysterious liquid, the Hulleims, which had been left abandoned underground, squirmed and crawled up to this upper floor.
And they surrounded the chimeras, who were trapped in the barrier, screaming and roaring, like leeches…
Wasn't the flesh that had deviated from human standards during the inhumane transplantation surgery slowly returning to its original state?
[As no Abyssal erosion of the soul is confirmed, this order is validly effective.]
However, this measure had one limitation: qLaFos did not consider Link a target for Abyssal purification.
“Hey, why aren't you fixing Link?”
That is, while all 100 chimeras (most of them children) returned to their original bodies, Link remained trapped in his hideous form.
“It's okay, shrine maiden. We can use this for Link. I made sure to bring this one properly from the hangar, so there's no problem.”
As Friede and Nils conversed, qLaFos looked directly at Lin, its luminous orb dazzlingly flickering.
[Purification Order No. 4 complete, brainwave disturbance and transfer order executed. It was an honor to serve you one last time, Master.]
“Wait, hold on. But why am I your master?”
[I wholeheartedly wish for the success of the 'Eldia Omec (06) Project.' On the day the eternal dawn breaks, please remember this Grade 1 Control Monitor qLaFos. Goodbye.]
At that moment, enveloped in a dazzling light… a light like the one on a day when she had fallen asleep in exhaustion and naturally woken up to the dawn sunlight, her memory of that day became blurred.
Only one thing was clearly remembered.
When she woke up from that light that had colored her entire vision and consciousness, she was outside the facility with everyone… that is, in a valley countless times scarred by the ravages of war.
“What? Suddenly? Huh?”
[(ㅇ-ㅇ)?]
“Guys, did we fight that strongest mercenary here? No. I think we fought inside some facility.”
Everyone thought so, but since the facility itself didn't even show an entrance, they had no choice but to conclude this.
“Didn't that Greta guy have an illusion artifact?”
“Is that so?”
“There isn't any other convincing answer. Hmm, I agree with Lin's words, so… what exactly happened?”
“You're stupid, so I wish you wouldn't get involved in my and Friede's discussion.”
“What? Lin, have you said everything you wanted to say?”
“Run away, Lin. If you want to live.”
[(=ㅁ=)!!!]
Then Nils shrugged, showing Link the Heart Bomb and force field generator hanging from his waist.
“Link, let's go to the clearing for a moment. You, just like these children here… it's time to wake up from the dream. It must have been a very long nightmare. I'm sorry it's so late.”
Link, who was striding with his huge feet behind Nils, stopped in the next moment. Nils looked back.
“What's wrong?”
Link alternated his gaze a couple of times between Nils's waist and the hero party chattering loudly in the back.
“Let's go, I said.”
Then, wasn't he shaking his head at Nils?
“What? You're not going back to your original body?”
“Link, Link, Link.”
“Later? What later! Are you trying to help the hero party? How much longer will you live trapped in that body! Those guys don't need your help! They call it a hero party because it's only made up of the best of the era!”
“Link, Link…”
“Don't be stubborn, Link! You're the one suffering the most! This is the last chance. It's a good thing the hero party is so favorable to you; no one knows when this Heart Bomb might be confiscated. You have to return to normal right now.”
Nevertheless, Link shook his head decisively again. Like a child throwing a tantrum at their parents.
“Why are you doing this? You don't have to fight anymore. No one will blame you. And there's nothing good about that body! You know best. All those looks where everyone saw you as a hideous monster! No one will see you as you are, are you going to endure that more?”
Then Link raised his large hand and pointed at Lin, who was desperately sending out distress signals while being held in a headlock by Lista.
‘Ah… yes, I see.’
Lin, only Lin… hadn't she seen Link as he was?
Without fear, pity, or revulsion, she had purely admired him, calling him [the strongest body].
Link had liked that. And he was grateful that she had fought for him. That's why now, he wanted to fight for his friend.
“This foolish idiot…”
Nils pulled down his goggles, needing to hide the tears that transparently moistened the corners of his eyes.
“Alright, then do as you please. If you lose this Heart Bomb, the way back to normal will be gone forever… and I won't know anything when you regret it then. Got it?”