Chapter 1: Do You Admit Your Guilt? I Admit You’re a Fool!
“However, that’s merely a discussion for the present moment. It’s like the time you fought against a mushroom the size of your palm.”
My voice trembled as well.
I felt a bit sorry for overwhelming her right upon meeting, but this was a necessary discipline and my own struggling effort as the clear weaker party.
And… I was sure it was a way that would benefit all of us.
“We have always been in the position of challengers, and we still are.”
Since I had shocked her, it was now time to soothe her. If Eve used her power forcefully like this, I would be the only one in trouble.
Fortunately, Eve was still listening to me.
“If you do as I say, you’ll be able to grow stronger without any issues. And if that happens, you’ll be able to become the victor again.”
“What exactly is that method?”
“As I mentioned earlier, it’s about learning.”
I started discussing my plans in earnest. Until now, there had been a strange wariness in Eve’s eyes, reflecting her concern that I might say something to hurt her again despite her blind trust in me, but I didn’t pay it any mind.
I had already abandoned the thought of appealing to emotions.
This was a place for convincing and persuading with logic, evidence, and calculation.
“Currently, Earth is the center of attention. The reason is the Alliance. As they appeared leading a massive battleship, those from other worlds are surfacing one by one, as if they had been waiting for it.”
“Then we…”
“We can’t wage war as we are now. But absorbing and mimicking isn’t limited to war.”
I calmly explained the plan. If this plan succeeded, it would be possible for Eve to move as I wished, or rather, for us to act together.
“We disguise ourselves, hide our identities, and spy and steal. Is there a more efficient method than this?”
“Are you telling me to pretend to be human?”
“Yes. You’ll travel with me. But in return, your true self will grow even stronger based on the data acquired, and in the end, you’ll be able to drive the enemies away and devour them.”
“…”
Eve fell silent again, apparently shocked. Yet her emotion was surprisingly calm this time.
I realized that she was calculating her response.
So I simply waited. If I knew Eve, she wouldn’t refuse this proposal.
Although this had originally been part of my plan, I needed a more definitive reason to convince Eve, who had become arrogant saying she was the strongest.
Thus, the attack from the fleet was a stroke of luck for me. It made it easier to persuade Eve, who felt the wall closing in on her.
“…Regardless, we will continue to be together, right?”
“Uh?”
However, what Eve was focusing on was slightly different from my expectations.
“Then it seems like a reasonable method after all.”
With a sly smile, Eve approached me again. Then, she embraced me once more.
“To that end, let us become one.”
“…Okay. After that, I’ll let you know what you need for disguising.”
Her bright red eyes looked up at me. The desire contained in them was still there.
I chuckled as I grasped Eve’s shoulders. There was nothing left for me now.
Having gained this opportunity so laboriously, all that remained was to educate Eve well.
Steeling myself, I tightly shut my eyes. I had already seen several times what it meant for Eve to say she wanted to become one with me.
I would probably be pulled into a slimy pit and decomposed alive, then pieced together into a new body to be reborn.
“?!”
However, just after that moment, when the sudden soft sensation that enveloped my lips startled me into opening my eyes.
I was almost stunned and ready to faint.
‘Can you hear…?’
But the moment I heard the tentative echo resonating within my mind, I realized that this kiss was not a mere action.
I held Eve’s face and accepted it. It would be a lie if I said I wasn’t afraid, but I had no choice but to trust her completely now.
I could feel it. In that moment, I was becoming one with Eve.
At this moment, it was impossible to think of anything else. The rapidly expanding sensations shook my mind.
It felt as if I was being thrown into a weightless space; I was surely standing on the ground yet felt like I was losing my balance and floating.
‘See you later.’
A new consciousness, vividly connected to mine, intruded and conveyed its will.
At the same time, my vision began to blur. I lost consciousness without being able to hold on any longer.
*
“…”
Eve did not simply ignore or disdain humans.
For the sake of just one person, she learned human affection and realized it as well.
That was why she was so direct and honest.
Kang Do-yeon, who had come with Eve, turned her back into a corner and crouched down, covering her ears.
Even though the current situation was special, she couldn’t bear to see or hear the scene that was more than just a simple kiss.
She felt a pang of resentment towards Reina for unwittingly teaching Eve so many strange things.
“Is it, over now?”
“Yes. Shall I unbind your senses?”
“…No, I don’t want that.”
At the word that it was done, she stood up and turned around.
Where there had clearly been a pair of embracing men and women, now only Eve stood.
In the place where Shin Woo had been, a single black Sacred Tree had grown, its roots and branches extending toward the ground and ceiling.
And within it, he was enclosed. This was part of the process of spreading the Legion cells that had infiltrated his body through a thick kiss throughout his entire being.
“You changed the plan a lot, didn’t you?”
“To pretend to be human as he said, I didn’t need any extreme modifications. This alone was sufficient, so he merely chose a method that was as painless as possible.”
Eve, who had drawn energy from the nest beyond the gate, smiled as she stroked the black trunk. Finally, she had fulfilled her long-desired wish, and she couldn’t help but feel joy.
Now, Shin Woo had become an existence that could transcend the limits of humanity and be free even in death, united with the Legion.
Meanwhile, Kang Do-yeon quietly stuck out her tongue, recalling how Eve had been tearing apart her body without a shred of consideration until now.
“But, it’s incomplete.”
“Well, that’s to be expected. You didn’t modify your brother perfectly like I did.”
“That’s not it. Other than that, I couldn’t fully take his soul as mine, unlike you or Reina. There is an insurmountable obstacle that I cannot dare to touch. Furthermore, that obstacle is like a bomb that could explode at any moment.”
However, Eve, who quickly hardened her expression, shook her head.
The process of becoming one was a bit different from before.
And that hindrance was becoming a blemish on her complete unity, irritating Eve’s mood.
[Isn’t it obvious? His soul belongs to none other than this game. The only way to be fully liberated is to become the ultimate victor of this game.]
“To become that victor means, ultimately, to survive until the end, right?”
[Correct.]
“Then I have no concerns. Now that I am one with him, there’s no way I can lose.”
Eve openly revealed her hostility in response to the voice that seemed to echo back eagerly. Until now, the “game,” which had not received even a sliver of her attention, had finally crossed her path.
[I sincerely hope so. Become the victor, and may all of you find happiness.]
The voice, however, remained utterly calm.
“…So, what do we do now?”
“It’ll take some time for him to be reborn.”
“Alright. Then shall we go over some review?”
A moment of silence passed. Now, realizing the situation, Kang Do-yeon stepped forward.
“Review?”
“Anyway, you’ll need to keep ‘disguising’ yourself from now on. First, let’s change your appearance.”
Kang Do-yeon’s body twisted and mutated.
The structure of the body itself changed as her black shell and rough skin transformed back into the versatile cells and smoothly disappeared into her body, revealing her pale skin.
And over that skin, she donned new armor.
However, unlike before, this armor took the form of a soft fabric clothing.
“This was the only thing that came to mind right away. Clothing feels so awkward. It’s only been a few months.”
As she fiddled with her school uniform, which she was putting on for the first time in ages, she chuckled.
In the place stood a regular female student, no longer a monster clad in black armor.
“Digestive system, reproductive system… the human body is so inefficient. Its defense is weak.”
“But you can’t help that for the mission. You should try changing your appearance too. Into human clothing.”
“Human clothing…”
With a frown, Eve reluctantly began to transform her body into a new form.
Kang Do-yeon found herself unconsciously captivated by that appearance.
This was the moment when Eve was transforming her body into a complete human form for the first time.
“It’s uncomfortable. Inefficient. Primitive.”
Her face remained the same, but Eve, now a beautiful human girl with long black hair flowing, fluttered the long hem of her dress while complaining.
Since the data she possessed originally wasn’t from this world. Though she wore the finest clothing, that extravagant noblewoman’s dress was more suited for an award ceremony here on Earth.
“…I think it’s better for you to wear something just like me for now.”
In the end, Kang Do-yeon watched with a strange gaze as Eve wore the same form of school uniform as her.
