Was the society of these rabbits… a feudal system from the Middle Ages?
They even went so far as to put on a show of public executions, wanting other rabbits to witness the death of their own kind to quash any thoughts of rebellion.
“Even without doing something like this, they should be able to control them firmly just through the hive mind, right?”
**[Clara, you have the order of operations backward.]** Nyx explained patiently. **[It is because loopholes appeared in the hive mind that Moon Rabbit rebels with self-awareness emerged. Although the Mother Body can still command them through the hive network, their existence truly disrupts the stability of the species.]**
The incomplete hive network was the cause; the Moon Rabbits’ desertion was the effect.
“So, in your opinion, what should we do next?” Clara asked in a whisper.
She was referring to the execution scheduled for tomorrow morning.
**[There is no need to do anything.]** Nyx said, further explaining, **[Even if you transform into a Rabbit Soldier, you would hardly have an opportunity to rescue them. After all, you would also be dominated by the authority of higher-level individuals… The Moon Rabbit Combat Body is not important. At the very least, it is not worth you taking such a risk.]**
The social structure of the Moon Rabbits was less like a decentralized hive mind and more like a class-based feudal society.
Clara understood Nyx’s logic. Since the Moon Rabbit Mother Body had already targeted the Moon Rabbit Combat Body, the idea of raiding the execution grounds tomorrow was becoming unrealistic. After all, the opponent held a large number of troops and possessed absolute dominance.
As a Hero, she couldn’t defeat that many rabbits. As a rabbit, she would be controlled by them.
The Moon Rabbit Combat Body truly didn’t matter. Whether it lived or died wouldn’t affect Clara, but what about those Moon Rabbit rebels who followed her?
Would they only survive for one more day, only for her to eventually watch them die?
Even now, in that empty basement, those few pitiful Moon Rabbit rebels were still gathered around the Moon Rabbit Combat Body.
Thinking of this, Clara tossed and turned on her floor mat, unable to sleep.
Perhaps her tossing and turning woke Sista, or perhaps she hadn’t been asleep at all. The latter asked softly, “Miss Clara, are you unable to sleep?”
“… Sorry, did I wake you?”
“I’m just… a light sleeper.”
Sista moved closer to Clara, only stopping once she was close enough to smell the scent of shampoo on each other.
“I heard you talking to yourself. Is there anything I can help with?”
To an outsider, Clara’s communication with Nyx looked like she was talking to herself.
“Sorry, I’m afraid you won’t be able to help with this matter.”
Clara understood Sista’s desire to help, but she really wasn’t suited for fighting inside a rabbit hole. Back when she fought Ps·ycho, she couldn’t even move freely in the air-raid shelter. The ceiling of a rabbit hole would only be lower. As a Hero known for her mobility and flight, she wouldn’t even be able to fight normally in such an environment.
Sista nodded silently, then hugged Clara from behind as she lay on her side.
Upon being touched and hugged by Sista, the weight of her body felt lighter.
This was Sista’s superpower—it could make someone sleep more comfortably, but that was all.
The small, soft Squid loli had been busy with many things that day. Although she couldn’t help her, she at least wanted to be someone Clara could lean on while sleeping.
“Sista… Ha, you’re certainly bold…”
Being held by a beautiful girl who looked like a “handsome boy,” Clara felt a bit lightheaded, both physically and mentally.
Nyx’s suggestion was to abandon the Moon Rabbit rebels, but Clara still wanted to save them.
Although there were risks, Clara herself was currently the only one who could go to the rabbit hole to raid her own execution.
**[Then go to sleep early.]** Nyx stopped dissuading her and changed her tune. **[The execution is in the morning. If you don’t sleep now, you won’t have the energy to raid the execution grounds.]**
“You’re not going to try to convince me anymore?”
**[You are the one who has to make the decision.]**
These were the words Clara once said to Nyx.
“… My tone was a bit harsh back then. I’m sorry.”
**[You weren’t wrong, Clara… Wake up early tomorrow.]**
**[Nyx has an idea to verify.]**
‘What do you want to do?’
**[It might be a bit complicated. Nyx will discuss it with Dr. Fran.]**
‘Just tell me. I’ll treat it as a bedtime story.’
**[Nyx is thinking about how to make you understand.]**
Clara felt her intelligence was being underestimated.
**[First, the hive mind is actually a massive biological network. You were able to find a rabbit hole you had never been to because you accessed this network. But how does this network transmit information? Electrical signals?]**
Nyx’s question made Clara miss the point a bit.
**[Actually, it’s not that complicated. You can view each sub-unit as a computer executing commands. Just as information is passed between neurons via bioelectricity, the hive network must also have an information medium. The so-called ‘authority’ consists of backdoor commands issued through that medium.]**
Nyx tried to explain in a way Clara could understand, adding, **[Dr. Fran’s expertise is relevant here. Her father’s research topic before he died was wetware computers — in other words, biological brains. She will certainly have a deeper understanding of this.]**
If they could figure out how information was transmitted within the hive network and find a way to interfere with, block, or manipulate it, they might be able to restrict the Moon Rabbit Mother Body. At the very least, it could prevent Clara from being manipulated when she transformed into a Moon Rabbit.
**[Do you understand?]**
“… I understand a little bit.”
Clara only half-understood, and Nyx immediately gave up on the idea of giving her a lecture.
**[Now, go to sleep.]**
***
Early the next morning.
The sky inside the dome was still dim.
Clara, who was being gently held by Sista, suddenly snapped her eyes open. She got up and shook Dr. Fran on the bed.
“Ugh, Clara, are you insane? What are you doing so early in the morning?”
The girl who was woken up from her dream naturally had a temper.
By the faint light of dawn, Dr. Fran reached out and squeezed Clara’s small face with all her might to vent her frustration.
With her face being treated like playdough, Clara spoke indistinctly, “There’s a big problem on the Moon Rabbit side. I need your help.”
“Isn’t it just a bunch of rabbits running away? Miss Labi called me last night…”
To Dr. Fran, the Moon Rabbits were just a group of economic animals suitable for large-scale farming.
“No, these rabbits are going to be executed this morning!”
“If you want to go save them, I advise you to give up.” Dr. Fran frowned and let out another yawn. “I won’t allow you to throw your life away for a few Moon Rabbits.”
Sista also rubbed her eyes and sat up. She hugged Clara’s waist — which lacked curves — from behind, but buried her face against Clara’s iliac bone.
Clara pushed her head away awkwardly and said to Dr. Fran, “What if it’s a planned operation?”
“A plan?”
Clara held up her phone, and Nyx’s virtual avatar appeared on the screen.
“Nyx has proposed a very new hypothesis, and you’re an expert in this field. We want to hear your opinion…”
“Oh? Now that is interesting~”
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Eww. Wetware.