IF-114
The creature, once called “Jimjo,” the bird-like beast, flapped its wings and darted around, clicking its beak sharply.
“Kwuaak!”
It was certainly about to eat a plump snake.
And it was a venomous snake, the kind that Jimjo loved most, with poison coursing through its body.
But suddenly, an unknown entity appeared, took it, and disappeared.
The first prey discovered after Jimjo escaped the two-legged creature’s prison.
Jimjo could not afford to let it go.
That was the reason.
When Jimjo was soaring through the high skies above the stream, it wouldn’t have even spared a glance, but now it dove into the strange circle.
The chaotic, tangled view inside the circle.
It was a scene Jimjo had never experienced in its lifetime, but Jimjo only saw the snake’s rear end, still plump, and walked toward it.
It was then.
Rip.
A tearing sound came, and the surroundings abruptly changed.
Suddenly, it transformed into something resembling its homeland.
Though not exactly like the stream Jimjo missed, it was similar to the place beyond the two-legged creature’s prison.
The difference was that Jimjo was no longer trapped.
Jimjo began to track the prey that had vanished, alongside the sudden disappearance of its surroundings.
Fortunately, the scent of the prey was still nearby.
With a flap, Jimjo spread its wings and flew toward the prey.
“Kwok.”
Something.
A wild instinct sharply warned Jimjo—there was an immense, fearsome presence that should not be touched.
But Jimjo dismissed it, thinking no such monster would care about Jimjo catching a snake.
And besides, Jimjo had seen many creatures run away from the poison of snakes before.
Unfortunately, Jimjo ignored its instinct.
Had Jimjo known it would be its last instinct, it would have followed it, but by then, it was too late.
Daniel Johnson of the IF-017 Special Mobile Strike Unit “Munmu king” could not comprehend the scene before him.
He understood the inadequate weaponry.
The “Munmu king” unit was indeed the special unit for IF-017, but it had no means or strategy to neutralize IF-017.
He understood that the basic infantry weapons sent to avoid provoking IF-017 were all they had.
It had only recently been that IF-017 went berserk in ascension, and shortly after, an order from the higher-ups came down: “Absolutely do not attempt to attack IF-017.”
The risks were too high for anything more than basic weaponry.
That’s why.
What was happening now was even harder to comprehend.
IF-017, who had been asleep, suddenly woke up.
***
At some point, a phenomenon appeared out of nowhere.
IF-108, “Nessho.”
He wasn’t the person in charge of IF-108, but as far as he knew, IF-108 was a high-grade unknown phenomenon that generated a superior field of influence around its body.
Just thinking about it, the weaponry they had was nowhere near enough to take it down.
‘What if that thing suddenly attacked IF-017?’
‘What if there was an accidental shot toward IF-017?’
‘What would happen then?’
‘Would the events of the recent past repeat?’
He swallowed dryly.
And so, the standoff continued, with no one stepping forward.
It was at that moment that IF-017, who had been glaring at the scene, suddenly moved.
It grabbed the superior field of influence of IF-108.
‘Could it even touch it?’
‘Was there a material entity to grab?’
No matter how shocking it was, IF-017 began tearing apart the superior field of influence.
Even for IF-017, a top-grade unknown phenomenon, it seemed difficult to break the superior field, and its expression was quite serious.
To him, it almost looked like a beautician was carefully working on something.
Eventually, the superior field of influence was completely shredded.
It was a sight to behold—an unknown phenomenon of high grade neutralized in under five minutes.
While it was remarkable, even more shocking events were about to unfold.
Because for the first time, the true form of IF-108 was revealed.
IF-108, always surrounded by a superior field, had never been seen in its true form.
And its true form was…
A little girl.
A sad-looking girl who was shedding tears for some reason.
From a figure that resembled a giant dragon, towering over 3 meters to nearly 10 meters, an object resembling a human child appeared.
Although she looked like an elementary school child, there was something unsettling about her.
Her appearance was anything but human.
Her arms were fused with her body and had turned into wings or fins like a penguin’s.
Her teeth were sharp and triangular, resembling those of a shark.
Unlike IF-017, whose appearance could not be distinguished from a human unless in ascension, IF-108 was clearly an “object resembling a human.”
If one only saw the bite marks left on the prey, they would never have guessed it was a human-like object.
It was at this moment that the true nature of IF-108 was revealed, and the department in charge of it must have been left with nothing but regret.
IF-017, as if proudly showing it off, approached IF-108 and presented her to everyone.
Up close, though, IF-108 didn’t seem fully human.
Still, it seemed that IF-017 was not hostile.
It gently patted the head of IF-108 as if it were a beloved pet.
IF-108, however, slapped the hand away with her fin-like arm.
The command had been given: “Do not attack” IF-017, who was in ascension!”
“…!!!”
Everyone held their breath, wondering if IF-017 would become angry.
But IF-017 looked down at the hand that had been slapped away with an utterly confused expression.
Then, IF-017 stepped back and began petting a plump snake that seemed to appear out of nowhere.
That was the end of it.
Fortunately, there was no physical conflict.
The tension in the air was relieved, and a sigh of relief escaped.
Just like when he briefly entered the quarantine room earlier.
The response from IF-017 was surprisingly mild for a top-tier unknown phenomenon.
As the scene unfolded, IF-108 ran over and began slapping IF-017 with her fins.
At first, it seemed to be a result of frustration, but now it seemed more like a display of sorrow.
IF-017, although trying to avoid the slaps, didn’t show hostility and hugged IF-108 instead.
It was all so surreal.
The other soldiers, who had been watching the strange spectacle, exchanged glances and couldn’t help but chuckle.
It seemed like they were all thinking the same thing.
“To think that two top-grade unknown phenomena would meet like this… and this is how it ends.”
Even though they knew how powerful these phenomena were, seeing them embrace was more like the affectionate relationship of siblings.
“… It’s a pleasant sight.”
It was an offhand comment.
And then.
***
At that very unexpected moment.
IF-017 kissed IF-108 on the lips.
Had he seen it wrong?
No, when he rubbed his eyes and looked again, it was exactly as it seemed.
It wasn’t just a peck.
IF-017 pressed its lips onto IF-108’s.
In contrast to IF-108, whose face turned red and whose tears stopped, IF-017 remained calm.
The atmosphere was soft.
But suddenly, everything changed.
Yet the attention wasn’t on IF-017.
“Hey, you… No, that’s not it.”
“I didn’t know you had that kind of preference.”
Daniel suddenly remembered the words he had just spoken.
Now, with that label of “preference,” he panicked and yelled out.
“No, that’s not what I meant!”
Suddenly, a descendant number 3, furious at him petting a plump snake, charged at him and began attacking wildly.
It was too weak to hurt, but the sound of slapping was strangely uncomfortable.
‘Sigh’
“Alright.”
“You just want a hug too, don’t you?”
Just like I was hugging the plump snake earlier, I hugged Descendant 3 tightly.
Earlier, I had swatted it away, but this time, I quietly embraced it.
“… Ancestor.”
‘I was wrong.”
“It was precious to me.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
I had no idea why such a cumbersome, ugly monster was precious, but I didn’t show it and comforted it.
So, sure, it was a bit calmer than before… but it would probably take a while to completely calm down.
This is such a hassle…
‘Is there some magic cure to stop this all at once?’
The emotional manipulation that worked on the plump snake definitely wouldn’t work on something like this.
If I tried that, it would probably get even more upset.
Alright.
Then I’ll use another trick.
It’s a method that, though I got scolded for using it on that Muna, it still worked on her.
It should work on this one too, right?
Just this once, it won’t lose too much dignity.
I carefully let go of the plump snake I had been holding and stepped back.
‘Aww, is it already over…?’
The descendant pouted, looking at me with disappointed eyes.
At that moment, I kissed its protruding lips.
A quick peck.
I pulled back and looked at the descendant, pretending not to pay attention, but the reaction was shocking.
The descendant seemed completely indifferent, as if it had done this before.
‘What?’
This wasn’t what I expected!
The reaction was worse than I thought.
I immediately began to look for another method.
‘A gift?’
‘How about a gift?’
I had my doubts since it was the same type of plump snake, but it seemed to enjoy it so much before…
I switched tactics immediately.
Well…
There was no need to blindfold it or feed it with my hand like I did with the plump snake.
Since our lips were already so close.
I’d just pass it along.
I sent a thought to make it open its mouth.
‘Why…?’
There was a gap between its closed lips.
I pushed the bead inside with my tongue.
But the descendant’s tongue wouldn’t stay still.
‘Eh?’
‘Huh?!’
‘What was this?’
‘Why was it reacting like that?’
I had to make sure it didn’t swallow it, so I carefully pressed the bead into its mouth.
‘Huh, heehee…’
Phew.
Done.
The gift was successfully delivered.
I pulled away and watched the descendant’s reaction.
‘Huh, heehee…??’
‘A kiss?’
‘No… huhhee….’
But the reaction was malfunctioning.
‘Why was its face so red?’
I couldn’t understand it at all.
It was acting like it was stunned, and I was a little worried.
‘Would it end up swallowing it?’
Even though it was better than the plump snake, neither of them was ready to become a full-fledged disciple, so I couldn’t let it swallow.
I sent another thought to remind it to keep the bead safely under its tongue.
‘Tongue?’
‘Below?’
‘… Wow.’
‘What’s this?’
‘A bead?’
‘Could it be that you were planning to give me this from the start…?’
‘I… I’m thankful, but…’
Then the descendant covered its face with its fins.
It kept getting embarrassed and eventually turned away.
‘Eh, don’t look!’
‘With its short fins, it couldn’t cover its whole head, but why was it hiding?’
Well.
There were some unexpected parts, but at least the crying stopped, so I guess it worked.
Problem solved!
“Gyaa!”
“You agree, right, plump snake?”
I quietly sent a thought to the well-behaved plump snake, which had been sitting quietly behind me.
Hmm.
But there was no answer?
The plump snake wasn’t being as quick as usual.
Something was off, so I turned around to check.
Thud, clatter.
I heard the sound of a bead rolling.
The plump snake had its mouth wide open and was completely unaware of the bead slipping under its tongue.
I had told it to keep it safe under its tongue…
And then.
The plump snake’s thoughts transmitted to me as if it had discovered something it wasn’t supposed to know.
‘Bead.’
‘Origin.’
‘Stomach?’
‘Bead.’
‘Identity.’
‘Vomit…?’
Ah.
This is troublesome.
“Gyaaak….”
I let out a deep sigh….