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| The Beloved Little Mother Insect (LITTLE MOTHER) |
The scent in the air was so fragrant that the genes of the Narga People could recognize who it belonged to.
It was the Mother Insect, the King, the mother that the Offspring longed for.
In his primitive form, Xagai tilted his head, his demon-like Compound Eyes dark and murky, a crimson so deep it was almost black, with only the central vertical pupil reflecting a vivid red, giving off an eerie and unsettling feeling.
The crimson red was like the color of blood.
He rubbed his sharp Pincer Legs together, his massive torso like a small mountain, casting a heavy shadow over Olovikin. His mouthparts aimed straight for the soft white bundle, trying to burrow in.
"...Truly a wild dog."
Slender fingers blocked the deep red monster's almost intrusive movement. Olovikin's expression darkened as he shielded the small Artificial Human in his arms more tightly.
Even when blocked, Xagai didn't get angry. Instead, he grinned, revealing a mouth full of sharp fangs, and emitted a mocking hum.
【What? Switching careers to become a nanny?】
【Do you think this will earn you a deep psionic bond? A wasted effort.】
The seven-meter-tall monstrous figure slowly straightened up while looking down condescendingly at Olovikin, who had resumed his human form and was cradling something as if it were a treasure. The giant’s tone was filled with scorn and malice.
【Even in the era of the Mother Insect, countless high-ranking Narga People died from frenzy.】
【Why do you think that is? Hmm? Royal Guard—the lapdogs of the Mother Insect.】
Olovikin paused, the elegant mask on his face cracking for a moment before he quickly pieced it back together, showing no visible change.
Beside him, Ega’s mind was still in disarray and completely failing to grasp the thinly veiled hostility in their exchange. His compound eyes remained fixed on the white bundle in Olovikin’s arms, his tail hook twitching with the urge to snatch it and cradle it himself.
As for Hui, who usually maintained a calm demeanor, he had no choice but to step in now to prevent Xagai and Olovikin from making the situation any uglier—they were colleagues, after all, and it wouldn’t affect anything. He was just afraid they might frighten the Little Mother Insect…
Coincidentally, the white bundle in Olovikin’s arms let out a soft whimper, causing the blond youth, who had been about to speak, to pause briefly before quickly regaining his gentle smile and patting the back of the person in his arms.
The menacing Xagai lowered his head and silently looked over—
Pearl’s sensory abilities were naturally no match for those of the Narga People. Drowsy and disoriented, he had no idea that a new member had joined their group.
He simply shook his head, his entire body soft and pliant as he leaned into Olovikin’s embrace, like a doll that would collapse without support. Instinctively, he nuzzled closer.
【So small…】
Huh? Who was speaking?
The voice sounded… unfamiliar?
Pearl paused, his vacant eyes flickering slightly as he instinctively turned his head toward the source of the murmur.
Xagai maliciously parted his mouthparts. The exoskeleton covering his face resembled a skull, and combined with the deep, dark red hues as if he had crawled out from the depths of hell, making him look like a demon. He flashed a terrifying grin at the tender Little Mother Insect.
He’s definitely going to cry.
Pearl tilted his head, showing no reaction.
Xagai: ???
Why isn’t he crying?
Olovikin chuckled softly before pinching Pearl’s ear as he explained in a low voice, “Little Pearl is so perceptive. You didn’t even need me to tell you that we have a new member.”
He patted Pearl’s back rhythmically, his touch as light as if he were soothing a kitten. “Would you like to meet him?”
A new member.
Pearl bit his lip and turned his head to continue “looking” in the direction of the murmur.
Perhaps because he had briefly established shallow mental power links with three high-ranking Narga People earlier, the immature mental power tendrils extending from Pearl’s body had been somewhat strengthened.
Now, even though he couldn’t see, the assistance of his psionic power allowed him to glimpse something different from another perspective—
It was still a massive, murky shadow, weighing heavily on the large figure whose appearance he couldn’t discern, layer upon layer, though it didn’t seem as dense as what he had sensed on Ega.
He must have mistaken him as his mother too, just like them…
Pearl curved his eyes, his pale blue pupils veiled in a hazy light. Dimples appeared on his cheeks as he looked up at the large, deep-red figure and said, “You… you need soothing… hmm?”
Before he could finish speaking, Olovikin covered his mouth and casually pinched Pearl's reddened earlobe.
Though the words remained unspoken, they didn't prevent Xagai's monstrous face from revealing an expression of profound astonishment.
Hidden within his crimson demonic pupils were scrutiny and peculiarity, his gaze at Pearl not resembling one directed at the Mother Insect, but rather at some unprecedented form of life never seen or heard of before.
"That's enough now, my dear little pearl."
Olovikin tidied the long hair at Pearl's temples, his focus entirely on the little artificial person, scarcely diverting his attention elsewhere.
Olovikin: "You should rest properly. That mad dog hasn't reached the point where only your comfort is necessary."
As he pressed Pearl's head back against his chest, he unusually revealed a sense of contradiction—gentle yet dictatorial.
Had they not encountered that SSS-class Giant Sandworm and the endless onslaught of the Beast Tide, given the abilities of the three of them and even with severe Frenzy Syndrome, they wouldn't have been at a disadvantage in battle. It was this situation that greedily drained the little Mother Insect's immature psionic power.
Hearing this, Pearl nodded and said, "Okay then."
...So obedient.
Xagai stared at this newly born Mother Insect for a moment, and naturally notice those overly vacant and lifeless light blue eyes, like two Kursai Ice Blue Gemstones veiled in mist.
Tch, what a pity.
Finally unable to resist, Ega squeezed over like a large dog. With duties to attend to, Olovikin glanced at his colleague and handed over the little pearl from his embrace.
He warned, "Don't act like a beast."
—Don't frighten him with beastly desires.
Ega responded with vague hisses, then happily seated Pearl on his shoulder while his swaying tail hook envelops the little Mother Insect within a space filled entirely with his own scent.
Xagai lazily withdrew his gaze and exchanged current situations with Olovikin and Hui.
Each time the Beast Proving Ground opened, the empire would deploy ten Observation Spheres on the Irradiated Wasteland—some following high-ranking Narga People, others randomly accompanying Beasts.
However, under the Radiation Storm, these Observation Spheres were expendable. Until the storm subsided, those that lost signal or control midway would be swept away by the sandstorms to unknown locations, naturally unrecoverable, becoming part of the mechanical skeletons scattered across this wasteland.
Now, with the storm at its peak, the Observation Sphere following Olovikin was the sole survivor, though radiation interference had reduced it to a sluggish, foolish machine.
Until they could reestablish contact with the imperial Starship, they could only wait on the wasteland and take care of the Mother Insect.
[If he hadn't met us, he would have died, right?]
Xagai tilted his head to look at the little creature sitting on Ega's shoulder, who was swinging his legs as if somewhat bored.
Such a life form simply couldn't survive alone on this wasteland.
—He would be torn to shreds by greedy, terrifying Beasts, then skinned, dismembered, and devoured.
[There are no ifs.]
[He met us. We found him.]
Hui's tone was cold, lacking the warmth and clarity he reserved for Pearl when facing his colleagues, even revealing some fox-like, impenetrable quality.
He hung his head, his deep blue pincer legs appearing large and sharp yet more agile than Xagai's sweeping movements. With just a simple adjustment of the Observation Sphere's parameters using his serrated tips, he tucked the small object into Pearl's arms.
The round little thing with metallic wings suited its recipient perfectly—
[A small toy to help you pass the time.]
Pearl, who suddenly found himself holding a spherical object, let out a small "wow." He had never seen anything like this before. His slender pale hands rested awkwardly on its surface, clearly uncertain where to begin.
When his fingertips accidentally brushed against the Observation Sphere's data screen, the previously dim display lit up. After flashing several lines of data, the quiet sphere began fluttering its wings and rose to hover around Pearl.
Seeing the Little Mother Insect's attention captured by another object, Ega swung his tail hook in displeasure, venting his frustration by slamming a crater into the sandy ground.
Pearl turned toward Hui's direction.
"Is... is this a gift?"
"For me?"
Pearl had only ever received one gift before - from that stray dog.
It was a piece of candy someone had discarded by the roadside that were wrapped in shiny packaging twisted into a butterfly shape and containing a brown sugar cube that smelled richly fragrant.
To Pearl, gifts were precious treasures. He had hugged the stray dog and whispered thank you, then carefully stored the candy in his pocket.
He would often take it out to look at it and feel the edges of the wrapper, but could never bring himself to eat it - as if he had obtained the world's most valuable treasure.
Later, the candy that Pearl had never seen before melted, sticking messily to his hand. He learned from watching the kittens and slowly licked the melted sugar, even cleaning the wrapper thoroughly, yet still couldn't bear to throw it away.
It was the sweetest thing he had ever tasted.
Even when the alley's lead teenager laughed at him for being like a puppy, Pearl still thought it was sweet.
Now, Hui stared at the Little Mother Insect's soft smile and was momentarily stunned before nodding amid Xagai's derisive laughter before explaining gently:
[Just an insignificant gift.]
[After we take you away from here, we'll give you better ones.]
Hui added—
[Very soon.]
Pearl smiled, treasuring the Observation Sphere that had flown back into his arms. "Thank you, this... this is already very good."
It wasn't an insignificant gift.
Nor did he need better ones later.
A wicked thief didn't deserve to be taken away by anyone.
Pearl's eyebrows curved as he thought about Hui's "very soon," recalling the care and protection they'd shown along the journey, and the polluted shadows entwined around them.
The kind-hearted, sincere little artificial person curled his fingers and gently scratched the small wings of the Observation Sphere in his arms, his voice clear and slightly soft with sweetness.
He said—
"I... I'll provide you with comfort."
This was everything Pearl could offer now. Even if it drained him completely... that would be alright.
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