Right To Know

We've flawlessly killed Radogaan. Despite the struggle where that infected monster wounded Scott and the virus slowly ravaged his body, Christine and Veronica prevented the infection by injecting him with a dope-disinfectant serum and putting him to sleep.

In this case, if the virus infected the body, it felt as if it were on fire, causing great agitation in the infected person's body.

In fact, this serum wasn't a legitimate cure. Instead, it serves to give the body in distress a respite from the agonizing infection. Subsequently, the medical teams will provide immediate care and monitor the unconscious patients.

We wanted to extract the core of that dead monster. However, I later discovered that I had inadvertently destroyed the core beyond recognition, losing a valuable piece of evidence.

But that wasn't a big deal because Minerva could still salvage the monster's carcass for crafting armory materials.

We were so lucky that the ride back home arrived exactly when we needed it. Despite the overwhelming challenges they had overcome, they managed to urgently transport Scott to the emergency room for critical medical care.

When they arrived at HQ, the medical team swiftly acted to treat his infection.

To his astonishment, the medical staff declared they had cured his infection. It baffled me how they achieved it, for they strictly prohibited anyone who was not allowed from laying eyes on it.

***

1318 hours, 18 June 0145...

After the mission debriefing, we left the briefing room, with Axel and Christine heading to the infirmary room to visit Scott and me heading to the restroom.

After using the toilet, I felt the cool water on my skin as I washed my hands and face in the restroom.

As I wiped my wet hands and face with a paper towel, a tall, old figure with black hair, an eye patch on his left eye, and a greyish-green bomber coat suddenly came up to me from the right and washed his hands.

The tall, elderly figure fixed me with a questioning look.

"You wanted to know more about her, right?"

His words reverberated in the silence of this spot as he talked. His voice was so familiar, it made me think of a person I know. I asked, my voice wavering with uncertainty.

"General... Qassem?"

When I glanced to the right, I could feel my heart racing at the unmistakable face of General Rasheed Qassem Jenar! The former 3rd Minerva's director, renowned for his fair leadership, disappeared from the public eye after his generous donations to the less fortunate.

My stomach was a bundle of knots as I conversed with someone of a higher rank than me. The tension in the air was palpable every time I said something he didn't agree with. But General Qassem seems to be someone who could tackle difficult situations with a cool head.

After I nervously nodded, I queried him in confusion.

"Oh… yes... But where did Mr. General get this idea from?"

He came to me, and I felt his hand on my right shoulder, giving me a gentle pat and a reassuring smile before responding.

"She was once a Minerva Authonoid, but they threw her away to the Crescent. Her infection rate has escalated to such an extent that curing her is now impossible. The person who caused this infection is still on duty here. And there is a rumor that you have a similar frame to hers."

And with that, he then left the restroom and left me all alone in here with no further elaboration.

Wasting no time, I made my way towards the infirmary to check on Scott, and I thought back to all the times this military organization had wronged Onigashi.

I can't help but wonder: Who caused her to defect to the Crescent? And I wonder what other similarities I have with her besides her frame.

But as my mind was oversteering like crazy, my phone suddenly vibrated in my tote bag, so I had to unzip it and answer the call. But as I looked at the dialer, it was Dr. Hubert. I answered the call and spoke.

"Dr. Hubert, what's wrong?"

Dr. Hubert suddenly answered with his usual enthusiastic tone, which slightly deafened my left ear.

"Tsuyuki! I was somewhat concerned about your previous mission, especially if you sustained injuries due to a malfunction with your new weapon."

"No, no, no, it's alright. It's all gone smooth like butter. And overall, it's fitting for my style."

"Oh, thank God to hear that. Anyway, I have plenty of time to discuss your new weapon. It's important for sure, but it won't take that long."

"I'm sorry that I had to visit Scott in the infirmary room. But let's make it quick."

"No problem, I'll be waiting."

And that's his last word. I ended the call and walked to the elevator, heading to Dr. Hubert's lab located in the weapon container hallway on the 5th floor underground.

***

Stepping out of the elevator, the fluorescent lights hanging from the ceiling of the weapon container hallway guided me forward. Displayed on the wall racks were an array of weapons, ranging from traditional blades to advanced firearms.

I stood in wonder, admiring some of the rare weapons, while the sound of metal grinding drifted from the hallway, like blacksmiths sharpening their tools.

I stepped into the weapon repair chamber and heard the clanking of metal as Olivia worked on some Authonoids' weapons.

"Olivia, are you still working?"

Olivia stopped her work for a moment as she lifted her face shield, looked over her shoulder, and responded with a slight exhaustion.

"What can you expect from a weaponsmith like me? Even on holidays, those infected are always lurking in every corner."

"What do you need, by the way?"

As I was about to answer her question, Dr. Hubert walked up from his office, and she could feel his gaze upon her.

"Oh, Tsuyuki, talk about perfect timing!"

But his sudden arrival in my sight gave me a massively awkward feeling toward her, and I had to clear things up with a slight nervousness.

"Well, that's what I need. Sorry for bugging your time."

But all Olivia could respond to was chuckling once, and she continued her work like usual.

"No problem."

With that, I followed Dr. Hubert into his office for some secret affair.

***

As I entered Dr. Hubert's lab, he settled into his chair, the leather creaking beneath him.

"Mind explaining why I should be here?"

Without hesitation, he opened his PC and began to explain in a clear tone. I listened intently, nodding after each sentence.

"If you're wondering why your previous weapons were irreparable and we had to replace them with the newer Nakajima and Kiryu, it's because Onigashi's Katana contains a potent, scorching virus capable of destroying any cell."

"This virus wreaks havoc on the body, particularly when the immune system is compromised. Even with a strong immune response, the virus can lie dormant and flare up if your health deteriorates."

"Scorching viruses can infect both organic and synthetic entities. Synthetic entities like androids or computers transform into mindless monsters as the virus damages their circuitry, while organic beings succumb instantly."

"Despite vaccination, an infected individual will experience symptoms such as skin sunburn, crystallization, flu-like symptoms, rabies, nausea, paralysis, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and malaise."

"Nevertheless, you must remain composed and administer the dope-disinfectant serum. It doesn't act as a vaccine but helps mitigate further infection, similar to what Veronica and Christine did for Scott in the previous mission."

After I nodded in understanding, I voiced my confusion about his research.

"Isn't that contradictory? I've encountered infected natural beings like Radogaan with around 45% infection. Logically, that monster should be dead, but it's still alive and even seems to harness the virus for power. How is that possible?"

"It all depends on their immunity, but they still become zombie-like creatures. The percentage indicates how close the being is to death's door."

"If a monster were 100% infected, it would die because its immune system couldn't handle the overwhelming infection. The same applies to humans and Authonoids like us."

After I nodded and absorbed his information, I then queried again.

"So, the virus destroyed my previous weapons because they were made of natural materials?"

"Exactly. That's why the weapons in the containers are made of immunized synthetic materials. Even natural materials require immunization to prevent the infection from spreading through your weapon after defeating infected enemies."

"And thus, your previous weapons were from an outdated generation that was significantly inferior compared to your newer Nakajima and Kiryu."

"I'm not sure if it's significant, but what's the name of her katana?"

"Tsuruki."

"Tsuruki?"

Dr. Hubert elaborated with a hint of mystery.

"There's a rumor that Tsumaki, the 7th archdemon of the 7th layer, Envy, was behind the creation of Tsuruki. He revolted against the oppressive King Sakorcha, recognizing the king's hunger for dominance."

"There are rumors that someone forged Tsuruki with forbidden power, making it a threat to both angels and demons if used improperly."

"However, the details of this weapon remain shrouded in mystery, as it's merely a rumor without concrete evidence."

I nodded, still curious about Tsuruki, but Dr. Hubert's voice quickened, with a sense of urgency in his tone, as he swiftly rose from his chair, collecting his files and laptop bag in a purposeful manner.

"That's all for today's lecture. I apologize for rushing; I have another matter to attend to. I hope this sheds more light on the situation for you."

A wave of relief washed over me as I approached the office door, feeling a sense of calm enveloping me after releasing a heavy breath.

"No problem; I'll see you soon."

"Take care."

As I left the lab, I made my way to Scott's infirmary room. I had the right to know everything, no matter how painful.