Episode 402: Black Tongue (4)

Bikir carried the collapsed Kirko into her room.

Giggle Geek- Giggle Geek- Giggle!

Even if you pull the door handle, only a loud noise is made and the door does not open easily.

This is because the hinges were covered in salt and rusted a lot.

'… … 'You live in a poor room.'

Bikir clicked his tongue. Well, the rooms where low-level guards live are all like that.

Bikir also lived in a room used by low-ranking guards below the rank of lieutenant until recently.

When I open the windowless door of the stone room, I see a simple scene with only a desk and a bed.

Kirko groaned as he lay down on the hard, clean bed.

It was the result of the side effects of releasing too much mana at once, combined with the blow from the black tongue.

"… … ."

Bikir looked down at her.

Suddenly, I remembered what Lieutenant Colonel Bastille had said when Circo was promoted to captain.

'It's a strange fate. It's really strange. In the end, do children resemble their parents?'

This is what he muttered about Cirko, who was taken to the Black Tongue.

Maybe he said that because he knew about her past.

Cirko's parents, who were used as tools to deepen the emotional rift between prisoners and guards, and Black Tongue, who took the lead in that work.

'… … 'I understand why the name Cirko was not known.'

Kirko clearly has outstanding talent and qualities.

In the future, she will be able to grow into a great hero who will be as famous as Camus or Dolores.

But despite this, the reason why Bikir's name had never been heard in the world before her return was simple.

'It's probably because he gets killed before he becomes a hero. To the black tongue.'

Cirko was born and raised in the worst place called the New Vague.

And he made a psycho named Black Tongue his enemy.

Perhaps it will be because of these two factors that she will not be able to leave a name for herself in the future.

Vikir turned his gaze again and looked down at Kirko, who was lying on the bed and moaning.

"… … . … … . … … ."

Even while he was unconscious, Kirko bit his lip and suppressed his moans.

I was sweating so much that the entire bed was wet.

Bikir sighed softly.

… widely

Bikir's hand rested on Cirko's stomach.

Tsutsutsutsutsu… …

Mana is transmitted from body to body.

Vikir transferred his mana little by little to Kirko through his hands.

The expression on Kirko's face, which had been groaning in pain, seemed to relax a little.

'You jumped to a higher level too suddenly. This is why it is not good to be awakened by emotions such as anger.'

Cirko became a Graduator out of anger against the Black Tongue.

This kind of awakening was actually not very good for the body.

Just as muscles rupture when you lift an unbearable weight or fall from a high position, the same goes for mana.

Awakening due to an explosion of anger is like forcing the veins through which mana flows to widen and then bursting.

It can exert strong power momentarily, but the side effects that occur later are very similar to the symptoms of mana runaway.

The fact that Kirko rose to a higher level without becoming a criminal was something that could only be explained as a fluke or a miracle.

The odds are so slim that a chimpanzee who knows nothing could sit in front of a piano and press random keys, but by chance the order would match and complete a classical symphony.

'I'm glad though. 'You have turned bad luck into heavenly luck, so what happens after that is up to you.'

Circo, who would have been killed by the Black Tongue if things had gone as planned, survived thanks to Vikir.

It is unknown what kind of variable this will act in the future.

Vikir stabilized Kirko's energy and blood and aligned his mana bloodstream.

It was a kindness that is often difficult to show to others, and if Vikir had not been a sword master, he would not have even attempted it.

at that time.

"… … !"

While searching inside Kirko's body, Bikir discovered a strange phenomenon.

Mana flowing from Vikir's body into Cirko's body.

It fills the wounds and holes inside Circo's energy and blood, gradually filling up his mana.

However, there was just one hole that could not be filled even with Vikir's mana.

The mana and stamina that seemed to be building up quickly leaked out through the hole.

'what?'

Bikir felt uncomfortable. Then he began to trace back the flow of mana leaking out.

"… … ! … … ! … … !"

As Vikir's mana goes out to find the leaking hole, Kirko's expression becomes more and more frowning.

The cold sweat continued and the moans of pain became louder.

Kirko bent his back while holding the bed sheets tightly, but Vikir paid no heed and used Mana.

Eventually, I found the place where the water leak occurred.

Wood-duk-

Bikir laid Kirko upright and tore off the hem of his uniform.

The flesh of the lower abdomen, that is, the area where the palm of the black tongue last touched, was turning black and dying.

And in the middle of it, you can see a black sphere.

A round, black egg-like thing was attached to Cirko's stomach and was trying to take root.

"It's a leech."

Bikir knew immediately what it was.

It was similar to the things that littered the stone chamber where the black tongue was.

Surprisingly, the leech larva grew bigger each time it sucked Cirko's blood and mana.

procrastination… …

Hands, feet, and head appear, and soon facial features are formed.

Its appearance resembles a small version of Circo.

As it grew bigger by sucking mana and blood, it grew to a shape and size reminiscent of Cirko in his childhood.

Except for the fact that everything was black from head to toe, it was almost believable that he was human.

If things continue like this, a black monster with the exact same shape as Cirko might be born.

… … but.

"It's a leech with mysterious powers."

Vikir used force to remove the leech attached to Kirko's stomach and then sealed the area with the power of Gygaldrome.

-Kyaak!

The leech thrown on the floor was soon crushed to death by Bikir's military boots.

"… … ."

Only then did Circo's complexion become calm.

The cold sweat stopped, and the irregular moaning and breathing noises also subsided.

Bikir muttered quietly.

"It is a leech larva that sucks blood and mana and metamorphoses into its own form... … Have you ever heard of it?"

[no. This is my first time seeing it.]

Decarabia, who was attached to his chest, rolled his eyes and answered.

A monster that even Vikir, who has experienced many hardships throughout the Age of Destruction, does not know.

Even Decarabia, who has lived for a long time, has never seen or heard of it.

'… … Perhaps Black Tongue is a new type of monster developed here in Nouvelle Vague.'

Although there are unique monsters on earth, such as 'bone-sucking mosquitoes', there are no unusual monsters that steal the opponent's strength and appearance.

[Hehehe… … If this monster becomes known on earth, there will be an uproar, right? The uses are endless. Even the devils will covet it.]

This is a completely new type of monster that even demons don't know about.

If Decarabia, a former member of Sipsan City, said this, it would be certain.

Bikir's eyes sparkled.

'I kind of want this.'

This is what Vikir had been thinking ever since he heard that the leeches he met at the induction ceremony were Colonel Black Tongue's pets.

For the first time since coming to Nouvelle Vague, I have something I want.

Vikir began planning to obtain the eggs of these leeches developed and raised by the Black Tongue.

It was a private greed separate from the public task of prison escape.

'Let's plan a prison escape route to obtain as many leech eggs as possible.'

In order to do this, you must deal with the Black Tongue Warden, who may be an obstacle to prison escape.

There was no reason to keep him alive anyway, as he was a dangerous molecule whose identity, status, and affiliation were unclear.

Bikir hoped it would have a positive impact on Kirko's future as well.

It was the result of a slight sense of debt.

After all, she was the first and last love of Garum, who lent his identity to Vikir.

Sigh-

Just as Bikir was about to get out of bed.

… … .

Suddenly, Kirko grabbed Vikir's collar.

She was giving me a vague look with narrowed eyes.

"… … "Partition."

Judging from the fact that he is speaking informally, it appears that he has not fully regained his senses yet.

It seemed clear that he was floating in a dream and reality.

"thank you."

She pressed her dry lips towards Vikir.

"… … It was nothing."

Bikir tried to turn his head away with a dry reply.

however.

"Can't I go?"

Kirko spoke as if spitting out something inside.

A ghost castle in the deep sea. A child born and raised here. She is a woman with nowhere to lean on.

"… … "I don't want to be alone."

Vikir looked down at Kirko.

'I want to get out of here.'

Suddenly, the last words written on every page of Garum's diary came to mind.

'With her.'

But Bikir shook his head.

He himself is not Garum. This Nouvelle Vague is only a temporary stopover, and there is still a long way to go to the final stage.

"You will not be alone."

So all I could say was this.

"… … maybe."

By the time Bikir finished his last words, Cirko's hand, which had been holding on to his collar, had already fallen to the bottom of the bed.

… … . … … . … … .

Before he knew it, Kirko had closed his eyes and was in a deep sleep.

Bikir went out to visit only after confirming once again that her complexion and breathing were completely stable.

widely-

The door that had been open for a moment closed.

The hinges were much looser than when I first opened them.