The Little Prince in the Ossuary

Chapter 20. The Little Prince in the Ossuary (20)

# lntermission, About the fictional disease, 「Morgellons」

「Morgellons」, the global pandemic, is a disease that invades the human body through wounds and takes over its host’s body. That’s the reason why the infected try to bite off human flesh as if they’re crazy. But of course, that’s not the only way to contract the disease.

「Morgellons」 dominates over the infected human’s body. So, to be exact, calling the mutants ‘walking corpses’ isn’t quite correct, since it’s merely ‘a change of who’s in control of the body’.

Hey, you! Don’t laugh! Because this isn’t just a silly story.

In Bernard Werber’s novel, 「Empire of the Ants」, the author writes about the 「Lancet liver fluke」 which could also control its host. That is the name of a real parasite. It can bore into an ant’s brain and control its behavior.

There’s also a parasite that can alter the host’s biological properties, such as changing the color of its body to make it stand out and be eaten by its predators; or spores that relocate the host to an environment where the spores can germinate more easily. I’m sure the developers of the retro game “The Last of Us” must have been inspired by this. What? You haven’t heard about that game? Oh, my Xel’naga!*

Going back to the subject of parasites, it is commonly known that highly intelligent animals, such as humans, cannot be controlled by these parasitic organisms. However, some scientists argue that that may not always be true.

For instance, there is an animal-borne parasite called Toxoplasma gondii. This parasite is known to use rodents as intermediate hosts and reproduce inside cats’ bodies, but it could also be transmitted to humans during the process.

The rodents infected by these parasites move and react very slowly, but also become incredibly brave in front of cats. This is because the parasites generate cysts in the host rodents’ brains, which manipulates them to be eaten by the cats in order for the parasite to enter the cats’ bodies.

Then what about humans? Dr. Jaroslav Flegr, a professor at Charles University, as well as a renowned parasitologist, claimed that humans may also suffer behavioral and emotional changes when infected by Toxoplasma gondii. According to his research, a person infected with this parasite may show increased reaction times, some symptoms of schizophrenia, and most surprisingly, a more favorable attitude towards cats.

Up to 71 percent of people in European Regions have been infected with Toxoplasma gondii. This proves that there is quite a large number of people in this world who are infected with this parasite.

You there, the one who likes cats, you might be raising a parasite inside your belly!

But don’t worry too much about it. Unless you are suffering from some diseases like congenital immunodeficiency syndromes, this parasite will do almost no harm to you. Besides, what harm could it bring to grow a little more fond of cats? Cats are cute! Even Dr. Flegr himself had raised two cats whilst warning others about the dangers of cats. Ha, what a deadly charm do cats have!

Oh, is 「Morgellons」 a parasite, you ask? Well, it could be an unknown virus or it could be some highly infectious spores. The answer is, ‘we don’t know either’! Haha! The game’s settings could always change whenever we make an update. I mean, every story has one or two plot holes, right? That’s not an important matter! What’s important to us is, of course, money!

If you have any complaints, you can call the customer center of the virtual reality business department of Nakwon Group. We have one counselor in place ready to respond to your complaints.

Anyway, we hope you have a great time in our game, 「Days After Apocalypse」. Have fun!

# High Risk High Return, Paso Robles (7)

The identity of the ‘monster’ the man described was, as expected, a variant mutant.

The soldier attested that the monster survived a hail of bullets and rockets. Its size was around the same as a mid-size car and strong enough to crumple a Humvee with a punch.

The expressions of the people surrounding the radio stiffened as the soldier’s depiction continued. Gyeoul, however, remained unperturbed.

As the number of mutants increased, variant mutants would begin to appear, along with enhanced mutants. That was a basic setting of the game which any player would know about. The fact that it had appeared so early on was a bit disturbing, but Gyeoul merely took it in stride.

“Okay. Now, I’ll be on my way to you, so hang in there.”

Gyeoul’s statement caused panic among those who were listening. Even the soldier who had just asserted the annihilation of Able Company stuttered out a reply.

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[W-wait. Have you been listening to me?]

“Yes. Thank you for sharing this valuable information.”

[And you still want to come here? You’re gonna get yourself killed on your way!]

“That’s because I’m a human.”

A word full of meaning. The soldier on the other side of the radio became silent, as well as all the others in the gym.

Some approached the boy to dissuade him. Three people trembling in fear. His teammates.

“Hey, little captain. I admire your courage, but that is just a suicide mission. You better think it twice,” said Jaejoong as if consoling an immature child.

“Don’t you think you should prioritize us? You promised us to bring us back safely! Don’t tell me you don’t remember! And what about the people waiting back at the camp? Without you, they’ll plunge right back to their past, miserable life! And what’s up with you caring so much about that soldier? He wants to die alone!” Jinseok expressed his thoughts complainingly, bringing up the promise Gyeoul had made.

“…”

Yura, unlike the other two, silently looked at the boy for a while and then shook her head.

Other than the three of them, Amalia, Principal Hamilton, and several other people attempted to dissuade Gyeoul.

[…Are you still listening?]

“Yes, go ahead.”

[I appreciate the thought. I really do. Honestly, I’m really touched. I don’t know how you’re still willing to help me even after putting up with Magath—that bastard’s insults… But I don’t want anyone else to get hurt because of me. I’m a soldier, and my duty is to protect the civilians. So please, just stay there. That’s the best for both of us. Who knows? I might still be alive when the rescue team comes back tomorrow.]

“You sure you’re safe there?”

[…Yeah.]

“You’re such a bad liar.”

[Shut up, Banana.]

“Say whatever you want. I’m going there anyway.”

[Hey!]

“You said you fell down the stairs, right? Then you must be still inside a building. Could you specify the location? You can tell me any recognizable structure.”

[Just don’t…]

“If you don’t tell me anything, it’s only going to cost me more time. Then I’ll be more likely to die.”

[…You serious?]

“Oh, I’m dead serious. So quit crying, will ya? I don’t wanna hear a grown-up crying like a baby.”

[I’m not crying, goddamnit!]

As the conversation progressed, favor revision notifications kept on piling up in a corner of Gyeoul’s view. Some were going up, and some were going down, but the most notable ones were Jinseok and Jaejoong’s downward revision messages.

Jinseok even tried to take the receiver away from Gyeoul’s hand but the boy’s high level of Combat Eye easily prevented it from happening. Jinseok, with his arm twisted, let out a short scream. Tears welled up in his glaring eyes.

[Hey, what’s going on? I think I heard a scream.]

“Never mind. Someone just stubbed their toe. That’s gotta hurt.”

[Really? Huh, it didn’t sound like that…]

“That’s not important right now. Just tell me what you saw.”

[Okay, okay. Slow down. Geez, Koreans do like things very quickly. Okay, hold on a minute. I can’t think fast enough with this stupid pain.]

The soldier’s voice had become a lot brighter compared to before. A hint of hope. It was a fairly realistic reaction for an AI.

All throughout Gyeoul’s conversation, Jinseok struggled to escape from Gyeoul’s grasp. However, every struggle he made was effortlessly subdued by the boy’s left hand. In fact, Gyeoul wasn’t focusing too much on suppressing the young man. It was the combination of level 10 Close Combat and Combat Eyes that worked to realize Gyoul’s will to ‘suppress’ in the most efficient way possible.

It was only when Gyeoul finished talking that he took his finger off of the push-to-talk button and threw Jinseok down to the floor.

“I thought you recognized me as your leader, didn’t you?”

“A leader should have no right to make such an important decision all by himself!” Jinseok sputtered away, red-faced, his breath rasping through his flared nostrils.

“Really? Then I quit. I won’t be your leader anymore. Then I can go by myself, right?”

Gyeoul’s answer left Jinseok dumbstruck for a moment, but he soon flew into a rage.

“Okay, let’s say you go out and save that soldier. What about the people here? We are in danger just like him! One person that you don’t even know if you can save, and 34 people and three teammates whom you can save for sure! Damnit, is this a hard question? Just stay here! You’re an irresponsible son of a bitch if you really leave!”

Gyeoul set Jinseok free for the moment. The young man stood up and backed away a few steps as he murmured out some curses. In the meantime, the radio received a new signal and let out a subtle static noise. With the receiver on his ear, Gyeoul brought his finger to his lips.

“We’ll deal with the rest later.”

[Here’s some stuff I recall. The last location of our platoon, when it was still intact, was the intersection of Creston Road and Walnut Drive. We were supposed to head straight to your location from there, but as you know, the monster showed up, so we had to scramble away. I do know that I ran northward from there, but I don’t know how far I ran. All I can remember is that I saw the county health department on my way here.]

Gyeoul unfolded the map on the floor and traced his finger down the road.

“Anything else you remember?”

[Anything else? Hmm… I don’t know, I was so caught up in running away, I… Oh, wait. I just remembered one more thing. There was a FEMA van turned turtle in front of this building I ran into.」

“A FEMA van, is it? Got it. Well, I gotta say, you remember a lot for someone who wants to die alone. You don’t want to die, do you?”

[…Yeah, I admit it. I don’t want to die. Is that the answer you wanted, you jerk?]

“Yup. Obvious, wasn’t it? Now, I’ll be heading out, so try to remain silent unless I contact you via radio. Also, try to stay in one location if possible. But don’t hesitate to move if you see a mutant coming.”

[I know, I know. I’m a professional soldier. I should know that better than you do.]

“All right. Oh, by the way, I don’t think I asked your name. Care to share your name and rank?”

From the radio flowed out the chuckle of the soldier.

[Sergeant Matthew Cohen.]

“Okay, Sergeant Cohen. I’ll see you in a few minutes.”

Gyeoul checked the time as he put down the receiver. There was still plenty of time before nightfall. ‘It’s worth a try if he isn’t too far away,’ thought Gyeoul.

As Gyeoul got ready to head out, he turned towards Jinseok who was still glowering at him.

“You look very angry.”

“Are you really leaving us?”

Just then, Gyeoul’s skill, Insight, showed him a vast array of words and phrases recommended for persuasion. But Gyeoul completely glossed over them.

“You know, there are some parents in this world who sell their children for their own benefit.”

“What?”

Jinseok was fazed at the sudden question, but Gyeoul made no bones about his speech.

“They sell their children, making excuses like ‘What’s bad about selling our own child for the rest of the family to live?’ And this is what they say to the child: ‘I’m sorry you have to go through this, my child. But we all have to make sacrifices for our family, do you understand?’”

The boy then continued with a warm smile.

“Sacrifice a few for the benefit of many. That’s all right. You’re not wrong, Jinseok-ssi. But I don’t know if I want to be with people who are used to giving up on others. Because then, I know I’ll be given up on at one point.”

“…”

“I want to be with people who are willing to die to save others. So I’m not forcing anybody to come with me. No, I need you to just stay here. We also need people to protect this place and these people. But while I’m gone, I want you to think about it by yourself. Whether I’m really an irresponsible person. Whether I’m in the wrong here. You, Jinseok-ssi, and the other two also.”

Gyeoul then returned to packing up the duffel bag. When the boy finished packing, Yura came up to him and broke the silence.

“I… never thought you were wrong, little boss. I just…”

“Just?”

“…just had no courage.”

Gyeoul, in turn, looked into her face with a warm smile.

The boy then turned around and walked past the barricade up to the emergency exit door. With his hand on the crash bar, the boy took a big breath. And when he was ready, he gave it a push.

As soon as the door opened, three mutants that were loitering in front of the gym jumped at the boy. Although everything happened so quickly, there was just enough time for Gyeoul to stop the foremost one with his elbow. The mutant was so strong he got pushed back a little, but the boy rode out until the rest of the mutants came close enough. And when they did, he kicked their knees and tripped them over all at once. While making sure the mutants were knocked over, Gyeoul drew his machete and chopped each one of their heads down.

Gyeoul grabbed the corpses and dragged them out of the gym one at a time. Before he cleared the last body, he looked back and said, “Keep a low profile as you always have. I’ll be back before you know it,“ as he closed the door behind him.

The boy checked the updated mission information and journal. ‘If the return is delayed, the mission will fail due to the people’s increasing panic.’ The system message was attached right beside the mission window.