“Thank you very much, we will be living in this apartment”
Kotsuru and guys safely return to Prefecture A because her body stabilized.
I was slightly perplexed on where to let them stay but, because the Aizu couple had an apartment before the infection, I have them live the same apartment again.
“Is it alright?”
“Ah, it’s mostly alright, the man who rules”
Kotsuru smiles energetically as she says that.
……The figure of her smiling like this in her mother’s arm really resembles a normal child.
“Hey……Is it fine if I ask a question?”
“Mu? What is it?”
It’s Sakura-chan
It seems that there’s something bothering her but……
“Erm……does the virus itself have consciousness?”
“The virus itself having consciousness? What do you mean?”
“I’m slightly, bothered……Is my consciousness, really my own……Right now, the me who recognizes myself as the being Ashino Sakura, is it the same as the Ashino Sakura before the infection……By any chance, I might not be the real me……The virus in this body is just thinking that way……”
Not just the body, is the soul and mind being taken over by the virus as well.
It seems that Sakura-chan was thinking about that.
……I didn’t know.
Sakura-chan was also feeling uneasy……to think that I didn’t realize it.
It’s no good, I am.
“Aa, that’s what you meant, there’s nothing to worry about, you are you, Ashino Sakura. The virus itself doesn’t have consciousness, it’s an existence that receives orders from that planet and moving according to it, furthermore……the cells of a human change every few months, right? If you think about it that way, you before the infection is a different person from you now, you know?”
“Is that……how it is? Thanks, Kotsuru-chan”
“No no, it’s no big deal……besides, the feelings you had for the man who rules were there before the infection, right? Even if you are different from before the infectionーーthat part didn’t change, right?”
“……uu! That’s right! Right! The feeling I have for Jin-nii……didn’t change! Un! That’s right, the most important part didn’t change……then it’s fine”
Sakura-chan stares at me.
I have, become a pillar of support for Sakura-chan’s heart……huh
The responsibility is heavy.
“Sakura-chan, Sakura. I like you, I love you”
“Un……! I know……!”
“……Can you fawn over each other somewhere else?”
Oops, I can’t do that.
※
“Then, I also have a question……”
Aki-chan slightly raises her hand.
This time it is Aki-chan.
I wonder what’s Aki-chan’s question.
“What is it this time?”
“What is a……unique individual”
“That’s a broad question……An infectee who has achieved an abnormal evolution because of the virus……is not the answer you want to hear, right?”
“Yes, erm……Kotsuru-chan said something along the lines of Jin-san being a farmer, right? Then why is there unique individuals that don’t listen to Jin-sanーーthe Infected Emperor ”
That’s right.
If they want to operate the Infected Emperor like a farmer, it should be best to not create unique individuals that pose threat to the farmer.
As far as it goes, the Infected Emperor has the power to copy others’ abilities but……
It’ll be fine without it if they made it so that the orders work for everyone.
“……Aa, that, the unique individuals are to the engineers of that planet an irregular”
“Irregular? Is that it?”
“Right, irregular. It was not foreseen, unique individuals besides the Infected Emperor”
I see, it unforeseen to begin with.
……If that’s the case
“The copying ability of the Infected Emperor was added afterwards as a counter against the unique individuals……is that so?”
“Oo, good observation, the man who rules. As you’ve said, it was a power added in a big hurry”
It was power added in a big hurry huh.
“Aa, in truth, there are also other planets that are invaded by the zombie virus, but because of the appearance of unique individuals that are unforeseen, there were the incidents of the Infected Emperors dying”
So that’s it……
Which reminds me, there are other planets besides Earth that are infected.
Well, it was as expected though……
“Then, the ability given to strengthen the Infected Emperor afterwards is as you know it, the copying ability”
I see.
“Then the fusion individuals as well? Are unforeseen?”
Saya asks.
“That’s right, fusion individuals are also unforeseen……or should I say, this is the first case. There are no confirmed cases of fusion individuals besides this planetーーEarth”
It seems that fusion individuals are exclusive to Earth.
The reason isn’t really clear but……I wonder if it’s the effect of the rich environment on Earth.
“Now then, is that all of the questions? It’s my milk time from now on……”
Oops.
As expected, I’ll feel bad if we overstay.
