Bad Born Blood-Chapter 199

Chapter 199

I walked through the forest, carrying Ragnata on my back. According to the information Jafa had gathered, Valek was staying deeper inside the forest.

As we walked, Ragnata started talking about "mutants."

"If certain special environmental conditions align, lifeforms on Planet Novus can deviate from their usual forms. At first, I thought they were just rare species, but... I eventually realized they were mutations."

I stayed silent, just listening. Something came to mind.

I recalled the mutation process of the rat I had seen at Jin Gaw’s laboratory. Jin Gaw had used Hollistone’s energy to induce mutations in living organisms.

Unusual biological specimens were occasionally discovered on Planet Novus. Machine Beasts, with metallic exteriors and internal organs, were one such example. These mutations were closely tied to the ancient Arcane civilization and Hollistone.

"Watch out ahead. That’s a carnivorous plant."

"I know. The scattered bones make it pretty obvious."

I stopped walking. A disturbing vibration rose beneath my feet.

Whoosh.

I lightly stepped back. A sharp tendril shot up from where I had just been standing. If I had remained there, it would have pierced me from my lower back to my throat.

’The tree roots move like living creatures.’

I grabbed one of the roots and snapped it. Its surface resembled wood, but the inside was as soft as flesh. Watery sap splattered out, much like blood.

"That carnivorous plant is also a type of mutation."

"So it’s not just a species of carnivorous plant on its own?"

I drew my Firelight Saber and stabbed it into the ground repeatedly. The earth trembled, and the root tendrils retreated.

"When the early settlers were still unfamiliar with Planet Novus’s ecosystem, they assumed so. But with more research and studies, we’ve learned to distinguish between natural and abnormal organisms. Naturally evolved flora and fauna develop functions suited to their environment and have corresponding forms. Mutants, on the other hand, appear suddenly and are inherently different. They’re distinct from creatures that have adapted to the ecosystem over countless generations."

"Is that so?"

Not being an ecologist, I found it difficult to grasp immediately. Ragnata chuckled, then explained like a teacher.

"Take the root tendrils that just attacked you, for example. To hunt, they tear through the soil, destroying even the roots of other plants. In a typical ecosystem, ordinary plants in this area would be wiped out. And as you can see, the trees around here are already unusually withered. Soon, only those carnivorous plants will remain in this region, and once the prey senses the unnaturalness of this place, they’ll stop coming here altogether."

Professor Ragnata’s lesson was quite interesting.

"Then won’t that carnivorous plant just starve to death?"

"It’ll either starve as it is, find another way to survive, or undergo another mutation. Either way, destroying its surrounding environment to sustain itself is not a trait of normal flora and fauna. No species could survive for tens or hundreds of thousands of years that way."

I stared at the carnivorous plant before me. Beneath it, bones lay sparsely scattered like fertilizer, hidden under soil and fallen leaves.

"If destroying the surrounding environment to survive is unnatural... doesn’t that mean most sentient beings are unnatural? There are plenty of species that have destroyed their homeworlds and migrated elsewhere."

I asked my question like a proper student.

"...That’s why intelligence itself is unnatural. Intelligence is the fruit of sin. From a cosmic perspective, sentient beings are nothing more than extreme egotists. Many species should have perished alongside the decline of their homeworlds, but instead, they obtained the magic of interstellar travel, endlessly migrating and continuing their journey of destruction."

Ragnata exuded an emotion so strong that even I could sense it. This part of the discussion was laced with her personal opinions. Because of that, I gained a deeper understanding of who she was.

"So that’s why you said you don’t care whether war breaks out or not? If a war erupts and sentient beings die—eventually leading to mutual destruction—it would ultimately benefit Planet Novus’s ecosystem, wouldn’t it?"

I furrowed my brow slightly. Ragnata chuckled.

"You think I’m some kind of extreme environmentalist, kid. I’ve never taken it that far. For the record, the mobile school was funded entirely with the advance payment from that job. I failed and never got the remaining balance, though."

"Hmph, so in crude terms, you just ran off with the money. And you failed this time, too. Is it normal for an assassin to fail this often? Maybe I should switch careers and become one myself."

I mocked her as I passed by the man-eating plant. I briefly considered setting it on fire with my Firelight Saber, but the smoke would make us too noticeable.

"Normally, failing an assassination means death—for anyone. The reason I’m still alive is simple. I was strong enough to take on the next contract. No one benefits from making me their enemy."

The strong have the privilege of breaking rules that others must follow. That is why people covet power.

"So if I hadn’t captured you, you would have been killed for failing the job. Since you’re weaker now, that is."

Ragnata shook her head with a wrinkled smile.

“No one knows I’ve grown weaker. They still fear me, thinking I’ve retired and only take on small jobs for amusement.”

It was a clear testament to how renowned Ragnata had been in her past. Even if she failed a mission, few would dare to target her.

‘Well, that’s why she even got a contract to assassinate the crown prince.’

Even in failure, it had been a legendary feat. She had infiltrated the heart of the Empire, attacked the crown prince, and lived to tell the tale.

I kept walking. Since we were in a forest, the daylight was fading quickly. The forest floor was already shrouded in shadows.

‘This forest is likely connected to Arcane ruins or Hollistone.’

Ilay Carthica crossed my mind. If he were here, he’d be having an animated discussion with Ragnata.

As I passed by, I noticed old traces of campsites scattered throughout.

“Hunters have been through here. Lately, it’s become popular among young Nomads to take contracts from scholars to hunt and capture mutants.”

“Well, it’s a more respectable job than being an assassin.”

Jafa had likely gathered information on Valek from Nomad hunters.

‘Valek was originally a Nomad.’

I went over the personal details Jafa had given me. That meant Valek was hiding just outside of Border City—but not too far away.

‘An underground cave.’

I narrowed my eyes and lowered my stance. Ahead of me, I could see the entrance to the underground cave where Valek was supposedly staying. A place any sane person would hesitate to enter.

At first glance, it looked untouched by human hands. But hidden within that seemingly natural landscape were undoubtedly lethal traps...

“We’ve got another guest who arrived first,” Ragnata muttered.

I, too, noticed that the traps near the cave had been disarmed.

As the setting sun cast its dim light through the leaves, I could see faint glimmers of severed tripwires. Broken sensors and small mechanical devices lay wedged between the rocks.

I moved closer. The entrance to the underground cave was narrow. It was difficult to predict what the interior structure would be like. It could be a passage just wide enough for a single person to squeeze through. If we had to crawl, Ragnata would be a major hindrance.

‘And on top of that, someone got here first. Someone other than Valek.’

It could be Kinuan. A shiver ran down my spine, as if my cerebrospinal fluid had turned to coolant, leaving my mind ice-cold.

“You should leave me here and go in alone,” Ragnata said.

I had already reached the same conclusion.

Swish.

However, I chose to enter the underground cave with Ragnata still on my back. She trembled slightly, then let out a chuckle.

“Are you worried I’ll die if you leave me alone?”

“No, I just plan to throw you ahead as bait if necessary. If there’s an enemy inside, make sure to scream.”

Under normal circumstances, our banter would have continued.

But this time, we fell silent. In a cave, even whispers would echo.

As we moved deeper, the darkness thickened until even the faintest traces of light vanished. The absence of light was not an issue for me. Every time a droplet fell from the stalactites, the impact created sound waves, forming a map in my mind through auditory vision.

Bzzzz.

I halted. The passage was widening. I focused on the way sound reflected and detected a large chamber further ahead. Among the echoes bouncing off stone, I also picked up faint reverberations from metal and wood.

‘That must be where Valek is staying.’

I sharpened my senses to get a clearer picture. Listen more closely. Expand my perception. Use my brain.

...Damn it, I should have practiced using auditory vision more often.

My range was narrower than before, and the edges of my perception were blurry. Something was moving beyond, but its form was indistinct. I couldn’t get an accurate read on the situation inside.

Tap.

Ragnata tapped my shoulder and gave me a hand signal. I understood her intent immediately.

‘Throw me over there. The attention will be on me, so use that moment to strike.’

Ragnata had conveyed her plan to me.

I had joked about using her as bait, but she was now planning to turn that joke into reality.

In that case, I had no reason to object. I wasn’t going to spout nonsense about keeping her safe. If she died, it would be because she had chosen to take the risk herself.

Swish.

I loosened the restraints on her wrists. They had been symbolic from the start—if she had really wanted to, she could have escaped them at any time.

‘Go, Ragnata.’

I hurled Ragnata, still inside the duffel bag, deep into the chamber.

Thud!

As the bag landed, a cacophony of noise erupted all at once. The harsh clanking of metal rang out in rapid succession.

At the same time, I slipped inside. Any sound my footsteps might have made was muffled as I pressed my toes against the ground.

Creak, creak, clank.

Various sounds overlapped. I carefully absorbed the faint noises and traces, piecing together the environment in my mind.

‘This is a living space.’

There were beds, a dining table, chairs, and other miscellaneous furniture scattered throughout the chamber.

Bang!

Gunfire erupted toward Ragnata. The shots echoed in all directions, overlapping and amplifying. For an instant, light flared in the darkness.

In that brief moment, everything became clear. The gunshots were so loud that my auditory vision sharpened to the clarity of sight.

‘Two unidentified intruders. Fully armed.’

Ragnata crouched against a rock.

Whoosh!

She planted her arms against the ground and launched herself upward, flipping midair. But the time she had bought for herself was short.

I took advantage of the moment when all attention was on Ragnata and closed in on the intruders. One of them hadn’t noticed me.

But the other reacted instantly, with an almost inhuman level of speed.

Clack—BOOM!

A thunderous roar split the air, louder than any normal gunshot. My ears rang from the sheer force of it.

I barely twisted my head in time to dodge. Even so, my hair was scorched.

I widened my eyes as I felt the lingering heat.

‘A pistol firing explosive rounds?’

Flames detonated behind me. I had seen this kind of firepower before.

The one who fired tilted his head slightly, as if puzzled by how I had evaded the shot. His face was hidden behind a full-body combat suit.

Bzzzt!

I drew my Firelight Saber, locking eyes with the two intruders. They ignored Ragnata completely and turned their focus to me.

I struggled to keep my lips from curling into a smirk. The weapon in their hands was familiar. I had only seen it once, but it had left a strong impression.

"Ilay?"

A pistol that fired explosive rounds—Ilay’s signature weapon. I had seen it during the attack on the armed helicopter. Even the long barrel was the same.

“...Luka?"

Ilay reacted to my words. The one standing beside him flinched as well, visibly startled.

“No way... Lukaus Cus—”

Thud!

Ilay moved in a flash. He grabbed his companion’s head and drove a dagger under his jaw.

The blade pierced through the brain and burst out from the top of the skull.

It was a cold, merciless execution without the slightest hesitation. The moment Ilay recognized me, he killed his own comrade.

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