199: A Monster Wearing Human Skin

"......"

The Imperial soldier in the room muttered, finally understanding what had been happening here.

The one who had ruled this colony wasn't human—it was a monster wearing human skin.

I wholeheartedly agree with those words.

The scene before me was too grotesquely beyond reason to comprehend.

"Hah... We... the Empire... should have invaded this colony much earlier. We shouldn't have overlooked it just because there was no evidence."

The naked boys and girls—Elves and Dwarves, non-human races—lying inside the torn metal cage had simply been slaughtered by the cosmic monster Magatsuki.

Their expressions, though they had been killed straight on, somehow looked relieved.

In a corner of the room stood a human-made android production device.

Naturally illegal, it was a sinister contraption that created infant-like artificial humans based on original human tissue, capable of surviving only for a few days.

In the center of the room lay several grotesque instruments, their purpose unmistakable, suspended and arranged in a chilling display.

Dozens of cameras were aimed at the room's center, continuously recording what had taken place there.

Most of the military personnel who saw the recorded footage either vomited, trembled with rage, or in severe cases, fainted.

The scene shown on screen was literally unbearable to watch.

"To be honest, Magatsuki seems a lot more sane than this. At least we know what they're after, even if we can't communicate with them. This current situation is just... incomprehensible."

"I regret to say, I must agree. Magatsuki has consistently been our adversary, and ultimately an enemy we must defeat. Still, I find them infinitely preferable to these people here."

Among those labeled the "Repression Faction," the ones present here were particularly heretical.

If such extremists were the norm, the Empire would already have mobilized its full strength at the first sign of the Repression Faction's emergence.

「「「……」」」

A dark, heavy silence descends.

"Company Leader. I'm sorry about the victims, but I have my own duties to fulfill. These people here are unforgivable, but that's beside the point—I'm here to pursue Magatsuki."

"I understand. You carry out your task as you see fit. We'll handle the detention of these individuals."

Yet still, I must fulfill my own duty.

So I continue to scan the room.

I walk along the sequence of those cut by Magatsuki, finally standing before the last one to be slain.

"Is this the place?"

The traces are unmistakably clear.

The evidence of Magatsuki expanding its own OS domain, the signs of a mass transfer through a gate formed by blood, the cage with no corpse inside, and the human body lying with its abdomen ripped open outside the cage—all remain intact.

"This man's a human, probably someone from the colony. There are traces of Magatsuki's body control mod on him. So, it's likely that he picked up Magatsuki first, though we don't know how, and then slaughtered everyone without sparing even a single survivor."

The man outside the cage had a wound that looked as if he had cut open his own abdomen.

However, there was no weapon-like object nearby; instead, he stretched out his arm toward the inside of the cage, as if reaching something, and was already dead.

Who was locked up... well, I suppose we'll just have to check the gloomy records to find out.

Unlike the other cages, the one that was offered something has not a single scratch on it.

But based on the pattern and condition of the blood, there was no doubt someone had been inside.

It was almost certain that the Magatsuki had been passed from the man who died outside the cage to someone inside it.

And whoever had acquired the Magatsuki likely expanded their domain over the OS, concealing their exact location and destination, before making their escape.

"The destination... beyond being a disposable alternate dimension, I can't say for sure. But if the coordinates of the alternate dimension are reusable, then even if I set it up first, Magatsuki is likely to use it regardless. So setting a trap there would definitely be worth it."

Lick a little of the blood spreading across the floor inside the cage.

With that, the analysis of how Magatsuki's transfer took place begins.

Yeah, I got the information I needed.

Thus, one could say the minimum objective of visiting this personal colony has been accomplished.

"Alright, that'll do."

For now, I've set a trap within Magatsuki's alternate space.

A net made from my special ink and poison—should Magatsuki, even if she's an interstellar monster, get caught, she won't come out unscathed.

Besides that, since I went to the trouble, I mixed in some powdered bulb of Heikyo Moriru as well—she'll find it nearly impossible to hide or escape now.

Maintaining this alternate space, which was meant to be disposable, is a bit of a burden… but since I must stop Magatsuki's rampage, there's no choice but to push through it.

"You've got quite the satisfied look on your face, Satadon."

"Yeah, somehow. But since I can't directly track Magatsuki's destination, I'll have to rely on the security personnel inside the Sixth Primeval Colony and within 'Jichikane-to' to do their best."

"Such a thing is something anyone would gladly agree to. I'm sure of it."

"Thank you."

Well, I've gathered the necessary information.

The trap has been set.

All that's left is to corner Magatsuki—things should work out somehow.

And it's better for the Imperial Army or police to corner Magatsuki than me.

"Then I'll take my leave. I need to report back to Lady Vee, so I'll be returning for now."

"I understand. Just be careful how you deliver the news. The situation here is far too shocking."

"Yes, I'll be mindful of that."

I erased the doll located in the personal colony and sent a new doll to Viridiana.

Q: What was being done?

A: The 'Earth Serpent' and 'Amano House' actions achievable by human hands—specifically, acts so detailed in description that they'd provoke anger.