Apocalypse Survival Guide Chapter 49

Chapter 49. Tree (3)

"...... What is this?"

"How would I know? I'm no pureblood supremacist."

Licorice shrugged at my involuntary murmur.

"Don't you have any guesses? You know a lot about various things."

"Cults aren't my field."

Though that's what she said, her unchanged expression hinted that she might know more than she let on. When she genuinely didn't know sothing, she tended to get defensive.

As I persistently gazed at her, Licorice flinched. Even as she tried to act unbothered and glanced away, she began to fidget as my gaze remained steadfast.

It wasn't very noticeable, but I could discern it. In the past, when I t the broker with a perception-blocking mask on, I had closely observed every tiny gesture to understand her true intentions.

I felt that just a little more persistence, and she might actually confess.

"Do you really not know? We're in the sa boat, so don't hide it. Share what you know. I understand that knowledge can sotis be a curse, but our situation has already beco dire."

"W-we're in the sa boat?"

"You said so three years ago, when you made an identity for ."

"Oh, back then. You rember well."

"I can't forget."

"...... Is that so?"

Licorice let out a small clearing of her throat, her mood suddenly lightened. I began wondering if she had used the perception-blocking mask to hide her expressive face.

"Hyun-woo, as you said, I've figured out a few things. I've only postponed talking about it because I'm not entirely sure. I'll speak once that woman is brought here."

"Celestia, you an?"

"Yeah."

"...... At this hour?"

"...... Is it too late?"

When I reacted reluctantly, Licorice glanced outside, looking concerned. It was an unusually late hour. Though there were so patrolling for security, most people would be asleep now.

"It is late. I ca because you called, but for her..."

I understood why Licorice wanted to call Celestia. Although she wasn't truly a part of them, Celestia had been associated with the pureblood supremacist group.

She might know sothing we don't, and brainstorming together could lead to plausible theories.

However, calling soone in the dead of night when everyone else was asleep seed a bit unreasonable. There was a reason I let Nadia sleep and ca alone. Besides, Celestia lived quite separately, to the point we wouldn't see her face outside of these circumstances.

"Still, try calling her. If she isn't asleep, have her co."

"?"

"Then who else? It's better if you- never mind, just do it."

"...... Alright."

Grumbling, I tapped on my bracelet to send a short ssage.

- Sorry for reaching out late at night. I unlocked the bracelet just now. If you aren't asleep, could you co down for a chat? If not, we can talk in the morning.

- I'm coming right away.

Expecting a delayed response, I was about to close the hologram screen when the bracelet vibrated. The reply ca imdiately after I sent my ssage.

"What is it? Did she reply already?"

"She's coming right away."

"......"

Licorice let out a soft hum, crossing her arms, appearing a bit perturbed all of a sudden. I didn't understand. While I was pondering over her unfathomable nature, soone knocked on the door.

It was Celestia. She wore sowhat light clothing, possibly because she had been sleeping. Of course, it's all relative since it was apparel worn under a suit.

She gave us a brief nod of greeting and, looking at the bracelet on the table, asked, "What was inside this?"

"Nothing significant for soone low-ranked."

Licorice played the file stored in the device.

- The holy tree watches over us.

To cleanse and purify this contaminated world.

To cleanse and purify our corrupted bodies and souls.

We await the day of its coming, and so it reaches us, we willingly offer our lives.

Thus, we of pure blood shall be reborn as pure beings and enjoy immortality.

"This is all the information on the bracelet. It's just an audio file repeating hypnotically. I called you, wondering if you might know sothing, when you were pretending to be a part of the pureblood supremacist group-"

"I wasn't part of it. I was pretending."

"...... Right, pretending. Even if you had so reason for pretending, did you hear anything while you were there?"

"Holy tree... pure being... ...enjoy immortality?"

Celestia was deeply lost in thought, not even hearing the broker's question.

"You were quick to retort earlier......"

Despite Licorice's mutter, no one paid attention. As Celestia organized her thoughts, I seized the mont to ask.

"You ntioned earlier that you had so guesses. What is it?"

"The connection between the pureblood supremacist's symbol and what's referred to as the holy tree."

Licorice took out a small spherical device and placed it on the table. With a nudge, it opened, projecting a hologram.

In the center hovered the pureblood supremacist's symbol.

"Their symbol looks like a random collection of aningless patterns. But if you manipulate it like this......"

As the security deactivated, the hologram inverted. Inside the circular world, there sprawled tree branches and roots stretching wide. It was undeniably the shape of a massive tree.

"Doesn't it look like a tree?"

"Yes. So this symbol was a tree......"

"No, we can't conclude that yet. Simply because sothing looks like it, doesn't an we can be certain. I'm just considering possibilities. If the holy tree is sothing they hold dear, it's possible they've proudly marked it."

Licorice glanced at Celestia, hoping for her to continue.

Celestia hesitated, then opened her mouth to speak.

"The pureblood supremacists are highly secretive. The exact definition of the purity they and their ideals claim is unknown."

Celestia indicated that their public facade rely hailed the purity of human labor.

"It's not sothing you can join by choice, and even if you do, you can't rise to executive levels. Their thods of recognition go beyond simple identity verification."

She continued, looking at .

"I ntioned it to you before. They contacted , so I engaged briefly."

"Hyun-woo, is that right?"

"Yes. She did tell that."

"When did she ntion that......"

Confirming her story, Licorice narrowed her eyes. I explained we had briefly discussed it during our departure from the base.

"I wasn't with the pureblood supremacist group for long. I was told I could rise among their ranks depending on what I'd do, but then things ca to this."

"So you don't know anything, huh?"

"If you put it like that, sure. But I don't know nothing. I had chances to see so of the facilities they own and made so inquiries. While those were inconclusive, now it makes sense."

"What does?"

"That the 'holy tree' they refer to is indeed marked as their symbol, that they worship it as a god, and are awaiting its revelation. And the current situation has ensued due to or as part of that process."

We all grew silent, lost in thoughts. Celestia seed to have more to say, yet didn't. All around was just a compulsive tapping sound from the table.

'There's just too little information.'

I didn't know whether the holy tree was simply referring to an actual tree or symbolized sothing else. Either way, it was clear it wouldn't bode well for us.

Thinking about what those pureblood supremacists had done was enough to confirm that.

Suddenly, Licorice let out an aggravated sigh, pressing her temples.

"This isn't good."

"What isn't?"

"It feels like this situation is rely the beginning. Hyun-woo, do you know how long since those guys first appeared in the world?"

"Um....... Around 10 years?"

Having learned that Nadia was terrified just by their symbol, I once searched about them. Having only skimd the information, I didn't know the details, but I thought the issues only beca socially prevalent recently.

However, Licorice spoke of a tiline not two, or three tis my guess, but ten tis over.

"Almost 100 years. 20 years after the beastkin appeared, when the space exploration fleet discovered a new energy source called Blue Crystal. The 10 years you ntioned refer rely to when their activities beca overt."

"......."

"They have a history spanning 100 years. Although there have been issues, those were trivial, fueled by discrimination and hatred. Besides that, they tactfully spread their influence. These once undercover forces suddenly blew up a Blue Crystal refinery under governnt protection with bombs and subsequently sealed this satellite."

'What seed just maniacal turned out to be truly insane cult-like behavior,' Licorice murmured, and I agreed.

"What do you think their brazen actions an? Doesn't it imply that their years of concealed groundwork have co to fruition? That their plan is near completion? Whatever the plan entails, what becos of us if it's executed?"

"......."

I beca speechless. The implication that simply escaping from the satellite might not end it, left at a loss for words.

"When I first saw the ghouls, I thought they were the result of a failed immortality experint. But no, they aim for sothing far more dangerous. Immortality experints pale in comparison, sothing truly ominous."

"The pureblood supremacists who invited constantly said they were moving for a new world. I never saw the laboratories, but it's highly possible they're hidden sowhere."

"...... But the ghouls appeared before the pureblood supremacists' bombing."

"Yeah, that's a puzzle too. So we either start investigating that now or focus entirely on escaping."

Silence lingered in the room once more. This pause didn't last as long as before. Just when the soundless tension was about to escalate, Licorice, in a low voice, started to speak.

"...... Keep this conversation a secret from the others. It's not beneficial to spread it. Nothing's certain yet."

"......."

"What drives people to keep going now? It's the hope of being rescued if they wait. That hope crumbles, the finely woven system will collapse like sandcastles in a tide. We're in a situation where even a brief lapse may hinder our maintenance. Do you want that?"

"...... No."

"You focus on your tasks, Hyun-woo. I'll handle the colony affairs. Rember, per your words, we're in the sa boat. I'm not suggesting we hide it indefinitely. That's not feasible."

Licorice's reassurance, after noticing my expression, eased the bubbling burden sowhat. Making such decisions didn't suit . Who was I to control others? I can't even manage my own issues properly.

Celestia nodded in agreent, letting out a soft sigh.

"We're unaware of happenings outside. To learn sothing, even to marginally improve survival odds, we can't allow further disruption. Although I know deliberately withholding information is wrong, there's no choice. At least for the ti being, we can't afford distractions. We're entirely unprepared."

"Finally, we're on the sa page."

Beyond the glass window, the massive Saturn lood. Suspended in the dark sky, Saturn seed like a colossal eye watching us.

Mystery and distant allure. Unfamiliarity mixed with familiarity. The eye settled between these extres watched us, appearing to observe our actions.

Concealing my rising unease beneath Saturn's shadow seed the only way to keep my anxiety hidden. At least, it felt as if that ease my insides would be safeguarded.

***

Morning followed the pre-dawn conversation tainted with unease and dissatisfaction.

"So, I'm telling you, firing plasma over long distances isn't feasible. Have you been gaming or what?"

"Why!"

"I've reiterated many tis...! It's impossible with current technology and these tools!"

"Make it happen! Make it happen!"

"No matter how stubborn you are, so things just aren't achievable! ...... Even if you wag your tail, it won't work!"

Nadia and I were engaged in a scuffle with a man introduced by Eric.

...... No, not , just Nadia.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=【ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌ )】

The looming threat of the pureblood supremacists makes the already bad situation go worse.