Surviving Among the Letters

Side: Luca Cortes

I was hopeful when I got a call from Messier oppa after such a long time, and, as expected, he didn’t disappoint.

A new member for the Stellar Cluster, huh?

Cielo joined when she was 16, so that’s already three years ago? It feels like it’s the first time we’ve had back-to-back recruits like this.

“Luca-nim, we’re almost there. Please get ready.”

“There’s nothing for me to prepare, really.”

Since Messier oppa asked me to create a cryonic preservation unit, all I had to do was make a call to the affiliated company.

But there’s one reason why I dropped everything and came all the way to the Paradise Psionics Research Lab.

“Jamie, this new recruit Messier oppa mentioned, do you think they’re the real deal?”

“I wouldn’t know, but if Dr. Messier said they’re joining the Stellar Cluster, they probably are.”

“Oh, I’m so excited. I can’t wait to see them.”

I’m here solely because I want to see this new recruit.

Initially, I planned to sneak out on my own, but I had to jump through hoops because the instructors wouldn’t let me skip my business classes.

In the end, I explained the situation to my grandfather, and the instructors backed off, giving me some much-needed free time.

Screech!

The vehicle stopped, and Jamie got out of the driver’s seat to open the door for me.

As I stepped out of the limousine, receiving an escort, Messier oppa came out to greet me.

“Oppa! It feels like it’s been ages since I’ve seen you.”

“…Why are you here?”

“I came to see that person. I never imagined you’d speak so highly of someone.”

Sigh…

It seems he didn’t expect me to show up here. Judging by that heavy sigh, it’s pretty obvious.

“First, we need to take care of freezing the subject. Follow me with your team.”

“Got it. Future Ice team! Follow me.”

Leading the cryonic preservation team under me, I followed Messier oppa into the lab.

After walking for some time, we finally arrived at the medical bay.

The girl lying there, connected to various machines, was the subject to be cryopreserved.

“Her name was… Remi, right?”

I took the patient chart from Messier oppa and started reading through it.

Nothing unusual stood out, except that she had an unusually large brain tumor.

“Because of the brain tumor?”

“Yeah.”

“But it’ll take a long time before we can treat a tumor of this size.”

“That’s not what we’re waiting for.”

“Huh? Then why are we freezing her?”

“If you’re curious… follow me.”

It seemed like I would finally get to see the face of this mysterious new recruit.

“Future Ice! Carefully complete the cryopreservation and transport her to HQ. Tell Jamie I’ll be delayed and to wait.”

“Yes, Luca-nim!”

While I was giving orders, Messier oppa had already walked far ahead.

Seriously, can’t he wait a bit? Hmph.

I quickly caught up with him to match his pace.

“Where are we going?”

“Fourth floor.”

Side: Blanco

The experiment had been ongoing since morning, and it was almost 3 PM now.

Being the first day, it took some time, but we had already extracted data from three subjects.

I wanted to wrap up today’s quota of seven subjects and finish the day, but—

“Aaaaahhhh! Huff… haah… AAAAHHHHH!”

The fourth subject’s screams were starting to get to me. If I kept hearing this, I might develop a neurosis.

“Team leader! There’s something different here compared to the previous cases.”

“Oh, thank you. Let me take a look.”

Taking the tablet from the researcher who handed it to me, I stared at it.

The problem was, I couldn’t actually interpret the data.

Even with my retained memories, I was never a researcher before.

And on top of that, this involved psionics—something I knew even less about.

That’s why I always had Chief Researcher Han Ahri by my side.

The director told me to ask Chief Han if there was anything I didn’t understand.

I looked at Chief Han intently, and she seemed to understand, taking the tablet and explaining it to me.

“───As a result, it’s approximately 10% more stable than the last experiment. What do you think? Is it improving?”

“Yes, thank you.”

This experiment was a complete gamble.

It was about pushing subjects to their limits and then spinning the wheel for a breakthrough.

But understanding came with time. The real issue was finding a solution to the so-called qi deviation (tentative term).

That’s why we were forcibly inducing enlightenment in the test subjects, searching for a way to endure the qi deviation.

“Uuuuaaagh! Ugh… aaaarrrgh!”

The chilling screams of the subjects continued, making it clear just how dangerous this experiment was.

“Could you take care of the corpse?”

At my words, the researchers waiting by the door packed the corpse into a bag and carried it away.

Then, the fifth child, bound in chains, was brought into the lab.

I instructed the researchers to force the test subject into a chair and restrain them.

“P… Please spare me… Please, I beg yo—Argh! Aaaaaah!”

No matter how much I tried to make the test subject read the revelation, they simply wouldn’t understand it.

In the end, I decided to use a translator.

Using magic to directly implant the translation into their brain ensured they would understand, no matter how much they resisted reading it.

That’s when a qi deviation would occur.

“Uaaaaaaaah! Ugh, h-heu… Haaaahhhhhh!”

Like that.

However, if left as is, they clearly wouldn’t survive, so I administered additional drugs.

“How much of the drug should we administer?”

“How much did you use earlier?”

“About 50% of the maximum dose.”

“Then increase it to 70%.”

“Got it, Team Leader!”

For reference, the maximum dose, set at 100%, is based on the limits of my own body.

If they survive the drug, I would have to test it on myself as well, making the maximum dose the threshold my body can withstand.

Still, I expected more resistance. Strangely, they seemed to be treating me rather well.

Wouldn’t most people complain if a 12-year-old kid became the team leader and directed experiments?

Yet, everyone not only spoke to me respectfully but also treated me with surprising courtesy.

And… the way they look at me…

It’s like how someone watches a child’s performance at a recital.

Right in front of them, a 12-year-old test subject is screaming and dying, yet the researchers completely ignore that and instead look at me with warm gazes.

Not just one or two of them, but the majority.

This place is insane.

◆◇◆◇◆

“Good work, everyone.”

It was almost past dinnertime by the time we reached our goal of seven subjects.

After bowing to thank the researchers for their help, I began tidying up.

“Are you okay?”

The person who spoke to me was none other than Chief Researcher Han Ari.

“About what?”

“Using kids your age as test subjects. We’re used to it, but it must be tough for you.”

Worrying over something like that?

These kids aren’t even mentioned in the original story. They’re just extras among extras.

There’s no reason to feel guilty about those with no value.

“I’m fine, really.”

“Sigh… You’ve got it tough because of the director. I don’t see why he has to go to such extremes when a little help would suffice…”

Chief Han began to tell me stories about the director for my sake.

“Our director, believe it or not, is a renowned doctor famous for his generosity. He donates to orphanages every year and gives free lectures to promising young talents.”

It was only after hearing this that I began to understand why Director Messier was so friendly toward me.

He really does seem to like kids.

Yet he also uses them as test subjects.

What a lunatic.

“I used to be the director’s apprentice. I got my doctorate at 22, so people took an interest in me, calling me a prodigy. Then, that same man came to lecture at a class I was attending. Before I knew it, I became his direct apprentice.”

So that explains how someone so young rose to the position of Chief Researcher.

Connections really are everything.

“I dropped out of college at 18 and followed the director to establish this lab. You have no idea how big a gamble that was.”

Dropped out at 18? That means they must’ve entered university early.

Forget what I thought earlier. This person is also a crazy genius.

“So, I know firsthand how good the director really is.”

“…That may be, but from the perspective of someone being used as a test subject, it’s hard to feel that way.”

“Haha! I suppose so. Hmm… Sorry about this time.”

“It’s okay…”

“Anyway, don’t let it bother you too much. Even if he seems cold, he’s definitely worrying about you behind the scenes.”

“That… would be nice to believe.”

“Sigh. Let’s go grab dinner together!”

Chief Han picked me up and lifted me high.

“Wait, hold on, Chief Han!”

Flustered, I called out, but the response I got was enough to leave me dumbfounded.

“Call me Ari!”

“What…?”

“Work is over for the day, right? So it’s fine to speak casually. Come on, say it. Ari!”

“A… Ari…”

“Louder!”

“Ari!”

It wasn’t as shocking as when I had to call a researcher ‘Oppa’ before.

Still, it felt awkward calling such a pretty woman ‘Ari.’

“Aww, so cute. I’ve always wanted a younger sibling.”

She ruffled my white hair and started walking ahead.

Toward the cafeteria, I assumed.

“Wait a moment!”

“Hm?”

“I need to stop by the infirmary first… I want to check on Remy.”

But no matter what.

Remy is my number one priority.