“Say, is fainting your favourite pastime?” By turning his head towards a captivating back, the white-haired man slumbering on a bed of grass and dried flowers proved to be more responsive than he appeared to be to the outside world.

For the love of it, he wouldn’t say a word in response. “Suppose that isn’t true, tell me what I should believe if all you are doing is kissing the ground thrice a day for no apparent reason.

Will you be so kind as to reply? I hear your heartbeats. Is this... punishment?” She played mindlessly with the flower in her hand till she quickly lost interest in the colourful stem and threw it away. Azariah mistakenly took the man’s silence as his negation.

With fluid movements, she turned around and inquisitively eyed the sprawled-out dormouse lying on his belly, her amber eyes filled with gentleness. “Hasn’t anyone ever told you to go easy on both body and mind?

Not to go overboard like a madman? We only have one body, double so for you.” Pansy got jittery for some reason. As Azariah did not delve into the topic in depth, the Master Strategist did not think too much and simply went with the flow that was keeping silent.

After all, chances were that she had misspoken. “A foolish disregard for limitations can lead to a premature collapse when least expected. Limitations exist for a reason.”

It was then that the queen vividly recalled who had put so much undue pressure on the poor man before. With a shake of her head, she pulled her silky, hip-length, greyish blue hair up into a ponytail without letting Linlin out of sight for even a second.

“I spare you a tongue-lashing, but only if you promise to take better care of yourself. If not, I am fairly certain that it is in my power to sedate you should I choose to.

Also, don’t forget–––my wishes have never been orders. Following them does not entail blind obedience at the expense of everything else that matters.”

She glared holes in Linlin’s back as she said in no uncertain terms, “better restrain yourself, you fool.” However, under that ferocious exterior, she hid a downcast being who was far angrier at herself for the good deed she had done.

Having no idea if he’d even believe the crap she had just spewed, Azariah could only hope for the best. At least she learned a little about the man fate chose to be her partner.

Based on their brief encounters so far, Azariah realised that she had to be as blunt with Linlin as possible or misunderstandings would continue to accumulate.

In any case, her words weren’t the kind a cold-blooded commander would use to reprimand his best human weapon, but something much more... personal. Intimate. What a worried friend would say, perhaps?

This was part of the reason our protagonist failed to follow. As both personalities readily agreed, their survival had little effect on the State, so was this episode necessary?

No matter whether more was going on than meets the eye, one truth remained undisputable. Whatever clue there was, neither personality could make good use of it. So... the memory was predestined to rot in the forgetful recesses of their mindscape.

The only takeaway from this forceful interaction was that it was unlike any other they remembered. The omnipresence of the hivemind only emphasised this positive note, so they might learn more following the collective’s coaching.

Despite these obvious changes, they still tried to hide their presence from Azariah out of fear. It was unclear how the queen would react, whether good-natured or otherwise.

They were constantly on guard in order to stop the information from flowing, however, but there was little they could do because the connection was so deep and instinctual.

The omnipresent hivemind became background noise at best, influencing them subconsciously and slowly but surely increasing their dependence on it. Yet even Pansy lacked that awareness. There was so much work on his plate that the little differences were hardly noticeable.

On another note, it seemed to strangely irritate the agent that they were on the receiving end of a lecture from the very person responsible for the mess they’d created.

It was doubly annoying since Pansy discovered that even though a certain Lord Chartres had joined the ranks of the contracted, the mimic also ignited the fire by prompting a second [Gluttony] works overtime to appear on the screen.

With a recent eating spree’s aftereffects that had not yet entirely been remedied and barely bearable internal pressure, the addition of the mimic was truly dreadful. As far as Pansy was concerned, the agent was fairly pissed already. Add to that Azariah’s banter, and...

“To not waste time was your order.” Linlin replied with harsh words and a tone laced with hurtful reprimands. “And don’t pretend to be innocent either.” ‘Easy there, you diplomatic genius, the beast is our Big Boss!’

‘You don’t say. So what am I, a rat to hound through the sewers? Because that’s what the forest essentially became after so much rainfall.’

‘...sigh.’ Linlin’s straightforward response pushed Azariah into feeling more remorseful. Our protagonist didn’t even glance at her, much less try to understand her perspective!

The beautiful teenager pulled a face as if she’d bitten into an awfully sour apple just to hear it was the best the market had to offer. Minutes flew by as she nervously chewed her lower lip and gnawed at her nails with razor-sharp teeth.

The moment Azariah got a seemingly useful idea, she opened her mouth so forcefully that an unseemly smack was heard before she realised that there was no real answer to the accusation and closed her mouth in shame.

Even though she had a tidal wave of other words on her tongue, she didn’t know where to begin. A truckload of excuses, for instance, was among them.

She came to apologise, in all honesty. Azariah was not planning to reprimand such an honourable man for ending up the way he did because of his inclination to pursue her whims. It seemed that all the signs pointed this way, but she refused to acknowledge it!

That wasn’t why she’d spent good three hours at a faraway pond, polishing her expression as she almost went mad due to how ridiculously insincere her sorry apologies sounded.

In some way, the Queenant got the sensation that it had all been wasted effort. Clearly, it wasn’t her fault. ...or was it? “I... can we talk?” “We can, but–” “yes?” “Sigh. If it takes a while, then no.”

In order to make up for the expenditure, I need a full meal and plenty of sleep. I might also need some quiet moments for what I will do next.” ‘We need to level up again.’ ‘Right.’

“After that’s done,” Pansy hastily added, “we can clear up certain ... complications, promise.” Azariah exhaled heavily after hearing such a sloppy response that sounded like a heavenly pardon in her ears.

It was at least something, and the rift she feared in their relationship seemed to be far less severe than she’d anticipated. Was she mistaken? It was one possibility, but... she didn’t linger on the notion for long. She might go mad if she did.

“Easy. My happy children are combing the forest as we speak–––the one or the other prey will surely satisfy your demands. As for sleeping soundly…”

Twiddling her fingers, she stifled an embarrassing burst of nervous laughter, ashamed. “Well... I wanted even a workaholic like you to understand the importance of sleep!

Since you are doing fine even without my interference, I won’t bother you any longer. Rest well!” ‘She definitely got it wrong. We ain’t workaholics. Azariah made us–’

‘Whatever, I’m tired and she’s about to leave us, so zip it.’ The queen squeezed out an especially bright smile just for Linlin before quickly turning her beet-red face the other direction.

As our fatigued protagonist was about to bury his face deeper into the grass pillow and close his tired eyes for good, Azariah suddenly froze on the spot, turned around, and showed what Pansy interpreted as a teary expression.

“What?” Linlin whispered, exasperated, feeling annoyance build up. Azariah blushed fiercely. Again. It was unclear how she had done it, blushing on top of another blush.

The weak nod that she gave in the end, however, still partially hid her overflowing feelings. How adorable she was! Her struggles went unnoticed, though.

Then she called upon all her courage, pushed aside the unsatisfying experience her rehearsals had given her, and proceeded to break thick ice with explosive means.

“Linchester, please. Just listen to what I have to say, and don’t ask anything right now. We’ll talk later when I’m ready. No, that’s not it. Once you’ve slept enough and eaten your share.”

As his tired eyes chanced upon hers, Linlin nodded blankly into the grass pillow regardless of how little he understood of her intentions and the reason behind such strong feelings. That faint smile bordering on the pathetic remained a mystery.

Again, Azariah hesitated, nervously cleared her throat, then repeated it several times. In the end, she practically forced her next words through clenched, bloodless lips. “We’re alike, you and me, in a sense. You’re not from this world either, ain’t you?

Don’t get me wrong, this is not an accusation. Just… your behaviour has betrayed you just like mine did me once. Drifters–––that’s the term reserved for people like us–––are generally ostracised and anything but welcome in most worlds out there.”

Inhaling sharply, she continued with apparent hesitancy, slowing down more with every word. “Someone took advantage of that and staged a crappy play I ended up paying dearly for.

This someone was like you. I...” Azariah abruptly came to a halt. The seconds ticked by. She took a deep breath. Then another one.

Rubbed the back of one hand with the other, darted around with her amber doe eyes, bit harder on her lips... then she resumed her speech.

Linlin thought she wouldn’t, but in the end, she did, so he had to fight off sleepiness and listen carefully once more. “I can’t. Not now, sorry,” after that, the Queenant didn’t turn around again. Nor did Linlin look up a third time.

Azariah did not realise that the agent was only forcing the body to listen politely as instructed by the ever-berating Master Strategist.

The agent’s uncertain actions were simply meant to silence Pansy. It didn’t occur to the blockhead that the poor queen was gradually opening up, hoping for forgiveness and possibly also cuddles. Or an embrace, at the very least.

Despite her best efforts, her small voice ebbed away without eliciting a response as she tried to regain her bearings. But Azariah didn’t account for her messy feelings, now as uncontrollable as she was inconsolable. Her heart fell...

As she valiantly fought against herself, she suddenly lost her cool and sweat poured down her cheeks and nose. Her past came back to haunt her. But why now? She had company, wasn’t alone! The queen had no answer.

Azariah, feeling beyond pathetic, again attempted to bring up the topic that weighed her down to the point of exhaustion, but all in vain. This was not the time. She wasn’t ready.

She had made up her mind before, but as she told Linlin earlier, it would take more than just her resolve to heal the festering wound in her heart. It would take time.

Pansy appeared to have figured something out miraculously as his thoughts proved. ‘...Stupid?’ ‘Yes?’ ‘In the future, do not unnecessarily snoop into other living beings’ affairs–––especially not if it involves Azariah and the male.’

‘why? Broken relationship? Betrayal? Is it unrequited love?!’ ‘Don’t ask unnecessary questions: If I don’t understand, you have no snowball chance in hell to do so either–––just don’t.’

‘Oh... mkay.’ Random listeners may imagine Pansy’s strange demand to be linked to the gentlemanly value of being considerate. A consideration based on deep emotional understanding.

Yet the Master Strategist never entertained that possibility. He cared only about not offending an entity that could easily end them both. Not if they had to live under the same roof, as a certain homey saying goes.

“I’m very sorry, I... No, we. Wrong, I mean, mean... I… No, this?” “Huh?” “Ah?!” With Azariah almost breaking down in shame once again, the atmosphere rapidly deteriorated. Someone had definitively enough.

‘Wake me up when I can finally sleep. Nah, this doesn’t sound right.’ It became silent enough for them to discern the careful movements of hidden creatures in the ant-made clearing.

Even Pansy struggled to put the emotions hurled at him into the right box, as he understood as much–––or, rather, as little–––as his counterpart did. Caring about the agent’s demands was very low-ranking on the priority list.

Despite not being nearly as hopeless, he was in every sense of the word dense. And the hivemind did not always answer questions without hopelessly multiplying them in the process...

“I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to come across so badly,” the queen finally managed to utter what she felt were the right words in order to salvage her image. “Ah, that... well, mmh? Cough.

I forgive you if...” “...if what?” “Only if you remember your promise and add some roasted meat on top.” “This… is all?”

Although she had given ample time for corrections, Azariah could not believe it after no contrary line was added. Was it really that easy? The queen took this as her cue.

The Queenant leapt up and scurried behind the dense bushes in a hurry. ‘...why don’t add more benefits?’ ‘What? I’m solving our biggest problem here:

The hole in our stomach. We require safe energy. It is only through eating and absorbing that we get that. Don’t tell me that you prefer Cores.’

‘I call bullshit. This situation is–––are you listening? Oi, Stupid?! Hello~?’ ‘Hard not to, since you’re damn screaming at the top of your lungs.’ ‘…forget it. Keep this in mind for when we need assistance in the future–––this was a prime opportunity you wasted.

We could have extracted a promise from her. But you act hastily and demand meat instead. What a waste.’ ‘As you do during my few minutes of welcome rest.’

The agent then completely ignored the outside world, determined not to move a single muscle for the foreseeable future and resolutely buried the face in the grass pillow, from where soon even breathing was heard.

Linlin was roused by the smell of almost charred meat filling the makeshift dwelling. Even as his urge for sleep remained strong, the rumbling hole in his stomach demanded immediate attention.

Not quite awake, Linlin instinctively took the nearest spit in his hand and mechanically ripped off pieces of coal. It was night, the meat lukewarm at best and the presumed cook absent.

Maybe that one had an inkling of what to expect and escaped in advance? Linlin’s hardly digestible late evening diet included almost cremated minced meat along with ashes, wood, coal, bone splinters, and stone fragments. Gourmet food, indeed.

But our protagonist didn’t seem interested in that, as all his energy was reserved for the most laborious task of downing as much food as he could in as little time as possible before sleep caught up with him–––or his taste buds awoke for good.

It was a race against time. Linlin repeated these actions several times until he felt prepared for another existential chore. Before that, as if to add a little more spice to his already plentiful eventful life, he fainted again and later discovered a new skill that had been added to his repertoire:

[Apocalyptic Hide Of The Devourer] Level 1 The analysis of (?)’s genetic structure ushers your skin on the road to Indestructible (?), a gargantuan leap ahead in evolution. Every ecdysis regenerates your flesh, adapts, and renews your skin. As it is infused with bioenergy, it retains its flexibility while becoming especially hard. Medium energy consumption while active.

Level-Up Requirement │ Bioenergy (200)

Comment │ Shit happens. You turning into a snakeman is just a foretaste.

Linlin felt various limitations and constrictions in his energy flow as a result of one hell of a stressed [Gluttony]’s partially finished job. Every movement hurt to some extent.

According to Pansy, there was at least no instability factor that reduced their survival rate outright that hit rock bottom at only 14.39. Such a rate was too low to experiment with.

Each erroneous outcome will undoubtedly push them further towards oblivion, so the Master Strategist could only hope to... get lucky. How he hated this feeling! But thinking about that surely wasn’t what the agent would term an existential chore.

Their smell did. The odoriferous repel-all perfume Linlin exuded, demanded taking a bath so strongly the agent had to follow, no question. Not far away was the next water source suitable for happy pollution.

His only concern was either cooling down too much in the cold runnel or irreversibly poisoning the river for all living and thriving in these waters.

While [Gluttony] had been hard at work, Linlin shed his skin as snakes do. Thus, there was no need to investigate who the originator of the skill was.

In addition to what was previously smeared on his body, the change had left behind a venomous sludge that ate away at the innocent forest ground beneath him.

As for what truly bothered both personalities, the stench... it was indescribable. Pansy swore he’d never ever come to a useful thought in this place, while the agent was sure he could never ever smoke in here again.

There was no doubt they would look for a new resting place. Linlin didn’t notice the lack of wildlife in his vicinity as he sleepwalked to the water source. Our protagonist failed to encounter even a single fly, much less something bigger and more dangerous!

Heck, there weren’t even any sharp stones or drooping branches in his way! The forest floor was also left bare of bushes and other undergrowths, leaving only harmless grass as cover. It was expertly trimmed!

Whatever Azariah did to fulfil the agent’s wishes, it looked like the overzealous queen ordered some silent carpet-bombing to disarm the place thoroughly when he was fast asleep!

‘We have changed a lot since last time. I can feel the power that has settled into our cells rushing through our veins.’ ‘We still lack the bioenergy to reach higher levels.

Although there is no worsening on the horizon right now, our integrity level took a serious hit. It’s been confirmed that levelling up does help our cause, so we need to get our hands on more energy as soon as possible.’

‘I never mentioned full recovery.’ ‘I know. That’s me thinking ahead. A feast next to the bed, an icy bath nearby, no toxic stress, and, most importantly, no distractions. I dare say that we have all the time in the world to find a solution to our little problem and do other things too.’

‘Azariah...’ ‘Yes, Stupid. She ain’t done with us yet. Not by a long shot. But we’re currently unavailable. So let her believe it for a while.’ ‘You’ll have to figure out how to handle her later. Right now, there’s another skill to level up.’

‘My thoughts exactly. That should lower the pressure, no doubt. However, I really hope a miracle occurs, increasing our integrity along the way. That’s a possibility, right? Or it could also be just wishful thinking...

Go, I won’t distract you.’ ‘Though, blood or eyes? [Hivemind] doesn’t seem the best candidate for the second trial and for more we lack the juice for the more demanding stuff.’

‘Both sound the abysmal same to me. That is, deadly.’ ‘Blood it is. Brace yourself!’ ‘Right back at you. This time there will be no shameful behaviour. Got it?!’

Warning! Warning! Warning! Level-Up Intention Detected–––Launch Security Protocol 8 If Not Ready Cease Immediately! Repeat: If Not Ready Cease Immediately! Ready In... 3... 2... 1...

‘...I guess this is where the potential disgrace starts all over again. Overeager people never listen properly... shit. Could’ve saved my breath.’ The other personality missed Pansy’s serious demands since he had cut himself off from the outside world and was already fully immersed in the process.

Theoretically, it was possible for Pansy to take the agent’s place, but there was no way he’d dig his own grave. The all too familiar sensation of being caught in diabolical turbulence while an icy cold, mechanical voice shouted at him from all sides, all the while the rest of the world was spinning like a rapidly accelerating washing machine, became omnipresent.

Suddenly, it shattered into a thousand light particles, enveloping the agent once again, ushering him into the unknown.

Day’s short, night’s even shorter.

Even though it is meaningless in a dark, godforsaken corner.

The choice is to sleep and live or to waste energy and die.

A leg moves, the hand scratches the triple neck three times with clumsy claws.

That alone takes a whole day.

A creature grumbles after an hour.

What’s the deal with all the stress?

She should have taken her time and not acted in a hurry.

There’s no point in crying over spilt milk.

What does the aqueous truth, the elixir of life, tell her?

Does it prophesy a feast?

Well, then close the mouth... how about that?

In the farthest corner of a stinking grotto, an unknown number of hours later–––perhaps days, since nobody knows for sure–––a timid mouse finds shelter behind low-hanging stones.

But before it can rejoice in its survival, tiredness overcomes the tiny thing, from which it will never recover.

A few days later, the crack it squeezed through was gone.

Over time, the agent found his way back to reality, to the nothingness that had spread to his head like he’d drunk a barrel of whisky in one sitting. However, he wasn’t depressed by the change.

Our protagonist felt great, on the contrary. Rested and refreshed to the very last fibre of his being. Never before were his thoughts so clear, not to mention the inner peace he felt.

The feeling was so strange and yet so comforting that our stunned protagonist might grow dependent on it. “Good evening…” “Huh?” The agent focused his hazy eyes only to find that his eyelids were still closed.

“Evening?” After blinking multiple times and getting used to the dim light, he greeted the two guests who, as things stood, should’ve stood guard for him.

“Most fascinating. Thine genealogy disguised a sloth?” The strange boy, whose appearance he recognised as the mimic’s favourite, laughed in a creepy manner from atop the branch, dangling his bare feet in the cool air.

“No.” “How mundane. The lone query’s solution art purportedly thine cultivation formula. Thou enthral me, I hypothecate?” “...no.” The boy shrouded in untold mysteries seemed least surprised as he simply nodded in silent understanding.

“Will you tell me, then?” Inquired an equally curious queen. “No?” The agent wasn’t sure if saying that many no’s in a row was going to help him and not bite him back soon, but the answer to their inquiries was analogous to revealing their greatest secret.

“Thought so.” Azariah clicked her tongue in disappointment before something struck her and she displayed a cryptic grimace. “You finally seem chipper and ready for a longer conversation.

If that wasn’t the case after a month in the land of dreams, it’d be more than just alarming. I’m curious to find out how you managed to remain so still all this time.” “...long story.”

‘What did I do again?’ ‘Dunno, I just freakily found the world so damn fast, I failed to notice anything before it was already over. See, Azariah and Chartres seemed to be spinning around us like tops!’ ‘Oh...’ ‘Fortunately, no embarrassment this time.

Furthermore, we did not consume more energy than we’d have if we were awake all day. Our metabolism slowed down a lot, fortunately. Otherwise we’d have starved or died of thirst!’

‘Said something??’ ‘No. But you should. Start by asking about the Drifters. Something’s wrong here because the seer told us we’re absolutely unique.’ ‘Ah!’ “To the pending noble gasconade, I add my inappreciable presence as gingerly compelled.

There subsists no edifying debate in absence of well-versed Lord Chartres.” The mimic jumped off the branch and landed in the grass like a block of marble, sinking until only his torso remained above ground.

He rapidly blew a large hole in the soil to get rid of the dirt and then nonchalantly joined them after theatrically dusting himself off. Meanwhile, Pansy caught the hint, groaned and took over in a flash.

The moment had come for him to showcase his impeccable diplomatic skills. Yet... why did he have a bad feeling? There was no reason... none at all... no?

End of Part I