Oripathy was a common sight on Terra, but it was a terrifying disease nonetheless. From the veins to the skin, the body slowly turned to stone—a death so excruciatingly painful it often induced hallucinations.
Except for me, every member of the Guerrilla was Infected. Though the Guerrilla marched under the creed of saving the Infected, they were ultimately nothing more than patients of Oripathy, never knowing when they might lose their minds or draw their last breath.
The dependable Shieldguards who held the front line, the Messengers who carried heavy communication gear to keep the battlefield moving, and the Casters who sowed chaos among the enemy with their Arts—all of them were the same.
My precious bonds were no exception. My lovely Yelena and my proud father were both living on borrowed time because of Oripathy.
I couldn't bear to imagine a life without them, which was why I had been conducting my own research into the disease.
I opened a desk drawer and pressed a button hidden deep inside. A heavy thud echoed as a mechanism released. A trapdoor concealed beneath the desk swung open, revealing a space I had renovated into a basement laboratory.
"Oh? What brings you here at this hour? Isn't it past a good little boy's bedtime?"
It seemed I had a guest. Well, since only one other person knew about this place, it wasn't hard to guess who.
"Even good boys need to rebel sometimes. Besides, I was never a 'good boy' to begin with. Mind your own business."
"Fair enough. I've dropped off the materials inside. I'll be taking my leave now."
It was Tom, the master of stealth Arts. Originally, I hadn't intended to tell anyone, but he proved to be quite useful, so we became partners in this secret.
As Talulah had said, this tundra was a land with absolutely nothing to offer for human habitation. From food to shelter and infrastructure, it was utterly lacking.
However, there was one—and only one—advantage: the temperature. Of course, the cold was usually a disadvantage, especially when it came to basic survival. If someone were to ask why I liked this wood-devouring chill so much, I would give them this answer:
The corpses don't rot.
Oripathy research inevitably requires infected subjects. Whether human or animal, a carcass containing Originium within its body was excellent experimental material.
Using living subjects would have been better, of course, but my ethical boundaries limited me to using the deceased.
Even then, this wasn't exactly the behavior of a normal person. It was a desecration of the dead. In the beginning, my mental state had deteriorated to the point of near-insanity.
But by constantly reminding myself that I was doing this to prevent the deaths of Yelena, my father, and the Guerrilla, I managed to push through.
In any case, this basement was filled with my specimens. Usually, in Infected villages, the residents cremate their dead to prevent further infection from the corpses. Tom used his stealth Arts to intercept the bodies before they could be burned.
I picked up a custom-ordered scalpel and sliced open a corpse's abdomen. I was used to handling the dead now. Anyone else would have needed protective gear to avoid secondary infection, but I didn't. I was a human immune to the effects of Originium.
I switched blades. Aiming at the only other living creature in the room, I stabbed it in a single motion. The Originium Slug let out a brief tremor as its vital point was pierced, then fell still.
Originium Slugs were mysterious creatures. Despite being covered in Originium shells, they were unaffected by Oripathy. Much like the bats of Earth that remained unfazed by countless diseases, these creatures were essentially immune to Oripathy. The solution had to be here.
Lining up the slug and the human corpse, I began examining their internal organs. I had a lot of work to do today—so much that I wouldn't even be able to worry about tomorrow's meeting.
------
It was nearly noon by the time I emerged from my secret sanctuary. The meeting was fast approaching, so I quickly scrubbed the traces of blood from my body.
Everyone except Talulah and me had already arrived in the briefing room. Since Patriot was supposed to bring Talulah in later to introduce her, I was effectively the last one to arrive.
I took my reserved seat next to Yelena. For some reason, she was looking at me with a pout.
"Earth, where were you yesterday?"
"Working overtime."
"You weren't at the Staff Department camp, though?"
"I had things to take care of outside. I'll be back in time to sleep today, so don't worry too much."
Only then did her expression soften, and she gave me a beaming smile. It was a smile she reserved only for me. To protect this girl's smile, I was willing to do anything.
"Let us begin the meeting. Today's agenda concerns a new group of Infected warriors. I would like to introduce Ms. Talulah, who has been conducting relief activities for the Infected in the southern tundra, much like ourselves."
Following Patriot's opening remarks, Talulah emerged from the tent flap.
"It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Talulah, leader of an Infected community in the southern tundra. It is an honor to meet the members of the Guerrilla, known as the shield of the Infected."
It was a flawless, polite greeting. Between her reputation and her refined conduct, everyone in the room was looking at her with approval.
Everyone except me. To me, she was an enemy from the start.
"She has proposed that her group join the Guerrilla. While I view this favorably, there are dissenting opinions, so I have called this meeting to hear everyone's thoughts."
"I'll speak first."
When the second-in-command spoke immediately after the leader, the others fell silent.
"To be blunt, I am that dissenting opinion. At a time when our food supply has only just reached stability, I believe it is absurd to take in a new faction. That is why I oppose this."
Talulah's complexion paled instantly. For a moment, she trembled as if suppressed by anger. I felt a flicker of pity, but I crushed it down.
"He certainly has a point."
"Wait, but if they join, it would be a massive boost to our military strength..."
"But the Staff Officer's choices have always been right."
The attendees began to murmur. The ripple caused by the stone I threw was larger than I imagined. The tide that had been flowing in Talulah's favor was shifting.
"May I speak?"
Having donned a thick mask of composure, she raised her hand, her traces of anger completely hidden.
"You do not need to ask for permission every time. Speak."
"I understand the Staff Officer's concerns perfectly. However, you need not worry. We will not be a burden on the Guerrilla's food stores; we will resolve our own logistics.
I hope you will remember that my group and I seek to align with the Guerrilla solely for the relief and protection of the Infected."
She defended herself better than I expected. Even though I had attacked her with a broken promise, she didn't panic. Instead, she made a snap judgment and moved to persuade the other Guerrilla members.
But I couldn't stop the offensive. If Talulah joined the Guerrilla, her ideals would ensure our eventual destruction.
"Food is one issue, but there are others. The matter of command authority, for instance. The Guerrilla has suppressed enemies efficiently under the direction of the Staff Department until now.
I doubt whether her group, which is fundamentally a different entity, will truly follow the directives of our Staff Department."
"Please, do not worry. That will not happen. I, Talulah, will follow the Staff Department's orders without a shadow of a doubt, and I will ensure my people do the same. If there is any breach of this, I will take full responsibility."
This was actually a good development. Using the problem as an excuse to strip her of independent command was as good as cutting off one of her limbs before she even joined. Of course, the best outcome was preventing the merger entirely, so I prepared to speak again.
In that moment, my vision swayed. A ringing sound erupted in my ears, screaming like a banshee. When I regained my senses, I saw the ceiling of the tent and the shocked faces of everyone around me.
Did I... collapse? Was it because I failed to manage my condition after staying up all night?
"Earth!! Are you okay?"
Yelena was the first to rush over and support me. The Medical Squad Leader followed close behind, taking my other arm over his shoulder.
No. I can't leave the meeting like this. Talulah defended herself well against my attacks. If I leave now, her joining becomes a certainty.
"No... let go. I'm fine. I'm perfectly... fine. The vetting... isn't finished yet."
Even to my own ears, my voice sounded incredibly weak. It was so faint that only Yelena and the Medical Squad Leader could hear me.
"Stop it, you idiot! You need rest right now!"
No... I can't...
My vision blurred. No matter how hard I tried to focus, my body wouldn't obey. Even so, I turned my head to glare at her, to continue my attack.
What? Why are you looking at me like that?
Talulah, like everyone else, was looking at me with a gaze filled with both shock and genuine worry. In that moment, I felt the malice that had been sustaining me drain away.
And then, I could do nothing more. I let my body go limp, surrendering to the overwhelming wave of sleep that crashed over me.
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