Nexus Awakened (An Isekai LitRPG Gender Bender Story)

926. The Acedia Special Division

*Munch*

*Sluuuuurp*

*Swallow*

Silver platters of rotisserie chickens surrounded by baked potatoes disappeared seconds after they were served. The culprits were the usual suspects. Frost and Jury politely devoured their meals as it was served.

It did not matter if it was steaming hot, undercooked or overdone – it would be devoured all the same. A few casualties in the form of half-eaten plates, cups and silverware were taken back to the kitchen by a thankful vampire barmaid.

She was the same barmaid who was petrified by Frost’s presence. But after saving her life, she timidly fought back against her instincts and attended their table personally.

They sat in the only segment of the tavern’s floor that wasn’t destroyed. All the clientele and most barmaids had either returned home or went straight for the clinic. Those who remained were the few barmaids who felt safer here than anywhere else in Emershine.

And they wouldn’t be wrong.

Sitting at the largest available table, surrounded by rubble and shattered glass were two Colors and four more individuals who enjoyed their limitless lunch.

It was paid for of course, with additional interest to make up for their loss of revenue over the next few weeks till the tavern could be restored.

As a business registered under the Golden Thumb, they were eligible for financial support in the event of a disaster.

Like on Earth, this was prone to being abused by some unscrupulous businesses that sought to scam the Golden Thumb. Unfortunately for them, businesses had to also be in a binding deal with the Golden Ring and the Brick-and-Mortar Association or a smaller construction Branch who would assist in the reconstruction.

In the event that they had wrongfully attempted to claim compensation, then these people would be visited by Golden Ring Enforcer if they were lucky.

“Grah! See, metal man and mute girl – This is how you’re supposed to eat!”

Usari, the bunny girl, stuffed her face full alongside Jury. They grabbed what they could with their hands, with Jury’s tail treating itself to beverages to replicate later.

It would leave a bad taste in the restraint owner’s mouth if their patrons could just refill their cups for free.

Frost on the other hand was a little more civil, but she was the reason why utensils were being destroyed.

“It’s one thing to control my strength, but it’s completely different when your teeth just cuts into everything it touches.” Frost complained, mentally adding:

Kind of why I can’t drink Jury’s juice from the source without being careful. One slip and it’s gone.

“Juice?”

Normal juice Nav. Don’t start getting dirty with me.

Jury’s tail suddenly began wagging, a clear sign that Nav had implanted weird thoughts into her head.

Frost put the utensils aside and dug her fingers into her palms.

The blob crystalized and took the form of a spoon thanks to [Progenitor Art: Civilization – Blood Crystallization]. This item was called the Spoon of the Progenitor. Eating with it was like eating with a regular spoon, only that this could be regenerated at the cost of several thousands of HP.

The price to be civilized did not come cheap!

Although, a part of her was disappointed by how easy it was to chew through.

In fact, she wasn’t doing much chewing as she was cutting her food with her teeth.

She wore a sour expression as she ate. Part of the fun of eating was experiencing the texture. But as she grew stronger, that experience began to diminish.

She sloshed her food in her mouth to at least simulate the texture.

“Happens to the best of us, hahaha~!” The Orange Disruptor laughed. “Except I’ve never seen a person manage to eat silver before. No matter how strong you get, there are still limits to our biology.”

“As you’re aware, I’m not exactly normal.” Frost hinted at her true title as the Amalgam.

She did not reveal it in front of the Repenters, as per the Orange Disruptor’s wishes.

The less they knew about their big boss the better.

Besides, they already saw Frost as the Black Dove.

There was no point in complicating things further. A degree of professional separation was required. She didn’t have to be friends with everyone she worked with.

She continued:

“Put a combatant in a Healer’s body and they’re bound to over gauge their strength.”

“But being an Honored One must play a role too. And they said there were only three out there. Whole lot of layers between what the public knows and what the higher ups do~”

“Believe me, there’s far too much that even the higher ups are unaware of.”

The Orange Disruptor was the only person on the table other than Frost and Jury who knew much about the world. As they were in the presence of the Repenters, they couldn’t delve too deeply into restricted topics.

She preferred it that way.

“Mmm… Mmmnnn… How the hell can this bastard eat more than Usari!?” Usari complained when Jury robbed her of the last baked potato. “Damned thief! Usari will gun you down… If… If you weren’t a high-grade Adventurer! No – Not just that! If Usari didn’t have to give up her powers, then Usari’d be near the level of a Color!”

Her long, rabbit ears mimicked the motion of her flailing hands. Puffs of steam flew out of the side of her head. It was adorable. She was easily the smallest person in the room. And for a clone of Usa; she was surprisingly smaller than even her.

Indeed. This was a clone of Usa.

Usa was the original clone of the mass-produced rabbits of Scarlet Logic. Her marksmanship resulted in thousands of her clones. As the original, Usa remained at a low level whilst highly mutated and successful candidates were far stronger, accurate, deadly and fiercely loyal to Scarlet Logic.

Though that changed after the Rabbit Hole incident.

According to Nav, a Phenom of Contempt named Rosenrot orchestrated a siege at one of their auxiliary Replication Pools.

What happened to these thousands of rabbits was not known, other than that they were not killed, but were rather rescued.

Frost’s eyes narrowed as she studied Usari closely.

Her long, red hair matched the color of her eyes. The fur of her ears was no different either. Her uniform was a black suit with a white tie. A patch carrying the insignia of Acedia (a black shackle) was worn on her right shoulder.

“Hngh!? Usari… has a sudden chill…!”

Original.

Original implied– no, it outright confirmed that Usari was once a Corrupted.

Though this didn’t cover if she was once a Demi-human before she Corrupted.

And she wasn’t the only one.

“Usari. These aren’t the internment holds. If you feel like you are being watched, then you have much to learn. Besides, I find your chewing sounds to be asinine. These auditory organs are a curse of the flesh.”

Hayte, the living machine spoke.

“Fill up while you still can, tin can!” Usari tried to elbow him, only for a dull thump to cause her to squeal in agony. “Ghhhhk! Metal… bastard!”

Hayte wore a similar get up, only that he adorned a blue coat on top to conceal his biomechanical flesh beneath. A pair of twin crimson orbs floated behind his black skull mask.

He also wore a red tie.

If colors had a meaning, then she assumed they were associated with a Sin.

Usari with Pride. Hayte with Wrath. And for Icara…

She was a woman who wore the same outfit as the others, but wore a witch’s hat and had an extendable wand attached to her hip. It took on the appearance of an inconspicuous branch.

Frost found the existence of a mute mage paradoxical, since chanting was a crux of many mages. She figures that Icara must have Corrupted Skills to back her up or was secretly a genius…

“Icy…”

“Aye, big tits – Haven’t you ever used a fork before!?”

Hayte and Usari scolded her as she held the fork and stabbed at her food like how a child would. She turned to them with an aloof expression, then she looked back at her food and continued poking at the steak as if to say: “But this is my way of doing things.”

Her tie was, surprisingly, light blue – for Lust.

I forget Lust doesn’t mean a sexual desire. It’s more of a raw desire.

“Or the desire to achieve, dream, a fixation if you will.” Nav explained.