In the cold night in this vast dark forest and plane of darkness, where the sky had a heavenly body resembling a black sun, which witnessed the war against the Death Lord that resulted in casualties for both sides, a pale-skinned little girl slowly opened her crimson eyes.
"U–uh?"
"You're awake, how are you feeling?"
Upon hearing a familiar voice that she lastly heard before losing consciousness, Princess Quintella's drowsiness instantly vanished, prompting her to instinctively raise her body to lean on the nearest tree as her eyes darted around.
"A–ah, I–I'm okay, but who... or what are you?" An obvious sense of fear of the unknown was evident in Princess Quintella's countenance, but it was mixed with curiosity upon seeing the unfamiliar figure.
"How about an expression of gratitude first, little Princess? I healed you, you know." Grey casually said as he sat in front of a bonfire across from her; they were near the lake where he saw the reflection of his appearance earlier.
Hearing this, Princess Quintella finally noticed that the gaping hole in her abdomen was now nonexistent, as though what had transpired was just a sorrowful nightmare.
She sensed her skin, her crimson eyes turning incredulous.
"A–ah, thank you Mister. B–but how can an undead use a Healing Spell? No, maybe you are a mutant!" For some reason, there was an inexplicable excitement in her voice, which was overlapping with dissipating fear.
'How do I explain to this brat who lives in this magical world about science stuff?' Grey pondered, only to dismiss the idea of mentally torturing himself.
'Well, I am not underestimating this world's inhabitants' intelligence, but it's not like I need to explain myself. By the way, System. If I am to be categorized in this world as a what, what would suit me then?'
[Mutant, Master.]
[They are self-existent unnatural monsters that are born from the abundance of Oriforce emanating from the core of the Dark Lands. There are no specific structures for their existence; they are the embodiment of abnormality. Hence, the moniker Chaos Bearer.]
[Mutants, however, are not limited to mindless monsters as some are intelligent enough to blend and be accepted in this world's society.]
"I am a mutant, yes. Is it that bad?" Receiving an answer from the Extraterrestrial System, Grey unhesitantly responded to Princess Quintella's curiosity.
"Y–Yes! It's ba–?" Her tongue froze into stillness, her crimson eyes again landed on her skin that was now healed, which prompted her face to be more confused like a true nine-year-old child.
"Maybe n–not?" She muttered, unsure of herself as her eyes landed on the dark soil of this wasteland.
"If I had bad intentions, you wouldn't be here right now, little Princess. And I won't have saved you from your so-called pathetic uncle, who could taint his hands against his own blood."
Her questioning gaze gradually landed on him, causing her to ask, "U–uh, right. Mister, I just noticed... H–how do you know I'm a Princess? Not that I'm powerful and have any authority to be of any use for your benefit."
Such a question was expected, prompting Grey to answer, "Do not misunderstand, I didn't save you because I needed you or something. Anyway. It's one of my powers as a mutant, reading minds you see."
'Of course, it's a lie, but thanks to the Extraterrestrial System, though; with Current Background, I can gauge the subject's general situation.'
He then added, "What's more, from afar, your uncle's voice was so loud in calling you a Princess that it seemed to rupture my ears."
"Ah, Mister. Even if I'm a wedlock, I am trained to spot a lie. It's my psychological talent, you see." Princess Quintella smirked mischievously, like a truthful child who naturally learned to spot a parent's lie.
However, even though Grey did not want to be harsh, he couldn't help but say, "Sigh, you got me; however, if you can spot a lie from miles away, why did you come to this hellish place? It means you know very well your outcome, right? Did they tell you that it's for the empire's sake? That your name will be glorified? That you will have a place on the throne if you achieve something in this goddamn war?
"Even if they did–" Grey paused–
Sob.
...as he heard the abandoned Princess whose face contained crystalline tears.
'Fuck...' Grey muttered inwardly as he let out an expressive sigh.
"Princess, I didn't mean–"
"You're right, Mister. I–I already knew from the beginning that I was about to die meaninglessly in this war! B–but you know, no one is on my side! Can I even help myself to run away without getting caught? If yes, then where would I go then?!
"At least on this battlefield, I could slay one monster that might have killed a soldier of the empire, who truly devotes themselves to the safety of the empire citizens and knew nothing of the internal affairs!" Her sobbing continued, silencing the alien being.
[Alien Skill: Body Transformation has been activated.]
At that moment, Grey sauntered towards the little girl and crouched in front of her. The former then tapped the latter's shoulders–
"Sorry, Princess. Come here."
...before embracing her.
With this gesture, as Princess Quintella sensed a human-like warmth and skin, her crying intensified; her crimson eyes spoke of what her heart could not contain.
"Huff– Wahhh!"
'Her life experience, and early maturity. Sigh, is she truly a nine-year-old child?' Grey muttered solemnly as he rubbed her back with his human hands that resembled what he was Pre-Reincarnation.
Hearing this helpless abandoned Princess, Grey slowly and subconsciously started to open his mind about the nature of this unfamiliar world.
'I just have to find someone or something worth living and fighting for...'
From this moment onwards, he decided to not carelessly abandon his second life granted to him.
He was not a hero. He was just a nobody in his previous life whose desire was to graduate and at least live a financially stable and peaceful life. It was simply the hope of an average person amidst the cold reality.
However, in this world where this kind of unfairness existed, and by having the kind of power that could make a change, Grey steeled his resolve.
'I have to abduct... or adopt more.' He muttered; in his chest, the buried head of the little Princess stopped crying as she fell asleep due to her exhausted heart and troubled mind.
He was then reminded of the long-term Extraterrestrial Missions pertaining to civilization development.
[Build an Alien Village.]
[Build an Alien Town.]
[Build an Alien City...]
***
A few days later.
"Hup!"
Slash!
"Ha...Hup!"
Slash!
Some distance away, Grey was observing the composed little Princess who was swinging her standard steel sword relentlessly.
These past few days, with the help of [Echolocation] and [Swift Feet], Grey deduced the safety of the area several kilometers across, which was only filled with dead, poor souls.
He proceeded to go to one of the battlefields in this wasteland of darkness with the purpose of collecting information from the already dead bodies of both humans and monsters alike.
The Alien Archive absorbed them like a sponge and stored the pile of information within the Devourer Dimension, which provided Grey with substantial knowledge on how to navigate these lands.
On the other hand, even though Princess Quintella found it difficult to comprehend, Grey frankly told her the truth about the existence of DNA and such.
"DNA, that sounds like a strand of colorful candy? Like honey mallows!"
But then, to clarify this matter, Grey caught some monstrous-looking fish near the lake and let Princess Quintella personally witnessed the DNA Modification process.
Even then...
"Huh? That looks like a forbidden spell, Mister. Did I become your puppet or something?"
Recalling these hilarious remarks, Grey muttered as he continued watching the sweating Princess, who was getting used to her newly transformed body.
"Is that truly the only way, Krishnaya?" Grey asked the Extraterrestrial System, whom he officially named Krishnaya several days ago under her own suggestion.
It was only during that time of peace that Grey finally realized that the system's voice sounded like a woman in nature. It sounded so natural that such matters belatedly struck his mind.
[Yes, Master. It is the privilege of an Anon Scientist—to bestow a system-like feature towards certain individuals, which is limited to sixteen subjects.]
Finding it challenging to make this magical Princess understand the DNA and any related matter, Krishnaya suggested the ridiculous idea of sharing the Extraterrestrial System with her, which Grey did not know was allowed in the first place.
[In case of bestowing the subject a portion of the system features, it will be limited and modified to act as her guide.]
[She will not have access to the Alien Archive unless you give her permission.]
"I see. I will consider it, but for now, let's watch over her first.
"It seems like that's the only choice we have. I wonder what it would look like... to have someone ignorant about such matter to possess a system." Grey entertained the idea, though he was aware of its possible repercussions since this world viewed such a strange, unexplained phenomenon as forbidden spells.
***
Slash!
"Too slow." Grey dodged Princess Quintella's sword strike.
Woosh!
"You're dead again. One more." Transformed as a human but with alien unexplained biology, Grey's right hand which turned into a flesh-like yet sturdy sword found itself breathing on her neck.
The training continued. In fact, Grey did not have this kind of battle experience, but due to his [Beyond Sense] and [Swift Feet], his movements were akin to flowing, soundless wind that caused the little Princess to frown since she could not land a hit.
"Hup!"
Smack!
"Ouch!" Princess Quintella subconsciously touched the back of her head.
"Too slow. Again."
"Wh–what's the purpose, Mister? I couldn't even land a single hit!"
"Hear yourself. That's the purpose, is to at least land a single hit. It seems you haven't decided on what to do from now on." Grey said.
Hearing this, Princess Quintella clenched her fist; her grip on the steel sword's handle tightened.
"I–I want..." She gritted her teeth, suddenly recalling the memories of her mother, whose death was something she witnessed with her own crimson eyes. "I–I want revenge... Mister."
Her determined eyes then looked for him, in his purple eyes.
"Mother told me to live well, but how could I...? If the sole reason was already out of this world." This time, her heart trembled as her lips quivered.
Hearing this, Grey approached her and patted her head.
"If that's the path you want to take, then so be it, Princess Quintella." He did not call her little anymore.
Ding!
[Transferring a modified system to the subject, Princess Quintella of Lumenasia... Processing!]