The trigger that was about to be pulled suddenly stopped.
Even though just a slight movement of my finger could end the Turncoat Knight, I didn't do it.
'...What is this?'
The Turncoat Knight was trembling as if I had truly betrayed him.
Moreover, even though I was hesitating, he didn't attempt a counterattack but instead closed his eyes as if resigned to his fate.
'...Has this ever happened before?'
There were plenty of oddballs in The Defense who had tried to tame monsters and beasts.
Some attempted it just because they had time to kill, while others seriously researched it as one of the methods to clear The Defense.
There were those who caught monsters and beasts and tried to tame them like pet dogs by feeding them.
Some turned to the cult of Mote to seek a way to coexist with monsters and beasts.
Others tried pretending to be Skull Knights themselves, acting as if they were monsters.
To get straight to the point, all those attempts ended in failure.
Humans and monsters could not harmonize.
That was the conclusion reached after extensive research, and no one could dispute it.
That's how it was supposed to be...
'Then what is this?'
I had a guess as to why.
It must have been because of Janus — more precisely, the bone parasite combined with the Level-5 protective gear.
There was no reason other than that for the Turncoat Knight to see me as one of his kind.
'Explain.'
For some reason, I had a feeling that Esther's laughter, which had been ringing in my ears, was growing louder.
["Can't you tell just by looking? He's calling you a comrade. A comrade."]
'So why does he see me as a comrade? Is it because of Janus?'
["That's probably the biggest reason, right? Or not."]
I could understand it.
But I couldn't quite accept it.
It was a completely natural doubt.
'If it were just that, someone would have figured it out long ago.'
Creating bone parasite equipment is indeed tricky, but if you're familiar with The Defense, it's not all that hard to craft.
No, even before that, if it were true, Ark should have already known about it.
If there were a way to be recognized as kin by monsters, it would have been discovered in some way.
'It's not just because of Janus. If it were, I would have known about it.'
In fact, I've played as both the bone armor and the Skull Knight countless times.
But I had never encountered a situation like this before.
This meant that there was something else involved.
["Aren't you going to kill him? He's just sticking his neck out, waiting for you. How pathetic."]
Esther giggled as she spoke.
To understand the current situation, it seemed I needed Esther's explanation.
'...Explain what's going on.'
["Why does it matter? From your perspective, shouldn't you just kill him? Why drag it out and make it more pitiful?"]
Her tone was filled with sarcasm.
For some reason, Esther seemed to be quite angry.
'The situation has changed. It's not too late to make a judgment after hearing your explanation.'
["You really do as you please."]
Esther's mocking tone grew sharper.
["You don't know how much that idiot kept saying "Stop"? You don't know how he cried out, asking why? You didn't hear him scream that it hurt? So just kill him. Stop making it more pitiful."]
'What does that have to do with me? How am I supposed to understand a monster's words?'
["Of course you wouldn't know. But I can understand. The so-called monster language you always talk about."]
Esther, as if venting her frustration, appeared in front of me, trembling as she looked at the Turncoat Knight.
Her eyes quivered as she muttered.
["...Stupid idiot. Can't even recognize his own kind."]
Seeing that, the scattered pieces of the puzzle in my mind slowly started coming together.
I began to organize the facts I knew.
'Monsters and beasts generally don't attack each other.'
Of course, it's not absolute.
When conflicts arise, like territorial disputes between monsters and beasts, they do clash.
But fundamentally, monsters and beasts do not show hostility toward each other.
Just as humans may fight among themselves but generally see one another as the same species, monsters and beasts instinctively refrain from attacking each other.
A prime example of this is the Wave.
During the Wave, countless types of monsters and beasts rush in together, yet none of them attack or tear at each other.
Then what is the biggest reason that monsters and beasts recognize each other as the same kind?
Appearance?
Smell?
Or something else entirely?
No one has figured out the reason.
Or rather, no one ever really tried to find out.
To humanity, monsters and beasts are the enemy.
That's a belief shared by everyone who has set foot in this world.
'But what if it were possible to mimic that monstrous presence?'
What if someone could not only mimic their appearance and smell but also replicate that unique something only monsters and beasts possess?
How would monsters and beasts react to such a being?
'No way...'
The biggest difference between those who tried countless experiments before and me was just one thing.
They didn't have Esther.
But I did.
'It's just a hypothesis, but...'
Because of Esther's presence as a Grade-1 Spectral Entity, I could emit a unique presence that only monsters could.
At the same time, Janus granted me the scent of the bone parasite.
If I had possessed just one of the two, the Turncoat Knight would not have mistaken me for a comrade.
But having both simultaneously created a perfect illusion, enough to deceive even a genuine monster.
'It's plausible.'
Otherwise, there was no way the Turncoat Knight would mistake me for one of his own.
After a long thought, I looked at the Turncoat Knight standing before me.
Groooan...
The Turncoat Knight, seemingly out of energy, was just letting out a low, mournful groan.
'Hmmm.'
I glanced back.
As expected, the distance between the survey team and me had already exceeded 10 kilometers, making it impossible for them to see me.
In other words, no matter what happened here, the survey team wouldn't know.
'If that's the case...'
Shrrrk───!
Bone tendrils from Janus, reacting to my will, sprouted from my entire body.
Gik, Gigik!
Seeing that, the Turncoat Knight began to react intensely as if to affirm what he was witnessing.
Kiiii!
The Turncoat Knight and Janus howled at each other in resonance.
"...Shut up, you two."
Gik!
As I looked at the Turncoat Knight, who was acting like I was an old friend, I couldn't help but fall into thought.
'Letting him go just like this feels a bit wasteful...'
Although he didn't hold any hostility toward me at the moment, the Turncoat Knight was still fundamentally a monster.
There was a possibility that he might become hostile again once we met next time.
'No... Even if he doesn't attack me, the Turncoat Knight is essentially an enemy of Ark.'
An existence that should not be kept alive.
That was the reality of the Grade-2 Named Skull Turncoat, the Turncoat Knight.
'But... it still feels like a waste...'
Considering the precedent set by the Turncoat Knight, there was a high chance that other Skull Turncoats would also regard me as one of their kind.
But would all Skull Turncoats be friendly to their kin?
That was something I couldn't be sure of.
Due to the nature of Skull Turncoats, with each host possessing distinct characteristics, the differences between individuals were too vast.
'Hmm...'
To kill or not to kill.
It was a dilemma that naturally deepened.
["Our dear master, I can hear your brain grinding from here."]
'Got any bright ideas, then?'
["If it were up to me, I'd take it home and raise it. It's kind of adorable."]
'Yeah, right.'
At this point, Esther's opinion was of little help.
It was only natural since Esther was a monster, and I was human.
Our perspectives could never truly align.
'Logically speaking, killing it here would be the best choice...'
Yet, for some reason, something held me back.
At that moment.
[Kin... You... Stronger... Than me.]
The Turncoat Knight spoke in a clumsy voice and cautiously approached me.
For a moment, I thought it might be an ambush and instinctively tensed up.
However, Janus, who was more sensitive to hostility than anyone else, showed no reaction.
So, I continued to observe the Turncoat Knight's actions.
Sssss...
Bone tendrils all over the Turncoat Knight's body began to wriggle and gather.
'What's that?'
I had no idea what it was trying to do, but at least I could be certain it wasn't hostile.
If it had been, both Janus and Esther would have reacted violently, but neither of them did.
Crack... Creak...
The bone tendrils gathered at the center of the Turncoat Knight's chest.
One strand, two strands, three strands...
At least a dozen bone tendrils twisted together like a braided rope, forming a giant bone spear.
[This... Offering...]
The Turncoat Knight handed me the bone spear formed from its tendrils.
Cautiously, I accepted it without letting down my guard.
As if waiting for that moment, Janus greedily devoured the spear.
"Hey, hey!"
I couldn't help but be taken aback, not expecting it to just gobble it up.
["The bonehead's got better instincts than you."]
'What?'
["Just watch and see, master."]
Esther chuckled.
And as if on cue, a new notification appeared.
[Grade-2 Named Skull Turncoat, Turncoat Knight, has bestowed the 'Symbol of Submission.']
[Understanding of 'Bone Parasite' has significantly increased!]
[All effects and abilities related to 'Bone Parasite' have increased by 15%.]
[Understanding of the 'Bone Parasite' language has increased. You can now understand their speech to some extent.]
[The 'Leadership' stat has been created.]
'This is...'
The Leadership stat was one that only appeared after choosing the officer or commander route in The Defense and reaching a certain level of growth.
The mere creation of the Leadership stat was irrefutable proof that the Turncoat Knight had decided to follow me.
And that wasn't all.
[Grik! Grik!]
Janus, as if repaying in kind, began twisting its own bone tendrils into a spear, just like the Turncoat Knight had done.
However, this spear was much larger and darker, as black as pitch.
[Grik!]
Janus handed the spear to the Turncoat Knight, who accepted it and then, just like Janus, ravenously devoured it.
Crunch, crack—!
Then, shortly after, more notifications appeared.
[Grade-2 Named Skull Turncoat, Turncoat Knight, has been granted the 'Symbol of Subordination.']
[Grade-2 Named Skull Turncoat, Turncoat Knight, has been completely subordinated.]
[Grade-2 Named Skull Turncoat, Turncoat Knight, swears loyalty.]
[Understanding of 'Bone Parasite' has significantly increased!]
[All effects and abilities related to 'Bone Parasite' have increased by 10%.]
[Leadership stat has increased.]
[1 → 2]
I didn't fully understand what had just happened.
But one thing was clear.
[Grik... Grik... Kin... I will follow.]
I had gained a subordinate.
In a completely unexpected way.