The Original Intention of Protection
"Those two idiots went off to drink again, and I have to personally go notify them about the suppression."
Angela brought the book of the Abnormality to the Literature Floor.
After handing the book of the Abnormality to Hod, she began to explain some precautions.
"The Spider Nest is maternal; it wants to protect its offspring, the little bugs. If you kill the little bugs, it will drop down from the ceiling."
"You don't need to worry about the little bugs later; just focus your fire on the Spider Nest."
"Since those two idiots aren't here, I will assist you with the suppression this time. Killing just one of those little bugs will be enough."
"Can we change the Abnormality's cognition again, like last time?"
"We cannot change the Abnormality's cognition like last time. Changing an Abnormality's cognition was originally impossible, but now that their bodies are fragmented, The Library has the opportunity to change all of this. However, for those that cannot be changed, we have no other choice."
After hearing this, Hod didn't say anything, merely responding with a sound.
"Alright."
Afterward, Hod donned Pierre's page, brought Mars and Lulu, and headed into the Book World.
Upon entering the Book World, there was only a small patch of light where they stood, while the rest was filled with darkness.
In the darkness, there were countless small red eyes.
At the same time, many small spiders were crawling on the ground—though they weren't exactly small, as their body length had perhaps reached half a meter.
However, they seemed to have no desire to attack for now, merely watching the three of them.
"Mars, you go over there first."
Hod directed Mars to a secluded spot.
"Understood, Miss Hod."
"Lulu, come with me to drive away a small spider."
"Wouldn't it be easier to just smash them into pulp?"
Lulu said at this moment, raising the fire-stick in her hand.
"If we can make it easier, it's better to make it easier."
Mars stood in position. Then, Hod and Lulu swung their blades at a lone small spider.
The small spider was preparing to counterattack. It turned back, looking at Lulu and Mars, and was about to open its mouthparts to attack.
"Mars, now!"
Mars rushed from behind the spider to ambush it, slashing down forcefully with his sword, successfully splitting the small spider in two.
After the spider was split in two, strange liquid oozed out and stuck to Mars's sword.
Meanwhile, the many red light points in the darkness began to stir restlessly, ready to act. The space became even darker.
A large mass of indescribable things gradually descended from the ceiling. It had many large red eyes on it; that was the Spider Nest.
As soon as the Spider Nest landed, it locked onto Mars, who had killed the small spider, and the other small spiders swarmed forward.
Just as Hod and Lulu were preparing to cover Mars, they discovered that the other small spiders couldn't rush over; they seemed to be blocked by a barrier.
They wanted to rush up to attack but were blocked outside, forming a circle.
Inside this circle were the three of them and the Spider Nest.
Hod watched this scene.
"Angela was right; just focus fire."
When the Spider Nest was attacked by the three of them, it let out a shriek.
The remaining little bugs went crazy trying to protect their mother nest, but no matter what, they couldn't get forward.
It wasn't until the Spider Nest died that they were released, but the moment the Spider Nest died, they were like a group of dragons without a leader, not knowing what to do.
Outside the book, Angela was standing to the side, the book of the Spider Nest open and floating in the air before her.
In just a moment, the three of them left the Book World.
The book of the Spider Nest was also caught by Angela in her hand.
Hod murmured to herself.
"It just wanted to protect its children. It wanted its children to have a better life. And they were just acting out of the instinct to protect their mother. They were just never understood, right?"
Angela did not refute this, but silently agreed.
"Yes, we have no other choice either. Sorry." (She wasn't just saying that to the Spider Nest).
"Alright, I'm leaving. They should be coming over to deliver the books in a while."
Just as Angela was preparing to leave, she was called out by Hod.
"Angela."
Afterward, Angela stopped in her tracks, waiting for Hod's next sentence.
Hod's hair swayed slightly, seeming to express her current bashfulness.
Then, she spoke up.
"Take care. You... you can come here often."
"Hmm."
After Angela acknowledged this, she flashed away. Before she left, the corners of her mouth curled into a slight arc.
After Angela left, she arrived at the Art Floor, only for the scene of them carousing to meet her eyes.
I don't know what they were thinking, but they even managed to set up some lighting.
Angela watched as they finished drinking, still acting drunk and boasting.
Her expression was somewhat speechless.
With a snap of her fingers, all five of them sobered up.
"Haven't finished drinking yet? Or do you want another glass?"
"No, no..."
"Then why aren't you rushing to deliver the books?"
Afterward, Roland dragged Ayou, who was still reminiscing, away.
"Let's go, let's go."
Net, having sobered up, was still lying on the floor because he didn't know what he wanted to do now.
Then Shan walked toward Angela, coming to her side.
"Director, what happened to my body?"
Angela looked at Shan's charred clothes and body.
"It's your own EGO, but yours is not very stable; it was formed after a Distortion stabilized. It's the same as Walter's, except you can't retract it at will."
"Okay, thanks. That doesn't seem like much, right? As long as I know who I am, that's enough, isn't it?"
"Hmm, yes. Knowing who I am."
[But who am I, really?]
Angela was always in a state of self-doubt.
At the beginning of her creation, she once asked Benjamin.
"Is my very existence a mistake?"
Don't be afraid, Angela, your daddy Ayou is here to redeem you. (No, what the hell kind of daydream am I having?)