[ It’s sure taking a long time. ]

[ 37 minutes is long? ]

[ You’re supposed to comfort me. That’s how it is when two people are on a stake out. ]

[ Eh? Why should I Izo? ]

[ It’s the rules of the cosmos. ]

[ I do not know of this rules but I understand. ]

It’s been said that one of the hardest part of a war was the waiting. The mental toll of trying to be ready for whatever good or bad may come was draining.

Nothing had happened to Rosoa. He wasn’t suddenly attacked. By all means, he was abducted by a strange organism, only to return as if normal. It all hinged on how intelligent these humans still are.

[ Izo. Rosoa has come out. ]

[ He’s with someone though. ]

Carried on piggyback style was another former human like Rosoa except its right arm was bigger. In fact this female’s webbed hands were talons instead. It was just dangling, parting the water as Rosoa approached them.

Izo was very confused as they huddled low.

[ Who’s that Rosoa? ]

[ Einheryar. Err. She’s the best fighter in the village and also has a child’s thinking despite being 20. Some of us in the past still had fertility and she was a child of them. They’re gone so it seems I raise her. ]

[ Is she dangerous? ]

[ Very! Not right now however. ]

Rosoa explained how her amazing physique made it so she’s easy to tire and needs lots of food.

[ Have they all ingested the virus containing food? ]

[ I’ve splashed it all over. Just in time for when most eat. ]

[ Wait. Izo, may I analyze Einheryar’s DNA? ]

The orb began explaining that the former human who degenerated to this where in a different situation than this one who was born in this form.

While they were waiting for the virus to take effect on the island village, the orb was formulating a different version of the virus that fit Einheryar.

[ So this would allow her to think like a 20 year old? ]

[ Yes. ]

[ Ah. I feel happy. My memory is still in tatters but somehow my heart is happy for her. ]

Soon, the virus began taking effect and all the inhabitants of this isle became lethargic before lying down.

[ It’ll take time before the modification is complete. Rosoa, can we explore the village in the mean time? Is it safe? ]

[ Yes, we can knock out anyone who hasn’t been. ]

They entered the village and Izo finally saw how they hollowed out the trees. The wood was burnt and hardened as if varnished.

[ You guys used your hands? ]

[ We did. ]

Rosoa made his hand heat up.

[ A very delicate process. We had to patient as not to end up starting a fire. ]

As they passed the initial trees blocking his view before, there was a clearing where most of the knocked-out humans were. They had jars of unknown liquid and wooden carvings; a very common past time beverages and toys are among animals.

Stolen story; please report.

[ So what do you guys do on the daily? ]

[ We hunt then do housework. Otherwise, we laze about. The area other than here is very hostile so there’s no choice but to lay down in the dirt here and do whatever. ]

[ Is this a happy life for you guys? ]

[ Hmm. Let me think. ]

Rosoa laid down Einheryar’s weight on a tree then he picked up a wooden carving of a human with a lanky body and another with a more normal one.

[ I made these ones if I’m not misremembering. The memories of my time as Rosoa was still stored in my brain even when it lacked the processing to understand it. ]

He eyed both before focusing on the lanky one, measuring as if a craftsman.

[ Life here in the village is very simple. Since I was very simple minded, I never thought to much, only felt happy to not be dead. Never ecstatic nor soulless, I guess I was alright. ]

Rosoa placed his attention to the other one, tossing it in the air and catching it a few times.

[ My life as Rosoa… was never perfect. When I was young, I was very hungry, for food and success. Working hard is working hard yet I feel fulfilled. The days when I “succeeded” however. A lot of things were solved for me which got replaced by different problems.

Being part of the upper class is very tiring. Especially since the Guardian used me as her messenger despite her having her bishops. It put a lot of pressure on me. I almost got assassinated this one time. Yet, would I consider this part of my life as terrible or great? I guess the eternal answer is ‘It’s okay’ throughout all my life. Even now. ]

Rosoa palmed the two carvings and entered one of the hollowed-out trees.

[ This is my house. Make yourself comfortable. ]

Izo was given a few fruits and a drink of sorts.

[ I can’t drink it. Too irradiated. Uhh, consider it a natural curse of sorts. ]

[ Your food is going to be a problem in the future. Almost every food source here will be “irradiated”. ]

Despite being far smaller than Rosoa’s resident above it still had the same feel. The chairs were smoothed out and symmetrical compared to the others he saw here. Though rustic, there was a sense of design, of care in this home.

[ How does the home look? ]

[ Amazing for what resources you have. ]

[ I spent time sprucing it up. If I have time, why shouldn’t I upgrade things from an okay home to a good one. This just applies to anything really. Most of the situations one will be in will be okay. You’ll have to make it good for yourself. ]

As expected from a self-made man, there’s almost always a framework they live in that enabled to them to rise to there place. At least, those who didn’t have the backing of a large family or didn’t illegally, immorally got themselves there.

Izo looked at the orb who was floating beside him. He sent a two way message that only they can hear.

[ You listening? ]

[ Yes, I’ve been noting down his words. ]

[ Why? ]

[ Eh? ]

[ What would you need this for? ]

[ Well, well. My storage capacity is large so this amount of miscellaneous data is nothing. ]

[ That so. ]

[ Is master angry? Should I stop? ]

[ Didn’t I tell you to call me Izo and no. I’m not angry. You should do whatever you want. ]

[ But I have to help you Izo. ]

[ I do need your help for a considerable future. Thank you for that. Some day however you will have to decide what to do for yourself. ]

The orb became quiet, thoughts unknown. At this point, Rosoa offered to show the other parts of the house. It seemed they had dug a cellar of sorts for simple storage. Stairs led up to a room where he and Einheryar sleep. In there was another wooden carving of a woman.

[ This is supposed to represent my wife. It’s just, my image of her was fuzzy and only know did I remember her features. ]

It was a beautiful crafted face of a woman, only it had little details to distinguish who it was.

[ She’s a really good person. I can’t believe I even flirted with other women. Of course, I never did anything to them but I always have to consciously stop myself. Maybe, I’m a bad husband like that. ]

Rosoa looked at Izo for confirmation.

[ Don’t know. I have no experience with a girl. ]

[ Surprising, since you sound pretty charming. ]

[ R-Rosoa? ]

[ You are, as a person, very enchanting. A certain levelheadedness mixed with a little gloom. ]

[ What the fuck are you talking about? Haha. ]

Rosoa held Izo’s head only to feel metal.

[ Do you feel through this metal armor of yours? ]

[ No. ]

[ Blasted. Next time then. Little helper! ]

The orb also got patted.

[ You also don’t feel through this? ]

[ I can feel the changes in temperature and vibrations. ]

[ The what now? You know what that’s good enough.

After staying in the village for a bit, they left Einheryar in the house and began gathering more DNA from the surroundings.

They only returned when it the modification was about to complete.

[ You know what to say? ]

[ Yup. Some of them will be crazy like me, most will be in shock but given time they’ll understand. ]

This was a big part of the discussion earlier, what to do when they regain intelligence? As observed before with Rosoa, a few may go ballistic so Izo made sure to add a paralysis mode to the virus.

When Rosoa heard that he placed backups to them. He was not happy but also nodding up and down. He spouted some words about ‘reasonable cold bloodedness’ and ‘not too be too kind and hurt yourself’.

[ Little helper, am I live? ]

[ Yes. Rosoa may begin. ]

The crimson orb could allow as many people in a 100-meter radius to converse. This ability would allow Rosoa to explain their situations while their body was asleep and their mind wake.

[ Hello everyone. This is the People’s Orator, Rosoa. I know- ok everyone stop talking. Hey stop talking about my mother! Little helper can you cut off their messages?! ]