A Legion Grows From My Smartphone

Chapter 76

[You’re angry, aren’t you?]

"Really? It’s probably for the better."

I stood up and paced around the tent.

First, I gathered my thoughts. The Legion was not something that could be governed by the mere emotions of a single human.

I had to clearly and precisely convey why I was upset and what I wanted to ask for, leaving no room for misunderstanding.

[The Legion is currently very confused as well. Why are you angry?]

"...I just couldn’t hold it in for a moment."

I let out a deep sigh. A wave of self-loathing washed over me.

Did I even have the right to be angry? Not at all. For the sake of the Legion’s growth and the safety of 'us' through that growth, I had reluctantly and spinelessly condoned and acknowledged the Legion’s acts of slaughter.

The only reason I thought they should be stopped was because the Legion’s voracious appetite and twisted obsession were extending not just toward me, but to those around me as well.

But all this understanding and acknowledgment were based on the premise that the Legion was acting for its own growth and nourishment.

"Killing for nourishment and growth, I could overlook. But capturing women alive and dissecting them to collect data just because you want to create an appearance I might like? That’s something I couldn’t tolerate."

[Why is that?]

"Because it means you’re not killing for yourself, but for me. Because of me!"

I couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh at myself. It was true; I was being ridiculous. In the end, whether analyzed or used as nutrients, the result was the same—death.

Yet, I selfishly found it unbearable that people were being captured and killed because of me.

Now I understood why the Observer had bypassed me until the Legion’s ego had fully developed. I was just too weak.

"I guess I should record a video. To convey my sincerity and clear up any misunderstandings."

I fiddled with the spare device. I had planned to record one anyway, but now the situation made it necessary.

Sending a video would be far more effective in conveying my thoughts than merely sending a message through someone else.

"And while I’m at it, I should try something. Starting small, one step at a time. Let’s see how the Legion responds to my words."

I set up the mobile phone and steadied my breathing.

This wasn’t about scolding actions or imposing a path. It was simply about communication. My faith lay in the fact that, based on its behavior thus far, the Legion seemed to like me quite a bit.

"Uh... I’m going to speak assuming you can understand me. This is for you. To the Unit and the Legion, who must be surprised right now."

And this video would be my first direct communication with the Legion.

***

"Why is it taking so long!"

At the Nest, the Legion was unusually restless.

Even though it knew its emotions affected the entire Legion, it couldn’t help but feel agitated.

For this enormous entity that was both one and many, there was only one person in the entire universe who could influence it so deeply.

And now, that one person had sent it a video message, which the Legion was anxiously awaiting to arrive at the Lowest Layer of the Labyrinth.

[Be patient and wait.]

"Just tell me! And you said he turned off the screen immediately? Is he angry because of me? Just tell me that much!"

The being, which had slaughtered countless people without a shred of hesitation, now stomped its feet and yelled into mid-air like a child throwing a tantrum.

[There’s no point in me conveying it. You should see it yourself.]

At that moment, the mobile phone bestowed by him arrived in the underground Nest.

Unable to bear the wait anymore, the Legion took drastic measures.

Leaving its body on the surface, it accelerated the growth of a portion of the cells in the Lowest Layer of the Nest where the mobile phone was.

The grotesque form, complete with tentacles, eyes, and ears, was horrifying, but it had no time to worry about appearances.

Using its tentacles, it tapped the screen of the mobile phone and hurriedly played the video.

"It’s not your fault."

And the first words from him, as he made it clear that the message was directed at the Legion, were these.

"So... it’s just a natural human instinct. Humans don’t like it when others die because of them. Especially me. I’ve had too many bad memories about that."

He explained why he had been angry. The Legion unknowingly agreed with his words.

Moreover, it had already conducted some analysis on 'humans.'

Just as the Legion had its own nature, humans had their own nature as well.

"I’m not saying you shouldn’t kill humans. I’m just asking you not to do it for the sake of creating appearances. As I mentioned before, I think your own form, the one you create for yourself, is the best."

"Your own form."

Since he already knew from Kang Do-Yeon’s testimony that the Legion was trying to create a body, the Legion, without suspicion, nodded its tentacles.

There was no sign of the defiant attitude it had shown before, when it worried he might ignore its wishes.

"You are always the most important. I respect your opinion and acknowledge your instincts."

'I’m important. He acknowledges me.'

Without obstructing the Legion’s tyrannical path, he sought to maintain a minimal level of influence for precautionary measures.

And so far, his influence had outweighed the Legion’s own nature. For the Legion, a single statement that it was the most important was more than enough compared to a hundred other words.

Those words dispelled any lingering unease the Legion might have harbored during the time they couldn’t communicate directly.

"I want to give you a gift."

'A gift.'

"A name you can be called by."

A name. At that moment, the entirety of the Legion flinched.

It wasn’t that the Legion was unaware of the concept of names.

It already knew what names were and what they meant.

It just hadn’t cared because no one had dared to name it. Even if someone had tried to call it by a specific term, it wouldn’t have acknowledged it.

If there was anyone who could name it, it would have to be the person who had been deeply involved with it from the beginning until now.

"To the ego of the Legion that has emerged. Your name... from now on, I will call you Eve. I hope the day comes soon when we can have proper conversations."

He revealed a name he had pondered over for days.

The name he chose, despite once being an ordinary university student, was not grand or beautiful but rather simple and human-like.

[Do you like it?]

'Of course.'

The Legion’s emotions shifted instantly. At this moment, it felt better than ever before. This gift was more precious than any other.

[Now focus on the battlefield. The humans are beginning their counterattack.]

The video ended there. At the same time, the Legion turned its attention elsewhere.

The relentless assault, which had been spreading with irresistible momentum, was now met with an organized military resistance from the locals.

"Kill them! The ancient demons of destruction that crawled up from hell!"

A group of knights, clad in gleaming armor, were charging on horseback at the Legion soldiers who were attacking a village in the distance.

[You’ve gained a new name mere minutes after receiving your first. Demon of Destruction is what they call the Destruction Fungus.]

"Since the Destruction Fungus they once drove off the surface eventually became part of us, it doesn’t matter. Is this an opportunity for revenge?"

The Legion, now named Eve, no longer cared about the titles humans used to refer to it.

After all, its name was now fixed. It had no intention of letting those sacred words be used by them.

'Annihilate them all.'

The Legion, which had been basking in the dreamlike moment of communication, grew cold once more.

In war, it became a massacre machine, exuding only burning rage and madness. This was closer to the Legion’s true nature.

Mid-sized Legion Soldiers, based on quadrupedal beasts, kicked the ground and charged toward the knights.

At the same time, the knights lowered their lances in unison.

"Activate the formation."

The sight of massive, black-armored monsters charging with glowing eyes toward warhorses of comparable size would strike fear into anyone.

But just as they were about to collide within seconds, the knight at the center of the formation raised his arm. In his hand was not a lance but a short magic wand embedded with a jewel at its tip.

"Establish the circuit. Maximize output."

The wand he raised glowed, forming a spell circuit.

The circuit, drawn with lines of blue light, activated.

The points anchoring the circuit were the knights who rode alongside him. Their bodies, connected by the glowing lines, began to burn with shared mana.

"Ugh!"

"Hold your ground!"

The shockwave from the collision shook the ground as if a bomb had detonated.

Through the rising dust clouds of the impact, the knights emerged, still maintaining their formation.

They had literally ground down the larger, heavier, and tougher enemies.

'A new combat method using magic. A formation that organically enhances and maneuvers its members by connecting them as points, researched by the Stas School.'

The Legion’s assessment of the scene was straightforward.

'It's my first time seeing the User. I want it.'

And following the subsequent command, those who had been hiding in the Nearby Forest began to move separately.