Chapter 5: Ch. 5 - Ajuka, the Devil Scientist
Flying in the sky was very exciting at first however the moment the strain on my back started to settle in, my joy slowly turned into exhaustion.
"That's pretty normal on the first try. Don't be discouraged." At least her comfort is helping albeit a bit.
"Are we there yet?" I asked, if Serafall answered no, then I would ask for a rest.
"We're just a few minutes away now. You can see his laboratory from here. Since you're practically a Devil now, your eyesight should be able to see more clearly and farther." True to her words, I stared at the distance in front of me, and at first, I saw nothing but an expanse of green trees and nature however, once my vision adjusted and adapted, I finally saw the laboratory that Serafall was talking about.
It was breathtaking to see it. Standing in front of me was a sight that I hadn't seen before. It was a huge white dome with a radius of 500 meters!
If you think a 500-meter radius is small, then think twice because that's almost as large as a small town! Considering this is just a single structure housing a scientist, it was impressive to see such a building actually exists.
The white dome may look plain on the outside but I'm sure the inside is the opposite. Aside from the white dome, the structure's surroundings were also a sight worth seeing. The vicinity of the dome was quite similar to Serafall's Sitri territory, it was covered in trees and lush grasses that you wouldn't expect to see in a place filled with devils.
Additionally, my senses were telling me that there was a barrier surrounding the entire place, probably the same barrier that Serafall was talking about earlier, the one that could block teleportation, we might even be inside the barrier right now for all I know!
"We're safe here, we can land now. Ajuka is not known to have guards all around the place, he's the kind of a person who would rather stay at his beloved home than establish communication with someone." Hearing her roast the poor man behind his back again, I couldn't help but feel pity for this Ajuka guy.
What kind of sin did he commit to suffer such stabs behind his back?
Landing after Serafall, only then did I realize just how tall the white dome actually was! Because my perspective was bird's view earlier, I failed to notice its height.
But now that I'm on the ground, it's like I'm staring at two Empire State Buildings stacked against each other!
How did these devils even manage to build something like this? Do they perhaps have devil construction workers?
"What are you doing back there staring for? Come on." Thankfully, I was snapped back to reality by Serafall who had already walked quite a distance away from me.
Chasing after her, we then arrived at the entrance of the white dome. It was that easy to get close to the structure.
No guards, no devil patrolling, or anything like that. It's like visiting an abandoned building in the middle of nowhere.
Either this Ajuka guy is an idiot for not hiring protection considering he's a scientist who invented stuff that could turn humans into devils or he's just that confident in his strength in case there are malicious intruders.
I would prefer the latter since Serafall vouches for this man.
Swoosh!
The white metallic doors slid open, releasing a handful of steam in the process.
Walking inside, my mouth went wide open as soon as my eyes scanned the interior of the building.
Where am I? Why does this place look like an alien mothership?!
The surroundings were full of stuff that I couldn't fully explain. All I know it's a bunch of advanced technological things that humanity could only dream of reaching.
Screech!
Immediately getting into a fighting stance, I searched my eyes around and saw an animal trapped inside a large glass tube where a few hologram displays could be seen.
The said animal couldn't even be described as one. I would prefer to call it a monster instead. Unlike animals, this monster bore features that scream deadly!
Its large claws scratched the glass tube several times with no result, the disgusting sharp and pointy bones all lined up starting from its shoulders down to its tailbone.
This monster kind of reminds me of WildMutt from Ben 10, except it was fused with Abomination from Hulk.
"What is that thing?" I muttered a question to myself, which I purposely muttered loud enough for Serafall to hear so she could answer it.
"Oh, that? I saw that in an animal dictionary! Though it looks a bit different. It was a-" Before Serafall could answer and finish her sentence, she was interrupted by an exhausted voice behind us.
"-An Artificial Cerberus."
Surprised, we quickly made a swift turn around and finally saw the source of the answer.
It was a tall man with slicked-back green hair, wearing what I assume to be a lab coat, looking at the two of us with a drained look.
"What are you doing here again, Serafall? Look, whatever you're about to ask me to do and go with you, my answer is still no." Ignoring my presence, the green-haired man only spoke to Serafall.
'Why does this guy look like he wants to die already?' I secretly muttered to myself, observing the appearance of the man who I assumed to be Ajuka.
His exhausted face along with a lab coat was already enough for a ten-year-old to guess, not to mention he seems to be the only one in this place.
"Ajuka! It's so good to see you! It's been a long time since we last saw each-"
"We just saw each other yesterday." Ajuka interrupted.
"Gagkh!" Not expecting such a response, Serafall jokingly made an expression like she was punched in the chest.
"O-Okay. Maybe not a long time. But it doesn't matter! There's a reason why I'm here!"
"Sigh, what is it? Another toy to play with? If so, I already prepared another one fo—" Just as Ajuka was about to turn around to grab the said toy, he was interrupted by Serafall.
"Nope! I'm not here for that! I want to introduce you to Chamber right here!" Finally given the chance for my presence to be finally acknowledged, I was about to extend my hand for a handshake.
"Oh. Hi." Only for the man himself to simply nod his head at me and say a single word before turning around to resume whatever he's currently doing.
"Uh. Hello?" Now that my hand was extended awkwardly, I could only scratch my head and wave it at the guy's back.
I'm not sure if the guy is being rude or something but I just hope it's not the former.
"No no no! Ajuka come back! You can't just casually dismiss him! He's important!"
"How important is he that it requires 3 minutes and 45 seconds of my precious time?" Stopping in his tracks, Ajuka replied without turning around.
"Because he's my new friend! And not just any friend! He's my best friend!" Proudly yelling back, I was stunned.
'Oi, you're supposed to introduce me as the first devil-reincarnated human in front of the inventor himself! Why does being your friend seem much more important than that?!' I quietly yelled inside my mind. Wondering if there's something wrong with this girl's head.
"Really? Good for you then. Someone will finally share my burden."
'Am I seeing things or that a tear that rolled down from his cheek?' I blinked my eyes and rubbed them profusely.
"And he's also a human who just turned into a devil thanks to your invention!" The moment Serafall yelled this, Ajuka quickly disappeared from his place and reappeared directly in front of me.
Unable to move my body, I raised my head and saw the excitement and eagerness in Ajuka's eyes. The exhaustion and weariness seemed to have turned non-existent.
'What is wrong with these devils?!'
"Come with me, Chamber." Before I or Serafall could react, my shoulder was grabbed by Ajuka and we both disappeared to God know-gah! Fuck that stings!
Note to self, use Lucifer's name instead.
***
By the time I regained my senses, I found myself sitting on a seat while Ajuka, with his white coat fluttering, was running several tests on my body.
I could feel the tip of the needle piercing through the skin in my forearm directly through the bloodstream as Ajuka proceeds gathering a dosage of my blood.
"What exactly are you doing?" I asked, having the trauma of the Marvel Universe and the cliche plot of cloning, I was wary of having my blood taken.
"I want to test your devil blood, to see if you still retain some of your human traits or genes." Answered Ajuka without raising his head to look at me, simply immersed in a contraption that looked similar to a computer that came from the future.
Did this guy invent computers back in the Marvel universe too?
"So, am I like quarantined?" I asked with a small hint of fear. Am I about to be stuck in hell for the rest of my life?
"Quarantined? You mean Isolated?"
"Yeah, something like that." That's funny, some words back in my world haven't been invented here yet.
Thinking of inventing, maybe I could take this opportunity to produce inventions that are a resounding success back in my world like Smartphones, wait no, that's too advanced, maybe something like light bulbs or something.
"No, you won't be isolated. In fact, I'm already done with you, whenever you want, you can leave now. As a matter of fact, I'd appreciate it if you take Serafall and leave my laboratory right now, I hate working with the thought that there are other people in my lab."
I'm not sure if he rudely meant those words or that's just his way of speaking. Hopefully, it's the latter.
"Before I leave, can I ask you a question?" Seeing the chance to finally inquire about something that has been bugging me for a while, I spoke.
"Sigh. What is it?" Sighing, Ajuka turned to look at me.
"Is there any way I can turn back to being human again?" I gulped, hopefully he won't take offense to my question, after all, such question might came out as if I dislike being part of their race.
Thankfully, Ajuka's reaction says enough that he's not that kind of person.
"…I don't know yet, devil genes are far more powerful than human's, not to mention, turning into devil involves inserting Devil energy inside a human's body soul, but the same cannot be said vice versa, Human doesn't have anything similar to a Devil energy that could be inserted inside a devil. So I hate to break this to you but it is impossible to become human again." Shaking his head with an answer, my face sunk.
I should've expected such an answer but it still pains me that I will no longer become human.
It doesn't sound that bad, right? Maybe someday in the future, I'll be the one finding a way instead.
"…Last question." I coughed.
"Yes?" Once again bearing his previous monotone expression, Ajuka faced me.
"…Where's the exit?" I wryly smiled. From the movement on Ajuka's eyebrows, I could already tell he was annoyed by my question. Well, you can't blame me when we just magically appeared in this lab earlier.
***
After thanking Ajuka who 'kindly' showed me the way back to where we left Serafall, I saw the aforementioned sitting on a couch with a bored expression.
Upon seeing my presence, her face beamed up in happiness as she tip toed towards me.
How cute.
"ChamCham! You're finally back! How is it? Ajuka wasn't too rough on you is he? Just say the word and this magical devil will show him a lesson!" After saying those words, she flexed her arm as if she has a muscle.
I was about to answer her question when my brain registered what she just called me earlier.
Wait!? ChamCham?!
Seeing me froze, Serafall tilted her head in confusion. She stepped forward in front of me and stared directly at my face.
Who wouldn't be? This is a first time someone called me by a made up nickname, not to mention how cringe ChamCham is.
How and why did she made up of that nickname for me!?
"S-Serafall, please don't call me that." I forced a smile on my face as my face was practically begging her at this point.
"What do you mean? You mean ChamCham?"
Crack!
"T-That. Yes."
"Hehe~ ChamCham?" As if finding my tickle, Serafall bore a teasing smile as she repeated the nickname a few more times.
By the end of her satisfaction, I was now left staring at the sky with an expression that screams 'Why am I still here?'.
"Chamber? You still there?" Said Serafall as she waves her hand in front of my face.
"….Sigh. Let's go." Sighing to myself, I finally let go of it, at least she went back to calling me Chamber instead of ChamCham.
"Let's go back to your world, ChamCham!" She happily continued.
"Ugh."
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[Next Chapter: Ch. 6 - Discovering newfound strength]
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