Chapter 89

Chapter 89

In the current Alliance, average female insects hardly have any chance to get close to Philo.

After all, male insects seldom went out before, and now he is almost always staying at the medical center. If it weren’t for the recent uproar caused by Philo, even Siluan would likely still be kept confined at the Qi Mengtu estate.

Yet even so, even with both Siluan and Shang Ling of the Qi Mengtu family present here now...

Looking at the familiar female insect before him, Philo’s eyes darkened subtly.

"Song Emperor, why are you here?"

The same question, but whereas earlier it had been an instinctive inquiry, now it held a more pointed tone.

A male insect capable of freely using psychic abilities—even in his current weakened and visibly unsteady condition—remained unfazed when faced with the clearly unusual B-class female insect before him.

After all, while S-class psychic power had placed extra constraints on him, it had also granted him strength.

Now, Philo truly could walk the streets of the capital planet without any guards, though he no longer had the inclination for such things.

Their eyes met. The female insect, who seemed to have appeared out of thin air, now had eyes that once glowed like dusk but were now faded of color.

Clenching his fists, the female insect did not answer Philo’s question.

Though Philo had ordered all insects to leave the ward, countless guards from the Alliance Inspectorate and military security personnel still closely monitored the entire floor.

The female insect couldn’t explain how he had slipped past these defenses to reach this place, just as he couldn’t explain why the surveillance system at the side door had shown no reaction.

Gazing at Philo—at the male insect who, despite his efforts to conceal it, still showed weakness—the words that left the female insect’s lips were as uncertain as his thoughts. But in the end, Song Emperor spoke.

Because...

"Your Highness, Amber is dying."

The female insect didn’t answer why he was here, but this response seemed to explain it all the same.

Amber—an utterly common name among insects.

It lacked the thoughtfulness of Lancelot’s name and the melody of Song Emperor’s. It was a name chosen carelessly, one easily forgotten.

Yet, it was a name Philo had found himself unconsciously recalling many times recently.

Even if the female insect who bore this name might have long since joined the one called ‘Yuen Yarman’ in final rest on that distant starfield, where the smell of gunpowder still seemed to linger—

"Amber... wasn’t he reported missing?"

His slightly hunched back straightened, like a setting sun struggling to rise again up the mountain peak.

The SilverHaired Male Insect’s face remained pale, but as he looked at Song Emperor, there seemed to be hidden turmoil beneath that pallor, desperately suppressed.

Though Philo had only asked a single question in return, the female insect couldn’t help but smile bitterly, unsure whether encountering this male insect had been fortune or misfortune.

But whether it was fortune or misfortune no longer mattered. What mattered now was...

"Your Highness, if you wish to save him, please come with me alone."

Bowing his head, the female insect made a bold request—one that seemed excessive, given that he had never been publicly associated with Amber before.

To go alone...

Regardless of whether the request was reasonable, given the current level of distrust the insect race held toward Philo, even if he were willing to comply, they would likely send secret guards to follow him.

Looking at Song Emperor—at the female insect who had once rejected him, choosing to stay as Siluan’s mate—Philo’s gaze swept over his now seemingly calm face before settling on his eyes.

Questions would always have answers, but some answers, though worth pursuing, were not truly important.

At this moment, the SilverHaired Male Insect had much more urgent concerns on his mind. So—

"Let’s go."

No matter what hidden truths lay behind this, no matter whether the female insect’s words were true, no matter what secrets existed between Amber and Song Emperor—Amber was still Amber, the one who had risked everything to help Philo escape.

So, let’s go.

If Amber hadn’t truly disappeared in that desolate starfield, then wherever he was now, Philo would find him.

But... Philo.

What if Amber was no longer just Amber?

Would you still bring him back?

As if by magic or some cruel jest, shortly after the SilverHaired Male Insect performed Psychic Soothing on Gore, the insects waiting outside the ward became anxious when he didn’t emerge, while the guards inside wondered why no one entered.

Both sides assumed the male insect was with the other party, but to their shock, he had disappeared without explanation.

Apart from a quickly written note left behind, there wasn’t even a single communication message. For a moment, none of them could hardly believe their eyes.

Because if it wasn’t a dream, how could this be explained?

A male insect—one they had all seen enter the ward—had simply vanished into thin air? Though Philo’s note claimed he had pressing matters and would return soon, how had he managed it?

With so many guards around and advanced monitoring systems in place, even with his formidable psychic power, how had he evaded all detection unnoticed and vanished without a trace?

Li Qi, urgently summoned to locate Philo, looked puzzled upon recognizing this familiar disappearance pattern.

As for the male insect who had caused this uproar, his own expression was anything but calm.

Skin lesions, agonizing pain, internal bleeding, unstable psychic energy—these severe and familiar symptoms were ones Philo had experienced not long ago.

Thus, the moment he laid eyes on the female insect, he understood why Song Emperor had said Amber was dying.

Indeed, in such a state, without immediate intervention to halt the deterioration, even the strongest physique would collapse. But—

"Song Emperor."

His fingertips resting on the transparent medpod’s lid, his violet pupils flickering slightly, the male insect lowered his head, his expression inscrutable.

"Amber... entered the Chaos Starfield?"

Though phrased as a question, his tone suggested he didn’t truly need an answer. The truth was already clear before him.

"Why did he go in?"

Yes, why?

What the Chaos Starfield represented—perhaps Philo, who had just returned and had been fleeing star beasts in panic, wouldn’t have known. But Amber? Amber, who had aced both theory and combat exams at Kalms Military Academy—how could he not have known?

A place like that, even if he knew I was inside, why would he still go in?

Apart from ending up in this state, didn’t he still come up empty in the end?

Since that’s the case, since he clearly knew this would happen, why did he still go in?

His palm gradually clenched, the male insect’s irises darkening as he stared into the Female insect’s eyes. But before Song Emperor could answer either of Philo’s two questions, his gaze shifted slightly, and soon, the male insect’s fist spasmed for a moment.

A mere momentary pause in his gaze was enough for the male insect to identify the class of the vital fluids currently used in the med-pod of the raven-haired Female insect. This solution, so familiar—as if he had just seen it recently—was…

"Your Highness."

"You weren’t supposed to know."

Unlike the male insect’s hand, another palm landed on the far edge of the med-pod hatch. The Female insect’s skin was rough, with pronounced playing calluses on his fingertips.

Looking at Philo, even though Song Emperor had used a biomask to alter the Female insect’s appearance in the med-pod before Philo’s arrival, he now seemed to have no intention of continuing the deception.

After all, no matter how much the Female insect wanted to hide it, it now seemed impossible.

Appearance could be altered with an unhackable cloaking tech, identity could be forged through comms-tech, even genes could be edited—but… not psychic signature.

It couldn’t be hidden, couldn’t be altered. Apart from Morton as the sole exception, the Alliance had no other cases of insects successfully disguising or altering their psychic signature levels.

Yes, Morton.

Even though the Female insect lying there had the characteristic raven locks and soft, unassuming features—a perfect Amber facsimile at a glance—he wasn't Amber.

No matter how much he resembled her… he wasn’t Amber.

"Where is Amber really?"

The male insect’s words weren’t sharp, but they carried enough pressure.

Turning his head, this was the first time Philo had looked at Song Emperor like this—the first time in so long that he had regarded him with such seriousness.

Even if he had guessed that Amber’s identity might not be so simple, even if he had realized that Amber’s approach might have secondary objectives, the male insect still chose to challenge the Song Emperor for the Female insect’s sake.

But… lowering his gaze, the interrogated Female insect neither grew angry nor hurried to respond.

Clenching his fist, Song Emperor merely continued to stare at the young Female insect lying in the med-pod, his body deteriorating despite being submerged in S-class vital fluids, before speaking softly.

"This is Amber."

"Your Highness."

"I’m not lying to you."

Without letting the male insect retort, Song Emperor—his voice graveled—addressed every query in just a few sentences, knowing the Female insect in the pod had no time left.

"Your Highness, Amber suffers from a neural condition, just like you. But unlike you, he has fragmented psyche syndrome—also known as… dual consciousness."

"His other identity is someone you’ve met before—the Female insect who once took you captive. This time, it was him who, after Amber entered dormancy, forged solo into the Chaos Zone to find you."

"Though I don’t know how Your Highness interacted with Amber’s other identity, but, Your Highness—"

Raising his eyes, as if all his strength were draining from his body, the Female insect’s voice was faint and weak, like the flickering ember-light in his gaze.

"He’s dying."

That Female insect, whose eyes had always been filled with madness, who was compelled to antagonize and torment the Silver-Haired male insect whenever they met, who had disappeared concurrent with the male insect after his disappearance—none had foreseen his return would be like this.

"Amber… is also dying."

Whether Morton and Amber acknowledged each other’s existence or not, the truth remained: if Morton lived, Amber lived. But if Morton died, Amber would be extinguished.

Song Emperor didn’t understand why Morton had chosen to enter the Chaos Zone to find Philo this time. After all, in the past, the Female insect had only treated the male insect as a diversion—an auxiliary energy reserve.

Even if Morton had always been reckless, would he really go so far as to risk his life for the male insect? Was that… possible?

How… could it be?

Staring at the Red-Eyed Female insect, mortally wounded, Song Emperor could scarcely comprehend. After all, at the very beginning, Morton had only embarked to retrieve Philo to fulfill Amber’s final directive before falling into slumber.

So why… why would he go this far?

Song Emperor couldn’t understand, but the Female insect’s failing physiology left no time for contemplation.

Every insect that entered the Chaos Zone met the same fate as the legends foretold—regardless of psychic signature level or physique, even an S-class Female insect only delayed the deterioration before inevitably succumbing to death.

Morton couldn’t die.

And Amber… even more so.

Looking at the Female insect in the med-pod, Song Emperor knew what he had to do. After all, no being in the Collective was unaware that Philo had survived the Chaos Zone.

Even if the male insect claimed not to remember how he had survived inside, Song Emperor had no other choice now. So—

"Your Highness."

"I implore you."

"I implore you… save him."

Every living being has something they wish to do, someone they wish to protect.

Song Emperor hadn’t cared for many in his life—but coincidentally, the two before him were among them.

Yet even the meat of one’s palm and the back of one’s hand differ in thickness, and the weight these two insects—one standing, one lying—held in the young Female insect’s heart was inevitably unequal.

Even if he revered, even cherished, the first Silver-Haired male insect who had ever stood up for him… in the end, Amber—or Morton—was his final allegiance.

"What is he to you?"

"…My brother."

My only brother—the one who was broken by interrogation while protecting me, the sole surviving kin I have left.

So, Your Highness.

Even if I know this might overtax you, even if I know your body can withstand no further stress… I’m sorry. So sorry…

Some choices are difficult, while others are painfully simple.

An insect might agonize over midday sustenance, but if asked whether they want to live, whether they want to enter a conjugal pact, whether they want to earn wealth—few would hesitate for long.

When faced with existential crossroads, even the most wavering being would know what truly matters to them.

Philo didn’t respond to Song Emperor’s apology—because he deemed none necessary.

This is actually fair when you think about it. Song Emperor just told him the truth. He didn’t force him—from start to finish, he only begged him. As for whether to agree or not...

Lowering his gaze, Philo looked at the young Female insect whose closed eyes seemed no different from when she was at Kalms Military Academy. Suddenly, he realized he had never seen Amber’s true appearance.

A Female insect with such strikingly beautiful mismatched eyes must be very good-looking, right?

If someone like her were to die just like that… what a waste that would be.

“Hand me a blade.”

This was the Male insect’s answer—his condition for agreeing to save the Female insect.

The medical pod opened. Taking the knife, Philo didn’t spare another glance at Song Emperor beside him, nor did he care about the uneasy look in his eyes as they fixed on the blade in his hand.

As the pod’s lid fully lifted, Philo got a clear view of Amber’s current physical state. At the same time, he sensed the overwhelming psychic energy radiating from her—powerful enough to rival his own.

Indeed, Amber truly was an S-class Female insect.

But then again, no—according to what Song Emperor had just said, it seemed that Redeyed Female insect was the real S-class one.

Split personality? Dual consciousness?

Not only did Amber’s body house another insect, but even her physique and psychic energy changed upon switching. What kind of strange condition was this? What had she gone through in the past?

The Male insect’s gaze silently swept over the Female insect’s face before finally lingering on those tightly shut eyes.

No insect knew what Philo was thinking at that moment. In fact, even Song Emperor, the only witness to the scene, soon found himself unable to dwell on it—because—

“My Prince!”

Clenching his fists, the Female insect’s pupils instantly went wide with shock.

But before Song Emperor could intervene, the SilverHaired Male Insect holding the knife spoke first.

“If you want to save her, don’t get in my way.”

Didn’t you want to know how I survived the Chaos Zone?

Didn’t you want me to save her?

If that’s the case, then don’t interfere.

The sharp blade tilted slightly, and at the same time, the Male insect’s grip on the hilt tightened. As the knife cut deeper, blood droplets splattered like raindrops into the healing fluid, which gradually shifted from green to a faint pink.

That solution, now turning pink and red, its color softening into warmth—so much more beautiful than before—was almost blindingly bright at this moment.

Without looking back at Song Emperor, Philo kept his eyes fixed on the Female insect before him.

Honestly, he didn’t know if he could save him.

Because he didn’t know if his blood would even do any good on her.

And even if it did, given the Female insect’s current state, Philo wasn’t sure how much of his blood would be needed to make a difference. If it wasn’t too much, fine—but if it was…

Already feeling dizzy and weak, the Male insect’s body grew increasingly fatigued as his grip on the knife tightened.

His legs began to give way, his arms trembled, and his vision involuntarily blurred before he forced himself to focus.

In the end, leaning against the medical pod and barely standing with Song Emperor’s support, the SilverHaired Male Insect’s wrist was crisscrossed with not just one but multiple deep, long wounds.

As the latest wound slowly began to scab over, Song Emperor’s grip on the Male insect tightened—harder and harder—as he looked at the motionless Female insect inside the pod and then at Philo, now so weak he could barely grip the knife.

He seemed to want to stop the Male insect from continuing.

But he couldn’t bring himself to say it.

His gaze at the Female insect in the pod grew increasingly desperate.

At the same time, his eyes as he looked at the SilverHaired Male Insect also began to go blank.

The knife in the Male insect’s hand seemed to cut not just his own arm but also the soul of the Female insect behind him. Those once-brilliant, sunset-bright eyes now seemed to turn to cold ashes.

So… what choice should he make?

No insect could give him the answer this time—not even Philo.

*Clang!*

The sound of the knife hitting the floor.

Before Song Emperor could decide, the Male insect passed out before the Female insect in the pod could wake.

Expecting Philo’s condition, Song Emperor had already set up another medical pod beside Amber’s. Now, watching the SilverHaired Male Insect lose consciousness completely, the Female insect finally made his decision once more.

This time, he chose—

With a splash, the Female insect’s movement to carry the Male insect to the neighboring pod stopped dead. His hands, which had just been supporting Philo, now closed on nothing.

Instead, the previously roomy, luxurious medical pod—originally holding only one Female insect—was suddenly crowded.

Holding the Male insect’s arm submerged in the healing fluid, the Redeyed Female insect—who had been near death just moments before, covered in wounds—now seemed brimming with inexhaustible strength the moment she opened her eyes.

With a soft expression that clashed oddly with her aggressive gaze, she pulled Philo close inside the pod and then—

“Listen.”

“I felt everything just now.”

“Since you were willing to risk your life to save me, I’ll play for keeps too, Philo.”

Smirking, the Redeyed Female insect raised her sharp eyebrows and declared in a rare, unusually earnest tone of teasing yet sincere:

“I agree to make you my mate!”

“From now on, you’re mine!”

Author’s Note:

Don’t jump to conclusions, everyone. Philo has a good moral sense—he knows what kind of partner he needs. Also, Philo is incredibly slow to figure out his feelings. The insects around him still don’t understand what he truly wants, so if they want his final answer, they’ll have to try harder!