A Legion Grows From My Smartphone

Chapter 67

"Say that I turned off the screen."

[He turned off the screen. And his bestowed item arrived…]

Before the words were even finished, as if it had been waiting, a dormant flying species snatched the mobile phone and darted across the nest.

At the topmost layer of the nest, the figure that reappeared as soon as I claimed I turned off the screen was visible.

A girl wearing a mask, with soft, flowing black hair cascading almost to her hips…

The flying species dropped the mobile phone into her hand.

"Where is Kang Do-Yeon? Where is she?"

[Currently, she is on one side of the nest, receiving nutrient supply and resting to alleviate mental fatigue. The Legion has never shown your bestowed item to Kang Do-Yeon first.]

"Are you seriously viewing my sibling as a rival? She's my younger sister."

[Well, to the Legion, that doesn’t matter at all. What’s important now is your intention, and the sense of hierarchy. You’re above Kang Do-Yeon in the hierarchy, after all.]

"Sigh…"

For many reasons, my heart felt heavy.

Sending my younger sister to the Legion had been an unavoidable decision to save her life.

But throwing someone who had just entered high school into the midst of alien monsters was something no one should have to do.

In such circumstances, the Legion, which pursued efficiency above all else, was not likely to offer any 'human-centric' conveniences. Though it wouldn’t show outwardly, she would undoubtedly struggle.

[I’ve provided the saved path for the video, and now the Legion is trying to check the video you sent.]

At that moment, the Legion, which had been tapping on the screen, began to review the video I had sent.

"...?"

[...It seems they’re quite flustered.]

The first video the Legion played was my video letter.

It was meant to appear as though it was addressed to my younger sister, but regardless, after watching just a few seconds of the video, the Legion suddenly caused the entire nest to quake and hid at an incredible speed.

It charged headfirst into the flesh wall, wedging itself into the newly-formed crack, and vanished in an instant, leaving only its feet visible. Soon, even those disappeared.

Only my muffled voice could be heard from the overturned mobile phone, sounding pitiful.

"I can feel the stirred emotions too. But why, of all things?"

[It seems seeing your face was unexpected. The Legion has been curious about your face but intentionally avoided it until now.]

"My face?"

[It’s likely the same reasoning as why it hides its own face.]

Soon, Kang Do-Yeon appeared at the scene. Judging by her frowning expression, it seemed she had been forcibly awakened by the Legion’s orders.

"It’s just a video that my older brother sent. There’s no need to feel embarrassed."

She picked up the mobile phone and shouted into mid-air.

After some time had passed, the quivering wall split open once more, and the Legion reappeared.

"I’m not embarrassed. I just…"

"I can sense your emotions. You’re definitely embarrassed."

"I’m not."

"…Blocking the emotions flowing into me won’t work. It’s obvious."

"I said I’m not."

A sudden back-and-forth argument broke out between the two.

From this, I could confirm the emotion the Legion was harboring.

[Do you feel reassured?]

"I’m not sure. At least it feels like it’s willing to listen to me."

I sighed and leaned back in my chair.

What scared me the most was the idea that the Legion, having grown stronger, might completely disregard me and act entirely on its own.

For now, it seemed my influence on it was still considerable, which was fortunate. If my influence were to diminish further, I would lose the ability to control the Legion.

In the worst-case scenario, the Legion that had traveled all the way here could bury me alive in its nest, keeping me alive only to provide nutrients.

"Let’s watch it properly for now. Look, this is a video my older brother sent me. What if the battery dies?"

Kang Do-Yeon, acting more mature, stopped bickering and played the video again.

Her eyes wavered as she watched the video.

In truth, it had probably been a long time since she had seen my face—or rather, the face of any human.

Seeing her eyes gradually fill with tears made me feel uneasy as well.

"This… This is something my older brother is saying to you too. Listen carefully."

In the midst of this, her ability to understand my intentions and convey them to the Legion became even more apparent.

"Do you think the Legion might let my younger sister go someday? If I plead with it, might it release her?"

[That depends on how you handle it.]

I asked, knowing full well it wouldn’t be helpful.

The answer, as expected, was predictably unhelpful.

"Fought well…? Impressive…?"

[The Legion is currently reviewing the information about the soldiers it used in the last battle.]

Meanwhile, the Legion was visibly pleased with just a few words from me.

Despite being a transcendent entity that led countless troops and wiped out numerous species in this labyrinth, it seemed like a simple child in this regard.

Seeing this side of it reaffirmed that my influence on it was still significant.

Before this influence waned further, I needed to solidify and strengthen it.

This was also a kind of battle. A battle to determine whether my influence on the Legion’s consciousness would be greater than its innate nature and other external factors.

"It’s too early to celebrate. There’s another video. Isn’t this another gift from my older brother?"

And in this struggle for influence, the understanding of the situation shown by my younger sister was immensely helpful.

Though she was following the orders of the Legion, which viewed combat and growth as the ultimate blessings, in this regard, she fulfilled the role of an elder sibling perfectly.

Before I knew it, Kang Do-Yeon had the Legion seated beside her and played the second video.

The video showed me receiving training from Ji Changhyun.

"The breathing technique doesn’t really have a name. It’s just breathing, after all. Once you master it, you’ll be able to circulate the power within your body simply by breathing."

Ji Changhyun explained that this breathing technique was the foundation for the power I would later learn.

I struggled quite a bit to learn it. It wasn’t easy to keep breathing under conscious control while doing other tasks.

"By creating an unconscious circulation structure through the repetitive act of breathing, you resonate the energy with the power of that circulation. Circulation is akin to the Heavenly Soul Technique, and resonance resembles the Sacred Tree."

But for the Legion, a being capable of multitasking on an unprecedented scale and manipulating its body at the cellular level, it would be incredibly easy.

As soon as the Legion watched the video, it said it was simple and manipulated its body.

"Oh. I can do it too."

The same was true for Kang Do-Yeon, who was part of the Legion.

I could only sigh in amazement at the blatant unfairness.

With such an overt display of overwhelming capability, any thought of comparison vanished.

[The newly acquired technique is beginning to merge with the previously learned Heavenly Soul Technique and the Moonlight Fairy-Style Technique. A new application method that overlaps resonance with resonance. This amplifies the power further.]

The Legion extended its arm.

Dark crimson power erupted at once, swirling around its arm and condensing at the palm, forming what looked like a massive, spiraling drill.

The Legion unleashed it forward.

Part of the nest exploded with a deafening roar.

The nest, being part of the Legion itself, emitted a barrier using formative power at the moment of impact.

However, the energy it released shattered the barrier entirely, obliterating part of the nest and even the bedrock beyond it.

"Amplification… averaging over 80%."

The Legion looked at its hand with a satisfied smile.

I froze momentarily at the sight.

What on earth had just happened? It had decoded the otherworldly technique I had introduced in an instant, learned it, and combined it with its existing power to create a new, advanced system of strength.

"Let’s refine this power a bit more and teach it to my older brother. It will definitely help him."

Kang Do-Yeon, who had also acquired this power through shared knowledge, suggested another groundbreaking idea to the Legion.

"My older brother will be happy."

"Happy…?"

At that, the Legion immediately latched onto the suggestion with just a single word.

"If he receives that, then naturally, I must prepare a return gift."

[What will you give?]

"...That’s the problem."

Now practically slumped into the chair, I blankly watched the screen.

At first glance, it looked like two ordinary teenage girls huddled together, playing around.

Except their bodies were those of monsters, covered in carapaces and tough leather.

The two were currently filming a video to send to me.

But I couldn’t just sit back and watch idly.

A new concern made my head throb.

The Legion is strong. Too strong. Of course, it might be an arrogant thought, but I trusted the Legion—trusted that child.

Because of that, I couldn’t help but consider countermeasures.

Until now, I had never once touched that child. I had only observed and empathized through emotion.

If I were to give an order or make a request—would the Legion obey me, even if it went against its nature?

This was my biggest concern at the moment.

[But don’t let your guard down too much.]

"What do you mean by that?"

[It’s a fundamental discussion. Among the Units, Players, and the Factions tied to them participating in this Game, there are many who cannot be underestimated. Naturally, the Legion must become even stronger.]

At that moment, as if perfectly timed, letters floated before my eyes.