Chapter 44: Hesitation

When Marissa woke up, it was already noon. The butlers and maids didn't wake her up, fearing they would intrude on the symbiote’s bonding. On one hand, Marissa was glad that they valued her privacy. However, she dreaded what Leafa would say to her. She had knocked on Leafa’s bedroom in the middle of the night, wanting to talk to Hiro. However, in the morning, Marissa never called for her and merely slept as if Hiro was not important to Leafa.

When Marissa visited her office past noon, Leafa was there, tapping her high heel in annoyance as she sat menacingly.

"So, what is it that you wanted to talk about? I’m sure you must have been so busy last night that you even woke up late today," Leafa said.

"I will need your word that you can keep this a secret. No one may know."

"Hm? Is it about Hiro's skill? Were there any other skills besides augmenting others and turning dirt into iron? Well, I was surprised by how easily I got his information that I thought there were no secrets at all. Of course, I will keep it a secret. Even though he can't talk, that doesn't mean he is not sentient."

After Marissa cleared the room, Hiro slithered out from her all the way to the door and put his tentacle through the crevice, making sure that no one else was watching.

"Hm? He has long tentacles for a symbiote…" Leafa said. "I also heard from eyewitnesses that Hiro can fight directly. Is that true? What a reckless bunch. You should not overwork your symbiotes. They have to pick up the slack because your knights are under-leveled."

"Well, Hiro doesn't seem to mind. Anyway, I want to talk about Hiro. Since you will become his host, you need to know the truth. The truth is, he is not a symbiote. We don't know what he is, but Malus said he was not a true symbiote."

The news sent Leafa reeling. She immediately reached for the sword at her waist before reason took over.

Leafa thought it didn’t make sense. If Hiro was not a symbiote, how could Marissa be safe? There was no monster on Earth that was friendly to humans except a symbiote. Moreover, Hiro was not hostile to her.

Leafa concluded that Hiro was merely weaker or had some kind of defect compared to normal symbiotes. That’s what she assumed was the reason Marissa said he was not a true symbiote. However, Marissa also said that it was Malus who confirmed it. Malus was King Angus’s symbiote, akin to his most trusted man. Leafa was sent further into confusion at Marissa’s words.

"What do you mean Hiro is not a symbiote? If he’s not a symbiote, then what is he?" Leafa asked.

"Malus said he is a new type of creature that is friendly to humans. Hiro might appear weaker than a normal symbiote. However, he can proliferate at will. So, in theory, he can make all women in this city his host if he wants to. I am not sure about this ability since he can't talk. But at the very least, he proliferates at a much more rapid pace than a usual symbiote."

"That’s insane. Symbiotes should only proliferate every thirty years at most."

Leafa felt her knowledge about symbiotes fall apart when Marissa said Hiro could make all the women in this village his host. Normal symbiotes only proliferated once in their lifetime—twice if they were lucky. That’s why they were so valuable and needed to be protected.

"If you do not believe me, here he is."

Marissa said this as, using mitosis, Hiro split himself and stood apart from her.

Leafa trembled as she reached out to the tentacle in fear. However, when Hiro slithered onto her hand, she slapped it away.

"This is not a symbiote. Real symbiotes do not feel like this!" Leafa said.

Unlike others, Leafa had studied the ceremonies for appointing new symbiote holders. Symbiotes did not slither across the skin. They should enter it, merging themselves with their hosts.

Feeling such rejection, Hiro pulled back and slithered back to Marissa. Now that Hiro had Marissa, Cecile, Rebecca, Nana, Luna, and Elysia, he didn't feel like forcing others to become his hosts. If they didn’t want it, then that was fine. Leafa was a beauty, but the heart was important as well. Hiro decided to give up for the time being.

"Well, we shall report this incident as you failing the ceremony. Don't worry, I understand. If you do not wish to become Hiro’s host, that’s fine. All that I ask is for you to keep Hiro’s nature a secret. This is an order from the king as well," Marissa said.

"The king knew?" Leafa tried to buy time. Her pride did not want to let this ceremony become a failure. She had studied and wished for a symbiote her entire life, so she tried to make small talk to assess Hiro’s true nature.

"As I said before, Malus was the one who informed me that Hiro was not the same species as he was. So, of course, the king knew. He was the one who let us live here after all. Hiro’s benefit is too great for the nation now. Even though he is weaker than real symbiotes like Malus or Rath, Hiro has proven invaluable to this nation's economy since he can turn certain soil into iron. Not only that, but he can also turn monster carcasses into valuable ingredients as well. Malus advised the king to hide Hiro’s true nature so we do not attract other nations' attention. If hostile symbiotes were to see him, he might get caught, after all."

"I see. Can I still accept another symbiote after accepting Hiro? He is not a real symbiote, right?" Leafa asked, then lowered her head in shame at her own words of excuse.

Marissa turned to Leafa in disgust. She was fine with people rejecting Hiro out of their own free will, but her words crossed the line. Leafa was asking whether it was okay to cheat.

"Of course not. That is akin to cheating. Hiro may not be a real symbiote, but he needs your body as a nutrient source all the same. I do not wish to entertain you anymore. You may leave," Marissa said. Hiro then pulled the door open with his tentacle, and Marissa gestured for Leafa to leave.

"I didn’t say I refuse yet. Let me think about this some more..."

"Yes, of course. If Hiro was willing to accept you after your words, that is." Marissa nodded.

Leafa left feeling dejected. She was distraught. It had been her lifelong dream to be a symbiote bearer. She had been eligible for a symbiote during the selection process two years ago. However, the symbiote had chosen the son of a count instead of her. And now, a symbiote was being handed to her on a silver platter.

That fact felt like a mockery to her. All her life, the competition to be the best candidate for a symbiote had felt like it mattered—until now. And she hated that. She wanted to be worthy. But Hiro could choose any woman he liked. He could proliferate at will. He could attach himself to any and every woman he fancied.

Such things frightened her. If she let this be, Hiro would swarm the entire country. If he did so, then there would be no more worthy candidates for real symbiotes. Symbiotes would no longer matter. And if symbiotes went extinct, what would Leafa’s life be worth anymore? Her entire life had been dedicated to symbiotes.

She then went to the capital, seeking an audience with King Angus himself to confirm whether what Marissa had said was true. At the palace, she met her mother, Duchess Senestry, who smiled as she greeted her.

"My daughter! Have you received your symbiote? I have petitioned the king to let you have the first choice. You would undoubtedly be qualified. After all, you have been accepted before. If someone like Marissa could get accepted, then this symbiote’s standards must not be that high."

"Mother, I want to speak to the king before accepting this symbiote. Marissa said Hiro was not a true symbiote."

“How could that be true? I have seen Hiro in Luna. He is definitely a symbiote. We need to make haste, dear. If Hiro’s lineage is claimed by others again, who knows how long you will have to wait for the next one…” Duchess Senestry sighed.

Nevertheless, Leafa was firm in her decision. After waiting another three days, she finally managed to secure an audience.

“King Angus, Leafa Senestry seeks your audience.”

“Alright. No need to be so formal. But be quick. I have already entertained Duchess Senestry’s plea about who shall inherit Hiro next, and we chose you. Did you receive him already?”

“I want to ask about that. Marissa said that Hiro is not a true symbiote. Is this true?”

“Well, Malus said he isn’t. But neither he nor I care. Hiro has brought great benefits to our nation. As long as he doesn’t harm any civilians and continues producing those ores, we shall let him be,” King Angus said.

“What! But that is a scam! My daughter has studied all her life to be a symbiote’s bride. How could you do this?” Duchess Senestry exclaimed. Her words were no longer laced with politeness, even though she was speaking to the king.

“Hm? What scam? We already told you that Hiro is a weak combatant. He acts like a symbiote and is much safer than a real symbiote. You wanted a production-type symbiote like Hiro, didn’t you?”

“But he isn’t a symbiote!” Leafa screamed. Her thoughts reeled. Looking at King Angus’s arguments, he was right. Hiro was technically no different from a symbiote. However, what Leafa was after was not just some cheap imitation. She wanted the real thing.

“I see. Then you can simply deny him. From my detection skill, you haven’t received Hiro into your womb, have you?” Malus slithered out from King Angus’s neck and formed a copy of his head, something that Hiro couldn’t do.

“I haven’t.”

“Well, that makes things easier. Even if you had accepted him, all we would need to do is remove him, and you would be good to go. What makes him fascinating is his flexibility. There doesn’t need to be so much commitment when hosting him. Unlike real symbiotes, he doesn’t penetrate too deep into his host. It would be easy to separate him from his host. He could just leave, or the host could use medicine to force him out. I must admit, I’m jealous of his race. He can change his host at will. Even though King Angus and I are best buddies, there are times when we fight too, you know,” Malus said.

“I see now why Nolun chose Count Bernard rather than you, even though you outrank him and are compatible. I guess you’re a bit too prideful for his taste. Tell me, what do you seek in symbiotes? Hiro could give your duchy everything it needs except pride. Remember, symbiotes are important. However, we do not worship symbiotes. We are not like Mutual. Symbiotes should be treated just like any other person,” King Angus smirked.

His words dismantled every argument Leafa had. Hiro could provide her duchy with everything it needed. With his skills, he could power her duchy from the soil. Iron goods could become cheaper. Soldiers could get steel to defend their villages.

However, when she heard that Hiro could be available to all, she was devastated. It was true that she adored symbiotes. She dreamed of becoming one of their bearers, of being a hero and someone special. Despite the national policy on symbiote equality, the masses—and even her mother—thought otherwise. In their eyes, symbiotes were salvation. If they had one, they could save their duchy. If they had more, they could even protect the nation.

Hiro was the salvation she needed. But since he was available to everybody, Leafa felt he was cheap. Moreover, the fact that he was not a real symbiote made it feel like he wasn’t worth it. She had unconsciously looked down on him.

Feeling defeated, Leafa stepped out of the palace after excusing herself. This time, she was not chosen. She had to choose—whether to accept Hiro or not.