Chapter 773

In the "Foundation Grand Game," watch "SCP-049" process one corpse after another.

Watch the "Plague Doctor" gut the corpses, perform indescribable operations with surgical instruments, and then inject substances of unknown composition to resurrect the hideous monsters...

Moreover, it wasn't just Bai Bai Xuan and herself.

March 7th and "Stelle" were fine...

But why was Ms. Herta also... No, why is Ms. Herta in love?!

On any day before today, no matter who told her that Herta had a crush, she would have dismissed it as pure fantasy and laughed it off.

In her heart, Herta had long since dedicated her entire body and mind to science, and for the rest of her life, she would have only one goal—to explore the unknown and expand the boundaries of science.

"Herta has fallen for someone..."

Even if such a thing were announced to the world, it would only be treated as third-rate media chasing clout, making baseless accusations, and spreading rumors.

Herta, who was being pestered by Asta, didn't have such dramatic psychological activity; instead, she stood beside Bai Bai Xuan, chatting idly with "Stelle":

"We'll all be family soon, so feel free to visit the space station often. While you're at it, let me study exactly what kind of state you and the 'Stellaron' are in."

March 7th shifted her gaze to Herta, her expression showing not the slightest surprise:

"Herta, you said 'we're all family now,' so isn't it a bit inappropriate to treat 'Stelle' as a research subject?"

"Stelle" nodded firmly: "Mm-hmm."

"This is different from the previous research," Herta said, hands on her hips, defending herself. "Let me think... right, this is a physical examination to monitor the changes in your body's various data."

"In case the 'Stellaron' inside her really does change, we can discover it in advance and find a way to deal with it."

"That actually makes some sense," March 7th said, rubbing her chin. She was won over by Herta in a few words, her tone slightly hesitant. "... Should we listen to Herta?"

"Then let's include Little Bai too," "Stelle" said calmly, her golden eyes reflecting the boy's figure. "Everyone together."

Before today, she and March had already prepared for the family members to increase by two at any time—Asta and Miss Miss Miss Tingyun.

But they hadn't expected this day to come so quickly; in the middle of a game, that thin layer of window paper had been poked through one after another.

Nor had they expected that the genius Herta, who hung above all living beings like a star, would confess earlier than Asta, and even catch Bai Bai Xuan when he was alone, catching them off guard.

She blinked, very calm, just like March 7th, who was chatting and laughing beside Asta.

If it were those first few days of meeting, she might have been anxious about gains and losses, worried that Bai Bai Xuan's attention toward her would decrease accordingly.

—Human life is limited, and the weight it can bear is also limited.

This kind of thinking, after she personally experienced the infinite and witnessed what true infinity was, dissolved like mist after sunrise.

No matter how you divide infinity, the result remains infinite; the time they have spent together in joy has long exceeded the limits of any calendar.

The deepest parts of their souls have also tightly merged; all the small conflicts and every twist and turn are just fun in this infinitely long time spent together.

It is so now, and it will be so in the future.

"It's not that I can't." Herta looked at "Stelle," always feeling that the other party was somewhat different from the ignorant "kid" in her impression, faintly having the illusion of facing a long-lived species.

... Is it because of "Time Stop"?

Herta guessed silently; the secrets on Bai Bai Xuan were far more than she had imagined, and manipulating "Aha" was only the simplest and most plain part of his power.

To the beings of the galaxy, controlling space and playing with time is undoubtedly a divine power that exists only in fantasy and stays in stories.

Even Aeons have never truly involved themselves in the power of time and space; only the legendary "Terminus" might be related to time.

"It's just right to let the medical department establish a health record... However, the clearance must be set to the highest level." Herta muttered, "It will be much more convenient if we have to give birth to offspring later."

"Offspring or whatever, isn't that a bit too early..." Asta couldn't help but glare at Herta, her tone a mix of blame and expectation. "And there's a whole bunch of trouble after that."

"Seems like it." Herta shrugged; such topics were still a bit too early for the young girls in their prime.

Moreover, she suddenly realized that, inadvertently, she seemed to have ignored a rather important premise.

The Tree of Life continues the bloodline of the species in its own unique way; from a biological perspective, reproduction is the foundation of species survival and the stage for natural selection and genetics.

For beings with limited lives, bearing offspring and raising children is not only continuing genes and species, but also a disguised way of continuing one's own life—at the genetic level.

But the premise of limited life does not apply to the few people present.

When death is no longer inevitable, this driving force based on biological instinct will be greatly weakened.

Even now, Bai Bai Xuan, March 7th, and "Stelle" only have human appearances in form; their essence has long since undergone a earth-shattering change.

Are they Reality Benders in the Foundation's classification?

Or something higher—divinity?

She had no way of knowing for now.

However, only for now.

She already knew what was going to happen next.

Regarding this, she was not resistant at all, and was even rarely high-spirited, as if she had encountered an interesting anomaly and started a profound research project.

Only this time, one of the materials put into the experiment was herself.

Infinite time... such a description, just hearing it made her heart surge, hard to endure.

She believed that Bai Bai Xuan would bring her, and Asta, an unforgettable experience today, letting them forget time, forget reality, and sink into eternity.

As the cow carcass was resurrected in a strange posture that did not conform to biology, it was quickly processed by the agents and thrown into the incinerator.

The outing of Bai Bai Xuan's group came to a temporary end.

Pressing the 【Exit Game】 button, the screen in front of them suddenly paused, stretching toward the infinite distance.

Various colors and lines blended together, indistinguishable, until pure white light filled their vision, and an infinitely vast lawn quickly emerged.

Leaving the "Plague Doctor's" crime scene, they stood in this virtual space full of vitality and energy.

That final oppression also dissipated completely.

Regarding the game experience, the frozen amnesiac girl, March 7th, commented:

"The game is a good game, suitable for team building and adventure, but it's just not suitable as part of a date."

Asta apologized deeply for her mistake, but only Herta kept asking, "What exactly is the 'Plague'?"

"Ms. Herta..." Looking at Herta, who was pursuing the question, Asta subconsciously wanted to use an honorific, but immediately changed the address. "Herta is always like this."

"Understandable." "Stelle" nodded, just about to say something, when she saw several pop-up windows unfold in front of her.

【Game progress saved】

【"SCP-049" file unlock progress has exceeded 50%】

【Object: Plague Doctor】

【Item #: SCP-049】

【Danger Level: Euclid】

【Special Containment Procedures:】

【"SCP-049" is contained in a standard secure humanoid containment unit in Research Sector-02 of Site-19.】

【Attempting to transport "SCP-049" must be preceded by sedation.】

【During transport, "SCP-049" must be secured in a Level III humanoid restraint harness and monitored by at least two armed guards.】

【Although "SCP-049" usually cooperates with most Foundation personnel, its emotional outbursts or sudden changes in behavior must be met with increased force.】

【No personnel shall have direct contact with "SCP-049" during an outburst under any circumstances.】

【If "SCP-049" exhibits aggression, lavender's sedative effect can be applied to control it.】

【Once sedated, "SCP-049" will usually become docile and return to containment with almost no resistance.】

【To facilitate the continued containment of "SCP-049", a recently deceased animal carcass should be provided to the entity every two weeks for its research.】

【Corpses that become "SCP-049-2" entities will be removed from "SCP-049's" containment chamber and incinerated.】

【"SCP-049" is no longer allowed to interact with human subjects, and requests to provide human subjects should be refused.】

【Description:】

【"SCP-049" is a humanoid entity, 1.9 meters tall, whose appearance matches that of a medieval plague doctor.】

【Although "SCP-049" appears to be wearing thick robes and a ceramic mask indicating its profession, these garments seem to have grown from "SCP-049's" body over time, and it is now almost impossible to distinguish the clothing from the body shape beneath it.】

【Nevertheless, X-ray examinations indicate that there is indeed a human skeletal structure beneath the surface of "SCP-049".】

【"SCP-049" can speak in multiple languages; although "SCP-049" is usually kind and friendly and willing to cooperate with Foundation personnel, it becomes irritable and even extremely aggressive if it senses the existence of what it calls "the plague".】

【Although Foundation researchers are not yet clear about the exact nature of this plague, it seems to be a matter of great concern to "SCP-049".】

【"SCP-049" will become hostile toward human individuals it deems affected by the plague, often to the point where they should be controlled.】

【If left uncontrolled, "SCP-049" will usually attempt to kill the human individual; "SCP-049" can cause all physiological functions of an organism to cease through direct skin contact.】

【Locked】

【Surgery often leads to the appearance of "SCP-049-2", but it is not always "successful".】