As time passed and the guards still failed to appear, the three researchers finally began to panic.
But Eriri had lost interest in playing around. With a calm expression, she waved her hand toward the researchers, and in the next instant, they followed the fate of the other members of the facility—vanishing completely from the world.
At that moment, Tearju and Eve, having finished their conversation, approached Eriri.
"Thank you very much for your help."
Tearju bowed deeply, her expression full of gratitude.
Next to her, Eve mimicked Tearju's gesture with innocent clumsiness, bowing politely while staring curiously at Eriri with her bright eyes.
Before Eriri could respond, Tearju continued, "Without your help, I likely would've died at the hands of those guards. And I don't dare imagine what the research facility would have turned Eve into. I'm truly thankful."
Recalling how Eriri had appeared like a goddess just moments ago—effortlessly saving her from her pursuers and healing her bullet wound instantly—Tearju's gratitude only deepened.
She hadn't expressed it earlier because her worry for Eve had temporarily suppressed her emotions.
"No need to thank me~" Eriri replied casually. "Also, you got one thing wrong. Even without my help, you wouldn't have died today. It just wouldn't have ended quite as nicely as it did."
Tearju didn't read too much into Eriri's words, assuming she was just being humble or reassuring. It didn't diminish her appreciation one bit.
After all, the outcome she'd received was more than enough to be thankful for.
Although Tearju had a high IQ, she was essentially a slightly ditzy genius. It didn't even occur to her to wonder how Eriri knew both her and Eve's names and circumstances.
Meanwhile, having overheard their conversation, Eve finally understood what had happened to Tearju.
Though she was newly born and had only learned from Tearju so far—still clueless about many things—she at least understood what death meant.
Realizing that Tearju had been in life-threatening danger filled her with unease. Her gratitude toward Eriri quickly became sincere, not just a learned behavior.
"Thank you for saving Tearju, big sister," Eve said in her soft, childlike voice as she stood before Eriri.
"Mhm~ Your thanks has been received~" Eriri smiled and gently placed her hand on Eve's head, patting her softly.
Feeling the warmth on her head, Eve closed her eyes with a blissful smile.
Over the next little while, Eriri introduced herself in detail to both Tearju and Eve.
She explained that she was from twenty-three years in the future, and even from another universe—leaving nothing out.
To Eriri, there was no need to hide information that didn't matter.
Tearju, upon hearing all this, was only mildly surprised. Her ability to accept such things was remarkably strong.
Learning that the galactic war would soon come to an end also brought a hopeful smile to her face.
After more than thirty minutes of chatting and bonding, the relationship between Eriri, Tearju, and Eve had grown much closer.
Because of Eriri's help—and the strong sense of comfort and attraction she gave off—Eve had clung to her side for the entire half-hour.
"Eriri, are you planning to return to the future now?" Tearju asked, looking at her with clear reluctance.
Though they'd only known each other for a short while, Tearju already saw Eriri as a dear friend, and parting was naturally difficult.
Hearing the question, Eriri smiled meaningfully.
"Yes, I do plan to return to the future."
Tearju's eyes dimmed at once, but before she could voice her feelings, Eriri continued.
"But I never said I'd be going alone, did I?"
With a light smile, she extended her right hand toward Tearju.
"So, Tearju, would you be willing to come to the future—twenty-three years ahead—together with Eve and me?"
Tearju froze. She had expected Eriri to return to her own time, but it had never occurred to her that she and Eve could go with her.
A look of hope surfaced on her face—Eriri's invitation clearly moved her.
In this world, Eve was the only family Tearju had. As long as they could be together, it didn't matter which planet or era they lived in.
What's more, the future Eriri spoke of was peaceful, and she wouldn't have to say goodbye to Eriri either.
Having made up her mind, Tearju nodded without hesitation. "Eriri, please take us with you."
As she spoke, she raised her right hand and grasped Eriri's hand tightly.
Still sticking close to Eriri, Eve looked up at the two of them, then beamed and stood on tiptoes, placing her small hand over theirs.
...
After deciding to take Tearju and Eve to the future, Eriri didn't rush. Instead, she planned to travel around this era with them for a while.
And not just this moment in time—perhaps their footprints would be left throughout many points over these twenty-three years.
With Eriri around, they didn't need a spaceship to visit other planets.
Even without using teleportation, Eriri could take Tearju and Eve on leisurely journeys through the universe.
However, before they left this planet, Eriri had one more task to complete.
This research facility, focused on biological weapons, had produced more than just Eve.
In another section of the lab, a parallel project to Eve's "E Plan" was underway: the "N Plan."
While both focused on creating living weapons, the N Plan differed in that it was based on dark matter from the universe.
Nemesis, the product of the N Plan, was a bio-weapon whose body was composed of dark matter. She could possess others using a manifestation of her will and had transformation powers similar to Eve's.
In the original story, Nemesis caused considerable chaos on Earth in order to trigger the "Darkness" program hidden within Eve.
"Darkness" referred to a berserk transformation program caused by loss of control over Eve's transformation ability.
This program had been forcibly installed into Eve's brain by the organization behind the research facility. But at this point in time, that stage had yet to be implemented.
As such, Eve currently did not—and would not—have the Darkness program.
In her Darkness form, Eve gained extraordinary combat abilities, capable of slicing through an entire planet with ease.
With Eriri's help, Eve's future strength would surely far surpass even her berserk Darkness form from the original timeline.
Though Eriri had primarily traveled to this era for Tearju and Eve, she figured there was no harm in bringing Nemesis along as well.
After all, Nemesis was pretty adorable.
When Eriri arrived with Tearju and Eve at the lab housing the "N Plan," the place was completely deserted.
Aside from a few researchers like Tearju who hadn't participated in the facility's dark dealings, every member had already been dealt with by Eriri.
Those few spared researchers had been relocated outside the facility—and promptly ignored.
At this stage, Nemesis was still in the mid-to-late phases of development. Her manifestation was not yet complete, and she remained in a semi-conscious state.
With the facility ruined, the N Plan was effectively scrapped, and Nemesis's birth should have been rendered nearly impossible.
But Eriri's arrival changed everything—she gave Nemesis a chance to be born, and much earlier than in the original story.
As someone nearly stepping into the ninth tier, Eriri wielded control over cosmic energy with flawless precision. She understood dark matter's structure better than anyone.
To accelerate Nemesis's manifestation was a trivial task.
And so, before the eyes of Eriri, Tearju, and Eve, a sentient form of dark matter stirred—and Nemesis was born.
The mass of dark matter writhed for a few seconds before forming into a small, naked girl with brown skin and extremely long dark brown hair trailing down to her heels.
Her golden eyes slowly scanned over the three in front of her.
Perhaps due to Eriri being the one who facilitated her birth, Nemesis immediately broke into a radiant smile upon seeing her.
"Master!"
With a joyful cry, Nemesis flung herself at Eriri with open arms.
Eriri didn't dodge—she spread her arms and caught the little one in a warm embrace.
As Nemesis snuggled against her like a kitten, Eriri couldn't help but smile.
Given that Nemesis was depicted in the original as a smug and sadistic character, Eriri had been unsure of how she'd react to Tearju, Eve, or herself.
But from the look of things, Nemesis now saw her as the most important person in her life—and Eriri was very pleased with that.
"Alright, little Nemesis, how about you put on some clothes first? You should have the ability to shapeshift, right?" Eriri said with a pat on Nemesis's bare bottom.
At her words, Nemesis nodded quickly and turned to glance at Eve, who was pouting with clear displeasure.
While Eve was still naive about most things, Nemesis, even freshly born, already had a basic understanding of emotions—including jealousy.
Seeing Eve's glare, Nemesis smirked mischievously before turning back and burying her face in Eriri's chest.
At the same time, black dark matter began to ripple over her skin, and moments later, a black camisole dress identical to Eve's appeared over her once-nude body.
However, Nemesis had a petite, loli-like figure—about 140 cm tall with slight curves. The camisole dress, clearly modeled after Eve's shape, looked just a tad too... suggestive on her.
Eve, standing nearby, grew increasingly agitated under Nemesis's teasing gaze. Already upset by the girl's behavior, she felt her golden hair begin to flutter as if stirred by an invisible breeze.
She didn't understand what she was feeling. Tearju had never explained emotions like this to her before.
Tearju, on the other hand, didn't show any particular reaction. In fact, seeing Nemesis—another biological weapon—sparked a trace of maternal affection in her gaze.
Nemesis didn't care what Tearju or Eve thought. Her earlier smirk at Eve had been nothing more than playful mischief.
Resting snugly in Eriri's arms, Nemesis looked up adorably and asked, "By the way, Master, is 'Nemesis' really my name?"
"That's right. Your name is Nemesis~"
"I see." Nemesis nodded with understanding, then smiled happily. "Thank you, Master. I really like it."
"Mhm~ As long as you're happy with it."
"Come to think of it, I don't even know your name, Master~"
"My name is Eriri. Eriri Spencer Sawamura," she replied, reaching out and gently pinching Nemesis's soft cheek.
"Mmm~ Got it. Then maybe I should be called Nemesis Spencer Sawamura. As your property, I should share your surname, right?" Nemesis said seriously.
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