"My predation, you say..."
Gwen's words were impossible to dismiss.
What had she said?
There was no mistaking it.
Gwen nodded, clearly delighted.
"Yes! Strictly speaking, each had their own motives, but they all certainly want to eat you."
"Why target me?"
"Why do you think? Take a chance and guess."
Gwen pressed a finger to her lip.
She waited for my answer with obvious amusement.
I considered the riddle presented to me.
Using knowledge of the beasts' ecology and my own peculiarities, along with everything I had observed and heard so far, I deepened my analysis.
And arrived at a single answer.
"...Miasma?"
"Correct! As expected of the sage. Were you also skilled at quizzes?"
Gwen applauded exaggeratedly.
She guffawed.
After laughing to her heart's content, she caught her breath and began her explanation.
"As you seem to know, the source of our power is dark matter—an energy closely resembling miasma. We live by ingesting it. By the way, shall I also explain more about us in detail?"
Having made that straightforward revelation, Gwen continued on to describe the nature of the beasts.
As a premise, the beasts of the outside world were entities dwelling in the space beyond the sky—a domain called the universe. They sustained themselves by consuming the dark matter that drifted through the cosmos. These beasts had long survived by attacking various locations, but in recent times, an anomaly occurred in the universe. They fell into a chronic shortage of miasma. The beasts were suddenly plunged into dire straits. While the stronger individuals did not die, they gradually grew weaker. "A depletion of dark matter. In response to this emergency, we sought a solution. And we found a single hope." "That would be me, I take it." At such a time, Gwen, who had been exploring the universe, discovered me. Deciding to devour me, who possessed a plentiful miasma, to restore her dwindling power. As a preliminary step, she apparently spread information about me to the other beasts. From there, the invasion of this world began. According to Gwen, the beasts harbored various motives. Some sought new dwellings, others craved greater power, and still others had the desire to gather breeding grounds. Though their motivations varied, the beasts' target was me. That would make achieving their objectives far easier. Gwen was one of those beasts. She sent those afflicted with spiritual corruption to the Royal Capital to ascertain my capabilities. If the opportunity arose, she had intended to devour me then and there. "Harvelt, sir, your miasma is exquisite. It wells up from you endlessly at the finest quality. Not all the gold and treasure in the world could rival your rarity. It is precisely that... which stimulates my appetite."
Gwen’s gaze turns glassily sharp.
Her form begins to lose its three-dimensionality, only snapping back at the last moment.
It seemed the power stripped from me caused the incantation to fail.
Gwen sneezes, then smiles as she sniffs.
“Well, that explains it. Have you come to understand your own value?”
“Yeah, I get it now.”
Finally, the full scope of the commotion became clear.
Gwen’s information was sound, and what needed to be done followed naturally.
Before this untrustworthy beast, I was beginning to grasp the thread of resolution.