Warhammer: In the Name of Nirvana

"Ophiuchus."

"I am here."

"My lord, I would like to know how the [Black Stone Monsters] that were sent to you a few days ago were dissected, and whether enough valuable information was collected?"

"Is this..."

After hearing Virgo's words, Ophiuchus, who was wrapped in a white sterile suit, stopped what she was doing: and on the operating table in front of her, there were the only remaining parts of the [Black Stone Monster] that Virgo spoke of. 's remains.

"It depends on how you understand it."

"How to say?"

Virgo raised his eyebrows, and in front of her, Ophiuchus took off his gloves slowly and rummaged carefully in the filing cabinet not far away for a while.

"Although the bodies of these monsters look very rough and crude, they actually use a lot of very novel technologies. They are the kind of strange products that seem backward but are very high-tech in their bones. If you want to imitate them in a short time , which is technically difficult.”

"You know, Ophiuchus, I don't want to imitate these creations, they disgust her."

"I understand, but as a scientific researcher, I am just explaining these technical issues to you. This is what I have to do. Even if it is absolutely heretical according to traditional moral ethics, but For the benefit of adults, I will still do it.”

Ophiuchus's words made the maid of the Primarch raise her eyebrows. She looked at the novel "similar" in front of her very carefully, but she only saw a natural coldness and silence that was hard for her to accept. That is contempt and arrogance for all morals in the world, which makes Virgo feel emotionally uncomfortable.

And when Virgo thought about it and realized that she, who was just born ten years ago, was also practicing this kind of thinking, she felt some inexplicable fear, like oozing ice water hitting every inch of her skin. .

But on the other hand, she had to admit that Ophiuchus was right: the meaning of the existence of these maids of the stars was to help their mothers clear obstacles. In the process, the so-called "ethics and morals" 】Compliance is basically a negative factor.

But if that's the case...

Why does the mother let them have these emotions?

Are you even willing to acknowledge them as daughters?

"..."

For the first time, a question crossed Virgo's mind that she could not answer. And in the next second, the Spider Queen's most trusted maid chose the most correct solution to the problem without hesitation.

Don't think about it, don't wonder about it.

She closed her mind and no longer cared about these questions. After a brief period of depression, her scarlet pupils once again regained their former clarity, listening intently to the words from Ophiuchus, and carefully recording them. .

In front of her, Ophiuchus didn't notice any clues about Virgo. She was immersed in the scientific research results she had delved into.

"But what I can tell you is: Virgo, destruction is always easier than creation. Although I don't know how to imitate these creations, I have already studied how to [kill] them as quickly as possible: the methods are here. , please give it to the adults."

Virgo took the book and nodded silently, and the researcher's rather serious warning came to his ears.

"There is one more thing that you need to explain to the adults, Virgo: According to my research results, these monsters seem to retain some kind of collective will in their minds. They seem to be puppets driven by a higher authority, and they also It has the driving power to the next level.”

"Node creature?"

"Yes, the technology is rough, but being able to reach this point is a miracle in itself."

"I understand: I will ask the adults to pay special attention to this. You can continue to study."

After a brief farewell to Ophiuchus, Virgo quickly left the laboratory with the thick research records in her arms. But at this moment, the question just now resurfaced in her mind.

Virgo's face looked a little melancholy, and she could hardly resist the urge to think.

She couldn't help but wonder: If her mother created her just to get a group of unscrupulous right-hand assistants, then why could she, a Virgo, get emotions?

What does mother want? What did she expect from them all?

Is Ophiuchus wrong? Or is she actually a Virgo? Did she deviate from the path set by her mother? Is it that she shouldn't have these useless emotions?

"..."

Virgo knows that she is not qualified and does not need to think about these issues.

but……

Sure enough, I still care about it.

——————

"..."

#maidenadvance#

#maidpushingthedoor#

"boom--"

"?!"

Upon opening the door, Virgo saw Morgan beating Conrad.

The thick document thrown by the Spider Queen drew a graceful arc in mid-air, like an elegant cannonball, hitting the Nostramo people's book fortress or the top of their heads from her palm.

Conrad's eyes flipped back and forth between the slowly falling cannonball, the wonders of his books, and the indifferent face of the Spider Queen not far away. He spent about a second thinking very seriously. After a moment, he stood up, intercepted the Spider Queen's anger, and raised his hands high.

"I think there may have been a misunderstanding."

French Bat grinned, trying very hard to make his face look sincere and reliable: but it seemed to have the opposite effect.

[You only answered five of the fifteen multiple-choice questions correctly. I don’t think there is any misunderstanding. Conrad: If there is a misunderstanding, it’s just that I haven’t had a good communication with you for too long. It makes you have some misunderstandings about my power, doesn't it? 】

[What, do you want to change back to your midnight ghost? 】

"..."

Virgo clearly saw that the Nostramo man's throat rolled twice, obviously seduced by some fragments of Morgan's words, but soon, he still raised his hands and intercepted the Spider Queen's third breath. Erbo was angry and defended himself loudly.

"Technically speaking, the problem does not lie with me, Morgan: You agreed to only test the two books I studied today, but the content you randomly checked included books from the previous few days."

The Spider Queen seemed to be angry at her blood relative. Her words were slow but as always, they occupied the highest point of logic, leaving Conrad speechless.

[Conrad, my pathetic little parasite brother: When did I say that I would only check today’s results? I just told you that I would conduct a spot check, but I didn’t say anything about the content. 】

"..."

Conrad blinked: It seems to be true.

He seemed to have been stymied by his own rotten corpse blood relatives again on the issue of language.

【Moreover……】

Before Conrad could react, the Spider Queen seemed to have thought of something, and the nameless fire in her heart ignited in an instant, sending shivers down the spines of the Virgos and Nostramo Fruit Bats in front of her.

[Things I learned a few days ago! You won’t remember it today! Are you still reasonable? ! 】

Carrying the anger of the Spider Queen, another unfortunate file folder came straight to Conrad's face, as fast as a meteor. The Nostramo swallowed his breath and did not dare to take it hard, but ducked to the side. , letting the file clips collide with the wall, making a tooth-breaking roar.

The King of Night muttered quietly.

"Some knowledge is useless after all..."

【What did you say? ! 】

"...No, I didn't say anything."

The Spider Queen glanced at Conrad, but in the end she did not continue to release her monstrous anger. She leaned back and fell on her chair. She took two heavy breaths and gradually dissipated the anger in her pupils.

[Pick things back up. 】

Morgan ordered with his eyes closed.

The Nostramo man did not dare to continue blathering in this state. He was so diligent that he picked up the folders that had been smashed by the Spider Queen. After sorting them carefully, he walked away cautiously. When he arrived at Morgan's desk, he placed it on it: right next to the research results notebook placed by Virgo, who had arrived at the desk early in the morning.

Morgan watched this scene quietly and looked at the rare meekness on Conrad's face. He couldn't help but shake his head and sighed deeply.

[Tell me, Conrad. 】

Her voice sounded more like emotion.

[Why do you resist them? Why have you been reluctant to learn this knowledge? Why are you so disdainful of them? 】

"I don't……"

The Nostramo refuted Morgan's words in a low voice, but when the Spider Queen's calm and indifferent gaze moved over, Conrad could only grit his teeth and squeeze out an explanation with great reluctance.

"I have no use for them, Morgan."

"Most of the things you asked me to learn: mathematics, logic, philosophy or statecraft, are not what I need. My natural functions do not include these fields, and I do not need students from these fields. Any knowledge, to me, they are useless.”

[No knowledge is useless, Conrad. The only difference between them is that some knowledge does more harm than good, while others do more harm than good, so a distinction needs to be made: I do not feel that the knowledge I have selected for you, It will do more harm than good to you. 】

“They take up the little thinking space I have: it’s doing more harm than good.”

【……】

The Spider Queen's fingertips trembled at an irregular frequency: she looked like she was destroying something, right now.

Raising her head, Morgan narrowed her blue pupils slightly, and her voice sounded like an unquestionable verdict, but also like a question from the heart, which was difficult to distinguish.

[We have talked about this issue many times, Conrad, and every time I said this was the last time, but now, I still have to ask you: Why can't you learn this knowledge? Do you think that you Did you learn it for me? 】

[The ultimate beneficiary of learning is you. 】

Conrad lowered his head.

Conrad said nothing.

Conrad looked completely untouched.

【……】

Morgan looked away, she reached out and touched Virgo's hair, and shook her head, as if sighing silently.

The silence lasted for a while between the two Primarchs, until the Nostramo seemed to have finally adjusted his thinking and logic, and spoke to Morgan in a low voice.

"That's what it is, Morgan."

"I cannot learn everything you have given me: I have no use for it, neither mathematics nor logic, nor Plato nor Demosthenes. What do they have to do with the vocation my father gave me?"

“Even if I did memorize them: it would be useless work.”

【It’s not a waste of effort. 】

Morgan shook his head.

[I still say the same thing: Knowledge is valuable at any time. You and I are both Primarchs. We are no different. You don’t have to give me reasons here. I know what step you can take. I know. It’s not that you can’t remember them at all, you just don’t want to. 】

"..."

Conrad was silent for a moment, and then he even laughed.

The King of Night felt it: just like the tides that surged up on a full-moon night, they would retreat in stride the next day. After the sudden anger dissipated, his corpse blood relatives seemed to have fallen into a comparison. Integration and compromising attitude.

——————

This is an opportunity.

Conrad has been waiting a long time.

He had something he wanted to talk about.

——————

"so what?"

The Nostramo spread his hands.

"Even the midnight ghost who belonged to Nostramo did not make every Nostramo a learned master: in the final analysis, everyone has his own position and vocation, he only needs to master the relevant knowledge content."

"Even the Midnight Ghost is not an exception: Yes, Morgan, you are stronger than me, and you even know better how to grasp the value of fear. Then you should know this better than me. Not everyone can It needs to be an omniscient being, and for the Midnight Ghost, it is enough to be able to bring fear and order.”

Conrad stretched out a hand to express his sincerity to the Spider Queen: on his face, the past malicious intentions and secret thoughts were no longer visible, but a rather plain sincerity. , truly sincere.

[Father asked me to teach you...]

"Then you only need to teach me the content I need, isn't it? That is a good thing for you and me. If you don't know how, you can even let me learn by myself. I think I still have the ability to learn independently. Of power, right?”

A sarcastic smile appeared on the Nostramo man's face.

"All men are created equal, Morgan."

"I remember this sentence."

"If Fulgrim was responsible for teaching me, he would do this. He would not be so arrogant and arbitrary like you. He would listen carefully to my needs and respect my ideas and freedom: he would be like this Do it, and that's something you'll never be able to do, Spider Queen."

【……】

Morgan leaned on her seat, crossed her legs, looked at Conrad in front of her with an unprecedented and indescribable look, and looked at the smiling Nostramo man. She was silent for a long time. It was as if the long river of time had fallen into siltation at this moment.

[Your words are weak, my poor Conrad. 】

"I don't expect to convince you: after all, you are the midnight ghost, aren't you?"

Conrad performed an exaggerated etiquette. He glanced at the clock, and the sarcastic smile on his face instantly turned into the most exaggerated posture of surprise.

"oh……"

"get out of class has ended."

"I guess I shouldn't bother you?"

【……】

The Spider Queen snorted, and she casually pulled out a stack of books and pushed them in front of the Nostramos, with a cold smile in her voice.

[Hold it, today’s homework: I regret to inform you that there is still a lot of useless knowledge in it. 】

"Can I write something wrong on purpose?"

[No one has the right to intentionally make mistakes: at least with me, you definitely don’t have it. 】

"Ah...what a pity."

Conrad sighed dryly, put two slender fingers against his temples, then smiled and waved a series of fancy farewell gestures towards the Spider Queen.

"Don't worry, I will work hard to complete them, Teacher Morgan."

【……】

【I hope so. 】

Before Morgan could respond indifferently, the chuckling figure of the Night King had already filled him with exaggerated joy and disappeared into the Spider Queen's office: before leaving, he deliberately walked to his desk and touched He walked away from the book he had half read.

Morgan looked on coldly.

Morgan had nothing to say.

——————

"Every once in a while, he has to stage a scene like this, mother."

After Conrad left, Virgo skillfully prepared juice for his mother.

【nothing. 】

Behind her, the Spider Queen gently licked the last approved document with her fingers, yawned lazily, and threw herself on the back of the seat with a lazy posture.

[My parasitic brother just used this way to tell me: he has still not been tamed by me, he still has not surrendered to my principles, he is still who he is, and he is still the midnight ghost after he leaves me. 】

"Do I need to tell you these things?"

[He is also saying to himself, using timely resistance to continue the independence in his eyes. 】

"..."

Virgo nodded, and she couldn't help but think:

Whenever her mother and her Nostramo cousin appear in her field of vision at the same time, a strange feeling will pop up in Virgo's immature head: the relationship between Morgan and Conrad , it seems that they are not a teacher and a student as they appear on the surface, or a simple blood relationship.

It felt like that: a human, and...man's best friend.

But this [friend] still looks a bit wild and untamable.

Virgo suppressed the random thoughts in her heart and brought a glass of apple peach juice to her mother. The Spider Queen happily took her drink, and then frowned.

[Why did you change to such a small cup this time, Aniya? 】

"It's good for your body to maintain a moderate caloric intake, my lord, and a cup of apple and peach juice contains the same calories as a kilogram of pineapple pie. If you drink all the apple and peach juice in the warehouse, then The caloric intake is equivalent to eating your biggest son as a fried meat bento."

【……】

[I don’t care about calories, I care about whether I can use drinks to soothe my tired heart and equally tired spirit: remember to change it to a bigger cup next time, Aniya. 】

"..."

"Definitely next time."

The smile on Virgo's face made the Spider Queen feel a little suspicious. Just before her doubts continued to expand, her good daughter had already taken out the electronic board and asked the Primarch a question in her heart.

"However, there is a question in my Minerva array, mother: Why do you and Lord Conrad continue to carry out this meaningless..."

【Cat and mouse game? 】

"...You can describe it this way."

[You also think my education about Conrad is wrong? 】

"No, my thoughts are the same as yours. I'm just a little confused: Why are you so persistent in emphasizing your identity as the Midnight Ghost in front of Mr. Conrad, and Mr. Conrad also seems to care? "

【……】

Morgan raised the corners of her lips. She did not respond immediately, but took a sip first.

[Do you think Conrad has changed now compared to a few years ago? 】

"The changes are still huge."

"At least when he first came here, these words related to philosophy and history would never come out of his mouth, or [from a technical point of view], which he initially dismissed. , but now, he uses them in his words."

"Although I still feel that he was not sincere in the slightest with the content of his words."

[That’s not what we should be thinking about now. What we should be thinking about is another question, Aniya: Why did Conrad go from being bloody and barbaric at the beginning to the one who knows how to use words and is well-founded in his advance and retreat? , or even learned to compromise? 】

[Although he has not changed in his bones, his ability to do these things on the surface represents his recognition of the value of these actions: this was unimaginable a few years ago. 】

"Because...study?"

【……】

The Primarch was amused.

[You saw it too, Aniya: Do you think it’s because of studying? If I hadn't held him down, he could have taken out these priceless classics and used them as wallpaper on the wall. 】

"..."

indeed so.

"What's that for?"

[Because of Midnight Ghost, my lovely silly daughter: because of the power that the name Midnight Ghost brings. 】

A glimmer of light flashed in the Spider Queen's pupils. She gently put down the expensive wine glass in her palm and crossed her hands.

[We must realize one thing, Anyia: No matter how dirty and terrible hell Nostramo is, from the moment my parasitic brother opens his eyes, he is the top predator in that world. He is a superior being, he is unquestionably strong and can impose his will on others. 】

[He himself thinks so: The midnight ghost is a symbol, a symbol specially customized by Conrad for himself, which is equivalent to the symbol of power and truth. 】

[So, I want to snatch the title of Midnight Ghost, and I want to become the Midnight Ghost between me and Conrad: because as long as Conrad loses this title, he will realize a reality. 】

[Between him and me, he is the weak one, the unfortunate one who has to face power and dominance: and only when he finds himself in the position of the weak will he start to think about the weak. question. 】

[And only when he becomes a weakling will he understand the true value of certain things, such as rules and words, such as compromise and tolerance. These things that he could ignore and pinch when he was strong are now Instead, it became his life-saving straw, forcing him to pay attention to and learn these concepts. 】

[This is the most effective learning, my lovely Aniya. 】

[After all, even if we grabbed Conrad's ears and shouted to him a thousand times to consider the situation of the weak, it would still be far less than making him really be a weakling for once: As the saying goes, reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles. That's it. 】

[Some things can only be understood and changed after he has experienced them personally: Just like now, who would have thought that Conrad would know how to use the power of language and rules to defend and attack. He used to They are quite dismissive of these things. 】

"..."

"But, mother, despite this, he is still very resistant to your teachings, very attached to the midnight ghost in his bones, and has not completely changed."

[Do you think a guy like this can be done in a few years? 】

[The Emperor has given me enough time, and now it is just the first step: I have tied the beast with a rope of violence. Now, although he still fantasizes about the wilderness, he also knows that he cannot resist my power and can only be passive. He is tainted with the atmosphere of civilization, but despite this, it will take a very long time to turn him into an ordinary person. 】

"You seem to be very knowledgeable about animal training?"

[After all, it’s not the first time. 】

"?"

Virgo blinked her eyes. She looked at her mother who had her eyes closed and was concentrating, but there was a trace of worry for her creator in her heart, and there was also an inexplicable hatred of the same enemy.

"But! Mother: Even if you teach him so painstakingly and spend such a long time on him, he still can't bring you any benefits. Just look at his statement just now and you will know that he is not grateful to you. "

【……? 】

Morgan opened his eyes and looked at his eldest daughter, a little confused.

[Why do I need his gratitude? 】

"But……"

The Spider Queen laughed.

[My Aniya, as you just heard: If I really want Conrad's gratitude and love, then I only need to be like Fulgrim, as long as I Just follow him, let him make trouble, and don't force him to study hard. Conrad and I can still live in harmony. 】

[But I won’t do that: in my deal with the Emperor, I want to present a healthy and growing Konrad, and Fulgrim’s obedience obviously cannot make this little bastard healthy. Growth, if you really do that, Conrad probably won't learn anything. 】

[So, I forced him to learn what he regarded as useless knowledge, forced him to accept the way of thinking of the weak, forced him to have madness and bloodlust in his bones, and ordered him to learn to overcome and endure, otherwise he would have to fight with me. Fighting with swords: Because only in this way can he barely become a normal person. 】

"But he will hate you, mother."

[Ah, that's optional: when I completed my education and handed Conrad, who became an ordinary person, or something like an ordinary person, to my father, my relationship with him ended, and he Whether you hate me, complain about me, or never interact with me until we die. 】

【I do not care. 】

[What I want is never his gratitude: what I want is his growth. 】

——————

"..."

"But, mother..."

[Stop being stubborn for now, Anya. 】

"……What's wrong?"

【……】

【……】

[Rana is here, walking very quickly. 】

[Put your things down first, my Anya, and follow me to the throne room. 】

"clear."

——————

"This is a communication from the Dark Angel Legion. Mother, it uses the transmission channel with the highest confidentiality level. It is relayed and encrypted from Holy Terra. It has been sent a total of ten times to ensure that it can be transmitted absolutely."

Rana respectfully handed the communication electronic board in his palm to his genetic mother. After realizing the emergency of the situation, the head guard did not even dare to open it for inspection, for fear of causing trouble.

And just as he guessed: when the Spider Queen's eyes swept across the electronic board with a brief message written on it, her expression instantly became a little strange: first there was an imperceptible feeling of nostalgia and emotion, and then there was something strange about it. It was a soft smile, and when she put down the electronic board in her hand, it was obvious that she had made some kind of decision in her heart.

[Rana. 】

"I'm here, my lord!"

[You know, when I just reunited with you, I made a promise to one of my brothers: Maybe at the time, it sounded like a joke, but obviously, my blood relatives took it very seriously. This sentence. 】

[And I don’t intend to break the contract. 】

[My Lord Guard, in the name of the Lord of the Second Legion and the Lord of Avalon, I order you to inform the Legion Council, as well as every company commander under my command, every ally, and every fleet capable of carrying out the expedition. ,mobilization. 】

[Mobilize all our strength and devote all our strength to the expedition. 】

"clear."

Lana responded instinctively, but soon, he raised his head and asked a question to his genetic mother.

"Sir, you mean the same force as the previous Gothic Expedition..."

[No, Rana. 】

The Spider Queen laughed, and the light flashing in her pupils made even the prestigious head guard dare not look directly at her.

【I mean……】

【all! 】

【Do you understand? 】

"...As you command! Sir!"

——————

"You made a promise, mother?"

When the figure of the Guard Chief disappeared from the corridor, the chief maid of the original body, who had been looking through her memory array to no avail, could only look at her creator and mother in frustration.

[Yeah, a promise. 】

Morgan smiled. She kneaded the electronic board in her palm soothingly. Two slender fingers gently rubbed her fingertips, causing a burst of nameless blue-black flames and a loud sound.

In the Spider Queen's almost always cold pupils, the fire left traces, giving those indifferent eyes with the deepest void and darkness a trace of eternal warmth.

——————

"What kind of promise is that, mother?"

【……】

[Morgan, will definitely respond to Jonson. 】

【No matter when, no matter what. 】

【When he needs me, I will be by his side. 】

"vice versa?"

The corners of the original body's mouth quirked up.

【I hope so. 】