Nexus Awakened (An Isekai LitRPG Gender Bender Story)

929. Mimicry, The Director of The Acedia Special Division

The Avernus was merely the name used to call the Iron Coffins.

The name that Oboros Infinitas preferred was a codename to distinguish one Avernus from another.

For instance, an Avernus from the Wrath Division would have the name of: AW-D72-4.

‘A’ stood for Avernus.

The second letter denoted the Division they worked for. The ‘D’ and the immediately following number was their Division number. There were eleven Divisions in total (corresponding with the Sins), and each had upwards of a thousand teams spread across the Nex Megalopolis, the Derma Layer and beyond.

The final number was a number between 0 and 7, with 7 being the weakest (Green Trickle) and 0 the strongest (Eternal Night).

Each Division was led by multiple Directors much like Acedia and had anywhere between one to several hundred teams under their command.

These large groups were called Sections.

Then, each section was composed of Executives, who were the middle managers of Oboros Infinitas.

The Orange Disruptor was interestingly both an Executive and a Harrower. The latter of which were people who directly managed a team of Repenters rather than dealing with the bureaucracy behind the scenes.

Although, judging by the bags beneath her eyes, she had to fulfil both duties.

* * *

“It’d be nice to have Time Reverberation’s Isolation Spheres installed here~” The Orange Disruptor complained, making her voice known to Jury. “Then I’d be able to pay ten times as less for ten times the amount of time with an Elven goddess. If it weren’t for trains to just vanish out of nowhere, then it’d be nice to have them aboard.”

“Good to haves are never needs. Even as a Color, it surprises me how much the flesh yearns beyond biological needs.” Hayte was not afraid to tell her exactly how he felt, even if it meant losing his life. “Allies of my brethren would have their hands on Time Reverberation’s technology in no time.”

“I’ve been meaning to ask you this.” Frost began, matching her pace with Hayte as she walked beside him. “You’re from Infecta Rot, correct?”

“How astute. I’m often referred to as a construct than of my own brethren.” He was surprised that Frost knew he came from Infecta Rot. “Was your next guess a Golem? Walking beside a Witch does tend to rouse confusion. Within this shell of mine resides a slurry of meat. I suppose that’s me, in the same vein that the brain can be said to be an individual.”

“Usari thought you were the legendary Galahad!” The bunny girl pouted. “Usari was so sad that she coped and called you Gawain!”

Both of these beings were Phenoms of Contempt that existed in Emvita, with the latter being a construct of Jury’s Advisor – Ragnelle.

“Foolish. Machines have no Souls. But constructs of great Witches do. Machines envy those for what they lack. What they seek should not be in the Nex Megalopolis. But as machines, they are not the type to operate on a hunch.”

Hayte’s perplexity could be read from his face even though he had no facial features.

“We arrived to take care of White Midnight personnel after a chain of disappearances. Regrettably, as you’ve seen Black Dove and her partner – Jury I believe – The risk had elevated significantly.”

He felt more of a leader than the Orange Disruptor did. And despite his name sounding close to ‘Hate’, he did not appear to embody hatred in any way or form.

“However, that is the mission we’ve taken for monetary and resource purposes. The true purpose resides in the palms of our Director. Hence, the reason for our briefing.”

They approached a lattice door with the symbol of an exquisitely crafted symbol of a metal shackle. If all the furniture and chandeliers were put together, then it would not amount to one tenth of the price that this would have cost.

It was simple in design, but Frost immediately recognized its worth. Faint, green damascus patterns glistened in the dim lights. For such valuable metal to be used for a mere decoration spoke of the materialistic character of the person behind these doors.

But knowing that Acedia wanted nothing more than to become as close to Frost as possible, she figured that this was no more than a signifier of her position within Oboros Infinitas.

“Shall we?” The Orange Disruptor placed both hands on the doors.

They opened with the gentlest push, soundlessly swinging inwards.

It revealed a dimly lit sanctum, paired with the faintest scent of ink, wood, paper and the intangible weight of authority.

Despite it being afternoon, the wall of windowpanes invited the subdued, orange light of dawn into the spacious chamber.

“Tsk. Five minutes early. Don’t tell me one of you managed to get hurt.” A scalding voice spoke.

It belonged to a Black Wing.

It was Abigail.

“And who’s this? It’s not like you to bring someone from the streets here –!?”

The realization hit her as Frost and Jury entered the room last.

Immediately, it all fell silent.

An array of couches sat on one side of the room, and a wall of books filled with tomes and forbidden texts on the other. These were books that were banned by the Golden Dawn for their propensity to send one spiraling into madness.

Placed in the back center of the room, right where the light shone, was a large executive desk.

And there, sat on an immense chair that could only be described as a throne, was a certain white-haired woman.

“I-I apologize –!”

“Abigail. Mercy is in the name of our benefactor. An apology is the same as implying her cruelty.”

Red eyes gazed back at Frost from that seat.

Those eyes spiraled with unbounded awe.

Sat there was an elegant white-haired woman whose hair was tied into a graceful ponytail. Her porcelain skin paired with those eyes would cause one to believe that she was a vampire.

But the color of her hair was proof that she was an abnormality.

“Welcome back, my Special Division. It seems like you’ve brought me an esteemed guest.”

Slowly, she lowered her folded legs and stood to greet them. She fixed her black tie and unfurled the sleeves of her white buttoned shirt.

“Normally, I wouldn’t accept guests on such a short notice. My Leviathan is my sanctuary. But there are exceptions.”

Her attitude, mannerisms, conduct, behavior – it was nothing like the Mimicry Frost remembered.

“And you are an exception of the highest caliber.”

She leaned over the table and extended her gloved hand.

“Frost. Jury. Welcome aboard the Acedia Headquarters. While it’s quaint to need to introduce ourselves again, I feel like it’s only appropriate given how long it’s been.”

Frost took her hand, and immediately, her pupils contracted, revealing a glimpse of the monster retained within ‘Acedia’.

“Acedia. The Director of the Acedia Special Division. It’s a pleasure to meet you again.”

Her eyes trembled.

It took everything in Acedia’s power to stop her from gushing in the presence of who was, effectively, the perfect her.

Or, in a twisted sense, Acedia’s own mother.