This was bad... Klein's body stiffened. Only then did he remember that he hadn't given Alice the letter Frank had sent, along with the mushrooms.
Alice looked at Klein in confusion, unable to understand why her question had provoked such a strong reaction from him. She asked, puzzled:
"Can't you tell me? Is it something shameful?"
She Blinked Her Eyes, remembering the painting she had initially refused to show Klein no matter what.
...Surely not shameful in that sense, right?
"No, it's not..." Klein said carefully. "These are Frank's research results. I haven't had time to tell you yet."
"Frank?" Alice froze slightly. "Mushrooms? Oh..."
At the mention of Frank, Alice recalled her time aboard the Future. Her expression twisted for an instant before she hurriedly said:
"You don't need to tell me!"
Klein Let Out a Sigh of Relief.
He Summoned Creeping Hunger from the pile of sundries and said to Alice:
"Alright... Let me tell you about its changes."
Alice assumed the posture of someone listening attentively.
Alice forgot the new functions Creeping Hunger had gained as soon as she heard them. She knew Klein would replace the abilities inside it anyway, so she only focused on the Side Effect.
"So it has to eat one person every day now?" Alice reached out and took the glove. "And it praises the True Creator..."
The black glove lay so quietly in Alice's hand that it seemed dead. Alice turned it around several times without seeing any reaction. She tugged at it, and when she let go, the glove shrank back into place.
"It's alive?" Alice perked up and gave it another tug.
Klein couldn't bear to watch any longer and asked Alice, "So, do you have a way to seal it?"
Alice stopped moving, glanced at the glove In