Comrade Kruru
Han Yujin's eyes turned ice-cold. What was Kruru's true nature? Obviously a Cthulhu fragment, duh. She might look like a black-haired girl with golden eyes to everyone else, but to me, she was unmistakably a cat with a bunch of tentacles. Only an idiot wouldn't realize she wasn't your average being. Fine, I admit it. She might be an anomaly. No, she definitely was.
But. Still, I didn't sense any malice toward humans from her. Not only that—there was none of that typical anomaly disconnect, the kind where their idea of goodwill turns into utter disaster for us due to clashing values. Hell, she'd even tried to understand and follow human stuff like rock-paper-scissors, calling me comrade, learning our culture. And who was it that exploited that? Me, Han Yujin herself.
So she knew better than anyone. Kruru was doing her damnedest to understand humans.
"Kruru is…."
So what was Kruru? Truth be told, I knew exactly the answer Lee Kanghyeok wanted.
Outer God Fragment.
What he was hunting was a piece of Cthulhu, and Kruru probably fit the bill perfectly. She'd caught on too, which was why she was shoving that cross-shaped item at me to confirm. If I spilled it to him now? He'd snatch her away. What would happen to captured Kruru? Sure, they said ingesting a Cthulhu fragment made you stronger—maybe she'd just get eaten and done with? But the opponent was Unique Company. It wouldn't end there.
They'd inject drugs, set her on fire, bash her with iron clubs, crack open her skull, carve out fragments, test tiny bites to see how much power they gave. I could picture it without even looking.
"Kruru is…."
The cat staring up at me with wide yellow eyes, looking so pitiful. Han Yujin gazed down at Kruru quietly.
Why do I want to protect this thing? If I just came clean and said she was a Cthulhu fragment, I wouldn't have to deal with that item anymore, and I could escape this horror story on good terms with Lee Kanghyeok. But something in my chest felt stuffy. My throat closed up like I couldn't speak.
It was just like that moment—staring at the mother who'd gladly sacrificed her life for her anomaly-turned daughter.
That suffocating feeling squeezed Han Yujin's heart. I'd definitely thought that mother was an idiot back then.
Why?
Why was I about to do something similar now? Why couldn't I think rationally?
Because. Kruru here. She seemed like an anomaly, sure.
No. She was definitely one.
But this whole horror story, she'd been with me….
"Comrade."
Han Yujin opened her mouth slowly, but clearly enunciating each word.
"What?"
"Kruru's my comrade."
Suddenly, my temple stung. I turned my head, and there was Kruru gazing at me with teary,-filled eyes.
Look at that. How could you abandon her?
"What'd you eat to make you say that crap? I didn't peg you as the type whose feelings call the shots."
Of course, Lee Kanghyeok just gave me a "what bullshit is this?" look. Seeing his shit-eating face made Han Yujin grin. Vicious insults flowed from her mouth like water.
"Oh. You probably don't even know what a comrade is. Makes sense. You're from Unique Company, where humans are just life-force batteries. No way you'd have friends."
Anyone who knew Han Yujin would have been floored. Not long ago, she was the type who couldn't even grasp a mother's sacrificial love for her daughter—zero social skills! For her to suddenly spout off about comrades? They'd laugh in disbelief and call her out.
But luckily—or unluckily—no one who knew her that well was around.
"Tsk tsk. That's what you get hanging out in horror stories all the time. Your social skills are fried. Go meet some people."
No acquaintances meant she could brazen it out like this! And for Lee Kanghyeok, who didn't know? Double damage.
"…."
Han Yujin cackled as she watched him furrow his brow hard.
"Losing the logic battle, huh? Got nothing to say? That's why life's abo—KYAAAH!"
A searing pain like her palm was pierced! Han Yujin hurriedly looked down at her hand. Nothing was embedded, so what the hell….
"Don't get cocky, Han Yujin."
The cross in Lee Kanghyeok's hand. One of its faces had a nail sunk into it.
"The only reason I'm tolerating your arrogance is your skills. I like 'em."
"While you're at it… ngh. Be more tolerant, you sneaky bastard…."
"Spit out what you're hiding."
"What if I don't? Gonna nail my heart too?"
"That wouldn't be bad either."
The four massive nails at the cross's ends. He moved one to the center.
"Han Yujin."
"What."
"I like you."
"I don't like you. Your brain's all muscle, asshole."
"Doesn't matter. What matters is how I feel. Can't do shit about it if I like you."
What the hell is with this crazy protein-head? Starting to creep me out.
"What're you after, going this far? It's not like you're gonna eat the Cthulhu fragment yourself. Why act like a company slave?"
"Strength."
"...What?"
"Strength to smash even anomalies. That's what I'll demand from Unique Company."
A faint smile crept onto Lee Kanghyeok's lips for the first time.
"My current company contribution is already 700 points. Each fragment nets at least 200, so 1000 soon. Then I can demand anything from the company."
Madness subtly etched into his voice.
"I aim for the pinnacle of strength."
Han Yujin blurted out without thinking as she watched him.
"You're a total psycho."
"Aren't you too?"
"I'm not. Perfectly normal."
"No conscience either."
Lee Kanghyeok clicked his tongue and caressed the nail hovering on the cross.
"So cooperate."
"...With what."
"The Outer God fragment. Useless in civilian hands anyway. Only Unique Company can research and use it. So what's that? An Outer God fragment?"
"…."
"Speak, Han Yujin."
Kruru tugged at her clothes from the side. She mumbled.
"I-it's fine. Tell him. I, I don't want to see my comrade in pain."
"Really?"
"Yes, nyang."
Kruru spoke with firm resolve. Han Yujin nodded and opened her mouth.
"Yeah. She's a Cthulhu fragment."
The confession flowed out so smoothly that both Kruru and Lee Kanghyeok were stunned. Kruru's face screamed, Wait, is this really okay in this flow?
'You said it was fine to tell.' Han Yujin shot back with her expression.
'No, even so, this is kinda….' Kruru scratched her head. Is this how humans are? Something like that.
Well. Han Yujin had her own calculations too. That nail to the heart? Probably fatal agony. Plus….
Thinking about it, might as well spill everything.
The conveyor structure visible in the distance. No point dragging out a staring contest here—better dump it all and move on. Anything heard here would be forgotten anyway.
Whether he knew her thoughts or not, Lee Kanghyeok's energy visibly spiked.
"Knew it! Knew it! Two Cthulhu fragments found. Might get what I want from the company right away."
The protein monster muttering to himself. The creepy sight made Han Yujin frown.
Lee Kanghyeok touched the nail again and asked.
"Where'd you send that luggage earlier?"
"Dunno. The mother seemed to change the address."
The cross gleamed black. He gripped it tighter.
"Spit out everything you're hiding. There's a traced address, right?"
"… The mother said there's a safe place where women gather. Probably there."
Lee Kanghyeok organized it all in his head. Cthulhu fragment, and another unknown location.
"That's enough."
He lowered the item.
"Huh?"
"That's plenty. Got all the info I wanted. I'll keep my promise and let you live."
...Huh? Han Yujin felt the tension drain out of her.
She'd braced for deadly pain, and that was it? Questions over?
"What's with that disappointed look?"
"No, not that."
"Don't worry. I'll cooperate fully on the conveyor."
What? Why so cooperative all of a sudden?
"Weren't you just grilling me like you were gonna kill me?"
"That's how you make humans talk. Efficient. Reference it next time you need info."
"You're way too shameless."
"Maybe."
Lee Kanghyeok shrugged once and shot back.
"No time to fight here, right?"
Han Yujin got her own words thrown back at her from the entrance.
"So we're good now? After nailing my hand?"
"Ah. True."
He furrowed his brow like he was pondering, then…
"Take it."
He tossed something over. Han Yujin caught it in a fluster.
"......?"
It was the cross he'd just been using on her.
"N-no way, that's super expensive! How do you handle the paperwork?!"
Yoo Se-rin screamed from the side. Even Han Yujin receiving it tilted her head and pocketed it.
"Why give me this?"
"Told you. You and I click."
"So?"
"Sign of truce. Tell the company you lost it in the horror story."
Han Yujin stared at him half in disbelief.
This guy's actually insane.
"Why should I truce with you?"
"I'm Lee Kanghyeok from Unique Company's Dispatch Team 3, and I like you."
"Yeah."
"Remembering me won't hurt your survival in future horror stories. Unique Company's elite teams have intel and firepower beyond your wildest dreams."
"Cocky much?"
He shrugged again.
"If not that, cooperate to escape this horror story at least. You sticking with me this far means you need me."
…Nailed it. Still, hating to lose, Han Yujin added,
"What if I use this on you right now?"
"Probably can't for a month. Not an idiot—think I'd just hand it over?"
Lee Kanghyeok looked at her like she was ridiculous. Han Yujin vowed through gritted teeth, veins bulging on her forehead.
I'll use this on you someday. After we escape this horror story, that is.