138
Ch.138 I Will Trust You Once
“Isn’t this way too suspicious?”
After Ui, who I had attached a surveillance cat to, headed toward the refugee camp in Park No. 3 of District 3,
I told Gu Seo-ryong, who had come to the closed-off area as usual, about Ui.
“You and I didn’t know each other’s existence until we coincidentally met, but Ui intentionally sought you out. Just hearing about it isn’t convincing. The setup about having eaten so many researchers is way too convenient, don’t you think? The researchers might’ve told him to say that to get close to you.”
“It’s true that it ate researchers.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“He regurgitated the memories of the researchers he ate and showed them to me.”
The memories of the researchers Ui showed me when talking about the lab weren’t illusions.
As he claimed, the memories—presumably from researchers he had recently devoured—still carried the scent of humans.
“If that’s the case… It seems he really did eat the researchers from B-City.”
Monsters can digest crystallized human memories like candy, but they can’t reshape or alter their contents in other ways.
“He suddenly shows up, devours all the researchers we were targeting, and now says he’ll tell us about Annihilation-class monsters. How would a researcher even know about Annihilation-class? To know that, they’d have to create or capture an Annihilation-class that obeys them and study it. If the lab had that kind of power, how could they have been defeated by someone like Ui?”
“Hmm.”
“And the excuse about a researcher accidentally opening the door for him? That’s the kind of mistake they’d only make in the early days. There are way too many convenient stories for it. It’s suspicious.”
Despite that, Gu Seo-ryong was even more wary of Ui than I was.
“We should find out for sure whether it’s a successful creation obeying the lab’s orders or just a runaway test subject. You said he’s with the refugees, right? After you finish eating, let me meet him.”
“Got it.”
To me, Ui seems weaker than Sagugu, but Gu Seo-ryong asked for my help just in case.
And shortly after,
I entered the park in the form of the Black Cat and happily accepted the food the citizens offered.
“Should we grill more pizza for the Black Cat?”
“Does the lamb taste good?”
“Black Cat! Drink water while you eat!”
The citizens and countless heroes were delighted that I was eating in W-City today.
Amid the commotion, I pulled out a cat and had it slip through the citizens’ legs, making my way toward the refugee camp.
The refugee camp, now more crowded than before, was filled with tension between the newly arrived refugees and the existing ones.
“Why has everyone gone so quiet? Isn’t it time for the Black Cat Liberation Movement?”
“First, they took the superpower humans, and now soldiers? How terrifying.”
“We just want to live safely. W-City has been trying to understand our struggles and even created jobs for us.”
“Don’t provoke the Black Cat for no reason.”
“But that’s just what the Refugee Protection Act guarantees. We shouldn’t lose our resolve over something like this. The Black Cat should be shared by everyone—”
“You really like justified actions, huh? In times like these, superpower humans obeying the law is a given? We should be grateful.”
“W-well, that’s true.”
“The whole way here, all I heard was ‘noble duty for all humanity’ and ‘sacrifice’. Honestly, I’m sick of it.”
As the refugees who had turned completely to Starlight’s side—having gotten jobs through the Cat Tower construction project—persuaded the newcomers, the latter gradually retreated to their makeshift camp made of boxes.
The sight of the existing refugees, now more like settled residents in clean clothes, gave the newcomers hope that they, too, could find a place here.
As the crowd slowly dispersed, the muscular men who had been vocal among the newcomers muttered in frustration.
“Selfish bastards! World peace is right within reach!”
“Why can’t they understand that sharing the Black Cat is the only way for everyone to be happy?”
“…How rude.”
At those words, Ui, who had been leaning against a tree in the refugee camp, smiled meaningfully.
“Humans who don’t even know their place dare to talk about sharing or owning Unus…”
Sizzle. As Ui melted part of the grass he was sitting on, he noticed my cat emerging from beside the tree and blinked.
“Ohh, Unus. Did you come to see me?”
Then, Gu Seo-ryong silently walked across the grass and appeared in front of Ui.
Dressed like any other citizen, wearing a hat and sunglasses, Gu Seo-ryong stared silently at him, making Ui frown.
“What is it? Who are you?”
“Hmm~? You don’t know me? That’s an interesting answer in many ways.”
A subtle wave emanated from Ui’s core, sweeping across the grass.
As the probing wave scanned even the depths of Gu Seo-ryong’s body, she flinched slightly around her eyes and crossed her arms as if hugging herself.
“What a sneaky brat. Straight to peeking under a woman’s skin, huh?”
“A hybrid? Why the hell is something like that here? No… Wait, you’re a bit different.”
As if reflecting the wave back, Gu Seo-ryong flicked her fingers with a snap, and Ui reflexively nullified her ability.
“You’re definitely not an ordinary Despair-class, are you?”
“You…”
Ui, visibly irritated, glanced down at my cat and flipped his emotions like a coin.
A wavelength rarely seen among monsters—only those who act in groups.
Ui smiled warmly at Gu Seo-ryong, exuding friendliness.
“If you don’t mind, could you tell me who you are?”
“Oh? If you want an introduction, shouldn’t you introduce yourself first?”
“That’s fair. Nice to meet you. I’m Dekel X Woo I.”
“Woo I? Not Ui, but Woo, I? So if written, it’d be U and I?”
Gu Seo-ryong grinned playfully, provoking Ui.
“If it’s a code like that, shouldn’t it be I, not Ui? What’s the meaning behind calling yourself Ui? Does it have something to do with Unus, the name you call the Black Cat? Or did you want to imitate even one letter of Unus?”
“How rude.”
“Hmm… Or maybe it’s the initials of a specific word? Like ‘Unity Identity’ or something?”
“Haha!”
The aggressive wariness emanating from Gu Seo-ryong felt deliberately aimed at irritating Ui.
But Ui, instead, smiled brightly as if he had realized something from Gu Seo-ryong’s words.
“The fact that you mentioned ‘Unity Identity’ means you knew I ate 111 researchers, right? In other words, you know what the researchers are and you are close to Unus…”
“You’re pretty sharp for your looks, huh?”
“Hmm? Does the form of a humanoid matter that much to you? I see. You’re a test subject below No. 200. I thought all those numbers were confirmed dead after disposal.”
Clap. Ui exaggeratedly clapped his hands and teased Gu Seo-ryong.
“A runaway test subject, then. That ability earlier was mental confusion, wasn’t it?”
Having his identity deduced from her own questions, Gu Seo-ryong frowned and lowered her sunglasses with a finger.
“You’re the variable. The reason Numbers failed to eliminate Unus. The 4th gen Numbers had their egos heavily eroded, so someone with your ability would’ve been like a toy to them.”
“No idea what you’re talking about.”
“You helped Unus in A-City too, didn’t you? Gu Seo-ryong? Goo Seo-ryul, G3… Oh, I see. So that’s how you escaped. Hmm? This is… Quite beautiful. This humanity.”
Ui, having dug through the memories of the researchers he’d eaten upon hearing the name ‘Gu Seo-ryong’, gradually pieced together his identity and expressed genuine admiration.
“Impressive. You’re different from Unus, but your past is fascinating. This is why I can’t help but adore the classics below No. 200.”
“You’re way creepier than I imagined.”
“Oh dear, now it’s my turn to be rude. I had no idea someone as beautiful as you existed, and I went ahead and peeked. Since we’ve both made each other uncomfortable, won’t you forgive me?”
“No.”
“Even though you’re a child?”
“That form isn’t your real human appearance, is it? Just a mimicry? Nothing about your behavior is childlike.”
When Ui extended his hand for a handshake as a peace offering, Gu Seo-ryong stared down coldly.
As if expecting this, Ui withdrew his hand and pointed to his own head.
“Please understand. Eating 111 researchers in a child’s body seems to have affected my mind.”
“You do realize that admitting the very thing I’m suspicious of makes you even more suspicious, right?”
“Of course I do. But the fact that you approached me like this means you’re the cautious type, right? For someone like you, transparency is the most effective approach.”
Ui, with exaggerated gestures unbecoming of a child, spoke as if he’d read Gu Seo-ryong’s thoughts.
“I didn’t receive information from the researchers. I didn’t eat just a few and lie about it either. I truly devoured every researcher in Alphabet and Romania.”
“Proof?”
“How does it feel? Killing the mother who birthed you?”
I looked up at Gu Seo-ryong upon hearing Ui’s question.
Her eyes were colder than ever before.
“This researcher in your memories is quite fragmented. A high-ranking executive, weren’t they? If you went so far as to eat this one, you must’ve eaten the others too. The lab wouldn’t easily discard someone so valuable.”
“Yeah, it seems you really did eat the researchers.”
“Then, you two—the old guard who resent the lab the most—have no reason to oppose me, who destroyed not one but two labs, right?”
“You’re right. If you really destroyed the labs, there’s no reason to oppose you.”
Gu Seo-ryong, as if unwilling to meet Ui’s gaze, closed her eyes and picked up my cat.
“Fine. If you insist you’re not an enemy that much, let’s say you’re not an enemy for now.”
“Hmm… You still seem wary, but I’m fine with that.”
“Then, since we’re not enemies, can I ask you for a favor? Considering we’re both following Unus and all.”
“Ask me for a favor? You’re asking me?”
Snap. Gu Seo-ryong flicked her fingers, briefly disorienting the refugees’ gazes, and Sagugu popped out of the shadows.
“Can Sagugu come out now?”
“What’s that?”
“Sagugu. If you have the researchers’ memories, you’d know. No. 499 of Numbers.”
“The one used to ambush Unus? A test subject of this caliber isn’t a triple-digit? Ah, lacking ego, so it missed the triple-digit mark? And you compensated with your mental manipulation… Haha! Partners complementing each other—how amusing.”
“Partners? This is just a tool. A troublesome, finicky tool.”
“Sagugu is not a tool?”
Gu Seo-ryong grabbed Sagugu’s shoulders with both hands, sighed with clear reluctance, and pushed them toward Ui.
“If you’re really on Unus’s side, can you watch Sagugu for me while I talk to Unus?”
“What does that have to do with Unus?”
“Nothing, really. You can refuse if you want.”
“Hmm… Fine. I’ll do it.”
“Sagugu, go play with that kid.”
“Kid is him?”
“Yeah, him. That tiny one.”
“Sagugu is bigger!”
At Gu Seo-ryong’s gesture, Sagugu blinked her wide eyes and held out both hands.
“Sagugu was quiet and good in the shadows! Give Pipikung!”
“Pipikung?”
As Ui’s voice filled with confusion, Gu Seo-ryong reluctantly took out Pipikung, clearly displeased.
“Pipikung No. 110!”
“This is a popular children’s toy from B-City.”
“What’s your name? I’m Sagugu.”
“I’m U…”
“You’re Pipikung!”
“Huh?”
After leaving Sagugu with Ui, Gu Seo-ryong carried my cat to a secluded corner of the park.
Since it was the Black Cat’s mealtime, the citizens were crowded around, praying for luck, so no one was near where Gu Seo-ryong stood.
“Hey. Let’s talk. ‘Yes’ is mya, ‘no’ is mya-mya, and ‘I don’t know’ is mya-mya-mya. Got it?”
[No need for that.]
“Oh my.”
At this distance, I could manipulate the air around the cat to speak.
When I answered through the cat, Gu Seo-ryong looked slightly disappointed.
“With Sagugu around, he won’t have the focus to eavesdrop. Sagugu won’t let him go since I didn’t play with her today, and even if he tries to slip away with that split-like ability, we’ll notice.”
[So that’s why you left Sagugu with him.]
“There’s another reason, too.”
Gu Seo-ryong, more irritated than ever, explained her actions.
“I wanted to see if there was anything childlike left in him. Whether he could play with Sagugu—another kid—without you or me watching.”
[Why check that?]
“He doesn’t act like a kid at all, does he?”
True to her words, Ui didn’t seem childlike despite his appearance.
Too mature for a child, too human for a monster, and too much like a researcher to be human.
“It seems true that he devoured Alphabet and Romania. But when talking about the lab, he doesn’t show any disgust or discomfort like you or I would. There’s no hostility at all.”
[Yet he did devour Alphabet and Romania.]
If Ui were a test subject acting on the lab’s orders, the number of researchers lost just to use him would be too high.
In response to my doubts, Gu Seo-ryong flicked her fingers with a snap and brought up a strange point.
“You once said that since over 100 monsters merged into you, you’re a monster, right? Then, what about a monster that’s eaten over 100 researchers? Human or monster?”
[A monster.]
“What if it’s a test subject?”
A monster’s simple, strong ego could devour 100 humans without a second thought, but a child test subject’s ego isn’t as simple as a pure monster’s.
If you pour the memories of 100 researchers into such a child’s ego…
[So that’s why you checked if there was anything childlike left.]
If the child’s ego remains, then Ui came to W-City of his own will.
If not, he’s just a shell dragged along by the researchers’ will.
“Is that thing a living, moving lab? Or just a weird test subject hopelessly obsessed with you?”