14
Ch.14 Uncomfortable
He wiped his sweat and looked down at the parts the children had brought.
The monster alarm device—this thing, made with special alloys and technology—was worth a considerable amount for each individual part.
If he sold them on the black market, even this much would earn him a decent sum, but no matter how many times he told them, the kids never brought the most crucial core component.
In truth, that part was placed where no one could reach it just by stretching their arm through the bars.
The orphanage director, who had never even seen the device with his own eyes and thus didn’t know this fact, opened a drawer and pulled out an expensive lighter and an oddly shaped cigarette.
It was a high-end lighter, bought by misusing tax benefits meant for purchasing food ingredients for the children’s meals and other daily necessities.
With a satisfied expression, the director fiddled with the luxury item—something ordinary people in this era of monsters could only dream of seeing—then placed the strangely colored cigarette between his lips and lit it.
After a moment, he redialed a call he had earlier with another orphanage director and said,
“Where were we? My head’s all foggy after the blood rushed to it—can’t remember a thing.”
[Heh heh heh, the kids are still not listening?]
“Ugh… Seriously, these parentless brats are just too stupid. No matter how many times I tell them, they just don’t get it. Is it really that hard? Just bring me the orange glass bottle!”
[How much is that worth?]
“It varies, but I heard it easily goes for about two months’ salary for an office worker.”
[That’s quite a bit. No wonder you’re pissed.]
On the other end of the line, the other orphanage director chuckled in sympathy.
Far from seeing any issue with making children steal, the director here got angry when the kids didn’t bring back something valuable.
In this era of monsters, people like him weren’t rare—they existed in other orphanages too.
Private orphanages—many of them were started not out of any noble intention to care for children who had lost their parents, but purely to exploit government subsidies.
For them, it was common sense to use the legal loophole that exempted minor crimes committed while ‘rehabilitating’ wayward children to make money.
Using the kids as stress relief was also trivial, since in this era where monster attacks never ceased, disposing of bodies was no big deal.
In fact, they often exchanged tips on how to make even more money.
“So… Can you give me more details about that big-money scheme? What are you doing to afford so many cars lately?”
[Ah… Well… This isn’t something I can just tell anyone.]
“Come on, just spill it. Didn’t I help you cover up that corpse last time?”
[Tch… Fine, since I owe you one…]
And so, the other director smirked slyly and began explaining his latest venture.
[You see, among the rich, there are some with… Refined tastes, you know? It’s the monster era—people get desensitized to cruelty, and that excitement, well…]
“Quit dragging it out and just tell me.”
[Heh heh… Well, if you’ve got any pretty kids, let me know. I’ll act as the middleman.]
“Pretty kids? Ah… You mean that kind of thing? But the exemption clause doesn’t cover that, does it?”
[So what? Just sell them to the people who made the exemption clause!]
Finally catching on, the orphanage director was genuinely impressed. So that’s how it’s done. His face practically screamed, Why didn’t I think of that? as he mentally berated himself for his own stupidity.
[They handle the bodies themselves—we just take the money. Way more profitable than petty theft.]
“How much are we talking?”
[Heh heh… About a car per kid? Rich folks don’t skimp on their hobbies!]
“That much?!”
[The prettier they are, the more you get. Just keep using the uglier ones for the usual business.]
“Damn… You should’ve told me about this sooner.”
[Well, I’m telling you now, aren’t I? Heh heh… Anyway, since I’m opening the door for you, look into it and get back to me. I’ll take a cut as the middleman.]
“Ahem… Sure.”
After hanging up, the director immediately scanned his mind for kids with decent looks, imagining the absurd sums he could get.
The first one that came to mind was Na Hye-ri—even young, she had the kind of face that would grow into something desirable. How much could he get for selling her to a rich client?
He’d never thought of the little girl that way before, but now that he did, it oddly excited him.
Why hadn’t he considered this sooner? He mentally kicked himself again for his own stupidity.
“Na Hye-ri! Get to the director’s office, now!”
Picking up the phone with a sinister grin, the director pressed a button, and his voice echoed throughout the orphanage.
It seemed the place was wired for announcements. Smirking, he waited.
Maybe it was the drugs kicking in, or maybe it was the thrill of fantasizing about violence against a child.
“Disgusting.”
I’ve seen enough. I dropped down from the ceiling.
Had he beaten that little girl so badly her skin was bruised and bleeding?
For some reason, I caught a whiff of something delicious from her.
It was strange—starving kids stealing truck parts instead of food.
“W-Who are you?!”
As my shadowy form solidified into a human shape, the director frantically yanked open a drawer and pulled out a handgun.
I caught the gun in one hand and crushed it like paper.
Realizing I wasn’t normal, the director stumbled back.
“W-What the…?! Police…?! A hero…?! D-Do you know who I am? Who I’m connected to?!”
Did he think name-dropping would save him from the police or a hero?
Well, threats meant nothing to me—a monster.
I grabbed the director’s mouth with one hand and crushed it.
“I’m neither.”
“G-Gyaaaaah…! Gack…!”
I’m a monster.
Even as a monster, I don’t want to hurt humans.
But this thing? Not human.
“N-Nooo…! G-Guh!”
Shedding my human form, I knocked the director to the ground.
My body shifted into the familiar shape of a black panther.
Outside, sirens blared, announcing the appearance of a monster.
The director’s eyes bulged as he realized what I was.
“Grrrrr…”
“Gyaaah…! Guh…!”
My massive paw pressed down on his bloated body, claws slowly sinking into his chest.
Crunch. Applying more weight, blood gushed from his eyes and mouth.
Then, the orphanage door creaked open.
“…H-Hiiik?!”
I pressed down harder on the director and turned to look.
There stood the girl who’d eaten the least of my meat, stumbling back in shock before falling.
Even with the monster alarm blaring, she hadn’t run—she’d come to the director’s office.
Was the director scarier than a monster?
“S-Save…! S-Save…! Gyaah…! Guh…!”
The bruises covering her legs. The stench of this bloated pig was already nauseating, but now it was oddly appetizing.
Still, this wasn’t a sight for a child’s mental health.
Crunch. I crushed the director’s limbs one by one, then stepped toward the girl.
“H-Hek…! Hik…! H-Huu…! Uh…?”
Trembling, unable to run, she stared as I nudged her back with my head and grabbed the doorknob with my teeth.
Slowly, I closed the door. The girl blinked in shock.
What came next wasn’t for minors.
“S-Save…! Grrr…!”
The greasy taste spread in my mouth as I tore off the director’s head in one bite.
Sensing the girl’s scent still lingering beyond the door, I began my meal.
I’d make do with this instead of premium beef tonight.
Tonight’s dinner would be orphanage directors—not humans.
“Gulp… Gulp… Crunch…”
Hmm…
Too greasy.
***
Despair-class monster: Black Cat
Now fully accustomed to erasing its traces, it moved unpredictably, toying with Yoo Anna.
Black Cat’s relentless attacks had surpassed twelve, with no end in sight.
“Monsters really are monsters…”
“This thing… It’s hunting like an assassin.”
“It’s gotten too good at hiding. How are we supposed to catch it?”
As the Despair-class monster began hunting humans, the heroes who heard the news before it spread turned pale.
Despair-class monsters were already threats requiring the full attention of W-City, but this one behaved nothing like ordinary monsters.
Rather than targeting large groups, the Black Cat focused on safe, successful hunts before escaping. If left unchecked, it would keep toying with heroes while escalating its kills.
“But… Why only orphanages?”
“The kids are all alive. Why?”
Strangely, Black Cat followed a pattern this time.
It targeted only orphanage directors—no one could figure out why, but it never touched the children, the easiest prey.
Did monsters have dietary preferences?
From a monster’s perspective, maybe children were too small for the Black Cat to bother with?
This theory gained traction as details about the slain directors emerged.
All the victims were severely overweight.
The heroes concluded the Black Cat was a gourmet monster with a taste for fat humans.
Some monsters preferred women or children, so this wasn’t unheard of.
“These people…”
Meanwhile, Yoo Anna, reviewing all the information, wore a grim expression.
Every single victim was an orphanage director under investigation.
Yet, higher-ups kept interfering, stalling the probes.
Why was the Black Cat targeting only them?
The common thread went beyond just orphanages, leaving Yoo Anna puzzled.
But there was no time to dwell.
Black Cat was still hunting.
The priority was stopping it. Setting aside her questions, Yoo Anna predicted its next target.
It would strike one of the remaining orphanages under investigation—two were left.
She stationed heroes at one and waited at the other.
If it came to her, she’d fight alone. If not, the heroes would buy time.
Yoo Anna didn’t evacuate the directors or children.
The Black Cat had Lee Han-young’s ability to phase through objects.
Forcing them into cramped shelters would just cluster targets. Better to limit casualties to one director, if it came to that.
A cruel choice, but Yoo Anna—aware of the directors’ crimes—felt no guilt.
“Guh…!”
“Gurgle… Choke… Thud…”
Then, the Black Cat appeared where Yoo Anna was.
Waiting near the children just in case, she barely blocked it in time.
Somehow, despite the alarms, the Black Cat had already emerged from the ground, its maw clamping down on the director.
The director had been approaching the room where the children were.
Fighting here would endanger them—Yoo Anna immediately called for backup.
“This is Yoo Anna. Black Cat spotted. Send heroes to—no.”
“Grrrr…”
“…I’ll handle this alone.”
But facing the Black Cat now felt… Off.
Until now, it had always fled from her.
Why wasn’t it running?
It kept its distance but didn’t escape, almost as if luring her away.
Why not just leave?
Was it afraid her powers would melt everything, like before?
Or… Was it worried about the children in the next room?
“…What are you thinking?”