147
Ch.147 Could it be a Monster
"I hate it I hate it I hate it I hate it I hate it!"
Gu Seo-ryong, holding the phone that had just been showing Ppikku to Sagugu, let out a sigh. Sagugu, lying sprawled on the ground, paused for a moment to glance at Gu Seo-ryong sighing before vigorously flailing its limbs again.
"This kid throws tantrums more and more every day. I said no."
"One Ppikku is too little! Sagugu wants Ppikku, Yuiku, and Bbakku!"
"Didn't Mom say? She'd buy you others if you didn't break Ppikku. How many Ppikku did you ruin today?"
"Ppikku is weak! Sagugu is strong! Sagugu did nothing wrong!"
With a squeaky, kitten-like cry, Sagugu flapped its limbs even faster, spinning like a top. Gu Seo-ryong stood in the center of the chaos with an exhausted expression.
"If you love Sagugu, you must buy the Ppikku Luxury Palace and the Gorgeous Resort Lovely Hotel! Buy it buy it buy it!"
"You! Did Wooi say weird things to you again? I told you not to play with her!"
As Gu Seo-ryong tried to grab Sagugu in anger, Sagugu nimbly sprang up and leaped onto a nearby ruin. Crouching like a cat, Sagugu shouted with a face full of resentment.
"Meow! Wooi did nothing wrong! Mom is stupid! Weakling! Gray hair! Fatty!"
"Y-you! Sagugu, come here right now!"
Poof! With a burst of black smoke, Sagugu dashed toward the closed zone, widening the distance. Gu Seo-ryong, now unable to catch Sagugu even if she chased, grabbed her head and scratched it roughly.
"Ahhh! Seriously! You only learn the bad stuff!"
Fuming, Gu Seo-ryong plopped down next to me, radiating complicated emotions.
"How can you follow a boy you like around like that, doing everything he says? I didn't raise you like that!"
[Didn't she learn it from you?]
"What? When did I ever act like a fool, giving my all to some guy?"
[What about what you did for me?]
"You're not a guy, you're a male. It's fine if it's for a male!"
[What's the difference?]
Gu Seo-ryong, leaning against my hind leg, clutched her forehead as if in pain after saying something incomprehensible.
"Hey, keep an eye on Sagugu for me."
[I've told you many times, it's an unnecessary worry.]
"I've told you many times, I know."
Sagugu, already at a despairingly high level, is such that even in the closed zone, the monsters flee rather than attack her. Knowing this full well, Gu Seo-ryong still asked, so today again, I sent out two cats to watch Sagugu.
"Really... it's not even puberty..."
Lately, Sagugu's rebellious phase has been growing. Like now, after demanding things from Gu Seo-ryong and throwing a tantrum before running away, Sagugu won't return until satisfied with hunting games in the closed zone. Each time, Gu Seo-ryong, now unable to chase or hold onto Sagugu, ends up sitting next to me, waiting for Sagugu to return.
"This is all because of that brat Wooi."
Gu Seo-ryong grumbled in irritation. Day by day, Sagugu grew closer to Wooi, and Wooi's special treatment of Sagugu became increasingly obvious. At the park, Wooi would buy Sagugu's favorite snacks or prepare ice cream, sometimes even handing Sagugu mysterious dolls like Yuiku or Nanaku. Now, during mealtimes, Sagugu throws tantrums, refusing to leave the park unless she's played enough with Wooi.
Even today's solo hunting game was practically started by Wooi. When Sagugu complained that there'd be nothing to play with if Ppikku got ruined, Wooi suggested going out to hunt, and Sagugu began hunting alone. Each time, Sagugu returns stronger after consuming other monster cores.
"She's definitely doing it on purpose. She's annoyed that I control Sagugu, acting like there's nothing she can do. What's there to understand? She just lurks in the shadows, whispering things to Sagugu to stir her up."
Gu Seo-ryong suspects Wooi is trying to free Sagugu from mental control. Yet, she takes no action. Even when I block Sagugu with my paw to stop her from hunting, Gu Seo-ryong tells me to let her go cool her head.
[If this continues, you'll lose control over Sagugu.]
"Probably."
[If you know, why aren't you stopping it?]
Wooi's provocations are trivial. Toys can be replaced if Gu Seo-ryong buys more, and hunting can be stopped if prevented. Yet, Gu Seo-ryong neither stops Sagugu nor buys more toys. She could easily intervene but does nothing.
"It's because I'm curious about what Wooi's after. She's obsessed with Sagugu, right? If I let her move Sagugu as she pleases, she'll eventually reveal her true intentions."
A lie. Sensing the emotions hidden behind her words, I sighed. Though Sagugu has grown a bit rebellious, it's not yet a concern. Even after running off alone, she still clings to Gu Seo-ryong at bedtime and acts spoiled. Despite her stronger ego, Sagugu is still Sagugu. So, while there's no need to worry, something feels off.
[Be certain, Gu Seo-ryong.]
"...Hmph."
Leaving the warning, I said no more due to Gu Seo-ryong's discomfort. Soon after, Sagugu returned triumphantly, carrying a magpie monster in her mouth.
"Meow meow meow! Praise me! Sagugu caught it!"
"Yeah, good job. Impressive."
Dropping the monster, Sagugu transformed into her human form and bounced around excitedly.
"Sagugu is amazing!"
"Yeah, amazing, amazing. But Sagugu? Time to brush your teeth and get ready for bed."
"Meow... no brushing..."
"Your mouth's full of monster fluids. You're going to sleep like that?"
As if her excitement vanished, Sagugu bristled her tail at Gu Seo-ryong holding a toothbrush. When Gu Seo-ryong approached with a frown, Sagugu reflexively swiped, smacking the toothbrush to the ground.
"Yah!"
"Sagugu! No more Ppikku if you don't brush!"
"Waaah..."
But at those words, Sagugu pouted and picked up the broken toothbrush. She still listens. For now.
***
After Sagugu fell asleep hugging Gu Seo-ryong on my back, declaring she'd be a good girl who sleeps early, the moon shone brightly late at night. I opened my eyes, sensing a faint signal nearby.
"Grrr..."
It's calling. Is this Starlight? I summoned several cats and used telekinesis to lift Gu Seo-ryong and Sagugu, gently placing them on the cats. Though the cats meowed in protest at being used as beds, neither woke up.
Hiding my form and shrinking in size, I headed toward W-City, finding Starlight by the deserted outer wall. Starlight, thinking I wouldn't come, was about to leave.
"Meow."
"Eek!"
Peeking just my head from the shadows, I meowed, startling Starlight, who flared her flaming hair. She seemed genuinely surprised, now struggling to even detect me.
"B-Black Cat, were you sleeping? Sorry if I woke you."
[What's the matter?]
Starlight only calls me like this when she has something to say. As I urged her to get to the point, she hesitantly pulled out a familiar bag from her waist—Meister's spatial expansion bag.
"U-um, first, want some midnight snacks?"
"Meow?"
Had she met Meister? Starlight reached into the bag, pulling out an enormous tube. My eyes widened at the sight—a tube as tall as a person, filled to the brim with Churu. Meister, knowing I love Churu, must've prepared snacks. Happily, I accepted.
"Meow meow meow!"
Mmm, smoked tuna flavor—delicious. Starlight hugged the tube, diligently feeding me.
[Squeeze it properly, it's coming out too slow.]
"S-sorry, it's hard with this size."
"Slurp slurp slurp!"
Churu truly is the best snack. After emptying the tube, I stretched contentedly, licking my paws. As I groomed myself, Starlight made a strange face.
"No matter how I look, you're just a cat..."
[I'm not a cat.]
In a good mood from the Churu, I licked my paws clean.
[So, what's the matter?]
Surely she didn't call me just to feed me Churu. She could've done that during regular meals. Her nervousness hinted at another purpose.
"Can we talk for a bit?"
After bribing me with Churu, Starlight began explaining the situation in A-City. Electress's pregnancy, Cage awakening but unable to use his powers properly, the lack of S-rank heroes to protect A-City. To prevent further casualties, she proposed relocating to A-City—a mass migration plan using the safe zones I create.
"Grrr."
Listening, I fell into thought. I understood the reasoning. Despite flaws, it's worth attempting given the circumstances. Without my help, many would die. But leaving W-City bothered me.
"It won't take long. Just a day—think of it as a short walk. They'll feed you lots of delicious food in A-City too. Meister said they'd prepare more of that tuna Churu. Just go, eat, and come back."
As I hesitated, Starlight anxiously added that the relocation would take only a day and that she'd protect W-City in my absence.
[Understood. Tell me when the date's set.]
"Whew, sorry for ordering you around."
[Anything else?]
Unable to refuse, I agreed. Starlight apologized for the request. As I turned to leave, she radiated strange emotions—hesitation, curiosity. After opening and closing her mouth several times, she shook her head.
"Never mind. Thanks for agreeing to help."
Her unresolved thoughts left a complicated taste. I returned to the closed zone, my mind still troubled.
Earlier, my hesitation was because of Wooi. Despite never causing trouble and giving more reasons to trust her, unease lingers.
Wooi doesn't attack humans and follows me. Gu Seo-ryong dislikes her, but Sagugu adores her. Wooi acts as if she doesn't care if she dies.
Everything so far suggests Wooi is trustworthy. Yet, why? My body still tenses around her.
***
On the planned relocation day, unprecedented in scale, the citizens remained unaware. Only Starlight and Gu Seo-ryong knew I'd head to A-City today. While Sagugu was out hunting, I explained the plan to Gu Seo-ryong. Sensing my concern, she hummed cheerfully.
"Hmm, so you do care? How sweet."
"Annoying reaction."
"Aw, you're blushing~ So cute."
Avoiding her approach, I prepared to leave.
"If Sagugu finds out I'm gone, Wooi will too. Be careful."
"I know that much."
Though my wariness of Wooi felt excessive, caution couldn't hurt. As I shrank into my monster form, sinking into the ground, Gu Seo-ryong pouted.
"Boo, no goodbye kiss?"
Frowning, I glared. She pressed a finger to her lips, blowing a kiss.
"I'll be waiting for my welcome-back kiss?"
"Tch."
Clicking my tongue in monster form, I quietly left W-City. As the city walls faded from view, a strange sensation made me glance back. With the noisy citizens, rambunctious Sagugu, and worrisome Wooi now distant, the unease clinging to me melted away like water evaporating from skin.
Feeling lighter, I sped toward A-City.