148
Ch.148 Migration Plan
Inside the ruined fortress city, in what could no longer be called a fortress - Shelter A.
The citizens of A-City were living within a much narrower radius than before, centered around the underground shelters of each district.
The shelters where citizens stayed were spaced at certain intervals, and movement between shelters was prohibited.
This was to prevent too many humans from gathering and attracting monsters, and to ensure that even if a monster attack occurred, only one shelter would be affected.
Building a fortress city was like pouring water into a bottomless jar.
An endless war of attrition continued, where resources had to be poured in continuously to construct faster than the monsters could destroy until completion was achieved.
Days repeated where the city was rebuilt at sunrise, only to be destroyed by monsters and superpower human at sunset.
Citizens of A-City were growing increasingly exhausted in this situation, like building sandcastles against the tide.
The precarious feeling of walking a tightrope, where even the slightest stumble could mean falling to their deaths.
Yet they continued to pour effort into rebuilding the city because they could see a glimmer of hope.
Though frustratingly slow, the skeleton of the fortress city was gradually being erected.
The citizens of A-City worked hard, believing they could return to the original A-City.
And there were positive changes too.
"Those superpower human are working hard after all."
Citizens saw superpower human risking their lives daily, and superpower human saw citizens they thought were just parasites risking their lives to rebuild the city.
The people of A-City changed their perceptions as they watched each other.
"Some did run away in the end, but strangely, things seem better because of it."
"It's a relief Electress came to her senses."
"We survived thanks to Starlight."
"And the other superpower human... Baskerville too... Meister is gradually restoring the systems one by one."
If this continues, we might actually rebuild the city.
Of course, not everyone was so optimistic.
"Can't we just borrow Black Cat for a week?"
"If it were Kage, he would've just beheaded those thieving bastards during times like this. Starlight lacks cold-bloodedness."
"Same goes for those superhuman brats who abandoned people to save their own skins. It's demoralizing. We should chase them down and kill them."
Despite efforts to hide it, the accumulating dissatisfaction and anxiety were slowly leaking out day by day.
Like a cup about to overflow, in an extreme state of tension where the slightest misstep could shatter their composure.
"Hey, hear about the relocation preparations?"
"What? Relocation?"
"Probably means rearranging the shelter layouts where citizens live."
"This makes me nervous... Did something happen?"
The news of relocation preparations sent ripples through everyone.
Citizens who had packed only the essentials and prepared for relocation shared their situations on A-City's community board.
Complaints about the hassle of moving, heavy luggage, hoping other shelters had clean toilets - the usual talk.
But strangely, many people were saying the same things.
"What? Isn't it just partial rearrangement?"
"Huh? I can't access the community."
"Did the comm tower collapse?"
"No, connection's fine."
"Seems like they froze the board?"
"What? Is something really happening?"
Those who had experienced temporary information control during major incidents in A-City trembled with anxiety.
Following orders regardless, citizens packed with grim expressions and emerged onto the streets at designated times.
Through ruins filled with steel skeletons and concrete debris, under eternally blue skies, passing wary superpower human and soldiers, citizens gradually sensed something amiss.
"Is it safe to gather people like this?"
"Are we all heading to central HQ now?"
"What kind of madness is this? What if monsters come?"
"Black Cat isn't even here now."
"What are they loading on those trucks?"
"Wait... Isn't that Meister?"
As hundreds of thousands of citizens gathered at A-City's central temporary HQ buzzed with activity, Meister emerged from headquarters riding a bed-shaped drone.
When the rare sight of the reclusive Meister amplified the crowd's murmuring, he raised a megaphone:
[Citizens of A-City, I understand this sudden gathering must be confusing. I'll now explain the situation - your quiet attention would be appreciated.]
Sensing something unusual in Meister's broadcast, the crowd quieted.
Even soldiers and superpower human who had been moving mechanically at Meister's orders now looked at him with questioning expressions.
[To be brief: We've determined it's becoming increasingly difficult to protect all A-City citizens without casualties if we continue like this.]
Those who understood the weight of Meister's words murmured at what sounded like a death sentence.
But all froze in shock at his next words:
[Therefore, we've decided to abandon A-City and relocate to W-City.]
"...Huh?"
"What?"
Relocation to W-City - from Meister's words, this wasn't just superpower human fleeing, but the entire city's population moving.
[We appreciate your efforts in rebuilding thus far, and apologize on behalf of both government and superpower human for abandoning reconstruction.]
"Not shelter rearrangement but relocation to W-City?"
"W-City would be better, but is that possible?"
"Did Kage finally come to his senses?"
"No, then they'd just deploy barriers and repair A-City, not relocate to W..."
"So what, just trust Electress without Cage and go to W-City? That's suicide!"
"Did Kage really die? With Quake and Kage both gone, has Meister gone mad?"
As citizens reeled at the fantastical plan of relocating an entire city, Meister raised the megaphone volume and succinctly explained the method:
[Black Cat from W-City is coming to assist the relocation. They're almost here, so please remain calm while waiting.]
"Huh?"
News of the long-awaited Black Cat's arrival stirred the crowd.
[I understand your anxiety about gathering here. But superpower human at the frontlines are securely controlling surrounding monsters' paths toward A-City, and Black Cat's arrival is imminent, so please rest assured...]
"Black Cat is coming? Really?"
"Was this all arranged already?"
"What? Seriously? Is this real? Am I dreaming?"
Understanding spread through the crowd like ripples.
The struggling city reconstruction, superhuman shortage, endless attrition, desire to return to Black Cat's protection, the reality that Black Cat couldn't cover both cities - all solved at once by relocating.
"W-wait. How far is A-City to W-City?"
"Pre-Monster Age, wasn't it a full day's walk?"
"Is city relocation actually possible?"
In the Monster Age, survival trumped living conditions, so abandoning the city wasn't unthinkable.
As excited chatter swelled, all eyes turned to Meister.
"This is Meister? He came up with this solution?"
"Back then there was only one S-rank hero - Yeo Woon-jae - but Meister and Yeo Woon-jae did it all."
"Truly counterintuitive - why didn't we think of this?"
"Who'd think to abandon a fortress city? Only someone like Meister would."
"He was invisible after the fortress was built, but shows his worth when it's gone."
"That's our Meister!"
"Wooow!"
"Nam-kyung! Nam-kyung! Nam-kyung!"
[Everyone, please calm down. Black Cat is... almost here but not quite yet, please, calm down...!]
Excited citizens, superpower human and soldiers all chanted Meister's name in unison.
Flushing at the praise, Meister tried to calm them but his trembling voice lacked authority.
Then, pointing began spreading through the crowd.
"Hey! Over there!"
"Isn't that Black Cat?!"
Beyond the low temporary walls, between ruined buildings - a black silhouette.
Black ears twitching at the noise, large glowing eyes peeking through.
The crowd erupted as they spotted the giant Black Cat.
"They really came!"
"Black Cat! Black Cat! Black Cat!"
"Wooow! It's Black Cat! Waaaah!"
"Waaaaah!"
"Kyaaaaah!"
"This way! Black Cat! Here! Meow! Meeeow! Meow!"
[Everyone! Please quiet down! Black Cat dislikes loud noises! Please calm down!]
Black Cat's appearance meant this was now a safe zone.
Like shipwreck survivors spotting rescue, citizens shouted joyfully, their pent-up tension releasing in wild celebration.
While W-City residents had learned to read Black Cat's expressions, A-City's citizens failed to notice the displeased look on the distant figure's face.
"Sorry, it's too loud, truly sorry..."
Meister finally approached Black Cat via drone with several A-City heroes, bowing apologetically.
Black Cat's mood was clearly bad, its tail lashing like an irritated broom.
"It's wagging its tail! Must be happy!"
"It never forgot A-City after all!"
"Black Cat! Black Cat! Black Cat!"
Hmph. With an annoyed sigh, Black Cat bared teeth at the even noisier A-City crowd.
"Haaaaah!"
The hiss silenced citizens like doused flames.
Black Cat stared coldly at the suddenly fearful crowd, then turned to Meister beneath its paw.
[Finally quieted down.]
"Sorry! Really sorry! Failed to control them properly! Please forgive us!"
Near tears, Meister frantically pulled out his phone and shouted into the comm channel shared by A-City's superpower human and soldiers:
"Control the citizens and bring all the prepared churu treats immediately! Black Cat is angry! Hurry!"
[Not angry. Just prepare to leave quickly.]
"Tuna too! Beef! Bring everything!"
[Hey.]
"Eeep!"
When Meister got trampled under Black Cat's paw in his fluster, distant onlookers panicked.
"Kyaaaaah!"
"Black Cat crushed Meister to death!"
"It's over! Really over now!"
"Everyone shut up! Black Cat hates loud noises!"
"Meister isn't dead yet so quiet down!"
With Meister's flailing hands barely visible under pink paw pads, even superhuman efforts couldn't stop the screaming.
Superpower human gave up on crowd control and rushed to HQ to shoulder prepared meat supplies.
"Bring the beef quickly! Just carry the whole cuts!"
"Move! Don't block the tuna!"
"You primitive rejects! Out of my way!"
"Meow... Mroow..."
Watching this, Black Cat lowered its head like a resigned human.
***
Arriving at A-City, I wanted to hurry to W-City due to inexplicable unease, but things didn't go as hoped.
Misinterpreting my urgency, fearful citizens offered food, begging forgiveness lest I leave.
Forget meals - just finish relocation preparations already.
Crunch, rip, chompchompchomp.
Only after seeing me devour whole tuna and beef carcasses and Meister crawling from under my paw did they gradually calm.
"Die? How would Meister die? Why would Black Cat kill him?"
"What about those who kept screaming despite being told to quiet down?"
"Tch, even W-City bastards never angered Black Cat like this. Typical A-City standards."
While trading insults, citizens loaded heavy supplies onto military trucks, received rationed food/water, and assembled by group.
superpower human swept the city for stragglers while soldiers checked supplies and vehicles.
Before me, behind tinted bus windows, a pale-faced Cage spoke:
"You seem displeased. Was the food unsatisfactory? We selected premium tuna and beef."
[Food was fine.]
During preparation, superpower human had brought offerings.
While the lack of cooked dishes disappointed, what came was delicious.
At my response, Kage sighed while eyeing the citizens:
From what I gathered while eating, Meister and Kage had tried preparing citizens for immediate departure upon my arrival.
Cutting external communications, information control, even Kage hiding his recovery - all to minimize chaos.
"My apologies. Didn't expect control to fail this badly."
[No need for apologies.]
I finished the tuna while watching citizens form long lines like giant snakes.
The sheer numbers made preparations take ages.
But finally, Kage monitoring progress via earpiece and tablet announced readiness:
"...Kept you waiting long enough. Let's depart."
I stretched my hind legs and rose.