82
Ch.82 Dakgalbi
"If that woman had done just a little better, the heroes wouldn’t have been treated like that."
The precedent set by Meister became shackles around the ankles of heroes who grew stronger while fighting monsters.
Heroes who had to obey government orders, the system, and the tools created to support that system.
Meister was no genius and couldn’t fully grasp the consequences of her actions.
Used by high-ranking government officials, she always realizes too late, shouldering the blame, and is left with nothing but regret.
"The most pathetic part is that even after being used like that, she still helps with things like creating artificial heroes."
"Meister is just trying to help everyone."
"Keep making strange efforts, huh? How much damage has been caused by weaponizing monsters? What about the problems from dissecting heroes?"
Yoo Anna couldn’t refute and closed her mouth.
Truthfully, Meister was indeed at the center of countless incidents.
Not just the monster weaponization incident, but also the plan to mass-produce combat drones to handle Sub-Terror-class monsters, the plan to enhance soldiers’ equipment, all of which only served to bolster the private armies of high-ranking officials.
Even Kage, who despised incompetence, couldn’t purge the useless government personnel because they had been handed the master codes for city management.
Meister, despite her frail body, was a hero who saved humanity, but she was too weak to bear everything alone.
Thus, unable to cut out the rot, she decayed along with it.
"...It’s not that I dislike her. But it’s true that Meister is weak."
At Electress’s muttering, laden with complex emotions, the heroes of W-City felt a strange sentiment.
Corrupt high-ranking officials were like parasites clinging to humanity, sucking their blood and bloating themselves even in this ruined world.
Without the power to protect oneself, even a hero who saved humanity becomes nothing more than a tool for them.
"If only we could cut out those piglets, Meister could’ve grown stronger too."
A superpower human must be strong.
Both in body and mind.
To protect humanity, sometimes you must kill some of them.
That was the ideology of A-City’s heroes.
This, too, was something Meister had created.
***
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
Meister, now awake, spoke in a slightly revived voice as she pulled out a bed-shaped drone from a small bag and lay back down.
Electress tossed the drone’s remote control to Yoo Anna and began directing A-City’s heroes and soldiers.
"Final briefing. The Black Cat’s current location is Central Park in District 3. The rendezvous point is the rooftop of the designated building. Heroes stand by in the surrounding area in case of emergencies. Soldiers, secure the stairs and elevators inside the building leading to the rooftop."
"Starlight, let me say this again—if Meister gets even slightly hurt—"
"Shut up, you incompetent. How dare you lecture an S-rank hero?"
Electress glared at the soldier who warned her out of concern for Meister, then led the heroes away. Yoo Anna boarded an unmanned vehicle with Meister.
As they moved toward their destination under invisible escort to meet the Black Cat, Meister revealed her complicated feelings.
"Anna, it’s just the two of us now."
"...Yeah, Nam Kyung."
"This feels awkward."
"It’s been a while."
Back when she was still an A-rank hero, Yoo Anna had guarded Meister and built a friendship with her.
But that was long ago. Meister, her memories hazy from brain overload, spoke up.
"The last time we saw each other was when you became an S-rank hero and left A-City...?"
"I didn’t see you that day. That was the day you coughed up blood."
"Was it? Ah, I remember now. It was when my questions backfired and my ability refluxed."
"The last time I saw you was the day I was appointed as an S-rank hero. You analyzed my ability and figured out which city would be the best fit for me."
"Right. I passed out, and when I woke up, you were already gone."
"I’ve been feeling sorry about that."
"No, I’m the one who should apologize... For not properly analyzing your ability."
The dark, damp atmosphere weighed heavily. Yoo Anna forced a smile and said,
"No, what you told me back then helped a lot. W-City is... Tough, but I like it."
"Did I... Help you, Anna?"
"Yeah."
"That’s a relief."
Seeing Meister’s genuine relief, Yoo Anna’s voice filled with concern.
"Are you okay? With how things are now."
This wasn’t a conversation between heroes but between personal friends—Nam Kyung and Yoo Anna—laden with complicated implications.
The fact that A-City’s high-ranking officials, who had never let Meister go before, permitted her to come all the way to W-City meant one of two things: Either Meister’s importance had diminished, or she had gained that much freedom.
In the early days, when nothing was known about monsters, a single word from Meister held immense influence.
But now, with powerful heroes replacing her role and accumulated experience in countermeasures... Meister was like a chicken rib—useless yet not disposable.
To Kage, she was both a wall to overcome and a fellow hero.
To the government, she was both an idol to the citizens and a tool they couldn’t let go of.
The moment her value dropped, the choice of the corrupt officials was predictable: Kill Meister, who knew too many government secrets, and pin it on Kage.
Meister stood at the center of A-City’s cold, silent political warfare.
Seeing Yoo Anna tense, Meister let out a rare laugh.
"You’re still so sentimental, Anna. Worrying about me."
"It’d be weird if I didn’t."
"You’re the only one who worries about me as a person—sincerely, purely."
Another loaded statement.
Meister closed her eyes briefly, then opened them and explained her current situation to Yoo Anna, who looked bitter.
"The reason I could come to W-City this time is that both sides found it mutually beneficial. There are still many in the government who haven’t given up on the Monster Weaponization Project. You don’t need to worry too much about me. Ho-young is increasing his influence over me... so I’ll be fine for now."
"Right now..."
"Sorry, I read your thoughts."
Meister could read fragments of others’ thoughts by applying her ability.
Other heroes and high-ranking officials found this usage extremely uncomfortable, but Yoo Anna felt nothing in particular.
She knew Meister didn’t read minds with ill intent—that she wasn’t the type to abuse her power.
"Well, that’s a relief."
"Hehe... You’re still the same, Anna."
Meister felt at ease seeing Yoo Anna’s genuine relief but also a pang of regret.
"I wish you could’ve stayed in A-City..."
"You were the one who said I had to go to W-City."
"My ability gave that answer. But... Personally, I wanted you to stay."
Her ability’s responses always took precedence over her own desires.
Yoo Anna sighed silently, watching Meister.
The ability known as Dimensional Archive was too heavy for Nam Kyung, for Meister.
Every hero bore power and responsibility too great for one person, but hers was especially crushing.
"I wonder what kind of monster the Black Cat is. I’m curious, but also scared."
"Don’t be scared. Really, it’s much tamer than you’d think."
"Ah... I’m not scared of the Black Cat. No matter what happens, you’ll protect me, right?"
Inside the elevator of the building occupied by heroes and soldiers.
Meister’s meaningful words lingered as they reached the rooftop. Yoo Anna emitted an energy wave to summon the Black Cat.
The standard summoning method—feeding the Black Cat meat.
As Yoo Anna pulled out meat and Churu from her bag, the Black Cat, napping in the park, leaped up to the rooftop.
"Mrrow?"
The Black Cat’s eyes widened upon seeing Meister.
Perhaps surprised by the unfamiliar face, it was visibly startled. Yoo Anna subtly mimed zipping her lips at Meister—a sign to stay quiet.
Meister, who had briefly dozed off after seeing the Black Cat, woke up and exclaimed,
"It’s really safe...? This monster won’t attack unless I attack first, it says."
Her ability confirmed its safety. Then, the Black Cat, ignoring Yoo Anna entirely, blinked with curiosity and approached Meister.
"Wow, it’s bigger than I thought?"
"Ah, ah—!"
The Black Cat circled Meister before allowing her to pet its head without resistance.
Meister, rarely wide-eyed in surprise, and the Black Cat, sniffing her.
The sight left Yoo Anna with an odd feeling.
It took me forever just to pet its head, and even now, it startles if I try... Yet it lets Meister do it right away...
No, the Black Cat must’ve sensed Meister isn’t a bad person. Not attacking is a relief, right?
But even now, unless it’s Churu or expensive beef, it won’t let me pet its head...
"To think such a tame monster really exists..."
"O-oh, it must be in a good mood today. It’s even calmer than usual."
"Mroow?"
Yoo Anna’s discomfort seeped into her voice. The Black Cat let out a questioning meow.
She quickly pulled out a tube of squeezed Churu and offered it.
"Mrrowrrr!"
"Is this Churu? The treat cats eat?"
"Yeah. I’ve been trying to tame it with this, but it’s still a dangerous monster, so be careful."
"If it likes cat treats, would it like this too?"
As Yoo Anna fed the Black Cat and scratched its head, Meister pulled out a sealed pack of food from her small waist bag.
A premium blend of minced chicken, assorted meats, and vegetables—a small but high-quality meal meant for Meister herself.
"Some people call this human Churu... It’s soy sauce chicken galbi flavor."
"Mrrowrr... Mrooow?!"
"Ah—ah!"
Meister squeezed out a bit of the paste, delicious even to human tastes. The Black Cat made a sound it had never made before, licking rapidly.
Its rough tongue grazed Meister’s hand, causing her to drop the pack. The Black Cat levitated it with telekinesis, squeezing the contents into its mouth.
"Telekinesis...! It’s really skilled."
"Mrrooww!"
After devouring the soy sauce chicken galbi, the Black Cat pressed close to Meister, begging for more.
"I guess it liked my human Churu."
"Y-yeah, seems so..."
Yoo Anna’s feelings grew even more complicated.
It’s good that the Black Cat isn’t attacking Meister, but why does it like her so much? I’ve been giving it expensive Churu too...
"Maybe you’d like spicy chicken galbi too...?"
"Mrrowrrr!"
"A monster that likes human food... How fascinating."
"Ah... Maybe it’s related to why the Black Cat doesn’t attack humans..."
Meister’s monotone voice as she petted the Black Cat’s head only made Yoo Anna’s inexplicable frustration grow.
It never wagged its tail like that for me...