83
Ch.83 Overlord of Abilities
"Meow."
After finishing all the food, the Black Cat let out a cute meow followed by a yawn.
The Black Cat, who always grew cold once it was done eating, as if its business was finished, for some reason today, gazed quietly at Meister with eyes full of interest.
"It's not like there's anything special about the food from W-City, and it's not like it's refraining from attacking just because it was fed… It just seems like a well-behaved monster."
"Ah, ah…!"
Meister, trying to analyze the Black Cat calmly, reached out and stroked under its chin.
Every time a rumbling sound, like that of a motorcycle engine, could be heard, Yoo Anna's heart pounded loudly.
It never once let me touch under its chin, yet it’s allowing it so easily…
"It really is an incomprehensible variant… Not attacking humans and being this docile."
During the era of attempting to weaponize monsters, the ones that seemed tamed always demanded rewards.
The eyes of those monsters instilled fear—that they could go berserk at any moment if not satisfied even slightly.
Unlike those beasts, the Black Cat had an innocent gaze, as if it were just a house cat.
"To think such a monster could really exist… My ability wasn’t wrong after all."
Meister smiled bitterly and withdrew her hand from the Black Cat.
Meister’s ability, the Dimensional Archive, is absolute.
It always speaks only the truth.
If that truth doesn’t manifest in reality, it’s because the one who asked was lacking.
Because the one being questioned, Nam Kyung, was insufficient.
"It’s about time to head back. Thanks for letting me touch you."
With a complicated expression, as if smiling and crying at the same time, Meister bid farewell to the Black Cat, who licked its lips regretfully.
The Black Cat, seemingly understanding the words, leaped off the rooftop and disappeared. The previously silent communication channel quickly filled with the voices of soldiers and heroes.
[The Black Cat has disappeared.]
[End of Discussion.]
[Meister, are you alright?]
[No issues with civilian control. Starlight, please move swiftly to the vehicle.]
[Don’t you dare order an S-rank hero around, soldier.]
Yoo Anna carefully observed Meister, who had grown quiet after stroking the Black Cat.
Inside the elevator descending underground, the heavy air carried an expression unable to fully conceal deep melancholy.
"Are you okay?"
"Ah… I’m fine. It’s just…"
When Yoo Anna asked worriedly, Nam Kyung—unable to maintain the persona of Meister—replied in a trembling, thin voice.
"...My ability never makes mistakes."
A monster that doesn’t attack humans and even protects them could exist.
Perhaps, if Nam Kyung had tried just a little harder, she could have created a monster like the Black Cat?
If her ability had been just a bit stronger, maybe so many citizens wouldn't have died or been hurt?
"If only I were stronger, if only I’d asked the right questions, if only I’d… Handled my ability properly…"
The ones who bear the responsibility for the failure of the Monster Weaponization Project aren’t the high-ranking government officials who pushed the plan forward.
Just a weak hero with an exceptional ability.
Only one person.
"Nam Kyung, you did your best. It wasn’t your fault that things turned out that way."
"You’re still so kind, Anna… Just like Ho-young. Both of you lost someone precious because of me, yet…"
"It wasn’t because of you. Neither Kage nor I blame you. Not even a little…"
"Thank you for saying that, Anna. But… You know."
Nam Kyung smiled awkwardly and pointed to her own head.
The ability to analyze and partially read others' thoughts through their power.
"I know you both resented me. That’s what this ability tells me."
Nam Kyung can read the hidden thoughts of others—thoughts they can’t bear to face.
The truths concealed behind gentle words of comfort, the unconscious feelings, all of it, vaguely.
"Sorry for reading your thoughts. Sorry for being such an unpleasant person."
"Then ask your ability how I feel about you right now. I truly don’t resent you at all."
"I know you’ve already forgiven me, and I’m grateful. But… The fact that I caused you and Hyena pain doesn’t change."
Guilt and responsibility coiled around Nam Kyung like sharp thorns.
Yoo Anna realized that no words could comfort Nam Kyung and felt crushed by helplessness.
Meister forced a smile, stepped out of the elevator, and lay back down on the bed-shaped drone.
"Then, Anna, I’ll ask about what kind of monster the Black Cat is."
"Rest a little first."
"I can’t. I need to finish the schedule quickly so I can ask about your ability again. I recently found out that if I use my ability while on stimulants, my processing power improves slightly. This time, maybe I can handle the amount of information about your ability—"
"I don’t need that, just—!"
"Let me do this much for you, at least. It’s fine, I’m used to it."
Meister closed her eyes as if fleeing from Yoo Anna.
Exhausted as always, Meister fell asleep almost immediately.
The pulsating wavelength of her ability made Yoo Anna sigh as she operated the drone.
"This is Starlight. Moving out."
After reporting, Yoo Anna set the unmanned vehicle in motion and quietly looked down at the sleeping Meister.
An ability one cannot handle is no different from a curse.
Yet, she continues to wield that unbearable curse out of a sense of duty.
Meister has saved man,y but has also made choices that led to the deaths of many heroes and civilians.
Trusting that the answer would help humanity, she made sacrifices.
As a result, a superpower human named Kage was created.
A hero must never fail.
They must be strong.
Incompetence is a sin.
All that remains for Meister is a desperate sense of responsibility—to atone, even if it costs her own life.
Strangled by her own ability.
"...It’s a terrible ability. Truly."
"...Cough."
The moment Yoo Anna muttered those words in frustration—
The thick scent of blood seeped out with a cough.
Remembering the situation, Yoo Anna hastily stood up and checked Meister’s condition.
Thump, thump—the irregular pulse of her ability, the veins bulging on her pale face.
Ability overload.
"Ugh, kuh…!"
"Nam Kyung, snap out of it! Nam Kyung!"
Yoo Anna slapped Nam Kyung’s cheeks, trying to wake her, but the situation only worsened.
Blood foamed at her throat, her heart faltering under the strain of excessive computation.
Meister’s ability wouldn’t stop.
"Electress! Get to the vehicle now!"
[What… No way—?]
BAM! Electress burst into the moving vehicle, flinging the rear door open.
Seeing the blood gushing from Nam Kyung’s mouth and her fading heartbeat, Electress didn’t hesitate—she clasped her hands and adjusted her ability.
"Move! Starlight!"
"Wait, her airway’s still blocked!"
"Hurry!"
Yoo Anna tore open Meister’s clothes while Electress placed her palms below her chest.
ZAP! An electric shock stimulated the heart, causing blood to gush from her mouth.
[What’s happening?! Breaking formation—!]
"Shut the hell up and focus on coordinating! If the road gets blocked even for a second, you’re all dead!"
"Nam Kyung… Nam Kyung, wake up…! HQ! Prep the treatment room! Now!"
"You damn brat! If you die, I swear—!"
Yoo Anna, trying to prevent Meister’s rapidly cooling body from dropping further, sucked the pooled blood from her throat and spat it out.
With every shock Electress delivered, Meister’s body convulsed.
Each time, the ability’s output surged, veins bulging on her forehead.
"No, this is…"
Yoo Anna’s hero intuition flashed through her mind.
Ability overload—a brain unable to handle the computations, a heart unable to supply the energy needed.
Every time Yoo Anna adjusted her body temperature and Electress delivered a shock, that energy was being used for computation.
Using others’ abilities as fuel, burning her own brain.
"Electress, stop the shocks."
"Are you insane?! If this brat dies now, we’re both screwed!"
"We’re trying to save her, so stop! Now! Perform CPR manually!"
To save Meister, they couldn’t use their abilities.
Hearing Yoo Anna’s order, Electress—guided by the same intuition—widened her eyes.
"I—I don’t know CPR!"
"Then move!"
Yoo Anna shoved Electress aside and pressed down on Meister’s chest with both hands.
Basic emergency measures—no abilities.
As the tense moments passed, the vehicle arrived at HQ, where soldiers swarmed in panic.
"Meister!"
"What—what are you doing?!"
"Electress, was this your doing?!"
"Step back! Starlight! How dare you lay hands on Meister?!"
The soldiers blocking the rear of the vehicle aimed their weapons after seeing the blood and torn clothes.
Immediately, Electress unleashed lightning, paralyzing them and destroying their weapons.
"You insane bastards! Useless normies, stay the hell out of the way!"
"One, two, three, four…"
"Telekinetic! Over here! Now!"
"No! Don’t use emission-type abilities!"
"Move!"
At Electress’ command, the hero, gathering telekinetic force, halted, and Iron Might entered the vehicle.
With the strength of his trained body, Iron Might lifted the bed-shaped drone carrying Yoo Anna and Meister. Alongside other heroes, he rushed toward the treatment room at a speed far surpassing the drone’s.
Upon arrival, the waiting doctors nervously grabbed their equipment.
Defibrillator pads attached to Meister’s body, electricity—untainted by abilities—jolting her heart.
The sound of suction clearing the blood from her throat, the gradually stabilizing heartbeat—Electress and Yoo Anna exhaled in relief.
Then, the trembling soldiers approached, scowling.
"Performing CPR on Meister?! Do you know how many ribs you must’ve broken?!"
"Electress, why didn’t you use electric shocks?!"
"Even in an emergency, how dare you touch Meister without reporting to us first—?!"
"Starlight! Why did you oppose the telekinetic moving Meister with her ability?! We’ll formally protest this!"
"Stop the surgery now! We can’t trust W-City!"
"Just as we thought—trying to assassinate Meister for Kage’s power! Ugh…! Gah…!"
Non-superpower humans cannot sense what superpower humans feel.
They couldn’t intuitively grasp why abilities had to be stopped, nor would they understand even if explained.
Resentful that the heroes they once commanded as tools now act beyond their control.
Without a word, Electress released her ability, knocking out the noisy soldiers.
"Ah, damn these fucking bastards…"
This time, Yoo Anna didn’t stop her.