88
Ch.88 Medicines and Bottles
The moment Meister opened the vacuum-sealed pack, an unbelievably delicious smell exploded inside the treatment room.
The tender-looking flesh, the rich aroma, and the glistening fat made Sagugu’s wide-open eyes refuse to blink.
Chomp chomp chomp chomp! Unable to resist the smell, Sagugu snatched the tuna from Meister’s hand and devoured it at an incredible speed.
“Whoa!”
“Myaaaah?! Nyaaang nyah nyah!”
[The purpose is, well…]
The sheer delight, incomparable even to dakgalbi.
Without realizing it, I gulped down my drool, just as Meister pulled out another piece of smoked tuna.
“U-um, Black Cat, would you like some too?”
“Ooooh…!”
This… This. What in the world?!
How could such food exist in this world? Is this really tuna?
The perfect balance of saltiness, the deep flavor of the soy sauce marinade melting softly in my mouth.
Wide-eyed, I finished the tuna and licked my lips before speaking.
[I’ve never had anything like this in W-City. Is this only available in A-City?]
“Ah… Yeah. Unlike W-City, A-City has a big river, so it’s easier to farm fish like this.”
[I see.]
“More!”
“Sorry, there’s no more. I only brought enough for myself…”
“Liar! Give me the bag! It’s so delicious, give it to me!”
[Behave yourself.]
“Behave!”
Slap! The moment I repeated what Gu Seo-ryong used to say, Sagugu flopped onto the floor.
Placing a paw on Sagugu’s back, I continued the conversation that had been briefly interrupted by the tuna.
[That was delicious.]
“Dakgalbi? Want more.”
“There isn’t any left, sorry… Is human food really that tasty? Is that why you’re friendly to humans—because you eat their food?”
[So, the original purpose is—]
“But that’s weird. There’s nothing special about cooking, and feeding monsters pre-made food has never made them behave before.”
[It’s related to the experimental subjects…]
“Experimental subjects? So you can talk because you’re an artificially created monster?”
“Tuna! Looking for dakgalbi!”
“Where were you made? What was the purpose…?”
Chaos. Everyone just kept talking over each other. I paused the conversation for a moment.
Sagugu’s a monster, so it’s understandable, but is Meister like this because of her ability?
This feels less like a conversation and more like gathering information by interrogating the ability.
[Shut up.]
“Myaaah!”
First, I covered Sagugu’s mouth with my paw—it wasn’t helping at all.
Just that alone made the chaotic atmosphere instantly calm.
[My goal is to find out where I was created and what their purpose is. The reason I don’t attack humans is simply because I dislike doing so.]
“If we can figure out why you dislike it, maybe we can create a world where humans don’t have to fear monsters… Ah, but is it weird to ask a monster something like this?”
[If you’re curious about the experimental subjects, ask your ability. Right now, my goal comes first. There’s something in your bag related to the lab that created me and this one.]
“In my bag…? Something related to artificially created monsters?”
[Hand it over.]
After a brief explanation—just enough to satisfy some curiosity—Meister finally listened and frantically rummaged through the bag.
“Is it this?”
[No.]
“Then this?”
[Use your ability to ask what I’m looking for.]
“I, uh, can’t do that anymore…”
[Why not?]
“If I push it any further, I’m already on the edge… I’ll overload.”
[You’re the weakest superpower human I’ve ever seen.]
The ability itself sounds ridiculously powerful, but with a user like this…
Feeling even gloomier, I gave Meister an order.
[Keep the bag open and stay still.]
“Huh? Like this?”
I’d already seen several times how items were retrieved from this bag, which used some unknown technology to expand its interior space.
Using telekinesis to scan inside, I picked up the object emitting the scent I’d been searching for.
What emerged was a pill bottle.
[What’s this?]
“That’s… Uncle Yeo Woon-jae’s medicine…”
[Quake?]
That’s a name I hadn’t heard since childhood, before I was taken to the lab.
One of the superpower humans from the early days of the monster era—Quake, Yeo Woon-jae.
Back then, he was known as one of the strongest superpower human alongside the genius called Meister.
“He said the medicine wasn’t working well and asked me to analyze what additional ingredients it needed… Why would this be…?”
[What kind of medicine is it?]
“It’s a physical enhancer. Uncle’s gotten older, so his regeneration has weakened, and he’s suffered a lot of injuries… Without this, he even struggles to walk.”
[Hmm.]
Considering I hadn’t heard Yeo Woon-jae’s name since coming to W-City, he must’ve retired by now.
A retired hero, injured and dependent on medicine that carries the scent of the lab.
Suddenly, thoughts of Gu Seo-ryong and Experimental Subject Number 3 flashed through my mind.
[Brainwashing.]
The lab could easily produce brainwashing drugs.
The method Gu Seo-ryong uses requires regular doses of medication.
If a human takes the medicine directly, all it would take is tweaking the contents to brainwash them effortlessly.
“Brainwashing? Uncle Yeo Woon-jae? With drugs? But there’s nothing like that in this medicine!”
[It wouldn’t be in this batch.]
“Th-then… Why would they target Uncle?”
[They probably want to use him as a weapon.]
First, create a less effective version of the medicine he needs, then manipulate the ingredients when producing the next batch.
It’s a trick even a cat could figure out.
Is the lab planning to brainwash and exploit a hero?
I don’t know their goal, but if all they need is a powerful weapon they can control, brainwashing a hero would be much faster than creating monsters.
“Again… Because of me… Ugh, uuuuh…”
Then, Meister began crying, overwhelmed by deep sorrow.
Meanwhile, Sagugu, stimulated by the intense emotions, drooled hungrily. I pressed down firmly on her head.
[What do you mean, because of you?]
“If I… If I hadn’t analyzed it… Uncle Yeo Woon-jae wouldn’t have been… Brainwashed…”
[It’s not confirmed to be brainwashing. Yeo Woon-jae himself might be directly involved with the lab.]
Brainwashing is just a strong possibility. A hero of Yeo Woon-jae’s caliber might’ve willingly partnered with the lab.
At that, Meister unconsciously shook her head.
“That’s impossible… A group that brainwashes heroes to use them, or one that creates monsters—neither is the kind of organization Uncle would work with.”
Do they have a reason to think that?
Convinced that Yeo Woon-jae was a victim, Meister wiped away tears and pulled out a phone, about to call someone.
[Who are you calling?]
“Uncle… No, Ho-young. I have to warn him. Someone might be trying to brainwash heroes using a different method than the parasites in D-City. Maybe even the parasite monsters!”
[Do that, and the lab will notice and go into hiding.]
“But then Uncle will—!”
[If he’s brainwashed, the lab will find out the moment you contact him. Even if he isn’t, they’ll still notice.]
“Ah…”
Finally realizing how foolish her actions were, Meister lowered the phone.
[Don’t interfere. Stay still and do nothing.]
“…Hah.”
Like opening a blocked door, a thick wave of despair and fear instantly spread.
Judging by her emotions, Meister would likely stay quiet as I instructed.
[I’m done here. I’m taking this.]
“Nyaah!”
“Ah—! W-wait!”
Using telekinesis, I pocketed the medicine and grabbed Sagugu by the scruff.
Just as I opened a spatial rift, Meister stopped me, as if she still had something to ask.
Even if I didn’t answer, she’d probably use her ability to find out.
As I stepped through the rift, Meister’s voice faded away behind the closing space.
***
“More tasty food! Still not enough!”
“Sagugu.”
“Myaaaahk!”
On the empty rooftop, now in human form, I punched Sagugu in the head.
Hitting her in monster form would be too lethal.
Thud! With just the right amount of force, I made her nose and eyes bleed. Sagugu bowed her head for a moment before immediately standing back up.
“Brother hit me! It hurts! Why hit me?”
“Because you’re a bad cat.”
“Sagugu is a good cat? Didn’t do anything bad?”
“You act too recklessly.”
Annoyed by Sagugu’s mischief, I warned her not to do it again.
But instead of obeying as expected, Sagugu responded with a voice full of resentment and sadness.
“Reckless? Brother is the reckless one! Brother doesn’t come home! Doesn’t stay with Sagugu! Eats tasty food alone!”
“Hmm…”
“Brother is a liar!”
Enraged, Sagugu let out a Hiss!, kicked me, and ran away.
Whoosh, whoosh. Watching Sagugu leap through space to escape, I stood still.
The brother Sagugu mentioned must be Number 444, the one I ate.
Did she always miss being together with her brother?
Maybe the reason she left Gu Seo-ryong and ran around outside was to look for me.
I don’t think of Sagugu as a little sister—she’s just a nuisance. But to prevent it from acting out like this again, I might need to meet her occasionally and placate her.
Or… I could just kill her and avoid the hassle.
“…I’ve become a little more like a monster.”
Tch. The thought left me feeling complicated. I reverted to my monster form and opened a rift toward where Gu Seo-ryong should be.
But then, the exit of the spatial tunnel suddenly curved downward on its own.
Thud! Smashing head-first into the ground, I frowned. Something felt off.
Testing spatial manipulation again, it worked fine this time.
Was it just a mistake because I was distracted by Meister, Sagugu, Yeo Woon-jae, and everything else?
This time, I successfully leaped to District 4. Stopping in a secluded area, I called for Gu Seo-ryong.
Emitting the same wavelength as during courtship, it wasn’t long before Gu Seo-ryong appeared, looking excited.
“I didn’t call you to mate.”
“I know, I know, but huu♥ it’s hard to resist…”
“Next time, I won’t call you like this. Come on your own.”
“So mean. This is my joy we’re talking about.”
Sitting cross-legged on her tail, which had transformed into a chair-like appendage, Gu Seo-ryong pouted.
“So? Did you steal it already? Where’s the item?”
“I didn’t steal it.”
“What?”
“Meister woke up while I was searching. Asked directly, and she told me.”
“And she just gave it to you? And told you?”
I tossed the pill bottle. Gu Seo-ryong caught it, frowning.
“This feels so weird… I’m out here struggling desperately, and you just waltz in and get everything you want every time?”
“You’re just weak.”
“Well… At least you got it. So? What is this? You said she told you.”
“It’s a pill bottle containing Quake’s medicine.”
“Quake? That old man from A-City?”
Gu Seo-ryong immediately opened the bottle at the word medicine.
Picking one of the few pills inside with a sharp claw, she examined it before placing it on her tongue.
“Meister and Quake… Both are just relics from the previous generation of heroes. Their active period overlaps with when you were taken to the lab. But Quake being connected to the lab…?”
“I suspect they’re attempting brainwashing through medication.”
“Oh? Meister? Well, that would be the most likely… But this isn’t a brainwashing drug.”
“It wouldn’t be in this batch. I think the lab would first provide a less effective version, then add the drug when making a new batch.”
“Hmm… That’s just your assumption, right? You don’t know much about medicine.”
Crunch, crunch. After chewing the pill, she spat it out and rinsed her mouth with her own saliva.
“To pull that off, you’d need a drug with two opposing effects. Brainwashing requires sedation. This is a neural activator—more like a stimulant.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Heroes need extremely potent drugs for them to have any effect due to their high regeneration. And drugs that strong naturally resist opposing properties…”
“Explain simply.”
“This medicine doesn’t brainwash—it does the opposite. It boosts neural activity to increase mental resistance. Even if you added brainwashing drugs to this…”
“Wouldn’t it matter if they just give him a different medicine?”
“At this concentration, he probably can’t function without it. If you changed it… He’d notice immediately, don’t you think?”