#243 The Tailor Who Defies Heaven
"Th-this can't be..."
Peter Elder was so shocked that I'd tamed a monster that he could barely string words together. But come on, I was just being me. Was that really such a big deal?
"Anyway, I won the bet. From now on, you have to grant me one wish, Peter."
"...Yes."
"Pardon?"
"How did you tame the Siren?! Please tell me! How on earth?!"
"Hm?"
Desperation etched across Peter Elder's face. What was this? It wasn't quite the reaction I'd expected.
"Please! I beg you, tell me the method!"
"....."
Peter Elder pleaded with me earnestly. Older folks usually don't listen well or ask for favors easily, thanks to all the years they've lived. But he was different. He bared his true self to me, begging for the secret to taming monsters.
What on earth had happened to him?
"...This isn't the place to talk. Let's move somewhere else."
We rode the Siren to her nest on the island. She clutched the corpse of the monster Zephyr in her talons and soared into the sky.
The boat was smashed beyond recognition, so getting back to Dark City meant either riding the Siren—which would cause a huge scene—or using my Gravity Dominator superpower, which was too much hassle. Plus, this was a golden chance to turn Peter Elder, who'd lost the bet, into a genuine follower instead of just forced labor.
I couldn't pass it up.
"Whoa, what the hell is all this?"
Arriving at the Siren's island, I couldn't stop gawking. Even the smallest trees towered over 20 meters, and the mystery fruits hanging from them were way bigger than my head. Insects crawling on the bark and animals ambling about were several times larger than anything in Dark City. It felt like I'd time-slipped into prehistoric times.
"This is where you live?"
[Yes, Master! This is my nest!]
As I marveled at the surroundings, the Siren proudly stretched her neck and hummed a little tune. Her body was mountain-sized, but her actions were like a baby bird's. She'd seemed grotesque during our fight, but now that she was mine, every move felt adorable.
Ugh, my mischievous side is kicking in!
Watching her so happy suddenly sparked a naughty urge to tease her.
"Your master slaves away breathing exhaust fumes, and here you are, living it up in this fresh-air paradise all alone? And this island isn't even yours. You're squatting illegally, you little shit."
[Uh, u-uh... S-sorry, Master...]
She didn't realize I was joking and shrank back like she'd never been happy at all, slamming her head to the ground in submission. No wonder I called her a total nerd. So adorably nerdy.
[Sob... Sorry, Master... I was wrong... Don't hit me... Waaah...]
"Wh-whoa? Hey, are you crying? Ack! Incoming water bomb! Stop crying!"
[Waaah... Hic... S-sorry, Maaaster... Waaah...]
Suddenly, Siren started shedding tears like chicken droppings—no, more like dinosaur turds, massive globs plummeting from above. I dodged frantically while rushing to soothe her.
"I said stop crying! I was just teasing because you're cute. Cut it out! Keep bawling and I'll spank you for real!"
[Sob... I won't... Waaah...]
After some cooing and petting, she finally stopped. What a giant baby she was. No more mean pranks from me.
"Unbelievable... You really tamed the Siren..."
Peter Elder looked shocked again at our interaction. Siren laughing and crying at my every word clearly showed she served me.
"Sigh... My bad for teasing. Sorry about that, Peter. Anyway, shall we talk now? We've got a lot to cover."
"Yes."
"No one around to eavesdrop here, so let's chat."
"....."
Peter sat as I plopped down on the ground.
"You want to know how to tame monsters?"
"Yes. Please tell me. I beg you."
"Ooh."
He really needed this. Peter bowed his head stiffly in plea.
"First, tell me why. Why do you need to tame a monster?"
"Well..."
He hesitated long, then opened his mouth with resolute determination.
"Actually, there's something I haven't told you, Steel Armor."
"What?"
"I'm... a superpowered individual."
"I knew that."
"What? H-how? Did you investigate me?"
He jumped in shock, eyeing me suspiciously.
Was this guy senile? He couldn't remember?
"Investigate? Don't you recall? You used your power in front of me last time."
"Me? When..."
"When your suit got torn. You didn't use it directly on me, but you told me to wait, went inside with the suit, and came back in under ten minutes, good as new. That's superpower use, plain as day. And you did it twice."
"....."
Once when Kane sliced the sleeve, once after the Siren wrecked it. Total twice. Remembering, Peter sighed and rubbed his forehead, realizing his blunder.
This guy was surprisingly sloppy.
"Sharp eyes. Yes, I used my power then."
"It's not sharp eyes; you're just sloppy..."
"Ahem! Anyway, you knew I had powers, but not what they are."
He spun his slip-up as my keen observation. Pretty shameless.
I already know.
He thought I didn't, but wrong—I did.
"So why the suspense?"
I had to play dumb. Explaining my Superpower Analyzer was a hassle.
"My power... creates monsters."
I heard Peter Elder's power for the first time today. First time. First time...
"...Creates what?"
I brainwashed myself internally for natural acting.
"I can create monsters, and long ago, I did."
"Whoa! That's amazing! Creating monsters! Wow!"
"....?"
He tilted his head at my reaction. What? Perfect acting!
"Go on."
"Yes. I created one once, and it attacked me—the monster I made myself. I nearly died from the wounds. Such arrogant folly, defying heaven's will..."
His face darkened with deep regret and self-loathing.
"My stupidity killed so many. Neighbors who greeted me mornings, relatives visiting, innocent kids without a care... all dead because of me."
"Uh, Peter?"
"Yes."
"Two questions."
"Ask away."
"When did you create it? No monster sightings in Dark City except the Siren."
"That's..."
I knew the answer: he was over 365 years old, from ancient times. But I had to feign ignorance.
"...Of course. I created it outside Dark City."
"Outside... Got it. So you want to tame it?"
"...Yes. Though I'll end it myself."
"Huh?"
Why kill what you tamed?
"Why?"
"A past mistake. Too late, but I want to correct it."
"Then just kill it—no need to tame."
"I want to apologize first."
"Apologize? To a monster?"
"Yes."
He covered his face, voice heavy with sorrow.
"Because... I turned my wife into a monster."
Peter Ellaine. By replacing decayed muscles, bones, brains, organs with fresh ones, he'd lived over 300 years—a monster born of madness and obsession.
"Crazy bastard. Turning his own wife into a monster."
Excess is as bad as lack. Love is beautiful, but overdone, it poisons. Peter loved his wife too much. Unable to accept her death, he committed the unforgivable: reviving her with his power.
"Maybe he didn't fully grasp his own ability."
His power focused on creating monsters, but he thought it could create humans too. He just wanted to see her smile again, hold her warm hand, whisper love once more.
But his revived wife became a monster, memoryless, attacking him and massacring people before vanishing.
Defying nature to resurrect the dead—truly the act of the Tailor Who Defies Heaven.
"Fuck, I'm screwed."
I realized I was in deep shit. I'd told him I tamed Siren with these fists! Beat her down, zapped her with lightning till she begged for mercy!
Telling Peter, who'd spilled his guts? He'd kill me before his wife-monster.
"What to do."
Nothing—just tell the truth. I'd fed him enough rice cakes for a truckload; he wouldn't kill me. Not that he could.
"At least he's come to his senses late."
He never called it his "wife"—always "monster." Admitting his error, that it wasn't her anymore. He just wanted to apologize for turning her into a beast and end her suffering.
"Tch. Annoying, but no choice. Guess I'll step in."
To tame like I did Siren, you need overwhelming power. Peter lacked it.
"Suits are a pain to get."
Using him was turning into hard labor. I was too damn nice.
Lost in thought, I arrived where Siren was. She eyed dead Zephyr, drooling.
"There you are."
[Hic... Ah! Master!]
"Gah?!"
She flapped wings in greeting, whipping up a gale. Not your average beast.
"Ptoo! Damn it! Dust storm!"
[Ah! Sorry, Master...]
She folded wings hastily, peeking nervously.
[Really sorry... Are you mad? Sob...]
"Hey! Not mad! No crying! Stop!"
[Sniff... Stop!]
I soothed her quick, lest she bawl. Couldn't raise my voice at her.
"Oh, right."
While here, time for forgotten business. Standing by Zephyr's corpse, I activated the skill.
Hunter's Harvest