Chapter 44
Chapter 44
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: The Suit Shop Owner Lied About His Age
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Peter quickly returned with the suit repaired. Whether it was his expert craftsmanship or the power of his superpower, just ten minutes after handing it over, he emerged with a suit identical to the one when first purchased.
The spot torn by that worm Kane was nowhere to be found, even if you scrubbed your eyes looking for it.
"That's the stuff."
"...Will you finally leave now?"
I changed into it right there on the spot. Maybe because I thought of it as something special, but the way it clung to my body felt noticeably different from other clothes.
In response to Peter's clearly exhausted plea, I brazenly replied.
"What about the mask?"
"...We don't have the fabric for that. Can't make it right now."
'Oh ho?'
From Peter's words, I gleaned one hint.
The suit I was wearing now wasn't made solely from Peter's superpower. So what kind of fabric did he use?
"I see. Got it. I'll come back tomorrow then."
"....."
"By the way, you look really pale. If you're tired, why not close up early today and rest?"
"I'll handle it myself. So please leave."
"Alright then, no choice. Thanks for the suit anyway. See you tomorrow."
"....."
At the mention of seeing him tomorrow, Peter grimaced like he'd eaten shit and clamped his mouth shut. The punk was putting up some resistance, but it was pointless. You're gonna work your ass off for my future anyway, you!
"....."
"What else?"
As I turned back while heading out, Peter looked tense. Staring at him, I tilted my head.
'Should I just use it?'
My second superpower, [Superpower Analyst], revealed more information based on the number of times I'd witnessed a superpower.
But even without witnessing it, I could check the status window directly with two skills: [Potluck (Active)] and [Instant Analysis (Active)].
They offered a 5% and 100% chance, respectively, to view the status window without seeing the superpower.
'Instant Analysis is too precious... but Potluck should be fine. Cooldown's only three days anyway.'
I was curious what superpower this superhuman had. I'm a nosy thirty-something!
'Alright, let's do it. Potluck has low risk anyway.'
I'd already earmarked Instant Analysis for Ji-na.
Last time I tried checking her superpower, the tutorial system ended right then. Why'd it have to end at that moment?
'Anyway, Potluck activate!'
'Fuck?! It used up my luck here?!'
Honestly, truly honestly, I thought it'd fail. Right? It's only 5%. One success in twenty tries, five in a hundred.
I figured it'd naturally flop.
But it succeeded? I feared it'd used up all my lifetime luck.
'But... what the hell is this?'
I was shocked twice.
Once for the 5% success, and the other for...
"...Huh?"
Peter Elrain was far crazier than I'd imagined.
...No, a crazy old geezer.
Esteemed Peter Elrain had lived over twelve times my age, plus five more years. Holy shit!
"Anything else to say?"
"N-No. I'll be going now, sir."
"Sir?"
Peter tilted his head. His eyes screamed, 'What's wrong with this guy suddenly?'
Whoops!
"Ah, no. I'll head out... I mean, goodbye. S-See you tom... tomorrow!"
"....."
I bolted out of Peter—no, Elder Peter's shop.
"Huh? Where are you off to, Doctor?"
"Got an appointment. You guys wrap up whenever and head home."
"Yes sir! Good night, Doctor!"
"....."
It was only 3 p.m., but the assistants were thrilled at Cruemora Doctor's early departure, though they hid it well. Who wouldn't be happy about clocking out early?
So they didn't notice Cruemora Doctor leaving without his usual farewell.
"....."
As he drove somewhere, Cruemora Doctor's face remained stiff. He kept biting his lips or nails, lost in thought.
Moments later, his car stopped on a hill with windmills spinning. A man approached as Cruemora Doctor stepped out.
"Cruemora Doctor?"
"....."
"I've been waiting. I'll escort you. This way."
He followed the man into a windmill. Beneath it was a lab where people bustled around tinkering with machines.
The man led him to Shadow Killer, who sat alone sipping coffee leisurely.
"I've brought the Doctor."
"Good. Thanks."
"Yes, then..."
As the man vanished, Shadow Killer set down his coffee and welcomed Cruemora Doctor.
"I've been waiting. I was on pins and needles wondering if you'd reject my offer."
"....."
Cruemora Doctor glared silently at Shadow Killer.
Surprisingly, he'd agonized long over accepting Shadow Killer's proposal.
It was undeniably a sweet temptation no researcher could refuse. But knowing Shadow Killer's infamous reputation made it hard to accept outright.
Would he be discarded after the research? Would Shadow Killer misuse it for crime?
Myriad worries held him back.
But Cruemora Doctor had no choice but to accept.
It wasn't the temptation. It was Shadow Killer's blackmail.
A knife plunged by his bedside, his wife's hair delivered home. She'd just gotten a trim at the salon, yet Shadow Killer knew and sent it.
Even traces around his kids and grandkids.
More shockingly, Cruemora Doctor always found them first. His family never knew Shadow Killer had been near.
He could hesitate no longer.
It was blatant blackmail: accept or your family suffers.
"...Don't ever pull that shit again. If you so much as approach my family once more, I'll notify the Hero Association immediately."
"Pardon? What shit?"
"Y-You...!"
As Shadow Killer played dumb, Cruemora Doctor fumed.
"Denying it now..."
"Ah, ahh. Must be my overzealous underlings disturbing you. My apologies. Tsk. I told them not to touch you or your family... I'll reprimand them properly."
"....."
Cruemora Doctor seriously considered reporting it to the Hero Association right then. But regret always comes too late. He'd waded in too deep.
Even if he turned back and reported now, his family would turn up cold corpses.
Between heroes and villains, villains always struck first.
"Anyway, come this way. It's just like your lab at Sanctuary Corp, right? They really went all out for you. The gear alone bankrupted us, haha."
"....."
Shadow Killer chattered as he showed the Doctor his prepared lab. True to his word, it mirrored the one at Sanctuary Corp perfectly.
"Need anything else? Just say the word. Money's no object for our dream. Oh! And those 'people' I mentioned last time."
"What is this...!"
Cruemora Doctor's eyes bulged at Shadow Killer's gesture. People of various ages and genders were caged like beasts behind iron bars.
"Wh-What the hell is this?!"
"What do you mean? Test subjects for clinical trials, obviously."
"But those are...!"
"Cruemora Doctor."
"....."
Shadow Killer stepped closer. As the featureless black face neared, Cruemora Doctor recoiled. Fear sprouted in his heart, like darkness encroaching.
"Coming here means you've accepted my offer, right? So let's ditch the human rights crap and ethics holding back science. How can science advance fussing over outdated nonsense? Huh? Our dream's right there—no need to detour."
"Th-That's..."
"Cruemora Doctor. Think only of our dream. Your conscience? It's mine since you arrived. I'll swallow all the hate—you just complete the research."
"...I'll start today."
"Perfect. These are handpicked talents. Treat 'em like assistants or guinea pigs. Plenty more where they came from."
"....."
We all face the devil's temptation.
We agonize endlessly, but most succumb. It's that sweet.
Cruemora Doctor joined the majority.
"The 'test subjects'..."
"Yes?"
"Preferably young children if possible. Younger the initial subjects, the better."
"...Hahaha. Yes. Children for test subjects it is."
At Cruemora Doctor promptly demanding people—no, subjects—Shadow Killer smiled.
They were in the same boat now.
"What the hell is this?"
I hit a cafe to calm my shock but couldn't hide the absurdity.
"365 years old? Possible? That's not human—that's a yokai!"
Peter Elrain, who looked early twenties, was actually 365. And his superpower was level 10! S-rank superhuman!
I pulled up Peter Elrain's superpower again via Superpower Analyst.
"Heaven-Defying Tailor..."
The name alone hinted at deep secrets. Checking its traits, I closed my eyes.
'Okay, up to level 5 makes sense. But...'
Why did [Monster] suddenly appear from level 6 to 9?
This world had monsters besides superhumans. But I'd never seen one. They appeared outside Dark City.
I didn't know why they stayed out or didn't attack Dark City. Officially, the [Monster Hunter Association] outside kept them at bay.
No clue even digging through Bal Jeong-nam's memories.
'[Monster Creation (Active)] and [Body Tailoring (Active)].'
Lv.9 [Monster Creation (Active)]: Create existing monsters or entirely new unknown ones using monster byproducts. Insufficient byproducts prevent use. Cooldown - 5 years.
Lv.10 [Body Tailoring (Active)]: Replace your body using monster or human byproducts. No side effects from replacement; physical abilities rise based on byproduct quality and grade. Cooldown - 10 years.
At least I knew why Peter lived so long. He'd kept swapping bodies—even heads—with Body Tailoring.
Defying heaven's decree, truly [Heaven-Defying].
But why monsters? Creating them too?
'Feels like I've touched a hidden secret of this world.'
More intriguing than my imagined plot. A smile crept up.
Unexpected, but Peter would still work for me.
I'd have him make costumes for my girls—safe and sexy.
"...Ah."
Suddenly, I realized my mistake.
I'd been high-handed because I thought he was younger. But flipping the card, he was older—way older. Great-great-grandpa's grandpa level?
Buttoned wrong from the start.
"Fuck?"
Should I bring rice cakes tomorrow?