Babysitter
The baby stared right through me.
What could there possibly be to stare at so intently?
Right now, my face only had the bio mask made from blood. I figured it was terrified of the tentacles from the Infiltration Core for sure.
But what was the reason it was gazing at my bio mask with such bright, sparkling eyes?
Was it lonely because no one was playing with it, so it had been crying out of sadness?
I dismantled the bio mask for now. There was no reason to keep up the act even with a baby like this.
The blood forming the bio mask seeped back into my body.
I could have just scattered it on the floor, but with the baby right under my face at the moment...
The baby saw my changed face and broke into a beaming smile.
Ugh. So cute. How long has it been since I last saw a baby?
I rarely even went to see relatives' kids when they were born.
Unless I had spare time, they were usually too far away to visit easily.
Time passes, and before you know it, the first time you meet those little cousins is around age five. By then, they're overflowing with energy and impossible to handle.
Sure, five-year-olds are still cute, but they can't compare to the unique charm of a newborn.
Alright, until we find its mom, I'll specially look after it.
But first, maybe satisfy a little selfish urge?
I poked the nameless baby's cheek again. The first time, I'd thought it was some fake imitation and focused solely on distinguishing it, so I couldn't enjoy it.
That's the real fun with babies—poking here and there, just enough not to annoy them!
Poke too much, and you never know when they'll burst into tears.
Thankfully—or fortunately?—the baby's face didn't scrunch up.
On the contrary, it seemed to think I was playing with it, smiling broadly and starting to wriggle its body.
"Ah-woo..."
The baby reached out and grabbed my hair.
Then it yanked hard.
My head bobbed along with the baby's flailing hands. The pull on my scalp was no joke.
This kid's got some serious strength. Is it a boy, maybe?
I played along with the baby's hair-tugging for a while.
Eventually, whether its grip loosened or it got bored, the baby let go of my hair.
"Ah-boo, ah-woo."
The hand that had been clutching my hair now rubbed at its eyes.
Already sleepy? We just met.
No helping it. Guess I have to pat its back until it falls asleep.
One hand under its butt, the other supporting its neck.
Newborns have heavy heads and weak neck muscles, so supporting the neck is crucial!
I leaned the lifted baby's head against my chest and gently patted its back.
Singing lullabies isn't my thing, so this'll have to do.
It hadn't even been a few minutes before I heard soft, steady breathing. It fell asleep faster than expected.
There's one essential thing to do with a sleeping baby.
Lightly tapping its tightly clenched fingers.
If it wakes, just soothe it back to sleep.
It might cry a bit, but at this age, everything's cute and lovable—even the wailing.
Of course, doing this for weeks or months on end would wear anyone out mentally, but a short stint like this? Piece of cake.
I gently set the sleeping baby down.
I lightly stimulated its fingers peeking out from the blanket.
The fisted hand relaxed just a bit. I slipped my finger into the gap.
The baby gripped my finger tightly, like it had been waiting.
Yeah, this is what I wanted to try again at least once.
It's amazing and adorable every time. Even asleep, stimulate the fingers and it'll grab on instinctively.
Ugh, too cute—my brain's melting.
I know it'll wake up, but I just want to munch on those cheeks or pinch them silly.
Carlos raced toward the center.
Cadavers swarmed endlessly ahead of him, but it was no big issue.
They couldn't keep up with his speed, and even if they blocked his path, a single shot from the Finisher dispatched them easily.
Carlos reached the Infiltration Core's center without major incident.
A faint black smoke rose from the site.
Carlos approached and checked the smoldering embers.
Almost everything had burned away, but amid the ashes, traces of a uniform caught his eye.
Someone was here?
The uniform proved the burned figure was an inspector. Burning it instead of devouring it suggested the killer had at least minimal intelligence.
Carlos skirted the ashes and ventured deeper. A massive hole yawned openly, as if welcoming him.
Questions swirled, but his next action was clear.
Whatever had torched the inspector—or the Infiltration Core's weakness—awaited inside.
His decision was swift. Without hesitation, Carlos leaped into the hole.
The cave inside was spacious enough to navigate.
Only faint light filtered through cracks in the ceiling.
Relying on that dim glow, Carlos advanced slowly.
Each step echoed through the cave.
Taking comfort in his own footsteps, how far had he gone?
"Ah-boo, ah-wooo!"
A sound echoed. Not what Carlos expected.
It was unmistakably a baby's cry. Nothing so out of place in these deep caves.
He steadied his breath and raised the Finisher, finger on the trigger, ready to fire.
The cries grew louder. His gun barrel naturally aimed toward the source.
One step from the end, Carlos peered beyond the fork.
The baby's wails leaked from there. The light beyond was unusually bright.
Carlos stepped forward decisively. Light flooded his eyes in an instant.
It wasn't too intense. His eyes adjusted in a blink.
But.
Carlos froze, unable to move. The scene before him was too alien; his judgment stalled.
"How are you... alive?"
'It' had its back turned. Before 'it' sat the baby, giggling innocently.
A grotesque sight.
Wriggling crimson tentacles hovered near the baby, sharp teeth glinting at their tips, poised to tear into it at any moment.
Yet in this hair-trigger tension, the baby just laughed brightly.
Impossible to tell where the act ended and reality began.
Soon, 'it'—Abyss, whom he'd thought dead—turned its head.
Beyond the hood, unseen before, was vivid red skin and a grotesque mask of flesh. Transparent veins bulged across its entire body.
Whoa, holy shit—that startled me!
No, wait, why the hell is he here?
Wasn't he doing defense back at the survivors' spot?
I definitely heard nonstop gunfire!
More importantly—mask! Mask first! Thank god he turned around; if we'd locked eyes, I'd have no excuse.
I added blood to my face. The bio mask formed in an instant.
Bonus: I dyed my whole body bright red. Normally, that's overkill for looking like a generic dangerous monster... but up close, better safe than sorry!
I turned my head. Even as I prepped, I hoped it wasn't who I thought.
Amber eyes met mine. A sharp glare pierced me.
"Unbelievable. You even faked your own death."
Sorry, but I'm the one who's shocked! Why'd you have to come here of all places?
More than that, faked my death? What the hell does that mean?
"I assume you can speak. From our first encounter—targeting the weak first in cowardice, to faking death as strategy. You retain all memories from life, don't you?"
Targeting the weak? Was there a weakling in 1st Platoon? Even if there was, war has no room for 'fair play.'
Screw it, whatever. I'm just a dumb Cadaver that can't talk.
But why hasn't he shot yet? I figured he'd blast me on sight.
He's reacting intensely to my every move...
Hmm? Hmmm?
I stealthily shifted a tentacle and arm toward the baby.
No intent to provoke Carlos. Since he wasn't shooting, I planned to grab the baby and bolt.
But.
His eyes twisted viciously, body trembling all over—like he was furious!
Eh? Ehhh? Eeeeehhh?
No, total misunderstanding! This is my baby!
Uh... does that sound weird?
Right, the baby I've been earnestly protecting! Waving the tentacles is just because it likes it.
See? Cradling under the arms with my hands, loosely wrapping arms and legs with tentacles, and since its neck is weak, extra tentacles around there—the baby loves it!
"Ah-woo, ah-wooo, woo-woo!"
Hehe, look at those limbs flailing. Adorable.
See that, Carlos? I'm taking great care of the baby. With it so happy, even a stiff enforcer like you has to get it, right?
I flashed a confident smile at Carlos.
Holding out the baby like, take it if you can! Of course, it likes me too much to accept that dull uncle's touch!
My bio mask warped with my gleeful grin.
But since I rushed it, the mask's smile skewed midway, turning a bit sinister.
Oops~ Oops~ Still, the mouth's smiling, so perfect!
But why's Carlos turning paler by the second?