Chapter 138
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 138
Chapter Title: The Mayor and Edward
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Perry Evolution's laboratory had been cold.
Air mixed with disinfectant and the stench of blood. A white prison where only screams and mechanical noises echoed.
A hell where animals were carted out one by one as nameless corpses.
But this place was different.
An artificial meadow bathed in sunlight. A clear stream flowing gently.
Fresh hay scent instead of disinfectant. Drowsy bleats instead of screams filling the space.
Rabbits licking each other's fur with joyful cries.
Sheep leisurely chewing their cud.
A Golden Retriever racing around, tail spinning like a propeller.
All of them looked happy.
A paradise brimming with nothing but peace. No restraints. No pain.
It was a sight Edward had never imagined since gaining intelligence.
All the rulers he'd known were the same. Filthy. Ugly. Greedy.
Beings who wouldn't hesitate at any vile act for their own gain.
Humans had only ever tried to use Edward or eliminate him.
He'd thought Lee Garam was no different.
A dreamer absorbing Perry Evolution's remnants to conduct even more horrific experiments.
The ruler of Neo Incheon. The worst hypocrite to guard against.
But.
But.
But.
"This body... what has this body done..."
What exactly had he tried to destroy?
Who exactly had he tried to kill?
It was all a misunderstanding.
Complete misunderstandings.
Lee Garam was the hero who wiped out Perry Evolution.
A good man who rescued the test subjects and gave them a safe haven.
Yet he'd tried to kill that hero. He'd even attacked that cat, a fellow test subject comrade.
"Hardboiled Penguin... Lonely Avenger... What was all that?"
Revenge.
From the moment he'd gained intelligence and opened his eyes, Edward's world had been revenge.
That was life's entirety. His reason for being.
But if that revenge was wrong... then what was he?
Not Hardboiled Penguin. Just a third-rate villain penguin.
A dumb, blind destroyer.
Such a villain deserved fitting punishment.
Shing.
Edward raised his short wings.
Black ice aura frosted over, transforming into a sharp blade.
A cold sensation.
Hardboiled Penguins always took responsibility.
Without hesitation, he aimed his wing at his own neck.
"W-wait! What are you doing!"
Lee Garam shouted and lunged forward. But he halted after a few steps.
A thoroughly civilian stance, holding Nero out front like a shield against any potential threat.
"Ah, no, it's fine! It's fine!"
His voice shook with panic. A penguin attempting suicide was a sight he'd never seen in his life.
"I'll forgive it all! Yeah! I forgive you!"
"Forgive... me?"
Edward's voice echoed hollowly.
"I terrified the citizens of Neo Incheon. I destroyed this city. And you offer forgiveness?"
"It's not my money anyway! It's all taxes! The citizens will pay it! So it's fine!"
"Why? This body tried to kill you. How can you forgive someone who tried to kill you?"
Edward fell into confusion. After committing such horrors. How could forgiveness even be possible?
Lee Garam took another step closer.
"Because you're a penguin!"
"......What?"
"It's okay because you're a penguin!"
Kkieak?
Edward was at a loss for words.
Myaow-
Even Nero let out a low, pitiful meow.
"...You understand... me?"
Edward's voice trembled faintly.
"Yeah. I get it."
His rage. His hatred for the powerful. All that pain. He understood it all?
"Yeah! I get it!"
Lee Garam nodded vigorously.
"I always wanna terrorize city hall too. Yeah. That rotten lady secretary torments me every day. Total devil. Devil."
"......"
Edward's eyes lost focus once more.
The direction of that "understanding" was way off.
"You want to acquire... a powerful penguin esper... turn him into Neo Incheon's secret weapon..."
Yes, it had to be that. Just like every other ruler.
"......Right?"
But there was no conviction in his voice.
It trailed off weaker and weaker.
"Nah. I just like penguins."
"Liar!"
Edward shouted.
"Where's your proof? Proof!"
"Proof? If it's proof..."
He suddenly spun around and dashed to a nearby makeshift shed.
He struggled to wrench open the rattling container door.
What Lee Garam dumped onto the ground was easily dozens of penguin merchandise items.
Penguin plushies lined up by size. Mugs printed with penguin faces. Slippers shaped like penguin feet. Even a penguin-shaped fish bread mold.
"This one's limited edition. You have no idea how hard it was to get. And this? Direct from Japan. Shipping cost more than the item. Oh, this is my fave—Mecha Penguin figure. The detail's insane, right?"
Lee Garam beamed like a kid, proudly showing off his collection.
Kkieak...
Edward stared back and forth between the mountain of penguin merch and Lee Garam's beaming face.
Revenge. Conspiracy. Violence. Hypocrisy.
Every word that had defined his world melted away, powerless before this childish, pure scene.
"And."
Lee Garam suddenly lowered his voice, face turning serious.
"No matter what, killing a penguin is an unforgivable crime. Even if it's a penguin doing the killing."
Lee Garam extended his hand cautiously.
"So quit beating yourself up."
His fingertip pointed to the empty penguin enclosure.
"See? That's your spot too."
In truth, Lee Garam still hadn't grasped the situation.
He couldn't understand a thing.
Even so. One thing was crystal clear.
That penguin was sad.
So. No need to force understanding. Just accept it.
That was Lee Garam's way.
Myaow-
Nero nodded along from his feet.
A resigned meow, like don't sweat it—owner's always been this way.
That sound was the signal.
Woof woof!
Hiiing-
Baaaa-
Quack quack!
Prrrooo-!
All the animals around raised their voices at once.
Blending their cries into a single harmony.
Come on. Live with us. You're not alone.
Edward let his frozen wings droop.
Lonely nights swimming solo through pitch-black seas.
Time endured clinging to revenge as his sole compass.
He'd thought the world brimmed with enemies.
Believed every human greedy, every power corrupt.
But.
'But maybe... I was the one who was wrong.'
Were there good people in the world?
Was a life beyond revenge possible?
A faint, warm hope sprouted—that maybe he could end his wandering and settle down.
"Yeah! It's okay 'cause you're a penguin!"
Lee Garam grinned in satisfaction.
The joy of landing an S-rank penguin lit up his face plainly.
Lee Garam reached out to pat Edward's head.
That instant.
Crack-!
Edward's beak snapped reflexively at the back of his hand.
"Ow! That hurts!"
Lee Garam clutched his hand and hopped in place.
"Argh! Penguin bit me! It poisonous? Am I dying? Seria! Seriaaa!"
Meow...
Nero licked the back of his hand with a pitiful look.
Kkieeek!
Edward flapped his wings furiously.
"How dare you touch this body! This body isn't a pet! I am the Emperor of Antarctica! Hardboiled Penguin!"
With those words, Edward turned and waddled off.
Waddle waddle.
"Hey! Wait! Penguin! Where ya going? I'll give ya fish!! Herring! Mackerel! Tuna too! Don't run! Fight me!"
Lee Garam's desperate shouts faded into the distance.
Not fleeing.
Just heading back to where he belonged.
Waddle. Waddle. Waddle.
A penguin dashing through the city center.
"Huh? It's a penguin!"
"Real penguin."
"Now penguins stroll the streets too."
Citizens stared in surprise—or with astonishing indifference.
Edward quickened his pace.
Ran forward, eyes fixed ahead.
One destination.
Home.
*
Neo Incheon Grand Park.
The aquarium, nearing closing time, was deserted.
Im In-ah paced anxiously in front of the penguin enclosure.
Then, a familiar silhouette appeared from afar.
Waddle. Waddle.
It was Edward.
He approached slowly, his gait regaining its usual haughtiness.
"Welcome home."
Im In-ah smiled and pulled a dried herring from her pocket, offering it.
"I'm back."
Edward murmured softly.
"Not hurt... I'm so relieved."
Im In-ah laughed and gently hugged Edward.
Warmth.
Edward didn't resist.
He simply nestled silently in her arms.
But. Hold on.
Im In-ah's stroking hand paused for a moment.
She slowly pulled back, eyes widening.
"Huh? Edward? Did you... did you just speak?"
Toward her shocked face, Edward replied in a perfectly cool voice.
"Took you long enough?"
"Eeeeeek??"
Im In-ah's scream echoed through the aquarium.
Edward swiftly snatched the herring from her stunned hand.
He held it slanted in his beak like a cigarette.
Fishy sea scent.
Waddle waddle.
Edward waddled toward the penguin flock as if nothing had happened.
His figure vanished into the dozens of penguins in an instant.
'This is my home.'
Revenge was over.
'Now I can just live as an ordinary penguin.'
Sky dyed red.
Distant sea.
Beyond it, Antarctica.
A place to return to someday.
But not now.
Right now, Neo Incheon was home.
Edward crunched and swallowed the herring he'd held like a cigarette in his beak.
'Hardboiled... just occasionally from now on.'