The Patriarch's Subtle Influence
The reason I possessed a character from the evil werewolf in Under the Blue Moon and specifically went to Angel Bloodycore was because he was a good person. There were several other reasons as well, but that was the biggest one. He wasn't the type to hesitate at drinking human blood or killing, but among vampires—or rather, among all the characters in the game—he was the most understanding and adaptable. Even though he was the master who led a vampire clan, he didn't discriminate much against other species. Because of that personality, there were often times in the scenarios where I cooperated with him, and depending on the route, we could even establish a truce or form an alliance. It was the same in this reality I had possessed. He might speak harshly or show irritation, and he was often sarcastic, but he was kind to those he recognized as his own people. However.
“Fuck.”
I muttered the curse under my breath and pulled out a Silver Smoke Herb and a lighter. Just then, I saw someone approaching and quietly slipped them back into my pocket. The person who came over was that man—the one I had seen earlier while waiting for Go Yu-jin in front of the bathroom. The one who looked like Magical Girl Fresh Grape.
The man stopped a short distance away and cautiously opened his mouth.
“Excuse me. Would it be all right if I asked you something?”
Looking at him again, though, he didn’t seem that similar. At first glance he had looked almost identical… He did give off a somewhat androgynous impression, but he was still clearly different from Fresh Grape. Ugh. I felt my face heat up with embarrassment at having made such a ridiculous mistake.
I smiled awkwardly and answered.
“Sure. What is it?”
“If I want to get to the art department from here, which way should I go?”
“The art department? Oh, first head up past the parking lot, then follow this path all the way uphill. You’ll see the library along the way—turn left there. Keep going straight and you’ll reach a large building. That’s the art department. There are a lot of strange… distinctive sculptures out front, so you can’t miss it.”
I had studied the campus layout in advance, and it paid off.
“Ah! Thank you so much!”
The man bowed at a perfect ninety degrees. His extreme politeness actually made me feel guilty.
“Whew.”
He sighed and wiped sweat from his forehead.
“Thank you. I tried asking other people, but they all looked so busy I couldn’t bring myself to bother them.”
Was everyone on edge because it was exam season? Now that he mentioned it, I had noticed students desperately cramming every last letter before their tests.
I glanced at the car. Go Yu-jin sat with her arm draped over her eyes, leaning back as if she were lying down. Maybe she was irritable from the exams too.
“Oh, right—this is a smoking area. Are you holding off because of me? Please don’t mind me. I’m used to cigarette smoke. My father was a heavy smoker, so I’ve been around it since I was a child. It’s a little weird to admit, but I actually like the smell.”
He looked genuinely apologetic.
“I-is that so?”
If I stayed out here too long claiming I was going to smoke, Go Yu-jin would get annoyed. I gave him a small bow of thanks, fished a Silver Smoke Herb from the pack in my pocket, and lit it.
“Hoo.”
The man had already noticed me. Smoking the herb in front of him wouldn’t suddenly erase his awareness of my presence. So I smoked comfortably. There was a chance he might later act like he knew me in front of others, but since Go Yu-jin’s exams ended today, I didn’t need to worry about it right now.
When the herb had nearly burned down to the filter, the man spoke again.
“I’m sorry to keep bothering you… but could you repeat the directions to the art department? There aren’t any clear landmarks, so it’s hard to remember. This is really embarrassing, but if it’s not too much trouble, could you possibly walk me there?”
“Huh? Ah, I’m sorry. I can’t do that. I have an appointment. But I’ll explain it again.”
His polite demeanor made me want to help, but I couldn’t leave Go Yu-jin’s side. Even now I kept checking on her, ready to move the instant anything happened. I had no intention of letting her out of my sight except when she used the bathroom.
“Ah. I’m sorry for asking something so troublesome.”
“No, no. Let me see…”
I added several more memorable landmarks and explained the route again. The man nodded as though he understood perfectly and thanked me once more.
“Thank you. You really saved me.”
“It was nothing.”
“I’ll be on my way then. Thank you again.”
After the man left, I tossed the herb butt and returned to the car. Go Yu-jin was still lying there with her eyes covered. I sat beside her and watched to make sure the man was heading in the right direction.
“…Who was that?”
Go Yu-jin’s voice suddenly broke the silence. She had lowered her arm and was looking at me with half-lidded eyes.
“Huh? Just some stranger.”
“What did you talk about?”
“He was asking for directions.”
“Hmm.”
“Why?”
“Never mind. Let’s go.”
“…Okay.”
"How did it go?"
The man who had asked Rin for directions—Yo-un—watched Rin’s car leave the parking lot and placed a call. The other party answered after only a few rings.
"I made contact with the target."
"And?"
"As you predicted, he showed no suspicion."
"As expected. It seems the bastard can distinguish species after all."
"It appears so. I deliberately muttered to myself in front of him as if I couldn’t perceive him, yet he quickly lost interest in me. He even smoked a Silver Smoke Herb right in front of me. He doesn’t seem to find me suspicious at all."
"What about the woman?"
"It seems impossible. Even while talking to me and smoking, he kept watching the car where the woman was. I tried to draw him away from her, but he refused immediately."
"I see."
"Should I continue attempting contact?"
"No. Werewolves have keen noses. He’s already caught your scent. Reckless movement would be unwise. We wait for the right opportunity. Until the moment of execution, all contact with him is forbidden."
"Understood."
"That aside… how did he seem to you?"
"I saw no signs that he has trained in martial arts. His movements are full of openings. But are werewolves truly that strong?"
"They are. Incredibly strong. If not for their unique ferocity and exclusivity that led to tragic infighting among their own kind, they might have become the dominant species of our world."
"…Is it that bad?"
"Don’t be too afraid. A werewolf’s strength comes from transforming. Their weakness is that they must transform to be strong. In human form, a werewolf is stronger than an ordinary human but not overwhelmingly so compared to a vampire. With the skill you possess—the ability to kill a vampire with your bare hands—you should be able to win."
"……"
"We set the board. They know exactly what would happen if they went feral in the middle of the city. We strike that opening. You, Yo-un—a perfectly ordinary human who isn’t even a magician. Now return."
"Yes."
“Werewolves are strong. But they cannot reveal their true form in front of people. Unlike vampires, the moment they appear, humans instinctively recognize them as monsters. Even with a Silver Smoke Herb, that form cannot be hidden. In the middle of a city, you cannot use one hundred percent of your power.”
Leaning comfortably in his chair with both feet on the desk, the president stared at the ceiling as he spoke, then straightened his posture. He flashed us a smile, revealing pure white teeth. His sharp fangs glinted under the fluorescent lights.
“That’s what they’re probably thinking. So we will exploit that weakness. Rin.”
“Yes.”
“They are luring us in. Every time, they even hint at the next location and time. But we cannot easily reveal ourselves in places where people gather. Especially me.”
That was true. In this world, the president was a famous figure both in the shadows and on the surface. If many people were around, he could not appear easily. Moreover, as a vampire he could not act at all during the day. Most importantly, it would reveal the connection between Double Melon and Black Star. He must not show himself before the public.
“What the Samgunhoe wants is for us to raid their stage or for Double Melon to resume her activities. We will do both. And the one who will play the most crucial role in that is you, Rin.”
He had said it before. That I had to crush them. I nodded at him.
“Therefore, for the next few days, you will transform into your werewolf form at the locations I designate.”
“Pardon? What do you mean? Weren’t you the one who said werewolves cannot reveal their true form in front of people?”
“That would be true if it were a ‘real monster.’”
The president turned the monitor toward us to show what was on it. A video was queued up. The difference from last time was that previously he had shown us footage from a video platform, whereas this time a video player program was open.
“The magical girl project is essentially a show. It’s no different from an internet broadcast. Double Melon herself simply doesn’t participate in the filming.”
As he spoke, the president played the video. The scene of a city at dusk appeared. With a heavy doom-doom sound effect, text began to appear sequentially on screen.
A city that appears peaceful.
However, countless evils lurk within, coiled and waiting for prey!
Gangsters. Murderers. Drug dealers.
And—
Awooooooo— the howl of a wolf echoes.
—Monster—
A black wolf silhouette appears on screen, jaws opening wide. It makes a show of biting fiercely toward the camera.
Evil that destroys peace cannot be forgiven.
Even if the opponent is a monster with a hideous form—
She—
The magical girl—
The black silhouette appears again. From the shape of the head and the chest, it is easy to infer it is the silhouette of Magical Girl Double Melon.
—Delivers justice—
“What… is this?”
“The battles of Magical Girl Double Melon are a show. We hire actors to play the villains and stage them getting beaten for real. The production feels authentic. In any case, people all think it’s just a show. That’s why the police never show up.”
“You mean you didn’t pull strings with the police?”
“That’s not important. In any case, this is a show. All the videos they made copying us are also shows. Therefore, we will treat their show as a show and end it as a show. At least in the eyes of the public.”
Having said that much, the president turned his gaze to Go Yu-jin.
“Vacation starts today, doesn’t it?”
“Pretty much.”
“Good. Then from now on you will not take a single step outside headquarters. Instead—”
The president took out a stack of papers and tossed it to Go Yu-jin.
“You will practice for the production.”
While Go Yu-jin examined the papers, the president looked at me.
“And you will deliberately reveal yourself in front of people at the locations I mentioned earlier. Of course, there must be no actual fighting or killing. Naturally, eating hearts is also forbidden.”
The president narrowed his eyes and stared at me.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Then I’ll explain the detailed plan.”
The president’s explanation was not very long. He handed us printed copies of the plan so we could remember it. Just as we were about to leave after receiving them, he stopped me.
“Rin. Wait. I have something to say. You may leave.”
“…Yes.”
Go Yu-jin gave me a sidelong glance, then turned and left the president’s office. After her footsteps faded, the president took out a cigarette and put it in his mouth.
“How have things been lately?”
“Pardon? What do you mean?”
“With Double Melon.”
“…Well, same as always. Why do you ask?”
“Has there been any change? Has she become kinder than before, for example?”
“Kinder? It feels like her disgust has only grown deeper.”
“Hmm? Is that so?”
The president looked puzzled.
“Strange. What about you? When you look at her, what do you feel?”
“…Why are you suddenly asking this? Are you thinking of switching careers to matchmaker?”
“If you keep spending time together like this, feelings are bound to develop.”
“If it’s feelings of dislike, then yes, plenty of those.”
“Hmm. I see.”
The president placed the cigarette he had been smoking in the ashtray.
“Was that all you wanted to ask?”
“Yes.”
“Then I’ll be going.”
“If.”
The moment I turned, he added,
“If by any chance you come to have feelings for her, act as you wish. As I said before, I don’t prohibit office romance. However, if that happens, tell me. I will accommodate the two of you in various ways.”
The last sentence was filled with amusement. It was hard to tell whether he was joking or serious.
“Understood. I doubt that will happen, though.”
“Good. Then go. You must be tired, so rest well today.”
“Yes.”
After Rin left the president’s office, Angel stubbed out the cigarette that had almost burned away during their conversation and lit a new one.
‘A werewolf with the potential to become a Patriarch appears as an attractive male to females. Not just sexually, but someone they can trust and follow on a human level. If Rin possesses that quality, Double Melon would be the first to react.’
“Hoooo.”
Angel exhaled a long plume of smoke, then leaned deeply back in his chair and stared at the ceiling.
‘If Double Melon, who harbors a hatred of men, begins to change, then it’s highly likely he possesses that quality.’
He closed his eyes. And smiled faintly.