Ability Users Are Originally Monsters
“Ability users are originally monsters.”
“What?”
The first thought that hit me upon hearing the masked man's words was singular.
‘Bullshit.’
The developers aren't lunatics. Why would they shove some weird element into a perfectly successful visual novel open-world dating sim?
They nearly tanked it once trying to cram in gacha mechanics—were they really going to pull that crap again?
For real?
In that instant, a memory flashed through my mind.
Reactions from the community I'd seen before possessing this body.
‘No way.’
A heroine or main character who dies.
A newly introduced character with a bizarre name.
One who was supposed to die but survives.
The protagonist's identity hides a secret.
The developers waged psychological warfare on the players.
The worst-case scenario satisfying every single one of those points popped into my head unbidden.
‘Was my game total trash?’
No, the devs sending me a possession letter in the first place was already peak trash behavior.
Just in case, I tossed a question at the masked man.
“What's your name?”
“Mask.”
How the hell is that a name...! More importantly, didn't he just say it properly a minute ago?
Hiding my expression, I kept the conversation flowing naturally.
“What did you mean by that just now?”
“Exactly as I said: ability users are all originally monsters.”
“...Hard to believe.”
“I didn't expect you to believe it right away.”
An ability user who can predict the future in limited ways had figured out my regression.
‘In other words, both the government and monster factions have at least one ability user who can glimpse the future like that.’
Heavy restrictions on conditions or visuals, maybe?
If I'd been a government ability user, I'd have blocked any contact between a regressor and enemy factions.
They either didn't know, or couldn't stop it.
Mask paused, observing my movements.
“May I continue the explanation?”
“Yeah.”
“There are various hypotheses about the origin of monsters.”
“Sure.”
“Particles called mana from another dimension slipped through without our knowledge, clumped together somehow, and became monsters. That's the leading theory right now.”
They'd given up on elucidating the principles of mana, abandoned any real understanding, and just guessed at the process.
That was modern humanity's limit.
Even after discovering mana as an energy source, no academic field of magic ever emerged.
Only ability users could wield mana for their powers...?
“You...”
“Ability users are the only race that can use mana, making them the same as monsters.”
“That's nonsense.”
“Ability users are born alone without parents, suddenly appearing in thin air. The government collects them.”
I fell silent.
Mask dropped another bombshell.
“The final barriers protecting humanity's cities are incredibly sturdy—even a group of Type 1 monsters couldn't dare destroy them.”
“What are you getting at?”
“If they have barriers that can't be breached, why do they periodically send out monster hunts?”
Monsters form when mana naturally clumps together.
Then ability users are the same.
“When launching expeditions into dangerous zones, why only send a tiny handful of A-rank heroes? They could just bring more people.”
Collection. They're collecting ability users born outside the city.
But.
“There's one big flaw.”
“Pardon?”
“The world outside is vast. How do you search when you don't even know where or how ability users are born? In that huge area?”
“Who said we don't know when?”
“What?”
“The alarm systems in the academy and city.”
Alarms. They blare automatically in response to monster intrusions or mana reactions.
This time it rang manually due to a glitch, but it should normally trigger on its own.
In other words, the government has ways to detect and identify mana.
And over a pretty wide range, too.
“You detect them with that?”
“Yes. And just as we can glimpse the future in limited ways, they have ability users who can do the same.”
Observe ability users being born outside via mana detection tech.
Boost accuracy with future-sight abilities.
Then send a minimal team of A-rank heroes—ones judged reliable enough to know the truth—to retrieve and bring back the newborns from outside.
Mask spoke up.
“We seek the liberation of ability users—no, Type 0 monsters.”
“...Type 0?”
“Type 3 are small animals without intelligence, Type 2 are massive monsters without intelligence, Type 1 are conceptual beings with intelligence, Type 0... human-form. That's what we named them.”
Ironic.
Type 0 monsters, superior to Type 1, are ability users. Yet most Type 0s are weaker than Type 1s. A contradiction.
Aren't monsters' goals human extinction?
Why are the more evolved ones weaker?
And why do all monsters, including Type 1s, treat Type 0s—ability users—as enemies?
‘I don't buy all of it as truth. They might've mixed in lies to pull me in.’
Hoo. I took a deep breath.
“So?”
“I'm not asking you to decide right now.”
“...Your comrades?”
“We have quite a few.”
“Who exactly?”
He hesitated a moment before speaking.
“Dana. She's one of us.”
“...I see.”
“And though I don't know the exact conditions, what she did was to strengthen your power and abilities.”
Can his foresight see that far?
No—maybe he inferred from my rapidly improving physical stats and the timing of those boosts?
Killing an academy student in front of me levels me up.
They probably have a vague idea up to that point.
‘Still, they crossed a line.’
Watching someone die right in front of you is never pleasant.
“I haven't decided yet.”
“Understood.”
A brief silence.
Our eyes met.
The one who spoke first would be the more desperate.
To recruit a regressor as an ally, they'd show every card they had.
My regression card was strong enough to design the entire game board solo.
My main body was weak, but the ability itself was off the charts.
He made an offer.
“You don't have to join us right away. We'll give you anything you need.”
“Need?”
“The drugs you mentioned earlier. We can provide them.”
Drugs. What kind?
As I tilted my head, he pulled a syringe from his pocket.
“It'll reduce the symptoms a bit.”
“...The hallucinations and auditory ones. Late question, but why'd you dose me with it?”
“A future-seer told us you'd ask for it yourself...”
“Me?”
“That's what I heard. I don't fully understand it either.”
Me neither.
Future me telling past me to inject drugs myself?
A lie?
“So what is this drug?”
“I just explained—it's for reducing symptoms...”
“No, explain precisely.”
“It's a narcotic. Hallucinations and voices fade, but it's addictive. Retired heroes with PTSD seek it out a lot.”
Planning to make me dependent on drugs with this offer?
I scowled, and he panicked with excuses.
“That's not the intent.”
“Then?”
“Just showing part of what we can provide as support...”
Hmm. Even if I don't use it, it could be handy.
If I run into enemies, I could jab it in their neck and bolt. Weapon potential.
“Any other effects?”
“Yes. The final one is temporary euphoria and heightened senses.”
Heightened senses?
“...Like restoring dulled sensations?”
“That kind. Heroes with PTSD often have impairments in hearing, sight, touch, etc.”
I rubbed my index finger and thumb together briefly.
Sure enough, sensations were faint.
Not saying I'd use it right away, but hey, free stuff—who turns that down?
Not for me, but as a tool against enemies...
“I'll take it.”
“Note that using it requires caution.”
“Hm?”
“You might lose consciousness. For first-timers, definitely.”
“Got it.”
“Then I'll...”
He turned away.
“I'm a man.”
His ability: teleport after revealing info once. Can't take others...
Handy restrictions, but still busted.
Jealous.
I slipped the syringe into my skirt pocket. Luckily, the cap was secure this time too.
Black syringe and clear one.
I lay on the ground for a bit, staring at the sky.
Clear and pleasant day.
Head was a mess, but considering the haul, it was a damn good day.
Scored drugs? Got a rough idea of the next plot?
No, no.
I saved someone.
With my own hands.
A snicker escaped me.
Turns out, becoming a hero feels pretty damn good.
Thud, thud. Footsteps approached from afar.
Ja-an's voice rang out.
“No trouble, right?”
“Yeah. None.”