I'm a Super Cool Captured Butterfly!
Hello, Runi.
Hard at work again today, I see.
What brings you here today?
"Are you going to stay here today as well...?"
While I was busily flying around inside my cage to stave off boredom, a welcome face appeared outside the bars.
She had impressive dark circles under her eyes, looking as though she hadn't slept properly for nearly a month due to some headache-inducing trouble.
She's supposed to have the easiest job here.
She must have something major weighing on her mind.
"What's bothering you? We'll listen."
"Kweeeck."
Come on, tell me!
The fact that you showed up right at this moment is definitely fate. It has to be some massive worry.
If you're my assigned researcher, you should hurry up and relieve your test subject's boredom.
—We have no intention of leaving just yet. We'll be in your care a little longer.
"It's already been two months...? How much longer are you going to stay...?"
Tree and Runi completely ignored me and started talking to each other.
I know Tree can translate for me! Why isn't he passing along my words?!
—I do not know that either.
"I understand... Please make yourself comfortable..."
Runi slumped her shoulders at Tree's response and walked away.
In the end, I couldn't find out what was troubling her.
It must have been a difficult problem, probably something to do with romance.
Maybe some girl suddenly moved into the house of the guy she likes? That could be it.
I mean, there's no way Runi wants us to leave this lab.
She's the one who captured us, so she would never think that.
"Tree. Why didn't you ask what was bothering her? She looked so worried."
"Kweeeck."
—Stop teasing Runi. She looks very tired.
That's exactly why I wanted to hear her problems.
Do you really think I'm doing this just because I'm bored?
Well, half of it is, but the other half is because I'm worried about Runi!
We've been bonded for two months now, despite everything that happened.
"Wow. Has it really been two months since we came here? I wonder how Alina is doing. When can we leave?"
"Kweeeck."
—They are definitely still searching the surrounding area thoroughly, so let us stay for another two months.
Two more months?!
Two more months in this lab, where the only fun thing to do is sneak out of the cage and look at the other test subjects?
I'm so bored!
I can't even hunt, so my level is stuck.
I'm accumulating demonic energy through Emotion Devouring, but that's pointless.
Thanks to Tree, I'm never short on demonic energy anyway.
I need to evolve soon.
This is all Tree's fault!
"If I knew it would be like this, I should have escaped back then..."
"Kweeeck..."
—If we were outside, we would surely have been caught. We are only safe because this laboratory is so deeply hidden.
That's probably true.
I'm honestly curious how they managed to hide this place so well.
That must be why we haven't been caught for two months.
Aside from the boredom, they give us plenty of food, so it's actually a pretty sweet setup.
"But if they have the technology to hide a massive lab like this, why was their trap so pathetic?"
"Kweeck."
—Even if it was a primitive pit trap, it did catch us in the end. We should be grateful they set such a trap.
Is that so?
I guess it did its job since it caught us.
The pit itself was primitive, but they had a machine inside that immediately sprayed sleeping gas, so maybe Tree has a point.
You could say it was a trap that harmoniously blended primitive and cutting-edge technology.
"But is it really possible to do what they're trying to do with the experiments here? You know, extracting the power of monsters or artificially replicating it."
"Kweeeck?"
Tree paused to concentrate after hearing my question.
Using his high intelligence, he was running a simulation to see if the lab's goal was feasible.
I had already asked him this hundreds of times, but he said he ran the simulation anew every single time.
Seeing him repeat it despite having done it hundreds of times, Tree must be bored too.
—Since it succeeded in civilizations with far worse conditions than this, it is not entirely impossible, but it is still close to it.
Right?
I heard they extracted monster power even a thousand years ago.
Why can't they succeed here?
They have so many records now, and their technology is highly advanced.
—The people here are too gentle. It is impossible to succeed this way.
"What do you mean, gentle? They literally captured us and are experimenting on us."
"Kweeck?"
We were captured, and that lizard over there, who is busily licking the floor regardless of whether we talk or not, was also captured.
And yet, he calls them gentle?
The monsters in the other cages always look exhausted after their experiments.
Isn't this inhumane enough?
They're still conducting experiments, after all.
—At this level, they could proudly open a tourist attraction in human territory.
It's not like I know anything about labs that use monsters.
The news only ever mentions that these labs exist; they never explain what kind of experiments they perform.
—Do you think extracting power from us can be done with just a few drops of blood and a bit of flesh? You would have to grind up at least a thousand of the same monster before you could even hope for a chance of success.
"Then why is this lab doing this?"
"Kweeck?"
Hearing Tree's explanation raised a question.
There was no way the researchers didn't know what Tree considered common sense.
If so, what on earth was their goal?
Did they have some other motive?
But none of the researchers looked suspicious.
They just seemed to be studying as hard as they could.
—It does seem like the researchers here genuinely aim to replicate our power.
"So even you think so, Tree? It really is strange. In times like this, the best thing to do is ask directly!"
"Kweeeck."
I flew out of the cage to solve this mystery.
Since it was just an ordinary cage, I could easily slip through the gaps.
Once I started thinking something was off, everything began to look suspicious.
Besides, I keep getting this feeling that I need to get out of here quickly.
Even though I shouldn't leave yet!
"What is it...? Have you finally decided to leave?!"
"Runi, what are you talking about? Tree just said we aren't leaving. More importantly, I have something to ask you, so come over here!"
"Ah, you want me to come over... Just a moment..."
For some reason, Runi's face lit up for a second before slumping again.
She organized the research log she was writing and walked toward my cage.
Even though she had known me longer than Alina, she was far worse at understanding my words, so Tree was absolutely necessary for us to communicate.
That was why Runi always turned to Tree whenever I approached her.
"What is the matter?"
—The butterfly wants to know the goal of this laboratory.
"That...? Haven't I told you many times...?"
—You will find it easier once you just get used to it.
"Ah... We conduct experiments to replicate the power of monsters outside of their bodies. For now, our goal is to create a liquid form that contains that power."
So she's telling the truth.
No matter how I look at her, Runi is completely sincere.
Then why do I want to leave so badly?
It's been a while since my reason and my intuition have clashed like this!
Usually, in times like this, it's better to listen to intuition.
"What's the worst that could happen? If something goes wrong, we can just run away! Runi said she'd let us out anyway!"
"May I go back to work now...?"
—Well? Do you have anything else to ask?
Nope!
Even if I ask more, I'll just get the same answers I always hear.
I'm bored, so I might as well wander around.
"Why do you two always climb onto my shoulders...?"
Why else?
Flying is a hassle, so let's take a walk around the lab.
If you just sit and study all day, your body will go to ruin.
Don't you agree, lizard?
—It seems we need to go for a walk.
"Again...?"
—Hang in there.
With Tree seeing us off, Runi set out for a walk with me and the lizard on her shoulders.
Lately, taking walks around the lab with Runi has been the most fun thing to do.
Sometimes the lizard joins us, like today.
Did the lizard learn to climb onto her shoulder because it saw me doing it all the time?
It's currently licking her cheek from her shoulder.
Is that a sign of affection?
"Please don't lick me..."
Do you really think an ordinary monster would understand that?
Just sit quietly and let yourself be licked.
But this lizard really does like Runi.
Is it because she treats it well?
Runi is pretty and kind, so it makes sense to like her!
"You really get along well with your assigned monster, Runi. I'm jealous."
"Ahaha... I wish we got along just a little less..."
"But it's still cute. This lizard monster. Aren't you going to give it a name?"
"I'm not very good at naming things... Besides, it might already have a name of its own..."
"That's true. Well, I'll head back to my own experiments. Keep up the good work, Runi."
"Yes... You too..."
Runi is popular not just with us, but with everyone in the lab.
Even though she's always exhausted and slumping, she's cute, so it makes sense that she's popular!
"How on earth did you do that...? It amazes me every time I realize other people can't see you, Butterfly."
"I'm just blocking them from perceiving me. It's much less of a hassle this way!"
"Kweeeck."
Currently, aside from Runi, who captured us, the lizard is the only one in the lab who can see us.
It turns out I can use Flutter of Chaos to make people completely fail to perceive us.
Want me to do it for you too?
"As expected, I can't understand you at all when Tree isn't translating..."
That's fair.
You're a human, and I'm a monster who can't speak.
I understand!
Well, let's finish our walk!
As of this moment, Lab 82 is completely shut down.