I'm a Seriously Trapped, Super Cool Butterfly!
I knew something felt off.
This is exactly why I should trust my instincts and gut feelings, not my reason.
But then again, as an intelligent being, isn't it only natural to rely on reason?
So, really, none of this is my fault.
This all happened because the tree threatened me, warning me not to go outside.
You think so too, right?
—Don't tease the poor thing. She's already scared enough.
When did I ever tease her?!
"Gwek!"
The tree used one of its branches to scoop up the lizard, which had been drooping in front of me and listening to my story.
All while making the utterly ridiculous claim that I was bullying it.
We've been getting along so well while living in this cage!
I even went out of my way to suppress the poison and acid in my wing scales so it wouldn't get hurt.
Mainly because the lizard kept licking them up.
I wonder when Runi will get here.
"Gweeeek."
—She probably had no idea, so it'll take her some time to grasp the situation.
I mean, sirens suddenly blared while we were sleeping, announcing the lockdown of the laboratory.
It turns out they dropped the announcement out of nowhere, catching even the researchers completely off guard.
Shouldn't the researchers at least be kept in the loop about this kind of thing?
Why is every single one of them running around in a total panic?
I'll go take a quick look. No one can see me except Runi anyway.
"Gwek."
—Be careful. My intuition isn't as sharp as yours, but I still feel uneasy.
Please, worry about something worth worrying about.
How could it be dangerous when they can't even perceive me?
It's not like a sweet researcher like Runi is going to spot me and scream, "There's a monster here!"
I'll still be careful. I'll make sure to bring Runi back, so stop looking at me like that.
"Gweeeek."
Leaving behind the tree and the lizard, who was staring up at me as if begging to tag along, I fluttered out of the cage.
The laboratory, which had been so peaceful when I went for a walk with Runi yesterday, was in utter chaos due to the sudden dawn announcement.
Researchers had swarmed the central plaza to figure out what was happening, and the monsters, startled by the sirens, were thrashing about. There was no way things could run smoothly.
Fortunately, as time passed, the researchers returned with dazed expressions and gradually calmed the monsters down, restoring some semblance of order.
But why isn't Runi back yet?
Ah, there she is. Runi!
I landed gently on Runi's shoulder. She was staring blankly at a massive, unfamiliar machine and a notice board erected in the center of the laboratory.
What on earth was she looking at that made her completely oblivious to my arrival?
Curious, I squeezed through the crowd of researchers—who couldn't perceive me anyway—to read the notice.
I knew it. I should have trusted my gut. I should have just dragged Runi out with me.
After reading the entire notice, the situation finally clicked.
I understood why all these researchers couldn't leave this place.
And why they had looked so utterly hollow when they returned to their assigned monsters.
Runi. Let's go back.
"Gwek."
"Ah, Mr. Butterfly... What are we going to do...?"
Only now noticing me, Runi looked on the verge of tears. I guided her back to the cage in our lab.
We needed to put our heads together to figure out a way out of this mess.
Honestly, even from my perspective, the situation was incredibly grim.
The dark truth behind this seemingly peaceful laboratory had finally been laid bare.
—Why the long face? What happened?
"Mr. Tree..."
Upon returning, Runi unlocked the cage, stepped inside, and practically collapsed next to the tree.
It was a bizarre sight—a researcher leaning on a monster for comfort—but given the circumstances, I didn't comment on it.
Even I know when to joke and when to be serious.
Though I admit the line has been getting a bit blurry lately!
—Butterfly. Can you tell me what's going on?
To put it simply, the true nature of this laboratory has been revealed.
"Gwek."
—Its true nature? What do you mean by that?
How should I explain this?
To be honest, I didn't fully grasp all the technicalities myself.
But I had to try my best to explain.
You know the ultimate goal of this laboratory? I finally figured out what it means. This place is a facility for creating Chimeras.
—What...?
They've installed a massive machine right in the center of the lab to fuse humans and monsters into Chimeras. And they didn't even try to hide it in the notice. They wrote that they will evaluate our progress every week. If we don't produce satisfactory results, they will force a fusion.
It's incredibly cruel.
To think the only reason they brought in these innocent researchers and encouraged them to bond with the monsters was for this.
Apparently, the deeper the bond between the researcher and the monster, the higher the success rate of the fusion.
And their definition of "success" was simply maintaining human consciousness, regardless of what grotesque shape the body took.
—Runi. Is it true that this laboratory was built to create Chimeras?
"We had no idea... I swear..."
—Of course I believe you didn't do this on purpose. I'm just confirming if it's true.
"Yes... It was clearly written on the notice..."
Runi looked far more devastated than her usual exhausted self.
It was understandable. Overnight, the colleagues and monsters she had happily spent her days with were thrown into mortal peril.
She was barely twenty-two or twenty-three, just a few years into adulthood.
She was a poor girl who couldn't run away and had no choice but to endure this nightmare.
—No wonder they hid this place so deep underground. There's no way they could build a Chimera research facility openly on the surface.
Because Chimera experimentation is highly illegal.
"Gwek."
Chimera experimentation was one of the very few things agreed upon by both humans and monsters, who were otherwise in a state of constant warfare.
It was an absolute taboo, strictly forbidden by both sides.
If we could just leak this situation to the outside world, it would be resolved in an instant.
But of course, they would have cut off all external communications.
Runi. Is there any way to contact the outside?
"Gwek?"
—He's asking if you can contact the outside world.
To our dismay, Runi shook her head firmly.
She must have already tried.
Her absolute certainty left no room for doubt.
"We're completely cut off... There isn't even a signal."
Of course they blocked everything.
If I were the one locking down the facility, I would have jammed the signals too.
If even a single person managed to contact the outside, heroes or monsters would storm the place in a heartbeat.
We just need to get a message out somehow... Runi, focus entirely on finding a way to do that. I'll take care of faking the research results.
—The butterfly says he'll fake the results, so please focus on finding a way to contact the outside. I ask this of you as well. If he's offering this, he must have a plan.
What should I do now?
I need to start looking for my own way out or a method to make contact.
First, I should check if the main exit is still functional.
More importantly, Runi, you're incredibly lucky you caught us.
"Gwek."
If you hadn't caught me, you would have been forced to fuse with this lizard.
Aren't you glad you didn't let me go?
If I had followed my gut and left yesterday, I might have lost you forever.
"What is he saying...?"
—He says he'll protect you, so don't worry.
Hey, tree!
Can you translate properly?
Stop twisting my words however you like!
Well, I guess the sentiment of trying to cheer her up because she was depressed fits...
Yeah, okay, you're technically right!
"Thank you... But, could I ask for one more favor...?"
No.
"Gwek."
"He said no, didn't he...? But I haven't even said anything yet..."
It was obvious she was going to ask if I could protect the other researchers too.
I could, but I absolutely wouldn't.
It would put her in danger.
The ones I've grown fond of are the lizard and you, Runi. Not the other researchers.
I know they're all good people, but the answer is no.
—That's a no.
"Could you tell me why...?"
Runi still seemed to feel guilty about not using my power to save the others.
In times like this, even if it's painful, I have to make things clear.
With my power, I could easily manipulate everyone's results. All it takes is a slight twist of their perception. But we must not do it. Do you really think it makes sense for everyone, who has barely produced any results until now, to suddenly succeed in just one week?
We absolutely cannot do it.
If someone notices the anomaly and is strong enough to resist my perception manipulation, Runi will be the one in danger.
Besides, do you think you could live with only saving a select few? Even I'm not stupid enough to think you're that kind of person.
If I only saved one or two, she would definitely blame herself, thinking she was the one who killed the others by leaving them to die.
So, from the very beginning, we shouldn't save anyone else.
Runi, you're like someone who got struck by lightning and miraculously survived alone. The others simply didn't receive that stroke of luck.
Do you have any idea how low the odds were? You caught me and the tree while we were escaping, and you just happened to be nice enough to win me over, which is why you weren't affected by my perception manipulation.
—I agree with the butterfly. If you can't save everyone, you shouldn't save anyone.
"I understand... Then, if we can just contact the outside, can we save the others?"
That, I can guarantee. If we can get a message out, we can save a lot of people.
"Gweeeek."
Because if we can just make contact, there is someone who will rush here immediately.
Someone incredibly powerful who can resolve this perfectly.