Inhuman Outing...! # 5
Inhuman Outing...! # 5
—BAM! BAM! BAM!
The woman was so beside herself with glee that she clutched her stomach and laughed out loud, and not content with that, she kicked her legs and pounded the throne.
"Ahahahahahahahahaha!"
She's even slamming her fist against the armrest. She is a literal madwoman. Every time she bangs, my heart hammers and I'm getting all jittery.
"Urk!"
She told me to lift my head, but I can't do it properly...!
I covered my ears and lay flat.
A crazy bitch like her could decide whether someone lives or dies on a whim. That's why, to me, that insane laughter sounded like an executioner's.
"Ahaha, but at the same time, I'm feeling a bit of jealousy~?"
Jealousy?
No, seriously, I'm so shocked I feel like I might faint. That glamorous woman laughing over there is definitely the Void Princess.
To think Kitty was a servant of the Void Princess! And her little sister, at that! I have no idea what her purpose was in getting close to me!
The S-rank monsterkin known as the Void Princess is the most vicious and evil monsterkin. I heard she hasn't been active lately, but in the past she rampaged around like crazy.
How many government facilities has she destroyed? How many Awakened has she killed? One look at her face and it's obvious. That woman on the throne is definitely the Void Princess herself.
She supposedly stopped her activities, but she's been up to something in the shadows after all.
And with Kitty, no less.
"Sis. You're laughing too much."
Just then, Kitty's gentle voice reached me. Hearing that voice made me feel a little relieved. Kitty is the only one I might be able to cling to.
"That's no way to treat a guest."
Was I brought here as a guest?
"Ahahaha, haa! How could I not laugh when it's this amusing? Anyway, Kitty. I saw it clearly. I heard you've been utterly smitten with a human male lately and wondered what was going on, but to think it would turn out like this... khk, khkkhkkhk! Ahh! It's just too delightful!"
—BAM! BAM! BAM!
She had tilted her head back, covered her eyes with one hand, and was kicking her legs while laughing her head off... Could she have come down with Jona-ha Disease or something? This is serious.
"You don't have anything else you want to ask Geun-cheol?"
"Hmm? I think doing anything more would only hinder my own imagination. I've seen him once, that's enough."
Imagination?
"Ah, but didn't I tell you to raise your head? I have no intention of killing you, so stop trembling. How can a man be such a coward?"
She says that, but the moment I lift my head, she might kill me...!
I snuck a glance.
So I slowly raised my head. Should I? Shouldn't I? I'm still so frigging scared I can't put any strength into my body. So I slowly moved my head and looked for Kitty.
"...!"
The second my eyes met Kitty's, I signaled for help. Whatever else, we have a bond. I believe she'll help me!
"Goodness, this won't do."
—Tap, tap, tap.
Kitty came down the steps and stood in front of me.
Seizing that moment!
—Fwoosh!
I kicked off the ground, moved behind Kitty, and hugged her tight!
"Geun-cheol?"
"Kitty!"
And then I used Kitty as my shield and spun half a turn. This made me feel safe.
"Please, save me!"
"Urgh, Geun-cheol. You're too strong. I'm not a doll."
What is she saying so casually?!
Still, I thought it might cause trouble, so I loosened my grip.
"Geun-cheol."
"Uh, uh..."
"Should I stay like this?"
Such sweet words.
"Please! I'm begging you!"
"Okay. I'll go along with you today, Geun-cheol."
"Thank you...! Really, thank you so much!"
And so, while still hugging Kitty from behind and repeatedly pouring out words of gratitude to her, I slowly looked up at the monsterkin princess, Void Princess.
"Tsk, I didn't expect such a coward. It seems my expectations keep missing the mark?"
If you don't get scared in this situation, you're just a crazy psychopath who doesn't value your own life.
"Why don't you at least introduce yourself? Hiding behind our Kitty like that?"
"Ah, aigo! Princess! My name is Kim Geun-cheol! Please, I beg you to spare me!"
"Ahaha. Who said I would kill you? You say amusing things."
"Huh?"
Wait, hold on.
She basically revealed her identity... and she's just going to let me live? Normally in this situation, silencing a witness is standard. Because if I go out and tell someone, it'll be trouble for her.
"I am in an extremely good mood right now."
"Geun-cheol, that's a relief. Looks like my sister took a liking to you, too."
If that counts as liking me, then Mun Min and I are best buds.
—Tremble, tremble.
The fact that she says she's in a good mood for no reason only makes it scarier...!
Right then, the Void Princess was sitting with her legs crossed, her chin propped on her hand, observing me. Even the look someone gives a king crab in a tank at the seafood market would be warmer than that, I'm sure. Only a vicious criminal could have eyes like that in this world.
"Are you thinking something rude?"
An irritated voice...!
"Hurk! Princess! I would never think such a thing!"
"Princess? Are you even my subject?"
The princess's expression twisted!
"If you'll only spare my life, I'll do anything!"
"I never even said I would kill you? Kitty, I never dreamed that you would have taste for such a pathetic man. Haa."
"I don't know about that."
Kitty answered with a slightly sulky tone to the princess's words.
What the hell...!
They're chatting amiably like family right in front of me, who feels like he's about to die. This is insane. Is this what it feels like to step into a family of butchers?
"Anyway. You seem to have some inkling about my identity, don't you? Ahaha, I hear I'm quite popular in the human world, so my face has become somewhat known."
Well, that's true.
"I think I'm going to be busy from now on, Kitty. So hurry up and put him back where he was. If that man's heart bursts at this rate, you'll be sad, won't you?"
"Mm. Okay."
"Don't dawdle, and come straight back."
"I said okay, sis. Geun-cheol, it was nice and warm, but... that's enough, let go. I'll send you back now."
Really?
"F-for real, you're just letting me go?"
Seriously, they're letting me go without doing anything? All I did here was listen to that woman laugh like a maniac. Isn't she too important to let me go after seeing my face once?
"Yeah? That's right, isn't it? My sister said she'd let you go."
It doesn't seem like they would say that and then still kill me... People like them don't need to pull that kind of trick.
Kitty said it as if it were only natural, since her sister said she'd let me go. The tone was as if, should her sister need to kill someone, she'd do it without the slightest hesitation, which sent a chill down my spine.
"No, but why on earth... if you were just going to do this, why did you even bring me here..."
I let go of Kitty, whom I'd been holding. Then Kitty slipped out of my arms, turned around, and looked up at me with her hands behind her back.
"I told you, Geun-cheol."
"What?"
"That my sister wanted to see you once."
A warm smile spread across Kitty's face. A smile you'd never imagine from someone who kidnapped me... Is that really all it was?
No, but seriously, what reason does the S-rank monsterkin Void Princess have to see me? Of course she'd investigate a man who hangs around her little sister, but if it's truly the Void Princess.
She could have done it secretly without any need to reveal her identity. She's a woman who hasn't even been active for over a decade, after all.
So why.
Questions like that billowed up like smoke from a burning factory.
"Heheheh, I had fun today, Geun-cheol. I'll keep using the account, okay?"
"Uh... sure."
"Let's meet again sometime?"
I have to meet this kid again?
What kind of ordeal is this...!
As soon as I get back, I'll request protection from Chairwoman. Whatever else, I trust the government of this world. And I trust the instructors. No matter how strong a monsterkin the Void Princess is, if I'm under Chairwoman's protection, there won't be much she can do, and once word gets out that she's surfaced, South Korea's top heroes will come swarming to hunt her down.
Kitty, say goodbye.
I have no more business with you. You were a cute and lovable little sister, but you betrayed me first. I can't be chummy with a monsterkin.
"Geun-cheol, I'll be sad if we don't meet again."
Kitty put on a deliberately sad expression and said that weakly.
"O-of course we'll meet again!"
Sorry, but this is goodbye!
Let's never meet again! For a short while, I really did think of you as a little sister, Kitty. It breaks my heart to send you away, but a older brother and younger sister can't stay together forever.
—Bzzzt.
A gate formed behind Kitty.
"A gate..."
So Kitty really was behind the whole series of incidents after all. What on earth was her goal? Would she tell me if I asked? But I was too scared to do anything.
"Oh, right. Geun-cheol."
"Huh?"
"This time. Don't tell anyone, okay?"
"Got it! I absolutely won't tell!"
I'm going to run straight to Chairwoman!
"Promise. If you tell, something bad will happen."
Kitty held out her pinky.
"Pro-mise! Pro-mise! Pro-mise!"
I immediately locked pinkies and promised. I just need to maintain her trust until this moment. Once I get back, I'll run to school without ever looking back!
"Okay, I'll go now, Geun-cheol. Let's play again next time."
"Yeah! Contact me anytime!"
—Swoosh.
Kitty took my hand and pulled me into the gate.
* * *
"Gasp...! Haa!"
When I opened my eyes, I was in that alley from before. I'm alive! I'm back! I was kidnapped and returned with absolutely no problems at all!
"Sniffle!"
Tears burst out. So this is how beautiful life is. This moment of being alive. This air. Everything feels beautiful and precious.
Yeah.
If the world is this beautiful.
I must protect it.
"Hoo!"
This isn't the time. The joy of life is sweet, but I can't overlook what needs to be done. I steadied my breathing, kicked off the ground, and ran fast.
It's not that far to school.
Should I try calling first?
As I thought that, the moment I crossed the alley.
"Oh."
From over there, a beautiful silver-haired woman appeared—Leona?!
"Kim Geun-cheol? What are you doing there?"
"Leona! Leona, Leonaaaaah!"
The second I saw Leona, a feeling of such peace washed over me, and I felt incredibly relieved! All the terrifying emotions I'd been feeling just moments ago melted away as if washed clean!
"What! Why on earth are you crying! Come here quickly!"
"Sniffle!"
Leona, wearing a worried expression, dashed toward me. The moment I approached Leona, I grabbed her hand tightly. The warmth from her hand was so very warm.
"Hic! Leona! The thing is!"
"Calm down and tell me what happened! What in the world...! Did something sad happen?"
The Void Princess has become active again. This is crucial information even for Leona, the heir of a superhuman aristocrat family. Once Leona knows, it will be reported straight to the lords of Europe, Mister Dominators.
Since it's an emergency, I have to tell Leona, of course.
"Leona, sniffle! I—"
I wiped my tears as I spoke. The tears kept coming, so I couldn't see Leona's face.
"Yes."
"I was just kidnapped by a monsterkin!"
"A monsterkin?"
"Yeah! And! It was the Void Princess!"
"Explain in detail."
"Well...! That Awakened kid I told you about last time, remember?"
"You mean Kitty."
"Yeah. So, she... suddenly called me out."
At that moment.
I flinched.
I felt a strange, creepy sensation I couldn't place.
"Yes. Tell me more."
Leona's voice, which had always been so kind... was too calm. It felt as if I was talking to a block of wood, and I felt my body freeze.
"Leona?"
The moment I wiped my tears and raised my head.
—Slip.
Leona's figure.
"Geun-cheol."
It turned into an illusion and vanished, transforming into Kitty's form.
