Inhuman Outing...! # 10
Inhuman Outing...! # 10
"Of course I'm special. I'm the protagonist of my own life."
I said it with a straight face.
Kitty was probing me right then.
So I deflected. I couldn't make a judgment yet. But one thing I could tell: Kitty's attitude felt less like an interrogation and more like she was trying to fish for something on the sly.
"I've always been special."
"You sure are, Geun-cheol. You definitely are. Hehehe."
Kitty laughed softly at my answer.
"..."
A moment of tension.
What else was Kitty going to say? I stayed on guard, picking my next words, but—swish. Kitty turned away from me. As if there was nothing more to talk about.
"Anyway, Geun-cheol. I really had fun today."
"Me too. Heading back now?"
"Yeah. It's late."
"So our mischievous Kitty does have a sense of time."
"Today is a special day. Geun-cheol, sometimes you break time promises too, you know?"
"Hehehe, that's true."
Wait—she's not trying to put me at ease and then suddenly pop back in to hit the vital spot, is she?
"I'll be going now, then."
"Take care."
—Bzzzt.
Kitty very naturally conjured a gate in front of herself. She didn't even bother to hide it anymore.
Then, as she stood in front of the gate.
"Oh, right."
She turned her head toward me and said,
"Geun-cheol, you said you want to get stronger, right?"
"Yeah, I did."
Why bring that up all of a sudden?
"Hehehe."
When I cocked my head, Kitty laughed like she was enjoying this.
"I'm on your side, Geun-cheol. I'll help you make that happen."
"What?"
Kitty can help me with that?
"How?"
I almost yelled.
Asking if she planned to summon monsters in this land? I held it in. Saying that would be reckless. Beating a few monsters to death doesn't lead to dramatic growth.
But for me it's different.
I've got a status window. I'm a being who can guarantee growth just by grinding through monsters like manual labor.
Whether Kitty or the Void Princess knows about this... I can't say for sure. But this is my secret and my stronghold. I can't just blurt it out.
This is something I couldn't tell anyone, not even Leona.
"Are you going to teach me swordsmanship or something, Kitty?"
Having decided that, I kept the conversation flowing naturally. Kitty shook her head at my words.
"No way. That's the blonde woman's job, not mine."
"Yu-ri does teach well."
She's talking about Yu-ri.
"So how, then?"
"Curious?"
"I'm dying of curiosity right now!"
—Bounce!
I launched myself off the spot, threw my hands up, and cheered to answer. That was to emphasize how damn curious I was.
"You'll find out soon enough, Geun-cheol."
"No! Tell me now!"
"Can't. Then I'll really go now, okay? I had fun today."
Come on, tell me!
"I'll visit often."
"Call before you come...!"
—Swoosh.
Turning her head back, Kitty walked into the gate. As she stepped inside, Kitty said one last thing.
"And I'm sorry for scaring you, Geun-cheol."
"What?"
Kitty, this impish little brat, is apologizing to me?!
"No. Hey! Why bring up an apology now! You know you did wrong, don't you!"
"Sorry. So look forward to a present."
"Stop!"
I was about to say something in my capacity as her adopted brother, but Kitty ignored me and went straight through the gate.
—Bzzzt.
And then the gate vanished.
"That little brat, seriously."
I stared at the spot where the gate disappeared... That really is a convenient ability. I wonder how much she'll torment me with it from now on.
"She actually apologized."
But she said sorry.
For some reason, that one word eased my tension. Right. Our Kitty knew how to apologize. After frightening me that badly, she had at least apologized.
"Hmph. You little brat."
After unwinding, I sat on the bed.
Trouble.
I've got something to worry about now.
The VP Faction doesn't intend to kill me. If anything, Kitty's taken a huge interest in me—even treating me like her big brother and relying on me. I'll say it again: there's no need to be scared.
"Their goal."
Today Kitty probed me several times.
She pretended otherwise while trying to ask something. Of course, I didn't answer... I suspect Kitty and the Void Princess likely know about my secret. But they probably don't know exactly. That's why they were fishing.
"A special being, huh."
I'll admit it.
I'm definitely a special being. Let's keep that hidden. There must be a reason they can't ask me about it outright. Honestly, if a woman on the level of an S-rank monsterkin conducted an interrogation to find something out, I wouldn't be able to hold out.
The fact that she isn't using such methods might mean there's some reason she can't.
"Phew."
I'd taken a shower to go to sleep, but the cold sweat made me feel way too gross. So I washed up again, toweled my hair roughly, and flopped onto the bed.
—Thump.
"Let's pull the blanket up and sleep snug."
As the tension unwound, drowsiness hit me. There's no need to be scared. Kim Geun-cheol is fully revived. Starting tomorrow, let's get back to living hard.
But seriously.
What the hell does she mean by "help you get stronger"?
* * *
"Nngh."
My eyes opened in the darkness. Was it time to wake up already? Given how dark it was, it must be early morning. I'd just check the time and go back to sleep.
But something felt stuffy on my upper body.
The moment I opened my eyes—
wasn't my blanket bulging up!?
"Aaaaaaaah?!"
Screaming, I yanked the blanket off!
And what was inside!
"Hey, you!"
"Hi, Geun-cheol."
It was Kitty!
Wearing cute pajamas, Kitty was clinging to me!?
"Good early morning."
"There is no such greeting in this world! What is this again! Who told you to climb into my bed!"
"You're so mean. Welcome me properly."
"Get off! First get off!"
"Geun-cheol. I'm super busy today."
I tried to peel her off immediately, but Kitty just hung on, hugging me, and said that in a cutesy voice!
"Oh for the love of!"
This is driving me insane!
How can we sleep in the same bed!
"Geun-cheol. Hurry. Sleep with Kitty."
"Who raised you to try sleeping with an unrelated guy like this!"
"Is it not okay?"
"Of course not!"
I'd been perfectly at ease after we parted, and then she pulled a sneak attack like that!
"Really no? Lightning's striking outside."
"Yes. It's fine."
The moment Kitty's voice dropped a notch, I had no choice but to comply.
That's right! It happens to be raining outside, and lightning is fucking striking! A little sister trembling in fear and coming to her big brother is truly a natural thing.
"Hehehe, thank you. Then hug me from behind."
"Yes."
As ordered, I turned on my side and hugged Kitty, who had her back pressed right up against me.
"Good night, Geun-cheol."
"But how long are you planning to stay?"
"Dunno. Wanna sleep for now."
Kitty said it as if she was thoroughly enjoying herself, but I felt like I was going to lose my mind.
I mean... is she seriously my little sister?
I don't have a little sister so I can't say for sure, but a little sister is definitely the kind of being who wants to sleep with her big brother. It must be similar to the psychology of little kids wanting to sleep with their mom.
But I'm so tense I can't sleep.
Snap.
* * *
"I slept like a damn log."
When I woke up, Kitty was already gone without a trace. She must have slept beside me and left before I got up. This is so damn troublesome.
But well, she came in cute pajamas, so I'll allow it. If she'd been wearing that kind of weird dress from before, it would have been criminal, but a little sister in pajamas is acceptable.
"Alright!"
Both my body and mind are fully recovered. There was big commotion yesterday, but I've overcome it all.
"And you, Kitty."
Looks like you missed my arms.
Even if her actions are mischievous, she's still just a little-sister-like being in the end. I was shocked when I learned her true identity, but Kim Geun-cheol isn't such a coward that he'd stay scared over something like that.
"Starting today, I need to get stronger."
I'm bothered by whatever Kitty is going to do for me, but I can't trust it. To get stronger, I ultimately have no choice but to pour in my own effort and strength.
I've always worked hard, but from today on I'll be even more determined to raise my stats.
"Power shooweeeer!"
After finishing my shower, I got ready for school.
—Creeeak!
I opened the door right away, stepped outside, and called for Si-hoo.
"Si-hoo! The police are here! Come out quick! Hurry up!"
"Wh-what?!"
—BAM!
Si-hoo must have already been nearly ready; he rushed out in a panic.
"Where are the police?!"
"Quick! Before the police officer takes you away, let's get to school!"
"What are you talking about! What's going on!"
He's got such an urgent face.
It's like looking at myself yesterday.
How pathetic. I'm almost embarrassed to be seen.
"What do you think it is? Kim Geun-cheol is fully recovered. Let's go!"
"What, what is this really... No, Geun-cheol. Don't you think you've recovered a bit too much! What police!"
"Attendance Police, Attendance Police. Kid, you gotta catch on fast. Don't you know the Attendance Police?"
"Cut the crap!"
Talking nonsense like that with a protesting Si-hoo, we headed to school. Everything really does feel fresh.
"Seriously. I worried for nothing yesterday. To think you'd bounce back into an idiot in a single day."
"Well, who told you to feed me porridge? Lee Si-hoo, your porridge made me like this."
"Geun-cheol. I know this sounds weird to say, but—you really seem like a fucking lunatic."
"Is that a self-introduction?"
"Please...! Someone call the Geun-cheol Police! So they can take Geun-cheol away!"
"What are you babbling on about this early. Geun-cheol Police? Seriously."
This guy definitely hasn't fully woken up yet.
Me, on the other hand, I'm already awake.
—Slide.
That's how I opened the classroom door.
"Oh! Leona! Good morning!"
Leona was already here!
"Kim Geun—gasp! Oh my god!"
But Leona, who'd turned around happily to greet me, suddenly gaped.
"What?"
"L-look at our Kim Geun-cheol! Good heavens, you're nothing but skin and bones!"
What?
"Why have you gotten so haggard!"
Rushing over in alarm, Leona grabbed both my cheeks and said that. I mean, I don't look any different from yesterday...
