Kitty, What on Earth Is This Guy #1
Kitty, What on Earth Is This Guy #1
"No, seriously, Geun-cheol? That's why I couldn't reach you?"
"Exactly. Hey, you know how it was at the end? My ears were killing me, and then all of a sudden, I felt this weird peace. Even then, I knew damn well it wasn't normal, and I just closed my eyes."
Maybe that's what death is like.
It's weird to think about how I crossed over from another world, but maybe death really is just like that.
Whatever the case, in that final moment, everything is bound to feel wrong.
"That's hilarious. Geun-cheol, you really are crazy."
"Well, I did go crazy for music, that's for sure."
"More nonsense!"
So I barged into Si-hoo's room, shot the breeze, and snacked on some junk food.
But man, her room is always so colorless. If it's a girl's room, it should have, you know, that vibe, but it's just a strictly functional space.
—Crunch.
Thinking that, I lay on my side on Si-hoo's bed, propping my head with my left hand and eating potato chips with my right.
And then,
"Hey, Geun-cheol?"
Si-hoo, sitting on the floor with the soles of her feet pressed together, called out to me.
"Yeah, what?"
"That place, you know."
"That place?"
"The lab."
Ah.
"When are we going to check it out?"
"The lab, right."
The lab in Seongnam, supposedly strongly connected to the Sovereign Commander, Si-hoo, her mother, and some unknown sisters.
In the past, it got wrecked by a terrorist attack by the Void Princess, but there's still a lab standing there.
"I looked into it more. Seems like some unknown facility is still operating there. Even after the Void Princess incident, they've kept it running. But while you can find an address, there's almost no information about the lab. Like it's been hidden."
"Hmm."
"I knew there's something at that lab."
Of course we have to check it out.
"Are you ready, Si-hoo?"
"To be honest... I'm still scared. I haven't completely gotten over the fear. So..."
...So?
"I want to go and see it for myself first. I want to see it with my own eyes and get a grip on it."
"Si-hoo, let me say one thing."
"Yeah?"
"Don't be afraid."
"Yeah...? Well, I guess I should try, right?"
"Yeah. That's all you need. Don't be afraid. There's no reason to get scared when you haven't done anything yet. It'll only hurt you."
"...You're right."
Si-hoo nodded.
"Let's pick a weekend soon and go. Sort of an investigation... infiltration, I guess? We'll go look around in disguise. At our level, some covert-ops type stuff should work out."
"Yeah. But for now, I'm thinking we just scope out the perimeter. If we charge in blindly, it could be bad."
"Let's do that. But even though I said soon, I think we need to get stronger first. Any operation needs physical ability to back it up."
"Yeah! Let's do it!"
Anyway, it's a place we have to dig into someday.
And there's a high chance it holds a key that could make Si-hoo even stronger.
Si-hoo leveling up is important.
"Before that, Si-hoo, have you thought about the sealing?"
"What the—you bastard, you're bringing up my chest again?!"
Si-hoo's face instantly went bright red and she tried to cover her large breasts with both hands. I mean, she said she's not binding them right now, but the boxy T-shirt isn't showing anything, so what's the problem.
More importantly!
"Hey! That's not what I meant by the sealing! Just take care of it properly and be fully prepared, damn it!"
"So you're telling me to buy women's underwear?! I can't do that!"
"You can just order it online..."
So no problem, right?
"W-well, that's true, but I have to buy the right one! I've never bought that stuff before, and if the size is wrong...!"
"If it's wrong?"
"I'll end up with a bunch of bras in my room!"
"Oh."
True.
For someone like Si-hoo, she'd need a special size. You can't just easily get a bra like that. And if you miscalculate the size, Si-hoo ends up being a pervert who buys a bunch of giant bras.
"W-we'll figure that out on our own!"
I'm not going to go bra shopping with her, she'll have to handle it herself!
"Ack!"
Like that, I slipped out of Si-hoo's room and went back to my own. Si-hoo's chest is a serious matter. It directly affects her performance.
Anyway.
Back in my room, while getting ready for bed, I did my last Lion's Roar practice of the night.
"Ahh, ahh- ah. Uh. Yeah, it's definitely good. Focus the mana flow right here."
I gently let my voice and mana flow out as I trained lightly.
"What was that song? The Chairwoman was so damn good at growling. The lyrics were... Blood for Sacred... that was insane. What kind of song is that?"
If it's a song that brings out the Brutal Spear Art like that, it's gotta be some kind of death metal shit.
Anyway, skipping that.
"Caaaa-si, go deee---"
I sing softly while practicing the Lion's Roar. Just letting it feel like mana is lightly frying my vocal cords.
And then, at that moment,
"Geun-cheol."
"Hurk?!"
Someone grabbed me around the waist from behind!
"Practicing singing?"
What the—this is Kitty!
"Hey! Make some noise when you show up!"
"I did. Geun-cheol was just too into your song to notice. What song?"
"Nothing. Get off!"
"Tell meee."
Instead of getting off, she's rubbing her head against me like it's become a habit.
"Buzzum's Gashi."
"Ack."
I immediately slipped my hands under her armpits, lifted her up, and set her on the bed. Kitty started pestering me, swinging like she was on a swing.
"Geun-cheol. I want something to eat."
"It's 11 p.m., 11 p.m."
"I want a late-night snack."
"Want a chocolate?"
"That, and also some real food."
"Food, my ass..."
I took a chocolate bar from the cupboard and handed it to her, then got some instant galbi dumplings from the fridge. With these and some soy sauce, it's child's play to deal with one little kitten.
"Eat some dumplings."
"I love dumplings!"
Kitty answered energetically while munching on the chocolate bar.
She wasn't like this at first, you know.
—Ding.
I put the dumplings in the microwave.
"Hey, Kitty. You've been only texting me lately. What've you been up to that made you come over?"
"Uh-huh, she's been busy with a lot of things. My sister always has work to do, so Kitty has to help too."
"Help with what?"
"Dimensional stuff? Geun-cheol. You know the humans called villains, right?"
"Yeah? Why?"
"Seems some of them have gotten Fragments too."
"Wait, why?"
"They're appearing all over the world. Even if they got one by chance, it's not that strange."
"So... what about it?"
"I'm just telling you."
"Spit it out! Before I don't give you the dumplings!"
"Ah, don't!"
As I tried to hide the dumplings I took out of the microwave in my arms, Kitty jumped up and stomped her feet.
"What's the deal!"
"Uhh... Kitty doesn't know the hard stuff."
"My dumplings!"
"Okay, fine!"
Oh, finally?
"Geun-cheol. I told you last time, right? That a Fragment was detected?"
"Yeah. You said it'd show up soon."
But it never showed, like a ghost.
"That's a kind of rift."
"Rift?"
"The sporadic ones aren't a big deal. Sure, something could leak through, but they're low priority. The one my sister caught this time is important, though."
"..."
"You have to take care of it, Geun-cheol."
So it's a continuation of that thing.
"So when's it coming?"
"Tomorrow."
"You mean literally tomorrow! What time?!"
"Around midnight, maybe?"
"So. What do I get out of this?"
"I dunno? You'd know better than me, wouldn't you, Geun-cheol?"
Can't deny that.
"..."
So I'm living with Kitty like brother and sister, but truth is, there are a ton of secrets and lines between us.
But for now, it's something I need, too.
Mutual assistance.
"Alright. I'll roll out tomorrow."
"Okay. That's all. Nom."
Before I knew it, Kitty had snatched the galbi dumplings and was devouring them, smiling.
Ah, but I said I'd talk with Leona tomorrow, too.
* * *
And so, the next day.
"Kim Geun-cheol!"
"Hey, Leona!"
I met Leona early in the morning and we headed to the jjamppong place. Today we were all supposed to meet to talk about the student council president stuff, but when they heard "jjamppong," Yu-ri and Si-hoo canceled their morning plans.
Seems like they'll come around lunchtime.
"Welcome!"
The moment we stepped into the jjamppong place, the spicy aroma hit my entire body. Now that I'm stronger, I feel it more clearly.
This place is a battlefield.
"Grooooan!"
"Aaaaaagh!"
"Help me! Help me!"
Screams erupting from all over.
"Heh heh heh, truly a place bursting with energy. I can't understand why Woo Yu-ri and Lee Si-hoo don't know what they're missing. Ah, have a seat."
"Honestly, I want to run away too."
"But the reason you don't?"
"Because... there's jjamppong in front of me!"
"Exactly! That's it!"
I took a seat with Leona, who was already high energy in the morning, and we ordered jjamppong. Tonight, a hunt is scheduled. I'll burn my tongue and charge up my combat power.
"Phew. Ten minutes until the jjamppong arrives. This wait is the scariest part. But I will endure. I will dip my tongue in that spiciness and scream out."
"Welcome to the world of spicy food."
"Krrr. Ah, by the way, Leona. Yesterday, when I was giving you a massage..."
"Wha?! Why are you suddenly bringing that up! It's embarrassing!"
"What's embarrassing about it!"
"I mean, just because! Anyway, what about it!"
"While I was touching your shoulder blades yesterday, I noticed... you didn't have any wings? What the hell's going on, Leona! Where'd you sell your wings?!"
"Wings, my ass! You're really at it again!"
—Bap! Bap!
Leona said that and smacked my back.
"I swear, that damn angel thing! Always yapping about angel this and angel that!"
"But you are an angel."
"No more nonsense!"
What do you mean no!
"Anyway! Kim Geun-cheol? I'll talk more when the other two get here, but you. Do you really intend to run for student council president?"
"Hey, I've thought about that too."
Student council president.
That is...
"It suits you better, Leona."
"Kuk...! I knew it!"
—Slam!
Leona slammed the table and said, her fist trembling.
"But I wanted to see Student Council President Kim Geun-cheol!"
Did she really want to see that?