Chapter 192
Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Fairy Tale Anthropomorphism
"If you're type B or AB, please let me know ahead of time. Those blood types? How should I put it? They've got a bit of a tangy bite? Stings the throat—not exactly a pleasant vibe."
A mosquito was speaking.
I began the experiment.
"I'm AB."
"Oh no! Of all types! But it's fine! I can handle it as an occasional treat!"
Not only could I understand the mosquito's words, but the mosquito could understand mine too.
"Darling? You up?"
『I've been watching.』
"Wanna try talking to this mosquito?"
『...Are you mentally contaminated, by any chance?』
No way Lee Seung-hoon could be mentally contaminated.
Darling spoke to the mosquito.
『Hello. Mosquito. Autumn mosquitoes are rampant, I see.』
"Can you hear what she's saying?"
"Huh? No clue. What'd she say?"
The mosquito still had a personality, but it couldn't understand Darling.
"Darling, could you hear the mosquito?"
『No sound at all.』
I pulled out the notebook from my head using the Void Pocket and jotted down the info.
[1. Only I can converse with animals. Others cannot communicate with animals, nor can the target animals with them.]
I spoke to the mosquito again.
"So, how've you been getting by all this time? Wanna tell me about it?"
"Ooh! Curious about my life? You'll give me blood if I do?"
"Of course."
"Ahem, then here we go!"
Born as a wriggler in a puddle on a flowerpot saucer, bickering with siblings!
Fled from terrifying dragonfly larvae and molted into a mosquito!
A survival specialist who's lasted three months and twenty-seven days!
"Doesn't it suck that your life is so short?"
"Ah! A full life of three months and twenty-seven days! Short compared to humans, sure, but it's a lifetime for a mosquito! Life's not about the days lived, but the meaning packed in!"
I scribbled furiously.
[2. Describes its life as if it were human-like. Accepts its animal existence without complaint, clearly recognizing the differences from humans.]
The questions kept coming.
"Could you bring some friends over?"
"What, you're giving blood to my pals too?"
"Yeah."
"Sweet! Gotta treat 'em!"
The mosquito vanished.
Moments later, a swarm of mosquitoes flooded into my room.
"They're here!"
"For real."
I couldn't hear the voices of the ones that came along.
"Oh man! You lot! Get it together! I invited you to a human offering blood, and you're causing this chaos? What a disgrace to mosquitoes! What? Don't act high and mighty? You little—!"
Even so, the powered-up mosquito could converse with the others in human speech and guide their actions.
[3. Powered targets can converse with and influence their kin in that state. However, without separate application, conversation is impossible, and their behavior remains like ordinary beasts.]
I applied the power to a few mosquitoes gnawing on me.
"Oh dear! Sorry! Times are tough for meals lately!"
"Oof! So hungry my eyes went red! Heh heh! This blood's delicious!"
They even used dialects.
Once powered, they snapped out of it and dropped off me.
'Let's test the limits of how far I can apply it.'
I powered every mosquito in the room.
Still felt like I had room, so I told them to bring more friends.
『Lee Seung-hoon, is this right?』
"Looks like a Siberian summer plain."
They say in short Siberian or Arctic summers, mosquitoes breed like mad in puddles.
So many that 1% of reindeer die from blood loss.
"Wow! Buffet!"
"AB, huh? Meh! Prefer O-type!"
"Ugh! Crowded! Move it!"
"Hee hee! Blood! Now I can lay healthy eggs!"
[4. Anthropomorphized subjects know slang, internet terms, and uncommon knowledge.]
I kept applying the power to mosquitoes, probing the limits.
[5. Anthropomorphism maxes at 666 subjects. Matches biblical beast numbers—coincidence or connection unknown.]
"Alright, everyone out now?"
"Don't wanna?"
"More!"
"Not enough blood!"
"Hungry!"
[6. Mutual understanding doesn't guarantee compliance with requests.]
"Can you bring other insects too?"
"Huh? Like who?"
"Flies or horseflies?"
"Can't talk to them, though?"
[7. Anthropomorphized beasts can't communicate across species.]
My whole body itched.
I'd learned all I needed, time to wrap up.
"Human! Whatcha doing?"
"Gonna give you a nice gift."
Tucked at the bottom of the drawer.
Ah, found it.
"What is it?"
"A gift?"
"For real? What? I'm excited!"
Got it.
"It's bug spray."
"Gaaah!"
"Trap of fellowship! Run!"
They died satisfyingly.
"Ugh... So unjust... Haven't even laid eggs yet..."
The last mosquito dropped.
No human-faced tears or curses at humanity.
"Don't you resent me?"
"The world... survival of the fittest... what comes goes..."
I cleaned up, got dressed for more tests.
'Now, test the range.'
I wandered outside, applying it to various beasts.
"Should I call it 'Fairy Tale Anthropomorphism'? Doesn't turn animals realistically human—just fairy-tale cute and whimsical."
『A fascinating power.』
Used it on ants in the garden.
"Ugh, damn! When's work over!"
"Let's hustle!"
"Why you slacking? Wanna die?"
"Not slacking! Just pheromones to call more workers? Finishing up for a break?"
Icons of cooperation and diligence, yet they gripe and fight.
Next, a fall cicada still chirping hard.
"Seeeeexxxxx!"
"Anyone for sex? Sex partners wanted!"
"My dick's huge! Alpha male here! Any males entering this turf compare to mine! Hurt your pride? Stay away!"
Cicada was a total sex maniac, as expected.
Next, different species: Drove to Busan.
『Why Busan?』
"Wanna try birds and fish."
First spotted: Seagulls.
A bunch staring and crying at each other, so I powered them.
'Works from several km away. Line of sight only?'
Overheard their chat.
"Commit sins in a past life, reborn in Busan. Root for that team, forever craving unreachable victory in agony."
"What the hell's wrong with this team!"
"Me? No role model player. Need one to rally around, unite. This team? Nah. No role model means everyone's slacking!"
Didn't expect baseball talk.
"Problem? No self-awareness. Bottom feeders acting like prestige club, dreaming big. Plastic toy shell with Ferrari engine? Gonna work? Face reality!"
"Defense sucks. Can't catch basics! Even playoffs, no hype!"
"Fans are the issue. Players grind, but one slip and community's raging? How's morale hold?"
The last seagull got glares.
"You're a front office spy?"
"Suspicious bastard!"
No clue on baseball.
Next, seawall below.
Walking rocks, spotted fish in sea, used it.
"Hey."
"Ugh! What! Use your blinker!"
"Sorry, whatcha doing?"
"Eating, duh. Yesterday, fat lugworms and krill shrimp popping up here."
"Lugworms? Krill shrimp?"
"Yup! Others hogged yesterday, but quiet today? Lucky."
A fisherman's bobber dropped nearby.
"Whoa! Amateur hour! Krill shrimp! Mine!"
"Dive..."
Fish flew skyward.
"Lunker!"
"Eeek!"
Still, ended as someone's meal—not bad.
'Anthropomorphism doesn't make 'em wiser.'
Tried shellfish, none visible, so seafood market.
"Hey?"
"..."
Powered every visible shellfish, silence.
Bought and opened: All low freshness.
'Dying, couldn't respond.'
While powering every one, one spoke first.
"Hey mister, buy me?"
"Why?"
"Buy and I'll reward. Release me to sea."
"Deal."
Bought it, shell gaped.
"Humans like these, right? Take it."
Pearl inside.
How'd it extract from flesh? How'd it know humans love pearls?
'Why they're called entities.'
Utterly unpredictable, no human guesswork.
Released to sea, headed home.
Walked streets, testing animals.
"Hungrrry meow!"
"Dude, fix that speech."
"Hungrrry nyaa!"
"Wanna die!?"
Stray cats.
"Ooh! Killed it today?"
"Been to pet shop with owner! Ears hurt, but groom epic?"
"My owner trims at home!"
"Whoa, jealous!"
Walking dogs.
"Any rice?"
"Sigh, where'd all the mills go."
"Life's tough..."
Sparrows griping.
Spotted man with baby on back.
"Waaah! Waaah!"
"Why's Jia like this today?"
Babies lack self before brain develops.
Animal-like?
Powered baby, heard it.
"Daddy! Bad breath! Rotten! Gonna puke! Blech!"
"Jia! Sudden vomit... You sick?"
Told the man truth.
"Your bad breath's the cause. Brush or get scaling. Seems you smoke—worsens it, so quit for now."
"What? You punk!"
Grabbed by collar, minor scuffle, met various kids wandering.
Worked only under 15 months.
'Works on babies—animal-type entities too?'
Rare, but one at home.
"Meowster."
Used Fairy Tale Anthropomorphism on Meowster.
Whirr-!
Powered flies around Meowster too.
Turned head, no voice.
"Meow!"
Same old cry.
Doesn't work on all animal-types.
『Quack!』
Just in case, tried Rubber Duck.
『My beloved! Hear me not? I, successor to the 127th Toy Kingdom throne, first daughter of wise King George, bosom friend of the Winchester Duke, godmother to Santa Claus, heroine sworn loyalty by toy soldiers, mother of three, wife of problem-solver Lee Seung-hoon, command thee: Bathe with me!』
"..."
Did I marry Rubber Duck?