Western District Subjugation - 4: A Dream Was Born
One day, a dream was born. The desire to become someone righteous and dependable for another person. Instead of vaguely reaching out to claim something for herself, she wanted to envision herself as the one who protected what belonged to others. Ellyse Bertman dreamed of becoming an inspector.
“...What? You want to be an inspector?!”
“Oh my, how wonderful.”
To a child’s aspiration, her romantic mother offered her usual unwavering support, while her realistic and cool-headed father demanded a serious discussion.
Ellyse broke into a cold sweat but did her best to persuade him. With her family’s backing, she advanced steadily toward her ideal.
To become an inspector who would protect her beloved family and the world itself.
Having finally settled on her path, Ellyse worked without regard for day or night. In the end, she claimed second place at the elite academy and first in the inspector examination.
It was the result of her parents’ wholehearted support—a dedicated study room, tutors from prestigious universities—and her own relentless effort.
And so Ellyse Bertman became an inspector. Far more smoothly and easily than she had ever imagined.
Just as she had always done, she produced the optimal outcome through talent and hard work.
‘Because I worked hard until now.’
Ellyse herself saw it as perfectly natural. After all, she had worked hard.
Ellyse Bertman. Born the only daughter of Westania’s prestigious Bertman family, she had lived a life untouched by deprivation or suffering—a truly blessed existence.
She had never lacked wealth or talent. Whenever she wanted something, it always lay within reach. Whether a teddy bear or an expensive accessory, if she desired it, she could have it. If she wished to enjoy something, she could enjoy it to her heart’s content.
It helped that Ellyse was wise enough to want only what she could realistically obtain. Because of that wisdom, she lived an exceptionally satisfying life.
On top of that, she had been born with talent. Though she sweated and strove to achieve things, she had never bled or screamed in agony. In the end, every effort was justly rewarded in a life filled with success and fulfillment.
That was the path Ellyse Bertman had walked until now. She only ever encountered trials she could overcome with her own effort and strength—no need to run away. Or, if the adversity was too great, she always had the means to circumvent it close at hand.
The only event that could even be called a crisis or turning point in her life was the time she encountered a mutant as a child and was rescued by an unknown figure immediately afterward. Even that, she had transformed into a dream.
Therefore, whenever Ellyse sought to achieve something, faced adversity, or stood before a choice, the answer was always clear.
‘I just have to do well.’
Because it had always worked.
“Inspector Ellyse, proceed at once to deliver your report.”
And now Ellyse Bertman stood once again at a crossroads. The crucial difference—this time, neither path could be undone—was also her greatest fear.
“...Uh, um.”
Ellyse’s eyes wavered as she looked at Inspector Ellyna, who was smiling as refreshingly as ever. Next came Inspector Thomas with his face flushed crimson, Inspector Batler with his serene expression, and Inspector Aidan, deathly pale and teeth chattering.
She unconsciously scanned the rest of the search team with hunched shoulders. They, too, had been staring at her.
The terror of losing their lives. The sorrow of never seeing their loved ones again. Or the rage at the fate that had led them to this moment. For their own reasons, they hurled gazes filled with envy and fury in her direction.
Ellyse felt it was cruel, yet she understood. The situation was no longer like before, when the entire search team had shared the burden together. Crossing the portal meant an almost certain encounter with demons. The operational orders demanded they push forward even though retreating was the rational choice for survival.
For that reason, everyone except team leader Ellyna Bastard was confronting raw fear once more.
And it was only then that Ellyse Bertman realized she herself was shaking violently.
Faced with the moment of death, she recognized her own frailty—how she had fallen into an incomprehensible terror. She also understood why she had been assigned the role of communications officer, a duty she had never performed.
Ellyse Bertman thought that her sly superior must have anticipated a situation like this. And if it actually occurred, saving her had already been decided in advance.
...Because she was a daughter of a prestigious family.
Ellyse knew. The reason Inspector Ellyna had looked after her was not simply because she was a rookie; her background had played a major role.
She held no dissatisfaction about being born into a wealthy and powerful house. What she fiercely rejected was when that fact produced absurd outcomes. And this was precisely one of those moments.
Even a despicable scenario in which four lives were thrown away so she could flee. Despite the legitimate pretext of delivering a follow-up report, that was how she felt.
That everyone standing before her would die. That if she ran away now, every duty of an inspector she had ever longed for would turn to nothing but foam.
What righteous and dependable hero? Wasn’t she simply a coward using her mission as an excuse to escape?
...Countless thoughts flashed through her mind.
Against her own will, Ellyse clenched her trembling hands. She squeezed her eyes shut. She thought her mind had stopped working properly from fear.
She obsessively stroked her arms and repeated to herself: Okay. Calm down. Calm down, Ellyse. There’s no need to think about so many things at once. Your head has simply frozen temporarily because of the overwhelming situation. Surprisingly, there is only one question. Just focus on that.
At last she asked herself:
‘Can you willingly take that single step for your trivial sense of justice?’
Toward the threshold of hell itself.
“......”
Ellyse Bertman stared blankly at the swirling red mist before her eyes.
If she left this place under the pretext of carrying out her mission, she would likely survive. But could she continue living with her head held high? And was that pride truly great enough to throw herself into a demon’s maw?
‘...An inspector? Of all the dangerous jobs?’
When her father had asked that, what had twelve-year-old her answered?
‘...Because it’s the just thing to do.’
How foolish.
Ellyse Bertman thought the current version of herself was equally foolish. She ground her teeth and muttered inwardly.
You idiot.
Then she let out a small, wry laugh, raised her head, and met the eyes of her superior who was waiting for her answer.
“...Inspector Ellyna. I’m sorry, but it seems I’ve forgotten every single communication protocol.”
Before the stunned Inspector Ellyna could respond, Inspector Ellyse added,
“Therefore, I ask that you please replace me with Inspector Batler, who has prior experience as a communications officer.”
And inside, she repeated once more: This is right.
Foolishly.
“...So that’s your decision?”
Ellyna Bastard stared fixedly at the young lamb before her. Her gaze was sharper than usual. Yet the child—who was facing a sense of guilt for the first time in her life—simply nodded with a grave expression.
Inspector Ellyna swept her eyes across Thomas, Aidan, and Batler, all of whom were staring wide-eyed in shock at the rookie’s statement, then declared,
“Very well. Inspector Batler will withdraw from the entry team and assume Inspector Ellyse’s duty.”
“But I have communications experience too—!”
“Enough.”
Ellyna Bastard gazed past the red-faced Thomas at the portal that was growing fainter by the second.
“We have no time left to argue. Whoever it is, the moment to enter has come.”
It was already past the point of no return.
Soon Inspector Ellyna stepped through the portal, followed by Inspector Thomas and Inspector Aidan.
Ellyse, too, was about to set foot into the portal whose principles she could not begin to comprehend when a voice from behind stopped her.
“...Thank you.”
Fearing she might hesitate if she turned around, she answered without looking back.
“Think nothing of it.”
She did not utter the obvious lie that she would definitely return alive—something no one would believe anyway.
Ellyse Bertman drew in a deep breath and finally crossed the portal.
The red blood mist stretched all the way to the horizon for a single instant before sinking back into stillness. A new space unfolded.
Ellyse opened her tightly shut eyes and confirmed her location. Then she froze on the spot.
Gurgling water droplets and blue solution. Countless humanoid figures. Glass tubes stretched endlessly across the vast laboratory. By rough estimate, there were well over a thousand.
Monstrous creatures that looked twice as hideous as the beasts they had faced before.
CRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRK!
GRRRRRRRRRRRRIND!
CRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRK!
GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRK!
CRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRK!
“...Ah.”
They were emerging from the glass tubes one by one.
With a cute chime, the elevator doors opened. The guard on duty checked the newcomer’s identity. If there had been any trouble, a radio message would have arrived already, so he assumed it was a researcher and glanced over out of habit.
Yet contrary to expectation, the person inside the elevator was not a gaunt researcher in a white coat.
It was a powerfully built man wearing a black mask and cloak over a skin-tight black suit.
“...What the hell?!”
The guard flinched in shock and raised his pistol, but the fist was faster.
CRUNCH!
The guard’s face caved in. The man with the collapsed skull slammed into the corridor floor with a heavy thud and would never rise again.
It was the predetermined fate of every employee at a human experimentation laboratory. Even if he had not participated directly in the experiments, anyone who aided them was nothing more than another pest.
Demian Cloud clenched his fist tightly.
“I will eradicate them all.”
At last, he had stepped onto the stage.