Chapter 93
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 93
Chapter Title: The Four Symbols (3)
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That night.
After finishing the second day's itinerary of our school trip and arriving at the lodge, I quickly finished dinner and went outside.
Hermit had vanished right after handing me a copy of the report at lunchtime.
He said hed be back when he had some free time after taking care of his business.
By tomorrow, I should be able to see news articles about the disappearance of the Siren's Tear.
It's going to be hard to get cooperation from the Australian government or the World Superhuman Alliance.
I was on the phone with Meiden.
This its bigger than I thought. The monster militarization plan. There are probably a lot of collaborators within the Australian government and the World Superhuman Alliance.
...I figured as much. A militarization plan is always one of the desires of the higher-ups, no matter the world.
Tsk. It's a shitty business.
Meiden sounded genuinely annoyed.
Ive gone through the lab report you sent, and even if we go public with this, there's a high chance itll backfire on us.
...Right. It's framed as being for the sake of world safety, modifying monsters to use as guards.
There are still many countries suffering from monster attacks, and not enough superhumans to go around.
In a situation like this, if a new way to fend off danger without relying on superhumans emerged, most people would welcome it.
Besides the animal rights groups that claim monsters are living beings too, everyone would probably love it.
Yes.
The only real problem was that they were researching the Four Symbols.
But even bringing that up was a fifty-fifty shot.
No, the odds were still high that it would backfire on us.
Honestly, even I'm having a hard time seeing this as a bad thing. That says it all.
...Because the research goal itself is righteous.
If the Beast Master were some out-and-out villain, things would be simple. The problem was that he was a man who maintained an ambiguous neutrality.
But we have to stop it, no matter what.
...You're saying that if we leave it be, the reborn Four Symbols will start to go on a rampage?
Yes.
A set future.
The result of this experiment, which began with a righteous goal, was a massive monster stampede.
A global crisis.
How can you be so sure?
The Four Symbols are not beings that can be controlled by humans.
The very premise was flawed from the start.
Because they couldn't control monsters, they would create the Four Symbolsmonsters far stronger than any otherand tame them by raising them from birth.
It was like saying you couldn't tame a cat, so you'd raise a tiger from a cub to tame it instead.
A vicious tiger, born with a thirst for human blood.
Right, but how do you know that?
I heard about it. At the orphanage.
Convincing Meiden wasn't difficult.
The timing of the auction for the Four Symbols' equipment and the period when I was a test subject overlap, right? The Saviors of Truth did some experiments on the Four Symbols' genetic factors, too. They eventually deemed it impossible and scrapped the project.
...I see.
My past as an orphan from the Sunlight Orphanage made my lies more credible.
It's an experiment that even the Saviors of Truth gave up on. The same people who succeeded in fusing me with the genes of other species abandoned it. Now the Beast Master is attempting it. What do you think his chances of success are?
Alright. I get what you're saying. It's definitely dangerous.
Meidens voice grew serious.
But then what about the White Tiger next to you?
...Her? Shes a bit of an oddball.
I glanced at Baekho, who was tumbling around with Geumho nearby.
The more I looked at her, the harder it was to believe she was the same individual as the White Tiger from the original story.
She supposedly went missing five years ago, so they were probably creating a new one.
No, based on the lab report Hermit brought, there was almost certainly another White Tiger.
Hmm. I get it. Ill look for a way.
Yes. Please do.
Is it okay to share this with Hwarang?
Of course. You can share the information with anyone you believe you can absolutely trust, Meiden.
Okay. Thanks for trusting me. Ill call you again tomorrow. Stay safe.
You too, Meiden.
The call ended with that.
I took the smartphone from my ear and looked up at the sky.
Hoo. Its beautiful.
The Australian sky was beautiful today, as always, and the wind was still cool.
This area was as quiet as ever.
I watched Geumho and Baekho playing nearby and fell into thought.
...The butterfly effect.
Just as the flap of a butterfly's wings can turn into a typhoon on the other side of the world.
The changes to the original story that I had set in motion were gradually growing stronger.
For now, the framework of the original story was still intact, but a time would come when that framework would be completely destroyed.
It meant that a time would come when my knowledge of the original story would become meaningless.
It was unavoidable.
I couldn't just follow the path that the overpowered protagonist of the original story had walked.
If the future was bound to change anyway, I would do the best I could in the present.
With that mindset, I had been doing my best within the limits of what I could do.
I had made connections with all the major characters from the original story, and I had even obtained items like the Flames of Imprint, which were supposed to have belonged to enemy factions.
As a result, numerous changes had occurred.
The sum of all those variables was the person I was now.
There had been many crises, but I had managed to navigate them one way or another.
My thinking had been correct.
But today, a thought suddenly struck me.
Just because the present had changed for the better, did that mean the future was also changing for the better?
Could it be that these changes in the present were bringing about an even more terrible future?
Could it be that I, this heretic, was just ruining this world even more?
Was I just getting more emotional because I was in a foreign country?
A vague sense of anxiety began to consume my thoughts.
Meow.
Perhaps sensing my unease.
Geumho, who had been tormented by Baekho, approached me with a worried look on his face.
Geumho
I gently stroked Geumho and smiled.
...Thats right.
Come to think of it, meeting Geumho was one of the major variables that hadn't happened in the original story.
Meeting him was one of the best things that had ever happened to me, in both my life before and after being transmigrated.
There was no way our meeting could have had a negative impact.
Geumho's existence was proof that my actions were not wrong.
Thank you.
I gently stroked Geumhos head. I swear, Id die without him.
*Glare-*
Baekho was staring at me with that same look in her eyes. It was a jealous gaze I had grown used to.
What, you punk. Jealous?
At my playful grin, Baekho ground her teeth with a look of utter indignation.
Her expressions were so varied it was hard to tell if she was an animal or a person.
Anyway, thanks to you falling for Geumho, things have gotten easier. I appreciate it.
The butterfly effects that had occurred so far had tended toward negative changes.
Variables would pop up in events I had prepared for, turning them into unexpected crises.
But this time, I could say with certainty that it was a positive change.
Because I, who was different from the original, had done something different from the original and received a plaque of appreciation from the government, the destination of the trip had been changed to Australia.
Because I had a connection with Meiden, I was able to enter the Monster Park.
Because I met Geumho, I was able to meet Baekho.
The butterfly effect, brought about by a harmony of all sorts of variables, had created an opportunity to prevent the worst disaster.
This was definitely a good thing.
Am I getting homesick or something?
It wasn't like me to be pessimistic in the face of such a promising situation.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I repeated it several times, steadying my mind.
Alright.
How much time had passed?
I was back to my usual self.
Meeow!
Mrow.
Perhaps pleased with my brightened expression, Geumho cried out energetically.
Behind him, Baekho turned her head away with a sullen expression that seemed to say, Well, this is better, at least.
The look suited her so well that I couldn't help but laugh again.
I stroked Geumho's head once, then reached out to stroke Baekhos
Hmph.
*Swoosh-*
but I couldn't.
Whats this? You dont let other men touch your head or something?
Baekho nodded, her mouth set in a firm line.
...Wow.
Youre a cat with principles.
Beside her, Geumho was looking at Baekho with a dry, unimpressed gaze.
The more I saw them, the more they seemed like a perfect match.
* * *
The next day.
It was the 11th day since our arrival in Australia. Today was a day of exchange with the cadets of the Australian military academy.
They called it an exchange, but it felt more like a pride match: Koreas Superhuman Academy vs. Australias Superhuman Academy.
Winner! Kang Seoyul!
Naturally, the Korean side was dominating. This years first-year class was so talented they were being called the golden generation.
There was no way they would lose to first-years from another country.
Wow, thats him, right? The dual-attribute user.
Thats his fourth win in a row.
His stats seem to barely scrape the top 100, but his technique is insane.
Is he specialized in a Trait?
I was on a four-win streak.
It wasn't even that difficult.
My mana had increased by two ranks, which had greatly improved my stability in combat.
I was once again reminded of just how overpowered the free use of Aura was.
Stop! Winner! Ha Siyeon!
Ooh, shes on a four-win streak too.
Argh, my pride hurts.
Cant they win even once?
Similarly, Ha Siyeon, whose mana had increased by one rank due to Rapport, was also on a winning streak.
Besides us, all the single-digit ranked students were racking up wins.
The rumors about this years first-years being a golden generation were true.
You flatter us.
Nearby, the Australian instructor and Instructor Pi Jinho were conversing.
Both were fluent in English.
Well, the same could be said for me, since I understood everything they were saying.
English was one of my few talents.
Anyway, I havent heard from Meiden. Is the situation really that bad?
I was lost in thought when it happened.
Next up! Cadet Kang Seoyul! Youve been nominated!
...Me again?
The instructor's call snapped me out of my thoughts. With a sigh, I trudged into the training arena.
* * *
That night.
It was past 10 PM in Australia when Meiden finally called.
Sorry. I looked into it from every angle, but it seems stopping that experiment will be difficult.
Meiden said, grinding her teeth.
There are more people involved than I thought. If we poke around carelessly, we could be in danger.
Is it that bad?
Yeah. I can handle most of them with my connections, but
Meiden clicked her tongue softly.
That guy, Black there's nothing I can do about him.
My eyes widened.
The worlds Rank 3 is involved in this experiment?
Yeah. Involved might be the wrong word. He's a sponsor. Apparently, he signed a contract to receive a White Tiger as his mount.
The worlds Rank 3 superhuman.
Outer Black.
His hero name was The Iron-Blooded Knight.
His symbols were a suit of full plate armor made from Olenichon, the hardest metal in the world, and his beloved steed, a Pegasus.
If a superhuman like him was sponsoring the experiment, it was only natural for Meiden to be outmatched in a power struggle among the top brass.
Outer Black was an old guard who had entered the world of superhumans around the same time as Jeong Ilyong. When it came to influence, it was no exaggeration to say he was Rank 1 in the world.
...Then itll be impossible to move the Alliance or use the media.
Right. The opponent is just too bad.
Meiden sighed.
And then sighed again.
Her frustration was palpable.
Then theres no other choice.
If we couldn't stop the experiment peacefully, we'd have to use a more violent method.
Ill go with a more forceful approach.
My eyes gleamed sharply.
Are you really planning to attack them?
No. Its foolish for an individual to take on a group.
...You know that well.
Of course.
Then whats your plan?
Its simple. We make the sponsors turn their backs on the Beast Master.
How? Thats not going to be as easy as it sounds.
It wont be that difficult.
As long as I had Hermit with me, it was a simple matter.
Ill make the Azure Dragon go berserk tomorrow at noon.
It was also the day we were scheduled to return home. The timing was perfect.
* * *
The next day at noon.
The Beast Master was in his lab as usual, engrossed in his research to recreate and control the Four Symbols.
The Vermilion Birds obedience level has been dropping continuously these days.
This was Lab 4, where research on the Vermilion Bird was conducted.
...Tsk. The more it grows, the more trouble it becomes. Administer CH-4374 and EDD-202.
Yes, sir!
It had been ten years since the Beast Master, Edit, had embarked on this research.
He had started the experiment with high hopes and massive funding, but he had yet to produce any results.
The only real achievement, if you could call it that, was the successful creation of the Four Symbols based on their genetic data.
...If I don't produce results within the next year, the project will be terminated.
He had recently received a call from the sponsors. The control of the Four Symbols was certainly appealing, but the project was taking far too long.
They were starting to feel that the funds being poured into the experiment were a waste.
They were on the verge of shutting down the project immediately. The Beast Master, feeling he had to prevent that at all costs, had proposed a final one-year grace period.
Fortunately, the sponsors had accepted his proposal.
But at this rate, even after a year
The Beast Master chewed on his fingernails. His plan to accelerate the Four Symbols growth to obtain new data was backfiring.
Damn it. I can't give up like this!
It was no exaggeration to say he had dedicated half his life to this research.
He couldn't just sit back and do nothing.
If it comes to this, even if I have to use more forceful methods
The Beast Master's eyes glinted with a menacing light.
Director!
It was then that a researcher came running in, out of breath.
What is it?
S-Sir, we have a huge problem!
The researcher hurriedly handed over his smartphone. On the screen, a news anchor was reporting a breaking story.
W-We have breaking news! A monster believed to be a White Tiger has just appeared at the Australian International Airport, causing a complete shutdown of all flights!
The Beast Masters eyes widened into circles.
Dont tell me Baekho escaped the lab! Contact Lab 2!
We already did, sir! They say Baekho is asleep!
What? Then what in the world is that news
The Beast Master had no time to sort through his thoughts.
Director!
This time, another researcher ran in, his face pale.
Th-The Azure Dragon in Lab Lab 3 has gone berserk!
...What?
* * *
Lab 3.
In a secret research facility built on a deserted lot, a man was smiling.
Make one of the Four Symbols in a lab located away from populated areas go berserk, reveal the danger, and escalate it into an international incident. Its a brilliant plan, even in hindsight.
The man who had infiltrated the lab and instigated the Azure Dragons rampage, Hermit, smiled as he tossed a glowing blue gem, the Sirens Tear, in his hand.
To think thats an incomplete Azure Dragon. If a complete one were to go on a rampage
It would have been quite a horrific sight.
Hermit murmured to himself and smiled.
By the way, I wasnt told anything about a White Tiger attacking the airport.
Did some kind of variable pop up?
Muttering this, Hermit took out the phone in his pocket and checked the news. It was a news program providing special coverage of the airport situation.
What is this?
On the screen, a white tiger that looked like Baekho was facing off against a golden tiger, Geumho.
The brilliant red was no longer visible in the White Tigers eyes.
Grrr!
Its eyes were stained a turbid, reddish-brown.
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