Researcher Roy

Indiscriminate violence against the museum continued.

[Beep! Warning! Warning! Stop the violent act immediately! This act clearly constitutes a crime-!]

Crash!!

“Ah~ So noisy.”

Bang!!

“Hmph! Where does this bug think it’s biting?”

Despite the robots’ desperate resistance, it was not enough to stop the two monsters.

The robots were defeated so quickly it was almost pitiful.

Bzzt.. Bzzzt..

“Ah~ That was fun!”

“Grr! Destroying things does feel good.”

“..Poor things.”

There was a small incident where the Training Manager seemed to pity the crushed robots, but that was all.

“Fortunately, we’ve found the mysterious trace we were aiming for.”

I shook the glowing bottle in my hand.

The liquid inside sloshed gently, matching my movements.

Dew of the Lotus (蓮花).

Our target object and the second ingredient for the elixir.

‘The lotus symbolizes compassion, immortality, and birth in the religions and cultures of various Asian countries.’

This Dew of the Lotus, or more precisely, its original mystery, is what became the basis for such symbolism.

“Grr, is feeding this to the Boss enough?”

“While the Dew of the Lotus alone has excellent healing effects, it’s not enough yet.”

Mysterious traces are literally just traces.

Footprints left by mysteries that actually existed in ancient times.

Their forms can be quite diverse.

‘They can exist as objects, consumable elixirs, or even… in human form.’

They can exist in forms beyond imagination.

However, the important thing is that they are not the real ‘mysteries’.

A branch of the World Tree is not the World Tree itself.

The Dew of the Lotus is not the legendary lotus that Buddha was said to have bloomed after taking seven steps when he was born.

It’s merely a trace containing a part of it.

They would have abilities far superior to ordinary things, but it was right to give up expecting them to fully possess the abilities of the original mysteries.

‘But the elixir would be different.’

It’s called another mysterious trace or artifact made from mysterious traces.

But its performance is legendary enough to be comparable to the mystery itself.

‘To create that, I need to prepare diligently too.’

I’ve been trying to permanently create mysterious traces while growing bit by bit, but it’s still not enough.

I’m not hoping to replicate the entire World Tree branch, just a part of it.

If I could just maintain even a fragment permanently, it would be enough to experiment with creating the elixir.

“..Anyway, let’s get going.”

As I was slowly thinking about what to do after this terrorism ended, I soon looked at the executives and asked them to retreat.

“M-Maker-ssi.. aren’t you coming back?”

“Ah, I have some personal business to attend to.”

Now that we’ve roughly finished the important task, it’s time to go do something else.

Since we’ve already committed terrorism, might as well roll the heroes and villains to the brink of death to make them stronger.

“To Astra-nim, um… please explain well..”

“Ah..”

At my words, the Training Manager hesitated for a moment, fidgeting with her hands.

“Then, together..”

“Oppa. I’m here.”

The Training Manager’s muttering was cut off by Polia, who suddenly appeared.

“We’ll use Polia-nim’s ability to return, so don’t worry too much.”

“Ah.. yes.”

“I hope you return safely too, Training Manager-nim.”

I turned around and looked at Polia.

Polia was staring behind me even though I had come.

“Polia-nim?”

“..Yeah. Let’s go.”

Polia nodded and took my hand.

Woong- Pit!

With Polia’s help, I was able to move to my destination in an instant.

“Hey~ Training Manager~ Aren’t you coming?”

“……”

And I couldn’t see in the end the Training Manager’s gloomy expression as she blankly stared at the place I had left.

---

After finishing the business at the museum, I arrived at the rooftop of a high-rise building.

Here, with a great view of the chaotic city, was the control room where Researcher Roy was.

‘One might think it’s easy to get caught in a high place, but that’s not necessarily true.’

The control room wasn’t separately installed on the rooftop, but was a pre-existing space.

Since it’s a building owned by Z-Bio, there’s little chance of interference or civilians entering, and they’d be too busy stopping the beasts spreading now to have time to search.

Creak.

I calmly entered the control room.

“I’m here.”

“..What. Maker, is it.”

Roy spoke in a hoarse voice, seeming tired.

Although I couldn’t see him properly due to the large chair with its back turned, I could hear his labored breathing, making him seem unwell somehow.

“I came to check how things are going while I’m at it.”

“..There’s no problem. At least not outside.”

It sounded like there was a problem inside, but I just glossed over it.

Tap tap tap.

Roy tapped on the keyboard while observing the CCTV on the large screen.

“I’m now releasing the second wave of different stage beast groups.”

“That’s faster than expected.”

“The first wave had a lot of quantity, but each individual’s ability was ridiculously weak. Although their intelligence increased much more..”

That wouldn’t work on higher-ranked heroes.

No matter how high their intelligence and how much they learn, they’re just weak beasts in front of overwhelming force that defies common sense.

Tap tap.

Keyboard sounds rang out along with labored breathing.

“They’ve all somewhat adapted to the first wave situation.”

Click!

As the sound of pressing the keyboard’s enter key rang out cheerfully, the sound of cages opening could be heard beyond the screen.

“What will happen if we release the next stage creatures now.”

-Those beast bastards are coming again!!

-It’s okay! They’re nothing special except for their brains and numbers!

-Kang!

-Huh, something’s strange!

-This is on a whole different level from before!!

-Aaaaargh!!!

The result was chaos.

The beasts, which were less obedient but gained strength and infectiousness, began attacking humans rapidly.

They gradually transformed nearby insects and birds into forms like themselves.

“Kekek! A masterpiece!”

And Roy grinned, looking at the chaotic screen again.

After he laughed to himself for a while.

“..Maker. Let me ask one thing.”

He suddenly asked me in a serious voice.

“Are you planning to kill me?”

“What?”

I was dumbfounded by his words.

“That’s a bit out of the blue.”

“..Don’t dodge the question and answer me.”

A serious voice.

At least it didn’t seem like he was joking with me..

He seemed to think his thoughts weren’t wrong.

I naturally sighed at that sight.

‘Hah, really Roy..’

“How did you know?”

I don’t know why there are so many perceptive people today.

I’m not an easy person to read.

“..I roughly knew from the beginning that you were planning to use me.”

Since the first time we raided the laboratory, perhaps.

“Well, I didn’t properly explain my purpose and just sponsored without conditions. I guess you figured out there was something to gain from the research itself.”

“And when you suggested terrorism, I got a rough idea.”

Roy nodded weakly, indicating agreement.

I approached him slowly with leisurely steps.

Woong.

“Is it alright if you don’t run away?”

“Sorry, but a guest has already come and gone.”

Roy turned the chair 180 degrees before I could say anything.

And his appearance came into view at once.

I couldn’t help but be surprised at that sight.

“You..”

“I’ve been poisoned.”

A pale complexion, but a body that had turned bluish from the neck down.

It seemed that all his labored breathing until now was because of this.

“..Antidotes are useless. Using medicine only increases the pain.”

“Who was it?”

“..Z-Bio betrayed me. They took all the research data I’ve gathered and my subordinates, and disappeared from this building.”

Extremely dilated pupils, and a trembling jaw.

I couldn’t tell his exact emotions due to the poison, but he seemed to show a sense of futility along with a hint of anger.

‘It seems Roy getting betrayed doesn’t change even if the original story changes.’

Despite producing even better results than before, it seemed Z-Bio was trying to discard him.

“Just in case you’re wondering, I have no connection to Z-Bio.”

“..I know that much without you saying it. We’ve had a connection for a year, how could I not know?”

Roy chuckled weakly and nodded his head.

“It’s fortunate you came to kill me. Rather than suffering in pain for a few hours before dying from the poison, it would be more comfortable to die cleanly with one bullet.”

“My, how the situation has changed strangely.”

“It’s amusing.”

To think the person I came to kill would welcome me for coming to kill him properly.

Somehow it felt anticlimactic, but that didn’t mean I had given up on killing him.

I approached him closer to send him off as he requested.

And Roy, noticing the gun in my hand.

He looked at me and asked curiously.

“..Doesn’t it bother you at all?”

“What are you referring to?”

“Killing people.”

He used a firm tone, but also had an expression of genuine curiosity.

Roy added more words to explain further.

“I wonder if you don’t have any thoughts about pushing everyone to hell – people you’ve built relationships with, innocent people outside, everyone.”

“..You’re saying this to me, Roy-ssi?”

The person who asked me to kill him?

And at least, it wasn’t something a crazy person who called half-melted beasts cute should say to me.

“I’m not trying to say anything, I was just curious.”

“Is this curiosity as a researcher?”

“Something like that.”

He didn’t seem to be trying to buy time.

Roy’s eyes already had the look of a disillusioned person.

‘Is it a researcher’s characteristic curiosity directed at me?’

If he was really curious, there was no reason not to tell him.

There was plenty of time left, and it wouldn’t hurt to tell him as a gift for his journey to the afterlife, since he’s about to die anyway.

I thought he might be recording, but judging by his questions, it didn’t seem like he was trying to extract information.

I nodded and organized what to say in my head.

“Just as Roy-ssi obtains research data by killing people, I have a similar purpose.”

In my case, it’s a more fundamental purpose.

And my purpose can be seen as a much simpler reason than that.

“I want to live.”

In this damned world.

In a world where ordinary citizens die without being able to resist at all, and where groundless malice overwhelms me.

I simply wanted to live.

“You might not believe me, Roy-ssi, but a monster is scheduled to appear in this world in a few years.”

“..Oh ho.”

Roy showed an interested expression at my words.

He seemed to half-believe, half-doubt, but for now it looked like he believed what I said.

“That guy is very strong. To the extent that the current level of people’s force won’t be enough. So everyone needs to become stronger, and to become stronger, they need appropriate trials.”

“So that’s why you commit terrorism? Risking the deaths of hundreds of millions of ordinary citizens?”

“It’s not that my heart doesn’t ache.”

How could a person not be sad with a human heart?

It is sad.

It’s sad, but it’s just that my life is more precious.

“What about making ability users stronger while minimizing damage?”

“There’s no way for everyone to have a happy ending without any sacrifice.”

The world is not a fairy tale.

I’m not an idealist who claims to save everyone, nor am I a hero who would throw away my life for others.

‘If I were safe or if there was a benefit to gain, it might be something to consider.’

I was the type who could never make sacrifices otherwise.

“Kuk, they said you were a villain who doesn’t kill civilians. But you’ve been nurturing a snake inside.”

“I’d rather not die now while preparing for the future.”

“I guess using me as a front was also to have someone take the blame in your place?”

“Correct.”

“..Kehe! Kahahahahaha!!!”

As I clapped my hands and smiled brightly, Roy burst into loud laughter with a deflated sound.

“..Can I make one request?”

“There’s nothing I can’t listen to.”

He was still someone I’ve known for a year.

I could at least listen to one last request from such a guy.

Roy stared at me with a hoarse, wheezing voice.

“I don’t expect you to take care of all the Z-Bio bastards who made me like this.”

A face that had turned pale as blood drained from his body.

But his eyes looked more intense than anything alive.

“Just if the bastard blocking your path as you live happens to be from Z-Bio, no matter what, kill them.”

A guy spewing murderous intent full of madness with the appearance of someone about to die.

Indeed, it was befitting of the madman who abandons large-scale suicide attacks in the original story.

“Understood.”

I stared straight at Roy with his blazing eyes, and aimed the gun at him.

“..I’m rooting for your survival.”

“Please wait for me in hell first. I’ll send some new friends not long after.”

“Now that’s music to my ears.”

Roy closed his eyes tightly, seeming to sense his end.

“It wasn’t a bad research.”

“It was the best research.”

Roy smiled faintly at my words.

Bang!

I gave him the maximum peace I could offer.

After a brief moment of mourning while looking at him with his eyes closed peacefully.

“..Now I should try controlling this.”

I turned my head towards the large monitor.

“CCTV screens everywhere.. and is this the program for giving orders and special wavelengths?”

I fumbled for a moment, but soon adapted perfectly.

Let’s go, it’s time to end this.

---

“It’s going smoothly.”

-Grrrr..

-Stop them no matter what!!

The beasts attacked people smoothly, and ability users including heroes fought back desperately.

“Good, good~ At this rate, I can look forward to after the terrorism ends.”

As I was imagining a future where everyone had become stronger, turning the CCTV this way and that.

“..Huh?”

I saw a strange sight.

There were frozen beasts twitching slightly here and there, and a woman standing in the middle of them.

“What is she doing?”

Ice Queen.

Although she was injured and wearing torn clothes, I could tell it was her at a glance.

-……

She looked similar to usual but somehow seemed out of it.

“W-what?! Hey! The monsters are about to swarm her!!”

She seemed to be alone far away, with no heroes coming to help her nearby.

“Damn it! What happened while I wasn’t watching?!”

I hurriedly grabbed my coat and mask and rushed out of the control room.

‘Damn it, after all the effort I put into raising you!! I told you to roll around to get stronger, not to die!!’

With Polia’s help, I headed towards the downtown area where Ice Queen was.