Monster in the Lab #4

 

“Alice, I am your master.”

I declared it anyway. I had to lose to win.

“⋯.”

“Are you listening? I’m Estelle Frostwind. I own this lab. If you wish, I can authenticate you with magic.”

“Intruder, attempting to deceive with empty words. Not worth responding to.”

Of course, it was useless. I had expected it.

“It seems like the mental contamination has progressed so much while he’s been living alone that he doesn’t even recognize his owner. What an idiot.”

The lab maid, Alice, just stared at me with blank eyes.

What is the existence of this country reflected in this guy’s eyes?

It would just be an object of exclusion.

“⋯Intruder. Failed to intercept on first encounter.”

Alice muttered.

It’s a cold, clear voice. Like a glass cup filled with ice water, now covered in water droplets.

Alice absentmindedly ran her gray hair up. The black headband on her head suited her well.

“Change of response policy. Continue attack until the intruder’s biological responses are clearly gone.”

With those words, Alice transformed the blade on her arm.

Weeee—

The blade, which was in the shape of a long blade, changed into a shape that resembled several sharp teeth.

Without stopping, the teeth began to rotate at high speed like a chainsaw.

“The intruder likely possesses the ability to regenerate damaged bodies. Therefore, we must utilize attack methods that cause maximum damage to the body.”

It gave me goosebumps.

Me, that girl?

Even though they say you can come back to life no matter how much you die, the feeling of being torn to pieces by a chainsaw while still alive is never pleasant.

And Alice’s judgment was correct. The more severe the damage to the body, the more power is consumed when resurrecting.

My “Immortal” trait is powerful, but not infinite. Furthermore, using the “Instant Resurrection” trait directly inflicts damage on my body and reliquary.

This means that we cannot be completely at ease just because we are revived.

And, I have a question.

“Hey, but do you have to say each and every one of those things with your own mouth?”

“⋯?”

“Just think about it and move on. Why are you talking to me?”

Alice’s footsteps, which had been approaching with her chainsaw arm spinning furiously, suddenly stopped.

Alice’s eyes widened slightly.

After a while, Alice said bluntly.

“⋯The intruder’s point is correct. There was no need to state my response plan.”

“right?”

“Your feedback is complete. We will review it. Thank you for your helpful comments.”

Alice lifted her apron slightly and bowed her head. I bowed back, too, before I knew it.

How nice it would have been if this had ended peacefully.

“Again, the exclusion resumes.”

Alice shattered my fleeting expectations by swinging her chainsaw.

This is unstoppable. Even the most skilled fighter wouldn’t choose to block a chainsaw with his bare body.

I quickly arched my back and placed my hands on the floor.

Gigging—

The chainsaw passed precariously over my nose, making a bloody sound.

Of course, the chainsaws sold on the market are not as effective as you might think as weapons.

Although its majesty is often portrayed in a terrifying way in mass media, especially zombie movies.

A real chainsaw will stop immediately if it catches something hard or foreign. Despite its powerful appearance, in reality, it requires careful and delicate use.

But this is the world of “Nine Stars”.

It’s a dirty world where chainsaws are commonplace for walls to be torn down. I was like the only two-eyed person in a one-eyed world.

Kaka kaka!

The chainsaw slashed through the desk, cabinet, and wall. Or perhaps scratching would be a more accurate term.

“Mark, run away!”

“but-!”

“But, Nabal, you’re a troublemaker right now! I don’t have the luxury of fighting while protecting you!”

“Oh, I see!”

Mark backed away towards the door.

For a moment, Alice’s gaze fell on Mark. His eyes flashed like a cold hunter’s.

“Intruder B, attempting to escape. Preemptive interception.”

Alice left me and ran towards Mark.

For a vicious monster that slices people with a chainsaw, its techniques were as light as a feather.

Mark was frozen in place. Even if he tried to run away, his back would be cut anyway.

Kagagang!

I got involved just before Mark became a victim of the chainsaw murders.

Sparks flew mercilessly from the edge of the frost sword that blocked the chainsaw blade.

“Estelle⋯!”

“Go quickly. And tell the others to run out of the lab. As far away as possible.”

Mark nodded.

It seems he realized that trying to help me here would only get in the way.

Mark turned his back and ran away with all his might.

“Intruder B, one orc, fleeing… Intruder A is interfering. Intruder A’s combat power has significantly increased beyond expectations. High-risk entity. Serious threat to the lab’s security.”

“Didn’t you say you wouldn’t tell me all those things?”

“⋯I need to get used to the new format. It’ll take some time. It’s difficult to improve it right now. Thank you for your understanding.”

Perhaps it was just my imagination. Alice’s cheeks seemed faintly flushed.

“You don’t even recognize your master. What a filthy servant.”

“Another sophistry. Intruder A is not my master.”

Snap!

Eventually, the dagger blade, unable to withstand the shock, shattered and flew into the air.

I took a step back, keeping my distance, holding the spare dagger in one hand and gathering my magical power in the other.

Indeed, Alice is strong. She is worthy of the monstrous title.

It’s understandable why Kamula couldn’t handle this one guy and turned the expedition away.

“Okay, I’ll take care of it until you come to your senses.”

But, there is an immutable law.

There shouldn’t be a servant stronger than the master.

All I needed was a single moment, a split second of freedom.

***

“Mark! Why are you the only one coming out?”

Jonathan glared at Mark as he ran away.

As Mark quickly told the whole story, Jonathan turned toward the entrance without a moment’s hesitation.

“Let’s go out. Everyone, follow me.”

“Are we going to leave Estelle alone?”

“Of course. Estelle’s judgment is absolute. If Estelle thought our powers were useless, she was undoubtedly right.”

Jonathan escaped the lab after gathering as much research material as he could.

My heart pounded incessantly. Loud noises erupted intermittently from inside the lab.

‘There’s no way Estelle would lose.’

Jonathan firmly believed that Estelle, unlike him, a fake hero, was a superhuman with immortal powers.

However, I was concerned that my opponent was also formidable.

The monster of the lab. A powerful guardian whose power even Camula could not handle and had to retreat.

‘There’s no guarantee of losing, but there’s also no guarantee of winning, right?’

A feeling of unease began to creep into Jonathan’s heart.

Jonathan shook his head vigorously.

“Damn it, don’t waver! This isn’t the time. I’m the leader of these guys.”

I turned to look at Mark, Wild, and Buffalo. They were large, rambunctious creatures, all cowering like frightened baby birds.

Jonathan had the responsibility to lead the orcs.

‘What I have to do is, no matter what, bring these guys back alive.’

Jonathan calmly looked back at the current situation with a corner of his head clenched in tension.

After a while, he finished his judgment.

“You go back!”

Jonathan shouted harshly.

“Warrior Orc, what do you mean? Is Estelle still here⋯.”

“Don’t you understand? Estelle stayed in the lab to keep you alive, tying up the monster’s paws. So, if the monster were to leave the lab and kill you, it would all be for naught. Estelle’s sacrifice would be meaningless. That’s why you must live.”

“So, are you leaving Estelle alone? No matter what⋯!”

“I will stay here. If Estelle wins, I will return to the village with her.”

The orcs read the grim determination on Jonathan’s face.

“If Estelle and I don’t return, there’s no need for revenge. Don’t send anyone to the lab. And for such a situation, I have a plan of action tucked away in the bottom drawer of my office. Refer to it as you run the village. The three of you should help each other. The elders will also help.”

“What if-”

Kwakwang—!

Just as Wilde was about to ask a question, a huge explosion rang out.

Snowdrifts rose as high as the sky, and fragments from the broken laboratory ceiling scattered everywhere.

Swish—

A small, black figure emerged through a hole in the ceiling of the laboratory.

“Fuck⋯!”

Jonathan’s face turned pale.

“Four intruders confirmed: B, C, D, and E. All must be eliminated to avoid any repercussions.”

She was the first human girl Jonathan had ever seen.

But even though we hadn’t met before, I could guess his identity just by looking at his atmosphere.

‘Is that guy the monster!’

Jonathan gritted his teeth.

‘The monster followed us alone… That means Estelle…’

I stumbled, my legs nearly giving out. When all the ominous visions finally become reality, my mind becomes as fragile as a candle in the wind.

Jonathan had a premonition of death.

If Estelle had been hit, Jonathan would have no way to fight back.

“Go! Hurry up!”

Jonathan screamed at the top of his lungs. The orcs charged wildly through the snow.

The blizzard was so obscuring that it obscured even objects within close range. Now, the blizzard was helping the orcs.

If you keep a little distance, the monster won’t be able to chase you.

“Estelle, I understand what you meant. It’s times like these that leaders need to step up.”

Jonathan laughed.

Death was imminent. But it would be Jonathan’s death alone.

The subordinate orcs will survive, and the orc village will continue to exist and prosper.

I felt quite regretful.

It was only then that Jonathan began to feel a little bit of a sense of what it meant to be a leader, and here he had to wrap things up.

If I return to the village with this experience and this feeling intact, I will be able to do much better than before.

Now it’s just a pointless wish that doesn’t matter.

“Come.”

Jonathan grabbed the hilt of the knife with both hands.

Jonathan felt the orc warrior’s armor strengthen him. His legs stopped shaking, and the muscles in his arms bulged.

It seemed that the armor was finally beginning to acknowledge Jonathan, who had become a little more like a leader.

‘This armor will be buried in the snow with my corpse for a while. The old man will be so angry!’

The monster took a step forward.

Jonathan’s ears were filled with the sound of a monster’s howl and the whistling of snow.

“I’ll buy you some time. 30 seconds, no, even just five seconds.”

Jonathan swallowed hard.

He didn’t intend to defeat his opponent. His job was to fully utilize his orcish combat skills, fend off as many attacks as possible, and buy his men time to escape.

But, at that moment.

bang-

From behind the monster, something different sounded.

The sound of something breaking through the lab ceiling and escaping.

For a moment the snowstorm stopped and an eerie silence fell.

Jonathan and the monster looked around the lab at the same time, as if they had made a promise.

There⋯

“I’ve been waiting for a long time.”

Estelle, covered in dust, was smiling faintly.