Ch.106The Judge (3)

“A human monster…? You mean, you were a monster?”

“That’s right.”

Congresswoman Avanka calmly revealed her true identity.

She was a monster.

Not just any monster, but a being born from the fear that blooms deep within the human psyche.

Literally a “human monster.”

‘A human monster… Is this really a thing? This type never even appeared in the original game.’

Or perhaps, this identity was kept strictly confidential even until the 5th anniversary when I stopped playing the game.

Come to think of it, in the original story, Congresswoman Avanka had quietly remained in the background without much activity until the game’s 5th anniversary.

But… even so, a congresswoman of Hero City.

And not just any congresswoman, but the leader of the Progressive Party with the largest support base, was actually a monster.

It was no laughing matter.

It felt like facing a nightmare rather than reality.

Above all, what irritated my pride the most was her next statement.

“You’re… stronger than me?”

“Yes, I am.”

Despite appearances, I was skilled enough to hold my own against the “Weapon Monster,” classified as a special-grade monster.

Of course, it was somewhat staged, but it could be considered an equal match.

Yet she claimed to have been watching me for ten years and casually asserted that she was stronger.

I was about to refute immediately… but stopped.

A high-end restaurant overlooking City View.

Her relaxed demeanor as she revealed her identity while sipping coffee with an indifferent expression.

Faced with such boldness, I found myself speechless.

‘Fear born from humans… there’s too much that can’t be explained.’

If she truly was a “human monster,” her power didn’t stem from mere physical abilities or the transcendental nature typical of monsters.

Her power originated from the fear, guilt, hatred, and self-loathing that humans as a species created themselves.

Distrust that begins with a small lie, fraud built upon accumulated distrust, anger born from lives ruined by fraud.

The violence and murder that arise when that anger accumulates, and the wars that occur when that violence repeats and spreads to national levels.

All the oppression, exploitation, invasion, and violation that destroys others’ lives.

At the bottom of all these terrible events, there was always a human.

In other words, she was the embodiment and mirror of the darkness that humans carry within themselves.

If the “Weapon Monster” represented fear created from outside humanity, the “Human Monster” was more fundamental.

Before the fear created by guns, knives, and nuclear weapons, there was the hand that pointed these tools at someone.

The hatred and greed that moved that hand.

She was the emotional vortex created by all of these things.

That’s why she was more frightening than the “Weapon Monster.”

Because in this world, what humans fear most is never external monsters, but themselves and “other humans” with the same face.

“This isn’t funny… The most trusted and supported politician in Hero City is a monster.”

“Nom nom~.”

“…How did you deceive everyone?! Does Zero know about this?!”

“Of course not.”

Despite my angry outburst, Congresswoman Avanka answered calmly without flinching.

“Zero is a homunculus created to exterminate monsters. I judged that if he learned I was a monster, he would become uncontrollable… so I didn’t tell him.”

“Then…!”

“However, I don’t think there’s any need for you to reveal my identity to others.”

“…What?”

As if she already knew I might report this fact to Zero, she smiled gently.

“If Zero develops hostile feelings toward me, his system is set to automatically shut down.”

“Are you insane… What did you say?!”

“And I ask that you keep my identity secret from the people you care about. For example, Carmilla, Princess Hoshino… and others.”

What is this…

This was like binding my hands and feet, revealing her identity but declaring she would keep me under her thumb.

Above all, what was most suspicious was that she revealed her identity directly.

‘If she could have kept it hidden, she could have done so until the end… why tell only me?’

Her answer was clear.

“Janghoon. I am a human monster. A being born from human fear. And that fear is the source from which monsters arise. Thanks to that, I’ve become one of the top ten highest beings among monsters.”

Her words suggested a birth background similar to the “Weapon Monster.”

But perhaps, a more fundamental fear than weapons.

A being born from the darkness inherent in humans themselves.

“That’s why I had no choice but to side with humans. I am a monster, but at the same time, I am human. If humans perish, I disappear with them. If the human population decreases, my power weakens. So I had to live for humans, more humanly than humans themselves.”

Born as a monster, but emerging from human fear, she couldn’t distance herself from humans.

However, conversely, she was too much a monster to completely side with humans.

So she became one who maintained balance in between.

The axis of Hero City, that grand stage.

As the Progressive Party leader, she had “operated rather than ruled” this city as a congresswoman, changing her name and face over thousands of years.

“But… why didn’t you rule?”

“Pardon?”

“With your abilities, you could conquer the human world easily. Why choose the position of congresswoman? Why not president or king… why a representative?”

My question was sincere.

Why didn’t a politician with nearly 80% approval in Hero City seize ultimate power?

She answered quietly but firmly.

“Because humans can only develop when governed by humans.”

“…!”

“In a society ruled by monsters, evolution doesn’t occur. Humans evolve only by fighting, conflicting, loving, and betraying each other. Though I’m a monster… I believe my role is to watch over such humans.”

Is that justice, or evil?

No, more than that, Congresswoman Avanka.

Considering everything she’s said so far, what exactly is she in this world?

And is she really “my enemy”?

Among the many questions flashing through my mind, I could clearly answer only the last one.

Nevertheless, she is my “enemy.”

“Then… when you captured us at the event venue and heroes died first…”

“Hmm?”

“Using Zero as an experimental subject. And all the numerous murders you’ve committed until now… how do you explain those?”

She claimed she doesn’t rule humans.

Calling herself a “guide,” she claimed to be a monster for humans.

But the amount of blood she had spilled could never be rationalized by such words.

“Just a few dozen people. By sacrificing them, I gained positive reactions from thousands, tens of thousands, no, hundreds of thousands. Sacrificing the few for the many! That’s an entirely reasonable calculation, Janghoon.”

“Shut up.”

Her words were statistics, and sacrifices were calculations.

A perspective that viewed “living humans” not as individuals but as “numbers.”

That was ultimately a monster’s way of thinking.

And what if someone I cared about was included in that minority?

What if my friend had been among those sacrifices?

From that moment, I had to fight, even if it meant becoming part of that “minority.”

Because I am human.

“In that case… how many more do you plan to sacrifice in the future?”

“…”

“Even in this incident, do you know how many lives could have been spared? You just quietly counted the numbers like a director. Who died, how much reaction came… like that. That’s what makes you a real monster.”

“Well, of course. Because I am a monster.”

“That’s why I can never let you go.”

I strode toward her as she casually set down her coffee cup by the window.

She shrugged her shoulders and spoke as if with regret.

“Janghoon. I revealed my identity to you because I thought we were on the same side.”

“The same side?”

“Yes. As monsters who sided with humans, I thought we could understand each other’s existence and cooperate. But you… have leaned too far toward the human side.”

And finally, she drew the line.

“Janghoon. A monster who sides with humans… can cherish humans, but must not ‘love’ them.”

“…!”

“For us, humans are merely objects to protect. Not objects of affection. That difference is as clear as the difference between pets and toys.”

“Avanka…”

“Your human aspects are truly admirable. But from a monster’s perspective, you are too vicious.”

Sacrificing humans for the sake of humans.

That was the basic philosophy of her and the “monsters on humanity’s side.”

There was no justice or evil in it.

Just “efficiency” and “inevitability.”

And as soon as her words ended, my body reacted instinctively.

The questions were over.

Understanding was over.

Only action remained.

I charged toward her, drawing on my full power.

In that instant, Avanka met my gaze and murmured.

“Janghoon… you’re now more human than monster.”

In that, she saw both hope and despair.

The pinnacle of humanity that even she, a human monster, couldn’t reach.

If that’s the case, words are no longer enough.

If persuasion doesn’t work, one must break by force. As fellow monsters.

“AVANKAAAAA——!!”

“Sigh… Zero and now you too… Really, children are so difficult because they don’t listen.”

And in that moment, the strike of a human wearing a monster’s mask exploded.