Ch.148Relocation Plan

# Enhanced Translation

“No no no no no!”

Gu Seo-ryong sighed, holding the phone she had been showing to Sa Gu-gu moments ago.

Sa Gu-gu, lying flat on the ground, glanced at Gu Seo-ryong who had paused to sigh, then resumed flapping her arms and legs energetically.

“Is this child getting more demanding by the day? I said no.”

“One Pipi-kung is too few! Sa Gu-gu wants Pipi-kung, Yui-kung, and Papa-kung!”

“Didn’t Mommy tell you? I’ll buy you others when you stop breaking your Pipi-kung. How many did you break today?”

“Pipi-kung is weak! Sa Gu-gu is strong! Sa Gu-gu did nothing wrong!”

Sa Gu-gu let out a squeaky kitten-like cry and flapped her limbs even faster, spinning like a top.

Gu Seo-ryong stood in the center of Sa Gu-gu’s chaos with an exhausted expression.

“If you love Sa Gu-gu, you must buy Pipi-kung Luxury Palace and Gorgeous Resort Lovely Hotel! Buy it, buy it, buy it!”

“You! That Ui girl has been saying weird things again, hasn’t she? I told you not to play with her like that!”

When Gu Seo-ryong angrily tried to grab Sa Gu-gu, she nimbly jumped up and leaped onto a nearby ruin with a swift movement.

Crouching like a cat, Sa Gu-gu shouted with an expression full of discontent.

“Nyaak! Ui did nothing wrong! Mommy is stupid! Weakling! White-hair! Big boobs!”

“Wh-what?! Gu-gu, aren’t you coming here?!”

Poof! Sa Gu-gu burst into black smoke, creating distance as she ran toward the restricted zone.

Now unable to catch Sa Gu-gu, Gu Seo-ryong grabbed her head with both hands and scratched it roughly.

“Aaaagh! Really! Learning only bad things!”

Fuming, Gu Seo-ryong came over to me and plopped down, radiating complicated emotions.

“How can she follow a boy she likes and do everything he tells her to? I never raised her that way!”

[Didn’t she learn that from watching you?]

“What? When have I ever done something stupid like giving everything to a man?”

[What about what you do with me?]

“You’re not a man, you’re a male. It’s different with males, you know?”

[How is that different?]

Leaning against my hind legs, Gu Seo-ryong held her forehead as if she had a headache from saying incomprehensible things.

“Honey, please keep an eye on Gu-gu.”

[As I’ve said many times, it’s unnecessary worry.]

“As I’ve said many times, I know.”

Sa Gu-gu, already at the highest level of Despair-rank, is so formidable that monsters in the restricted zone flee rather than confront her.

Knowing this full well, Gu Seo-ryong still asked me to watch over her, so I sent out two cats to monitor Sa Gu-gu today as well.

“Really… it’s not even puberty…”

Recently, Sa Gu-gu’s rebelliousness has been increasing.

Just like now, when Sa Gu-gu demands things from Gu Seo-ryong—do this, do that, why won’t you do it, I’m angry!—and runs away, she goes to the restricted zone to play hunting games until she’s satisfied before returning.

Each time, Gu Seo-ryong, who now finds it difficult to chase or restrain Sa Gu-gu, ends up sitting next to me waiting for her to come back.

“This is all because of that brat Ui.”

Gu Seo-ryong muttered irritably.

Day by day, Sa Gu-gu has grown closer to Ui, and it’s become obvious that Ui gives Sa Gu-gu special treatment.

At the park, she buys food Sa Gu-gu might like or prepares ice cream to give her, and sometimes places other dolls like Yui-kung or Nana-kung of unknown origin into Sa Gu-gu’s hands.

Now Sa Gu-gu has made it a habit to throw tantrums at every mealtime, refusing to leave the park if she hasn’t played enough with Ui.

Even this solo hunting trip was essentially started by Ui.

When Sa Gu-gu complained about having nothing to play with after breaking all her Pipi-kungs for the day, Ui suggested she go hunting instead, and that’s how Sa Gu-gu began going hunting alone.

Each time, Sa Gu-gu returns stronger after consuming other monster cores.

“She’s definitely doing it on purpose. She’s annoyed that I’m controlling Sa Gu-gu, so it’s all ‘What can you do about it?’ She doesn’t understand anything, just creepily whispers things to Sa Gu-gu behind my back to encourage her.”

Gu Seo-ryong suspected that Ui was trying to free Sa Gu-gu from her mental control.

Yet, she took no measures against it.

In fact, even when I tried to stop Sa Gu-gu from going hunting with my front paws, she would say to let her go cool off.

[If you keep this up, you won’t be able to control Sa Gu-gu anymore.]

“I suppose so.”

[If you know that, why don’t you stop it?]

Ui’s encouragement of Sa Gu-gu consisted of truly trivial matters.

Toys? Gu Seo-ryong could just buy more. Hunting trips? She could simply forbid them.

Yet Gu Seo-ryong neither stops Sa Gu-gu nor buys her more toys.

She could easily prevent it all, but she does nothing.

“Well, I’m curious about what Ui is after. She’s obsessed with Sa Gu-gu, right? If I let her try to manipulate Sa Gu-gu like this, she’ll eventually reveal her true intentions.”

That’s a lie.

Sensing the emotion hidden behind her words, I sighed, hmph.

Sa Gu-gu may have become a bit rebellious, but it’s not yet concerning.

Even after going out alone like this, she still clings to Gu Seo-ryong at bedtime, wanting to sleep together, and acts spoiled, asking to play together.

Though her sense of self has strengthened, Sa Gu-gu is still Sa Gu-gu.

So there’s no need to worry, but for some reason, it bothers me.

[Be clear about this, Gu Seo-ryong.]

“…Hmph.”

After leaving my warning, I didn’t say more due to Gu Seo-ryong’s discomfort.

Shortly after, Sa Gu-gu returned from a successful hunt, excitedly carrying a Disaster-rank magpie monster in her mouth.

“Nya nya nya! Praise me! Sa Gu-gu caught it!”

“Yes, well done. That’s impressive.”

After putting down the magpie monster, Sa Gu-gu transformed into her human form and ran around excitedly as if she had never thrown a tantrum.

“Sa Gu-gu is amazing!”

“Yes, amazing, amazing. But Gu-gu? Time to brush your teeth and get ready for bed.”

“Nyaoooong… don’t want to brush…”

“Your mouth is covered in monster fluid. Are you going to sleep like that?”

As if she had never been excited, Sa Gu-gu raised her bushy tail straight up toward Gu Seo-ryong, who was holding a toothbrush.

Responding to this aggressive reaction, Gu Seo-ryong frowned and approached, causing Sa Gu-gu to reflexively swing her hand with extended claws, knocking the toothbrush to the floor.

“Nyak!”

“Gu-gu! I told you if you don’t brush your teeth before bed, I won’t buy you any more Pipi-kungs!”

“Unyaaang…”

However, at these words, Sa Gu-gu pouted and picked up the toothbrush that had split in half on the dirt floor.

She still listens.

For now.

#

Late at night, with the moon shining brightly after Sa Gu-gu had fallen asleep hugging Gu Seo-ryong on my back, promising to be a good child who goes to bed early.

I opened my eyes to a faint vibration I sensed nearby.

“Grrrr…”

Someone is calling.

Is this Starlight?

I summoned several cats and carefully placed Gu Seo-ryong and Sa Gu-gu on top of them using telekinesis.

The cats being treated as beds made meek, myak sounds, but neither of them woke up.

Concealing my presence and reducing my size, I headed toward W City and found Starlight near an uninhabited section of the outer wall.

Thinking I wasn’t coming, Starlight had stopped the vibrations and was about to leave.

“Meow.”

“Eek?!”

When I poked just my head out of the shadows and meowed, a startled Starlight’s flaming hair flared up.

She seems genuinely surprised, as it’s become difficult for her to even detect me now.

“B-Black Cat, were you sleeping? I’m sorry if I woke you.”

[What’s the matter?]

Starlight only calls me like this when she has something to say.

As I urged her to state her business, Starlight hesitantly pulled out a familiar bag from her waist.

It’s Meister’s space-expansion bag.

“Um, first, would you like a midnight snack?”

“Meooow?”

Did she meet with Meister? Starlight reached into the bag.

My eyes widened as I saw a large tube gradually emerging.

The tube, as tall as a person, was filled with cat treats.

Did Meister, knowing I like cat treats, prepare this snack for me?

I happily accepted and ate the treats.

“Meow-ang-ang-ang!”

Mmm, smoked tuna flavor. Mmm, mmm, delicious.

Starlight hugged the tube with her whole body and diligently fed me.

[Squeeze it more directly, the flow rate has slowed.]

“S-sorry. It’s difficult because it’s so big.”

“Slurp slurp slurp slurp!”

Cat treats truly are the best snack.

After emptying the large tube completely, I stretched out in satisfaction, licking my lips.

As I stretched my front paws and wings, groomed my fur by licking it, Starlight made a peculiar expression.

“No matter how I look at you, you seem just like a regular cat…”

[I’m not a cat.]

In a good mood after eating the treats, I licked the remaining treat off my front paws and said:

[So, what’s your business?]

Surely she didn’t call me out at this hour just to give me treats.

If that were the case, she could have given them during regular meal times, and the nervousness emanating from Starlight indicates she has another purpose.

“Will you listen to me for a moment?”

After bribing me with treats, Starlight began explaining what was happening in A City.

Electris’s pregnancy, Cage having opened his eyes but unable to properly use his powers.

A City lacks sufficient S-rank heroes to protect it.

So, considering the potential for continued casualties, she wants to relocate to A City.

A plan to relocate the entire city using the safe zone I create.

“Grrrrrng.”

After hearing the explanation, I fell into contemplation.

I understood why they planned this.

While there are several drawbacks, it’s worth trying in the current situation.

Without my help, many people will die.

But I’m concerned about having to leave W City.

“The move won’t take long. Just about a day—couldn’t you think of it as going for a quick walk? They said they’ll feed you lots of delicious things in A City too. They promised to make plenty of the tuna treats you just ate. All you need to do is go there, enjoy some tasty food, and come back at your leisure.”

As I hesitated, Starlight anxiously continued.

It would take just one day for A City’s citizens to come to W City.

Starlight would protect W City in the meantime.

[Alright. Tell me when the date is set.]

“Phew, I’m sorry for making it sound like an order.”

[Do you have anything else to say?]

Having no reason to refuse, I agreed, and Starlight apologized for making such a request of me.

As we finished our conversation and I was about to return to the restricted zone, Starlight emanated a strange emotion.

A worried expression, hesitation, curiosity.

Starlight opened and closed her mouth several times, then shook her head.

“No, it’s nothing. Thank you for agreeing to help.”

She seems to have unresolved thoughts, giving off a complex flavor.

I left Starlight behind and returned to the restricted zone.

As I ran silently through the ruins, my mind was still caught in contemplation.

Just now, my hesitation was because of Ui.

Despite never causing trouble, and despite having more reasons to trust than doubt her with each passing day, my uneasiness doesn’t disappear.

Ui doesn’t attack humans and follows me.

Gu Seo-ryong dislikes her, but Sa Gu-gu likes her.

Ui acted as if she didn’t care if she died by my hand.

Everything that has happened so far suggests it’s okay to trust Ui.

Yet, why?

My body still remains wary of her.

#

The planned day from Starlight, moving day for A City.

Being unprecedented, this plan hasn’t yet been disclosed to the public.

In W City, only Starlight and Gu Seo-ryong know I’m heading to A City today.

While Sa Gu-gu was out hunting, I told Gu Seo-ryong about the A City relocation plan.

Just from that, Gu Seo-ryong sensed my concern and hummed happily.

“Hmm, so after acting so cold, you’re worried about me? That makes me happy.”

“What an annoying reaction.”

“Aww, you’re being shy~ You’re so cute, really.”

I avoided Gu Seo-ryong as she approached me and prepared to head to A City.

“If Sa Gu-gu finds out I’m gone, Ui will know too, so be careful.”

“I know that much without you telling me.”

Even I found it strange to be this wary of Ui, but it’s never bad to be cautious.

As I transformed into my monster form and slowly sank below ground, Gu Seo-ryong crouched down regretfully.

“How disappointing, no goodbye kiss?”

I frowned and glared at Gu Seo-ryong once.

She put her finger to her lips and made a kissing sound, as if blowing a kiss to me.

“I’ll be expecting a welcome-back kiss, okay?”

“Tsk.”

Clicking my tongue in my monster form, I quietly left W City.

Before the fortress city’s outer wall disappeared from view, I looked back toward W City, sensing something strange.

Perhaps because I was now distant from W City’s noisy citizens, the constantly rampaging Sa Gu-gu, and the concerning Ui?

Like the sensation of skin changing after emerging from water, the anxiety that had enveloped my body disappeared.

Feeling somewhat better, I moved quickly toward A City again.