Ch.149Moving Preparations

# Enhanced Translation

Inside the destroyed fortress city, the shelter of A City that could no longer be called a fortress.

A City citizens were living within a much narrower radius than before, centered around shelters in the underground of each district.

The shelters where citizens stayed were separated by certain distances, and moving to other shelters was not permitted.

This was to prevent too many humans from gathering and attracting monsters, and to ensure that even if a monster attack occurred, the damage would be limited to a single shelter.

Building a fortress city was like pouring water into a bottomless jar.

It was an endless war of attrition that required continuously pouring resources and building faster than monsters could destroy it.

The days repeated: rebuilding the city when the sun rose, and watching it get destroyed by monsters and superhumans when the sun set.

The citizens of A City were growing increasingly exhausted by this situation, like building sandcastles in front of waves.

It felt like walking a tightrope with precarious balance, where the slightest stumble could mean death.

Nevertheless, they continued to pour their efforts into city reconstruction because there was a glimmer of hope.

Though painfully slow, the framework of the fortress city was gradually being built.

The citizens of A City worked hard, believing they could return to the original A City.

And there were positive changes too.

“Those superhumans, they’re working hard after all.”

The citizens watched superhumans risking their lives to fight every day, while the superhumans observed citizens they once thought were merely parasites now risking their lives to rebuild the city.

The people of A City began to change their perspectives about each other.

“Some did run away in the end, but that might have actually made things better.”

“It’s fortunate that Electris has matured.”

“We survived thanks to Starlight’s help.”

“The other superhumans too, and Baskerville… Meister is also restoring the systems one by one.”

If things continued this way, they might be able to rebuild the city.

Of course, not everyone was thinking optimistically.

“Can’t we just borrow Black Cat for a week?”

“If it were Cage, he would have just beheaded anyone stealing at a time like this. Starlight lacks that coldness.”

“The same goes for those superhuman bastards who fled to save themselves and left people behind. It lowers morale. We should hunt them down and kill them.”

Despite efforts to hide it, accumulated complaints and anxiety were gradually leaking out.

Like a glass of water about to overflow, they were in a state of extreme tension where even the slightest misstep could cause them to lose composure.

“Hey, did you hear? About the relocation preparations.”

“What’s that about? Relocation?”

“They’re probably trying to change the arrangement of shelters where citizens live.”

“I’m worried… did an accident happen somewhere?”

The news of relocation preparations made all citizens restless.

Citizens who were accustomed to packing only necessary belongings for relocation shared their situations on the A City community forum.

Comments like: relocation is annoying, luggage is heavy, hope the toilets in the other shelter are cleaner.

But there were too many people saying the same things.

“What’s going on? Aren’t they just changing part of the arrangement?”

“Huh? I can’t access the community.”

“Did the communication tower collapse?”

“No, I can still connect.”

“Looks like they’ve frozen the bulletin board.”

“What’s happening? Did something serious happen?”

Those who had experienced temporary information control whenever major incidents occurred in A City trembled with anxiety.

Nevertheless, citizens who had no choice but to follow instructions packed their belongings with grim expressions and gradually emerged onto the streets at the designated time.

A wasteland full of steel frames and concrete debris, with nothing but blue sky above.

As citizens passed by vigilant superhumans and soldiers, they began to sense something strange.

“Is it okay for this many people to gather?”

“Are we all heading to the central headquarters now?”

“What madness is this? What if monsters come while we’re like this?”

“Black Cat isn’t even here right now.”

“What are they loading onto that truck?”

“Huh? Isn’t that… Meister?”

At that moment, as hundreds of thousands of citizens gathered at the central district’s temporary headquarters were growing restless, Meister emerged from the headquarters riding a bed-shaped drone.

As the citizens’ murmuring grew louder at the rare sight of Meister appearing in public, Meister held up a megaphone and spoke.

[Citizens of A City, I understand you must all be confused by this sudden gathering. I will explain everything now, so I would appreciate your quiet attention.]

The citizens, sensing something unusual in Meister’s broadcast, fell silent.

Even the soldiers and superhumans who had been moving simply because it was Meister’s order were all looking at Meister with questioning expressions.

[To get straight to the point. We have determined that it will become increasingly difficult to protect all of you, the citizens of A City, without casualties if we continue like this.]

The citizens murmured at these words, which felt like a terminal diagnosis coming from someone of Meister’s stature.

But that was momentary, as everyone froze with their mouths open at what followed.

[Therefore, A City has decided to abandon the city and relocate to W City.]

“…Huh?”

“What?”

Relocating to W City—from Meister’s words, it sounded like not just superhumans fleeing, but the entire city’s population moving.

[I thank you for your efforts in rebuilding the city until now, and on behalf of both the government and superhumans, I apologize for abandoning the city reconstruction.]

“So it’s not just changing shelters, but relocating to W City?”

“Going to W City would be nice, but is that even possible?”

“Could it be that Cage has come to his senses?”

“No, if that were the case, he’d just set up the isolation field and let us repair A City. Relocating to W City means…”

“What, are we going to W City with just Electris and without Cage? That’s basically telling us all to die.”

“Did Cage really die? With Quake and now Cage dead, has Meister gone crazy?”

As citizens were confused by the seemingly far-fetched plan of relocating the entire A City population, Meister turned up the volume on the megaphone and concisely explained the relocation method.

[Black Cat is coming from W City to help with the city relocation. She has almost arrived, so please remain calm and wait.]

“Huh?”

The citizens stirred at the news that the much-desired Black Cat was coming to A City.

[I understand your anxiety about gathering in one place. However, superhumans at the front lines are stably controlling the movement of monsters approaching A City, and Black Cat will arrive shortly, so citizens, please rest assured…]

“Black Cat is coming? Really?”

“Seems like everything’s already been arranged.”

“What’s going on? Is this for real? Am I dreaming?”

Like a large ripple spreading out, the citizens began to understand the situation.

A city struggling with reconstruction, insufficient superhumans, ongoing attrition, the desire to be under Black Cat’s protection again, the practical issue that Black Cat couldn’t cover both W City and A City.

All of these problems would be solved at once by relocating A City’s citizens.

“Wait, just a moment. How long does it take to get from A City to W City?”

“Before the monster era, wouldn’t it take a full day of walking to get there?”

“Is city relocation really possible?”

In the monster era, survival took precedence over living conditions, so there was no hesitation about abandoning the city.

The citizens, increasingly filled with expectation, turned their attention to Meister.

“Is this Meister? Coming up with such a solution?”

“In the old days, there was only Yeo Un-jae as an S-rank hero, but Meister and Yeo Un-jae did everything.”

“This is truly thinking outside the box. Why didn’t we think of this before?”

“Who would have the crazy idea of abandoning a fortress city? Only someone like Meister.”

“She wasn’t very visible after the fortress city was completed, but now that the city is gone, she immediately shows her worth.”

“That’s Meister for you!”

“Wooooah!”

“Nam Gyeong! Nam Gyeong! Nam Gyeong!”

[Everyone, please calm down. Black Cat is… almost here, but not completely arrived yet, please calm doooown…!]

The excited A City citizens, superhumans, and soldiers all became united in chanting Meister’s name.

Meister, face reddening at the praise, tried to calm the citizens, but her slightly trembling voice lacked the necessary authority.

At that moment, more and more people in the crowd began pointing in one direction.

“Oh! Over there!”

“Isn’t that Black Cat?!”

Beyond the low temporary outer wall, between the forest of collapsed buildings, a black figure appeared.

As if hearing the commotion from A City’s citizens, black ears peeked out, twitching, and large eyes gleamed.

The citizens erupted in cheers upon spotting the enormous Black Cat.

“She really came!”

“Black Cat! Black Cat! Black Cat!”

“Wooooaaah! It’s Black Cat! Wooooah!”

“Waaaaaaah!”

“Kyaaaaaaah!”

“Over here! Black Cat! Over here! Meow! Meooow! Meow!”

[Everyone! Please calm down! Black Cat dislikes noise! Please calm down!]

The sight of Black Cat meant this area was already a safe zone.

The A City citizens, as if rebelling against their previously suppressed state, shouted and welcomed Black Cat with their whole bodies, like castaways spotting a rescue ship.

While W City citizens had already reached the level of reading Black Cat’s expressions, the A City citizens, still unskilled at this, failed to notice that the distant Black Cat was frowning.

“I’m sorry, it’s too noisy, isn’t it? I’m really sorry…”

Eventually, Meister, riding her drone and accompanied by several A City heroes, went directly toward Black Cat and apologized with a bowed head.

Black Cat, seemingly displeased, was swishing her tail against the ground as if brushing it.

“She’s wagging her tail! She must be happy!”

“She must have missed A City after all!”

“Black Cat! Black Cat! Black Cat!”

Hmph, sighing in displeasure, Black Cat bared her teeth at the A City citizens who were even noisier than W City citizens.

“Haaaargh!”

At Black Cat’s snarl, citizens who understood its meaning fell silent as if doused with cold water.

Black Cat quietly observed the citizens who had fallen into anxiety and fear, then turned her gaze to Meister at her feet.

[It’s finally quiet.]

“I’m sorry! I’m really sorry! I apologize for not properly controlling the citizens! Please forgive me!”

Meister, looking tearful, took out her phone with trembling hands and urgently shouted into the communication channel that A City superhumans and soldiers were listening to.

“Please control the citizens and quickly bring all the cat treats we prepared! Black Cat is angry! Hurry!”

[I’m not angry. Just hurry up and get ready to leave.]

“Bring all the tuna and beef! Everything!”

[Hey.]

“Eep!”

When Meister, who had been frantically moving in front of Black Cat, was pinned under her paw, the citizens and soldiers watching from a distance were terrified.

“Kyaaaaaaah!”

“Black Cat stepped on Meister and killed her!”

“It’s over! It’s really over now!”

“Everyone be quiet! Black Cat hates noise!”

“Meister isn’t dead, so please be quiet!”

The citizens, unable to see Meister’s two hands flailing under Black Cat’s pink paw pad, continued screaming despite the superhumans’ attempts to control them.

The superhumans gave up trying to calm the citizens and ran to the headquarters building to retrieve the prepared meat, slinging it over their shoulders.

“Bring the beef quickly! Just carry the whole thing!”

“Get out of the way! Don’t block the tuna!”

“You uncivilized, obsolete bastards! Get lost!”

“Wowaoong…! Wowung…”

At this sight, Black Cat dropped her head as if giving up on saying something.

#

Having arrived in A City, I was anxious and wanted to head to W City quickly, but the situation wasn’t going as I wished.

Misunderstanding my urging to move quickly, the A City citizens feared I might leave and offered me food, begging for forgiveness.

I wish they would just finish preparing to leave, food or not.

Crunch, crack, chomp chomp chomp.

The terrified citizens only began to calm down after seeing me chew tuna and beef with bones and all, and after Meister crawled out from under my paw.

“How could Meister die? Why would Black Cat kill Meister?”

“What about those who screamed even after Meister asked for quiet?”

“Ha, how could they make Black Cat angry when she never gets angry even with all the nonsense from W City people? That’s the level of A City citizens.”

The citizens cursed each other as they loaded heavy luggage onto military trucks, received water and food rations, and gathered according to their numbers.

Superhumans circled the city to check if any citizens remained in shelters, while soldiers checked supplies and vehicles.

And in front of me, at the window of a large bus with its interior concealed.

Cage, sitting inside, showed his pale face and said:

“You look displeased. Perhaps you didn’t like the food? We selected the best tuna and beef, though.”

[The food wasn’t bad.]

While the citizens were preparing to move, superhumans brought me food.

Though I would have preferred more cooked dishes, all the food they brought was delicious.

At my response, Cage sighed, nodding toward the direction of the citizens.

From what I heard while eating, it seems Meister and Cage had made efforts to ensure citizens could move quickly as soon as I arrived.

The communication cut-off with other cities, information control, and the fact that Cage, now back to his senses, was still hiding his appearance—all were meant to minimize citizen commotion.

“I apologize. I didn’t expect the control to be this poor.”

[Save your apologies.]

I continued eating my tuna while looking at the citizens forming a long snake-like line.

Perhaps due to their large numbers, the preparation for movement was taking quite a long time.

But that was it.

Cage, checking the progress through an earpiece and tablet, announced that preparations were complete.

“…Sorry for the wait. Let’s depart.”

I stood up, stretching my hind legs.