Ch.194194. Conveying the Heart.

In the end, it was better to do it quickly. My sister had a point, and I needed to clarify my relationships with both Ariel and Seol Yu-hwa.

“Mom, I’m doing fine. Yes, it’s me, Do Jong-hyun. Your son.”

Phone calls with parents are so sad. It’s been revealed that their child can transform into a monster, and we can’t even meet easily because we’re separated.

[Family visits are not allowed.]

Something about flight risk or whatever.

In the end, video calls are all we have.

All I can do is reassure my parents.

“I’ll definitely return to normal. Don’t worry, Mom.”

I sighed after ending the call.

There are still so many issues that need to be resolved.

[Chae Ji-no]

-Suffered abuse from parents before disappearing

More identities of deceased Goegeopdan executives have been revealed. This time, it’s a child around 12 years old.

As expected, they were recruited by Goegeopdan because of their troubled past.

[Currently, numerous monsters are gathering in Bolivia, South America, and the White Dragon Guild is recruiting additional Jaegers for what is expected to be a large-scale decisive battle.]

On top of that, Dokgo Jun was preparing for a major war to capture the remaining human monsters.

Even Russia’s Park Tae-sang is rushing there, so it’s definitely going to be a big conflict.

“I should also wrap things up on my end.”

Once again, I went to ask permission to make a phone call.

Telling the camera that I wanted to use my phone.

“I’m going to call a friend.”

[Why are you making so many calls?]

I heard an irritated voice. My current handler is Heo Min-woo. He’s someone who usually takes on rough assignments at the Association and is half-bald.

“It’s because you’re monitoring me and I can’t contact people often.”

They should just let me go to school. It would be easier for everyone to talk.

But I had no choice but to use the phone.

[By the way, there will be a trial regarding your treatment.]

“A trial? What did I do wrong? Don’t tell me it’s about the buildings damaged during fights? Honestly, I don’t think that’s fair.”

[It’s about your treatment! I just said that! I don’t know why Dokgo Jun and Jo Seong-hee keep protecting you. Are they really acting in humanity’s best interest?]

Asking the obvious.

“Anyway, I’m going to call my friends, so keep that in mind.”

[Submit a list. Don’t be annoying, do it all at once.]

What an attitude. Fine, I’ll do it.

In the end, I put 30 names on the list, including students from the upper, middle, and lower classes.

[Are you joking?]

“You said to do it all at once. Anyway, just do it.”

I decided to get the calls to the boys out of the way first. But after making the calls, I was disappointed.

[Uh… sorry. I’ll hang up.]

[I didn’t know you were a monster.]

[You deceived us.]

[Jong-hyun. You’re on our side, right? I’m rooting for you.]

Supportive opinions were in the minority. I expected this, but it was still a bitter moment.

At least Geum Do-hyun and Han Min-woo were decent.

Han Min-woo, as expected, said just one thing.

[Let’s fight together.]

I can’t express how good that one sentence made me feel. Next was Geum Do-hyun.

[So you’re the monster who fought for us back then? I’ll start by saying thanks. I don’t mind. If you need help later, just call me again.]

At least some people still believe in me.

Even Min-seok was the same.

[Our friendship is forever, right? Come back soon.]

“Thanks.”

With a warm feeling in my heart, I called Gu Sang-heon.

But Sang-heon’s reaction was a bit different.

[I was disappointed that you lied. I don’t have anything to say over the phone. Let’s talk when we meet in person.]

“Okay. I’m sorry.”

Sang-heon also seemed disappointed. I feel bad about that.

“Haa. Is this the final stretch?”

The two most dangerous calls, and I’m not sure how they’ll go.

I finally called Ariel.

“…”

I waited for a while, but she didn’t answer.

“Phew.”

Then I’ll try Yu-hwa…

But at that moment, I heard Ariel’s voice on the phone.

“…Is that really you, Do Jong-hyun?”

“It’s me. Ariel. How have you been?”

“Not good, Mr. Monster.”

I can feel her characteristic sarcastic attitude.

“Yeah, you must have been shocked to find out I’m a monster.”

“No. I kind of suspected it already.”

Ariel seemed to have noticed.

“So, what do you think? Everyone’s saying I might become humanity’s enemy. What about you?”

“Why are you asking me that? Wouldn’t it be simpler to ask yourself?”

“I want to know if you’re okay.”

“Whether I’m okay or not, does it matter? What’s important now is how people perceive you.”

Ariel keeps trying to avoid the main issue. I need to take control of this conversation firmly.

“I felt your emotions clearly on the rooftop. Is that how you feel about me, a monster?”

“…”

After a moment of silence, Ariel’s voice suddenly rose to a soprano pitch.

“W-w-what are you saying! You idiot! Don’t make assumptions! That was because I was being controlled… that’s why!”

Her voice grew smaller toward the end. Then came a desperate denial.

[That’s ridiculous! You call me out of nowhere and make assumptions. You’re the one who likes me!]

“That’s right.”

[Yes, of course… Wait, what?]

I can imagine Ariel’s surprised expression. I could feel her confusion through the phone.

“I said I like you. That’s for sure.”

“For sure? That sounds strange.”

“But dating me, a monster, is dangerous, and also, I can’t just look at you alone.”

Even I think I’m being shameless, but it’s the truth. Either I date both of them or neither of them.

There’s no reason to prolong this and intensify the emotional conflict between the two.

[You’ve lost your mind, ‘Do Jong-hyun.’]

“You can despise me if you want. The choice is yours.”

Yes, it’s Ariel’s choice alone. I’ll leave it to her.

[Take control of both of them.]

I also remembered Eun Se-rin’s advice. Backing down here would be too ‘weak.’

So I added another declaration.

“I like both you and Yu-hwa. Not just one of you. I want both.”

[How vicious, just like a monster. Don’t be ridiculous! Why would I!]

“Because you like me too. I told you. I’m definitely going to have both of you. If you don’t like it, we can just not do it. But I’d like you to accept.”

I push strongly. I have nowhere to back down to anyway.

After a few seconds of silence, I can only hear Ariel’s breathing, unable to form words.

[That’s unfair. Really annoying.]

And with that, the call ended.

“I wanted to hear her answer…”

That might have been her answer, but knowing Ariel’s personality, it wasn’t definitive.

“Haah…”

Still, I feel relieved. I finally spoke clearly about my feelings.

Next, I called Seol Yu-hwa. Given her personality, she’d be gentler than Ariel… but she’d still strongly disapprove.

As soon as the phone rang, I heard Yu-hwa’s low voice.

“Jong-hyun?”

“Yu-hwa. How have you been?”

“…Fine. How about you?”

“I’m being monitored. How do you feel about me being a monster? Is it hard to accept?”

I ask about the monster thing first, and the main point comes after.

This was supposed to be the appetizer before the main course. But all my plans fell apart from here.

“That’s too much…”

Suddenly, I heard sobbing through the phone.

“Yu-hwa?”

“I didn’t want to believe you were a monster! But a monster? Does that make sense?”

“I’m sorry, Yu-hwa. There’s…”

Click.

And the call ended.

“Uh…”

This was completely different from what I planned. I managed to convey my feelings clearly to Ariel, but things with Yu-hwa ended before I could.

[Are you done with your calls? Return the phone.]

“Yes.”

I let out a sigh.

*

Heo Min-woo slammed his desk in disbelief.

“Seriously, putting a man and woman in the same room? Why? So they can fall in love? With a monster of all things…”

“Administrator Min-woo. Please calm down. They’re both under surveillance anyway.”

“We can’t see inside! Who knows what schemes they might be plotting? A monster, enjoying himself with a woman!”

Currently, thanks to Jo Seong-hee’s consideration, the two share the same room. There was surprisingly strong opposition within the Association.

It only passed because it was Jo Seong-hee’s decision, but there was tremendous dissatisfaction regarding the monster.

And Heo Min-woo, like Dokgo Jun, was a hardliner when it came to monsters.

“Why did Dokgo Jun spare that guy? He should have killed him mercilessly like before! But… to give him such treatment! This is unacceptable.”

“But that monster has helped humans and achieved great results. So that’s why…”

His subordinate tried to stop him but closed his mouth when he saw the fierce glare.

“Watch your words. We’ve suffered countless casualties because of monsters. Should we give special treatment just because he helped a few times? Unacceptable.”

“Yes. But… we can’t treat that monster carelessly either.”

They had made thorough preparations, including setting up barrier walls in the corridors and passages.

At least Do Jong-hyun had passed the evaluation, allowing him minimal privacy; otherwise, he would have been treated like a zoo monkey.

While they were monitoring the interior, they noticed a group of protesters on the external camera.

“Hey! Set up a defensive line with the Jaegers and block them!”

They responded quickly and effectively suppressed the protesters.

[These people seem hostile toward Do Jong-hyun. They’re saying to kill the monster.]

“I understand their feelings.”

[Pardon?]

“Nothing. Anyway, it’s good that they’ve been contained.”

Heo Min-woo composed his emotions.

He was someone whose close colleague had been killed by a monster and became a Jaeger.

His desire for revenge was renowned within the Association.

After time passed and he handed over his duties to his replacement, he was able to return home.

“I really don’t know what this world is coming to.”

His expression softened somewhat when he entered his home to find his 8-year-old daughter and his wife who had prepared dinner.

“Good work today!”

His wife led him by the hand to the dining table, and Heo Min-woo was delighted by the well-prepared feast.

“As expected of my wife. I’ll enjoy this.”

“You’ve seemed in a bad mood lately.”

“Ah, lately? It’s because of Do Jong-hyun. That human monster.”

Heo Min-woo immediately picked up some hot bulgogi with his chopsticks.

“That person has been talked about a lot lately.”

“A monster is just a monster. He’s causing me stress.”

“Won’t the Association deal with him?”

“For now, they’re saying to leave him be, but it’s really frustrating.”

His wife gave a slightly ambiguous smile at her husband’s attitude.

“But if he can’t be left alone, they might have to dispose of him.”

“Well, if he causes trouble himself, I suppose so.”

“Yes. Wouldn’t it work to provoke him?”

His wife whispered cautiously. At his wife’s proactive stance, Heo Min-woo momentarily thought of the girl who could manipulate emotions.

[Everyone be careful. The moment this girl intervenes, your emotions are no longer your own! Prioritize this above all else.]

He felt suspicious, but his wife soon sighed.

“Even in our parents’ meeting, people were talking about it. They said they feel anxious because of the monster. Honestly, you’re in danger too. I’m so worried.”

“Um… can you come out for a moment?”

Heo Min-woo looked at his wife with wary eyes.

His wife seemed puzzled.

“Why?”

Heo Min-woo immediately summoned a fellow Jaeger. He wanted to ask about mental brainwashing.

“There’s nothing.”

“Oh, really?”

But the problem was that there were no symptoms.

Heo Min-woo soon had to face his wife’s frightening expression.

“S-sorry, honey. I’ve been sensitive lately…”

“No, it’s fine. I’ll sleep with our child tonight.”

His wife left with a cold attitude, and Heo Min-woo could only bow his head.

But he didn’t know. It wasn’t a mental issue, but a physical one.

That night, Morgan had somehow appeared beside the sleeping Heo Min-woo.

[Good material. I’ll amplify the emotions and parasitize the body simultaneously.]

When she threw something, a finger-sized larva attached itself to Heo Min-woo’s body.

Then Morgan began to whisper into Heo Min-woo’s emotions.