Ch.23Something Is in That Room

The day had already passed since the baby monster escaped from the research wing.

For the first hour or two, it might have been manageable.

But even after a night had passed, Yeongdeungpo, where the monster alert remained in effect, was essentially paralyzed.

<Hunters and Government Fail in Initial Response>

As dawn ended and daylight slowly approached, countless articles with headlines like that would flood TV and social media.

The weather was already gloomy with the rainy season starting tomorrow, making the situation even worse.

Nevertheless, at the top floor of the Korean Hunter Association branch.

In the branch director’s office, which had no windows but could see the outside scenery through special walls, Lee Jin-ah was following the old saying that when in a hurry, take the long way around.

Gulp.

She was drinking a bottle of soju alone without any side dishes.

Sitting at her desk by the window, almost lying down despite being seated with her chair pushed all the way back, she stared blankly at the gloomy sky.

“I guess it’s easier to deal with dead things than living ones.”

Though she had anticipated this situation, she couldn’t help but sigh at the current state of affairs that was worse than expected.

Eight years ago, when she had set foot on Korean soil after a long time.

Upon arriving as the recommended branch director from the US headquarters, she immediately secretly salvaged the National Disaster-Level monster “Cheonsa” (Angel) that had been sleeping in the deep sea off Busan Port.

Since it was a National Disaster-Level monster from a relatively advanced hunter nation, she had expectations.

But somehow it had died with its entire upper body completely gone without a trace, making “resurrection” impossible.

So regrettably, she could only preserve it as a specimen in the research wing…

“It has reproductive organs? Interesting.”

That’s what Lee Jin-ah thought until she discovered that Cheonsa was “female.”

Plan B would take much longer and require a massive budget compared to her original Plan A, but if successful, she might obtain an even superior specimen than the original.

Fortunately, she had collected genetic material from other national disaster-level monsters from around the world.

For eight years after salvaging Cheonsa, Lee Jin-ah immersed herself in new research.

And finally this year, she succeeded in impregnating the womb of the remaining lower half of the host body.

Once her creation was complete, the first thing to do was test its performance.

‘At minimum, the host was Korea’s National Disaster-Level monster, ranking among the top twenty hunter nations worldwide. I thought it would at least be capable of that much…’

Of course, for a newborn to kill a D-rank Hunter and seriously injure three B-rank Hunters was quite an impressive result, despite some complications.

However, noting that researchers who didn’t approach it aggressively all remained alive, Lee Jin-ah evaluated the baby monster she created as follows:

“A failure as a monster. But in terms of performance, I suppose it passes…”

Most importantly, the whereabouts of that child were not in my hands, its “father.”

With even an A-rank Hunter deployed, I thought they would have captured it by now.

If only “that man” hadn’t interfered.

“The Monster of Jamsil…”

A National Disaster-Level monster that appeared in Korea, just like Cheonsa.

Who could it be?

What was its purpose, and what was its true identity?

A mutant-like man with remarkably no interest in humans.

Though just a strong hypothesis, he seemed to possess knowledge comparable to humans.

‘A monster with no hostility toward humans… A man who isn’t excessively faithful to his instincts.’

In that way, he resembled the baby monster I created. Perhaps he felt some kinship because of that similarity and took the baby away.

According to A-rank Hunter Joo Sangho, who encountered the Monster of Jamsil, the creature actually carried the baby monster on its back as it fled.

“Acting just like a human…”

Though unlikely.

Anyway, I had no intention of surrendering my property just because a National Disaster-Level monster took it.

“Come out, snake.”

Lee Jin-ah commanded her “hair” while sitting in a chair pushed all the way back, almost lying down.

Following her command, the green color that appeared to be dye in her hair gradually flowed down like running paint.

“Hssssss…”

It revealed itself, taking the form of a long liquid snake.

“Snake, track the baby monster’s traces. I’ll follow shortly.”

“Hssssss…”

At its master’s command, the snake lost its form and splashed onto the floor.

Then it surged up again, this time taking the form of a robust man.

A perfect disguise that looked exactly like a human in appearance and color, just unable to speak.

“Excellent.”

Lee Jin-ah gave a brief compliment as the B+ rank monster, Näscher Snake, pretended to be human and took the elevator down.

She waved goodbye and poured more soju into her empty glass.

***

A Hunter Meister’s work was like freelancing, with daily workload varying depending on hunters’ requests.

So like hunters, they didn’t have fixed working hours, and usually meisters received equipment after monsters were subjugated.

It was basically a job that involved afternoon naps unless monsters appeared at dawn…

“So-Sophia?!”

“……”

Had a monster appeared at dawn?

The bed was large enough for me to sleep with the baby monster, and I naturally left the room around 9 AM, waking up before the sleepy child.

But by some coincidence, Sophia came out at the exact same time.

Dark circles of fatigue, like those of a hunter who had just returned from duty, were under her eyes.

“You… didn’t sleep well.”

“No… I slept perfectly fine…?”

She’s lying.

As they say beautiful women are sleepyheads, Sophia was the sleepiest person I knew.

So when she didn’t get enough sleep, it showed immediately.

Could she be troubled by something lately?

As I tilted my head in concern.

Step, step.

“Sophia?!”

Suddenly she walked past me, trying to enter my room.

The baby monster was still sound asleep on the bed inside.

If she went in now, something irreversible would happen, so I quickly ran to the door and spread my arms.

“What’s wrong all of a sudden?”

“I actually left something in your room.”

“…? You haven’t been in my room once since I came back from America.”

“No, I have.”

That was a lie.

If she had, I would have known.

However, as her unyielding eyes met mine, determined to enter my room even if she had to push me aside.

“Y-you can’t go in right now!”

“Why? Is there something in there I shouldn’t see?”

I struggled to answer.

Could Sophia have noticed?

Seeing my anxious expression, she split her lips into a grin like a horror movie monster, her blue eyes glowing.

As a B-rank Hunter, she could easily throw me, just a slightly stronger ordinary person, with one hand.

If Sophia laid hands on me now, it would be game over.

So.

“Sir! Ma’am! Could you come here for a moment?!”

“Give up. Mom and Dad already left for an important meeting this morning.”

I tried to find help when facing an overwhelming enemy.

But my two potential helpers were busy with an important morning meeting… probably about the Monster of Jamsil, so that failed.

Meanwhile, Sophia placed her hand on my chest to move me aside.

I even felt my survival instinct kick in as she licked her lips, and though I really hated to do it…

“Y-you can’t go in!”

“Why not? …You really have something in there you don’t want me to see, right?”

“Actually… yes!”

“?!”

I decided to use my last resort.

I never thought I’d say such lines in a house with a younger sister.

But there was no other way to overcome Sophia’s obsessive persistence.

So I told her with a serious expression.

“I was actually watching porn.”

“…Wh…what…huh?”

Though I was swallowing tears at creating my own dark history, I remained confident.

“Base…ball videos?”

“No, sex videos.”

“…!!”

At my answer, Sophia stepped back in shock.

I could see her entire face turning red like a ripe tomato.

“So, don’t come in…”

“……”

Awkwardly.

Having completely lost her previous forceful attitude, her eyes rolled around in embarrassment.

It would be awkward, of course.

I understand.

I’m even more uncomfortable.

How am I supposed to react when I see Sophia at home or work now?

Honestly, I just hope she doesn’t avoid me thinking I’m disgusting.

‘Well, at least I won.’

The law of equivalent exchange.

It seemed I had succeeded in stopping Sophia’s actions at the cost of my dignity.

Having outed myself, I tried to go back into my room to comfort myself.

But when I thought she would normally back down by now.

“S-so?”

With a trembling, embarrassed face, Sophia opened her mouth again as if not giving up.

“J-j-just porn isn’t a big deal!”

“Huh?”

“Y-you’re not the only one who m-masturbates! I do too!”

“Sophia?”

“Wh-what do you use to m-masturbate? I-if you want, I have a paid membership, I can sh-share what I watch!”

“SOPHIA?!”

I could see steam rising from her head from embarrassment.

It was incredible obsession.

And even more incredible dedication.

When I saw her actually turning on her phone to enter an adult site, I desperately tried to stop her from creating more dark history for herself.

“Sophia, that’s enough! That’s plenty!”

“Sh-shut up! If I don’t do this much, you won’t let me into your room! Let’s share our sexual preferences! I could be your masturbation mater-…!”

Ding-dong.

That’s when it happened.

Just as Sophia was about to say something outrageous, the doorbell rang early in the morning.

Thanks to that, we quickly calmed down, and as I walked toward the stairs wondering what was happening.

Crash!

The sound of breaking glass from my room.

Swallowing my breath at that sound, I quickly peeked into the room through the already open door.

There.

“Don’t come in! Han Shinwoo.”

“Mmm…?”

This is the second floor.

No, did he break the window with his face?

A man with glass shards stuck all over his face was crouching by the window, having already entered the room, having a staring contest with Sophia who was already inside.

And hanging on one of Sophia’s arms was the baby monster wearing my white shirt, rubbing its eyes and yawning as if just waking up.

“Han Shinwoo, I heard you were watching porn…”

“Ah, that’s…”

“You… don’t tell me you have this kind of preference…?”

“Of course not!”