Ch.53Chapter 53 – The Reunion with Her Was the Worst. (5)

First, the problem is this iron chain.

Asam said it couldn’t be broken easily.

‘Even in that state, it can’t be broken.’

It seems the test subject had tried to break it using that ability where their physical capabilities surge as their body heats up.

However, that was only what that test subject had attempted.

‘Would it really be impossible even with that?’

The other test subjects and I are mostly at similar levels.

But there’s definitely something different about me.

It’s the red lightning I used back at that columbarium.

Let’s call that smoking state Level 1.

If Level 1’s power can’t break this, then perhaps a stronger power might be able to.

‘The problem is, how did I do that?’

Back then, it felt like I drew out more power when I was on the brink of death.

The situation was so urgent that even I don’t remember exactly how it happened.

‘And didn’t they say it shortens lifespan?’

If Level 1 shortens lifespan, then that power that could be called Level 2—the red lightning—must also shorten lifespan.

Certainly, if my lifespan is shortened, Christina would be angry.

Still, if my freedom is at stake, it’s worth risking my life.

I can’t become a hunting dog for those strange people.

‘Of course, the key is whether I can draw out that power.’

In the worst case, I might not be able to break it even in that state, making it all for nothing…

But staying like this won’t change anything.

I have to do it.

‘I must do it before that crazy woman returns.’

I concentrated quietly.

I gathered my strength, trying to recall that feeling from back then.

+

After what happened behind the curtain, Asam analyzed the blood.

Time had passed, but Asam felt uneasy inside.

‘Am I doing the right thing?’

She envied Beatrice who had gone out drinking since last night.

No, she was probably also searching for those drugs outside, but still, Asam envied her.

She probably wouldn’t return until tonight at the earliest.

‘I’m such a fool.’

That man was right.

Beatrice’s work should be done by her friend, not pushed onto him.

Still, it’s difficult on her own.

If only there was someone to help…

‘Let it go.’

Anyway, she needs time.

Occasionally, clanking sounds come from inside; he seems to be trying to break the chains again.

At least by the time those sounds stop, he should calm down.

‘Until then, I’ll leave him be. Maybe I’ll bring him some coffee and try to negotiate.’

Is there any good coffee left?

Thinking that, Asam drank a fatigue recovery potion.

“Setting everything else aside, I have to admit it’s impressive and fascinating.”

Asam muttered while dropping reagents into the blood.

Blood contains a lot of information.

By observing the various reactions when alchemical solutions are added, she could determine what modifications had been made.

She was now able to analyze someone else’s secret technology piece by piece.

“The level of completion is really high. It’s a level of perfection impossible without that madman.”

As Beatrice said, these were creations meant to produce heroes.

‘If this is used properly…’

These techniques could be applied in so many different fields.

Asam drank another fatigue recovery potion.

She had been staying up for days analyzing the blood of the two test subjects inside.

She felt she could barely hold on by drinking this tasteless fatigue recovery potion.

“My skin has gotten rough…”

Remembering that Aria and Beatrice still had clear skin, Asam began to envy her friends.

‘I want to apply something good for my skin, need to save on research funds, should I cut back on food expenses…’

Her thoughts began to wander.

Until just now, she had been worried about her friend going crazy and thinking about the test subjects inside, but due to fatigue, her thoughts started to drift.

And Asam paid the price for her distraction.

-Thud

“Oh, ah.”

She should have dropped a few drops of blood first, then added the next reagent, but while thinking of something else, she knocked over a different solution.

“Ah, I did it again…”

The reagents aren’t cheap.

There wasn’t much left and she needed to get a new one, but it was still enough for 4-5 more uses if used sparingly, so Asam felt regretful.

“I wish I had a sponsor too…”

She envied her colleagues who had royal palace or merchant guild backing and could spend money freely.

Of course, her main research field wasn’t one that brought immediate benefits to daily life. It was unlikely to receive much support.

‘If I could just succeed in persuading that man, I should get some sleep.’

Sighing at the thought of making mistakes due to fatigue, Asam’s hands trembled with regret as she tried to clean up the spilled solution.

“Huh? What’s this reaction…?”

The blood that the solution had fallen on was none other than K’s blood.

She had been planning to compare and analyze samples one by one, using what she had collected the day before and some newly obtained blood.

‘This definitely didn’t react with the previous test subject.’

There was no reaction then.

But now it’s reacting with K’s blood.

She acknowledged that it was a special heart.

However, Asam had concluded that it was a heart that had been processed and replicated from an already dead heart.

In the end, all she could say was that it was a strong and good heart as an organ.

‘Could it be that the heart has been activated?’

“That’s impossible,” Asam muttered unconsciously.

‘That heart is definitely a drag—’

She stopped herself mid-thought, realizing she was at risk of breaking a taboo.

Additionally, there was another problem.

‘Irregular…’

The two test subjects were created in the same place.

So most of their reactions should be the same. After all, they’re based on humans, so there might be slight differences.

“How is this possible?”

After a moment’s consideration, Asam examined the blood.

She might end up breaking a taboo.

“But if it’s just looking, just simple comparative analysis, it should be fine.”

Reassuring herself that she was different from that madman, Asam calmed down and examined the blood.

At that moment, the door opened.

“I’m~ back~!”

Along with the smell of alcohol, Beatrice returned.

In her hands were a bottle of alcohol and some packaged drugs she had brought from somewhere.

‘I’m doomed.’

Asam had to admit she had been too naive in thinking Beatrice wouldn’t return until at least tonight.

“You’re back early.”

“Yeah, I am~.”

She placed the alcohol bottle and drugs on the table.

“What’s going on? You should have rested more.”

“Well, there’s something I’m looking forward to, and I had a good idea while drinking.”

Smelling of alcohol, Beatrice pulled out a chair and sat down.

Unable to control her drunkenness, she fell to the ground once but quickly sat back up.

“Want to hear my brilliant plan?”

“No thanks. Go get some sleep first. I’ll prepare things later.”

She had planned to talk to the man called K after calming down, but now she’d have to move it up.

First, she needed to send Beatrice away…

“Let’s do it right now.”

“Listen.”

“My intuition just went pop! and told me.”

Though her eyes were slightly unfocused, Beatrice was staring directly at Asam.

“What intuition?”

“Nothing special. About that man inside.”

Beatrice fell into thought for a moment.

“I just felt we shouldn’t give him time.”

“Time?”

“Yes.”

Soon she smiled mischievously and said:

“He’s like our lab rat or hamster. I suddenly had the feeling that if we leave him in the cage, we’ll find it empty with him having escaped.”

“Does that make sense? He’s tied up.”

“Just to be safe, shall we take a look at his face? Our not-so-cute giant hamster?”

Though she seemed to be speaking casually, there was a sense that she didn’t want to create any chance of something going wrong.

‘I feel somewhat sorry.’

The curtain would be pulled back, magical measures would be taken on him while chained, and then brainwashing would begin.

She had wanted to make a contract with him before that, but it was too late now.

“Mr. Helmet, did you miss me?”

Perhaps intending to tease him again, Beatrice went inside.

-WHAM!

Suddenly, with a crisp impact sound, Beatrice flew backward.

She swept across the desk and fell.

“What’s happening?”

Asam quickly turned her gaze toward the curtain.

Next to the undamaged tank, the man appeared.

-Clank.

Fragments of the chains that had bound him fell to the floor.

“What is that?”

Seeing red sparks disappearing from K, Asam took a step back.

+

I moved to throw a punch out of anger, and it worked.

‘I didn’t expect her to suddenly appear.’

The moment Beatrice stuck her face in, all my pent-up anger exploded.

Asam had also mentioned earlier that when Beatrice returned, they would use me even if they had to brainwash me, which had made my anger rise to the boiling point.

In that moment, the red lightning appeared again.

My fist had already flown toward Beatrice, and she was spectacularly thrown across the desk.

‘Anyway, it worked.’

The success was so sudden that I almost froze in surprise.

I barely collected myself and walked out from behind the curtain.

‘Surprisingly, my body isn’t hot.’

The physical state is different from Level 1.

‘Perhaps Level 1 is just barely mimicking this state.’

Thinking about it, it suddenly occurred to me that it might be similar to thermal power generation.

You need to burn fuel to generate electricity, but if there’s not enough heat to generate electricity, only hot smoke comes out.

I don’t know much about it, but that’s the feeling I got.

‘And the fuel, according to that damn Hudson, is my lifespan.’

If it shortens lifespan, it’s not a power I should use frequently for long periods.

At least until some measures are taken, I should only use it in emergencies.

Of course, now is one of those emergencies.

‘It’s gone now though.’

Unfortunately, the power was effective only until the moment I broke the chains.

I could feel the power had already disappeared by the time my fist made contact with Beatrice.

“Now then…”

Before they recover from their panic, I need to escape quickly.

Fortunately, Beatrice seems to be neutralized for now, and Asam is backing away.

Since she doesn’t seem to want to fight, I approached slowly.

“Hey, let me ask for directions.”

I need to find the way out.

As I took a step toward her, she backed away and said:

“Listen, calm down.”

“No thanks.”

I rejected her outright.

“Do you think I’d feel good after suddenly getting hit, kidnapped, and being called a test subject all this time? Ever heard of putting yourself in someone else’s shoes?”

“I don’t know what that means, but still.”

“If you don’t know, you deserve a beating.”

As I slowly approached, Asam backed away.

“Are you going to kill me?”

“I’m different from you people. I’ll let you live for now.”

Why would I deliberately get blood on my hands?

If I have to get blood on my hands and sink to their level, that would make me feel bad too.

Of course, if they come at me again, that’s a different story.

“Why? Haven’t you considered that we might come after you for revenge later?”

“I’ll think about that when the time comes.”

Looking straight at Asam, I said:

“Unlike you savages, even when I want to beat someone up right now, I sometimes think there’s no point if I become like them.”

The church people are somewhat of an exception.

They played with human bodies, so they must pay the price.

But still.

“Seeing you people makes me more determined never to become like them.”

“How naive.”

Asam smiled slightly and said.

“I’m just saying I won’t cross the line.”

“I see.”

For some reason, Asam looked slightly relieved.

Then immediately opening her eyes, she said:

“But you should be careful not to let your guard down.”

With a slightly confident expression, Asam said:

“Your opponent right now is Beatrice.”

At that moment, something grabbed my back.

“Come on, it would be disappointing if you thought one hit was enough to finish me off.”

Suddenly my body was lifted backward and thrown outside.

‘You see?’

Can she throw an adult man so easily?

-CRASH!

There must have been a window where I was thrown, as I was hurled into the air with the sound of breaking glass.

Thanks to wearing armor, I wasn’t injured, but I quickly protected my face from the flying glass shards.

As I fell to the ground with the glass fragments and looked up, I saw Beatrice jumping out through the window.

She launched a kick at me, which I moved my arm to block.