Ch.82Dak-Galbi

“If that woman had done just a little better, heroes wouldn’t have been treated that way.”

Meister’s precedent had shackled the ankles of heroes who grew stronger while facing monsters.

Heroes who must obey government orders, the system, and tools created to support that system.

Meister wasn’t a genius, so she didn’t properly understand what consequences her actions would bring.

Used by high-ranking government officials, always realizing too late, taking the blame, and only regretting afterward.

“The most pathetic thing is that after all that mistreatment, she still helps the government create things like artificial superhumans.”

“Meister is just trying to help everyone.”

“But she keeps making strange efforts, doesn’t she? How many people were harmed by the monster weaponization? What about the problems caused by dissecting superhumans?”

Yu Anna closed her mouth, unable to refute.

In reality, Meister was at the center of numerous incidents.

Not just the monster weaponization incident, but also the plan to mass-produce combat drones to handle Homicide-rank and lower monsters, and the plan to enhance soldiers’ equipment—she was just increasing the private armies for high-ranking government officials to protect themselves.

The reason Cage, who despises powerless humans, couldn’t eliminate the unhelpful government personnel was because Meister had handed over all the master codes for city management to them.

Meister was a hero who saved humanity despite her frail body, but she was too weak to handle everything alone.

Because of this, she couldn’t cut out the rotten flesh, and was rotting away herself.

“…I don’t dislike that woman. But it’s also true that Meister is weak.”

At Electris’s muttering filled with complex emotions, the heroes of W City all felt a strange sentiment.

Corrupt officials were like parasites living on humans, thinking only of sucking blood and filling their own bellies even in this world.

Without the power to protect oneself, even a hero who saved humanity could be reduced to a tool for them.

“If only we could cut out those pig bastards, Meister could have become stronger too.”

Superhumans must be strong.

Both physically and mentally.

To protect humans, sometimes some humans must be killed.

That was the value system of A City’s heroes.

This too was something Meister had created.

#

“Sorry to keep you waiting.”

Meister, who had awakened from sleep, spoke in a slightly more energetic voice as she took out the bed-type drone from a small bag and lay down again.

Electris threw the remote control for the drone to Yu Anna, then began controlling the heroes and soldiers of A City.

“Final briefing. Black Cat’s current location is Central Park in Zone 3, and the meeting place is the rooftop of the designated building. Heroes, stand by in the surrounding area in case of emergency. Soldiers, occupy the stairs and elevators leading to the rooftop from inside the building.”

“Starlight, I’ll say it again, if Meister gets hurt even slightly…”

“Shut up, powerless one. How dare you lecture an S-rank hero?”

After glaring at the soldier who was warning out of concern for Meister, Electris left first, leading the heroes, while Yu Anna boarded an autonomous vehicle with Meister.

While moving to their destination with invisible escorts to meet Black Cat, Meister revealed her complex emotions.

“Ms. Anna, it’s just the two of us now.”

“…That’s right, Nam Gyeong.”

“It feels awkward.”

“Well, it’s been a while.”

Back when she was still an A-rank superhuman, Yu Anna had built a friendship with Meister while serving as her escort.

But that was a very long time ago. Meister, with her brain overloaded, spoke while trying to recall hazy memories.

“The last time I saw you was when you were leaving for A City after becoming an S-rank hero, wasn’t it…?”

“I didn’t see you then. That was the day you coughed up blood.”

“Was it? Ah, I remember now, it was when my ability backfired because I asked the wrong question.”

“The last time I saw you was on the day of my S-rank hero appointment ceremony. When you analyzed my ability and determined which city would be most appropriate for me.”

“That’s right, I fainted, and when I opened my eyes, you were already gone.”

“I feel sorry about that.”

“No, I should be the one apologizing… for not properly analyzing your ability.”

In the dark and damp atmosphere, Yu Anna forced a smile and spoke.

“No, what you told me then was already a great help. W City is… difficult, but I like it.”

“Was I helpful to you, Ms. Anna?”

“Yes.”

“I’m glad.”

Yu Anna spoke with a voice full of concern to Meister, who was genuinely relieved.

“Are you okay? With the current situation.”

It was a conversation with complex implications, based on personal friendship between Nam Gyeong and Yu Anna, not as heroes.

The fact that the high-ranking officials of A City, who had been so reluctant to let Meister go, had now authorized her to travel all the way to W City meant one of two things:

Either Meister’s importance had been downgraded that much, or she had gained that much freedom.

In the early days when nothing was known about monsters, the influence of Meister’s words was enormous.

But now, with powerful heroes replacing her position and experience building countermeasures… Meister had become like a thorn in the flesh.

To Cage, she was both a wall to overcome and a fellow superhuman.

To the government, she was both an idol for citizens and a tool that must not be let go.

The moment her value diminished, the choice of the corrupt government officials was predictable.

Kill Meister, who knows many government secrets, and frame Cage.

Meister was at the center of the political struggle in A City, which had sunk into cold silence.

Seeing Yu Anna’s tense appearance, Meister rarely let out a laugh.

“Ms. Anna is still so caring, worrying about me.”

“It would be strange not to worry.”

“You’re the only one who genuinely and purely worries about me as a human being.”

Again, words with multiple implications.

Meister closed her eyes briefly, then opened them and told Yu Anna about her current situation, who looked bitter.

“The reason I was able to come to W City this time is because both sides’ interests aligned. There are still many people on the government side who haven’t given up on the monster weaponization plan. You don’t need to worry too much about me. Since Ho-young is increasing his influence over me… I’ll be fine for now.”

“Right now…”

“I’m sorry, I asked about your thoughts.”

Meister can read parts of others’ thoughts by applying her ability.

Other heroes and high-ranking government officials were very uncomfortable with this usage, but Yu Anna didn’t feel any particular emotion about it.

Because she knew Meister didn’t read minds with bad intentions and wasn’t someone who would abuse her ability.

“Then that’s a relief.”

“Hehe… Ms. Anna is still the same.”

Meister felt comfortable seeing Yu Anna’s pure relief, but also felt regretful.

“I wish Ms. Anna had stayed in A City…”

“You’re the one who said I should go to W City, aren’t you?”

“Because my ability answered that way. But… personally, I wanted to stay together.”

Her ability’s answers always took priority over her own wishes.

Looking at such a Meister, Yu Anna silently sighed.

The Dimensional Archive ability was too heavy a burden for both Nam Gyeong and Meister.

They say every hero bears power and responsibility that’s difficult for one human to handle, but what was placed on her was especially so.

“I wonder what kind of monster Black Cat is? I’m excited, but also afraid.”

“You don’t need to be afraid. Really, it’s a much more docile monster than you’d think.”

“Ah… I’m not afraid of Black Cat. Because no matter what happens, Ms. Anna will protect me.”

In the elevator inside the building occupied by heroes and soldiers.

After Meister made a meaningful remark, Yu Anna arrived at their destination, the rooftop, and spread her ability’s wavelength to summon Black Cat.

It was like a predetermined appointment method, feeding meat to Black Cat.

When Yu Anna took out meat and cat treats from her bag, Black Cat, who had been napping in the park, jumped up onto the rooftop.

“Woong?”

Black Cat spotted Meister and opened its eyes wide.

Seeing its quite surprised reaction, perhaps because she had brought someone unfamiliar, Yu Anna made a gesture to Meister from a position invisible to Black Cat, pretending to zip her mouth, signaling her not to speak.

After seeing Black Cat and briefly closing her eyes and nodding, Meister woke up from her sleep and said with wide, surprised eyes:

“It really is safe…? This monster won’t attack unless I attack first, it says.”

A safety confirmation through her ability. At that moment, Black Cat approached Meister with curious blinking eyes, showing no interest in Yu Anna.

“Wow, it’s bigger than I thought?”

“Ah, aah…”

Black Cat circled around Meister, then didn’t reject Meister’s outstretched hand and allowed its head to be petted.

Meister, rarely showing surprise with wide eyes, and Black Cat, sniffing Meister’s scent.

Yu Anna felt strange seeing this scene.

It took me so long to be able to pet its head, and even now it still flinches when I try to pet it, but it immediately allows Meister to pet its head…

No, Black Cat must realize that Meister isn’t a bad person, that’s why it’s acting like that. I should be relieved that it’s not attacking, right?

Still, it doesn’t let me pet its head unless I give it cat treats or expensive beef…

“Really, to think there’s such a docile monster…”

“Oh, it must be in a good mood today, it’s more docile than usual.”

“Waooo…?”

When Yu Anna spoke while subtly letting out her uncomfortable feelings, Black Cat made a confused meowing sound.

Yu Anna immediately took out a container of squeezed cat treats from her bag and offered it to Black Cat.

“Wangangangang.”

“Is this cat treats? Snacks that cats eat?”

“That’s right, I’m trying to tame it by giving it delicious things like this, but it’s still a dangerous monster, so be careful.”

“If it likes what cats eat, would it like this too?”

While Yu Anna was feeding Black Cat treats and vigorously petting its head, Meister took out sealed meat from a small bag at her waist.

An expensive food pack with finely ground chicken, various meats, and vegetables.

Though small in quantity, it was made with very high-quality ingredients, befitting a meal for Meister.

“Some people call this human cat treats… this one is soy sauce chicken galbi flavor.”

“Wunganggang… woooong?!”

“Woah, ah.”

When Meister squeezed out a little of the cat treats that would taste good even to humans, Black Cat made a meowing sound never heard before and moved its tongue quickly.

As Meister’s hand was scratched by the rough tongue and she dropped the food pack, Black Cat used telekinesis to pick up the pack, put it in its mouth, and squeezed it.

“Telekinesis…! It’s very skillful.”

“Woongoooo!”

After squeezing out all the soy sauce chicken galbi, Black Cat approached Meister closely, begging for more.

“It seems to like my human cat treats.”

“I-I guess so…”

Seeing this, Yu Anna’s feelings became complicated.

It’s fortunate that Black Cat isn’t attacking Meister, but for it to like her this much… I bought my cat treats at an expensive price too…

“I wonder if it would like spicy chicken galbi too…?”

“Wungangangang…!”

“A monster that likes human food, it’s really fascinating.”

“Ah… maybe it’s related to why Black Cat doesn’t attack humans…”

The more Yu Anna watched Meister petting Black Cat’s head while speaking in an emotionless voice, the more she suffered from an inexplicable frustration.

It’s never raised its tail and wagged it like that for me…