Ch.84A Smell Lingers in the Air

# Enhanced Translation

“It’s good that Meister is safe. Make sure to protect Meister in W City for the time being.”

“What are you planning to do? Use this as another opportunity for your political games?”

After the unconscious Meister was taken to the recovery room, Cage called Yu Anna after receiving a situation report from the heroes of A City.

When Yu Anna confronted Cage, who seemed oddly pleased despite the shocking news, he shrugged and confirmed her suspicions.

“It wasn’t my intention, but I can’t miss an opportunity. Especially with such excellent material.”

The “excellent material” Cage referred to was footage of A City soldiers pointing guns at heroes who were trying to save Meister.

It was obvious how citizens would interpret that scene, captured by the hero cams of A City’s heroes.

“So you’re going to spin this as ‘soldiers who only got in the way during Meister’s crisis, while heroes were the ones who saved the hero’?”

“You’ve learned a bit about politics, Starlight.”

“You know…”

Yu Anna let out a weary sigh at Cage’s sarcastic applause and compliment.

“I won’t say your political maneuvering is bad, since I benefit from it too… but can’t you tone it down a bit?”

“Don’t dismiss politics, Starlight.”

“I’m not dismissing it. I know it’s necessary. What annoys me is how you use me without ever asking for my opinion.”

“Of course you should help. It’s for the sake of superhumans, and you’re benefiting greatly from it too, aren’t you?”

“You’re always using all heroes like this, aren’t you? Meister, me, Electris. Can’t you at least talk to us before using us?”

Superhumans must be strong; strong superhumans bear all burdens.

Perhaps because he believes he’s the ultimate superhuman?

Cage has always had a tendency to try to handle everything alone.

“I’m sorry, but that’s not possible. I don’t plan everything in advance either. I just make predictions and act according to the situation.”

“That’s exactly it—consult with us before you act.”

“You want me to discuss everything, consult, and ask for others’ opinions before acting? That’s too slow… your method is too slow, Starlight.”

“And you’re too fast. You’ve just been lucky not to make mistakes so far. What happens if you do make a mistake?”

“Then I just need to avoid making mistakes.”

“Do you think that makes sense?”

“Superhumans make the impossible possible. I’ll take responsibility. Those under me just need to follow quietly.”

“How will you take responsibility for the people who are used and sacrificed for your cause?”

“By bringing peace.”

At his confident answer, Yu Anna sighed again, feeling they were heading in the same direction but on completely parallel paths.

“In the end, you do care about everyone. That’s why I get annoyed with you but don’t stop you. I know your methods are effective. Still, isn’t this going too far?”

“What do you mean?”

“Why are A City’s soldiers acting like that? They weren’t this bad before.”

“Incompetence, ignorance—which are you asking about?”

“I’m asking why they’re so aggressive toward heroes.”

Beyond incompetence and ignorance, A City’s soldiers were acting as if superhumans were their enemies.

Heroes assassinating Meister? That made no sense.

“Soldiers are the government’s dogs, practically private armies for high-ranking officials. They’ve been taught to be wary of me.”

“That they should be wary because Cage is trying to assassinate Meister to seize power?”

“That’s nonsense. Killing Meister wouldn’t give me power—it would only provoke public backlash.”

Even a weak hero is still a hero.

Citizens of each city still support Meister, even though other heroes have taken his place.

And Cage, who prioritizes superhumans, would never kill Meister.

Heroes who have worked with Cage believe this without question.

“Yet they suspect I would kill Meister because of government propaganda.”

Because Meister killed many heroes’ parents and mentors, and Cage is at the center of those lingering news stories.

Because Cage, backed by citizens and heroes, threatens the positions of high-ranking government officials.

“To be swayed by such things… I can only call them inferior. That’s why I must lead.”

Superior superhumans must protect the inferior.

While his mindset was hard to criticize, Yu Anna’s dissatisfaction remained.

“Have you tried talking to the soldiers?”

“Talking…”

“The soldiers were afraid of us, not just hostile. Does that make sense? Soldiers, police, and firefighters should be working with heroes to protect citizens—why would they fear heroes?”

“Isn’t it obvious? The government pigs who lead them are hostile toward me.”

“Then you should teach them. Tell them you’re not their enemy. Shouldn’t you at least talk to them?”

“That would be a waste of time. Convincing a few subordinates would only result in them being replaced by government officials.”

“And that will only make soldiers more hostile toward heroes… This time it was Meister, but next time they might oppose heroes in the name of protecting citizens.”

“They’re only human after all.”

No matter what weapons humans wield, they pose no threat to high-ranking heroes.

That’s what being a superhuman means—transcending humanity, becoming a monster.

What makes them heroes is their commitment to protecting humans.

“Cage, soldiers are also citizens we need to protect.”

“Yes, they’re also foolish people working hard to fatten up the rotten pigs, stupid ones at that.”

“So you’re just going to let them remain hostile? The heroes seem to dislike the soldiers too.”

“Once we take out the head, everything will fall into place.”

“What about the soldiers who will be sacrificed in the process? Are they just necessary casualties?”

Cage’s goal is to replace corrupt high-ranking government officials with capable heroes.

He doesn’t hesitate, believing that cutting out the rot now will save the rest, even if some humans are sacrificed.

And in this era, Cage’s choice is correct.

“…That approach will only create people who fear heroes. We shouldn’t be like that.”

“You’re naive, Starlight… The time for dialogue has already passed. They’ve used Meister as a tool for too long and become drunk on their sense of omnipotence.”

She understood the need to drain the stagnant, festering water from the government for the citizens’ sake.

But heroes must not forget their fundamental purpose.

In Yu Anna’s view, Cage was gradually becoming less of a hero.

Yet she couldn’t blame him, given this chaotic monster era.

In crazy times, those who act normally are considered crazy.

Yu Anna is the crazy one.

“In today’s world, you’re right… your methods are more effective.”

“I’m grateful. Is the esteemed Starlight acknowledging my methods?”

“That’s why I’ll keep finding the flaws in your approach and proving them to you.”

As Yu Anna glared at Cage on the screen, he sharply raised his eyes from his coffee.

“You’re doing what someone has to do, so I won’t stop you. But I’ll find a better way.”

In the current era, Yu Anna’s approach is too slow.

But she refuses to compromise.

Because a hero never gives up on saving even one more person.

“As expected…”

Chuckling, Cage put down his coffee and spoke.

“Fine, keep hesitating and worrying all you want. You’ve always been right, however frustrating that may be…”

An inexplicable sense of inferiority flashed in his eyes—the same hostile look Yu Anna remembered from before.

Meeting her gaze through the screen, Cage ended the communication with these words:

“Keep finding my flaws. Surpass me as a superior hero, and overtake reality.”

Do what only you can do.

After the communication ended with a beep, Yu Anna left the communication room with a heavy heart.

She headed to the operations room where all the heroes had gathered.

Inside, the handcuffed soldiers from A City were already talking with W City’s heroes.

“So because Meister’s ability was out of control, we had no choice but to force a shutdown. It wasn’t assassination or anything strange…”

“That’s unbelievable. Those are just claims made by superhumans. It was suspicious from the start that so few escort troops were sent for Meister. This must be your secret operation…”

“God, this is driving me crazy. Listen, if we wanted to do something to you or Meister, we would have killed you already. Do you have any idea what two S-rank superhumans and nearly ten A-rank superhumans could do if they wanted to? Just one S-rank superhuman could kill everyone—what assassination are you talking about?”

“It would be an assassination if there were no survivors.”

The soldiers, who had been knocked unconscious by Electris’s ability and brought to the operations room rather than prison, were now listening to the superhumans explain why they performed CPR on Meister.

“Look, can you see? This is what we call ability coupling. I hate to think about coupling with a guy, but abilities can harmonize rather than repel each other when they’re allowed to blend.”

“Because of this, when we use our abilities to save Meister, the energy overloads continuously…”

“Electrical shock through machines and electrical shock through abilities are different. Do you understand?”

“But heroes… Cage’s power… Meister is an obstacle…”

“For fuck’s sake! Aaaargh! What do I have to say to make you stop with this nonsense about Cage’s power and Meister assassination secret operations?! Cage is a bastard! Cage is an idiot! Happy now?!”

“Hey, keep it down. The A City heroes can hear you.”

“Besides, if we wanted to kill Meister, would we have put him in the treatment room? We would have just killed him in the car. Meister is only D-rank level now. Even I could kill him if I wanted to. Do you think an S-rank hero couldn’t kill him if they wanted to?”

As the conversation continued, those who had been showing hostility like cornered alley cats gradually began to show curiosity rather than hostility.

After all, they too were human.

Not something inferior to superhumans, but fellow humans.

“So… you had no choice but to perform CPR…”

“We… we almost killed Meister with our own hands… if we had been just a little late.”

“Were we the ones being stupid…?”

“No, still, these are just claims made by superhumans…”

With dialogue, understanding becomes possible.

#

I sat on the rooftop, chewing on beef jerky while quietly observing Zone 0.

Even as a monster, it was still strange to see in person someone I’d only seen inside the TV box.

Meister, the hero of an era I watched on TV every day as a child.

The genius superhuman who laid the foundation for humanity’s survival in the monster era.

And a woman with many very strange aspects.

When I first saw Meister’s face standing next to Starlight, it was fascinating to see a face from my memories right before my eyes.

Then there was the smell coming from her body.

Though faint, as if covered by several thick blankets, it was strange that a smell from my memories was emanating from her.

And the food pack Meister gave me.

While the contents were very different, the packaging was in a form I’d seen many times before.

“A laboratory, perhaps.”

She doesn’t seem to be a researcher though.

I focused my senses on the faint smell coming from Zone 0.

The distinctive smell of chemicals they use.

A smell I could never forget even if I wanted to.