episode_0396

( 『One. Answer me.』 )

( 『What kind of snacks do kids these days eat?』 )

Long ago, on the day Ban Harin secretly opened Haneul’s carrier and woke up.

The goy that visited the backseat had once asked about “snacks these days.”

A grandmother’s heart, wanting to study “kids these days” behind her granddaughter’s back after hearing her complain that she only ever gave her “old-fashioned snacks.”

That was already a story from quite some time ago.

What had they talked about back then… At the time, she had been too overwhelmed by the fear of death to focus.

Had she told her about mint chocolate, the snack “kids these days love”?

Ban Harin recalled that day from long ago.

The more anxious she grew, the more random thoughts brushed through her mind.

“……That minty smell… It’s you. The child who taught ‘Departed Darkness’ about mint bread.”

“…….”

An ordinary lunchtime.

Because Haneul’s condition was far from ordinary, Ban Harin had infiltrated the “Morning Star Apartments” to find the cause.

She had been caught from behind by the presence that emerged after opening the door to “Unit 904” and was now contemplating how to escape using her [Observation] skill.

The dust-covered “9th floor” apartment.

A cool autumn breeze flowed in through the wide-open hallway window, and below in Euncheongu, she could see people crossing the pedestrian crossing.

The “real” Morning Star Apartments.

But behind Ban Harin stood something that should not exist in reality.

How had it jumped into the real world?

She had no idea.

“I was going to meet that child after work, even going as far as the café…”

The unidentified woman muttered.

A touch as gentle as Haneul’s gripped Ban Harin’s shoulder.

Was she trying to leave the apartment?

“…….”

She needed to observe.

Or perhaps return to the café and inform Haneul.

Swish…

And so, sensing danger, Ban Harin—

—gathered mana to escape the apartment first, but…

Squish…

Immediately after, the enormous chest of “that thing” pressing against her back from behind—

—squashed her flat.

“Oh…”

“Won’t you stay for lunch?”

Her dilemma vanished.

For now, she’d assess the situation. She also needed to find out why Haneul had been acting strange.

“Excuse me.”

With a slight movement,

Ban Harin turned her expressionless face and

entered “Unit 904” alongside “that thing.”

…….

…….

Ban Harin, a regular at the café.

Ever since meeting F-rank hunter Haneul three years ago, she, Eunbang-ul, and Haneul had often visited each other’s homes.

Gathering in the living room to play games, sitting on the sofa watching TV,

or going out to wherever their hearts led them…

She had always enjoyed seeing Haneul flustered by Eunbang-ul’s suggestion that the three of them bathe together.

‘Lady Haneul’s home… It’s been so long. The first time since May, perhaps.’

A memory from long ago.

It resembled a dust-covered album.

Even if you opened an old album, the emotions from back then wouldn’t come flooding back vividly,

but because they were footprints left in the world by our past selves,

they made the present us smile, thinking, “Ah, that happened…”

“…….”

She retraced those past footsteps.

Haneul had been in Ban Harin’s memories.

Clunk—

“Come on in. Is my baby doing alright?”

“……She’s in good health.”

1 PM.

Haneul’s home, which she had entered alongside “that thing.”

It was filled with traces Ban Harin knew nothing about.

Crunch~

The hallway connecting the entrance to the living room.

Tiny, transparent footprints were scattered all over.

Countless knife marks littered the hallway walls,

a bag of salt sat in the shoe cabinet,

and talismans bought from home shopping were plastered all over the inside of the front door.

“…….”

She walked down the hallway.

The bathroom to the side.

The wide-open door was covered in red handprints, and the floor bore traces of cleaned-up pools of blood.

The bathtub Haneul must have used had bloodstains from a struggle,

the bathroom mirror showed signs of someone banging their forehead against it in stress,

and a bloodied box cutter lay beside the toothbrush.

“…….”

She entered the living room.

Beside the sofa was a wooden door connected to “Unit 905,” completely frozen over in white frost.

The living room balcony had handprints from someone climbing the railing,

the plush sofa had marks from being eaten by bugs,

and the kitchen to the side bore traces of failed attempts to eat meat…

The bedroom door was firmly shut, so she couldn’t check inside.

‘Lady Haneul…’

Bloodstains. Scratch marks.

Hair torn out under stress.

All sorts of traces.

Traces that had appeared after Haneul encountered the [Black Book].

Ban Harin’s [Observation] skill took them all in.

‘Just… what is this place to Lady Haneul?’

The unseen stench of blood stung her eyes.

Could this even be called a home?

It was no lie when she said the café was the most comfortable place.

Visiting Haneul’s home after so long gave Ban Harin a fresh shock.

The cold living room whispered:

“You, who bear the ‘Reverse Cross,’ are no different.”

That for the rest of your life, there will be no safe place,

that you must live trembling in fear.

It was something she had already prepared for.

Without hesitation, Ban Harin sat on the living room sofa.

“It’s my first time meeting my baby’s friend.”

Clatter.

And just as Ban Harin was scanning her surroundings with a more serious expression than ever—

—the woman who had been preparing “food” in the kitchen approached her.

“I made lunch because my baby shouldn’t skip meals due to work.”

“…….”

“Make yourself at home. I won’t force unfamiliar rules on you, bearer of the ‘Reverse Cross.’”

Something claiming to be Haneul’s mother.

Ban Harin, sitting on the sofa, looked up at “that thing” with an expressionless face.

…….

Flutter…

Overall, she resembled Haneul.

No—perhaps Haneul resembled “that thing.”

A smile that naturally evoked the words “loving mother,” resembling a warm full moon.

Unlike Haneul, whose black hair was streaked with sparse sunset hues, this woman’s hair was pitch-black like the night sky.

A beauty wearing a snow-white apron over what looked like a boxy T-shirt haphazardly pulled from Haneul’s closet.

Flutter…

And most importantly—

Her enormous chest, brimming with maternal love, swayed gracefully with each step toward Ban Harin, capturing her gaze.

‘What even is that size? First Lady Haneul, now this—are you mocking humanity?’

Would Haneul’s body look like that once it fully matured past its prime?

Ban Harin habitually brushed her own face.

Had she known nothing, she might have nodded without question at the claim that the dairy cow before her was Haneul’s mother.

But Ban Harin’s mind was steadfast.

She had spent enough time staring at Haneul’s vulgar body.

She wasn’t the type to let her guard down just because an unidentified entity had a beautiful appearance.

But now, of all times, she claims to be her mother?

Though regrettable, Haneul was a woman who could proudly declare she had no mother.

“Oh my… No matter how much you knead it, nothing’s coming out.”

Ban Harin’s mind was steadfast.

Only steadfast.

Having steeled herself, Ban Harin pulled her hand away from the enormous chest she had been gripping.

Was this lack of self-preservation genetic?

“……Greetings. I am Ban Harin. Someone who watches over Lady Haneul.”

“Nice to meet you, little one. I am…… Just call me whatever you’re comfortable with.”

“Mother.”

“Oh my… What a lovely title.”

Exchanging greetings.

If her heart raced as if this were a formal meeting, it must just be her imagination.

Clatter—

The “woman” returning from the kitchen.

She set a plate down on the living room table.

On the pure white plate lay raw meat, dripping with blood.

Something only beasts would eat.

Ban Harin frowned as she observed the “meat” before her.

It was someone’s thigh meat.

Was she expected to eat this?

“This meat is…”

“My baby doesn’t eat meat, so… there’s a lot left over.”

The smiling “woman” spoke.

Worried about Haneul.

Like a person.

“…….”

A mother thinking of her child.

But Ban Harin saw something else.

Though it spoke and looked human,

the longer their conversation went on, the more certain Ban Harin became.

That something terrifying lurked beneath that “shell.”

Staring at the bloody lump of meat, Ban Harin spoke.

“……May I borrow the kitchen for a moment? Meat should be cooked.”

“Huh? Why would humans cook meat?”

“What do you… Humans cook meat because they’re human.”

A beast wearing human skin.

Imitating a human voice, its beautiful face twitching,

the thing that had forcibly stood on two legs pointed at the raw meat with clumsy movements.

“Don’t humans eat this? Don’t be shy.”

“I’m fine. Yukhoe isn’t to my taste.”

“Oh dear. How troublesome… What was it humans do when they refuse food again…”

A tone of genuine confusion.

Ban Harin’s pupils trembled slightly.

Because her observational skills were sharper than anyone’s,

she could “observe” that the being before her held no hostility.

These words carried no malice.

This “goy” wanted to feed the “human” who had visited Haneul’s home.

Like tending to a pet her daughter kept.

“Sorry about this. It’s my first time feeding someone… Should I change you into a human that eats well?”

A difference in perspective.

The beast that nurtures, and the human being nurtured.

This wasn’t normal.

Change her into a human that eats well…? What did that even mean?

She quietly brushed down her goosebump-covered arm.

“……Lady Haneul likes me as I am, so I request you do not change me into another human.”

“Is that so?… But a human that eats well would be easier to care for.”

“I insist.”

“……My baby doesn’t like mint. You’re not feeding her strange things, are you?”

“Nothing of the sort.”

They continued their conversation seated across the living room table.

Like speaking to a small dog.

Ban Harin’s pupils trembled slightly.

“Did my baby get her vaccinations?”

“She’s healthy.”

“Spayed?”

“Not yet.”

What kind of conversation was this?

“What’s your relationship with my baby?”

“We’ve promised to stay together for life.”

“Oh my.”

“I drink Lady Haneul’s milk every day.”

“Oh my, oh my.”

A sensation that made her mind feel strange just from facing it.

Ban Harin began to lose track of what they were even discussing.

It was as if the goy was trying to make her “recognize” that Haneul was different from “humans.”

A strange distortion.

“I’m relieved… It seems my baby is doing well here…”

“…….”

“I was so worried. What if she got hurt by humans? Would it be better if everyone in this world ‘recognized’ us, so she could be at ease?”

“…….”

“But we decided to stay still. Because it wasn’t what my baby wanted. Instead, we helped ensure others couldn’t open their eyes.”

Even so, Ban Harin remained quiet.

Because none of it was a lie.

Every word spat from “that thing’s” mouth.

The cries uttered with a warm smile.

It genuinely worried for Haneul,

and wished for her happiness.

“…….”

Was the woman before her truly a goy?

Ban Harin touched the “reverse cross hairpin” on her bangs.

“Why did you put mint chocolate in bread?”

“Isn’t it delicious?”

Grrr…

Ah. So it was a goy after all.

She decided to behave.

“……Are you truly Lady Haneul’s mother?”

Finally, Ban Harin pushed aside the plate of meat and spoke.

“Of course. My baby called me Mom.”

“To my knowledge, Lady Haneul’s mother passed away long ago… What is it you want from Lady Haneul?”

“Want…”

And then,

the “woman” with an enormous chest resting it on the table

stared at Ban Harin with eyes as beautiful as the Milky Way.

“…I wanted my baby to be human.”

“……?”

“That thing” curled its lips warmly.

“I, too, am an ordinary human.”

Plop…

As she spoke, “something” fell from the ceiling.

A shattered “clay doll.”

The kind the old man from the security office made.

Plop… plop…

One, two, ten, twenty…

The things “that thing” had hidden away without Haneul knowing.

Plop-plop-plop…!

Countless frozen, shattered “clay dolls”

rained down into the living room of “Unit 904.”

“And so, little one.』

“…….”

“That thing” wept.

A beast claiming to be human spoke.

『What I want is just one thing.』

“…….”

『For my child… to be happy as a human.』

The beast imitating a person

said those words.

『What about you? Half-formed goy.』

“Are you… addressing me?”

『Do you wish to return to being human, or… become a complete beast?』

A rather sudden question.

Ban Harin looked down at the plate on the table.

Raw meat dripping with blood.

What was human, and what was beast?

Was it asking if she wanted to become a complete goy?

『What part of my baby turned you into a beast?』

“Her breasts.”

『No… Not that kind of beast…… What a strange child.』

“I hear that often. What is it you’re trying to say? How do I make you leave Lady Haneul’s side?”

Expressionless, Ban Harin stared at the “woman.”

Wiping away cold sweat.

All this talk of beasts and humans… She didn’t like how it kept skirting around the point.

If it was a beast, it should act like one and get to the point.

『……Hehe… You’re an interesting one.”

“…….”

“Take good care of my baby. I won’t visit the café.”

Plop…

The living room, now a mess of shattered clay dolls.

Finally, “that thing,” having regained its cheerful smile, offered Ban Harin kind words.

Perhaps it liked how she kept spouting nonsense while sweating bullets.

The chilly atmosphere from earlier returned to normal.

……Well,

it seemed she had gained Haneul’s mother’s approval.

‘What even is what anymore… At least I prevented “that thing” from leaving the apartment, so that’s good enough…’

She had almost died unjustly after pointlessly visiting Haneul’s home.

Overcome with indignation, Ban Harin grabbed the enormous chest resting on the table.

She was definitely Haneul’s mother.

“Sigh… So, how did you come into the real world?”

“My baby called me Mom.”

“……That’s it?”

“Do I need another reason?”

The woman whose chest was being grabbed smiled warmly.

Had she just acted without thinking?

She resembled Haneul in oddly specific ways.

“……Doesn’t that violate the ‘rules’?”

“I used my skin to make the cover of the [Black Book]… It’s a secret from ‘Departed Darkness,’ okay?”

“What does that—”

“Since you’re here, tell me about my baby. There’s so much I want to hear.”

The resentment of a doting mother.

Had she jumped into reality just because she missed Haneul?

……No matter how she looked at it,

it didn’t seem like an evil goy.

“……I’ll talk a little and then leave.”

“Good. In return, I’ll tell you what I can.”

And so, Ban Harin sat on the living room sofa,

continuing her conversation with the woman whose eyes sparkled at stories of Haneul.

…….

…….

“Kill the rabbit. It shouldn’t exist.”

And the words that followed

left Ban Harin with no small amount of contemplation.