episode_0398

5:30 PM. The commute home.

Galaxy has many mothers.

‘This morning… whose mother was the one I ran into at my house?’

Rattle…

Prying herself away from the silver bells that keep clinging to her waist, Galaxy heads back to Seongbyeol Apartment as usual, dragging her luggage behind her.

Her back turned to the sunset hanging over the horizon, she makes her way through Eunchon District.

Cars passing by on the road.

A cat sprawled on a wall.

A pastel pink backpack resting beside a streetlight.

Click. Click.

People noticing the approaching darkness flick switches one by one.

Lights turning on in buildings.

Car headlights illuminating.

Streetlights lining the road glowing brightly.

People preparing for the night.

Voices continuing unabated.

Galaxy quickens her pace, gauging the time until sundown.

‘In the end, Ban Ha-rin left during lunch and never came back… Where did she go this time? She said not to worry about Bbang-ul, but I should still probably go look…’

Vvvroooom—!

Then, a black sports car speeds past Galaxy.

A loud engine roar.

Galaxy flinches and steps further away from the road.

“Ugh… Just when I was about to forget.”

A hit-and-run at a crosswalk.

A trauma from some time ago.

The deafening noise of car engines still occasionally brings Galaxy a sharp pang of pain.

It happened months ago.

It’s exhausting.

Galaxy wraps her arms around her chest, larger than her head, calming her racing heart.

Positive thoughts.

She exhales the breath she’d been holding and lifts the corners of her lips.

“Mmm-hmm~.”

Twirling around, Galaxy turns toward an alley where the streetlight is broken.

Leaving behind the noisy engine sounds of the evening commute, she steps into the shadowed alley.

Whoosh!

Then—

Galaxy abruptly stops in her tracks and glances back.

『…….』 『…….』 『…….』 『…….』

In the cracks of walls, behind streetlights, around alley corners, inside buildings…

Her eyes meet something hiding in the darkened shadows.

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2. It is advised to refrain from going out at night.

– Due to recent facility maintenance, the apartment hallways remain unlit. – As the interior of the apartment is quite dark, it is strongly recommended not to leave your home or wander the halls after sunset.

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4. Do not look up at the sky at night.

– Do not look up at the sky in open spaces without roofs. – Do not make eye contact with those who peer down from above.

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These are things that wait for nightfall.

Once the sunset disappears completely, they might just pounce.

A familiar sight by now.

Galaxy waves at them cheerfully.

Then, slipping a hand between her ample chest, she pulls out her newly issued C-Class Hunter License and flashes it.

“I got promoted again!”

A fresh, gleaming Hunter License.

Hot off the press in every sense.

Swish…

The things watching Galaxy from the shadows retreat a step.

“…I told you, I got promoted?”

She points at the license.

The dim alley is silent.

The hour when the sun dips below the horizon.

Even after enduring monstrous harassment, she stubbornly climbed the ranks—

Can’t they at least congratulate her a little?

They’re ready to tear her limbs apart when night falls,

But they can’t spare a single word of acknowledgment?

“…….”

A pointless sense of injustice.

Still smiling, Galaxy pulls out a wire saw from her luggage.

Somewhere, something stifles a breath.

『…….』 『…….』 『…….』

Wall crevices, alley corners, behind streetlights…

The stares linger.

She tried to be nice.

If they lack mouths, she’ll just make them herself.

Crack.

Walking deeper into the alley,

Passing a wriggling pastel pink parcel box under a wall,

“Hey! Come out!”

Galaxy grips the wire saw and rounds the alley’s corner…

“…….”

Only to lock eyes with

A woman in a pure white dress who had just stepped out.

Whoosh—

Her balance thrown off by the sudden turn,

Her chest—larger than her head—presses into Silver (紅), squishing against her.

“…….” “…….”

A momentary silence.

“…….”

Was it… embarrassment?

The thing that collided with Galaxy flushes red.

Drip…

A [Red Woman], dripping blood.

The things that had been observing Galaxy quietly slip away.

『What did you say?』

“Haah!”

Whoosh!

She swings the wire saw.

Thud.

The [Red Woman] catches Galaxy’s wrist with ease, stopping the saw mid-air.

No luck.

『What.』

“You dropped something.”

Blank-faced, the [Red Woman] stares.

With her wrist still caught, Galaxy wiggles the wire saw while smiling.

Snap.

Her other wrist is seized as well.

“That wasn’t the right grip.”

『Dropped item.』

“Sure, let’s go with that.”

She shakes her head with resignation.

Maybe next time, she’ll aim for the back of the skull.

Whoosh…

With that wishful thought, the soft-hearted cow—Galaxy—

Gets dragged into the dark alley by the [Red Woman], now in a better mood after retrieving the dropped item.

Flomp!

A pastel pink delivery box left against the wall peeks into the shadows, blushes, and scurries away into the evening.

……. …….

“Just once… I wanted an accidental meeting at a corner.”

“Lucky you. How does it feel?”

“……Nice.”

Time passes.

The sky darkens completely.

Galaxy walks home side by side with Silver (紅).

Rattle…

A pristine white dress standing out in the darkness.

A moment when weakened legs lean against the person beside them.

In Silver (紅)’s hand is now a lace parasol, once used by a pitch-black insect,

Allowing Galaxy to safely return to the apartment without worrying about glancing at the night sky.

“I heard Hornet didn’t show up. Should I go look for her ins—”

“What? ‘Fly’ is gone?”

“Don’t worry. I found her. Just look at me right now.”

Silver (紅) grabs Galaxy’s cheek, silencing her.

Monsters making requests of each other, huh?

At least they seem to get along.

Rattle…

Arriving at the apartment entrance,

Galaxy exchanges greetings with the elderly guard before passing the parking lot.

“……Still… can’t eat meat?”

“Hm? Why ask suddenly?”

A pointless conversation.

Leaving the dark alley behind, the bright lights of Seongbyeol Apartment seep into view.

“Lunch today. Vegetable fried rice.”

“Ah… Right, sure.”

Entering the first floor hallway, Galaxy recalls the lunchbox she had earlier.

Vegetable fried rice prepared this morning by Mother.

Ever since when, Galaxy could no longer stomach meat—so not a single piece was included.

‘The mother at home… Of course, she’s not real, but she doesn’t harm me either… Maybe I’ll just leave her be.’

A monster that cooks for her… Isn’t that convenient?

Galaxy lets out a hollow laugh at the thought.

“Why?”

“Just remembered something weird.”

She fiddles with the handle of her luggage.

…….

( 『……Our ■■. Did you play well?』 )

Suddenly, she recalls it.

A story glimpsed not long ago in a detention facility.

Memories of her childhood.

Things she had forgotten, now pouring out like scattered puzzle pieces.

( 『……Little one, what’s your wish?』 )

( 『Me? Mine is… I want to eat meat every day! Not the chopped-up kind—a huge piece!』 )

She loved meat.

A girl who once ran around the countryside village.

Days spent eating free candy from the local shopkeeper.

When she grew up, she’d work hard and earn lots of money,

Then devour a giant chunk of meat in one go.

Stacking a fridge full of ice cream she couldn’t afford as a kid,

Throwing away yogurt lids without licking them,

Sleeping with the fan left on all night…

Things she wanted once she became an adult.

That girl had dreams.

“…….”

Galaxy looks down at herself.

A soft body where her chest is larger than her head, obscuring even her own feet.

The girl who dreamed of eating meat daily now gags at the mere taste of it.

[Self-Recovery] skill.

A body that regenerates, no matter how torn or injured.

She’s nearly died dozens of times, suffered unbearable pain.

On October 1st, she visited the [Facility], fought its monstrous Director to the brink of death, and ultimately sent him somewhere peaceful.

But sports cars still terrify her.

She still can’t stomach meat.

Her heart still races in tight spaces like elevators.

Pain that returns just when she starts forgetting.

Neither painkillers nor sleeping pills work due to [Self-Recovery].

Were it not for the [Oblivion Saintess] who visits her bedroom nightly, she’d have broken long ago.

“…….”

A suffocating trauma.

Hasn’t she suffered enough?

Apparently not.

Ding—

The elevator arrives.

Hand pressed against her pounding heart, Galaxy presses the button for the 9th floor.

Silver (紅) is headed to the 6th.

Galaxy turns her head, gazing at the elevator mirror.

Same smiling face as always.

“There are plenty of delicious foods besides meat.”

“…….”

“Then it’s fine.”

Galaxy smiles.

The day draws to a close.

Would the mother she saw this morning be home?

( When ■■ grows up healthy and strong… Become a great Hunter, admired by all. )

She pulls out her C-Class Hunter License from her chest.

The last remaining dream.

This is enough.

Her life is… happy enough.

Ding—

The elevator stops.

4th floor. The door opens, but the dark hallway reveals no one.

No one enters.

Did someone press the button as a joke and run off?

Beep…!

Immediately, an alarm blares—weight limit exceeded.

“Tsk.”

Crrack!

The [Red Woman] clicks her tongue and casually swings the wire saw.

Like magic, the alarm halts, the doors close, and the elevator ascends.

“What was that just now?”

“Something got on.”

“Yeah, I got that much.”

“Made it lighter.”

“Was that the issue?”

Crrack!

The wire saw lodges in her shoulder.

“Gah—!”

“Agh… Damn it… Grudge’s building up.”

Her body feels slightly lighter now.

Galaxy decides to behave.

“…….”

Ding—

Soon, the elevator stops at the 6th floor.

Silver (紅), who had been watching Galaxy, turns to leave.

A woman clutching the [Bug Princess]’s parasol.

“……Congrats on the promotion.”

“Huh?”

“But next time… come celebrate with something else. I’ll oblige.”

With those cryptic words,

The thing tucks the gleaming Hunter License between Galaxy’s ample chest and steps out.

Humm…

The elevator carrying Galaxy continues to the 9th floor.

“……What was that?”

Doesn’t matter.

Time to go home.

Beep—

On the 9th floor, Galaxy steps out.

…….

Nothing much happened after that.

Tap… tap…

Shortly after exiting the elevator, she spots a chubby Hornet larva rolling down the hallway.

Plumper than this morning—who knows how much it ate—

Fly, sporting hamster-like stuffed cheeks, tumbles toward Galaxy and clings tight.

Faster steps than usual.

Did monsters harass it while Galaxy was away?

“‘Fly’? What happened?”

Tap-tap.

“You ate a lot for lunch? How much?”

Snuggling into Galaxy’s box tee,

Fly buries its face in her ample chest, tiny lips squirming adorably.

Must be dessert time.

Seems it had a rough day.

Poke…

Galaxy had been inexplicably gloomy earlier, but this works out.

Playing with the little one might lift her mood.

Patting Fly’s plump belly, she strolls down the dim corridor.

“Yeah, yeah… Why is everyone so obsessed with stealing milk…”

Tap. Tap.

“Where’d [Bug Princess] go? I heard she was searching everywhere for you.”

A leisurely chat.

A peaceful end to the day.

Creeaak—

And then,

The door to Unit 904 swings open.

“Is my baby home?”

Standing in the doorway—a woman with a warm smile.

Galaxy, who had been bouncing the Hornet larva in her arms, freezes as she stares at it.

Thump. Thump.

A beautiful woman.

A chest larger than her head straining against a pristine white apron.

Raven hair, neatly braided and draped over one shoulder, like the night sky.

Eyes resembling the Milky Way fixated on Galaxy, frozen in the hallway.

“Did you enjoy lunch? We had a spider visitor earlier, so I gave it some food.”

A person resembling herself.

The thing approaches.

“…….”

The something she spoke with this morning,

Now face to face.

A monster claiming to be Galaxy’s mother.

( When ■■ grows up healthy and strong… Become a great Hunter, admired by all. )

An oddly…

Familiar…

Face.

“Come in, dear.”

“…….”

“Sweetheart?”

Galaxy smiles.

Click—

With the same smile as always,

She draws the Derringer from her luggage,

And aims it at the thing.

…….

( When ■■ grows up healthy and strong… Become a great Hunter, admired by all. )

A memory from long ago.

Words passed down by someone.

A dream from when she was far too young.

( You… never change. )

( Always the same. Because of you… )

The sound of shattered bottles, adult screams, flesh striking flesh,

Sticky droplets of blood splattering on the ground.

The footsteps of a child fleeing through the front door…

What was the problem?

Even now, grown up, she doesn’t know.

Was surviving… the sin?

They were an ordinary family. A countryside home found anywhere.

No notable conflicts or hardships.

Precisely because it was so mundane,

That day cast the longest shadow over the girl.

( When ■■ grows up healthy and strong… Become a great Hunter, admired by all. )

( A Hunter who reaches out to those in need… So you may live, loved by many, the love this wretched mother failed to give. )

Someone else’s words.

Pushing me, devoid of talent or will, to become a Hunter.

Her words carried power.

( So… slip through the bars and run far, far away. )

( Kill us, leave all resentment here, and go. )

Gurgle…

Your words.

I must kill.

Galaxy raises the gun.

The mother before her simply watches silently.

“…….”

And so,

Galaxy—

The child who always obeyed her mother’s words—

( Thank you… for living. )

Click—!

Presses the gun’s barrel against her own head.

Emergency eject button.

BANG——!!

The gunshot echoes through the dark corridor.

……. ……. …….

“Haah… Haah…”

A silent hallway.

Blood drips.

Thud…

The bloodstained gun emits pale smoke,

Crimson trickling down Galaxy’s cheek.

“Haah…”

Her mind clears.

What just happened?

Dazed, Galaxy blinks and looks around.

“Are you okay?”

Ban Ha-rin stands there, tense.

What she’d been chewing moments ago—

One hand clutching a spoon, she had grabbed Galaxy’s gun arm and forced it upward.

Thud…

And one more figure.

The woman standing before Galaxy—

( 『……Little one, what’s your wish?』 )

( 『Me? Mine is… I want to eat meat every day! Not the chopped-up kind—a huge piece!』 )

A beast mimicking humans,

Wearing someone’s skin as a disguise—

( 『I see… I’ll deliver it.』 )

( 『To whom?』 )

( 『The beast that misses you most.』 )

Every morning.

A monster leaving giant cuts of meat on the living room table—

( 『Someone who’ll stay by your side when it’s hard.』 )

The beast that misses you says,

“It’s okay, baby.”

Without hesitation, it grips the gun’s barrel,

Caressing Galaxy’s cheek with a bloodied, hole-riddled hand.