NOVEL WEB Chapter 164
It’s not like Heros Company took the biggest hit, but Heros Academy still suffered quite a blow.
People online were buzzing about how they couldn’t even filter out someone like that teacher, claiming to have state-of-the-art security but getting breached in less than five minutes.
However, nothing was quite as malicious as what was directed at Heros Company.
Justitia had fooled not only the Academy but also the Hero Association that adored Heros, and since this time the Academy found itself in the victim’s position.
It wasn’t like they were doing some crazy human experiments like Heros Company did; they were just teaching kids according to their established purpose when all of a sudden this mess happened, allowing them to dodge the arrows of public ire.
And if there’s a silver lining for the Academy in all this, it’s that it was still vacation, so there wasn’t too much disruption to student activities or education.
Even though something big happened at the Academy, it wasn’t a big crisis for the students, meaning the Academy could find some sort of countermeasure while the kids were off during break.
Especially since Class A in the first year faced an unprecedented situation where their homeroom teacher and one student turned out to be a villain, that part could be seen as a blessing in disguise.
At least they wouldn’t have to waste time awkwardly when they hadn’t received any proper manuals during a busy period.
It wasn’t like they specially chose the attack date thinking about that, but somehow it seemed to turn out to be a fortunate result for the kids.
Of course, how “fortunate” that actually is, well, it’s clear that the path ahead for those kids is going to be a thorny one.
They’ll definitely conduct background checks in case someone like me pops up again.
And in order to mold them into loyal soldiers, they might even have to go through some ridiculous propaganda training.
Or they might clamp down on the prospective heroes with stricter regulations or something; maybe even send them out to the front lines against the Evil Society and us.
I wasn’t too familiar with that side of things, just hazarding vague predictions.
Of course, they wouldn’t be gullible enough to fall for that. Especially since the word about what Heros Company did has already spread like wildfire online.
We’re not the only ones exposing the corruption and ugly truths of Heros Company. Even the Evil Society, our enemy and theirs, is doing it too.
Not to the same level as us, but it’s enough for regular citizens to start doubting, “How can those guys claim to be our protector?”
Stretched the point a bit, but anyway.
Considering that we’re the good guys compared to a company that attempted human experiments and even human modification, how many would really side with us just because we tell them to?
…Ah. Jinhyeon might actually join us. Even if he’s got issues, since the social structure of Heros Company is the foundation of our society, he might feel he has no choice.
No wait. Since he seems to be showing some changes, maybe he would start thinking for himself and deciding what’s right or wrong.
Heh, I’d ask him directly if I could get in touch.
…Honestly, if I wanted to, I could reach out anytime. I still hold onto the old phone I used.
Since it’s turned off, I won’t get tracked… but if I turn it on, I could easily see the messages the kids sent me.
And I could very well send them messages too. Logically, that shouldn’t happen, and it shouldn’t be done either.
But if you just look at the possibilities, my point stands.
“Uh… Hey, cat. I know I’m not in a position to meddle, but don’t you think… um, you should take a break? You’ve been working for a month straight without a day off.”
Lost in thought, Hanchō interrupted and dragged me back to reality.
“Not your concern.”
I said, bluntly, while slaying the guards protecting the experiment subjects.
Instead of making my slime as sharp as an axe blade, I made it dull and rusty, swinging it repeatedly until they dropped dead.
It felt less about just killing and more like tearing or bludgeoning them to death as that pain traveled through the slime tendrils to my body.
It didn’t bring me joy to kill this way anymore. Sure, a brief dopamine rush would come, but just that.
It was fleeting pleasure. Back in the day it might have been enjoyable, but now that it’s become “work,” it’s just not as fun anymore. Is that how it works?
Or maybe, just maybe, my threshold for pleasure has risen so much that this level isn’t even satisfying anymore.
I haven’t really studied neuroscience thoroughly, so I’m not sure. Should I look it up? It could be a good topic to spend time on.
Even lost in thought, I almost instinctively executed the tasks at hand: raid the unregistered lab, rescue the experiment subjects, and extract information.
I focused mainly on collecting things suitable for propaganda, meticulously selecting information that would deal a significant blow to Heros Company.
While I was deep into work, Hanchō glanced at me with what seemed like genuine concern and spoke up again.
“Right, I know it’s not my business, but still, when you look like you’re about to drop dead with those dark circles under your eyes, even someone like me would worry.”
If I’m like this, what must the others be feeling?
Hanchō told me to take a break for even just a day, mentioning that that certain someone was also worrying.
“The Boss hasn’t said anything about that.”
“Well, saying it wouldn’t reach you anyway… Ugh, forget it. You’ll just collapse when your battery runs out. So, have we taken everything we needed here?”
“There are still a few corners I haven’t checked yet. I’ll verify and come back. You lead the experiment subjects to the entrance.”
“Sure, sure. You’re the lord here, after all…”
Hanchō grumbled as he headed off to where the experiment subjects were held.
So, what places have I not checked yet? I unfolded a rough layout and checked each area one by one.
Ah, here it is. The smoking room. Why’d they need a dedicated smoking room when they could just install some smoking booths?
It seemed like a waste I couldn’t comprehend, but then again, Heros Company was beyond comprehension, so I guess it doesn’t matter.
Just as I tried to enter, I paused to listen to something I heard from beyond the door. Someone was definitely alive on the other side.
It couldn’t be an experiment subject. So, maybe it was a surviving researcher?
Thinking about how to kill them, I leisurely opened the door, and the researcher lunged at me with a scalpel.
I doubted such a scrawny little thing could kill anyone, but was it just fear or sanity that made them shout and swing that scalpel at me?
Clang.
The researcher froze in disbelief as they stared at the scalpel that had just clanged against my body. Their jaw dropped in shock.
It wasn’t piercing my skin; heck, the blade was making a metallic sound from the impact.
Thanks to the slime armor I’d formed beneath the targeted area, the blade was effectively blocked.
“That’s not how you hold a knife.”
They must have intended to cut through my skin and pierce my insides, but with that grip of theirs, that was impossible.
Not that I ever intended to be stabbed in the first place.
“Like this.”
I instantly liquefied the slime to engulf the researcher’s hand holding the scalpel.
The researcher screamed as their flesh was eaten away and muscles tore apart, only for their shout to twist into one of pure terror soon after.
That was because I was controlling their arm, forcing them to stab themselves.
They struggled desperately to block with their other hand, slapping and banging it against the wall, but no matter what they did, they couldn’t break free from my control.
Even if they cut off their own hand, they wouldn’t be able to escape it; how could they hope to break free?
In the end, they died after being stabbed dozens of times by their own hand.
If I had been in good condition, I’d have died on the tenth stab, but since my blade was dulled by the slime, it took a bit longer.
I couldn’t help but smile at the pathetic sight, but a sudden thought crept into my mind, making me feel cold all of a sudden.
How would the kids see me if they found out I did this?
Would they see me as a monster, or as something that isn’t even a friend?
…Nah, what good is that now? I just wanted to live true to myself for even a moment, and that’s why I did this.
“But you know? Living true to myself… was it really worth giving up everything for?”
I committed these acts out of a desire to be recognized as I am, but deep down, I know. I know it to my core, so much that it hurts.
I’ll never be accepted. Not by that person, nor Justitia, nor the Liberators. Even the Evil Society would be horrified by the nature that’s in me.
I know better than anyone.
That’s why I was jealous of normality, and that’s why I wished for ordinariness.
…Maybe this time, I really did achieve that normalcy.
Even if it meant laying aside my desire to be true to myself, giving up everything, and constraining myself.
But even so, if I had friends, I might have been able to endure the trial that would last until the day I die.
Maybe. I can’t know that for sure now.
I looked at the corpses sprawled all over the floor. If the kids saw this… well, I certainly didn’t expect any nice words.
With each passing day, I felt myself drifting further and further away from being human, from being a person.
Whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing, I have no idea.
Am I waking up to embrace my true self after the fleeting dream I momentarily shared with my friends, or am I just throwing away what little humanity I had left and becoming something less than human?
I honestly couldn’t tell.