Chapter 71: Chapter 71

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Translator: Vine

Chapter Title: Furnace

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"...Have you calmed down?"

"Thanks to you. Thank you, Investigator."

"I told you to call me comfortably."

"This is more comfortable for me."

I sighed softly.

It's a relief things didn't get troublesome.

If possible, I didn't want to borrow the Author's hand for minor matters.

The more the Author's touch reached, the more I felt this wasn't an ordinary world, and it made me uneasy.

"...You don't seem to be in a good mood. Shall I take care of it?"

"It's fine. If I've warned them this much, they won't approach again, will they?"

An investigator might have ways to apprehend that woman, but I decided not to go that far.

If she approached one more time, it wouldn't be too late to deal with it then. There was no need to escalate things unnecessarily.

"It was a good choice to recruit Investigator, after all."

"Thank you."

I subtly praised Investigator Lee Ha-yul, who had prevented things from becoming troublesome.

After the fight with the Übermensch, I decided to have at least one subordinate with me at all times.

...That day, when that annoyingly large cat-bastard stubbornly clung to me and nearly ruined everything.

That day, I painfully realized. More people were needed.

What if there had been one more person that day?

I could have dealt with it faster and arrived, or even left it to them and gotten away myself.

But there was no one. Even though I had subordinates.

Arachne was merely an organization in name. I considered myself a nominal leader.

That's why I hadn't actively used Lyra, Spira, or Investigator Lee Ha-yul.

Rather than subordinates in a secret organization, they were more like maids living in my house.

From the start, Arachne was an organization loosely created to cover up the Author's mistakes and plot holes, so I didn't actively engage in organizational activities.

I hadn't really felt the need for subordinates either.

...At least, not until I almost saw Yoo Si-woo die.

"How's the public safety in this area these days?"

"It's very good. The villains are keeping a low profile. It's thanks to Arachne."

"...That's good."

I was too complacent. If I only react after something happens, it'll be too late for me alone.

It's impossible to prepare in advance before something happens. The very reason incidents occur is for Yoo Si-woo to resolve them.

Imposing trials on the protagonist and having them overcome those trials. That's why the Author desires chaos. Incidents are inevitable.

If so, I shouldn't prevent incidents from happening, but I had to reduce the variables.

It's no different from what I've done so far.

It's merely using the hands that were idle, since I have limitations acting alone.

Lyra isn't suitable. If she truly fights, the entire area gets destroyed due to her berserker state.

Spira is the same. She's too dangerous to hide around me. Her tail draws too much attention.

Investigator Lee Ha-yul, with her extensive infiltration experience and suitable stealth abilities, was the most ideal.

Unless something special happens, she will help me.

The Association didn't object either. The crimes suppressed by Arachne were far more numerous than those suppressed by a single elite investigator.

When villains who committed crimes lightly, thinking they could just go to jail if caught, started losing their lives one by one to Arachne, the villains began to keep a low profile.

Those who had nothing left to lose actually became more determined, escalating their schemes, but apparently, the other investigators, having conserved their strength due to fewer minor incidents, could handle them sufficiently.

"By the way, Artemis-nim. Why exactly are you monitoring him? He's capable for his age, but to the extent of monitoring him..."

"Because he's at the center of all incidents."

"Pardon?"

"Incidents will always occur around him. We need to prepare in advance."

"Is that a prophecy?"

A prophecy, a prophecy... Is it not entirely wrong?

Since I roughly know what will happen.

Then I would be a prophet delivering the voice of a god. Or perhaps a devotee.

A cult of a god who treats the world like a toy, it sounds like an evil heresy just hearing it.

"...Yes. Let's call it a prophecy and fate."

The world was already noisy.

Übermensch, Arachne, the half-destroyed academy.

Even now, after some time has passed, walking through the bustling streets, I hear people talking about what happened around the time of the school break.

It was the same today. Everyone was talking about it.

That's always how it is with creative works.

To provide greater stimulation, the protagonist must be pushed into even larger incidents.

So the world will become even noisier.

Perhaps even exposed to the threat of world destruction.

But I don't worry.

Because this world has a protagonist.

A being loved by one who cannot be understood.

In this puppet show, the only one who walks their own path.

I am convinced that he will save this world in some way.

Then I will simply assist him.

Assist him in keeping this world as intact as possible.

Because I'm not even sure if I can ever escape this world.

"...Haa."

It's unavoidable for the world to break and fall into chaos, but it cannot burn to the brink of destruction.

Perhaps I might have to live here my entire life.

Today, too, I watch over Yoo Si-woo.

For the world, and for myself.

***

"Mira, Mira... You really died."

It felt as if time had stopped.

How many days had I been crying straight?

If I didn't have the sturdy body of a superhuman, I might have died by now.

...Though even enduring with a superhuman body seems to be reaching its limit.

"I can't believe it, Mira. In an instant, in an instant you..."

I hugged the head with the iridescent horns.

There was no response.

Mira, who used to sigh in annoyance and push me away, then, as if nothing happened, would smile and stroke my head.

She can no longer stroke my head.

...I know. Villains can die at any time. That Mira and I might no longer be able to meet.

I knew. I knew, but to die just before getting the object I so desperately desired.

That's too cruel.

"What is this thing, that Mira...! What is mixing genes, after all!"

Wait.

The orb I held precious in my arms suddenly felt repulsive, and I paused just as I was about to throw it to the floor.

...Mix genes?

I suddenly looked at Mira's horn.

She was human. ...But she possessed genes. Genes of a different species.

"If I use this..."

I can become one with Mira.

She's not dead. She's with me.

Mira always said. She wanted an egalitarian society.

That's why she didn't claim the title of boss, remaining as an executive.

That's why she was the first to use the completed elixir. Even knowing there might be side effects.

I fell for that side of her. I swore to be with her my entire life. I was loyal.

It was time to keep my vow.

"...Mira. I will fulfill your dream."

Among the Twelve Zodiacs, the most anomalous is definitely the Dragon.

After all, dragons are non-existent creatures.

All the other executives are animals that exist in reality, but the Dragon is not.

...Then why did Mira call herself the Dragon?

How did she alone possess such overwhelming power?

The answer is simple.

Because only she had accepted the factor that no one else could.

Everyone else couldn't endure it and died.

That's why she alone was special. That's why the elixir was incomplete.

"Normally, I wouldn't be able to accept it... But if I mix you and me, it will surely be possible."

I didn't know how to use the orb.

But I instinctively knew.

I had to swallow it.

"Gulp, ugh... Gack..."

The terrible sensation of a foreign object filling my stomach.

Forcing myself to swallow the furnace, after a short while, I noticed.

...The smells, I can sense them better.

My entire body was in pain, but I didn't mind. I had already been experiencing such pain.

The scent of earth, the smell of sweat, even the stench from Mira's corpse.

My senses instantly expanded, and I felt them become far stronger than what I usually experienced.

Even though my entire body was exhausted and it was hard to feel anything.

"With this...! With this, it's possible...!"

The functions and usage of the furnace melted into my mind as if seeping in.

With this power, it's possible. Mira was right, after all.

I can fulfill Mira's dream.

A world where everyone is equal, a world where everyone can possess mana.

I could fulfill it.

I could do it.

I turned my head and looked at Mira.

"Mira, you were never wrong. With this power, I can make everyone equal."

I gently stroked her head.

I brought her jade-colored horn, which always shone beautifully, to my mouth.

Mira had endured the genes all by herself.

The genes of a monstrous beast.

"With you, I can do it too, Mira."

***

"Calm down, calm down... Yoo Si-woo..."

Si-woo couldn't get proper rest at home. The reason was simple.

Somehow, he'd forgotten to throw away the thread he'd brought home and left it there, and today, that thread kept catching his eye.

"I have to throw it away... I have to throw it away..."

Suddenly, Artemis's bikini, which he had seen today, came to mind.

...The bikini was black, too.

Among the colorful threads, the black thread stood out particularly.

"Aaaah!"

Si-woo ran out into the front yard of his house.

He felt like he wouldn't be able to sleep like this.

He couldn't even throw it away. He felt like strange thoughts would surface if he touched it to discard it.

I need to sweat it out.