SWNOVELXO Chapter 98
Before I could even figure out what was happening, my body had already reacted to the approaching enemy, instinctively gearing up for a fight.
The suit was bristling with tiny spikes, as if it wanted to scatter pieces of itself everywhere, looking like a cat with its fur standing on end.
At the moment I intended to shoot, I’d probably unleash shrapnel all around like it was a shrapnel grenade.
However, if that happened, Minho and the others would instantly turn into pincushions, so I wouldn’t actually pull the trigger. Even if I didn’t have friends, I still wouldn’t shoot. How was I supposed to handle the aftermath?
But maybe they saw my instinctive reaction as a huge threat, as they immediately channeled their magic and drew their weapons.
“Students! Get away from that Ain! They are no longer your friend!!”
As the kids backed away, it made me wonder if they had somehow found out about Heros Company’s Liberators’ plan.
Did the butler finally spill the beans? Or had the organization been discovered? Either way, it was the worst-case scenario. But without a way to find out, I felt stuck.
“What do you mean by that?! More importantly, what the heck is going on right now!”
“We won’t move unless there’s a good enough reason.”
Minho, looking clueless about the situation, covered for me while showing hostility towards them, and Jinhyeon was the same.
Darużej silently got into position, ready to fight, as did Lucia. Maybe it was because they were comrades who fought for their lives, even if they were just illusions.
Rather than distancing themselves from me, they seemed willing to back me up if it came to a fight.
The Hunters looked troubled by their stance, but the Heros Company employees maintained a poker face, taking in the scene.
In the midst of this, thoughts like ‘Has the Mimic brainwashed them?’ popped up, making their research on me all the more unsettling.
“No, whether you fight or not, shouldn’t you at least tell me what the heck is happening right now? Why am I like this, and why are you aiming weapons at me…”
Above all, I needed to understand this ridiculous situation.
Why was I still fused with the suit, why had Hunters suddenly shown up aiming weapons at me, and why were researchers observing me with strange equipment?
I had no clue about any of this, so I figured I’d better find out something first, then deal with them and make a grand escape or clear up this misunderstanding.
A tense standoff continued, and then the woman who had once yanked the researcher by the hair stepped forward with a deep sigh.
“I thought life was finally looking up, but… sigh, I guess I won’t be getting that promotion. Let me put it simply. The Ain you’re keeping… is highly likely not the Ain you knew.”
“What do you mean? Are you saying Blanca is no longer Blanca? That’s not possible!”
“Right, it’s not usually possible. Normally, that is. But as you’ve experienced, death can be made to disappear.”
“So…!”
“However, that Ain… specifically, the suit that Ain is wearing, is not a normal item. It’s a product made from a monster known as the Mimic.”
“Mimic…? I’ve never even heard of it…”
“That’s normal. It’s restricted information. If the society knew there was a monster that could kill someone and take their place, what do you think would happen? Anyway, that being has been consuming that Ain, controlling even its brain.”
So the weird device measuring things was for grasping my condition?
“I’ve never heard my suit was a Mimic. The association called it Black Slime. It… did invade my brain… that part is true.”
Up until just now, I hadn’t felt anything, but realizing that the suit was still inside me sent chills down my spine.
Did I really fuse with this thing?
“Yeah, the association probably only knew it as Black Slime. They figured that out when Heros Company procured the materials.”
Listening to that woman, it seemed the association had definitely been tricked by Heros Company.
“Wait a minute, Blanca. Why is your control device… more importantly, why have your eyes turned black…?”
Now Minho seemed to realize my state was strange, pointing out my altered appearance.
“My eyes are black?”
“Yeah. The whites have turned black. Here, look in the mirror.”
Jinhyeon conjured up an ice mirror and handed it to me. I looked into it, and indeed, it was as he said. It should have been horrifying, but I felt utterly bewildered.
Wow, how can it be this black? I look like a demon lord.
“Then why is only she changing like this? Why are we all fine, but only Blanca is…?”
“I told you, it’s due to the Mimic. I cannot share the details, as they are confidential, so I hope you understand.”
It seemed enough explanation had been given, so the woman who looked like a high-ranking officer subtly pressured the kids to back off.
“But you can’t guarantee that Blanca has been entirely overtaken by the Mimic!”
Yet Minho showed no signs of backing down. Whether he completely trusted me or if he just knew Heros Company was dirty in these matters, he seemed intent on sticking by me.
It was as if the Hunters realized this and were flustered, not knowing what to do in such a moment.
“Sigh, I can understand your feelings. You probably don’t want to believe it. Or maybe you can’t even allow yourself to think that way. Perhaps that might be the case. But if there’s even a millionth of a chance that Ain is…”
“She’s not Ain. She goes by the name Blanca!”
Jinhyeon’s sudden but forceful shout left the team leader speechless, nervously tapping on her phone, muttering about how things had gotten this far.
“So, you’re saying you can’t let me go because I might be a Mimic. Is that right?”
“Even if you say that, we won’t drop our suspicions, but yes.”
With that, it seemed there would be no progress. If they refused to drop their suspicion no matter what I did, then anything I did was pointless.
However, adhering to their words meant I could end up stuck in some experimental growth chamber.
“Alright. So what do I need to do to prove that I’m me?”
Having to seriously ask something that anyone else would laugh at as crazy felt ridiculous. But what else could I do?
Then they started throwing around all kinds of unfamiliar therapies, essentially suggesting they’d use me as a test subject.
“I can’t do that. If I don’t meet the required class days, I’ll get flunked.”
“…Are you seriously taking me seriously right now?”
“Yes. Are you actually taking me seriously? I’m being very sincere here.”
The woman, seemingly losing her patience over trivial banter, had the nerve to get mad at me for the situation I was in thanks to their lack of technical skills.
But still, there was no definitive solution in sight.
The kids clearly believed I was Blanca, and the Hunters were questioning if I really was a Mimic, which was a favorable situation, but…
Ultimately, the hold the woman had meant no progress was being made.
Hoping to involve Justitia and believing things will sort out somehow, I felt it was essential to get her assistance.
Finally, Justitia walked into the studio.
“How long do you expect us to wait? And why are our students… surrounded by Hunters? Team Leader Park Minah, you need to explain this properly.”
Justitia took off her sunglasses, her eyes glimmering as she demanded an explanation for this mess.
And the intimidated woman, looking like her life was over, spilled all the details about the incidents we weren’t even aware of.
“So, in summary, we can’t just let Miss Blanca go.”
“Understood. Then may I ask her a few questions?”
“Go ahead, do as you wish. Even if you say no, you’ll do it anyway, right…”
Justitia did not respond to her sarcastic whining; instead, she approached me, meeting my gaze and asked something.
“Do you remember the first fairy tale book you read?”
“Little Red Riding Hood. How could I forget?”
“Are you truly Blanca?”
“Yes. And even if I say I’m not, you’ve already made a decision in your heart, haven’t you?”
Unlike the kids, Justitia still seemed hesitant. But then, as if she made a decision, she tightly closed her eyes and declared.
“Lower your weapons. I will… take Miss Blanca. If she turns out to be a Mimic and causes an incident, I will take full responsibility.”
Justitia declared she would take all the responsibility on her shoulders.
As she pressed on, it seemed even the Hunters realized this was no longer their business and began to back off.
The team leader muttered, “Is this how it ends?” indicating that today’s events needed to be taken to the grave, warning not so subtly.
“Miss Blanca. Just to be safe, let’s at least run a detailed diagnostic. If you’re not a Mimic, that should be fine, right?”
Justitia suggested that the last 1% of doubt be transformed into 101% trust.
If doing that would allow me to escape this messed-up situation, then I would gladly go along with it.