“If that woman had done even a little better, heroes wouldn’t be treated the way they are now.”
The precedent set by ister had shackled the rising heroes who grew stronger fighting monsters.
Heroes who must obey governnt orders. A system structured around that obedience. Tools built to support that system.
ister was no genius, so she couldn’t fully grasp the consequences of her actions.
Used by high-ranking officials, always realizing too late, blad afterward, and left only with regret.
“The most pathetic thing is that even after all that, she still helps with crap like the artificial psychic program, just because the governnt tells her to.”
“ister’s just trying to help everyone.”
“She keeps trying the wrong way, though. How many people died because of the monster weaponization plan? What about the problems caused by crap like dissecting psychics?”
Yu Anna fell silent, unable to argue.
The truth was, ister had indeed been at the center of countless incidents.
Not just the monster weaponization disaster, but also the mass production of combat drones to offload lesser monsters, the plans to enhance military equipnt—none of it really helped.
All it did was bolster the private armies of high-ranking officials trying to protect themselves.
Even Cage, who openly loathes incompetent humans, hasn’t been able to get rid of those useless officials—because they were handed the master codes to city managent.
ister, despite saving humanity with her frail body, was too weak to bear it all alone.
And so, unable to cut away the rot, she herself began to decay.
“...It’s not like I hate her either. But the fact is, ister is weak.”
Electrice’s muttered admission, laced with tangled emotions, stirred a strange feeling in the W-City heroes.
Corrupt officials were like parasites feeding on humanity—sucking blood even in a world like this just to fill their own bellies.
Without the power to protect yourself, even a hero who once saved mankind is reduced to a tool for their benefit.
“If we could just cut those pig bastards out, ister could’ve grown stronger too.”
Psychics have to be strong.
In both body and mind.
To protect humanity, sotis... you have to kill so humans.
That was the value system of A-City’s heroes.
And even that... was one of the things ister had ended up creating.
“Sorry to keep you waiting.”
Waking from her nap, ister’s voice had regained a bit of energy. She pulled a bed-type drone from her small bag and lay down again.
Electrice tossed the drone’s controller to Yu Anna and began giving orders, directing the A-City heroes and the soldiers.
“This is the final briefing. Black Cat’s current location is Zone 3 Central Park. The eting point is the rooftop of the designated building. Heroes will wait nearby in case anything happens. Soldiers, occupy the building interior and secure the stairs and elevator leading to the rooftop.”
“Starlight-nim, once again, if ister-nim suffers even a scratch—”
“Shut it, you powerless bastard. Don’t tell an S-Class hero how to do her job.”
After glaring at the soldier who had dared to voice concern for ister, Electrice led the heroes away, and Yu Anna boarded the unmanned vehicle with ister.
As they traveled under invisible escort to et Black Cat, ister spoke with a hint of conflict in her voice.
“Anna-ssi, it’s just the two of us now.”
“...Yeah, Namgyeong.”
“This feels awkward.”
“It’s been a while, after all.”
Back when she was still an A-Class psychic, Yu Anna had spent ti guarding ister, and they had grown close.
But that was long ago. ister, now with her brain hazy from overload, dug into her mories.
“The last ti we t... was when you beca an S-Class hero and left A-City, right?”
“I didn’t get to see you that day. It was the day you coughed up blood.”
“Was it? Ah, I rember now. It was when I asked a bad question and the ability backfired.”
“The last ti I saw you was the day I got appointed as an S-Class hero. When you analyzed my ability and figured out which city I should be assigned to.”
“Oh, right. I passed out, and by the ti I woke up, you were already gone.”
“I’ve always felt bad about that.”
“No, I’m the one who should apologize... for not analyzing your ability properly, Anna-ssi.”
In the heavy, damp silence, Yu Anna forced a smile.
“No, really, what you told helped a lot. W-City’s... hard, but I like it.”
“Did I help you, Anna-ssi?”
“You did.”
“That’s a relief.”
Hearing her genuinely relieved, Yu Anna spoke again with a voice full of concern.
“Are you okay? With everything going on right now.”
It wasn’t a question from a hero, but from personal connection—from Namgyeong to Yu Anna. A conversation layered with nuance.
The fact that A-City’s top officials had allowed ister—whom they never let out of their grasp—to co all the way to W-City ant one of two things.
Either ister’s importance had been significantly downgraded... or she had gained that much more freedom.
In the early days, when humanity knew nothing of monsters, one word from ister carried imnse influence.
But now, with powerful heroes to take her place and battle experience stacking up, ister had beco a burden—sothing hard to abandon, but no longer useful.
To Cage, she was both an obstacle and a fellow psychic.
To the governnt, she was both a civilian idol... and a tool they couldn’t afford to lose.
And once her value dropped—well, the corrupt officials’ next move was predictable.
Kill ister, and pin the bla on Cage.
ister now sat at the silent, frozen heart of A-City’s political war.
Noticing Yu Anna’s tense expression, ister—rarely—let out a laugh.
“Anna-ssi, you’re still just as kind. To think you’d worry about .”
“Wouldn’t it be weirder not to worry?”
“You’re the only one who genuinely worries about ... as a human being.”
Again, a line filled with layered aning.
ister closed her eyes for a mont, then opened them again, speaking quietly to the uneasy Yu Anna about her current situation.
“The reason I was able to co to W-City this ti is because both sides' interests aligned. There are still many people in the governnt who haven’t given up on the monster weaponization project. You don’t need to worry too much about . Ho-yeong-ssi has been growing his influence over ... so I’ll be fine for now.”
“Right now...”
“I’m sorry. I just read your thoughts.”
ister could apply her ability to read fragnts of a person’s thoughts.
Most heroes and governnt elites found that ability deeply unsettling—but Yu Anna didn’t feel any discomfort.
Because she knew ister wasn’t using it with malicious intent. She wasn’t the type to abuse her power.
“Then I’m glad.”
“Hehe... Anna-ssi, you really haven’t changed.”
Seeing Yu Anna’s genuinely relieved expression made ister feel at ease—but also filled her with quiet regret.
“It would’ve been nice if you had stayed in A-City, Anna-ssi...”
“You’re the one who told to co to W-City.”
“Because that’s what my ability answered. But... personally, I wanted to stay with you.”
For ister, her ability’s answer always ca before her personal desires.
Watching her, Yu Anna let out a silent sigh.
The ability called Dinsional Archive was a burden too heavy—for both Namgyeong and ister.
All heroes carry power and responsibility beyond what any single human should bear, but for her, it was especially so.
“...What kind of monster is Black Cat, really? I’m curious—but I’m also scared.”
“You don’t have to be afraid. Really, he’s a much gentler monster than you'd expect.”
“Ah... I’m not afraid of Black Cat. No matter what happens, you’ll be right here with , Anna-ssi.”
Inside the elevator of the building secured by heroes and soldiers.
As they arrived at the rooftop—the designated location—Yu Anna, standing beside the cryptic ister, released a wave of her ability to summon Black Cat.
Feeding him at had beco a sort of ritual, a fixed signal between them.
When Yu Anna took out at and a Churu stick from her bag, Black Cat, who had been napping in the park, leapt straight up to the rooftop.
“Woooong?”
Black Cat’s eyes went wide when he spotted ister.
Maybe it was because ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ she’d brought a stranger? His reaction showed genuine surprise. From where ister couldn’t see her, Yu Anna made a zipper-across-the-mouth gesture—signaling her to stay silent.
ister briefly closed her eyes upon seeing Black Cat, gave a slight nod, then blinked awake with wide eyes.
“He’s truly harmless...? He says he won’t attack unless I strike first.”
Using her ability to confirm safety—at that mont, Black Cat, completely ignoring Yu Anna, blinked curiously and approached ister.
“Wow, he’s even bigger than I imagined.”
“Ah, ahh...”
Black Cat circled around ister, and when she held out her hand, he didn’t resist—instead, he let her pet his head.
ister blinked in surprise, her eyes unusually wide. Black Cat sniffed her intently.
Watching this, Yu Anna felt a strange knot twist in her chest.
It had taken her ages to get that far. Even now, if she tried to pet his head without giving him Churu or expensive beef first, he’d still flinch.
But with ister, he’d allowed it right away...
No, it must be because he senses she’s not a bad person. The fact that he isn’t attacking should be a relief, right?
Still, she only gets to pet him when she brings Churu or wagyu beef...
“I really can’t believe such a calm monster exists...”
“Must be in a good mood today. He’s acting even more docile than usual.”
“Waooong?”
Yu Anna spoke in a tone tinged with subtle unease, and Black Cat responded with a puzzled wl.
She quickly pulled out the Churu tube she’d prepped and held it out to him.
“Wang-wang-wang!”
“Is this Churu? The snack cats eat?”
“Yeah. I’m trying to ta him with delicious treats like this, but still—he’s a dangerous monster, so be careful.”
“If he likes things cats eat... maybe he’ll like this too?”
While Yu Anna fed him Churu and scratched his head roughly like petting, ister pulled out a sealed al pack from the small pouch at her waist.
It contained finely ground at—luxurious chicken, various ats, and vegetables—all crafted from high-grade ingredients since it was ant to be her personal al.
“So people call this the human version of Churu... This one’s soy sauce dak-galbi flavor.”
“Wong-ang-ang... Wooooong?!”
“Ah, ack—!”
As ister offered a bit of the human Churu that even humans would find delicious, Black Cat let out a sound Yu Anna had never heard before and began licking rapidly.
ister’s hand got scraped by his rough tongue, causing her to drop the pack—Black Cat caught it with telekinesis, floated it up, and squeezed it into his mouth.
“Telekinesis...! He’s really skilled with it.”
“Woooong-oooo!”
After slurping up the soy sauce dak-galbi, Black Cat pressed in close, begging for more with pleading eyes.
“Looks like he really liked my human Churu.”
“Y-Yeah, seems like it...”
Watching this unfold, Yu Anna’s feelings grew increasingly conflicted.
It was a relief that Black Cat wasn’t attacking ister—but still, for him to like her that much... Her Churu hadn’t been cheap either...
“Do you think he’d like spicy dak-galbi too...?”
“Wang-ang-ang-ang!”
“A monster that likes human food... It’s honestly amazing.”
“Ah... Maybe it’s related to why he doesn’t attack humans...”
As ister spoke in her usual emotionless tone and petted Black Cat’s head, Yu Anna felt an indescribable frustration weighing on her.
He’s never once wagged his tail at like that... not even once.
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