306. Experiment (3)
●
The scenery of the slums is always ashy.
Dark and gloomy alleyways, beggars, sewage, the gloomy atmosphere emanating from the people who sell their futures to survive today, accompanied by the nauseating smell that permeates throughout.
Perhaps someone with common sense would never think to come to a place like this, and even someone with unconventional knowledge would not easily consider walking through such a place.
In that respect.
“…Miss, it seems unlikely to find the person you’re looking for in a place like this.”
It was clear that a person who hears such words in this place is someone very difficult to come across here.
A man of a ragged physique cautiously spoke towards the girl walking in front of him.
You could say that this human being is someone who stands out.
As most of the people on this street will live their entire lives without ever crossing paths, there is a clear class difference that can be observed even with the naked eye, so much so that it feels certain.
Just by walking in a place like this, such a person is already exposing themselves to a certain kind of threat, although it may be inappropriate to mention it.
“Don’t say such boring things.”
The response was almost immediate.
As if saying that it held no value.
“My father told me to choose the person I like. Isn’t that right?”
“If the person is suitable for your ‘personal protection,’ then there’s no need to find them in a place like this. There are plenty of options-“
“When it comes to personal protection, they have to be with me 24/7. What’s important is that we get along well. Those guys who obviously only came for my father’s money are not of interest to me.”
“…”
The people in the slums seem to be the most outlandish people in that regard. There seems to be no reason to come to a place like this to find candidates.
Although he thought of such thoughts, the bodyguard did not express them outwardly.
The eccentric tastes of this girl are already well-known. It’s unlikely that something he says now will change that.
Above anything else, aren’t those individuals who approached for her parents’ money, crossing even the man himself?
Perhaps he longs for someone’s warmth. The man chuckled inwardly.
“Hey.”
Perhaps someone realizes too late that someone is saying such words, and at that moment, the reaction would be the most significant.
It was a boy dressed in almost rags, leaning against the wall.
“”
“…”
The man furrowed his brows heavily.
There was something visually disturbing more than anything else.
“…Such unpleasant eyes.”
Empty eyes.
The kind that can only be seen in those who are unable to die, enduring life.
Seeing the man grimace in an indescribable discomfort, the boy opened his mouth once again, with a dispirited voice.
“Can I do that too?”
“What are you talking about?”
In response to the boy’s words, the girl blankly retorted.
Both the boy who suddenly interjected and spoke, and the girl who nonchalantly responded – they were all equally strange humans.
As the man responsible for their protection thought of this, he furrowed his brow even more. In the midst of that, the boy continued calmly.
“Your personal bodyguard, that is.”
“…”
After a moment of silence, the girl replied with a sarcastic smile.
“Are you confident you can do it well?”
“Yeah.”
“And how will you prove it?”
“For starters, I think I’ll be better than the person next to you, at the very least.”
“…What nonsense-“
Before the man could finish the sentence, he chuckled.
In the next moment, the boy moved like lightning.
The boy, who had swiftly grabbed the gun lodged in the man’s side, now aimed it directly at the man’s face.
“Bang.”
“…”
He didn’t actually fire it.
The man’s expression immediately froze. Just now, he had felt just as if he had died once.
“You always have to be on guard. You get taken advantage of if you underestimate.”
He could have reacted if he had wanted to. The boy’s movements were indeed faster than expected, but the man was a trained human after all.
However, because he had underestimated.
He couldn’t even fathom the possibility that a boy like this could make such a move, which is why this had happened.
As the man stood stiffly, the boy calmly inserted the gun back into the man’s belt and spoke again.
“I couldn’t because I was hungry.”
It was a whisper-like, hoarse, fragmented, and blurred voice.
But the boy’s eyes, uttering such words, flickered as if they contained flames.
“I could have done better if things were as they used to be.”
“…”
“How about it? Isn’t it worth a try?”
The girl looked down at the boy silently.
After a long silence, she scratched her cheek and opened her mouth.
“A personal bodyguard, huh? You don’t even want to know me, so why do you want to? What do you wish for?”
“Just don’t let me go hungry. That’s enough.”
“…”
An easy-to-understand motive it was.
She would be much more transparent compared to those people whose intention was simply her money, even if she pretended and manipulated her with various words.
The girl smiled lightly and spoke.
“You know what? Should we take this guy with us?”
“Miss…!”
“It’ll be fun.”
In response to the man’s words, the girl casually let out such a remark and chuckled again.
“If we raise this beast-like guy, who knows what will come out in the end.”
That was it.
It was their first encounter.
A faded scene beyond dreams, but the memory was deeply etched into the boy’s soul.
●
“Hey, hey!”
The shout of Kallivan echoed through the Soul Linker, and I barely managed to lift my eyes.
“…What is it? Stop being noisy.”
“Are you okay?”
Rarely, it was pure concern without any sarcasm or laughter mixed in.
I was so flustered that I couldn’t immediately form a response.
“What do you mean I’m not okay?”
“If you were sleeping, you were sweating profusely, moaning, struggling to breathe, almost dying. What kind of nightmare did you have?”
“…”
The slum.
A girl. A boy.
My first ward.
“…It’s nothing.”
She speaks curtly, sitting up.
Since I entered the game, I’ve never dreamt a dream like this, and I don’t know why it’s resurfacing now.
Dreams filled with past memories are always exhausting.
I press my temple with both hands, trying to rid myself of the lingering drowsiness and suffocating emotions.
“What time is it?”
“Am I your servant? It’s 9 a.m.”
Despite grumbling, he tells me promptly, like a typical person.
I chuckle and get out of bed. It’s not really oversleeping.
“The weather is nice.”
That guy Klein’s experiment is happening today, or so I’ve heard.
“…That’s what I heard.”
He’s a professor specializing in neuroscience research.
I’ve heard he’s not particularly outstanding among the professors at the Metapolmin Institute when it comes to research achievements, but he’s said to be a guy whose gloominess surpasses imagination.
Well, whatever.
“Shall we go?”
What can you do?
I’ve encountered much worse people.
Let’s go.
To kill that guy.
●
“Have you taken care of everything I asked for?”
While on the way to Professor Klein’s research facility, I ask Alpha.
I’m referring to the favor I mentioned earlier, the plan to expose the ‘stage’ where I can kill Professor Klein.
“… Yes, I’ve already finished that a long time ago.”
The researcher known as Alpha, who was moving towards the laboratory in the research building, spoke with an air of nonchalance.
Considering the fact that I didn’t ask for much, it shouldn’t have been too difficult.
First, I wanted to check if the “safety net” that Professor Mobius had previously set up at the location where experiments related to me were being conducted was still in place.
It refers to the device that ensures the person doesn’t die even if they face a dangerous situation.
Secondly, I wanted to confirm the list of professors participating this time.
Lastly, I asked for the item that I am currently holding in my hand to be prepared.
“What’s the point of having just that?”
Is what Alpha said while pointing his finger, and at the tip of his finger was a box filled with ordinary items picked at random.
It was filled with really trivial things. Cards, screwdrivers, cups for drinking water, ladles… things like that.
“Well, there must be a use for all of them, right?”
“…”
Alpha’s expression seemed like he wanted to say something in response to my words, but instead, he just let out a deep sigh.
There was definitely a sigh that showed the thought of “I’ll figure it out on my own” deeply engrained in it.
“It’s not that I don’t trust you, but it’s better not to let your guard down too much.”
In response to Alpha’s words, I simply shrugged my shoulders.
Of course, he’s right.
I always have to stay vigilant. If I underestimate things, I’ll end up being the one hurt.
In that sense…
“Ah, you finally arrived.”
As soon as we arrived at the gigantic dome with a structure similar to what I had seen before, a voice came from the speakers located at the top.
“Take your position, test subject. There will be more measures added this time for control purposes.”
From Noble mtl dot com
“I won’t be using magic.”
Before the sentence could even finish, Doctor Klein, who was about to proceed with the experiment, fell silent.
I didn’t expect him to be the one who would say that first.
Well, whatever.
“Wasn’t the whole point of this to control the magic anyway?”
At first, I heard that this experiment was being conducted to collect data related to magic, but now they’re just going to block it off to torment me. It’s quite amusing, to be honest.
Well, regardless of which side they choose, it’s what I was hoping for.
“However, just in case, I’ll follow the control measures. Whether you close off magic or not, it’s up to you. But at least let me use this.”
Before he even finished speaking, Dr. Klein, who was planning to conduct the experiment, fell silent.
Unexpectedly, he seemed surprised that I would bring up this topic.
Well, whatever.
“After all, wasn’t the whole point to control it?”
I heard that at first, they were conducting the experiment to gather data related to magic, but now they’re just blocking it off to torment me. It’s quite amusing, honestly.
Well, regardless of which side they choose, it’s what I was hoping for.
“But just in case, I’ll follow the control measures. Whether you close off magic or not, it’s up to you. But at least let me use this.”
With those words, he shook the box once with a jerk.
Inside the box, there were nothing but miscellaneous items that were clearly not threatening to anyone.
[…What are you trying to do now?]
“Well, if you just let me use this, it’ll be enough.”
Saying that, I confirmed the appearance of Professor Mobius, who was sitting in the control seat and observing this, and glanced at Professor Klein, who was listlessly listening to my continuing words.
And then.
He dumped the contents of the box, which he had been holding in his arms, onto the floor.
All sorts of miscellaneous items used in daily life were scattered around, and he calmly skimmed through them with his eyes.
Hm, what would be good?
‘Ah, I got it.’
‘Start’ would be good.
Thinking that way, he lifted up a cup used for drinking water.
“First of all, I’ll use this to start.”
Silence engulfed the room.
They seemed to have no idea what I was talking about.
After a long silence, Dr. Klein opened his mouth in a surprised voice.
[What?]
“Since it’s an experimental form of combat, you must have prepared opponents. I’ll kill them with this.”
[…With a water cup?]
“Yes.”
[…]
“You must have prepared something if I am going to fight, so this should be enough.”
Again, silence.
Slightly longer than before.
And then, continuing.
[…Interesting.]
The veins popped up on Dr. Klein’s forehead were visible to this extent.
‘That’s right.’
The first setup to kill the opponent.
Make them angry for now.
Oh, he’s not normal people in his previous life? Also, I guess he lost his “young lady” after. No wonder he’s so obsessed with protecting these girls.