Became a Failed Experimental Subject Novel - Chapter 53

Taming a monster, a ridiculous notion not worth listening to.

But Black Cat’s behavior was too peculiar to dismiss outright.

Cage tapped the armrest of his chair with his fingers, lost in thought.

Tsk, Cage’s face twisted as he recalled an unpleasant memory.

“At that time, the researchers and those pigs said this… the possibility of filling the shortage of S-class Esper resources with monsters. And that if we researched how to tame monsters, we could end the monster era.”

If monsters could protect humans and be commanded to prey on other monsters, humans would no longer need to fear them.

In that case, both monsters and Espers would merely be powerful weapons for humans.

“The unrealistic idea of ignorant fools consumed by inferiority… But considering Black Cat’s uniqueness, it might be possible, limited to that creature.”

If it’s willing to abandon all instincts and prioritize humans, then perhaps.

Cage agreed with Yoo Anna’s assertion that Black Cat might be a tameable monster.

Nevertheless, Cage chose to object rather than approve.

“What if you succeed in taming Black Cat, but then it undergoes existential evolution?”

Existential evolution, the grading system for monsters, served not only as a standard for classifying the damage caused by monsters but also as a unit for counting specific stages.

If an ordinary animal adapted to monster cells, it became Murder-class; if a Murder-class grew and advanced to the next stage, it became Ruin-class.

During this evolutionary process, monsters might take on a more evolved form from their original state, or evolve in a completely different direction.

Just as a monster swimming in water might suddenly transform into a pterodactyl the moment it undergoes existential evolution, there’s a possibility that Black Cat could become a completely different monster.

“If it becomes Extinction-class and is no longer the Black Cat it is now, you’ll become an ignorant Esper who allowed an Extinction-class monster to grow unchecked.”

That was also the reason why Black Cat absolutely had to be hunted before it became Extinction-class.

Even if its current behavior wasn’t an act, if it grew and became Extinction-class, it might no longer be Black Cat.

While there’s a possibility it could still be the same Black Cat even after becoming Extinction-class, that’s too optimistic a thought.

“So, I’m going to try my best to prevent Black Cat from becoming Extinction-class. If I can’t stop it, then I’ll ask for your support.”

“…You’ve lost your mind.”

Cage, feeling stifled, took out a cigarette from his pocket and lit it.

“What on earth made you think this? Is dealing with City W by yourself so difficult? So much so that you want to borrow a cat’s paw?”

“I won’t say that’s not part of it. But… seeing Electris, I thought perhaps Black Cat wouldn’t be so bad.”

Wouldn’t a monster that acts like an Esper even when left alone be better than an Esper who does things that could easily be mistaken for a monster or villain?

“Honestly, from my perspective, Electris is more annoying than Black Cat and causes more civilian casualties.”

“Even so, Electris is human. She doesn’t have an instinct to eat humans.”

“I know. I know Black Cat is ultimately a monster, and Electris is still human, and that trusting a monster is foolish. But given what Black Cat has shown so far, I’m willing to trust it just this once.”

“Your trust could kill countless citizens. What on earth are you trusting?”

“…My gut feeling.”

Just trusting her intuition, her feelings, and she intends to tame Black Cat.

It was an incredibly irresponsible statement, but Cage, whose eye twitched, remained silent.

“The intuition of a superhuman, transcending humans, can sometimes be like prophecy…”

Starlight had always been a psychic with abnormally sharp intuition.

She had survived reckless acts, and there were countless times when she made unrealistic choices in situations that could have resulted in thousands of casualties, minimizing the damage.

Even when it seemed impossible, Starlight always achieved results beyond expectations.

Seeing the confident Yoo Anna, Cage began to have a hunch that Yoo Anna could tame Black Cat.

Cage sighed, thinking that perhaps Black Cat truly could be tamed, and Yoo Anna confidently said,

“From now on, I will decide all dispositions regarding Black Cat and whether to support S-class Espers related to Black Cat.”

“You want me to support that in my name and prevent the government and other Espers from interfering, is that it?”

“Exactly. Since Electris and even Cage were defeated, other S-class Espers might try to jump in for fame, right?”

“…You’re telling me this in a private communication, not a government report, because you don’t want the government guys to find out about Black Cat. It’s news the monster research department would love.”

“I know they’d just make more noise about needing to research it and capture it if they knew. It’s already troublesome enough to be disturbed when an environment where Black Cat might be tamed has been created.”

Through the cigarette smoke, Cage stared silently at Yoo Anna, his eyes wide.

“Did you think I’d agree to such a demand?”

“I once saved you when you were almost killed by Black Cat, didn’t I? If you have a conscience, just do as I say.”

“As repayment for your help, I’ll tell you this: monsters can never be tamed. Don’t cause more damage by foolishly attempting something already decided.”

Regardless of anything else, he absolutely would not grant the request to leave a monster that was clearly going to become more dangerous.

Seeing Cage speak with only his eyes, Yoo Anna smiled bitterly, as if saying, “I knew you’d think that.”

“Who concluded that monsters can never be tamed? The researchers, right? Ordinary people, not superhumans. Do you think a conclusion drawn by ordinary people is absolute?”

The conclusion that monsters cannot be tamed was reached by researchers in the monster department.

The researchers in the research department are merely ordinary people.

Cage, who had his own words thrown back at him, quietly fell silent.

Espers must always be superior to ordinary people.

What is impossible for ordinary people must be possible for Espers.

Espers always break common sense.

Espers are those who make things possible that ordinary humans cannot.

They always walk ahead, making the impossible possible.

“Heh, heh heh… You’re using a very cowardly method of persuasion.”

Cage could not deny his own logic.

Never, he would not deny it.

After a moment of silence, Cage murmured softly, then spoke with a hint of a laugh.

“Very well, I will give my word that no more S-class Espers will be deployed to City W. Even if other cities try to send support, I will stop them.”

Cage possessed such power.

Unlike Yoo Anna, who only thought of protecting citizens, Cage had long acted to stand above others.

Moreover, he always kept his word to other superhumans, no matter what.

That was Cage’s Esper-supremacy, his Esper-first principle.

Yoo Anna’s heart felt lighter, thinking that there would be no more meaningless conflicts with Black Cat.

“However, I can only stop other Espers.”

At that moment, Cage delivered some unwelcome news.

“I can’t stop the government’s research department guys, so you’ll have to stop them yourself.”

“Stopping Espers is the top priority, but personally, I’d prefer you worked harder to stop them.”

“If you had accepted the support and subjugated Black Cat, that would be one thing, but since you chose to tame it, that’s impossible.”

“No way? Are they going to research monster weaponization again?”

The madmen in the monster research department, who seem to resurface whenever things quiet down.

Was Cage’s urgency to subjugate Black Cat to notice their signs and eliminate Black Cat, who would be good research material?

“I was planning to show you this as a rebuttal to your opposition to Black Cat’s subjugation…”

Cage displayed unfamiliar documents on the screen.

The screen was filled with several photos and a short report.

At the very top of the document, clearly visible, were the words “Monster Cult.”

“Are you aware that things like the Monster Cult have been causing trouble recently?”

“Hasn’t everyone arrived yet? Who’s not here?”

“Four C-class… two B-class, and Iron Might from A-class hasn’t arrived yet.”

“C-class and B-class might be late because they just finished patrol, but what’s Iron Might doing? He’s at headquarters.”

“Should I call him again?”

After the communication ended, in the operations room.

Yoo Anna, who had summoned all the Espers of City W, sat with her eyes closed, reviewing the situation Cage had conveyed to her.

The Monster Cult.

A cult that calls monsters “divine messengers” and their leader a “savior” or “messenger.”

In City D, which is said to be lagging behind City W in terms of Esper strength, public safety, and food situation, it’s a strange religion that citizens rely on more than the government.

This insane group, which had existed for quite some time, had recently been rapidly gaining power in City D.

“…Sorry I’m late.”

“Senior, Iron Might is here.”

“All B-class are here too. Let the C-class hear it later, we can start the meeting now.”

“Hmph…”

Yoo Anna opened her eyes upon hearing that all A-class and B-class Espers, the main forces of City W, had gathered. Sound Waver then blocked out the sound in the room.

Yoo Anna stood up and walked to the whiteboard, writing out each character with force.

“…Huh.”

“Hmm…?”

“Uh…?”

The Espers murmured as the sentences gradually formed.

Yoo Anna continued to write, recalling her conversation with Cage.

“The Monster Cult once, for a moment, tamed a Lethal-class monster. They attacked Espers who were cracking down on the cult’s illegal activities with that monster, and then the cult members were all killed along with it…”

“This incident was the trigger for the monster weaponization plan.”

“Those guys are interested in City W.”

“It’s natural… since the Calamity-class monster, Black Cat, is saving people.”

They worship Black Cat as a divine messenger.

The cult’s rapid growth is also thanks to Black Cat, the materialized divine messenger.

The research department is also focusing on Black Cat, as the group that started monster weaponization is interested in it.

“I was going to say it needs to be dealt with quickly before anything happens… Well, try to tame it.”

“If you can tame it before they do, that is.”

Cage’s taunting voice, creak, creak, grind… Yoo Anna’s hand, filled with various emotions, crushed the whiteboard marker, and the sentence came to an end.

Written on the board was the purpose of this meeting, and the name of the operation that all City W Espers would participate in.

“Although limited to Murder-class, they are experts at monster taming.”

“They are trying to gain Black Cat’s favor and take it to City D.”

“You never know… they might succeed in taking Black Cat.”

“If you had to choose, wouldn’t Black Cat prefer weaker humans worth protecting over threatening Espers who have attacked it multiple times? Especially if those humans treat it well.”

Operation Black Cat Protection.

Below it were the rules for City W’s Espers when they encountered Black Cat in the future.

Compliment Black Cat, tell it it’s pretty and cute.

Thank it for catching monsters.

Give it delicious food every time you encounter it.

Thwack! Yoo Anna put down the pen and spoke to the Espers with serious eyes.

“From now on, all Espers will prepare snacks for Black Cat to eat.”

The Espers glanced at each other, muttering softly.

“Seems like she’s not even trying to hide it anymore?”