novelraw Chapter 100 : Chapter 100
Chapter 100 : Chapter 100
Chapter 100: Mimicry (2)
Balzac must be a lunatic.
Even while maintaining the mimicry state, the pain from 'Settlement' did not cease.
I was feeling pain as if my body was being split and seared in real-time.
As I've said repeatedly, the pain given by settlement does not increase physical abilities.
It is pure pain paid as a price for the skills used earlier and the energy resources drawn in advance.
So naturally, one would pass out.
Rolling on the floor, sweating profusely, literally becoming a dying state.
But now, mimicked as Balzac, it was different.
[Balzac (Mimicry)]
[Personality: Arrogant, Deceptive, Research Maniac.]
[Passive: Soul of the Emperor, Weight of the Crown, Master of Deception]
[???]
I was currently treating all that pain as nonexistent with the strong single-mindedness of 'not wanting to show weakness to the opponent'.
The 'Passives' activated by mimicking Balzac's traits were playing that role.
Sweat does not flow.
Posture does not collapse.
Voice does not tremble.
Just relaxed, as if looking down from sitting on a comfortable throne.
‘The pain isn't disappearing, but something is different.’
An interview of a certain soccer player I saw in reality came to mind.
-Is the grass bad? Just think it's good.
There is pain. But just think there isn't.
Now that I've become Balzac, I was naturally performing that nonsensical act.
And even 'Chief' stopped his actions at that rapidly changed atmosphere.
‘For some reason, Balzac was treated as high rank.’
If looking only at martial power, Balzac's ranking is not that high.
Even considering the entire villain society, he wouldn't reach the upper ranks.
In contrast, this ox-headed human named Chief in front of my eyes was on a different dimension.
A person who occupies an executive position even in the 'Alliance' where freaks gathered.
Literally an owner of untouchable combat power.
Even if the current me attacked with full power and full condition, I am confident I would be slaughtered in an instant.
But even so, mimicked as Balzac now, I felt no discomfort at all in dealing with him.
Comfort as if meeting an old friend.
‘Were they perhaps real friends?’
Since it's the villain world, there bound to be relationships not revealed in the game.
Maybe I can overcome this crisis easier than I thought.
I had thought so. Until I heard the meaningful words Chief brought up.
"But you managed to reveal your identity in front of me skillfully. After avoiding me. Was it scary to be dragged away as a boy?"
Balzac avoided Chief?
[Chief]
[Anger, Hatred]
‘Hatred?’
Emergency, it's an emergency.
The moment Chief's emotions surfaced, I could tell for sure.
This freak really hates Balzac properly.
Why on earth? I cannot know.
The one who did wrong is Balzac, not me.
Damn it, couldn't you bring the memories refreshingly too?
Inside of my mouth started to dry.
Although it wouldn't show outwardly now that I've become Balzac.
Chief took a step closer.
RUMBLE-
The ground vibrated heavily.
Rough breath leaked from Chief's wide nose.
A look of steam rising properly.
"While you were hiding behind Edward with that despicable head of yours stuck in the ground, I alone had to bear all the disgrace."
Chief exhaled roughly.
It seems he did something terribly wrong.
But you have to tell me what the wrong is.
So I can at least apologize.
I waited for his next words with a feeling of my blood drying up.
"Since we finally face each other, we should have a slow conversation, right? Speak. I will at least listen to excuses."
So, tell me what I did and let me make excuses.
It was frustrating enough to drive me crazy.
‘Balzac, this bastard. What on earth did you do?’
I know he's a guy who does all sorts of dirty things deceiving others with his arrogant personality anyway.
But to live while earning a grudge even from an executive of a giant villain organization like Chief?
I don't know, but it was clear he did something huge wrong.
The problem was the fact that the party involved is me right now.
I thought I would overcome the crisis comfortably thanks to mimicking Balzac, but to think such a trap was hidden.
‘Damn.’
Chief is waiting for my words. While clenching and unclenching his fist.
If I speak wrong, my neck seems likely to be twisted immediately.
Should I flatter him with honorifics? No.
Persuasion? How, when I don't even know the content?
Apology? To apologize, I need to know something.
‘Then.’
There is only one way.
With my chin slightly raised.
Narrowing my eyes a little, I made a lightly sneering expression.
That expression peculiar to Balzac, putting all existence below him.
"What are you talking about?"
An arrogant tone dripping with grease naturally started flowing out.
"There is no way I would make excuses. Nor would I have committed a 'sin' requiring excuses."
There were two key points.
To make him not doubt the fact that I am Balzac.
To naturally make the opponent tell me what my fault is.
No matter how excellent a salesperson is, they cannot sell without knowing what the product is.
At least I had to know what we were talking about.
PUFF-
Chief's nasal breath flowed out hot.
A brief silence followed.
The giant horns tilted slowly.
His eyes stared at me intently.
"Did not commit a sin……. As expected of you."
Chief nodded his head as if uncomfortable and began to continue speaking.
"Are you saying that stealing the Alliance's test subjects and using them for your bizarre rituals does not constitute a sin?"
Damn it, strong from the start.
If it's the Alliance's test subjects, they are candidates to become freaks or major resources to be modified into chimeras.
For Chief, the executive in charge of material procurement and management, it's an issue that directly caused damage.
But I cannot bend.
Because the current me is Balzac.
"Of course. Why would that be a sin? Do you intend to say that taking out rotting ham from the refrigerator and eating it is also a sin? I merely used them correctly."
Balzac's tongue settled in my mouth moved smoothly.
Lines dripping with arrogance poured out fluently enough to surprise even myself.
"……."
Chief stroked his chin in silence for a moment, then opened his mouth again.
"Then, would you say stealing the Alliance's research data and killing test subjects at will to make them undead is also not a fault?"
What popped out this time were industrial espionage and property damage.
‘Balzac, this crazy bastard.’
If a competition for the craziest guy in the world was held, I feel like giving him the grand prize without asking or arguing.
Just how big were his guts to commit such crazy acts against the Villain Alliance?
‘……Well, considering Balzac's species, it might be understandable.’
On the one hand, it might have been natural.
From what I know, freak or whatever, Balzac was an existence from another dimension in the first place.
Judging him by the standards here was meaningless.
Was it because I understood that?
I could soon come up with words Balzac would likely say.
"Just because I rummaged through a garbage dump, I cannot be treated as a thief. Recycling trash is the same. Do not attach the name 'research' to that again. It would be an insult to knowledge."
Rationalizing my own actions even by disparaging the opponent without hesitation.
This indeed was 'Balzac Style'.
I started waiting for Chief's reaction slowly.
Honestly, if I were Chief, I think I would strangle myself around this point.
While shouting what nonsense a crazy guy is talking about.
But Chief's next words were unexpected.
"Hmm, like you indeed."
It seems he accepts it obediently.
What? He accepts it this simply?
Rather, dumbfoundedness crumbled on my side.
However, even that was brief; Chief began to approach slowly.
PUFF-
Breathing out nasal breath, he looked down at me.
"But such trivial matters do not matter. You know there is still one great sin remaining, right?"
Another great sin remains?
There can be a sin greater than theft, industrial espionage, property damage, and killing?
This time, I'm screwed.
My insides started burning up.
The air sank heavily.
Chief crumpled his brow and muttered to me.
"The organ I attached to you, I heard you removed it at your will?"
An air as if anger was dripping at the end of every word.
Madness began to gradually dwell in his eyes.
PUFF-
As Chief thrust his head forward, his nasal breath touched my forehead.
But what does he mean I removed an organ?
As I stayed silent without understanding the reason, Chief opened his mouth again.
"It was an optimal part I personally designed to fit your body and abilities. But Edward told me. That you cut it out the very next day after receiving the transplant."
"……."
For a moment, I doubted my ears.
‘That is the greatest sin?’
I held my breath.
To summarize, Chief's words were this.
‘Killing test subjects at will? Fine. Stealing research data and causing damage to the Alliance? Fine. But betraying my goodwill? Damn bastard. Cannot forgive.’
Somehow I feel a headache coming.
On the other hand, I searched through my mind thoroughly and recalled Chief's settings.
A mad scientist who supplies materials himself.
Not only numerous chimeras, but he also created a considerable number of freaks belonging to the Alliance himself.
A superior body, a more overwhelming freak.
Chief was an existence pursuing only that one goal.
For such a person to make and attach a 'part' meant acknowledging Balzac that much and simultaneously an act of carrying out his own philosophy.
But removing such an attached part at will?
It was understandable for Chief to feel great insult. I understand.
But that 'understanding' was of a kind acceptable only when seen in comics or games.
Facing it as reality now, I could only think this.
‘Is he seriously a crazy bastard?’
Rather glare at me as if to kill me for one of the previous reasons.
If he complained about stealing research data and swiping test subjects, I would at least accept it.
But for this case, I couldn't even grasp how to make an excuse.
What should I say?
Sorry for throwing away the gift you gave?
Or it was uncomfortable when sleeping because I had it attached, so I removed it?
A suitable answer just didn't come out.
Just as I was rolling my brain and thinking all sorts of thoughts, Chief opened his mouth again.
"I could have made you 'perfect'. That was the cornerstone. But you rejected it. How foolish."
Voice sunk low.
A tone calm yet filled with resentment.
And the moment I heard those words, something strange happened.
It was on my side that the strange thing happened.
‘I could have made you perfect.’
At that one phrase Chief spat out, anger suddenly started surging up.
"……Perfect? You making me?"
As the original me, 'Ryu Jinwoo', naturally there is no reason to get angry.
But the current me was a little different.
‘What are you going to do to me? Are you saying the current me is not perfect?’
[Balzac (Mimicry)]
[Personality: Arrogant, Deceptive, Research Maniac.]
[Passive: Soul of the Emperor, Weight of the Crown, Master of Deception]
[???]
I got scratched, helplessly.
As 'Balzac', something hot squirmed inside my throat.
Following that, anger began to soar up along my spinal cord.