TPA 23

Chapter 23

The Imperial Invitation (4)

2018.02.19

At the absurd words, Misa stiffened and stared at Rena.

“…What did you just say?”

“We’re very interested in you. You’re a forbidden subject, after all. We’re certain we can obtain high-quality information from you. It would be a waste to kill you.”

“What exactly do you want? What are you hoping to gain by doing something like this?”

“To become the rulers of this world. Not lowly humans—but us superior beastkin.”

“……”

“And I will become the great mother who created that superior race.”

“…You’re saying you plan to eliminate all humans?”

“Humans who fail to become beastkin deserve to die.”

“You’re insane.”

“Everyone said that to me. That it was impossible. That my experiments were garbage and would never succeed. That it was a waste of time. They ignored me, belittled me, trampled on my dreams.”

“……”

“But look at reality now. I succeeded.”

Even then, she had been ignored.

“People pointed at me and called me a monster. They trampled on my great research that would carve a new chapter in human history. The reason was simple—because I used humans as test subjects.”

“……”

“They said it violated morality! Idiots! Isn’t the sacrifice of a few for the many only natural? Humans must be condemned if they’re used as test subjects—but animals? Aren’t they lives too? I was sickened by humans’ hypocrisy.”

They treated me like a monster, those eyes, those condemnations—disgusting beyond words.

“They’re no different from me. So why am I the only one called a monster?”

“……”

“Humans are primitive trash that deserves to disappear. They think they’re the strongest, the smartest, the most superior beings. They believe they’re the masters of this world. I wanted to shatter that base ideology.”

“……”

“If we create beings stronger, smarter, and superior to humans, then humans will naturally be淘汰—driven to extinction. Won’t they end up being treated like the mere beasts they once looked down on?”

“You’re human too.”

“Human? I’m not human. I was chosen. Do you think anyone can become beastkin? Not a chance.”

To create a single beastkin, hundreds of people die.

“Those idiots littering the streets? They were chosen too. Hundreds of test subjects are needed to create one beastkin. Only one survives. And even then, most of them are low-intelligence failures, useless trash.”

That was why Rena was obsessed with Wool.

“Wool was the first—the most perfect and beautiful being I ever created. After that, I failed thousands of times. But I never gave up hope. I believed I could create a second Wool.”

Nearly a thousand years had passed since then.

“Excluding me, all the beastkin you see gathered here are the only ones worthy of being called completed works.”

In a thousand years, fewer than twenty true successes were created. That was how abysmal the success rate was.

“Beautiful, intelligent, strong. The most perfect lifeforms in this world.”

More beastkin would be raised in the future. It would take time, but if the process continued steadily, humans would eventually be淘汰 and disappear.

The rulers of this world would no longer be humans, but beastkin.

“Misa, you’ve already undergone significant changes—enough that you can no longer be called human.”

“That doesn’t make me beastkin either.”

“True. But wouldn’t you say you’re closer to us than to humans?”

“……”

“You should already know how foolish and pointless it is to oppose us.”

Misa felt her previously chaotic thoughts settle into an eerie calm.

Until moments ago, she had been afraid. She knew this wasn’t an opponent a single human body could face.

The wall before her was enormous.

That harsh reality had terrified her—but now, that fear was gone.

“I refuse.”

At the very least, she still knew right from wrong.

“You’re not as smart as I thought.”

“I’ll expose your existence to the world. I will never join forces with you.”

“Then we’ll have no choice but to take you by force. You know how desirable Wool’s pheromones inside your body are to beastkin. You know how valuable you are as a test subject. And yet you still choose this foolish path?”

“I was taught never to compromise with injustice.”

“That’s truly unfortunate.”

Though she knew provoking them wasn’t wise, Misa’s voice remained firm.

“One thing is certain—you’re insane. Superior beings? No. You’re just monsters.”

Rena stared at Misa with ice-cold eyes, then let out a mocking laugh, as if amused by a human’s childish bravado, and sat back down.

“I’m curious to see how long you’ll manage to struggle.”

She whispered softly.

“Be careful. Truly.”

The conversation was over.

There was nothing more to say. Misa hurriedly left the empress’s chambers with Wool.

Once their footsteps faded, Rena rubbed her forehead as if plagued by a headache.

“Such an annoyingly strong-willed woman.”

“Why not kill her immediately? If we absorb the pheromones of Wool inside her, we’ll become stronger than before.”

“Do you think you can defeat Wool?”

“……”

“There’s nothing to gain by provoking him and turning him into an enemy. More than anything, I don’t want him to hate me anymore. If we push him too far, things will spiral beyond control. And besides…”

That human woman was clearly special.

Not merely because she was forbidden.

She possessed unshakable conviction. Most successful beastkin had been born from humans with powerful beliefs.

“She seems like she’d make a special test subject. I have a feeling she could become the greatest masterpiece.”

There was something about her. That must be why Wool stayed by her side.

Killing her now would be such a waste.

That was why Rena suppressed her anger and frustration.

For the grand design she would paint in the distant future.

*

Aroma honestly doubted her own eyes.

It was shocking enough that someone dared shout back at Mother—but her voice and appearance felt strangely familiar.

An incredibly delicious scent wafted from that woman, yet her heart was oddly calm.

Aroma couldn’t take her eyes off her.

What if Mother killed her? Fear washed over her. And then she realized—she was worried about a human woman. Even more surprising was her own calm heart.

‘Mother said she was special. Is that why? I feel so strangely peaceful… I feel like crying.’

This was a first.

It felt like a radiant miracle—a beam of sunlight breaking through pitch-black darkness.

‘She feels familiar… who is she…?’

The human woman shouted at Mother, then left the chamber without hesitation.

Only after she had completely exited the palace did Aroma feel the familiar torment of desire return.

Aroma became certain.

That woman was an angel who would save her from this hellish life.

And so, Aroma ran.

“Where is that brat going now?”

Rize’s voice rang out, followed by Rena’s voice stopping her.

“Let her be. She’s at that age.”

Rena likely assumed that the particularly appetizing Misa had stimulated Aroma, sending her into a frenzy of hunger.

But she was wrong.

Aroma had no intention of killing or eating a human.

That human woman.

If she truly could suppress her desires, then Aroma had to cling to that lifeline no matter what.

*

The woman desperately pulled at the hem of her dress, wondering how things had come to this.

Her torn dress was useless at covering her exposed body, yet she backed away, struggling desperately to hide herself.

“W-Why are you doing this to me? What do you want…?”

“I want nothing.”

The gentle gentleman transformed in an instant into a ruthless predator.

The woman searched her memory, wondering if she had done something to anger him—but nothing came to mind.

The time they shared had been perfect.

They burned with passion, tangled together, whispered love, released the heat boiling within them.

She hadn’t thought it was a meaningless tryst.

The gentleman had been kind, careful, tender—like he was holding something precious. His words and actions were full of consideration.

Though it was their first meeting, though they knew nothing of each other, it hadn’t mattered. She believed they were destined.

It had been good. She had been happy.

And yet, everything reversed in an instant.

“Do you need a reason to kill someone?”

“We were happy just moments ago…!”

“Not at all.”

“……”

“I wasn’t enjoying myself in the slightest.”

Her illusion shattered.

The gentle gentleman had never existed. It had only been a predator’s hunt, pretending to be refined to lure prey.

For him, it was no different from any other time.

If anything, the only unusual thing was that he’d released more pheromones than usual.

Not from pleasure.

But from irritation.

“I planned to focus solely on that child for a while.”

He had already chosen his prey—one he found exceptionally appealing, one he intended to pursue more seriously than ever before.

He had no room to concern himself with other women.

Compared to her, they were insignificant.

“The heart is such a fickle thing. The moment I saw you, I decided you should die.”

He didn’t understand why he was so angry.

He only knew he felt awful.

That small, pale face—trembling, drained of color—kept flashing before his eyes.

The sight of her bowing her head so foolishly, submitting to someone so insignificant, irritated him.

“P-Please… spare me…”

Objectively speaking, the woman had done nothing wrong.

But humans were inherently subjective creatures.

“No.”

With that single word, he crushed her hope.

It didn’t take long for her desperate pleas to fade into silence. As always, he brushed the blood from his clothes, feeling only an unpleasant emptiness.

The next day, news spread throughout the empire:

The second daughter of Baron Rinello had been murdered.

*

After a sleepless night filled with thoughts, Misa looked utterly haggard.

Seeing her zombie-like face, Wool clicked his tongue and prepared breakfast. The delicious smell stirred her appetite, and despite being exhausted, Misa sat down.

As if accustomed to this, Wool placed bread and soup in front of her.

“Worrying won’t solve anything. How foolish.”

“The shock hasn’t settled yet.”

“So, have you made a decision?”

“……”

“Whatever choice you make, I’ll respect it.”

Watching him sit there tearing open a feed bag, Misa let out a small laugh.

“You already know my answer, don’t you?”

“I never thought what you said to Rena was just reckless bravado.”

“You’re right. That was my honest, impulsive truth.”

“I figured. I know your type well. Who could ever bend that stubborn will?”

Misa picked up the bread.

She found it amusing that she still had an appetite amid all her worries.

“At this point, it’s not like I can just walk away, is it?”

“No.”

“But I never once considered joining them. I’d rather die than take part in something so horrific.”

She knew perfectly well how absurd it was to oppose them.

But there was no road back anymore. She was no longer an ordinary human, and as long as she was with Wool, entanglement was inevitable.

“There’s no backing out now, and they won’t leave me alone. So the only option is to smash through the wall blocking my path and move forward.”

“How?”

At Wool’s playful question, Misa grabbed her head in frustration.

“I don’t know! Are you trying to mess with me?!”

“You know better than anyone this isn’t something that can be done without a plan.”

“…As long as Rena remains empress, there’s no way to touch her. No way to kill her either.”

It wasn’t because Rena was too strong.

It was because of her power.

“Her research continues smoothly because she has the authority of the empress and the emperor’s backing. And Libido, Leon Hart, everyone there—they’re all powerful figures with high social standing.”

“They’re Rena’s core support base.”

“She’ll fight to maintain her power, and so will the Twelve Apostles guarding her.”

Unless that foundation was destroyed, this fight had no hope.

Still, there was a way.

“They say there’s no one you can shake without dust falling out—especially among the elite. Their corruption is hidden, but if you dig deep enough, you’ll find shocking things.”

“And?”

“We expose it to the world. Nothing is more fatal to them than scandal.”

That was why they valued honor so highly.

“The moment public sentiment turns and their honor crumbles, their power will begin to collapse. They may see the people as idiots, but their positions exist because of public support. Even the emperor wouldn’t have justification to protect them if public opinion turns.”

“So we start by dismantling the Twelve Apostles.”

“Yes. One by one. If we do that, the empress’s support base will naturally weaken.”

At their core, they were beastkin.

Pretending to be human, while surely committing horrific acts behind the scenes. Monsters created to kill humans.

They too must be boiling with murderous urges—and unlike Wool, they wouldn’t restrain themselves.

They would have killed to satisfy those desires. It simply hadn’t come to light yet.

Expose that to the world, and they wouldn’t escape unscathed.

Power is hard to build—but collapses in an instant.

Rival factions would seize the opportunity and tear them apart.

“The theory is simple. But execution won’t be.”

“They’re clever. They won’t fall easily. It could take a very long time. I might even die before then.”

“But it’s the most certain way to strike them.”

“Yes. It’s worth risking my life. If I’m going to die either way, there’s no reason to die quietly. I’ll leave a scar.”

The conclusion was clear.

She would never collude with them.

She was human.

No matter the reason, there was no need to side with monsters.

“…By the way, it feels like we have a guest.”

“What?”

As soon as Wool spoke, the doorbell rang.

“Not human. And impatient.”

“A beastkin…? Libido?”

“No. Someone else.”

Did Rena send them?

What was she plotting?

Misa stood up, tense.

“Pretending we’re not home won’t work, will it?”

“If necessary, we kill them.”

She cautiously approached the door, countless thoughts racing through her mind.

What if they attack immediately? What if they have another agenda? Why come here now? Are they here to kill me?

Seeing her hesitate, Wool opened the door for her.

A golden fluffball rushed inside in panic.

“P-Please help me!”

The golden fluffball grabbed Misa’s hand and sobbed.

Startled, Misa looked down at the woman clutching her.

“I’m not here to threaten or kill you… I have a request. I need you. I truly need you…!”

She looked like she was on the verge of tears.

Misa’s tension drained away in an instant.

She clearly wasn’t human—but she didn’t seem hostile.

There might be another motive, but since Wool wasn’t reacting, she didn’t seem dangerous.

“Come inside first.”

Misa led the trembling woman in and handed her a glass of cold water.

The woman gulped it down, then clasped her hands together and bowed.

“Hello. My name is Aroma. Please… take me in.”

The blunt declaration hit Misa like a hammer out of nowhere.