TPA 24

TPA

Posted by Aashi, Released on December 31, 2025

Chapter 24

Human or Beast (1)

Misa stared blankly at Aroma.

Aroma, panting from running so urgently, grabbed Misa’s hand.

“My name is Aroma.”

“…You look familiar.”

“Really? I felt the same when I saw you.”

“So, what’s going on? You want me to accept you? Weren’t you with Rena yesterday, one of the beast-people?”

“…Yes. I was being held by my mother at that time. I saw you come into the room then.”

“…Then why are you here now?”

“…I know this is really rude for a first meeting… but I need you. Please let me stay by your side!”

Misa looked at the woman in disbelief, then turned her gaze to Ul.

Ul, who had scanned Aroma from head to toe, slowly responded:

“You must have just become a beast-person.”

“Yes. It hasn’t even been a month since I came out into the world.”

Only then did Ul realize why Aroma had sought Misa.

“It must be a painful time for her. But judging by her coming to this one, she’s feeling the same symptoms as I did.”

“It was painful. I thought it would be good to finally see the light… but being trapped in the darkness was actually better.”

She spoke of how terrified she was of her own body, which had become obsessed with killing humans. She wanted to tear out her unsatisfied tongue no matter what she ate and her constantly hungry stomach no matter what she swallowed.

“Only then did I realize my body wasn’t normal.”

Aroma spoke in a trembling, almost screaming voice:

“I’ve become a monster. I don’t want to be a monster… but my body is no longer human. It was horrifying, it was scary. I even tried to die because I was afraid of my body that was desperate to kill people… but I didn’t die.”

‘Just like Ul.’

Misa looked at Aroma with sympathy.

“When I came out into the world, the first thing I wanted was to see my mother. I had been apart from her for so long… I missed her so much. So I endured it. It was scary and painful, but I held on. I had someone I had to meet after coming out.”

But in this state, she couldn’t go see her mother.

“I know what my body is like. If I meet my mother in this condition, I know I would kill her and eat her with my own hands.”

“…Huh.”

“I said it’s scary. But Rena, not my mother, says it’s normal. She says to do what I want. But I don’t want to, I’m afraid of killing humans! They all say it’s normal. They say I’ll get used to it. They say I have to accept it… but I can’t.”

What she said could have been an act, a lie.

But it didn’t seem that way at all. She was genuinely suffering, tearful.

“I… don’t want to live as a monster.”

“…”

“But yesterday, in the place where I was with you, I felt free for the first time. My anxious heart felt at ease. The urges that tormented me quieted down.”

“…Just like with Ul.”

“After you left, the hellish time started again. I realized you were affecting my body’s state.”

“…”

“I want to see my mother. I want to return to my hometown, Orlan.”

“…Orlan? You’re from Orlan?”

“Yes, I was born and raised there. When I turned thirteen, Rena captured me and I was imprisoned in a camp.”

Misa examined Aroma’s face carefully.

Was the familiarity she felt because they were from the same hometown?

“Is Aroma your real name?”

“No, my mother gave me this name. My original name is Lanseah.”

“…Lanseah? From southern Orlan? The one whose mother ran a flower shop?”

“You know me?”

She realized suddenly.

In Orlan, where she lived with her mother until she was ten, she had a childhood friend.

“Misa, I’m Misa, that’s my name.”

“…Misa?”

Aroma’s face flushed red. She grabbed Misa’s hand in excitement.

“Acorn… that Acorn?”

“Yes, that was my childhood nickname.”

“Wow…!”

Tears streamed down Aroma’s face as she hugged Misa tightly. Misa, in turn, patted Aroma’s shoulder, her own eyes moist.

They were childhood friends. When Misa turned ten, she had to move away, and they eventually lost contact after about a year.

She had thought they would meet again someday, but not like this.

The friend who had been so precious in her childhood had returned as a monster.

Aroma, or rather Lanseah’s mother, ran a small flower shop in the village.

She made perfumes from petals and sold dried leaves as medicine.

Lanseah’s father died from an illness shortly after her birth, leaving her mother to raise her alone.

Her mother was a talented perfumer and pharmacist, growing various flowers and plants, extracting their scents to make perfumes. Her perfumes were so popular that noblewomen came from afar to buy them.

The flower shop was always bustling.

However, her mother had a weak heart and often collapsed, spending months in the hospital each time.

When her mother was away, Lanseah took charge of the shop. She had learned perfumery from her mother and had a natural sense of smell, allowing her to create the same perfumes flawlessly.

Only Lanseah and Misa had no fathers in the village.

Lanseah often cried when children teased her about it, and Misa would scold those children for her.

Both lacked fathers and had similar family backgrounds, so they quickly became close.

If Misa had stayed, they would have been inseparable childhood friends. Their bond had been that strong.

“I see… that’s why you became a hunter.”

After a long separation, the two talked about the time they couldn’t spend together.

They had believed each other was doing well, but reality was harsher.

One child had moved and lived, only to have her mother brutally killed by beast-people. She nearly died herself but survived, becoming a hunter who kills beast-people.

The other child went to the market to obtain new seeds of a species and suffered misfortune.

She awoke in a dark underground prison, where she spent over ten years. Adults in white clothes subjected her to tortures beyond imagination.

Time became meaningless as she repeatedly lost and regained consciousness. Her eyes adjusted to the dark, and she grew thinner day by day.

On the last day of experiments, after enduring unimaginable pain and regaining consciousness, she was thrown out into the world. The moonlight was blinding, and the world was dazzling and changed.

And the child had changed as much as the world.

A young human girl emerged as a monster.

“It’s a relief you didn’t die. That’s why we can meet again. I’m so happy.”

Aroma said tearfully, and Misa looked at her with sympathy.

“Are you okay?”

Misa asked gently. Aroma shook her head.

“Honestly, I don’t know if I can return to my original state.”

Misa could not answer.

Ul had said there was no way to revert a beast-person to a human. She knew it but couldn’t tell her. It would be like a death sentence.

“If there’s a way to make humans into beast-people… then there might be a way to turn beast-people back into humans… maybe.”

So she lied.

There was no need to crush the fragile hope of someone on the edge. What Aroma needed now was a purpose to continue living.

“Really? You really think so?”

“Yes. Let’s have hope.”

“I’m glad you’re here… Can I stay here with you?”

“No.”

Ul answered in Misa’s place.

Ul held Misa’s hand and pulled it toward him. Misa reacted in disbelief.

“Since when do you get to decide? This is my house.”

“If she’s here, you can’t do things like this or that.”

“Are you crazy? What kind of joke is this that will confuse her?”

Aroma’s face turned shy as she alternated glances between Ul and Misa.

“You’re amazing, Misa. You’re an adult.”

“What… what are you saying? That’s not it, he’s just joking!”

“Why act like this when you’re going to marry?”

“Seriously, are you crazy? You were the one who told me we’d marry. I never agreed.”

“…I’ll stay out of your way as much as possible. When you do this or that, I’ll cover my eyes or leave. That’s fine, right?”

Misa stammered in excitement. Ul smiled slightly at her and then looked at Aroma.

“It’s a joke.”

“Aren’t you two… living together?”

“That… is for a reason…”

“Same reason as you.”

Ul answered, and Aroma’s eyes went wide.

“Not yet, but we’ll marry. No matter what, I won’t let him go.”

“I see, so you’re courting him. That’s nice.”

“No, you misunderstand. This is just a contract. When I have someone I love and a family, then I’ll let go. Right now, it’s just a relationship out of necessity.”

“But Misa, isn’t it strange that a man and woman living together don’t like each other?”

“Well…”

“From what I can see, you’re close. You’re together because you don’t dislike it, right?”

Misa was speechless.

Her feelings toward Ul were certainly not negative. He was someone she could rely on greatly.

“Anyway, I can stay here, right? If you need help, I’ll do my best. If I can return to normal… I’ll do anything. I don’t know if I can help, though.”

Ul glanced at Misa.

“You decide. The conclusion is obvious, though.”

“And you?”

“I don’t care. As you said, this is your home, not mine. The choice is yours.”

In truth, there was no reason to send Aroma away.

Like Ul, she suffered from the urge to kill and would be no benefit if ignored.

If Aroma lost control and killed people, it could cause serious problems.

Moreover, she was a precious childhood friend.

“Okay, let’s be together.”

She was no longer human, but not weak. She had reason and intelligence. Memories from her human life remained intact.

If she could suppress her urges, she could live as a normal human.

Her abilities and position could also be very helpful.

“What should I call you? Aroma? Lanseah?”

“Call me Aroma. Lanseah is for when I live as a human. Right now, I’m a monster.”

“No, you’re human.”

“Misa.”

“The fact that you acknowledge your suffering and call yourself a monster proves you are human. You haven’t hurt anyone. You endured it well and will continue to do so.”

Someone afraid to kill and agonizing over being a monster could never truly be a monster.

Real monsters feel no guilt about their actions.

“Yes, I’ll do my best.”

An unexpected ally had appeared.

A friend who had become a monster had suddenly reunited. There was no turning back. Now… it was time to move forward.

Time flowed like water.

The Linello lady’s murder had caused a stir, but as always, people soon forgot.

Even though it had only been a month, most had returned to their daily lives.

Misa returned to the Investigation Bureau after her suspension, but the atmosphere was grim.

Kidnappings and murders in the peaceful capital had shaken public trust in the Bureau.

The people, unaware that the Emperor and Empress were behind the beast-people, criticized the Bureau harshly.

“The Bureau chief is changing?”

“Yes. His Majesty ordered a major personnel overhaul.”

“So they’re cutting staff… when they need more?”

“They’ll select new recruits through exams… Even if they replace everyone, it won’t be as good as the experienced staff.”

Was this really the Emperor’s intention?

Despite knowing the lack of personnel in the field, he chose this time for a Bureau overhaul. Was it really his will?

Could it be the Empress’s influence?

Maybe a warning because they rejected her proposal.

“So, who’s the new chief?”

“I don’t know either. Supposedly arriving this afternoon.”

Glam, who had been briefed, laughed bitterly.

“I don’t think it will be someone pleasant.”

“Probably not, but the Bureau itself won’t be abolished.”

“They have huge political influence. Only we handle the beast-people.”

“Sure, but they’ll probably make life difficult. I expected that.”

“Honestly, I still can’t believe all of this… but seeing it happen makes me start to accept it.”

“We need to find Rena’s lab, but I have no idea where it is. I can’t find any information either.”

“It’s top secret. No one would openly reveal it.”

“That’s right, even a fool would know.”

Someone interrupted their conversation.

Misa and Glam, who hadn’t noticed anyone, turned around in shock.

“Why are you here…?”

Libido Hart was there. In the Bureau uniform.

He smiled as if nothing was unusual.

“I’m starting work here today.”

“…You’re the one becoming Bureau chief?”

“Yes. I asked my mother to let me take charge here.”

Misa felt her breath catch.

The head of the agency that hunts beast-people was a beast-person. How absurd.

“Are you insane? The Emperor allows this? You have no experience, and you’re a beast-person!”

“The Emperor doesn’t know I’m a beast-person. Our family gained fame in the war, and I’ve successfully completed previous subjugations. He trusts me.”

Nobles are compulsorily conscripted in emergencies.

People obey nobles because they defend the country on behalf of the people.

Nobles are sent to war and gain status through achievements.

Most nobles have private troops.

Knight captains are selected based on war performance.

“I’ve also led multiple beast-person subjugation missions.”

“…You killed your own kind?”

“My own kind… well, I never saw those trash as my kind.”

Misa laughed in disbelief.

“You really know how to make someone suffer.”

“So, will you quit hunting?”

“Are you crazy? Do you think I’ll yield to such pressure?”