TPA 18

Chapter 18

A Night of Numbness (5)

2018.02.01

Glam became a team leader at the relatively young age of twenty-nine.

Usually, the position of leading a team was reserved for those with long years of experience. However, the Investigation Bureau—especially the division dedicated to dealing with beastmen—lost dozens of members every single day. As a result, there were hardly any veterans left.

Most retired once they reached a certain age.

This was not a job for the old and frail. Even spirited young people struggled to endure it—what could aging bodies possibly do?

The moment he became team leader, Glam began by completely restructuring the team.

The selection exams were conducted under harsh conditions, and due to the significantly increased difficulty compared to before, countless applicants failed.

Though the selection process itself was strict, he did not place heavy restrictions on eligibility. Thanks to that, a wide range of talent was recruited regardless of gender or age.

Among all past Investigation Bureau executives, he possessed the most open-minded way of thinking.

Because of that, once he became team leader, female hunters—rare as they were—were occasionally selected, and even older candidates were hired without hesitation as long as they had skill.

When Misa had collapsed in despair, crushed by the barriers of gender and age, it was Glam who extended his hand to her.

Misa trusted Glam. She believed he was someone worthy of deep respect, and he was also known among others as a good person, held in high regard.

“What’s going on?”

Because it was him, she decided to tell him everything she knew.

“I’d like you to stop by my place this evening. There’s something I need to talk about.”

“Inviting me to your home—sounds pretty serious. Is it something you can’t talk about here?”

“I know you wouldn’t believe me if I told you here.”

“Why wouldn’t I believe you?”

“Because it’s that absurd.”

“What on earth is it?”

“Please just come to my place first. I’ll be waiting.”

She knew that no matter how much Glam trusted her, even he wouldn’t easily believe what she was about to say. That’s how unbelievable the story was.

“You really have to come.”

“Alright. I’ll head over as soon as I’m done.”

“Then I’ll go ahead and wait.”

After Misa left, Glam felt that something was seriously off. He couldn’t focus on his work until the end of the day.

He had never once left work exactly on time, but that day, the moment his shift ended, he informed his team and hurried out. He immediately headed for Misa’s apartment.

He cherished her like a daughter, and visiting the home of a woman living alone without permission would have been rude—so this was the first invitation he had received in a long time.

He cleared his throat and pressed the doorbell.

The door flew open—

And Glam froze on the spot.

“What the hell… is that?”

Inside the home of Misa, whom he had raised as preciously as a daughter,

stood some white-haired punk.

Is he a foreigner?

No—

Is this even human?

The man’s appearance was strange enough to provoke doubt.

Pure white hair he had never seen before, and blue eyes. For a moment he thought the man might be mixed-blood—but immediately after, the thought crossed his mind that he might not be human at all.

“What are you standing there for? Move! He’s my guest!”

Misa shoved aside the possibly-not-human being and rushed out. Only then did Glam snap out of it and point at Wool.

“Why is that thing coming out of your house?”

“Well, um…”

“Don’t tell me… you’re living together?”

“J-just come inside first! I’ll explain everything!”

Misa dragged Glam inside and slammed the door shut.

Following her in, Glam stared suspiciously at Wool.

Wool ignored him entirely, while Misa hurriedly brought out tea and snacks.

The moment she set them down, Glam raised his voice sharply.

“Did you call me over to introduce your boyfriend?”

“He’s not my boyfriend.”

At that, Glam exploded.

“Then why is he in your house?!”

“There were circumstances, so we ended up living together.”

“What? Circumstances? You decided to cohabit so lightly—with that, something that doesn’t even look human?!”

“Huh? How did you know? That he’s not human?”

“…What? He’s really not human?”

“Weren’t you saying that because you noticed?”

So that was it.

He had felt something strange about the man—something that didn’t feel human—but he had assumed it was just intuition. He never imagined it was actually true.

Glam collapsed into a chair, utterly stunned.

“He looks human. You and I might notice right away because we’re used to beastmen, but most people would just think he’s an oddly good-looking human. His aura is different. Not something humans have.”

“See? You noticed immediately too, Team Leader.”

“If you hadn’t told me, I wouldn’t have been sure. I just thought he felt… off.”

It felt like Glam had been struck in the head with a hammer.

Misa had caused countless incidents over the years—but compared to this, everything before seemed trivial.

“The thing you wanted to tell me… don’t tell me it’s about him. You’ve lost your mind. Living with a man wasn’t enough—you’re cohabiting with a beastman?”

“This isn’t just about Wool. It concerns all beastmen. You might think I’m insane, but you’re the person I trust and rely on the most. That’s why I had to tell you first.”

She wasn’t stupid.

She knew exactly what living with a beastman meant, how dangerous it was.

It could lead to execution for colluding with beastmen.

A hunter from the Investigation Bureau living with a beastman—no excuse would make that acceptable.

Yet she still chose to stay with him.

That meant there had to be a reason.

Glam tried to calm his pounding heart and picked up his tea.

“Alright. Let’s hear just how insane this story is.”

He braced himself for something unbelievable.

Misa and Wool sat across from him, and the story began.

“When I went missing for a week… I was on the brink of death.”

At the very first sentence, Glam sprayed tea everywhere.

His face twisted in shock, and he tried to speak—but Misa didn’t stop.

“I encountered an intelligent beastman. I tried to capture him. I aimed for his forehead. But even after piercing it, he was fine. Wool said his weak point was his left thigh.”

“…His weak point was his thigh?”

Glam was stunned.

He had never heard of a beastman with a weak point there.

“I thought I was dead, but he saved me.”

“This one’s a beastman too—and he helped you? Did he kill the one who tried to kill you?”

“Yes.”

A beastman killing his own kind was unheard of.

“Why?”

“He said he needed me. He said he was tormented by the urge to kill people dozens of times a day. But when I’m beside him, that urge weakens. That’s why he saved me.”

“…And you expect me to believe that?”

“That’s why I live with him. If Wool hadn’t been there that day, I’d be dead.”

It sounded absurd—but disturbingly plausible.

“We made a deal. I allow him to stay by my side, and in return, he gives me all the information he has. He also promised to protect me.”

Glam looked at Wool.

He definitely felt different from ordinary beastmen—just meeting his gaze was strangely oppressive.

“We know far too little about beastmen. They’ve existed far longer than we thought, and they’ve been increasing their numbers slowly.”

“No wonder we’ve made no progress.”

As Glam grumbled, Misa struck him with a decisive blow.

“Beastmen were created by humans.”

Clatter!

The teacup slipped from his hand and shattered on the floor.

He stared blankly at Misa, then laughed and shook his head.

“No matter what, that I can’t believe.”

Even with his open mind, it was too much.

Or maybe—he didn’t want to believe it.

Beastmen born from human hands?

What could be more horrifying?

“Hard as it is to believe, it’s the truth.”

“Explain in detail.”

Misa told him everything.

About a human woman named Lena. About her experiments creating monsters. About how it all continued to this day.

As the story progressed, Glam’s face drained of color.

It took him a long time to speak again.

“So… beastmen were created by humans. And the one creating them is still alive?”

“Yes.”

“This is madness.”

“I know it’s hard to believe. It was for me too. But even the Epicure case defied common sense, didn’t it?”

“…Hmmm.”

“There are many beastmen living among humans. As long as that woman who creates them is alive, this horrific war will never end.”

“Even so…”

“Scholars claim beastmen are natural mutations. Isn’t this explanation more believable than that?”

It was more convincing—but still unbelievable.

Beastmen existing for a thousand years. A human still alive after a millennium. Immortality.

Science doing all that—since a thousand years ago?

Was that even possible?

“We have to find the one creating beastmen. Otherwise, this meaningless fighting will continue forever.”

Glam fell silent for a long time.

His mind wasn’t in a state to accept everything yet.

“If everything you’re saying is true… this is a very serious issue. Do you have any leads on finding this Lena?”

“We need to investigate intelligent beastmen. If we do, we’ll eventually meet someone connected to her.”

It was impossible to dismiss it outright.

Wool’s existence alone was proof.

“Finding intelligent beastmen is like searching for stars in the sky. You know that. How do we find ones hiding among humans?”

“I’ve already met two—no, three.”

The man who first tried to kill her. Epicure.

And the young gentleman she encountered earlier.

“Can you look into him for me?”

“Who?”

“I don’t know his name. Black hair, red eyes. A young gentleman.”

“There are plenty like that.”

“Black hair and red eyes are common—but his appearance definitely isn’t. You’ll find him easily.”

“What is he?”

“An intelligent beastman.”

There was no need to chase him down—he would appear again.

He seemed interested in her. And forbidden beings attracted beastmen.

Before that happened, she needed information.

“If he’s pretending to be human here, there’ll be records.”

“Does he live in the capital?”

“Probably.”

“This is ridiculous.”

“I’m begging you. You’re the only one I can ask.”

“…Fine. If everything you said is true, I can’t just sit back. But what about that?”

Glam gestured at Wool.

“If you get caught, it’s only a matter of time before you’re arrested. Can you handle that?”

“I’ll have to.”

“This isn’t simple. If it gets exposed, it’ll spiral out of control.”

“Wool’s value outweighs the danger.”

Yes—his existence was dangerous.

But even knowing that, she stayed with him.

And it wasn’t just because of the contract.

“We absolutely need Wool’s strength to deal with beastmen. I can’t let him go.”

“And how do you trust him?”

At Glam’s sharp glare, Wool snorted and pulled Misa into his arms.

“I’m more reliable than you, at least.”

Their gazes clashed fiercely.

After glaring at Wool for a moment, Glam looked away.

At least he won’t harm Misa.

He had seen the dangerous obsession in Wool’s eyes.

Beastmen were known for their possessiveness.

Wool seemed to regard Misa as his possession—or something even more special.

Was that fortunate… or unfortunate?

One thing was certain: that obsession would serve as a shield for Misa for now.

He would block the arrows aimed at her.

Glam had already realized it was impossible to stop her alone.

With Wool by her side, at least her life would be protected.

“Alright. I’ll look into it. But—”

Glam tossed a file at Misa.

“If you’re going to dig around anyway, start with this case.”

“What case?”

“You’ll see.”

“Okay.”

“I’m leaving.”

“Goodbye. See you later.”

“Yeah.”

After Glam left, Misa slumped against the sofa, tension draining away as she skimmed the file.

“Ah… this case.”

“What is it?”

“It’s practically been abandoned for almost a year. Women’s bodies have been found at irregular intervals here in Estella.”

“Beastmen involved?”

“I think so. All victims were found naked, with signs of intercourse. Normally, the perpetrator’s fluids would be found—but not once have they been.”

All of them had their throats cleanly torn out.

“There were no signs of resistance. They were all killed during intercourse.”

The women’s faces were peaceful. No other injuries.

It suggested they had willingly engaged in the act.

So why were only the women’s fluids present?

“This isn’t a cut from a blade—it looks torn by something sharp.”

All victims were upper-class women well-known in social circles.

“Nobles are involved. That’s why it’s such a headache. All the victims were children of wealthy families.”

“So the perpetrator is likely upper class too.”

“Exactly. That’s why the investigation stalled. Everyone wants to bury it.”

The torn throats were the key.

“They were torn by something sharp. Bite marks were found sometimes—and no human teeth could’ve made those.”

Likely a beastman posing as nobility.

Searching social gatherings would be the best approach.

“Nobles break curfew all the time.”

Wool sighed irritably.

“You’re impressive for someone so small—sticking your nose everywhere. Why don’t you rest?”

“I’ve rested enough. I got drunk yesterday too. I’m fine now.”

“Aren’t you scared? You faced a beastman like me just this morning.”

“If I hide at home because I’m scared, it’s even worse.”

Misa grinned and grabbed Wool’s hand.

“And besides—I have our reliable guard dog, don’t I?”

“You’re dead, seriously.”

“And you said I’m not fully human anymore.”

“Still not strong enough to fight a beastman.”

“Then you handle the stronger ones. That’s our contract, right?”

So annoying.

That acorn-sized thing never stays quietly at home.

Where does that monstrous stamina come from in such a frail body?

“I don’t like it? Then leave. You were the one who wanted the contract.”

“…I don’t mind. Do whatever you want.”

What is this role reversal?

He was the one who practically threatened her into living together—yet somehow he felt completely dragged around.

A small sigh escaped Wool’s lips.

Following that tiny creature around and cleaning up after her felt more exhausting than suppressing his murderous urges ever did.

Why was that?

He truly had no idea.