Chapter 34 - Pet Tentacle
"What a mess."
As I watched the unfolding events at the seminar through my smartphone, I quietly smiled and quickened my pace.
- Crack... crack...!
- Kyaaaah!
The 4th-ranked hero Transfer, now consumed by tentacles, was stretching them in all directions, turning the seminar venue into complete chaos.
By the way, the internet that had been cut off was just restored after I raided the server room with the tentacles.
Thanks to that, the incident unfolding at the seminar was now being livestreamed worldwide by various people.
Of course, individual broadcasts were constantly being blocked by the Hero Association, but we have Pandora.
She should be able to spread whatever I'm about to do throughout the world.
Truthfully, since this wasn't pre-arranged, I'm not sure if it will work out.
I had promised to only do reconnaissance today and avoid any dangerous activities.
'I'll probably get scolded by Dice later.'
In reality, what I'm doing now is nothing short of impulsive behavior.
But in this situation, this is the most appropriate action.
Because there's a traitor within Dominating Hands.
And they're quite high-ranking, too.
With an unidentified spy having leaked all information about our headquarters and production facilities, our planned operation no longer has meaning.
But it's also too late to retreat and formulate a new plan.
It's questionable whether we can find the rat who's been hiding all this time before it's too late, and even if we do, what comes next is the problem.
The top-ranking heroes and Corrupted will likely raid our headquarters and production facilities by the end of today.
Even if we evacuate quickly, we can't avoid taking critical damage.
So I might as well strike first.
Since I'm doing this without reporting to Dominating Hands, the spy can't report to the Hero Association either.
And if the plan succeeds, we can delay or even stop their invasion.
It's the best-case scenario where I just need to take a little risk.
For the sake of my lifelong goal to exterminate the Corrupted, there's no reason not to do it.
- Gurgle?
As I was smiling at that thought, suddenly a tentacle poked its head in front of me.
"...Shit."
I thought my heart was going to drop.
What's with this thing, seriously?
- Kyurururu...
When I waved my hand in disgust, the dejected tentacle began crawling along the floor, keeping low.
"That doesn't make you look cute."
What on earth is this thing?
From what the chairman and Transfer said, it's clearly the mastermind behind the Corrupted.
Considering the overwhelming pressure I felt when I first encountered it, it's definitely an extraordinary being.
But why is such a being wiggling on the floor and acting cute toward me?
And earlier, it helped me hypnotize Transfer, even inserting some of its tentacles into her body to assist with the performance.
It even helped attack the server room.
No, it did more than help. It practically did everything.
While I subdued one or two people with my smartphone, it had already extended its tentacles to subdue most of the staff.
"...Disgusting."
I was grateful, but I couldn't help finding it repulsive.
Although the earlier pressure was gone, this heart-like creature with multiple blood vessels intertwined was constantly wiggling behind me, following me.
By the way, since I called it disgusting, it suddenly covered itself with tentacles and seemed to slow down.
Could it possibly be hurt by my words?
"Hey, tentacle."
- Gruruk?
"Can't you change that appearance?"
I couldn't keep draining my mental energy to cheer it up, so I forced a smile and asked.
- Kyuruk!
It quietly shook its body in response.
- Wiggle...!
"Shit, what the hell."
Suddenly, it began to inflate its body and extend tentacles in all directions.
- Gulp... gulp...
Startled, I watched as it surrounded its black heart-like core with tentacles and began to transform.
- Kyuru.
After a while, a naked slime girl appeared before me.
"Damn it, not that."
It looked better than before, but it was still draining my mental energy.
Seeing what was previously a wiggling tentacle in this form inevitably caused an intense feeling of rejection.
"Can't you transform into something like this?"
- Gruruk?
Urgently, I searched for "dog" on my smartphone and showed it to the tentacle, which tilted its head slightly with a blank expression.
- Wiggle...
Then it began to change its form again.
- Kyururuk!
After another brief moment, it transformed into something between a fox and a wolf.
"...That's a bit better."
- Kyuruk!
When I sighed and said that to the creature, which no longer drained my mental energy just by being near me, it flipped onto its back and began wagging its tail.
'Is it crazy?'
If it had been a pet fox or wolf, it would have looked very cute.
But what was in front of me was a Cthulhu-like creature worshipped by the Corrupted who had plunged the world into crisis.
And such a being was lying on its back, acting coquettish.
In front of a being that, from its perspective, was no different from a weak ant it could devour or dissolve at will.
'Isn't this cosmic horror?'
As my mind was becoming hazy from this incomprehensible situation, it suddenly jumped from the floor and leaped into my arms.
"Ah, come on."
Then it extended its tail forward, stretching out tentacles.
- Crack...! Crack crack!!
"Kyaaaaaaah!!"
"Mo-monster! Monster!!!"
Soon after, terrible screams erupted from the distant corridor, accompanied by gunfire.
""...........""
But it quickly fell silent.
- Guruk!
As I stared blankly at the scene, the creature in my arms perked up its ears and looked up at me.
- Rustle...
After a moment of hesitation, I carefully stroked its head, and it quietly buried its face in my chest.
"This is insane."
I honestly don't understand why the idol of the Corrupted is helping me.
It can't really be because it has good synergy with hypnosis and tentacles.
Perhaps, like how humans observe ants and toss crumbs to ones they like, this creature is just helping me for fun.
And when it loses interest, it might try to eat me.
'At this point, I have to go all the way.'
But I couldn't back down now.
The die has been cast, and I have a purpose to fulfill.
So even if the creature in my arms is a cosmic monster, I need to make the most of it.
"Let's go, tentacle."
With that resolve, I stroked the head of the creature nestled in my arms and began walking forward.
- Grrrung...
"........."
Deliberately ignoring the affectionate growl coming from my arms.
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Meanwhile, at the seminar room.
- Crack crack crack!!
"Ru-run away!!"
"Damn... what the hell is that?"
People were fleeing in panic from Transfer, who was contorted in a grotesque form, extending tentacles in all directions.
"Don't panic! It's just one opponent!"
"Everyone, concentrate your firepower!"
Of course, being heroes, some stood their ground and fought.
- Boom boom boom...!
"W-wrong. Our attacks aren't working..."
"How is this possible with so many heroes here?"
But the heroes soon realized it was futile.
No matter what attack they launched, the tentacles extending from Transfer blocked everything.
"Is it a parasitic monster?"
"Danger level... at least Grade 1 or higher, I think?"
"It might even be monster-class, like what fought Justia."
Having experienced all sorts of battles, the heroes quickly realized.
To face the grotesquely transformed Transfer, they needed at least top-ranking heroes to arrive on the scene.
"How could this happen..."
"Is the world really about to end?"
The fact that they were struggling despite having so many heroes present proved this reality.
Fortunately, despite the major crisis, casualties were minimal.
Although Transfer was rampaging, her attacks were very monotonous, as if she lacked reason.
"Those who cannot fight, this way!"
"Follow us to evacuate!"
It also helped that the people present weren't ordinary citizens but heroes specialized in rescue and evacuation.
Within minutes of the incident, they began evacuating in an orderly fashion under the command of disaster specialist heroes.
"...Huh?"
"Wait, what's this?"
However, the evacuees soon hit a major obstacle.
"It won't open!!"
"This is bad! The entire seminar room is sealed!!"
For some reason, the entire seminar room had been completely sealed by the security system.
- Crackle... crackle...
"Ugh..."
"S-stop! You'll get hurt!"
It would have been good if they could break through by force, but the security in the seminar room was "anti-monster grade."
The iron wall, fortified with all sorts of defensive mysteries to block any external danger, was now trapping the heroes inside.
"Wh-where's Transfer? Evacuation is her specialty..."
"Idiot! That Transfer is the one who turned into that!!"
In this situation, the only hero who could ignore the security system and evacuate everyone was Transfer with her Concept of transference.
But the problem was that she was the one causing this incident.
"Hey! Disable the security system!!"
"Are you trying to kill us all?!"
As people gathered at the exit, shouting at the surveillance cameras.
- Crack crack crack...
"The attacks are getting more intense!"
"Damn it, when are the higher-ranking heroes who went to the meeting coming..."
In this desperate moment, as heroes blocking the mutated Transfer from behind were groaning.
"How are you doing, hero ladies and gentlemen?"
Suddenly, the lights in the seminar room went out, and a somehow familiar voice began to echo.
"Th-that person...?"
"I-impossible."
People turned toward the source of the voice, and one by one, they began to mutter with expressions of shock.
"T-Trauma?"
"That's really Trauma!"
"Why is Trauma here...?"
Under the only remaining light, Trauma, wearing a fedora, was waving his cane.
"Would you like to see the surprise I prepared for the International Hero Seminar?"
"........"
"Yes, well done."
Looking around at the heroes with a cheerful voice, Trauma began to stroke the head of Transfer, who had approached and stood docilely beside him.
"Y-you did this!!"
"What did you do to Transfer!!"
Angry voices began to erupt from everywhere.
"What did I do, you ask?"
Trauma, as if he had been waiting for this moment, spread his arms wide and raised his voice.
"I think it's time to reveal this to all of you!"
People began to focus their attention on Trauma with tense expressions.
"Let me introduce!"
Looking at these people, Trauma slightly raised the corners of his mouth and declared.
"My faithful servants who have been blending into hero society until now!"
With the ability of Transfer, whom he had successfully dominated, he had transferred the contents into the drinks people consumed beforehand.
"The Corrupted!"
He said this while quietly caressing an empty flask in his arms.
"Ugh? Urgh!?"
"Hiiiek...!?"
"C-control? Controooool......"
And so, after a few seconds, sudden chaos erupted.
"...Hmm."
Trauma, with his arms crossed, quietly watched as people began to twist their bodies and transform into strange forms, and the normal people screamed in shock at the sight. Suddenly, he frowned and muttered quietly.
"Why is everything going so smoothly?"
- Kyururuk?
"Something's off..."
The strange creature that had been constantly wiggling in his arms poked its head out slightly and tilted it in confusion.
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Meanwhile, at that time.
"Th-that is."
The chairman, who was preparing to leave for the scene with gritted teeth, was looking at the screen with a pale face.
"Z-zoom in! Zoom in on that part!"
He suddenly stood up and urgently ordered.
"...O-oh, Truth."
Then, seeing the creature poking its head out from Trauma's arms in the zoomed image, the chairman began to mutter blankly.
"Our great light... how could it be with that person..."
Then, suddenly opening his mouth wide.
"...Could it be that he is?"
He then turned his head and asked someone.
"Is he the Horseman of the Apocalypse you mentioned?"
Silence followed.
"It seems... that's the case."
In that silence, Lumia, who was receiving everyone's gaze, quietly smiled and spoke.
"My prophecies have never been wrong, have they?"
'...To think things would go this smoothly.'
Inwardly, she was thinking something completely different.
'Our Ariel, how many loops did you go through to create this situation?'