Became a Failed Experimental Subject-Chapter 61: Opposing the Subjugation

[So, the Black Cat subjugation failed. That’s unfortunate. You did your part, Starlight.]

Inside the dark comms room, Cage set his teacup down calmly as he spoke, his voice showing no actual regret.

[If Electrice had just stuck to the plan, I think it could’ve worked. But... I expected as much.]

“You expected it?”

[You and Electrice have never gotten along. You don’t know how to handle her. And she’s like a wild horse—if you don’t tie her down properly, she bolts.]

“Wild horse? She’s more like a rabid dog.”

[I agree. Let me apologize first. I didn’t expect her to go as far as using civilians as hostages.]

Unusually, Cage gave a small bow of his head.

[If this gets out, her reputation in A-City will nosedive.]

“I’ve already shut down the press. The only ones who know what really happened during the subjugation attempt are the heroes here in W-City.”

[W-City’s heroes have strong internal loyalty. I doubt they’d leak anything. Still, I appreciate the discretion. Though... it wasn’t necessary.]

“What?”

Yu Anna’s voice sharpened with suspicion. Cage sipped his tea and responded casually.

[This was the perfect chance to cut Electrice down to size. I’m sick of her reckless superiority complex. And I’ve had enough of the idiots who flock to her.]

“You didn’t...”

[She’s fine when she listens, but the moment she sees someone as weaker than her, she runs wild. After Black Cat damaged my standing, Electrice got bold. But I never expected to be handed such a perfect justification like this. Thanks to that, I can sweep out all the fools gathering under her in one go.]

“You used W-City for your politics?!”

[Politics? Harsh word. Let’s just say I put a handle back on a loose blade.]

Suddenly, something Cage had said earlier echoed in Yu Anna’s mind.

Whether he dies or not—it doesn’t matter.

Maybe that wasn’t something he said only about Black Cat.

[Judging by your face, I think you’re misunderstanding. I wanted Electrice to come back alive. If she had taken out Black Cat, even better. But even if she got wrecked, as long as she didn’t die, that’s fine too.]

“Hah. Not fine—you were hoping she’d lose, weren’t you?”

[This result is exactly what I wanted. I should be thanking Black Cat. He made sure to only leave wounds she can recover from.]

“Do you even realize people could’ve died because of you—and her?! Do you know what kind of shit she pulled on the civilians?!”

[In the end, only one person was hurt. Electrice.]

He wasn’t wrong. The civilians had only been shocked in the name of “training.” No one suffered permanent injuries.

Even the shelter she targeted—Black Cat protected it so thoroughly that no one inside ever realized they were in danger.

[Despite how she looks, she’s still a hero I’ve kept under my watch in A-City. She’s a pain, but she wouldn’t casually kill civilians.]

“She meant it. That time, she really did.”

[Wasn’t that why she pushed so hard to break through Black Cat’s ability?]

“Even so, how do you justify pointing powers at civilians?”

[If that’s a monster’s weakness, then you go for it.]

“What if someone in the shelter had died?!”

[You haven’t changed at all.]

Cage looked at her with an expression of disappointment.

[Starlight... Do you remember the numbers? A single Despair-class monster once left 300,000 casualties. Over 20,000 dead. That was before the hero system was properly in place. But even now, without heroes, that could happen again. You studied this with me. A single shelter holds at most 50 people. Killing 50 to save 20,000—or let’s use a recent example. Killing 50 to save 500. That’s the kind of math we work with. You’d rather hesitate and let everyone die instead?]

“There’s always a way to save everyone.”

[Sure, that would be ideal. But we’re here to minimize casualties. We’re not gods. We can’t make them disappear entirely.]

Yu Anna had nothing to say back. Cage’s cold logic left her silent, face twisted with disgust.

[Don’t you think you’ve gotten a little soft thanks to Black Cat? Sacrificing a shelter to lure a monster—that’s standard protocol.]

“I’ll never accept that kind of garbage tactic. It’s only something you consider when nothing else works, when you’re completely out of options.”

[And what’s more hopeless than a Despair-class monster that keeps getting stronger every day?]

There wasn’t a real answer to that. It only seemed wrong because Black Cat was such an unusual case.

Cage sighed, looking genuinely tired.

[You’re still too idealistic. It’s about time you grew up, Starlight. That’s why I never wanted to acknowledge you.]

“I never asked for your approval.”

[True, but I already gave it. Which is why I expect you to live up to it.]

He stared at her coldly.

[Don’t blame Electrice. You’re the S-Class hero of W-City. You’re the strongest superhuman in that city. If she lost control under your watch, it’s your failure.]

“Electrice is an S-Class hero too.”

[Same class, not the same rank. Your problem is your sense of equality and camaraderie. In a world ruled by monsters, equality doesn’t exist. Strong and weak—that’s all there is. If you’d put her in her place even once, she would’ve backed you properly. And Black Cat would’ve been taken down.]

“So her threatening civilians and using them as hostages—that’s somehow my fault, because I didn’t keep her on a leash?”

[Of course.]

“If I hadn’t stopped her—or if Black Cat hadn’t—people would’ve died.”

[No way. A superhuman I’ve acknowledged as my equal would never let that happen.]

If he were in front of her right now, she would’ve decked him.

Yu Anna clenched her fist. It wasn’t even clear if what he said was praise or insult.

“You and Electrice... you’re both disgusting pieces of shit.”

[Thanks for the compliment. Superhumans have to be filthy, for the sake of the people. Nothing is dirtier than clean hands.]

“Shut up. I don’t want to talk about your political games anymore. Especially when I was the one used for them.”

[Heh... Still, you should be grateful. You helped maintain peace in A-City.]

Cage chuckled quietly as he set his empty teacup down.

[Now then. Let’s get to the real topic.]

On the screen, Cage changed expressions like swapping out a mask—his face now tired, serious.

[I truly do want Black Cat eliminated as soon as possible. This time, it was proven that he can mimic other monsters’ abilities. He even copied the structure of my own power. The rate at which he’s growing is terrifying. If we don’t take off his head soon, Black Cat might become a monster that no one can stop.]

Reading through the latest battle report, Cage seemed visibly tense, as if remembering the time he had faced Black Cat himself.

A monster who can use any ability or trait as he pleases.

One who could resist all attacks—and whose every attack could be fatal.

What’s worse, the number of powers he possesses keeps increasing.

And now he’s even learning how to use them by watching heroes.

Black Cat’s growth rate was many times faster than any other Despair-class monster.

[Black Cat tried to kill Electrice. That proves it—Starlight, you’re the only hero he treats differently.]

Cage, who had once driven Black Cat into a corner only to nearly be killed, pointed this out. Meanwhile, Yu Anna had struck Black Cat with multiple critical attacks and never once faced a counterattack.

As for Electrice... Yu Anna and the other W-City heroes believed it was because Electrice had threatened civilians—triggering Black Cat’s berserk instinct. But outside of W-City, no one found that explanation convincing.

It's much simpler to say: Electrice attacked, and he fought back.

So then, why doesn't Black Cat retaliate against Yu Anna’s attacks?

[Your ability has the highest destructive power of any S-Class hero. For monsters, destructive power is the most obvious sign of strength. Black Cat’s odd behavior is nothing more than temporary submission toward someone he perceives as stronger.]

Black Cat is merely lying low—waiting ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) until he surpasses her.

Given his intelligence, he probably believes that the moment he harms even one human, Yu Anna will hunt him down relentlessly.

But the moment he's convinced he’s stronger than her, the storm called Black Cat will reveal its true nature.

He must be taken out before that happens.

[So, we decided to deploy three S-Class heroes, even if it’s a stretch...]

It was Cage’s way of repaying Yu Anna for saving him from Black Cat.

He was genuinely worried about the delay in subjugation and was ready to use every option available.

Electrice’s defeat would be used to justify an emergency deployment. W-City’s Black Cat would be treated as a near-Extermination-class threat and prioritized for removal.

But the moment all preparations were finalized, Yu Anna declined to participate.

[So why did you send in a rejection?]

That was the reason for today’s call.

Yu Anna, eyes closed until now, let out a long sigh as if bracing herself.

After carrying Electrice to the treatment ward, she had spent hours thinking—what exactly made Black Cat different from Electrice, and what was it she wanted from him?

And finally, she came to a conclusion.

"...I’m going to tame Black Cat."

Yu Anna finally voiced what she had always denied.

Or rather, she acknowledged that it might be possible.

Cage didn’t even look surprised. He had seen this coming. He just sighed and spoke:

[Starlight, I get it. You’re the only S-Class hero in W-City. There are never enough heroes. Black Cat is unusual—a monster that eats other monsters. Wanting to borrow his power... Fine, I understand.]

Then he frowned and glared at her through the screen.

[But taming a monster? Have you lost your mind?]

Of course he’d react that way. Yu Anna had expected this response and simply made a bitter face.

[You’ve seen enough as an S-Class hero to know better. Just because he eats other monsters doesn’t mean he’s on our side. Don’t fool yourself. If you waver, W-City will too. The moment you stop doubting and start trusting a monster, it won’t be you who gets torn apart—it’ll be the civilians.]

“I know. Of course I know. I’m not saying this lightly.”

[Then you should know better than anyone. And yet you still say this? That just proves you’ve grown soft. A superhuman can’t afford to be weak, Starlight.]

On screen, Cage’s image shimmered with overflowing power. His eyes burned with killing intent.

[Or have you already forgotten how that idiotic ‘monster weaponization’ plan ended? The one started by spineless bureaucrats?]

Years of attempting to weaponize monsters ended in blood. No monster could be controlled.

The moment they were underestimated, the damage became irreversible.

The officials who believed they were safe ended up hiding behind the very heroes they tried to command and using them as shields.

Yu Anna had anticipated all of this—and had come prepared.

“Wait. Take a look at this.”

Yu Anna sent Cage a video file.

Because Electrice always destroyed her hero cam—and had passed out—she didn’t remember this moment.

It showed Black Cat overwhelming Electrice.

Then, when Yu Anna stepped between them and asked him to stop, his bared fangs slowly withdrew.

The footage wasn’t included in the official report.

Cage’s expression shifted as he watched it.

[Just a little deeper and Electrice would’ve died.]

“But he didn’t. And not just that—there was the Mirage incident, and the time he took out the Catastrophe-class too...”

Yu Anna played more archived footage, showing Black Cat handing over a monster core to her without resistance.

[This... is strange.]

“I don’t think he’s pretending to behave out of fear of me.”

If Black Cat were really hiding his true self, he would’ve devoured those cores to grow stronger.

But instead, when she asked, he gave them up willingly.

He didn’t cling to heroes, didn’t obsess over power. He didn’t even seem that interested in growing stronger.

Almost like he was rejecting the very instinct of monsters—to devour humans and evolve.

“Maybe... Black Cat really can be tamed.”