"So you mean there are two monsters... Two different kinds of monsters? That... that's even worse, isn't it?"
Rei says that in a scared voice as she clings tighter to my arm.
I can feel her trembling against me. Damn, I really scared her with all that parasite dog drama.
Saya doesn't take her eyes off me. Her pink eyes beneath her glasses narrow. I find it unsettling when she looks at me like that, as it gives me the feeling that she can see through my lie.
She nods slowly while keeping her piercing gaze on me.
"Humans have always considered themselves the top of the food chain. The ultimate predator. But now it turns out that there are two different types of beings that consider us food. Two species that can hunt and devour us. Humanity's chances of survival have just been drastically reduced. So yes, it's much worse."
Although she delivers this analysis with a serious expression, I can see the fear in her eyes, as that part is considered the mirror of the soul. She is just as scared as Rei, only she hides it better.
Seeing her staring at me so intently, I decide to break the tension. I put on a big, stupid, carefree smile on my face.
Saya snorts and quickly looks away. Her cheeks turn a little red before she gives me an annoyed look from under her glasses.
"What are you laughing at, idiot? This is serious."
"I know, I know. Fufufu..."
Hey, why do they draw away when I laugh like that?
Ignoring that detail, I continue talking.
"But maybe ghouls can change shape too, right? The news only shows blurry videos of them. Who really knows what they actually look like? Maybe some have those weird things on their backs, and others can transform other parts of their bodies. Like their heads, or their arms."
I have to admit it's a shitty theory. A really, really stupid theory.
But anyway, I'm not as smart as Saya. I'm not even as smart as the average student. I might even be considered stupid and dumb by most standards, and even more so now that I have a slowly deteriorating zombie brain. So I can afford to make stupid conclusions and still seem credible doing so.
That's the advantage of everyone thinking you're an idiot.
Rei immediately nods beside me.
"That's possible! It makes sense! Maybe they're all the same kind of monster!"
'Hey... You're a normal girl, Rei. You should be able to think as critically as Saya too, you know?'
I think with a little exasperation.
But guess I understand. There are already confirmed monsters in the world, and that can't be denied. At least one must hope and believe that there is only one type of monster rather than multiple species hunting us. It's easier for the human mind to process one threat rather than several.
Rei probably just wants that possibility to be true. After all, one monster is better than two monsters.
But Saya frowns deeply as she puts on an expression of intense concentration.
"I used to think the same as you. When I saw my father transform, my first assumption was that he was a ghoul. But upon thinking about it more coldly and analyzing all the available evidence, I came to the conclusion that he definitely wasn't."
She pauses and adjusts her glasses on her small nose.
"After all, the ghoul inspector who appears on the news clearly states that ghouls are not much different from humans in their basic anatomy and that it is extremely difficult to distinguish them visually. That means they have internal organs just like any normal human. Heart, lungs, stomach, and brain. The only difference is that special organ that protrudes from their spine and manifests as a weapon."
Saya enters lecture mode.
"But that represents a completely different biomechanics from the dog and my father. In both cases, it seems that their heads have been completely modified at the cellular level. There is no brain left there, no cranial bone structure, no normal facial muscle tissue. Everything has been replaced or transformed, giving them the ability to fragment their heads and facial tissue into independent appendages. That's not an extra organ, as it's more like a complete transformation of the anatomical structure."
She finishes her explanation by crossing her arms and closing her eyes.
'Damn, it's surprising that this tsundere can think of all those things in this situation.'
I think as I look at her.
Her father just died, and I think as a normal girl, she should be devastated and crying. However, she seems quite cold as she analyzes it. I don't know if that's admirable or worrying.
Somehow I feel like my tsundere friend has become Sherlock Holmes and I am the Frankenstein monster being cornered by her.
Rei looks at Saya with admiration in her red eyes.
"Wow, Saya... I envy that intelligence. I could never think of all those things. If I had your brain, I wouldn't have so many problems in school since math would be easier."
Saya puffs out her chest a little proudly as a small smile appears on her lips.
She's definitely proud and pleased by the compliment, right?
"Hmph. It's completely natural. After all, I'm a genius."
That arrogant response makes both Rei and me laugh.
"Hahaha! You're so conceited, Saya!"
"It's not conceit if it's true! Idiot! Stop laughing at me!"
Saya protests as her cheeks turn red with embarrassment while throwing a pillow at me, which hits me in the face.
My teasing brought back her tsundere expression.
It's good to see her like this.
She seems to be relaxing more, which is definitely better than seeing her in that silent and depressed state from before. Even if she's showing off and acting arrogant, at least she's acting like the Saya I know instead of being an empty shell like she was a moment ago.
At that moment, the door to the room opens with a loud sound.
We all turn our heads toward the entrance.
Yuriko walks quickly toward us. Her face is a little pale. Don't tell me she saw something disturbing?
In her hand she carries a slim silver laptop.
"I found something suspicious."
'A laptop... could she have checked the security cameras?'
My body automatically tenses up a little when my train of thought leads me to that possibility.
Am I the suspect?
×××
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