The room smelled faintly of disinfectant.
Merak lay against the raised hospital bed, his left cheek swollen and wrapped in a cold compress, a deep scowl on his face. Apart from bruises and strained muscles, the doctors had found nothing serious.
The injury wasn't what hurt.
It was the humiliation.
The door opened, and a tall, muscular young man in a dark suit stepped inside. His expression remained as composed as ever.
Baron Mercer, his elder brother.
Merak looked toward the entrance before immediately looking away.
"...Father didn't come."
Baron closed the door behind him. "You already knew he wouldn't."
Merak clicked his tongue.
"Tch."
"But he asked me to check on you."
"I didn't ask him to."
Baron pulled a chair beside the bed and sat down. For nearly half a minute, neither brother spoke.
Finally, Baron broke the silence.
"...Why?"
Merak frowned. "What?"
"Why provoke him?" Baron asked again.
Merak's expression darkened. "Because he isn't one of us."
Baron waited for Merak to continue.
"You think because a test says so, he is? He just shows up after fifteen years and acts however he wants. He even disrespected Sister Krone and ignored everyone. Are we just supposed to accept him?"
His breathing became heavier. "He doesn't belong here."
Baron simply watched him.
"So you decided to test him?"
Merak didn't answer.
Baron sighed quietly. "You know what Father dislikes most?"
Merak remained silent.
"Embarrassment. You didn't embarrass Jul. You embarrassed our branch."
Baron stood and adjusted his cuffs. "For someone who lives on social media... you should've known better than to create a such a spectacle."
He turned toward the door.
"Oh." He paused.
"...From now, you are to stay away from him. And that's an order."
Merak frowned.
Without another word, he left the room.
Merak stared at the closed door, his fists slowly tightening around the bedsheets.
"...Damn bastard..."
…
Later that evening, one of the chefs entered his room with a tray.
The reason was dubbed 'Room service.'
Jul glanced at him from his chair and lowered his book.
The chef was a middle-aged man with a short beard and moustache. Behind the small trolley, he acted and looked like a chef.
However, Jul saw through it all.
This chef stood too straight, his eyes were alert, and he didn't miss the weapons hidden among the tray of food.
"So," he said calmly, "the master finally arrives."
The chef however didn't respond. He just moved seamlessly.
"So? Which one are you?"
The chef still didn't react.
"Are you Bat?"
Clang...
The chef faltered in his movements and paused.
"...Or are you just the head dog? Which one?"
The chef stiffened, his movement shifting until he faced Jul.
"Who are you?"
Jul smiled in response. "Who do you think?"
The man couldn't answer, his brow flickered, seemingly conflicted.
"Then let me help you," he whispered.
Jan... Var
The chef violently trembled. The tray in his hands somehow slipped to the floor and struck it with a loud crash.
His face instantly turned pale. He didn't dare stare for too long.
Not after hearing such a name.
Rather, he released himself and fell to the floor, his face still struck with fear.
In the jungle, animals were common. But hidden among them were monsters—the true predators. The weight of impersonating a monster was worse than facing one, so he wasn't even bothered about this person lying.
"W-Why... Why are you here?" he stammered.
Nothing was making sense.
Was this not the lost heir who had just returned?
"You don't need to know," Beast replied, waving dismissively. "Just tell me the current situation in the jungle."
The chef hesitated. "I haven't returned yet."
'Then he hasn't heard anything,' Jul thought.
"Find out," he said. "And report back."
The chef bowed instantly and left the room.
An order from a monster outweighed even Lion's authority.
…
Later that night, Vincent stopped before a pair of polished wooden doors and knocked once.
"Enter."
An authoritative voice came from the other side.
Vincent entered, revealing a massive office with Rose Mercer sitting behind a large desk.
Several documents lay before her. Even after his entrance, she didn't look up.
"Report."
....
Far from the Mercer estate, Malik parked his aging pickup outside a neighborhood bank.
He and Lia stepped inside.
"I still don't understand why they insisted we take this."
"Didn't you see the way they acted? They were really grateful for what we did."
"I know, but—"
The teller smiled politely. "Your balance has been updated."
Malik smiled in return and glanced at the receipt.
Then looked again.
"...Lia."
"Hm?"
"...Come here."
She leaned over, and her eyes widened.
[Credit: 10,000,000]
[Total amount: 10,000,300]
Neither of them spoke for nearly a minute.
Finally, Malik scratched his head.
"...Hey."
Lia looked at him.
"...Want to go fishing tomorrow?"
She stared at him, then burst into laughter.
"You really don't know how to react to money."
"Nope."
He folded the receipt.
"...Guess we'll figure it out. Maybe all this is even just a dream, and when we wake up, it's all gone."
"Don't you dare jinx this moment, Malik."
The now-rich couple exited the bank, feeling more fulfilled than they ever had in their lives.
Unaware of the black sedan that silently trailed behind them.
...
A dark room sat in complete silence.
There were no windows. No decorations.
Only a long table surrounded by several men and women dressed in black. At the head of the table sat a massive man.
He was enormous.
Even while seated, his body towered over everyone around him. Thick arms rested on the table, his fingers slowly tapping against the dark wood.
A man standing before him lowered his head.
"Janvar."
Silence.
The massive man's hand slowly tightened.
Crack!
The wooden armrest beneath his fingers splintered.
His voice was low. "How?"
Another man at the table spoke.
"The information has been confirmed. Asura is dead, by the hands of Janvar. However, afterwards, he disappeared."
Another voice chimed, "Dead or disappeared?"
The massive man suddenly stood. His enormous body blocked what little light existed in the room.
"Who else knows?"
"Only a few people."
"Then make sure it stays that way." His eyes swept across everyone in the room.
"This humiliation cannot get out."
Nobody moved.
"Beast is dead." His voice became colder. "From this moment onward, that is the truth."
He stepped away from the table. "And find out everything about where he ran off too."
The people around the table remained silent.
THE END OF BEAST IMITATION: HOME.