I feel nauseous.
Even if my head is cut off, my body moves on its own and reattaches it?
I lowered my head and looked at my body.
Disgusting. This isn't me.
I'm an ordinary human, so why?
Why did something like this happen?
I'm confused. I wish someone would just tell me this is a dream.
"Ah…."
There's not even such a person by my side right now.
Realizing that too late, cold sweat dripped down with a plop.
I had thought I was the most trustworthy existence in this world where I was left alone.
But now, I don't think I can even trust myself.
'Who… are you?'
What am I?
From the voice ringing in my head to this body.
Am I… is Sion dead?
Is the current me a fake?
"*Hic*…!"
"Hiccuping? Feel like vomiting? I see how disgusting you are."
When I raised my head, I saw a woman who had been looking at me with dead eyes speaking with a shadowed smile.
"…Yes."
I answered flatly and lowered my head again.
"Oh my… if you're this down, I almost feel bad, but I said we're doing a test, right? Then pull yourself together."
"Yes…?"
"First of all, you can't be shocked by this right now."
I raised my head in confusion.
What kind of test is it that I can't even be shocked by this fact?
Saliva slid down my throat with an audible gulp.
The blonde woman smiled as if mocking me.
"First… are you really Sion? It doesn't seem like it."
"Yes…?"
"Your gender is different too? A human couldn't survive just by reattaching their head in the first place. It's important, so answer me. Are you Sion?"
I couldn't understand the intent behind the question.
With trembling eyes, I simply stared at the blonde in front of me.
'Are you asking if I'm not Sion? I don't know either… who I am. Wasn't I dead?'
All sorts of thoughts scrambled through my head, making me nauseous.
"Urp…!"
"What, vomiting? Ugh… I'm tired. Today's my first day back after vacation, so cut me some slack."
Saying that, the woman pulled a black bag from her pocket and moved behind me.
-Swish
As the bag unfolded, I heaved my insides once more.
"Urp… urp… bweeeeh……."
"…Disgusting. When you're done vomiting, you have to answer properly, got it?"
At that chilling question, I nodded.
"Argh… don't move your head, it almost splashed."
Of course, getting scolded by the woman was an added bonus.
* * *
Some time passed, and after much deliberation, I answered.
"…I am Sion."
I am Sion.
I couldn't think of any reason why I wouldn't be me.
My memories are clear, and the pain of the day I died is clear too.
Only, my body has changed, and my original body has definitely disappeared.
That was all I could know.
When I said I was Sion, the expressionless woman smiled slightly warmly and pushed my forehead with a pen.
"Then you're Sion. Got it?"
"…Yes?"
"You're Sion."
Pressing the top of my head with her pen again and again, the woman demanded that I say I understood.
So I answered that I understood, then looked at the slightly softened woman and asked one thing.
"U-um… w-why did you ask this…? I-is there a reason?"
"Why are you stuttering so much… you sound exactly like a Gwai."
Saying so, the woman sighed and held out a sheet of paper to me.
Seeing it, I couldn't help but widen my eyes.
[Genetic Confirmation Report]
[Match Rate with Human-type Gwai: 12%]
[Match Rate with Beast-type Gwai: 6%]
[Match Rate with Human (Sion): 82%]
[Confirmed that this Gwai's genes leaked from Sion’s body.
This Gwai's genes are extracted from various Gwai genes, and as its consciousness remains, it is presumed to be a possession vessel. Necessary to verify its identity through mental examination.
If deemed threatening, it will be executed on the spot.]
A document with quite shocking contents.
Having confirmed that I had merged with a Gwai, I felt like my heart had dropped.
"With a Gwai… me? Merged?"
"Yeah, you're a Gwai."
"…But I have more human genes."
"You're a Gwai mixed with human genes. It's unpleasant, so I'd appreciate it if you weren't lumped in the same category."
Saying so, the woman who had been expressionless distorted her face as if truly displeased.
Since even killing intent was radiating from her, I hurriedly lowered my head and apologized.
"I-I'm sorry…!"
"…Forget it. I can't kill you anyway. The higher-ups said not to."
"Ah……."
As I let out a sigh of relief, the woman snorted and looked at me.
Then she spoke as if I were cute.
"I can torture you, though?"
"…Yes? But I said I was Sion."
"That's not my problem. You're a Gwai, not a human. Gwai are neither animals nor humans, just monsters."
"…Then, will I die?"
"You won't die easily, but they'll find a way somehow. That's the kind of place the Management Bureau is."
Saying so, the woman organized my answers and checked the documents.
She asked several questions, but having only answered yes, I was sweating coldly and staring blankly at the black table.
'Are they going to kill me? They already killed me once, so there's nothing they can't do, right?'
All sorts of imaginations flashed through my head.
Since I can't die anyway, will I be subjected to all sorts of experiments?
Or will my mind break after being tortured over and over?
It's so scary.
As expected, humans are the scariest beings in this world.
Because the limits of their malice are unknowable.
A sensation like fear was enveloping my whole body.
I want to run away.
'I want to live I want to live I want to live I want to live I want to live…!!!!'
I have to survive somehow.
I have to run away.
"Haa… *hic*… huuu… I… want to live…."
I muttered that aloud and trembled.
I have to live.
I raised my head and looked at the woman organizing documents with a composed expression.
Her eyes were dead after all.
For a moment, I met eyes with her.
"Why, am I pretty?"
"…*Hic*!"
She's smiling, but her eyes are dead.
A sensation that she isn't treating me like a living being.
When I first saw the woman, I had thought something non-human was imitating a human.
Only now did I feel like I understood why she wore such an expression.
'It was me… the one that's not human, imitating a human….'
As disgust flooded in—
"Hey, student?"
The woman's voice rang out, and a hand waved back and forth in front of my eyes.
Startled, I looked at her, and the woman grinned.
"*Hic*! W-why, why, why, why are you calling me…?"
"I asked if you want to live. Answer me."
"Yes…?"
"Do you want to die?"
The woman tilted her head and asked.
Then she added chilling words.
"You can if you want, but I can't recommend saying you want to die right now… you'll be used for all sorts of experiments and die miserably."
"Yes…?"
"You're immortal. Drugs or whatever, they'll use you however they need, since you're similar to humans anyway."
Despite adding such horrifying words, she showed no sign of guilt whatsoever.
Thanks to that, I realized once again.
The fact that I am no longer human.
But even knowing that, I couldn't give up.
"…Is it not allowed for me to want to live?"
This desire to live.
I died once, but I obtained this body and came back to life.
At my second death, I revived thanks to this immortal body.
Will fortune find me again in this luck?
I can't guarantee it. So I answered.
That I want to live.
And hearing that answer, the woman responded with a coldly hardened expression.
"Ah, really?"
"…Yes."
"Hmm… then sign, here."
"Sign…?"
"I've been saying it since earlier. If you want to live, sign here."
The woman tapped the documents laid out on the table.
My gaze naturally lowered, and I saw the contents written there.
[Pet Gwai Pledge.]
[1. This Gwai pledges to act under the Management Bureau and perform actions that benefit humans.]
[2. This Gwai is granted partial freedom and pledges absolute obedience to the department of the Management Bureau to which it belongs.]
[3. This Gwai pledges not to reveal its identity as a Gwai to civilians.]
[4. This Gwai pledges that during missions with Management Bureau staff, should humans escape from a Gwai, it will be the first to sacrifice itself.]
[5. This Gwai pledges not to harm humans. (Except humans undergoing mutation after being entangled by a Gwai.)]
[6. This Gwai pledges absolute obedience to the Management Bureau.]
[7. This Gwai acknowledges that if the above 6 clauses are violated, it will be summarily executed.]
A document with quite brutal contents.
The paper is red, and the pen forced upon me looks unusual.
It has eyeballs attached, and it clings to my hand, refusing to fall off.
"Wh-what is this……"
"It's a Gwai used by the Management Bureau. It might be contradictory… but those friends are reliable, since they have no will and only activate specific Gwai phenomena."
And that phenomenon was this: once you sign this red document Gwai with the eyeball pen, you're forced to follow the clauses whether you like it or not.
"Ah……."
"If you don't want to, you don't have to sign. But we'll have to see if my attitude gets worse from here."
"I-I'll sign…! If I do, it's fine, right!"
Having said that, I asked for one arm to be untied.
The woman simply untied all the ropes.
Even when asked if it wasn't dangerous.
"I'd win."
That's all she said.
Unable to refute, I finished signing the document.
"Keuk!?"
"Ah, it's starting. Good luck."
The moment I finished signing, my throat felt fiercely choked, and I collapsed onto the floor.
The woman approached my side, crouched down, grinned, and stroked my cheek.
"It's the Gwai effect. If you break the contract… next time it won't be a faint, you'll die."
"S-save… me……."
I begged, drooling, but the woman only said what she wanted to say.
"I'll try to get along with you… but I'm not sure it'll go well."
"……."
"You'd better recover quickly. The investigation at your school isn't over yet. Do you have many friends? You might be shocked."
Unable to answer that question, I lost consciousness.