Chapter 15

Episode 15. Virgin Birth (3)

***

Here is the Humanoid Containment Department’s specimen room.

A researcher bowed his head to me.

“Welcome, Chief Researcher. Thank you for participating in today’s research. I am Dr. Shin Jwa-seop, a trainee doctor at the Foundation.”

“Hello.”

“Please have a seat.”

Dr. Shin handed me a tablet.

“To explain, opinions on Supernatural Phenomenon P-3030 are divided among us. Of course, its appearance is extremely repulsive, but there is no evidence that this phenomenon harms its host.”

“It steals someone’s body to create a monster. Can you really say it doesn’t cause harm?”

“It may sound harsh, but I’m speaking from a medical standpoint. And from a theological perspective… You must understand the significance of using a virgin’s body to create a child of God. Even if God’s form is a bit grotesque.”

“……”

What on earth is he talking about?

“I believe this is an attempt at a blessing. An attempt to create a child of God, a new Messiah. Even if just once, if we can allow childbirth under the Foundation’s control—”

“Enough of this madness, let’s get to work.”

“Ah, yes.”

I pondered for a moment.

“Let’s try this, Doctor. I’ve read the report on this phenomenon. It says the monster’s gestation period is five months. If you really want to study it, why not thaw it and place it in an incubator?”

“Ah.”

“I can authorize the incubator experiment, but we can’t torture innocent civilians without a clear purpose or evidence. This sounds insane.”

“I see.”

“Dr. Shin. Are you currently under the influence of the supernatural phenomenon? Is that specimen affecting your judgment?”

“No.”

I don’t really think this doctor is being controlled by the phenomenon. I’ve heard this kind of madness before, it’s nothing new.

Still.

We can’t experiment on civilians.

“Understood. Honestly, I’m curious too. What would happen if we thawed and raised that monster? Let’s give it a try.”

***

Humanoid Research Department, emergency meeting convened.

Everyone from the Humanoid Research Department with no urgent matters gathered in the meeting room. Sitting at the conference table were mostly team leaders or professors. All eyes were on me. I gave a professional smile.

“The plan I propose is this. We don’t know what Supernatural Phenomenon P-3030 is. Let’s raise it in an incubator now. We can’t predict the outcome.”

“What kind of madness is this?”

Dr. Lee Min-sik slammed the table as soon as he heard my words. I expected as much. Dr. Lee was the doctor who performed the surgery earlier. His aversion to the phenomenon must be severe.

“Exactly as I said.”

“How can you do this? Are you saying you want to raise a demon in a Foundation facility? I performed that surgery, I know best. I brought that monster into this world.”

I nodded.

“I understand Dr. Lee’s opinion. Does anyone else have a different view?”

A hand went up.

“I’m Kang Cheon, head of the Humanoid Research Department. Let’s give it a try. If something goes wrong, we can just incinerate it.”

“Director. Please—”

Again, Dr. Lee’s protest.

I raised my hand briefly.

“Director. Are you confident you can handle the experiment’s outcome if it goes wrong?”

“Yes. Well… I might have to make a few calls to other departments. But a monster the size of an orange is no problem at all.”

That’s a relief.

“I’m glad you’re confident in the experiment. Is there an expert who can explain more about Supernatural Phenomenon P-3030?”

“I’ve dealt with it the most.”

That’s a relief.

I quickly checked the ID of the person who just spoke. Bishop Oh. Not a bishop anymore. His expertise is theology and miracle studies.

“Bishop Oh. Please speak.”

“I was in charge of researching it. When the patient with this phenomenon came last time, I was responsible for writing the research report.”

“Yes. How dangerous is this phenomenon? If the entity were to manifest, what kind of power could it wield? Any clues?”

“As you know. Of course, it looks disgusting and steals others’ bodies to be born, but there’s no evidence that the phenomenon has any malice or danger.”

“So, you don’t know anything.”

If you know something, brag about it.

Bishop Oh pondered.

“I can explain more from a theological and symbolic perspective… But everyone here is a scientist, I’m not sure if you’ll like it.”

“Go ahead.”

“First. When the Son of God came to Earth, He also borrowed a woman’s body. We can’t ignore that connection. But according to some belief systems, the easiest way to open a portal to hell is through a young woman’s womb. That’s also the age when teratomas most commonly occur.”

Honestly, it was uncomfortable to hear. But I couldn’t not listen. Bishop Oh continued.

“What’s certain is that this is an otherworldly entity trying to cross into reality through a woman’s body. Whether it’s good, evil, or has another purpose, I can’t say.”

“I see. Then—”

BANG!

Someone burst into the Humanoid Research Department’s meeting room. Everyone turned their heads.

“Who dares—”

“Who dares?”

A short, young-looking female researcher confidently entered the room. I checked the name on her lab coat and ID.

Lee Se-ah.

She’s the Research Department Head.

The Research Department Head turned to an employee.

“Who dares? Who’s here? Department heads? Directors? No one is above me.”

Quite a strong character. I sighed and pressed my temples.

The Department Head leaned on the chair at the center of the room and looked at me with cold eyes.

“What were you all doing without me?”

“We were discussing whether to proceed with an experiment on a certain supernatural phenomenon. There were some concerns about it being dangerous.”

“Ah. Are you the new Chief Researcher?”

“Yes, but—”

“This is the Research Department. Even if the Director himself came, he would have asked for my opinion. I’m asking the same of you now, Chief Researcher.”

The Department Head locked eyes with me.

This is a challenge to my authority.

From the way she’s leaning on my chair.

Sigh… I turned back to the meeting room. The people gathered there were watching me as if they were watching a duel.

“Please share your opinion, Department Head Lee.”

“Let’s do the experiment. Since when have we not done it?”

“But if something goes wrong—”

The Department Head laughed.

“The experiment will proceed as planned under my responsibility. Your role isn’t to debate whether the experiment should happen, but to think about what safety measures to put in place.”

The meeting room buzzed. Some people might be dissatisfied, others might not like the Department Head’s attitude. But no one challenged the authority of the Research Department Head.

“It’s decided then. Let’s adjourn.”

The Department Head declared bluntly.

“……”

“Adjourned!”

The people in the meeting room grumbled as they got up. Judging by their reactions, this seems to happen quite often.

“Let’s talk for a moment, Department Head.”

***

I had the Research Department Head sit down, then closed the meeting room door. It wouldn’t do for the people outside to hear this conversation.

“Department Head. I don’t quite understand. Could you explain the situation?”

“What’s there to explain?”

This person has been mixing informal speech since earlier.

“Is this necessary?”

“The experiment you wanted will proceed smoothly. I don’t see what the problem is.”

“Department Head.”

The Department Head sighed.

“Dr. Kim. You’re a good person. I’ve heard a lot about you. Dr. Kim is kind, friendly, capable, cute, and everyone in this facility likes you. But the Research Department Head isn’t that kind of position.”

“I see.”

“The Research Department is hell. Especially the Humanoid Research Department, they’re truly disgusting. Every day, they dismember and incinerate things that look like people, but when it comes to the experiment you proposed, they refuse because they value their own lives.”

“It must be tough.”

“Researchers are the kind of people who hole up in their labs all day doing research, so there’s no one you can reason with, and most of the time, there’s no clear answer about supernatural phenomena.”

“So, what are you saying?”

“It’s like this. Dr. Kim, you be the carrot. I’m the Research Department Head, and what the Research Department needs now is the whip. Or maybe a club.”

Earlier, I didn’t like the Department Head’s attitude, but she had her reasons. Thinking about it… There’s a reason she’s the Research Department Head.

The position of Research Department Head isn’t one where you can survive being hated by everyone.

The researchers in the department know it too.

For the Foundation’s Research Department to get things done, the Department Head needs to be like this.

Lee Se-ah gave a faint smile.

“Then. Let’s go do some research. Since it’s an important experiment, I’ll participate directly. I’m not the Research Department Head for nothing, am I?”