Chapter 17

Episode 17. Research Department Head Lee Se-ah

***

It was a bizarre sight.

In the Macroscopic Organism Isolation Room, there were now 12 Popos living. The Macroscopic Organism Division had thawed 11 specimens under the pretext of research.

“They’ve increased a lot, huh?”

“We thawed a few more.”

“Popopo?”

I wanted to scold them for thawing those, but the atmosphere wasn’t right.

The Popos not only didn’t look dangerous but also seemed content with the conditions inside the isolation room. The researchers from the Macroscopic Organism Division had even placed a cat tower inside.

Cute, though.

“Isn’t it dangerous?”

“There are dozens of creatures more dangerous than these in the Macroscopic Organism Isolation Room. This level is manageable for us.”

“I see.”

I glanced at the entrance of the isolation room.

Outside the isolation room, right within reach, there were a fire axe and a shotgun. It seemed there were some safety measures in place.

“Is there anything else you can tell me?”

“The Popos, they talk.”

I was startled, but the Macroscopic Organism researcher shrugged as if it were no big deal.

“If you think about it, it’s obvious. The Popos are made from human cells and genes, and they have a nervous system similar to humans.”

What’s obvious about that, you lunatic?

The shock wore off quickly, and curiosity began to fill my mind. How intelligent are the Popos? Can they speak well? Do they have vocal organs like humans, or some other means?

“Do they speak well?”

I looked at the glass window of the isolation room.

“They’re at the level of parrots for now, but it seems they’ll soon be able to speak like humans. Though I’m not sure if teaching them to speak is a good idea.”

“Bizarre.”

Let me think.

If the Popos are divine beings, do they have corresponding powers? Or can we teach them to create powers for the Foundation or for us?

The mysteries keep piling up.

“I asked around, and the Miracle Studies Division thinks the Popos are a kind of god. The Popos, well, how should I put it, they were born through virgin birth like Jesus, so it’s possible to think that way.”

“Do you think so too, Researcher?”

The one in the white coat shook his head.

“They’re just monsters. Even if the Popos are a bit bizarre, there’s no evidence they have any supernatural abilities beyond their strange appearance.”

“Yeah, that’s true.”

It was a bit different from what I had read in the documents from the Research Department Head. The Research Department Head thought the Foundation Headquarters was conducting some kind of experiment with Popos harvested from around the world.

“Alright. Let me take a look at the research records.”

As I was reading the research records on a pad, the Research Department Head entered the lab. She looked at me as soon as she came in.

“Chief Researcher of the Director’s Office.”

“Ah, hello.”

The Research Department Head seemed happy to see me. Strange, I honestly find her a bit awkward. Maybe she has a high opinion of me.

“Did you read the documents I sent?”

“Yes.”

“I looked into it, and the Popos are indeed divine beings or something similar. The Foundation Headquarters and other facilities think so too.”

“Right.”

“They’re being used for research on artificial organs, panaceas, or similar fields. Our facility just hasn’t identified the supernatural characteristics of Popo tissues yet.”

I looked at the Popos beyond the glass window. They were climbing the cat tower in groups. Cute, those things.

The Research Department Head cleared her throat.

“In my opinion, it might be good to teach them to speak properly. I’d like to clone them and raise them in human form, but you wouldn’t allow that, would you?”

“No.”

Why on earth would you do such a horrifying thing?

“Well, never mind that. Would you like to touch a Popo? It’s safe this time. We’ve confirmed there are no cognitive hazards.”

“Ah, is that okay?”

The Research Department Head took one Popo out of the isolation room and handed it to me. It felt more like a rabbit than a dog. Round and soft, even softer than it looked.

The Popo I was holding looked up at me.

“Chi, friend.”

“See, it talks.”

So this is what it means to talk.

“Friend.”

Wow.

I looked into the Popo’s eyes again.

Even though the Popo was trapped in the lab, it didn’t seem to understand its situation, or maybe it just didn’t care. It just looked happy.

“Still cute, though.”

I checked Lee Se-ah’s expression. These cute supernatural phenomena, but the Research Department Head looked troubled for some reason.

“What’s wrong?”

“Just reminiscing a bit.”

Research Department Head, Lee Se-ah.

She was lost in thought.

A Popo trapped in a lab learning to speak. It reminded her of someone from her memories. An old memory, but not one easily forgotten.

***

Ten and some years ago.

In one of the Foundation’s isolation rooms. Not all of the Foundation’s isolation rooms are cold and unpleasant labs.

The isolation room where Se-ah lived was filled with pastel-colored furniture and dolls. Though it was still an isolation room.

“Se-ah. You’re 9, right?”

Se-ah nodded.

“Hello.”

Se-ah answered. In front of her sat a researcher in a mint-colored lab coat.

“Se-ah, look here. Can you tell how many candies are on the desk? Answer correctly, and I’ll give you a candy.”

There was only one candy on the desk. Even considering Se-ah was a child, it was too easy a question. Se-ah tilted her head in suspicion.

“One.”

As Se-ah sat quietly waiting, the researcher took out more candies from his pocket and placed them down.

“Correct, Se-ah. There was one red candy, now there are two. Now three, this time four. The candies are increasing, right?”

“Yes.”

“Here. There’s also one blue candy next to it. Shall I put down more blue candies? Now three blue candies, five, seven.”

Tap, tap, tap.

Several candies were placed on the white desk.

“Yes.”

“Now the blue candies are increasing too. Which color is increasing faster?”

This time, Se-ah pondered. The red candies increased one at a time, the blue candies two at a time. The blue ones were increasing faster.

“Blue.”

“Se-ah. Being able to compare the rate at which the candies increase means we can represent the rate of increase with numbers. We can also express the rate of increase in terms of candies.”

“Yes.”

“Well done, Se-ah. Can you explain what you just learned to me one more time?”

Se-ah nodded again.

“We can tell if the candies are increasing or decreasing, and it’s possible to represent the rate of increase with the number of candies.”

“Well done.”

The researcher wrote something in his notebook.

“Se-ah. Starting next week, you’ll be learning calculus with me. You can do it.”

“What’s calculus?”

“It’s not hard. It’s just expressing the rate of increase or decrease with graphs.”

“With candy graphs?”

“Yes. That works too.”

The researcher gathered the scattered candies and handed them to Se-ah. Se-ah beamed as she looked at the candies.

“Se-ah. Can you eat them one at a time slowly?”

“Yes!”

Se-ah smiled brightly and returned to her isolation room, or rather, her room, with an armful of candies.

***

[Regarding Popos, Reply.]

[Author: Research Department Head Lee Se-ah]

[This document is restricted.]

[Sorry for contacting the Foundation Headquarters without the Director’s Office’s permission.]

[We’ve reached a conclusion about the identity of the Popos.]

[The Headquarters seems to know a lot about Supernatural Phenomenon P-3030. The Antichrist, the Second Coming of Jesus, dimensional gates, replicas of gods, children of gods.]

[It’s very complicated.]

[Dr. Lee Min-sik would have liked this. Or maybe he would have been shocked. Honestly, I hate to admit it, but that guy was right.]

[Though they’re probably not demons, what’s with the Antichrist, a manufactured Messiah?]

[I’ll brief you in person. This report is restricted. I don’t know where to start explaining.]

[The Foundation has several Special Forces. Some are just well-trained people, and some are human weapons fighting god-level anomalies for the Foundation.]

[After some digging, it seems the Foundation Headquarters has been using Supernatural Phenomenon P-3030 for a long time. The Foundation sees the Popos as gods or similar entities’ bodies.]

[To put it simply, Director. The Foundation Headquarters is using Popos to create gods in their labs.]

[Here’s my proposal. Let’s designate the Popos as friendly supernatural phenomena and make the most of them. We need to find out what the Foundation Headquarters wants.]

[Can’t we try it too?]

[If we can create gods in our labs, how can we, as creations, refuse?]