"Nezumi."
"Hm?"
"Could it be the park?"
"The what?"
"The Forest Park in the centre of the city. My workplace― could that be where the parasite wasp originated?"
"Why?" said Nezumi. "That park is right in the middle of the city. It might be a forest, but it's still artificial. All the wildlife is managed and controlled by the city. If a parasite wasp sprung out of nowhere, they'd notice."
"That's true, but... out of all places in the city, the park would be the most adequate environment for a new species to appear. And all the victims so far, including me, were in the park when it happened. Of course―" Shion hesitated. "I don't know if there's been casualties anywhere else― but I think part of the reason why the city suspected me was because the incidents were concentrated in that location. But if that's the case―"
"That monster must have been born there somehow without being noticed by the control systems."
"It's plausible, right? And what's more, the park is where lots of people gather."
"No shortage of hosts," said Nezumi grimly.
It was a park that was beautifully and conveniently crafted for the citizens. If a species that preyed on humans actually did inhabit it, then―
"Spring," Shion murmured.
Spring? Nezumi echoed in question.
"Once winter comes, the wasps will cease activity as they enter a dormant stage. The eggs that have been laid already will probably pass the winter as they are."
"Inside people's bodies."
"Yeah. And when spring comes, they'll be able to resume activity as an imago. Then they'll hatch all at once." In a season abundant with sunlight and flower blossoms, a mass of black wasps would simultaneously break out of people's bodies to take flight. How many would they be? How many people would be sacrificed?
"We have to do something."
"And how are you gonna 'do something' about it?" replied Nezumi bluntly. "Don't even think about going back to the city. You'll be killed. You're an amateur, you can't pull any fancy tricks like slipping past surveillance. Ten-to-one, as soon as you step inside the city, you'll be shot dead. We don't have a trump card to pull out, you know."
"Actually― I think we might."
Nezumi narrowed his eyes.
"I survived that wasp attack. There's a chance that I've developed antibodies that resist the toxin. If I have, then it'll be possible to make a serum out of my blood."
Nezumi shot an appalled look at Shion and hunched his shoulders exaggeratedly.
"And then what're you gonna do? Go waltzing into the city's Health Bureau and say 'Please check my blood. And if you like, please make a serum out of it'? That's idiotic. They'll probably suck all your blood out and throw you in the trash with the rest of their organic garbage. Sure, what you're saying is impressive, but are you prepared to risk losing your life for these people?"
"I don't want to die."
"Then don't think about useless things. Whether you have antibodies or not, once you're caught, you're going to get killed anyway. It's just a matter of how soon or how late."
"Then what should I do?"
"Don't do anything. Just leave them to fend for themselves."
Shion lifted his face.
