CITY OF DONGHAE, GANGWON PROVINCE
LISTEN CAREFULLY, GROUP A.
THE TARGET IS IN A STATE OF PANIC FROM THE REALIZATION HE HAD BECOME AN INSECT HUMAN.
HE HAS BEEN CAUSING DAMAGES TO PRIVATE PROPERTIES IN HIS WAKE.
YOUR MISSION IS TO SAFELY CAPTURE AND ESCORT HIM TO NEST.
DOHWA! DID YOU FIND HIM?!
I SENSE THE MOVEMENT.
ABOUT 300 FEET TO THE NORTH.
DOHWA CHEON COMPLEX: EMPEROR SCORPION
GREAT! I THINK I SEE HIM!
?!!
YOU'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE.
HYESEONG CHA COMPLEX: KATYDID
JUST CALM DOWN AND COME WITH US.
YIKES!
WE'RE NOT HERE TO HURT YOU.
D-DON'T COME CLOSER!!
VELVET WORM
IT EJECTS ADHESIVE SLIMES...
!!
...TO IMMOBILIZE ITS PREY.
F*CK...! I DIDN'T KNOW THE RANGE WAS THIS WIDE!
IT STUCK ON ME! I CAN'T MOVE MY BODY AT ALL!
YOU LITTLE...!
SORRY, BUT I LOST HIM! HE'S HEADED TOWARDS THE MOUNTAIN!
LEAVE IT TO ME.
CLASS PREZ? WEREN'T YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TOWN THOUGH?
YEAH.
I'M FLYING RIGHT NOW.
I'M SORRY. YOUR EYES ARE GOING TO STING.
THAT, I'M OKAY WITH.
JUST DON'T PRESS TOO HARD ON MY BELLY...
WHAT?! WELL, UH, I AM SO SORRY IF I--
SUCHAN! NOW'S OUR CHANCE!!
R-RIGHT!
I SAID, DON'T COME CLOSER--
WH-WHAT WAS THAT THUMPING SOUND JUST NOW?! YOU DIDN'T KILL HIM, DID YOU?!
OH NO, DID I GET CARRIED AWAY?
HUIJIN PARK COMPLEX: COCKROACH
DON'T WORRY. YOU ONLY KNOCKED HIM OUT.
LET'S ESCORT HIM...
...TO NEST.
NEST. UNIV.
SUCHAN JANG COMPLEX: JUMBO DRAGONFLY
PROBLEM IS,
THE BUS STILL ISN'T HERE TO PICK US UP.
THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T EXPECT US TO GET THE JOB DONE THIS QUICKLY.
WHATEVER.
IT'S NOT LIKE WE GET TO COME OUTSIDE OFTEN SO I WAS KINDA ENJOYING THIS MOMENT ANYWAYS.
DO YOU THINK THAT SLIME DUDE'S GONNA BE ALRIGHT?
WE TIED HIM UP WITH HYEONA'S SILK. THERE'S NO WAY HE'S ESCAPING.
THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE HERE.
THANK GOODNESS NO ONE NOTICED THE COMMOTION BACK THERE.
YEAH. HE WAS NO PUSHOVER.
BASTARD WAS RUNNING AROUND LIKE THERE WAS NO TOMORROW.
OR YOU'RE JUST ASS AT EVERYTHING.
SHUT UP.
I'M SURE HE WAS FRIGHTENED...
...BY THE THOUGHT OF BEING UNABLE TO RETURN TO HIS NORMAL LIFE.
WERE YOU ABLE TO CAPTURE OUR DIVINE FRIENDSHIP ON CAMERA?
Y-YES...
HE WAS PROBABLY AFRAID OF BEING ALONE.
OH? LET'S GO GUYS, THE BUS IS HERE.
ALREADY? I WAS LOWKEY HOPING THEY'D TAKE A BIT LONGER. I WAS HAVING FUN...
SUCHAN CAME TO NEST TO FIND A WAY TO BECOME NORMAL AGAIN.
AND HIS ULTIMATE GOAL IS STILL THE SAME.
PROBABLY BECAUSE...
D-DON'T EVER COME TO SEE ME, EVER AGAIN...
YOU MONSTER...
...HE STILL HASN'T MOVED ON FROM THE SHOCK.
ACK.
OUCH!
I'M SORRY, ARE YOU ALRIGHT... HUH?
MIHUI...?
UGH...
WHO...
!!
H!!
E-EVERYTHING IS ALRIGHT, MIHUI!
WE'RE SO SORRY. SHE HAS HAD A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT IN THE PAST.
GET AWAY FROM ME!
N-NO!!
IT'S OKAY, MIHUI.
LET'S JUST ENJOY THE SCENERY AND RELAX A LITTLE.
THE HELL'S WRONG WITH THAT BITCH?
WHAT KIND OF A RUDE-ASS DOES THAT AFTER BUMPING INTO SOMEONE?
SUCHAN!!
ARE YOU ALRIGHT? JUST FORGET ABOUT IT--
JEEZ. I THOUGHT MY EARS WERE BLEEDING.
NEST. UNIV
LET'S HURRY BACK. THE BUS IS WAITING FOR US.
?
I SUPPOSE I DIDN'T HAVE TO.
THAT'S RIGHT, SUCHAN.
YOU COULDN'T DO SHIT, SOFTIE.
I'MA MAKE HIM SHOOT SLIMES AT YOU. LET'S SEE IF YOU CAN HANDLE IT.
YOU ARE...
NEST
...NOT ALONE ANYMORE.
NEST LAB
WHOA...
HELLO, SWEETIE. WOULD YOU FOLLOW ME TO GET YOUR MEDICALS DONE?
BIDAN LEE COMPLEX: JEWEL BEETLE
WOOBIN DAN, 20 YEARS OF AGE.
O-OF COURSE! I'M WILLING TO GET ANYTHING DONE!
AFTER HEARING THE EXPLANATION ABOUT NEST,
HE ACCEPTED THE OFFER TO ENROLL IN THE UNIVERSITY.
HE SEEMS TO HAVE FOUND THIS SOCIETY RATHER FASCINATING, THANKFULLY.
THAT'S GOOD NEWS.
BY THE BY. HAVE YOU MADE YOUR DECISIONS...
...ABOUT THAT?
PROFESSOR AT NEST UNIVERSITY DOHYEON MA
ARE YOU...
NEST
...TALKING ABOUT PROPOLIS?
TO EXPLAIN AGAIN BRIEFLY...
...PROPOLIS IS A LEAGUE OF ELITE INDIVIDUALS THAT SORT OF ACTS AS A SPECIAL AGENCY.
NEST TASKS ITS MEMBERS WITH SPECIAL MISSIONS THAT ARE RATHER DANGEROUS...
A
...IN EXCHANGE FOR EXTRA CREDITS TO YOUR GRADES.
IN OTHER WORDS, YOUR PROBABILITY OF GRADUATING AS VALEDICTORIAN OF YOUR CLASS...
WILL SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE SHOULD YOU GET INVOLVED WITH THE WORK OF PROPOLIS.
THEREBY BRINGING YOU ONE STEP CLOSER...
...TO CINDERELLA, WHICH YOU ARE SO DESPERATELY LONGING FOR.
CINDERELLA...
...IS A SOLUTION THAT CAN REVERSE THE EFFECT OF JUNGLE JUICE...
...RESTORING THE AFFLICTED HUMAN HOST BACK TO NORMAL.
THE ONLY WAY TO GET MY HANDS ON IT IS TO GRADUATE NEST UNIVERSITY...
...AS TOP OF MY CLASS.
RIGHT. THAT WAS THE REASON...
ALTHOUGH IT'S A HUGE LOSS FOR NEST IN TERMS OF FIREPOWER...
TO ALLOW VALEDICTORIAN OF ANY CLASS TO BECOME FULL HUMAN AGAIN...
...IT IS A WAY OF ACKNOWLEDGING THE CONTRIBUTIONS THE STUDENT MAKES TO THE PRODUCTION OF CINDERELLA.
...I DECIDED TO ENROLL IN THE COLLEGE OF INSECT HUMANS IN THE FIRST PLACE.
I AM GOING TO...
WHAT DO YOU SAY?
WELL.
NO COLLEGE STUDENT WILL SAY NO...
...TO GETTING EXTRA CREDIT.
...GET MY LIFE BACK AGAIN.
GOOD ANSWER.
THERE WAS NO ONE AMONG FRESHMEN THAT COULD CHALLENGE ME FOR THE TOP SPOT,
BUT I GUESS I AM GOING TO HAVE SOME COMPETITION NOW.
NE ST.
COMPETITION?
OH... THAT'S RIGHT. I LOST THE TOP SPOT TO YOU LAST YEAR,
BUT IT'S GONNA BE DIFFERENT BY THE TIME WE GRADUATE.
IS THIS A DECLARATION OF WAR? BECAUSE I WON'T BE GOING EASY ON YOU.
...LET'S DO OUR BEST...
...SO THAT WHEN PROFESSOR JI REGAINS CONSCIOUSNESS...
...HE'LL HAVE SOMETHING TO BE GENUINELY SURPRISED ABOUT.
PROFESSOR JI STILL HASN'T WAKEN UP FROM HIS COMA...
...AFTER HE FELL UNCONSCIOUS DURING THE ATTACK BY PREDATORS.
YOU'RE RIGHT.
?!
SUCHAN!!
ON THE DAY WE STORMED THE PET SHOP'S SAFE HOUSE...
...I ACCIDENTALLY...
...CONSUMED THAT THING.
THANKS TO THE SUBSTANCE CALLED PUMPKIN CARRIAGE PROFESSOR MA INJECTED ME WITH...
...I WAS ABLE TO RETAIN MYSELF, ALBEIT BARELY.
BUT I'VE BEEN HAVING BLACKOUTS LIKE THIS EVERY NOW AND AGAIN SINCE THAT DAY.
AND EACH TIME IT HAPPENS...
...I ENCOUNTER HIM.
NOT...
THIS AGAIN...
I'll be heading to class first. Take your time when you get up. I'll talk to the Professor on your behalf.
Huijin
...SO HUIJIN TOOK ME HERE.
AND THAT BASTARD REMINDS ME EVERY GOD DAMN TIME...
...THAT I ACCIDENTALLY SWALLOWED A PIECE OF INSECT...
...I MEAN, THAT OF HALF-HUMAN MEAT.
UGH...
URGH...!
YOU DID NOT COMMIT CANNIBALISM.
IT WAS ONLY A SMALL PIECE OF FLESH OF A LARGE SPECIMEN,
BUT WE CAN'T HONESTLY DRAW A CONNECTION TO THAT OF A HUMAN.
I UNDERSTAND HOW GROSSED OUT YOU MIGHT FEEL, BUT IT'S ONLY GOING TO WEAR YOU OUT UNLESS YOU LET IT GO.
I'M INCLINED TO SUSPECT THAT EVEN THE BLACKOUTS AND PUKING ARE ALL PSYCHOGENIC.
I'LL WRITE YOU A PRESCRIPTION FOR MEDICATION,
BUT REMEMBER IT'S IMPORTANT TO OVERCOME IT IN YOUR HEAD.
OKAY. THANK YOU.
IT'S ALL IN MY HEAD, EH?
BUT IT'S TRUE I PHYSICALLY CONSUMED THAT THING.
IN FACT, I'VE BEEN GETTING THIS FEELING FOR QUITE A LONG TIME NOW.
THIS DISTURBING SENSATION COMING FROM THE TIPS OF MY FINGERS.
PERHAPS I'VE...
SCREW THAT!!
I'VE OVERCOME IT!
I WAS ADMINISTERED PUMPKIN CARRIAGE...
...AND DEFEATED THE URGE TO FEED ON OTHERS!
URGH...!
NEST
DOES IT PAIN YOU?
JUST BREAK THE CHAIN.
LET YOUR TRUE INSTINCT TAKE OVER.
SHUT YOUR TRAP, BREEDER.
WAIT. ISN'T THAT SUCHAN?
WHAT'S HE DOING THERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET LIKE AN EDGELORD?
I AM HUMAN.
I'LL NEVER GIVE IN...
...TO FEEDING.
I AIM TO DESTROY IT SO THAT I CAN REBUILD IT INTO A STRUCTURE OF EQUALITY...
...IN WHICH ONLY PURE STRENGTH DECIDES THE VICTOR, NOT MONEY OR POWER.
I ABSOLUTELY DO NOT AGREE WITH YOUR IDEA OF EQUALITY.
HRAH! I DEFINITELY GOT WHAT IT TAKES!!
??
WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?
I AM GOING TO GET EVEN STRONGER...
...AND CRUSH YOU AND YOUR PATHETIC DREAM!
20
THIS IS LIKE...
...A NATURAL DISASTER.
IS THIS YOUR DOING, BREEDER?
I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE CAPABLE OF SUCH.
AS LONG AS I HAVE ENOUGH SUPPLY OF WATER.
DISGUISING IT AS FLOOD DAMAGE MAKES IT MUCH EASIER TO GET AWAY WITH EVERYTHING,
BECAUSE ANY MISSING PERSONS WOULD BE PRESUMED TO HAVE BEEN SWEPT AWAY BY THE CURRENTS.
I DO THIS OCCASIONALLY WHEN I NEED TO BREED NEW SPECIMENS.
ALRIGHT, I GET THAT PART.
BUT HOW ARE YOU PLANNING TO PICK UP ALL THE PREY FROM UNDERWATER?
BECAUSE I'M DEFINITELY NOT GETTING WET.
OH, THAT'S RIGHT.
I ALMOST FORGOT ABOUT IT.
I CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE THEM DIE AND BECOME LESS FRESH.
OH, MY. HOW CONSIDERATE OF YOU TO KEEP ME AWAY FROM THE WATERS.
I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE ENOUGH TO FEED THEM ALL.
TO BE FAIR, THEY DO POSSESS HUGE APPETITES, HAHA.
WHAT ARE WE...
...GOING TO DO WITH NEST NOW?
BUT I...
...DON'T WANT TO BE A MONSTER LIKE YOU.
DON'T BE SO IMPATIENT, MAEHWA.
WE DECIDED TO WAIT UNTIL THE RIGHT TIME TO HARVEST THE FRUIT. REMEMBER?
AFTER ALL...
...I HAVE PLANTED THE SEED THERE ALREADY.
JEEZ... AGAIN?
THIS IS BAD. I'VE BEEN HAVING BLACKOUTS MORE FREQUENTLY AS OF LATE.
HUH? WHY ARE THE WINDOWS CRACKED...?
...BLOOD?
WHY'S THERE BLOOD ON MY HAND...?
WAIT A MINUTE.
THIS ISN'T MY ROOM. WHERE AM I--
THE SEED OF FEAR AND INSECURITY...
...THAT WILL SPROUT INTO A FINE TERROR FROM WITHIN.
SUCHAN...?
IT WAS THAT DAY...
YOU SAID YOU WERE GOING TO PROVE ME WRONG.
WELL, TRY YOUR BEST THEN.
...WHEN ALL EFFORTS I HAD MADE THUS FAR WENT DOWN THE DRAIN.
Group A is dispatched in Donghae, Gangwon Province to capture a panicked new insect human who has been damaging property. Dohwa Cheon (Emperor Scorpion) tracks him, Hyeseong Cha (Katydid) blocks his escape, and Huijin Park (Cockroach) knocks him out after his Velvet Worm slime fails. They tie him with Hyeona's silk and escort him to Nest University. On the bus, Su-Chan bumps into a woman named Mihui who recoils in terror. Back at Nest, the new insect human Woobin Dan enrolls, and Professor Dohyeon Ma offers Su-Chan a path to Cinderella through Propolis and extra credits, reigniting his goal to become human again.
Spoiler Warning
Click to reveal