Cartel

Cartel (カーテル, Kāteru^?) is a human from Parasitica.

Appearance

Cartel has a young face, complemented by a slender figure and dark hair that reaches her chin, covered by a peaked cap. Adorned in a service dress uniform, commonly donned by female officers, she sports a belted waist. Her attire includes a jacket layered over a dark, neck-covering shirt, paired with a skirt and boots.

Personality

Initially, Cartel is quiet, observing silently while Peyo takes the lead in communication. Yet, the first sighting of a parasite spurs her into action, cautioning the others about the dangers, particularly advising against approaching the woman and the men who might be infected in the Land of the Lawless. Despite recognizing the moral dilemma, Cartel hesitates to assist the afflicted woman, her past encounters with parasites underscoring the grim reality of her world where not everyone can be saved.

Cartel, alongside Peyo, remains on high alert for signs of infection, such as the deceased unnamed human king exhibiting unusual behavior, indicative of parasite influence. At such moment, Cartel takes cover behind their unique weapon, an umbrella gun, and alerts the others to the potential threat.

Plot

Introduction Arc

In the gathering that included human individuals from various worlds, Cartel, alongside Peyo, plays a participatory role. Despite her involvement, she chooses to maintain silence throughout the duration of the meeting.^[1] Later when Glasp took command of the meeting, she listened to Masayoshi suggestion in hiding and staying low, rather than provoke the Natural Enemies to their location.^[2]

After the interworld meeting, Cartel mingled with the other representatives. She found herself talking with Samone from the Titan's Crown who allowed her to examine her leg muscles in their interaction.^[3]

Demon Lord Arc

Upon the humans' arrival in the Land of the Lawless, Cartel's role becomes more significant as they observe a Lawless individual assaulting his peers, transforming into a parasite in the process. Subsequently, the Lawless eliminate the parasite. Following Thear's incapacitation of the Lawless with his Cosmic Rifle, Cartel cautions him against going near the unconscious men and their female captive, due to the assailant being a parasite.^[4] Glasp inquires if they should also steer clear of the charred remains of the parasites, considering fire seems to be an effective countermeasure. Cartel then specifies that their actual concern should be the individuals who have come in contact with the eroders, known as the wurms. She elaborates that in their world, the unyielding protocol is to quarantine and observe potential carriers for a 48 hours.^[5] In response to Zaybi's inquiry, Cartel describes the typical indicators of infection, noting, however, the inherent difficulty in diagnosing infected individuals based solely on these signs.^[6]

As Samone and her companions attempt to aid the woman who seems to have been injured at the hands of the Lawless while being their captive, they are intercepted by Cartel. Samone proposes that they could be quarantined from the rest after assisting the woman, to which Cartel responds with hesitation, acknowledging the compassion in Samone's suggestion. Yet, with reluctance, Cartel concedes that she lacks the authority to prevent them from offering their assistance to the distressed woman.

Zaybi's suspicion arises abruptly, questioning if maintaining distance is the sole method of safeguarding against the parasite. In the ensuing quietness, Peyo opts to reveal the anti-parasite capsules to the group. Cartel inquires about his certainty, to which Peyo responds that delaying the explanation of the capsules would only erode the fragile trust they've established with the others.^[7]

After the death of the King, his body begins to move unexpectedly. Cartel and Peyo identify the movements as the workings of a parasite, prompting Cartel to alert the others and seek shelter behind an umbrella gun alongside Peyo. Their predicament is mitigated when Zaybi intervenes, selflessly forming a cubic barrier to prevent the contaminated blood from reaching the rest of the humans. After Zaybi eliminates the parasitic wurm that had surfaced from the monarch's remains, he is inadvertently splashed with the royal blood. Facing Cartel and Peyo, he inquires about his own contamination. The pair are visibly stunned, but don't answer.^[8]

Upon transforming into a parasite, the female captive confirms Cartel's suspicions of infection. In a sudden onslaught, the parasite lunges at Samone and her allies, successfully claiming the lives of her companions while Samone narrowly evades. Amidst the chaos, Zaybi demands the black capsules. With a silent agreement communicated through a mutual nod between Cartel and Peyo, he hands over the black capsule to Zaybi.^[9]

After the Lawless save Zaybi from the parasite's clutches, Samone rushes to assist him. However, Cartel intervenes, visibly agitated, and warns her that Zaybi has been contaminated by the wurms' fluids, which means he is most likely infected. She insists that any contact with Zaybi would only contribute to the parasite's spread.^[10] As the survivors deliberate on a strategy to rescue Zaybi from the Lawless without falling prey to the infection themselves, Cartel grimly suggests they abandon him, arguing that the wurms' rapid multiplication makes the parasites a terrifying threat.^[11] Later, while contemplating their next move against the Lawless, Cartel remarks that in her society, acts of human aggression are subject to legal judgment.^[12]

Cartel listens to Glasp's theory about Bastz's involvement with the King, as well as the parasite and curse which affected him. Glasp explains that the curse seems to have inhibited the parasite's growth. Cartel agrees that the parasite didn't seem to have matured.^[13]

Current Arc

Four days later, Wané gathers a variety of insects, plants, and mushrooms for a meal. However, Cartel hesitates to eat, explaining that her people avoid any meat prone to infection as part of their safe eating practices.^[14] Despite this, after Takuya properly prepares and cooks the ingredients, Cartel is surprised by how delicious the food tastes and enthusiastically praises his cooking.^[15]

Later, Cartel, along with Keila, Samone, and Taihi, rushes toward Kyokai's base to help Zaybi escape. However, before they arrive, Rinri slays the massive Tyrant Bear. Cartel quickly notices the first signs of a parasite within the beast, which soon takes control of the corpse and begins its transformation.

Keila asks when the bear could have contracted a parasite. Cartel explains that when they first encountered the Lawless who were possessed by parasites, they assumed the infection came from the refugees the Lawless had captured. However, it now seems the Lawless actually contracted the parasites from the Crimson Forest - meaning the entire forest has likely already been overrun.

A worried Samone recalls that they had eaten animals from the forest earlier. Cartel reassures her, explaining that since they cooked the meat, and parasites are weak to heat, it shouldn't be a concern. However, she warns that the real danger lies in the parasite's host. The Wurm will act purely on instinct, attacking and absorbing other living beings to grow. The stronger the host, the faster it evolves - making it nearly impossible to stop.

As if to prove her point, the parasite-infected Tyrant Bear absorbs several Lawless and three Titan weapons, completing its transformation into a Wild Beast Wurm.^[16]

When Zaybi instructs the other survivors to assist the Lawless in fighting the parasite, Cartel and the others confront the monstrous creature.^[17] Suddenly, the parasite sprouts a massive head resembling that of Kyokai's junior member, Gaut. In utter shock, Cartel realizes that the parasite is using the guy's brain as a base, gaining intelligence.^[18] The parasite then begins devouring more Lawless and other humans, growing even larger and evolving into a massive Super Wurm. Horrified, Cartel declares that nothing can stop it anymore.^[19]

References