Chapter 12
The fifth executive of evil.
Levitan.
Commonly referred to as “Levichan.”
As a high-ranking member of the evil organization, she was currently enjoying a triumphant return to society— as a police officer, no less.
“Reintegrating into society…?”
“Yup… The Boss takes good care of that.”
According to Ayle, the Boss’s philosophy is that there’s no need to stay tied to an evil organization. If anyone wishes to step back into society, they’re free to do so anytime. Just keep your name on the roster and make the most of the organization when it’s beneficial.
Regalia believed it was better to release talented individuals into the world rather than keep them confined in a tiny cage, even if that meant they’d drift away from her grasp.
And she embraced a romantic notion that a bird would someday remember the owner who raised it and return.
It was a whimsical, childlike romance fitting for a Boss no older than ten.
“So then, what about me?”
I briefly contemplated what would happen if I told the Boss I wanted to withdraw from the organization. If what Ayle said was true, then surely the Boss wouldn’t cancel my fake ID just because I expressed a desire to leave.
If it was the Boss, she’d probably support me to the best of her ability. So where would the best place be for me? A research position where I could put my scientific knowledge to use.
Right! That would be Evilus Corporation.
And I’m not kidding—Evilus Corporation was an exceptional global mega-corporation, outstanding both subjectively and objectively. Among the choices available for those who weren’t heroes or villains, it was among the best options you could find.
“So, even if I leave, I’d still be under the Boss… and I’d even have some useless higher-ups above me. Great.”
If the Boss picked me out personally, I could certainly land a position as a lab director, but even that role wouldn’t be free from interference. There’d still be board members and department heads who liked to meddle.
Honestly, it seemed better to just remain an evil organization scientist rather than complicate things by creating even more bosses to deal with corporate politics. At the very least, right now, the only person I had to serve was the Boss.
“Haha—! What’s with that reaction! Did the Boss really not tell you anything?”
“Well, I’m just a newcomer after all. But what’s with that tone?”
“Why? Is it annoying? Want me to stop?” sfx: innocent laughter
“No, it’s not that bad, but…”
“Nope! Not stopping!”
Watching Levitan burst into laughter, I couldn’t help but let out a nervous chuckle myself. Her energy was off the charts. It was almost overwhelming—definitely too much for a recluse researcher like me.
Apparently, Ayle found Levitan equally intimidating, as she was fidgeting and unsure of what to do since earlier.
Understanding why Ayle dragged me along shopping even though she knew Levitan now made sense. Going shopping with someone like her would totally zap Ayle’s energy, reducing the fragile introvert into a dried squid in no time.
“So why, of all things, did you pick being a police officer?”
“Hmm? Because I wanted to help someone—!”
“A hero…? Ah, that was a slip.”
“Haha—! Right! That was a slip!”
I was about to say that if you wanted to save people, being a hero would be way more suitable, but I paused as I remembered her profession. That’s right. Before being a police officer, she was a villain. Not just any villain, but the biggest one in the city, a member of the evil organization.
A villain wanting to become a hero just to help people? Now that felt like a well-rehearsed play. Although they were an evil organization that hated seeing people suffer and often would announce their moves in advance, Regalia surprisingly cared about public opinion.
“But can a villain really take up a police position? I thought criminals couldn’t hold public office.”
“The Boss took care of it for me—!”
“Oh, right.”
Hearing her response, I realized where we were— City E, the city ruled by Evilus Corporation. A city where power was so absolute that even the mayor or the president, elected by the entire country, couldn’t dare mess with it.
Inserting one of their subordinates into the police force wouldn’t be that hard, especially if that subordinate was capable and motivated.
“By the way, your name is Eight, right? Is that true?”
“…What are you talking about?”
“That you repaired Galm’s body—!”
That was the first time I heard such a thing. At those words, I tilted my head in confusion while looking at her. Seeing my bewildered expression, Levitan seemed like she misstepped and quickly retracted what she had said.
Ayle, who was standing next to me, suddenly had an expression full of emotion as she glanced over at me.
[─C-1 situation at the warehouse. Requesting support.]
Right then, a support request came in over the radio attached to Levitan’s shoulder. Upon hearing it, Levitan immediately jumped up and waved her hand.
“Ah— I have to go now—! Eight, Ayle. It was nice meeting you—! See you again soon!”
“What’s going on?”
“I want to say it’s a secret—but it’s something related to you, Eight.”
Leaning in as if about to reveal a huge secret, Levitan whispered.
“─A thief who specifically targets the robot you made has shown up.”
“Really?”
“Yep—! Aren’t you surprised?”
“Humans are like that, what can I say?” sfx: shrug
“…Hmm- Humans, huh. Yeah! Levi-chan likes you!”
I had no idea what she found appealing about me, but—after saying that, Levitan dashed off in a flash. Watching her run away, I let out a delayed sigh.
“Phew… That was exhausting.”
“Y-Yeah…”
“Ah— Ayle, sorry. I know I said we’d go to the collaboration café…”
“I-It’s okay—! We can still go now…”
“Should we?”
With Ayle and me left alone, I felt my energy gradually returning, and together we headed toward the Magical Girl collaboration café.
At the café, there was a lottery event going on, and I ended up winning the grand prize—a Magical Girl figure. Ayle looked at me enviously.
Holding the Magical Girl figure in my hand, I thought aloud.
I’m lucky.
*
The value of the Namo Buster, which had ceased production, began to skyrocket. For some reason, prices started to inflate uncontrollably. Would you believe a product that started selling at $9.99 could now not be found even for $1,000 without a struggle?
Naturally, as prices start to rise, people become hopeful they’ll go even higher. Could they rise further?
At that time, those in the most advantageous position were the existing buyers of the Namo Buster. With production halted, there would be no similar toys hitting the market (at least not at this price; even the average person knew that).
Simply sitting back and breathing could lead to victory! In this situation, those who wanted a Namo Buster opted for alternative methods.
If they couldn’t buy it, they’d just steal it.
“Mommm—! My toy!”
“Huh? I could’ve sworn I left it here…”
“T-T-THEFT!”
They began raiding homes, famous influencers’ offices, cryptocurrency mining facilities, and storage rooms in massive toy stores—every conceivable location where Namo Busters might be stocked.
Once the police got wind of the situation and announced that people should report their possession of Namo Busters and request protection, it was already too late.
It seemed the thieves had an informant within the police, using that information to stage attacks. Just like that, tens of thousands of Namo Busters were gathered in one spot.
“Hehehe— No matter how many times I see it, the performance is off the charts.”
The genius scientist, Dr. Kuroid, smiled as he looked at the circuits of tens of thousands of Namo Busters spread out before him. Even with so many physical units at his disposal, replicating those circuits or comprehending their function remained a daunting task.
It was a blow to the pride of a mad genius scientist, but if he let that break his spirit, he wouldn’t deserve to call himself a “genius scientist.”
“But if it’s caught by a genius like me, that’s pointless.”
Dr. Kuroid gathered the dismantled circuits of the Namo Busters. He began assembling them into a new circuit. People may not understand the configuration of Eight’s toy circuits, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t make use of them.
Just like YouTubers used circuits to run games or handle graphic processing for computers, some individuals sensed potential within those tiny circuits.
The same was true for Dr. Kuroid.
“─It’s completed.”
A super-intelligence created by connecting hundreds of circuits in parallel. After completion, Dr. Kuroid powered it on. Even a tiny amount of electricity could get the circuits moving according to Dr. Kuroid’s pre-set configurations.
The mechanical doll opened its eyes.
[─Greetings, Master.]
“Oh, ohhhh—! Yes! We did it!”
Dr. Kuroid smiled as he looked at the android standing before him. An AI-powered android. A marvel of super-science that no one had successfully created before.
He was the first in the world to reach this level.
An achievement worthy of going down in human history. Sensing that his name would be immortalized, Dr. Kuroid commanded the android.
“─Now, show me your fearsome power.”
[Yes, Master.]
Moments later.
The android, now dressed in a cute maid outfit, began to make adorable gestures in front of Dr. Kuroid.
[Welcome home, Master! What would you like to order? A bath? A meal? Or… me?]
“Hehehe—! I’ll take you!”
[Kyaah—! Master, you’re so bold!]
That day.
For the first time in this world, a strong AI was born.
It was summer.
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