Chapter 16
After all the hospital visits were over.
As I stepped out of the ward, I noticed Ayle leaning against the wall by the entrance. I felt a bit lighthearted and decided to say something.
“Have you reflected on what happened?”
“…Y-yes.”
“Make sure this doesn’t happen again, Ayle.”
Upon hearing this, Ayle fidgeted with her lips. She seemed to have a lot to say but was too scared to say it, fearing she might get scolded. It was the typical behavior of kids raised in repressive environments, unable to express themselves.
Seeing her downcast look, I tilted my head slightly, signaling that it was okay to talk.
Ayle cautiously opened her mouth.
“B-but… she was a hero… We’re part of an Evil Organization. Isn’t it okay to attack heroes if we’re part of the Evil Organization…?”
“So it’s okay to attack heroes just because we’re an Evil Organization?”
“Y-yes…! After all, she must have become a hero knowing what she was getting into…”
“That’s wrong, Ayle.”
“Wrong? What do you mean…?”
I sighed, looking at Ayle. Receiving that sigh directly, Ayle shrunk her shoulders. Honestly, it was ridiculous that, despite having been a member of the Evil Organization for years longer than me, I had to explain this to her… Yet, I pointed out the misunderstanding.
“We’re an Evil Organization, not villains. Sure, people might say we’re the same, but we have pride as an Evil Organization.”
“…Pride?”
“Yep. Our boss doesn’t just announce operation dates for no reason.”
An Evil Organization isn’t simply a group of people rebelling against society. Unlike others who become villains by committing crimes with no clear purpose, an Evil Organization has a distinct goal, and being villains is just a means to that end.
For example—Galm seeks battles with the strong.
For example—Ayle seeks connections with magical girls.
For example—I’m looking to survive in this world.
We are different from villains who stir up chaos and madness without any purpose or ideology.
“Act with pride as an Evil Magical Girl, Ayle. This time, I covered for you because the circumstances were special… but there won’t be a next time.”
“…Okay.”
“Don’t be too gloomy. How about we go eat something delicious?”
After giving her a lesson about the values of the Evil Organization, I smiled lightly to change the atmosphere. Ayle seemed a bit confused by this sudden shift, but her mouth and stomach were honest.
“Well then… tteokbokki…”
“Yeah, yeah. Let’s go.”
At the restaurant, I discovered just how much a girl’s combat power increases in front of spicy food.
*
Niberna had finished her medical treatment and returned. The Hero Association was still operating without her. On the surface, it seemed like she wasn’t needed, but the staff knew better than that.
The Hero Association was overburdened with work. Given that lives were at stake, the pressure was even greater. Thanks to this, the staff was always swamped, and Niberna, who returned quickly after her treatment, was like a savior to them.
“Niberna! Sorry to ask you right after you get back, but could you deploy for a mission?”
“Yes. Of course. Where to?”
“It’s the usual members of the Evil Organization.”
With the face of Galm, who had left her in tatters not long ago, flashing in her mind, Niberna nodded immediately. Then she headed towards the scheduled location to wait.
Since she showed up early, the Evil Organization members, who had threatened to lodge complaints with Evilus Corp, didn’t show up; Niberna spent her time sipping an Americano at a nearby café while waiting.
Before long, the anticipated attack by the Evil Organization began.
“─Hahaha! Here I come!”
Compared to a few months ago, Galm’s voice, overflowing with energy, echoed through the entire city. At the same time, evacuation alarms blared from phones and street speakers.
Upon hearing that sound, Niberna set her coffee cup on the table and dashed out. Several heroes sent to stop Galm followed her suit.
“That’s far enough! Evil Organization!”
“We won’t let your evil deeds slide!”
“Oh—You’ve arrived?”
Just months ago—in other words, just some months back, Galm would send out combatants first, moving only after they had fallen. But having regained his former strength, he moved as if even that short amount of time was too precious.
Knowing full well that mere combatants couldn’t stop an A-class hero, he wasted no time and directly engaged in battle with the heroes.
“Did you warm up before you came? The pink-haired one was weak last time. Was it that time of the month?”
“─Formation 5!”
“We execute as practiced!”
“Good posture. No need to chat with the enemy.”
With that, Galm began to brawl with the heroes. It was a raw fight of punches and kicks—simple and straightforward combat befitting a beast. But it was this simplicity that allowed him to take down A-class heroes.
Just strength. Just speed. Just technique.
Overwhelming the innate abilities of humans.
“Uggggh-!?”
“Kahahaha! No improvement, no improvement! You instinctively turn your eyes towards your weaknesses when you defend!”
“You crazy fight-loving bastard! You want to coach me while we’re fighting!?”
The heroes vented their frustration at Galm, who was treating the situation lightly while giving them advice. But Galm acted as if he couldn’t care less, muttering continuously.
Was Galm simply in good shape today, or were the heroes not at their best? It didn’t take long for all the heroes, except for Niberna, to be rolling on the ground.
Seeing this, Galm caressed his chin with an air of disappointment.
“Is this already the end… Hmm—maybe I should request an extension for today.”
As he pondered whether he should destroy a few more buildings to get more heroes to show up, Niberna fixed him with a glare.
“…How nice of you to be so nonchalant.”
“Eh—? Have you lost your mind? A hero talking to a villain…”
“I can tell you’ve been flaunting your strength since you were a child. A strength incomparable to others. A dazzling talent. You must have felt like the protagonist of the world.”
Not long ago, she would envy such geniuses. She envied the protagonists of the world. Even as she belittled what they had, she secretly wished to become like them.
And now? It hadn’t changed much. Niberna still wanted to be the protagonist.
The absolute being adored and loved by all.
“─Yet with such strength and talent, you’ve chosen to be a villain.”
“What are you rambling on about?”
“I’m saying you’re pathetic.”
So when she saw someone like Galm squandering his talent, she could no longer contain her rage. In the past, even if her anger boiled over, she could do nothing; it would have ended up as the inferiority complex of a loser…
But not anymore.
[Are You Ready-!?]
“I shall educate you.”
Transformation.
A new suit layered over Niberna’s existing one.
With two layers of suits, the heroine stood tall before the evil cadre.
“─As a true hero.”
“I don’t know where you got that toy from, but with just that much…”
At that moment, Galm flinched, surprised to see Niberna charging at him. He had let his guard down just a little but had lost track of her for a brief moment.
When Galm re-sighted Niberna, she was already at his side, and even though Niberna was weaker than Galm, she was not an inexperienced hero. Seizing the opportunity, Niberna’s fist struck Galm’s abdomen.
KABOOM-!
Knocked back by the blow, Galm flew right through the building, eventually emerging from the debris while patting his belly.
“Ha, hahaha—! Wow, you’re strong!”
“…It seems overpowering you in one shot was impossible.”
“Very impertinent! You really thought you could take me down in one shot?”
But despite the words spilling from his mouth, Galm’s face was filled with smiles. Grinning, Galm closed in on Niberna, fists at the ready.
“─But it’s fine. Arrogance and pride are the virtues of the strong.”
“Is that so? At this rate, I feel like I could take you down anytime.”
“Hahaha—! If you think you can do that, I’ll let you capture me! Hero!”
And in the next moment.
The Beast King’s and the Hero’s fists collided.
Their battle raged on all day, and neither side fell until the fight ended.
That day, when Niberna returned to the Hero Association, she became an S-class hero.
For the first time in her life. It was the moment she stepped into the world of protagonists.
*
My colleague was way too noisy. Especially that furry beast of a colleague. Not being particularly close, this muscle-bound creature barged in as if it were his home and burst into laughter in a corner of my room.
The fact that I couldn’t shut that big mouth was even more irritating… Science? What’s the point of researching anything under these conditions? Standing before a beast with arms thicker than my waist, I felt like nothing more than a hairless monkey.
“Hahahaha—! Scientist! It’s been a while since I thought of you, so I came to visit!”
“Ah… yes.”
“I met someone fun! She’s wearing a suit and became much stronger than before! There must be a genius like you on their side too!”
“I see…”
While I gave a lifeless response, I quickly realized that the girl in a suit Galm was talking about must be Niberna. Apparently, she was making good use of the suit I hastily put together for her.
Galm was one of the highest forces in our organization, a monster who bore the title of Beast King, a title reserved for only the strongest beast heroes.
If she could even fight against someone like Galm—Niberna wouldn’t have to worry about not getting attention or achieving her dreams.
‘I should keep this a secret…’
I shot a sidelong glance at Galm, who was now chugging a liquor bottle. What would happen if that fight-loving fool found out that Niberna’s suit was my creation?
He’d probably whine about wanting me to make him a machine that could beat him. I could do it, but it would be a massive hassle. For starters, I lacked the infrastructure required to build such a machine. I could create the infrastructure myself, but that would require millions to billions of dollars…
No matter how influential the boss is as the head of a global corporation, securing funds for such a project is out of the question. Even if he could finance it, it would be nonsense to use that money for something like the Evil Organization that’s just a hobby. I’m not going to go broke just over creating a machine, am I?
And above all—if I made something like that and it got stolen by someone else, it would be game over. I mustn’t forget that this world is full of pseudo-sciences like “super-power engineering.”
‘Suddenly one day, a guy with powers like controlling machines or machine hypnosis might show up, and if he makes that machine his… it’s curtains…’
If such a machine capable of overpowering our organization’s top fighter Galm got taken away? I don’t know how it could be used, but I didn’t see anything good coming out of it for this world. That was also why I purposely avoided creating weapons powerful enough to slip out of my control.
“─Hey! Scientist! Are you even exercising? What’s with those weak arms? Only double digits?”
“…That’s normal for a human.”
“That won’t do. Let’s go work out.”
“No, I’m not really…”
“─Let’s go.”
Looking at Galm, practically radiating testosterone, dragging me to the gym, I regretted not boosting Niberna’s suit performance further.
I could have just beaten him there and captured this beast instead…!
But reality ended in a draw between the two, and as a result, I found myself facing the never-ending punishment of Sisyphean pull-ups.
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