episode_0030

“Wow… that one was really… chilling.”

Number 13, sitting somewhere on the emergency staircase on the ■■th floor, ran a hand through his hair, trying to calm his pounding heart from the full-out sprint.

He couldn’t believe *that woman* would shake off the brainwashing in that situation.

He and the Advisor had anticipated a few patterns where the brainwashing might not work on Spade, but for the brainwashing to break at *that* moment was completely unexpected.

No… if Dorothy’s words were true, he was supposed to be careful, as brainwashing could break if the action ‘strongly went against one’s will’.

He had been at ease because most things worked, but it seemed the command ‘attack your comrade’ was still too early.

To think she felt more aversion to harming a comrade than to being robbed of her virginity and raped. What kind of woman was she?

A static crackle…

[13-nim, are you okay★?]

From the communication device plugged into his ear, Apple’s voice could be heard.

Even in this situation, her cheerful voice remained unchanged.

All communication signals in this zone were blocked, but only the signal connected to this device, thanks to Apple’s manipulation, was active.

He replied that he was fine and asked about the current situation.

[It seems Ms. Spade and Ms. Club intend to continue the pursuit as is.]

That was the answer he received.

The two probably thought 13 had no way to contact the outside.

That’s why they seemed to intend to find and apprehend him before the Advisor’s side could notice something and help 13 escape.

‘It’s possible to just run away….’

This device was also connected to the Advisor.

If he only wanted to escape, he could do so at any time.

He had used up all his magic power repairing the injuries he sustained from Club’s attack a moment ago.

Now, even if he suffered a fatal injury, a ‘continue’ was impossible.

While he was contemplating what to do, a static buzzing sound emerged from the device, and this time, another voice spoke.

It was the Advisor.

[13-nim, I will warp you back to base right now. It would be best to return for now and prepare for the next operation!]

“Advisor, wait a moment.”

[What are you talking about! I saw everything, you must have used up all your magic power after three resurrections! Please tell me honestly!]

What the Advisor said was true, and frankly, considering his safety, returning immediately was the right course of action.

In the original plan, it was already decided to ‘abandon all plans and prioritize escape the moment magic power runs out’.

But there was a problem.

If he were to escape in this situation, future operations would inevitably become difficult.

Moreover, Club had witnessed 13 controlling Spade right before her eyes.

Should he have Apple brainwash Club somehow to erase her memory? No, more importantly, if Spade’s brainwashing had completely worn off, that was a problem. He didn’t even know how much she remembered.

[13-nim. Now is the time to retreat. I will warp you back immediately. If you give me 3 minutes――]

“Advisor, hold on. Apple, you hear me?”

[Yes, 13-nim~★]

“What are Spade and Club’s current locations? Tell me.”

[13-nim!]

[Yeees~ Understood~ The two’s location iss~ let’s seee~★]

A sound akin to a scream could be heard from the Advisor’s side, but 13 ignored it.

He had given a command, so they wouldn’t force his return.

Apple, as if it didn’t matter what choice 13 made, cheerfully answered 13’s questions.

The current location of the two, what strategy they were formulating, what means they could use in the current situation, and so on.

“I’ll go with Plan B. Apple, you can do it, right?”

[Yes~ I’ll do my best~★]

[13-nim! Ahh, really!!]

Ignoring the Advisor’s dissuasion, 13 stood up and opened the emergency staircase door.

Inside the shopping mall, where the villain terror defense barriers had descended and all lights were off, leaving only emergency lights in the dark space.

Just then, he spotted a cat toddling across the floor in front of the emergency staircase door.

It’s fine. It won’t end here.

Because there was still one more trump card left.

* * *

Step… step….

Clank! Screech…

Spade opened the emergency staircase door and peered inside.

With a scurry, two cats darted through the open door.

“Good, I’ve let them in here too.”

[Thank you, Senior-nim. Next, please take care of the emergency staircase in section ■. I’ll show you the map now.]

A voice seemed to echo in her mind.

Following that, a new field of vision suddenly appeared before her eyes, as if superimposed.

Club’s vision was directly transmitted to Spade.

Club was currently using her ability to share her vision. The voice echoing in her head was also an application of that ability.

Communication devices were unusable inside this building, but there was no way to stop remote communication using abilities.

There was no need to worry about eavesdropping, and it was better because it was easier to understand than verbal instructions.

However, unlike linking with cats, linking with people consumed a lot of magic power. Therefore, it couldn’t be maintained constantly.

“The barrier is down, so I can’t take the shortest route. Should I go downstairs for now?”

[Yes, understood. Please take those two with you as well.]

“Alright.”

Carrying the white and mottled cats that had been wandering aimlessly, unable to do anything, blocked by the barrier, Spade lightly leaped over the railing and descended to the lower floor.

Following Club’s guidance, she found and opened another emergency staircase door.

―The two were currently tracking 13.

However, in this vast department store, they had no choice but to use Club’s cats to find him.

But for passageways that people used, like emergency staircases, the cats couldn’t open them no matter what, so Spade had to step forward and open the doors for them.

Since Club had to control countless cats simultaneously, they had separated for her to concentrate.

And if there was distance, even if Spade were to be controlled again like before, there would be a way to counter it.

Club was a sniper to begin with.

It was not her place to be on the front lines as she was a moment ago.

Waiting in a safe location, identifying the opponent’s position, and then immediately taking them down with a sniper shot was her true role.

Club’s position was walled off on three sides by barriers and walls, and cats were stationed at all connecting passageways, so she would immediately know if 13 approached.

With Spade moving alone in this state, expanding Club’s field of vision in this manner… they believed they would eventually find 13 without difficulty.

It was the safest, most robust, and most reliable plan the two of them could devise given the current situation.

[Thank you for indulging me, Senior-nim.]

“I’m telling you. Being unreasonable in the field is really dangerous.”

[Hehehe….]

“Don’t laugh. Ugh.”

[Still, I’m really happy to be able to work with you, Senior-nim. Do you know why I joined Unit 7?]

“Weren’t assignments random?”

[I had some achievements, you see. They gave me special consideration.]

Moreover, as she possessed a considerably useful ability, the higher-ups reportedly hoped to deploy her to the metropolitan area, where many incidents and accidents occurred.

[I joined because I admired you, Senior-nim. Oh, I respect Captain Rahe and Vice-Captain Check too, of course.]

“……Do, do you really have to say that now?”

No, hearing words like ‘admiration’ directly like this… she didn’t know how to react.

As a Korean person unaccustomed to compliments, it was embarrassing.

[You worked as a hero since high school, didn’t you, Senior-nim? Through special admission. I read the articles many times.]

“Ugh…”

Club’s voice echoing in her mind sounded a little excited.

How Club, then a middle school student, felt after reading Spade’s articles, and how she fostered admiration in her young heart.

[The reason I applied to join right after graduating, without hesitation, was because of you, Senior-nim.]

“Please, stop itttt….”

This time, cackling laughter was mixed in.

Even if her admiration was not false, Club was inherently a troublesome woman who enjoyed bothering others.

However, at some point, Club’s voice, echoing in her mind, abruptly cut off.

“Club?”

No reply.

A moment of unease passed through her. As Spade called Club’s name repeatedly.

[…………Ah, I spaced out for a moment.]

Club’s voice returned.

“You suddenly went quiet, you scared me. Are you okay?”

[Well… my magic power… seems to be low. It’s because I’ve been maintaining the ‘link’….]

“Really? Then should we break the link between us for now? Linking with cats doesn’t use much magic power, right?”

[No. Linking with people consumes a lot of magic power.]

Club first used ‘vision sharing’ to indicate the location where Spade’s help was immediately needed.

Then, with the promise that she would give further instructions later, the ‘link’ was abruptly severed.

A sudden feeling of loneliness washed over her in the silence.

A cat following at her feet let out a ‘meow~’, as if to let Spade know it was there.

‘Can’t find him….’

To think that after all this, he still hadn’t been found.

Perhaps 13 had already escaped after all.

However, Spade thought that might be for the better.

The essence of a hero, in Spade’s mind, was ‘protecting the safety of citizens’.

Apprehending villains was secondary. Since immediate safety had been secured, she thought letting him go for now was also an option. There was no telling what a cornered villain might do, and in contrast, they were currently in a dangerous situation without proper support.

“?”

Suddenly, a static, mechanical sound reached Spade’s ear.

It was coming from the Unit 7 exclusive communication device that she had kept in her ear just in case.

The communication, which had been cut off all this time, had just reconnected.

[Ms. Spade, Ms. Spade. Can you hear me? Can you hear me?]

Beyond the communication device, Apple’s welcome voice could be heard.