Ch.249Chapter 10. Manufactured Hero (1)

The Succubus Sephirot Knights’ Conversion.

Use any means necessary to make them righteous.

The Chairman’s orders had been issued.

As an agent of the Syndicate, I must follow the Chairman’s orders, and I decided to carry them out.

“Let’s go.”

“…So you’re getting serious about work now. As expected, Manager Do, you follow the Chairman’s orders immediately, don’t you?”

“Of course.”

Questions and doubts remain.

But since the Chairman has made the decision, this must be the right answer.

“The Chairman said to extract the Sephirot Knights. So, there’s nothing more to discuss.”

Some might say I’m blindly following the Chairman’s orders, but the Chairman’s words benefit everyone and contribute to world peace, so following them is right.

“I’ll rehabilitate them even if it means mental reconditioning. Their personalities will die, but that’s better than actually dying.”

There’s no hesitation.

Even if I hesitate, it would be like the tension before taking action.

“Hye-ra. Do you have enough magical power?”

After transforming into a formal suit, I placed my hand on Yoon Hye-ra’s shoulder, who had also changed from a dress into an ordinary office lady suit, to check her magical power.

“You seem a bit low on magical power.”

“I have enough for what we need. Why? Want to recharge before we go?”

“If necessary.”

“It’s not that urgent. I just put these clothes on, I can’t take them off again. Let’s do it after we finish the situation. Nice and slow.”

Yoon Hye-ra tapped my hand on her shoulder and grinned.

“I need to rest my body too. While working.”

“You don’t need to be considerate like that.”

“Oh, it’s not consideration? I’m serious. Thanks for thinking it’s consideration though. Hehe. Well, let’s go check on the succubi now.”

Yoon Hye-ra stood up, and I placed my hand, now imbued with the magical power she had given me, on my face.

[Let’s go.]

I put on the Goblin mask, steeling myself as a temple agent.

“Alright. Then I’ll guide you right away, Manager Do.”

Yoon Hye-ra, as a director, also composed herself and opened a gate in midair.

Whoosh.

I crossed through the gate with Qiongqi to where the succubus chicks were being held.

It was an underground space, similar to the island where the succubi had been kept.

It clearly looked like an underground secret base, but with one peculiarity—the interior design was more “Korean” than anywhere else.

Instead of white-coated researchers that would fill Pandemonium, this secret base was filled with different attire.

Court ladies were everywhere.

Women who served in the royal court were everywhere.

They were each counseling the former succubi in rooms, sincerely helping them avoid becoming demons or harming themselves.

“Come this way. Perfect timing, there she is. This is the Bangkok branch in Thailand, and the person in charge here is called ‘Thai Lady-in-Waiting.'”

“I serve Lord Qiongqi. And it’s an honor to meet you, Goblin.”

A woman who appeared to be about 25 years old was wearing a traditional Korean hanbok in green with a hairstyle resembling that of a royal court lady.

She was a typical Thai woman, seemingly a pure Thai with no mixed heritage.

Among Thai women, she was quite beautiful—perhaps comparable to a Thai member of a Korean K-POP idol group cosplaying as a court lady.

[Are you an ability user?]

“Yes.”

[That hair, is it a gache?]

“It’s real.”

[Not a wig?]

“No. Although my ability is only E-class, it makes my hair grow quickly.”

Ability users’ powers manifest in various ways.

Apart from having good physical strength, some women have abilities limited to specific body parts growing quickly.

And this woman, Thai Lady-in-Waiting, became a member of the Syndicate with such an ability.

Compared to the legitimate world, she held a position equivalent to the head of the Thai Hero Association—a “lady-in-waiting” rank in the Syndicate’s Thailand branch.

[You’ve worked hard. And… how was dealing with the succubi?]

“There were uncomfortable aspects, but considering everything, there were no major issues with the selection process.”

[Good work. Qiongqi.]

One peculiarity.

There are no men here.

Probably a consideration by Thai Lady-in-Waiting’s Thailand branch to accommodate the succubi.

“I’ll take care of everything later, so don’t worry. Hmm. So after the evaluation, what about the ‘disposal class’?”

“I’ll report.”

Thai Lady-in-Waiting pointed to a fairly large screen panel, and soon a 3D structure of the underground facility was displayed.

Each room in the underground base contained one succubus, and the rooms were color-coded as red, yellow, and green.

“We’ve divided them into three categories. 14 individuals who can safely retain their memories, 48 who wish to have their memories erased, and 21 who may require ‘disposal.'”

[Quite a lot.]

Red, meaning those who need to be executed, numbered 21.

The specific classifications were determined through counseling by Thai Lady-in-Waiting, the Tavern Owner, and the court ladies.

[What’s the severity level of these chicks requiring disposal?]

“The most representative case would be… addiction to voluntary abortion. Though they were brought here against their will, their minds have become so devastated that they can no longer make normal judgments.”

The fact that other women deemed them worthy of “disposal” meant that they could no longer continue living as they had been in this society.

[Bring me all the counseling records for those 21. I want to verify them once more before execution.]

“I’ll bring them right away.”

As Thai Lady-in-Waiting briefly left her seat, Qiongqi lightly elbowed my side.

“You don’t have to work so hard.”

[When it comes to taking lives, I can’t be careless.]

It’s about removing a personality.

No matter how many experts were involved in the classification decision, I, as the executioner, must review it finally.

“Here’s the report.”

Thai Lady-in-Waiting quickly brought a tablet, and I personally checked the data on all 21 individuals sentenced to execution.

[…….]

The number of aborted fetuses exceeding double digits.

Going out to the streets of Bangkok to seduce men, ultimately sending them to God’s sanctuary.

Killing people because they couldn’t resist threats to kill if they didn’t.

Well, the report was full of horrific details that could be considered “extenuating circumstances.”

It was filled with serious incidents that were difficult to mention or even think about individually.

[This data will be reported to the Chairman through Qiongqi later, right?]

“Yes, that’s correct.”

[When submitting for approval, note the Goblin’s cooperation. I’ll add a reference opinion.]

Since the Goblin has personally verified the information, the Chairman doesn’t need to check directly.

“Excuse me? W-what exactly will you…?”

[I’ll tell the Chairman directly that there’s no need to review the counseling records of those marked for disposal. Nothing else.]

“Ah, I understand.”

“Manager Do. When you say things like that, it makes the staff nervous. They think an audit is coming.”

“……”

Thai Lady-in-Waiting smiled faintly while reading the atmosphere.

Given my role in the Syndicate, I feel somewhat sorry for making hardworking people nervous.

The Chairman’s direct executioner.

In corporate terms, like an audit team with director-level authority.

It’s natural for employees to be nervous.

Especially when I say I’ll be directly involved in the approval process.

[I’ll now begin the ‘personality execution.’ Guide me.]

“…Yes.”

Thai Lady-in-Waiting led us to a room with the tablet in hand.

Creeak.

“We already talked! What more do you want…!”

As soon as I entered the room, the succubus who was about to throw a dish froze with it still in her hand.

“G-Goblin…?”

[Have you ever killed someone?]

I sat across from the succubus, who briefly glanced at Thai Lady-in-Waiting before immediately lowering her head.

The momentary glance seemed to say, “Wasn’t this supposed to be different?”

[Why? Did someone who came in here tell you to relax? Did they say they would respect whatever choice you made and grant your wish?]

“Y-yes….”

[I regret to inform you that doesn’t apply to you.]

“!!”

The succubus tried to stand up, but I rose even faster.

[Too slow.]

I climbed onto the table and aimed my club at the succubus’s forehead.

The succubus looked up at me with fearful eyes, biting her lower lip.

“P-please spare me…! I don’t want to die…!”

[What were you doing when you heard people say those same words?]

“W-what do you mean…!”

[You killed people directly. You used your ability to kill those trying to enter the island.]

“……!!”

This woman is a murderer.

[You didn’t just kill one or two. Under Madam’s command, you personally drove boats to kidnap visitors to the island. You imprisoned the men underground and tortured the women. Isn’t that right?]

She’s not a killer created by a grim environment, but a demon in human form who enjoyed killing within that environment.

[Raise your hand if you think it’s unfair for you to die. And try saying it. Say you didn’t kill anyone.]

“I, I didn’t kill any—”

The succubus couldn’t finish her sentence.

As if seeing something even more terrifying than me, her eyes trembled and she fell backward off the chair.

“Kyaaaah!”

[We don’t need lie detectors or abilities. The truth is right in front of you.]

I create an illusion.

Through hallucinations, I make this woman see “those she killed” before her eyes.

And through my ability, I gauge the number of people this woman killed, based on the memories she created of her victims.

The number is enough to fill the room.

[Rest assured. You will be reborn. The current you will die, and you will be reborn as a new being to live for the world.]

“N-nooooo!”

Thwack!

I swung my goblin club at the succubus’s head.

The illusions filling the room gradually faded away.

Their bowing their heads as if both regretful and grateful is probably just an illusion I see to make myself feel better.

[Well then.]

I aimed my goblin club at the succubus’s head once more.

[First, the birth of ‘Big Mother.’]

Mind Crash.

Now, the succubus will die, and a new human without memories will be born.