episode_0004

After saying that, Dorothy left the lab.

Inside the lab, only 13 and Apple, who was still masturbating under command, remained.

In 13’s hand was a bundle of papers Dorothy had given him before leaving. It was the manual for various brainwashing tools she had developed.

“……Thank you, Dorothy.”

She was already gone, but he said it anyway.

Regardless of her usual way of speaking or attitude, he was immensely grateful that she hadn’t abandoned him in a situation like this and had provided such help.

It felt like a ray of light had appeared in a desperate situation.

He also understood why she had spoken so sternly at the end, which made him even more apologetic and grateful.

‘By the way. It’s truly ironic.’

‘…Become a villain,’ she said.

What exactly did Dorothy think he was?

‘I *am* a villain.’

Although he often acted foolishly, he had long ago vowed to be a villain to his very core.

So, even if Dorothy hadn’t spoken sternly, what he had to do wouldn’t change.

“Shall I take full advantage of a bunch of them, heroes?”

The tools clearly seemed designed for that very purpose. The manual for handling them was in his hand, and a test subject, currently engrossed in masturbation right before his eyes, was there for him to become familiar with the methods.

In any case, he would use everything he could. And above all, he would be true to his desires.

13 was a villain. Because he was a villain. Villains are supposed to be true to their desires.

Taking full advantage of heroes using cowardly methods… the thought that this was truly villain-like made him laugh.

***

Of course, making that decision was good, but unfortunately, heroes were naturally not easy targets.

At the very least, in a situation where their lives were on the line, they wouldn’t just readily swallow brainwashing drugs… And even if he tried to use other brainwashing tools, many difficulties would arise.

So, what should he do?

It wasn’t as if he lacked the materials.

Dorothy’s brainwashing tools included a variety of instruments that could exploit sight, hearing, touch, and smell.

Furthermore, even if she was a low-ranking one, there was one hero under his control.

He wasn’t short on preparations.

Wanting more than this would clearly be a luxury.

Therefore, what was needed now was…

“A plan will be necessary.”

13 muttered that and headed somewhere with determined steps, as if his destination was already set.

***

The villain organization 【Abyss】 had fewer members compared to other organizations. Moreover, most of them had already left, and now only four remained.

However, he wasn’t feeling despair, thanks to the fact that the remaining two members (one of whom was Dorothy), besides the boss and himself, were exceptionally capable and talented geniuses.

13 first tidied his beard and hair as Dorothy had suggested, then sought out the remaining capable subordinate.

He was currently in the hideout’s infirmary.

Tap tap—

He took a light, deep breath and knocked.

“Advisor, are you in there? I’m coming in?”

A reply came immediately from beyond the door. He could come in.

As he opened the door and entered, the distinct smell of medicine, typical of an infirmary, wafted out.

“It’s been a while… Lord 13….”

A strained voice came from inside.

On the bed, there was a patient whose entire body was tightly wrapped in bandages like a mummy.

His entire body, including his face, was wrapped in bandages, yet he still wore glasses perched comically above his peeking eyes.

He was the last remaining capable subordinate.

He was the man known as the Advisor, who boasted ghost-like wisdom and strategy.

***

Ghost-like wisdom. Judgment like a sage.

A strategist reminiscent of Zhuge Liang.

…Even if some subjective exaggeration was included, the man before him, the Advisor, was nonetheless a genius befitting such a reputation.

He was a different kind of genius from Dorothy, and although he was an Awakened, his genius was unrelated to the abilities of his awakened constellation.

Originally, only women could become Awakened, but remarkably, he was one of only two beings, alongside 13, who had become Awakened in a male body.

Thanks to this, 13 felt a special camaraderie towards the Advisor.

Furthermore, for some reason, he had sworn very deep loyalty to 13.

That loyalty was unwavering and trustworthy.

To the extent that 13 was certain that even if everyone else in the world betrayed him, only the Advisor would remain by his side.

“What on earth happened to you while I was gone?”

He was originally a detestably handsome man with neat hair, a delicate face, and an intellectual aura, almost like a playboy.

But now, he was so tightly wrapped in bandages that almost none of that appearance was visible.

He had heard a rough explanation from Dorothy, but seeing him in person, his condition seemed quite terrible.

“I’m sorry that you had to go out into the field while I was away.”

13 apologized readily.

Going into the field was originally the job of an action leader like 13.

The Advisor, who should have been commanding from the rear, was forced to go to the front lines, and ended up in this state while trying to protect as many subordinates as possible.

It was all due to 13’s lack of virtue and his fault.

To his apology, the Advisor replied that he was fine, speaking with a slight jest from beneath his bandages.

“It was something I wanted to do. And I believed Lord 13 would return. …Though I’m afraid I’ve had to show you an empty hideout….”

Those grateful words almost brought tears to his eyes.

The Advisor was truly the best.

If the Advisor were a woman, he was such a good person that 13 would propose to him immediately.

He was family-oriented, a good cook, smart, earned good money, and had no flaws whatsoever. What’s more, he was such an excellent person that 13 didn’t even feel jealous despite him being a man.

Truly, if the Advisor were a woman, 13 wouldn’t be able to leave him alone.

“It’s a good thing the Advisor is a man. Otherwise, I would’ve pestered him to marry me right away.”

As 13 mumbled it out, for some reason, the Advisor twitched.

“……What was that all of a sudden?”

“No, it doesn’t mean anything else. It’s just that the Advisor is such a great guy. I was just thinking, ‘If you were a woman, I’d propose right away~’ Wow, it really is a good thing you’re a man.”

13 laughed heartily to lighten the mood, but for some reason, the Advisor didn’t laugh.

Was it because he was covered by bandages?

Well now, he said it to make him laugh.

***

Once he had relaxed a bit, he relayed the current situation.

It seemed the Advisor was already aware of Abyss’s current situation anyway, and the main topic was this ‘brainwashing manual’ he had just received from Dorothy.

Should he call it a manual?

It felt more like a report detailing the progress of observations.

“Indeed. Brainwashing tools… and a low-ranking hero from Unit 7.”

The Advisor looked into the air and muttered, as if organizing his thoughts after listening to 13’s story.

13 had told him quite a lot, but the Advisor would have remembered everything the moment he heard it, without needing to take notes. This was why they were geniuses.

“But Advisor, can’t you do something about that body? Can’t you do that thing you always do?”

13 suddenly asked, sounding puzzled.

The Advisor was originally a villain known as ‘the Immortal’.

He was called that because no matter how many times he was killed, he wouldn’t die.

To be precise, he did die, but he wouldn’t stay dead because he would soon reappear in a different body.

His body appeared to be that of a flesh-and-blood human no matter how one looked at it, but in reality, it was a fake body created with his magic… merely a doll.

Thus, he prolonged his life by moving his consciousness between these dolls every time.

That was why he had earned the nickname ‘the Immortal’.

Wouldn’t these injuries also heal completely if he just moved to a new body? So why was he still like this?

“Well, that’s a bit difficult to explain.”

“? What do you mean?”

“…Actually, while Lord 13 was absent….”

While 13 was absent, the Advisor had been deployed to the front lines several times. This was due to a lack of personnel.

And on those front lines, he had already suffered fatal injuries and switched bodies several times. He had repeated it quite a few times.

“And now, I’ve run out of stock… My magic reserves are quite small, so it’ll take about a month to create the next body….”

13 was speechless. He couldn’t lift his head due to apology and guilt.

“Please lift your head, Lord 13. It’s alright.”

“No, but if you had died even in this body, you would have really been finished.”

“Haha, I do have something more to say about that, but it really is fine.”

The Advisor spoke with a kind smile.

“Anyway, I didn’t die, and even if this body were to be destroyed… there’s ……”

The Advisor said something, but he spoke so deliberately softly that it wasn’t clearly audible.

13 considered asking again, but the Advisor seemed unwilling to be questioned further, so he gave up.

That aside, the question was what to do now.

“Hmm. Listening to Lord 13’s story has given me a good idea. No, more than that, we have excellent materials now. The methods we can employ are endless.”

“Really?”

“Yes. It will take some time to organize, but it’s definitely possible. Lord 13, please look forward to it.”

If the Advisor said so, then it was truly possible.

“You’re the best, Advisor! Thank you! There’s no one like you! I love you!”

“…Ah, yes.”

As expected, ‘I love you’ between men might have been a bit gross. The Advisor’s expression somehow turned subtle. Of course, with the bandages, his expression wasn’t very visible anyway.

At any rate, all preparations were complete.

He had received tools from Dorothy, had Apple as a test subject, and had the reliable brain of the Advisor.

All that remained was for him to personally go out into the field with this body and face the challenges.

Could he truly succeed…?