episode_0035

■■ Villain Attack at the Department Store.

This incident involved a villain named Number 13 from the villain organization 【Abyss】 completely taking over a department store. As it was a holiday afternoon, a significant number of ordinary citizens were taken hostage.

Fortunately, thanks to the quick thinking of the Unit 7 heroes who arrived as backup, the hostages were safely released. However, a hero was unfortunately captured and dragged away.

Setting aside the supporting hero, the stock of Villain Number 13, whom even two heroes couldn’t subdue, and the organization he belonged to, soared once again.

[Villain 13’s Grand Revival]

[Beware the Villain Organization 【Abyss】]

Articles like these were everywhere on the internet and SNS.

“……That’s strange.”

And yet.

Spade, who had personally experienced everything and seen everything with her own eyes in the midst of that incident, was feeling an inexplicable, uneasy sensation due to her somewhat ambiguous memories of the time.

The memory of the moment when the two of them confronted Number 13 together.

And the time when they planned a strategy and split up to search for Number 13.

……Strange. There’s no reason for it to be strange, but it is.

However, no matter how much she thought about it, no answer came, so Spade had no choice but to put that question aside.

Thus, the memories and the sense of unease from that time slowly weathered away as time passed.

* * *

Hiss― Hiss――

Hiss― Hiss――

‘………………?’

Club, whose consciousness had been lost in darkness, faintly stirred, feeling a presence on her skin.

It felt like someone was nearby, but she couldn’t tell who it was.

Her vision was pitch black, and she realized it wasn’t because the room was dark, but because something was covering her eyes.

When she instinctively tried to move her arm, it wouldn’t obey, making a clanking sound.

It seemed she was restrained by something, whether handcuffs or something else.

『――――――』

『――――――――』

Someone was speaking. She heard low voices.

From the presence she sensed, there were two people nearby.

She was skilled at sensing presences, having been taught by her master, Coco.

She had always been taught in a Spartan manner to easily sense presences even when asleep.

She faintly recalled.

What had happened to her, and what was happening now.

‘Department store… villain….’

‘Spade Senior-nim… Number 13….’

Through her fragmented thoughts, she recalled and considered.

She could barely remember that there had been a villain attack.

She also remembered fighting alongside Spade Senior-nim to apprehend Villain Number 13.

And.

And.

And….

Hiss― Hiss―

‘Ah… this smell….’

Again.

The strange gas, continuously and periodically sprayed into her mouth and nose since earlier.

When she inhaled this gas, her head felt like it was floating, and her bones felt like they were melting.

Her thoughts once again sank as if falling into a swamp of unconsciousness.

Her head felt heavy.

Her eyes were slowly trying to close again.

No… no….

I must… stay awake….

……….

…Senior…-nim……….

* * *

“How’s her condition, Strategist?”

“Number 13-nim. You’ve arrived.”

In the infirmary of the villain organization 【Abyss】.

On one of the many beds lay Club, Hero of Unit 7.

Lying naked except for the blindfold over her eyes, her hands were fixed above her with handcuffs, preventing movement.

A respirator connected to a special machine was attached to cover her mouth and nose.

Inside the respirator, the hypnotic brainwashing gas developed by Dorothy was periodically hissing out.

“For now, there are no problems. It seems she won’t wake up until Miss Dorothy’s specialized brainwashing device is ready to activate.”

“That’s a relief. I just saw it, that machine looks really scary.”

“…So, did Miss Dorothy say anything?”

“……I got an earful.”

The Strategist, whose sparkling silver hair was dazzling today, didn’t look at Number 13. Instead, he was teasing Club by poking and fiddling with her modest, exposed chest and the nipples at their peak.

His attitude seemed quite sulky.

“Are you angry?”

“I’m not angry.”

“…You seem angry.”

“After all, the other two must have been plenty angry already.”

Number 13’s rampage seemed to displease the Strategist quite a bit.

Originally, he and the Strategist had agreed to flee without question if ‘a sudden situation occurred’ or ‘Number 13’s stored magic power ran out.’

However, when the time came, Number 13 refused the Strategist’s suggestion and returned to that dangerous scene.

That was the moment Spade resisted the brainwashing. So, couldn’t some kind of problem have occurred with the brainwashing applied to Club as well?

Furthermore, wasn’t the danger from Spade, who had once broken free from brainwashing, still ongoing? Even if they had been separated, there was a possibility that Spade, having noticed something strange, would come back to find Club.

Fortunately, Apple intervened and brought Spade back under control, so no further problems arose. Still, there was no denying that Number 13’s actions were careless and dangerous.

“I am the Strategist. And as a Strategist, I believe that the survival of Number 13-nim should be prioritized above all else, in any situation.”

“Even if we miss the heroes, even if things go wrong, if you are just alive, we can start over as many times as we need, can’t we?”

“But, Number 13-nim…”

The Strategist mumbled, sounding gloomy.

Number 13 awkwardly scratched the back of his head at his subordinate’s dejected attitude.

He had already gotten an earful from Dorothy and the Boss about that matter.

『Are you trying to die, you fool!!』

The Boss’s sharp, scolding words still echoed in his ears. Additionally, Dorothy had trampled on Number 13’s toes, muttering ‘he’s crazy for wanting to die.’ It still hurt.

But that also meant they worried about Number 13. They valued Number 13’s life more than the success or failure of the operation. That made him subtly grateful, and a ticklish feeling spread in his chest.

“I’m sorry about this time. I’ll do better from now on. I’ll definitely listen next time.”

“I know you, Number 13-nim. You’ll never keep that promise.”

“…I’ll try.”

Only after receiving Number 13’s apology did the Strategist seem to relax.

Regardless of the process, wasn’t the result satisfactory? They had kidnapped the hero they wanted, exacted some revenge, and most importantly, obtained evidence of their activity to submit to the ‘Villain Alliance.’ The prestige of the villain organization ‘Abyss’ had also risen considerably.

Ah… *moan*…

Next to the Strategist, who was playfully toying with one of Club’s nipples as if it were cute, Number 13 also freely massaged and pinched the remaining nipple, playing with it.

The defenseless hero-nim, whose eyes were covered by a blindfold and who was restrained by handcuffs, seemed to be asleep, yet every time she was touched, her breathing would sensitively falter, and she would toss and turn her body.

* * *

Click…

At Unit 7’s base, on the dormitory floor.

The door to one of the rooms opened, and Apple quietly stepped into the hallway.

She wore large round glasses, and her hair was braided into two pigtails like a cat’s tail. Her outfit was light and simple.

It was a modest attire suitable for such a late hour, but upon closer inspection, a faint trace of makeup was visible.

It wasn’t just a simple night stroll; she had come out after being summoned by Number 13.

“Apple?”

“Ah… Spade-ssi.”

She had intended to slip out quietly, unnoticed by anyone, but after only a few steps, she ran right into Spade, who was returning to her own room.

Spade was dressed simply in a sports bra that exposed her midriff and dolphin shorts.

Sweat beaded profusely all over her body, glistening like pearls under the moonlight streaming through the window.

“Were you exercising until this hour?”

“Yeah… I couldn’t sleep. I just can’t sit still, for various reasons.”

Spade said in a somber voice.

Having had several experiences, it shouldn’t have been the first time for Spade to encounter something like this.

Still, since such an incident occurred at a scene she was present at, her heart must have been too heavy to bear.

It was just like Spade, with her strong sense of responsibility.

“Apple, where are you going at this hour? The convenience store?”

“I also couldn’t sleep well. And I’m worried about Club-ssi. …I thought I’d take a short walk.”

“Should I go with you? It’s very late. It’s dangerous for a woman to walk alone.”

“But aren’t you also a woman, Spade-ssi?”

“I’m a bit different.”

“Hehe… I appreciate the offer, but this time, just a little…”

Apple deliberately trailed off, glancing at the smartphone in her hand.

At that, Spade made a knowing expression.

“You’re going to meet your boyfriend, aren’t you?”

She had vaguely known that Apple had recently gotten a lover. Apple herself had mentioned it.

She was curious who Apple’s lover was and had asked to see a photo several times, but Apple had never shown her.

“Because of what happened to Club-ssi, I just couldn’t sit still. …Do you think I’m pathetic for meeting my boyfriend at a time like this?”

“Not at all. I don’t think that.”

Originally, Apple feeling responsible for this was something that shouldn’t happen.

Heroes are each responsible for their own actions.

Therefore, whatever happened to Club, it shouldn’t become a burden on others.

Even if one calls it bleak.

That’s the world of heroes.

It’s a world where it’s not strange for the person next to you to die at any moment.

‘Apple-ssi probably hasn’t experienced many actual scenes. She must be feeling even more burdened than I am.’

In that case, she hoped her boyfriend would take good care of her. Spade herself wasn’t good with words and wasn’t confident in handling such things.

“Then have a good trip. Be careful on your way.”

And so, without any further suspicion, Spade no longer stopped Apple and returned to her room.