episode_0097

“……?!”

“Number 13-nim…?!”

Rahe’s hand, which should have been in a hypnotic state, grabbed Number 13-nim’s arm as it reached for her.

“Has she woken up?” Number 13-nim tensed, looking at Rahe, but there was no other reaction.

It doesn’t seem like she’s woken up….

Then, is it a reflex? Is she trying to counterattack someone who tries to lay a hand on her without permission, even while unconscious?

Anyway, Number 13-nim didn’t know, but she could only stand frozen. She saw Rahe’s eyelids faintly trembling.

She worried that if she moved carelessly, Rahe might regain her senses.

“Number 13-nim. Calm down. Slowly, slowly… When I give the signal, you can remove your hand.”

Apple approached and intervened. When Apple carefully extended a hand towards Rahe, fortunately, Rahe didn’t stop her.

It seems Rahe’s reflex only occurs against men… or specifically against Number 13-nim.

So Apple slowly soothed Rahe and carefully removed her hand. Number 13-nim also pulled her arm free from Rahe’s grasp.

Rahe returned to an upright posture, and Number 13-nim distanced herself from Rahe.

This is the first time something like this has happened. My heart is pounding because of it.

I have to be careful. If Rahe wakes up, a disaster will occur.

I’ve already asked the Chief of Staff to warp me away through the shadow whenever I seem to be in danger, but….

“…Alright. Let’s try again.”

Number 13-nim, tense in many ways, began to converse with Rahe, keeping a slight distance.

Rahe barely responded to what Number 13-nim said. But when the questions were relayed through Apple, she answered about two out of three.

Was it because Apple had been directly brainwashing Rahe after administering the brainwashing drug until now? Or was it an issue of intimacy? Or perhaps Rahe recognized Number 13-nim as a villain.

This situation was definitely an anomaly. I thought I could just put her in a hypnotic state and manipulate her as I had before.

‘I don’t know how long this situation will continue.’

All the data collected so far has become useless. It’s impossible to tell how long Rahe, being an anomaly, will remain in her current hypnotic state.

There’s a possibility that she could regain consciousness at any moment and attack Number 13-nim again.

I thought it was going smoothly, but it seems the leader of the 7th unit isn’t such an easy opponent.

“『What will you do, Number 13-nim?』”

The Chief of Staff’s voice echoed in my head. It was long-distance communication through the shadow. A smartphone with a video call was propped up nearby, sharing the situation with the Chief of Staff.

The Chief of Staff, with a voice full of concern, advised Number 13-nim to retreat, saying it would be better to keep the danger in check.

The Chief of Staff’s suggestion is correct. Definitely, it would be.

But unfortunately, I cannot follow that advice now. One of the remaining three days has already passed, leaving only two days excluding today.

To brainwash Rahe to the necessary extent by then, I cannot delay any longer.

Therefore, I’ll proceed again.

“…Apple. Let Rahe take the brainwashing drug.”

Number 13-nim instructed Apple, handing her the drug and a handkerchief. Apple followed the instructions, covering Rahe’s mouth and nose with the drug-soaked handkerchief.

For a moment, Rahe’s fingertips twitched. Number 13-nim tensed and prepared, but fortunately, Rahe didn’t do anything.

“Now, Captain Rahe. Slowly, slowly, breathe in.”

*Inhale*… *Inhale*…

Rahe inhaled regularly, taking in the scent of the drug deeply from the handkerchief.

It’s not good to let her inhale too much of the drug. Dorothy said so and told me the proper amount, but now I’m making her inhale a little more and for a longer time.

Soon, Rahe’s body appeared even more relaxed than before. Apple slowly removed the handkerchief from Rahe’s mouth.

“…Rahe. Can you hear me? If you can hear me, nod your head.”

“…….”

There was no verbal answer from Rahe. However, she nodded her head. She responded even without Apple relaying the message.

Is this the effect of injecting more of the brainwashing drug? Or is Rahe gradually getting used to Number 13-nim?

“(Number 13-nim. Can I speak for a moment?)”

Suddenly, Apple whispered to her.

“(From now on, I think we need to set a clear direction for the brainwashing. Either pinpoint Captain Rahe’s weaknesses or reduce her aversion to Number 13-nim.)”

Apple advised her. I had already received help many times and thought I wouldn’t need it anymore, but it seems that wasn’t the case.

More than that, a direction.

‘Apple accepts me, but she rejects me. This must be due to a difference in intimacy, right?’

‘If so, would it be better to make her perceive me as someone she’s closer to?’

If I were to get closer, what would be best? A lover? A colleague? Family?

I thought about Rahe’s personality. I had already gathered, organized, and confirmed as much information as possible, both public and daily, about her.

Although not perfect, I thought about it based on what I somewhat understood about Rahe.

Number 13-nim pondered briefly. A conclusion quickly emerged. She had to decide. Because as the period of contemplation lengthened, she saw Rahe’s hand tense up again.

“Rahe, open your ears and listen carefully.”

“From now on, everything I say will become ‘truth’─.”

Licking her lips.

With a tense expression, Number 13-nim injected the words of brainwashing into Rahe.

* * *

…………………..

………….

…….

‘……?’

Within her dim consciousness. She felt as if she had dreamt. Rahe thought. Rahe pondered.

She felt as if someone had said something.

Come to think of it, Apple. No, the man who came with Apple.

That’s right. That man was a villain. Why was he with Apple?

…Ah, my head feels heavy. It’s foggy, like a mist has settled, and my thoughts aren’t processing properly. What should I do?

She didn’t know how much time had passed since then. It felt like moments ago, yet also like an eternity.

Her consciousness sank back into the darkness. She fell back into sleep. But she shouldn’t sleep. She had to wake up.

Because I am a hero. I must defeat evil and enforce justice. Villains must be defeated─

“『Rahe’s stone door, open sesame.』 …Now, wake up, Rahe.”

And.

With that voice, Rahe’s consciousness, which had been sinking into darkness, was pulled back up. It rose to the surface.

Rahe’s trembling eyelids slowly opened. Before her was Apple, and beside Apple, a man.

He. He. He.

“Excuse me, Rahe. Do you remember who I am?”

“……Yes, of course.”

After a very brief silence, Rahe opened her mouth.

Bewilderment flickered in her eyes, and she quickly saluted Number 13-nim.

“Forgive my oversight. I greet you, Administrator-nim.”

An Administrator. An individual with a rank that manages and inspects each unit of the Hero Association, belonging to the Headquarters Chief of Staff.

To explain it more simply, though the field is different, in terms of rank and position alone, they are Rahe’s superior, who is the unit’s captain.

In Rahe’s eyes, Villain Number 13 appeared as an Administrator. Apple, standing beside him, seemed like a secretary assisting the Administrator-nim in her duties.

It was certainly strange for a superior at work, especially an Administrator, to visit her home directly. But Rahe didn’t find it strange.

From the start, in Rahe’s eyes, this home appeared not as her officetel but as the Captain’s office at the 7th Unit’s base.

“Yes. I apologize for this unannounced, sudden visit, Captain Rahe.”

“Not at all.”

“Yes. Ah, that’s enough with the salute.”

“Yes. Administrator-nim, would you like coffee? I will have a subordinate prepare it.”

“No. If you need anything, you can just ask the secretary here. I’ve already ordered all members of the 7th Unit to go home. Understand, Captain Rahe? It’s just ‘us’ and ‘Captain Rahe’ here—just the three of us.”

When Number 13-nim spoke, Rahe readily accepted it.

She didn’t seem to doubt that this was the 7th Unit’s base, nor that the man before her was her superior.

Rahe’s perception-altering brainwashing, which had been touch-and-go, seemed to have succeeded without a hitch.

“Do you know why I’ve come to visit today?”

“…For what, reason?”

“What do you think it’s for?”

She asked back, meeting Rahe’s eyes as she stood upright in the middle of the room. Rahe pondered for a moment, then calmly replied.

“Is it because of… the Club member’s incident?”

Only that came to mind. If suddenly personnel were dispatched from Headquarters for supervision.

Rahe had made a grave mistake by having her subordinate abducted by a villainous organization. Not only Club, who was abducted, but Rahe herself would find it hard to avoid discipline and accountability.

Moreover, for her subordinate’s career, Rahe had deliberately altered the report’s contents to downplay Club’s mistake and emphasize it as her own.

It was a sufficient reason for the Administrator-nim to visit in person. Natural and understandable.

“I’m glad you seem to know, Captain Rahe. I came here because I believe there’s a need to reconfirm Captain Rahe’s qualifications as a captain and her command abilities regarding that matter.”

Number 13-nim rubbed her hands together, continuing in a gentle, low voice.

“Well, you don’t have to be too nervous. I’m just conducting a simple examination and verification… Will you cooperate, Captain Rahe?”

Rahe saluted again, solemnly agreeing to Number 13-nim’s words.