episode_0106

“…Hmph.”

Rahe let out a small sigh. Her face seemed expressionless at first glance, but anyone who knew her well could tell at a glance that it was steeped in grief and anger.

Apple lay collapsed on the floor. Apple and Villain 13 had prepared several safeguards and brainwashing triggers for contingencies, but any action to activate the prepared triggers, such as immediately covering her mouth or avoiding eye contact, was completely blocked, and they were ultimately subdued helplessly.

It wasn’t that the memories of being brainwashed resurfaced.

But she could instinctively feel that something had happened to her. And that intuition alone was enough for her to become suspicious and take action.

Rahe was a veteran who had experienced many battlefields. Check and Coco had also experienced the historic villain terror known as the “Great Disaster,” but it was merely dipping their toes into the fringes of it.

In contrast, Rahe had been active as a hero during the peak of the terror, achieving remarkable feats across various battlefields.

Having traversed so many battlefields, she had inevitably encountered various types of awakened individuals, including those who wielded mind-manipulating magic.

They would directly manipulate the opponent’s mind with magic, or concoct potions through alchemy to turn them into puppet slaves.

In any case, thanks to her past experience dealing with such individuals, Rahe quickly sensed that something was wrong and was able to respond appropriately.

‘Interrogation…’

Rahe bound Apple’s arms and legs, covering her eyes and mouth, and thought. Judging by Apple’s reaction just now, it seemed dangerous to let her speak. It would be best to be careful with the interrogation.

And even without an interrogation, it wasn’t difficult to guess who the mastermind was.

“Villain, 13…!”

Rahe snarled in anger, recalling the face of a man.

* * *

Villain 13 received the call while he was drafting the “Paradise Harem Roadmap,” a plan for how he would spend his time after brainwashing Rahe.

The “Harem Paradise Roadmap” was a kind of plan, a compilation of various novel and enjoyable brainwashing ideas that came to him, detailing how to manage and enjoy the distinctive beauties of the 7th Squad, and how to avoid falling into a rut.

It was a truly meaningless and useless plan, but he had been idle enough to be sitting around creating such a thing.

As he was killing time in such idleness, a call came in from Apple’s number.

Looking at the time, it seemed to be when Apple usually offered Rahe coffee after a meal. For the past few days, Apple had been giving Rahe coffee mixed with brainwashing drugs at this time every day, conducting short and simple brainwashing sessions.

This call, too, must be the routine contact after today’s brainwashing session.

Villain 13 thought so and answered the phone nonchalantly.

And then he froze at the voice coming from beyond the speaker.

[Hello there, Villain 13. It seems this is our first time speaking like this, rather than through email. Wouldn’t you agree?]

It was a call from Apple’s number.

Strangely, the voice from the other side was that of Rahe, the Captain of the 7th Squad.

That alone was enough for Villain 13 to instinctively realize that something was wrong.

“…Uh…”

[Ah, there’s no point in answering that. It’s just a voice recorded using a recorder. I know that you intend to use certain words, phrases, sentences, or voices to mentally control me.]

Rahe, speaking from beyond the smartphone speaker, preemptively stated.

Indeed, he had wondered why the voice echoed so strangely; so that was why.

If Rahe had been speaking directly over the phone, it would have been a chance, but as things stood, there was nothing Villain 13 could do.

He remained silent, waiting for Rahe’s next words.

[Apple, whom you had under your control, has been subdued by my hand. She is currently unconscious and asleep.]

[You’ve done something quite audacious. You’ve made it utterly impossible for me to forgive you.]

[I’ll give you credit. In recent times, as we’ve been finding peace in many ways, you’re just about the only villain who has angered me this much.]

[I am truly angry right now.]

It was a recorded voice. And a voice coming from beyond the phone.

Yet, the killing intent and oppressive aura, felt with abnormal clarity, made Villain 13 break out in a cold sweat.

“Ah, well, you see,” he muttered involuntarily, but quickly remembered that the person on the other end of the line was just a recording device.

Unable to deny or make excuses, Rahe’s next words continued.

[If you’re still hoping for a chance to make amends, then fine.]

[Shall we meet face-to-face?]

[That place where you previously returned Club. Let’s meet there.]

The proposal was unexpected. Meet directly? What was her intention? Wasn’t she currently avoiding even direct conversation like this, wary of being manipulated?

Whether knowing Villain 13’s doubts or not, Rahe’s calm voice continued.

[You don’t have to think of it as a trap. I promise on my constellation. I will not call anyone else to that spot. I will go to the appointed place alone.]

[You may bring as many of your allies as you wish. Call 100 or 1000; it doesn’t matter.]

[I will give you two hours starting now. If you don’t arrive within that time, I will consider you not coming, and I will personally kill all of my subordinates who are presumed to have fallen into your hands.]

[And I will definitely kill you, and the organization you belong to. I will pursue you to the ends of hell, find you, and kill you in the most horrifying way imaginable.]

[…If you don’t want that, then please, do come. Let’s have that conversation you so desperately desire.]

Rahe’s message ended there.

Silence seemed to stretch for a while, then the call disconnected.

Villain 13 considered calling Apple’s number again, then stopped himself.

And he clutched his head, letting out a sigh.

“I’m screwed…”

What on earth was this? How did things end up like this…?

* * *

After delivering the message to Villain 13, Rahe bound Apple, tied her up, and put her in the car, then immediately started driving.

The destination was the exact location Villain 13 had previously sent via email. There was no other place that came to mind for a secret meeting with a villain, and it was thought that if it was his home turf, he would be more likely to agree to the meeting.

Although she had sent a threatening message to Villain 13, to be honest, Rahe was the anxious one.

It was true that Apple had been swayed by the villain, and perhaps the kidnapped Club was too. Broadening the scope of speculation, perhaps even Spade, Check, and Coco… meaning there was a possibility that all members of the 7th Squad had already fallen into his hands.

In any case, it was clear that there were subordinates from the 7th Squad who had fallen into Villain 13’s hands.

If Villain 13 were to disappear and not reappear in this situation, then Rahe and the 7th Squad would truly be in trouble.

Although things had improved significantly compared to the past, awakened individuals in this country were still treated like cancerous tumors or festering sores.

Awakened individuals had no human rights. This was because they were treated as walking weapons or infectious diseases.

If it became known that her subordinates (even if brainwashed) had joined a villain, there was no telling what kind of treatment they would receive. They would certainly suffer a terrible fate; that much was certain.

Therefore, for Rahe, the best course of action was to persuade Villain 13 to restore everything to its original state before this matter became known to others and before any incident occurred.

That was why Rahe decided to meet Villain 13 alone, even at a disadvantage to herself.

She was fully aware of the risks: that he might attempt mind control when they met face-to-face, or that he might gather a large number of villains to corner her.

At this moment, meeting Villain 13 by any means necessary was more important than those risks. She needed to get information from him, and if possible, persuade him.

Persuasion. How best to persuade him?

If money could solve it, that would be best, but if not, she would have to resort to violence. And if even that proved useless─

‘…myself.’

Rahe thought for a moment, gripping the steering wheel, then let out a long sigh and pressed the accelerator pedal.

The engine roared louder, and the car she was driving continued along the road.

If negotiation failed, she would have to kill Villain 13.

But what if Villain 13 didn’t show up? Or what if Villain 13 did come to the appointed place, but she failed to kill him this time?

…In that event, she would take full responsibility and deal with her subordinates.

And she would certainly find Villain 13, tear him and his comrades to pieces, and after completing her revenge, she would take her own life.

That was how she would take responsibility for this blunder, as everyone’s captain.

With firm resolve in her eyes, the vehicle she was driving drew closer to the designated location.

There was still a little over an hour left until her appointed time….