READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 161
“So, Regalia finally shared the secret she’d kept hidden for so long.”
Her parents’ murder, the creation of an Evil Organization to find the culprit, and the fact that she had just recently discovered the identity of that very enemy…
In the face of such heavy burdens carried by a child who had only lived for a little over ten years, the executives of the Evil Organization remained silent, swallowing their words.
“Did that really happen?”
“Miss…”
“Bing bang—Levitan will get you!”
“You guys…”
Despite publicly announcing that the organization was founded for highly personal reasons, Regalia felt a wave of emotion wash over her as the executives nodded in agreement without a hint of disappointment. Is this what they call affection?
While Regalia tried to hold back tears, Ayle, sensing the awkward atmosphere, gently tugged at Eight’s sleeve and whispered in his ear.
“Um, isn’t it illegal to found an organization for personal reasons?”
“We’re villains, Ayle…”
“Ah…”
Six shed tears upon realizing that Boss had felt similar pain, while Arima found it intriguing that such beings existed in this world.
As all the executives unified in their vow to help Regalia with her revenge, she immediately opened her mouth, wiping away her tears.
“So, Eight. Have you found their base yet?”
“We’re currently investigating.”
“Please be as quick as possible.”
“Yes, don’t worry.”
“This time—do whatever it takes.”
At Regalia’s permission, Eight grinned widely.
In truth, whether she approved or not, the two they had captured were already undergoing reconfiguration in the laboratory.
When they opened their eyes, they would no longer resemble their former selves.
* * *
“Wha—what is this?!”
A sharp voice echoed—a scream that sounded like a child’s, filling the laboratory. Waking from my nap, I rubbed my eyes and headed inside.
A red-headed boy, newly extracted from a machine, was rolling on the floor completely naked. Judging by the other machine still shut, it seemed another one was not yet complete.
Watching the kid topple over like a just-born fawn who couldn’t quite find its feet, I draped a spare lab coat over his shoulders.
“I can see everything.”
“See it or not, what’s the deal here?!”
“You said you wanted to die, right? You wanted to give up on life. So I just made that happen?”
Looking at Powerful, who seemed utterly baffled by my words, I grabbed a nearby chair and sat down in front of him.
“Your body. As a Guardian, it had all sorts of flaws. Like being bound to your genes, or being manipulated by absolute commands.”
“…So what?”
“I’ve removed all those issues. You’re free now.”
“Free, huh…?”
At that, Powerful glanced down at his own body. Shortened limbs. A chubby body. An unresponsive appendage.
“…And you made me like this?”
That’s right. Powerful was reborn.
To be more precise, he had been turned into a child.
Seeing Powerful glare at me with resentment, I shrugged.
“Can’t be helped, right? Your original body was loaded with too much stuff.”
But I had my reasons too. I couldn’t have undone all those modifications while maintaining his original body. Once cleared of them, what was left was only enough to craft a child-like physique.
He wouldn’t have to live in that body for life. After suffering for just over ten years, he would be fine, and his abilities were still intact. Being younger was more of a blessing than a curse.
“Anyway—I’ve freed you from the burdens you were born with, and from any potential hassles. Powerful.”
“…I appreciate that.”
“So now—from here on out—you belong to me. That’s our deal.”
“Huh? What do you mean -?”
As Powerful, flustered and confused, tried to process my words, he halted, sensing something off. I stared back at him with an expression that said, “What are you gonna do about it?”
Even though I had liberated him from various obligations, it didn’t mean I’d removed all the safety measures. His abilities still couldn’t reach the Fourth Dimension, as he now bore an entirely new set of responsibilities.
“Well, you’ll only have to deal with it for about ten years. I’ll release you by the time you become an adult.”
“Damn it… just when I thought I got free…”
“Isn’t this better than a permanent contract without an expiration date?”
Powerful could no longer refuse my orders.
At the same time, he could no longer harm me or our Evil Organization.
It meant he had to devote his powers, his life entirely, to me and our group. I genuinely intended to release him in ten years, but…
Shiiiiiing-!
Just then, a machine next to Powerful began to emit cold air and opened up. Out tumbled a cute girl with white hair. My jaw dropped at the sight.
“…It was a girl?”
“…Who is she?”
“Mr. Raise… Wait, you didn’t know either?”
Gak cough-! Mr. Raise rose, looking around before finally nodding as if to grasp the situation and hugged the now younger Mr. Powerful around the neck. Whispering softly into his ear, she said:
“…I’m never letting you go again.”
“Huh? What do you mean all of a sudden…?”
Seeing the sudden display of affection between the two, I reflected carefully and decided to make my exit from the lab. Even I, who lacked social skills, could tell that sticking around wasn’t the polite thing to do.
“Hope you have a lovely romance…”
“Hey, wait—!”
As Powerful’s voice trailed off behind me, I quietly slipped out of the laboratory, praying for the success of the love between the two…
* * *
Time passed.
Now, facing the two still clinging to each other like a couple of collies, I began to speak.
“You guys are now my subordinates, and after ten years of work, I’ll release you. Got it?”
“…Got it.”
“…Understood.”
No lengthy persuasion was needed. What could they do if they said no? They’d have to die instead. When I told them to do that, they refused. Was it really the same Powerful who had been whining for death not too long ago?
“First off—the base you mentioned. There was nothing there.”
“I didn’t lie…”
“I know. They probably moved their base already.”
From the information I had gathered from the two, I had tracked down the locations where that guy’s Guardians were residing, or the forged identities and shell accounts they were using.
However, the base had long been abandoned, identities wiped clean, and the money vanished through untraceable methods. The bank security systems of this age, enhanced through abilities, were advanced enough that I couldn’t find any traces. How on earth was I supposed to track down money that vanished through supernatural means?
Well, while there might be ways using illegal methods… just like they were bound by obligation, I was still a model citizen tethered to morals, ethics, and laws.
“So, do you guys know anything?”
“Something we know? Well… How could we know what you can’t find?”
“But you were Guardians too, right?”
“Just because we’re Guardians doesn’t mean we’re good at finding information… after all, we didn’t have any information networks or anything.”
“Pathetic.”
Though I insulted them, I somewhat understood why. To them, humans were like ants. Ants that needed protection. As long as they regulated their numbers while ensuring the safety of those ants, why would they need to befriend them or gather information spread among them?
Anyone who did that would be considered not human, but rather a madman who views himself as an ant. Or maybe just an ant enthusiast… Unfortunately, neither of them were such weirdos.
“Since it feels odd to use your old names, I think we should change them.”
“I don’t really care.”
“No, it’s uncomfortable for me. What kind of name is Powerful, anyway?”
I couldn’t possibly use their old names for the tasks I had in mind. I could just imagine how modern kids would react to hearing those names.
I thought about their old names, nicknames, abilities, and tried coming up with something fitting. Just then, a great name popped into my head.
“Alright. From now on, you two are Ares and Athena.”
“Ares?”
“…Athena.”
Two gods from Greek mythology. Perfectly suitable names for war and conquest. After receiving their new names, the two looked at me as if to say, “So what do we do now?” pondering their names.
“Ares, Athena. Here’s your first mission. You’re going to… elementary school.”
“Huh…?”
“…What?”
“Because there’s someone to protect.”
I had thought this from the moment I first saw them.
They must possess abilities that allow them to become stronger than others.
Or abilities that inherently weaken those around them.
It seemed like they had skills especially designed to protect someone.
* * *
“So, you want us to use these two as bodyguards?”
“Yes, Boss.”
Hearing the scientist’s words, Regalia frowned as she looked at the two young students beside him. Even though there were already too many bodyguards, now he wanted to take them to school?
Of course, now that it was vacation time and the new semester was about to start, it was the perfect timing for a bodyguard in their age bracket. Still…
“Well, fine. If that’s what you say.”
“Thank you, Boss.”
“By the way, Scientist. I have something to discuss.”
“Yes, anything.”
“Do you happen to know anything about diseases or poisons?”
At that question, Eight’s eyes widened in surprise as he quickly replied.
“Are you sick?”
“No, no—nothing like that… just, um…
Regalia, seemingly embarrassed, stumbled over her words. Yet, realizing it was a serious issue, she cautiously continued.
“I… I’m bleeding.”
“Huh?”
“I woke up and I’m bleeding. What kind of disease is this…?”
Upon hearing that, Eight momentarily forgot what to say as he stared blankly at Regalia, before urgently calling her secretary.
Rushing in was Regalia’s secretary, Kitty, who caught up to the situation and, realizing the reason, gasped, then smiled nervously.
It was the day Boss was struck by magic for the first time.