NOVEL WEB Chapter 49
“I guess it’s impossible to break in from the outside, huh?”
“Right? Even if we tried electronically, we don’t have any hackers in our organization. The ones with that skill… they wouldn’t join us anyway. In the end, we have no choice but to rely on Wei’s power.”
“Hmm, I guess that’s the only way. Well, it can’t be helped. Thanks for your hard work, Justitia. Oh, you brought coffee. Thanks, Blanca.”
He decided to stay long-term at a nearby hotel. So, I was just hanging out for a bit where he would stay.
“Boss. But where did everyone else go? Jack and Butler Elder…?”
“They’re working. Everyone is busy with their own duties right now.”
Is that so? I thought maybe they got caught or something.
I didn’t really care if they bit the dust, but it would be unfortunate if that happened and he was heartbroken, so I was somewhat relieved.
“Wei. I think we need to use your ability.”
“I knew it would come to this…”
Wei muttered while sprawled on the bed, as if it didn’t surprise him at all.
He looked like a brat I just wanted to smack for his insolence at just ten years old, but he was an essential part of how the Liberators operated, so I couldn’t do that.
Without him, the organization wouldn’t run smoothly at all.
He didn’t speak up, but he was actually third in command in the organization. The first was obviously the Boss, the second was Justitia.
I was fourth.
“Cat, you just thought about wanting to hit Wei again, didn’t you? I did too; I wonder what kind of spoiled brat he’s planning to be when he grows up.”
“If you call him that, I’d have said I’d poke your eyes out.”
I held out my fingers right in front of Hanchō, who was sitting cross-legged on the floor and drinking during daytime, and he just shrugged as if to say, ‘I can’t even joke around anymore.’
“Hanchō, you know Blanca hates being called that. Blanca, I know you don’t like it, but please don’t actually dig it out. Regeneration Recovery Medicine is hard to come by.”
Why did he accept such a guy into his team, I wondered for a moment, but then shook my head and dismissed the thought.
He must have a deep reason for that. Everything he does tends to lead in a good direction anyway.
There are probably things I still don’t know.
“…Okay, if the Boss says so.”
When I pulled back my fingers, he told me to apologize to Hanchō.
“Yeah, yeah. It’s my bad again. By now, you’d think I’d be getting used to it, but it must have been a pretty deep wound.”
“I don’t want to talk about that kind of stuff on such a nice day, so don’t bring it up.”
“Why am I the only one being targeted?”
“Because you deserve it, Hanchō. Blanca. Is everything going well on your side?”
After admonishing Hanchō, he asked me if things were going smoothly.
“Yes. The Heros Company probably doesn’t even know what’s going on. At this rate, it’ll be just a matter of time before we uncover everything they’re hiding.”
“Good. Just like I expected from you, Blanca.”
“Hehe… Of course, but speaking of which, Boss, don’t I look a bit different today?”
I changed my clothes to make a good impression. I hope you notice!
With that hope, I asked him, holding back my fluttering heart.
“Different…? Uh… no, wait. My fortune today said to think again… Hmm, ah, right! You dressed nicely, didn’t you? Did your friend buy that for you?”
“Huh… How did you know?”
I was a bit surprised, but I was also glad he noticed. I asked because it was amazing he figured it out without me saying anything.
“Well, it’s because Blanca has never spent money on clothes. Seeing you asking makes it seem like it fits, huh? I’m glad you’re getting along with your friends, Blanca.”
That’s our Boss. Just one gentle remark melted away any unpleasant feelings I had.
“To sum it up, there haven’t been any major setbacks in our plans so far, right? We’re good on this end too. Most of the medicine you’ve made has been converted to money, and the training of the soldiers is going well.”
Hearing that the organization is steadily progressing towards the goal made me feel incredibly good.
“Everyone, just keep it up like this. Soon, we’ll make our existence, and our cause… known to the whole world. Until then, I’m counting on you.”
After that very brief speech, he looked at his watch, flustered, and said it was best for Justitia and me to head out now.
“You have to go to the Academy tomorrow, right? It would be bad if you were late? We should probably be going now.”
“Ugh, why isn’t tomorrow a weekend or holiday…?”
“It can’t be helped, Blanca. Besides, it’s not like you won’t see him again, so don’t be too heartbroken. We can find a way to meet again soon, right, Wei? Can I count on you?”
Wei crawled out of bed at a painfully slow pace and stood in the middle of the hotel room, focusing his mind to gather magic.
Dark magic swirled briefly, and then Wei handed me a black orb before climbing back into bed.
That was Wei’s ability.
Wei Point.
His ability to create black orbs that allow instant teleportation back to where he was standing when activated.
When that black orb is shattered, everything within a certain radius is instantly teleported to the Wei Point.
The radius is entirely determined by Wei himself.
Of course, being a kid, he could only manage a ten-meter radius at best when he really tried.
But since there’s no limit to how many orbs he can create, it’s actually a pretty good ability.
“This weekend, after Wei uses the Wei Point at your house, you can come see him anytime you want.”
Holding the black orb as if it were a treasure, I told him I’d come back soon and said my goodbyes.
The outside was already well past sunset, casting a rather gloomy atmosphere.
But I didn’t feel the cold.
Because I would soon see the Boss again.
– * * * * * –
“Mr. Park. Our leader… um. Has achieved quite an impressive outcome.”
The burly man stroked his chin, looking down at the elderly man before him.
Mr. Park merely trembled and couldn’t even make eye contact with him.
The difference in stature, atmosphere, and age was stark.
It was like a father scolding his child.
However, unlike a father scolding a child, the burly man was not at all friendly toward Mr. Park.
Seeing the disproportionately large gun that matched the man’s size, Mr. Park began his pitiful excuses.
“W-well, based on my analysis of the combat data…!”
“Combat data, good. Researchers always bring that up. But look at the results, Mr. Park. What happened?”
“W-we couldn’t hit the target…”
“Right. Blanca. You didn’t bring that girl back. Plus, you lost miserably and even lost my direct subordinates. What was the reason for that?”
“I-I just didn’t properly understand the enemy’s abilities! From this battle, I can deliver an improved combat performance…!”
“No. It was your arrogance that led to this failure, Mr. Park. Because your creation was arrogant, a precious space-type abilities user is now on the brink of death. What was her name again…?”
“It’s… Eliza…”
Mr. Park remembered well that he was trying to treat Eliza, who was poisoned by Blanca, because he was involved in her predicament.
He barely managed to deal with paralysis poison, but right after that, another poison manifested, leaving her in a state no better than a living corpse.
None of her internals were intact, and her brain function was deteriorating, making it difficult for her even to speak, let alone activate any abilities.
While there was a chance of recovery, he was currently deploying every possible treatment method; even if she healed, she would likely suffer aftereffects for the rest of her life.
“Right. Eliza. Poor girl ended up like that. So, Mr. Park.”
“Yes…?”
“I’m giving you one last chance. Extract abilities from Eliza and implant them into your creation. Oh, and do something about that dirty behavior too.”
So he wouldn’t even need to use ‘domination’ on me.
After finishing his speech, the burly man left without a second thought.
Mr. Park slumped down, exhausted from a sense of relief at still being alive, and then began contemplating how he could continue to survive.
“…But isn’t that just survival…?”
Then he soon realized his situation and let out a bitter laugh.
– * * * * * –
“Ugh. It feels like something is missing… hmm…”
In an outer warehouse, a man was fiddling with a fleshy mass, muttering his dissatisfaction.
The massive chunk of flesh, towering over ten meters, would remind one of a giant from a distance, but up close, it looked like a grotesque amalgamation of numerous human bodies vaguely stitched together.
“N-no, the ability is insufficient.”
“What are you talking about? One is enough, isn’t it?”
“A-ah, because you have no hair, dum-dum!”
“Eh, having hair would just be a nuisance, right? It’s probably because you’re the bald one.”
“D-dimwit! How could one work? Put in a creator of fissures!”
“Ah, sorry. That one is really running low, I can’t use much. I can soak the dough a bit first.”
From the mouths all over its body — on its legs, mouth, and crown — multiple uncombined personalities unleashed their grievances.
However, the man ignored their demands and simply continued to knead the dough as he wanted.