Found
"Miho."
"Yes, Association President."
"I'll hold things down here, so go find Isabela for me. I can't focus on the fight at all because I'm so worried about her."
"...Pardon?"
Gumiho stared at Hardboiled in response to his words. She knew this wasn't the time—his chest bore a massive wound, blood pouring from it in streams—but she couldn't hold her tongue.
"Are you in your right mind right now, Association President?"
"...Isn't this a bit much in such a dire situation?"
"You're saying you'll take on one S-rank villain and eight A-rank villains alone with injuries like that—what do you think is supposed to come out of my mouth?"
"...You little rascal. Are you worried about me?"
"It's not that. It's purely rational calculation."
"Heh. What a kid—never backs down, not even once."
"Because we can't afford to lose."
Gumiho glared at the villains closing in and encircling them as she gazed at Hardboiled.
"Ooh. Look at that glare. It's vicious."
"She's an A-rank hero, but no ordinary bitch. She's definitely hiding something. Hard to pin down her superpower, too."
The villains tensed under Gumiho's murderous gaze. She was far too strong to be just another ability user on their level.
"....."
Meanwhile, Demon Baron—the one who'd inflicted Hardboiled's wound—stared silently at Gumiho. Then, as if realizing something, he spoke.
"You're not human."
"....."
For a split second, Gumiho's pupils wavered. Spotting her mental shake, Hardboiled stepped forward, blocking her from Demon Baron's view.
"What nonsense is that, Baron? Miho's human."
"She's not."
"No. She is."
"....."
Having shut down Demon Baron, Hardboiled turned to Gumiho.
"Miho. You said you'd grant me three wishes, right? One was for you to be my secretary, so two left."
"Why bring that up now?"
"We'll use those two right here."
"Pardon?"
"My second wish: right now, you rescue my granddaughter Isabela and get her out of here."
"....!"
"And the third... live without anyone doubting that you're human."
"Wha—why...!"
"Thanks for everything up till now, Miho."
"N-no!"
Two tiny flames flickered to life above Gumiho's hands. The pale purple flames, beautiful as they were, vanished like embers with nothing left to burn—proof that Hardboiled's wishes had taken effect.
"No! No, stop! Association President! Association President! Cancel it now! It's not too late! Association President!"
"You've put up with this worthless old man's crap long enough. Don't get hurt, don't suffer, don't go hungry—stay healthy and happy. Thanks for everything, Miho."
"Association President!"
Tears streaming down her face, Gumiho reached for Hardboiled. But against her will, her body moved to fulfill his second wish: rescuing Isabela. Her nose caught a faint whiff of the girl's scent amid the stench wafting from the villains.
"Who said you could go?"
"Where do you think you're headed? It's our turn to strike back."
"We won't kill you easy."
Three villains blocked her path. But it was the wrong move.
Slash—!
"Huh?"
"Hm?"
"...Oh dear."
Splatter—!
A single sound of flesh tearing—but three men suffered it. Their torsos now bore wounds identical to the one Demon Baron had left on Hardboiled. In the blink of an eye, they'd been struck by Gumiho and collapsed, spraying blood into the air.
"What the—?!"
The villains couldn't hide their shock. The blood gushing out was no joke. No heart could rip like that and produce so much.
"....."
Before leaving, Gumiho turned, committing each villain's face—starting with Demon Baron's—to memory, as if vowing never to forget. Finally, her gaze settled on Hardboiled, or rather Marco Valencia.
"Thank you... for everything."
With a deep bow, she vanished into the passage to fulfill his second wish.
Demon Baron watched her go, then finally turned to Hardboiled.
"You came here to die from the start."
"Was it that obvious? Cough!Ugh... This wound you gave me stings."
"You're an S-rank hero, aren't you? One who can't be killed easily. Have you lost all attachment to life?"
"As if. Plenty talk about wanting to die like it's a habit, but no one actually does. Because no one in this world truly wants to. And I'm no different."
"Then why?"
"Because my death could be the spark of change for someone else."
"....."
Bam! Bam!
Hardboiled clashed his mechanical gloves together.
"Guess I'm getting chatty now that death's knocking. Spilling my guts to the one who's gonna take my life. Let's get started. Didn't you say you'd claim it? That hasn't changed, right?"
"Of course."
"Brace yourself. I might want to die, but I won't go down easy! Least I can do is buy Gumiho enough time to save Isabela!"
Hardboiled launched himself at Demon Baron, wings unfurled. Like hyenas piling onto a lion's throat.
*****
I'd originally planned to let Rotten Balls guide the way, but after that bastard met a gruesome end, I had no choice but to repurpose Dark Lady as my new navigator. Come to think of it, Rotten Balls didn't seem that high up in the organization anyway. Dark Lady, on the other hand, was a bona fide executive. She'd know way more details than that crushed nut sack, even with the location pinned.
Navigation auto-upgraded, baby...!
"You'd better guide me quick to wherever that Dr. Krumolla—or whatever the fuck his name is—is holed up. My patience isn't infinite."
"....."
I poked Dark Lady's nape as I spoke. She knew full well these fingers could pierce it if I felt like it.
"You have no idea how crazy I am."
"...I do. So stop rushing me."
"No, you don't. What you've seen so far is just the tip of the iceberg."
I decided to show Dark Lady just how insane I really was.
"I eat cereal with water."
"....?"
"And now, thanks to someone, mint choco and pineapple pizza taste good to me. I even tried piling mint choco on pineapple pizza once. And I thought it was pretty decent."
"What are you even..."
"That's not all. I don't sing in the shower. I just wash up and get out."
Aaah... Even now, I knew I was a total lunatic. I did things no normal person could stomach, all without a second thought. A real madman.
"So don't test my patience. Or I might pour cola in your mouth and shove in some Mentos."
"......"
Finally grasping how deranged I was, Dark Lady picked up the pace. That's more like it.
"Kyaaang..."
"Hm? What's up, Cheetergirl? You hurt? C'mere."
"Kyaring, kyarrung..."
"Huh?"
Despite my gesture, Cheetergirl didn't come. She stopped dead, eyeing me warily.
Did she understand everything I said to Dark Lady? If so, her reaction made sense. I'd be on guard around a guy like that too.
But I wouldn't pull that shit on my own woman.
"It's fine, c'mere."
"...Kyaring!"
"There there. Scared, huh? It's okay. Steel Armorman took care of the bad guys, so no worries!"
"....."
Dark Lady sped up even more.
*****
"....."
Dr. Krumolla eyed Rachel tending to the still-unconscious Isabela and her fainted friend.
Out of expectations.
Hardboiled's combat prowess was as anticipated. But Steel Armor's exceeded it—transcended it.
When Steel Armor first fought Dark Lady and the assassins, he'd chalked it up to luck. An S-rank villain could surely buy time until he whisked Shadow Killer away.
But reality flipped the script. Far from stalling, Steel Armor wiped the assassins in minutes. With powers he'd never even heard of.
Can't drag this out anymore. Time to move.
His original plan: kidnap Valencia's granddaughter Isabela, bring her to Shadow Killer's secret base. Leave witnesses on the streets to lure heroes here. Heroes clash with Shadow Killer's men, loosening security—his chance to extract the boss. Escape routes and prep were all set.
Flawless, or so he'd thought. In control of every variable.
But no. Nothing was under control. It escalated far faster than planned. And somehow, Gumiho—split from Valencia—was barreling straight here.
If he didn't act soon, he'd be the prey.
No choice.
Smack smack... Churruk...
Dr. Krumolla eyed Rachel, licking his lips. The kid had guts for her age; he'd planned to turn her into a Huest. But no—crossing Steel Armor over one girl was too costly.
Can't fight that monster yet.
"Time to go."
Slither...
He raised a hand, and two snakes slithered in, seizing Rachel and Isabela.
"Eek...!"
Rachel squeezed her eyes shut at the sight. She'd nearly screamed. The things were snakes with human faces—wrinkled old men's faces, at that. Complete with arms. Anyone would call them monsters on sight.
"Rachel."
"....."
Dr. Krumolla approached.
"We'll meet again someday. Then I'll evolve you into the new humanity."
"....."
At his gesture, the snakes hauled the girls off in different directions. Once they were gone, Dr. Krumolla burst into laughter.
"Kuhhahaha... Kek! Keeheeheeheek! Wait for me, Shadow Killer."
He slipped into a ceiling passage toward the unconscious Shadow Killer.
*****
"Kyaring?!"
Cheetergirl, who'd been walking fine, suddenly flipped in midair like she was seizing.
"What the hell?"
"Kyaring! Kyaring! Kyarrung! Kyarrrrng!"
"Hm? Up top?"
She bounced around, glaring below, so I looked down too.
"What's got you like this?"
"Kyarrung! Kyarrrung!"
"...Is Rachel down there?"
"Kyaring! Kyaring!"
Cheetergirl nodded furiously.
"Navigation OFF."
"Wha—gack!?"
No need for navigation now that I knew where Rachel was. So I hit the power button on Dark Lady's gut—knocking her out cold, basically.
With Cheetergirl on one side and unconscious Dark Lady on the other, I powered my legs and leaped, smashing through the floor to the level below.
"Kieeeek?!"
"Kyaaak!"
"That voice!"
As I dropped, a grotesque screech mixed with a familiar scream.
"Rachel!"
"Ah...!"
Dust settled, revealing Rachel clutched by some freakish bastard. The girl I'd been searching for stared back at me.