Chapter 5
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Laying the Groundwork Firmly!
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Furuta Yoichi.
Dr. Hubunkun possessed an exceptional intellect.
Though he couldn't awaken and become a hunter, he leveraged his brilliant mind to join a weapons development company that supplied hunters.
Even within the company, Dr. Hubunkun was consistently posting impressive results.
However, not everyone looked favorably upon Dr. Hubunkun's success.
There were employees who envied his superior performance, and others who resented his appearance—handsome despite surpassing them.
Rachel Recall had framed Dr. Hubunkun, leading to his dismissal from the company.
Dr. Hubunkun's looks were far from appealing.
His glasses were practically mandatory, and his immersion in research and study had left him with a pudgy build, compounded by hereditary circular baldness.
He truly embodied the villainous appearance from a company known for producing adult games in his previous life.
For the record, the charge that got him fired was sexual harassment.
For a full month after being let go, Dr. Hubunkun cursed the world, Rachel Recall who had framed him, and the company that fired him without a proper investigation.
He burned with a desire to thoroughly ravage Rachel, who had gotten him fired.
He wanted revenge against the foolish company that discarded him, and ultimately against everything.
Though he had always been interested in lewd things, Dr. Hubunkun had kept work and pleasure separate, devoting himself to his job. Now, he channeled his research achievements and intellect into inventing items centered purely around the perverse.
And exactly one month after his dismissal.
Using his inventions, he stormed the company, exacting revenge on it and on Rachel who had gotten him fired—all by himself—before catching the eye of the final boss and getting scouted as a Strenger.
This was the behind-the-scenes story that Dr. Hubunkun proudly boasted about in the original game.
Being an 18+ game, the details of his revenge on Rachel weren't shown, but it was obvious he'd used his inventions to humiliate her utterly.
'Ah, when's the manga adaptation of Dr. Hubunkun's revenge saga coming out?'
'How did Dr. Hubunkun get revenge on Rachel!!! Explain with CGs!!!'
'Someone remake Dr. Hubunkun as a hot guy and give him some action.'
'↑You have no taste.'
And so on—various affectionate posts about Dr. Hubunkun had popped up in late-night online communities.
I had ordered my servants to monitor him in advance, so the moment he was fired, I received the news right away.
That's how I was able to track down Dr. Hubunkun like this.
Judging by his current state, vomiting enthusiastically in the alley, he was still wallowing in his resentment toward the world.
In a few days, he'd fully ignite with rage and start creating his lewd inventions.
Which made now the perfect timing to scout him.
"Hello, Dr. Hu… Ahem. Mr. Furuta Yoichi."
In my excitement at seeing the real-life Hubunkun, I'd almost called him by his nickname.
"Ugh… urk… W-what?"
His eyelids trembled. Stress had kept him up, leaving deep dark circles under his eyes.
His beard was unkempt, and his hair was greasy, unwashed.
Even after being fired, he couldn't let go of his successful company days—his lab coat was still on, stained though it was.
Aah~ How truly pitiful.
Someone innocently trapped by slander like this should be rescued quickly.
"Get lost… kid. I'm not… urgh! In the mood right now! Euugh!"
He clamped his mouth shut, nausea lingering from his recent vomit.
At least he hadn't lost his reason to the point of hurling his liquor bottle at me.
"What a truly tragic and heartbreaking situation. For a promising talent like Mr. Furuta to end up like this… framed, no less."
"...What?"
Dr. Hubunkun froze upright and slowly turned to look at me.
"What did you just say? You know I was… urp! Framed...?"
"Yes. I only learned recently myself. It's truly heartbreaking. A genius like you, caught in a frame-up. And over a false sexual harassment charge, reduced to this state."
"You… who the hell are you...?"
"Forgive my late introduction."
I flashed a chaebol smile and introduced myself to him.
"I'm Rubelt Eldra."
"Rubelt… Eldra. The sole heir to the Eldra family? The one they call the Golden Kirin...?"
"Yes, that's what they call me. Mr. Furuta Yoichi."
I extended my right hand toward Dr. Hubunkun.
"I'd like to scout you."
"S-scout? The Eldras want me...?"
Despite his drunken stupor, my words shocked him sober.
It was understandable.
No matter how good the weapons company Dr. Hubunkun had worked for was...
It paled infinitely compared to Eldra.
In fact, that company was just one of the subsidiaries under Eldra to begin with.
For him, it must have felt like getting booted from a mere contractor and then suddenly scouted by the massive headquarters conglomerate.
"Yes. I personally judged that it would be a waste to let your talent rot."
"The Eldra heir wants me...!"
"Of course, scouting is just the beginning. I can also help you with your revenge."
"Revenge..."
"You want revenge, don't you? On Rachel Recall, who framed you and got you fired."
"Ugh...!"
"I'm furious too, knowing they drove out a brilliant talent like you with such petty tricks. You truly are exceptional, Mr. Furuta."
"I'm… an exceptional talent...!"
Dr. Hubunkun had been subtly shunned, mocked, and undervalued his whole life due to his appearance, no matter how skilled he was.
Hearing he was "exceptional" from me—the Eldra heir—must have hit him hard.
"I need someone like you."
I stepped right up to him, knelt down to meet his upturned gaze, and offered my hand.
"Will you join me, Mr. Furuta?"
"Ah, ah! Aaaah!"
Tears streaming, he dropped his liquor bottle and grasped my hand with both of his.
"Yes! Yes...! Thank you… thank you! Uhe! Eu! Euwaaaah!"
And with that, Dr. Hubunkun—whom I had personally scouted—was immediately put in charge of research under my direct supervision.
Two years passed.
By the time I turned 17, Dr. Hubunkun was satisfactorily delivering everything I wanted, one after another.
Not only the lewd tools and facilities I'd use in the future, but most of the inventions from the game that he created there too.
Beyond that, his own excellence led to developments and inventions in other fields, contributing greatly to the Eldra family.
Above all, he'd made significant progress on analyzing Isihoon's bloodline.
Whiiiirrr...
After school, Rize and I rode the elevator in one of Eldra's research facilities under my control, descending to the underground lab.
The doors opened, and we entered the lab overseen by Dr. Hubunkun.
It wasn't the actual lab itself but a lobby-like space for remotely monitoring experiments via various machines.
Besides Dr. Hubunkun, several assistants were in the lab lobby, seated at their stations manipulating terminals and working diligently on ongoing projects.
"Dr. Furuta, it's me."
"Ooooh! Young Maaaster!"
At my call, Dr. Hubunkun jumped up from his seat, arms spread wide in welcome.
"Welcome! And hello to you too, Miss Rize!"
"Hello, Dr. Furuta."
Rize bowed politely in greeting.
"How's the research progressing?"
"Of course! We're actively testing applications of Isihoon student's blood power to weapons! Success rate is high!"
"Haha, as expected of you, Dr. Furuta."
"No! I can do this research only thanks to you, Young Master! And you truly have amazing connections! To think your friend has such astonishing blood!"
Dr. Furuta gazed at the monitor with eyes alight with research fervor.
"If this succeeds, humanity will hunt monsters even more easily than now!"
Obviously.
It's the protagonist's blood, after all.
"I'm looking forward to completion. Oh, and besides the blood research, the other projects?"
"Ufufufu, those are progressing steadily as well."
Dr. Hubunkun let out the sleazy chuckle I'd seen often in the original.
"The tools for your use upon reaching adulthood are being invented and tested diligently even now. But you really are patient, Young Master."
Dr. Hubunkun continued with what he called his cheeky grin.
"Waiting until adulthood and all. With such a captivating maid like Miss Rize by your side, your self-control is impressive. Ufufufu."
"Dr. Furuta?"
Rize glared at him coldly.
"Was that too much?"
"Not at all, Dr. Furuta. Rize is my perfect, alluring personal maid. Even I struggle sometimes, despite planning to hold out until adulthood."
"..."
See? The way she blushes just a little—how cute and charming is that?
"Ufufufu, I've already installed soundproofing in your room, so feel free to enjoy yourself once you're of age."
"Yes, of course."
I'll be using them extensively.
"Young Master..."
Looks like even Rize can't handle this level of teasing.
Time to wrap up the fun of poking at her adorable reactions.
"Huff, huff… M-Master…"
At that moment, a woman approached Dr. Hubunkun, exhaling sticky breaths toward him.
"F-Food… Master… Feed me…"
She dropped to her knees and clutched at Dr. Hubunkun's pant leg.
That woman was none other than Rachel Recall—the one who had framed and gotten Dr. Hubunkun fired two years ago.