Chapter 5
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Serika's Selfish Desires (5)
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A pretty elementary school girl from a wealthy family is invincible.
In any bizarre situation, she can just brush it off with a single "it's nothing." And if that doesn't work, she can always start crying. As long as it's within the scope of what one adult can cover up, no matter what she does, it'll just be swept under the rug like "oh, that happened~."
"But I have nothing to do."
So, with this invincible phase about to end, I was dying to do something beforehand. Unfortunately, there was nothing to do.
I'd already earned retirement funds. From now on, just timing the stock market based on the events in the story—buying and selling, even shorting repeatedly—money would multiply on its own.
I'd even lured in a kid active in a villain organization and placed her under our company. Since a fairly important villain from the original story had flown the coop, it felt like I'd done everything I needed to after reincarnating into this world.
No, the final black or evil legions would probably get wiped out by Alice pulling chickens out of her head anyway. Whatever.
Chickens are strong.
In the original story, she lived well as the protagonist with that ridiculous ability, so I believed she'd thrive even in a world without villain execs.
Our company wasn't in dire straits enough for me to scramble using future knowledge.
On the contrary, we were booming after subcontracting a major project from a big corporation.
We'd received advance payment to build a new factory, hire workers, and all that. It was a long-term contract spanning years—what was I supposed to do?
So, right now, I had nothing to do.
"I'm bored."
"Hahaha, is that why you came here?"
Sally smiled awkwardly and placed a glass of orange juice in front of me.
That was right.
Bored with nothing to do, I'd come to play at Sally's dorm. From the dorm window, the words Iwamoto Industry were prominently visible.
The bold font contrasted with our modest yet luxurious home, exuding a rugged air infused with years of tradition and craftsmanship.
Below it, trucks bustled in and out of the warehouse building. It seemed they were moving spare equipment and materials to the new factory. Gazing at the trucks, Sally said,
"I heard I'm moving to that factory too."
"Huh? Then, sis, you won't be here anymore?"
I'd finally found a place to kill time, and now it was vanishing? Should I throw a tantrum at Dad? Sally blinked her eyes wide at my startled question and shook her head. Her green eyes sparkled.
"Huh? No, no. I'll be commuting from here to there. There's no infrastructure near the factory, so they're just providing a shuttle bus for employees."
"How far is the factory?"
"Not too far—it's right on the edge of the suburbs, I guess? I'm lucky I can do my work from anywhere, but I heard it's a bit remote and unpopular."
Sally laughed as she said that, holding an iced coffee. Her beaming smile and sparkling green eyes, shining like glass marbles full of passion, reminded me of Sally from the original story, stirring a strange feeling.
In the original, Sally was a villain. But when it came to her specialty, power device development, she was a character brimming with pure passion. Her eyes would light up, reflecting her emotions raw, as she poured out her zeal for science...
Wait a second.
She said she's glad she can do the work she wants?
What work is that? Isn't Sally's major power device research?
But we're a steel company?
"What are you going to do at the factory, sis?"
"Huh? Oh, the president originally said to just do maintenance on the equipment here and study for certifications... But this time, the big corp is handing over some power device research? So I'm joining as research staff, and a few from their side will be involved too."
I'd assumed the big project was steel-related parts orders since it was a huge deal, but power device research?
Huh? This feels off.
I looked at Sally. Seeing her sparkling eyes and pleased smile kept overlapping with her original self.
And power device research, no less.
That's how it was in the original.
At the nadir of her life, Sally gets an offer to join a certain "power device research" project.
After the Jericho Tower incident ruins her career, with no credentials to boast, harboring hatred while hopping part-time jobs, she eagerly accepts. And just like that, she becomes part of the evil organization, diving into twisted research.
But now a big corp suddenly proposes "power device research" using Sally at our company?
Just like in the original?
Original plot points kept overlapping, churning up my mind.
This is weird. It's not matching what I thought.
I need to check. I have to confirm what's happening at that factory right now.
"Sis. I want to go see that factory with you."
"Huh? Now?"
Sally looked at me in surprise, and I nodded. I put on my most curious expression, nodding vigorously.
Even if it seemed suspicious, no problem.
I'm an elementary school girl right now, and elementary school girls are invincible.
As long as it's within what one adult can handle, no matter how impulsive, it's just "oh well."
"Uh—alright then... Wait a sec? Shall we go take a look?"
Sally pondered briefly, then glanced at the trucks outside the window. A small truck pulled out for a smoke break. A middle-aged man leaning on it yawned, then happened to look toward our dorm. Sally waved at him.
"Alright, let's go."
Sally grabbed my hand and led me out of the dorm. As we emerged, the man stubbed out his cigarette on his shoe sole and eyed us.
"Oh? What's this? The president's daughter?"
The man chuckled and joked. He'd worked at the factory for years and owned his own truck, so he often helped out with company errands like this.
Looking at Sally, he said,
"And this is our new ace for the venture, right? Heh? Hahahaha."
"Aw, ace? I'm still just learning."
Sally shyly brushed her hair back at his words, looking flustered. After rolling her eyes briefly, she spoke cautiously.
"Um, Section Chief. Sorry to ask... but the president's daughter wants to tour our new factory."
The chief tilted his head.
"A tour? Not much is set up there yet, though?"
"Yeah, but I heard the power devices from the corp arrived yesterday? She wants to check it out."
The man pursed his lips thoughtfully, then nodded with a grin.
"Well, if our ace and the boss's girl wanna go, how can I say no? I gotta haul this stuff anyway. Hop in."
He slapped the crates in the bed and opened the door.
"I'll put in a good word with the president! Hahahahaha!"
As we clambered in, the truck roared to life with a cheerful rumble.
Yes, elementary school girls truly are invincible.
Twenty minutes by car from Iwamoto Industry.
The factory stood in a spot that was far if far, close if close.
The surroundings were barren wasteland. An artificial circular clearing centered around a forest.
Looking around, it gave off an eerie vibe like an arena or UFO landing site.
"They say this used to be prepped for new town development, but the plans got scrapped."
Sally mentioned it casually, shaking her head.
"Alright, I'll have a smoke here. Take your time looking around."
His errand done, the man lit another cigarette by the truck. Smoke rose like factory chimney plumes.
"Let's go."
Sally took my hand and entered the factory. Not yet fully equipped, it emanated a noir-film gloom.
Sally, beaming brightly amid it, scanned around before heading to one spot.
A massive structure covered in tarpaulin.
Her somewhat excited gait evoked a kid at an amusement park or one dashing to parents across the crosswalk.
Her expression started as innocent glee, then her eyes widened, cheeks flushing red.
"Heehee..."
With an oddly sinister chuckle, excitement bubbling over, she grabbed the tarpaulin.
"Serika. Know what this is?"
And yanked it off with all her might.
Very slowly, the structure's form fully revealed itself.
In that instant, a scene from the original flashed in my mind.
The moment the evil organization's goons first unveiled the portal connecting to another world.
Under the guise of next-gen power device research, they'd built a massive portal linking this world to another.
Declaring the other side a "utopia," they summoned its sinister, bizarre denizens en masse to destroy this world.
Convinced they brought salvation, those villains called themselves the Prophets.
That portal device the Prophets were developing was now in our company's factory.
"Fuc..."
"This is the new prototype power device we're researching. Unlike existing ones, it decomposes and amplifies energy from external circuits, you see? So... Ah, sorry, too technical? It's college-level stuff, did I ramble? Anyway, design-wise this power device is..."
Sally, oblivious, chattered excitedly while hugging the portal device.
I froze in place.
No.
Wait.
Dad's company is right now.
Like.
Being used as a forward base by those super-villain bastards?
So, if things follow the original flow, our family just gets ruined?
Not just ruined—branded humanity's traitors and smashed?
"...We're screwed."
Big trouble. I thought I'd just chill watching the original unfold and enjoy school life.
A knife was at my throat.
I have to smash those guys somehow.
Using my original knowledge, somehow pulverize them.