World Only for You (9)
The last researcher collapsed to the floor. Scar slowly turned around while suppressing his ragged breathing.
Now, the only ones standing in the research building were me and Scar.
“It’s over.”
I slowly scanned the researchers sprawled on the floor.
I had really taken care of everyone. I had thought there might be some who were pretending to be dead, but without exception, I killed them all.
“It was satisfying.”
A faint sense of relief appeared on Scar’s face.
“But something has come to mind.”
“What do you mean?”
“What do I gain by keeping you alive?”
The relief vanished in an instant. Scar lowered his head, sweat beading on his forehead.
I sheathed my dagger at my waist and said,
“Don’t be so down about it. After all, I put in a request to the Lounge to have them attack here from Orca. It was supposed to be in two days. The researchers might not know, but you would definitely be dead in two days.”
Scar’s head slowly lifted.
I had expected a resigned expression, but only confusion spread across his face.
“...What do you mean?”
“Did you not hear?”
“That... this research facility belongs to Orca.”
For a moment, I didn't understand. After pondering the meaning for a bit, I asked back.
“What?”
“Precisely, it's an unofficial facility under Orca. Both the research funds and medications come through Orca. I'm also affiliated with Orca.”
I quietly observed Scar’s face. He didn't seem to be lying. Most of all, there was no point in lying in the current situation.
“You hired mercenaries from the Lounge to attack your own research facility?”
“That... I also...”
“Are there other awakened ones besides you three?”
“Yes. A total of six... now four. But since this week, the three of us are on duty, so the others should be resting.”
Various possibilities flashed in my mind.
“Has there been any friction with Orca recently?”
Scar’s pupils trembled.
“...A little.”
“What for?”
“There was an incident where I refused to follow instructions regarding the experimental subject management method. The promised wages were also continuously delayed. So the awakened here protested collectively.”
He continued as if something occurred to him.
“Speaking of which, in two days, it would be the day when the six awakened are all staying in the facility for handover. Usually, there's a party on handover day.”
“A party too? Lucky guy.”
“...”
“Anyway, that's how it is.”
The picture roughly formed.
Orca had intended to replace all the awakened here at once. And incidentally, capture the mercenaries from the Lounge who came to attack as experimental subjects.
“More rotten than I thought.”
At first, I had planned to extract some information from Scar and then kill him. But if he was affiliated with Orca, the situation changed.
I approached him after a moment of hesitation.
“What's your name?”
“Dogo Ryuji.”
“You can just call me Ryuji. I find that easier.”
“Yes, yes. Please call me as you like.”
“What's the price for the ability to turn into stone?”
“My senses become dull, and my body slowly deteriorates. I can hold out for up to thirty minutes at a time.”
A thirty-minute meat shield. Not bad at all.
I took out my phone from my pocket.
“Call out the number.”
“What?”
“Say the phone number. You won't listen if I say it all at once, right?”
“S-sorry.”
Without asking why, Ryuji immediately recited the number. I saved it to my screen and called from there.
A moment later, a vibration sounded from Ryuji’s pocket.
“This is my number. Keep it.”
“Understood.”
I put the phone back in my pocket.
“Ryuji.”
“Yes.”
“You know you can't last long if you run away from here now, right?”
Scar’s expression hardened.
“Since you're affiliated with Orca, you know that too. Tracking one person is no big deal, right?”
“...I know.”
“Really?”
I looked around.
“The facility is in this state, and all the awakened who were on duty with you are dead. If you just disappear like this, they'll suspect you first.”
Scar closed his mouth.
Logically, it was natural. Orca wouldn't bother verifying the innocence of someone who had already decided to betray them once.
“So, I'm going to make you a proposal.”
“...A proposal?”
“Let's do one thing together.”
Scar cautiously raised his head.
“What kind of thing?”
“We're going to attack Orca.”
Scar's eyes widened.
“Attack Orca... you say?”
“Why are you so surprised? Are you still attached to it?”
“No. I can't like an organization while being trapped here. More importantly... do you have another organization?”
“No.”
“...Orca is an organization that an individual can't deal with.”
“I know. That's why I'm making you the offer.”
I pointed at Scar.
“If we can't attack head-on, we have to shake them from within.”
I didn't plan to end it by just eliminating one facility.
Orca had already turned Yui into an experimental subject. I had safely extracted her, but her personal information was now in their hands.
From their perspective, an S-rank special experimental subject would be an asset they had to retrieve somehow.
“If I stay quiet, they'll come looking for her again.”
I didn't want to live in fear of some unknown monster coming at any time. It would be better to just uproot the roots.
After all, the more real combat experience, the better. I couldn't rely on Ren's fairy tale forever.
“Then, what should I do?”
“After I leave, wait a little and contact Orca. Say that an awakened with an unknown mask attacked the facility.”
“You want me to infiltrate Orca?”
“Yes. In short, become a spy. If you have useful information, report it immediately.”
“That’s too dangerous.”
“You're the only survivor of today's incident. Say that you fought until the end, fainted, and when you woke up, it was all over.”
“...Will you believe that?”
“You talk too much. You have to do it yourself. Can't you do that much acting?”
I hit Scar's head with the dagger handle.
“Ouch...”
Scar rubbed the spot and glanced at me. Then, as if deciding something, he cautiously opened his mouth.
“According to your words, what can I gain?”
Greed flashed in his eyes that had been filled with fear just moments ago.
I smiled and said,
“When Orca falls, there will be something floating up, right? A company or something.”
“That's right.”
“I don't really have a greed for property. Managing that is troublesome.”
Scar's eyes widened a bit.
“Then...”
“You can have it.”
“Me?”
“Why? Don't want it?”
“Ah, no!”
Scar shook his head hastily.
“Then, from now on, you'll be the top. Of course, you'll have to come out into the open.”
Scar's mouth slowly opened.
Just moments ago, he was worrying about his life, but now he was already imagining himself sitting at the top of Orca.
He stared into space for a moment, then nodded with a determined expression.
“I'll give it a try.”
Seeing him clench his fist, I started to worry a little.
“This guy... He's too simple-minded...”
Well, it doesn't matter.
I scanned Ryuji from head to toe. His clothes were messy, but there were no noticeable wounds on his body.
“By the way.”
“Yes?”
“With your body this healthy, it might reduce credibility a bit, right?”
Scar tilted his head. Then, realizing the meaning, he broke into a cold sweat.
I pulled out the dagger I had sheathed at my waist. At that, Scar reflexively took a step back.
“Ah, no. Anyway, since everyone knows my ability, it should be fine.”
“No. Now that you've boarded my ship, I can't handle things sloppily.”
I lightly spun the dagger.
“I'll make you look like someone who fought until the end and collapsed. So that Orca never suspects you.”
“Uuu...”
“Don't worry. I'll avoid vital points. After all, you're a physical awakened, so your body's tougher than a normal person's, right?”
Scar closed his eyes tightly.
“...Please don't leave any scars.”
“Don't worry. Even though I look like this, I'm a doctor.”
I smiled faintly.
“Then, let's begin.”
“Wait, just a moment, prepare your mind...”
“I've prepared enough. I have to go to six o'clock anyway.”
I cut off Ryuji's words and gripped the dagger tighter.
“No time, so let's finish quickly.”
A moment later, Ryuji's scream echoed loudly in the research building.
**
The car was so quiet it felt suffocating. Misaki sat in the passenger seat, checking the time who knew how many times.
5:57.
Only three minutes left until the promised time.
Looking back, Yui was lying in the back seat. With her eyes closed, she didn't move, but her chest rose and fell steadily.
“It's okay. Yui is alive... and Ren will be here soon.”
I said it to reassure myself, but my fingertips kept trembling.
Misaki looked back at the mountain road where the research facility was. Since arriving here, no one had appeared on the mountain road for thirty minutes.
I thought about speeding up time and going back, but I had already used my ability to the limit. If I accelerated time again now, I didn't know what would happen to my body.
It might put both me and Yui in danger if I tried it unnecessarily.
“You promised.”
Ren had said to wait. He would return by six o'clock.
Misaki tightened her grip on the hem of her clothes.
“So, come for sure.”
5:59.
With lips tightly pressed, I stared at the mountain pass road as if drilling through it.
And exactly at six o'clock, someone slowly appeared at the end of the mountain road.
Black crow mask. Walking with a slightly drooping shoulder, with that characteristic leisurely gait.
There was no way she wouldn't recognize her.
“Ren...?”
Misaki's eyes widened. She lowered the window and called out to him almost shouting.
“Ren!”
The man at the end of the mountain road lifted his head. Then, removing the mask, he lightly waved his hand.
Misaki finally breathed a sigh of relief.
It was Ren.
