Chapter 394: The Joyful Laboratory (3)
Chapter 394: The Joyful Laboratory (3)
Right now, I am in a room encased in metal.
Whether I look at the ceiling, the walls, or the floor, the room is nothing but solid metal.
The only part of this room that isn't made of metal is a single glass window built high up on The Wall.
Beyond that window, I can feel several researchers staring at me with eyes full of excitement.
The person visible right at the front of the window is Ludwig, whom I’ve faced so many times now that I’m starting to feel a sense of familiarity.
The other researchers who joined this project are standing a step back from the window, observing me.
Counting only those gathered here, it’s a small team of six.
Each has a different specialty, a different appearance, and a different gender.
One of them is even doing a decent job of disguising it, but from what I can see, they’re likely a different race altogether.
They look like a half-blood; I wonder if the Management Bureau knows about that?
…Well, not my problem.
Anyway, despite their varying characteristics, one common element binds them all together.
They’re nutjobs.
No matter how I look at it, this is a gathering of lunatics.
Just looking at their expressions is enough to confirm it.
They seem to be trying their best to maintain a poker face, but their facial muscles keep twitching, and whenever they relax, a faint smirk leaks out.
I have no idea what’s so enjoyable about this experiment.
A legendary "Budget Breaker" who ruined a project even when participating as a sub-member is now the lead subject of this project. Shouldn’t a normal person be worried?
Even this simple question can be understood with a single sentence.
It’s because they’re all nutjobs.
Because they’re nutjobs, they followed Ludwig; because they’re nutjobs, they joined a project like this; and because they’re nutjobs, they can smile during an experiment like this.
A perfect formula of proof, like 1=1: they are nutjobs because they are nutjobs.
While I was blankly staring at those lunatics and waiting, a voice came through the speaker.
“Ah, ah. Can you hear me?”
It was Ludwig’s voice, the only one among the group maintaining a stoic expression.
Before the research began, his voice had been overflowing with malice and ulterior motives, but his voice now—the first I’d heard since entering the lab—was devoid of such emotions.
Blunt and flat.
A voice that was truly, infinitely neutral, neither looking down on me nor looking up to me.
Yeah. This is actually better.
Having experienced people who either showed intense interest because they found me a fascinating subject or looked down on me like a lab rat, I find it more comfortable to be viewed neutrally, without emotion, as a mere source of data.
It’s almost funny that a former villain is the one showing this kind of attitude.
Especially since the five people behind him are showing a burning interest in my body.
Well, it’ll work out somehow.
It’s not like this is my first experiment.
With that final thought, I finished my evaluation of the researchers and opened my mouth to answer Ludwig’s question.
“I hear you loud and clear.”
“Communication confirmed. Now, to eliminate expected variables, we will neutralize the Otherworldly Power in ten seconds. If any issues arise with your body, please lie face down on the spot or raise one arm high.”
With those words, the countdown began.
“7.”
Power neutralization, huh?
Even so, it probably won't be as strong as what I experienced at the terrorist base.
“4.”
It’s likely a basement-level suppression similar to the Geneva Branch.
“1.”
If it’s at that level, I don’t really need to prepare much—
“Activate.”
“Urgh.”
the moment the word "activate" hit my ears, I almost vomited.
The restriction that coiled around my body was far stronger than I had anticipated.
“Are you alright? If it is difficult to answer, please raise your hand or simply drop to the floor…”
I heard his voice—still emotionless, though he sounded somewhat concerned by my reaction.
“I’m fine. Keep going.”
I replied, quickly steadying my body.
I wasn't just saying that; I really was fine.
I was just momentarily flustered because I hadn't expected such a powerful suppression.
It was weaker than what I’d experienced recently, but stronger than the Geneva Branch.
A very high-level restriction.
Out of concern for the subject's physical state, they didn't seem to go as far as "negation of existence," but they appeared to have blown away every single speck of surrounding power.
Well, I suppose that makes sense.
“Phew.”
I let out a short breath and composed myself.
About thirty seconds passed.
“Then, we shall proceed to the next step. We will start by measuring your physical strength in the absence of Otherworldly Power.”
Ludwig spoke as soon as I lifted my head.
Then, something resembling a punching bag rose from the center of the room.
It was a white cylinder connected to a steel rod protruding from the floor.
Touching the surface, it felt soft and squishy. It seemed intended for striking, just like a punching bag.
“You want me to hit this?”
“Yes. If you strike it, the built-in device will measure your physical durability and strength.”
Strength is one thing, but how do they measure physical durability?
The question crossed my mind, but that wasn't the important part right now.
“It’s going to burst, though?”
“You don’t need to worry about that. It would certainly burst if hit by an enhanced body, but with a merely sturdy body stripped of Otherworldly Power, there is no way you could possibly burst—”
Pop.
It burst.
With a single, careless jab thrown without even taking a proper stance.
Thanks to Ludwig’s miscalculation, the laboratory was splattered with the green Shock Absorber that sprayed out from the bag.
“….”
I leaped backward to avoid the slime and remained silent.
You said it wouldn't burst.
I stared up at the glass window with eyes full of resentment.
Perhaps stunned by this unexpected situation, the researchers beyond the glass remained silent, their expressions completely frozen.
After a short while.
“Mon…”
The first word I expected began to drift into my ears.
Monster.
A word I’d heard so many times that I now took it for granted.
In the end, are these people the same?
Since they belong to the Management Bureau, their range of what they consider "normal" is wider than that of an average person.
But even they, when faced with a phenomenon beyond their understanding, are bound to react just like anyone else.
Just as a bitter expression crossed my face—
“That’s incredible! Did you see that? The instantaneous value just exceeded a million!”
“No, the impulse isn't the important part! How is that body withstanding the reaction force? By all rights, the body should have been sent flying in the opposite direction!”
“Where is the energy coming from? Isn't that space currently governed by ordinary Original Species Physics?”
“No, it’s different from pure Original Species Physics. For the subject's safety, certain rules were excluded—”
Despite being filtered through a speaker, the noise coming through was incredibly loud.
What the hell?
“Next! Let’s bring out the next one!”
“No, everyone, please calm down. The purpose of this project in the first place was—”
Ludwig was being pushed around.
He seemed to be trying to stop the other researchers from running wild, but even from behind the glass, it was clear he stood no chance.
The bickering continued for about ten seconds.
Ludwig disappeared below the window frame as if something was happening on the other side, and then five people with faces full of smiles rose up to the glass.
“Now! Let’s move on to the next one!”
As soon as the researcher finished speaking, a new machine, looking much sturdier than the one that had just burst, rose up.
“This time, hit it hard! Don’t just tap it like before! Put your full power into it! Everyone! Are the recording devices ready?”
“Ready!”
“Don’t worry about the records!”
Uh… um… excuse me?
Where did Ludwig go?
“Uh… hey. I have one question.”
“What is it?! Speak quickly! We’re in a hurry!”
“You do remember what project you’re working on, right?”
“Yes! It’s an experiment to confirm how causality singularities manifest when a top-tier Hero exists under restricted conditions!”
Ah, so they do still remember that.
“Is what we’re doing right now actually related to that project?”
No, it really doesn't seem related at all.
“Of course it is! We need to know Crimson★Hammer’s exact physical performance to get more accurate results! So trust us and give it a good, hard swing! All the way!”
This is a lot of pressure.
An insane amount of pressure.
I think these are the weirdest researchers I’ve ever encountered.
Why are they so high-energy?
And where did Ludwig go? I can’t even see his face.
What the hell are you guys doing?
I really don't think this is right.
“I think that’s already suffici—”
Just as I was about to voice my opinion to stop this distorted progression—
“Trust! Us!”
A voice that surely exceeded the speaker's volume limit exploded out.
“It is a! Necessary! Action! We are the experts! Trust us!”
It was a volume filled with such overwhelming confidence that it crushed my will to argue.
…Fine. Let’s just go with it.
What else can I do?
Since they seem to remember what this project is for, it should be fine even if things get a little off track.
They say all roads lead to Rome, don't they?
It’s fine to take a bit of a detour.
I might as well relieve some stress while I’m at it.
Having settled my mind, I walked slowly and stood before the machine.
I took my stance.
And then, I drove my fist into it.
*
“…Can you explain exactly what you’ve done? Researcher John Doe. Researcher Jane Doe.”
The AO Director’s office.
We were all gathered there.
I was desperately avoiding the AO Director’s gaze to emphasize that I had nothing to do with this.
The remaining five researchers were darting their eyes around, looking for excuses.
And, though he wasn't present, Dr. Ludwig—who had been left bound hand and foot after being ambushed by the researchers—had been taken to the infirmary due to an "unfortunate accident" that occurred during the experiment.
About thirty seconds after the five guilty researchers started shifting their eyes—
“I will ask again. What kind of experiment did you conduct that resulted in a special laboratory being wiped out without a trace, the Phase Transition Engine—the lab’s sub-power source—ceasing to function, and dozens of unmanned weapons under development being completely smashed?”
The AO Director threw out the question again, a twisted smile appearing on her face.
Wow. I didn't know the AO Director could make a face like that.
I’d only ever seen her looking subtly sad or expressionless, so I thought her emotions were very weak, but I could feel an immense rage in her voice right now.
Perhaps because they were taking the brunt of it, the researchers stopped shifting their eyes and began whispering among themselves.
After about ten seconds, they seemed to have coordinated their story, and the female researcher who had been the loudest in the lab spoke up.
“We conducted an experiment!”
“What kind of experiment, Researcher Jane Doe?”
“Uh… regarding the durability of a Magical Girl’s body?”
No, that wasn't it.
What happened to confirming the causality singularity?
“Could you please explain how that led to this massive amount of damage, Researcher Jane Doe?”
“Since the standard materials placed in the lab couldn't possibly measure the limits, we used every device available and pushed the rule distortion to its maximum.”
“It seems you far exceeded the authorized range of resources for that research. Who was the person in charge?”
“It was Dr. Ludwig!”
So we didn't do anything wrong!
I felt like I could hear those unspoken words.
Of course, knowing the truth, I should defend Dr. Ludwig, but…
Sorry, Ludwig.
In this situation, I’m too busy trying to save my own skin.
Actually, halfway through, I did get the feeling that these guys had forgotten the original purpose.
But as they kept bringing things out like it was some kind of defense game, I got stubborn too and just ended up smashing everything in front of me. This was the result.
Of course, it’s not my fault.
In the first place, shouldn't a researcher prioritize assessing the situation, controlling their excitement, and stopping the rampage at a reasonable point?
This is just the result of them using everything they had to see it through to The End.
Just as the six of us were about to pin all the blame on Ludwig and run for our lives—
“Researcher John Doe. Researcher Jane Doe. All of you. Salary reduction. No matter how I review the records, the team leader was merely a victim. I will notify you of the exact disciplinary actions for this incident later, so please wait in your respective dormitories.”
The AO Director handed down a strict punishment to the researchers.
The moment the verdict was delivered, I cheered inwardly.
Yes! Not me.
Thinking that, I danced in my mind and followed the researchers as they left the room with slumped shoulders.
The moment I crossed the threshold with a light heart, having escaped all charges—
“And, Hero Crimson★Hammer, please prepare to attend the Disciplinary Committee regarding the damages.”
The AO Director’s cruel notification reached me from behind.
“Call my lawyer.”
I’m innocent.