Chapter 69
Chapter 69
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 69
Chapter Title: Plan to Create Stronger Heroes (1)
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◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ - Whirrr— Whiiiirrr—
- Clank— Clank— Clank—
A subterranean laboratory echoing with countless mechanical whirs and clanks.
Dozens of researchers darted about busily, operating several massive machines—each several times the size of a human body—to achieve their goal.
"How are the vital signs for H4301 and H4302?"
"Both are stable!"
A man with deep black circles around his eyes and thinning hair.
This high-ranking researcher among them rushed between his colleagues, directing and supervising their tasks.
- Whiiiiirrr— Tsssssss...
As the weary-looking man pressed a large button, one wall of the lab split in two, revealing two enormous test tubes inside.
"This experiment has to succeed."
"You're right, Director. Otherwise, those guys will come storming in again."
"Sigh... Exactly. These kids who want to play hero even as adults, and us too—what did we do to deserve this?"
The director sighed deeply, rubbing his throbbing head, while the researchers bowed theirs before him.
Inside the two test tubes floated two young women, barely adults, with sky-blue and green hair respectively, asleep in the liquid.
"Time to start. Begin HV9-7 administration for both!"
"Yes, sir!"
At the director's command, the researchers sprang into action, fiddling with the large cylinders attached to the giant test tubes.
Moments later, they inserted thick pipes into the cylinders and pressed something. The pipes plunged into the liquid filling the tubes.
Those pipes stabbed forcefully into each girl's neck and spine, injecting a suspicious liquid into their bodies.
The two, who had been asleep, winced, their bodies curling in pain from the influx.
Soon, the cylinders emptied completely. The pipes withdrew from the girls' necks and spines, retreating outside the tubes.
"No abnormalities in vital signs."
A researcher who had been logging the data on the screen in front of the tubes rushed to the director and reported every detail without omission.
"Remove the IVs in 30 minutes... and take them out to monitor their condition."
"Yes, sir! Understood."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Uwaaaah?!"
A startled cry, as if from a nightmare.
The girl with vibrant green hair, like fresh seaweed, snapped her eyes open in shock.
"Haa... There's wounds on my neck and back."
Just an hour ago, she had been inside the test tube, receiving some injection.
Hero 'Magical Girl Seraphina' touched her wounds and turned her head.
"Aquamarine... is still asleep, it seems."
A researcher monitoring their condition from beyond the beds they lay on.
Hearing Seraphina's voice, he approached and asked about her state.
"H4301. How's your body feeling?"
"Don't call me by my experiment number. I have a proper hero name!"
Seraphina frowned at being addressed by her subject number, insisting she was a real hero.
"How would I know? I just do research here and don't keep up."
"Haa... All you researchers are like this. The wounds hurt quite a bit... but everywhere else is fine."
The researcher scratched his head and checked her over.
"Sorry about that! I'm a lousy old guy. Got it."
Once the researcher left the room where they lay, Seraphina wandered the familiar space comfortably.
"This book's still here. It was around when I first came two years ago. The experiment facilities keep getting better... but this room's the same."
A smallish white metal bed.
A tiny bookshelf with a few books and a potted plant.
A single TV that only played a handful of variety shows to stave off boredom.
The room they stayed in every time they came for experiments over the past few years remained unchanged.
"Mm... Umm..."
Aquamarine stirred, woken by their conversation and the TV noise.
"It's okay. Seraphina's here."
Seraphina hurried to Aquamarine, who wore the same pained expression, and gently patted her head and back.
"Sera... phina. Good thing."
Aquamarine seemed to relax at Seraphina's touch, sitting up in bed with a slightly eased expression.
"How many experiments has it been now?"
"Who knows. Just from what I remember, over ten."
"Already that many? Come to think of it, this bed and everything... it's all the same as before."
"Yeah! I was just thinking that earlier. We're in sync?"
"Guess so? Hehe."
Even as they fingered the identical wounds from the pipes, the two forgot their post-experiment woes for a moment and smiled softly.
- Clank— Creeeak...
"Ahem."
"We were having fun. What brings you here, old man... wait, grandpa?"
The lab director, who had been overseeing the experiment, entered to check on them personally.
He sighed deeply at the banter that started the moment he opened the door.
"How are you two feeling? I heard the wounds hurt... but that's par for the course."
"We're fine. Nothing different from usual."
"I see."
Hearing they were okay, the director pulled something from the heavy bag he carried.
"From now on, you must take this medicine once a day without fail. The drug used in this experiment is extremely potent and dangerous."
What he revealed were hundreds of small, black pills, divided into two transparent containers.
"Haa... Now we have to take medicine too?"
"Yes. If you don't take it within 24 hours... all sorts of side effects will hit."
"What kind of side effects?"
Seraphina asked about the side effects.
The director hesitated, looking troubled.
"Well... that is..."
"Tell us. Being heroes means emergencies happen all the time. We need to prepare mentally at least."
Unable to refuse the girls' firm insistence, the director explained the side effects.
"At first... you'll bleed a little from your eyes or nose. It'll drip for about an hour."
"That's happened before sometimes."
"Hear me out. You asked for this."
The director scolded the two for their nonchalant reaction.
Then he continued describing the side effects.
"If 25 hours pass without taking it... worse problems arise. Sudden blindness, loss of smell... intense dizziness.
And if even more time passes... blood will pour from every orifice. Your muscles will melt, and your body will collapse."
"If we can't take it by then... we die."
"Yes. But in exchange for those side effects, I guarantee you'll get stronger—physically and in using your abilities."
Aquamarine and Seraphina nodded, a bit surprised but acting unfazed, even smiling back at the director's worried look.
"We're okay! No need to worry. If you hadn't been here, Director... we wouldn't even be alive."
"I'm supposed to reassure you, but... thanks for saying that."
The director's heart ached more seeing their bright smiles, but he nodded, pretending to be relieved.
"You should be able to resume activities tomorrow. I'll leave these here, so make sure to take them. Let me know if you run out."
He placed the containers on the table beside their beds, closed his bag, and turned to leave.
"Mister."
"Hm? Something you want to ask?"
"Taking this medicine... does it mean we'll keep living?"
Seraphina's question was dead serious, no trace of playfulness.
The director froze, pondering just as he had when explaining the side effects.
Countless experiments that would have broken any normal human body.
The immense physical and mental stress that came with them.
And now, side effects that could kill them at any moment.
Aquamarine and Seraphina knew all too well their time left wasn't long.
Even so, the director couldn't bring himself to confirm it aloud to them.
"I told you. Just take one pill before 24 hours are up."
Forcing a casual tone, he turned back to the girls with a kind smile.