A Hero's Persistent Visit
The early morning sun filtered through the windows as I sipped my coffee, savoring a leisurely start to the day. I stepped outside the shop with a steaming mug in hand. The sun had just risen, painting the ground in brilliant white. To the salarymen rushing to work, it was probably nothing more than an annoying glare. But if you truly understood it, this was the very embodiment of life energy, infusing the world with vitality.
I basked in the sunlight and took a deep sip of my coffee. Once I'd filled myself with caffeine and a healthy dose of superiority, I turned to head back inside—only to be stopped by someone calling out.
“—So you were here.”
“Hm? Ah—you're that hero from yesterday?”
“I've come to express my gratitude. May I come in for a moment?”
“What? Oh, sure. Come on in.”
I glanced back and realized it was the woman I'd seen the day before. I greeted her warmly. I absolutely cannot look suspicious. After all, I was an executive of Evils. An evil scientist. And the person standing before me was a hero.
“Pardon the intrusion.”
Niverna stepped into the shop and immediately held out the box of sweets she'd brought. They were premium desserts from an upscale patisserie—items that would be quite a burden on a hero's meager salary. Yet she'd deliberately chosen them. The man before her might very well be a hidden master craftsman in retirement. To build a good relationship, it was better to bring something expensive, even if it strained the budget, rather than cheap snacks.
“This is my way of repaying you for saving me yesterday. Please accept it.”
“Ahaha—thank you. They look delicious. I'll brew some coffee. Care to join me?”
“……If it's not too much trouble.”
There was another reason for this. If the shop owner showed her goodwill by sharing desserts, all the better. Since the money had to be spent anyway, she wanted to try these expensive sweets she normally wouldn't dream of buying. In the distant future, if the shop owner truly turned out to be a hidden expert and she managed to recruit him into the Hero Association, the cost of today's desserts could easily be expensed.
“—Here, help yourself.”
“Thank you.”
The owner went inside, returning shortly with plates, forks, and coffee. Niverna bowed her head in thanks as she accepted them, then shivered at the rich aroma wafting up. It was the kind of black coffee she normally wouldn't even glance at, yet for some reason its sweet scent completely dominated her senses. She lifted the cup and inhaled deeply—the intense chocolate fragrance filled her nostrils. It seemed like the perfect complement to the desserts she'd brought.
When she took a tentative sip, Niverna realized the taste was every bit as exceptional as the aroma. The desserts she'd purchased were top-tier, but this coffee was no less impressive. If even someone like me, who doesn't know much about coffee, can tell it's this good, it must be outrageously expensive…
Even the sofa she was sitting on and the table in front of her felt absurdly luxurious. There were no price tags, but Niverna instinctively knew. After all, this sofa was plusher than the one she'd sat on while guarding a corporate executive in the past, and the table seemed to be made of even higher-grade materials than what she'd seen back then.
Either way, these were far too extravagant for a simple neighborhood repair shop. As she looked around and took in the astonishing interior, Niverna began to wonder just what this shop really was—and who the owner truly might be. It does say 'General Repair Shop' outside…
But the wallpaper, tiles, and lighting were all premium quality—far beyond what a repair shop's earnings could afford. It almost seemed like the hobby project of a wealthy man, or perhaps a front for money laundering by a villain organization.
Having polished off the desserts without leaving a trace, Niverna realized it was about time and spoke up.
“Thank you again for yesterday. If not for you, I might have lost my life.”
“It wasn't that serious. Even if I hadn't been there, someone in the city would've found you and called for help.”
“No, that's not true. With my luck, I might've died right there on the spot… Thank you once again.”
When she bowed deeply, the owner stood up awkwardly and placed a hand on her shoulder to stop her. Following his gentle touch, Niverna straightened up and naturally began probing for information about him.
“—Your shop looks very neat and tidy.”
“Yeah. It hasn't been open long. About a week.”
“Congratulations. Do you get many customers?”
“Not really. In the entire week, you're the only customer I've had, Miss Niverna.”
“……I'm sorry.”
“It's fine. I didn't open it to get busy anyway.”
Through their brief conversation, Niverna learned that his name was Laemon. She also gathered that he hadn't opened the shop for a living, but purely for his own satisfaction. No wonder everything looks so ridiculously expensive… It seemed like the hobby of a rich young master from a wealthy family.
As they talked, Niverna decided to test the waters by asking about the suit.
“By the way, do you remember who came to pick me up yesterday?”
“Just an ambulance, I think.”
“I see. Was the suit removed?”
“Huh? No. You said it was hard to breathe, so I took it off for you.”
“I… see.”
Found him.Niverna hadn't expected such a straightforward confirmation. She paused, staring at the owner. Sensing her gaze, he quickly waved his hands and explained.
“Ah, I only removed the suit. I didn't see your underwear or anything. There were some leggings underneath.”
“I know that. …And I'm not narrow-minded enough to get angry at my savior for seeing a bit of underwear.”
“That's a relief.”
Did I really come across as some thug who showed up just because of that?Niverna mentally reviewed her actions. Fortunately, nothing she'd done had crossed the line of basic etiquette. In that case, perhaps it wouldn't hurt to extend an invitation to join the Hero Association?
Whether he accepted or not, there was no harm in trying. Running a shop like this that clearly didn't make money suggested he wasn't the type to work for cash. Niverna put her thoughts into action immediately. One of her few strengths was that once she decided on something, she never hesitated.
“Owner. Actually, that suit from yesterday isn't an ordinary item. It's a special suit the Hero Association made for me. Without special equipment, it's impossible to remove it by yourself.”
“Ah… is that so?”
“Yes. Normally the suit's built-in equipment lets me put it on and take it off alone, but unfortunately the equipment was broken yesterday.”
The damage had occurred during her fight with the villain Galrm. When she'd briefly regained consciousness, the suit had been damaged beyond repair. But when she woke up again at the Hero Association? Shockingly, the half-destroyed hero suit had been perfectly restored, as if nothing had happened.
It was hard to believe that the owner of a neighborhood repair shop possessed such technology… but Niverna wasn't the type to look away from reality. No matter how unbelievable, if the results existed, she believed them.
“In other words, your technical skills are exceptional even by our Hero Association's standards. What do you say, Owner? Would you consider using that skill to benefit the world by—”
“Ah, so it was Hero Association property? I thought it was your personal item, Miss Niverna.”
“Yes? Y-yes, that's correct. It's Association property.”
“Then I guess I don't need to waive the repair fee. I'd happily fix a hero's personal equipment for free since you protect the city, but… here you go. The invoice.”
The owner cut her off and handed her a bill he'd produced from somewhere. The date stamped on it showed it hadn't been prepared just now—it was from around the time she'd been unconscious yesterday. So it wasn't something he'd made to rip her off…
Right. If it was to win his favor, she could pay any amount. She could always get it expensed through the Association. With that thought, Niverna looked at the number at the bottom of the invoice.
One, ten, hundred, thousand, ten thousand, hundred thousand… million…
But the number kept going. When she finally saw the full amount, Niverna's eyes trembled as she looked at the owner.
“Th-this is…”
“The invoice. It includes materials and labor costs.”
“N-no, I mean, that is…”
She couldn't say she wouldn't pay now, but she also couldn't casually agree to it. As she'd always said, heroes were half civil servants—and like half-civil servants, their salaries were pitiful. She had no way to afford this amount.
“S-seven hundred and twenty months in installments…!”
“We don't accept cards.”
“G-guh…!”
And so Niverna was kicked out of the shop. With a single invoice bearing a six-digit number clutched in her hand.
Watching the hero disappear into the distance, I let out a sigh of relief. Somehow, I'd managed to stop her from trying to recruit me into the Hero Association.
That was close.
Based on my quick analysis of Niverna's personality, she wouldn't invite me to join the Hero Association until she'd actually brought the money I'd charged her. Or rather, she couldn't. It probably hadn't even occurred to her to ask the Association for the funds.
Hadn't she said it herself? The suit I'd repaired required special equipment to even put on or take off. The fact that someone could remove and repair it without that equipment meant they possessed exceptionally advanced skills by Association standards. Naturally, no one would think such a skilled technician would be working at a back-alley repair shop.
Besides, the Hero Association didn't even know her suit had been damaged. Because I'd repaired it perfectly before sending her back. So they wouldn't believe her story. Naturally, they wouldn't provide any financial support either.
Of course, even if she somehow brought the money, I had no intention of joining the Hero Association. Heroes get paid peanuts. They earn less than the researchers at Evils Enterprise. Why would I do that…
Even if they offered me a fortune, I still wouldn't join. I was an executive of Evils. An evil scientist. Well, looking at what our boss does, it was less like a villain organization and more like children's make-believe.
But surprisingly, Niverna didn't give up on her recruitment efforts. She came by persistently every day, bringing all sorts of trivial requests.
“Good morning, Owner.”
“Owner, my microwave at home broke today…”
“Owner. Do you know how to fix computers too?”
I looked at her as she brought in yet another broken gadget and asked, utterly bewildered.
“You still haven't paid for the suit repair?”
“……I-I'm sorry. I've brought it up, but they say it's difficult without proof of your skills.”
“Sigh. That's the Hero Association for you.”
“I-it's not that bad of a place! It's just… the budget is tight…”
I sent off the woman who was awkwardly scratching her cheek and was about to enjoy some alone time when someone slipped into the shop. A beautiful girl with brown hair. It was Aile.
“S-scientist! I came to visit…!”
“Ah, Aile. Welcome.”
“But… who was that person just now…?”
“A hero.”
“A-a hero…?”
Upon hearing Niverna's identity, Aile jumped in surprise and looked around nervously. As an executive of Evils and an evil magical girl, she wouldn't want a hero seeing her bare face. Fortunately, Niverna had left long ago and hadn't brought any other heroes to the shop.
“B-but why was a hero…”
“I helped her a bit recently. Then she started inviting me to join the Association…”
“N-no way!”
When I mentioned the recruitment offer, Aile let out a startled cry as if it were an emergency. I smiled at her reaction.
“Of course I have no intention of joining. But her persistence is getting a bit concerning.”
“P-persistence…?”
“Yeah. She comes by every day and it's getting annoying…”
“I-I'll take care of it for you…!”
“You, Aile?”
I had no idea how she planned to handle it. I chuckled and nodded.
“If you handle it, that would really help.”
“Y-yes… Don't worry…!”
And so Aile ate the desserts Niverna had left behind while we chatted. As expected, it turned into an otaku discussion about magical girls.
I'm so tired…
As a hero, Niverna spent her days doing hero-like training and un-hero-like paperwork when there were no villain attacks. When the work dragged on too long, she ended up leaving the office this late at night. She stared blankly at the night sky and sighed. A pure white full moon beautifully decorated the darkness above.
What excuse should I use to visit tomorrow…
Looking at the moonlit sky, Niverna thought of the owner of the general repair shop. She'd been visiting with the mindset that no tree stands after ten strikes. It seemed like he was almost convinced, but the problem was that she was running out of excuses to visit. She had nothing left to deliberately break.
Maybe I should just seduce him and ask him to be my lover…
As Niverna headed home with that thought, silence fell over the world. As a hero, she immediately reacted to the anomaly.
“—What a beautiful moonlit night.”
“……Who are you?”
“Oh my, you don't recognize me?”
Niverna froze as she looked at the woman in a pitch-black dress who had appeared before her. A familiar face. A villain that no hero could fail to recognize. The nightmare of the magical girls in H City. The evil magical girl stood there.
“But… this is E City… Why are you…”
“Hehe, what an interesting question.”
The evil magical girl flashed a seductive smile.
“—It's simply because I don't like you.”
“……You crazy—!”
A moment later, the evil magical girl's magical bombardment engulfed Niverna.