Non-Scientific Faith
A middle-aged man with a potbelly, drenched by a sudden splash of water, erupted in fury.
“─It makes me as angry as 「a single hymn praising that person」!”
“No, so what exactly do you mean by that─.”
It wasn’t the one who spilled the water who should be talking, but I couldn’t understand a single word of what he was saying. He wasn’t demanding an apology or compensation for laundry—he was claiming to be as angry as one song?
Was he asking me to sing right now? Getting hit by water wasn’t exactly the kind of situation that called for a favor, and if that had been his goal, he would have at least suggested a song instead of spouting something so incoherent.
‘What the hell is he talking about…….’
Flustered, I looked toward my colleagues. They simply shrugged as if to ask what the problem was and spoke up.
“Come on, Raemon. What are you doing? Apologize already. He said he’s only as angry as 「one hymn」. You can just write him one song, right?”
“That’s right, Boss. He’s willing to forgive you with just 「one song praising that person」.”
“……What?”
Watching the two of them repeat the same nonsense as the middle-aged man, I finally realized this was an attack. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a Stand attack—it was an esper ability.
‘Hypnotic brainwashing-type esper ability……!’
No matter the genre, this kind of power was always a nightmare to deal with. Especially since the man shouting in front of me might very well be a victim of it himself.
Even his colleagues had clearly been affected at some point. The only reason I hadn’t fallen under the hypnosis was thanks to the brainwashing countermeasures unique to security-sensitive research facilities.
‘It probably isn’t an ability that can brainwash anyone freely just by eye contact or without conditions. If it were, there’d be no need for this roundabout trap—they could’ve just taken me openly…….’
If this were the kind of brainwashing ability seen in Hitomi, where a single button lets you control anyone, there would be no reason to set up such an elaborate scheme. They could simply use the ability and drag me away.
That meant it was conditional brainwashing. They had caused an accident using someone with telekinesis or a similar power, then demanded an apology. The trigger was likely emotional stimulation.
‘A perception-altering ability based on emotion.’
This type of ability was especially vicious because even those around the victim wouldn’t realize hypnosis had occurred. Even if someone unaffected noticed our strange behavior, they would never suspect hypnotic brainwashing.
They would simply assume we had done something wrong and offered a slightly excessive compensation as apology. People might call us pushovers, but they would never think it was brainwashing. Even if I had been hypnotized into writing a song, the boss would only scold me—he would never suspect hypnotic brainwashing.
‘Lucky.’
I stood up. People around me moved to block my path, but escaping wasn’t my goal. I would escape, but as a non-powered person with no abilities, how was I supposed to break through this crowd?
That wasn’t my role. An evil scientist should be protected by his creations, as befits an evil scientist.
“Boss? Where are you trying to go─.”
“Transform.”
> [HENSHIN] INITIATED
> Deploying combat suit…
> Hypnosis resistance protocol: ACTIVE
The transformation belt responded to my voice and automatically activated, enveloping Niverna’s entire body. This suit, which could instantly elevate an A-class supporting hero to S-class, naturally came equipped with resistance to hypnotic brainwashing. It even included a function to undo existing hypnosis.
As expected, Niverna trembled for a moment after donning the suit, then let out a long sigh as she realized what had happened.
“Boss…… What is this.”
“Niverna. We don’t have time for explanations. Take me and get us out of here.”
“……What about Vira?”
“She’ll come back on her own. Or maybe not? She might feel ashamed that her colleague ran away without apologizing.”
If she felt that ashamed, she might get hypnotized again. Just in case, I approached Vira and activated the self-defense wristwatch. Zzzt—! Electricity shot out and paralyzed her nervous system, knocking her unconscious.
Catching her as she collapsed, I felt a weight that threatened to snap my back and immediately passed her to Niverna.
“Here. Now let’s go.”
“……Yes, Boss. But where to—?”
“Evils Enterprise headquarters.”
“Understood.”
When Niverna prepared to grab us and flee, people around us began rising and using their esper abilities to stop us.
Too bad. Standing here now was an active S-class hero. Even after going freelance, her skills had only grown, never diminished—an incarnation of martial power that ordinary abilities couldn’t even slow down.
One of the peaks of martial power in this era.
“─Then hold on tight.”
Niverna ran away! The effect was tremendous!
“─You missed them? Who?”
> Target composer has escaped. My apologies, President.
“No, how did that happen?”
Lize asked in disbelief. How many personnel had been deployed for this operation, and they still failed?
But after hearing the reply, she had no choice but to accept the failure.
> An S-class hero was acting as escort. Niverna, sponsored by Evils……
“……I see.”
An S-class hero. The strongest martial power available on official stages in the current era. They weren’t often deployed because they couldn’t be used in illegal operations or when attacking other companies or cities—but when used to protect someone, an S-class hero displayed their full majesty.
The demon worshippers they had sent were excellent agents, but not enough to snatch the target head-on against an S-class hero. If an S-class hero was openly guarding, retrieving the composer was nearly impossible.
‘Keeping an S-class hero attached at all times……?’
She didn’t believe their operation had leaked. Other companies might suffer from spies, but not Baphomet. Baphomet was the only company where spies or betrayal from within the corporation or government simply didn’t exist.
In Baphomet, which worshipped and followed the demon, acts like espionage or betrayal couldn’t occur. Any core personnel capable of leaking information had already come into contact with the demon, and once that happened, their original goals became meaningless.
‘It means they value him more than I thought…… Could he really be her lover?’
Assuming no information had leaked, assigning a former S-class hero as a permanent escort to protect a mere composer and performer was excessive. His skills were acknowledged, but as a businesswoman, using an S-class hero for a hobby that brought no profit was irrational.
And Regalia of Evils Enterprise was a businessman more ruthless than anyone, despite her age. A figure even called the Iron-blooded Demon King in the underworld.
Lize realized the composer held value far beyond simply playing music.
‘……Then this becomes dangerous.’
Whether he was a lover or possessed value beyond that of a performer, one thing was certain: Regalia valued that man greatly. And the problem was that they had already attempted to hypnotize him.
If things went wrong, it could escalate into corporate war. With the situation as it was, Lize had two choices. Either hide completely so they never found out it was Baphomet’s doing, or……
“─I’ll send an apostle.”
> Yes? President. That is……
“It can’t be helped. Since we’ve left traces, they’ll eventually discover it was our doing. Rather than fighting head-on then, it’s more important to secure something now.”
Either obtain the man Regalia cherished so much and enter negotiations, or…… Of the two options, the latter offered the higher chance of maximum benefit. As a businesswoman, Lize believed in numbers and probabilities.
“Right now, while the other side knows nothing, is when our chances of winning are highest.”
“You were hypnotically brainwashed?”
“Yes. To classify it precisely, it seemed like a perception-altering ability.”
After being attacked on the street, I returned straight to Evils Enterprise headquarters and met privately with the boss. Despite her countless duties as chairman of a colossal corporation, Regalia met me immediately after a single phone call.
Perhaps because I rarely called first, the boss—surprised—immediately summoned me to the chairman’s office. Upon hearing I had been attacked, she exploded in anger.
“How dare they lay a hand on my subordinate…… There are far too many people who’ve lost their fear lately.”
“How— Do you have any idea who the culprit might be?”
“……No. There are too many possibilities.”
Unfortunately, Regalia immediately identifying the culprit didn’t happen. As expected of a global mega-corporation, the number of enemies was countless. Identifying the culprit with only the information that they possessed hypnotic brainwashing ability was nearly impossible.
Moreover, the fact that esper abilities were innate regardless of personality or character made guessing the opponent even harder. This was a world where even a cute, kind child like Aile could be non-powered, and even trash like Galrm could shoot beams from his eyes.
“Be careful with your body for a while. Don’t wander around alone.”
“Yes. By the way, aren’t you taking any precautions against hypnotic brainwashing, Boss? Should I make something for you?”
“It’s fine. A king isn’t affected by such trivial brainwashing.”
Regalia smiled and displayed her esper ability. I let out an exclamation. Envious. So envious. While some struggled without any ability, having just one esper ability granted immunity to brainwashing too?
While I gazed at her with envy, the boss asked me in return.
“By the way—how did you, the scientist, avoid being brainwashed? Did you prepare something in advance?”
“Ah—something like that. Whether I prepared it or got caught in advance……”
“……Got caught in advance?”
I couldn’t bring myself to explain in detail and only gave a bitter smile. There is such a thing, Boss. Regalia’s expression grew serious as she wondered what I meant.
“Surely you’re not planning to do something strange again?”
“Of course not. When have I ever done that?”
“I still haven’t forgotten how you almost sent Arima away like that just a few days ago.”
A suspicious glare flew my way. I couldn’t refute it and only let out a hollow laugh. The past couldn’t be helped, but this time I truly felt wronged.
I never imagined that even after crossing worlds, the security measures wouldn’t be lifted—and that it would make me feel this wronged.