The Kidnapped Hero (2)
Villain No. 13 from the villain organization 【Abyss】 took over the entire department store in a brazen arrest operation. Since it happened on a holiday afternoon, quite a few ordinary citizens were taken hostage.
Fortunately, the heroes from the 7th Squad base arrived as reinforcements and safely freed the hostages, but tragically, one hero was captured and dragged away.
The support-role hero was secondary; even with two heroes clinging to him, they couldn't subdue Villain No. 13, sending the stock of him and his organization skyrocketing once more.
Headlines like [Villain No. 13's Glorious Return] and [Beware the Villain Organization 【Abyss】] were popping up all over the internet and SNS.
"……Something's off."
But the one right in the thick of it—Spade, who had experienced it all firsthand and seen it with her own eyes—was left with an ambiguous memory of the event and a nagging, indescribable unease.
The moment she and the other two had confronted No. 13 together. And the time they had split up to search for him after devising a plan.
……It's weird. There's nothing weird, but it's weird.
No matter how much she racked her brain, no answers came, so Spade had no choice but to shelve her doubts.
In time, those memories and the sense of wrongness slowly weathered away.
Shuuuk—
Shuuuuk——
Shuuuk—
Shuuuuk——
‘………………?’
Club, whose consciousness had sunk into darkness, faintly came to at the sensation of someone nearby brushing her skin.
Someone was close, but she couldn't tell who.
Her vision was pitch black—not because the room was dark, but because something was covering her eyes. She realized that much.
When she tried to move her arms on instinct, there was a clank, and they wouldn't budge as she wanted.
Handcuffs or something—she seemed to be restrained.
『――――――』
『――――――――』
Someone was talking. She could hear murmuring voices.
From the presences she sensed, there were two people nearby.
Sensing presences was a skill she'd learned from her mentor Coco and mastered.
She'd been drilled Spartan-style to do it even in her sleep.
Faintly, memories surfaced. What had happened to her. What was happening now.
‘Department store… villain….’
‘Spade senior… No. 13….’
In her fragmented thoughts, she recalled and pieced it together.
She barely remembered the villain terror at the department store.
She remembered fighting alongside Spade senior to capture Villain No. 13.
And. And. And….
Shuuuk—
Shuuuuk—
‘Ah… this smell….’
Again. That strange gas periodically flooding her mouth and nose.
Breathing it in made her head feel floaty, like her bones were melting away.
Her thoughts sank back into the swamp of unconsciousness.
Her head grew heavy. Her eyes wanted to drift shut again.
No… no….
I have to… stay conscious….
…….
……Senior….
"How's her condition, Advisor?"
"No. 13. You've arrived."
In the infirmary of the villain organization 【Abyss】. On one of the many beds lined up there lay Club, the hero from the 7th Squad.
Blindfolded over her eyes but otherwise completely naked, her hands were cuffed above her head, immobilizing her.
A respirator connected to a special machine covered her mouth and nose.
Inside the respirator, Dorothy's hypnosis-brainwashing gas puffed out periodically: shuuuk, shuuuk.
"No issues for now. She shouldn't wake until Dorothy's custom brainwashing device is ready to activate."
"Good to hear. I just checked it out—looks like one scary-ass machine."
"…So, did Dorothy say anything?"
"……Got an earful of shit from her."
The Advisor, her silver hair gleaming as always, avoided looking at No. 13 and toyed with Club's modest breasts—poking and pinching the nipples at their peaks—while exposed so vulnerably.
She seemed distinctly sulky.
"Mad?"
"Not mad."
"…You seem mad."
"The other two already chewed you out plenty."
No. 13's recklessness apparently hadn't sat well with her as Advisor.
They'd planned to retreat without question if a 'sudden situation arose' or if 'No. 13's mana reserves ran dry.'
But when the moment came, No. 13 rejected her advice and charged back into the danger zone.
That was when Spade had resisted the brainwashing.
Which meant the brainwashing on Club could have glitched too.
And Spade, having broken free once, remained a threat.
Even divided, if Spade noticed something off, she might come searching for Club.
Thankfully, Apple had intervened and reasserted control over Spade, preventing further issues.
Still, No. 13's actions had been careless and risky—no denying it.
"I'm your Advisor. And as your Advisor, I want to prioritize No. 13's survival above all, in any situation."
"Even if we let heroes slip away, even if things go wrong—as long as you're alive, we can start over anytime."
"But you…."
The Advisor murmured glumly.
No. 13 scratched the back of his head sheepishly at his subordinate's downcast demeanor.
He'd already gotten an earful from Dorothy and the boss over it.
『You trying to get yourself killed, you dumb fuck!!』
The boss's sharp scolding still rang in his ears.
Dorothy had called him a 'death-wishing lunatic' and ground his toes under her heel.
It still hurt.
But they'd worried about him that much. Valued his life over the mission's success.
It made him quietly grateful, a tickle in his chest.
"Sorry about this time. I'll do better. Next time, I'll listen."
"I know you won't keep that promise, No. 13."
"…I'll try."
Only after his apology did the Advisor seem to soften.
The outcome was satisfying, process aside.
They'd kidnapped the hero they wanted, gotten some revenge, and secured proof of activity for the 'Villain Alliance.'
Abyss's standing had risen nicely.
Ah… ahh….
Beside the Advisor playfully toying with one nipple like it was adorable, No. 13 freely fondled and pinched the other.
The defenseless heroine, eyes blindfolded and hands cuffed, seemed asleep—but her breathing hitched sensitively with each touch, her body squirming.
Click…
In the 7th Squad base, residential floor. Apple quietly stepped out into the hallway from one of the rooms.
Big round glasses, hair braided into twin tails like a cat's tail.
Light, modest clothes—fitting for this late hour, but a closer look revealed faint makeup.
Not a casual night stroll; she'd been summoned by No. 13 and was heading out.
"Apple?"
"Ah… Spade."
She'd tried to slip out unnoticed, but ran straight into Spade heading back to her room after just a few steps.
Sports bra top exposing her midriff, dolphin pants—simple workout gear.
Sweat beaded all over her body, sparkling like pearls in the moonlight from the window.
"Working out this late?"
"Yeah… Can't sleep. Can't just sit still with everything going on."
Spade's voice was subdued.
Experienced as she was, this wasn't her first rodeo.
Still, with it happening on her watch, the weight was crushing—classic responsible Spade.
"Where you off to this late? Convenience store?"
"Can't sleep either. Worried about Club. …Thought I'd take a short walk."
"Want company? It's late. Dangerous for a girl alone."
"But aren't you a girl too, Spade?"
"I'm different."
"Hehe… Sweet of you, but this time…."
Apple trailed off deliberately, glancing at her smartphone.
Spade's expression shifted like she'd caught on.
"Meeting your boyfriend?"
She'd vaguely heard Apple had a boyfriend lately. Apple had mentioned it herself.
Curious who it was, Spade had asked to see a photo a few times, but never got one.
"With Club's situation, I just can't sit still. …Do you think it's pathetic, going to meet my boyfriend at a time like this?"
"Not at all. Don't think that."
Apple feeling responsible was the last thing needed.
Heroes bore their own burdens—no passing it on.
Even if it seemed cold. That was the hero world.
Where anyone beside you could die anytime.
‘Apple hasn't seen much action. Probably feels it heavier than me.’
Hope that boyfriend takes good care of her. Spade wasn't great with words or comfort.
"Have a safe trip. Watch the night roads."
And with that, Spade let her go without suspicion and returned to her room.