Vol 2 Chapter 13 – Two Lunatics and Unease (【Just Trying to Be Kind】Arc)

A few minutes after Arisu woke up, I was informed that Hirata had also regained consciousness in the neighboring infirmary.

I turned to Arisu and said, “I’m going to check on Hirata,” before heading to the next room.

Inside, I found Hirata, looking slightly more exhausted than usual.

“I heard you were awake, so I came to check on you. Are you alright?”

“Boss!? I’m so sorry for causing you trouble! I’m fine now.”

Saying that, Hirata sat up.

“Please, don’t push yourself too hard.”

“Push myself? Oh no, I’m perfectly fine! I feel great!”

Hirata flashed a bright smile.

“I asked Arisu earlier as well… but why did you suddenly slam your head down at that moment?”

At my question, Hirata visibly flinched.

“Ah… well, I guess I was startled by something unexpected and ended up hitting my head… hehe,” Hirata replied with a nervous laugh, even making a “tehe” gesture.

Doubt.

No matter how startled someone is, no one slams their head on a desk hard enough to knock themselves out.

Arisu gave a similarly vague answer earlier. Were the two of them hiding some kind of secret agreement?

“I see. Well, I was quite surprised by your sudden behavior.”

“Haha… sorry about that…” Hirata replied with an awkward laugh.

“You are a very important person to me, you know, in case I ever need you to… testify against me if I get captured. So please, let me know if anything happens.”

“Boss… Thank you.”

Hirata’s face turned red.

Wait, did I upset her again?

She looks like she’s thinking, Who do you think you are, acting all high and mighty?

For the record, I’m the leader here, at least in title.

As we were having this lighthearted exchange, the door to the infirmary opened.

Entering the room was Arisu, who had already changed out of her patient gown and into her usual maid uniform.

“So, you’re finally awake, ‘self-proclaimed neighbor.'”

“Cut it out… it’s the same with you, ‘self-proclaimed maid.'”

Their conversation radiated an intense pressure.

Wait… were these two always this hostile toward each other?

I thought I saw them plotting something together during the last meeting… Was I imagining things?

I glanced at both of them, only to find them glaring at each other like mortal enemies.

Terrifying.

Maybe I should intervene with something authoritative and get them to stop.

“Now, now, you two. Save the banter for later. Let’s just be glad that you’re both safe.”

“This isn’t just banter… but if the Boss says so, I’ll back down.”

“If it’s your command, Master.”

With that, they both returned to their usual demeanor.

It’s rare for them to listen to me so easily.

The sudden change in their behavior made me laugh unintentionally.

“Boss?”

Both of them looked at me curiously as I laughed.

“Oh, it’s nothing. I’m just glad to see you both back to normal.”

I responded with a slight chuckle.

If I’d added something like, “Wow, you’re so obedient today,” that would’ve been the end of me—Arisu’s dagger would be flying at me in no time.

“I’m happy to have your support, Boss!”

“I, too, am grateful for your kind attention, Master.”

They both smiled as they said this, which made me feel a bit embarrassed. I told myself it was just a polite gesture and moved on.

“I’ll leave things in your hands while I’m in Hokkaido.”

Hopefully, I won’t come back to find you both captured by the Guardians or the police… or the organization gone altogether.

“Leave it to me! I’ll be waiting eagerly for your return, Boss!”

No need to wait. If you get caught, just stay caught.

“When you return, Master, I’ll prepare a delicious meal for you.”

Ah, that’s tempting. Arisu’s cooking is amazing.

“Well then, since you’re both feeling better, I’ll take my leave to handle some business.”

“Understood! Take care!”

“Safe travels, Master.”

With that, I left the infirmary.

I need to go pick up the item I asked “that guy” to prepare.

Leaving the hideout, I headed toward my next destination.

————————————————————————————  

The infirmary after Sakata’s departure.

The atmosphere in the room was tense.

“Master’s gone now.”

“Yes, he has.”

Their exchange was awkward, to say the least.

“Do you think we weren’t chosen after all?”

Hirata muttered, shoulders slumping.

“I understand Master’s decision. For this mission, it’s clear that Kuzuryuu and Satsuki are the best fit.”

Arisu replied matter-of-factly, prompting Hirata to let out a sigh.

“I get that, but… I really wanted to frolic with the Boss at the beach!!”

“What era are you from…?”

Hirata, raising her voice in frustration, was met with a look of exasperation from Arisu.

“And don’t tell me you don’t want to frolic with the Boss at the beach!?”

“Of course I do.”

“We’re on the same page then!!”

The two lunatics had found common ground at last.

Hirata lets out a grand retort at Meido’s immediate response.

But Meido, seeming bored with their back-and-forth, mutters quietly.

“Master probably doesn’t care about me at all, does he?”

At that moment, Hirata’s cheerful expression darkens slightly.

“I don’t think that’s true. I’m sure Boss cares about you as well. It’s just a matter of priorities, that’s all…”

And with those words, she reverts to her usual carefree expression.

Seeing that, Meido’s face goes blank―――

“Well, it’s fine. I’ll just keep practicing my cooking for when the time comes.”

Even with her blank expression, her eyes gleam with a hint of madness.

“Which ‘part’ will you be cooking this time?”

Hirata timidly asks her about the “next ingredient.”

“The next one? I haven’t decided yet, but… probably ———, I suppose.”

“…Seriously?”

“I’m dead serious. I want Master to eat every bit, without anything left over.”

Meido smiles naturally.

Seeing this, Hirata lets out a small sigh.

“Well, if that’s what you say, Meido-san, I’ll leave it alone…”

She doesn’t say anything more.

In the quiet that follows, only Hirata’s sigh lingers.

————————————————————————————  

A dimly lit basement.

Various chemicals line the shelves, and experimental tools for creating more substances clutter the desk.

All around the shelves are creatures preserved in jars.

And there stands a lone man, as though cherishing them or perhaps observing them.

A calm voice echoes through the space.

“Nonomura, how are you doing?”

“Oh, it’s you, my lord.”

Standing before me is my lord.

Within the depths of that mask lies a glimmer of intellect, though tinged with a certain madness.

“I’m doing alright… My body still moves well, considering my age.”

Saying this, I stretch.

“I see. I’m glad to hear that.”

My lord nods in apparent satisfaction.

I cut to the main topic.

“So then… What brings you here today?”

My lord claps his hands, as though remembering something.

Then, raising one finger…

“I’ve come to pick up that certain medicine I requested.”

“That certain medicine, is it? Ah yes, you did mention it.”

With that, I take a wooden box filled with various potions from the shelf and place it before my lord.

Then, opening the box…

I hand over a small vial containing a purple-tinted liquid.

It’s a potion that makes one’s face unrecognizable to others.

In simple terms, the face of whoever takes this drug appears featureless to others, but they perceive it as perfectly normal.

It’s best used for situations where someone like my lord must inevitably show his face in public yet wishes to hide it.

My lord inspects the vial before slipping it into his pocket.

“You have my thanks. This helps a lot.”

With those words, my lord gives a slight bow.

I feel humbled that my lord would bow to me, but I try not to show it.

“It’s an honor to be of service.”

I bow my head.

Then my lord says, “By the way,” and asks me a question.

“Have any other executives besides me requested any medicine recently?”

He exudes an unsettling aura, making me break out in a cold sweat.

If I recall who among the executives has requested something recently…

“Meido recently requested one.”

“Meido, huh. That’s unexpected.”

My lord places a finger to his chin, deep in thought.

But he quickly seems to come to a conclusion.

“I see. Knowing that is enough.”

With those words, my lord turns toward the exit. Then, just before leaving, his voice resounds through the room.

“If possible, could you also prepare ——— for me?”

“———, you say.”

“‘——’? It’s not really something I’d recommend for human use, but…”

“I’d like to use it after returning from Hokkaido.”

“I see… Understood. I’ll do my best.”

“Thank you. I’m counting on you.”

With that, my lord leaves the laboratory.

The lab falls silent once more.

————————————————————————————  

“Haah…”

Having returned to her own hideout, Kirino sighs alone.

Kirino hands her belongings to her subordinates and heads to her room by herself.

Upon entering her room, she says just one thing:

“I really wanted to go to Hokkaido…”

She never really expected much, but not being chosen still stings a bit.

Unlike the other executives, I have neither combat skills nor intelligence.

I don’t even know why I was chosen to be an executive.

I once asked Boss about it.

“Why did you choose me to be an executive?”

When Boss heard my question, he―――

“Because I need your abilities.”

I still remember those words clearly.

That’s exactly why I wanted to earn a spot on the trip to Hokkaido, for Boss’s sake and for my own goals.

But this is how it turned out. I wasn’t chosen.

The other executives are all talented—brilliant, strong in battle, and to top it off, beautiful.

If there’s anything I have over them, it’s my youth, perhaps.

But it was surprising that Hirata-san and Meido-san also weren’t chosen.

Those two were always competing to be Boss’s right-hand woman, and Boss actually went on missions with either of them multiple times.

Well, thinking it over, Kuzuryuu-san and Satsuki-san are definitely best suited for this mission.

“I hope I can go with them someday…”

Kirino murmurs under her breath.

Just then.

She hears a light knock on her door.

“Come in.”

Kirino calls out to the person beyond the door.

Then, the door opens slowly, and a young girl steps inside.

She is one of the newly recruited subordinates.

“I’ve brought you your meal.”

Saying this, she sets a tray with food in front of Kirino.

“Thank you. You can go now.”

“Understood.”

At Kirino’s words, the subordinate turns to leave.

But then…

“Hey, what’s your name?”

Suddenly, Kirino calls out to the subordinate before her.

Turning back, the subordinate replies:

“Me? Subordinates have no names.”

“Is that so? Maybe that’s right.”

“If there’s anything else, please let me know.”

With that, the subordinate leaves the room.

(I’ve never seen a subordinate with such clear eyes before.)

All of Empress’s subordinates are successfully brainwashed and have their memories altered once.

Which is why they’re generally not in their right mind.

Still thinking about that subordinate, Kirino begins her meal.

————————————————————————————  

A quiet hallway.

There stands the young girl who just served Kirino her meal.

“…..”

She checks to make sure no one else is around.

Then, she takes out a small communication device.

“Hello? This is ‘Second.’”

A voice comes through the device.

It’s a woman’s voice, sounding somewhat childlike yet coldly mechanical.

“Is that you, Second-sama? This is Codename 0612. I’ve obtained important information and am reporting in.”

“Important information?”

She asks in a slightly suspicious tone.

Hearing that, the girl continues.

“There’s a possibility that Empress’s executives will be heading to Hokkaido.”

“Hokkaido?”

The cold, mechanical voice resonates from the device.

This was a tip-off that would greatly alter their future fates.