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The symbol of the Eternal Empire. Those who laid eyes on the World Tree, embedded by the immortally living fairies, realized that something had changed significantly. Whatever that was, it could be accepted as a good thing for now, since the rampage of the Eternal Tree, which had been wrecking the city at supersonic speed, had finally stopped.

As a result, the police and heroes rushed into the city, discovering two exhausted individuals right in front of the World Tree. Steil and Flower, both wanted villains by the Association.

“Look, it’s Flower!”

“What? Arrest her! Right now!”

“Be careful—! The comrades sent to her didn’t leave a trace before dying…”

As the furious heroes approached, Steil struggled to move his immobile body and lifted the radio. It was to receive something he had promised in advance.

“Scientist? The heroes are coming. Please open the gate quickly. It feels like we need to escape…”

[What? Why me?]

“Why, you ask? Are you not going to keep your promise?”

[What promise?]

“You said you wouldn’t hold Flower responsible for her crimes! If Flower gets caught like this—!”

[Hah.]

At Steil’s words, the scientist let out a derisive chuckle. Was he really planning to break his promise? Regardless of whether it was protocol or a contract through abilities…

[What I promised wasn’t her exoneration, but to ensure she wouldn’t be blamed for the things she did because of the Beast, right?]

“Yeah, so right now!”

[But she was a wanted villain even before she was brainwashed by the Beast. Why should I prevent her from getting arrested?]

“……!!”

Only then did Steil recall the last night he spent with Flower. She had already become a wanted person due to dozens of offenses back then. She might not have been treated as an S-rank villain, but still.

Hearing the scientist’s words, Steil’s eyes widened. While the scientist didn’t intend to break his promise, he realized he never had any intention of letting them go easily from the beginning.

“……Was this your plan from the start?”

[I will keep my promise. No one will connect this incident with Flower. But what I can do ends there.]

“Right. So it’s karma, huh?”

Steil held Flower tightly, murmuring that. Just like a mother bird protecting her chick, he glared at the approaching heroes from afar. Naturally, he couldn’t handle a single A-rank hero standing over there.

That was true even when he was in peak condition, but after depleting everything while arguing with Flower, it was beyond discussion. The seemingly infinite vitality had already started to fade.

“Dammit.”

Steil lay on the ground, staring up at the sky. He then focused on the bright, radiant sun and the blue sky. A vast nature he probably wouldn’t see for many years.

Moments later, the heroes who approached swiftly captured the two of them.

*

The city of N, which prided itself on its natural sculptures, had been partially destroyed due to the villains’ rampage. However, if asked whether this disaster led to the city’s annihilation, the answer wasn’t solely yes.

The Eternal Tree, which already boasted the world’s largest size, was replaced by the World Tree, possibly the universe’s largest tree, and the residents of N, who had always been fascinated by nature, welcomed this change positively.

“Our efforts have been recognized by this planet…”

“The Eternal Tree may have become the Eternal Tree.”

“In any case, the tree stands out more now, so that’s good!”

Full of people who might be thought to be insane by others, N, the city where Flower lived, began to work on reconstructing the city, supported by the newly emerged World Tree.

The damaged city began to transform more naturally, as if the destruction was a good thing. According to nature’s law that the strong survive, the survivors acted like the strong ones.

Hearing that news, Eight chuckled and issued a command to the AI.

“Temporarily lift the token restrictions for the residents of N.”

[Yes, understood.]

The humanitarian support he could offer was only this much. Too much intervention might undermine the self-sufficiency of the people in this world. Like a beast that had never hunted for itself growing into an unhelpful burden.

If the people of the damaged city were trying to stand on their own, what he could offer was not to lift them but simply to support them to rise on their own.

‘It’s a relief. In times like these, collapsing is…’

There were countless cities groaning under the weight of aged buildings and dilapidated facilities. Yet astronomical capital was consumed just to dismantle those facilities, and rebuilding them would require just as much capital again.

Thinking positively, N effectively circumvented the demolition costs for free. Considering that the process might elicit sympathy from other cities, they could even receive support for reconstruction costs.

Technologically speaking, wasn’t this the period when AI was practically realized and a level of construction technology that couldn’t be compared to before was mass-produced? N city would become a city created with the most advanced technologies.

“—Scientist?”

“……Uh, yes. Why?”

“It’s about time.”

Snapped back to reality by Ayle’s call, Eight checked the time. The executive meeting was approaching without him realizing it. This was one of the few genuinely villainous times in the Evil Organization.

Dressed in his usual white lab coat, Eight headed toward the conference room with Ayle. True to the nature of the Evil Organization, composed mostly of unemployed flunkies, other executives arrived one after another just in time.

Moments later, the Boss, who entered the meeting room last, naturally took her place at the head of the table, signaling the start of the meeting.

“Hmm. Everyone doing well? Today—.”

As the meeting continued, Eight couldn’t focus on the Boss’s words and kept his gaze fixed on a corner of the meeting room. Such laziness couldn’t be viewed favorably.

Regalia slightly raised her voice, noticing the distracted scientist.

“Scientist? Is something wrong?”

“Uh? Ah— it’s nothing.”

“Really? Then focus on the meeting. Don’t keep paying attention elsewhere…”

“Um… Is it just me who sees this?”

“What do you mean, ‘seeing’?”

Normally, Eight would have nodded obediently at the Boss’s command, but today was different. He pointed with his hand toward the empty seat among those arranged in the meeting room.

The Boss and other executives turned their heads. However, everyone looked puzzled, tilting their heads back at Eight.

“What’s there?”

“Um♠ There’s nothing when I use magic to check.”

“It seems like the scientist is tired….”

As the other executives tossed in their comments one by one, Eight glanced at the spot he was looking at again. The seat of the sixth executive, which had remained vacant until now.

“Could it be you can see? Hello there—.”

The sixth executive of the Evil Organization.

The Six waved cheerfully.

*

The executives of the Evil Organization total eight.
Among them, the executives who had never been seen were Number 1, the First, and Number 6. Only the Six.

Even this name wasn’t really a proper name, just a temporary label I had assigned. It felt a bit more elegant than calling them Number 1 or Number 2.

However, since no one ever mentioned the existence of Numbers 1 and 6, as the new executive, I could only assume their status was virtually nonexistent. Perhaps they were beings sacrificed and perished for the Boss or the organization long ago…

In reality, that wasn’t the case. I frowned as I looked at the sixth person standing before me.

“What are you looking at—? I may have a pretty face, but if you look at me like that, I might get embarrassed.”

“……Sixth?”

“Yes—! Evil Organization Executive, Sixth. I would appreciate it if you could call me The Six!”

The sixth executive declared herself as the Six. It was incomprehensible. How could a person be named Six? Everyone else had perfectly normal names…

‘Oh, right. I’m Eight too.’

Remembering my name late, I canceled my previous thought.

Unlike Eight, Six isn’t—.

That’s just a slapdash name.

“So, Six? Why did you follow me all the way here?”

“Well— because you can see me?”

“That’s what I was curious about. Why can’t others see you?”

“I’d rather ask you— how are you able to see me?”

“……Excuse me?”

Six kept tilting her head, looking puzzled, before speaking.

“It’s been a really long time since I’ve met someone I can have a conversation with.”

“Were there few opportunities for that in the past? Ah, so that’s why you’re an executive in the Evil Organization…”

“Yes? No— I could talk to everyone in the past! What do you regard people as? I joined the Evil Organization simply because they promised me a high salary…”

“Oh, I see…”

Having conversed with her a few times, I couldn’t help but feel flabbergasted.

I just couldn’t grasp who she was at all.