“Ah, I really want to research~.”
As I walked down the hallway, the combatants of the Evil Organization around me flinched and began to eye me nervously.
I couldn’t remember doing anything particularly villainous, yet I was, after all, an Evil Scientist. The mad scientist with a reputation for kidnapping people and turning them into monsters.
I glanced at the terrified combatants and stepped into the laboratory. The moment the door closed behind me, sighs of relief escaped from the combatants. Hearing those sounds made my fingertips tingle.
‘Should I really just grab someone and experiment?’
Maybe it was because I had dabbled in various research lately, but the research motivation I had barely forgotten began to boil again. The problem was the research done here did not satisfy my desire for achievement in the least.
Every experiment I conducted in this world was merely an application of the knowledge I already had; it didn’t connect to filling in the gaps of information I lacked.
The intellectual curiosity that turned me into a scientist. This insatiable curiosity that can’t tolerate not digging into the truths of the world flared up like a chronic disease.
‘Well, isn’t anything fun going to happen?’
However, knowing that dream could no longer come true, I desperately turned my gaze and fiddled with my smartphone. The internet, which allowed me to peek at events happening on the other side of the world from the comfort of my own room, was clearly one of humanity’s greatest inventions.
While I was wasting my life in real-time, scrolling through SNS where people bragged about their lives, a particular post caught my eye. An army of over hundreds of androids marching like a military parade.
At first, I thought it was a fake video created by AI, but surprisingly, it wasn’t. The androids in the video were part of the famous Angel Series from City U, and the footage was filmed in the heart of City U itself.
A robot army was crossing the city. On the road they were walking, a sign pointing in their direction appeared on screen.
[City E ↑]
The legion was currently heading towards City E.
One of the things that significantly improved after the change of era was that even ordinary people, armed with just a smartphone and the internet, could access information that rivaled any espionage organization.
The robot army’s advance into the city was no exception. People were not missing this unique event; everyone from broadcasters to influencers was out with their cameras filming the robot legion.
Of course, every time they got too close, for some reason, their cameras would malfunction, making it difficult for commoners to approach, but still— the robots’ march was broadcasted across the internet and news alike.
Soon enough, this news spread all the way to City E.
“—This isn’t your fault, is it? Scientist—.”
“Even if you say I’m the root of all evil…”
I looked at Regalia, who seemed quite aggrieved, and she let out a few hums before nodding along with her foot.
“But you know, every time something happens lately, you’ve been the culprit, haven’t you? So it’s completely rational to suspect you when something goes wrong.”
“No matter how you put it, this time it’s really not my fault.”
“Hmm… Is that so? Sorry for doubting you. Apologize.”
Regalia lightly apologized, then asked about this robot army.
“So? Do you know what those things are and why they are heading to City E?”
“First of all, they are….”
I explained the news of the robot legion to the Boss. They were androids made in City U, and had even been fully stolen by some villain.
Sadly, I couldn’t figure out why that villain was coming to City E. Even the world’s greatest scientist, Newton, couldn’t predict human madness. Analyzing and understanding human behavior is not only impossible but also meaningless.
“Hmm… Well, is there something to worry about?”
“No, there isn’t really.”
“Alright. Then I can trust you to just be yourself?”
“—If you truly trust me.”
“Who else would I trust if I don’t trust you?”
After receiving the go-ahead to do as I pleased from the Boss, I headed straight to the laboratory. I turned on the TV and confirmed the robot army’s march speed in real time while predicting when they would arrive at City E.
Since the robot army was marching continuously, their speed was significantly faster than regular infantry, but not as fast as vehicles or trains. It was apparent their march would take days.
And there was plenty of time for that.
‘First, let’s remodel the entire city….’
After all, I had more than enough money, time, and motivation.
I had also started thinking about how to fight against those unreasonable machines that controlled all the machines.
Now, it was all about defense through trial and error.
‘Come on, hurry up—.’
Before my burning passion could melt this world.
* * *
A week.
That was how long it took for the robot legion, disturbed by heroes and the military here and there, to reach City E. When the Villain Meister finally arrived, he tilted his head at the empty City E.
“What’s this? Where is everyone?”
He didn’t know, but this was no big deal for the residents of City E. Whenever a villain appeared, they would hide in shelters and enjoy their vacation. For the citizens of City E, it was just an event they indulged in once a week, from young children to the elderly.
Thanks to that, what Meister encountered were not citizens trembling in fear at the sight of the robot army, but rather Evilus Androids sent by the Evilus Corporation to face the robot legion.
Seeing this, Meister let out a hollow laugh.
“….Ha, you’re sending androids against me?”
It seemed he was unaware of what had happened to City U. He thought, ‘I’ll make sure you experience the same fate,’ as he unleashed his powers. A weak electromagnetic wave spread out, bringing all surrounding machines under his control.
Father of Machines. Deus ex machina. An absolute dominion limited to machines, a superpower on par with the Majesty of Kings of Regalia.
However.
[Enemy detected. Commencing fire.]
“—Huh?”
The Evilus Androids effortlessly ignored his power and opened fire. As the projectiles rained down on the Angel Series from City U, Meister pondered what was happening. The answer wouldn’t take long to discover.
Surprisingly, the androids before him were not machines.
Yongabyeong (Dragon Bone Soldier).
They were living artificial beings.
“Crazy… You said they were androids?”
As Meister gasped upon seeing the artificial beings disguised as androids, the attacked Angel Series naturally counterattacked. Though an overwhelming performance gap existed between the two machines, that gap was not a problem.
On this side, there was a master who controlled the machines, but on that side, there was nothing of the sort.
“Go on, wipe them out.”
[—Executing orders.]
The enhanced Angel Series, powered by the superpower, charged towards the Evilus Androids. After handling various mechanical devices for decades, Meister’s superpower had become capable of exerting performance beyond the original specs, surpassing even higher-tier opponents temporarily! This enhancement level was sufficient to overpower even those a tier above him! Overwhelmed by both quality and quantity, the Evilus Androids were quickly subdued by the Angel Series, and the few remaining mechanical devices on them were pulled apart and looted.
“I didn’t come here to deal with scum like this…”
As Meister muttered that, he suddenly spotted a man walking toward him in the distance. The solitary figure walking along the deserted city road emanated an overwhelming presence. Despite his not-so-large stature, it was still impressive.
The man, radiating an aura that overwhelmed the entire city, waved happily at Meister. The pressure he had felt just moments ago vanished completely, replaced by a demeanor reminiscent of seeing an old friend after years…
Meister gulped and prepared to activate his powers at any moment.
“…Who are you?”
“Watchdog.”
“What?”
“Another name for an Evil Scientist.”
“A scientist? How could someone like you…?”
Meister’s muttering was interrupted when the Evil Scientist pulled out a smartphone from the pocket of his lab coat. Instinctively using his powers, Meister realized that his power had no effect on that smartphone and groaned.
‘Is it not a machine? But it certainly looks like a smartphone…’
After a moment of astonished gasps, the scientist lightly smiled at the panting Meister.
“—After seeing it a few times, I roughly figured it out. The way your powers work.”
“What do you mean, you figured it out?”
“I mean, if you have anything more to hide, it might be best to spill it all right here.”
Beep-.
As the scientist said that, tapping on the smartphone, Meister felt the control over the Angel Series—which had clearly been under his command—cease.
Chills ran down his spine. He felt more fear than when a gun was pointed at his head.
“Wha, what-.”
“Domain battle.”
“Domain…?”
Meister, staring at the Evil Scientist in disbelief, soon witnessed the androids that had been under his control now aiming their guns at him. He could have immediately regained that control with his powers, but even that was soon neutralized with a simple touch from the scientist.
The back-and-forth battle of taking and losing control continued, and only then did Meister understand firsthand the words spoken by that dark figure.
A domain battle.
A life-or-death duel.
