Chapter 2

Seeker.

A User who can steal others’ vision.

You might think that’s all she’s got, but with that ability and her exceptional intelligence, she’s a powerful villain who has an entire city under her feet.

One of her nicknames is Big Sister.

She appears as the main antagonist in the latter half, giving the protagonist a real headache.

With her ability, she took control of a city, surveilling every corner, effectively turning it into an impenetrable fortress.

Of course, it was possible with Quaker’s help, but she contributed significantly to fortifying his hideout, earning his trust as a close subordinate.

In the end, she dies after a bloody battle with the protagonist’s group…

But, well, she’s definitely one of those characters who’s bound to survive.

“Why are you staring like that, you idiot uncle?”

…For someone who’s supposed to be a vicious villain, she’s got a pretty face.

Her snow-white hair and camera lens-like black eyes give off a strangely inorganic vibe, but…

If she dressed normally, she’d definitely turn heads as a beauty.

“I’m not an idiot… So, do you know anything about this place?”

“…Even if I did, it’s pointless. There’s no way out of here.”

No way out, huh?

Still a kid, I see.

She just handed me a clue.

“You seem to know something about this place?”

“…This is the third basement level. The doors only open with keycards, and there are security guards from the cleaning squad stationed here. There’s no way to escape.”

“Thanks.”

Third basement level.

A well-hidden place, huh.

“Any other info? Like the structure outside this prison?”

“…What’s the point of knowing that? Whatever you do, it’s futile.”

“Well, I think it’s too early to give up hope.”

Seeker, probably thinking I’m hopeless, sighed and snapped at me.

“…You really are an idiot, uncle.”

With that, Seeker lay back down on her bed.

A declaration that the conversation was over.

I respected her decision and returned to my own bed.

It was a short conversation, but I got more out of it than I expected.

There was a lot of info in Seeker’s words.

Third basement level.

Keycards.

Cleaning squad.

In the original story, they were just background fodder, but… they’re still a secret unit trained by the government.

They handle covert missions and dirty work without question.

So, this place is guarded by those guys.

If this place gets exposed, it’s going to be a real problem.

But what kind of research could be so dangerous that they’d attach such grandiose titles to it?

The questions keep piling up.

No answers are given, so it’s only natural.

I lay on my bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, sinking deeper into my thoughts.

Is there another clue in the original story I remember?

…Maybe it’s related to Quaker.

[You guys don’t even know what your master is up to.]

There was a line like that.

And the meaning of that line… probably refers to a secret facility like this.

This is so shady, it’s ridiculous.

No wonder Quaker is so hell-bent on overthrowing the government.

Ah, well.

I’m not the mastermind, but I keep empathizing with the mastermind.

Is it because this body belongs to the mastermind?

Anyway, with the info I just got, I’ve got a rough outline.

“…It’s not all bad.”

First, if this body is indeed Quaker, there’ll be a chance to escape somehow.

Since Seeker and I are younger here, this place must be set in the past compared to the original story.

For the original story to progress, Seeker and I have to survive.

Of course, we might just die here… but what can I do?

I’ve got to struggle.

So, until then, I need to succeed in using my ability and practice to handle it more skillfully.

I’ve been reincarnated into this body, so I might as well cause some chaos with my ability to make it less frustrating.

I can only make a detailed plan after getting more info from Seeker.

So, whether it’s night or day, I should just sleep for now.

All I can do is sleep, curl up and think, or observe the outside.

I closed my eyes and tried to sleep.

———————

Three days into the possession.

I confirmed the researcher was gone and sat by the iron bars, staring at Seeker.

She, crouched in the corner, seemed bothered by my gaze and lifted her head from her knees to look at me.

“Why do you keep staring?”

“I want to talk to you.”

“Still not giving up?”

“No reason to give up.”

“You’re optimistic.”

“You can escape too.”

It was a somewhat reasonable comfort, but her response was cynical.

“How? From this prison—”

“By planning an escape route.”

“There are nearly 50 guards from the third basement to the first floor. There’s no way there’s a gap.”

“Maybe with the help of the prisoners.”

If we gather the useful Users here and push through with numbers, we’ve got a decent chance.

The problem is how to gather them.

That part will have to be figured out while recruiting others.

“There’s no way they’d help. Everyone here is—”

These clueless people.

Before Seeker could finish, the sound of the door opening was heard.

I immediately pretended to be a lifeless husk and observed the situation.

…The researcher today is different.

Is it a rotation system, or do they assign whoever’s available at the time?

Another task to figure out.

“Number 45. Number 39. Number 12.”

A businesslike voice.

Followed by the sound of iron bars opening.

Another quiet day of being dragged away, I thought.

“You damn bastards!”

A loud shout.

And then screams.

I immediately got up and pressed myself against the bars.

A variable has occurred.

I need to confirm the variable.

“H-how did you…”

Before the researcher could finish, gunshots and the sound of flesh tearing echoed simultaneously.

“See, that’s what happens…”

As if to deny Seeker’s words, a corpse flew past us.

“…”

“These insignificant pests are getting cocky! Huh?”

[Incident in the prison. Incident in the prison. Security personnel, please head to the prison.]

It’s a shame they’re so thorough with security, as the announcement immediately blared.

They’re well-prepared, huh.

“Say that again?”

“…I don’t know.”

Seeker, a bit flustered, blushed and turned her head.

“In this situation, cooperating with that guy to escape might be worth considering.”

He probably took down the guards in one go and stole their guns.

He must have the keys too.

“…Good luck. I’m not leaving here.”

“You can’t stay locked up forever.”

“…If I run into the Security Chief, it’s over.”

“The Security Chief?”

“…He’s a powerful Hardening User.”

A Hardening User, huh.

This girl knows a lot.

How much has she been stealing glances from the guards and researchers?

“A Hardening User…”

Depending on the User, some can even block bullets.

It’s a pretty useful ability, even if it doesn’t show.

Unlike 21st-century Korea, guns are common here.

Just being able to survive a gunshot is useful enough.

“L-let me go! If you don’t—”

“You damn bastards! If you don’t release me, this bitch is dead!”

A hostage situation, huh.

It might’ve been better to just kill them and take the keycard.

…What am I thinking?

“…Idiot uncle. The Security Chief is coming.”

“Thanks.”

I immediately huddled in the corner of my bed and started observing the situation.

Soon after, the door was roughly opened, and the sound of heavy footsteps and gunfire filled the prison.

“Code Iron. Commencing suppression.”

“Hey! Hey! I can’t see her! If you come closer—”

“Do as you please.”

I observed the Security Chief passing by the bars.

He’s wearing a vest over his security uniform.

And he’s at least 2 meters tall.

“D-don’t come closer, you bastard!”

Repeated gunshots.

But instead of the sound of flesh tearing, it’s the sound of bullets bouncing off something hard.

And then… screams and the sound of flesh tearing.

“Argh!”

“Shut up, you vermin.”

No response.

Killed, I guess.

“You lab rats dare to… me…”

“Researcher, we’ll take care of the body.”

“Good, grind it up in the shredder!”

The Security Chief, speaking in an extremely businesslike tone, dragged the corpse out of the prison.

The researcher followed, and the door closed.

Leaving only the red line of rebellion behind.