Chapter 28
I scoffed at the amount proposed by the scout.
“That’s insufficient.”
“… What do you mean by that?”
I checked the numbers displayed on the smartphone he handed me.
One, ten, hundred, thousand, ten thousand, hundred thousand, million—.
It was almost an eight-digit figure. Absolutely way too much for a mere researcher, but…
‘Seriously, this is all you propose?’
In comparison to what I usually receive from Regalia, it was laughably low. Of course, the amount Regalia gives isn’t just as a researcher—it’s also because I’m a high-ranking member of an evil organization, a scientist, and probably the only Earthling in this world—but still.
The fact remains: the amount Mew proposed was ridiculously low compared to what I already get.
“─ Does that make any sense?”
It seemed Mew couldn’t accept this reality either, as he adjusted his sunglasses that sparkled under the sunlight and shot back at me. The amount he proposed was indeed the highest reasonable figure one could imagine.
The problem was that the sum I received was bordering on the insane.
Mew passionately argued as if trying to convince himself that what was happening was impossible.
“The amount I propose is a salary you wouldn’t find anywhere in the world. It’s a salary only achievable if you start your own company and it succeeds. And you say that’s insufficient? Are you telling me Evilus is offering you more than that?”
“Yes. That’s right.”
“That can’t be true. Sure, the circuits and anti-gravity devices you made are amazing—but at the same time, they’re incredibly precious treasures. Even if you went independent and started a business, you wouldn’t be able to protect that technology. You know that, and that’s precisely why you’re part of Evilus, right? So, the amount you get from Evilus must be less than that…!”
“I can’t show you my bank account… So if you don’t want to believe it, don’t. Anyway, the amount you proposed is so lacking I can’t even think about it!”
“… You will regret this.”
With that, Mew stood up from his seat. Watching him leave, I couldn’t help but chuckle as I got up too.
“Let’s go. This is a waste of time.”
“Huh? Uh… By the way, Eight? Do you really make that much?”
“… No comment.”
“Wow… So scientists are really different—Eight, want to marry me?”
“I prefer to avoid people who only look at my money.”
“Ah— what a disappointment.”
As Vira expressed a keen interest in my paycheck, Levitan, who had been fidgeting since her kick had been blocked, cautiously stood up.
“─ Vira, Eight. Sorry. I have somewhere to go.”
“Huh? Oh, okay. Take care.”
After leaving that line behind her, Levitan disappeared quickly somewhere. Just as I was looking at her in confusion, Vira, suddenly realizing something, let out a scream.
I stared at her blankly, unsure why, and she pointed in the direction Levitan had left.
“L-Levi-chan—she spoke without her accent!”
“… Huh?”
“Why! Think about it! She didn’t talk in her usual way; she spoke in standard language!”
Hearing that, I remembered that Levitan had spoken normally right before she left. And I was just as shocked as Vira.
‘So she’s been putting on that persona on purpose all this time?’
Faced with this unbelievable truth, I stared in the direction Levitan had disappeared, mirroring Vira’s expression of shock. I was simply baffled as to why she walked around acting like that when she could speak perfectly well…
*
After failing to recruit me, Mew was standing outside a back alley, puffing on a cigarette and letting out loud sighs. The pressure of having failed the Boss’s order weighed heavily on his shoulders.
While he was smoking, Levitan stealthily made her appearance in the alley behind him. Upon seeing Levitan’s rabbit ears, Mew smiled slyly.
“─ So you really came.”
“… Why did you call me here?”
“You’re lacking some politeness. Judging by those rabbit ears, you must be one of the L-series, right?”
Huum… Mew exhaled a cloud of smoke as he questioned Levitan. Upon hearing that name, she flinched and gave Mew a death glare. It was a name she didn’t want to remember. The memories associated with it, the ones she always wanted to forget, began to surface in her mind.
“I’m no longer… that…”
“Ah, stop whining. You’re just a patched-up beast—don’t you realize what it means for you to be here?”
Mew muttered that while mumbling something else. Hearing that, Levitan began to feel as if her brain was being toyed with. It felt like slimy tentacles were licking her brain, and the command system engraved in her genes suddenly triggered.
“You’re quite lucky. I was wondering how to get my hands on that arrogant scientist… and here you are, a beast that seems close to him.”
“I-I…”
“Go. Beast girl. Go fetch Eight for me. To City Z. To Omega Industries.”
No.
But she couldn’t say that.
Refusal wasn’t part of her genes.
In the end, Levitan saluted, tears streaming down her face.
“… Yes, understood.”
At that moment, her soul died.
All that remained was a doll wearing Levitan’s shell.
*
The next day.
Even on her day off, Levitan greeted us with the same tone as yesterday.
“Hi hi—! So nice to see you! Hi there~!”
“Levi-chan! You’re back!”
“Um-huh? I don’t know what Levi-chan means~!”
As Vira warmly welcomed her back in her original tone, Levitan naturally approached me. Draping her legs over my thighs while I sat on the sofa, she lightly kicked my arm and opened her mouth.
“Eight—We’re going out again today. We promised yesterday, right?”
“… I don’t recall making promises.”
“Why not~! You don’t like Vira coming, do you? Let’s go play!”
“Well, I’m on board!”
While the two social butterflies progressed with their plans, I decided to bring up a topic that might get her flustered.
“─ But, Levitan. What happened yesterday?”
“Yesterday~?”
“Yes. The moment you suddenly disappeared…”
“If you don’t call me Levi-chan, I won’t tell you~!”
“… Vira, can you ask her for me?”
“If Eight doesn’t do it, I won’t say a word~!”
This human, being a rabbit beast, was quite the expert at wriggling out of situations. I pondered which was greater: the embarrassment from saying “Levi-chan,” my curiosity about what she did yesterday, or the hassle of going out with her.
Naturally, the former was much larger, and under rational judgment, I shut my mouth and stood up from the sofa.
“Alright, shall we go out on a date then?”
“Kyaah—! Eight, what boldness! You plan to date with two beauties? That’s no good!”
“Ah, in that case, the date is canceled. Let’s just hang around the headquarters.”
“That’s not an option either! Choose between me and Vira!”
“Then it’s Vira. Let’s take a break at the headquarters.”
“Eeh—!?”
As Levitan protested, unable to comprehend how I could choose Vira over her, Vira looked back at me with a disappointingly expressive face, realizing we wouldn’t be going out.
But what could they do? I was the one refusing to go out. In the end, Levitan shook her head in resignation and said.
“Wow— Eight, I never thought you were such a playboy… But, I guess today I can forgive you because I’m in a good mood!”
“No, I said I’m not going—”
“Vira! Prepare the car! We’re going out!”
“Okay-!”
At her command, Vira quickly dashed down to the parking lot. Levitan grabbed my waist and lifted me up. With her beastly strength, I, a mere powerless human, found myself unable to resist and was effectively kidnapped.
Dragged down to the underground parking and tossed into the prepared vehicle, I sighed and asked Levitan, now sitting in the driver’s seat.
“… So, where are we going?”
“That’s a secret!”
“Wait, you’re not even going to tell me?”
“It’s an amazing place!”
Since it was described as a great place by a beast, I surmised it might be a zoo… Sighing to myself, I quietly observed the vehicle moving.
Levitan’s car sped out of the city faster than usual, making it seem like we were in a hurry. Our destination must be on the outskirts. As I contemplated that, Vira’s cheerful expression looking out the window gradually turned serious. With a slightly worried expression, she discreetly showed me her smartphone. Not understanding what she was pointing at, I looked over at her, and she tapped her finger on the screen.
[Something’s off. We need to escape.]
“What? What does that mean—?”
Before Vira could explain, the vehicle suddenly accelerated and zipped into some place. Realizing the situation, Vira screamed.
“─ Levitan! Are you betraying us!”
“… Uh, sorry. Really. I didn’t want to end up doing this—”
Boom—!
The vehicle shook violently, as if it had collided with something.
Startled by the impact, Vira grabbed me, and I briefly lost consciousness due to the sudden shock. When I regained my senses, a wide-open desert welcomed me. Just how long was I out? Considering we were on the outskirts of the city just a moment ago, it was astonishing.
“Are you awake?”
“… Vira?”
“Yeah. Don’t you dare leave my side. The moment you do, I won’t be able to protect you.”
Taking Vira’s words into account, I scanned the surroundings. All around us were animal-headed beasts glaring at us. Among them, a familiar face emerged.
It was Mew, who had failed to scout me the day before.
“─ Nice to see you, Mister Eight.”
“… You.”
“I mentioned you would regret this, didn’t I?”
Saying that, Mew adjusted his glasses once more and made me another proposal.
“However, Omega Industries is a merciful company. If you join us now─.”
“Enough—”
Pew—!
A laser mounted on my watch shot straight at Mew’s face. Surprisingly, despite being hit, Mew’s skin only peeled slightly, and he stood there unharmed.
That laser had even pierced through Galm’s belly…
Surprised for just a moment, Mew, dripping blood, glared at me with a furious expression.
“… It seems words won’t cut it, after all.”
“And if words won’t work, what will you do? You really think you can break through Vira’s barrier?”
“W-wait, Eight? Provoking them like that could be a problem… We’re in the enemy’s territory—”
“Heh heh— right. The protection from your side has some pretty troublesome abilities as well. So, you’ll have to come out willingly.”
With a snap of his fingers, Mew made Levitan, who had betrayed us and brought us here, walk forward. Attached to a cross, she stared vacantly into space with no emotions filling her eyes.
Just by looking at her gaze, I could guess something was quite wrong.
“─ If you don’t come out of there, I’ll have to torture this woman. She was a colleague you were somewhat close to, so seeing that would surely sadden you, right?”
Mew said this and snapped his fingers.
The beasts gestured as if they had been waiting for this moment, grabbing sharp objects and heading toward Levitan.
I shouted at the approaching beasts.
“Hey, wait!”
“Heh heh, if you want to stop it, you’ll have to come out of there right now…”
“Will you at least leave her head intact?”
“… Yes? Well, I didn’t plan on killing her, so sure.”
“Then that’s fine.”
Upon hearing my words, Mew looked at me as if he couldn’t comprehend what I was saying. But this was extremely crucial.
Having or not having a head made a massive difference.
