Surviving as a Brainwashing Villain in a Hero World 69

## Chapter 69 – A Plan to Create a Stronger Hero (1)

– Weeeeng— Weeeeeng—
– Clunk— Clunk— Clunk—

A certain underground laboratory, filled with the clamor of countless machines.

Dozens of researchers simultaneously operate several machines that are many times larger than a human body,
busily running around to realize their objective.

“H4301 and H4302, what are their vital signs?”

“No abnormalities in either of them!”

A man with dark circles under his eyes and half of his hair falling out.

The man, who appears to hold a high position among the researchers, bustles between them,
instructing and supervising each of their tasks.

– Weeeeeeeeng— Cheeeeeee…

The gaunt-looking man presses a large button,
and one side of the laboratory wall splits in half, revealing two large test tubes inside.

“This experiment has to succeed.”

“That’s right, Director. Otherwise, those guys will come and cause trouble again.”

“Sigh… I know. Why do these kids, who should be enjoying being adults,
and us, have to go this far? What did we do wrong?”

The director and researchers, heads bowed and sighing as if suffering from a headache, stand before
two test tubes, each containing a woman with sky-blue and green hair, respectively.
They are fresh-faced adults, floating in the water, asleep.

“Let’s begin. Start administering HV9 batch 7 to both of them!”

“Yes!”

At the director’s command, the researchers move busily,
fiddling with large cylinders attached to the sides of the massive test tubes.

Soon, they insert thick pipes into the ends of the cylinders and press something,
causing the pipes to plunge into the water filling the test tubes.

The pipes stab forcefully into the necks and spines of the two girls,
injecting a suspicious-looking liquid into their bodies.

The two sleeping women wince,
curling up in pain from the injected liquid.

Before long, all the liquid is injected, emptying the cylinders,
and the pipes, having completed the injection, are withdrawn from the girls’ necks and spines, returning outside the test tubes.

“Vital signs are stable.”

A researcher, who had been recording information displayed on a screen in front of the test tubes, rushes to the director,
reporting everything they had recorded without omission.

“In 30 minutes, remove the IV drips… take them out of the test tubes and monitor their condition.”

“Yes! Understood.”

***

“Uwaaaah?!”

A voice of surprise, as if from a bad dream.
A girl with green hair, reminiscent of fresh seaweed, opens her eyes wide in shock.

“Haa… There are wounds on my neck and back.”

Only an hour ago, she was being injected with something inside a test tube.
The hero “Magical Girl Seraphina” touches her wounds and turns her head.

“Aquamarine… seems to still be asleep.”

A researcher, who had been monitoring their condition beyond the beds they were lying on,
hears Seraphina’s voice and approaches her to ask about her condition.

“H4301. How are you feeling?”

“Don’t call me by my experiment number. I have a hero name, you know!”

Seraphina frowns at the researcher calling her by her experiment number,
insisting that she has a proper hero name.

“How am I supposed to know that? I’m just here doing research, I don’t know much.”

“Haa… All the researchers are like this.
The wounded areas are quite painful… but otherwise, I’m fine.”

The researcher scratches his head and examines her condition.

“Sorry about that! Being a grumpy old man. Got it.”

As the researcher leaves the area where they were lying and exits,
Seraphina walks around comfortably, as if familiar with the place.

“This book is still here. It was here when I first came here two years ago.
The experimental facilities get better day by day… but this place is still the same.”

A small, pure white metal bed.
A small bookshelf with a few books and a small potted plant.
A TV that can only play a few entertainment programs to relieve boredom.

The room where they stayed whenever they participated in experiments years ago remains unchanged.

“Ummm…. Ummm….”

Aquamarine stirs, as if awakened by the voices and the TV.

“It’s okay. Seraphina’s here.”

Seraphina rushes to Aquamarine, who has a similarly unpleasant expression,
and gently pats her head and back.

“Sera… phina. I’m glad.”

Aquamarine seems to find comfort in Seraphina’s touch,
and sits up in bed with a slightly more relaxed expression.

“How many experiments has this been?”

“Well, I think it’s been over ten just from what I remember.”

“Has it been that many already?
Come to think of it, this bed and everything… it’s all the same as before.”

“Yeah! I was just saying that to myself. We’re on the same wavelength?”

“I guess so? Hehe.”

Even as they touch the wounds in the same areas caused by the insertion of the pipes,
the two briefly forget the aftereffects of the experiment and smile faintly.

– Clunk— Screech…

“Ahem.”

“We were just having fun. Mister… no, Grandpa, what brings you here?”

The director, who had been directly overseeing the experiment until now, opens the door and comes in to check on them.
He sighs deeply at the two girls’ banter that starts as soon as he opens the door.

“How are you both feeling? I heard the wounds are a bit painful… but that’s always the case.”

“We’re fine. It’s not that different from usual.”

“I see.”

The director listens to the girls’ answers that they are okay, and takes something out of the heavy bag he brought.

“From now on, you two have to take this medicine once a day without fail.
The drug used in this experiment is very toxic and dangerous.”

What he reveals are hundreds of small, round, black pills.
They are divided into two portions in two transparent containers that show the contents.

“Haa… Do we have to take medicine now too?”

“Yes. If you don’t take this medicine within 24 hours… all sorts of side effects will occur.”

“What kind of side effects will we experience?”

Seraphina asks about the side effects.
The director hesitates to answer, looking slightly troubled.

“Well… that is….”

“Please tell us. Hero work always involves unforeseen circumstances.
We need to be prepared mentally.”

At the two girls’ resolute words, the director explains the side effects as if he can’t help it.

“At first… you’ll start bleeding a little from your eyes and nose.
You’ll probably keep dripping blood for about an hour.”

“That kind of thing has happened occasionally before.”

“Listen to me until the end. You asked me to tell you.”

The director urges the two, who react indifferently as if it’s nothing.
Then, he continues to explain the side effects.

“If you don’t take the medicine after 25 hours… more serious problems will arise.
You might suddenly lose your sight or your sense of smell might become numb… and you’ll experience severe dizziness.

And if more time passes… you’ll start bleeding from all the orifices in your body.
Your muscles will melt and your whole body will collapse.”

“If we can’t take it until that happens… we’ll die.”

“Yes. But in return for those side effects, I guarantee you’ll become much stronger.
Both physically and in terms of using your abilities.”

Aquamarine and Seraphina seem a little surprised,
but nod as if it’s nothing and smile at the director, who looks concerned.

“It’s okay! You don’t have to worry.
If you hadn’t been there, Director… we would have already been dead.”

“I’m supposed to be the one reassuring you… but I’m grateful that you said that.”

The director’s heart aches more as he looks at the two girls’ bright smiles,
but he pretends to be relieved and nods.

“You can start working again from tomorrow.
I’ll leave this here, so make sure you take it. If you need more, I can always give you more.”

He places the containers of medicine on the table next to the beds where they are lying,
closes his bag, and turns to leave.

“Mister.”

“Why? Is there something you want to ask?”

“If we take this medicine… we can keep living, right?”

Seraphina’s serious question is devoid of any playfulness.
The director stops in his tracks and hesitates, just as he did when he was talking about the side effects.

Countless experiments that would have already broken down a normal human body.
And the great physical and mental stress that comes with it.

Now, even the possibility of suddenly dying at any moment due to the severe side effects.

Aquamarine and Seraphina knew all too well that their lifelines were not going to last much longer.

However, the director couldn’t bring himself to tell those two girls that it was really true.

“I told you, you just need to take one pill before 24 hours pass.”

The director turns back to the two girls and gives them a friendly smile, as if trying to pretend everything is okay.