“Since we built this organization together, a very long time has passed.”
Yeah, that’s really true.
Let me think about it for a second, arms crossed. How old am I now again?
I’ve definitely lived over three hundred years.
Has it been five hundred? Somehow it doesn’t feel like that long.
Actually, there’s no need to seriously think about this. I don’t remember anyway, and this guy definitely does.
That wasn’t even a question—more like a confirmation. Or rather, just me talking to myself.
“…………”
“425 years, 3 months, 65 days. We’ve come quite far, haven’t we?”
The way this guy smiles so cheerfully is unsettling.
The wrinkles at the corners of his eyes feel deeper than I remember.
How should I put it… he’s aged.
Unlike me, he’s deteriorated quite a bit.
Even though he’s suppressed the effects of aging, he still looks older.
“That much time has passed. We never stopped moving toward our goal. So, I suppose that’s only natural.”
“…………”
Quietly, he closes his eyes.
He’s just sitting in a chair, but somehow it looks like he’s praying.
Far away, further and further.
It feels strangely composed, almost dignified.
“Perhaps it is simply as we were guided. If I were to borrow your words… ‘just as the scenario dictates.’”
A scenario, huh. I see.
Yeah, maybe that’s right.
Truth is stranger than fiction and all that. This situation right now is basically the peak of absurdity, but I guess it all turned out this way because it was meant to.
I see, I see.
“The future is something that drifts. No one can predict it completely. In other words, that’s how it is.”
…………
“No, what do you even mean by that?!”
“Hm?”
“Don’t ‘hm?’ me!”
How did you think I’d understand that?!
You just stacked abstraction on top of abstraction—I seriously have no idea what you’re talking about!
I asked how things ended up like this, so why is that your answer?!
What a genuine airhead!
“Well, calling it an ‘evil organization’ is quite fitting, I suppose. Though even I didn’t expect things to turn out this way…”
“You—you—you—you!”
“An evil organization, huh…”
I grab him by the collar and shake him.
I genuinely don’t understand how he can make such a clueless face.
Hey—hey, you damn cult leader!
I know I’m yelling and spitting, but don’t make that blatantly disgusted face!
“Indeed, our organization has committed countless crimes—murder, kidnapping, property destruction, illegal experiments, trafficking in humans and suspicious drugs, and so on…”
“And you can still make that stupid face?”
“It just turned out this way.”
…Haaaaaaah.
Seriously, how did it end up like this?
The head of the organization is this much of an idiot, and yet it hasn’t collapsed in hundreds of years?
How is its existence still so well hidden?
And why are the others all so perfectly in sync when working toward the goal?
Mystery upon mystery. It’s a miraculous balance.
“Well, I suppose it can’t be helped. Once malice is ignited, it cannot be stopped…”
“Stop talking like that, all vague and hesitant.”
Don’t look so apologetic!
Why are you tilting your head like it’s someone else’s problem, going ‘how mysterious’?!
Want me to snap your neck sideways?!
You won’t die from that, I know it!
“…Ugh, I hate reality.”
“Please don’t start meditating. Once you do, you won’t move for five years.”
“You still expect me to work?”
“Of course.”
…Well, I’m the one who decided to listen to him.
But like always, I feel like I’m going to regret it.
An evil organization—no, a black company.
No days off, terrible pay, awful conditions.
“But you don’t desire anything, do you? So it’s not really ‘black,’ is it?”
“Stop reading my mind! That’s a violation of privacy!”
“You were quite noisy during meetings. If possible, please refrain from getting lost in thought—for my sake.”
“Y-you…!”
Should I break all his limbs and tie them into a bow?
I’m stronger than him, so it’s not impossible.
…Ah, no. The moment I move, he’ll escape. He’s already prepared, acting all nonchalant.
This is his territory too—if he senses an ambush, I won’t catch up.
Annoying, but I’ll hold back the violence.
“…Whatever.”
“Oh? Have you calmed down?”
“What’s the point of saying anything to you?”
If everything in this world is controlled by someone…
Then right now, I’m just in the palm of his hand.
I can’t escape that.
Same as always.
“That habit of yours—giving up on everything so quickly. You should fix it.”
“Don’t you dare say that.”
“I think of you like my own child. If you remain so cynical…”
“Don’t you dare say that! Not now! You’re the reason!”
So annoying.
But whatever, there’s no point arguing.
More importantly—
“Seriously… when did I even become an executive of an evil organization…?”
“Oh? You don’t like it?”
Of course I don’t.
I’ve already got enough over-the-top settings as it is—why pile on more?
I already have ridiculous titles and embarrassing descriptions thrown at me.
I don’t need this cliché now.
This world is worse than some trash anime written by a third-rate scriptwriter.
“…………”
“But you’ve done more than enough to call yourself an executive of an evil organization, haven’t you?”
…Can’t argue with that.
Stop hitting me with logic out of nowhere.
But still—
“That’s all because of your orders.”
“Yes. And I will accept that. The worst boss of an evil organization. Adding one more title now hardly matters.”
He’s changed.
He wasn’t like this before.
“Oh dear. It seems I’ve disappointed you.”
“…………”
“But people change. Change exists in all things. Ah, though your pessimism hasn’t changed at all. Not since long ago.”
Yeah, I’m pessimistic. So what?
Once you change, you can’t go back.
He says he disappointed me, but really, he’s the one lamenting me.
He knows that—and he’s being sarcastic.
What a terrible personality.
“Stuck in the past, huh.”
“I can’t indulge your delusion that everything in this world is someone’s imagination.”
So because you worship reality, you think you’re superior?
Oi, look me in the eyes when you say that.
If you’re so confident, show it properly.
“We’ve known each other for over 400 years. Let me drag you around a bit too.”
“For the 7 years between 432 and 425 years ago—do you know how much you dragged me around?”
“…………”
That one hurts…
“You’ll obey me until you die. That was the agreement, wasn’t it?”
“Not an agreement. A policy.”
“Living according to someone else’s will?”
“Don’t make me say it. It’s embarrassing.”
He really loves this kind of exchange.
Though he probably doesn’t realize it.
He’s always been dense.
Well, no point saying anything.
“…I understand your dissatisfaction.”
“You can read minds, yet you don’t understand anything. Acting like you do—that’s what I hate about you.”
Yeah, nothing more to say.
Hundreds of years, and nothing changed.
At least become aware of it.
“Anyway, ‘evil organization’ sounds embarrassing, so can you stop calling it that?”
“That’s not possible. Though ‘evil’ isn’t necessarily such a bad thing.”
“‘Evil’ literally means bad.”
If you have normal sensibilities, bad things are bad.
He’s really twisted.
Always looks so tired too.
Seriously, can’t he think more positively?
Which one of us is the pessimist here?
How does this guy even run an organization?
“Endure it. Our activities are reaching their climax.”
“Climax?”
“You really don’t care about anything that doesn’t interest you…”
Huh? Never heard of that.
There’s been no progress in the past four hundred years.
When was I told I was central to the plan again?
Something about my power being necessary for the organization’s evil goal.
But I’ve just been waiting forever for my role at the very end.
Never heard any good news.
And now it’s the climax?
Are you bluffing?
“Luciel mentioned it several times, didn’t she?”
“That ghost girl talks too quietly—I can’t hear her.”
“You simply weren’t listening.”
So annoying!
Don’t point that out!
“Well, it doesn’t matter. You’ve been part of this organization all this time, acting as an executive, yet only now realize it and complain—it must not matter much to you.”
“Sorry.”
“Then at least sound a bit more apologetic.”
Yeah yeah, sorry!
Totally reflecting here!
“Sorry, sorry. Please forgive me.”
“It’s fine. We’ve known each other a long time.”
Trying to play the ‘exasperated type’?
That’s not popular anymore.
“Now, I will assign you a mission.”
The air changes.
Completely serious.
It’s been a while since I’ve seen that face.
That’s rare.
I’ve mostly just acted as his guard.
I’ve barely received any missions despite hundreds of years.
Not because I’m useless, though.
Honestly, I’m the strongest in this organization.
Aside from him, I could take all the other executives at once.
For sabotage, no one surpasses me.
But they can’t use me carelessly.
I’m powerful—but indispensable.
Without me, the organization can’t achieve its goal.
That’s why they avoid risking me.
They even once considered assigning guards to me—ridiculous, since no one is stronger than me.
Only in critical moments have I ever moved.
Three hundred years ago, when he was almost killed.
Two hundred years ago, when the organization nearly collapsed.
A hundred years ago, when we challenged the world.
Only then.
And yet—
“Ain, First Apostle of the ‘Order of Nether Transcendence.’ Know that the fate of our order depends on your actions.”
“…………”
Well then, what’s the job?
Destroying a country is easy for others.
I only move when it’s something beyond human hands.
A true monster.
Though honestly, I don’t think anything can beat me—except myself.
“Ain.”
“Yeah, yeah. Whatever monster it is, I’ll take care of—”
“Go to school.”
…………Huh?
What?
“Huh?”
“Attend the Royal Magic Academy of the Klein Kingdom.”
Ah, yeah.
My leader’s lost it.