Gift.
A special power called God's gift that suddenly awakened in a part of humanity.
However, despite being called a blessing, this power did not always have a positive effect on humanity.
The innate power is like a bomb in itself, and those who refuse to control and restrain this power are strictly classified as villains (criminals) in society.
Yes, I was also part of an organization composed of such villains...
"Humanity remains the same."
Three years have passed since the collapse of this organization.
While I was preparing breakfast in my single room, I suddenly heard someone's voice.
Was it the sound of an old TV I bought at a thrift store?
"What are you talking about?"
No, it was someone sitting in front of it.
A red-haired girl who was drinking milk from a cup with animal designs on it, but who still looked mature and elegant.
"Even if justice disappears, new hope can emerge at any time."
"Haha, that's ironic. We formed an organization and tried to change this society, but in the end, they found something to replace the hope we had destroyed."
Was that self-deprecation coming out of the girl's mouth?
No, she was the one who kept an indifferent expression even when she knew the organization had collapsed.
She probably just wanted to tease me.
"Brad."
She called out to me suddenly when I was feeling a little uncomfortable.
When I raised my head in response to the name, she placed the mug she was holding on the floor and asked softly,
"Do you like that kind of thing too?"
With her eyes still fixed on the TV.
What was playing there was a program that usually aired in the morning that mainly featured the introduction of new generation heroes.
Yeah, this person asked me if I liked hero programs.
That was ridiculous. There's no way I, a villain, would like heroes bragging, right?
- Twinkle Twinkle Little Star~ Hello, nice to meet you, everyone. My name is
Spiritas! I'm a new idol who appeared like a comet from a distant universe to be your hope~
And a magical girl…
Even though heroes come with all sorts of costumes and personalities,
I never thought a hero with an image aimed at girls would appear.
But why is her name Spiritas if she's labeled as a magical girl?
Wasn't Spiritas the name of a drink?
"It's not my taste. That kind of thing is originally aimed at girls."
"That's what girls like…"
When I belatedly replied, she looked back at the screen, resting her chin on her hand as if she was interested.
"In short, are you saying that I, a mere girl, should start taking an interest in this being from now on?"
"No, that's what I meant..."
"Haha, I see. I'll take my advice seriously."
She said that and took another sip of milk from the mug.
Seeing this, she tried to say something, but quickly shook her head and turned towards the kitchen.
-Tiing~
It seems the toast is almost ready.
"Breakfast is ready."
"Okay, I'll be right there."
After turning off the TV, she followed me to the kitchen table.
I carefully prepared the simple meal laid out in front of her.
It was the beginning of a routine that had become all too familiar to me three years after the collapse of the organization.
***
Yes, the organization collapsed.
After the war, the survivors, including the executives, were scattered, and now their whereabouts were so vague that it was impossible to even know them.
Of course, the association was still tracking them, but coincidentally, the villains were fiercely fighting for supremacy over the empty seat of Uroboros.
As they were busy trying to solve this problem, a loophole was created in the association's surveillance network, and I took advantage of this loophole and successfully blended into their society under the alias Gingerbread.
Of course, I would need to be careful with my identity to camouflage myself better.
"Didn't you say you had an interview today?"
When I put on the suit I had prepared and stood in the hallway, she looked at me as she stood in front of the hallway to bid me farewell.
She wore bangs tied with a headband and a flowing dress...
If you just look at her appearance, she looks like an ordinary 7-year-old girl, but her eyes, her hands resting on her chin, give off a sense of maturity.
"Newspapers, huh… Reporters are an indispensable job in a society where heroes are the pillars. In modern times, all the information that the public comes into contact with is managed by them."
"If you're going to look for a job, I thought it would be good to find a place where you can gather information."
"Hehe, information. It seems like you're not very satisfied with your current life."
'You're not satisfied?' Well, that's understandable.
At this moment, all I can do is hide from the eyes of society, and rebuilding the suicide squad is a dream I can't even dream of.
"I'm saying this out of concern, but please refrain from going out."
But how could I talk to her about my frustration with this?
"Don't touch things like kitchen knives or gas stoves out of curiosity, like last time. If something happens and the police show up, you'll be in trouble."
"Don't worry. I'll use that TV thing to gather information while you're out anyway."
"If you're hungry, order whatever you want from the delivery app. Do you remember what I taught you last time?"
"I remember. How could I forget when you were the one who taught me?"
"…Yes, yes."
Feeling nervous, I quickly turned my face away from her.
The boss I admired interpreted my words as a lesson. If the old executives saw this, it would be something they would have a lot to say.
"So, now that I've finished what I had to say, I should say my usual compliments."
But that was probably the worst part.
"Father. Please make sure you return safely."
The sight of the person I served smiling kindly at me and bidding me farewell.
It was something I couldn't get used to, even after three years.
***
The continuous sound of horns coming from the street.
Countless people coming and going along the sidewalks and sidewalks in the middle of the road.
The morning of the city they created together was extremely busy and noisy.
Of course, even a slight delay would cause traffic jams.
"Wait, wait!"
As soon as I noticed the large number of cars coming from behind, my steps began to become hurried as I ran towards the bus that had just arrived at the stop.
Damn, I missed this.
I have no choice, no choice but to catch up to him, even if it means putting in a little effort.
-Thump.
The moment I put strength into my legs, my body jumped forward.
Thanks to that, I managed to grab the bus door tightly just before it closed...
Oh, damn. My knee ligament.
"Hey, aren't you getting on?"
"Oh, yeah. Sorry."
As I endured the pain in my legs and swiped my bus card, the driver immediately stepped on the gas and started driving down the street.
At that moment, my upper body was jolted and my legs tensed, but now I could only feel a slight burning sensation.
Yeah, well, a torn ligament wouldn't be a big deal for me.
-Beep.
As I sat down to catch my breath, the bus stopped and several passengers boarded.
The woman who ended up sitting next to me was, unlike me, a real office worker.
The envelope she was holding in her hand smelled like fresh bread.
She probably eats bread for breakfast on her way to work early in the morning.
I thought to myself: This is also a lot of work! And I looked at the notebook in my hands.
The content I had written down over the past few weeks to prepare for today's interview. The content in it showed how desperate I was for this interview.
Yes, I had to impersonate that person somehow. Thinking about this,
I took the time to carefully review the contents of the notebook in my hands again.
Let's see, I decided to emphasize that I am the father of a girl and arouse sympathy…
- Tutatatata!!
...Fuck.
What the hell is this?
"Everyone, don't move! We're going to take over this place from now on!"
"If you resist, we'll turn you into a sieve, so be quiet!"
The moment I raised my head in doubt, I heard a scream.
Along with it, I felt the atmosphere around me quickly become tense.
What those who had identified the source of the noise before me saw was nothing short of fear.
The moment I looked up, what I saw were men wearing black masks pointing machine guns at the passengers.
"Huh, what the hell is this?"
Yeah, that was something I hadn't expected.
After all, District C where I live is one of the 26 districts in Pangea, and everything from its size to its economic situation is average.
There's nothing special about being average, but that's because there's no reason for bandits to run wild, so the safety rating is extremely high.
If there were to be an accident, it would just be a pickpocketing in the middle of the street.
Damn it, why did this have to happen on the day I was supposed to be interviewed?
"What? What are you trying to do?"
"From now on, you'll be used as negotiation material."
"Negotiation...?"
To the suspicious passengers, the one who was presumed to be the leader began to explain their situation in detail.
They are an anti-government group, revolutionaries fighting to change the society of this continent, and their comrades are imprisoned, so they need hostages to rescue them, etc...
Since each of them was so stereotypical, I couldn't even hear them properly,
so I could already guess what was going on.
"Bus driver! Turn towards City Hall right now."
"T-That can't be done. If you do that..."
"If you don't turn around, I'll kill everyone here, one by one!!"
"Ugh, ugh...!!"
The bus driver's expression crumpled at the threat and he gripped the steering wheel.
The passengers, unable to resist, began to crouch in their seats.
Their heads lowered.
Of course, he was holding a gun, so of course he would be scared.
Of course, I, who was acting like a member of society, decided to let myself be carried away by the atmosphere for now.
But... Damn it, what was I supposed to do?
They say public safety is good, but that's because the crime rate is low, not because the arrest rate is high.
Of course, when an incident occurs, they're slow to deal with it. Even if there were reports of gunshots, you wouldn't expect the police to come here.
The only good thing is that their attention has shifted away from me?
There are no security cameras on the bus, and everyone around me is lowering their heads
and not paying attention... Right, there's no risk of getting caught now.
The key is to find something suitable to cover my face before solving this case...
-Rustle.
...Oh, right.
The bag of bread that the woman next to me was holding fell off.
It smells like bread, but in an emergency, where would that be?
I immediately lifted the bag of bread and hid my face with it, revealing myself to them.
Okay, if I stand like this while hiding my face...
"Woo-woo-woo, woo-woo."
Hey, wait, I can't see ahead.
"What? Are you planning to resist!?"
Ah, I'm screwed.
-Tata-tang!!
A sharp pain shot through my entire body along with the gunshots, and soon all the strength drained from my body.
My body collapsed with a thud.
After that, in my hazy mind, I could hear a faint laugh.
"What is this kid doing?"
"Does he have a gift or something?"
"If he has a gift, how did he get shot? Hahaha!"
The laughter of the robbers.
Yes, of course, those guys who rely on their skills and weapons might find it funny.
Regardless of the gift, if you have physical superpowers, you can dodge bullets,
but that's the specialty of only those who are prepared.
"Huh, huh? What is this guy doing..."
But I don't even need that kind of trick.
After lifting my bleeding body, I faced the guys head on.
As expected, the pain didn't go away.
Of course, since I was shot all over my body, it was obvious, but there was one thing I was lucky about.
*'Two of the bullets fired pierced my eye sockets.'*
Now I can do what the blocked vision from before prevented me from doing.