Of course, Flower’s power was nearly invincible, but it wasn’t truly without flaw. While it couldn’t be countered with modern technology, she could still be fought in simple hand-to-hand combat, where they’d end up roughly equal.

If one wanted to kill her, it would be easy enough—just hire a few beastkin to go after her. Assuming there were no guards around, even a small force could suffice.

Besides, there were still ways to counter her with modern technology. It had already been confirmed that her powers didn’t have a global effect; they stretched only a few kilometers at most, and the military satellites constantly hovering above her were beyond the reach of her ability.

Could she really block a military laser fired from a satellite or a tungsten rod weighing dozens of tons? One wouldn’t know without testing it, but there were so many options available.

‘Of course, there’s always the chance she might consider these artificial and block them….’

The reason for using something neither artificial nor natural was simple. Only something with such qualities would be free from her powers.

And conveniently, I’d come to know of certain beings in this world—entities like the Fairy Queen, who created magical girls and enemies of the world; demons not from this dimension; and guardians who safeguarded space and time.

Among these entities that even Earth’s technology could not disregard, I considered those I could control with my own skills, blending them together. It was pure chaos, beyond even my predictions.

‘If even this doesn’t work, then I’ll have to surrender.’

Well, if there existed a superhuman that I still couldn’t handle, what could I do? My only option might be to blow up the whole planet.

But no matter how desperate, that wasn’t how I wanted to meet my end. If anything, I’d want a happier finale…

“—Take this, you rotten creature.”

A deep growl echoed.

From within a crack in space, a being with a monstrous face howled.

Crash—!

Dishes and glassware tumbled and shattered on the floor. Amid the scattered shards, the woman responsible for the chaos reached for another plate with an indifferent expression.

To be precise, it would be more accurate to say she swept them off. She was, quite literally, sweeping away the glassware and dishes with her arm.

Only the Bandaged Man, who had painstakingly set the table with those dishes under orders, watched the scene with a defeated look.

“—Huff, huff—” “...Is it over yet?” “Over? No way. I’m not done yet, so go bring me more dishes.”

Flower ordered with a bright smile. Sighing, the Bandaged Man used his shadow like a hand, lifting more dishes, glasses, and delicate wine bottles from the shelves onto the table.

Seeing this, Flower swung her arm, shattering everything on the table once more. An expensive bottle of wine, worth as much as an average person’s annual salary, spilled down the table and onto the floor.

As someone who prided himself on having a sommelier’s taste, the Bandaged Man couldn’t help but click his tongue at the sight of the precious wine staining the floor.

“Fun. This is really fun.” “Well, there’s nothing left to break now.” “I know. So what?”

Flower replied with a hint of annoyance, walking barefoot over the shattered glass she had broken. The sharp shards, capable of tearing skin and muscle to shreds, crumbled beneath her feet like biscuit crumbs, leaving footprints in the glistening lake of glass.

Spoiling the glass lake further, Flower walked over to the Bandaged Man and, embracing him, tilted her neck, exposing it to him.

“Bite me.” “...Didn’t we agree not to do this?” “Bite me! Or do you want me to kill you!?” “Alright, alright. I’ll do it…”

Yielding to her threat, the Bandaged Man sighed as he carefully lowered his bandages, revealing sharp teeth capable of piercing flesh.

When he pressed his fangs into Flower’s neck, her body began to tremble, clinging to him. It was a method devised by their ancestors to increase their kind, one that simultaneously imparted overwhelming pleasure like a drug to make the act irrefusable.

Though the function of increasing their species had atrophied, the pleasure-giving effect remained. Thanks to this, Flower was feeling every bit of that benefit, with dopamine, endorphins, and adrenaline surging wildly in her system.

“Aah…”

A sensation more potent than any drug, yet devoid of chemical addiction—but that didn’t mean it wasn’t addictive. Just look at Flower.

Her body, gaunt from her refusal to consume meat or dairy products due to environmental concerns, already resembled that of a hardened drug addict. And her dependence on him in this manner made her seem no less a true addict.

“This feels… good.” “...Get a grip.” “Get a grip? On what? How? Is there anything I could even handle by pulling myself together?”

Flower chuckled darkly, thinking of the tax audits, the numerous criminal charges filed by the prosecutors, the arrest warrants, the police chasing her, and the public that had suddenly turned against her.

As the head of a mere environmental organization, there wasn’t a single thing she could control. Her organization now looked like a child’s playhouse before the corporations that had revealed their true intent to destroy her.

All she could do was cling to the pleasure offered by her one remaining comrade.

“Do something. Anything.” “Anything… like a terrorist attack? Seize a city and fight to the death? Kill people and start a war?” “If that’s all you can do—” “Are you insane, truly?”

Flower, pulling herself away from the Bandaged Man’s embrace, laughed. He seemed more of a madman than she, who was indulging in pleasure.

Killing people just so she could live? What kind of environmentalist would do such a thing? That wasn’t something someone who claimed to protect nature would do.

“Forget it. I’ll just turn myself in.” “If you turn yourself in now—” “I know. The public’s against me, I’ve made too many enemies. I probably won’t ever get out if I’m unlucky.”

She said this with a wry smile, far too calm for someone in her situation. The Bandaged Man, watching her, respected her decision.

Then, slyly, he brought out a bottle of wine and two glasses he had hidden away, offering her a drink. Flower chuckled when she saw it.

“You said you smashed everything?” “I saved some. It’s the last one, so let’s have a toast.” “...Fine, since it’s the last.”

It was a drink she’d normally never touch, but to commemorate the end, she downed it.

And then? She did things she’d never normally do, marking the end. Starting with a night with the Bandaged Man.

Sleeping in his embrace, with sharp points above and below, she experienced a flood of pleasure unlike any she had known—a moment she’d never forget…

‘I’m sorry.’

With a silent apology to the Bandaged Man, who had followed her out of love yet could never achieve his desires with her, she fell asleep.

Praying that this brief happiness might last forever.

“Ahh…!”

Flower jolted awake, clutching her body in fear. She trembled so violently that it roused the Bandaged Man, who had been sleeping soundly beside her.

“Something wrong?” “No, no… Please, no…” “Flower?” “No… I can’t let it happen. I must stop it, I have to…”

Ignoring the Bandaged Man’s concerned words, Flower jumped out of bed, dressed, and ran out as if possessed.

The Bandaged Man followed her, wondering where she was going, only to realize she was running toward the ancient tree at the heart of N City.

“Flower?” “I have to get there.” “Flower! What’s wrong with you—!”

Without answering, Flower stretched her hand toward the ancient tree. Immediately, its roots and branches, which had held up the city, coiled around her.

As her body slowly rose within the ancient tree, police officers arrived, aiming their weapons at her.

“Freeze! Police!” “You are wanted on seventy criminal charges…”

Flower ignored the officers and focused on cocooning herself within the tree’s roots and branches. Soon, she had enclosed herself within the very heart of the ancient tree.

Trapped in this sealed space, Flower continued to tremble.

Only a deep, nameless fear consumed her.

News Flash

[Breaking news: Flower, head of the environmental organization recently implicated in seventy criminal activities, has launched a terrorist attack in N City…] [The association’s heroes are currently deployed to apprehend her—] [We urge nearby city residents to evacuate as quickly as possible…]

A little later, I heard the news of Flower’s terror attack.

But I wasn’t surprised.

Because I’d already known it would happen.

“I figured she’d end up like this.”

I knew she was someone capable of such acts.

Watching the news, I clicked my tongue, tilting my head in thought.

‘By the way… what happened to that thing I sent?’

I had sent something, but I hadn’t received any feedback.

Wondering when I’d hear back, I leisurely enjoyed my coffee, savoring it in true villainous scientist style.