It had already been two weeks since Investigator Ha-Yul’s persistent investigation began. 

Realizing that things couldn’t continue this way, I made a decision. 

“Author-nim.”

[Yes?]

“Let’s just do it.”

[…Are you sure? You said it was dangerous.]

That’s true. It is dangerous. 

The investigation is still ongoing. And it’s not just suspicion–they are doggedly pursuing me with near certainty. It’s quite risky.

But there was no other way.

The Author opposed killing, and even after I sliced three more villains for an alibi, there was no reaction. 

However, not taking action makes even less sense.

“We need to get rid of those villains while we have the chance.”

[…Ugh.]

The Author let out a groan, unable to argue. 

Well, it was her fault after all. 

I tried to make it plausible, but 2,400 villains were way too many no matter how you looked at it.  

We had no choice but to reduce the number. 

“And now that it’s come to this, we have no other option.”

[No other option…?]

“I think I used Lyla too much. There have been side effects.”

I looked at the posts appearing online. 

The comments on news articles were filled with remarks cheering Arachne.

Ha-Yul still suspects me after all this? After all I had done? 

I had utilized Lyla in a way that made me think that, but perhaps that backfired. 

Slicing up villains in other regions. Slicing them up during class. 

I even sliced up a villain inside a prison once, but they still wouldn’t let go of their suspicions.  

Why? Why do they suspect me?

But I unintentionally found a clue in the comments of a news article I saw.

“To think they’d be considering a secret organization or something like that.”

[…Well, I suppose it’s not that strange. Since there were crimes everywhere.]  

“I guess that’s true….”

Was it because I sliced up villains here and there to avoid suspicion?

At some point, the idea spread that Arachne may not be an individual but an organization.

“It makes sense that they won’t let go of their suspicions now. They’ll think it wasn’t me who did it, but the organization I belong to.”

[But don’t you think a secret organization sounds cool?]

“Sigh….”

The Author seemed taken aback by my sigh. 

Did she think I would absolutely love it?

…Well, to be honest, I do think it’s totally awesome. 

A secret organization, how cool is that? 

Then why did I sigh, you ask?

I couldn’t help but sigh at the realization that my level had dropped to be on par with the Author…

“So, you set things up well, right?”

[Yep, yep! Three Übermensch executives and 600 villains! It’s perfect!] 

“Alright then. Shall we go?”

Right now was the perfect time when that bothersome investigator wasn’t around.

I needed to eliminate them quickly. 

The goal was to bring the number down to around four. 

But taking them out one by one would take forever.

So it’d be better to capture three at once. 

As for the number of villains, well.

Four executives and around 800 subordinates…

I realized why the Four Heavenly Kings often appear in novels. 

That seems to be the sweet spot…

“Get caught, you say?”

[By the investigator. Should we kill him? But it’d be such a waste.]

“So that’s what you were worried about.”

What  if investigator Lee Ha-Yul catches me, you ask. 

That’s easy.

“We just need to control the Association from the shadows.”

[What?]

“A secret organization that has deeply infiltrated the Association. Sounds awesome, right?”

[…! Yes, super cool!]

Can’t we just not care, even if we get exposed?

Since we’re already being treated like a secret organization, why not actually make one? 

I don’t even know anymore.

They can try to catch us  if they want. Do whatever. 

 If pressure comes from above, they’ll probably give up. 

Even if they somehow find evidence now, it’ll be meaningless.

I was slightly hesitant, thinking this could cause problems  if taken this far, but oh well.

Leaving things alone seems like it’ll become even more of a hassle. 

…Ah, but wouldn’t it be a bit awkward if the secret organization only had two members–me and Lyla?

It’d be nice if some fun character popped out of somewhere.

***

“Hmph…How annoying. Why are they being so vigilant?”

“You know why. With all the fuss lately about Arachne or whatever.” 

“Ah, that? Didn’t they say Marmo-nim died?”

On a dark night, inside an abandoned factory where people don’t go.

Armed villains were chatting and laughing.

“Yeah. It can’t be helped after going through something like that. Well, things will return to normal soon. That person wasn’t actually that strong.”

“…True. Compared to the other executives, he was weak.”

“So let’s just keep watch properly. We have three times as many people here compared to that place. There’s no way they would com–”

Clunk!

“…? Did you hear a strange sound just now?”

“I don’t know. Maybe you misheard?”

“No, I definitely heard it. A sound from somewhere around here…Urk?!”

“Guh…?! M-My breath…!”

It happened in an instant. 

A villain who heard a strange sound approached the ventilation duct to investigate, and another one suspiciously followed him.

And the moment they got close. 

Swish.

In a flash, two  strands of thread tightened around the necks of the two.  

“G-Guh…! S-Spare….”

“….”

After a brief struggle, the two villains who went limp were effortlessly dragged into the vent by the thread around their necks to conceal their bodies.

…This is harder than I thought.

Moving inside the vents, like in movies or games, is just unrealistic. 

[How does it feel to directly experience the infiltration you love so much, Reader-nim?]

“How does it feel, you ask? What’s the point of me saying it.”

Of course it’s the best.

It was so much fun. 

Hiding in the darkness and taking out enemies, that sort of thing.  

Everyone imagines it at least once, right?

I thought I’d only be able to experience what I imagined right before I die through some hyper-realistic VR game or something.

Although it was easier to get caught than expected, which was a downside, it had a thrilling field trip vibe. 

“I think 600 was too many after all.”

[You said you could handle 600, Reader-nim!] 

“No, well…I didn’t expect security to be this tight…So I’m sorry about that.”

One thing I had misunderstood.

…I thought I would have time to change  clothes. 

Since I saw how lax their guard was before. 

I figured I could slice up around 100, change  clothes, then slice more and change again.

I thought I could just repeat that.

But that wasn’t the case. 

Was it because one executive died and hundreds of villains were killed simultaneously?

Or because the news reported that the culprit was still out there slicing villains?

Their vigilance was considerable. Fighting like this would be tough.

 If I barged in and fought head-on, I’d have to battle 600 continuously. 

I didn’t think I would lose, but the problem was not having enough  clothes.

I had to change once, even when dealing with 200, so I couldn’t avoid it against 600. 

 If I kept fighting, I’d end up captured in a stark naked state without a single piece of  clothing. 

So, I thought of infiltration.

First, I’d take the heads of the top brass, then slowly take out the confused underlings. 

Without guys to strategize, their morale and judgment would drop.

They wouldn’t realize I couldn’t fight anymore.

I’d use that chance to change and then mop up the rest.  

Simple, right?

“Hey, why aren’t you guys respond–Urk?!”

“C-Crazy! Enem–Mmph! Mph! Mmmmph!”

… If there’s one problem, it’s that the plan has already fallen apart.

The vent was noisier than expected.

No, I thought I could do it since they move around fine in movies. 

I was startled when it clanked as I was changing posture because crawling made my chest uncomfortable.

-Bzzt…Respond.

“Hm?”

-Answer quickly… What’s going on? I’ll sound the alarm  if there’s no response within 1 minute. Hurry and respond!

[Ah, we’re going to get caught like this.]

“I guess so. Haha, what to do.”

Unfortunately, it seems this infiltration game will have to end here. 

I didn’t have the slightest thought that I would die.

The Author needs me after all. She’ll make sure I survive one way or another.

However, could I really go on living carefree after gleefully killing Übermensch members? 

I can’t fully trust her.

She could suddenly go, ‘Battered heroines are popular these days!’ and lop off my hand or something.  

…A mechanical hand seems cool, but I don’t want to live with one.

Shooting  energy beams from my hand is tempting, but I prefer having all my limbs intact.  

It’s just a guarantee that I won’t die. There’s no promise that my limbs will remain unharmed.

So, I decided to stop the infiltration.

I’d be in big trouble  if I tried to hide and got caught.

Then what will I do from now on, you ask?

It’s not hard. 

“Let’s see, this is the center of the factory….”

[All three executives are in the control room!]

“Alright.”

I tightened the nearly unused half-gloves. 

…I wanted to try this at least once.

It feels less exciting than I expected.

“Okay then. I’ve come this far by infiltrating, so I should move on to the next stage.”

Enemies are on all sides, and sneaking further is impossible.

In that case, I’ll just break through.  

“Shall we start the speedrun?”

There was a popular saying like this in a famous stealth action game.

 If there are no witnesses, it’s a perfect assassination.*

I decided to put that into practice today to see  if it’s true.