NOVEL FROG Chapter 71
“Boss, I’ve followed all your orders.”
“What orders?”
“……?”
After dealing with the rabbit beastwoman Hani appropriately, I reported this to the boss. Laid on the backbed, the boss suddenly remembered that such an order had indeed been given recently and gasped.
“Ah— I did indeed give such an order a few days ago. How did you handle it?”
“First, I read her memories—.”
“—Wait a sec. Did you use an inhumane method that could instill a hate for humans?”
“Huh? No way! I just educated her to not mess with our Evil Organization!”
“That better not be a lie! Can I trust you…!?”
Regalia asked with a face like she was watching a food wrapper come to life. Seeing that, I explained what I’d done to Hani in a serious tone.
After hearing about ‘good kids,’ ‘correction,’ and ‘AI education,’ Regalia sighed in relief as if to say it was nothing to worry about.
“Hoo— that’s fine, then. I was worried you might have created yet another poor victim.”
“You don’t need to worry about that.”
“Good. Scientist, enjoy your vacation that you didn’t fully get to enjoy. You’ve worked hard.”
I nodded in gratitude, recalling Hani’s appearance after her training. After a few tests, Hani had transformed into a unique person with exceptional character, morals, and ethics.
After saving someone who was about to hit rock bottom, I felt a sense of fulfillment. I even thought it would be great if everyone in the world could be like Hani.
* * *
Hani stepped out of the Evilus Corporation building and peeked back. This was where her colleague worked, the place her long-lost former test subject comrade belonged.
‘Could it be that I misunderstood…?’
After all the training, Hani was deemed ready to converse with humans and could have a deep talk just the two of them with Levitan.
They could discuss what she had been doing all this while and whether she had been brainwashed or subjected to malicious experiments by the Evil Organization.
Surprisingly enough, despite its name, the Evil Organization had committed no evil deeds and even freed Levitan, a beastwoman, from the bondage of being an L-series test subject. It was truly unbelievable.
—Levitan, can I see you again next time?
—Of course! Ah, what should I do in moments like this?
—…It’s a promise. See you again next time.
Using what she learned here, Hani promised to meet Levitan again. It was quite amazing. Of course, Levitan wouldn’t refuse her request, but it made her realize anew that conversations didn’t require weapons.
Not just Hani. The many combatants of the Evil Organization she encountered while leaving the Evilus Corporation, as well as ordinary workers, all treated her kindly and readily fulfilled her requests.
Back when she was captured by Omega Industries, or when she was wandering through back alleys, she had never experienced such kindness even once.
It made her realize that the education she received was far from wrong.
‘Everything I’ve done until now has been a bad thing…’
Not knowing, she had never learned and since everyone around her lived similarly, she knew even less. In fact, Hani was on the kinder side. There were lots of people out there silently sticking knives or bullets into key points and robbing others.
In comparison, what about her? She had only faced opponents with a blade without forcing them. If the other person refused, she planned to back off. Of course, that had never happened even once.
As she left City E by train and returned to her original base where she had lived, Hani stumbled upon punks spitting everywhere and brandishing weapons at passersby to threaten them.
Having learned manners from a great moral teacher, she wouldn’t let such scenes go unchecked.
“—Excuse me.”
“Uh? What’s up, lady? Do you need something from us?”
“Yes. I just have one question.”
When the very beautiful Hani approached and spoke, the eyes of the two men, who had been intimidating citizens, changed. It was the gaze of beasts spotting their prey.
Hani didn’t see those eyes directly, but she knew well what those glances meant as they flew and landed on her skin.
“You just littered in the street, right? And now you’re threatening this person.”
“Eh? So what? Is there a problem?”
“Oh no, there’s no problem. I’m just curious.”
As the punks grumbled, Hani recited what she had learned from her moral teacher.
“I heard people don’t do such things. Are you perhaps not a person?”
“…What the hell is this girl saying?”
“Ahh—! As expected! Responding to a question with insults means you aren’t human!”
Faced with beings that weren’t human, Hani recalled what to do if non-human things harmed humans. Her splendid moral teacher had called such things beasts and stated that when beasts harmed humans, they had to be exterminated.
All this was nothing but an idealistic tale for a rational machine that didn’t realize humans were unreasonable, but for Hani, who had never received such education, AI’s teachings were an absolute and perfect answer.
“Well then, beasts. Is it okay if I cut you?”
Swish-
As Hani drew her Japanese sword, the punks began to realize something was off. But it was already too late.
Hani belatedly remembered that she did not need to ask for permission to deal with beasts. In front of her stood beasts meant for disposal.
“Ugh, uuuuahhh—!”
“Crazy girl!”
“Thanks for the permission.”
With the Japanese sword armed with idealistic morals and ethics, she swung it around, just like her moral teacher wielding a whip.
The humans’ blows fell upon the beasts.
* * *
Fireworks erupted.
Colors began to adorn the blackness ruling the beach.
“Wow, wowaaaaah…!”
“Oh, pretty good….”
People gasped at the sight. The emerald beach reflected in the fireworks sparkled beautifully. Women who were crazy about this stuff as well as indifferent men started to enjoy the fireworks.
As others focused on the fireworks lighting up the sky, I walked along the corner of the beach with Levitan.
“Hehe, the night sea is nice.”
“Levitan, aren’t we here to watch the fireworks?”
“Do we have to?”
“Didn’t you bring me here for that…?”
“Did I?”
Levitan playfully shook her tongue, nodding her head. Watching her, I felt I could get angry, but I held it back. I’ve always thought that the executives of the Evil Organization were all stunningly beautiful.
There was no surgery that allowed them to choose their facial features, yet they were filled with traditional beauties that were simply to my taste.
Remembering the bizarrely decorated Earth’s beauties riding an incomprehensible trend, I smiled at Levitan before me.
“So? Why exactly did you bring me here?” (Eight )
“Huh? I didn’t have a reason.”
“You brought me to a place where no one watches without a reason? At a time when everyone’s eyes are on the fireworks?”
It can’t be.
I gulped as I looked at Levitan trying to hide her intentions.
That can’t be, but— if, by chance,
If she was harboring ill intentions towards me for doing something strange to her former comrade?
‘If that’s the case… this is a bit dangerous.’
Levitan was a beastwoman. Although she had become human due to surgery, her essence was still that of a beast. Moreover, whenever she put her mind to it, she could unleash greater strength than ever before at any time.
If she were to harm me? Thinking back to the incident where I had won the brave citizen award, even if the barrier in my wrist-watch stopped her one blow, it would be a miracle.
Of course, the follow-up attacks wouldn’t be able to be stopped…
“Hey, what’s up?”
“…Yes.”
“Do you have someone you like?”
Fortunately, her intentions were different from what I had imagined. Very different. What could be the purpose of asking such a question in this situation? It was obvious without thinking much.
“Nope. At least not in this world.”
“Really? I have one….”
“Is that so?”
I played dumb. Did Levitan also know that? With a mischievous expression, Levitan jumped slightly ahead, stopping to face me.
“I like you, you know.”
“Ah….”
“How do you feel about that? You’re not disinterested in women. I think someone like me isn’t a bad option….”
I was suddenly confessed by a colleague from the same organization.
I maintained silence for a moment. The atmosphere abruptly became heavy. Despite being in front of the summer sea, my throat felt dry and parched.
I had no idea how to respond. I couldn’t just keep my mouth shut forever, so finally, what slipped out was a reflexive reply.
“Keep on liking me.”
“Does that mean you’re accepting it!?”
“No, I just want you to like me. It’s not that I intend to control others’ feelings….”
A gentle rejection.
But whether Levitan failed to understand it or chose not to accept it, she began to bounce around joyfully with a big smile.
“Really!? Levitan can continue to like you, right!?”
Watching Levitan beam with such happiness, I felt like a frog caught in the jaws of a snake.
The realization hit my mind that I couldn’t easily escape from her…
* * *
A few days passed since returning from vacation.
I received a call from the boss and headed to the chairwoman’s office.
The boss, seated in the corner of the office, was watching a girls’ anime when I entered, hastily switching the channel.
“Cough-cough— you’re here?”
“I don’t think there’s anything shameful about a boss your age watching that.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about…?”
With a poker face, Regalia wanted to quickly move away from this topic and jumped straight into the main reason for summoning me.
“Scientist. I have a favor to ask you.”
“Yes. What do you want me to make this time?”
“Well, it’s not really about making something… but it’s kind of the same.”
With that, Regalia handed me a piece of paper. I took it, tilting my head as I read the content, and my eyes widened.
It stated, [Notice of Parent Observation Class Schedule].
“I would like you to play the role of a parent.”
“…Me?”
“Yes, you.”
Just that was already absurd, but Regalia cemented it further.
“You’ll choose the mother.”
Regalia said with a smile.
…Looks like I suddenly became someone’s dad.