Chapter 249: Manufactured Heroes (1)


    Conversion of the Subus by the Sephiroth Knight Order.


    -Do not hesitate to use any means necessary to turn them into righteous individuals.


    The Chief’s order was issued.


    Agents of the Secret Society must follow the Chief’s orders, and I decided to execute them asmanded.


    “Let’s go.”


    “…You’re getting down to serious business. As expected of Director Do, you follow the Chief’s orders immediately, don’t you?”


    “Of course.”


    Doubts and illusions remained.


    But once the Chief had made a decision, that was the answer.“The Chief said to bring out the Sephiroth Knight Order. That’s all there is to say.”


    Someone might say blindly following the Chief’s orders was not the way, but following her was right because what she said benefited everyone and contributed to world peace.


    “Even if it means brainwashing, it’s better to rehabilitate them. Their personalities might die, but at least it’s better than dying for real.”


    There was no hesitation.


    If there was hesitation, it would be like the tension before actually taking action.


    “Hye-ra, do you have enough magic power?”


    After transforming into a suit, I checked the magic power of Yoon Hye-ra, who had changed from a dress to a normal office suit, by cing my hand on her shoulder.


    “It seems a bit low on magic power.”


    “It’s enough for what’s needed. Why? Want to recharge before we go?”


    “If necessary.”


    “It’s not that urgent. We’ve dressed up for once; we can’t just take it off. Let’s handle it after sorting things out. Take it easy.”


    Yoon Hye-ra chuckled as she tapped the hand I ced on her shoulder.


    “I need to give my body some rest too. Work a bit while at it.”


    “There’s really no need for such consideration.”


    “Oh, it’s not consideration? I’m serious. Thanks for thinking it’s consideration. Hehe. Then, let’s go check on the subi.”


    Yoon Hye-ra got up, and I ced her magic-imbued hand on my face.


    [Let’s go.]


    With the Goblin Mask pressed down, I gather my mindset as a temple servant.


    “Alright, then I’ll guide you right away, Director Do.”


    Yoon Hye-ra immediatelyposed herself as an executive and opened a gate in the air.


    Whooosh.


    Apanied by a surge of energy, I crossed through the gate to where the subus fledglings were.


    The ce was an underground space, reminiscent of the ind where the subi resided.


    To anyone, it resembled an underground secret base, but with a notable distinction: the interior design was decidedly more ‘Korean’ than anywhere else.


    In Pandemonium, researchers in white coats would be amon sight, but this secret base was popted with individuals in a variety of attire instead of white coats.


    There were nine of them.


    Courtdies serving in the pce were omnipresent.


    They were dedicatedly assisting those who had been subi in each room, consulting with them to prevent their transformation into demons or self-harm.


    “Come this way. Here shees. This is the Thai Bangkok branch, and the person in charge here is known as ‘Tai Sanggung’.”


    “Gunggi, I am at your service. And, it is an honor to meet you, Goblin.”


    The woman, appearing to be about 25 years old, was dressed in a courtdy’s gache and a green hanbok, typical of a Thai woman, and was unmistakably not a Koryo-Thai.


    Among Thais, she was exceptionally beautiful, resembling a Thai member of a K-POP idol group in Korea performing a courtdy cosy.


    [Is she an ability user?]


    “Yes.”


    [Is that hair, a gache?]


    “It is real.”


    [It’s not a wig?]


    “Yes. My ability is only E-grade, but it makes my hair grow fast.”


    The abilities of ability users manifested in a myriad of ways.


    Aside from generally good physical health, some women have abilities that were limited to specific parts of the body growing quickly.


    And this woman, Tai Sanggung, joined the Secret Society with such an ability.


    She held a position equivalent to the president of the Thai Hero Association, known as ‘Sanggung level’ in the Secret Society’s Thai branch.


    [You’ve had a hard time. And… how was dealing with the subi?]


    “There were some diforts, but no major issues in selecting them.”


    [You’ve worked hard. Gunggi.]


    A peculiarity.


    There were no men here.


    Perhaps it’s a consideration of the Thai branch under Tai Sanggung to amodate the subi.


    “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of everythingter. Ahem. So, what’s the result of the assessment? The ‘discards’?”


    “I’ll report it now.”


    Tai Sanggung pointed to arge screen panel, and soon a 3D map of the underground facility unfolded.


    In the underground base, each room housed a subus, and the rooms were categorized into red, yellow, and green.


    “The grades are divided into three. 14 are safe to retain their memories, 48 wish for memory removal, and 21 might need to be ‘culled’.”


    [That’s quite a few.]


    Red, meaning 21 that needed to be executed.


    The specific categories were decided through consultations by Tai Sanggung, the brewer, and the courtdies.


    [What’s the extent of culling for these fledglings?]


    “The most typical case would be… self-induced abortion addiction. They were dragged here, but their minds have deteriorated to the point where they can no longer make rational decisions.”


    The decision to ‘cull’ them was made not out of female solidarity but because their lives could no longer continue as they had been in society.


    [Bring me all the consultation records for the 21. I’ll check them again before execution.]


    “I’ll bring them right away.”


    As Tai Sanggung left to fetch the records, Gunggi nudged me in the ribs lightly.


    “You don’t have to work so hard.”


    [It’s about killing people; it can’t be taken lightly.]


    It’s the removal of a personality.


    Even if experts have made the decisions, I, as the executioner, must review them finally.


    “Here’s the report.”


    Tai Sanggung quickly brought a tablet, and I personally reviewed the records of the 21 ted for execution.


    […….]


    Such as the number of abortions exceeding double digits.


    Seducing men on the streets of Bangkok and eventually sending them to their ‘God’s resting ce.’


    Or killing people because they couldn’t resist threats to kill if they did notply.


    These actions were so horrific that they might as well be considered ‘extenuating circumstances’ in the reports.


    There were numerous severe cases, too harrowing to mention individually or to contemte in detail.


    [Will this data be reported to the president through Gunggiter?]


    “Yes, that’s correct.”


    [Include Goblin’s cooperation when you file it. Attach it as a reference opinion.]


    Since the Goblin had personally verified it, the Chief did not need to check it herself.


    “Eh? Uh, what do you mean…”


    [If needed, I’ll directly report to the Chief verbally, so there’s no need to review the details of those scheduled for disposal. Anything else?]


    “Ah, understood.”


    “Director Do. When you say things like that, it makes the staff nervous. They think an audit ising.”


    “…….”


    Tai Sanggung smiled faintly, observing the situation.


    I felt a bit sorry, as my role in the Secret Society might be making hard-working people nervous.


    The direct executioner under the Chief.


    Comparable to an audit team in apany, but with the authority of an executive.


    It’s natural for the members to feel tense.


    Especially since I was involved directly in the approval line.


    [We’ll start the ‘personality execution’ now. Lead the way.]


    “…Yes.”


    Tai Sanggung led us with a tablet to the room.


    Creak.


    “We’ve talked about this already! What more is there to discuss…”


    As soon as I entered the room, the subus, about to throw a dish, froze with it in her hand.


    “Go, Goblin…?”


    [Have you ever killed anyone?]


    I sat opposite the subus, who briefly nced at Tai Sanggung before quickly bowing her head.


    The nce she sent was as if to say, ‘Isn’t this different from what was discussed?’


    [Why? Did the person who brought you here tell you to be at ease? That whatever choice you make will be respected, that your wishes would be granted?]


    “That’s… right…”


    [Unfortunately, you do not qualify.]


    “!!”


    The subus tried to rise, but I got up faster than her.


    [Too slow.]


    I climbed onto the table and aimed a baseball bat at the subus’s forehead.


    The subus looked up at me with fear-filled eyes, biting her lower lip.


    “Pl-please save me…! I don’t want to die…!”


    [What were you doing when people who spoke like that were talking?]


    “What do you mean…!”


    [You, you’ve killed people directly. Using your ability, you killed those trying toe to the ind.]


    “……!!”


    This woman is a murderer.


    [It wasn’t just one or two. Under the Madam’smand, you directly drove boats and kidnapped those visiting the ind. You locked up the men underground and tortured the women. Right?]


    She’s not a murderer shaped by dire circumstances but one who took pleasure in killing; a demon wearing human skin.


    [If you think it’s unfair that you are dying, raise your hand. And try saying, I did not kill anyone.]


    “I, I did not kill…”


    The subus couldn’t finish her sentence.


    As if she saw something more terrifying than I, her eyes wavered, and she fell back into her chair.


    “Aaaagh!”


    [No need for a lie detector or abilities. The truth is right in front of you.]


    I created illusions.


    Through hallucinations, this woman saw ‘those she killed’ before her eyes.


    And I, using my ability, estimated the number of those she killed based on her memories.


    The number was enough to fill the room.


    [Be at ease. You will be reborn. The you of now will die, and you will be reborn as a new being to live for the world.]


    “No, I don’t want to???!”


    Thump.


    I struck the subus’s head with the Goblin baseball bat.


    The illusions filling the room slowly faded away.


    Their bowing heads, as if regretful yet thankful, were just illusions I saw to ease my own mind.


    [Then.]


    I aimed the Goblin bat at the subus’s head again.


    [The first, ‘Big Mother,’ is born.]


    Mind Crash.


    Now, the subus would die, and a new human, devoid of memories, would be born.