Mash-up Anime World: Creating the SCP Foundation to Contain Anomalies-Chapter 327 - 321: Feign Retreat to Lure the Enemy, the Seed of Doubt

Chapter 327 - 321: Feign Retreat to Lure the Enemy, the Seed of Doubt

Misaki beat her fists against Haruto's chest with all her might. Eventually, she ran out of strength and simply nestled into his arms.

There were still tears at the corners of her eyes, but she wasn't truly angry.

More than anger, what she felt was relief.

She was just glad Haruto was safe.

Even if she had been a bit deceived.

As long as Haruto was unharmed, Misaki was happy.

"So infuriating, Mugino!!"

"Shut up."

"What kind of torture is this—who ties people up and force-feeds them dog food?! It's utterly insane!"

Kinuhata Saiai's shouting shattered the ambiguous atmosphere.

Misaki's face turned cold as she looked toward the four girls from the dark side who had been tied up in a kinky way.

She raised the remote control in her hand.

When it came to threats against Haruto, Misaki had no problem erasing someone's mind completely.

Even if, realistically, these people weren't a real threat.

But the sudden aura she emitted still made the four dark-side girls go silent with fear.

They never expected the cute and seemingly delicate girl from before to have such a murderous glare.

Haruto reached out and gently pressed down on the hand holding the remote.

Misaki looked confused.

"These dark side girls are just insects from the shadows. Why be so merciful to them, Haruto?"

Haruto shook his head.

He placed one hand on Mugino Shizuri's head, roughly tousling her fluffy brown hair into a mess.

Mugino nearly ground her teeth into powder.

With her violent temper, if conditions allowed, she would've gone down in a blaze of mutual destruction with Haruto.

But right now, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't activate her powers.

"These dark-side folks are just tools being manipulated, just like Awaki. They ended up in the dark side not because of their own will, but because they were used. So why bother getting angry at people like this? Besides, there won't be a dark side for much longer."

Hearing that, Misaki fell into thought.

After a moment, her expression toward the four girls softened.

But this change completely pissed off Mugino.

"Hey, what the hell is that supposed to mean? Tools being manipulated?!"

Mugino growled in anger, but it changed nothing. In fact, Misaki's eyes grew even more pitying. freёwebnoѵel.com

That gaze burned Mugino like fire.

When had she ever been looked at like this?

But the truth was, these girls from the dark side were quite pitiful.

Take Awaki for example.

Her entry into the dark side as a guide wasn't a coincidence—it was inevitable. Because of her ability, she was selected by Aleister. During her development, she experienced an "accident" that left severe psychological trauma.

Later, she "accidentally" encountered the dark side of Academy City. Due to the vulnerability in her heart, she quickly fell into the trap. Becoming a guide who constantly struggled, but to no avail.

But in truth, the moment she was noticed, the web had already been spun.

Like a clumsy insect flying toward its doom, she fell into the web.

She might think it was her own wrong decision that led her there—maybe she shouldn't have flown this way. But even if she had avoided that one web, countless others waited.

And Mugino Shizuri and the others were no different from Awaki.

The only difference was who was pulling the strings behind them.

On the surface, it looked like they gradually fell into the darkness of the dark side. But in reality, they never had a choice.

With all sorts of guiding methods, these girls eventually became blades wielded by the Board of Directors.

Used to carry out dirty work—perhaps they resisted as people, but it was meaningless.

"I'm going back to watch the ocean. Haruto, deal with this quickly and come find me. I'll be waiting~!"

Misaki said cheerfully as she walked along the beach into the distance. Haruto watched her go, then turned back.

"What the hell are you?! What did all that mean?!"

Mugino kept demanding answers.

Right now, more than being killed, she just wanted to understand what Haruto's words meant.

Manipulated? Used?

But Haruto didn't respond.

The Board of Directors would soon fall anyway.

Once they collapsed, all their dirty secrets would be exposed. Then these deceived girls from the dark side would understand everything.

Why waste words now?

"I'm untying you. Go back to wherever you came from and don't interrupt my date. Got it?"

With that, Haruto first untied Kinuhata Saiai.

Even after being untied, the straightforward girl couldn't quite process what was happening.

Just like that... they were released?

Though from his words, it was clear he didn't plan to hurt them.

"Totally incomprehensible."

Kinuhata muttered, still itching to try something.

She had been knocked out before she even realized it, and wanted to test her strength against Haruto.

But Haruto simply flicked her forehead, leaving a red mark.

She immediately squatted, holding her head—confused as to why her nitrogen armor didn't protect her.

Then, Haruto untied Takitsubo Rikou and Frenda.

Those two behaved themselves.

One specialized in tracking, the other relied on tools—neither had combat power right now.

"Big bro, wanna exchange contact info?"

Frenda came over with a cheeky smile, holding out her phone.

She didn't know why she was let go... maybe twice?

But Haruto seemed like someone easy to talk to.

So... make a friend!

"What kind of dark-side agent wants their target's contact info? So you can schedule a hit?"

Haruto quipped, but still took out his phone.

They exchanged numbers.

LINE wasn't yet widespread in Academy City.

Last was Mugino Shizuri.

She was still gritting her teeth, glaring at Haruto.

Still bound, with a big dried chicken claw-like object strapped to her body—quite the ridiculous sight.

"What's that, anyway?" Frenda asked in a low voice.

Curious as always when there's no danger.

"That's a tool called the Imagine Breaker. It can nullify any esper ability it touches. Right now, it's preventing someone from going berserk and hurting both herself and others."

Haruto's explanation left the three girls speechless.

Because... it was a very accurate description.

They knew Mugino's temperament.

Given her personality, she absolutely should have exploded into violence by now.

So why had she been so obedient?

No wonder no one questioned the chicken-claw-looking thing being called an "Imagine Breaker."

"I'm untying you now. Be good and take your people back. Got it?"

Haruto said to Mugino.

Mugino still glared silently at him.

Haruto reached out and tugged her cheeks hard.

It hurt, but more than pain, it was humiliating. After tormenting her a bit, Haruto said again,

"Got it?"

Mugino was already burning with rage—but now she calmed down slightly.

This boy... was clearly beyond her ability to handle.

And what did he really mean earlier?

Seeing Mugino regaining her composure, Haruto chuckled.

He untied her, gave her cheek another little pinch, and retrieved the Imagine Breaker tool.

Waving his hand, he turned and walked toward where Misaki had gone.

Leaving only his back to the four girls.

They exchanged glances but didn't act again.

That back... was too confident.

And honestly, none of them knew how they had even been subdued earlier.

"So damn infuriating."

Kinuhata muttered, rubbing her still-throbbing forehead.

"According to intel, that guy is from the China. They have a military tactic called 'Feign Retreat to Lure the Enemy.'"

Takitsubo Rikou whispered.

Ever since her release, Mugino's expression had remained gloomy. Finally, she turned and headed back toward Academy City.

Seeing this, the other three girls breathed a sigh of relief.

They were truly worried Mugino would go berserk and try to fight that monster of a boy.

That would've been suicide.

"Why did you guys join the dark side anyway?"

As they walked, Mugino suddenly asked.

The question stunned the three.

They recalled their own grim and twisted pasts. But sometimes, people immersed in a situation can't see clearly.

However, sometimes people who are deep within a situation cannot see the truth clearly.

Once that habitual mindset is broken, many obvious flaws begin to surface.

Haruto's earlier words were like a seed of doubt.

One that quickly took root in their hearts.

Looking back now, the way they ended up joining the dark side had far too many coincidences—coincidences that now felt disturbingly unnatural.