Hero For Lust

"These replacement cables are harder to find than I had predicted." Doctor Kuseno's voice echoed from deeper inside the laboratory. "Ah, here they are!"

Genos had been lying on the inclined surgical table for several minutes, trying to organize the flood of thoughts swirling in his head.

Doctor Kuseno's footsteps grew louder as he emerged from behind a large machine. "This will only take a moment," he said, crouching down to begin repairing the damage. His hands moved with surprising speed, detaching and reattaching cables and parts with precision that defied his age.

"Genos, you should bring your master by sometime," Doctor Kuseno said as he worked. "I would like to meet him."

"I will. He's mentioned before that he'd like to meet you too." Genos paused, then added, "Speaking of him, he told me that Drive Knight is likely part of 'The Organization.' Do you know anything about this?"

Doctor Kuseno stood, having already finished the repairs. "The S-Class Hero? No, I can't say I do. He's a cyborg, correct?"

"Yes. My master also informed me that Drive Knight's real name is Zero."

"Drive Knight… Zero…" Doctor Kuseno's eyes flickered from suspicion to alarm. "G0—the 'Gold General.' If this is the case, then there is a high probability he is a part of 'The Organization.'"

Genos' head lurched forward. "I refuse to believe this is a coincidence! To believe there's a mole so deep within the Hero Association's ranks… He even tried to make me suspicious of Metal Knight."

This time, it was Doctor Kuseno's turn to react. He stumbled backward, his face turned pale.

"Doctor! What's wrong?"

"The other founding member of 'The Organization' who left alongside me was Dr. Bofoi, or as you referred to him, Metal Knight…"

¤ ¤ ¤

At the present moment, Caspian hid behind one of the many trees that were scattered around the large, ancient Japanese-style main hall at the center of the Council of Swordmasters' headquarters.

He had already avoided detection from a couple of members he didn't recognize when they glanced in his direction. Thankfully, his speed and sharp senses more than compensated for his nonexistent stealth training.

She wasn't in any of the smaller annex buildings at the far edges of this place, so I guess there's no other choice but to walk straight in.

Caspian made sure the coast was clear before his feet carried him across the courtyard, stepping over the innumerable loose pebbles that blanketed the ground before coming to a stop before the aged wooden entrance.

Why exactly am I sneaking around?

At first, it entertained him, but now he felt like he was wasting his time. Glancing up, he could already see the telltale signs of the sun's inevitable descent below the horizon.

He ambled up to the main hall's doors — heavy wooden panels reinforced with dark iron fittings. And then pressed his palm against the wood, sliding the door sideways. The weight resisted at first before yielding with a low groan. As it parted, he caught the faint scent of aged wood and incense drifting out.

It's opening on its own. He pulled his red-gloved hand from the smooth surface, but the door kept sliding.

"Who are you?"

The man before him wore a sleeveless haori over a kimono, a katana sheathed at his left hip. Long, dark hair slicked back framed a face marked by a prominent widow's peak. He looked about forty, with the bearing of a middle-aged swordsman.

Haragiri…

"I'm here for the meeting." Caspian raised his brows. "Who are you?"

"I've never seen you before." Haragiri's gaze swept him from head to toe.

"Nichirin called me in specifically for today. Did you miss the announcement about me? Were you late?"

Haragiri's eyes narrowed. "I was a few minutes behind. Something important came up."

Did you already transform into a monster, or was today your first interaction with the Monster Association?

"Same here. It's urgent I don't miss more of the meeting. Wait. Aren't you leaving early?"

"My actions are none of your concern. But I will tell you that the meeting devolved into pointless chatter. The Council of Swordmasters exists to refine swordsmanship. I refuse to waste time on anything else."

Haragiri brushed past him without another word or glance.

That worked out. He's too consumed by his pursuit of power to think critically.

Caspian slid the thick door shut behind him.

Inside, the hall stretched narrow, its wooden floor polished smooth by generations of footsteps. Dark-stained walls, marked by the subtle grain of age, were divided by sliding paper screens reinforced with thin wooden frames.

Was that not the front entryway?

Caspian paused, listening, until low voices drifted from the far end of the hall.

With unhurried steps, he reached and then parted the paper-screen door.

Before him lay a small, dim room lit solely by traditional floor lanterns that cast a warm, flickering light. The light highlighted four figures seated on woven straw mats: Nichirin, Zanbai, Amahare, and Atomic Samurai.

All four turned their attention to Caspian.

"W-Who are you?" Nichirin's face twisted in confusion.

Atomic Samurai studied him. "You're… Caspian, right? You were with Silver Fang when I met you."

"Yes, that's me. How's everyone? I'm here to see Yuta. Is she here?"

"How did you get in?" Zanbai glanced at Atomic Samurai. "I'm surprised your disciples let him through."

Atomic Samurai frowned. "That is odd. What did you say to them?"

"Uh, I used a different entrance."

"Different entrance…?" Atomic Samurai muttered, dipping into thought.

For a moment, silence hung in the air until something unexpected happened.

"You're here to see my daughter? Your name and appearance… Could it be?" Amahare stood and stepped toward Caspian. "You're the one who saved her life. Words can't express my gratitude."

He extended his hand, and Caspian shook it, struck by the man's kind demeanor.

"I was in the right place at the right time. I don't deserve such praise."

Before Amahare could respond, Nichirin's voice cut in.

"This is the man Yuta claimed killed the Demon-level threat in G-City?"

"What?" Atomic Samurai snapped out of his thoughts, his gaze sharpening as it locked onto Caspian, as though he was searching for hidden truths.