Volume 13 Chapter 408 Chairman, Regret
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The Secretary’s face went pale as they took in The Duo’s outfit.
”What’s the matter? Didn’t you call this person here?”.
”…That’s Shiro Ichigo Koneko-chan! From Strawberry Princess!?” the Secretary cried.
”Who the hell is that!? Never mind, we have slightly more pressing problems right now!!” I shouted.
The fake guards leveled their rifles at the figure calling themselves The Duo.
In that moment, The Duo didn’t even flinch, casually waving the purification wand in their hand.
Clack!
The fake guards pulled their triggers all at once.
However, not a single round discharged.
They yanked at the triggers again and again, but the military-grade submachine guns were completely dead.
Watching them struggle, The Duo let out a low chuckle.
”Electro-Magnetic Pulse—the good old EMP¹. We have a literal once-in-a-century genius on our side, the kind that ends up in history textbooks. Did you really think your electronically controlled military hardware would work against us?” asked The Duo.
(Is that wand the source of the pulse? No… if it were, the monitors and the rest of the venue equipment would be fried too. That means the wand is just a prop. They must have neutralized the guns some other way. Then again… if it’s the person who built that ‘Ultimate High-Performance Server,’ I can’t rule out the possibility they’ve mastered directional EMPs, pinpointing the effect to a surgical radius.)
I shuddered, feeling the sheer, terrifying reach of the Holy Aqua Faith firsthand.
”Forget the guns! Switch to hand-to-hand! Take them down!” Henrietta commanded.
The fake guards ditched their useless rifles on the spot.
Seeing this, The Duo simply stuck out their tongue.
”Well, I figured it would come to that,” said The Duo.
(I have no idea if this ‘Duo’ person can actually scrap, but their combat ability looks abysmal. Sure, you get irregulars like Morikawa Kaede whose looks betray their power level, but I don’t get that vibe here. Even if the guards are unarmed, there are too many for a three-on-one.)
I leaned toward the Secretary.
”Hey, just so we’re clear—I’m useless in a fight. Secretary, can you hold your own?”
”Chairman… do I look like a member of the Church of Power to you? I’m an office worker. I push papers, not faces,” the Secretary replied.
I spread my hands and sighed. “Good grief. This is why the Chairman is so out of touch with how the world works.”
(Grrr! You! You usually just blend into the wallpaper, but the second things go south, you start running your mouth!?)
The Duo crossed their arms, then lifted a finger to tap rhythmically against their temple.
”Hmm. I’m not really one of the Twelve Bishops meant for front-line combat. So, I think I’ll play a little dirty instead,” said The Duo.
The Duo snapped their fingers with a smirk.
(Is it just me, or is this woman’s every move tuned to a frequency of pure ‘Edgelord’ cringe?)
The next instant, the fake guards shrieked, clutching their heads as they collapsed.
”Gah!? What is this!?”
”Uwaaaaaaaagh!!”
”M-My brain! It feels like it’s melting!!”
What!? What the hell is happening!?
I traded a bewildered look with the Secretary, then stared back at the guards. They were writhing on the floor, dropping their knives and batons in agony.
The Duo began to stroll casually through the sea of groaning bodies, closing the distance.
”Ever heard of V2K² technology? ‘Voice to Skull.’ It’s a method of beaming recorded audio as pulsed microwave waveforms directly into the cranium. It bypasses the ears entirely, vibrating the brain’s neural pathways through bone conduction. It’s essentially ‘Silent Sound’ tech—neuro-subliminal acoustic manipulation. We can transmit messages directly into a target’s subconscious. Your ‘States’ have been refining it as a non-lethal crowd control measure for anti-government rioters since 1961. Some people call it the ‘Voice of God’ weapon. But hey, I don’t need to lecture you on this—you’re ‘Merchants of Death,’ you probably know the spec sheets better than I do. Still, it’s a pretty on-brand toy for a ‘creepy, dangerous cult’ to use, don’t you think?” asked The Duo.
V2K. The tech was in development, but as far as the public record was concerned, it was purely theoretical.
(The Holy Aqua Faith… just how far ahead are they?)
While I stood paralyzed by the implications, Henrietta ripped her military-grade earplugs out and threw them aside.
”Get up! All of you, rip those earplugs out! Don’t be fooled!! This isn’t a ‘Voice of God’ weapon! They’ve just hijacked our comms! They’re using the voice of Shirogane Aqua to try and brainwash us!!” Henrietta shouted.
Following her lead, several guards managed to tear their plugs out.
But more than half remained on the floor, twitching and convulsing, their bodies racked by whatever Shirogane Aqua was “telling” them.
”Oh? You caught on. My bad. But you know what they say—if you can’t spot a lie on a message board, you shouldn’t be using it. You lot should probably go back to ‘lurking moar’ for the next hundred years,” said The Duo.
(Of course she’s a forum dweller too… First ‘Otome no Tashinami,’ then ‘On**ii Hagetoru,’ and ‘Chinposuki’… Is there a single person on those boards who isn’t a total degenerate!?)
”You think your taunts matter? The tables have turned,” said Henrietta.
Henrietta lunged, the tip of her knife leveled straight at The Duo.
(H-hey! You’ve got a backup plan, right!?)
Despite their losses, I was still vastly outnumbered. Both I and the Secretary stared at The Duo, praying for a miracle.
”Actually, no. I’ve already won. See, my only job was to buy time,” said The Duo.
The Duo turned their back on Henrietta and started to walk away.
(Wait, what!? Hey! You can’t just drop a cool line and then bail on us!!)
I caught the hem of the Secretary’s jacket as she tried to slip away behind The Duo.
”And where do you think you’re going?”
”I… uh… nature calls…”
”Don’t worry. Even if you develop a stress-induced bladder infection, our company has an excellent Worker’s Comp program. It covers everything from hospitalization to social therapy. Take it from me—I literally just used it,” I snapped.
(Ugh, this is not the time for this!!)
Henrietta and the remaining guards charged.
But before they could reach their targets, a new figure blurred into the fray, parrying the attack.
””Eh!?””
The voices of the Chairman and the Secretary synced in shock.
The newcomer was wearing a shrine maiden outfit and a cat mask. They were a perfect double for The Duo.
And it wasn’t just one.
Identically dressed figures—some taller, some shorter—swarmed out, pinning the fake guards to the floor.
I looked at the Secretary, then back at the “Duo” who had been walking away.
Sensing my gaze, she looked back and gave me a sharp, knowing grin.
”Now, time for a quiz. Can you guess which one is the real ‘The Duo’?”
(Wait, so even this first one was a decoy?)
The pair scanned the various ‘Duos’ now littering the stage.
Common sense said the one who had been doing all the talking was the real deal, but…
(For all we know, the real Duo isn’t even in the building. The entire premise is a shell game.)
”Hehe. I know what you’re thinking. ‘Which one is real?’ And then: ‘Wait, is any of them real?’ Am I getting warm?” asked the fake Duo.
Henrietta ground her teeth. She was clearly spiraling down the same logic trap.
”Whatever. It doesn’t matter for people who are about to be forcibly removed from the stage mid-performance. It’s checkmate,” said the fake Duo.
”You bitch…!” Henrietta growled.
Henrietta twisted out of the grip of one Duo, drew a backup blade from an ankle holster, and lunged.
But before the steel could even get close, a massive, spiked iron ball swung through the air, shattering the knife into shards.
”Whoops. Sorry, lady. That’s as far as you go,” a voice said.
I squinted at the newcomers wearing sister habits.
Powder Maniac, Perfumer, and Saint Farmer.
The heavy hitters of the Holy Aqua Faith’s Purgation Squad.
”Henrietta-san. Sorry, but those two are— wait, who the hell are all of you!?” Powder Maniac shouted.
Powder Maniac scowled at the army of Duos.
(Hold on. Aren’t you guys on the same side? You’re both Executives!)
”Now, who could we be? Just kidding. We’re members of the Holy Aqua Faith, just like you,” said one of the Duos.
”Hmph. Good enough for me,” Powder Maniac muttered.
Powder Maniac tapped her earpiece. Someone was obviously barking orders on the other end.
”…Right. Got it. So you’re The Duo.”
”Maybe I am. Maybe I’m not,” the Duo replied.
The “Duo” offered a cryptic smile. Powder Maniac just ruffled her messy hair in frustration.
Agnese Taylor Czessic. Pro gamer, X-sports star, and the public face of the Faith.
I had heard she was a complete psycho who didn’t just eat those dry ‘Maniac Biscuits’—she ground them into powder to snort or mixed them into some unholy slurry.
”Ugh, I’m skipping the riddles. But that weird vibe? Yeah, that’s ‘Executive’ material for sure. This place is nothing but freaks anyway—besides me, obviously!!” shouted Powder Maniac.
Perfumer and Saint Farmer both stiffened at that.
”Excuse me? I’m the only sane person in this entire cult,” Perfumer snapped. “Don’t group me with a ‘Biscuit Junkie’ who was literally swallowing pills made of compressed biscuit dust five minutes ago and calling them ‘painkillers.’”
(Pills made of biscuit dust are just… biscuits.)
Neither me nor the Secretary said a word.
The rule of survival in this world was simple: don’t argue with the lunatics.
”Hehe. What are you two talking about?” Saint Farmer interjected with a serene smile. “There is a perfectly normal, exemplary adult woman standing right here.”
(…We’re doomed. These people are all out of their minds.)
Everyone thinks they are the sane ones. The truly dangerous people are those who believe, from the very bottom of their hearts, that they are perfectly normal. I wondered to myself: is this religion some kind of isolation ward for the deranged, or what?
While the three of them bickered, they moved with practiced ease, restraining the members of the Women’s Mutual Aid Society³ who had been masquerading as a fake security detail. I approached one of them—Henrietta.
”Henrietta… I thought you were more rational than this,” I said. “Why? Why did it come to this?”
In response to my question, Henrietta ground her teeth together, her expression pained. “Why? Isn’t it obvious?! I… I just couldn’t accept it. I couldn’t accept the man who stole that child’s life!”
Henrietta screamed at us, her voice raw. I turned my gaze toward the secretary hiding behind my back, confused. “Um… if I remember correctly, President Rosenberg lost her daughter in an accident about ten years ago,” the secretary whispered. “I believe that is what she means.”
”An accident… you say?” Henrietta’s clenched fists began to shake. “That was no accidental fall! My daughter was beaten to death by a man! And yet, our country’s legal system protected him, writing it off as a simple accident just to keep him safe! Kara… she only went out alone to sneakily buy me a birthday present. And yet, during the trial, they fabricated evidence claiming she fell because she was high on drugs! She was a child, not even ten years old! How could that possibly be true?! As a result, the man walked free. Haha… it’s sick, isn’t it? It’s just wrong!”
It was a tragic story, but a common one. The legal system of the States—no, the world—exists fundamentally to protect men. On top of that, there are countless lawyers willing to take the man’s side. Fabricating evidence and spinning lies is just a typical Tuesday for them.
”That’s why I went into politics,” Henrietta continued. “I wanted to become the President of the States and change the law itself. But as you know, the other side has too many allies. I couldn’t change the system. In the end, I even lost the election to Maitrix.”
(Ah, I see. So that was it.)
I looked at the monitor showing Shirogane Aqua. Ever since this guy hit the scene, Congressmen who used to support the reform bills for the States have been jumping ship. Henrietta glared at the screen.
”Every man in Japan who was influenced by Shirogane Aqua started to change,” she said. “And it wasn’t just Japan. His influence spread to the Stars and every other nation—you know that, don’t you?”
I nodded silently.
”People started thinking, ‘Maybe the men in the States will change too.’ Because of that, a bunch of spineless Congressmen decided to wait and see instead of fixing the law. Ah, if I’ve said this much, surely you get it? It’s just a petty grudge. I knew that, but I couldn’t help it. I had to scream this directionless rage at someone… at Shirogane Aqua. Everyone here feels the same way!”
I looked at the captured members of the Women’s Mutual Aid Society. Every one of them was slumped over, drained of strength, acting quiet and obedient without a hint of resistance left. Henrietta looked at the monitor, tears streaming down her face.
”Why… why?! Why couldn’t he have shown up sooner?! Why wasn’t he born in the States instead of Japan?! If he had been here before my daughter was born, maybe the person who killed her would have changed… maybe she wouldn’t have died! Dammit! I know these ‘what-ifs’ are useless! I know it’s wrong to take it out on him! But, I…”
I dropped to one knee and bowed my head before Henrietta.
”Why… why are you bowing?” Henrietta asked.
”The Male Protection Act⁴, which is the root of the legal systems in the States and elsewhere, was established by us—the Women’s Mutual Aid Society,” I replied. “In other words, we are the reason the man who killed your daughter went free. That is why I am bowing to you.”
Henrietta shook her head. “You might be the Chairman, but you didn’t write that Act. This has nothing to do with you.”
”No,” I said. “To be the Chairman of the Women’s Mutual Aid Society is to carry the weight of our entire history. Even if it’s the past, even if I wasn’t there, it is a cross I must bear.”
Henrietta’s shoulders slumped as the last of her strength faded. Seeing her like that made me grit my teeth. Even as Chairman, I couldn’t save a single one of my own members. (Bitter regret… I suppose this is what that feels like.)
As we stood there in silence, a single photograph fluttered down between us. I looked toward the source and saw the person known as The Duo standing there.
”I don’t expect this to be a comfort, Henrietta F. Rosenberg… but you have a responsibility to see this,” The Duo said.
We both looked down at the photo. It was a stone monument. Henrietta began to sob when she saw Shirogane Aqua with his hands pressed together in prayer before the massive cenotaph.
”That’s a memorial for those who died in incidents involving men,” The Duo explained. “Henrietta F. Rosenberg… it’s for the private organization you founded after the tragedy. That photo was taken during his school trip.”
”I… I didn’t know… and I tried to hurt him just out of spite…”
Henrietta buried her face in the photo, her body racking with sobs. She wasn’t the only one. The other members who had suffered similar fates began to wail and weep.
’Everyone, listen up.’
I snapped my head toward the monitor at the sound of Shirogane Aqua’s voice.
’This next song is special to us. For those who’ve seen the music video, you know… we used footage of the things we men have done to you girls.’
(Ah, that song. I’d seen the Beryl music video a few times—the one that felt like a declaration of war against the way the world worked. That was when we first put him on our radar.)
’That’s why I—we—want to change things! We want a better world! Even if that change brings a different kind of darkness, I’ll take the responsibility! I’ll take the guilt and the punishment! So please, believe in me and follow me!’
Nekoyama Toa patted Aqua on the shoulder. ‘You mean “we,” right?’
’Exactly, bestie,’ said Shirogane Aqua. ‘Let us share the load.’
’Indeed,’ Tenga Akira added. ‘If we’re going down, we’re going down together.’
(Wait, the term should be “in this together”! Someone, please give Tenga Akira a reality check!)
Shirogane Aqua gave a firm nod and gripped the mic. ‘Let’s go, everyone! Next up: Beautiful Right!’
Beryl’s vocals blasted through the speakers. The Duo looked at Shirogane Aqua with pure affection, then gave us one last look before turning away.
”It’s the same for him as it is for the Chairman,” The Duo said. “He’s carrying it all, too. So… please, try to have a little faith in Aqua.”
As The Duo started to leave, a woman blocked their path. It was Kunoichi, one of the Twelve Bishops.
”The Duo… who are you? That outfit…” Kunoichi asked.
The Duo gave a gentle smile. “Ah, right. Ri— I mean, Kunoichi, you know who the real Shiro Ichigo Koneko is, right? It’s okay. Just like you, I’m someone who was saved by the person inside this suit. You can relax.”
The Duo patted Kunoichi on the head and strolled away, humming a tune.
(Hey… wait. Did she just almost slip up and say Kunoichi’s real name? Good grief. Is she brilliant or a total klutz? I thought Shirogane Kanon was the resident klutz, but she’s in Japan, so it’s definitely not her.)
I exchanged a look with my secretary just as Powder Maniac, from the sister brigade, walked up. “So, what’s the plan for you guys?” she asked.
”…Do we even have a choice?” I replied.
Saint Farmer nodded as she walked up. “Of course. These girls went a bit too far, so we’re taking them into custody, but we don’t have orders for you. Still, if you’ve got something to say, feel free to come with us. Library is waiting for you.”
(Hmm… not a bad deal. Honestly, we couldn’t win this fight even if we had a miracle. Besides, why would Henrietta attempt such a reckless mission? I suspect an inside job. I need the Holy Aqua Faith’s help.)
”Fine,” I said. “Take me to Library.”
”Thank you,” Saint Farmer replied. “We’ll escort you.”
I grabbed the sleeve of my secretary, who was trying to pull a vanishing act, and followed them out.
—
Summary:
A tense standoff between Henrietta’s fake security team and the mysterious figure ‘The Duo’ escalates as high-tech weaponry—EMP and V2K—neutralizes the attackers. The conflict takes an absurd turn with the arrival of the Holy Aqua Faith’s Purgation Squad, revealing a collection of eccentric executives. The Chairman is left questioning the sanity of both their allies and enemies as multiple decoys of The Duo appear.
Henrietta F. Rosenberg reveals the tragic backstory behind her resentment of Shirogane Aqua, citing a corrupt legal system that failed her murdered daughter. The Chairman of the Women’s Mutual Aid Society takes personal responsibility for the systemic laws that enabled this injustice. A reconciliatory turning point occurs when ‘The Duo’ reveals Aqua’s own efforts to honor victims of such crimes, leading the Chairman to seek an alliance with the Holy Aqua Faith.
—
Trivia:
- V2K technology: Mentioned as theoretical in the public eye but fully operational by the Faith, suggesting a massive technological gap.
- The Duo’s Identity: The presence of multiple identical ‘Duos’ suggests a hive-mind, advanced cloning, or a master of decoys within the Bishops.
- The Chairman’s ‘Injury’: The reference to using worker’s comp for a ‘bladder infection’ (cystitis) implies high stress or a comedic vulnerability in the protagonist’s leadership.
- Agnese’s Diet: Her consumption of biscuit powder as a primary nutrient (and snorting it) hints at a biological or psychological modification common among the Faith’s elite.
- The ‘Male Protection Act’ is revealed as a creation of the Women’s Mutual Aid Society, showing how their past efforts to ‘protect’ resulted in unintended legal shielding for criminals.
- The Duo almost slips Kunoichi’s real name (‘Ri…’), hinting at a past connection or a specific identity hidden beneath the mask.
- The Chairman suspects an instigator within or outside the Society who pushed Henrietta into this reckless mission, setting up a future investigation into a mole or third-party antagonist
—
Character Insight:
The Chairman and the Secretary share a cynical, almost weary rapport, highlighting their shared status as ‘sane’ observers in a world of lunatics. Henrietta’s authority is completely stripped by the Purgation Squad’s arrival, shifting her from a primary threat to an irrelevant bystander.
The dynamic between the Chairman and Henrietta shifts from superior/subordinate to a shared burden of guilt. The Chairman’s willingness to bow to a subordinate signifies a leader who accepts the ‘cross’ of their organization’s history.
—
Lore And Worldbuilding Context:
Introduction of the ‘Purgation Squad’ and the eccentric nature of Holy Aqua Faith executives. The use of ‘V2K’ (Voice to Skull) weapons introduces a psychological warfare element to the setting’s power system.
The world operates under the ‘Male Protection Act,’ a systemic legal framework that makes prosecuting men difficult, which Shirogane Aqua and his group BERYL are actively trying to dismantle through cultural influence.
—
TL Notes:
The dialogue makes heavy use of Japanese net-slang (‘ROM’, ‘Bulletin Board’) which has been localized to US English equivalents (‘lurking’, ‘forum’) to preserve the ‘cringe’ and ‘edgelord’ energy intended by the author.
The term ‘States’ is a localization of fictional geographical terms that mirror the US. The phrase ‘Male Protection Act’ is a literal translation of the in-universe law.
—
TL Notes:
Notes:
• Secretary – She serves as the Chairman’s administrative secretary and heads the Women’s Mutual Aid Society, a role passed down from mother and grandmother. A virgin, she hides her face behind a hood, clutching a bag of idol merchandise, and is a secret hardcore BERYL fan.
• The Duo – A figure wearing a miko (shrine maiden) outfit and a cat mask. Skilled with high-tech weaponry like EMPs and V2K. Member of the Holy Aqua Faith.
• Aqua – A male public figure or idol planning a world tour starting in the United States. Perceived as an ‘invader’ or rival by the Chairman. The central figure of the Holy Aqua Faith and the Church of Power. A student at Otomezaki Academy. Possesses the ‘legendary sword’ and the ability to turn lesbians into submissive females through physical contact. The central male figure of the Church of Power. Husband to Yukishiro Emily. Possesses a powerful scent and male pheromones that incapacitate women at close range.
• Henrietta – A tall, silver‑haired former presidential candidate, now a high‑ranking member of the Women’s Mutual Aid Society. Mother of Kara, she is ruthless, willing to sacrifice fans to crush idols’ spirits, and once tried a forced operation driven by a personal grudge.
• Morikawa Kaede – Tall silver‑haired woman, former host of Morikawa Kaede’s Room now replaced by Aqua; member of the Nightmare Generation and the Intelligence rep of the Church of Power, leads the park’s “Power” chants, and mother of Satsuki.
• Chairman – Petite leader of the Women’s Mutual Aid Society, head of a secret committee and shadow ruler for over a millennium. She wears a corset to support a fresh back fracture, her large chest contrasting with her small frame. Prone to temper tantrums and high‑blood‑pressure spikes from salt, she harbors deep prejudice and trauma toward men from a past Drama Club incident.
• Shirogane Aqua – Male idol and BERYL’s central figure, known as Master Aqua or Aqu‑tan, sports a dazzling face, sparkling eyes and a beige suit on live broadcasts. Easy‑going yet cool, he’s a Berry‑Berry member, recent father of Satsuki, married to several women including Kanon, dubbed a ‘libido monster’ by Yukari. His ‘descending god’ stage aura and massive influence shape the group’s ethics and drive global gender‑dynamic shifts.
• Tashinami – Alias for Kanon. A female participant in the stream/board community. Teased by the ‘Tashinami-mom’ faction for being motherly yet needing protection. Prone to klutziness around Aqua.
• Powder Maniac – A member of the sister brigade/Twelve Bishops faction.
• Saint Farmer – A member of the Twelve Bishops faction who offers the narrator an escort. Top member of the Purgation Squad. Wears a sister habit. Presents herself as an exemplary adult woman.
• Perfumer – Top member of the Purgation Squad. Wears a sister habit. Highly critical of Powder Maniac’s habits.
• Agnese – Codename: Powder Maniac. Pro e-sports and X-sports player. Poster girl for Holy Aqua Faith. Addicted to ‘Maniac Biscuits’ in powder form. Messy hair.
• Nekoyama Toa – A petite, almost androgynous member of BERYL, with a cute, energetic look and a habit of winking at fans. Despite his small frame, he radiates hot‑blooded passion. He is a close friend and teammate of Shirogane Aqua within the group.
• Tenga Akira – Charismatic and passionate, she leads BERYL’s intensity with a confident stage presence—tall, sharp‑eyed, often in black leather—playing guitar while orchestrating logistics with meticulous seriousness. Yet she’s also known for airy, blunt remarks that cut through tension, shaping her relationships with bandmates and fans alike.
• Kunoichi – One of the Twelve Bishops. Dressed like a ninja. Wary and protective.
• Shirogane Kanon – A high-profile idol currently pregnant. Referred to as ‘Kanon-sama’ and ‘Tashinami’. Known for a cringey middle-school ‘edgy’ phase.
• Kanon – Aqua’s wife, a high‑profile idol known as Kanon‑sama, is a celebrated fashion icon whose signature style fans copy. Fans call her cool, jealous, and the Internet Master. She’s the figure Aqua constantly makes excuses to.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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