My Measurement: The Villain Desires a Satisfying Payback

To be honest, I don't mind not being able to leave the Playground.

Since Ruti came, I am no longer bored, and if I ever want to know something about the world; all I have to do is ask. There's no need for me to travel or anything, and it's not like there is anything in particular that I would want to do if I got out.

Besides, the Professors provide everything the kids who live in the Playground want, within reason, so it's also not like there's a lack of things to do if I so desire.

When it comes to my requests, they tend to be a lot stricter, though.

They always triple-check even the simplest ingredients or parts in whatever I ask for, just to make sure there's nothing in there that I could use to make a dangerous tool or weapon.

I get why they do it, but it can get a little ridiculous at times.

That's also why I was confused when Ruti first arrived here, and even more so why they kept her here after a few incidents were caused.

Because her power, in addition to my own, is a dangerous combination.

In the end, the reason they kept her despite all that was because the price of transferring even a single Playground inhabitant was exorbitant. Also, her Measurement was usually restricted due to the specialised medication she took, so unless she got out of taking it, there wasn't much of a risk.

A big reason for the Playground taking in so many kids with potentially harmful powers is that the Wardens have the ability to 'correct them' once they're brought in.

In other words, it was not exactly a prison or a jail, but a correctional facility and purely that.

Naturally, there are those like Ruti who can't be corrected no matter what kind of education they receive, but from what I've heard, she is an incredibly rare case.

Of all the people in the Playground, the actual percentage of those labelled by the Professors as posing a 'genuine risk' to society or even humanity as a whole was extraordinarily low.

After all, no person was born harbouring inherent malicious intent inside them, and even if someone possessed a power capable of great harm right from conception, the potential to cause harm itself isn't what causes the birth of a 'dangerous person'.

If that were the case, then no one with a half-decent ability would stand on the side of good, right?

Rather, what a person experiences in their early life is more prevalent in shaping them as a human being later on. It's both unfortunate and good for the Wardens since it means the Playground's correctional methods have a higher chance of actually working.

Still, the Wardens don't like taking chances.

Completely risk averse, they dislike anything that could even hint at danger.

There is no way to know what kind of person a baby or child will turn out to be five or ten years down the line.

Therefore, if a child happens to possess a power potentially capable of immense destruction, even if it isn't to such a great extent or even if they aren't entirely sure what kinds of damage it could cause.

The fact alone that it 'could' happen is enough for the Wardens to act―either by making a deal with said "risky person", or otherwise incarcerating them inside one of the Playgrounds and restraining them there.

That is precisely why you don't commonly see people with particularly exciting or extravagant abilities walking around under the public eye.

As for myself, I've never been allowed to leave the Playground not due to the danger I pose, per se, but rather the danger those who could take advantage of my power pose.

The Wardens know that I don't really care about harming anyone or anything like that.

I've only been playing those sorts of games with the Professors in the last couple of years because Ruti wanted to.

They know that, or at least they think I want them to know that.

But, they also know there are a lot of people in this world who would greatly covet a power like mine.

And it is for those people that I am not allowed to leave the Playground, even if I, myself, am not a risk to the world.

However, there is one thing, not entirely overlooked by the Wardens, but perhaps forgotten and neglected.

That is, the possibility of an inside job.

Of course, I couldn't be talking about anyone but him.

"Ah, Cipher. Welcome. Here, take a seat."

―Professor Marcus Lynton.

As I sat in the same place as usual, he started mouthing off as if without care for my presence.

"You know, I've been hearing a lot of news about you and that one troublemaker girl. What was it again, Ruth...?"

...No, he was definitely doing it on purpose. Bringing this topic up only because I was here.

"Ruti."

"Ahah, that's right! Yes, yes, 'Ruti'. Well, anyway, you two certainly seem to have gotten quite close, haven't you? Even going and causing trouble together, like partners in crime. You're both a bit young, but youth is youth, I suppose."

"Maybe."

"Hohoh, well, I'm only teasing you..."

I thought he was acting strangely enthusiastic today when suddenly, the Professor's tone shifted alongside his now sharp gaze.

"In a month, Ruti will be officially transferred to the Conston Playground facility."

Our eyes locked.

Staring deep into Professor Lynton's eyes, I slowly opened my mouth.

"In a month, Ruti will be staying here with me."

The Professor chuckled.

"You are funny, aren't you, Cipher?"

"Do you think I'm joking, Professor...?"

"Well, no. But does it matter? This isn't a decision I made, but one enforced by the higher-ups. If you have a complaint, there is nothing I can do about it, nor would I do anything even if I had that power."

"If Ruti is gone, you won't get what you want."

"Oh, I'm sure I could find a way to make you talk even if you resist."

"..."

"Ahem. In any case, the trouble being caused by you two is getting out of hand, so it has been officially decided to separate you. If you consider the reason she was brought here in the first place, it only makes sense."

It was at this point that I didn't know what to think.

"I'm sorry. I feel bad to disrupt the budding young love between the two of you, I really do, but things have devolved to the point where you have forced our hand."

For the first time, it was as if my brain had frozen over, and all I could do was listen to the words spewing from Marcus Lynton's unapologetic mouth.

"You must be devastated, I'm sure. So, for today, there will be no questions."

"..."

"Once there are no more distractions, you will have a lot more free time to answer me, so let it be known."

"..."

"One month."

"..."

"After this time is up, we will explore many things together, Truth."

"..."

"So, heed my advice and use the last of what little time you have to make it well spent."

Through blurry vision, my eyes gazed at the despicable face in front of me, but that's not what I saw.

A scene of Ruti, screaming and flailing about to prevent being dragged away.

Her arm stretched out towards me, endless tears streaming down her face.

That girl, digging in her heels and resisting to the best of her ability in order to not be separated.

Emptiness.

"..."

Suddenly, an involuntary sensation surged up from the pit of my stomach.

Reflexively covering my mouth, fortunately, nothing happened, but it was close.

Knowing what would happen in one month's time.

Knowing what they were going to do and what the outcome would be.

"...Professor."

Imagining the repulsive look of superiority on Lynton's face when that time came.

Only one thought remained perpetuating in my mind.

"Did you think I'd stand still?"

―That I would never let it happen.

❖─────❖─────❖

In response to my final words, the Professor only told me to try my best, for the Wardens' highest officials would be acting with my defiance in mind.

If you think about it, they were taking away the person closest to me, so of course they would take into consideration that I would want to stop them.

Still, I didn't care about that.

Since it was a risky procedure in a variety of ways, as well as expensive, there were many preparations and proceedings that had to be gone through before a Playground resident transfer could be held to ensure everything went smoothly.

That's why it was taking place in a month and not sooner.

I knew they were contemplating it, but hearing that they were actually going through with it was a bit of a shock.

There was only one plan I could see working to prevent Ruti from being taken away.

That was to grab the higher-ups' attention and maintain it on me instead of her.

For example, if I cause a big incident―bigger than what I and Ruti have caused together in the past―then they would have no choice but to move their immediate focus to me instead of her.

So long as she keeps a low profile for a short while, they would be fine with postponing her transferral to a later date, and they might even cancel it entirely.

Due to my position as a Concept, they can't treat me carelessly, and they also can't move me to another branch as easily as someone else. Even if this plan backfired and just made them look to move me instead of Ruti, it would still work to buy plenty of time.

The only problem is how to go about causing such a large incident.

I can't go the easy route of using Ruti's power this time since I need to keep her uninvolved, but it's also tough to get a hold of enough materials to make a powerful tool or weapon without her... No, it's still possible.

All I need to do is attract enough attention that they forget about Ruti and focus on me. It's easy enough.

Even within a month, it's definitely possible.

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