kscans

Chapter 50 - Episode 50

Hayate’s head drooped with a thud.

Seeing this, David gave a bold smile.

The device attached to Hayate’s head glowed green, indicating that its function had activated normally.

"Fufufu, fwahahahaha! I did it! I’ve obtained the world’s strongest dungeon explorer!!"

"Hey, boss. Can something like this really brainwash a person?" one of the mercenaries hired by David asked.

What had been placed on Hayate was a mind-control machine developed by the Department of Defense. It was originally intended to be used on captured spies to make them confess secrets, such as which country’s orders they were acting on. David had taken it without permission and used it on Hayate.

"Yes, it can. There’s no problem, just watch. Hayate, wake up."

Upon receiving the instruction, Hayate lifted his head.

"Yes, yes. It’s a success. You can undo his restraints now."

David’s instruction was meant for the mercenaries. He intended to say, ‘Undo Hayate’s restraints.’

However, Hayate misunderstood the command as being directed at him.

"Understood. Hmph!"

The restraints were made of a special alloy that should have been absolutely impossible to break by human strength, yet he destroyed them with ease.

"…Huh?"

"What?"

"Huh, what, huh?"

David, who had given the order, and his subordinates, who had been moving to release the restraints, were all dumbfounded.

"…"

Having also removed the restraint on his head, Hayate stood waiting in silence.

"C, can this thing be broken with bare hands?"

"Beats me. These restraints are also goods you had us steal from the Pentagon."

As they said this, the mercenaries raised the guns in their hands and aimed them at Hayate.

The battle-hardened mercenaries were on full alert against the young man who was staring blankly ahead.

If the brainwashing hadn’t worked properly, a monster who could jump ten meters unassisted and break out of special alloy restraints on his own would become their enemy.

"You all calm down. It’s fine. See, Hayate, raise your right hand."

But Hayate didn’t move.

"Hey! This is bad!!"

"Ah, no, that’s not it. I need this."

David hurriedly picked up the headset he had dropped in surprise when Hayate broke the restraints.

"Hayate, raise your right hand."

The command he gave in English was translated by the headset and conveyed to Hayate in Japanese.

Hayate raised his right hand.

"See, see! No problem, right? It seems he has absolutely no ability to comprehend English."

"…Are you really sure it’s okay?"

"It’s fine. Besides, Hayate will be heading to the dungeon alone. As per your contract, you just need to act as my bodyguards and help with transportation."

"So, how long will the brainwashing effect last?"

"Fufufu. That is this device’s demerit, which in this case becomes a very significant merit. It tampers with the brain’s signals and completely rewrites a person’s common sense. Once rewritten, common sense can never be returned to its original state. By the way, in Hayate’s current common sense, he is my subordinate, and my orders are to be followed absolutely."

"Hmph, is that so."

One of the mercenaries approached Hayate and punched him in the cheek with all his might.

Hayate made no move to dodge and fell from the blow, but immediately stood back up.

"Hey! Don’t do unnecessary things! This guy is my valuable asset."

"Don’t get mad. I was just checking his reaction. Not reacting at all when you’re about to be punched is absolutely impossible for a normal human."

"…So, are you convinced?"

"Yeah. This guy isn’t human anymore. Brainwashing is amazing stuff."

"If you like, I can brainwash you all too. You’d become the best soldiers."

"Nah, I’ll pass. Let’s go, you guys."

The mercenaries lowered the guns they had aimed at Hayate and left the scene.

"Hmph, a bunch of meatheads. I wish they’d act cleverly like me. But it was good to confirm that the brainwashing is definitely effective. Now Hayate, let’s go. I have a job I want you to do."

"Yes."

This was a room in a base prepared by David. As he exited, the expressionless Hayate followed.