"Hehehe… Just the two of us now, isn’t it?"
"Ugh, gross. You’re giving me the creeps."
"Was there really a need for that? You’re actually hurting my feelings a little."
Enveloped in the usual pitch-black darkness, two shadows traded words like high schoolers on a lunch break.
As the only two Masterminds left standing, Lost and Drop continued their conversation with the familiarity of long-time partners.
"To think all those other Masterminds were wiped out in one go, leaving just us... It’s like we’re the leftovers being cleared out in an end-of-season bargain sale, isn't it?"
"Or maybe it’s like those shows where a swarm of Resurrected Kaijin get wiped out the moment they appear?"
"I don't really follow that one... You’ve been spending way too much time watching Hero-kun, Lost."
"Hahahaha! That might be true!"
It was hard to believe that these two, chatting so lightheartedly, were the ones tasked with the destruction of the world.
Lost and Drop, who would surely carry out plans that would make countless people suffer and die, spoke not of their future, but of their past.
"By the way, there’s something I’ve wanted to ask for a while… Why did you end up this way?"
"Hmm? My reason for becoming a Mastermind? Well, I guess a lot of things happened. And… maybe I became this way because there was something I wanted to know."
The Masterminds were also originally humans who had lived in otherworlds. They each had their own reasons for beginning their work in the shadows.
Just as Abyss had staked everything on directing a dramatic Stage, and just as Dogma’s group had teamed up for their own individual pleasures to play the game, Drop stated that her purpose was what had led her to the Seat of the Mastermind. Then, she threw the same question back.
"What about you, Lost? Why did you become a Mastermind anyway?"
"Oh, me? I suppose it’s because I believe in justice."
"Huh…?"
Despite occupying the Seat of the Mastermind—a role that demanded the performance of a world-ending villain—she claimed to believe in justice. Lost let out a dry chuckle beneath her hood at the nonsensical statement.
Laughing as if Drop’s stunned reaction was exactly what she had expected, she spoke to her partner with a hint of bashfulness.
"Well, just like you, a lot happened. For both of us, it seems like it’d be a long story if we really got into it… Why don’t we leave it at that?"
"You’re the one who brought it up. You’re really selfish, honestly…"
After an exasperated sigh, a brief silence fell between them. Then, almost simultaneously, they both spoke.
"So, who goes first?"
"Doesn’t either way work? It’s not like the order matters much at this point, does it?"
"Well, I guess. Then shall we just move once each of us is ready? No formal agreements necessary."
"I think it’s better if we do at least a minimum amount of information sharing. If we end up getting in the way of each other's plans, we won’t be able to laugh at Dogma and the others."
"True," Drop agreed, a smile playing on her lips.
Falling silent once more, the two resumed their talk while reflecting on their memories.
"Lost, which number participation is this for you in this game?"
"I think it’s my third time? I’ve played roles similar to a Mid-boss before, but this might be the first time I’ve actually taken the Last Boss Position."
"Oh, I’m on my fourth! But I never really got to do much, and most of the time someone else finished things off… This is the first time I’ve stood on the Stage until the very end, too."
"We’ve really kept at this for a long time, haven't we? Well, it was fun in its own way, I suppose…"
"It can't be helped, right? We Masterminds are basically a bunch of people who are missing something."
Lost, Drop, and all the other Masterminds were the same. They were different from normal humans. They were existences that were hollow, lacking something essential.
One sought thrills, another glory, another the happiness they had failed to grasp in their previous life. They sought, they struggled, and they continued to trample over others. All to obtain what they desired while the world crumbled around them.
"We can't really laugh at those Hero Candidates (Lol), can we? We’re doing the exact same thing, after all."
"Don’t say that. You knew from the start that both we and they are nothing more than God’s toys, didn't you?"
There was only one real difference between the Surface Reincarnators and the Masterminds. It was simply whether or not they knew that this was a Reincarnation Game—a mere plaything of the Gods.
After laughing self-deprecatingly at the thought that they might not be much different from the Hero Candidates who had frolicked around thinking this was just a game world, Drop looked at Lost.
"Hey, Lost. Can I ask you one more thing?"
"What is it, Drop?"
Lost tilted her head in a casual manner, inviting the question.
Drop stared back and asked quietly.
"Do you… actually want to win this game?"