It was currently the evening after that all-nigher. I still had to go to school during the day, so I really wanted to take a nap now until dinner time. I had to suppress that desire though and call Togo-san instead.
“Hello. It’s Kyotaro. Is now a good time to talk?”
<<Ahh, Kyotaro-kun. I’ve heard from an acquaintance that you were caught up in another dungeon overflow. Is that true?>>
“Huh? Oh, yes, it is…”
Even through the phone, I could tell he had a worried look on his face. I felt a bit sorry.
<<I also heard that you were more or less unharmed, but still, are you alright? Not just physically. I mean, this makes it 3 times now that you’ve been forced to see gruesome scenes, and barely any time has passed between each time too.>>
“About that, I’m kind of fine, really. I can eat delicious food and have a safe home. Plus, well, spending time with friends and family, surprisingly soothes me…”
That wasn’t a lie. I really was alright despite seeing all those ‘gruesome scenes’. If anything…it was the fact that I was alright that got me so worried. I would sometimes worry if I was actually a cold-hearted person. I thought I had resolved this issue, but evidently not. Maybe it was my immaturity that made it resurface? Or maybe I was only imagining that I had resolved it in the first place.
A dungeon overflow pretty much guaranteed deaths, lots of it. Most of those deaths were due to the large number of monsters that would spill out. And seeing other people die always left a horrible shock on me. So horrible that I felt the wound it would carve in my heart would stay for the rest of my life.
Yet, come the next day, I would have already forgotten the pain. It wasn’t that the event was erased from my memory. If I tried, I would still be able to recall it quite vividly. However, the pain would soon be buried by all sorts of stuff, like the feeling of being hungry, the taste of food, and the heaviness of being sleepy.
Maybe someday I would also forget about all those people I saw die. Their death throes. Their pleas for help. The fear and desperation on their faces, still visible on their corpses. But what really made me worry of being a cold-hearted, unfeeling person was that I honestly thought forgetting about them was fine. I mean, in the end, they were people I didn’t know. Strangers. It was like hearing about the death of somebody on TV. I might feel sad hearing about it, maybe even offer up a prayer, but in an hour or less, I would have forgotten about them. Like, what else could I do? I honestly didn’t know, and I wasn’t inclined to find an answer. I was alive, that was what mattered to me. I saw no reason to burden myself with their deaths.
That logic was why I thought I had resolved the issue, but unfortunately, it would seem that this was an emotional problem rather than a logical one.
<<…is something troubling you?>>
“I…it’s nothing, rea—”
<<Come now, we both know that’s a lie>>
Toogo-san interrupted me with a rather firm tone. He usually was the type to just sit back and let me talk, so I was taken aback somewhat.
<<I have more or less an idea of what’s troubling you. It’s guilt over forgetting the faces of those who died and you being able to return to your normal life, isn’t it?>>
“…you don’t happen to have any surveillance camera installed in my home, do you? Or do you maybe have a Magic Tool that lets you read another person’s mind?”
<<Hahaha, we don’t have any of those, of course! …it’s just that between the many disasters that have befallen our country and my line of work, there have been so many chances for me to be acquainted with disaster zones. My job would also sometimes get me in contact with those who survived those disasters.>>
“I see…”
<<I believe you’ve come to terms with that guilt before, haven’t you? You thought that if you’re going to keep on living, it’s only natural to get over it, right?>>
“…yes. At least, that’s the plan.”
<<But such problems have a tendency to come back. There’s no need to hide it. It’s only natural for people to have their own takes on others’ deaths. So, yours is not in the wrong either. If anyone were to call you wishy-washy or something for wavering, it’s them who is an inhuman, unfeeling monster.>>
“Togo-san…”
<<Unfortunately though, I have no magic words which can resolve that issue in one easy blow. All I could really do is support in facing your problem. I’m a pretty unreliable adult though.>>
“…not at all. Thank you, Togo-san. I feel a bit better now.”
<<That’s all that matters. Honestly, it would be best to not involve you young people, or rather, any civilians in these disasters, but what can we do, you know?>>
I could tell through the phone that Togo-san was smiling wryly as he said that. And though I knew he wouldn’t perceive it and it was really more for my own satisfaction, I chose to nod my head to what he said. I couldn’t help it, and I didn’t want to either.
<<Anyway. You didn’t call me just to consult me about that issue, right? After all, although I don’t mind it, you’re pretty horrible at relying on others.>>
“Ah, well, you see, yesterday, on my way home from school, I ran into Hanazono Karen-san. That’s pretty much what I called to tell you.”
<<My, you met with her?>>
“Yes. But she didn’t seem to have a smartphone or any phone for that matter at the moment, so instead of getting her contact details, I gave her mine for the meantime. The next I meet her, should I give her your contact details too?”
<<Can you do that for me? I would appreciate it. As part of the Dungeon Countermeasure Division, I would certainly like to be able to get in touch to some extent with Awakened Ones. The police acquaintance I have seem to have trouble contacting her, you see.>>
“Alright, I’ll do so next time. Also, I’m going to recommend her some cellphone that’s easy to use the next time we meet. Because apparently, that person is terribly hopeless with gadgets and breaks her phones right away…”
<<Ohh…then, I suppose I’ll go research some sturdy phones. Ohh, before we get sidetracked, how is she? Is she well? Did she try to invite you into her strange religion again? I haven’t heard anything about her, nothing at all, ever since that thing with the dragons, you see. I’m a bit worried.>>
“She’s well. Too well, in my opinion. You know about that British detective girl, don’t you? Well, apparently, Hanazono-san has made a ‘new friend’ and from that friend, she heard all sorts of things about that detective girl.”
<<…>>
“I didn’t think she would actually take me to family restaurants and karaoke places one after another all the way until morning, mostly talking about her analysis on yuri. I mean, I found some of it interesting and I did enjoy myself, but still.”
Before I knew it, I was paying for us. But then again, she had saved my life, so this much was fine, wasn’t it? On an unrelated note, I wished she didn’t joke about hunting bears and wild boars in the mountains for food. For a moment there, I thought she was serious!
<<That’s quite the mess, isn’t it? Don’t you have classes the next day, or rather, earlier today?>>
“I did, yeah. I’ve got a strong body now though, so I somehow managed to keep from dozing off.”
<<What a good kid you are. A student’s greatest duty is to study, right? But then again, studying isn’t everything about being a student, you hear?>>
“Hahaha…actually, during my Japanese history class, I really nodded off.”
<<Oh, I get you! History class was such a pain during my student days too. It just has that powerful sleep-inducing effect, doesn’t it?>>
“Definitely”
After lightly laughing, I took a look at the time. I was hoping to get some winks before dinner time if at all possible.
“Sorry but I think I’ll stop here. When I meet Hanazono-san again, I’ll make sure to give her your contact information.”
<<Oh, okay. Sorry for asking so much out of you, but please do so. Well then, have a good rest, Kyotaro-kun.>>
“Okay. Thanks a lot too, Togo-san.”
I ended the call, attached my phone to the charger, and lied down on my bed.
An Awakened One’s body might be tough, but our minds were another matter. Take for example Low-tier Knight-san who did a 72-hour endurance gaming live stream. She completed it, but she was pretty much all over the place by the end.
Which was why, as soon as I closed my eyes, I drifted off to sleep.
* * *
POV: Togo Miyokichi (Saionji Yasuo)
After talking with Kyotaro-kun over the phone, I quickly called a subordinate of mine.
I was in a dark parking space. I stared at the few large trucks parked a short distance away from me as I leaned on my car’s seat and listened to the rings.
<<Yes, Nanjo speaking.>>
“Hey. Sorry for the sudden call. How are things on your end?”
<<No problems here. I suppose I should mention that the Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics Agency, along with the JG-SDF are looking into Okawa Kyotaro though. They’re not serious about him just yet, but they might contact you soon. I’m guessing they want to recruit him instead of letting him be as an adventurer.>>
“The chances of that happening seem low. He hasn’t shown any inclination toward that kind of thing, so him being involved in those dungeon overflow incidents is likely just coincidence and nothing more. The GSDF is also unlikely to push a minor to do that if it can be helped. At any rate, there’s something urgent I want you to look into. How are those ‘tea-loving’ Diet Members these days?”
<<They’ve been…strangely well-behaved recently>>
“I see. There might be a chance that a gentleman…or I suppose, a lady has given Hanazono Karen an invitation to a tea party. Sorry but please look into it and give it priority.”
<<Understood. I’ll look into it at once>>
“Please do. That said, don’t push yourself too hard. Well then,”
<<Of course. Excuse me then>>
I ended the call like that and proceeded to stare at my car’s ceiling.
“Is this…to keep us in check?*”
This might be a payback for that incident where Arikawa exposed the hideouts of each faction operating in Japan to each other.
And this move was probably to make us worry that they had gotten the upper hand this time. The problem was, it wasn’t us behind the hideout leaks. In fact, we were clueless of it until after the deed was done.
…not that any of that mattered, I guess. Moreover, I found it hard to believe that that country would stop at keeping us in check. If they could, they would certainly try to poach Hanazono Karen away from Japan. Failing that, they might try to drive a wedge between us and her.
Hanazono Karen was a volatile, dangerous substance. An uncontrollable nuclear missile. If one was careless, their own nation was at risk. And yet, in today’s world, nations would still want her in their pocket.
My question now was how did information about her leak to the UK. It might be a different case before, but with Arikawa’s aforementioned action, their information gathering should have slowed down. But evidently, they had recovered enough to throw jabs like this easily. Something felt off to me about that.
Moreover, only a select few ever had details about Hanazono Karen. Can it be the person herself is the one unconsciously spreading the information? Or can it be someone among my colleagues and our subordinates? If not them…Ack, no, why no of all times am I remembering my student days?
With that thought in my head, I placed a cigarette on my mouth and lit it up. As I opened the window slightly, I leaned my back deeper into the chair.
…during a lateral thinking puzzle, someone in my circle used a solution like this once, didn’t they?
I puffed out smoke and closed my eyes for 3 seconds.
“Man, I’ve really become a nasty adult, haven’t I?”
Why can’t I just trust—without question—my friends anymore?
I asked myself so as I put some light force into the lighter I was holding and lit up another cigarette.
* * *
POV: Okawa Kyotaro
After this and that, we reached Saturday. I still haven’t made a reservation for a purification ritual anywhere. Despite that, I headed to a certain place while following the map app on my phone.
“So, why are you guys also here?”
Having my eyes glued to my phone while walking was dangerous, so I stopped by the side of the footpath, looked away from the screen, and turned around toward my 2 friends.
“I was just worried about you.”
“Same here”
“What am I, a kid?”
In response to Kumai-kun and Uoyama-kun’s answers, I unconsciously smiled wryly.
Well, I’ve been caught up in one dungeon overflow after another, so I guess they can’t help but be worried—
“I’m worried that you might develop a fetish other than ours.”
“My tentacle radar is telling me something! That you’ve been corrupted with a different fetish…!”
“Just go home!”
Corrupted? What the heck are you talking about? …well, the person I’m visiting is likely to pull something like that, I guess. In fact, he has made attempts already.
“Always remember, Kyotaro! Muscles solve everything! They are the very symbol of life! Although I suppose there’s no need to use lofty words like that. All that really matters is that you remember the sexiness of muscles!!”
“Tentacles. Tentacles come in all shapes and form, but their essence remain ever the same. The time has come for all of humanity to be enveloped in tentacles, Kyotaro!”
“Shut it, you idiots. Don’t impose your fetishes on me.”
Everyone should be free to have a fetish. So long as it was within the bounds of the law, of course.
We continued talking about stupid stuff like that as we walked, and before long, we arrived at our destination.
Although this new residential area could be described as relatively rural, there were quite a number of houses lined up here. Of those houses, we stopped in front of a splendidly large two-story house.
Written on the doorplate was the name Aihara. After hesitating for a little while, I pushed a button on the intercom. A slow chime rang, followed by the patter of slippers from inside the house.
“…hey, I’ve been waiting, Kyotaro.”
“H-hello…”
A young man opened the front door and flashed us a uselessly refreshing smile. This pervert and classmate of ours was none other than Aihara Kensuke.
My purpose in visiting him today was nothing more than commissioning him for Reinforce’s armor.
Taroppe-sensei(author)’s Q&A corner
Thank you for reading!
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Q: Were there really no surveillance cameras or wiretaps?
A:
Togo-san: won’t it be extremely stupid of us to throw away the trust we worked so hard to build over that?
Q: I can’t tell whether Kyotaro’s mental fortitude is strong or weak
A: If I have to answer, I’d say it’s both. I just don’t think this is an either or question. For better or for worse, deep down inside, he’s an ordinary, worldly-minded person.
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