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Another side
Early in the morning, a man of high status, dressed in white vestments with sparkling embroidery, strode briskly across the cobblestone street. His expression was not one of haste, but his tightly drawn mouth revealed his displeasure. He then heard a report from behind him. The report contained information that overturned the previously smooth plan, and his tone naturally became harsher.
“What do you mean the Hero’s Education is not progressing well!”
“That is… a doubt has arisen regarding the dogma, and this individual has stated they will not lend their power unless their questions are answered…”
“Nonsense! A Hero, an Apostle of God, must not deny the Teachings of God! Do they not understand that?!”
“The knights’ opinion is that since they are a child from another world, there may be differences in perception.”
“Is it not your duty to resolve such matters?!”
The man gritted his teeth, holding back a curse as he stomped on the cobblestones. Initially, everything had been going smoothly. The Hero had obediently accepted their words, influenced by the Pope, the Saintess, the King of the allied nation, and the King’s second daughter. They had even eagerly taken the unblunted weapons in their hands and displayed a cheerful expression befitting their age when shown magic, actively engaging in their studies. Although the adults summoned alongside them were initially a nuisance, they were no longer a significant threat now that they had been subdued. Last month, a ceremony was held to introduce the Hero, generating great excitement with a considerable amount of gold coins. The bishop who had orchestrated everything, believing the plan was proceeding smoothly, wore a smile both outwardly and inwardly. At that time, he thought it would be manageable. However, shadows began to appear in their progress.
“They’re really making us go through so much trouble.”
He muttered under his breath, trying not to let his dissatisfaction with the Hero be heard, and recalled the circumstances that had led to this predicament. Unlike the Theocratic Nation Tris, which had worshipped God for ages, the Empire, from its royalty and nobility down to its common people, practiced meritocracy. Its military strength was undoubtedly superior among the great powers. Since the current Emperor took the throne, he had further emphasized military might, and it was rumored that he would eventually rule the entire continent. The Empire’s ambitions, however, were not mere rumors. This man, holding a position where he could know such things, had confirmed the accurate content obtained through the information war waged beneath the surface. Furthermore, those above him in status were also aware of these developments. Among them, the information that they had controlled a Golem using the Demon Lord’s remains had sent shockwaves through them. This was the Demon Lord, a being that even a Hero would have difficulty defeating, even though they had managed to overcome it once. From this information, the Empire’s next move was as clear as water flowing from a great height. The information quickly reached the upper echelons of various countries, including Tris. In other words, the Empire was initiating military action. If they did nothing, they would inevitably be trampled by an Empire that had acquired the Demon Lord’s power. It was natural to conclude that if they were to sit and wait for death, they should take drastic measures. Among the actions of each nation, the Theocratic Nation Tris was the first to respond. They possessed the most know-how regarding the existence of the Demon Lord, and fortunately, Tris had a Saintess renowned as the greatest in history. Thus, the Theocratic Nation Tris decided to summon a Hero at an early stage. And that decision could be said to have paid off. To ensure the most thorough preparation for the Hero summoning, the Pope of Tris focused on concluding the alliance with the Kingdom, which had been progressing for some time. As a result, possibly due to the Empire’s actions, the Kingdom, which had been uncertain about the future, responded in kind, allowing the alliance to be concluded sooner than expected. This brought the cooperation of the Kingdom’s second princess, who was said to be on par with great mages in history, to the Hero summoning ceremony. Humans are greedy. With the two greatest figures and the financial resources of two nations combined, the leadership of both countries devised another plan. They would attempt the unprecedented summoning of multiple Heroes. It was a high-stakes gamble where victory would bring immense military strength, and defeat would mean losing the war itself. Such a decision would never have been made under normal circumstances, but both nations deemed it necessary. And the gamble paid off. It could even be said that they succeeded. The event became a topic of discussion in both countries, with some even calling it a divine revelation, and it served to boost morale for the upcoming war. Furthermore, the soul of the Demon Lord, sealed on the sacred mountain that served as the source of magic for the ritual, did not appear. Convenient events piled up for Tris, leading to a sentiment that the Empire was no longer a threat. The situation reached a point where the brakes on going to war could no longer be applied. The great war between the three nations was on the verge of commencement. Just then, a problem arose with the key figure, the Hero. Or rather, it began to surface.
… For Tris, despite their extensive knowledge of the Demon Lord, they had no experience in training Heroes simultaneously. Unlike in the past, where they could focus on one individual, their attention was now spread. This was likely a consequence of increased military strength. The bishop, thinking it necessary to find the cause to devise a solution, briefly considered mobilizing the Inquisition but decided it was too soon. With these matters in mind, he finished his sundry tasks and began considering the course of conversation with the Heroes he was about to meet. This man, who had risen to his current position not solely through faith but through numerous achievements, was surrounded by whispers of dark rumors. He seemed to view the current Hero summoning as merely a stepping stone to further his own advancement. Amidst all this, the problematic sundry task awaited him ahead.
“So, the impudent individual who claimed to be from the Hero’s country is in that room?”
“Yes, one of the priests is attending to them, but this person insists on meeting the Hero and the person in charge.”
“Is the report true?”
“They are certain of it, and this individual claims to know the Hero’s secrets. Bishop, this is…”
“I am aware.”
It was impossible to simply grant an audience to someone spouting such nonsense with the nation’s secrets and its intellectual elite – the cardinals and the Pope. It was unthinkable from a common-sense perspective. If the request had come through channels from the King or someone close to him, it might have been understandable. Normally, such a rude individual would simply be escorted out or dealt with as a heretic, and the matter would end there. However, the fact that a high-ranking bishop was summoned and mobilized for this incident, solely because of this unknown individual spouting nonsense, was indeed true. Exceptions exist in all matters. From an organizational standpoint, they could not simply ignore someone who hinted at knowing the Hero’s secrets and the summoning process. If the man was merely a braggart, it would be one thing, but given the possibility of even a sliver of truth, they had to proceed cautiously. Consequently, a bishop, while not at the very top, but possessing a considerable position, was deployed. The bishop’s stomach churned with a simmering rage, though he accepted it had to be done, as he had to resolve the Hero’s issue. While considering the re-education of the priest and the man’s punishment, he paused before a room where knights stood guard, forcing a gentle smile onto his face. Faced with the fact that the person who had summoned him, the bishop, was in this room, the anger he had felt moments earlier was now covered by a thick layer of composure.
“Are the knights prepared?”
“Two companies are on standby in the vicinity.”
“Summon the Inquisitors as well. There are matters I must question this man about.”
“Understood.”
He harbored the thought that he would not let this matter go unpunished. Having issued the necessary instructions, the bishop, without waiting for one of the priests to leave, had the guard knights open the door and entered the room. This was a waiting room for individuals of considerable status. Naturally, it was highly confidential. Beyond its primary purpose, it was also an ideal location for handling any incidents that might occur internally. Inside this room, a man sat with his arms crossed, eyes closed, ignoring the priest’s explanation and not touching the drink that had been served. “Is this him?” the bishop’s eyes sharpened for a moment like a hawk’s, but he quickly returned to his gentle smile.
“Bishop.”
“No need. I will handle the questioning from here. Are you the man who knows the Hero’s secrets?”
“…Not precisely, but for now, that perception is acceptable.”
The man reacted to the bishop’s entrance, uncrossed his arms, and stood up smoothly. Judging from his appearance and voice, he seemed young. However, the bishop could indeed understand why he had been summoned. As the man stood and offered a smile, it was immediately clear that he was abnormal. He wore clothes of a glossy black that the bishop had never seen before, had black hair and black eyes – unusual here, and most importantly, possessed an immense magical power that could be felt directly. At a glance, he shared numerous similarities with the Heroes. A premonition that this man might also be a Hero flickered in the bishop’s mind, but he quickly dismissed the possibility. The summoning of Heroes was a closely guarded secret. The bishop, who had witnessed the ritual himself, understood better than anyone that it was not something that could be easily replicated. With a sense of caution towards the seemingly gentle young man, he instructed the priest, who had been conversing with him until moments before, to stand behind him and took a seat.
“Then, to ascertain your identity, I would like you to tell me your story.”
Another side END
Jiro’s side (Tanaka Jiro)
It has been a week since I infiltrated the church and handed Amelia the files. I have completed my preparations and have begun my actions. Although it was early in the morning, in Isal, people start moving as soon as the clouds clear, so I headed to the church, hiding my suit with an overcoat to avoid drawing attention. As expected, when I tried to make an appointment to meet someone of high status, I was turned away. It seemed that as someone without noble status, it would be difficult even to glimpse them, let alone meet them. With utmost politeness, I endured the condescending look of the nun, who regarded me as a pitiable figure, though I felt like punching her. So, as a workaround, I removed my overcoat, revealing my well-pressed suit, and asked if there was a time when I could meet a person of status who was involved with the Hero. Seeing my redyed black hair and black eyes, the nun’s expression changed indescribably. Relieving my pent-up frustration, I was then led to this room. Initially, a man who held the position of priest attended to me, but in my estimation, he was equivalent to a section chief in a company. His role seemed to be reconnaissance, as he engaged in conversation to probe me. In that case, I had no intention of providing more information than necessary. I channeled magic into my Magic Crest, preparing for emergencies, and offered only the minimum required information, waiting for someone more significant to appear, like fishing. One hour passed as I waited patiently, not touching the drink, with the feeling of using shrimp to catch a sea bream. The result was this portly old man with a luxurious staff, sinking into a high-class sofa, appearing before me. Honestly, wasn’t it too fortunate? It seemed I had lured a raccoon with shrimp. His presence felt like a higher authority than the priest, who had been desperately trying to converse with me until moments ago. I had never expected to meet someone of this caliber when I initially tried to make an appointment. The sensation of being caught, mixed with a sense of annoyance, arose within me. His demeanor, which suggested he harbored more than one or two secrets, reminded me of the older salesmen at my previous company who tried to force unreasonable demands upon us. Thus, I responded with a sales-oriented smile and adjusted my tone accordingly.
“Indeed, let me introduce myself first. My name is Tanaka Jiro, or rather, Jiro Tanaka here. To put it simply, I have crossed dimensions and come from the same country as the Hero you speak of.”
This was just a jab, a small portion of what I had already told the priest. However, he was clearly experienced. He showed noReaction to such a basic jab.
“So I’ve heard. However, I find that story difficult to believe. Looking back through history, the only ones to come from the world of Heroes have been those summoned by our country. Our summoning ritual is a closely guarded secret, and I do not believe it can be easily replicated.”
Conversely, he began to suspect me of being a fake, an imposter claiming to be Japanese. I never thought I would face a day in my life where my being Japanese would be questioned. I inwardly chuckled at this rare experience, but of course, I did not flinch at such a jab.
“Then you consider me a scoundrel, a spy, or someone trying to attain the Hero’s status unfairly?”
“That would be the logical conclusion.”
“In that case, I must be quite the fool, and you are either a busybody or a remarkably generous bishop who has the time to deal with such a fool.”
“How dare you speak to the Bishop that way!”
“It is fine.”
“Yes, but—”
“I said it is fine. There is no falsehood in what this person says, provided what they say is not a lie.”
Ah, dealing with someone who can swallow both the bitter and the sweet is tiresome. Objectively, the first thought that came to mind was that I was either a foolish spy or an idiot trying to gain status beyond my capabilities. The bishop, however, framed his words not from his own perspective but strictly from a third-party viewpoint. In response, I retorted with sarcasm, implying that anyone who dealt with such a fool must be either incredibly idle or an idiot with no thought. Unlike the priest, he did not display the elementary mistake of showing anger. This bishop, by speaking under the premise that I was a fool, implied that his true feelings might be different. If the old man was going to play it that way, I couldn’t afford to waste my words carelessly. My current words were double-edged swords, capable of cutting down the opponent’s position or harming my own. I needed to choose my words carefully. The tedious negotiation, so different from actual combat, made me adopt a more conservative mindset. However, if I hesitated and held back, I would be swallowed up in no time. I steeled myself, deciding that I had to seize the moment when it presented itself, and without averting my gaze from the bishop, who was urging me to continue, I spoke.
“Well then, I shall reveal one piece of information that might allow you to believe I have come from the Hero’s world.”
“Oh?”
“As far as can be ascertained, twenty-three individuals are currently missing. This includes one adult and twenty-two children. In terms of gender ratio, thirteen are male and ten are female.”
“You have investigated thoroughly.”
I ignored his reply, which was merely to acknowledge that he could conduct such investigations even now, and continued.
“And their respective high schools, which you would call academies in your world, are…”
What I was about to say was definitively unknown to the general public in this world. Even spies might investigate it, but it was not the kind of information they would bother looking into. However, it was a name commonly discussed in Japanese news. At this point, the bishop’s eyebrows twitched for the first time.
“Samidare High School; they are students from there.”
“…You…”
“It seems I have managed to make you believe, even slightly, that I am from another world.”
“…It is merely a possibility.”
This meant he acknowledged that while he couldn’t trust me, it was difficult to completely deny my claim. The name of the high school was a trump card. If they dismissed it as false, it would indicate they were unaware of that information. Even if their dismissal was an act, it would convey that I was someone they could not ignore, especially if I possessed knowledge of this information. And I intended to imply that I possessed other information about the Heroes, the kind that would not be problematic even if revealed. Although it was a low-risk gamble using such a card, it seemed to be more effective than I had imagined, and for me, this outcome was a bonus. The fact that he reacted properly indicated that this bishop had some understanding of what Amelia and the others were. If I handled the conversation well, I might discover whether this old man had the authority to arrange an official meeting with the Heroes. Of course, in exchange for confirming that, I had also jeopardized my own retreat. That was already anticipated; I would press on without concern.
“Then, let’s consider the possibilities. Assuming I am indeed from the Hero’s country, what do you believe my objective to be, Bishop?”
“Several possibilities come to mind, but seeking contact with the Hero suggests a desire for trade with our nation through that channel.”
“Yes, that could certainly be one of the reasons.”
He dodged the question. Despite having accurately surmised the worst-case scenario, this bishop avoided that topic.
“However, unfortunately, my objective is different.”
“…And what is that person’s objective?”
“Yes, I believe you already have an idea, Bishop, so let me be direct.”
A smile can sometimes be a threat. My sales-oriented expression, honed through training from my instructors, now bore a menacing grin. My voice remained steady, delivering powerful words smoothly.
“I have come to retrieve the children who were abducted from Japan.”
“Wh-what!!” “Silence.”
“Oh? Did you not hear me?”
My words, in a sense, were a direct refutation of this country. After all, the summoning of Heroes was a sacred act, chosen by God. To describe it as abduction was nothing short of blasphemy against God. It was understandable for the priest to be enraged. The bishop, without turning, silenced the priest, who was about to become emotional, with just his words.
“Do you understand the meaning of your words?”
“I would not choose them if I did not.”
Now, how do I currently rank in this bishop’s mind? A fool, or a dangerous entity? It would likely be one of these two. If so, the next step would be a forceful suppression.
“Bishop, do you have children?”
“I do, but what of it?”
“In your country, they are apparently considered Heroes chosen by God. However, in Japan, it has caused considerable uproar, as children have suddenly disappeared without informing their parents or anyone else. If this were to happen in your country, how would you think of it?”
While that was happening, I continued to speak to disrupt the timing.
“From here on, this is purely hypothetical. Imagine your child was abducted by a different god than the one you believe in, and disappeared without informing you. What would you think if you knew they were being used as tools for war in another country for the sake of justice?”
Appealing to emotion would be a bonus, but it seemed to be ineffective. His expression remained unchanged, and his eyes were greedy, as if trying to extract information from my words. Well, that was not the primary purpose of this conversation, so it was fine.
“Furthermore, if there were a means to travel to that world, and you were to go to that country and contact the organization that serves the god who performed the act…”
“And that organization is the one represented by you.”
“Yes.”
Whatever happens, happens now.
“Our country possesses the means to travel to this world, and your summoning ritual is being addressed as a national issue. We would like to hear how you intend to respond.”
“…”
While I wasn’t lying, it was effectively a lie. While there is an organization in Japan that has the means to travel between dimensions, it’s not certain that such means exist *in* Japan itself. The fact that it’s being raised as a national issue is true, but I’m not directly involved in those movements. Words are difficult. Depending on how these words are interpreted, they could make me sound like an envoy from another country. My tongue, much like the old man’s belly, is well-oiled and moves swiftly.
“…”
“We do not have much time, so please provide a prompt response. Our primary objective is to have the missing individuals returned.”
Indeed, a rope walk without a safety net, solely on lies, is quite thrilling. The heart of a protagonist orchestrating things with bluff must be made of iron.
“…”
And what are the bishop’s psychological considerations, unable to say either yes or no? For me, being dismissed as fake and facing military force would be the biggest problem. However, they lack too much information to dismiss me as fake, so they cannot do that. Conversely, they are presented with information that suggests the possibility of me being an envoy from another country. From their perspective, I must seem like an extremely ambiguous and troublesome guest they don’t know how to handle.
“It seems you are having trouble judging my presence.”
When facing such an individual in a negotiation, if the other party compromises, humans naturally feel they have gained the upper hand.
“Then how about this? Would you arrange for me to meet with the Heroes under your supervision? Surely, if I am confirmed by someone from my own homeland, it will become clear whether I am genuine or not. You also have your position, Bishop, so let us hold another meeting after the confirmation.”
Here, the decision weighed on the scales would be the demerits of allowing me to meet the Heroes versus the potential benefit of confirming my identity, and the choice of whether to buy time or not. And the typical human reaction when the other party compromises, allowing for more time, is usually predictable.
“…Very well. With my authority, I will arrange a meeting with the Heroes.”
Time is money. I mentally performed a victory pose as I had managed to buy myself time to escape the current predicament by making the bishop choose to stall for time.
Tanaka Jiro, 28 years old, has a girlfriend.
Girlfriend: Suella Hendelberg
Memoria Tris
Occupation: Dungeon Tester (Full-time employee)
Magic Aptitude: 8 (General Class)
Rank: Warrior
Today’s word: Plans are plans; ideal plans are worthless. Always prepare for the worst and develop several contingency plans.
That concludes this installment. I was finally able to get Jiro moving. The next installment will likely be a battle scene after a long time. Thank you for your continued support of this work.
