Another side
“I see, Mrs. Kirika has gone to Japan.”
In a room in a building in a great power that professes freedom, the CIA Director was present.
“I apologize.”
“No, that’s fine. I’ve known her for a long time. While I did issue the order in earnest, I expected the result.”
The Director, who appeared to be gentle, had eyes that were sharp and powerful, showing no sign of the weakness one might expect from his aged appearance.
The man reporting to the Director was also a seasoned agent. Without showing any fear or apprehension, he maintained a poker face, hiding his inner feelings, and continued his report.
“Some in the military are suggesting we should demand her handover through diplomatic pressure.”
“Nonsense. You saw the report, didn’t you? Ah, you were on the escort ship that time, weren’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Then, it’s a strange question to ask again, but… what did you see?”
The only sound in the silent Director’s office was the gentle hum of the air pump in a decorative aquarium – the BGM. The voices of two men echoed in the room. One stood at attention, the other sat in a luxurious chair behind a grand desk. They spoke with no hesitation, their conversational distance barely two meters.
“In a word, abnormal, I would say.”
“Oh? In what sense?”
They were discussing the hottest topic in America. The Director, unable to visit the scene himself, valued the firsthand reports. Although he had received reports and video data, and even had agents on-site sending real-time updates, he still made time to listen to the direct accounts of those who had witnessed the events. He understood its importance.
“Despite being in human form, they are using powers that humans cannot normally possess. Furthermore, it is a former ordinary person wielding these powers. I thought these three points were abnormal.”
“Hmm.”
The Director believed that clear, concise words, free of embellishment, were the truth. His subordinate, he felt, would only resort to comparisons with movies and the like if he used any other kind of language.
“From the reports, I hear Mr. Tanaka lives an ordinary life, but that he possesses a peculiar bloodline. Even considering that, do you still think it’s abnormal?”
“Yes, I’ve thoroughly investigated his background. Based on the information gathered, I can conclude that he had no elements that could allow him to do such things during his student years or even for several years after becoming an adult. Yet…”
“He gained superpowers in just a few years… That’s right. In other words, it is indeed abnormal. I understand why the military is so eager to apprehend his relatives and why they pester us for information.”
There are things a human cannot lift, no matter how much they train. Even a gold medalist in weightlifting cannot lift and carry a ten-ton truck. Yet, Jiro Tanaka effortlessly lifted an object of comparable weight, carried it around with a straight face, and even held it throughout a speech.
“…Did you learn anything about this ‘magic’ technology?”
“Among the information we’ve collected, we discovered that we have an operative working for that company. I contacted his family and gathered information, but found nothing substantial. It seems the other party is also thorough in their information control. The only magic we’ve confirmed is what Mr. Tanaka unleashed.”
The Vice President himself had reported that the technology capable of such a feat uses energy called magic power. Superhuman physical abilities, supernatural powers. The technique that enables them: magic.
“Do you know the quote that says common sense is a collection of prejudices acquired by the age of eighteen?”
“It’s a quote left by the physicist Albert Einstein.”
“Indeed. And my collection of common sense did not include the field of magic.”
“Mine neither.”
They couldn’t even bring themselves to laugh at the absurdity of grown adults, professionals in handling information, earnestly investigating beings they’d only encountered in fairy tales or movies until then. Magic exists. This fact alone weighed heavily on both of them. Understanding the danger of this technology, they couldn’t be adversaries, couldn’t eliminate it, and could only attempt to bridge the gap and foster friendly relations. Yet, despite the need to know, they were unable to learn.
“Honestly, maybe I should have my grandson teach me about magic someday.”
“Perhaps I should have my daughter teach me.”
Normally, such a joke would elicit a chuckle or two, but they didn’t have the luxury for it.
“What’s the status of the appointment with Mr. Tanaka?”
“We’ve confirmed that he’s prioritizing interactions with Japan and America, but the absolute number of opportunities to meet him and the available time remain limited. There’s also the issue of coordinating with other countries, and diplomacy is being prioritized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by default. Meeting with the Director won’t happen until the end of the year at the earliest.”
“Is it possible to contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and request some flexibility in scheduling?”
“We’ve already tried that, but they’re reluctant to reduce the already limited time.”
“…It’s not the time for infighting, but it seems our large organization is becoming a disadvantage in situations like this.”
“Especially since the military is advocating for the urgent acquisition of new technology. In response, the research department is…”
“Securing a test subject, right?”
“Yes.”
After all, there’s a potential for a runaway factor to emerge domestically. A test subject. This means securing someone from another world, or an employee from that company who can wield such technology. If they were to be secured, the future awaiting such a test subject would be tragic. They would have no human rights, trapped in a laboratory room, their lives ground away for the sake of human justice. A silence fell between the two, aware of this.
“Haa, whatever the case, you must prevent that at all costs. While the other party is currently adopting a friendly attitude, one wrong step could lead to anything. Kidnapping and abduction – we are not at a stage where we can openly discuss such matters. Whether it’s true or not, they say the Demon Lord can withstand nuclear attacks.”
The Director himself neither denied nor affirmed the future possibility of acting behind the scenes. However, he did have a premonition that there would come a time when they would stop at nothing for the sake of their country. But he also understood that now was not that time.
“Furthermore, they also mentioned that an individual can cause destruction comparable to a nuclear attack.”
The opponent is the Demon Lord; the truth is unknown, but he boasts of withstanding human-made weapons of mass destruction. Normally, one would scoff at such a joke, but a flying battleship, technology capable of creating an island in an instant, magic that can part the sea with one person – it would be dangerous to dismiss it as a lie.
“I understand the desire to acquire the technology to counter it, but the thought of incurring their resentment, or worse, crossing their path, is terrifying.”
Information that an individual can pose a threat to a nation. A worldview where individuals are overwhelmingly at a disadvantage. The Director truly thought that without the precedent of Jiro Tanaka, they would have no choice but to feel fear.
“The salvation is that humans also have the potential to counter them.”
“Yes, if Mr. Tanaka were not in a position of considerable influence, if his abilities were not recognized, and if he were not a diplomatic contact, negotiations would have been far more difficult.”
“It’s quite ironic that the beacon of hope belongs to the other party.”
“Indeed.”
Jiro Tanaka, for better or worse, serves as a guide for humanity, preventing them from losing hope. His background, outwardly presented as being from an ordinary family, and tracing his bloodline back reveals a somewhat unusual lineage, yet he lived a generally normal life. Because of this, the principle that ordinary people can also counter magic, if they possess the technology, has been proven.
“And regarding those papers, the test results: when we conducted tests on ten thousand US soldiers, only about twenty percent were compatible.”
America, too, was not entirely without clues regarding magic. During the Demon Lord’s Army’s activities in the country, flyers were distributed. Though written in English, they were unmistakably job recruitment flyers from MAO Corporation. The US military, after securing a dozen or so of these flyers, recognized that they possessed a special quality visible only to certain individuals and determined they could be used to identify people capable of magic. After preservation and processing, the US military began the process of selecting personnel.
“Less than twenty percent, you say?”
“Yes, this is the average figure regardless of age, gender, or nationality.”
“Haa, this could eventually lead to a supremacist ideology.”
“I sympathize with your concerns.”
The fact that magic might not be a universally accessible ability further adds to the Director’s headaches. Humans who can use special powers and those who cannot. The two are vastly different. In the future, he couldn’t help but worry that such a disparity might lead to unrest.
“And, there are research results indicating that this talent may be hereditary.”
“What?”
The emergence of information that further fuels this possibility makes him wonder if he’ll soon be suffering from stomach pains as well. The Director, lately concerned about his hair loss, prided himself on his composure, believing that even harsh criticism wouldn’t faze him. However, with such a relentless barrage of anxiety-inducing information about the future, he couldn’t help but feel stressed.
“When we conducted talent tests, we found that in relatives, at least siblings or cousins, cases where talent was discovered were frequent. Not all, but cases where only one sibling possessed the talent were rarer. Therefore, upon investigating their parents, we’ve found research results indicating that only when one parent possesses the talent does it not get passed down to one of the children.”
“That’s something some noble families would rejoice to hear.”
The prospect of a resurgence of bloodline supremacy was an added bonus, and the Director couldn’t hide a deep sigh, rubbing his temples at the sheer awfulness of the information.
“What about the accuracy?”
“It’s only a preliminary test based on whether that paper reacts, so we can’t be definitive yet. However, we are currently conducting DNA-related investigations using blood samples, so we expect to see some results from those soon.”
“Do you have the feeling that the more we learn, the more our work increases?”
“I feel the same way.”
Finally, his iron facade broke, and a wry smile escaped his lips.
“So, her warning was indeed accurate.”
“Mrs. Tanaka?”
“Yes. She didn’t say to comply, but advised against going against the flow, suggesting instead to utilize it.”
“Did she realize how difficult that would be?”
“That’s not something she concerns herself with. For her, it’s not a matter of difficulty, but a choice between doing it or not, regardless of how long it takes.”
“I see.”
At this point, the Director was so astonished by the prophetic accuracy of his acquaintance’s words that he was beyond surprise and had to offer his admiration.
“Now, it seems we too are at a crossroads, a choice between doing it or not, and you know which choice we must make.”
“Yes. I am prepared to dedicate myself to the nation.”
“Very well. However, please take time to rest on Christmas and your daughter’s birthday.”
“Thank you for your consideration!”
And with those words, the Director reinforced his resolve.
Another side End
Today’s word:
There are times when even one’s troubles seem bearable.
Thank you for your continued feedback and for pointing out any typos. If you find this story interesting, please leave a review, rating, or bookmark.
I am also currently serializing another work:
Pandora Pandemic Panic – Pandora’s Box Has Been Opened Again, But We’re Fighting Back With Treehouses and Other Means!!
Please check that out as well!
