The air in the room, which had been calm moments ago, instantly turned frigid.
My usually gentle eyes sharpened slightly, and my leisurely thoughts immediately shifted to the focused precision needed for work, rapidly sorting through incoming information and preparing groundwork.
Should I say a switch has been flipped? My mind felt clear.
On the other side of the television, the leader of a terrorist group was spouting all sorts of things, but everything he said seemed utterly insane.
Far from being logical,
“We have seen it! That form, which surpasses even the gods! Our actions are for that person!”
Is he drunk? Or is it better to say he’s gone mad? If he’s drunk, it’s self-intoxication; if he’s mad, it’s fanaticism. It’s a common story for something to be sacrificed for a cause. However, that should always be done within one’s own sphere. The moment you demand sacrifice from others, it ceases to be sacrifice and becomes harm. The thoughts of the man on screen, who lies to himself about being right, are incomprehensible to ordinary people. At least, I can’t understand them.
“This world has become defiled!! We must purify it!! For that, a ritual is necessary!”
“…”
I’d been finding the incessant chirping annoying, but I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the screen. I knew it was necessary to glean even a sliver of useful information. However, it was well past midnight. I was feeling sleepy. Fortunately, I didn’t have a headache, but my mood was certainly heavy. The calm atmosphere that had filled the room moments before was gone, replaced by a tense, though not yet electric, air that enveloped the living room.
“Yes, yes, we will be on standby.”
Since Kaido and the others were caught up in this terrorist act, Suella contacted the supervisor telepathically, designating it an emergency despite the late hour. Most likely, even though Kaido and the others, who are Testers, are involved, the company would almost certainly not intervene directly in this incident. Unlike Amelia’s case, this location is Japan, placing it beyond the scope of the Demon Lord’s Army’s intervention. Suella’s mention of “standby” probably also includes a “wait and see” approach.
“Fortuitously or not, you never know when experience will come in handy.”
“This time, it’s fortunate.”
“Memoria.”
“You’re trying to solve it yourself again. That’s Jiro-san’s bad habit.”
Her cautious approach has a reason behind it: it’s not going to be resolved anytime soon. Normally, one would make a judgment to act immediately, but having the assurance that they can buy at least some time if something happens is a significant advantage. Solely because of this one experience of having combat experience. Thanks to that, they can probably handle whatever comes up, and there’s no worry that Kaido and the others, with their youthful sense of justice, will go on a rampage due to their self-righteousness. Their experience has also equipped them with the standards and distinctions for what they can and cannot do. That’s why they don’t overestimate their strength, control their emotions, and don’t act on personal feelings. The fact that nothing is happening on the other side of the TV screen is a testament to that. It’s better to gather information.
“The problem is with the other people…”
“Indeed, Kaido and the others might be fine, but what about the others?”
“Ah.”
My concern isn’t for Kaido and the others, but for the ordinary people caught up with these terrorists. Kaido will likely calm down those around them, but they won’t be able to cover those outside their immediate vicinity who are already restricted in their movement. Not all of them, but the majority of those present likely have no experience fighting or resisting violence. Kaido and the others are exceptional; most have never received any training. Telling ordinary people to fight—what era are we in? That’s why, from my perspective, that space looks like a bomb that could explode at any moment. Disturbance, tension, fear, anxiety, and the mental drive to wield justice to overcome those elements. Not all, but one of these is present in ordinary people. It’s better if they cower in fear; suppressing anxiety is a sign of composure. But the scariest part is when they start thinking about what they can do. Emotions, as a product of human defense instincts, can be suppressed but not completely severed. And without training or experience, the lid that suppresses them becomes flimsy. Once a certain amount is exceeded, those emotions will push the lid up and overflow.
“Please, just behave yourselves.”
“In what sense?”
“Both. Both the perpetrators and the general public.”
I voiced my earnest wish. What I told Memoria is the exact wish I made, but it’s merely a wish. Unless I suddenly awaken divine powers, such a thing won’t reach them, and that wish will likely go unfulfilled. Even now, the tension of the hostages is rising moment by moment, and stress is accumulating. And the emotions that overflow as a result will undoubtedly become a potent poison in that environment, shattering the atmosphere. It would be as foolish as piercing an inflated balloon with a needle. Given that the other side is insane, unreasonable, and clearly acting wrongly, a courageous person who brandishes justice will probably use the word “common sense” to deliver a sound argument, accusing them, “You are mistaken.” If that happens, what’s on the other side of this screen will likely be a scene unbearable even for adults, let alone children. I can’t help but worry about when someone like that will appear. The fact that there are definitely people among the hostages who could become such unpredictable variables, potentially causing such an incident, fuels my anxiety. But there’s nothing I can do about it, even if I think about it.
“Master…”
“…Sorry, old habit.”
Seeing Memoria and Himik, and Suella, who was also worried while on the call, I cooled my head. Taking a deep breath, akin to a sigh, I slowed my mind and my accelerating thoughts. It’s my bad habit. When trouble arises right before me, my first instinct is to solve it myself. It’s not that I think relying on others is being weak, but rather a sense of compulsion to do something comes to the forefront. I admit it’s a bad habit. In a situation where there’s almost nothing I can do, causing worry to Suella and the others is even worse. Therefore, I decided to exercise restraint and leaned back slowly. There’s nothing I can do. Thinking that, I was about to propose that we should rest for the day and pray for the safe resolution of this incident when…
“Who is it, at this hour?”
My smartphone, left on the desk, rang, signaling an incoming call. At first, I thought it might be someone from Kaido’s group, but there were no noticeable changes on the TV screen; the stalemate continued. “Who then?” I wondered, a question mark floating above my head, picked up my smartphone, and my eyes widened at the name displayed.
“Mom?”
Why would my mother call at this time? I was filled with question marks in my mind regarding contact from someone who should be overseas, but I chalked it up to my unconventional mother and answered the call.
“Lend me a hand, son.”
“Is that how you start the New Year? Explain yourself, explain.”
Suppressing a sigh at my mother’s immediate request for help, I resigned myself to it being typical and asked for an explanation.
“Are you watching TV now?”
“Ah, every channel is buzzing with terrorist news.”
“Yes, that’s it. There’s a suppression operation underway, so help me out a little.”
“Hold on, no, wait a minute. What are you doing, suddenly trying to get your son to do police work like asking him to go to the convenience store with you?”
She was annoying, or rather, she’s always been one to make unreasonable demands, expecting me to intuit things, but something like this is unprecedented. I thought there might be some circumstances.
“Haa.”
“I’m the one who wants to sigh. Is something wrong?”
Suella and Memoria, upon learning that my caller was my mother, looked at me questioningly. Himik, who had never met my mother, seemed surprised when Suella told her, but I couldn’t attend to that now.
“Do you remember that my family home is a shrine?”
“Ah, I don’t have many memories of going there.”
“That’s because I avoided it.”
The only time I visited my mother’s family home, meeting my grandparents, was in my childhood, when I was still a single digit in age. My memories of it are vague, other than playing on the unusually large grounds. I knew my mother, who traveled the world, didn’t get along with her family. Therefore, I myself had little contact with my grandparents. I wondered what connection my mother’s family home had to this incident. I thought about it, but only cliché scenarios came to mind. In fact, I decided that any prediction beyond a cliché guess would likely be too far-fetched, so I asked plainly.
“Is your family home related to this incident in any way?”
“Of course, that’s why I’m calling. My family home is a clan that has guarded a seal passed down from our ancestors—did I tell you that?”
“No, I’ve never heard of such Chuunibyou settings before.”
“You’re right. I hated being bound by such traditions, so I ran away. It makes sense that I never told you.”
My mother’s voice, now laughing heartily as if the initial tension had vanished, made me feel a sense of relief, but also a sense of unease. The answer that came out was already far-fetched, and the fact that something related to me, who isn’t an ordinary person, was involved already gave me a bad feeling. Thinking that being unlucky might be hereditary, I prompted my mother to continue.
“Even I didn’t believe it in the past. When my parents told me, ‘You are a Miko with talent that appears once in a thousand years,’ it didn’t click. I learned about shrine matters casually, and then, ignoring my parents’ objections, I eloped. Even so, I had heard bits and pieces of those legends. They all sounded like fairy tales, so I often skipped my training, thinking, ‘That kind of thing couldn’t possibly happen in reality.’ My parents contacted me just now. They said if this terrorism is left unchecked, it will become a major problem. I intended to ignore it again, but they seemed genuinely flustered, and for some reason, my intuition also told me it was dangerous, so I couldn’t ignore it.”
The more I heard, the more troublesome it smelled.
“Jiro-san, the TV.”
“Huh?”
Just then, Memoria tugged on my clothes and urged me to look at the TV. On the upper part of the live broadcast, a subtitle for a special news report was scrolling.
“You might be seeing it too, but the incident isn’t happening just there. It’s in seven locations nationwide. And, according to my grandparents, dangerous places have been secured.”
“Seriously?”
Next to the names of prefectures were the names of shrines. News reports stated that terrorist incidents were occurring where they were holding visitors who had come for New Year’s visits as hostages. What my mother called “dangerous places” was beginning to become a reality.
“Mom, what’s happening?”
And then, the person I considered possibly the strongest human in existence had asked me for help. I checked the situation my mother seemed intent on dealing with.
“I don’t know.”
“You don’t know? Didn’t you get an explanation from your family home?”
But, as expected of my mother. She didn’t disappoint my imagination. Despite not knowing what was happening, her vitality in trying to take action—I didn’t know whether to emulate it or admonish her.
“Do you think I asked for that much detail? When that old hag started talking about ancient seals, ley lines, and history, I cut her off and asked what I needed to do.”
“Don’t do that, please don’t.”
I wanted to sigh, thinking, “What’s with that attitude when your own mother is asking for help?” but it was too late for that. I lamented that that was the crucial part, but my mother laughed heartily on the phone, and a sliver of unease washed over me. Since entering this profession, I’ve deeply felt the importance of information.
“Well, there’s no point grumbling. You’re a man, aren’t you? Live up to your mother’s expectations. If you do, I’ll acknowledge the third one too.”
“Did I mention it?”
“It’s intuition. How long have I been your mother? It’s way too early for you to hide things for another thirty years.”
“You’re human, aren’t you, Mom?”
“If I’m not human, then you won’t be human either, you know?”
“You’re human, Mom.”
That’s why I have to do something about this haphazard mother, but given how she said that, my lecture would probably be as effective as preaching to the Buddha. Moreover, she’s already aware of Himik, whom I haven’t even introduced. I’m at a loss.
“By the way, my intuition tells me there will be two or three more individuals.”
“Stop it, it’s not funny.”
“Hahahaha! Don’t be shy, don’t be shy. Your son being popular is proof that I raised you well! Don’t worry, I’ll praise you!”
And continuing to converse with such a mother would be detrimental to my health. Letting out a sigh, I cut to the chase.
“Haa, so? What do you want me to do?”
I asked with a wry smile, knowing my mother wouldn’t give me the option of not helping, and that somehow I would end up involved.
“Just round up that bomb-crazy guy. It’s simple, simple.”
At my mother’s definition of “simple,” I was once again stifling a sigh.
Today’s word:
Do what you can.
While searching for what you can do.
This concludes today’s entry.
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*The first volume has been decided to be published by Hayakawa Bunko JA.
It was released on October 18, 2018.
The e-book version was also released on October 31 of the same year.
Furthermore, the second volume was released on December 19.
The third volume was released on February 20, 2019.
The content includes revised and expanded material from the version posted on Shousetsuka ni Narou, with the addition of an unpublished interlude.
Please check out the new releases as well!!
Additionally, a comic adaptation is also decided for “Young Magazine The Third” by Kodansha.
