After creating a grand and ridiculous island, what awaited was a surprisingly normal press conference.
Even so, the Japanese government had completely handled the arrangements, so there wasn’t much for us to do.
The theme was smooth exchange with another world. We ensured good manners and knowledge, mainly from major media outlets, and completely excluded tabloid journalists who might try to write outrageous things to avoid any misunderstandings.
However, even if they can’t get coverage, these kinds of reporters are the type who love to write speculation as if it were truth, rather than facts.
“Hey, look at this! It says ‘Japanese Traitor’ as the headline, and you’re on it.”
“This one says, ‘Actually an Extraterrestrial’.”
The press conference ended without a hitch. The inhabitants of the other world became known to the public, and in less than a week, it became such a hot topic that SNS feeds were filled with posts about people from other worlds.
While we were busy with construction arrangements and meeting with various people, the magazines that had gone public seemed to have written whatever they pleased.
Keiri, who showed me the magazine’s front page with amusement, had my face from before I joined this company, obscured by a black line, in a picture that was difficult to ascertain where it came from.
“Also, it says your former company’s superior is giving a comment. Is this person an acquaintance? It’s written as if you’re quite close.”
I skimmed through the comment bearing the initials K.K., my former company’s superior, which was in the bottom right of the gossipy magazine.
“Nah, if my memory serves me right, he’s not the kind of guy who’d use such nice words.”
Another comment, written with flowery rhetoric, was there, making me wonder who it was.
It talked about how he had a brilliant spark when I was in charge of his guidance, and how he left the company as if to repay kindness for kindness, despite my active guidance…
He’s probably just telling me to do all the troublesome work because I can handle it. He doesn’t do anything himself, which is why he can say such things. I thought, remembering our parting at the smoking area, that it was probably him.
“Rather, I can’t accept being treated like a chupacabra.”
“This magazine is also an occult magazine. They easily latch onto things like another world, magic, and undiscovered technologies.”
I criticized the magazine that Muil-san was holding.
I am also aware that I have ceased to be human for the most part, but the idea that I am a life form from outer space who maintains my human form by drinking human blood, and am a pioneer from another world who had blended into Japanese society…
“Haa, I wonder if they were so displeased with being excluded from the press conference.”
This was a break taken after the schedule for construction materials to be transported to the island was finalized. Keiri suggested reading the interesting magazines that Kaido and Minami had brought. When I tried to read them, however, every magazine contained either wording that suggested I wasn’t human or anti-establishment sentiments that made it seem like I had abandoned Japan.
“They probably think it’s not interesting to write the same thing when the major media is promoting you positively. Look, they’re doing a special program on it right now.”
I don’t think I’ve done anything to be so disliked by gossip magazines, but they’re writing it in a way that makes it seem like they think so. I was a little more shocked than usual. Keiri reached for a dorayaki on the table and looked at the TV program that was on.
I followed suit and watched it. Critics were discussing the press conference, analyzing it in various ways.
“Sixty percent are in favor, thirty percent are moderately against, and the rest are radical. It’s about that many.”
“The proponents are generally taking a wait-and-see approach, based on the friendly demeanor of the Demon Lord. The moderate opposition agrees with waiting and seeing but isn’t letting their guard down.”
“One person is getting heated, criticizing the politicians for saying we are dangerous beings. He’s bringing up historical topics and saying a witch hunt might occur, which I find outrageous.”
Our appearance on the stage had caused quite a stir in the world. Special programs were aired daily, and no matter what time of day or night you turned on the TV, you could see programs like this.
“Well, it’s better than Isal, isn’t it? With them, it’s always ‘kill, steal, or capture’ the moment they see us.”
“That’s true. If you put it that way, there’s still a path left if we can still communicate.”
“We’re only thinking it’s better because the comparison is so extreme. You two know that the entrance to the company is in a terrible state right now, don’t you?”
Thanks to these media outlets broadcasting daily, our recognition has increased significantly.
This was originally the purpose, and we decided to make it public in consultation with the Japanese government. We had anticipated this and had countermeasures in place.
“There are offers for Jiro’s appearance on major media programs, requests for meetings from wealthy individuals and famous entrepreneurs, and even collaboration requests from famous content creators’ offices. The most frequent are from newspaper and magazine companies. Our office staff were half-crying from the constant interview requests.”
“That’s still the better part. They’re trying to get proper appointments and follow the established procedures.”
“The problem is the riff-raff who, under the guise of curiosity and freedom of the press, are trying to trespass.”
Even so, the area in front of the company is a throng of people every day. Cameras and broadcasting vehicles occupy the road in front of the building, waiting for people exiting the company entrance.
There are also many ordinary citizens gathered out of curiosity after watching the broadcasts.
As a result, even the police have been mobilized, and the gate in front of the company is completely sealed off, preventing anyone from entering or exiting.
Yet, there are people trying to sneak in through the gaps, showing how frightening curiosity can be.
Of course, even curiosity is powerless against magic. Generally, they are repelled by the barrier. The entrance, in particular, has a reinforced barrier, making it physically impossible for anyone other than authorized personnel to enter.
“We’re not the only ones who are worried. In just this past week, there were five ordinary people who tried to invade the island, and thirty-eight boats lingering around the island.”
And then there are those few people with slightly warped minds who decide that if they can’t enter the company, they’ll go to the uninhabited island. People with money and the drive to act are terrifying. Despite it being a territory recognized as foreign, extraterritorial land sanctioned by the country, they seem to think it’s okay to enter the uninhabited island because there’s no one there before construction begins.
In just seven days, the number of people Keiri mentioned tried to invade the island.
However, it seems most of them gave up when faced with the sheer cliffs where they couldn’t dock their boats. The five people Keiri mentioned apparently tried to scale the cliffs to invade, but were discovered by patrol boats and apprehended.
“By the way, do you want to hear about the non-ordinary people who tried to invade and declare territorial rights?”
“I’ve already read it.”
That alone could be considered cute. That’s how much attention this island has attracted from other troublesome individuals.
First, there was an incident where a special unit, ordered by some country’s bigwig, landed on the island at night to plant their national flag.
It was insane and could easily be considered an international incident. Fortunately, it was prevented because Kirie-san, who had installed shikigami as a precaution, repelled both the intruders and their flag into the sea.
However, those who were blown into the sea ended up seriously injured and arrested.
And yet, even this special unit can be considered mild compared to what came next.
“Taking advantage of our emergence, the hidden organizations that have returned are targeting this island. When I heard that, I thought, ‘Do they want to start a war with us?'”
“That’s no joke. Did you see the report? They claim the island is part of the lost continent of Mu, which was destroyed in the age of ancient gods, and that they are survivors of Mu and demand the island.”
“There were also groups claiming that aliens created this island, and organizations asserting sovereignty, saying it’s a place for exchange with aliens.”
The special forces, while not acting normally, were understandable. What came after was strange.
It’s like those groups who should have stayed hidden in the shadows are emerging like cockroaches, with strangely colored ships and flags swarming and attempting to land on the island.
This has put the Japan Coast Guard and the Maritime Self-Defense Force in a frenzy.
We even received a request to deploy our battleship, Tufaris.
“I wonder why they came up with the idea of it being a place for alien exchange?”
“Maybe they’ve watched too many movies? Or is it because they saw Tufaris? It looks like a spaceship, doesn’t it?”
We couldn’t comply with that request, but the president got permission from the government to “scare them a bit.” So, three days ago, we deployed Take Mik into the vast, empty ocean, which temporarily calmed things down.
Take Mik, without any mana present, was quite tiring, but it was a gain to learn that it was possible with the right equipment.
“In any case, it’s safe to say that we’re getting an insane amount of attention from the world right now.”
“Yes, especially with the power you showed on the island. As a result, we’re also getting a constant stream of job application calls to the HR department. They ignored us when we posted job openings.”
“When the top country, the government, acknowledges you, the credibility of your existence alone makes a huge difference. We’ve also shown the reality of magic. If that’s the case, curiosity will win out.”
However, this gain is of no use since some idiot filmed it and broadcast it worldwide.
Under the president’s orders, I was allowed to unleash magic with the arrangements of Kirie-san and the Japanese government, so I can relax like this without any repercussions. But the Japanese government, which planned this, and the HR department of my company are receiving phone calls non-stop, twenty-four hours a day.
Kaido, who happened to pass by the HR department, said that the situation is even worse than the death marches at his previous company.
It must be pretty bad if someone was shouting about wanting to pull out the phone lines.
“I still can’t believe the government allowed something that would pour fuel on the fire. In the end, fewer people approached the island, but the backlash just shifted elsewhere.”
“Now that they know there’s someone who can physically cause natural phenomena in a pinch, the inquiries are coming from safer places.”
“It’s common sense that humans can’t defeat natural phenomena, and we never thought it could be controlled. But we can control it. Once people know that…”
“Its utility value must be immense.”
The desire to pull out the phone lines is a testament to the immeasurable human value we currently hold. It’s the fuel that drives the desire to know.
“Are the Testers okay? Their relatives, friends, school acquaintances, their safety might be threatened, but…”
“Ah, Kirie-san and the others are handling that. Support has also been arranged for Minami, Kitamiya, Amelia, and Katsu.”
This desire to know disregards common sense. The sharp teeth that say, “I want to know, so teach me,” can become weapons if swung aimlessly.
I would never choose not to prepare the means to prevent that.
Today’s Word:
The unknown can be either fear or something that incites curiosity.
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