Kanata seems to have studied the language of flowers.
It took a week for the wide shows to lose interest.
During that time, I had to undergo several interviews I didn’t want to, which was a hassle.
I’d have much rather taken the practical exercises of the curriculum.
There was a reason interest waned in a week.
There was bigger news, and attention shifted to that.
The news was a disaster, an epidemic that broke out in a satellite city (colony city) near Ligrit.
No, it might be more accurate to call it a man-made disaster rather than a natural one.
The epidemic is called “Outsiders’ Black Death” in this world.
I think “Outsider” is a rather insulting term, but it’s true that the people of this world call areas far from the central regions, where they fight for hegemony through war, “Outsides.”
“Outsides” are essentially the general term for places that became uninhabitable for humans in the world-scale biohazard “Big Stampede Day” 40 years ago, and they occupy nearly half of the world.
Geographically, roughly speaking, the areas corresponding to the original world’s North America, South America, and Africa seem to be the “Outsides.”
…However, it seems that humans are not completely absent from the “Outsides.”
There are still a small number of people who remained in the ancestral lands, and they are called “Outsiders.”
Marika-san told me that Curtis-san of the Asura Unit is an Outsider.
Curtis-san’s hometown, the Atlas Republic, is in the “Outsides.” He was born and raised there and lost his limbs to an epidemic.
“So, Kanata, don’t talk about ‘Outsides’ in front of Curtis. He’s normally a cheerful and silly guy with a pompadour, but he completely changes when it comes to talk about the ‘Outsides’.”
That’s what I was told. Curtis probably can’t stand his hometown being called an “Outside” and being looked down upon.
Having been away myself, I now truly understand the nostalgia and value of one’s hometown.
If I could return to this world again, I would want to go back.
It’s something I can’t tell Curtis, but there’s a reason why people from the central regions dislike Outsiders.
The main reason is the Outsiders’ Pest. It’s an epidemic brought from the “Outsides.” It’s not highly lethal, but it’s highly contagious.
It comes in various types, like influenza, and can even be different epidemics.
It seems that epidemics from the “Outsides” are collectively called Outsiders’ Pest.
If such an epidemic broke out in a satellite city of Ligrit, of course, news about terror incidents would be blown away.
Another reason is that a considerable percentage of people living in the “Outsides” are fugitives from the central regions.
Normally, people don’t run away without a reason. Moreover, that’s especially true for places with a harsh living environment.
In other words, it seems that many criminals and deserters are among the Outsiders, which is also a reason for their ostracization.
“It seems the cause of the epidemic was indeed an illegal immigrant from the ‘Outsides.’ Though it’s possible the quarantine bureau was incompetent.”
Lilith is looking dejected while watching the noon news on the stereoscopic television.
I guess my mood has been ruined, even though I ordered lobster via room service for lunch?
“Is the Outsiders’ Pest incurable?” I asked, picking at the lobster meat.
“It’s curable. If there’s a vaccine. Also, it doesn’t affect Bio-Metal of the third generation or higher. Their immune system is strong.”
“Then why not administer an ampule of third-generation or higher Bio-Metal to all humanity! Why don’t they do that!”
“Don’t get angry at me, Warrant Officer. Bio-Metal ampules are basically expensive, even if they’re cheaper than tanks. In this world, where they continue to waste money like fools on war, there’s no way ampules would be available for anyone other than soldiers.”
This world is truly insane.
“Iska, your business must be booming, with a pharmaceutical company in your group.”
“…We’re not in a position to criticize. We’re benefiting from the Commander’s patronage here.”
“Warrant Officer, you really do love finding reasons to be self-deprecating! It’s not a good habit, this self-deprecating search!”
Only those with Polianna syndrome go around looking for the positive.
…Don’t give me that sidelong glance. Alright, alright. I’ll try looking for the positive for a change!
“Securing the original infected individuals, huh. It’s good that it doesn’t seem to have escalated into something serious.”
“Indeed, since the discovery was early, the affected area seems to be limited, and it should resolve in two to three days,” Lilith said.
“It seems there were no fatalities, so that’s good.”
“When the worst damage occurred, it’s said that 100,000 people died. Undertakers must be making a fortune.”
“Undertakers are making a fortune even now, aren’t they? There are always war dead.”
“Maybe I should start an undertaker business too. I do look good in mourning clothes.”
Lilith is a girl who looks good in black, but please leave that to gothic lolita. Mourning wear is a no-go.
As I was thinking that, my Handycom rang. It was Marika-san.
“Kanata, change into your military uniform immediately and come to the rooftop heliport!”
“Understood! What happened?”
I put the Handycom on speaker and asked as I took out military uniforms from the closet and changed.
“There’s a riot in the satellite city. It started as a struggle over vaccines and escalated into unrest, with a portion of the crowd in the sealed-off area rioting and causing trouble.”
“But there isn’t a unit here, what are we going to do by ourselves?”
“You can use Wolf Eye at a very low power, right? I’ll put them to sleep one by one. For those who still cause trouble, I’ll make them suffer a little.”
“Understood! I’ll be at the heliport in one minute! End transmission!”
I put the Handycom in my military uniform pocket and grabbed my gun along with the holster.
“This operation doesn’t seem like something I’d be useful for.”
“Ah, so please stay behind!”
“Hurry up and finish and come back. I’ll make Lilith’s special fried rice for dinner.”
Probably shrimp fried rice, no, lobster fried rice. Lilith hates wasting ingredients.
“Add egg drop soup and preserved vegetables too! See you later!”
I left the room and ran at top speed through the hotel towards the rooftop.
Boarding a small military helicopter, I received a tablet displaying a map of the operation area from Marika-san.
“First terrorism, now a riot. This is an exciting life, comrade.”
The one piloting the helicopter was comrade Axel, of course.
“How can I achieve a peaceful life, like that of a daisy?”
“Huh, Kanata, you know the language of daisies?”
Marika-san, please stop using that condescending tone.
I didn’t know the language of marigolds, so I studied a little.
“…Kanata, why don’t you just go to a flower shop and buy some?”
“Of course, there are probably daisy bouquets for sale at flower shops. But Natsume, does peace come as a set?”
“…I don’t know. I’d accept a bouquet of daisies, though.”
“Oh, so even Natsume would be happy to receive a bouquet. That’s great, you’re just like a girl.”
Huh? I felt something like a tic in Natsume’s forehead…
“…Instead, I’ll give you a bouquet of thistles.”
What was the language of thistles again? Um, let’s see…
“The language of thistles is revenge! Natsume! Do you hold any grudges against me!”
“…The only people who don’t have grudges against Kanata are the dead.”
“How much of a hated person am I! If all the living people hate me, then I have no place of rest in this world!”
“…You have no place of rest, Kanata. Idiot.”
She said what she wanted to say and then turned away with a pout.
Grumph, she’s even more infuriating because she’s so cute!
“It’s your fault, comrade. You said Natsume was ‘like’ a girl, didn’t you? Try to understand nuance.”
“Indeed. Kanata is worse than a dung beetle eating the excrement of a sewer rat crawling through a drainpipe.”
“…Marika-san, do you really have to say that?”
“I thought I was being restrained. Enough playing around. Let’s start the operation briefing! First…”
Kanata and Natsume, who received the briefing in the helicopter, descended by rope into the shopping street of the satellite city’s urban area where the rioters were causing trouble, securing a safe landing.
The looting has already begun, it seems. Some people are throwing stones at us, the soldiers.
Kanata deflected a stone that flew near his face with Psychokinesis, and he and Natsume faced the mob.
Marika-san, who calmly descended from the landed helicopter, issued an order.
“Natsume, silence the rioters who have invaded the shops. It’s fine to make them suffer a little. Marika-san and Kanata will go educate the ones making a racket.”
As Marika-san said that, her Scarlet Eye glowed crimson, and the rioters at the very front fell as if their strings had been cut.
Ordinary people have no resistance to the Evil Eye, you see. Scarlet Eye is good; unlike Wolf Eye, it can also put them to sleep and incapacitate them.
In the end, the riot was suppressed in about three hours through a joint operation with the regular army of the satellite city.
The difficult part was the aftermath, rather.
We had to make arrangements to prevent further riots and guard the vaccines that were the cause of the disturbance.
Because of that, I didn’t return to Superior until it was time for the pumpkin carriage to pick me up.
Lilith, who had been waiting for a long time, was asleep, her face buried in the table.
I gently picked up Lilith and laid her in bed, then had my late dinner.
While warming a small pot of egg drop soup on the induction cooker, I snacked on preserved vegetables.
If I stir-fried Lilith’s special lobster fried rice again, she’d wake up.
She’s known as an angel when she’s sleeping, this Lilith. I’ll let her remain an angel.
I put the cold fried rice into my mouth with a spoon and remembered.
Even when cold, well-made fried rice is delicious. Thank you, Lilith.
It’s been 8 months since I started posting. Writing novels is fun.
