kscans

Chapter 129 - The Brightest Star Beyond the Screen

My reunion with Chika-san was prompted by an apology I had to make to the company she runs. Matsumoto-kun had messed up, but we managed to recover well, and we still do business with them. I am not the one directly in charge of their account, but I sometimes get called in for major discussions. Well, she did see us, after all. That time we were calling each other Chika-chan and Hiro-kun. She tries not to mention it, but when I visit her office, the female employees sometimes give me curious looks.

I am glad I was not the one who went on that sales call.

If I had closed that deal, people would have definitely whispered that personal feelings were involved. It was a huge help that the deal was mostly settled before the screwup. I really have to be careful to ensure our relationship remains a win-win, so no one can say the only reason we still have a contract is because of our connection. I think Chika-san understands that, but to my surprise, she invited me to stay after our business talk, saying she had something she wanted to discuss. It seemed unlike the Chika-san who always kept her public and private lives separate, but seeing her dejected expression, I thought she might not have the luxury to care about that right now.

Am I really the right person for this?

We are facing each other across a table in her office, and Chika-san’s expression is grim. Seriously, what is going on? Is this something I can even help with?

"You know our company is in the beauty industry, right?"

"Y, yeah."

After a long silence, that was how Chika-san began. Huh? Is this about work? If so, we should have talked about it during the meeting. I tilted my head, confused. The meeting we just had went perfectly smoothly. I could not recall any problems.

"So we do a ton of advertising."

Right. A beauty company with a beautiful president, that is a powerful combination, I always think. Chika-san does not seem to like the spotlight much, so she does not put herself front and center, but what a waste. If I were her subordinate, I would use that to our advantage as much as possible. While being careful not to seem too pushy, of course.

"So… for that, it’s natural to use actresses, idols, or models as the face of our campaigns, right?"

"That’s true."

"To be honest, I don’t know much about the entertainment world, so I leave it all to my staff."

That makes sense. It is all about putting the right person in the right place. It would be a problem if a company president was expected to be a master of everything.

"My usual pattern is to have them submit the materials when a candidate is close to being chosen, so I can get an idea of what they are like."

"I see."

"And it’s the same this time. The idea was to use a cutting edge idol group that’s been making a name for itself these past few years, so the documents came to me, but…"

Chika-san placed a file, probably sent by a subordinate, on the table. When I asked with my eyes if I could open it, she nodded. I examined the contents and understood everything.

"Do you think… they’re legitimate?"

The group’s name was Pure Love ★ Pandemonium. It was a three-member idol unit consisting of Lucifer Hoshino, Beelzebub Yasuda, and Lucifuge Saito.

"When I watch their videos, something just… feels off. I wanted to hear your opinion, Hiro."

Chika-san took out her phone to play a video, but I stopped her with my hand and spoke.

"Your gut is right. It’s because these guys are the real deal."

"...Excuse me?"

"I’m telling you, they’re the actual Lucifer, Beelzebub, and Lucifuge."

Chika-san froze, her face like a cat in the middle of a flehmen response.

"It hasn’t even been half a year since you returned to the Supernatural World, Chika-san. I guess it makes sense you wouldn’t know."

When these guys started their activities, the Supernatural World was in an uproar. I mean, we got an official request from the government and the Mutual Aid Society. They asked us to find out what those demons were thinking. I thought it was absurd, but I could not say I was not curious myself, so I paid a visit to their agency.

"W, why would such big names from the demon world do something like this?"

"Simply put, it’s to gather faith."

Faith is not something reserved for gods. Most inhuman beings are equipped with a function that converts human emotions directed at them into power. Among all people, the Japanese happen to be prime targets. One day they are enjoying Christmas, and a few days later they are at a temple for the New Year’s Eve bell, then at a shrine for their first visit of the year. It is a classic example used to explain the fluid religious views of the Japanese, and it is spot on. They are not ideal for cultivating devout followers who offer unwavering faith, but if you just want a little taste of it, targeting the Japanese is the best way to go.

"I know, but… why idols?"

"To develop a new market."

In this country, Lucifer is practically a symbol for eighth-grade syndrome, you know? That guy is raking in faith from all the boys who think Lucifer is so cool.

"So he figured he’d try to squeeze some faith from the Japanese in another area too."

"And that was idols?"

"Yep."

There is quite a lot of creative work out there, led by Lucifer, that reimagines big-name demons as female characters. Those have been well-received by otaku, but apparently, he thought there was more to be mined. So he decided to branch out from 2D into 3D, and the result was idols.

"I see the reasoning. Well, I can’t say I understand it. But is that okay?"

It means that villains are gaining more power. For humans, that is certainly not a good thing.

"It seems they’ve been given free rein, at least in this country."

They must have anticipated that I would show up. After they explained things, they asked me to act as a liaison with the Japanese government. Though being a liaison just means setting up meetings.

"So they made some kind of secret pact?"

"Probably."

It was likely an agreement that they would not run wild in Japan like the gods and monsters from other mythologies that occasionally cause trouble here. But that promise probably only applies to the three of them, including Lucifer, not to all demons. The demon side would not accept such a broad restriction, and the government would be accused of being in bed with demons, so it was likely a mutual agreement.

"Are people in the Supernatural World okay with this?"

Not everyone in the Supernatural World is a lapdog for the government or the Mutual Aid Society. Of course, there was discontent about them accepting demon lords on their own. There was, but…

"But?"

"Those guys are deviously clever."

You know how when a Hollywood star says they love Japanese food, their popularity here instantly skyrockets? Think of it as a much more advanced version of that. Lucifer and his group quelled the dissent by making masterfully clever appeals about how much they love Japan to the dissatisfied factions. No, it went far beyond just quelling it.

"Guys who were fired up to drive them out, even at the cost of their own lives, are now dedicated idol otaku."

"How could this happen…"

Chika-san held her head in her hands. For someone as earnest as her, this must be a real headache.

"In any case, I don’t think you’re making a mistake by hiring them. They are very capable."

"Well… I suppose they would be…"

Yeah, well, good luck, Madam President.