kscans

Chapter 176 - Chapter 6: Epilogue - Part One

Chapter 6: Epilogue - Part One

A week has passed since the Great Stampede assaulted the Tokyo metropolis—a day when giants ran rampant, dragons roared, and demonic beings flew through the sky.

It was now late August, and the temperatures were soaring. Even as the world's common sense crumbled, global warming still raged on with full force.

...I hear that the people who lost their homes in the incident are having a very hard time in the shelters.

Tokyo's population is massive to begin with. Even though the number of people emigrating has increased since the 'Day of Awakening,' not everyone can just build a new life for themselves in a foreign country.

Still, as the saying goes, when one door closes, another opens. All sorts of organizations have stepped up to support the victims.

The most significant aid came from the United States.

President Fudge Valentine had been gradually moving to abandon Japan, withdrawing fighter jets and warships from our bases. But it seems he was human after all; he shed genuine tears over the disaster.

He has promised a substantial amount of relief supplies and the construction of temporary housing.

He was even more 'America First' than the previous president and had earned the scorn of other nations, so I was never a fan of his. But after this, I've decided to change my opinion of him, just a little.

Next were the 'Walkers' and the 'Alchemy Enthusiasts Club.'

Surprisingly, even the founding members of the club, who usually shy away from the spotlight, have come to the disaster areas to help with the recovery.

As expected, alchemy truly shines in times like these. Working alongside the Walkers, they are rebuilding the city at a remarkable pace.

And, of course, the government is also providing various forms of support... though it hasn't been as prominent as the others. Then again, maybe that's just how administration works.

In any case, although the wounds from the Great Stampede—which claimed three hundred thousand lives between the dead and the missing—are deep, people have managed to start moving forward once again.

*

When I mentioned all this at the Arisugawa residence.

"Well, I suppose it's also because the public has found an unexpected sense of hope. The supply chains haven't broken down, either," Aira-san said, stirring her iced coffee with a straw in the living room.

The ice cubes clinked softly against the inside of the glass.

"Hope, you say?"

"Mhm. Part of it is that people have started to get 'used to' negative situations and information, but positive news came out at the same time. For example..."

"The exploits of the 'B-Rank Candidates,'" I finished, cutting into Aira-san's sentence.

"...Yeah. I won't deny that."

"I thought they were just a gathering of crackpots and weirdos, a veritable parade of freaks. But when it counted, they were a reliable bunch."

"They were. During the battle, they were all extremely composed and very reassuring," Mia-san added with a nod from beside Aira-san.

On another note, hopeless college girl number one was in a T-shirt and shorts today. Number two was wearing a sleeveless blouse and a miniskirt.

Her slender white arms and her shapely legs—well-proportioned despite their healthy thighs—were dazzling.

I hate summer, but I could learn to like this part of it.

"And after the battle, those who could still move went straight to helping with rescue efforts and treating the injured."

"Which only made their... festive behavior afterward all the more shocking..."

"Indeed..."

After that battle, I had regained consciousness within a few minutes and spent my time wandering through the rubble all over Tokyo, searching for survivors.

There were people I managed to save, and there were those I couldn't reach in time. If I had used more of the Nucleus's power, could I have saved more lives?

...No, that's not something I should be thinking about right now.

Getting back on topic, once the amateurs who were just strong had done all they could and enough firefighters had gathered, we were all dismissed. We had already confirmed the complete annihilation of the Jotnar and Fafnir.

Director Akasaka mentioned something about letters of appreciation later, but everyone was so exhausted that most of us just tuned him out.

The problem was what came after.

'The battle is over. Finally, I can be free of these stuffy clothes. Oops, my nipple pasty is crooked. Must have happened when I let that old man suck on it, I suppose?'

'Even if it burned, I'm finally in Tokyo. I must dress in a stylish manner. Behold, this loincloth! It's actually see-through, you see.'

'Working like a horse made me realize... I'm going to become a horse for a bit! I need to get some human-sized tack!'

'My lady! In that case, how about we take turns every 500 meters!? I want to be a horse, too! There's no law that says a cat can't become a horse!'

'Phew. Well, I suppose we'll get back to our missionary work.'

'We formed a temporary alliance this time, but from now on, we're rivals again.'

'Who is the true Hair Master... one day, we shall settle this!'

'Phew. As I thought, that Arcane Gear that exposes my nipples is just too embarrassing. Having armor on feels much safer.'

'You think so? I, for one, want to show off this chiseled body to the masses. Yes, with samba!'

Etcetera, etcetera.

There were plenty of other perverts, each of whom switched off their limiters and turned into a bizarre biker gang.

I don't think I'll be forgetting the look on Director Akasaka's face in that moment anytime soon—a look of utter resignation. I never knew 'despair' could be so clearly written on someone's face...

"Fortunately, they weren't caught on camera in that state..."

"If they had been, they would have been labeled either as 'tasteless pranksters' or 'people clowning around to try and lighten the mood.' The fact that they were all completely serious is what isn't funny."

Why is it that I'm the only sane 'B-Rank Candidate'? And most of them are totally oblivious, with a tendency to think that they are the normal ones and all the other candidates are perverts.

This self-proclaimed ninja and hopeless college girl number two sitting next to me are pretty out there, too, honestly. Am I the only sane one here?

"Well, thanks to their valiant efforts, public opinion is leaning toward revising the Dungeon Law, and adventurers are being seen in a much more favorable light. A few... a few? A few eccentricities should probably be overlooked, right?"

"Could you please not say that while questioning it yourself?"

I think it's a bit of a stretch to dismiss that as 'a few eccentricities.'

"Anyway. Speaking of 'B-Rank Candidates,' Kyouta-kun—"

"But you know, I wonder why the stampede even happened. They started mandatory inspections of vacant houses and increased patrols all over Japan from the end of June."

I tilted my head, once again cutting Aira-san off.

"Right? It's so weird. I think it was a forest near a farming village outside the 23 wards, wasn't it? But I heard places like that were being investigated the most thoroughly," said Erina-san, in her usual kimono today. She rested her chin on her hands, her elbows propped up on the table.

And her chest was resting on the table, too. My sincerest thanks.

"The investigators are only human, so there are bound to be mistakes and oversights, and they're probably short-staffed. But as someone who almost died, I really wish they'd cut me some slack."

"Mmm. That's true, but... something feels off about it."

"Off?"

"...Nah. It's nothing."

"Oh, okay."

One moment Erina-san was furrowing her brow in thought, and the next she was flashing a bright smile. As always, it's impossible to tell what she's thinking.

"There's a lot of speculation about that online. Some say it was a secret government experiment, others say it was negligence. Occasionally, you see a post claiming 'a mysterious group was seen fleeing in all directions from where the gate appeared,' but it's all unsubstantiated information."

"I see. So, I guess the simplest explanation is that it was an oversight due to a lack of manpower... huh."

"That might be the most 'boring' conclusion. However, Kyouta-kun. The hope I mentioned earlier—"

"Speaking of which—"

"Hey! Face reality!"

"I refuse!"

Aira-san shoved her tablet screen in my face, but I whipped my head away with all my might.

It's okay to run away, I'm only human...!

"It'll be easier if you just accept it, you know?"

"Want some katsudon, Kyouta-chan?! C'mon, confess!"

"I will not yield!"

"Excuse me, what is happening right now?"

Mia-san, please, stay just the way you are. Even among the hopeless, you're one of the relatively better ones...!

Also, what do you mean, confess? Seriously, what? And why are you holding a desk lamp, Erina-san?

"Um, Kyouta-kun. Personally, I'd like to properly understand your stance on this, so I would appreciate it if you could grasp the current situation soon. It's been a week, after all."

"...Yessir."

Chastised by Mia-san, I reluctantly turned my gaze to the tablet.

On the screen was the back of a boy with his Flügel unfurled. In other words, me. Seeing myself from behind feels... strange.

Emblazoned across the image Aira-san had chosen were these words:

'The Mysterious Knight Who Saved the People! Who Are the Invisible Ninjas?!'

"Oh..."

Why... Why did it come to this?

"Hey, you're pretty popular, Kyouta-kun! What was it again? 'You shall not pass,' was it? A true hero!!"

"So annoying..."

"I saw it, Kyouta-chan, your way of the ninja!!"

"I think I have the right to punch you, you know."

"!?"

At this point, I'll just accept the fact that I was caught on a TV camera. There's nothing I can do about it.

The broadcast signals were down at the time, but the camera crew that filmed it uploaded the footage to the internet later.

Sure, there are all sorts of issues, like portrait rights and the fact that they shouldn't be uploading footage shot with company equipment without permission. But according to the guy from the TV station who was holding the camera:

'Shut up! I witnessed destiny! Look at my art!'

He was clearly delirious, and I hear he's in a hospital now.

The real problem is that even though I had the professor request the image be taken down, it's already spread across the sea of the internet, copied and shared everywhere.

"Shī-chan and Ā-chan printed it out and made it into a poster! Let's go see it sometime!"

"So there were enemies among my own allies...!"

What really gets me is that various media outlets are broadcasting my words from that moment with a 'Well, it's already out there, right? We won't use the image!' attitude, and it's just agonizing.

This is so embarrassing! Why did I say something like that back then?! Right, it was to steel myself and to reassure the panicking people! Dammit!

'The heroic struggle of a courageous boy. His phenomenal combat abilities are...!'

'You see, the adventurer system was necessary after all. I've been saying so from the beginning.'

'However, from the video, it's highly likely he's still in his teens based on his voice.'

'The Invisible Ninjas. There's a rumor that it's the name of a secret society that moves in the shadows of society...!'

'There are many things we should discuss, but one thing is clear. He, and his companions, saved many lives. They fought those monsters with everything they had, you see.'

Please stop discussing and analyzing this so seriously. I'm going to die. Of embarrassment.

And what the hell is this about a secret society? What idiot took the ramblings of a self-proclaimed ninja seriously?

"Also. Shī-chan said, 'I have something to talk to you about regarding the Flügel. Be prepared.' Just so you know."

"...Got it."

Covering my face with my hands, I nodded at Ooyama-san's message.

Is she going to chew me out for half-destroying the prototype? No, knowing her personality, that's unlikely.

Ooyama-san is the type of artisan who would tell you to break the tool if it means the user survives. That's why I can entrust my life to her work.

"She said, 'Don't use it in ways not written in the manual!'"

"...Roger that!"

So that's what it was about.

The Flügel was originally meant to be a sort of 'acceleration device'; flight was not its intended purpose.

I just read the manual and thought, 'Hey, I bet this could work,' and tried flying by relying on its high output.

And what do you know, it worked surprisingly well. My [Spirit Eye]'s kinetic vision, corrections from [Concept Interference], and accelerated thinking from the 'Nucleus.'

By combining various things, I was able to achieve results you wouldn't expect from a first-time attempt.

That being said, I'm starting to feel like I deserve to be scolded by its creator.

"Anyway, now I'm really looking forward to the cultural festival, hero-kun! All sorts of people will come, having heard the rumors about you. You should let them see you in the spotlight!"

"I want to boycott...!

"You can't, Kyouta-chan. You've already told so many people you'd do it."

"Dammit...! Dammit...!"

"My condolences, in a way."

I've already announced to the teachers and every class that I'll be participating in the cultural festival.

Skipping out now would look really bad. I thought about using the excuse of being traumatized by the stampede, but even my socially inexperienced self knows that having a 'top-tier adventurer be mentally unstable' would be a bad look.

My origins and personality are painfully ordinary, but on the outside, I'm a 'B-Rank Adventurer Candidate.' I am, at least, aware of my own combat strength.

My level went up quite a bit in that battle, too. I feel like I could probably take down a battleship now. Not that I know the specific definition of a battleship, so it's just a gut feeling.

Anyway. It feels conceited to say it, but I'm what you would call a powerful person. If someone like that might go crazy and rampage, the neighbors probably wouldn't be able to rest easy.

Honestly, it's a pain to be that considerate of the local residents... but more than anything, Erina-san is looking forward to the cultural festival.

I owe her a debt I can never repay. When I think about that, what's the risk of my cross-dressing姿 being broadcast nationwide!

...Sorry. It's still really hard...!

"Um. So, Kyouta-kun, is it okay for the Arisugawa and Rinzaki families to continue refusing all media interviews for the time being?"

"Yes... please and thank you..."

"Grandma's connections have spread even further lately! Don't worry, we'll keep the relatively decent media outlets away. Can't say the same for the underground ones, though."

"Apparently the Dungeon Agency is taking care of those. It's part of the 'care package' for the 'B-Rank Candidates' who participated in that battle."

"...I have a feeling they just don't want the public to know the reality of those who are being called 'the hope of Japan' online. A lot of the candidates are... not exactly prime-time material."

I let out a deep sigh as the family of perverts discussed things.

Ah, if only I had a time machine, I'd destroy that TV camera...! How did it come to this, really?

For now, the professors and others are fending off the interviews, but I have no idea what will happen at the cultural festival. Please, I just hope nothing weird happens.

As I sighed again with a distant look in my eyes, the clock on the wall caught my eye.

"Ah, it's almost time."

"Oh, right. I'll turn it on now, then."

Aira-san said, turning on the living room TV with the remote.

The reason we all gathered here today was none other than to witness 'Professor Arisugawa's research findings' as people who were involved. We could have watched it at home, but we were invited since it was a special occasion.

On that day, the professor had tried everything she could to come to Tokyo as reinforcements. But she was all the way in Kyushu at the time and couldn't make it.

Lately, she'd been traveling from Hokkaido to Okinawa, and sometimes even to universities and research institutes overseas.

She'd been frantically meeting with various university professors and experts for 'a certain announcement.' We haven't been told the specific details yet.

Apparently, the names of renowned researchers are listed on the paper, and it's drawing attention from all over the world. There are predictions about the announcement's content online and on TV, but none are confirmed.

Of all of us here, only Aira-san knows what the paper is about.

She placed the birdcage containing Sana on the table. It had been a few days, so I stuck my fingertip through the bars of the cage and gave her some mana.

I had a feeling this little one was involved. In that case, that paper must be about...

The screen switched from a studio to a podium somewhere.

Professor Arisugawa walked confidently into a space lined with countless cameras.

Dressed in a suit, she gave a calm bow before bringing her cherry-pink lips to the microphone.

'Thank you all for gathering here today. I will now present the results of our analysis regarding the civilization whose remains were left within the dungeons.'

A stir went through the crowd on the other side of the screen.

Those of us here, except for Aira-san, were also a little surprised. We had suspected it, but did she really manage to decipher it?

"Just to be clear, we haven't figured everything out. But this is a major step forward," Aira-san said, glancing our way with a cynical smile.

'What I am about to say may seem unbelievable. However, I want to state first that this is a conclusion we reached after discussions with numerous distinguished researchers.'

Professor Arisugawa operated the laptop on the lectern.

An image of the text recorded in the 'Dungeon of Utuq' was projected onto the screen behind her.

'The dungeons, which have brought us so much hardship. They are...'

After a brief pause, Professor Arisugawa closed her eyes.

'...the factories of a certain empire that prospered, and then perished, in another world.'

She began to speak of an incredible 'truth.'