A Punchy Lesson in Ditching Common Sense

Did I really need to be reminded like this not to get too hung up on common sense? It had been two days since Tenri got her hands on some endgame martial arts technique. We were right around the halfway mark of boot camp, and there I was... away from my juniors, in Japan.

"I've got this."

"If even Aris wasn't here, I probably wouldn't have come at all."

Well, truth be told, with a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠clear purpose for the trip, I might've shown up anyway. But regardless, the only one tagging along was Aris. Even Su-yeon, who'd been joining me everywhere lately, stayed behind this time. She was swamped these days, after all. Business registration, all sorts of legal paperwork, prepping the online shop homepage, and more. Her venture was really taking off now. On top of that, she was training in boot camp—though a bit more leisurely than the others. And even with our daily collabs, she squeezed in her own late-night streams. No wonder Tenri got inspired and ended her indefinite hiatus to start streaming alongside training.

"Su-yeon... yeah, the passport was her Achilles' heel."

But to be honest, even with her packed schedule, Su-yeon had tried to come along on this Japan trip. She just failed.

"You absolutely need a passport to leave the country, after all."

"......"

Aris was giving me this weird look. Like she was a niece staring at her immature uncle or something. Well, better than the overly timid vibe from last time, I guess. That stuff just makes me uncomfortable.

I chatted casually with Aris like that as we stepped off the plane—my first time ever flying.

"It's a shame we slipped in so quietly. Considering senpai's achievements, this place should've been packed with cheering crowds."

"Nah, that'd be too much pressure. Parades especially—they bring back old memories."

Though it'd be different from that other world, of course. Still, I could never get used to it.

Like those occasional superchats from Japanese whales popping up on stream to say thanks.

"Even the chartered flight we prepped went unused—might as well have been a plane."

"Looking back, yeah, kinda disappointing."

First class, right? This economy-plus seat was luxurious enough that two hours felt too short. Wonder what kind of wonders a private jet holds.

"Schedule's too tight, too. I had so much I wanted to show senpai."

"This is business. Everyone else is grinding away—no time for tourist mode. We'll do the fun stuff another time."

"You'll come back next time too, right?"

"What's stopping me?"

Like a dam breaking, Aris unleashed a flood of regrets. I soothed her as best I could. Come to think of it, I hadn't traveled in ages. Not since returning to Earth. Got my fill in that other world, I guess? Never really felt the itch.

But that felt pretty jaded now. No— it was jaded. Adventures in a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠medieval otherworld and 21st-century Earth vacations aren't the same thing.

"Once everyone's settled, how about a magical girl vacation?"

"Mm. That... sounds nice. To Japan, right?"

"Hokkaido's calling my name."

"Not because of the foxes, I hope?"

"......"

How'd she know? I heard they have tons there. Plus, personally, I dig snowy spots. Ice crystal magical girl and all that...

"Actually, there's a fox village right here on Honshu too. Fox Village—I haven't been, but."

"Oh."

We're in Tokyo, so pretty close? Maybe squeeze in a day trip... Nah, better not. I said we'd save it. Plus, the schedule was packed.

I'm a global heavyweight these days—not quite otherworld hero party level, but close. We'd agreed to keep it low-key, no big announcements or flashy shows. Still, slipping into an academic conference unnoticed wasn't easy. Especially in Japan, ground zero for the Yamata no Orochi incident.

"Hello. Tempest, Calamity."

As Aris and I walked, a voice called out. A guy in a suit, unremarkable at first glance. But obviously no normie—he'd pierced my transformed perception inhibition field to spot us.

"The Prime Minister is waiting."

So, our pre-arranged government escort. Guide, basically.

"And you are?"

"No official affiliation to declare. But this proves my identity."

Movie-secret-agent vibes. I idly watched Aris verify some ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠card-thing.

"Senpai. Let's go."

"Yeah. Didn't expect the PM himself."

Figured some minister-level bigwig at best. Or if it was the PM, they'd have him call me over. Leaders are notoriously glued to their seats from experience. Was gonna bail if they sent lackeys...

"It's only natural."

Aris said it so matter-of-factly—guess my bias was off-base. Fair enough; otherworld rules don't apply here.

"Meeting their PM before our own president. Kinda weird."

Saying it out loud felt off. I followed the guide with Aris anyway.

We soon reached a spacious secure room inside the airport. Perfect for confidential talks—purpose-built or repurposed, who knows.

Inside, just the Prime Minister and two attendants.

"An honor to meet our savior, even like this. Elice Calamity."

Prime Minister Minato Taichi. Soft-spoken and polite, he introduced his companions. One was the Defense Minister, Wakatsuma Yoshiro. The pretty woman opposite was Minami Reika, Japan's top awakener.

"She's graciously volunteered as escort—our nation's finest."

"N-Nice to meet you."

Her level? Not quite S-rank. A smidge above current Aris. Her sparkling eyes at me suggested no worries there—good.

"...What trouble were you expecting?"

"These meetings usually involve posturing, power plays, right?"

Not just otherworld stuff. National pride cliché and all.

I'd imagined Japan's strongest going, "Elice Calamity, huh? Let's see what you got," picking a fight.

Minami Reika herself looked baffled at my answer.

"Huh? With you? No way."

"...She was on-site for the Yamata no Orochi incident."

"No one in our country would dare act so boldly against you."

Even their sudden official thanks last time was humbling. The Orochi takedown must've hit like a nuke here. Makes sense—Aris nearly got PTSD, and the other awakeners got crushed by my mana.

"Can't say there's no admiration, but no one doubts senpai. I can prove it."

"I see..."

Apparently, I'm treated as some transcendent entity, separate from Korea too. But zero suspicion? Really? Unless they literally got their heads smacked...

A flicker of doubt, but not worth digging into.

"I'm looking forward to today's presentation. Whatever this big reveal is they've kept under wraps."

"Even you don't know, PM?"

"Bits and pieces, but the real surprise? Even the researchers are in the dark. Tempest is presenting herself."

"That's right."

The small talk stayed warm and cautious, as proven. No sneaky politics like "while we're here..." Just meeting was enough. If anything, building goodwill with me. Natural—who wants to poke a walking nuke?

Common sense, right?

...Or so I thought, a few hours later. Thirty minutes to the conference where Aris and I would appear.

"Calamity. You must have patriotism."

"...?"

I got a harsh refresher on not clinging to common sense.

"Sigh. I get cherishing your industry peers. But foreign magical girls? They're ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠fine on their own. Prioritize our nation's talented awakeners..."

"Uwaaaaaah!"

Oh, Rising Dragon Fist. Defense Minister, right? For his age, the buff grandpa's fist sent the yapping Chief Cabinet Secretary flying.

"Huff, huff."

"This a skit?"

Village comedy? Too absurd for anger. I asked seriously.

"Gag, gag. Yeah, gag. Huff, huff."

"Breathe, man."

He might keel over. The victim was writhing on the floor.

"Guh, glurk."

Alive. I turned from the gasping minister and twitching secretary.

"Aris. What face do I make here?"

"...Senpai. Gonna defect?"

No drip back? I shuddered instead at Susanoo Tempest's sudden revival.