Chapter 6
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: Prophets (1)
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"To think this is a brand-new power device made by a major corporation... As expected of a company swimming in cash; they've got something really special... Hey, you know that old movie Stargate? There's a device just like this one, and in it, it works as a kind of portal. Bet there's an SF fanatic at that company. Ah, I'd love to meet them and chat sometime..."
Sally was lost in her own little world, chattering away with total enthusiasm. Her green eyes sparkled as she poked and prodded everywhere, her passion practically radiating off her.
But I didn't have the bandwidth to share her excitement.
"...What should I do?"
Because it was seriously fucked.
The round, ring-shaped portal had a tangle of complex mechanical hoses connected to it. Right in the center, like a gem embedded in an engagement ring, was an inscription—the symbol for the [Prophets]. It had made a huge impact when it showed up in the original story and was one of the core plot devices, so there was no forgetting that shape.
That portal was definitely the villains' gear.
And right now, it was in my dad's company.
"Serika. What's wrong? You feeling sick or something?"
Sally, who'd been rambling on solo for a good while, finally noticed me gnawing on my nails in worry. Her eyes went wide as she asked.
"Ah, no. I was just thinking it's pretty amazing."
Of course, there was no way to explain it, so I gave an awkward smile and shook my head. Sally didn't pick up on anything off from my grin and dove right back into her world.
"Right? You think so too, huh? A power device like this, and I get to lay hands on it... Seriously, if you ever end up in this field someday, you'll get why I'm over the moon. This thing is..."
I let Sally's mechanical rundown go in one ear and out the other as I sank deep into thought.
What should I do?
For starters, that thing was in my dad's company—what the hell was I supposed to do about it?
Call the cops?
"Hello? Police?"
"Yeah, sure thing, kiddo. What's the problem?"
"Yes, sir. There are bad guys researching a portal that summons demons from another world on the factory site my dad's company runs."
"Uh-huh. Demons popping out of your dad's factory portal?"
"Yeah, and the villains are gonna use those demons to conquer the world..."
"Kid, no prank calls."
I imagined calling the station for a second, then shook my head.
A little girl is invincible, sure—but only in situations one adult can handle. For massive incidents needing a ton of manpower, kids don't get any credibility.
What about laying it all out straight to Dad?
If I talked to him seriously, maybe it'd sort itself out?
"Dad!"
"Yeah, what's up, sweetie? Here to hang with your old man?"
"Dad, truth is, the company you're partnering with is a secret group called the Prophets, and they're using your firm to summon demons from another world."
"..."
"..."
"That's the setup today, huh? Alright, then Daddy's one of the bad guys from that company! Waaah! Exploiting Iwamoto Industry!"
Yeah, no dice.
No matter how I pictured it, I couldn't see convincing Dad.
Hell, even I'd never buy something like that. A huge capital investment pouring into my company, and I should cut ties because they're portal researchers from another world?
Just because some little girl said so?
No way in hell.
So what now? What the hell was I supposed to do?
Oblivious to my insides burning to a crisp, Sally grinned ear to ear as she hugged the portal—now even sticking out her tongue to lick it.
"Sis, hold up! Don't touch it! No licking!"
"Huh? No, I wasn't gonna eat it! Just curious what metal they coated the surface with...!"
"You can't tell by tasting it! Come on, let's go! I gotta get home and do homework!"
"Hng..."
Sally, clearly itching to cling to that portal longer, threw a childish tantrum as I dragged her out.
For now, I'd have to think it over some more.
Life gets compared to a thread sometimes, but that's just a metaphor.
A knot unties if you pull it apart—but life? Once it's tangled, you're stuck thrashing around.
Right now, I felt smack in the middle of one massive knot.
I couldn't think of any way to unravel this mess.
If I just pretended not to notice and moved on, when the villains finally got crushed later, our family would go down with them.
It'd hit the news too. Evil Iwamoto Industry! Joined the Prophets' conspiracy and aided portal research! President dodges blame, claims ignorance!
But trying to report it somewhere now? They were all undercover, no overt crimes yet. A report might cause a brief hiccup, then they'd scheme in some hidden spot using methods I'd never see coming.
And they were villains, weren't they? They'd track the tipster and rip the head off a little girl or whatever.
They were the type with no mercy for anyone outside their circle.
"Haa..."
So here I was again, back at the under-construction factory. Staring at that weird portal device might spark some idea.
Weekend lull in construction meant we had the place to ourselves.
"Uh heh..."
Sally had dragged in a long lounge chair like you'd see at the beach, plopped down with a juice in hand, and was ogling the portal. Her gaze was downright sleazy, like some dude sneaking peeks at bikini babes.
Her periodic sighs broke my concentration, so I frowned and asked.
"...Sis, what're you doing?"
"Huh? Oh, well, once the real work kicks off, no more leisurely gawking, so I'm soaking it in now."
Sally leaned back against the chair as she said it. Sunglasses and a camera sat beside her—no way did she look like someone at a factory.
"You look like you're at a resort."
"You wouldn't get it, Serika. I feel like I'm on vacation. Check it—breeze is refreshing, inhale and you get that iron tang. Researching stuff like this was my dream... Ahh, it's just too good..."
Sally made a show of taking a huge breath. The half-built factory reeked of iron and that thick, factory-stale air. I tried inhaling like her, then shook my head.
"Sis, still—if someone shows up, we're gonna get in trouble."
Sally flinched at my words, then forced a casual grin.
"Huh? Pfft, it's a day off—who's coming to the factory? And we're just looking; who's gonna complain?"
Sally could be such a weirdo sometimes. She worked hard, sure, but vacationing at a factory? Maybe that day she got caught in too much rain messed something up in her head. Shaking my head, I spotted a black sedan rolling in from the city direction.
"Sis, someone's coming."
Unlike Sally's rosy prediction, someone upstairs clearly had big interest in this factory. She jolted upright, whipped around, saw the luxury car approaching, and panicked—scrambling to tidy the chair and gear.
"Wh-who is it? Your dad?"
"Not my dad's car."
Not a company vehicle either. But that sleek black sedan was barreling straight for our factory. Tense as hell, Sally scanned around, straightened her clothes, and asked me.
"Wh-what do we do? G-gonna get yelled at? Should we hide? Or..."
I sighed at her panicked face.
"Hiding would look even more suspicious. We're not thieves."
"Ah, right! We're not thieves. Yeah! Let's act confident."
Only then did Sally crack a smile and fix her posture. Truth was, there was nothing to call us out on. She was one of the project's nominal researchers, and it wasn't like they could gripe about the lead checking the machine before launch.
And I was the Iwamoto Industry president's daughter.
The boss's kid wandering the factory site? Totally normal.
Heh.
Damn straight.
The sedan pulled up right in front of the factory. We stood tall at the entrance, welcoming it—legs spread shoulder-width like pros, faces set in determination.
Posed like an idol group teaser shot. The car door cracked halfway open, and a woman poked her head out.
"...What the? I was told the factory was empty today."
Sunglasses on a gaunt, middle-aged woman.
Irritable tone as she cocked her head.
The second Sally spotted her, her confidence tanked. She hunched over and started bowing frantically.
"Ah, h-hello! Hehe... I'm Sally, project lead for Iwamoto Industry this time. And this is Iwamoto Serika, the president's daughter."
"...Hello."
I stared hard at the woman for a beat. Sally jabbed my side, and I managed a greeting.
But my eyes stayed locked on her.
I knew this woman.
Telekinesis user Dennis.
One of the Prophets' operatives.