Chapter 443: Orthodox (1)
The Management Bureau’s US East Branch, which I had traveled all that way to visit...
To put it bluntly, it was a total shitshow.
Reporters were swarming everywhere, creating a deafening racket.
Bureau staff were sprinting around clutching stacks of paper, hard drives, memory sticks, and every other imaginable piece of equipment.
Heroes and reservists, seemingly gathered because they were told to, were shouting and milling about because the person in charge of controlling the crowd had vanished.
Security guards and Defense Force members, their souls seemingly departed from trying to manage the chaos, were babbling nonsense.
Hmm. This feels even more disastrous than a literal battlefield.
I probably shouldn't make jokes like that since I just returned from a battlefield where people were actually dying, but the situation was so messy that the thought came naturally.
And that was just the friction between humans.
"Huh? Isn't that Death Attacker?"
"Lately, even Mutants are taking leisurely strolls through the Bureau. What a wonderful world we live in. Don't you think so, Pishia?"
A Mutant and a Hero, who clearly shared a bitter history, were glaring at each other in a tense standoff. I didn't even have a clue how to handle this mess anymore.
Judging by the metal accessories plastered all over the Mutant’s head, they didn't even seem to belong to The Society.
...What was even scarier was that despite being covered in suppressors, I could feel an aura from that Mutant equivalent to at least a low-tier A-Rank.
So there were still things like that left in the world besides The Society.
As expected, the world is vast, and there's no shortage of lunatics.
At any rate, it seemed the Bureau had dragged in every entity friendly to humanity—Mutant or otherwise—not just The Society. Even though these Mutants were observing the people in the lobby with intrigued expressions, the Bureau wasn't doing a thing about them.
The Otherworldly Power detection devices used to identify Mutants were turned off, and the security personnel only spared them a sideways glance without saying a word.
However, that was only on the surface. In reality, people like the current members of the Assassination Team were glaring at the Mutants, hiding their killing intent.
They were likely waiting for the slightest suspicious move to slit their throats.
Anyway, I could feel the Bureau’s desperation, so the chaos didn't bother me too much. But there was one thing that was seriously grating on my nerves.
"There are opinions that the Bureau’s declaration of Defcon 2 is a political maneuver to secure more budget!"
"What happened in Detroit that led to this information blackout? Please explain what that Pillar of Light is!"
"The Soviet Far East Strategic Forces announced that the Byashii-class is sufficient for the current situation, and that the US and the Bureau are just making a fuss together!"
"The European Community stated that the Atlantic fleet operations are merely formal exercises..."
A swarm of flies calling themselves the press was buzzing around anyone who looked even remotely important.
They must have been desperate for someone to interview; they were hounding people who looked like department heads or deputy directors at best, let only a Branch Manager.
I knew they were only grabbing whoever they could because Branch Manager-level officials would already be on emergency standby and nowhere to be seen, but I wished they’d show some restraint, considering those people had work to do in this crisis.
Of course, if they knew the meaning of the word 'restraint,' they wouldn't be reporters.
However, there were two or three among them who caught my eye.
They were thrusting microphones forward just like the others, but I couldn't feel any sincerity in their actions.
It was a subtle difference that I could only notice because I was observing the whole scene from a distance.
Most likely, those guys were...
"...China? Or the Soviet Union?"
One was of East Asian descent, the other Slavic.
"The possibility of them being European seems high. Ah, that one over there might be Korean."
"That's not it. Our guys prefer shaking down the Defense Force. Just like how your side disguises themselves as police or civil servants."
Applying that logic of elimination, was one from the North Chinese Ministry of State Security?
Let's just assume the other one is Soviet.
Even in a situation like this, they're still obsessed with tearing each other apart.
"Every time this happens, I regret that the vote for a World Single Government was rejected."
I wonder what's so important about those damn nations that they have to be so loud.
Seeing this mess even when the language barrier has been mostly resolved and communication is possible, it seems these conflicts will never end as long as groups exist.
"Maybe it won't happen unless aliens invade? Besides, the global vote was 3 to 97, wasn't it?"
Aren't Otherworldly beings and aliens basically the same thing? Well, whatever.
"I was one of that 3 percent."
I remember being treated like a minor at the polling station and getting hauled away for flipping them off and telling them not to bullshit me.
In the end, I was released before the polls closed and managed to cast my vote.
"Sorry, I was against the establishment."
"Really?"
That was news to me.
Then again, when would I have ever had a reason to ask about such a thing?
Both then and now, politics is a topic best avoided between friends.
It's only because fifteen years have passed that we can bring it up as casual small talk.
Still, I hadn't intended to dig deeper into the subject, but...
"The existence of a nation doesn't matter much to me, but I thought a unified world would be too cold."
The Thunder God said so, revealing her reason for opposing it.
I didn't respond.
We simply walked together in silence through the crowd, heading further inside.
Moving through the bustling throng, a stark contrast to the reality of the approaching apocalypse.
* * *
This Management Bureau branch wasn't actually the closest one to where we started.
The original plan was to go to the nearest branch, check the current situation, receive further orders, and head into battle.
However, I stopped by this branch because of a certain piece of information the Thunder God had shared with me.
Actually, it seemed like information the Bureau had sent to me, but since I hadn't heard it because my terminal was destroyed, it counted as information from the Thunder God.
Anyway, what I was about to do now was an official operational action under the Bureau’s orders.
Everything I said in this place would be recorded, and every single action was at risk of being analyzed.
Reminding myself of that once more, I crossed the threshold with the Thunder God.
The place beyond the door looked like an ordinary room at first glance, but the moment I crossed the boundary separating the room from the outside, I could feel with my body that the inside and outside were completely different places.
The Otherworldly Power was so scarce that even extending my senses felt stifling.
A physical force suppression field made my movements sluggish, as if I were submerged in water.
I could feel various detection devices and gazes so intensely that my skin prickled.
On top of that, two high-tier A-Rank Heroes were stationed in the room in a state of high alert, openly radiating hostility.
Two Heroes with mechanical body enhancements who were less affected by the room's environment.
It was a chilling space that made the Otherworldly Power suppression labs look like child's play.
And in that chilling space sat two Otherworldly beings.
"Hmm. Could I trouble you for another cup of coffee? If possible, not the instant kind."
There was the Octopus Head, looking exactly as usual despite the numerous restrictions placed on the room.
"Oong? While you're at it, bring some milk too. The cookies here are a bit dry."
And there was a certain pig-ferret, who had been nowhere to be found when the incident broke out, but was now sitting here stuffing his face with cookies.
A surge of desire to beat them both to a pulp welled up within me, but I suppressed it as I continued my actions.
First of all, I'm a complete stranger to that Octopus Head.
So, pointedly ignoring the octopus who was leisurely enjoying his coffee...
"Ah, you're here-yong."
I grabbed my partner by the scruff of his neck and lifted him up.
"Why are you here?"
I threw the question at my partner, who was still munching on cookies and spraying crumbs at me even while being dangled by his neck.
"Ah, that Egg... I mean, that gentleman over there called for Ha-ram-nim, but Ha-ram-nim didn't show up-yong. So I was holding the spot as a proxy until you arrived-yong."
Oho. I see. That's quite interesting.
But I have one thing to ask.
"Un-ho."
"Yes-yong?"
"Just in case, do you know that my enemy has shown up?"
I was still wearing a smile. To others, it might look like my veins were popping, but for now...
"Ah! That's right-yong. I felt a new enemy appear. I was going to let you know, but you didn't answer your phone-yong, and it was too far for me to go, so I figured you'd show up on your own like last time..."
Fine. Death Penalty.
Once I decided on the punishment for Un-ho’s absurd excuse, my body began to move as fast as the Thunder God.
I pulled his tail and head to stretch him out, then tied the two ends together in a double overhand knot and pulled them tight so it would never come undone.
A Double Fisherman's Knot.
"Buaaaaack."
Perhaps because I moved like lightning, Un-ho was tied into a bizarre shape without even being able to let out a proper groan.
I tossed the trash-turned-knot into a corner of the room and sat down in a chair to face Al’shel.
Al’shel stared at me blankly, showing no reaction to the DIY lecture that had just taken place before his eyes.
I began to rack my brain for what to say to him.
First, I shouldn't call him "Hey" or use the name Al’shel.
Treating him too casually like usual probably wouldn't work either.
What kind of tone would be appropriate for a hostile target I was having a proper conversation with for the first time?
While I was pondering my opening words...
"The party I designated has arrived. Then, first..."
Al’shel spoke up before I could finish my thoughts.
"I express my gratitude for leading Hero Crimson★Hammer to this place, Thunder God-nim. Between this and providing a channel of communication with the Bureau, I find myself in your debt once again."
The Octopus Head thanked the Thunder God in his usual, half-joking tone, to which she replied...
"It's fine. It's thanks to you all that I escaped corruption. This is the least I can do."
She uttered words that might have caused anyone who knew her to faint in shock.
However, no one in this room was surprised by them.
I, too, had heard the details from the Thunder God beforehand.
Yes, the Thunder God had sacrificed her honor to resolve this situation.
She had told the Bureau a fabricated story: that she had chosen corruption to face the collapse of the Great Barrier, and that The Society had helped her just as she was about to succumb to it.
By doing so, she would be branded with the infamy of being a fallen Hero, a half-Mutant, and someone who had ties with the enemies of humanity.
But she said that by taking on such infamy, she could fight on the front lines without having to hide her power.
She said that if she hid her power just to protect her old honor, she wouldn't be a righteous Hero.
She said she would gladly tarnish her useless old honor if it was for the sake of the people and the world.
She had smiled as she said those things.
...The honor that should have been tarnished was mine, yet she chose to tarnish her own.
Feeling a pang of pain in a corner of my heart, I listened to Al’shel’s following words.
"It has been a while, Crimson★Hammer-nim. It seems that powerful hammer-work that crushed me remains as formidable as ever."
...His politeness was so excessive it felt like sarcasm.
"Can I ask why you requested to speak with me?"
When I replied with as much politeness as I could muster in response to his sarcasm...
"You may speak more normally, more destructively. Even if you were to kill me here, the alliance between The Society and the Bureau would not be broken."
Oho. Is that so?
"Then I'm even more curious. By what right am I sitting here?"
I had naturally assumed I was here to talk about the alliance, but if it had nothing to do with that, I couldn't understand why this guy would meet me in such an uncomfortable setting.
No wonder the staff didn't give me a single instruction on how to speak to him.
"I have created this place, overflowing with killing intent, to ask for your personal intentions, Crimson★Hammer-nim."
As he spoke, Al’shel tapped his empty coffee cup twice with a dissatisfied gesture.
He was probably being snide, as if to say, 'Is there no refill?'
By the way, that 'Crimson★Hammer' is incredibly annoying.
"I'm curious about those intentions, but first, call me Lee Ha-ram. Drop that damn Crimson★Hammer."
"I cannot do that. A Hero’s name is one that carries their pride. Is it not fitting that I address you with due respect?"
Al’shel spoke in a voice and tone that sounded One Hundred percent sincere, but to my ears, it sounded completely different.
This bastard is mocking me, isn't he? Right?
He's acting up because he sees an opening to mess with me, isn't he?
"...Enough, just call me Lee Ha-ra—"
"And, regarding what I wish to ask..."
Did this Al’shel bastard just cut me off?
Fine. Let's kill him.
I'm managing to control my anger for now, but it's only a matter of time.
Just as I was thinking about soaking that octopus in soy sauce to turn him into octopus braised in soy sauce...
"Our Society is preparing a large-scale counterattack against the invaders. The Bureau intended to attach a supervisor Hero, referred to on paper as a reinforcement, to this operation. For that Hero, our Society has designated you, Crimson★Hammer-nim."
Al’shel delivered the information in the quickest, most businesslike tone possible.
As if my opinion had no bearing on this decision.
"The Bureau, perhaps intending to attach a less important Hero, readily agreed to our request. Now, all that remains is your own consent, Crimson★Hammer-nim. Well, what will you do?"
This time, there was a faint, fishy smile in Al’shel’s voice.
Was this a threat? Or was he saying, 'You already know everything, so just nod'?
Perhaps it was both.
Of course, either way, it was a situation where it was better for me to accept the proposal.
However, there was one thing Al’shel had overlooked.
I absolutely hate situations like this.
Thud.
I immediately kicked the table in front of me, flipping the refreshments toward Al’shel, and spoke.
"Why the hell are you dragging me along on a Mutant picnic?"
All eyes were on me.
The Thunder God’s sighing gaze.
The gazes of the two observers, whose brains had seemingly frozen at the situation.
And the gazes of the Bureau staff watching me from somewhere.
Ignoring them completely, I stared at Al’shel, who was a mess of cookie crumbs, and continued.
"Do whatever you want. I have no intention of teaming up with Mutants."
Of course, the real reason wasn't that I didn't want to team up with Mutants, but simply that I didn't want to nod along to the octopus's words.
About thirty seconds after I had shouted...
Al’shel, who had been brushing off the cookie crumbs without any change in expression, slowly reached into his suit.
At his action, the two Heroes on standby took a step forward as if to warn him against any suspicious moves, but...
"..."
When I quietly watched Al’shel’s actions, they remained silent without taking any further action.
Al’shel then quietly pulled a piece of paper from his breast pocket.
"What does this look like to you?"
"Paper."
I answered half-heartedly, honestly having lost interest.
"It's a photograph. Here."
Al’shel flicked his finger, tossing the photo to me with a somewhat stylish flourish.
I caught the photo as it sliced sharply through the air and held it in my hand.
What is this?
The scene captured in the photo was very simple.
In an unknown city, two people were facing each other over something, their mouths open as if speaking.
It was a common enough photo at first glance.
But the identities of the two people in the photo made my brain freeze.
It took about ten seconds for my brain to process the content.
Another ten seconds to deny it.
Another ten seconds to confirm that this wasn't a lie.
And finally, about a minute to accept what was in the photo.
Only after all that mental anguish did I speak.
"...What is this?"
"It is exactly what it looks like. A photo of our two targets."
Right. So that's how it is?
The ones captured here are the targets.
Then I have no choice.
"I'll go."
Fine, I'll personally lend a hand in your war.
Since you've thrown such a bait, it's only natural that I respond.
If this turns out to be a lie, I really will turn Al’shel into octopus braised in soy sauce.
Was he satisfied with my decision?
"Understood. Then, I shall see you again on the day of the operation."
Al’shel left those words with a smile.
Gurgle.
He was submerged in the darkness that appeared beneath his feet along with a black, glowing Magic Circle, and vanished from the room in an instant.
As that bizarre spatial movement occurred, the room quickly became chaotic.
"Magic?! How?!"
"Seal off the Bureau! He couldn't have gone far!"
"Start the phenomenon analysis immediately!"
From researchers who began causing a stir behind a wall that had suddenly turned transparent—perhaps it was a wall with adjustable transparency—to personnel who had been hiding in the ceiling or floor, everyone began shouting and making a racket in the room.
The room became a mess in an instant, but...
I completely detached myself from the commotion and stared intently at the photo in my hand once more.
There were still two people in the photo.
No, to be precise, I should say there were two human-shaped things that weren't human.
One was my enemy and the Fourth Executive, the Black Tentacle Human.
And the other one was...
The Root of this entire situation that had turned the world upside down.
One of the two academic frauds. The bone-thin Slim One.
I held a photo of the two of them facing each other, exchanging the corpse of The Bulky One, the other academic fraud.
Without knowing from the photo alone whether both of the self-proclaimed doctors were alive, or if only one of them remained.