The Call of Taira Danjo
We chatted for a while before heading to the conference room, just as we had told Sawayanagi Tobe. It wasn’t an especially large room, but it was more than enough to fit everyone. Since not all members of Seryu-tai were present, there was plenty of space to sit comfortably.
As we waited inside the conference room, the trainees who had just finished showering and changed into comfortable gym clothes entered, along with Sawayanagi Tobe.
“Everyone worked hard today.”
“Mmm…”
After Sawayanagi Azuma and Lianna Holden encouraged the trainees who had finished their training, and once everyone was seated, I opened my mouth.
“You all know about the superpower terrorist incident that happened in America, right?”
Everyone nodded heavily at my words. I had assumed the trainees wouldn’t know about it, but apparently they were allowed to watch TV or use their smartphones freely during their free time—unlike the Korean training camps I remembered.
That meant they were aware of the Dignity Health Sports Park tragedy from two days ago.
Before my reincarnation, I had read an article claiming that trainees were now allowed to have cell phones! But when I was in the military, we couldn’t even watch TV in the training camp, let alone use smartphones. Back then, my friends used to prank me through letters saying Son Heung-min had transferred to Real Madrid. Those were all just memories now.
“This incident is going to cause a massive surge in fear toward superpowered individuals. Because of that, there will likely be attempts to create legislation that restricts them.”
At my words, everyone began to look worried, as if they hadn’t considered that possibility. It was a natural reaction. After all, every single person here was a superpowered individual. They were afraid they might become victims themselves.
“You said there would be an ‘attempt’ to create legislation rather than it actually being passed… Does that mean you believe the bill won’t actually be made into law, Investor?”
Only Sawayanagi Azuma seemed to have caught the exact meaning behind my words as she asked me. I nodded and opened my mouth to answer.
“Most superpowered people are hiding themselves. The particularly dangerous ones either disappear into the back alleys of the underworld or join PMCs like us. Among them, there are bound to be radical and highly proactive superhumans who won’t tolerate any restrictions on themselves. Do you really think a congressman trying to push through such a bill would stay safe? Especially with how much attention this incident has drawn, that congressman won’t even be able to hide.”
“So you’re saying terrorism and assassinations will occur.”
Sawayanagi Azuma quickly made a complicated expression as she replied. While terrorism and assassination were morally wrong, the results would benefit Seryu-tai, which was probably why her feelings were so conflicted.
“Then why did you call us all together, handsome guy? What do you want to do?”
“Well, honestly, I thought everyone would be gathered at the training camp, so I came to discuss what our course of action should be until this chaos dies down. But there are quite a few people absent…”
I answered Lianna Holden’s question with a slightly awkward expression. Originally, Seryu-tai only consisted of Sawayanagi Azuma, Sawayanagi Tobe, and Lianna Holden. Even if we made decisions here, I was worried whether the others would follow them.
“That’s fine. We can decide among the people present. There’s a rule in Seryu-tai that when someone is absent due to a mission during an important situation, everyone follows the decision of the highest-ranking person available.”
Oh, there was a rule like that? Then it didn’t matter that there weren’t many people here.
“Actually, what we discussed among ourselves was simply to be a little more cautious. From the beginning, we’ve been operating our PMC while hiding the fact that we have superpowers, so we thought we should just continue as we have been.”
“That’s not wrong. There’s no need to stick our necks out unnecessarily in a situation like this.”
Since they had already decided on a course of action, had I come for nothing? Even though that action was simply to continue as usual, it wasn’t a bad choice. Given the personalities of the Seryu-tai members, they couldn’t possibly suggest something like actively carrying out assassinations, so “continue as usual” was probably the most appropriate decision.
“Then there was no need for me to come and hold a meeting.”
“That’s not true! It was very helpful just hearing you explain how the future might unfold, Investor.”
Although Sawayanagi Azuma’s ability was future prediction, it only showed her fragmented scenes or situations. Knowing the overall picture of how events would progress seemed to be quite beneficial to her.
“In that case, let’s have a dinner party today. It’s on me.”
“Waaah~! Chicken!”
“Meat! Meat!”
“Alik wants pizza…!”
At my words, the trainees—who had been quiet until now—shouted and called out their desired menus. Sawayanagi Azuma’s expression darkened slightly at the sudden mention of a dinner party. Hmm? Was there not enough time for it?
“Azuma, is a dinner party too much?”
“It’s not that… Okutama-machi is a rural town, so while there are some restaurants, there aren’t any particularly good ones.”
Ah, so that’s why her face looked so gloomy. Since it had been a while since their last get-together, she probably wanted everyone to enjoy something delicious.
“Still, there should be chicken places, meat restaurants, and pizza shops. Let’s just get everything. We can have another proper dinner party on the day training ends.”
“That works. Everyone~! Get ready to head out~!”
Sawayanagi Azuma instructed the trainees to prepare in a gentle voice, like a kindergarten teacher. However, the trainees moved with incredible speed and discipline, as if they had received orders from a terrifying superior.
“They listen really well, don’t they?”
“Haha, that’s because the boss beat the hell out of them during training!”
“Lianna!”
Sawayanagi Azuma let out a sharp yell at Lianna Holden’s comment. So she was strict during training, despite her current gentle demeanor. That was unexpected.
“It’s not that… I was just a bit harsher during training because I was worried they might look down on me for being a woman.”
“Ah, so that’s what it was?”
Hmm. The trainees were at an age full of vigor and bravado, so it made sense that they might have underestimated the delicate-looking Sawayanagi Azuma or the other female members of Seryu-tai.
Seeing how quickly and obediently they were moving now, it seemed that hadn’t been an issue after all.
“For now, let’s split up into cars.”
We booked one large hotel room and decided to split up to buy and pack the food. Since Sawayanagi Azuma and Sawayanagi Tobe had their own vehicles, we divided into three teams and assigned each one specific food to purchase.
Even though we were just going into town, the trainees had changed out of their training clothes into casual outfits that suited their personal styles. The boys’ fashion didn’t particularly catch my eye, but the girls’ outfits were cute. Alik wore simple blue shorts with a white t-shirt, while Jeong Da-rim wore a white top with green overall-style pants. Both looked quite good.
Our team consisted of Alik and Jeong Da-rim. Sawayanagi Azuma looked like she wanted to ride in my car, but since she had to drive her own, it wasn’t possible.
“Alright, our team is in charge of the pizza that Alik wanted and picking up alcohol and drinks from the convenience store.”
As soon as I pulled the car out of the parking lot, Alik trotted over and hopped into the passenger seat, while Jeong Da-rim casually climbed into the back.
“How’s training going for both of you?”
I asked as I started driving.
“Training… is fun….”
“There are lots of plants and trees around here, so I like it.”
Alik simply said it was fun, while Jeong Da-rim—when asked about training—gave a completely unrelated answer about how she liked all the nature in the area. Well, she had always been a bit of a space cadet. I decided to just let it slide.
“Alik will have to take advanced training after finishing the basic course… Da-rim, have you thought about what you want to do afterward?”
Ever since the maid café incident, Alik had said she wanted to become my personal maid. So after completing Seryu-tai training, she was scheduled to receive agent training from Mimata Chieri along with lessons from a maid instructor that Mimata Chieri had found.
As for Jeong Da-rim, since her trait specialized in growing plants, I had told her she could choose between me setting up a small research lab for her or working with the Seryu-tai members I knew. That’s why I was asking.
“Hmm, I think the research lab would be better, oppa. Training is fun, but I enjoy growing plants more.”
I see. She definitely seems talented, so I should have her grow all sorts of rare medicinal herbs.
“The seeds you gave me have grown quite a bit, oppa.”
The seeds I gave her must have been the Zhu’an fruit. Jeong Da-rim held out her phone from the back seat as if telling me to look. While driving, I glanced at it and saw a Zhu’an fruit stem that had grown over two spans tall. It really had grown a lot.
If cultivation succeeded, each fruit would be worth hundreds of millions of yen. I hoped it would bear fruit well.
“That’s great. If you need anything, just tell me anytime.”
“Okay, I’ll think about it, oppa.”
Hmm, it feels nice hearing her call me oppa. Most of the women around me are older than me and Japanese, so I rarely get to hear that word.
“Alik, if you need anything, tell me too.”
“Alik needs… mech.”
Huh? How am I supposed to understand if you say it in Russian, Alik?
“Mechi? What’s that?”
“Меч… um, it’s a sword.”
When I asked again, Alik looked it up on her phone and told me it meant sword. If it was a sword, I already had one prepared through Nae Fitzgerald. She would be bringing it to Japan soon.
“Ah, a sword. I have one ready for you.”
At my words that I had prepared it in advance, Alik slightly opened her small mouth and made a happy expression. Then she clung tightly to my arm while I was driving.
“Ryuta already knew what Alik wanted… Alik likes Ryuta.”
“I’m glad you like it, but… I’m driving, Alik.”
At my words, she looked at me with pure, innocent eyes that seemed to ask, “Why? You’re driving?” Well, having Alik cling to me didn’t seem to interfere with driving, so I just kept going. She was cute, after all.
We arrived at the only pizza place in Okutama-machi and ordered seven different kinds of pizza. I had asked the other teams to order plenty since I was a big eater, so this should be enough, right?
While the pizzas were being made, we went to the convenience store and let Alik and Jeong Da-rim pick whatever they wanted. They excitedly grabbed a basket and started choosing all sorts of things. I filled the basket with alcohol and drinks. Since none of the trainees were adults yet, I mostly bought drinks and loaded up on them.
“I’m done picking.”
“Me too, oppa.”
Both of them had mostly chosen sweet things like jelly and ice cream. While the convenience store employee was ringing us up, I grabbed a few more snacks and put them on the counter.
“That comes to 9,340 yen.”
“Here’s the card.”
We bought quite a lot. We returned to the car, picked up the pizzas, and headed to the hotel we had reserved in advance through the app.
— Jeong Da-rim. A lot of you probably forgot about her lol —
