Chapter 109 - Fanatic
After walking several hundred meters, I could see a blue bench covered by a translucent rain shelter.
Next to it, a tall sign stood all alone.
It was the bus stop I usually use.
If I board from here, I'll arrive in front of the station in just a few minutes.
Of course, with my own legs, I could move faster than a car, but I wasn't in the mood for that today.
I wanted to move while lost in thought.
I sat on the bench, letting my thoughts wander vacantly.
A weapon to take down the dragon—where should I get one from?
I had made plans to perhaps hurl a scrapped car, but such things aren't so easily found.
I feel exasperated with myself, thinking how I lack planning as usual.
In the worst case, should I just buy a used car around here?
If I consider it as saving the lives of every resident in Tokyo, it would be a cheap expense.
Even so, I feel some resistance to treating an object worth several hundred thousand yen as a Consumable.
...If only there were a scrapped car conveniently abandoned somewhere.
"I wonder if there's anything..."
I crossed my legs and groaned, weighing this and that.
While I was doing so, the bus arrived, and the doors opened with a hiss of air.
It arrived in an instant. Looking at my smartphone, nearly five minutes had already passed since I arrived at this bench.
I feel like the perceived speed of time increases every time I get older. It's a terrifying thing.
I gave the driver a nod as I boarded and sat in a rear seat.
Since it was a rather awkward time, just after ten in the morning, I didn't see any students or salarymen.
The surrounding passengers were mainly housewives and the elderly. They were likely heading to a supermarket or a hospital.
Suddenly, glancing at the seat diagonally in front of me, I saw a mother holding a baby.
She was a refined woman around thirty years old. Her features were well-formed, but fatigue was etched into her expression.
Is the child's night crying severe?
Does the child frequently run a fever?
Is managing the vaccinations a hassle?
If Elsa were alive, she would undoubtedly have been just like this. By now, she would be soothing a child with me, and the three of us would be living a life as stormy as a tempest.
"Help out more with the parenting, Keisuke," she would spout such common complaints. And while saying, "I'm busy too," I would clumsily help change diapers.
Every day would be physical labor, but it would be incredibly fulfilling.
That kind of daily life might have been within my reach.
And yet, it was all lost.
It can't be helped.
There is no meaning in seeking what has been lost.
It is too late now. I am certain that a part of me died along with Elsa's body, and it will never heal.
I am broken. I know it myself.
If a dragon were to snap up someone's wife and child, it would only increase the number of miserable people like me.
That must not happen.
It absolutely... must not.
This is no time to be choosing my methods.
"...Human life comes first, after all."
Even if it violates the law somewhat, it can't be helped.
As if convincing myself, I scanned the interior of the vehicle.
What about throwing this?
After the passengers disembark, I would attempt a full-power pitch toward the dragon.
If I did that, that elderly driver would naturally be held responsible, and I would once again create an unhappy person.
Naturally, that is rejected.
As I thought, do I have no choice but to pay out of my own pocket?
I really am an unsung hero.
Considering I'm still treated by the world as some strange magician old man, I'm quite selfless.
Well, living as unobtrusively as possible is a path I chose for myself.
As one becomes an adult, one becomes fully aware of the truth in the proverb that the nail that sticks out gets hammered down.
That is why I inevitably end up moving around stealthily.
If I were a younger Hero, I might have proudly shown off my confrontation with the dragon with bravado, but the caution that comes with age won't allow it.
...A younger Hero?
Moreover, I seem to recall having an acquaintance who was a braggart, making money through attention by standing out.
Having a vague bad feeling, I accessed a video-sharing site from my smartphone.
I typed in 'Splitting JK' and searched in a panic. I swallowed hard and stared at the screen with a prayer, begging her to please just behave.
However, the situation was progressing in the worst possible direction.
[I won't lose to even a Vtuber! Panties visibility increased by 50%!]
I had stumbled upon a live broadcast by Kana Saeki with a title that sounded incredibly stupid.
In a school uniform that looked like it might reveal her rear, she was spitting out incredibly cocky lines like, "Well then, shall we go save the world?"
Moreover, her voice was nasal, making me want to retort, "Your voice is completely different from your usual one, isn't it?"
One could even call it an anime voice.
Wasn't this girl originally a boyish, athletic girl?
And yet, I remember her voice being incredibly husky when she spoke to me.
It seems that if it's to earn views, she's willing to throw her pride into the gutter.
She's wearing a Wig, and she's wearing makeup. Her chest looks like it's padded. No matter how you look at it, it's not an outfit for fighting.
It has the air of a high school girl who has heavily applied makeup before heading out to a mixer.
"Alright, I'm gonna charge at the dragon now—!"
Man, shouldn't she stop...?
But if Kana were to win here, it would be a good thing. After all, the world would become peaceful without me even having to step in.
I don't know how much she can fight with her stats, but well, if she wants to do it that much, why not?
I was starting to feel somewhat resigned, thinking, I don't care anymore.
A Hero, even if a tarnished one.
She probably won't die.
While observing Kana with a cold heart as she walked while occasionally flashing her underwear, I simultaneously followed the comment section with my eyes.
This video-sharing site has a system where the text written by viewers is displayed in real-time.
I thought there might be some new information regarding the dragon, but...
'White'
'It's white'
'White panties, huh'
'Is it real?'
'Ah, she's a virgin. My virgin sensor just reacted.'
'Put that three-centimeter sensor away.'
Unfortunately, I couldn't find a single constructive opinion.
It was truly nothing more than graffiti in a public restroom.
'Magician Keisuke Nakamoto's appearance today is at 20:00 on Yoruobi!'
'If it's white panties, she's a virgin for sure'
'Magician Keisuke Nakamoto's appearance today is at 20:00 on Yoruobi!'
'Promoting, I am!'
'What is this girl?'
'Magician Keisuke Nakamoto's appearance today is at 20:00 on Yoruobi! Magician Keisuke Nakamoto's appearance today is at 20:00 on Yoruobi! Magician Keisuke Nakamoto's appearance today is at 20:00 on Yoruobi!'
'What is this, scary'
'That's just that user "Ayaya," right. Don't touch her, she promotes that magician constantly as long as she's conscious.'
'Too crazy, lol'
'If you get her mad, she'll spam virus or clickbait links, so definitely don't talk to her'
'What kind of fanbase does that old man have?'
'Magician Keisuke Nakamoto's appearance today is at 20:00 on Yoruobi!'
'Magician Keisuke Nakamoto's appearance today is at 20:00 on Yoruobi!'
'Magician Keisuke Nakamoto's appearance today is at 20:00 on Yoruobi!'
'Magician Keisuke Nakamoto's appearance today is at 20:00 on Yoruobi!'
'Magician Keisuke Nakamoto's appearance today is at 20:00 on Yoruobi!'
Is the current Ayako-chan so free that she can leave comments on video sites?
Which means, I feel a sense of relief, thinking that Philia's childcare must be going well.
Hehe.
Rather than relief, my emotions might just be paralyzed from sheer terror.
Amazing, isn't it? I'm living with this crazed fanatic.
I can tolerate it because she looks like a beautiful girl, but I suddenly feel a chill, thinking that this girl's original genre of appearance should actually be psychological horror...
I shuddered and peeked out the window sideways.
The station was already approaching. Once the traffic light finished, I would arrive in dozens of seconds.
The Kana on the screen was also continuing to walk steadily toward the Metropolitan Government Building.
At this rate, the timing of me getting off the bus and Kana making contact with the dragon would likely be almost the same.