Chapter 124 - Six Legs
Having been accused of being a passionate pedophile by his direct superior, what is going to happen to him now?
To put it bluntly, I have nothing but a bad feeling about this. I want to change the subject as quickly as possible.
While stroking my stomach to protest its hunger, I attempt to divert the course of the conversation.
"More importantly, shall we get to the main topic? I believe you said you would tell me today where that Dragon came from."
"True."
Sugitani-san nodded magnanimously.
Despite having made such borderline remarks, his expression was perfectly composed.
Perhaps he is some incredible big shot. Or perhaps the screws in his head have come loose.
"Where should I start? Let's see... I'll explain starting from the point of appearance. To get straight to the conclusion, that giant creature came from the east."
"How far east?"
"The neighboring prefecture. They flew in suddenly from the airspace off the coast of Chiba Prefecture. It was recorded on surveillance cameras."
Chiba Prefecture—in other words, right here.
The land where my apartment is, where Rio's home is, and where Philia appeared.
If that's the case, then did that Dragon perhaps get summoned by Philia back when she was still sane?
"...Um, could you tell me the specific date and time the Dragon appeared over the sea?"
"The day before the attack on the Metropolitan Government Building."
"I see..."
I breathe a sigh of relief.
On that date, Philia had long since gone mad. There was no way she could have chanted a sophisticated summoning formula.
In short, she's innocent, and I am blameless regarding this matter.
She wasn't exactly a good person to begin with, and it's certain she summoned Goblins.
Even so, the fewer criminal charges she carries, the better.
While I am relieved by myself, Sugitani-san continues to speak dispassionately.
"Nakamoto-san, you called that giant creature a Dragon just now; do you have some sort of idea why?"
"Eh? No, no matter who looks at it, that's a Dragon. It has bat-like wings, a face like a dinosaur, and limbs with claws."
"That's it."
Sugitani-san said, straightening his posture.
"Despite having four well-formed limbs with claws, that giant creature also had well-developed wings on its back. Bat wings are formed by the transformation of the forelimbs. In other words, in terms of its skeleton, it has six legs."
"Well, that's how it works, but is that really something worth focusing on?"
"It means it has no evolutionary relationship with any living thing on Earth. Though in other aspects, it looks close to a reptile."
"With that physique, flying around and breathing fire, it's obvious it's not from Earth."
"You mean, from another world?"
"That's what I think."
"To be honest, so do I," Sugitani-san agrees.
"That creature is likely from a different world, not here, just like you, Nakamoto-san."
"I was originally born in this world. I just stayed in another world for about seventeen years."
"I would very much like to hear that story in detail later... Oh, Master has arrived."
Since it wasn't a story I wanted others to overhear, I shut my mouth instantly.
That said, even if our current conversation were being eavesdropped on, I feel like people would only think two salarymen were getting excited about an incident that caused a stir in the public.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
While wafting the aroma of coffee, the former radical shopkeeper approached gracefully.
Wearing a pleasant smile, they placed the cups before us. Seeing how they threw a wink toward Sugitani-san as they left, it seems they still consider themselves in their prime.
"...You're popular, aren't you?"
"Even if a woman in her seventies flirts with me, it's just a funny story. On the other hand, if a teenage girl clings to me like Nakamoto-san, it's a crime. It is a troubling dilemma."
Since the conversation was about to jump in a dangerous direction again, I hurriedly brought up a safe topic.
"Err, are they sending the Dragon's corpse to forensics or something?"
"Of course. Several biologists were also called in, but they are all so happy they look like they might go crazy."
"...I suppose their intellectual curiosity is being extremely stimulated."
"Initially, the scholars predicted it was a raptor that had grown abnormally large due to a mutation. However, as they dissected it, things became increasingly incomprehensible, and now they are settling on the theory that it is a completely independent new species."
They are dismembering that Dragon. A female Dragon that only came to raise her young.
While feeling a somewhat hollow sensation, I sip my coffee.
"And so, we come to the aforementioned six legs. As expected, they are focusing on that as well."
"Are they making a fuss about whether it came from another world or something?"
"No. It seems the high-ranking scholars are leaning toward the theory that it might have come from space. Every day is filled with topics that would put sci-fi movies to shame."
"...Well... that might be somewhat more realistic than the interpretation that fantasy worlds actually exist."
"I've only heard rumors, though. Apparently, there is a theory that if you look at the universe on a cosmic scale, six-legged creatures might be the standard rather than four-legged ones."
That was news to me.
Why on earth? I couldn't help but ask back.
"The most prosperous creatures on Earth are not vertebrates, but insects. And those insects have six legs. Therefore, this shape might be the optimal solution for living organisms. If we were to meet aliens in the future, perhaps the vast majority of them would also have six legs. Humans, who evolved from four-legged creatures, might be in the minority among all intelligent life in the universe. That is the theory I was told."
"...And so, because that Dragon also has six legs, they are predicting it came from some other planet."
Ridiculous. That isn't sci-fi; it is an existence that wandered in from a world of swords and magic.
"From our perspective, knowing that other worlds exist, we can see that they are conducting their research in the wrong direction."
"Indeed."
Sugitani-san licked his lips to moisten them with coffee and gave a short laugh through his nose.
"However, one must be thorough. Investigations should always be conducted while considering every possibility."
I decided not to say that it felt like a waste of tax money.
Even I could manage that much consideration.
"Now then, Nakamoto-san. It is your turn to teach me about the other world in detail. Is it a place where such giant creatures exist as a matter of course? Can everyone be granted a physique as robust as yours? What is the reason the creatures coming from that side cause harm to people?"
"...Let's see."
Where should I start?
After pouring coffee vigorously into my empty stomach, I began to organize my memories in my head.
If I pour everything I know into this man, I wonder how much he will actually believe.
The anxiety of being rejected, and the expectation of finding an understanding person. Feeling my heart race from these conflicting emotions, I slowly weave my words together.
"As for what kind of place the other world I was in was—"