Chapter 179 - Risk
Even after entering the studio, the clamor of the girls showed no sign of subsiding.
It was only to be expected.
They weren't all proper talents; among them were girls who were amateurs until just a short while ago, and others who were former reader models.
There was no way people like that would have the mindset of a professional entertainer.
I wondered if some of them were participating with the feeling of being on a little school trip.
The only ones who were well-behaved from start to finish were the talents who came from child acting. Those types of girls never attempted pillow business with me, and they likely had the pride of surviving in the entertainment industry through sheer talent.
"Rehearsal starting! Rehearsal! We're doing a rehearsal! Okay, everyone, be quiet! Is it okay if we don't get paid!?"
The director shouted, making the girls settle down.
It felt more like a school discipline teacher at this point.
After that, we performed two light rehearsals.
As soon as the actual recording started, I was supposed to give a greeting, explain the purpose of the program, and talk about my own background.
Since it was ostensibly an educational program, it was necessary to emphasize that I was a person who had reintegrated into society after being a shut-in.
After that, the plan was for an idol, troubled by a friend's school refusal, to raise her hand and consult me.
Of course, I intended to ignore all of that.
"Five seconds to live!"
Five, four, three.
The director counted loudly, and a tense atmosphere flowed through the entire studio.
Two, one.
I made eye contact with Rio, who was sitting on the tiered platform.
Now, let's go.
I'll destroy everything and stir the world up.
To lure Erin out.
To act as the bait.
"Start!"
With the signal, the cameras converged on my face.
This footage was being broadcast live across Japan.
I gripped the microphone and called out to Rio, "Come here."
The studio buzzed. As if to say this was different from the rehearsal.
Rio stood up with her lips pressed tight and walked over to my side.
"This is sudden, but I have an announcement to make to everyone."
Nakamoto-san!? Nakamoto-san!?
I could hear Producer Kurosawa's voice panicking, but I couldn't afford to care.
Rio and I gripped a single microphone together and made a loud declaration.
"We are getting married."
"We are getting married."
—In that instant, the world froze.
From the tiered platform, from the audience, from the cameramen—from every conceivable direction, a chorus of "Huh?" began.
Huh? What are you saying, Nakamoto-san?
Convinced that the viewers on the other side of the cameras were likely thinking the same thing, I quietly closed my eyes.
I deactivated the Sacred Circle and slowly opened them.
"I have become engaged to Rio Saito."
I heard a sound like a crack forming. I thought for a moment it was the sound of my social reputation shattering, but that didn't seem to be it.
The studio had been sliced diagonally.
From the roof to the pillars, a massive diagonal line had cut through everything.
"What the hell!?"
The lighting staff began making a commotion above my head. Some even lost their balance and fell.
The girls let out high-pitched screams, and the area fell into chaos.
I took my smartphone out of my pocket, switched it to camera mode, and held it to my eye.
"Finally making an appearance, I see."
Even if I am using Concealment Magic, I still show up in the camera lens.
Through the gaping hole in the ceiling, I could see Erin floating.
It seemed she was attacking from above. Countless black Swallowtail Butterflies were flying around her, surrounding her as if to protect her.
Since her appearance was far too sudden, she must have been waiting right at the edge of the Sacred Circle's range.
"Father!"
From down the hallway, Angelica came running toward us.
"Ange, handle the treatment of the injured."
After giving brief instructions, I moved behind the cameras. There were beer cans for the after-party sitting there.
I grabbed a handful of cans and ran back to the host's seat.
The girls were running around in a state of panic, a complete contrast to the Swallowtail Butterflies flying gracefully.
"...It smells."
Every time the butterflies moved their wings, they scattered scales imbued with a unique scent.
There was a slight sensation of lightheadedness, so they might be casting hypnosis or confusion-type magic.
Before I knew it, countless Swallowtail Butterflies had surrounded me.
With magic defense like mine, they likely judged that they wouldn't be able to affect me unless they attacked with numbers.
But, how foolish.
[Hero Keisuke consumes 295 MP. Activating Divine Sword skill. Attack power increased by 350%]
[Becomes effective against spirits, demons, and undead]
I tore open the beer cans and splashed the contents forcefully toward the Swallowtail Butterflies.
I saw Erin, who was up above, lose her balance.
When alcohol enters an insect's body, they suffocate.
Since that sensation is transmitted to Erin, who is the main body, she must be in considerable pain.
I don't know if insects get drunk, but if she shares the state of intoxication, it's a win for me.
The butterflies, which had been repeating their elegant fluttering, began to fall to the ground with struggling movements.
"...Ngh."
Without a word, Erin directed a flock of crows toward us.
If insects won't work, now it's birds. How uncreative.
I chanted the [Flash] magic toward the sky. It's originally something used for exploring dim caves, but it can also be used as a distraction.
And, the vision of birds far exceeds that of humans.
In the era when dinosaurs still existed, the mammals that had to surrender the dominance of the daytime world and live in the nighttime world tended to have poor eyesight. Even primates that regained color vision do not have particularly high performance.
In contrast, birds are the direct descendants of the dinosaurs, the rulers of the land. Having lived by relying on vision in the bright world, it is said they can even perceive ultraviolet light.
To owners of such vision, I released an extreme light.
I saw Erin clutching her eyes and flailing her legs.
She must have been blinded by the flash seen through the crows. She experienced the brilliance of the Old Faith, which should be invisible to the eyes of the Human Race or the Mage Race.
She might even be blind.
She is fully experiencing the risk of imbuing her ego into creatures other than humans and sharing their senses.
And... because of the brightness, I caught sight of the girls who had fallen over.
An ordinary human wouldn't lose their sight from mere flash magic, but they would still feel pain.
Some even had scraped knees and were bleeding.
Was it because of Erin's attack?
Or did they get injured from being startled by the light I released?
I no longer knew.
[Hero Keisuke has visually confirmed the injury of a minor within the party]
[Unique Skill "Fatherhood" has activated]
[For 180 seconds, status and skill multipliers are upwardly revised, and status ailments are nullified]
[HP +2000%]
[MP +2000%]
[Attack +2000%]
[Defense +2000%]
[Agility +2000%]
[Magic Attack +2000%]
[Magic Defense +2000%]
[Skill Multiplier x20]
The only certain thing is that, in this state, I will absolutely not lose.
[Author's Note]
The special website is ready! There are even some pieces I wrote as an interview with Angelica. Please take a look if you feel like it.