Chapter 243 - Dark Talk
"The talk is settled."
Having finished persuading Professor Otsuki, I contacted Sugitani-san's mobile. She seemed to have been waiting quite impatiently, as the reply came back within a few seconds.
"So, what is the Professor saying?"
"She says she'll cooperate, as it seems more fun to investigate me than some goblins. Right now, she's obsessed with examining my blood and hair."
"You did well. As I suspected, Nakamoto-san is exactly the kind of man I believed him to be."
Good grief, so that's that.
I managed to get the dangerous research shut down, I got permission from Ayako-chan's parents to take her as my wife, and I even managed to create a debt of gratitude with my direct superior.
Everything is going so well, I feel like I could rule the world... while I was smirking to myself, a new message arrived from Sugitani-san.
"By the way, may I ask one thing?"
"What is it?"
"Since we are crushing Professor Otsuki's research, we must prepare an alternative plan immediately. We need to prove to the higher-ups that we can mass-produce combat capabilities that exceed unmanned weapons. Otherwise, my head will roll."
"Then, should I just show off my physical abilities in front of the important people? Like, 'From now on, I'll be handling national defense, so look forward to it' or something?"
"That is not it. Strength in your single lifetime does not constitute national defense. If Nakamoto-san were to live for a hundred or two hundred years, it would ensure National Security, but that is impossible. We want to mass-produce Nakamoto-san."
"Do you want to make clones of me or something?"
"There must be more humanitarian methods."
Mass-producing me humanitarily.
That means—
"Nakamoto-san. Won't you make a child right now?"
...I figured it would come to that.
"You only need to get just one of the women you are keeping company with pregnant. After that, if we are allowed to examine the infant's constitution, everything will be settled smoothly."
"That's a bit..."
"If you prefer, we wouldn't mind if you got all the women you live with pregnant. In fact, that would be more convenient. We will bear all childbirth and child-rearing expenses."
"These things are a blessing, and even if you tell me to prepare one suddenly..."
"This is no longer just a matter concerning you alone. The fate of the nation is at stake. If you fail to produce a child, multiple officials will lose their jobs. The amount of tax money spent on Nakamoto-san so far could build two hospitals."
"No, I mean, even if you tell me to go make a baby all of a sudden..."
"Why not embrace our Hayasaka on your way out? I look forward to a favorable reply."
After she rattled off whatever she pleased, Sugitani-san stopped sending replies.
...What exactly do you want me to do?
I don't remember much after that.
I remember getting into the police car with a completely blank mind and returning to the apartment with Erin, but my memory is hazy in places.
When I came to, I was sitting on the sofa, staring up at the ceiling.
Looking at the clock with a dazed head, the time indicated 4:00 PM.
Since there was no sign of Ayako-chan, she might have gone out to buy groceries.
As for the others... I don't know.
"...Making a child, huh."
Sugitani-san—the Public Security—no, the Japanese government—expects my combat power to be inherited by my children.
That is precisely why the citizens' blood taxes are being poured into me.
Therefore, I must devote myself solely to making children.
Tax-payer Sex. It has a blasphemous ring to it.
"...It doesn't look like I have the right to refuse, though."
I know.
I know that, but there are circumstances that I simply cannot help.
Because my combat power isn't something derived from genes.
Since I am an effort-type Hero who became strong through post-natal leveling, there is no guarantee that a child born to me will be as strong as I am.
Some skills seem to be inherited by children, but even so, I can't expect monstrous physical abilities.
Unless they defeat monsters and level up, they shouldn't be able to become a second-generation cheat Hero.
If, by some chance, I were to get someone pregnant... a child with mediocre physical abilities would be born, and there would be an uproar about how "this isn't what we were told."
Sugitani-san would be demoted, and my own position would undoubtedly become precarious.
On the other hand, if I keep procrastinating on making children like this, I will end up betraying various people and organizations.
Since tax money is involved, irresponsible behavior is not permitted.
What on earth should I do... as I was sighing, the smartphone in my back pocket rang.
I reflexively pulled it out and peered at the screen.
The time was 4:30 PM. Wondering who would call at such an awkward time, it was none other than Gondo.
That Yakuza who loves JCs, what kind of trouble is he planning to dump on me this time...?
"What do you want? Are you in a gang war with some syndicate or something?"
"Yo, Master Nakamoto! I'm drinking with Oyaji right now, why don't you drop by?"
Gondo's voice was in an unusually bright tone. It was probably because he had been drinking.
"When you say Oyaji, you don't mean your father, you mean the Yakuza boss, right?"
"You know me well! Come on, Master, you should come too. My Oyaji is a huge fan of JCs. He's a great man whose catchphrase is, 'I was born to make JCs my mamas.' I bet you two will have similar tastes!"
"Sorry, but I'm hanging up... I'm in the middle of thinking about something right now."
"Wait! Do this for my sake, just once! It'll add prestige if you bring a celebrity, please. Of course, I'm not saying it's for free; I'll pay a fee enough to buy three or four JCs."
"Later."
Since I didn't want to continue this anti-social conversation any further, I ended the call quickly.
I definitely don't want to go to a drinking party where Yakuza who are female junior high and high school student maniacs gather. If a famous entertainer were to do an underground gig for a group with special fetishes, it wouldn't be a joke.
...Actually, considering I hold the status of a TV host while interacting with gang members, I might be a rather deep existence in the darkness...
To think that I myself would embody the dark rumors that the entertainment industry is connected to the underworld.
If my social connections were exposed to the public, things would definitely turn bad, so it seems better to maintain my connections with state power after all. They seem like they could keep the media in check, too.
If that's the case, I have to quickly complete the mission Sugitani-san requested me to do.
...But...
Just who on earth should I get pregnant...!
As I was agonizing alone like that, I felt the presence of someone behind me.
[Author's Note]
The comic adaptation serialization starts from the August issue of Comic Dengeki Daioh, on sale tomorrow!
If you see it in bookstores, please check out the manga version too!