Chapter 88 - Playing House
Looking at the screen, space had been provided on the left edge, with captions appearing vertically and horizontally.
It was what they call L-shaped subtitles.
I had heard that this happened during great disasters, the passing of special bills, or when Japanese nationals held hostage overseas were killed.
Since all of these were events that occurred while I was in the other world, this was my first time seeing them in real time.
'Giant Creature Attacks Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building'
'Emergency Evacuation Advisory'
Solemn strings of text flowed by, ill-suited for a children's anime.
Philia had lost most of her intelligence, but she still retained the [Skill: Language Comprehension].
Thanks to that, she could read kanji or whatever it was without issue, which was likely why she had become frightened.
"No... big monster, no..."
Philia trembled and clung to me.
She was making a whining voice, but her vocal quality was a mature alto.
"Don't worry. I'm here."
Saying that, I wrapped my arm around Philia's shoulder.
It was like playing pretend.
While feeling exasperated with myself, I turned my eyes toward the captions.
—Giant creature, attacking.
I felt a bad premonition at the fantasy-like words that shouldn't exist in modern society.
I operated the remote, changing the channel from the anime to a news program.
'Everyone! This is not CG! It's real! It is the real thing!'
Suddenly, a close-up of a male reporter wearing a helmet appeared, making a huge fuss.
'The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building is in a terrible state!'
Behind the reporter, a tall, arrogant building towered.
A distinctive building where two wings connected halfway up, forming a silhouette strikingly similar to the kanji "凹".
It was the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Main Building No. 1.
Reaching a height of two hundred seventy-four meters, it was a building that could truly be called a symbol of the capital.
An anomaly was occurring at its very top.
A creature resembling a giant bird was resting its wings at the summit.
However, its facial features were closer to a reptile than a bird.
Perhaps "a feathered dinosaur" would be the most fitting expression.
I knew this creature well.
A Dragon.
A calamity-class monster that I had subjugated countless times in the other world.
For some reason, it was making itself at home on top of the building.
Judging from its red scales and muscular physique, it was likely a Red Dragon species.
Its flight capability was on par with a state-of-the-art fighter jet, and the breath it exhaled was a hydrogen bomb.
Its personality was like an untrained fighting dog, and its intelligence was about that of a crow.
Such a creature had suddenly appeared and was making a low, displeased rumbling sound in its throat.
"This is bad..."
That thing was a living disaster that could turn the city into a sea of fire if it felt like it.
As someone who knew its ecology, I just wanted to tell them not to provide any unnecessary stimulation.
And yet, this station's news helicopter was circling the dragon, making a loud whirring noise.
It was a display of reporter's spirit, but no matter how you looked at it, it was far too reckless.
'To my eyes! It looks like a kaiju! What on earth is this!'
The reporter was gripping the microphone in an excited manner.
It seemed he was connected via live feed to the studio, occasionally conversing with the face displayed in the window.
'Miyabe-san, is that actually real?'
'Huh?'
'Well, voices are being raised suggesting it might be a fake.'
'It's alive! There is no doubt it is alive! I can even see it blinking!'
'Then, could you get a little closer? If possible, could you point the microphone toward it as well?'
The reporter called Miyabe was egged on by the studio host and extended his arm from the helicopter.
What is this guy thinking, facing a dragon?
"...Stop it!"
My voice, being nothing more than a single viewer, was never going to reach the person conducting the live broadcast.
Despite that, I was shouting and standing up.
I knew better than anyone what would happen if you carelessly provoked a fire dragon.
Even back when my status was still low, I, the Summoned Hero, had been dealt a grievous wound.
It went without saying what would happen to a helicopter and a civilian without magical protection.
Eventually, the dragon turned its face toward the camera and opened its mouth wide.
Even though it was night, the bright red mucous membrane of its throat was clearly visible. The interior was glowing.
If a dragon's esophagus is glowing, there is only one thing it's about to do.
'Miyabe-san? Miyabe-san!? ...Everyone, please calm do—'
And then, the breath was unleashed.
A bright red beam was discharged along with a massive explosion, and the footage became violently distorted.
It seemed to have grazed the rotor, as the helicopter began to lose altitude visibly.
"...I told you so."
I was struck by an indescribable sense of helplessness.
Was I really going to be forced to watch a crash accident on live television?
As I watched anxiously, the helicopter made a wide turn and made an emergency landing on a nearby building.
Surviving from that state was a scene that should earn praise for the pilot's technical skill.
Reporter Miyabe was shouting with an inappropriately high tension, "A miracle! A miracle has just occurred!"
Looking closely, it seemed to be a Sumire TV program, and they would probably reuse this footage to put together a special program before long.
Producer Kurosawa would likely do such a thing.
He'd probably be happy because it looked like it would pull in good numbers... suddenly, it all felt so ridiculous.
I sat down on the bed and changed the channel back to the original anime program.
As I turned my face away with a sigh, my eyes met Philia's, who was curled up and trembling.
The High Priest, who was once known as the Kingdom's leading hawk, was covering both ears with her hands and shedding tears.
"Sorry. That was scary, wasn't it?"
While apologizing, I patted her head gently.
Perhaps reassured by that, Philia hugged me vigorously.
She made sniffling noises and rubbed her face against my chest.
A large infant.
I wasn't sure if it was a protective instinct or guilt, but a strange emotion welled up within me.
I softly wiped away Philia's tears with my thumb.
With that sensation, I understood.
This woman's skin showed signs of decline appropriate to her physical age.
Calling her a beautiful woman in her prime sounds nice, but even so, her body was equivalent to a twenty-nine-year-old.
There was dullness in places, and her firmness was being lost. Her skin texture was completely different from Angelica and the others.
Even if she wouldn't age any further, it made me realize she was no longer young.
"U, u, uuuuuu..."
And yet, her gestures—clinging to me and sobbing with trembling shoulders—were those of a young child.
Despite her scent and touch being those of an adult woman, she was in this state.
"Don't cry. I'm here."
I rubbed her back to try and reassure her even just a little.
Every time I moved my palm up and down, the sound of fabric rubbing echoed.
The part where her bra protruded created a ridge, and the sound changed only when passing over it.
If she were a real child, she wouldn't need such underwear.
But since this person's body is that of a full adult, I make sure she wears it properly.
A woman who, no matter how you look at it, is not a toddler. A woman for whom it is far too much of a stretch to consider her a daughter.
What am I doing?
I saved a person who should have originally been dead out of my own ego, and now I am repeating this farce of playing parent and child.
Even though she was a wicked person who had always been my enemy.
And yet.
The fact that it wasn't out of mercy, but was entirely self-satisfaction, only added to the absurdity.
Yes. It wasn't that I saved Philia because I pitied her.
I saved her because my own memories were precious.
It was like picking up a photo of a woman I used to love after I had already thrown it in the trash once.
"...I'm being quite lingering, aren't I?"
While feeling Philia's body heat, I turned my eyes to the television.
On the screen, a protagonist who doesn't age since his elementary school days was running through a meadow with his electric mouse partner.
The staff credits were flowing in time with the ending theme.
It's fine if the anime protagonist doesn't age. He will surely continue to be loved across generations.
But as for a woman who doesn't age in reality—and one whose mind has been broken—who will look after her?
What will happen to Philia after I die?
While I stared with a heavy heart, the ending finished.
The preview began, addressing the viewers, telling them to please watch again next week.
The program Philia liked had ended.
Once this happens, the difficulty of babysitting spikes instantly.
She'll wander around on her own, and she'll start making a mess of the room.
At her worst, she'll rattle the door and try to go outside.
I have to somehow make her behave, but the method always leaves me feeling depressed.
"Philia. Shall we go to the bath?"
"...Mm."
"Do you hate it?"
"I'll go!"
Philia's heart has become that of a child, but it seems she still has sexual desire—and her affection for me remains.
That is terribly hollow.