Chapter 315 - Thus Spoke Zarathustra (1)
(1)
April 1st.
A mysterious threatening letter arrives at various relevant locations.
"Prepare 10 billion yen in cash. Otherwise, the region will be enveloped in darkness."
A report is immediately filed. The investigation begins.
Check for any personal or financial disputes. Search everything.
But no evidence surfaces.
Today is April Fools' Day.
Probably just a scare or a bad joke.
The Prefectural Office judged it as such.
They didn't understand the meaning of "enveloped in darkness."
In any case, it was concluded that it was just a prank by some teenager.
On the surface.
Watase and I set up our own task force.
The Chief opposed it until the very end, but he couldn't refuse an order from the Commissioner General of the National Police Agency.
First, we placed guards at the seaside thermal power plant.
We assigned police officers from each jurisdiction to guard power plants across the region.
As expected, we anticipated a shortage of personnel.
The important thing was to make them think the police were taking measures.
After that, the girls will solve it.
It's going to be a long day.
I was having that conversation with Watase.
When night fell, we also headed to the thermal power plant.
This place is a spot where young couples gather.
Many cars were parked there tonight as well.
After confirming with the guards that there was nothing unusual, we returned to the station.
"Are you sure about this? They're still students."
"...That girl has a reliable future husband with her. It'll be fine."
"That one's a student too, isn't he?"
"...She's helped solve cases before. She'll definitely help again this time."
"I feel pathetic myself."
"It's because we're here that those kids can move freely. Have some confidence."
At that moment, the radio crackles.
"Explosion confirmed at the thermal power plant, repeat..."
"Watase... let's go!"
"Yes!"
The place we headed to was in the mountains, in the opposite direction from the thermal power plant.
It was a location with a certain facility.
The riot police were already standing by.
It was the kids who identified this location.
Swords of freedom, belonging to no power or faction.
The light of hope shining on the local region.
Their battle has now begun.
All we can do is support their battle.
That's the reason we remain here.
But then, a sudden attack. A mysterious turmoil.
Someone is rampaging inside.
"Superintendent! Look at that!"
Watase points to the sky.
Something black is dropping dynamite.
It uses the blast to lift itself, then glides while flying toward the next bombing target.
We had done our research. So that's the Birdman.
I immediately ordered the riot police to retreat.
We can't afford unnecessary casualties.
But this is a branch of the Red Society.
I couldn't help but wonder why they were here.
The sound of a helicopter is heard.
Then the Birdman stops bombing and latches onto the helicopter.
The helicopter flees as is.
After confirming the bombing has stopped, I order the riot police to storm the facility.
I don't know what their aim is, but there's no way we're letting this opportunity slip.
We rounded them all up and arrested them.
(2)
"Hyahahaha! Let's dance tonight, Hedgehog!!"
Don't shoot recklessly in a place like this!
We're dealing with natural gas here!
I can't just stay hidden. I have to strike out from here.
But I can't fire wildly either.
I'll take him down with one shot.
I've been waiting for the chance to fire that one shot.
I don't know how many enemies are here.
I don't know who's here either.
I can't waste time on this one guy.
I dodge bullets by jumping left and right, while watching for his reload timing and closing the distance.
Then, when he tries to reload again, I aim for his right hand.
The gun drops from his right hand.
"That hurt, Hedgehog!"
I can't afford to listen to that. I fire a second shot in quick succession.
It hits his left shoulder.
That seals both his arms.
I close the distance in one go.
I grab his left hand and kick his elbow.
His left arm bends at an odd angle.
I hear the man scream.
I push Azrael down and step on his chest.
You've still got something hidden in your pocket, don't you?
"What's wrong? I'm still alive, you know!"
I remain cold-hearted and fire one shot into each of his thighs.
Azrael's screams echo.
"Please wait there quietly until the police come."
With that, I head over to Katagiri-kun and the others.
Then I hear Azrael scream.
Emi was stepping on the man's head.
"Insufficient confirmation, Nozomi."
Emi says with a laugh.
"Emi."
"How many more enemies are there?"
"I don't know, I have to go help Katagiri-kun."
"Yeah, let's hurry."
Emi ties Azrael to a convenient pipe, and we head to Katagiri-kun's location.
(3)
"I thought you'd bring better toys this time, but it seems your resolve is still lacking."
"Even with something like this, I can handle you."
The battle between Jack and me continues.
I don't know how many enemies are here.
Is he not bothered by that?
I'm also worried about Ishihara-kun and the others.
This is no time to be stuck on this one guy.
But perhaps due to the difference in size, I'm slightly pushed back by Jack.
My back hits a wall.
I can't retreat any further.
"This is the end!"
Jack raises his sword and brings it down.
Using my left foot as a pivot, I lean my right side back to dodge the slash.
Using that momentum, I spin half a turn and slam a blow into his back.
Of course, I don't think that's enough to finish him.
Jack twists his body and swings his sword.
I do a forward roll to dodge it, and as I go down on one knee to get up, Jack points the tip of his blade right in front of my eyes.
"It's over, Battosai."
I think that name's problematic in many ways, but most people probably think it's too late to care now.
Of course, I have no intention of ending here.
I dodge Jack's thrust and land a blow on his arm.
I might have cut his cheek a bit.
It seems I've at least damaged Jack's left arm.
Jack was gripping his sword with both hands, but now he holds it with one.
Jack leaps high into the air and brings his sword down aimed at my head.
I also jump up to intercept.
Sword and blade clash.
It's an attack using the gravitational acceleration of a downward swing, but because he's using one hand, it's almost even with my two-handed grip.
While Jack's body is still slightly airborne, I land.
I ready an attack aimed at Jack's falling body.
I sheathe my sword and wait for the moment to execute Battojutsu.
But Jack spins in midair to create distance.
Jack raises his sword.
I stand ready with my sword still sheathed.
"You've become a bit more like a warrior."
"I've told you many times, I have no intention of taking up such a dangerous profession."
Jack chuckles and then charges at me.
Discern the line of death...
I close my eyes and gauge the timing of his approach.
Now!
I open my eyes wide and draw my sword.
But Jack stops himself at the last moment and dodges the slash.
"I told you the same trick wouldn't work twice."
He slams a slash into my defenseless back.
But I saw that coming too.
I slam the scabbard in my left hand into his right elbow.
It bends at a strange angle.
Jack drops his sword.
"My style is to swear not to kill, but render the opponent combat ineffective."
"So you claim it's a 'sword of life.' Such a thing doesn't exist."
"I just proved it exists."
"The proof isn't over yet!"
Jack picks up his sword with his foot and manipulates it with a windmill-like motion.
I back away to avoid getting caught up.
Jack gets up and catches the sword that danced in the air with his mouth.
Is he planning to attack with his mouth?
I ready my sword.
Jack charges.
I charge right back.
The will to live.
That feeling gives me a slight advantage.
I outmatch Jack, and he falls.
"Toya-kun!"
Airi, who seems to have been hiding and watching nearby, rushes over.
"What if something happened to you in that state?"
"I'll transform right away, so it's fine... Toya-kun, you have a cut on your face..."
"Ah, that was a close one."
"You were told not to do dangerous things!"
I apologize to Airi while tying up the man.
I hear gunshots.
There are still enemies!
Airi and I exchange glances and run toward the sounds of gunfire.
(4)
"Oryaa!"
I throw the enemy.
The enemy slams into the wall.
"It's not over yet, is it?!"
I roar at the enemy.
The enemy seems confused.
At that moment, a soldier fires at him.
The enemy blocks it with his gauntlet, then charges at the soldier and mows him down.
I don't miss that opening. I launch at the enemy, raise my leg, and kick him in the medulla oblongata.
"Gah!"
The enemy groans and his knees give way.
I drive my heel down onto his head, striking his crown.
The enemy rolls his eyes back and collapses.
I cuff his hands behind his back and leave him there, planning to go support Haruna.
The soldiers will handle the rest.
That's what I thought.
Then I hear soldiers groaning.
The enemy has torn off the handcuffs, scattered the soldiers, and is charging at me.
"Don't get cocky thinking you've won with something like that!"
He swings a punch at me. I grab his arm and throw him again.
The guy doesn't even know how to break his fall.
It was easy to beat down a fool who only knows how to attack.
The man staggers to his feet.
"Want to keep going?"
Wasting time on this idiot isn't worth it.
"There's no way I'd lose to an amateur like you."
The enemy says that.
I have to break this idiot's spirit.
I tell him to take a stance.
I provoke him, saying, "Try blocking my attack with that gauntlet you think is invincible."
"Leaving me that much leeway... I guess I've been underestimated."
The enemy takes a stance. I punch directly at the point where his arms cross.
I land the Ura-ate.
The gauntlet shatters into pieces, and the force penetrates through both arms, all the way to his back.
Naturally, the man is blown away, hits the back of his head, and loses consciousness.
Did I get him this time?
I check on the man.
He doesn't move a muscle.
"I'm not about to lose to some idiot who's obsessed with martial arts but never learned to take a hit."
I tell the soldiers to restrain him.
As I watch that scene closely, I hear Sakai-senpai's voice.
"Look out!"
I turn around to see a huge woman in armor and a helmet charging at me.
She's swinging a chainsaw.
I dodge it and drive my knee into her solar plexus.
The principle is the same as suikashi (dodge).
The armor is unscathed, but I damage the inside.
Still, the woman doesn't stop.
She swings the chainsaw back up from its downward arc.
I do a backflip to dodge.
Thin wires are wrapped around both of the woman's wrists.
I apply Ura-ate to the chainsaw. I succeed in breaking the chainsaw.
The woman swings a fist at me. I dodge and counter, catching her exposed face.
Her head should have taken a concussion and she should fall, but it has no effect.
"I train differently from you!"
You can't train your head, damn it!
Then Sakai-senpai pulls the wire that's coiled around her neck.
Sakai-senpai jumps over a high pipe support and suspends the woman.
"Senpai, isn't that murder?"
"Better worry about whether the wire will hold."
It turns out just as Sakai-senpai feared.
The wire can't bear the woman's weight and snaps. The woman falls.
She's buried in the ground, gouging out the asphalt.
"Haruto-kun, do the honors!"
Hearing Sakai-senpai's words, I kick the woman's body with all my might.
The woman soars high into the sky and falls into the sea.
A spray of water rises high.
She seems to be drowning, but Sakai-senpai pays it no mind.
Then a boat approaches, retrieves the woman, and leaves.
She got away.
"Let's go, Haruto-kun. There are still people fighting."
That's right, I have to support Haruna.
I run together with Sakai-senpai.
(5)
A threat.
A man who stands up no matter how many knives I stab into him.
His name is Sariel.
I catch his thrown knives and throw them back at him.
I've pierced all his vital points, but he doesn't seem to care at all.
I've also prepared countermeasures for this kind of monster.
I stab a knife into his forehead, but he grins and stabs a knife at me.
I dodge reflexively, but it grazes a piece of cloth.
He uses the darkness to attack from my blind spots.
I attack him while dodging and catching his knives.
He tries to finish me off with a blow to my back.
Just then, a wire entangles his hand and pulls his body toward it.
"Haruna! Fall back!"
Haruto came.
Haruto jumps up and stomps on his head.
His head sinks into the ground.
Haruto seemed intent on crushing his head.
But that attack is pointless.
He raises his free arm and tries to stab a knife into Haruto's foot.
Haruto notices and quickly backflips to avoid the attack.
The man rises unsteadily.
With several knives stuck in him, he looks like a hedgehog—an eerie sight.
"It can't be helped."
Sakai-san throws something at the man and shoots it with a gun.
The thrown bottle shatters, its contents ignite, and the man is engulfed in flames.
The man writhes.
But he doesn't die.
He passes through the gate, leaps over the seawall, and falls into the sea.
"Ah, that substance ignites on contact with water."
As he said, a pillar of fire rises from the sea.
But a boat approaches, extinguishes the fire, and retrieves him.
Something flashes from that boat.
"Danger!!"
Mika-san pushes us down.
A pale lightning-like bolt is discharged.
Watanabe-san, glowing red, catches that lightning.
Is he alright?
Haruto selects a large cannon from the weapon on his back and fires it at the boat.
The spear hits the boat directly, and the boat explodes.
Will we be charged with murder?
But that thing wasn't human.
Besides, who would believe we fired a spear and made it explode?
Our mission is complete.
(6)
"Kosei, I caught it!! The IP is...!!"
Makoto-kun quickly enters the IP he was given.
Central control is captured.
Now we just watch to see if they try to invade through another proxy.
Makoto-kun is engrossed in his work.
Tracing the footprints of the invading IP back to the origin of the Nine-Tailed Fox.
"You think I'm letting you escape after coming this far?!"
Makoto-kun taps the keyboard briskly, tatatan.
The sound suddenly stops.
"OK, capture complete. I'll send them a 'makorin'."
Their communication status plays through the speakers.
Looks like everyone won their respective battles.
The one issuing orders is probably Allen.
I disrupt that communication and issue orders using a voice sample of Allen.
"Trouble occurring. All units stand by."
"Roger that," comes over the comms.
That should buy us some time.
In the meantime, Makoto-kun strips the Nine-Tailed Fox of all their data.
Something Katagiri-kun had requested.
"Just as Toya said. X-Day is the day after tomorrow."
I also learn the contents.
We may have stepped into a terrible place.
Still, we can't afford to stop.
"We're having a cherry blossom viewing party after the operation. Kosei, look forward to it!"
Makoto-kun says.
"Makoto-san. Something's wrong. The enemy is moving!"
Naru says, looking at the screen.
"What?! Damn! Did they detect we cut off their network?!"
I look outside. A flare is being launched.
It signals mission failure.
Everyone will probably scurry to retreat.
I also let everyone know the operation was successful.
They all say "Roger."
But there's no response from the Ishihara team.
Did something happen?
(7)
I was fighting a single man.
Ishihara-kun and I were fighting together.
Airi and Emi-san were watching.
The man was a strong opponent.
He attacked while wielding a knife and a pistol.
We were on the defensive.
The man moved quickly and lunged at us.
He grappled with Ishihara-kun, and they exchanged throws.
We couldn't make a move recklessly.
Then, when Ishihara-kun was thrown and the enemy took mount, they both pointed pistols at each other's vital spots.
The next moment, they fired without hesitation. Ishihara-kun barely moved his head to dodge the bullet.
A red line appears on his cheek.
I can't just stand by.
I charge at the man and draw my sword.
The man leaps back to dodge the slash.
Then he fires at me.
The muzzle flash tells me where the gun is aimed.
I dodge it.
The man's movement stops.
He seems to be talking to someone while keeping the gun aimed at me.
I thought about pressing the attack, but neither Ishihara-kun nor I can find an opening.
Just then, the man suddenly stops his charge, puts a hand to his ear, and starts talking to someone.
"Understood..."
The man cuts the transmission.
"That's it for today. Your victory. Congratulations."
The man claps.
What's his game?
"But I can't let myself be captured just yet. Sorry, but I'm pulling out here."
The man throws a white bag he was holding.
Ishihara-kun shoots it reflexively.
White powder scatters.
This is...
"Ishihara-kun, get down!!"
Everyone ducks before I can even say it.
The man throws a lighter at the powder.
The powder explodes. He escapes in that window.
"Is everyone okay?!"
I ask everyone.
"I'm fine."
Emi-san replies.
"Tada-kun contacted us. The operation was a success. They also captured the Nine-Tailed Fox data."
"I see..."
It's hard to say the operation was completely successful, though.
"Looks like they took out at least three on their end too."
'Their end' probably refers to the Sakai team.
I hear the details from Emi-san.
Were they really taken down?
Well, this is all we can do. Let's leave the rest to the police.
"Here, Commander. You need to give closing remarks, right?"
Emi-san hands me the communicator.
I take it and address everyone.
"Good work today, everyone... Let's have an after-party at the usual place."
Cheers erupt from everyone.
At that moment, my phone rings.
Unknown caller.
I answer.
"Impressive. I almost died there!"
So he was still alive after all.
"I'm glad to hear that."
"As a reward, I'll tell you something good. 'God is dead.'"
"What does that mean?"
"Just what it sounds like."
"What did you do to Sora Takahashi?"
"What do you think of nation, ideology, society, and the origin of the self?"
The voice changed.
It's that man from earlier.
"Who are you?"
"Does the name Viper ring a bell?"
"Ah, so you're..."
The state of the nation, huh.
"What's the point of asking a student like me? This isn't something we kids should be meddling in."
"Your way of thinking... you really are suited to be a warrior."
"Sorry, but I have no intention of taking up such a dangerous profession."
"Whether you like it or not, the era won't allow it. You'll continue to be caught up in battles."
True, that might happen if things stay as they are. But...
"I don't plan to listen to that kind of talk. But I won't let you have your way."
"I look forward to our next meeting. It'll be soon."
With that, he hung up.
"Hey hey, who was that?"
Airi asked.
"Viper."
"Viper?!"
Ishihara-kun asked.
"What did he say?"
"Something about nation and ideology, yadda yadda."
"I see..."
"Should we pull out too? We'll get in the way of the police."
"Yeah, you're right."
We won tonight's battle. But this is just the beginning.
The real fight is next.
For now, let's celebrate tonight's victory.
The brief rest given to us.
(8)
"They really handled it all by themselves, didn't they, Superintendent Tosaka."
"...Indeed."
"But the main target, the Nine-Tailed Fox, escaped."
"...That's true."
"Superintendent Tosaka?"
I was thinking.
It played out just as Toya-kun predicted.
The real target is probably the party being held the day after tomorrow.
A meeting between the prefectural governor and the former prime minister.
What is Allen plotting?
It seems even Toya-kun doesn't know that far.
But until we find out. No, maybe it's our job to find out.
What is the true culprit?
Who is behind Allen?
What is Moon?
Toya-kun says he doesn't know either.
But he says Moon appears when the sun sets.
That's obvious, but what does it mean?
Is 'sun' referring to the Solar Knights, an organization based on IRIS information?
Are they the ones opposing the mysterious group, the Local Patriots?
Those who hate the region—that's supposedly their identity.
I don't know if 'region' refers to the local area itself or the Local Patriots.
Allen hates the region.
That probably stems from that incident over a decade ago.
In that incident, Allen was captured.
It was an incident involving the Takahashi Group and the Sudo Group.
IRIS also hints at that.
IRIS has been submitted to the Public Security Bureau as well.
Before long, action will be taken against those two groups.
The Solar Knights won't come out unscathed either.
When the foundation of the region wavers. When the sun sets. Night falls on the region.
But they will become the moon that illuminates the night.
They will become the starlight that lights up the night sky.
All we can do is support them.
The future of the region is entrusted to them.
(9)
"Okay, good work tonight, everyone. It's a family restaurant, but it's late and no one's here. Enjoy yourselves to the fullest."
As I say that, the party begins.
"Here, Toya-kun. Good work tonight."
Airi pours me some hot sake.
It seems Airi will drive and drop me off tonight.
"Thanks."
I down it, and she pours another.
"Haruto, good work tonight too."
"Thanks, Haruna."
The two of them are also enjoying the night.
But we can't just have fun.
"Toya, I found out the true nature of the party the day after tomorrow."
It seems to be a birthday party for the former prime minister who came from this region.
IRIS's information and Allen's hatred for the region connected.
As I thought, it wasn't the Nine-Tailed Fox... no, behind Allen wasn't the Solar Knights.
To be precise, there was no one behind Allen.
Everything is going according to Allen's plan.
As proof, Allen's unit apparently launched a surprise attack on the local Red Society organization.
Allen and his group disappear again.
However, Makoto-kun's virus 'makorin', which infects sector by sector, has complete grasp of Allen's movements.
Their goal has nothing to do with nation, ideology, or social principles.
It's a very simple personal revenge.
"That said, I'm not really keen on this next operation. It's pretty much like saying we have to help the enemy, right?"
"But the ones we fight are also enemies."
"That may be true, but I feel like we should just let them destroy each other. They sowed the seeds themselves, didn't they?"
"If it were that simple, it'd be fine, but everyone would suffer. We can't just leave it alone!"
The Kiritanis are arguing.
"...Toya, what do you think about this next operation?"
"It's contradictory in what we have to do. But like Ai-san says, if everyone suffers, we can't just leave it."
I answer Watanabe-kun.
I don't know what means they'll use to carry out the terrorism.
But, reluctantly, if the Solar Knights are wiped out, the ones who suffer are the local people themselves.
Of course, they must also be judged. But that must be under the law.
We must prevent them from being judged through terrorism.
"This is truly the final battle this time."
"Unity disappeared a long time ago."
"God is dead, huh..."
Watanabe-kun says with a laugh.
I don't know which side is right. We head into battle not knowing who or why we must protect.
Still, we must fight without bending our own will.
It's also a battle with ourselves.
To protect everyone in sight, we swing our swords.
We complete a life of battle.
"And so, everyone. Next is the last. Steady your resolve and fight."
Watanabe-kun says.
"Finally we can say goodbye to these dangerous incidents."
Emi-san says.
"I'm looking forward to the cherry blossom viewing this weekend."
Ishihara-kun says.
"We'll prepare the best seats."
Manabe-kun and the others say.
"Just be careful not to get hurt."
Miyuki-san says.
The party lasted until morning.
When I got home, I took a shower.
I turned on the TV to wait for Airi to shower.
The morning news was already covering yesterday's attack on the power plant.
A considerable number of people were arrested.
But not a single member of the Nine-Tailed Fox was caught.
I'll settle this next time.
"Toya-kun, you waited for me."
Airi says that as she enters the room and dries her hair with a hairdryer.
I watch Airi drying her hair, humming a happy tune.
Airi notices my gaze.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. You just seem happy."
"Well, of course. Next is the last one, right?"
"Yeah... This time, truly the final battle."
"If you say so, Toya-kun, then it must be."
"Toya-kun, once the battle is over, please spoil me a lot."
"...Want to go somewhere during the holiday?"
"Sure, it's been a while. Anywhere is fine. I'm looking forward to our date, Toya-kun."
"Yeah. Let's get to bed soon."
"Okay."
I get into bed with Airi.
Airi hugs me and falls asleep peacefully.
Feeling Airi's warmth, I soon fall asleep, tired as well.
Next is the last.
The curtain was about to fall on our battle.