Ch.66Chapter 12. Requirements (2)

“Something seems strange.”

Iris looked up at the people and said.

“Usually they evacuate people from nearby buildings first…”

“Are there cases when they don’t evacuate?”

“If the building is too large with too many people inside, or if it’s a government office with essential personnel… usually there’s a logical reason.”

Iris furrowed her brow.

“But it’s rarely just a mistake. One or two people might be overlooked, but not this many.”

“Hmm.”

I looked up at them too.

“They don’t seem like professional broadcasters.”

Since they’re holding smartphones.

The world has changed a lot in the past five years. Even Earth couldn’t completely reject the technology after encountering the Federation.

Bringing in all that technology at once would cause too much social chaos, so countries that haven’t directly joined the Federation are acquiring the technology gradually. Mostly in the form of “technology transfer.”

That’s also why the relationship between Noir Corporation and the government isn’t so bad.

But even with all that technology, there are still aspects that even alien technology can’t overcome when it comes to the absolute laws of physics.

For example, “larger electronic devices have better functionality.”

Or “larger glass can reflect and refract more light.”

A smartphone’s image sensor is much smaller than a broadcast camera. The same goes for the attached lens. No matter how much they can magnify optically, the reality is they can’t match professional broadcasting equipment.

If they were professional broadcasters, they’d be holding something better than smartphones.

“Or maybe this is how it’s supposed to look.”

Rose said.

“Maybe the Federation, the government, and Noir Corporation are trying to influence public opinion without getting directly involved?”

“I’m not sure how effective it would be to show videos of us defeating Kaijin instead of the police.”

Wouldn’t it backfire?

So far, the police haven’t been able to catch even the Kaijin, let alone us.

Even by alien standards, Kaijin are considered anomalous beings, but given that magical girl attacks work on them, they shouldn’t be impossible to kill if someone really tried.

Noir Corporation was already “controlling” Kaijin in their own way.

“Do you have any thoughts on this?”

When I asked James, the drone that had been quietly floating around until then turned toward me.

“Well, I have some thoughts.”

“And?”

“They’re still in the realm of speculation.”

James’s voice was even. He didn’t seem particularly scared of the current situation.

Hmm.

I lowered my gaze again.

I noticed a pink-haired girl in the corner of my vision.

Judging by how she’s been staring at me, she seems really interested in me. Well, if she wasn’t interested, she wouldn’t have suggested taking a bath together.

Should I talk to her?

I thought about it, but then realized I don’t really know anything about the current situation.

How many minutes have passed? I didn’t check the clock properly when they gave the warning through the loudspeaker, so I’m not sure how much time has passed.

It feels like about ten minutes.

Just as I was starting to get bored—

A loud noise came from far away.

It wasn’t an explosion or anything like that. Rather…

“A helicopter?”

Rose muttered.

But it’s a bit different from a helicopter. I’ve seen helicopters before.

It sounded like it had more than one propeller.

I stood up, gripping my hammer handle, and looked toward the sound. Something was flying toward us from far away.

It was quite elongated front to back, with four propellers. At first glance, it looked like a large drone.

But unlike regular drones, it wasn’t just carrying a camera. Between the two pairs of propellers hung a container.

I could hear the police getting restless.

And then—

Thud!

The drone came all the way to where we were and unceremoniously dropped the container.

We could have dodged if we wanted to, but it didn’t fall close enough to crush us, so there was no need to run away. The other magical girls felt the same way.

“Hmm.”

James muttered.

His voice suggested he had some idea of what was inside.

There was no need to ask. The container opened immediately.

Rather than opening like a regular container box with a door on one side, the walls opened outward in all directions.

Clang!

The container opened like an unfolded geometric cube, making a metallic sound.

What was inside—

“…Ha.”

I couldn’t help but laugh.

Inside was a large robot.

Or rather, something that “initially appeared to be a robot.”

With a Kaijin inside.

The large robot, which resembled a bear, was wearing heavy white armor. The surface was smoothly finished, making it look like it was made of ceramic.

So, it seems the government or the Federation is making a different choice than us.

In words, something like “no negotiation with terrorists.”

I looked up again at the humans filming us.

They’re holding smartphones and are quite high up. They can zoom in on the video from there, but they probably can’t hear us if we shout.

Even if we went up to talk to them, they could just cut the communication.

“I see.”

But they can’t completely turn against us. The generator is too important.

The generator that uses the Hope Circuit is under development, but the Federation doesn’t have magical girls. The incomplete generator won’t even work without hope.

I stole the generator the company was using.

I don’t know how much it costs or how long it takes to make a generator, but if there’s someone “absolutely necessary” for making that high-dimensional equipment, or if there are core technologies that only the former chairman would know…

The chairman is missing, and James, who probably designed it, is with me.

So they might have needed a “warning.”

That resistance is meaningless—

Woong—

Such a sound came from near the robot.

It’s a sound coming from me.

The robot looks different from last time. Of course, I saw several robots last time. Since the Kaijin inside were living creatures, not mechanical parts, they all looked different, but at least the “same models” looked quite similar.

What’s different this time is that this robot has two circuits.

Light was coming from the circuits on both shoulders. At first glance, they seem to emit bright light like the circuits magical girls use, but their edges are pitch black, like they could swallow anything. Like that “world’s blackest paint” I saw on the internet.

Did they install LEDs? If so, the luminosity seems a bit lacking.

Creak.

The robot’s eyes lit up, and its bear-like head rose.

Then it moved with a slightly unnatural trembling and looked at the Kaijin.

I can see why they kept the cameras far away. If they were too close, people would notice that the robot was operating strangely.

…Now I understand a bit.

“This is a controlled situation, isn’t it?”

Iris said.

Yes.

To us, it looks like they’re blatantly pointing cameras at us, but to people watching the broadcast, it probably doesn’t look that way.

The cameras aren’t pointing at the ones filming.

They can just say they were filming secretly.

And if the robot goes berserk or breaks down and becomes unusable, they can just cut the video. They can just say “we were caught at that point.”

Whatever choice we make here, they can selectively use whatever they want.

“This is ridiculous.”

“I know.”

When Hayun responded, I finally turned toward her.

Hayun, quite unusually, had an angry expression.

Probably because of the idea of using Kaijin.

Kaijin are… strictly speaking, just people in pain. Although we have to use violent means to properly neutralize them and send them back to space, they’re essentially victims.

That’s what makes subduing Kaijin more difficult.

“We should have shown the situation as it was during the last broadcast.”

“Well, we were too busy then. It couldn’t be helped.”

James responded to my muttering.

“You don’t seem particularly worried?”

“As you can see, that thing only works properly with them there.”

“…”

“Why do you think it arrived only after you got here? If they could activate it from the beginning to defeat the Kaijin, they would have done so already.”

“Then what’s with this audacity?”

“Well, it means they’re willing to negotiate too. If there’s mutual benefit, why not make a deal?”

When I glared at the drone, it wobbled slightly from side to side.

“I know you don’t want to make a deal, but well, people tend to waver when they see substantial conditions. Don’t you think?”

“Why would they judge that I would do that?”

“Because you became a Combatant for money.”

That… was something I couldn’t deny.

Even though I put all of it into the orphanage, thanks to that money, I could live much more comfortably. The money I received as pocket money was enough for me to enjoy my hobbies and occasionally eat out.

“…What should we do now?”

“If you fight the Kaijin, you’ll probably look desperate. Like you’re fighting to defeat it before the robot to prove your value. Conversely, if you attack the robot, that’s an act of terrorism. There’s no point in taking out the contents either. They’ll cut the video before that.”

“So, just watch?”

“Either way, if there’s no benefit to us, waiting and hoping the robot loses is an option.”

“Huh…”

I looked at Hayun.

Even in this situation, Hayun was still looking at the robot with an angry face.

Creak, creak.

The robot slowly turned toward the Kaijin.

Kaijin are beings that cannot communicate. However, they have an instinct to destroy what’s in front of them.

Like the flat-faced, fish-like Kaijin now, some move cautiously, but many Kaijin rampage without warning.

Then, how would that “robot” with a destruction-instinct-filled Kaijin inside react?

If the “direction” is set correctly, it will surely fight whatever is in front of it, whether it’s a Kaijin or not.

“Uoooh!”

The robot shouted.

The sound was more like an electronically distorted sound than a real biological sound. Well, if word got out that they were using Kaijin, that would be troublesome in its own way.

Judging that action as an “attack,” the opposing Kaijin also started to move.

It’s fast.

So fast that it almost appeared as just a gray afterimage.

Thwack!

But the robot wasn’t easily defeated.

“…”

That day, all the robots using Kaijin in the corridor attacked us.

I think I know why. At the time, it was too chaotic to accurately assess the situation, but the robot’s movements were much more unnatural than I thought.

They probably stopped when they tried to attack each other. Normally, just suppressing the Kaijin’s power would gradually damage the device, but if they received my energy, that’s a different story.

The exchange was fast. Thinking the white robot was the biggest threat, the Kaijin quickly circled around it, attacking.

Similarly, judging the opposing Kaijin as the biggest threat, the robot was focused on it.

Although it mostly showed defensive moves, that doesn’t mean it didn’t attack. When it moved its hands with sharp artificial claws at the tips, only that part left afterimages.

Alright.

I got up from my seat.

Then I picked up the hammer in one hand and went to Hayun.

“So, what do you want to do?”

When I spoke to her, Hayun turned to me.

There was a slight bewilderment on her face.

If Hayun… were still a magical girl, she would probably have rushed in to fight both of them without this conversation.

For Hayun, the situation in front of her would be the priority, regardless of how others might evaluate her.

The reason she’s not stepping forward is probably because I’m next to her. She might be worried that her actions could make my situation be perceived strangely.

“I’ll move according to your choice.”

I looked up again.

Whatever way we move, all our movements will only be conveyed in a way that benefits them.

No matter how wrong a claim is, human thinking already pauses once when they first accept that fact. Even if they hear the truth later, they find it hard to accept. Especially if they’ve already spoken out.

So, from the moment I was accepted as a “terrorist,” our actions might just prove that.

Even though I broadcasted and turned people’s attention, and the previously popular magical girls chose to stay by my side.

“I’m not sure if this is a good idea.”

James made a discouraging comment from the side, but I pushed the drone aside with the end of my hammer.

“You decide.”

I still haven’t completely reconciled with Hayun.

Maybe moving like we have been until now might be a bit difficult. Our relationship might remain changed from now on.

But even so.

Isn’t Hayun the protagonist?

Even if it’s not a traditional magical girl story, even if she’s just a protagonist in a manga that put all its effort into subverting magical girl clichés.

Hayun was a magical girl.

One who truly calls for love, justice, and peace.

At least, I still believed that.

So, thinking rationally, in this situation, the protagonist’s choice is needed more than an extra like me, where even one action can make the story go in a strange direction.

“Are you sure it’s okay?”

Hayun asked me that.

There seemed to be a subtle expectation in her voice, which made me uncomfortable.

“…If we were to take a vote, it would be easier to move as you move.”

In the end, I evaded the situation with such words.

“…Alright.”

But to my words, Hayun smiled and said:

“Good. Then, let’s fight. We need to send both of them… back from Earth.”

Hayun said that, looking at me and the other magical girls.

Everyone had powerful smiles on their faces.

Expressions I don’t know how to make.

Why is that?

Even when they used the same energy as me, those kids found hope with such faces. A single ray of hope, an imperfect solution, but always better than the worst.

And even in situations like this, they don’t lose hope. The spinning circuits proved it. The magical girl outfits of those children proved it.

Those kids weren’t losing hope even at this moment.

Strangely, I didn’t like it.

I didn’t like it, but because of that, I felt reassured.

After all, the existence I disliked the most was myself.

“Let’s go.”

As Hayun said that, she shot forward.

We followed behind her.

Last time, I felt it less because all the Kaijin were attacking me from the start, but squeezing between two fighting Kaijin was more pressuring than I thought.

It’s like pushing your body between rapidly colliding presses. It was daunting to enter between what appeared as just white and gray afterimages if you didn’t concentrate.

So, I chose the least pressuring method.

Instead of pushing my way in, I decided to ambush.

Click.

About half of the back of the hammer opened wide. With the booster at maximum output, my body flew upward.

And drawing a parabola, I fell with the hammer head onto the white robot’s head.

Bang!

The robot quickly raised its hand to block my hammer.

Creak.

Its head turned toward me. All that was visible were the cameras in its eyes, but there were surely human eyes inside.

The eyes of someone who had gone mad for some reason.

I opened the front booster of the hammer.

“Kuooo!”

The robot quickly pushed with both arms, but my hammer has strong output. There’s a small auxiliary output coming from the front, but it’s nothing compared to the maximum output blasting from the back. It’s just a small propulsion function I added for braking and changing direction.

But it’s useful at times like this.

A small flamethrower. Or rather, it’s like holding a very hot gas stove with a rocket attached to the back.

The robot’s arms turned red-hot.

Is it an alloy rather than ceramic?

As I was thinking that—

Bang!

Something collided with the white robot’s body.

It’s the gray Kaijin.

Right, these two were still fighting.

But neither side seemed to have considered this situation; the robot flew back a bit, and the Kaijin, trying to avoid my hammer falling downward, dragged its body on the ground.

Of course, when what was blocking the booster-equipped hammer disappears, it hammers down.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

I hammered away at the fallen Kaijin.

After reducing the rear propulsion a bit, I activated the front booster in short but strong bursts. Combined with my arm strength, it became a threatening movement.

But the Kaijin didn’t intend to just take it; it quickly rolled to the side and rapidly disappeared—

—No, it tried to disappear.

Hayun blocked the Kaijin with her shoulder. Instead of a metallic sound, there was a brutal sound of people colliding.

Hayun, seemingly unaffected, immediately swung her sword following the Kaijin’s movement. She didn’t cut it, but it was at least threatening. The Kaijin couldn’t easily approach or escape.

Bang!

Such a loud sound came from beside me.

Rose had blocked the robot’s arm that was thrusting toward us.

Clang, clang!

Iris’s concentrated fire hit the robot’s head. Each time it was hit, the control system of that part seemed to malfunction; the white armor turned to powder and the mechanical parts underneath began to show.

They’re thinking of cutting the video as quickly as possible.

Since they’ve decided to use it, they won’t let us use it to our advantage.

…

The collaboration is working better than I expected.

Or are they adjusting to me?

I don’t like it right now, but well, since we’ve already moved, there’s nothing we can do.

For now, let’s handle the situation in front of us and think about the next step.

…Should I really rob a convenience store and leave?