episode_0016

Despite the late hour, a considerable number of people had gathered at the restaurant.

There was no overlap among them in terms of gender, age, status, occupation, or even the dishes they ordered. However, the one thing that united them all was the smiles on their faces as they sat with their respective meals.

In addition to familiar dishes like chicken cutlet, grilled mackerel, and fried oysters, there was an array of unfamiliar Western dishes spread out before them.

Among them, what caught everyone’s attention was the iconic symbol of this establishment’s fame: the duo of Parmesan prosciutto and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese pasta.

Not only was the taste exceptional, but the unique performance was remarkable.

First, under the orange-hued lighting that replaced the early winter sun indoors, a massive pork hind leg was thinly sliced right in front of the table. The perfectly cooked pasta was drizzled with extra virgin olive oil. Finally, everything was mixed inside a chunk of cheese, leaving everyone wide-eyed in amazement.

Strictly speaking, it was nothing more than air-dried ham and pasta flavored solely with cheese, without any elaborate tricks. However, its pure and primal flavor exuded a strong presence precisely because it hadn’t been tampered with artificially. The freshness that melted on the tongue upon contact. A light saltiness and oiliness. When paired with the 1991 Tuscan wine brought by the man as a contribution, it was oddly satisfying.

“They wrote ‘taste’ on the signboard, so I wondered how confident the owner must be, and they truly live up to that reputation. Honestly, I was quite surprised. Considering that each dish costs around a thousand yen, it’s even more impressive.”

“Yeah, that’s why there’s no need to go all the way to Italy. I’d rather avoid the hassle of dealing with pickpockets all week.”

“Setting aside the significant bias, there is a charm unique to the local scene… Well, anyway. It’s truly heartwarming that you accepted the invitation so readily. Shall we raise a toast?”

With a smile that seemed almost engraved on his face, the man tilted his deep red glass, but the woman sitting across from him simply picked up a piece of prosciutto with a solemn expression, lightly dipped it in olive oil sprinkled with pepper, and ate it. Neither side showed much enthusiasm, but a subtle discomfort lingered beneath the surface.

It couldn’t be helped.

Amidst the diverse crowd inside, they stood out a bit more conspicuously. To be precise, it was the woman who did. While the man was dressed in a common black suit that could be seen anywhere, the woman’s attire was somewhat unconventional, resembling a character cosplay one might see at a late-night anime convention. Especially with her somewhat curvaceous figure and significantly high level of exposure, she appeared quite distinct from the ordinary.

“Forget about what’s been said. Did some sudden impulse drive you to call me out to Kobe all of a sudden?”

“Haha, maybe I just felt like treating an old acquaintance to a meal.”

“To tell you the truth, at least let me pay for the meal.”

“Well, you’re making an irresistible offer. Fine. Let’s make the most of this rare occasion.”

The man shrugged awkwardly, not letting go of the smile on his lips, as he waved to the waiter.

Eventually, Shirako (cod milt) and Denpura, along with a blue cheese pizza they ordered additionally, were served before them. The woman sprinkled shichimi on a slice and began to eat it slowly. Watching her intently, the man pushed aside the empty plates from the previous set and opened his mouth.

“I heard it from somewhere. Your loyal lackey─ Oops, my mistake. They say the fools engrossed in their hero play have brought up an interesting matter.”

“Hmm… Is that so? I don’t care for the antics of the weaklings.”

“Well then, as a courtesy, let me gladly inform you about the ‘Peace Disaster Zone.’ Have you heard of it?”

“Is it the village turned to ashes by the Red Devil Fire? I know of it. Luna is neglecting me like this because she’s busy taking care of those survivors. Sigh… It’s really inconvenient when there’s no one to clean the house.”

“The order to kill those survivors is likely the content of the matter mentioned earlier.”

“…Huh?”

A moment of silence passed.

The woman’s bored expression froze even the cheese she was stretching snapped. In stark contrast, the man’s demeanor remained largely unchanged. He continued twirling pasta with a thick fork on his plate, observing the discomfort of the other party.

“Most have already agreed on the matter, and soon it will be delivered to you in everyone’s name. They’ll make it sound grand with various justifications.”

“Luna seemed completely unaware that such a meeting had taken place.”

“Well, isn’t politics always like that? Even if they are hero wannabes, they are ultimately human. No matter how flashy they may seem, in the end, they’re flawed stones by birth.”

“It’s incomprehensible from the start. Those survivors… they’re probably just a couple of teenagers at best.”

“In the face of a survival crisis, ethics and dignity go out the window, don’t they? We all know that too well. They are trembling in fear to that extent right now. Haha.”

The man added a sardonic laugh as he filled his mouth with pasta.

However, his eyes showed no amusement. They were filled only with scorn and disgust. For the man, matters of propriety were worth nothing more than mocking theatrics. The swift presentation of the ‘evidence’ that would have cost a fortune under normal circumstances was just an extension of this attitude.

“What’s this?”

“Regardless of whether you know or not, this is a service for someone who clearly wouldn’t recognize the faces of the survivors. The ‘Administrator’ you belong to is concerned that this girl, Ryu Jin, will invoke the legacy of ‘that incident.’”

“Why her specifically? She doesn’t seem to have any obvious connections.”

“She attends the same school as the ‘perpetrator’ of that incident.”

“Oh…?”

“And they’re in the same club.”

“…Wait. Are you seriously using that as a reason?”

“They are sincere.”

“The weaklings have collectively lost their minds. So, does this Ryu Jin intend to wipe out her own class without a trace?”

“As I said, she’s just a regular student attending school normally.”

“Or perhaps half of the administrators were murdered while I wasn’t looking?”

“Unfortunately, she has never set foot outside the village. Probably won’t in the future either. Haha.”

“So what? Are you telling me that these people are afraid of a high school girl just because they happen to share some affiliations?”

“That’s correct. Very accurate.”

“If they genuinely feel that way, then this world is truly doomed.”

“Don’t be so pessimistic. Everyone has their own story. Why do you think ‘that incident’ is still being talked about after all these years?”

“Because some lunatic started chopping people up for ridiculous reasons like love or whatever.”

“Exactly. Your Administrator, as well as our Pharmaceutical Agency, didn’t expect it. No one did. No one could have predicted that an ordinary high school girl, without any support, would unleash chaos upon the world solely driven by the emotion of ‘love.’”

“But in the end, the culprit died. Moreover, nothing happened afterward. Just as you testified, even if that girl named Ryujin coincidentally overlapped with an affiliation, similar incidents couldn’t occur─.”

“─But what if they hadn’t?”

Before the woman could finish her sentence, the man interjected and pushed another photo in front of her face.

It was taken against the backdrop of a worn-out school building staircase. The window showed the outside, but inside, brightly lit as if it were midday, lay desolately shattered remnants of a film-like mass in the shape of a human.

“This is…”

“As expected, you recognize it. We investigated separately as well. According to the genetic comparison results, this was undoubtedly one of the hero-worshipping caretakers’ accomplices.”

“We must have imposed mutual entry bans on this town.”

“I wouldn’t know about that. Anyway, this person was murdered. A mere ordinary individual, a high school girl struggling through daily life alone due to the aftermath of the Red Devil Conflagration, with no special powers, extinguished the hero who vowed to protect the world for the sake of their loved one! Ah, truly reminiscent of ‘that incident’ and its repercussions. Isn’t dismissing this as an overreaction even more peculiar? Hahaha.”

Most of the man’s words were based on facts.

The girl named Ryujin was merely a miraculous survivor.

A weakling. An absolutely relative weakling at that. There was nothing to deter the strong.

Yet, numerous flaws remained.

Filled with victim delusions, severely lacking cognitive abilities, physically unable to perform simple tasks like walking, distrustful of others. Limited ethical consciousness. If she were in a place where even a semblance of normal societal rules applied, she would have been isolated from the world long ago, spending her days in a hospital.

“…I suppose I should talk to Luna a bit.”

“Do as you please. But it’s best not to delay. Time is likely short.”

“But before that, let me ask one more thing.”

“Feel free to ask.”

“Why did this person turn into a film-like mass?”

“Hmm?”

Indeed, the debris in the photo pointed out by the woman was far from an ordinary corpse.

It was literally film. Countless layers of film overlapped even between trampled and ruptured sections. However, according to the reports of those who processed the scene, it was undoubtedly also a human.

“Ryujin became such a threat because she killed a caretaker despite having no power. So, isn’t this film-like mass indicative of a third party’s actions? But there’s no one among our caretakers who can turn people into this.”

“Surprisingly, our pharmaceutical agency is the same.”

“Shouldn’t we prioritize eliminating this side over Ryujin?”

“We’ve entrusted the analysis of this film to Hee and Yang. Samples have been sent to your side as well. Don’t forget. Regardless of what the others do, what’s important to you and me is Ryujin’s fate, suddenly becoming a target.”

“Indeed, as you say. Very well. Let’s call it a day.”

Whether or not she understood anything, the woman finished the last remaining slice of pizza, rolled it up, and swallowed it in one gulp. Though her expression seemed slightly odd, perhaps due to the distinct scent of blue cheese, she showed no intention of refuting her counterpart’s feeble arguments.

In sync with the woman’s movements, the man pushed his chair back and rose from his seat.

Leaving the amount including the tip on the table, he waved goodbye to the woman as she opened the door and left, acting as if nothing had happened from the beginning.

“It was truly a pleasure meeting you, Akagami Kiba.”

“I was truly the worst, Haikotsu Pinbolverts.”

“Hahaha. Indeed. Well then, until─ fate brings us together again someday.”

“…Hmph.”

Under the moon, which did not hide a single cloud, the cold wind shook the ivy clinging to the building.

Despite the ominous conversation surrounding an ordinary girl, the night was surprisingly peaceful, ordinary, and serene, with the one-sided exchange being too calm.