Chương 31: Chapter 8 How Things Came to This(Part 4)

When we returned to the station, the conference room was already filling up again. Judging by the timing, Tachibana and I were the last to arrive. As soon as I sat down, Itsuki leaned toward me and spoke quietly.

"How was your date with Superintendent Tachibana?" I nearly rolled my eyes.

"It wasn't a date."

"Oh?"

"He isn't my type."

"And what exactly is your type?"

"My wife." Itsuki chuckled.

"Good answer." Then he lowered his voice even further.

"I'd be concerned if the transformation had changed your heart as well."

"That won't happen." I answered immediately. There wasn't even a need to think about it. Whatever else had changed, that part of me remained exactly the same.

At the front of the room, Tachibana began speaking.

"Assuming Ms. Kuroe's testimony is accurate, we must act." The room fell silent.

"Our first objective is entering a Gate." Murmurs immediately spread throughout the room. I raised my hand.

"Tachibana."

"Yes?"

"Please wait." Every eye turned toward me.

"People can enter." I stood.

"But I cannot guarantee their safety." The room quieted.

"I entered once and survived." I pointed at myself.

"That does not mean everyone else will." A few officers exchanged uneasy looks.

"At minimum, I would like to enter first and verify conditions before anyone else follows." Tachibana shook his head.

"No." This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work. I frowned.

"No?"

"No." His answer was immediate.

"Right now, you're the only person who has successfully entered and returned." He folded his arms.

"You're also the only person who possesses a weapon, a ring, and firsthand knowledge."

"Which is exactly why—""Which is exactly why we cannot leave everything to you." The room became very quiet. Nobody interrupted. Nobody objected. Because everyone knew he was right.

I disliked it. But he was right. Every person who entered would receive a weapon and a ring. Every person who survived would increase humanity's chances. From a strategic perspective, sending additional people immediately was the correct choice. That didn't make it easier.

"Fine." I exhaled.

"But understand this." I looked around the room.

"I cannot guarantee anyone's survival." The words felt heavy. Far heavier than they should have.

"If you enter, your life is your own responsibility." Nobody spoke. So I continued.

"If possible, I'd prefer volunteers with combat training." I paused. Then added:"And preferably people without families." That line hit harder than anything else I'd said. Because everyone understood why. I could risk my own life. I couldn't casually risk someone else's children losing a parent.

Tachibana nodded. Then looked around the room.

"You heard her." For several moments, nobody moved. Then hands began rising. One after another. Then another. And another. More volunteers than I'd expected. Far more.

Tachibana eventually raised a hand.

"Enough." The room settled.

"We will select four entrants." He paused.

"I will be one of them." The reaction was immediate. Several officers protested. Others looked shocked. Tachibana ignored all of them.

"The remaining positions will be filled by volunteers." He continued calmly.

"If necessary, we will conduct a selection process." Then he added something unexpected.

"One entrant must possess experience with broadcasting equipment and internet distribution." The room blinked. I knew exactly where this was heading.

"We will livestream." Silence. Absolute silence. Tachibana continued anyway.

"We will broadcast the interior of the Gate." Someone stood.

"Superintendent, are you serious?"

"Completely." His expression never changed.

"The world needs to understand both the danger and the opportunity." I couldn't help smiling. He really was going through with it.

The idea reminded me of an old documentary I'd once watched. The fall of the Berlin Wall. One mistaken statement. One misunderstanding. A single phrase spoken at the wrong time. And history changed forever. What we were planning wasn't identical. But it felt similar. We would throw information into the world. Everything we knew. Everything we discovered. Then let the consequences spread.

"Tachibana." He looked at me.

"Contact Dr. Takatsuki."

"The hospital physician?"

"Yes."

"He already knows a great deal." Tachibana nodded.

"I'll arrange it." Then he smiled.

"Actually, I have a request as well." Something about that smile worried me.

"I'll cooperate however I can." Big mistake. The moment those words left my mouth, Tachibana grinned. The sort of grin people wore immediately before causing trouble.

"Excellent." I suddenly had a very bad feeling.

"We'll need to dress you up."

"... What?" The room burst into laughter. I stared. Tachibana looked entirely serious.

"We're broadcasting this worldwide." He pointed directly at me.

"You're the star."

"That's not how this works."

"It absolutely is."

"No."

"Yes."

I rubbed my forehead. Of all the things I expected to discuss today— Monster eradication. Global catastrophe. Magic. The collapse of civilization. Fashion had not been on the list.

Tachibana wasn't finished.

"You'll be introducing humanity's first exploration of the Gate." His grin widened.

"Presentation matters." I narrowed my eyes.

"You're enjoying this."

"A little."

Then reality clicked into place. The livestream wasn't just about information. It was recruitment. Encouragement. Public relations. A message to the world.

"Look. It's dangerous."

"Look. It's real."

"Look. People can survive." And unfortunately... I was apparently the mascot.

I sighed deeply.

"Fine." The room waited.

"If people are risking their lives alongside me, the least I can do is smile for the camera." Tachibana pointed triumphantly.

"Excellent attitude." I regretted everything.

The meeting concluded soon afterward. Volunteers would be selected. Preparations would begin immediately. The assault on the Gate was scheduled for 6: 00 PM. Only a few hours away.

Later, while smoking in the station's smoking room, I called Rina and informed her of the plan. She didn't take it well. She begged me not to go. Every word hurt. But there was no avoiding it anymore. Whether I liked it or not, I had become involved. And if I was involved, then I intended to see it through properly.

The door opened. Miyafuji stepped inside.

"Found you."

"What is it?" He lit a cigarette. Then smiled.

"I got selected." I blinked.

"Selected?"

"For the expedition." Of all people, I hadn't expected him.

"You?"

"Me." He pointed at himself.

"I'm handling the broadcast equipment." Ah. That made sense. At least a little.

"There were plenty of volunteers," he continued.

"More than expected." He took a drag from his cigarette.

"But this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity." I laughed.

"Curiosity killed the cat."

"Maybe." His eyes sparkled.

"But this is humanity's first step into another world." He looked genuinely excited. Like a child about to open a present.

"Besides," he added with a grin,"You can find romance anytime." He tapped his chest.

"But humanity's first Gate livestream?" His smile widened.

"That only happens once."

I couldn't argue with that. All I could do was hope. Hope that every one of us would return alive. Hope that curiosity wouldn't become tragedy. And hope that when evening arrived— Humanity's first expedition into the unknown would be remembered for the right reasons.