Chương 41: Chapter 11 The Day the World Learned the Truth(Part 2)

By the time my cigarette was half gone, the battle was over. The remaining monsters had all been reduced to crystals scattered across the floor. Tachibana finished off the last Brute by skewering it from behind, while the three scarf-wearers dealt with the surviving Three-Eyes. But one of them was crouched on the ground, pale and trembling. The Yellow Scarf. A Three-Eye had severed his left hand at the wrist. There was no way that didn't hurt.

"Tachibana, do we have any healing potions?" She immediately produced two pink vials. If I remembered correctly, pink-grade potions could reattach severed fingers. I wasn't sure about an entire hand. Red or Black grade would have worked without question, but there was no harm in testing it. If it failed, we could always leave the Gate and seek proper treatment.

"Let's try it first," I said.

"If it doesn't work, we'll use a Red potion." The Red Scarf carefully picked up the severed hand and pressed it against the stump. The Yellow Scarf let out a strangled scream. Miyafuji, naturally, recorded the entire thing on camera. Tachibana uncapped one of the potions and poured it over the wound. The Green Scarf stood nearby with his hands clasped together, looking like he was praying. The rest of us watched. Waiting. Hoping.

"Well?" Red Scarf asked.

"Can you move it?" The Yellow Scarf slowly clenched his fingers. Then opened them. Then rotated his wrist. His eyes widened.

"It works!" He laughed.

"It actually works! The pain's gone!" Relief spread through the group. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. Good. That solved one problem.

"Take it easy until a doctor checks you over," I said.

"Even if it feels fine." Then I turned toward Tachibana.

"Let's call it here. We have an injured member, and we've got plans tomorrow." Tachibana nodded.

"Agreed." And just like that, our first dive was over. A long day. A very long day. All that remained was getting home, taking a bath, and sleeping for twelve hours. At least, that had been the plan. The Exit Gate stood directly ahead. No casualties. The stream had gone smoothly. Honestly, this was about as successful as an operation could get. Feeling oddly satisfied, I started walking toward the exit. Tachibana suddenly moved closer. Far too close. Close enough that I instinctively leaned away.

Seriously, what was wrong with this woman? Then she whispered.

"Public Security is waiting outside." I stopped.

"... What?"

"Public Security." I blinked.

"The scary anime kind?" Tachibana nearly tripped.

"Why would that be your first reaction?!"

"Because it's Public Security!"

"This isn't a spy thriller!"

"That's exactly what a spy would say." She pinched the bridge of her nose.

"They're not here to arrest anyone." Then she paused.

"... Probably." That wasn't reassuring. At all.

"Oh, and one more thing."

"What?"

"The stream is still live." I stared at her. She stared back.

"... Why?"

"Because nobody turned it off."

"TURN IT OFF!" My voice echoed through the chamber. Fantastic. Now the entire internet had witnessed my panic attack. I already hated having my picture taken. Being watched by thousands of people through a camera? Absolutely not. I wasn't built for that.

"T-Tachibana." I straightened my posture. Tried to look composed.

"Let's proceed with dignity." The look she gave me was devastating. It was the same look someone might give a puppy trying to intimidate a tank. Unfortunately, she wasn't entirely wrong. The moment I stopped focusing on combat, everything came rushing back. The camera. The audience. The fact that people were actually watching. I hated it.

"Let's go." We linked hands and stepped through the Exit Gate. The familiar sensation of weightlessness returned. The world blurred. And then— We emerged. Back in reality. Or at least, what used to qualify as reality. The company grounds were packed. People. Everywhere. Police officers. Government vehicles. Emergency personnel. Reporters. And overhead— Helicopters. A lot of helicopters. I slowly looked around. Then looked around again. Then a third time.

"... That's more people than I expected." Tachibana sighed.

"I warned you."

"This is beyond a warning." This looked less like a successful dungeon expedition and more like the aftermath of a national emergency. I searched for familiar faces. No Itsuki. No Rina. No sign of anyone I knew. Maybe walking home wasn't an option after all. I had just started considering alternatives when a man in a black suit stepped forward. Thin glasses. Neat hair. The sort of face that looked permanently annoyed.

"First." His eyes locked onto mine. Then he corrected himself.

"Or perhaps I should say... Kuroe Tsukasa." Ah. That couldn't be good.

"Please come with us." I sighed.

"Is this voluntary?"

"Not exactly."

"I'd rather go home." His smile didn't change. Neither did mine. Then an idea struck me. I reached into my pocket and produced my driver's license.

"Before anyone says anything," I said, holding it out, "the smoking isn't illegal. I am an adult." The man accepted the license. Checked it. Read it carefully. Then returned it.

"Identity confirmed."

"Wonderful." I reached for it.

"So I'm free to—""You are hereby requested to accompany us immediately."

"... That's not voluntary."

"No."

"It sounded voluntary for a moment."

"That was merely good manners." I stared at him. He stared back. I lost.

"... Fine." I sighed again.

"What's your name?"

"Call me Chiyoda."

"Of course your name is Chiyoda." The man politely ignored that.

"Commissioner Tachibana and the others will accompany us as well." Around us, officers had already begun securing equipment. Miyafuji's camera was confiscated. The three scarf-wearers were being checked by medical personnel. Tachibana appeared to be arguing with someone. Loudly. I wished her luck. Then Chiyoda gestured toward a waiting helicopter. Not a patrol car. Not a van. A helicopter. I stared at it. Then at him. Then back at the helicopter.

"... You people really don't do things halfway, do you?"

"No."

"Fair enough." As I climbed aboard, one final thought crossed my mind.

"I'd like to contact my wife." Chiyoda nodded.

"We'll arrange that." I certainly hoped so. Because disappearing for an entire day, diving into another world, becoming a magical gothic lolita, and then getting taken away by Public Security— was going to be a very difficult thing to explain at home.