Episode 177: The Dragon’s Course
The next day, unbelievable information spread throughout Japan.
It started with a web article published by a small publishing company.
“The Black Armor is Human! And a Young Man at That!”
Many thought the article, whose authenticity was uncertain, was dubious. However, photos of the man from his middle and high school days were released with black bars over his eyes, leading to various speculations that it was highly credible.
This topic spread like wildfire, mainly online, and other media outlets jumped on the bandwagon, playing catch-up.
Rumors spread, leading to various reactions.
Some said it was impossible, others that he should be treated humanely if he was human, and still others suspected it was complete fabrication. The media, trying to confirm the truth, headed to—
“Excuse me! Just a word, please! Can you tell us something?”
“There’s an article saying your son is a monster! Is that true!?”
“Do you have any apologies for causing such a stir!”
The media, who had gathered at Yuma’s house, shouted at the front door. Only Yuma’s mother was home, cowering in fear at the sudden event.
“Woof, woof!”
Mamezou, whom she had brought from the backyard, continued to bark at the front door.
“Good boy, Mamezou… There must be some mistake. People are misunderstanding. Yuma will be home soon…”
While gently stroking Mamezou, his mother’s shoulders slumped.
In the past few days, unbelievable things had happened one after another. Just when she thought Yuma wasn’t coming home, the police barged in. Then, suddenly, a strange article came out, making Yuma out to be a villain.
She didn’t know what was going on.
Fortunately, she was able to contact people at Yuma’s company, but they said they still didn’t know where he was.
“Oh, dear… what’s going to happen to our family?”
When his mother spoke to Mamezou, Mamezou licked her fingertips as if to comfort her.
Soothed by Mamezou, his mother raised her face.
“That’s right, I need to call your father.”
There were many members of the media at the front door. If he came home without knowing, he would be surrounded and it would be terrible. Thinking so, his mother stood up and went to get the smartphone on the shelf.
The next moment, the window shattered with a crushing impact.
“Eek!”
Not knowing what had happened, his mother crouched down, and Mamezou barked fiercely at the window.
Looking at the floor, she saw a large stone rolling around. Someone had thrown a stone. Yuma’s mother was unable to move from the spot due to an indescribable fear.
◇◇◇
“Excuse me, can you open up? D-Minor-san. We want to hear your story!”
“Don’t you have a responsibility as a company to explain!?”
Tanaka and Maika, who were in the office, frowned at the media banging on the door at the entrance of the company.
“Seriously, what is it! How did they find out about Yuma-kun and this company? The government shouldn’t have released it,”
Maika said indignantly. Tanaka, who was checking the online news next to her, opened his mouth.
“Maybe it’s this.”
Tanaka pointed to the screen of the laptop he was looking at. Maika peeked in, and there were various comments written there.
“This is…”
“It’s a communication site where people write all sorts of things, true or false. I think users of this site identified Yuma-kun from articles and other information.”
“Identified?”
Maika’s brow furrowed.
“If they can identify Yuma-kun, they can find out about his family and company in no time.”
Tanaka sighed deeply. Because of the commotion that occurred immediately after he was discharged from the hospital, he was at a loss as to what to do without a break.
“Seriously, it’s infuriating! What did Yuma-kun do? He just helped other Seekers in Ibaraki, right!? They should be thanking him…”
Tanaka somehow calmed Maika, who was getting agitated.
“But it’s going to be tough to get out because the company entrance is blocked. We’re fine, but I wonder if Yuma-kun’s family is okay? I’m worried because their house has probably been identified too.”
“That’s right… I’ll call them.”
Maika returned to her desk, picked up her smartphone, and made a call. Watching her, Tanaka turned his attention to the outside of the door.
He felt increasingly uneasy about what would happen in the future with the media still shouting loudly.
◇◇◇
Prime Minister’s Office, fourth floor conference room.
An emergency task force had been set up, and ministers from various ministries, experts, and people from Elceed and Fameel were gathered.
A large conference table was set up, and each person took a seat at the table.
Iwaki, the Prime Minister, sat at the head of the table as the head of the task force.
A sense of tension spread throughout the conference room, and one of the bureaucrats raised his voice.
“We have the latest information!”
All eyes turned to the voice. The bureaucrat in charge of information gathering operated a computer and projected an overseas website onto a large screen in the conference room.
It was a Chinese news site. Everyone in the room read the translated article.
“This is…”
Iwaki was speechless. The damage in China was spreading further, and the military had suffered enormous damage. And the most important problem was—
“We will show the flight paths of the Dragons!”
The bureaucrat clicked on the screen to display a map.
It was a route map created by the Chinese government, showing where the Dragons were passing and where they were expected to go in the future.
“Are they really… going to take this route!?”
Iwaki looked at the screen with a bitter expression. The Red King, who had been heading south, had turned east, passing over Beijing and heading further east.
At this rate, they would undoubtedly land in Japan.
China had already suffered enormous damage. If Japan suffered the same kind of damage…
Iwaki, who had lost his color, looked pale, and Takakura, the Minister of Defense, who was sitting diagonally across from him, stood up.
“Prime Minister! If this happens, we must take countermeasures. The deployment of the Self-Defense Forces and Seekers is urgently needed. Please approve the operation plan that the Ministry of Defense has prepared in advance.”
“A, ah…”
Iwaki gave a listless reply. If those monsters came, there would be no measures to take. People without power would be trampled and killed.
Iwaki felt desperate. In the midst of this, one of the researchers raised his hand.
“Prime Minister, may I?”
“…Please.”
When he replied weakly, a middle-aged man stood up. He seemed to be a scholar attending the expert meeting, but Iwaki did not remember him clearly.
“Prime Minister, my name is Kajita, and I was involved in the creation of the defense plan. I would like to get your approval on matters that have not yet been decided…”
“Matters that have not been decided? What is it?”
Iwaki showed a bewildered expression.
“It is the treatment of Mitaka Yuma, the “Black Armor.” Elceed and Fameel have requested that he be included in the strategy.”
Iwaki’s face twisted slightly.