Episode 179: Crime of Insurrection
With the dragon swarm gone, the task force was disbanded, and the ministers and scholars left the conference room one after another.
Yasugi from the Japan Dungeon Association also packed his documents into his bag and stood up. As he walked down the hallway after leaving the room, he was unexpectedly called out from behind.
“Mr. Yasugi!”
“Hmm?”
Turning around, he saw Honda, the director-general of Elceed.
Yasugi, who had met her before but never really talked to her, looked puzzled at being called out by Honda.
“I’m sorry. Mr. Yasugi, would you mind if I talked to you for a moment?”
“Well… I don’t mind.”
As the others left, Yasugi faced Honda.
“So, what is it you wanted to talk about?”
“It’s about the Black Armor… Mitaka Yuma. I know you have a negative opinion of the Black Armor, sir.”
“Is that so?”
Yasugi made a visibly unpleasant face. Some researchers, including those involved with Seekers, were still clinging to the Black Armor.
From Yasugi’s point of view, it was an unbelievable way of thinking.
“My opinion hasn’t changed. What about it?”
Even though Yasugi answered with a sullen look, Honda stepped forward half a step, unfazed.
“Sir, we were able to avert the crisis this time, but we don’t know what kind of Monsters will appear in the future. We should seriously consider researching Mitaka Yuma, or employing him as a Seeker. Could you cooperate in lobbying the government?”
“Why would I do such a thing?”
“Sir, you have the trust of the government and wield influence. I thought the Prime Minister would listen to you more than to us.”
Yasugi laughed “Ha!” and shook his head.
“It’s useless. Like the Prime Minister, I consider the “Black Armor” to be dangerous. That idea will never change. If that’s all you wanted to talk about, I’ll take my leave.”
Turning on his heel, Yasugi tried to leave. However, Honda did not give up and pressed on.
“Sir, I recently met with Dr. Aisha Kisaragi.”
Yasugi’s feet stopped abruptly.
“I heard that Dr. Kisaragi was deeply involved in the birth of the “Black Armor” and was once your colleague.”
Yasugi turned around and looked at Honda’s face.
“Did you hear something from her?”
Honda nodded slightly.
“The doctor said that Mitaka Yuma defeated the 【Black King】. Like the 【Red King】, it’s a Unique Monster King. She said that he is the only one who can defeat the Kings that have appeared all over the world.”
“Nonsense!”
Yasugi raised his voice and denied it outright.
“It’s true that Aisha Kisaragi used to be affiliated with the Dungeon Association. But she was a researcher who was kicked out because her research methods, which didn’t follow the rules, were seen as problematic. Are you taking what such a woman says seriously!?”
“But I’ve heard that she was excellent.”
At Honda’s words, Yasugi gritted his teeth.
“What’s so excellent about her! She’s not a scholar or anything! She’s just a fool who spouts her own selfish speculations.”
“Is that so? Dr. Kisaragi was also a candidate for chief researcher at the Dungeon Association, right? In other words, she was someone who was competing with you for a position. Can you say that what such a person says is completely wrong?”
“You don’t understand anything. That’s enough! I’ll take my leave.”
Indignant, Yasugi tried to leave. But he stopped abruptly and turned his gaze back to Honda.
“Oh, right. You seem to be obsessed with the Black Armor, but its disposal will be decided sooner or later. Especially now that the Red King has gone to South America, the voices clinging to the Black Armor will disappear.”
Yasugi gave a sneering smile and left.
Honda’s expression became stern. What Yasugi said was probably accurate. At this rate, Mitaka Yuma would be killed sooner or later.
“A direct approach won’t work… If that’s the case…”
Honda’s eyes took on a dim light.
◇◇◇
That same night. Honda had called a person to a hotel in Tokyo.
The door of a luxurious suite was knocked on, and an elderly man in a dark navy suit entered.
His hair was neatly trimmed, and he had an intellectual look.
Seeing the man with a stern atmosphere, Honda rose from the Rolf Benz sofa to greet him.
Each of them had only one attendant, and there were only four men in the room.
The man saw Honda and smiled slightly.
“It’s been a while, Honda. Has it been since the inauguration ceremony of the Chief of Staff?”
“Ah, that’s right. Well, please have a seat.”
As Honda urged him, the man sat down on the opposite sofa.
Their attendants stood behind the sofas, silently watching the situation. The man in front of them was Mikoshiba, the Joint Chief of Staff of the Ground Self-Defense Force.
He was Honda’s classmate from university and also his best friend.
Although it was a reunion between such friends, an indescribable tension filled the spacious room. Honda cleared his throat lightly and opened his mouth.
“Actually, Mikoshiba, I asked you to come here because I have a favor to ask of you. I wouldn’t normally ask for such a favor, but…”
“Spare me the preamble. You wouldn’t call me out here unless it was something terrible.”
Honda gave a wry smile.
“The story is about the “Black Armor.” There is a possibility that the government will try to kill the Black Armor now that the dragons are gone. I want to stop that somehow.”
“Stop… what do you mean specifically?”
“I’m going to raid the facility where the Black Armor is.”
“What!?”
Mikoshiba was stunned. He didn’t expect such an absurd story to come out.
“Don’t be ridiculous! Are you going to have Seekers attack!? If you do that, you’ll be charged with the crime of insurrection! Why would you go that far?”
Honda shook his head weakly at Mikoshiba, who was staring at him with a bewildered expression.
“I don’t want to do that either. But the government’s mind won’t change. The only way to save the Black Armor… Mitaka Yuma, is to do that.”
“Is it worth saving him that much!? I heard he’s an existence that’s not clear whether he’s a Monster or a human…”
“He absolutely needs to be saved. At least, I’m convinced of that.”
“But if you’re charged with the crime of insurrection, you and Elceed won’t get away with it! You understand that, right!?”
Mikoshiba couldn’t understand. A friend who had built up a social position was trying to save someone at the cost of everything. He couldn’t believe that he was worth that much.
“Why, Honda? Explain it to me!”
Honda, with a serious face, took a breath and began to speak.
“I’ve investigated the Black Armor in various ways. I spoke to experts in various fields, and they all said the same thing.”
“The same thing… what did they say?”
Mikoshiba frowned and asked.
“No one has ever seen anything like it… an impossible Monster.”
“Then it’s not helpful at all…”
“No, that’s not true. I decided what to do next based on the story of Aisha Kisaragi, a specialist in the “Black Dungeon,” whom I went to see for her opinion at the end.”
“What did that specialist say?”
Mikoshiba gulped.
“…The Black Armor is the one who defeated the 【Black King】. In other words, he possesses the power of the same 【King】 as the four Monsters who are trying to destroy countries around the world.”
Mikoshiba was speechless at the unexpected story.