Chapter 33: Reckless
Under the hot sun, Kazuma was attending supplementary lessons. Time dragged on listlessly, and with his concentration waning, Kazuma gazed out the window. Outside, he saw a cloudless, deep blue sky and a blazing, brilliant sun hot enough to melt one’s body.
“Haa…”
And what made him most melancholic was social media. Akatsuki, Taichi, and Kosuke’s social media had been updated, and looking at them, he saw many photos of them all having fun together.
He’d been treated to ramen before summer vacation, but he still felt lonely and sad, and more than anything, a sense of envy. Of course, they meant no harm.
They weren’t showing off to Kazuma in any way. They were simply capturing scenes of themselves normally enjoying life to the fullest as photos. There was absolutely no malice intended to belittle Kazuma.
However, for Kazuma, who thought that he might have been there with them under normal circumstances, it was still a complicated feeling.
“Must be nice…”
“Satsuki. It’s true you avoided failing grades and weren’t supposed to need supplementary lessons, but don’t you think looking at your phone is a bit much?”
“Ah…”
Kazuma looked up to see the teacher frowning in exasperation. Around him were other students also taking supplementary lessons. They were snickering as they watched Kazuma get scolded for using his phone during class.
“I’m very sorry!”
“I’ll let it slide this time, but if I see it again, I’ll confiscate it for the duration of the lesson!”
“Yes, sir!”
And so, the supplementary lesson resumed. Kazuma replied energetically, but it wasn’t because he was motivated. Though it was a tedious time, Kazuma did his best to catch up on the three months he had fallen behind.
“Whew…”
The supplementary lessons were only in the morning. Once they were over, Kazuma returned to his dorm as usual. With nothing particular to do, Kazuma went straight back to his dorm.
In his air-conditioned room, Kazuma fiddled with his phone. He browsed video sites for interesting videos but found nothing noteworthy.
He then gathered information on social media. Seeing photos of his three friends enjoying their summer vacation, he sighed repeatedly.
Perhaps due to extreme boredom or because the summer heat had addled his brain, Kazuma called Kaori. Recklessly, he called a girl. They were acquaintances, sure, but if asked whether they were close enough to hang out during summer vacation, he wouldn’t be able to answer.
After a few rings, she answered Kazuma’s call.
“‘Yes, hello?'”
“Ah, hello, Natsume-san. What are you doing right now?”
“‘I’m out with friends right now, but did you need something?'”
“Ah, no, well, I was just bored.”
“‘Oh, right. Satsuki-kun, you had supplementary lessons, didn’t you? But they’re only in the morning, right?'”
“Yeah. Well, that’s true, but…”
As Kazuma was talking to Kaori, he heard voices through her phone. It seemed someone was calling for Kaori. Realizing he was intruding any further, Kazuma apologized briefly and ended the call.
“Sorry for calling while you were out with your friends.”
“‘No, no, it’s fine. I don’t mind.'”
“Thanks. Well then.”
Lying on his bed, Kazuma let out a heavy sigh. Wondering what on earth he was doing, the slightly depressed Kazuma decided to pull himself together and go out.
◇◇◇◇
Around the time Kazuma went out, the story was beginning to move in a certain place.
The National Defense Force was undecided on what to do with the mysterious sphere found in the Ibinom nest. After all, it was an unprecedented situation, and to top it off, it was indestructible. They discussed what to do, but opinions were divided.
One opinion was to view it as an unprecedented threat and destroy it. The other was to see it as a chance to learn about the Ibinom’s ecology and preserve it for research.
“‘So, why don’t you understand! It’s an unknown entity! We can’t just leave something whose future effects are unknown lying around forever! It should be destroyed immediately!'”
“‘You say that, but this is also a chance for humanity. Something unprecedented is happening. We should preserve it to understand its detailed principles.'”
“‘Even if we preserve it, what do you intend to do! Surely you’re not suggesting we keep it as a pet!'”
“‘Hahaha, that might not be a bad idea.'”
“‘Is this any time to laugh!'”
It had been like this for a while now. They couldn’t decide whether to destroy it or preserve it for research. Both opinions could be said to be correct, yet also wrong.
However, if one considered the safety of the citizens, destroying it was arguably the best course of action.
That said, the National Defense Force was not monolithic. Unfortunately, there were quite a few individuals who considered the safety of the citizens secondary, especially if it could lead to national profit.
“‘You keep saying destroy, destroy. But existing weaponry can’t even scratch it, and neither Fire Gifts nor Ice Gifts can make a dent. What do you propose to do? Surely you’re not thinking of asking the ‘Samurai’?'”
“‘Of course, if it becomes unavoidable, we will bow our heads.'”
“‘Do you understand what will happen if we do that! The National Defense Force’s credibility will plummet! We cannot be seen as inferior to Gifted from private corporations!'”
“‘Protecting the citizens is our duty, more so than protecting such pride! For that cause, we should be willing to bow our heads as many times as necessary!'”
It was less a case of parallel lines and more a direct clash. Neither side would back down or bend their assertions. At this rate, the problem would never be resolved, no matter how much time passed.
While this was going on, the situation had become serious.
The research team investigating the sphere in the Ibinom nest noticed something amiss. Upon closer inspection, they saw it had a crack.
Just as one of the researchers approached to get a better look, the sphere shattered, and something resembling a human hand emerged from within, crushing the researcher’s head.
Seeing this, the research team screamed and fled, each trying to be the first out. The soldiers who had come as escorts radioed for backup and confronted the never-before-seen Ibinom emerging from the sphere.
“‘An insect? No, this is—'”
His words were cut short. The soldier’s head was torn off by the humanoid Ibinom that had emerged from the sphere.
The soldiers present immediately raised their alert to the maximum and launched an attack on the humanoid Ibinom.
However, the result was tragic.
The researchers and escorting soldiers who had come for the investigation were all wiped out, without a single survivor. All that remained was a radio, still transmitting.
“‘The research team and escort unit have been annihilated. All that remains on the communication log are screams and a researcher’s words about a new type of Ibinom…'”
“‘…Send reinforcements immediately! The situation is urgent. Report to the higher-ups at once!'”
“‘Yes, sir! Understood!'”
The National Defense Force, which had set up a temporary base near the Ibinom nest, reported the last words heard from the radio to their superiors.
Upon hearing this report, the higher-ups were thrown into a panic. It was one of the worst-case scenarios they had envisioned: the evolution of an Ibinom. And it being humanoid made it the most dangerous entity they could imagine.
After all, it was predicted to possess intelligence. Of course, regular Ibinom likely had some intelligence, but it was ultimately inferior to humans, like that of beasts or insects.
However, the one that appeared this time was humanoid. Therefore, it was presumed to possess intelligence comparable to humans. In that case, while its abilities were unknown, one thing could be said for certain.
It was a threat that humanity might not be able to contend with.
“‘Send reinforcements at once! We must eliminate it! Defend the line at all costs!'”
“‘Roger!'”
Immediately, an elite team from the National Defense Force was dispatched. It was composed of some of the most skilled individuals in the country. Everyone believed that these men, who had already defeated hundreds of Ibinom, would not be outmatched, even against a new type of Ibinom.
Just a few hours later, a report reached the National Defense Force high command: the elite team had been annihilated.