CH 92

Chapter 92. [War Hero]

<<But the nuclear umbrella doesn’t work and other countries don’t move. What’s going to happen to Ukraine now?>>

<<Yes, that’s what the current U.S. government fears the most. The biggest fear of the current U.S. government is an all-out war between NATO and Russia. So, maybe Ukraine will get abandoned by the rest of the world.>>

<<?>>

But if even NATO backs off from this, and Ukraine is isolated… Well, Russia’s victory is certain.

Ukraine is not a small country with a population of 40 million.

Nevertheless, without the support of other countries, it would be impossible to fight the great power of Russia.

So the nuclear weapons dropped on Ukraine were a “threat” for that purpose.

If you think about it that way, it makes sense that the nukes were small and that they dropped on the plains.

Russia doesn’t want to destroy Ukraine.

They want to get it back.

<<But how can they get away with it!?!?!>>

At first glance, it sounded as if the situation would settle down.

However, Angu Ogu shook her head.

<<I don’t think it’s going to go away like this.>>

<<Why not?>>

<<Because that was a theory of a major power, and a government one.>>

I hear the American people were also fearful that <<World War is coming>>, <<Nuclear War is coming>>.

But after a day or two, when they realized it wasn’t going to happen, they changed their minds.

<<The public wants justice. Sanction Russia!>>

It’s as if the fear has come back and turned to anger.

Or maybe it’s just a matter of time before the fear dies down.

I hear Angu Ogu’s mother is now trying to suppress such public sentiment.

However, she is not sure how long it will last.

<<NATO cannot continue to ignore the will of the people.>>

Even within NATO, there are conflicting opinions.

The U.K., for example, has publicly condemned Russia and supports war and retaliation.

And if we let it slide here, the rules of the international order will change.

It would set a precedent that it is okay to fire a nuclear weapon.

<<Hell, either way.>>

The choice here will determine the fate of the world.

And no one knows which is right.

How much punishment is appropriate, and what was the correct response?

Only future generations will be able to tell.

<<Why did Russia do this? Shooting nukes is too much.>>

<<Maybe it’s because Russia doesn’t think using nukes is evil.>>

<<No, no, nuclear weapons are justice――.>>

No, that’s Japanese logic. That is the logic of the non-nuclear powers.

Japan, along with its three non-nuclear principles, teaches that [Nukes are evil].

But it allows nuclear power generation.

In the end, it is how you use them.

And for other countries, even major powers, nuclear weapons are merely a means to an end.

In the United States, for example, the “Enola Gay”, the B-29 modified bomber that dropped the atomic bomb on Japan, is treated as a hero.

It’s displayed in a museum as if it were a trophy for its role in bringing the war to an early end.

And the same is true for Russia this time.

<<… “Nuclear strategy”.>>

One of Russia’s previously announced strategies.

The idea is to lower the bar to use nukes, as an extension of conventional weapons.

Using nukes would temporarily escalate the war.

However, it may result in ending the war earlier and with fewer casualties.

In other words, “We used nuclear weapons to end the war early.”.

What if we consider this case to be one of those?

Strangely enough, it sounds as if “nuclear weapons make peace”!

Nuclear weapons for justice. Nuclear weapons to save people.

…It’s too much of a joke, but it’s true.

Don’t forget.

As long as they control it, wars and nuclear attacks are just political tools for the superpowers.

<<…… But that doesn’t mean we can forgive them.>>

Perhaps I think this because I’m Japanese.

Because of the history of World War II, I have a strong aversion to nuclear weapons.

Above all, Japan is a non-nuclear power.

If people make no retaliation here, it will prove that [Nuclear Umbrella] doesn’t work.

Japan will become a country that can fire nuclear weapons.

It’s not a matter of personal opinion.

Russia is Japan’s “neighbor”.

<<Actually, I think many non-nuclear powers, not just Japan, feel the same way.>>

<<Our country or other countries.>>

<<Ah. All nations are watching what the U.S. is doing right now. The U.S. is in a situation where it has to come up with an answer that will satisfy them, while at the same time avoiding a world war.>>

Is there such an answer in the world?

It’s as if we’re faced with a problem we can’t solve from the start.

<<Ah, shit. I can’t allow it. I can’t let that happen. If that happens, VTubers won’t be able to stream without worry!>>

I was furious from the bottom of my heart.

***

When my anger finally calmed down, I made a phone call.

I remembered that I must have worried him.

The phone was connected with one call.

“Oh. Hello mother.”

[Iiiiii, Irohaaaaa! Are you okay?]

My ears pierced.