Chapter 113: A Heartful Of Bumps
TL: Akabane
***
To begin with, the very thought of what Hagiri wants to do is disconcerting. But I can't help feeling that if I don't develop a better understanding of it, something bad will happen down the road.
"From my point of view, Hagiri seems to be crazy. After all, he called Saigi a framework for the salvation of human civilization."
Suo said with a sigh. It's ridiculous, indeed.
"Saving human civilization? I've heard all kinds of beautiful things from people in various social positions because of my family background. The global environment, social problems, and so on. But saving human civilization? I've never seen anyone who proclaims such a big scale of beautiful things. Haha ... you are joking, right?"
Ayashiro is laughing at me in a mocking way, but she is looking at me somewhat uneasily. Both Ayashiro and I know quite a bit about this Hagiri person. He is a monster of action and a monster of pride. He always proclaims beautiful things, but I'm sure he doesn't believe them. He must have decided that such things are just a way to make his behavior look good. He is a funny little thing on a scale that considers women, evil deeds, and possessions as accessories to adorn himself. Such a person seriously aims to save human civilization. That is to say.
"Hey. Could it be that Hagiri seriously has the means to save the world? The more I think about his character, the more I can't dismiss that line of thinking. He's definitely not noble enough to challenge something that can't be realized..."
Everyone looks uneasy at my words. Each of them is probably recalling an event they know by heart. Silence reigns over the place. I recall the day I went fishing with Mashiba. Mashiba is giving me a hint. She told me that by marrying a goddess, we would gain kingship. She said that the goddess is the one who selects the Lord who is worthy of kingship. That is just a myth. And yet she called Igarashi a goddess. I felt my heart shrinking. I became Igarashi's husband in the previous world. If what Mashiba says is true, I was the one who had the kingdom in the previous world. When the affair was exposed, Hagiri strongly insisted that he was Igarashi's husband. Could it all be connected by no means?
"No, no. No way..."
I thought the affair in my previous world was just something that reminded me of a common old love. Wasn't it? Marrying Igarashi wasn't the goal, but a means to an end? And even Igarashi's ex-boyfriends are strange. Why were they so obsessed with Igarashi? No doubt they were all madly in love. But I've only dated Igarashi, so I thought that ex-boyfriends often attacked current boyfriends, but they didn't? Her ex-boyfriends were all excellent men who could all be considered heroes in their line of work. I wonder. This strange feeling. Could it be that I was fighting for the survival of the world without even knowing it in my previous world? It's absurd. But it was one of the possibilities that was too frightening to dismiss out of hand.
"Let's put the situation in perspective. Let's say he is trying to perform a ritual to save the world. For that, he absolutely needs Milan's cooperation, and at the same time, he wants Yuzuriha to cooperate with her research. In other words, we have an advantage in a sense. Originally, he was supposed to get Milan and Yuzuriha without me, but I came along as an added bonus. That guy is wary of me to death. But the contract with Milan and Yuzuriha makes it impossible for him to kill me, and I can intervene in his plans in the name of babysitting Milan and Yuzuriha. All's well that ends well in life, I guess."
I have no intention of letting Milan and Yuzuriha cooperate alone. I'm going to follow them whenever they come in contact with Hagiri. I'm annoyed that I'll have to see him more often in the future, but I'll swallow it.
"If you don't go into the tiger's hole, you won't get the tiger's cub. Then, let's just jump in. If he tries to play cool to save the world, I'll crush him. I don't want the world to be saved by him. We're going to keep the world in our hands and make fun of it. Then I order everyone here. I will destroy Hagiri's plan. I will prove that he is the king of the naked. You guys follow me for that."
There was no reply from the others. But they nodded with strong eyes.
[Hagiri's POV]
After that humiliating handshake, I held and tortured Tomoe for a long time. Her voice wasn't a charming cry, but more like a shriek. Instead of wetting her eyes as usual, she was crying tears. When it was over, Tomoe, who normally would have been flirting with me, turned her back on me and covered herself with the sheets. I heard a sniffling sound, but I ignored it.
"Hagiri. I don't think you should experiment in Izumo."
Tomoe said this without turning her head to look at me.
"Turn your face this way and say it again."
"I know you're aware that Milan is a clone of Izumoakuni, created by Gakukanfu, and that she's the property of the Hagiri family. That's why I understand your frustration at being turned on your teeth. But you know what?"
"Look me in the eye and say it!"
I raised my voice. Tomoe's body trembled. Then she shrinks more and more. And yet, her words don't stop. And she still doesn't look at me.
"Even if Izumi opens Amanoiwato and opens the way to the other side, I'm sure you won't be able to pass through there with your current Hagiri."
"No, I can."
"Hagiri ... you can't ... let's not do this anymore. You've accumulated so much wealth on earth, you've got a lot of power that you've acquired on our own. But you still want to be a god? Think again. You'll never be able to balance what you have."
"I've already decided that I'm willing to give everything I have to get there! That's what I'm going for! For that reason alone! That's what I'm spending my life for!"
--- "Oh, no. The goddess sees through your true nature. You have no qualities to be a husband of the Goddess. You, a lowly man, are fit only to sneak into the bedchamber of the goddess with a whimper. At best, you should try sleeping with her. Then the kingdom will collapse and all will be lost. Salvation will have to wait a thousand years."
Grandfather was disappointed in me because he expected me to do something. I hadn't done anything yet. I am a king. I will be a king, and I am already a king. What? Since when am I a king? When will I be king? In the midst of my confused thoughts, my phone suddenly started ringing. It was a blocked number, which is rare nowadays. I picked up the phone.
|| "Hey, how are you? Long time no see."
It was a sweet, yet cold voice of a man. The voice of an acquaintance I hadn't heard in a long time. A man who is related to the Gakukanfu and now calls himself the King of Mirisha in Brazil.
"What brings you all the way from Brazil?"
|| "Don't bother asking what you know, do you? You gave away Edileza, didn't you?"
It seems we were being monitored. That's still fine, but I'm annoyed that the topic of conversation is Reichi.
"That's right. She is no longer under my power. She's completely free."
|| "Freedom? I don't think she'll fit in with that. Well, that's all right. But more to the point. You're in a corner now, aren't you? To the point where you're in danger of sacrificing yourself."
I didn't reply. Is it really this painful to be caught in the middle of a situation?
|| "I respected the Hagiri family in a manner of speaking. I still think that the achievements of Gakukanfu belong to the Hagiri family. I wasn't going to complain if you carried out the sacrifices. But as Professor Hagiri predicted, it seems that you can't do it. That's why I'm going to carry it out instead. Here in Brazil."
"Haha! What do you think you're going to say? There are many factors needed to execute the sacrifice. It doesn't matter how many kings of Mirisha you have to prepare for it. You shouldn't do anything stupid."
|| "Is that really so? Professor Hagiri left you the most reliable approach. But didn't you think that he didn't bequeath to us, his disciples, the framework for various methodological sacrifices as well?"
I was flabbergasted to hear that. I confirm that some research materials were scattered with the dissolution of the academic circle. You don't mean to say that another approach to sacrificial rituals was bequeathed there? Did Grandfather lick me to that extent!
|| "It's a samba. It's a fun, fun samba. The people dance wildly. And they pray. The day of the king's election has come, and we shall crown a king of the people, by the people, for the people! The King gives to the people! Progress and order!!!"
"If there is another approach, how are we going to do it?"
|| "Edileza. This is why I have placed her beside you. If one has been by the side of a goddess, one awakens her genius. Let Edileza guide you to the other side."
And then the phone went dead there. Because of Kanahisa Tokiwa, not only was my plan delayed, but someone else had gotten there before me. I could do nothing but hold my face and moan.
***Author's musings***
It's a "Sad news" that the people related to Professor Hagiri are all anti-corporate "Humanity Rescue Laughs".
Is that what the Gakukanfu is? Is it an institution for fostering anti-corporate? So, it was a pitiful time for Hagiri to be so full of it in any way.
Hagiri is just trying to save the human race! And everyone is getting in his way! It's just too much!
At any rate, the serious part is almost over. So I'm about to start the comedy part.
(Announcement)
Summer Vacation for College Students! It's the biggest emo scene of your life!
Lots of exciting events!
Emo pounding and ecchi things!
Wonderful time for everyone!
Season 4 After "Shining Summer Days More Than Anyone Else"!
Please look forward to it.
And a story that takes place in a city that God kindly overlooks.
Season 4.x [Cidade do REY].
Thank you very much.