第１９００堀：ヒーローに必要なモノ (Part1)
Chapter 1900: What a Hero Needs
Side: Narjia
The emergency call rang out, and when I answered it...
"Sister Narjia. The time has finally come when we need a hero! We need *that* equipment!"
Hearing the desperation in Firia-chan’s voice, I rose from my chair.
"Hm? What’s wrong, Narjia?"
"Wait, that was an emergency call, wasn't it? Is... is it bad?"
Comet-san and Agil-san happened to be in the lab, having gathered to exchange opinions. But as it turned out, that was convenient. I looked at the two of them and spoke.
"It seems the time has come to use the hero suits with almost no magical properties in their outer shells."
As I murmured this, both of them set aside the documents they had been reading and stood up promptly.
"Well, well. Despite saying we didn't need them, we’re using them after all?"
"Well, as far as illegal methods go, it’s the most convenient. Yuki wasn't against the idea of preparing them, anyway."
Even while complaining, it was clear to anyone that both of them were eager. We wouldn't have built the equipment if we didn't intend to use it, and this wasn't just an operational test—it was, quite literally, a necessity.
"Indeed. And the fact that we have this kind of 'hero of justice' is proof that there are people currently beyond the reach of the government's law."
"Ah, true. Having an illegal hero of justice within Weed is a bit of a sticky situation, isn't it?"
"Haha, an 'illegal hero of justice.' That’s exactly what it is, though it’s a strange kind of hero to have."
"A bundle of contradictions. Still, I suppose that’s just how it is. People, I mean."
That is exactly right. People are creatures riddled with contradictions. They say fighting is wrong, that you shouldn't hurt others. Yet, they fight to protect, and they hurt to defend. They uphold the law to protect people, only to find themselves unable to punish evil because of that very law. It’s a common tale.
Many people chew on that reality as if it were a bitter pill. But Yuki-san would surely remain calm and simply say...
*"That’s just how people are."*
That is the kind of person he is. But, putting that aside, I needed to hear the details of Firia-chan’s hero suit request.
"So, by 'almost no magical properties in the outer shell,' do you mean it’s for an environment where magic is nullified, or against an enemy that counters magic?"
"Ah, I was curious about that too. Honestly, transformation suits that utilize magic are less bulky. Does this mean the enemy is that troublesome?"
"I’d like to hear the details."
When the three of us asked, Firia-chan sent over the data. As I opened it, I listened to her explanation.
"I received word from Brother. It seems that after seizing the Clear Stream Church, they have been gathering demi-humans, transporting them to a larger church, and then torturing them to harvest their magical power. It’s possible that the towns on the route Vilia and the others are taking toward the Iana Kingdom have similar setups..."
"I see. So, you need them to save people there? Wait, but I don't think they necessarily need to be 'transformation heroes' for that, do I?"
Firia-chan answered my question without hesitation.
"Currently, the only northern country Weed has established ties with is the Giada Kingdom. And the official cover story is that Vilia and her group are heading to the Iana Kingdom as capable adventurers. Therefore..."
"I see. So we can't afford the time, and there's no room to send reinforcements or engage in covert operations."
"In that case, a transformation hero is the most convenient. They can cause a commotion without revealing that it’s Vilia and the others."
Indeed, that is perfectly correct. Given their itinerary as adventurers, it would be impossible for them to save prisoners from churches along the way. If they were to do so, they would have to rely on someone else, but that isn't an option. Weed is always short on personnel. Especially on the front lines, there aren't many people with the necessary skill. That is where these transformation heroes come in.
"Three of the members from Vilia’s group will become the transformation heroes. The remaining one will stay behind as support."
"That’s reasonable."
"Agreed. If everyone goes to the front lines, they’ll lose access to information, and there’s the matter of protecting the targets. That’s the safest approach."
I see, I see. So not everyone will be a transformation hero. Well, that makes sense. Since they’ll be rampaging through a town, they’ll need someone to provide cover. They can't kill the town guards, and they’ll need to maneuver so they don't get surrounded.
"And Brother’s specific order is that the heroes must not be identified as women, and their physique must appear masculine."
"So they’re completely distancing Vilia and the others from the culprits."
"Otherwise, they wouldn't be able to continue their activities as adventurers."
"In that case, since the exterior can't use magic, it’ll have to be a type that relies on internal mechanisms. Or perhaps a type that can deploy magic from within?"
As I said that, I thought of the hero suits we had available. I was glad we had made so many.
"He said it’s up to us whether to give the heroes a unified look or make them distinct. Since it’s assumed they’ll be found out anyway, he said either is fine."
"Well, we don't have time to gather information, so that makes sense. But in that case, wouldn't it be better if they weren't related?"
"I wonder? Since they’ll be causing trouble all over the place, it might be better to present them as an organization."
Comet-san and Agil-san discussed the hero suits they would provide. It was an important point. Should they be a team, like a sentai squad? Or should they appear as independent, separate heroes?
"Well then. First, let’s check if there are any hero suits that fit Vilia-chan and the others."
"Ah, come to think of it, the outer shells were made physically, weren't they?"
"Yes, because in spaces where magic is nullified—a countermeasure against us—the transformation would be dispelled. It’s better to use a physical outer shell to prevent that."
Exactly. In this case, our support is extremely limited, and if Vilia-chan and the others are identified on-site, all our future plans will go down the drain. Therefore, by using a physical shell, even if the magic is dispelled, the transformation won't be undone. Of course, even if the outer shell is subjected to magic nullification, the interior can still use magic, so it isn't much of a problem.
With that, I began to bring out the various hero suits we had been working on.
"So the transformation belts are out, then... How sad."