Chapter 20: Outsider

"I have something to tell you."

I’d told Captain Yamamoto everything I’d learned about “magic,” and about the refugees from Nagano.

"Since we can’t reach Nagano right now, I think we should form a search party and send them toward Nagano."

After listening to me, Captain Yamamoto paused... then narrowed his eyes.

"Shimizu... are you even serious right now?"

He glared at me, fury barely contained in the crease between his brows.

"Thousands of monsters are coming toward this defense line from Kanto! Self-Defense Force members are swamped—fighting everywhere, rescuing refugees, barely enough hands even for mining that crucial “magic steel”!!"

Yamamoto sighed, then looked at me again.

"Send a search team to find some fairy tale figure who might or might not even exist?! Are you out of your mind?! Think about reality, Shimizu. You’ve got enough to do already!"

He was right... I knew better than anyone how short-staffed we were, having worked on the front lines myself...

But facing reality meant one thing: if we keep going like this, the Self-Defense Force will collapse—just a matter of time.

Leaving the General Staff, I pulled out my phone and called someone. Signal should still reach me in Gifu Prefecture.

"Something has to be done... I can’t just wait to die like this!"

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"You’re the first one to call me out of the blue in two years."

"Sorry, Shimizu..."

I’d called my former comrade—Shimizu, a fellow who’d left the Self-Defense Force two years ago. I told him everything—what had happened, and asked for his help.

"How bad is it, really?"

"Frankly speaking, it's hopeless. If we keep fighting like this, the front line’ll collapse within days."

"So you’re telling me I gotta go all the way to Nagano—more dangerous than Gifu—just to hunt down some guy who might not even exist!? I was planning to evacuate to the safer Kansai region!"

"I truly apologize... but Self-Defense Force personnel can’t be moved. I can’t leave my post either. I have no choice but to rely on you. That’s the truth."

I bowed deeply.

"Seriously… you think there’s actually someone out there who uses magic!?"

"I don’t know if it’s one person or more... but I believe he’s out there!"

Huffing, Shimizu scratched his head...

"Guess I’ve got no choice... fine. I’ll do it for you. Consider it a favor."

"Thank you! I’ll remember this!"

"So... how much time do we have?"

"The monsters should reach the defense line in about a week..."

"A week... huh..."

"Once combat starts, we won’t last more than a few days... So get him here within a week, somehow."

I stared at Shimizu, dead serious.

"You know this, right? Even if we find the guy and bring him back, there’s no guarantee the situation’ll change. Honestly, it’s more likely it won’t. Still want to wait?"

"I know... I’m grasping at straws here..."

"Hah... a hopeless mission with a tight deadline... never thought I’d end up doing something like this, working civilian life and all..."

Shimizu stood up, turned his back, and started walking away.

"Leaving now... don’t expect much. Just wait."

I truly thanked her, watching her back fade away... ...I had no idea then what awaited Shimizu next—something beyond anything she could’ve imagined.