Episode 195: The Hero Arrives

Moonlit night.

Walking through a brightly lit district and then strolling down a quiet shopping street.

As I push the wheelchair, I listen to Yohata-san's life story.

This person seems to have had quite an unusual experience.

His missing limbs were reportedly severed by desperate refugees and used as ingredients for cannibalistic cuisine.

I thought that was definitely a no-go.

Hmm...

That's super scary, isn't it?

Things like in movies really do happen, huh?

There were plenty of troublesome communities even before that. In one place, police officers armed with guns were at the center of things—those were really bad times. People were far more dangerous than those 'zombies' ever were. I barely managed to escape with my life."

Humans are scarier than monsters, aren't they.

It's a fairly common theme in stories, you know.

"But then. There are no demons in this world, you see. The one I encountered was a young man clad in silver armor."

"…Ah."

"He was, in a way, my savior. I was saved countless times by him."

"So, does that mean he's also one of those 'players'?"

"Players?"

"Um, well... I don't know the details myself, but ever since the world changed, people who can use powers like magic have appeared, right?"

"Yeah... probably those guys they call 'villains' or 'mutants'."

"Yes."

"It's likely that's what they are. But... I get the feeling his case is a bit different somehow."

"Meaning...?"

I've been thinking about this a lot, but somehow I can't help feeling he's just an ordinary person like us. Sure, he did use some strange powers, but the secret might be in the helmet he was wearing—kind of like those transformation gadgets from children's TV shows, you know?

Well, I get what you're trying to say.

"I think that young man might be a type of superhero, in a way."

"A superhero?"

"Yes."

Are there really people who play the role of a story's protagonist?

The more I thought about it, the more I felt a vague, uneasy emotion stirring inside me.

If this world is indeed a single story,

I can't help but feel that it must revolve around some protagonist existing somewhere within it.

If everything happening in this world is meant to highlight this so-called "protagonist," then what exactly is our role as mere supporting characters?

「…………――」

「Miss」

「……………」

「Miss, what's wrong? You're spacing out」

「Eh? ……Ah, yes」

「It's safe here, but being too tense isn't safe either. …After all, the life you've known up until now has been completely shattered—some people have even given up on themselves…」

Just as Mr. Yohata made a remark that felt like a blatant plot flag—

「VAARRRRAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!」

A sound like a beast's roar, and the clashing of metal on metal, echoed.

Both of them startled, turned to look—and there stood a middle-aged man, his appearance thoroughly disheveled.

"Aaaaaaaaaaah! Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!"

Was he drunk?

He repeatedly swung a metal bat at the shuttered entrance of a metal shop, as if possessed.

"...Well, he doesn't exactly look like he's practicing baseball."

"Indeed."

I'm no stranger to weirdos.

I've actually stood in line at a Yodobashi in Shinjuku just to buy a PS3.

Back then, I saw dozens of even more bizarre old men.

"Shall we take a detour?"

Whispering into Yohata's ear, the elderly man replied with a look of mild distress.

That's... well, that's the house assigned to me, you see.

"Ge"

Metal Bat-Man is still banging his bat against the shutter.

Do you have any idea why he's angry?

I don't know. Maybe they're just angry because they want to be angry.

I see, you truly have the wisdom of years. You're hitting the mark right on the nose.

That was the moment I nodded in silent admiration.

Like a beast locking onto its prey, the man’s glaring eyes turned toward me.

"…………………huh?"

"Ah!"

At the same time, I could feel his emotions instantly cooling down right before my eyes.

To me, that felt strangely unsettling.

"Aah, aah, aah, you… you're…"

He gave me a faint, wavering smile and staggered closer.

"Ah, ah, w-what… is it…?"

The voice that came out of my throat was so thin I was surprised at how weak it sounded.

"You… I've seen you before. You were close with the exploration team, right?"

"Wha…?"

"The exploration team... um, that guy, Tanaka? Taa... what was his name again?"

"Ritsuko Toda?"

"That's her! That's her. Ritsuko. Hey, you, can you go talk to her for me?"

"Talk to her?"

"You know what I mean. Oh, oh, oh, can you also get me included in the exploration team? I'm not just some nobody rotting away here. I want to do something meaningful, you know?"

"Huh..."

Honestly, I can't imagine someone emotionally unstable being able to work with others like this...

For now, it's best to just nod along and show agreement.

Understood. I'll let them know.

"Ah, ah, ah, ah. So, so, you know. I brought this, I brought it. Just take it and give it to them, okay?"

And what he pulled out from his chest pocket was—well, I hardly know how to put it.

It was a human little finger wrapped in a handkerchief.

"Uwaa, gross!"

I reflexively dropped it.

That’s when I first noticed his little finger was missing. It seemed he’d cut it off himself.

"Hey! Don’t drop that!"

"I-I know, but… what can I do?"

"This is my resolve! If I do this, I’ll become a mage, right? Hey!"

"I-I don’t know!"

"What? I know it’s true! You guys are the only ones who understand, aren’t you?!"

At the same time, his metal bat crashes into Oho-ta's wheelchair.

A metallic clang echoes through the air, and part of the wheelchair's wheels are twisted out of shape.

What the heck is "Iio Moi"? What exactly is that?

I furrow my brow and step in front of Oho-ta, shielding him.

I considered fleeing, but—despite my own better judgment—I ended up acting like a surprisingly noble hero, unable to abandon an elderly man who looked as if he were about to be devoured by his own feet.

"That's why I'm asking you—please take this! I'll handle it properly, I swear!"

"No way, no way, no way! Ritsuko-chan would definitely recoil in horror if she ever got her hands on something like this!"

"Why won't you listen to me!?"

The man shoved me hard on the shoulder.

Overwhelmed by sheer terror, I collapsed right there on the ground.

Then, once more, I slammed into Yohata's wheelchair.

"Ugh..."

Though not struck directly, the impact must have jolted his frail bones. Yohata grimaced in pain.

Ugh...

What should I do, what should I do?

Isn't this exactly when the hero should appear—just like in the story?

The very moment I thought that—

"Hero arrives. How about that?"

A beige coat billowed between us as it stepped in.

The figure, face hidden behind a mask, was one I recognized.

"You're the one—"

"Hey, missy."

"Yogu-san..."

He casually caught the bat and looked down at me.

"The moon's bright. Nice night, isn't it?"

Saying it as if the violence he'd just endured was nothing at all—just a casual greeting.

"Night like this, outlaws always show up."

"W-What the hell are you—!"

"Prepare yourself. My punch is faster than light."

I was thinking this as I looked up at him.

They definitely showed up having already pre-written the script.

And.

If you actually throw a punch faster than light, the area around us would vanish and Earth would be in serious trouble—please stop.