BXBX NOVEL Chapter 47: Disappearance¹
Chapter 47: Disappearance1
We went outside, creeping to the outer side of the school field and headed for the thicket around there. I heard that the salty sea breeze is blowing around the place, so they planted quite some trees as a shelterbelt, so that these tall, evergreen trees can protect the students and school buildings as well as surrounding the field.
I stayed invisible and silenced using my Concealment skill, but Kana didn’t. I don’t know if she can in the first place though. Now, how do I get rid of potential witnesses? Of course, we’ll need to go to a place where people can see us that are not too far from the school. That’s why I chose this place. I’m misusing this trees that are supposed to protect the children to conceal ourselves from prying eyes. I truly should be in jail.
“Hey, I feel like you’re about to do some weird stuff here.”
“Of course not.”
We reached a place that is pretty deep in the thicket, and thinking that this place would be good enough, I stopped walking. I turned my entire body around and faced Kana directly.
“Why are you cloning people?”
“Hm? Because it’s fun?” she declared flatly.
“I don’t get you. What’s so fun about copying someone?”
“I’m increasing the numbers of people who I judged to be good so the world can be a better place. Don’t that make you feel better?”
“You want the world to be a better place? And yet you’re meaninglessly throwing the society into disorder?”
“What do you mean, society?” she asked with a dry smile. “I’m a hero you know? Stronger than anyone in this world…or at least that’s what I thought until early this morning. Now I know that you’re the strongest in the world. Isn’t that right, Mr. Level 227 Hero-san? Still though, it’s not making any difference whether I’m number 1 or 2 in this case, I’m still stronger than a policeman or even the SDF2. Heck, I might even still be more powerful than modern weapons, so why in the world should I even be dictated by this society? They are the one who are supposed to be dictated by me. If they even think of being rude to me, I can kill them off in one fell swoop.” Kana laughed as she brushed her hair up.
“Hell, why do you even become a trickster, Nakamoto-san? You could’ve just done what you want.”
“Are you serious?”
“Obviously? You can just kill off anyone you don’t like, and you can take anything you like. Isn’t that how we do things in the other world? I heard that there’s a Yakuza office nearby, so how about it? Should we assault it together? We can just waltz in there, wrench their safe open and get enough money to fool around for a while. Maybe get a thank you letter from the cops as well.”
“Sorry to rain on your parade, but I’ve been there and done that. Didn’t take any money though.”
“What, so you’ve got your hands dirty, haven’t you?”
Looks like we’re gonna get along just great, she said, stretching out her hand. Is she inviting me for a handshake? I have no obligation to respond though.
“I bet you’re a great fun at parties, and of course I mean that sarcastically.”
Kana faced her palm upwards, shrugging her shoulders in exasperation.
“On what basis are you judging these people you cloned? I’ll bet you just based that on their talent.”
“Pretty much. After increasing the numbers of talented people, I’ll start on mass producing hot guys as well.”
“…And?”
“Well…decimate all the people I don’t need. I can’t maintain the balance if I just keep on increasing the numbers anyways.
…I must be hearing things.
“Decapitate?”
“Yeah, just keep whittling them down. I’ll gradually kill off all the unattractive and the incompetent. Maybe I should also kill off those guys who won’t pay for a girl’s meal too” she said, pleasantly. “That was a joke, don’t worry. I won’t go that far, but I’m thinking of killing off the guys who abuse their wives though.”
“And you’re going to judge if someone should die or if you should let them live?”
“Of course. I’m the hero after all.”
“Do heroes really have that big of an authority?”
“Aren’t I like a god basically?”
God, huh. Seems like the concept of a summoned hero greatly differs between me and her.
As I fell into silence, Kana spread both of her arms wide, as if declaring with her entire body that she’s about to start her speech.
“What do you think of this world, Nakamoto-san?”
“Indifferent. It’s my boring world where I was born.”
“Right. So shitty it’s boring. It’s so fucking shit that it might as well be an actual shit. No magic, no monsters, and even the men are all disgusting. It seriously made me wonder what the actual fuck happened.”
Unbearable, isn’t it? She spat, kicking the ground.
“The other world though…it was the absolute best. Lots of handsome white guys who are so gentle at me, and I can just roast them with magic if I don’t like them, and I can do it without repercussions.”
“And so you’re thinking you want to go back to that world?”
“Obviously? Aren’t you?” she threw the question right back at me, her face in dumbstruck wonder that I would think otherwise. “But since I can’t come back, I’d rather turn Japan into that other world instead. Am I wrong?”
“Not really. You’re free to use the power you’re blessed with the way you like. Anyways, can I ask you a question?”
“What?”
“Why did you decide to clone Ootsuki Ayako? She’s neither talented nor a hot guy.”
“Aah, her…” Kana turned bashful, finally showing me an expression that I consider human. “Well…it was mostly for Yuuta.”
“Does your brother like Ayako-chan?”
“Yeah, he said that she stood up for him in a class meeting when he was bullied.”
“…Ayako-chan did that, huh.”
“Yep yep, that’s why I decided to clone her and give her to Yuuta, but there was a car passing nearby at that time so I ran away.”
This is the most twisted sibling affection I’ve ever seen.
Now I’m left with a question: How should I deal with Saeki Kana?
“You said something about your criteria for decimating the men, but how about the women?”
“The women?”
“You’re planning to leave out only the talented and good-looking men, right? How are you gonna sort the women?”
“Hmm…” Kana put a finger on her lips, thinking deeply. “I think I’m gonna kill off any girls cuter than me, with Ootsuki Ayako-san as an only exception.”
“Wouldn’t that mean the majority of girls would die?”
“Hey that’s sexual harassment.”
I know it sounds rude, but there’s a certain girl from another world that’s been with me recently, and she seems like she would cut her down without delay, so what I’m saying is nothing more than a protective instinct to shield someone close to me.
“Sorry about this,” so I created a sword of light and blow the girl away.
I wouldn’t need this much firepower if I’m not fighting for the sake of someone. With just that in mind, I can evaporate her without holding back.
The sword of light is nice. Unlike some offensive spells, it doesn’t create explosions or a sudden drop in temperature, and with the vibration being even barely audible, it truly is a weapon of assassination.
“I’m not gonna say anything about justice, so this is nothing but a clash between my desire and yours.”
“…you fucking geezer…!”
Kana was about to deploy her own sword of light, but it was too late. Even if she can make it in time, the size she can manifest won’t be enough to shrug off what I can.
With a dull sound, Saeki Kana’s existence is extinguished. It sounded just as dull as this entire fight.
There are no witnesses, but even if there is, they simply saw Kana get vaporized, and they’ll think of it as nothing but her being spirited away. Although me as the perpetrator, unlike Kana, still had the self-awareness that I’m no God. I’m just a flesh-and-blood human.
I wonder what Kana experienced in that other world that made her start to think that she is an existence comparable to a God.
“Fuck this…”
A lone girl, thinking of her brother, drowning in power and losing sight of herself…
Being a summoned hero is truly never any good for anyone.
Feeling the void in my heart, I make my way back home.
Note:
1 Title can mean either disappearance, or in a more literal meaning, “Vaporization”
2 Self-Defense Force. Japan’s not army.