Opportunity in the Game Becomes Reality Chapter 254
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Opportunity in the Game Becomes Reality Chapter 254
56. The Beginning of Change (2)
When word came that a being with the form of a demon had appeared, the Japanese military generals reacted with disbelief, asking what kind of nonsense that was.
But that too was only brief.
It suddenly occurred to them that a First Lieutenant who had submitted a report would never speak nonsense to the generals who had seized power.
Moreover, with poisoned insects, monsters, Gifts, and other clearly abnormal situations occurring one after another, they judged that this report could not be ignored.
"Do you have materials?"
So they requested evidence, and the First Lieutenant hurriedly handed over a paper file.
The file contained a photograph of a person, and what stood out was that it depicted a human figure with black wings and horns protruding long like a goat's.
"What exactly is the situation?"
"Currently, similar aberrant figures are being spotted one after another in twelve poisoned lands including Tokyo, Saitama, and Shizuoka. They are purifying the poisoned lands and destroying the temples that have appeared within them, and they are said to be using a power similar in form to Gifts but overwhelmingly stronger. Thanks to this, we are unable to approach within 3 km of the poisoned lands."
"Any engagement with our forces?"
"None as of yet. All stationed units are merely on alert and are asking how they should respond."
The Japanese characteristic of clinging to manuals worked as an advantage in times like this.
After all, there was nothing to gain from poking at a being that exuded an unmistakably extraordinary presence.
However, at the First Lieutenant's continued report, the generals' expressions were instantly colored with bewilderment.
"However, the commander of the stationed unit in Shizuoka is expressing concern that if the temple granting Gifts is destroyed, the acquired Gifts might disappear."
Since no one had considered that at all, everyone couldn't help but grow serious.
All the generals regarded the power called Gifts as extremely important, and judged that it would occupy a crucial part of the nation's future competitiveness.
But what if that power were to disappear?
The future of Japan, already stagnant, would grow even more bleak.
"Damn it!"
"Stop them!"
Because of this, the generals had to shout urgently.
That they must stop it no matter what.
"You mean to launch a counterattack?"
"Yes!"
"Understood."
But then.
"Wait."
Lieutenant General Mikado of the Ground Component Command the very person who had led the revolution to success and was serving as the interim Prime Minister of the New Japanese Empire restrained the hasty decision.
"You're going to attack when we haven't even properly grasped the opponent's level yet? Are you all in your right minds?"
"But if we drag our feet and all the temples get destroyed!"
"The claim that Gifts will disappear is nothing more than speculation. There's no need to get this heated over something that hasn't been confirmed."
At Mikado's cautious response, the generals cooled their heads and let out sighs.
"Do you have a plan?"
"We should try talking."
"What?"
"Even if they have the form of a demon, there's no need to judge them as an enemy. The temples in the poisoned lands gave us Gifts, but at the same time, aren't they dark caverns that restrict our area of activity and pour out monsters?"
As he said, because people focused on the temples that give Gifts, they overlooked it, but such terrain often had more harmful effects than beneficial ones for humans.
Indeed, would beings trying to eliminate such terrain be humanity's enemy?
Mikado thought there was a need to approach with a bit more caution.
"Communication might not work."
"We won't know without trying."
In the end, the generals had to accept the argument of Mikado, who could be called the current highest authority in Japan.
"Then who do you plan to send? Someone with a certain degree of power should step forward."
Saying they would hold talks did not mean exchanging pleasantries with the opponent.
It meant forming a good relationship if possible, and extracting whatever could be gained.
Whether that be information or military force.
Because of that, the selection of personnel could not help but be important.
At that, Lieutenant General Mikado, who was among the younger of the generals, showed the reaction that he was naturally the right person for the job.
"I should go."
"What?"
The generals opposed it, saying it was far too dangerous a task for a national leader to take on.
But Mikado was so resolute that no one could stop him.
Mikado was the type whose protagonist nature burst forth at crucial moments.
* * *
"Amazingly, the temple was not destroyed. No matter how fiercely the demons poured on their attacks, it did not budge even a little."
Mikado, who had been heading to the nearest poisoned lands to the Prime Minister's official residence in Osaka, felt relieved at his subordinate's report, saying it was fortunate.
The poisoned lands had been erased and the poisonous insects cleaned up, but the temple located within was intact.
It meant that for them, there was only gain and no loss whatsoever.
Thanks to that, Mikado's steps grew even lighter, and shortly after, he arrived at the site where thunderous explosions were ringing out.
-Kwa kwa kwa kwang!
"Impressive."
Powerful explosions burst forth as if missiles were pouring down in succession.
Feeling a thrill at the fact that this was the power of a being with a physical body, not a weapon, Mikado let out an exclamation of admiration.
The soldiers currently protecting Lieutenant General Mikado were all Gift possessors, but the difference in power between Gifts and what demons used was as vast as the difference between bullets and missiles.
"By the way, it doesn't get destroyed even under that level of impact? Is the temple something like an object that simply cannot be destroyed? Until now I only regarded it as some unidentified facility, but I'll have to look into it."
"Your Excellency, the speaker is ready."
He could not keep marveling forever.
Mikado, who had shown interest not only in the demons but even in the temple, took the microphone his subordinate handed him and attempted to converse with the demons.
[Hello! I am Mikado, the Prime Minister of the New Japanese Empire! I would like to have a brief conversation!]
He said it that way because he did not know what to call the other party, but if they were perceptive and could understand speech, they would be able to comprehend it well enough.
Mikado's words rang out through the high-output speaker, loud enough not to be drowned out by the explosions.
Did they hear his request?
In that instant, the attacks pouring toward the temple stopped, and the explosions terrorizing their eardrums vanished.
At that, the Guard Corps and the existing stationed troops, with the exception of Mikado, all tensed up.
After all, if the other party responded to the conversation, they would be facing a transcendent being.
"I am Lord Skrim, who holds the fourth seat among the 13 Demon Kings. Taking my time will require a great price, leader of humans."
And then a woman with a beautiful voice that dazed the mind appeared before them.
Dazzling blonde hair and ruby-like red eyes.
A sharp jawline and a cold expression with a hint of languor.
A leather rider suit that clung tightly to her entire body, with the zipper opened long from chest to navel, emphasizing her figure.
Unlike the male (goat + human) in the photo attached to the report, she was a being anyone would associate with a succubus.
At the unexpected appearance of the other party, Mikado unconsciously swallowed dryly, and the other soldiers were not much different.
Mikado desperately pulled himself together and spoke.
"May I ask what you are doing?"
"You dare demand a report from me?"
"No. I merely spoke hoping there might be something with which we could help each other and mutually benefit. We have absolutely no intention of opposing you. Beautiful transcendent one."
He spouted flattery, closer to a politician than a soldier.
But perhaps she liked that reaction?
The female Demon King who had called herself Lord Skrim curled up the corners of her lips for some reason.
"I happened to be displeased because things were not going as I wished, but you have made me take an interesting thought."
She strode briskly toward Mikado.
The high heels integrated with her rider suit let out a cold metallic sound, and soon she arrived right before Mikado's nose and lightly traced his cheek with her index finger.
Then his eyes, which had always exuded arrogance beyond mere confidence, gently loosened.
* * *
Once a certain number of humans gather, there is bound to be one idiot among them.
No matter how much they dream of the same conclusion, diverse opinions are bound to emerge in the process.
The reason I suddenly had this thought is.
"Wait a moment. Isn't that a different matter?"
"No, it is not different. The majority of the underworld's leaders are of the same opinion as me."
It was because I came to hear that among the Heavenly Tribe and demon race of the underworld belonging to the Earth sphere, there exist beings who stand at odds with Lord Exceed.
I had thought that all Heavenly Tribe and demon race on Earth were friendly and envisioned the same goal.
But there are bound to be outliers anywhere, and Lord Exceed let me know that this thinking of mine was far too naive.
"Do not worry. From now on, I will be with you and protect you."
The problem is that the Heavenly Tribe and demon race of the underworld, as they began intervening on Earth in earnest, have also started erasing traces of the goddess.
This means that while operating on Earth, one might unexpectedly end up confronting Heavenly Tribe or demon race forces that hold different opinions from Lord Exceed.
'It seems I overestimated the other side just because they are Heavenly Tribe and demon race. When many people gather to discuss grave matters, it is only natural for conflicts of opinion to arise.'
And I thought that Lord Exceed, saying such things and doing them just before heading to Earth after deciding to board the same ship, was truly too soft-hearted.
"What about the possibility that Reiers County will be attacked?"
"For now, we have reached an agreement not to touch forces directly connected to you."
"So you cannot assert with certainty that there is no such possibility?"
"Even with laws in place, there are always those who break them. But we will actively intervene to protect you, so do not worry too much about this either."
At that response, which seemed to ask for understanding, I rubbed my temples.
I understood that from their standpoint, this was the best method, but there was no helping the worry.
"Then let us be on our way."
Lord Exceed patted my back like that, and I looked at Kang Min-hee and Benjamin as if there was nothing I could do.
Kang Min-hee was in a state of having recognized that she had no choice but to stick with me in order to survive.
Because of that, she faithfully followed my instructions.
The two attempted a dimension shift, and soon the scenery before us changed.
However.
-Kwaaaang! Kwaaang!
The scene that unfolded simultaneously with the dimension shift was so beyond common sense that I had to be greatly taken aback.
"W-what is this?"
"What on earth..."
It was because the well-maintained cityscape that should have been spread out beneath our feet had been reduced to such a wreck that it brought to mind a battlefield.
Explosions ringing out here and there at every moment, and flames soaring high.
-Kyaaaak!
Along with the screams of people filled with confusion and corpses strewn everywhere, the cityscape had been transformed into an end-of-the-world scene.
This situation momentarily caused my brain to freeze.
And that was the same not just for me but for everyone.
-Beep!
I, having at least recovered quickly, controlled my personal terminal and brought up a map of the surroundings.
At the same time, the coordinates and place name of exactly where we stood were input as a hologram....
[Bucheon City, Sang-dong]
It was indeed the very place where my parents from my past life lived.
There was no time to investigate what kind of situation this was.
"Ah, no! Mom! Dad!"
"Wait! Kang Min-hee, where are you going!"
Kang Min-hee, thrown into a panic, suddenly vanished somewhere using her teleportation gift, and I hurriedly asked Brangish to track her.
"Please protect Kang Min-hee! If she dies, we cannot return to Rondel!"
"Understood!"
She must have disappeared because she was worried about her family.
Naturally, that was no different for me.
I quickly headed with my companions to the apartment where my parents from my past life were.
-Tat-tat-tat-tang!
-Kwaaang! Kwaang!
And a short while later.
I could see two military units fighting around the apartment that was my destination.
In a modern battlefield where bullets and recoilless rifles flew about, the old-fashioned apartment was far too fragile a building, and its miserable appearance, collapsed in places, caught my eye.
Only then could I realize what this situation was about....
"Die, Koreans!"
I confirmed that one of the military units was speaking Japanese.
In other words, it meant that Korea, for some reason, was currently under attack by the Japanese military.