Kays Translations

Chapter 215: Well, It’s Time to Depart

It’s the third day since we started developing the village.

Despite the early hour, a group from the Special Countermeasures Office had arrived.

The “Special Countermeasures Office for the Otherworld” primarily handles interpersonal relations, such as mental care for those who have returned from the otherworld, job placement post-return, and recruitment into government agencies. It’s an independent organization with considerable authority, influenced by notable politicians.

In reality, though, I think their main purpose is to monitor those with abilities and identify potential threats. While caution is necessary, we aim to maintain a good relationship with them.

Publicly, there is another organization known for gathering experts from various fields to mainly research magic stone resources.

The director of this Countermeasures Office, Masaki, and his assistants, Shiina and Yuno, arrived much earlier than planned. This time, they were dressed warmly, fitting for mid-winter, unlike their lighter attire last time. We exchanged greetings with wry smiles, without mentioning the change in their attire.

“Good morning, Keisuke-san. It’s cold today, isn’t it?”

“””Good morning!”””

“Good morning, everyone. I’m sorry for calling you out so early.”

“Oh, not at all. We’ve been eagerly looking forward to today.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

“That said… this is really something. I’m honestly overwhelmed.”

Even though I had told them in advance over the phone, the three of them were still astonished by the sheer size of the barrier when they saw it up close.

“Um… Keisuke-san…”

“Yuno? What’s the matter?”

Given the low temperature and the early hour, I thought she might want to pick some flowers, so I was about to guide her, but it seemed that wasn’t the case.

“Will we be able to meet someone from the other world today? I was so excited about it that I couldn’t sleep last night… Oh, I’m sorry for being so forward.”

“Of course. I was thinking we could talk with them later.”

“Thank you so much!”

“That’s great, Yuno! The first human-otherworld contact… awesome!”

Shiina, standing next to her, was also full of energy despite the early hour. Looking closely, both of them had dark circles under their eyes, likely from excitement the previous night.

(Huh? But I thought there were beastmen at the student village chief’s place too… I wonder what they mean by ‘first human-otherworld contact.’)

Setting that aside for now, I led them into the barrier. I had arranged for them to temporarily become villagers so they could enter the barrier.

However, this was just a temporary measure. When they leave, they will no longer be considered villagers, and we don’t plan to accept new members for the time being. I trust them personally, but I can’t ignore the possibility of someone they don’t know trying to manipulate things. Considering that, automatic exclusion based on loyalty is convenient.

Today’s discussions are crucial for both parties and could significantly influence our future actions. Just trying to sound a bit important…

“Keisuke-san, which topic should we start with?”

“Let’s begin with the security arrangements.”

“Understood. Currently, the confirmed details are as follows—”

We began by aligning on the self-defense forces’ perimeter security.

As a premise, “perimeter” here refers to the area outside the barrier. The main topic was about the checkpoints we had previously requested. The plan is for the self-defense forces to occupy the farmlands of the nearby residents to prevent external contact.

A branch of the Countermeasures Office will be attached to the self-defense forces’ camp, where they will handle the reception and screening of future village applicants. Additionally, they will help procure necessary equipment and food for the village. Payment will be in cash or magic stones.

“As promised before, Shiina and Yuno will be stationed at the branch.”

“Oh, that’s very helpful.”

“I’ll also visit as often as possible. Currently, I’m negotiating with the higher-ups to move the headquarters here.”

“The higher-ups… Oh, you mean…”

“Yes, that person. I’ve told them that if they don’t allow it, I’ll resign.”

“Resign? That’s quite a bold move.”

“It’s no problem. I’m single anyway, so I only see benefits either way.”

Smirking, the charming older man showed a strong stance, indicating that having the headquarters move here would be good, and if he resigned, becoming a villager would also be beneficial.

“Now, let’s move on to the next topic. The pickup should be arriving soon.”

“Yes, departure is on schedule?”

“Absolutely, no mistakes there.”

After wrapping up the security discussion, we moved on to the topic of the student village chief.

The talk of pickup and departure referred to our planned meeting with him. Although I expected it to be further in the future, he had surprisingly replied quickly, expressing his interest in meeting. However, for some reason, he specified the morning. That’s why we started talking early in the morning. It seemed a bit suspicious, but we would understand more after meeting him.

◇◇◇

After talking for about 20 minutes, the outside gradually became noisy.

“Keisuke-san, it seems they’ve arrived.”

“Exactly on schedule… not a minute late.”

“Yes, the Japanese Self-Defense Forces are extremely efficient. Also, I want to confirm once again that for this occasion, carrying firearms is permitted. Do you agree?”

“Yes, that’s our preference as well.”

I made sure to emphasize that the main purpose was to ensure the safety of the protected individuals. There’s actually another reason, but that will become apparent soon.

This time, Touya and Hayato will accompany us into enemy territory. I hesitated about bringing Tsubaki along, but considering unforeseen circumstances, I decided against it.

So far, the government has shown a cooperative attitude. However, we don’t know when they might change their stance. While Masaki and his team seem trustworthy based on their loyalty ratings, there’s no guarantee they have the full support of the government. Considering the possibility of abduction, it’s best to keep the group small.

“Touya, Hayato, it’s time to depart. Don’t forget the barrier necklaces.”

“We’re ready to go here. We’ve got spares, so no issues.”

“We also have elixir and magic stones. We can leave anytime!”

They’ve been instructed to remain vigilant towards the Self-Defense Forces and the possibility of gunfire. In the event of any unforeseen circumstances, they’ve been told to act freely without worrying about the consequences. Even if they end up being marked for elimination due to the chaos they cause, it doesn’t matter to us.

(If by some chance that happens… maybe it’s time to push for the Demon Lord route.)

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