Ch.121 The Origins' Meeting VI

"First of all, thank you for your hard work, Crescent-chan, Princess-chan, and--"

"Kushima-saan"

"It's Kushima-saan."

"Isn't Kushima-saan fine?"

"Straight up Kushima-saan, huh."

"It looks different when you see it up close...it's nice!"

"Kushima-saan, why don't you come yo my side and get a job instead of the boring Public Security Bureau?"

"Hey, stop poaching. Kushima-san belongs to me."

"Ha?"

"Hoo? Wanna do it?"

In a dark room.

Everyone call Kushima Chiho "Kushima-sasn" at once.

"...I am indeed Kushima, but...the way you call me, like the comments..."

"Hmm, isn't that really too obvious a code name?"

"...If you think about it, Kushima-saan is known all over the world..."

"Kushima-saan is a goddess after all..."

"So this is the goddess..."

"Angel Haru-chan and goddess Kushima-san...fantasy comes true...!"

"Could you please stop that...? Or rather, what is this?"

Basement.

When the US army occupied the area near the entrance to the dungeon, the transfer destination was set to the nearest hospital.

There, Mikazuki Emi appears, having been forcibly transported by Haru.

...The situation around her suddenly changed and she was shocked.

Although she couldn't find Lili, who was supposed to be transferred right after her, she saw that her wristband had started up at the same time, and concluded that she had probably been transferred to another evacuation center.

Just as she was about to receive first aid from Kushima Chiho, who rushed over, she received a summons from the "Origins" who told her to "bring Kushima-saan as well", and she sighed at the usual rather careless order.

Incidentally, Chiho also received a sudden order from her "direct superior," which she usually receives when it comes to Haru-related matters, so she followed without hesitation.

The usual group was there... once again, the original members were in high spirits after staying up all night, and on top of that, they had been busy working on the internet so much that they couldn't tell the difference between reality and the internet.

"Well, let's come up with Chiho-chan's code name sometime."

"Sorry... I've been really busy these past two weeks. It's really hard on an old body."

"Um... No, I'm fine without one..."

"So...can you tell us what happened?"

"Sure. Crescent-chan and the others really worked hard, after all."

"We'll tell you!"

--As always, the light atmosphere that doesn't match their appearance and position.

But perhaps it's times like these that give some peace of mind.

"...Crescent...?"

"...You'll find out later."

'--But I really wish they'd stop doing that...especially now, when the biggest problem is that people I know find out about this...'

Sighing, the two of them follow their orders and sit at the round table.

Emi knows them well, but Chiho is so suspicious that she is wary.

"First of all, we are the 'Origins'."

"Eh... Ah, um, the chairman and my superior are..."

"...Chiho-san, there's no need to remember each and every one of them. Just know that those people who were causing trouble in the comments section are here."

"Crescent-chan, are you mad?"

"...I'm just tired."

"Of course you'd be, right after that big fight. I'm asking for too much..."

Emi begins to give a brief explanation of the situation.

"...If you know, then Emi-san too..."

"Yes... unfortunately..."

"By the way, Crescent-chan... Emi-chan is also a member of our Origins."

"That's right, she's a comrade who worked with us on this project."

"Eh? ……………………………………"

... Clatter.

Chiho unconsciously moves the chair she had just sat down in away from Emi.

"Tch, that's not true! It's not because of perversion! I got caught up in it just like you're now!! Please believe me!"

"I haven't said anything yet though..."

When Chiho heard the word "Origins," the first thing that came to mind was their obsession with Haru.

Even though she said "It's okay," her expression showed that she was still shocked.

Emi desperately tries to prove her innocence to Chiho.

◇◆◇

"This was an arbitrary decision by the US military stationed here... it will be announced as such, but it was actually done by presidential order."

"In other words, it was an act carried out by the US military... at the will of the United States."

'--So that conversation earlier was to ease our tension... No, it's just the way they always are, so maybe they just weren't thinking at all.

But I never thought that the United States...a country, a superpower at that.'

"No way..."

"...No matter how much power the Security Council have... this kind of military action..."

"Indeed. Moreover, because there are many reports not only from the civilians' point of view but also from the military point of view, the situation is already known to the whole world. The United States will not be able to act for a while, so they will have to explain."

"We'll be on guard in all future operations, after all."

"Originally, military action was planned to begin once the troops of the major countries had arrived. However, due to machinations by the Princess's home country, who is not currently here, it is expected to be delayed by several days."

'--While we were conquering the dungeon, the world situation had taken a turn for the worse...'

"I understand... how you feel."

"...That's right, Chiho knows too."

"Yes. I returned a few days ago... and there were American soldiers standing right in front of me. Even at that point, the world had changed so much that I felt like Urashima Taro."

A sudden Security Council's Resolution was passed, and the dungeon became so threatening that the United Nations took action and trying to control it.

For this purpose, military forces from various countries are being deployed.

...Amidst all this, suddenly today—from a conversation among the lowest ranking soldiers—a preemptive attack on the dungeon was decided upon and carried out.

"That's just..."

"Honestly, I didn't think they'd be so forceful..."

"Yeah. I think this is going to be a big deal in the United States, too."

"Honestly, our efforts to persuade the council members were a complete failure."

"But that's exactly why we're pursuing the president. He'll pay the price."

"But still, the missiles have already been launched - though there's been no official announcement yet. They're said to be a 'new weapon specially designed to destroy dungeons', and that's what's happening."

What is displayed on the central panel is...a large, dark hole that stretches out in the darkness several hours after the incident.

A huge hole with no bottom visible, carved out of the area where the dungeon used to be.

"Fortunately, there was a live stream of Haru-chan and Ruru-chan's sleeping faces."

"Bufu?!"

"...Um, in a serious tone...Um, saying 'Haru-chan' or 'Ruru-chan' or something like that..."

"Are you dissatisfied?"

"No... it's fine..."

'--I've only been invited here a short time, but I really don't understand these people...'

Chiho burst out laughing when the word "Haru-chan," Came out from a dignified old man she had met before.

Emi is somewhat used to it, but Kushima Chiho is hesitant as this is her first encounter with a being called the Origins.

"Haru-chan and Ruru-chan's precious sleeping faces are still being streamed, so not only we but everyone watching the stream knows they're safe. Also, it seems to be reasonably bright out, so they're probably out somewhere in the open in the dungeon."

"There are live broadcasts from evacuation centers on the ground, and we know that all the injured people are only slightly injured. It looks like we can take a breather."

"The only person whose safety is unknown is..."

"Princess-chan..."

"She got transferred almost the same time as Emi-chan..."

"but"

"She was trying to get ahead by herself somehow."

"It's unacceptable."

"Execute? Execute?"

"The one to tet executed-"

"Ye~s."

"...Um, Princess?"

"...they're talking about Lili, Chiho..."

"...Why Princess... No, I think I kind of understand..."

"I'm Crescent, you know?"

"……yeah……"

◇◆◇

A few hours had passed since they were invited.

According to information exchanged on each person's live stream screen and social media, all people who were in the vicinity of the dungeon have been confirmed safe.

Emi returned soon after, and Haru and Ruru continued broadcasting their sleeping faces... their location is unknown, but it is known that they are probably still inside the dungeon, and it can be determined that their lives are not in danger.

But what remains is...

"What about other shelters?"

"No. To begin with, her local wristband is... Here."

"Ah, when Haru-chan helped me..."

"Apparently, she had brought a spare one from her country just in case. Normally, it's not allowed to do this just to check on someone's safety."

"...Then, perhaps..."

"Yes. She might be at the respawn point in her country right now."

"Then why did she ask to contact her... No, maybe it was censorship..."

For the time being, the US military has stopped moving, and orders have only been issued to maintain peace near the dungeon... and while they are following orders, they also seem to be following the orders of the country's police.

And so a very quiet night falls on the dungeon.

"...Ruru, Haru."

"Lili-san too, they made us worried..."

In the basement.

The largest central panel shows a close-up of Haru's sleeping face and breathing.

Everyone there... although to varying degrees, spent a sleepless night gazing at the sleeping form of the person they were most worried about.

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