171: Evil Secret Society, In Action
「Now, let’s introduce our guest! It’s Victor Red-san, Please come on in!」
「「「Waa waah! Kyaa Kyaaah!」」」
Standing on the podium accompanied by high-pitched cheer, Retto awkwardly blushed as seven television cameras were pointed at him. As he saluted the cameras, he made sure not to miss a single word of the lines that Asaka had drilled into him.
「It is the duty of our Hero Headquarters to protect the peace and safety of the people from the threat of mysterious beings!」
「Yes, cut! Hmm, it doesn’t look very good. Could you pull your chin in a bit and do it again with a sharper look?」
「From the threat of mysterious beings! To protect the peace and safety of the people! It is our duty of our Hero Headquarters!」
「Yes cuuut! Hmm, it looked a little too aggressive. Can you make your eyebrows look a bit sharper?」
「From the threeeat! Of mysterious beeiiiiiinggs!!!」
When he returned to his dressing room after the recording, Retto collapsed on a pile of cushions. He truly realized that he should never do a job that he is not used to doing.
「Thank you for your hard work. Next up is the recording of Metube at 15:00. After that, we will be shooting a PR commercial and a promotional video at 17:00, and then a dinner party with the supporters at 20:00.」
「……Hey, Asaka-san……」
「Please call me Asaka P.」
「……Asaka P…… Is this really something necessary to be a hero……？」
Although ordered by the Hero Headquarters, Retto is constantly appearing in various media these days. He had been appearing at events to recruit new members, shaking hands with fans, and even participating in variety shows where he puts his body on the line.
Over the past few days, Retto and Asaka had been extremely busy working as public relations officers for Hero Headquarters.
「Waaaah! I can’t take it anymore, Asaka-san! I’m not an idol, I’m a hero!」
「Please call me Asaka P.」
「That’s enough, Asaka-san! Why does the Headquarters keep doing things to keep me away from the field?!」
「This is a direct order from Director Kazami. Publicity is one of the most important jobs as a hero!」
Asaka firmly stated this to Retto, who was complaining. The Hero Headquarters is an extremely special organization within the National Public Safety Commission, due to the nature of its preparedness against the ever-present threat of mysterious beings. It is not uncommon for them to be outsourced to outside contractors, as is the case with Kirameki Sentai Romeo Five.
Taxpayers’ money and goodwill donations are used to fund the activities of these hero teams. However, as the security situation at the government building showed, they are not well funded.
Therefore, efforts to seek the public’s understanding and support for their activities will go a long way toward strengthening the Hero Headquarters.
Even Retto understood the structure supposedly. However, understanding and accepting are two different things.
「……Asaka-san, I want to become a strong hero who can protect the weak, like Akajustice or Silver Zero! I don’t want to become a hero decorated with medals!」
Retto’s genuine lament echoed through the dressing room. After a moment of silence, Asaka spoke.
「…………We will be late for the 5 o’clock recording. Please hurry up and get changed.」
Raising her glasses with a quick flick, Asaka said just that and left the dressing room.
…………
At the same time, on the top floor of Tagaden Tower. In the monitor room next to the chairman’s office, the executives of Ark Dominion were butting heads.
「Haaaaa, that’s not good, no. No matter how many times I simulate it, we will get wiped out, wai.」
「Mumumu…… Tagaraak, try again. Let’s change the layout like this……」
On a large table about 10 square meters, an elaborate model of the whole Jimbocho area was set up. Standing in the center of the model was Samecchi, with a piece of paper with “Giant……” written on it, stuck to her stomach.
One by one, the Giant Samecchi kicked away the stuffed animals lined up in front of her.
「Gaoo, ssu!」
「Hmm, no good. The Hundred Beasts army was wiped out in 10 seconds, no dearu.」
「Oi please wait, old man Dragius! With our guts we can last 1 minute you know!? Oi Samecchi, go easy on us!」
「It would be great if the heroes will go easy on us.」
The simulation of the battle against the Giant God Robots had been going on for more than three hours. However, Rintaro and the other leaders of Ark Dominion were still unable to come up with an effective strategy.
「As expected, We’ll have to get into the cockpit itself…」
「No, the giant itself has lots of space to fit in soldiers and gun turrets. In other words, this giant isn’t just a robot, it’s a gigantic moving fortress. The odds would be against us in a hand-to-hand combat.」
「Then how about just running around until they run out of power?」
「That’s tough. The only ones who can escape with this size difference are Usanyi and Cheetiger from the Hundred Beasts Legion. Even if we were to deploy them, if the giantification effect wears off before they run out of power, we’ll have no cards to play.」
The overwhelming difference in physique means that even if they attack head-on, they will be crushed to pieces. However, even if they tried to attack from the rear, they would have no openings.
They say that bigger is better, and this is exactly what it sounds like.
「The quest for the unknown is the truth of man’s fundamental desire. Our ancestors rode through mountains and fields, crossed deserts, and connected the stars. Now, once again, the heroes row out to the horizon dyed with the dawn.」
「Zazoma-sama said, “How about developing a drug that will allow us to grow even gigantic?”」
「Hey, that’s too much of a burden on the body. It’s almost like a self-sacrifice.」
「Hahaha, that can’t be helped. They say that wild animals are naturally timid.」
「What was that you bastard, goraa!!」
The meeting dragged on and everyone was tense.
Rintaro had thought that if they were the same size, there was still a chance of winning. However, even if he could think about it, it was not easy to find a feasible method without sacrifices on his allies.
n particular, the idea of making a flesh-and-blood mysterious being larger than the standard size would be impossible. Rintaro’s mind then turned to the Machinery Army led by Tagarak.
「Can’t General Tagarak also build a giant robot?」
「It would be a piece of cake if I could do that overnight, wai! Even if I were to use captured robots, my collection only have a maximum of 60 meters, jashinou…」
The underground bunker at Ark Dominion was decorated with robots that Tagaraak had collected from previous battles. Of the eight robots that Rintaro destroyed and captured at Lake Sayama, six were included in the collection, excluding King Victory and Prince Kaiser, which were destroyed.
But Tagaraak is right, none of them were even the size of that giant god’s waist.
……The simulation against the giant god seemed to have reached a complete stalemate.
But, However.
「Hauu, it’s getting hard to stand up, ssu」
「Sorry, Samecchi, please be patient for a little longer.」
「Ryu-chan said the same thing an hour ago, ssu!」
After three hours of standing in the role of “Giant God,” Samecchi was already at her limit. She was playing with a pile of stuffed toys modeled after the Hundred Beast Legion, regardless of the heated discussion.
「Aniki, look look, ssu. Super Combined Stuffed Toyman, ssu.」
「Very well made. Is it an avant-garde art?」
Stuffed toys connected as if they were combined robots.
The bear used as a foot part was probably a bearion. The shark stuffed animal placed on the head part is a clever touch.
When the stuffed animals were shipped out, they surely never imagined that they would suffer such a misfortune. Why do children always come up with games that do not conform to the specifications designed by adults?
「Now now, Samecchi. We’re in the middle of an important strategy meeting right now.」
「But this is about the same size as Samecchi, ssuyo.」
One word from Samecchi sent a wicked spark of inspiration through Rintaro’s brain.
「………………I see……!」
While everyone there looked on with smiles, Rintaro quickly turned his attention to Tagaraak. Perhaps coming to the same conclusion, the young blonde girl’s eyes widened and her little shoulders shook with a shudder.
「Th- Th- Th- That’s……」
「Is Kurara-chan also surprised at the quality of Stuffed Toyman, ssuka? Samecchi is embarrassed, ssune, but Samecchi might have some talent for arts, ssu.」
Tagaraak shouted as she pointed at the “Stuffed Toyman” an avant-garde art piece created by Samecchi.
「That’s it, jaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!」
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