About 300 km south of Tokyo Bay, off the coast of Hachijojima.

That “village” was located on the misty sea. Structures of exposed steel and concrete stood on jumbled pillars growing out of the water.

This is an offshore platform that was built over twenty years ago under the pretext of marine resource surveys.

This location had long since ceased to be used for its intended purpose and is now an experimental facility owned by the National Public Safety Commission.

–The marine mysterious being containment facility, commonly known as “The Village”–

This is a dystopia designed to have mysterious beings—who would normally be targeted for extermination—lead a simulated social life. The aim is to return the benefits gained from these mysterious beings to human society, while also improving the status of mysterious beings and protecting their ‘mysterious being rights’.

At least, that’s what it appears to be on the surface.

…………

A bright red, high-speed helicopter descended onto the heliport set up at the top of the platform. It belongs to the Vertical Take-off and Landing Sentai Apache Five based in Haneda.

Their helicopters are used not only for aerial combat against the mysterious beings, but also for transporting VIPs.

「It’s windy so please be careful Asaka-san!」

「No problem.」

The man who opened the sliding door and got out was wearing a bright red short-sleeved shirt and three-quarter length trousers, not exactly what you’d expect from a VIP. In stark contrast to him was a career woman wearing a neatly tied tie.

The man is Kurenai Retto, Acting Director of the Hero Headquareters. And the woman is Samejima Asaka, Chief of the same HQ’s Operations Staff.

「Oaaa?! Because of the sudden gust of wind my Victory Transform Gear!!」

Asaka exchanged words with the staff member who had come to greet them, while Retto chase after the transformation gear rolling around on the heliport.

「For the chief herself to take the trouble to visit the site, we thank you for your time and effort. Umm……」

「Is there something wrong?」

「……Well, I hadn’t heard that the Director would also be there.」

The elderly employee shot him a quick glance with a bitter, polite smile. Up ahead, Retto was clinging to the edge of the heliport, looking as if he was about to fall at any moment.

「Hiiiiiiii I’m falliiiiiing! Help meeeee Asaka-san!」

Asaka let out a small sigh and turned to the staff.

「We’ll make sure to address the lack of prior notice and issue instructions to avoid it in the future.」

「No no, not at all. It’s just that, Umm, he is a bit of an oddball… Um… is it okay if you don’t help him?」

「Please don’t worry about him. Anyway, please show me around.」

「Eeeh……」

Wondering if it was a good idea, the employee went ahead as Asaka urged him on. In the end, Retto managed to climb up the edge of the heliport on his own, and sprinted up to catch up with Asaka and the others.

「Man, that was quite a nail-biting pinch, Asaka-san!」

「Is that so.」

「By the way, what is this place? What kind of facility is it?」

「Did you follow me without knowing that?」

As Retto walked around, touching the walls and pipes with interest, Asaka gave him a brief explanation of the “village.”

「In other words, this is a facility under the supervision of the Hero Headquarters where mysterious beings can live together without their lives being threatened as mysterious beings.」

「I see! If it’s here, then Asaka-san can live with Saya-chan! Let’s make up, right now!」

Asaka’s eyebrows twitched at the mention of her sister’s name. Asaka, who had threatened Death Green in a torture-like manner in the previous incident, was currently in the midst of a heated argument with her younger sister Saya… Samecchi.

Lately, Retto had been bringing up this topic every time they met.

「”Village” is a national initiative. It has nothing to do with personal matters.」

「Seriously, why are you being so stubborn?! Even if it’s a national plan, there’s no rule that says you can’t get along with your family, right?」

「Is that what you want to say by following me?」

Asaka stopped in her tracks and glared at Retto, not hiding her displeasure. However, Retto, as if he had nothing to do with the situation, continued to talk, holding Asaka’s hand with both of his own.

「That’s right! Fighting is not good, you two are family after all! Right!」

「Kurenai-san. As I said before, when a mysterious being awakens, their human family register is erased. Legally, Samegaro and I are not sisters or anything.」

「Geeeeeeez! Asaka-san is so stubborn! A sisters’ quarrel has nothing to do with family registers or the law!」

「U- Umm… I’m very sorry to bother you while you’re busy, but may I continue guiding you…?」

「「No!!」」

The staff member who called out to them timidly let out a small shriek at the volume of their voices. It was a shame to have to watch a lovers’ quarrel under the guise of an inspection, especially since the other party were high-ranking members of the organization.

Seeing the staff member’s reaction, Asaka shook off Retto’s hand and cleared her throat.

「……Apologies. Please don’t worry about us and continue.」

「Ye- Yess……」

Before long, the group had reached the end of the hallway, in front of a large door. The staff member, still jittery, unlocked the door.

Inside the room, multiple monitors covered one entire wall. However, they didn’t show anything inside the village, only vital charts and a floor plan of the facility.

「Are these red dots the mysterious beings?」

「Well, yes. These are mysterious beings that have been transferred here over the past few years. There are about 120 of them living together, and we monitor them in this room. That’s how we implant chips into each one, so if they escape, we’ll know right away.」

The staff member was busily wiping the sweat from his brow as he explained things in a trembling voice.

The Acting Director and the Chief of Staff he was dealing with were the two top brass at Hero Headquarters. It would be impossible not to feel nervous in front of these two.

Asaka asked in as gentle a tone as possible so as not to make the staff any more nervous.

「Are there any problems with the sanitation?」

「Y- Yes yes. Of course, the subjects are perfectly healthy. Their dissatisfaction is kept within the normal range. Some individuals do become a little unwell, but this is due to the stress of being in a closed space. There are no problems if they are given anti-depressants.」

「Though two cases of mysterious being deaths have been reported in the last month.」

「Well, mysterious beings are living beings too. They can die from accidents or illness. Maybe from a small argument. Either way, statistically it’s just a coincidence.」

Asaka flipped through the documents she had been given. It seemed like there was no lie in what the official had said.

「Can I talk to the mysterious beings in person?」

「N- N- No way! This isn’t a petting zoo! It’s strictly forbidden for anyone other than the authorities to come into contact with the mysterious beings.」

「Is that so.」

「Umm…… By the way, where is your companion……?」

When Asaka turned around, she saw that Retto, who should have been behind her a moment ago, had suddenly disappeared.

…………

At that time, Retto was wandering aimlessly through the sprawling facility.

「Umu! Where is this place! I don’t know!」

Unable to understand the staff’s lengthy explanation, Retto sneaked out of the monitor room and looked around the village by himself. The village, which has been renovated many times on an aging offshore platform, is truly a three-dimensional labyrinth made of steel.

It didn’t take long to lose sight of the way he came from.

「However, Asaka-san said that this was a facility for housing mysterious beings, but it’s surprisingly quiet inside. I wonder if it’s well soundproofed? It’s not a bad place to live with your family, un.」

Muttering loudly to himself, Retto made his way down the unfamiliar corridor.

Soon, a much more secure iron door than the one in the monitor room appeared before Retto. Ominously, there were huge Gatling guns installed on both sides of the door.

「Uoooh! What’s this big door? Is this the exit?」

When Retto touched the door, the lamp above the door lit up red and an electronic voice began to play from the speaker.

『Warning. This is a restricted area. Entry is prohibited for anyone other than the director and the relevant personnel.』

「I’m the Director! Acting… or something was attached though!」

『Checking vital signs… Checking completed. We have confirmed that you are the Acting Director Kurenai Retto. Do you want to unlock the door?』

「Un, do it!」

Bii! Bii! Bii!

The giant iron gates slid open, emitting a shrill warning sound. A gust of cold air blew through the gaping, pitch black space, caressing Retto’s cheek.

「Hmm. It doesn’t really look like an exit… but oh well! If I keep walking I’ll eventually get out!」

Undeterred by the eerie atmosphere, Retto continued to walk enthusiasticly.

Once he was inside, the door slammed shut again with a heavy thud.

---

<216: Bath Shark: Relaxation is Not Allowed (2021)
218: Don’t Go Into That Village>