218: Don’t Go Into That Village
The huge iron door slammed shut behind Retto with a heavy thud.
At the same time, the light was turned on in the cold, dim space. The inorganic motion sensor light illuminated the iron bars that covered one entire wall. The cages, rusted in places, were lined up on each floor, stretching all the way up to the high ceiling.
It was just like the American prisons you often see in documentaries and reenactments.
「What is this plaaaaaaaace!!」
Retto’s unnecessarily loud voice reverberated throughout the large concrete space. For a detention facility built to be a paradise for mysterious beings… the atmosphere was quite ominous, and Retto was stunned, his mouth hanging open.
Suddenly, a voice called out from inside the cage.
「……Oi, Omei-san(you).」
Judging from the voice, it seemed to be a man, but his face was hard to see. The man was wearing a rag pulled completely over his head like a hood, as if he was hiding from something.
「”Omei-san”, do you mean me?」
「Aah, Yeah. You Shin’iri-san(newcomer) here？」
As the man said this, he removed the rag and revealed his face. He looked like an ordinary looking young man, but what was surprising was that he had a horn growing out of his head, curled like a shell.
Horns are something that humans would never grow, so there’s no hiding the fact that he’s a mysterious being.
What Retto was more curious about was about what on earth he was hiding from.
When Retto looked around carefully, he saw figures that looked similar to the man in every cage.
Could they be the mysterious beings being housed in the village? However, it didn’t look like they live there.
「I’m not “Omei-san” or “Shin’iri-san”! Nice to meet you, I’m Retto! Please tell me your name.」
「Shh, don’t speak too loudly. …This way, come in.」
「Sorry for bothering you!!!」
「Um…… please be a little quieter.」
Urged by the man with the horns, Retto stepped into the cage.
It was a solitary confinement cell, with just one shabby bed and an exposed toilet. It’s hard to say that the living conditions here are good enough to be called a village, even as a compliment.
After the man confirmed that Retto had entered, he slowly locked the door from the inside, careful not to make any noise.
「Why is there a lock on the inside?」
「……Well, Omei-san. It’s because this here is “outside of the cage”.」
Not understanding the meaning of the words, Retto was about to ask about it when…
『Kyururururuooooooooooon! ! ! ! !』
The heavy, cold air of the closed space rumbled.
After the reverberations subsided like waves, Retto finally realized that it was the “cries” of a living creature.
It was more of a noise than a voice.
The best way to describe it was as if a large truck traveling at several hundred kilometers per hour had slammed on the brakes. It was a mass of sound that stirred anxiety and impatience in all who heard it, and left an intense feeling of discomfort in their chests.
「”Haru-sama” has arrived… Shin’iri-san, I won’t say anything bad. If you value your life, stay quiet and hold your breath.」
「Ah I get it! I just need to stay quiet and keep my presence low!!」
「Hey Omei-san, were you listening?」
Thud, thud. The sound of something huge walking towards them could be heard from the back of the wide corridor lined with countless cells.
The sound gradually got louder and louder, finally shaking the bare concrete floor.
「Uwooooooooh! What is this guy?! Is this guy “Haru-sama”?!」
「I am begging so, please be quieeeet!」
The huge body, which must be more than ten meters long, stopped in front of the prison where Retto’s group were.
『Kyururururuoooooo ……』
Retto’s eyes met with “Haru-sama.”
………………
…………
……
Meanwhile, there was a bit of a commotion in the monitoring room.
「Is the Acting Director Kurenai not here?」
「Yeah, that, we can’t find him anywhere… maybe he fell into the ocean.」
「No way……」
Samejima Asaka couldn’t believe her ears when she heard the village official’s report.
The image of Retto nearly falling off the heliport immediately after arriving flashed through Asaka’s mind. The story that he had fallen into the ocean wasn’t entirely unlikely.
Asaka let out a big sigh and, pressing her fingers against her temples, gave instructions to the staff.
「Please immediately request the dispatch of a maritime rescue team. Command of the maritime search will be left to the Seafood Sentai Dancurious. A person may have gotten lost within the facility, so please contact the security officer.」
「Y- Yes……! Right away!」
「Is it possible that he had entered the sealed off section of the village?」
「I don’t think that’s the case, yes. After all, the security gates can’t be opened or closed by anyone other than the people involved.」
The panicked staff member nearly dropped his smartphone several times.
The staff member and head of the village is a timid-looking middle-aged man. You can’t expect much from him in terms of being able to deal with such an irregular situation.
Asaka stared at the flat map on the monitor with a grim expression. As usual, the mysterious beings’ location was only displayed as red dots, and it didn’t seem like she could get any more information than that.
However.
「…………That is?」
Asaka asked the staff member, pointing at the monitor.
At first the staff member didn’t understand the question and answered carelessly.
「Ah, yes. Mysterious beings? Well, it’s true that they don’t move around much. They aren’t the type to move around much, so yeah. It’s always been like this.」
「No, I’m asking for the number.」
When the staff member heard the word “number,” cold sweat was clearly dripping down his face.
「According to the report, the total number of mysterious beings currently housed is 78, excluding those who died after containment. However, the reaction displayed on the monitor is 69. The numbers don’t match.」
「I- I- I- I- It’s probably just a calculation error. Or maybe the machine is broken…」
「No need to make excuses. Please take me to the village right now. I’ll see it for myself.」
「In the first place, biometric authentication is required to unlock the door, and only those involved can enter…」
The stubborn hesitant employee was lifted up by the collar with the force of a hydraulic excavator. Asaka’s eyes sharpened behind her glasses as she spoke in a matter-of-fact tone as she threatened the employee.
「If it’s the key, then I have it. Right here.」
「That’s…that’s ridiculous…!」
It was then.
The entire offshore platform, including the village, shook violently along with an explosive noise.
………………
…………
……
Deep underground in Shinagawa Tagaden Tower, in the Ark Dominion secret base, the Generals and several other executives were gathered in the Dark Assembly Hall.
Even so, the emergency call had only occurred a few minutes ago.
The members included Commander-in-Chief Dragius III. From the Hundred Beasts Legion, there’s General Bearion and his right-hand, Colonel Usanyi-chan.
From the Heinous Legion, there was only Rintaro and Samecchi present. It was an unusually small executive meeting.
General Tagaraak had been busy cleaning up the aftermath of the attack on Rintaro in Makuhari, which disabled all of the Machinery Army’s main forces. The reason for General Zazoma’s absence was unknown, but he certainly doesn’t seem to be very good at emergency scrambles like this.
「Dear old Dragius, I have to go back to patrol the North Kanto branch soon. I have to take control of Gunma and Tochigi quickly. I can’t let that nasty bug guy get any further than he already is.」
「Fuhahaha! Well, don’t say that, Bearion. This time, there’s no way you won’t be on a business trip.」
「……Aaan?」
『About that, I will explain, noja.』
A girl’s voice came out of nowhere, and then the face of an unusually serious blonde girl appeared on the monitor set up in the Dark Assembly Hall.
Viewed through the monitor, Machinery General Tagaraak looked a little tired, despite her mechanical body. The distant view of Tokyo Bay could be seen in the background, perhaps indicating that she was broadcasting remotely from Makuhari.
「Hey, Tagaraak. If it’s boring, I am not gonna accept it.」
『What is it, jai, a mere Bear-boy being so conceited, jano. Even though I went to the trouble of delivering the latest news to you. Fuhn! Fine then, mon ne! I’m not going to tell you anything anymore, mon ne!』
「That’s enough from you two. You guys really. You should learn a little from Rintaro. He was suddenly called in and didn’t even complain… Rintaro, what’s with the sticky stuff on you?」
「Please don’t mind me and continue.」
Rintaro had only just been rescued from Samecchi’s mouth.
Urged by the saliva-covered Rintaro, Tagaraak cleared her throat softly. The image on the monitor immediately switched to a map of the seas near Tokyo.
『There was just an explosion at the abandoned marine resource research platform off the coast of Hachijojima, noja.』
「……An accident? It isn’t even in operation?」
『That’s the thing. You know, I’m cute but also smart, jaro? So I got curious and did a little analysis on the satellite photos, jaga. It seems that this facility is now owned by the Hero Headquarters. I personally think I have a good sense of intuition, no.』
The photo displayed on the monitor was grainy, but it was enough to make a judgment. Although it was hidden by the black smoke, parked on the heliport was undoubtedly a high-speed helicopter owned by Hero Headquarters.
「What does it matter? Whatever the heroes do on the sea, it’s none of our business, right?」
『You idiot! You stupid teddy bear! You muscle mysterious being! If I’m not mistaken, this is the mysterious being detention facility you’ve been searching for all these years, ja.』
「Whaat!?」
『Bearion, you said a long time ago that there was someone you were looking for, jaro. What was it, kano… Haru… Haru…』
Rintaro, who had been listening in silence to the conversation between the two executives, felt a complete change in the atmosphere inside the assembly hall. Rage, remorse, hatred – a murderous intent so strong it would burn you to ashes just by approaching – erupted uncontrollably from Bearion’s entire body.
「It’s Haruka, damn it……」
「……………………」
At the name, the large bunny ears of Colonel Usanyi-chan, who had been standing next to Bearion with her eyes closed the whole time, twitched. Even Rintaro, who had only recently learned of the situation, could tell that someone named “Haruka” was not exactly a person Colonel Usanyi-chan would welcome.
A woman whom Bearion called genuine family. It’s clear that she is the closest to being number two in the Hundred Beasts Legion.
Besides… she may be trying to hide it but.
Colonel Usanyi-chan, probably towards General Bearion…
「Gentlemen, it is as you have heard. We are now going to launch a raid on the mysterious being detention facility “Village”! Our goal is to completely destroy the facility, and rescue our fellow mysterious beings who are being held captive!」
The Dark Old Man’s stern speech echoed through the Dark Assembly Hall.
Each one with their own feelings in their hearts.
The evil secret society had announced its intention to attack the village.
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