144: The Pinnacle of Heroes
「Uwooooooh! Victor Red Phoenix Form!!」
「Oh my, You can even fly? ‘ere, how ‘bout this, ‘One Hit’」
「Don’t underestimate me and my Burning Heat Glove!!」
Retto responded to Hinosmera’s powerful and matchless flame attack with his red fist.
Twice, Thrice, the black and red flames collided and canceled each other out. Each time, a high-temperature heat wave shook the city of Tokyo.
「Unbelievable… To be able to compete against that monster on his own…!」
「Look closely, rookie, that’s the one called the pinnacle of heroes.」
As if a chariot suddenly appeared in a primitive battle of throwing stones at each other. It was a battle of such a different dimension that the surrounding heroes could not even get close.
Pipipipopopopi.
Commander Asaka’s voice echoed from Retto’s Victory Transformation Gear.
『According to the Information Analysis Office, it has been suggested that the subject may be a hybrid of the Purgatory Mysterious being Hinosmera and the Fanged Shark Mysterious being Samegaro.』
「As expected! Please don’t worry, Asaka-san! I will definitely “protect” Saya-chan (Imouto-san)!」
『……Kurenai-san is the only one I can rely on. Thank you in advance.』
Retto cheerfully replied, “Yes!” to his superior, who was a little less articulate than usual.
Then, like a passionate teacher, he held his arms side open and defenseless.
「Now come, I’ll hug you gently! Jump into my cheeeest!」
「………………………………Eh?」
A peculiar atmosphere appeared between the two, as if wondering, what had all the fighting up to this point been about. Hinosmera, the party involved, was at a loss for words when she saw Retto suddenly relaxed his fighting spirit.
「What’s wrong! If you’re lonely, just say it out loud!」
「What’s wit’ this guy? Ehh…… What?」
Victor Red sprinkled his conditional love as if it’s salt in the sumo ring, towards his enemy.
Seeing that appearance, not only Hinosmera, but groans also came from the heroes around him.
「Is that…… The pinnacle of heros? Hey?」
「U- Un? He must have some kind of plan…… -It must be so. I have no idea what it is though.」
「Come on, don’t be afraid! You can call me “Onii-chan”！」
He was naturally treated as an eccentric and oddball not only by the Kanto heroes, but also by the dispatched group, of course this was done with a purpose.
At Hero Headquarters, Director Kazami had already decided to “dispose” of the Hinosmera. In other words, it was an order for immediate eradication under the pretext of suppressing violent resistance and making capture difficult.
Now that the General Staff Headquarters was not functioning, it was the temporary headquarters that issued instructions to the heroes. Those dispatched from local areas who nominally report directly to the chief have no choice but to follow orders from the headquarters.
However, only the officer in charge of the area is allowed act according to their own discretion. In other words, in the current Hero Headquarters, Kurenai Retto was the only one who could protect Samecchi without risking his life.
『Kurenai-san, the target has stopped moving, keep it up.』
「Look, it’s candy! I’ll also bake you some delicious pancakes!」
『Now is the time, please wrap it up.』
「Hohohooiii! Let’s dance together, Saya-chwaaan! It’s fuuun!」
Even Hinosmera was puzzled by the sight of Retto, who was closing the distance between them while shaking his hips vigorously in the style of a samba.
In a sense, Retto’s strategy of first discouraging the opponent’s will to fight in order to protect her safely was working. The opponent’s level of vigilance however turned much higher than before.
「The hell is this……!? During the 10 years I was asleep, what happened t’ the Hero Headquarters……!?」
「Yay! Everybody, put your hands up!」
「Pucho en…… The heck is that……? Kuh, ‘sit a new kind of spell……!?」
At that moment, a drop of water trickled down Hinosmera’s cheek. She hurriedly to looked up at the sky, and suddenly raindrops began to fall from the dark sky at dawn.
「Tch…… ‘tis raining, time t’ restart……!」
Hinosmera twisted her face in obvious discomfort and clicked her tongue briefly, then ran off, leaving behind Retto, who was dancing with all his heart. What was left behind was the “top hero” who continued to dance comically while being hit by the cold rain.
「It’s so fuun-…… Huh!? Asaka-san I am sorry, she managed to escape!」
『If the target is away from the defense line, it is sufficient as an achievement. Saya-, please continue to track down the subject of your protection.』
「Understood! Burning Heat Daaaaaaaash!!」
Retto chased after the Purgatory Mysterious being Hinosmera through the light rain, running through the streets of Tokyo, drawing trails of flame with his red boots.
The heroes from the provinces defending the defense line stared dumbfounded at his back.
「Amazing, he managed to fight off that mysterious being without firing a single shot…」
「That is…… The team leader belonging to the Tokyo Headquarters…… the top of the 50,000 heroes nationwide……」
「Gusu, I’m ashamed of myself for being so proud in my hometown……」
Regardless of their actions, the heroes’ passionate hearts were shaken by his achievement of defeating Hinosmera, the Purgatory Mysterious being, which no one else had been able to accomplish.
No, if this does not inspire them, they are not heroes. They were born as warriors and continued to fight as warriors, they raised their fists into the cloudy sky and let out a battle cry.
「Did everyone see that! Victor Red put his body on the line and showed us the way!」
「Yeah, anyone who doesn’t stand up right now is not a hero!」
「Retreating into your shell, What exactly is an ally of justice!」
「All personnels, follow Victor Red-san!!」
A group of 500 heroes who were on assignment to build a defense line. Because they were gathered from the countryside, their ability to work together was poor, their hearts now united. Everyone climbed over the barricade and ran after Victor Redd.
In response to this abnormal situation, an emergency call comes in from the commander of the temporary headquarters.
『Hey, you guys! What are you doing? Get back to your posts now!』
「Thanks to Victor Red-san’s stalling, the evacuation of the residents is complete. I propose that now is the time to raise the line of defense and tighten the mysterious being encirclement!」
『Deciding on your own…… Bastard, you are new aren’t you!? Answer me, whose decision is this!?』
「It’s a decision from all of us.」
The commander was indignant at these words. He, too, was entrusted as the brains of the Hero Headquarters, albeit a temporary command post.
『You……! Just a local rookie……! Don’t think you can get away with just a pay cut！』
When the rookie tried to say something back, a large hand held him back. The large man opens a communication line on behalf of the rookie.
「With all due respect, Commander, it is our frontline personnel who are physically confronting with these vicious mysterious beings putting our body on the line. I guess it’s inevitable that your judgment will be clouded if you’re in a warm, air-conditioned headquarters.」
『Y- You, What are you planning to do!』
「Foot Soldier Red, Leader of the Foot Soldier Sentai Zohyouger, belonging to Hyogo Himeji Branch! All members will now advance!」
As if in response to the Foot Soldier Red, there are calls for names in various places.
「Belonging to Kyoto branch, Nenbutsu Sentai Nanmaider, will as well!」
「Belonging to Minami Okayama branch, Momotaro Sentai Momo Five, same as the one on the right!」
「Belonging to Nishi-Kanagawa branch, Goshiki Sentai Jiki Hachiman, strongly agrees!」
『You guys…… Y- Y- Y- Y- You guys…… Bukubukubuku.』
A crashing sound was heard on the heroes’ communication terminals, and the faint voice of Chief Kazami running up to someone echoed in the distance, asking, “Are you okay?”. It seems that the commander of the temporary headquarters finally collapsed due to the rebellion caused by Victor Red’s activities.
While everyone silently cut the communication line, the rookie bowed his head to the large man, Foot Soldier Red.
「I’m sorry, Because I caused a commotion… All of you…」
「Oi, rookie!」
「Hie……!」
A large hand grabbed the rookie’s head. The rookie braces himself for a beating.
Contrary to the rookie’s expectations, however, Foot Soldier Red roughly patted the rookie’s head through his helmet.
「Well done, rookie! That’s what makes a warrior!」
It was messy, but what was there was respect for a fellow warrior. The rookie saluted, tears streaming down his face behind his goggles.
「…………Yes!」
「Now let’s move forward and hunt down the Purgatory Mysterious being, Hinosmera!」
「Yes!!!」
Heroes from different provinces, born and raised in different places. But what they must protect is one peace. There was no veteran nor rookie.
…………
「「「「「Everybody! Put your hands up!!」」」」」
Many heroes parade through the ruined early morning Ginza, dancing to the rhythm of samba. Giant robots, some 60 meters tall, dexterously beat out the rhythm in time with them. Veterans and rookies alike, everyone was shaking their hips with single-minded devotion.
It was like a dirty Rio Carnival or a crazy Awa Odori dance.
「「「「「Hinosmera-chwaaaan! Come on out!!」」」」」
「They’re mulplyin’……! What is this……, Sum’ kinda new Hero Headquarters’ strategy……!?」
The rain-soaked Hinosmera were frightened by the bizarre sight as she hid in the shadows. Perhaps even hero-loving children would be frightened if they see this.
「If I get any wetter, I won’t be able t’ maintain the possession…… I’ll hav’ to retreat to the basement for now……」
Hinosmera ran into the sealed underground passage, holding her wet and cold body.
There are several subways in the Ginza area, and the underground passageways are like a spider’s web. Once a person enters the area, it is extremely difficult to search for them.
Hinosmera thought it would at least give her enough time to dry her clothes, if not until the rain stopped.
However…
「Ah……!」
As she ran into an empty subway station, the haze surrounding her body flickered. Her legs became tangled and her body was thrown onto the cold tiles.
「……’tis bad…… I got too wet as expected……」
Her entire body was enveloped in a black, weak flame, and in a flash, she shrank in stature. After only a few seconds, the original Hinosmera was no longer there.
「Nyuu…… Huh!? Where is this, ssuka!?」
The girl in her pajamas looked around in deep curiosity.
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