Chapter 337 – Volume 68 – Fear of the Unknown (2)
Basically, I would find a way to deal with the ‘demon’ right now.
After that, it’s time to get ready to fight…
Fortunately, I was able to think about it more slowly now.
“Thanks to Rika…”
Honestly, the existence of a ‘hero’ who could stop all enemies alone was great.
As long as Rika fights on humanity’s side, all of this type of demon can be dealt with.
… The real problem will be the next demon that Rika cannot handle.
“This isn’t some kind of hunter movie…”
In Korea, a genre called hunter fiction was popular.
Hunter fiction is a modern fantasy genre in which a person with special abilities handles a dungeon that appears in reality.
The basic setting was that ordinary human firearms did not work, so hunters had to solve the problem.
Because of that setup, if there are no hunters, the existing civilization will never be able to resist.
So, those who awaken this ability are treated accordingly and fight for their lives.
It can be seen that the situation in this world is that it has to be repeated infinitely every short period of time.
“If it’s a little different…”
It is an environment in which awakened people do not appear naturally.
Because of that, ‘Kirishimashi’, including his father, tried to create a human experiment weapon to replace the power of ‘Hunter’.
In fact, we have stopped the enemies in that way.
Of course, once I found out about it, I couldn’t just leave it as is.
Preventing something from going wrong ultimately requires finding a way to replace it.
If you can’t do it, you’re no different from a child throwing a tantrum.
So, I tried to find an alternative by thinking about it together.
Distributing information to everyone and thinking about preparing a response system related to this, like in the past coalition war.
Even if the peaceful atmosphere was broken, I thought it was something that everyone had to deal with together.
“But, if it goes as expected…”
As expected this time, if these demons are monsters born from people’s ‘imagination’.
Rather, the moment that imagination becomes reality, enemies stronger than those previously dealt with may appear.
Changes to the existing plan seemed necessary.
“It is true that this is a problem that the entire empire must deal with together.”
In fact, it is not easy to release this information as it is because it has negative effects.
In that case, everyone must deal with the threat together without releasing the information.
… Is such a dream-like thing even possible?
“Ha, I hate to admit it, but I understand why the existing response method has held up so far.”
In the end, this situation was not known for a long time due to existing response methods.
Because of that, most people lived with a sense of peace rather than fear.
In a way, it has become a form of weakening the demons.
Thanks to that, even without a proper hero, I was able to somehow control the situation and survive.
“But, since I’m here, there’s no problem right now.”
“That’s true. Still, we have to prepare for ‘next’.”
In the end, the only ones Rika can deal with are the demons in this episode.
Before the next demon comes, a new method must be prepared.
However, with the condition that people should not be aware of the fear of not being able to defeat all enemies.
“If that’s the case, isn’t it simple in a way?”
“Simple?”
The reason demons are dangerous now is that they are recognized as enemies that humanity can never solve.
What might even happen if such thoughts become stronger?
That’s why I can’t give a presentation…
Is there a way to offset these shortcomings?
“It would be dangerous if you only showed fear, but if you also gave them hope to overcome it…”
“Hope…”
In the end, if all of this is achieved through human thoughts.
By conveying the feeling of hope, the opposite of despair.
Opinion that it is possible to prevent despair from accumulating.
I thought about Rika’s opinion for a while.
I decided that it was definitely a story with potential.
Of course, it would be impossible in a normal form, but…
“Well, because we have a hero.”
Although it was an acquired birth and was created by one’s own will.
Even so, it is a certain fact that the only hope that can handle all these situations is the warrior.
Just by displaying that power from the front, Rika can reign as the hope of the empire.
“Then, it might be okay to report this situation.”
In a state where a hero named Rika was portrayed with hope.
Along with that, if you share the situation that requires preparation for the next hero.
I think I can proceed as I originally planned.
“In the end, thanks to Rika, I’m getting over the problem. I’m sorry.”
I came forward because I wanted to help Rika in my own way.
I actually feel like Rika is covering up the mistakes I made…
To be honest, I was shamed.
“I think it was thanks to my brother that I was able to become a hero.”
“… You think so highly of me.”
“I think everyone is great except my brother.”
… Of course, I know that what I do is not ordinary.
Still, I somehow manage to achieve results with ordinary skills.
I don’t think I’m a real genius.
“Hmm, it’s amazing. The senses are connected like this.”
Rika was still amazed by her own body, and she was playing around with the tentacle she had pulled out.
… When you tied me up earlier and said dangerous things, honestly, I felt a bit of scary pressure.
Since she was playing so innocently, she seemed like the Rika I knew, and I felt a little at ease.
“Take it easy, brother.”
“Comfortably?”
“There’s still time.”
“That’s right.”
Thinking about the story I heard from my father earlier.
For at least 30 years, Rika will be able to deal with her demons alone.
And even if a new demon appears after that, it doesn’t immediately wipe out the world…
‘Well, no matter how many monsters people have in their hearts. It won’t be so much that it will pour out indiscriminately.’
In a world as peaceful as it is now, such monsters are a delusion bordering on the fringe.
The concept itself is created from a very strong conviction, so it is difficult to respond to.
Since the absolute amount itself is small, it seems that it takes time for it to come together and form a complete form.
‘Well, it’s just a hypothesis.’
The situations we are currently aware of are all close to hypothetical predictions.
… But until another, more likely hypothesis emerges.
Basically, we should think and move this way.
“I’m telling you to take your time and think about it.”
“Yes, you will do it in the end.”
“… What are you talking about? I actually gave up on you.”
Rika shook her head at my words and put all the tentacles she was playing with just now.
He was embraced by me in the arms of an ordinary human.
It’s similar to when Rika ran towards me as a child.
Somewhere, I remembered a time when I was full of confidence in everything.
If it were me, I could protect Rika, and I would try anything, including swordsmanship.
… It was a really stupid idea.
“The person who gave up, risked his life to come to that dangerous place and try to save him?”
“…”
“If you really had given up, you wouldn’t have fought with your father.”
“That’s…”
However, at that time, it was right to give up and pursue another dream.
Of course, I don’t regret it, and if that situation actually comes up, I would make that choice again.
Still, it was clear that Rika was not a top priority for me.
“What’s wrong with that? I don’t really want to be her brother’s best.”
“Huh…?”
“My brother gave a little priority to his life over mine, but apart from that, he already devoted a long time to me.”
“Rika…”
“And he risked his life to fight for me. That’s enough for me. I think it’s too much love.”
That’s how I made you fall in love.
They say you can’t run away from the responsibility of being loved.
Rika started telling a strange story again.
“And in the end, it saved me from all those actions.”
“I wasn’t the one who saved Rika.”
“No, you saved me. Then I just saved you again.”
“Is that how it works?”
“Yes, just because I returned the favor doesn’t mean it goes away.”
And in the end, as a result of all conditions.
We had a good result, and Rika was able to be saved.
Even if she saved herself, it was because I created it.
An explanation that I clearly have a part in the result.
“Certainly, you could see it that way.”
“So, even if I don’t know what to do now…”
There will be an end in the end of everything.
If I did my best in the end, there would definitely be a good ending.
Rika was saying that.
“You like that kind of ending too, right? Even though it’s hard and difficult, you can be happy at the end…”
“That’s right.”
This is a setting I often use when drawing comics.
This is my personal favorite development and ending.
When I heard this story from Rika, I never thought I would receive her power.
“Well, if you think about it, there really is hope for Rika.”
“Huh?”
“Rika was able to become a hero even though she wasn’t one.”
In the end, Rika is not a weapon created through human experimentation.
It was a kind of evidence that it was sufficient to deal with those demons.
… If it is a phenomenon that we have already observed, it would not be completely impossible to reproduce it.
“And you have enough strength.”
“Power?”
“Yes. That’s what my brother does best.”
It’s what I do best…
I listened to Rika’s words and slowly remembered the things I had done.
After thinking about it for a while, Rika was able to understand the intention of her words.
“You’re telling me to do it my way.”
The message was to draw comics as usual and change the world with it.
