Chapter 31: Envoy of the Japanese government

After defeating the Fang Boar, Masaya left in haste. He returned to the detective agency, took a shower, and lay down on the bed, thinking that the turmoil had finally come to an end.

However, life wasn’t so forgiving. The security cameras had recorded Masaya’s battle against the Fang Boar. The police analyzed the footage, managed to track down his address, and paid him a visit.

Two detectives arrived at the detective agency and showed their police badges to Fuyuhiko.

“We’ve come to speak with Masaya Hijiritani,”

Fuyuhiko turned his gaze toward Masaya and asked, “Senpai, what have you done? Did you molest someone?”

“What’s that supposed to mean? Do I look like someone who would engage in sexual harassment?” Masaya replied.

“Well… but, you know, everyone can have impulsive moments or be influenced by some kind of evil thoughts,” Fuyuhiko said.

“Tch, we’ll discuss this thoroughly later,” Masaya said.

Masaya then turned to the detectives and asked, “So, Sir Detectives, what may I help you with?”

Masaya was informed that there was someone the detectives wanted him to meet, so he accompanied them. They took him to a branch of the Dreamer Guild.

It became clear that Masaya’s identity as a Cool Dreamer had been exposed. The person the detectives wanted him to meet seemed to be in charge of a department within the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, which was created to support the establishment and operation of the guild.

“I’m Kurobe from the Special Talent Application Division,”

Kurobe was a person in his early forties who appeared a bit fatigued.

“Hijiritani-san, could you please take a look at this?” Kurobe asked.

Kurobe showed him footage of the battle between Fang Boar and Masaya.

“We understand that you defeated this boar. The issue at hand is how you managed to do it with a plastic broom,” Kurobe explained.

“Isn’t it possible that the bullets fired by the police officer had an effect?” Masaya suggested.

“I wouldn’t say that possibility is completely nonexistent, but based on the video, it seems highly unlikely,”

Kurobe directed a sharp gaze at Masaya and calmly delivered his message.

“It seems that you are acquainted with Kanbara-san, who is involved in the study of magic essence crystals. After conducting various investigations, we have concluded that you are a Cool Dreamer and a True Name User.”

Masaya felt a sinking feeling as the situation took an unpleasant turn. At that moment, he recalled Professor Kanabar’s words, urging him to remain composed in such circumstances.

“That’s right. I am a Cool Dreamer. What about it?” Masaya replied.

“Why haven’t you registered with the guild?”

“Registration is not mandatory, right?”

“No, it’s not mandatory. However, the government wishes to be aware of the existence of Cool Dreamers. We request your cooperation,” Kurobe explained.

“There’s no benefit in going against the government’s policy. I will register with the guild. However, I won’t participate in any human experimentation or questionable investigations,” Masaya asserted.

Rumors had been circulating that registering with the guild would entail being subjected to in-depth bodily examinations at the cellular level under the guise of investigations, as well as being involved in prolonged studies of True Name abilities.

“Thank you for your cooperation. By the way, what kind of True Name do you possess?” Kurobe asked.

“Getting straight to the point, I see,”

“Beating around the bush would be a waste of time,”

“It’s ‘Ultrasonic wave’,” Masaya answered.

Kurobe tilted his head in confusion.

“Ultrasonic wave’… There are other True Name Users who possess this exact True Name. However, I wasn’t aware that it could be used as a weapon.”

“It depends on how it’s utilized. The know-how is a secret,” Masaya replied.

“I see. What about your other True Names?”

“I only have that one you obtain after defeating slimes,”

Kurobe stared intently into Masaya’s eyes.

“Kurobe-san… Even if you stare like that, love won’t blossom between us,” Masaya said.

The fatigued government official chuckled softly in response to those words.

“You’re quite a character. By the way, why did the boar you defeated disappear?”

“I don’t know. But I’m aware of other entities that vanish in a similar manner,”

“Oh, may I ask about them?” Kurobe inquired.

“They are monsters in the labyrinth,”

Kurobe frowned, but he didn’t appear overly surprised. He must have expected this type of answer to some extent.

“Do you know what kind of creature that thing was?” Kurobe asked.

“I’ve only read about them in some books, but I believe it was a Fang Boar.”

“How did such a monster appear in Japan? Do you know?”

“No, I don’t know.”

“Even a speculation would suffice.”

“Well, in the realm of True names, there exists a summoning type. It’s possible that there is a True name user with the True Name ‘Summon (Fang Boar)’.”

Kurobe pondered with a serious expression. While he was lost in thought, a person resembling a guild clerk approached and completed the registration.

“Hijiritani-san, would you be willing to cooperate as an advisor in case incidents caused by True Name users occur in the future?”

Masaya pondered for a moment before speaking.

“I am a private investigator, so I can take on that responsibility as part of my work.”

In other words, he was subtly implying that he didn’t want to do it for free.

“That’s acceptable.”

Just like that, and unbeknownst to them, the Japanese government secured a reliable True Name user as an advisor.

The following day, another Fang Boar appeared in a different city. This Fang Boar, standing in front of the train station, seemed to be a huge one, weighing around 100 kilograms.

The people who were heading towards the station were taken aback by the sight of the Fang Boar.

“What is that?”

“It’s a boar… but it’s huge!”

The people were oblivious to how dangerous the Fang Boar truly was. They cautiously encircled it, waiting to see what would happen, almost as if they were waiting for an entertaining show on TV.

Among the onlookers, a group of high school students were even conversing and laughing among themselves.

“Where did that boar come from?”

“The mountains where boars usually reside are several kilometers away.”

“Maybe it escaped while being transported to the zoo.”

Perhaps someone had reported it to the station staff, as two station attendants descended from the station building.

“It’s indeed a boar. We should contact the police,”

The station attendant warned everyone to keep their distance from the boar. However, there was someone who ignored the warning. One of the high school students threw an empty soda can at the Fang Boar.

The can struck the boar’s head, causing it to snort heavily and glare at the student.

“Hey, come on, don’t get serious.”

The onlookers around the place became convinced that the high school student was retarded.

The Fang Boar sprinted towards the high school student, without letting him go out of its sights. The student remained frozen in his place and his face was filled with astonishment.

“Hey, run away!”

One of the station attendants shouted at the top of his lungs. People around the high school student began fleeing in panic. And right then, the fangs of the Fang Boar pierced through the motionless student’s abdomen, causing blood to splatter.

“Eeek… h-help me…”

The high school student dropped to his knees on the road. The fangs of the Fang Boar dug into his neck, causing blood to gush out profusely. At that gruesome sight, the onlookers let out screams of horror.

The Fang Boar tore into the fallen high school student’s abdomen on the road, tearing through his clothes and devouring his flesh.

“Station attendants, do something!”

“It’s impossible. Where are the police?”

Witnessing the horrifying scene, numerous individuals felt sickened and nauseated. At that moment, the Fang Boar underwent a transformation. Its breathing became rapid, and its entire body trembled with convulsions.

Hard scales emerged on the creature’s back, which was covered in short, coarse hair. The monster that had just consumed human flesh had evolved. It was the evolution from the Fang Boar to a superior species known as the Armored Boar.

A man who had been observing the situation from a mixed-use building next to the station building clicked his tongue.

“Well, well, this is unexpected beyond imagination.”

At that moment, a patrol car and a TV broadcasting van arrived simultaneously. A police officer stepped forward in front of the Armored Boar, holding a handgun.

“You have permission to use firearms. Show no mercy.”

“Yes, sir.”

The police officer took aim at the Armored Boar and fired. The bullets struck its massive scales before bouncing off.

“What?”

The officer, startled by the ineffectiveness of his gunshots, stepped back and fired a second and third shot. Once again, the bullets bounced off. Sweat dripped from the man’s forehead.

The director in the broadcasting van spoke to the cameraman,

“Hey, did you capture that properly just now?”

“Absolutely.”

“Good, zoom in on that monster.”