Volume 6 Chapter 74 Secret Agent Criminal
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
I was looking through the gun shop catalog when I arrived at Tokyo Station. Shinkansen trains really are amazing, aren’t they?
Fast, steady, and smooth. I’ve ridden one before, but after coming back from another world, I understand just how incredible—and dangerous—this giant machine really is.
I can’t forget how uncomfortable the carriages were in that other world’s horse-drawn carts. But even after riding the Shinkansen all day, I feel nothing but calm. It’s so cozy it barely feels like traveling.
I wonder how Ms. Nina and Tizzy would react if they got on it? If I could come and go as I please, I’d want to bring everyone along.
And the speed—wow. Traveling with my uncle felt slow, which makes me think cars are impressive too… at least compared to carriages.
Railways and cars—human technology on Earth is truly amazing. It’s not just the machines, but the social systems built on huge delivery networks. The other world was sloppy in that regard. If I put it nicely, it’s a slow life, made by giving up and putting up with a lot. I don’t want that.
I wonder if it’s possible to mix the best parts of both worlds. A rich but slow life—that’s what I want.
It sounds too easy, but aiming high isn’t bad, right? If I give up, I’ll never move forward.
Can cars replace carriages? They’d be super convenient if roads were better. Yeah, I’m working on improving infrastructure around here too.
If only train thefts didn’t happen, railways would be great. Back when iron was precious, how did Earth people protect the rails? Losing iron is a big loss, but a derailment costs lives.
Stealing enough iron to make a sword would earn a commoner years of wages. That’s why some steal it.
Maybe I should just flood the market with Earth’s iron and crash its price. But then, people could lose their jobs.
Subways? If the rails were underground, maybe theft wouldn’t happen? But the cost to build would be huge…
I got off the Shinkansen at a transfer to the regular train line. Even this late, the station was crowded. I wonder if the other world’s total population is smaller than just this station’s crowd? How many people live there anyway?
Ah, I feel eyes on me. I don’t even need Radar Scan to know someone is watching.
When did they start following me? The suspicious spot is around Kyoto Station, where many cameras watch. I bet the facial recognition caught me.
They probably checked my ticket and waited at Tokyo Station. It makes sense. That’s what IT tech is for.
Is the network like a god? Depends how you see it. It can do what humans can’t, but humans still use it. In the other world, gods are tools too.
Is the tail a cop? Not sure. If someone hacked the surveillance, anyone could be spying. Maybe even spies from another country.
I planned to take the local train then bike home, but… I can’t pull the bike out of my magic bag now. Looks like I’ll have to take a bus or taxi.
The follower probably knows my address. Are they trying to contact me?
If it’s police, would they question me? Not a big deal. As for the other world, I’ll just say I lost my memory. That’s not a lie—memory loss happens when coming back.
What if a spy tries to threaten me? I’m not a fighter. If they pull a gun, I’d be helpless.
I’ve been worried about being targeted since I was with my uncle. What’s the deal between the Hero Management Bureau and the Japanese government? What do they use for leverage?
If Earth wants something, it’s probably a healing potion. An elixir-class healing item would be priceless.
By the way, I have at least three hundred Dragon God’s Herbs in my magic bag. If that leaks, I’ll be hunted worldwide.
* * *
I rushed into the platform just before the doors closed. The follower was close behind, as I expected.
Is it only one person? Radar Scan can’t see anyone else. I could lose them easily, but cameras are everywhere. My address is probably known.
I checked the bus schedule in front of the station. Looks like I caught the last bus.
I’m being cheap avoiding taxis, even now… No, I want to see their face clearly. If they’re on the same bus, they can’t hide.
A taxi might turn into a chase scene. I’d end up saying, “Catch the car in front!” like in a detective show.
By now, the plaza in front of the station had few people left. One man in a suit was walking toward me.
He looked like an ordinary office worker but gave off a strange vibe. No trench coat like an anime detective—that’d be too obvious and too hot.
He stepped into the streetlamp’s light, revealing his face.
”Mr. Kondou!” I said.
No way… Wait, it really was Mr. Kondou. He came toward me, his expression changing.
”It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”
He came back too. But I thought anyone above level 7 couldn’t cross world barriers… Was I wrong? Maybe there are exceptions or loopholes.
The Hero Management Bureau’s data is old. Maybe there’s now a safe way back and forth. That would be great.
Maybe Mr. Kondou never leveled up? He didn’t seem to hunt monsters much. He always talked about his wife and son back in Japan.
Ah, it was Agito, right? That kid respected Mr. Kondou, so I just assumed Kondou was higher-level.
Jumping to conclusions is one of my bad habits. I can’t say much about my uncle either.
I’m glad Mr. Kondou made it back. He’s a good man with strong justice. His deep love for his family sometimes made him seem scary, but it was all love.
”You made it back safely. You can finally see your wife and son, right?” I said.
”You remember a lot about that place, huh?”
”At first, I thought I forgot everything. But I can recall a lot about you and the people in Japan.”
A glasses-wearing office lady waiting for the bus gave us a suspicious look. She must think we’re weird.
”We have a lot to talk about. Shall we move somewhere else?”
He raised his hand to hail a taxi. Mr. Kondou really knows how to read the room. He’s calm, giving a completely different impression.
Yeah, better to talk where no one watches. I haven’t told my family I’m back today, so they won’t worry if it’s late. Let’s talk all night.
What if this is a trap? I think he’s basically good, but something feels off. Since he was a police officer, maybe he was told to follow me? If so, that’s understandable, but I’ll stay alert.
* * *
For some reason, the taxi changed cars several times, taking a long detour into the suburbs.
Is he trying to lose someone following us? I don’t feel anyone tailing us now.
Taxis have surveillance cameras in the passenger seats too. Even if we try, records stay.
If it was a simple dashcam not connected to the net, the memory would eventually overwrite itself.
With big memory cards getting cheaper, it might take a long time to erase data. I feel like a fugitive.
Today’s big memory cards could hold all the data from a computer in another world. No accessory support, but if computers from other worlds exist, maybe we could build adapters.
If I dig through the Hero Management Office, I might find one or two things. I could craft something with electronic Crafting—no need to steal if I understand the specs.
By the way, I have many strange machine parts in my magic bag. I think I bought or picked up a lot.
Maybe showing these to an expert here would reveal something?
If I trusted the Japanese government, I’d give them stuff and work together, but…
Some politicians are linked to the Hero Management Office. Countries and groups aren’t one thing; maybe the enemy’s enemy is a friend.
I don’t want to waste time in pointless politics.
Time, time. Wait, is there a place on Earth where time flows differently?
The taxi stopped at a run-down bar with too much atmosphere.
Was that a Harley? A flashy, rusty bike sat outside proudly.
Several neon tubes in the sign were dead, and graffiti covered the walls. Is this normal, or just poor security?
From inside, jazz music spilled out. What is this place? It feels like a hard-boiled movie opening.
”This way,” Mr. Kondou said, ignoring the bar and walking ahead.
Huh?
We walked along a small riverbank at midnight in summer. No fireflies, only mosquito swarms near streetlights. Cherry blossoms scented the air, and countless caterpillars hovered above. Japan really has a lot of bugs compared to the other world.
Our destination was a three-story building with few windows. It looked ordinary, but had many security devices.
Quite a hard-boiled and cyberpunk vibe.
I wondered if it was a police building.
We entered through the back door into a narrow hall with a small glass window where an old security guard sat.
He wore a uniform like a police guard. For his age, his muscles were impressive. Was he special? Maybe I was overthinking.
The thick glass between us was over five centimeters. They talked through a microphone. Do they always go this far?
Radar Scan showed no one else in the building besides him. Maybe he was the boss.
Mr. Kondou nodded lightly and passed the window. He looked like a regular security guard.
Being a guard must be tough. Nothing happens usually, so it’s easy to slack off. Maybe they play on their phones?
In the other world, I saw guards slacking off gambling. I can’t remember where exactly, and that bothers me.
It’s frustrating to not find something small but important.
”Well, this is my workplace. Don’t worry, no bugs or spying devices here.”
The room I was led to felt alive, not like an office. More like a failed detective’s den.
I checked for listening devices. Small electronics were scattered around. I learned to spot weak electric currents somehow.
I couldn’t tell if they were bugs or phones, but phones can also be used for spying, so this tech world is troublesome.
In the other world, magic was used for spying too. Are we really getting closer to them? IT tech is like magic’s substitute. They share many things.
”Is spying common?” I asked.
”Many countries want to know about other worlds, so they try everything to spy. But even if they watch us, we don’t have anything important. We can’t investigate much or do much either.”
”Is this a police organization?”
”I have a confidentiality oath, so I can’t say. Use your imagination,” Mr. Kondou said, half-joking.
Over 100,000 young people have gone missing. Important people realized they can’t ignore it and made this group as a political show.
Pretending to work is important in politics, surprisingly.
The count of people who vanished was a hundred thousand. That meant the real number might be even higher. Still, not all of them were summoned as Heroes.
I remembered someone saying that around a thousand Heroes were summoned each year. Over ten years, that made ten thousand. So, what happened to the rest? The other ninety thousand were likely taken by the cracks between worlds.
Even those chosen Heroes—most of them had been killed by monsters. Some were even quietly removed by the people running the summoning.
The summoning spell picked people who wanted to go to another world, ones with no strong tie to this life. But even so, calling Heroes this way was still a cruel crime.
At least I… even deep down, I don’t think I ever wished to go to another world.
”I had no clue that many people had gone missing,” I said, lowering my voice. “It didn’t even cause much trouble. The whole world’s acting too calm.”
It felt strange. Too calm. Like the world had turned cold.
”They’re calling it a trend,” Mr. Kondou replied, brushing ash from his sleeve. “They say it’s just teens running away. Boys off doing who-knows-what somewhere. Their families don’t want the shame, so no one speaks up.”
”But still…” I frowned, leaning forward. “If the government’s stepping in this far…”
”You shouldn’t expect much from the country,” Mr. Kondou muttered, his voice low and sharp. “They hide the dirt. Don’t wake sleeping dogs, that’s what they always say. They won’t move unless their own pants are on fire. That’s just how they are.”
He spat those words like they burned his tongue. It didn’t sound like acting. He was really fed up.
I guessed officials were the same in any world. If they were calm and smart, it might even be a good thing. But those who worked hard without knowing what they were doing—those were the worst. Just thinking about them made my stomach twist. Whatever happened back there in that other world… maybe it’s best I don’t return.
”Mr. Kondou,” I asked, narrowing my eyes, “you’re not just a normal detective, are you?”
”Ah,” he said, smiling faintly. “Being police is just a front. My brother was the real detective.”
”Your brother?” I asked, puzzled.
He gave a small nod. “Yeah. I’m Kondou Mr. Tadaya. Seiya’s twin brother. You met him… over there.”
That made sense. That odd feeling I got when we first met—now I understood.
So that’s it, I thought, exhaling slow. I’ve had classmates like that. Twins really do look alike.
Man… I was too careless. I never thought I’d run into a real pair of twin detectives. It felt like something out of a manga.
”I didn’t mean to trick you,” Mr. Tadaya said, his face calm, “but I let you believe the wrong thing. I’m sorry for using that. But if you’re willing, I’d like to hear what kind of connection you had with my brother. Just for me. As his family.”
How much should I trust him?
For now, I could at least hear what he had to say. I had to be careful not to spill anything important. Not yet, anyway… Though, thinking back, I’d already told him I had memories from the other world. That part slipping out still hurt.
”What do you know?” I asked, meeting his eyes.
”Where to begin…” Mr. Tadaya looked down, then back up. “That day, I saw my brother disappear. Right in front of me.”
He’d seen the Hero summoning circle light up in the amusement park. While the crowd thought it was just lights and effects, he had noticed the truth—it was clearly something from another world.
It was amazing he’d done his own digging and traced the danger back to Avalon Island JP. Because of his skills, they gave him a lead role in a special team. But really, he was wearing a leash. Maybe the Hero Administration had tied it on.
”Around that time,” Mr. Tadaya said, voice tight, “my brother’s wife was exposed as a scammer. A fake marriage for money. It crushed him. Amada… I just want my brother to live a new life. If that means forgetting Japan, that’s okay.”
He didn’t want to talk about family dirt, he said—but suddenly let out that heavy truth. I felt like telling him not to drag me into pre-summoning messes, but I could see how much he’d been holding back. He just wanted someone to hear him.
Did Mr. Tadaya not have anyone close?
It all felt so empty. Mr. Seiya had tried to come home—to a family that was never real.
”Is there any way to contact my brother?” Mr. Tadaya asked, his voice shaking. “If I can, I’ll go there myself. I’ve got nothing left holding me here.”
”There are things you might not want to know,” I said carefully. “Maybe… maybe Mr. Seiya would be happier not knowing the truth.”
Looking back, I think he already sensed something. Like most of the summoned Heroes, maybe he just wanted to run away from real life. That would explain things.
Maybe it was best if he never met his wife or kids again—just left them behind. Sad, but maybe that was peace for him.
”I didn’t think of that,” Mr. Tadaya said, shaking his head. “No… No, that’s wrong! The idea of him loving that woman forever? Makes me sick!”
There was something off about this guy. Was it love? Obsession? Some twisted bond only twins shared?
”Then how about using twin telepathy to reach him?” I asked, half-joking.
”You—!” he snapped. “I’m being serious here! Telepathy’s not real!”
His strong will reminded me of Mr. Seiya.
* * *
If I hadn’t messed up my first words, I could’ve seen it sooner—Mr. Tadaya was actually easy to deal with.
He was stubborn, sharp, and fast on the draw. I had no chance in a mind battle, so I chose to be honest. I apologized for hiding things and told him the truth where I could.
That worked. He opened up and even shared some secret info.
It sounded like many groups like his existed, split across departments—stacked up like towers. Maybe that wasn’t all bad. If each one checked the others, lies would be harder to hide. I had no clue how they handled money, though.
They didn’t seem to work well with outsiders, but at least they shared their missing person database.
This system searched faces by image match, using every missing report. I hadn’t been a target—it just caught me when I bought a train ticket at Kyoto Station. Looks like Shinkansen users get checked hard. Anti-terror stuff, maybe.
The camera quality wasn’t what mattered. It was the software behind it. If I’d been officially wanted, they might have found me earlier.
Still, even with all this, it could be shut down by someone at the top. Reports meant paperwork, so people preferred to look away.
I guessed someone near the Hero Bureau had pulled strings there.
* * *
First, I wanted to check my own record.
The basics were there—name, birthdate, home address, ID photo, body details, and any awards or punishments. But some parts caught my eye.
My mother had tried to cancel my missing person report. What was she thinking?
I thought I’d told her enough, but she only nodded vaguely. Once I got back, I had to make her understand for real. One more job on the pile.
The system could also find other summoned Heroes.
Ms. Shirakaba’s real name was easy to search. It popped up in one try.
Even though there were fewer missing girls, the number was still over ten thousand. Did that count ones who vanished for reasons besides Hero summoning?
Mr. Raoh’s real name… I didn’t know it. That made things harder. Without names, I couldn’t search at all.
Going through a hundred thousand faces? That was impossible.
Forget it. I give up.
”You know,” Mr. Tadaya said quietly, “I’m the kind who would risk my life for justice. But now… I don’t even know what’s right anymore. If you can show me, then lead me.”
I looked at him. His high ideals were… odd. Not bad. Just strange.
Even with noble goals, if you didn’t understand the truth, you’d just go in circles. Still, I got what he meant.
Someone told me something like that once. Maybe it was from the other world.
Being led was easy. Leading others… that carried weight.
Mr. Tadaya was the kind who couldn’t forgive wrongs. If he learned the truth behind Hero summoning, he’d risk his life to stop it.
He and I were walking the same path now.
With power, even a small clue could make someone charge ahead. If I helped him, that might be dangerous—for both of us. Like a sword with poison.
Most things in life were like that—double-edged.
So what should I do?
What can I do?
I knew this was a turning point.
”I’ll give my life,” I said quietly, “if that’ll stop more people from being taken.”
”I feel the same,” Mr. Tadaya said, his voice firm. “But we’re up against strong powers. We need solid proof if we want to beat them.”
He was serious. He wanted to bring them down.
It sounded simple—beat the bad guys. But big villains were just puppets. Easy to replace.
Still, making an example might scare the real ones. That was better than letting them stay hidden.
Maybe we’d find allies on this side of the world too.
There was that guy who claimed he was a politician’s son. Poor guy—taken out by the bureau’s hitmen.
I wasn’t sure how to feel about using his story. Still, I could pass something of his to the family. That would be the right thing to do.
”They said the game company was shady, right?” Mr. Tadaya asked, glancing at me. “If there’s a crematorium nearby, that’s even more suspicious. Just a hunch.”
”Why’s that?” I asked.
”It’s just logic,” he said, crossing his arms. “If someone wants to hide a body, a grave’s one way. But a crematorium? That’s better. Burn it, no trace left. If I were the bad guy, I’d do that.”
No proof meant problems. But nothing humans did was perfect. Mr. Tadaya would find something.
”Detective novels don’t usually go this far,” Mr. Tadaya said, turning back to his screen. “Wait… I think there is a place that matches.”
He pulled up a map on his computer.
If he made a move, no matter the result, Avalon Island JP would raise its guard. Before that, I wanted to check the place again.
* * *
He drove us home before sunrise.
I wanted to stay hidden, maybe wait till morning, but he told me I was overthinking. Maybe he was right. I wasn’t the only one being watched.
Well, that was fine. Being calm might make people trust you more.
Right now, the Hero Bureau didn’t want trouble. They wouldn’t act too loud.
So… what now?
I’d share info with my dad and the others. Then I’d leave the house again, alone this time.
I had to check out Avalon Island JP. But before that, I wanted to visit Ms. Shirakaba’s family.
Should I ask properly if I could take her?
First, I’d gather more info.
And before that, I had to warn my mother—not to do anything foolish.
She seemed to want me back in school. That was… annoying.
Even so, I kind of wanted to go too.
The classes I once hated were now interesting. Science especially.
Even history and politics could be useful if I learned them right.
Self-study with books and the internet was faster. I could go at my own pace. I’d be ready for tests without wasting time.
I should keep all my books—maybe make new ones for the other world someday.
Do I still have my grade school books?
I didn’t remember tossing them. Maybe I packed them into a box in the back of the closet.
I knew those books well. I’d used them. They’d help as models for writing better ones.
Notes:
• Ms. Nina – Doll Princess (Auroora 217), renamed by the protagonist. Beautiful blonde, ~168 cm, slim waist. Wears adventurer attire. Made from artificial parts and wooden limbs, resembling a princess. Knowledgeable, can read, write, and use basic healing magic. Reliable partner, often saves the protagonist with her skills.
• Tizzy – Claims to be Duke’s daughter, a noble with advanced magic skills. MC and Ms. Shirakaba lover.
• Nina – Doll Princess (Auroora 217), renamed by the protagonist. Beautiful blonde, ~168 cm, slim waist. Wears adventurer attire. Made from artificial parts and wooden limbs, resembling a princess. Knowledgeable, can read, write, and use basic healing magic. Reliable partner, often saves the protagonist with her skills.
• Agito – A cocky, high-level adventurer who is proud of their status and doesn’t respect those below their level. The one who was defeated by MC with stick.
• Tadaya – Male. A detective, though being a police officer is just a cover. His appearance is not described in detail, but he is Seiya’s twin brother. He is stubborn, with sharp instincts and quick-witted. He is investigating the disappearance of his brother and the Hero summoning phenomenon. His relationship with the protagonist is initially cautious but becomes more cooperative as they share information.
• Seiya – Male. Tadaya’s twin brother. A Hero who was summoned to another world. His appearance is not described in detail, but he is said to have high ideals. He wanted to return to his family, but his wife turned out to be a marriage scammer. His relationship with Tadaya is complex, with Tadaya having an odd complex about his brother.
• Shirakaba – A paladin who seems to be a skilled fighter. He’s introduced as someone with a strong defense and healing abilities.
• Raoh – Pakkyamara. An infamous, scheming, but somewhat incompetent senior adventurer known for meddling with hero summoning rituals; often gets beaten up as a result. The one who want japanese food.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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