I planted a sacred tree in Tokyo.

Chapter 134 Ordinary People in the Extraordinary Era (1)

Buzzing buzzing buzzing

Amidst the high-speed spinning of four propellers, one after another 'Owl' unmanned transport aircraft, carrying the 'Biya' in nets, flew back to the Self-Defense Forces military base in Hashimoto City.

This "Owl" unmanned transport aircraft is very similar to the "Falcon" armed aircraft recently developed by the island nation.

It also has four large propellers and a passenger cabin in the middle.

You could say it's just an enlarged version of a drone.

However, these large drones undertook the transportation tasks for the entire battlefield: a large number of Owl-type unmanned transport aircraft transported back the surviving or recently killed Biyao. Occasionally, the cabin would open, revealing seriously wounded soldiers lying inside, who would be immediately sent to the hospital for emergency treatment.

A large CH-47 transport helicopter flew in, with half-dead synthetic beasts hanging in a net below.

At this moment, a large number of 'disassembly workers' dressed in white hazmat suits and wielding chainsaws and other tools immediately stepped forward to dismember these enormous synthetic beasts, and then began sorting them: the shells were discarded directly, the internal organs were collected by type, the muscles were sorted and stored according to their activity level, and the most valuable part was—

"Be careful not to damage the supernormal ganglion."

Wearing white protective suits and cylindrical resin helmets, the managers patrolled the area while giving instructions to the busy workers.

“That’s an organ rich in ‘supernatural power,’ a valuable material that can be used to create ‘secondary supernatural potions.’”

Although the chimera is officially rated as a 'weak wolf', it is essentially a fusion of a demon, so it can only be used to extract 'level three extraordinary potions'. In addition, its powerful strength makes it a formidable enemy that many mercenaries are unwilling to face.

However, after these 'synthetic beasts' fuse, they form a ganglion, which can be used to create 'secondary extraordinary potions'.

Given the considerable quantity, it can be considered a decent source of medicine. Because the government has limited manpower, a large number of private 'decomposition' companies have emerged that cooperate with the government.

"Team leader, do you think if we directly consume a superhuman ganglion, we could become a superhuman?"

An employee asked a question casually while working, which made the team leader look at him with annoyance.

"What era do you think we live in now?"

"You are what you eat."

Step aside a few paces to avoid the amber-colored liquid kicked up by an employee's hot chainsaw.

"Don't be silly. Without professional technology to process these corpses, the only consequence of eating them is vomiting and diarrhea!"

Although scientists could not quantify and visualize 'demonic power,' or 'spiritual power,' 'magical power,' or 'psychic energy' no matter how they experimented, they could at least isolate it: the more active and powerful the extraordinary blood, the more active the 'spiritual power' it possessed.

These serums, imbued with 'spiritual power,' can be crafted into medicines that can be easily absorbed by other organisms: these organisms will also possess a certain amount of spiritual power, thus becoming extraordinary beings.

This method is clearly a convenience unique to the technological age: even those Onmyoji and sorcerers with 'lineage' have said that 'orthodox' cultivation should be about one's own perception and refinement of spiritual power.

Therefore, the 'Ishigani Family' also purchased a large number of 'Triple Transcendent Potions' from the government, upgrading all the combat members of the family to transcendents.

"If you really want to become superhumans, then go and take the Self-Defense Forces' test."

The team leader pointed his thumb to the sky behind him:
Several CH-47 transport helicopters, commonly known as 'Chinooks', flew back, without any chimeras hanging below them. This was because:

As the plane landed not far away, groups of fully armed Self-Defense Force members helped each other jump off the transport plane.

"doctor!"

“Hurry, hurry, hurry~~”

"Come this way, there are wounded—"

As the ambulances arrived, one by one, the wounded, covered in blood, were carried off.

Because the opponent is a demon that mainly uses biting and slashing, as long as the injury is not to the throat or major artery, after applying a tourniquet and taking adrenaline, one can still manage to return to the rear for treatment.

As for encountering chimeras?
In general, there's no need for even a rescue attempt; simply bringing the body back is considered the most virtuous thing a colleague can do.

More often than not, they choose to bring the 'dog tag' back and hand it over to their relatives.

"See those? Those are the superhumans from the Self-Defense Forces."

In addition to these ordinary soldiers, some people wearing metal powered armor and exuding a sense of 'technology' jumped off the helicopter: they were carrying heavy sniper rifles, six-barreled Gatling guns, or full of armor-piercing rounds. Just by looking at these exaggerated equipment, you could tell they were not ordinary people.

"If you want to become a superhuman, join the Self-Defense Forces: those with outstanding military achievements and good performance can obtain the 'Superhuman Potion'."

"Although it's just the most basic 'Level 3 Extraordinary Potion,' it's the only way for us ordinary people to advance."

This is one of the reasons why the Self-Defense Forces have no shortage of personnel.

These 'Level 3 Extraordinary Potions' made from demonic creatures can only barely allow users to break through human limits: but that's already terrifying. The fact that those 'Extraordinary Soldiers' can carry heavy weapons without any problems is thanks to the potions.

Are you going to have a gunfight?
Mine is a bit 'big'!

No, these are no longer soldiers, they are:

"These are all extraordinary warrant officers, already mid-level personnel in the Self-Defense Forces. We have to start as third-class sergeants. When will we be able to take the medicine?"

A worker complained, which made the team leader scoff.

"if not?"

"What makes you think you can get some kind of superhuman ability just by joining the Self-Defense Forces?"

"Or, you could try your luck with those extraordinary individuals: I've heard that tens of thousands of people have already gathered outside the Fifty Valley family's territory."

Those tens of thousands of people had a clear purpose: to try to join the Ishigaya family. After all, it was a family of Onmyoji with a long tradition, and the two young patriarchs were very generous, equipping their family members with extraordinary potions, exoskeletons, and all sorts of high-tech weapons.

Not only them, but even in Hayakawa Town, Yamanashi Prefecture, large numbers of people flocked to the former "Hachimen Village", now "Isoya Village".

The same purpose was to join the Isoya family, or rather, to seek the protection of the Isoya family.

The "demon tide" incident that occurred in Wakayama Prefecture has put the entire island nation on edge!
Shrines and temples with long histories, located deep in the mountains and forests, have all been busy with self-examination.

The shikigami 'Blood Hakama', which was sealed on Mount Koya, was released and immediately wreaked havoc on the entire prefecture.

Which shrine or temple doesn't have some kind of legend about gods and ghosts?

In the past, everyone would just laugh it off; but now, who knows if it's even true?

If it's fake, fine, but if it's real, I'll be the first one to die!
Of course, if some extraordinary legacy could be unearthed.
Hehehehehe~~
If the demon tide at Mount Koya hadn't reacted quickly, received full support from the American Navy, and had been aided by almost all the superhumans, it would have caused a massacre involving millions if it had entered the Osaka metropolitan area!

In this situation, how could ordinary people not be afraid?
People from many marginalized areas abandoned their hometowns and flocked to big cities.

The larger the city, the less likely the government is to give it up easily; to put it bluntly, if a supernatural attack really occurs, with so many people, it would take half a day to kill them all, and it's possible that someone else will die instead.
"Get to work, get to work!"

The team leader clapped his hands, signaling the workers to stop looking around.

"Let's face reality. We don't have the courage to go to the battlefield and fight for military merit, so why dream of being extraordinary?"

"Disposing of chimera corpses is somewhat dangerous, but the pay is quite good; I'll work a few more days, then go to an izakaya and relax—"

"what!"

He was only halfway through his sentence when...
A scream interrupted the team leader's words.

"My legs, my legs!"

A worker fell backward, his legs kicking as he stumbled backward, leaving a trail of crimson blood.

"Don't move,"

The worker next to him immediately rushed over and took out a tourniquet.

"Bear with it, I'll help you stop the bleeding."

Lifting the injured worker's leg, the worker placed the tourniquet around the upper thigh and tightened it while comforting the worker:
"It's just a superficial injury,"

"Remember to apply for workers' compensation."

“Be careful next time, some of these chimeras are not completely dead.” With his skilled movements and comforting words, the injured worker calmed down: when he was dismembering the chimeras, a bone spike suddenly cut his calf from an eyeball that was not quite dead.

"What did I just say?"

The team leader jogged over, but no one approached and he complained.

"Make sure you guys focus on your work. Instead of chatting, be careful around these guys."

The more living the creature, the better the effect of extracting the extraordinary potion. Therefore, as long as the chimera is rendered incapable of fighting, the Self-Defense Forces generally will not "finish it off".

Rather, it's more accurate to say that the Self-Defense Forces wish all the chimeras could stay alive until they reached this rear base before finally kicking the bucket.

Anyway, it's not the Self-Defense Forces that handle the chimera corpses.

They were all outsourced to 'decomposition companies'.

"Hiss, thanks."

The injured worker, now calm, nodded his thanks to the people who had treated him.

As the injured worker was carried away on a stretcher by two other workers, the team leader patted the worker who had helped stop the bleeding.

"Well done, Kafka."

"Honestly, you should join the Self-Defense Forces."

This 'worker' was steady and had a convincing demeanor.

"I heard you killed a demon during the Great Retreat? The wound on your face is from that time."

The team leader could tell that this man, named 'Kafka,' was completely different from the workers who just wanted to earn money to support their families: if he joined the Self-Defense Forces, he could definitely become extraordinary.

"Hey, I'll pass."

Pushing aside the resin mask, a man's face was revealed: there was a scar on his cheek.

It was the middle-aged man who had tried to organize a defensive line behind the retreating convoy.

"My cornea has been injured,"

"I can't join the Self-Defense Forces."

If he could, he would also like to be a 'hero'.

However, most modern weapons are difficult to control when the cornea is injured.

If you are a superhuman, you don't need to worry about this: you can pick up a melee weapon and join the battle.

But here's the problem: to become a superhuman, one must first accumulate military merits; and to accumulate military merits, one must first join the Self-Defense Forces, but his eyes won't allow it.

It's stuck in a vicious cycle.

"Oh, what a pity."

The team leader patted the middle-aged man on the shoulder, but the man didn't seem to care at all.

"It doesn't matter,"

"Even in the logistics department, we can fight."

"Our job is also to end the demon tide, so we're also 'heroes,' right?"

The other workers all turned around, looking at him with eyes that seemed to say he had "chuunibyou" (a Japanese term for someone with delusions of grandeur).

Please, we're all just working people.

Stop giving me pep talks!
"Well, you're right."

The team leader coughed and turned his head to avoid the mocking gazes of the Self-Defense Force officers and soldiers.

brush--

Just then, a huge shadow fell, sweeping across the ground at high speed, causing everyone to look up.

"It's an Onmyoji."

"Ashiya Dōman's descendants,"

The giant, dark bird flying overhead was recognized by everyone in the base below.

The island nation publishes information about every superhuman who appears on the battlefield to all Self-Defense Force officers, mercenaries, and all relevant personnel: of course, only simple details such as appearance, name, personality, hobbies, and taboos.

The purpose was to prevent them from courting death and provoking superhumans.

What if it could make extraordinary people look at you differently?
That is their opportunity.

However, so far, these extraordinary individuals mostly live high above others and have little interest in interacting with ordinary people.

"This is true transcendence!"

The team leader watched the giant black bird fly away with envy. On it was a handsome high school student, two beautiful high school girls, and a beautiful junior high girl. They were a combination of youthful beauty and good looks, and they also possessed extraordinary inherited power, making them top-tier in the supernatural circle.

"alright,"

"Get to work, stop looking."

Among the workers continuing to dismember the chimeras, a middle-aged man with a scar on his face frowned.

Did the boy on the giant eagle just glance at him?
An illusion, it must be an illusion!

Kafka shook his head. Of course he knew these boys and girls, and had even been in close contact with them: he was lying on the ground with his face covered in blood, and had almost been killed by the demon.

It was that boy who led the rescue of him and the thousands of people in that convoy.

To him, the other person was his savior.

But to that Yu-kun, he was just:
"Ordinary people who can only flee in panic when faced with a crisis."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"but,"

After get off work,

They took off their protective suits, which were stained with amber-colored liquid.

After taking a good shower to wash away the odor and sweat, the middle-aged man clenched his fist as he swiped his card to leave the military base.

"How could I possibly be willing to accept this?!"

Who doesn't want to be a hero? Even if heroes face more danger, even if heroes might die before most people, but—

"In this life, we're always willing to risk our lives for something, right?"

These were the words left by his policeman father, who died in the line of duty.

Unfortunately, because of his eyesight, the man named Kafka was unable to join the police force or the Self-Defense Forces.

He ended up as a lumberjack and now he's just doing the work of dismantling chimeras.

Sigh, I should probably think about what to have for dinner.
Glug glug

As he walked along, lost in thought, a small ball of light rolled past in front of him.

(End of this chapter)