Reina: “It’s finally time!”

Kai: “Ah…”

 

I feel slightly guilty. Honestly, many things had happened, and I had asked Aya for help, but this might have been a heavy burden.

The world is watching, and there might be a danger to their lives.

Did I just force troublesome things onto her?

 

Kai: “…”

 

Kai silently watches the press conference.

 

Aya: “First about AMS, it is well known that magic power doesn’t accumulate well in the body. Currently, the main treatment is to temporarily slow the progression by infusing magic power from other companies with specialized equipment. However, most don’t see any effect.”

 

Aya explains the current situation. However, this equipment is very expensive, and moreover, those with higher magic power must supply it. Therefore, the cost is extraordinarily high, an amount I couldn’t afford with my part-time job wages.

 

Because of that, I became a clearer who receives generous subsidies from the country.

 

Aya: “However, this treatment method can supply magic power to the body and allow it to accumulate naturally. And for that, we use this.”

 

What Aya takes out is…

 

Reporter 1: “Hey, is that a magic stone!?”

Reporter 2: “Red… An A-Rank magic stone?”

Reporter 3: “Are you using the power of a monster?”

 

The reporters buzz at the sight of the magic stone Aya takes out. An A-Rank red magic stone is very expensive, costing billions of yen. Voices of disbelief rise at the thought of using it for treatment.

 

Aya: “We are using a magic stone, but it doesn’t need to be A-Rank. Please refer to this document for more details.”

 

Saying so, Aya projects a slide on a large screen. It looks like a presentation, and it contains detailed and easy-to-understand information on the AMS treatment method that Kai had told Aya.

Seeing the document, the reporters let out sounds of amazement and nod.

It is intuitively very easy to understand, and supplying magic power with a magic stone is quickly accepted.

Then the slides are turned one after another, and a few minutes of explanation is done.

 

Aya: “And now, more and more people are being saved by this treatment method. Actual effects have been confirmed, and U.S. research institutions have reported no side effects. Today, AMS has become a disease that can be easily treated. That concludes the explanation.”

 

And with that, Aya’s explanation ends, and the reporters stand up to send applause. The world sends praise to Aya, and the Ash-style treatment method named this day will sequentially save people with severe symptoms.

Collecting high-grade magic stones is difficult, but since there are few people with high-level magic, it should work out.

And it seemed the press conference ended without any issues.

Then the question and answer time begins. After a few questions, one man raises his hand. He’s wearing glasses and looks somewhat malicious.

 

Reporter: “May I ask a question?”

Aya: “Go ahead.”

Reporter: “It is said that Aya Ryuenji-san has a close relationship with Kai Amachi, is that true?”

 

The venue stirs a little at that question.

 

Aya: “Th, that is personally through my grandfather. He is S-Rank.”

Reporter: “Is that so, as far as I have researched, before today’s announcement of this treatment, there is someone in the world who first awakened from AMS, Nagi Amachi, the sister of Kai Amachi.”

 

The venue, which had been slightly stirred, becomes noticeably noisy even over the television.

 

Man: “What is the meaning of this? You said earlier that you have a friendship, but he is full of mysteries. Aren’t there parts that must be clarified? For example, the origin of the name of this technique?”

 

The name was given with a little kindness from Aya. Publicly, it was named Ash-style because the powdering looked like ash. However, the reality is, it was just the English translation of the character for ash from Kai Amachi’s name.

A game of association that wouldn’t be thought of if one didn’t know the relationship between the two of them.

However, if one knew the relationship, they would immediately feel the connection in the name.

 

Aya: “Th, that is…”

Kagetora: “Today’s questions should only be about AMS?”

 

The chairman quickly follows up for Aya, who is struggling to speak due to the reporter’s words.

But it does not stop there.

 

Reporter: “No, it is related. We must thoroughly discuss the relationship with that S-Rank causing an uproar in this country every day. There’s a responsibility to explain.”

Kagetora: “There isn’t such a thing.”

Reporter: “If he was an ordinary person, I wouldn’t say this, but he is a criminal and an exile for this country, and moreover, became sworn brothers* with Wei Wang of the Battle God Guild.

*brothers-in-law-> sworn brothers

 

This is very important from a national defense perspective. Our country and that country have historical issues. If such a person is connected with the former top of Japan, the granddaughter of former Chairman Kagetora, we must have an explanation, the citizens must think so too.”

 

Aya: “As, as I said earlier, I know him through my grandfather but we are not close…”

 

Just as Aya was about to speak, the reporter, as if he had been waiting for this moment, interrupted her with a smirk.

 

Reporter: “I’ve done quite a bit of research… about the relationship between Aya Ryuenji-san and Kai Amachi-san. Look, everyone please take a look at this.”

 

Then, the reporter distributed prepared photos to everyone around and showed the paper to the camera. There, a photo was taken that looked like a date from when Kai first went to a shopping mall with Aya. Aya was dressed up as much as possible, walking happily with Kai.

Kai wondered why such a thing was there, but he remembered. At that time, they were attacked by the God-Destruction Cult, and the gallery had taken many photos of them. Most likely, they were also taken when the fuss was over, and they were returning together. Whether someone posted it on SNS, or this reporter collected it, he didn’t know.

 

Reporter: “What do you think, even with this, you are not close? Excuse me, but… it looks like you’re lovers. I think there is no one who can say they are not close looking at this photo… I saw you having quite a lot of fun.”

 

At the reporter’s sexual harassment-like remark, Aya’s face turned red. However, that red face was not her usual cute, embarrassed face, but a face being humiliated.

How painful it must be to have your hidden feelings frivolously talked about to the world.

 

Kagetora: “Enough!”

 

Chairman Kagetora shouted clearly with a large voice in anger. That force was conveyed even through the television, and the reporters, called by the title Fist God, involuntarily looked like they were about to fall backward.

 

Reporter: “But it should be clarified! I am not afraid, not by intimidation!! Now! Aya Ryuenji-san! What is your relationship with Kai Amachi, why name it ‘Ash-style’ with the meaning for ash, and why save his sister without permission first? Now! Please announce it! You’re really in a romantic relationship, aren’t you?”

 

However, the reporter does not flinch, whether it is pride or not. He further counterattacks with a louder voice.

 

Aya: “Ah, no… Kai-san and I… aren’t like that…”

 

Aya is about to tear up. Kai knew her voice was shaking, she was looking down, powerless.

 

Reporter: “Kai-san? Hmm… calling each other by first names, it seems. It looks like little by little the truth is starting to leak out.”

 

Aya keeps looking down. The other reporters also listen to the story with pleasure. It’s a scoop, exclusive news, gossip that viewers will latch onto.

It’s my fault, I threw everything onto Aya, forced the trouble onto her. Aya, even so, is trying to protect me, saying nothing. Because of that, she can’t reply and just remains silent.

I stand up. I’m no longer weak, there’s no need to be protected anymore.

So…

 

Reporter: “Now, Aya Ryuenji-san! What exactly is the relationship with Kai Ama– huh?”

 

The talkative reporter’s words get stuck, and his voice breaks. At the same time, the other reporters also stand up, and everyone raises a voice of astonishment.

 

Reporters: “Whaatttttttt!”

 

Aya: “Eh? What’s going–”

 

Aya is surprised by the reporters’ reactions and tries to turn around. At the same time, she realizes everything by the sensation of a reassuring large hand on her shoulder.

When she turns around, there is…

 

Kai: “Aya, I’m sorry. It’s my fault for forcing this onto you. I didn’t think it would come to this. Sorry.”

 

A boy clad in lightning is standing.

Kai had teleported to Aya’s shadow. Using lightning to teleport to this place where the world’s cameras are pointing, the reporters are surprised by the appearance of this important person in the vortex, and the shutters sound.

Aya is surprised, and the chairman laughs.

 

Aya: “Kai-san!? Why!!”

Kagetora: “Gahaha, that’s right, you aren’t that kind of man… Now do as you wish, Kai-kun.”

Kai: “Yes, I will talk. Thanks to the chairman, thanks to everyone, I’m no longer just someone to be protected. So…”

 

Kai gently grasps and takes the microphone that Aya had. Aya hands it over as she is.

Then, he speaks to the reporters.

 

Kai: “I’m sorry for surprising you, but it seems you all had many questions about me. …Nice to meet you, I’m Kai Amachi. I will answer the questions directly. Now, the reporter from earlier, now ask me.”

 

His eyes glowing golden, clad a bit in anger with magic power and lightning.

 

Kai: “Please ask your question.”

 

Expressing his intentions to the world.