—Top of the sixth, Tokyo Yotsunheim is up to bat. Hoshino steps in. He hasn't had a hit yet today, but we’re hoping for something big here—
—His batting average this season hasn’t been bad at all, but still…—
Tokyo Yotsunheim vs. Osaka Asgards. The score was currently tied 3–3, a deadlock with neither side yielding an inch.
In truth, Inari had no favorite team. Her approach was more of a “cheer for everyone” mindset. She was the type to enjoy the game itself, happy no matter who won. Yes, Inari simply loved baseball.
And so, today’s game had her watching with nervous excitement… until the Osaka Asgards’ pitcher wound up for the throw, and just as he released the pitch—
—We interrupt this program with breaking news—
“Ah—ahh—AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!?”
Her ears shot upright, her tail fluffed out explosively. It had been the best part. She had wanted to see whether Hoshino would hit. But that moment was gone. No matter how many replays there might be, that moment would never return.
Realizing this, Inari slumped to the floor with a soft plop.
“…Mine basebaaall…”
—Just earlier, the Japan Headquarters of the Awakener Association issued a national advisory urging all citizens to refrain from approaching the sea unless absolutely necessary. This request follows a pattern of abnormal behavior by the monster known as "Mermen," and the advisory is expected to remain in effect for at least one month pending further investigation.—
“…Hmm?”
Still collapsed on the floor, Inari’s eyes turned toward the news anchor delivering the bulletin. A fishing boat had departed in the early morning—or rather, during the night—and its crew had been massacred. Multiple similar incidents had also occurred in succession.
Even the Awakeners guarding those boats had been killed, leading to speculation that the monsters were entering a temporary state of increased aggression. If that were true, then it was also possible that monsters could start making landfall near coasts. In short, that was the situation.
—If you notice anything unusual near bodies of water—“something’s there,” or you “see something that looks human”—immediately evacuate and contact the nearest police or Awakener Association branch. Merman is extremely dangerous monsters. Even if it’s just your imagination or a false alarm, do not approach. We repeat: they are very dangerous.—
Merman.
Inari had never heard of that monster before, but the illustration shown on the screen suggested a humanoid fish creature. A fish-like… but certainly not fish-headed being, with a human-ish yet inhuman form.
She couldn’t help but feel like she might’ve seen something similar before. But if even Awakeners were being killed, then ordinary people stood no chance at all.
“A monster doin’ things it ought not normally be doin’, eh… This doth reek of somethin’ unsavory, methinks…”
What came to her mind was that godlike entity—the so-called Bearer of Endless Agony and Delight. She wondered if that strange being was meddling again… but perhaps not. After all, it seemed unlikely that there was only one of such entities. If she started assuming every strange phenomenon was tied to a godlike being, she'd be forced to doubt everything that happened in the world.
“Still, I can’t just swim out to sea, now can I…”
Living in human society meant she couldn’t act entirely outside its rules. She had to follow them. The dungeon said to lie at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean—maybe she could reach it with effort, but there was no way to justify it right now. And Inari had no intention of casually breaking the rules just because she felt like it.
To do as she pleased under the pretense of good intentions would make her no different from that “Bearer of Endless Agony and Delight.” Inari had no desire to fall to that level.
“Now then… what to do about all this…”
Just as she was pondering what she could do, her Awakener Phone, left on the desk, began to ring. The caller was… Yasuno. Perfect timing. She picked up, and in the background, she could hear Yasuno busily calling others as well.
“Ah! Miss Kogami!? I apologize for the sudden call, this is Yasuno!”
"Aye, I sense quite the frantic mood. Be it concernin’ that news bulletin just now?"
“Yes! These kinds of incidents tend to make people act rashly, so we’re making sure to inform capable individuals in advance.”
"Hmm?"
“The Awakener Association will be handling this case exclusively, so please don’t go rushing off to the sea, okay!?”
"Mm, aye."
She hadn’t planned on going in the first place. But clearly, there had been past cases where people had rushed in—and something terrible had happened. Inari could sense that. Maybe there were more than a few who wouldn’t listen unless warned directly like this.
"I do intend to follow the rules properly, thou knowest. So there is naught to worry over in mine case."
“I do trust you! But apparently we have to say it anyway, because people still go rogue all the time…”
"Such trouble thou hast to deal with, truly."
After hearing out some of Yasuno’s venting, she hung up and turned her eyes back to the television, which had now moved on from the breaking bulletin to analysis.
Well… if that was the situation, then there probably wasn’t anything she needed to do right now. Probably. Most likely.