Prologue: Unknown Threat Discussion Council
* * *
And so — the walk into the desert began.
No road. No signs. No light.
Clutching meager belongings tight,
even footprints erased by the wind.
To take back your name.
* * *
Prologue: Unknown Threat Discussion Council
2-3-1 Nagatacho, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo. — The Unknown Threat Discussion Council convened at the Prime Minister's residence.
"Our nation currently faces an unprecedented threat."
The spacious conference room of the Prime Minister's residence. An impressive lineup of dignitaries sat around long tables arranged in a rectangular formation.
The aging Prime Minister spoke. His manner was soft, yet his words were clear.
"To protect the future of our citizens, let us unite and confront this crisis together."
Seated beside him was the Minister of Defense. Then the Director-General of National Security. The Chief Cabinet Secretary. The Minister of Foreign Affairs. The Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. The Commissioner General of the National Police Agency. Senior officers of the Self-Defense Forces and several representatives from intelligence agencies.
"Director Amakusa of the Bureau of the Unusual — please brief us on the situation and countermeasures."
Among the familiar heavyweight figures often seen on television, one white-haired old man stood out conspicuously. At the moderator's words, he rose and began to speak in a low, unhurried voice.
"We have currently confirmed signs of three massive portal waves in the vicinity of Japan. The Bureau of the Unusual has assessed these as probable invasion acts from an extradimensional origin, and we have agents conducting investigations."
At the old man's words, the expressions of everyone in the room turned grim. The threat of Anti-Reality was concealed from most of the public, but for those at the top of their respective organizations, it was a well-known concept.
"So you're saying... someone from another universe is trying to open a doorway into ours?"
The one who asked was the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. The white-haired old man nodded and continued.
"Constructing a portal of this scale is impossible with our current scientific capabilities. In other words, an existence far more advanced than our civilization is likely attempting a large-scale invasion."
"An invasion... are we certain it's a hostile act? What about the possibility of exploration, or that they could be friendly?"
"We considered that as well. ...From here, it would be best to have our expert explain."
The white-haired old man looked at the girl slumped face-down on the desk beside him. But the small girl — entirely out of place given the average age of the room — was, upon closer inspection, snoring.
"...Ahem. ...Ahem."
At the old man's pointed throat-clearing, the dozing girl jolted awake.
"Fwah— Wha... oh, I fell asleep... sorry—"
Rattling her chair noisily, the girl dressed all in black stood up.
"Sorry, sorry... I was being tortured by an ancient pharaoh in Egypt until yesterday, so... yawn — been up all night, y'know? ...Not that kind of vibe? Gotcha. So, um—"
The girl gave a bright, carefree grin.
"Hey there. I'm the Black Demon Lord. Technically I'm an enemy of the world, but today I'm on your side."
It was obvious to everyone that this small girl was something inhuman — blue geometric patterns swayed and shimmered inside her shadow, glowing faintly at all times.
"First off, building a portal this massive costs an insane amount of money. The energy consumption is bonkers. Even with Japan's scientific capabilities a hundred years from now, think of it as costing two hundred years' worth of the national budget. Honestly, it's absolutely insane."
The Apocalypse known as "Black Demon Lord," under the custody of the Bureau of the Unusual. Her existence was known to most of those involved in national defense — though due to the nature of Anti-Reality, no one could retain her face or details for long.
"There are plenty of ways to make friendly contact, after all. The reason to build a portal this huge — yeah, it's gotta be invasion. Whether they're after this dimension's resources... or after humans, I dunno."
Human Ectoplasmic Fluid was an enormous energy source, and no shortage of Anti-Reality organizations were trying to secure a supply. One such organization had even turned an entire planet into a ranch, harvesting Ectoplasmic Fluid on that scale.
"...What kind of threat should we expect?"
"Anything. Because in an infinite universe, there are infinite possibilities."
A giant human hand might pour out of the massive portal and grab the Japanese archipelago in its fist.
Ten billion sentient striped socks might drink the Earth's oceans dry.
Or gaseous life forms might hijack the consciousness of every living creature.
"What we need right now..."
The white-haired old man murmured.
"One — intelligence. Two — personnel. Three — countermeasures."
The Bureau of the Unusual — Japan's Anomaly countermeasure organization. It had only around three hundred agents. That was barely enough to handle everyday Anti-Reality incidents, let alone mount a response to a crisis of this global scale.
"We intend to... request cooperation from Azure Academy."
"Wha—?! Azure Academy is registered as a threatening organization! They're under heavy surveillance by Public Security, the CIA, and the Knights of Garden! I can't imagine we could even hold talks with them!"
"Desperate times call for desperate measures. Besides—"
The white-haired old man glanced at the Black Demon Lord beside him. The Demon Lord beamed.
"Oh, that'll be fine! My darling just enrolled at Azure Academy recently, y'know. Wifey privileges and all — I should be able to set up a nice little chat." She flashed a peace sign.
The battle-hardened officials assembled in a row were momentarily stunned by her out-of-place airheadedness. But when it came to Anti-Reality incidents, no one in that room had a track record to match the Black Demon Lord's.
"It's true that Azure Academy has little regard for the law, harbors numerous ethical issues, cut off contact fifty years ago, and maintains an explicitly hostile relationship with our country. However—"
"What matters is the lives of our citizens. Prime Minister — please, make your decision."