ch21-ch40 · 027-ch27

Chapter 27: Beyond the Door

The World Clock wouldn't close.

The Hunters on the battlefield began to grow restless.

『The magic power inside the Clock is rising!』

『The Clock has started counting numbers again. Remaining: "48 hours 25 minutes"... What are these numbers for?』

『Could it be the next World Clock's time?』

『Then why is it still open!?』

Someone must have left their transmit button on — the radio from the Association operations room was leaking through.

In five years of history, a World Clock had never stopped while closing. What's more, the magic power reading had never risen during that process either.

"What does this mean...?"

Narashima couldn't take his eyes off the half-open World Clock.

Everyone understood without saying it out loud.

Something abnormal was happening.

『Ladies and gentlemen, we're receiving reports that an anomaly has occurred at the Akayama Town World Clock. What could this mean?』

On a split screen, footage of the World Clock taken from close range was being displayed.

"Hey, shouldn't someone stop that thing...?"

Narashima's gaze followed a news helicopter approaching the World Clock.

He could easily imagine what happened — non-Awakened media personnel who couldn't sense the abnormal magic power on their skin had jumped the gun.

The footage expanded to full screen, showing an expert holding some kind of device.

『Send out a warning. Don't let that news helicopter get any closer.』

But the news helicopter showed no sign of moving away from the Clock, as if it couldn't hear the Association's orders. They knew this would boost their ratings.

『Is it safe to be this close?』

『The World Clock blocks external interference with its magic power to prevent intrusion. As long as you don't hit the doors with the rotor blades, there's no danger in approaching.』

The expert's commentary could be heard.

Many comments in the chat were criticizing the news helicopter's reckless behavior.

Ignoring a government warning, huh. Bold move.

Classic Newslock. Rock on, I guess.

In the end, whoever stands out wins in this world.

Revoke their broadcast license already, seriously.

lol Mad expert Inoura is on board too

Hope a leftover goblin pops out at them

That'd be funny

Suddenly — a gust of wind swept across the battlefield.

No, it wasn't just wind.

『Th-The helicopter's control... we're... crash...!?』

It happened in an instant.

The World Clock swallowed the news helicopter.

Wait, broadcast accident?

Inoura dies lmaooo

Hold on, the helicopter's gone?

Did anyone else see something weird flash for a second?

The comment section erupted in chaos.

Meanwhile, most of the Hunters felt their pulses quicken, bracing for the worst-case scenario.

"Those numbers... they're not the time until the Clock opens again. They're some kind of time limit, aren't they?"

Someone muttered those words aloud.

"Narashima-senpai, what is this...?"

Running up to Narashima with a frightened look was Akisame, an S-Rank Hunter of the Hunting Dogs Guild. Narashima prefaced with "I don't know either, but..." before sharing his theory based on circumstantial evidence.

"We could close the Clock, but we could never enter it. The World Clock was always one-way... but that assumption just got shattered."

A few years ago, when humanity had grown somewhat accustomed to the World Clock threat, survey teams from countries around the world began seriously investigating them.

But they couldn't physically destroy them, and they could only measure their magic power — nothing detailed was ever learned.

Just as the experts said, the Clock blocks external interference with magic power. In other words, there had never been a single case of anyone entering one.

"It's the same as five years ago. Something unprecedented is about to happen. In 48 hours and 20 minutes..."

The half-open World Clock, even after swallowing the news helicopter, continued ticking ominously and quietly.

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『—Therefore, we request the formation and dispatch of a survey team from the Hunter Association.』

At the Hunter Association headquarters' strategy room.

A government official on the monitor spoke flatly.

Vice President Mineyama reacted immediately.

"A request, is it? Or an order?"

The man stroked his beard and fell silent for just a moment.

『...It's a request for cooperation. However, it goes without saying that the Association plays a vital role in national security. The government will cover all expenses.』

"In other words — if we refuse, the Association's reliability will be called into question?"

『I'm not saying that. However, if this incident is left unaddressed, there may be future repercussions — being held accountable for preventable damage.』

A fist clenched with a grinding sound.

"...Are you trying to push the responsibility onto us?"

The man replied calmly again.

『We are merely requesting an investigation regarding concerning signs. The final decision on whether to enter is left to the professional judgment of those on the ground.』

— In other words, while saying "investigate," they were also taking the stance that "the government will not take responsibility if it fails."

Vice President Mineyama let out a small sigh.

"If something happens to the survey team, how should we report it?"

The man was silent for just a moment, then...

『...We ask that you ensure appropriate personnel selection and safety management to prevent such a situation.』

With that unilateral demand, the government's transmission cut off. The Association executives waited anxiously for the Vice President's response.

"...Let me explain the situation step by step. First, I'd like you to see the drone survey footage."

Footage appeared on the monitor in the strategy room.

The heavily static-filled image showed what appeared to be a structure. A small wreckage of the crashed news helicopter could also be seen.

Suddenly — the screen went black.

"What is this...?"

"We've sent several drone surveys, but the signal cuts out once they pass a certain distance. Furthermore, they can only remain on the other side for a set amount of time — specifically, about one minute."

Vice President Mineyama conveyed the results while continuing.

"The gain is that what's inside is not nothing. And they were able to return to this side while the signal was still active. Although there are many limitations, it's possible for drones to go back and forth."

More footage was added.

A figure could be seen waving near the news helicopter.

From their clothing, they were undoubtedly media personnel.

"We also confirmed that humans can survive inside. We don't know what effects it has on the human body, but at least it's not an environment that would kill non-Awakened individuals immediately."

Vice President Mineyama turned back to the executives.

"The remaining question is whether humans can go back and forth. Rescue operations using drones are underway, but the news helicopter fell quite deep, and due to the aforementioned reasons, we haven't been able to reach them."

"What about using ropes or poles?"

"The distance to the helicopter is considerable. Pole rescue is not realistic. And since the World Clock is a horizontal opening rather than a hole facing directly downward, rope rescue is also difficult."

Even if they lowered a rope from the other side, the drone's signal cuts out after one minute. Pulling a person up and escaping within that timeframe would be nearly impossible.

"What about skill interference? What about Kagoneri Hunter's clairvoyance, Mishima Hunter's spatial movement, Kurumi Hunter's puppet manipulation or Summoning Arts?"

To that question, Vice President Mineyama answered while advancing the footage.

"It seems that magic power is blocking them — none of them can pass through the door. However, regarding summoned beasts, we've obtained an interesting testimony..."

The paused footage showed a humanoid summoned beast that had been requested to investigate, with its head in its hands.

The summoned beast kept muttering like a mantra — scary, I don't want to go, it said.

The strategy room fell silent.

In other words, no one would know until they tried sending someone in.

And on top of that, it was a place that made even a summoned beast cower.

Based on current evidence, that was the conclusion.

Vice President Mineyama cut the footage and turned back to the executives.

"—We're forming a survey team."

Vice President Mineyama's voice rang out.

"But it's dangerous."

"Wouldn't it be a better strategy to have the entire army wait in formation for the count to hit zero?"

"Let's request cooperation from overseas."

Amid the opinions flying back and forth from the executives, Vice President Mineyama calmly continued the discussion.

"Regarding this abnormal situation, we've already sent cooperation requests to overseas Hunter Associations. However, this World Clock anomaly has been confirmed in three other countries besides Japan, and no official announcement has been made about which country will dispatch which Hunter. Furthermore, regarding the overseas Hunters who do respond to our request, they'll likely be stationed under the Clock rather than conducting internal investigations."

It's difficult for other countries to dispatch their precious combat resources to investigate a mysterious World Clock. They might even wait on the sidelines until more details emerge.

However — Vice President Mineyama's expression clouded.

"Given the rising magic power readings, there's a possibility that the situation will worsen the less time remains. If the World Clock opens again, we can't even imagine how much magic power it will have in 48 hours..."

"What about the other three countries!?"

"Two countries have already formed survey teams, but the quality of their Hunters is several tiers below Japan's. We could wait for their survey reports, but..."

Saying that, Vice President Mineyama paused for a moment.

"The government has issued orders to dispatch the Hunting Dogs. They see this as a golden opportunity to demonstrate Japan's military power to the world by completing the survey quickly."

"Are they still playing that pride game..."

"Those at the top don't understand the field."

Vice President Mineyama gave a wry smile and continued.

"But the fact is, this isn't suppression — it's an investigation. If we consider adaptability, tracking ability, and escape capability as the requisites, I can understand why the Hunting Dogs are being singled out."

Saying that, Vice President Mineyama issued instructions to the executives.

"Assemble members from each guild who prioritize investigation, rescue, and return — form a survey team."

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