"What? Yurippe, you trusting this guy above me?"
Noda, whom one can describe as an antiquated Royal Guard in a school uniform, swung his keening halberd in my direction, almost lopping off Oyama's terrified head in the process.
"What, I picked Otonashi-kun precisely because of the nature of this mission," Yurippe, the able leader of the Afterlife War Front, replied coolly as she reclined in her chair, adjusting her white beret as she shifted.
"Are you saying this weak-looking guy is much stronger than me? A guy who hasn't even proven his strength?" If glares could emit high-pulse lasers, I would've been obliterated by that guy's right now.
"Calm down fool, you haven't even heard what the mission is about, yet."
The birds were quite calm this morning - I could hear them clearly in the silence that followed.
"Idiot," someone in the room muttered softly.
"WHO'RE YOU CALLING AN IDIOT?", Noda demanded, swinging his halberd around again and causing Takamatsu to duck.
"Obviously you, since you reacted so strongly just now when all we just heard from
Yurippe was 'Otonashi-kun, I have a mission for you',"Hinata, who was sitting on the sofa beside me, quipped.
"What did you say?" The idiot gripped the weapon tighter.
Matsushita, known to the Front as Matsushita 5-dan, restrained the rampaging Noda in an armlock and asked Yuri, "He does have a point, Yurippe. Why was he specifically called out at the start for this mission?"
"Like I said," Yuri sighed as she clasped her hands in front of her, "It's because of the nature of this mission."
The light in the room dimmed as the curtains were closed. The usual briefing screen now lit up behind Yuri's chair, briefly displaying the Afterlife War Front's insignia.
"Due to the delicate nature of this mission, I have decided to let this be Otonashi-kun's responsibility as a member of the War Front." I could feel everyone's eyes on me.
"But what is it about this mission that requires me specifically?" I asked Yuri.
"Everyone, have you heard about the legends of this school?"
I felt a rising surge of annoyance before Yuri could even finish her sentence. Slowly, I turned my head to look at Hinata beside me, who was keeping a straight face as he returned my questioning look.
"You..."
"Honest, it wasn't me really!"
I was suddenly feeling so tired even though it was early in the morning.
"Oh, you're talking about the legend of the Giant Phantom!" I turned my questioning gaze from Hinata to Oyama, who'd just said that.
"Oooh, I haven't heard of that one."
"Or about the Monstrous Diva?"
"The Orbs at Night?"
"How does that go?"
"...well, late at night, when the sky is especially clear..."
"Total eclipse of the heart..."
"Hold on," I said loudly to catch everyone's attention, "you mean those legends do exist?
And that there're many of them?" I glanced at Hinata. So the guy hadn't been kidding around?
Takamatsu adjusted his glasses and nodded. "Like the past world, this one also follows its own set of rules. One of the secret conditions for this school to be as authentic as
possible is the inclusion of 'school legends'. So yes, they do exist - little rumors spread among the NPCs that eventually find their way to us in the Front."
Well, I'd already assumed most of what he said, but there was no harm in confirming.
Then again, if this was another of Hinata's pranks...I thought to myself when I glanced at the guy in question again.
"The existence of these legends," Yuri's clear voice resonated through the room, "serves as another one of the little details this world made up. It gives off the illusion of mystery, and is probably another stepping stone to fulfillment.
"Which we in the Front," Yuri concluded, "want to avert." She turned her gaze toward me again. "While our priority is to continue our war against God, I feel that it is also necessary to investigate certain aspects of this world so that we can gain some understanding of how it works. It is to that end that I have chosen you, Otonashi-kun, to undertake this investigation."
"I understand...", I mumbled slowly. I had a lot of questions in my mind, but I decided to wait until her little speech was over.
"This is an informal mission, and is to remain a secret among the people in this room. I expect you all to help Otonashi-kun in any way you can in this investigation. To help facilitate this process, I have prepared this." She handed me a calling card of sorts. On one side was the Front's logo, and on the other was...my picture, and a little sign at the side that read, "Authorized to conscript".
"Um...what does this mean?"
"That is an card that officially authorizes you, under my command, to take control of other assets in the Front. Basically, simply show that card around at our people and they will be forced to follow you to assist in whatever way they can with your mission."
There was a beat of silence before everyone in the room started in shock.
"Huh? So you mean Otonashi can just wave that thing around and we're forced to follow him?"
"This is ridiculous, Yurippe, you can't expect me to follow orders from this weakling?"
Swing went that thing again.
"Yes, I expect you to. Think of it this way: following him means you're indirectly answering to me. Is that any more clearer to you?"
Some of the others in the room, like Hinata, Oyama and 5-dan nodded slowly, but the others like that Noda were still glaring daggers at me.
...at least I know now who I'm not gonna use this card on.
"Remember, success here will bring us one step closer to delivering a good punch to God's face. So I expect nothing less but the best." Yurippe's clear voice resounded forcefully around the room. It was enough to stifle the few remaining visible resistance as everyone in the room then nodded.
Yuri glanced at me again as she finally said, "Very well, dismissed."