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K – Return of Kings: After Stories (Web Novel) - After Story #7 by Furuhashi Hideyuki
After Story #7 by Furuhashi Hideyuki
This chapter is updated by NovelFree.ml
“Photos?”
“Yes, sir. An order from the Legal Arrairs Bureau compels us to hold a photoshoot at the end of the financial year in April. They requested a group photo depicting Scepter 4 as a whole and each section individually. Also, in regards to you in particular, Captain, in addition to the individual portrait, they wish to have at least one shot of you with your close aids and the members of your trusted convoy unit. And this…” Awashima hesitated, clearly anxious.
“I see,” Munakata replied. “The so called ‘formality’ request by the authorities.”
What was passed off as merely photos - or, in this case, 'group shots’ - would become the referential data specifying the number of personnel and structure of Scepter 4 as an organization.
Until a few months ago, Scepter 4 was essentially an openly secret organization all but privately owned by the Blue King, Munakata Reishi; presently though, it was in the process of settling its status as an official body. It was due to that reason that Scepter 4 had to deal with multiple requests to provide all kinds of information, documents and photos.
However…
“…I could not have wished for a better opportunity.”
“Huh…?” Awashima raised her brows, but Munakata simply gave her a calm smile.
*
A few days later Fushimi Saruhiko questioned with extreme displeasure, “Is there even a need to take that group photo?”
“In the Captain’s vision, there is, apparently,” Awashima replied.
Usually, Fushimi hated being taken pictures of. He was someone who, as a young boy, was involved in various minor offenses, and after joining Scepter 4, no small number of his missions called for undercover investigation. So he made it his habit to avoid doing anything that could potentially get him identified at the worst time… that had to be part of it, but not the whole reason.
“There’s the photos that we use for our IDs, so please feel free to stick mine in whatever blank space you find fit. They did it for my middle school graduation album just fine, as far as I remember.”
The fact that Fushimi even said something so childish only confirmed that his reservations were mostly due to him simply hating getting his pictures taken as a personal preference for no particular reason.
’…I see, there is also that viable option at our disposal,’ Munakata had forced his way into the conversation, currently taking place in the information processing room, through the comm devices pinned to his two subordinates’ collars. 'Indeed, it might be amusing to use the existing photos of all the members to create a montage picture.’
“Captain…?” Awashima inquired and felt her superior smile with a wry smile on the other end of the comm line.
'My apologies, it was a joke. Thinking that Fushimi-kun might need my persuasion on the matter, I have been listening in on your conversation.’
“Hah… You have, huh.”
'I would really like to take a picture with you two, you see.’
At Munakata’s words, Awashima’s back straightened just a little.
“…I have trouble understanding your reasons.” The corners of Fushimi’s mouth, in contrast, were bend down in dissatisfaction. But even that expression was already changing from displeased to puzzled.
Munakata Reishi was not a person to waste effort on meaningless things. If anything, taking into account the trouble and risk associated with adjusting work shifts for active service troops just for the sake of a mere formality such as a photoshoot, Munakata, unfazed in the slightest, would rather submit the montage he mentioned in passing as a joke earlier than actually hinder the work. And yet, he himself said that he wanted to take those damn pictures. Just what was this about? And why did he stress that he wanted to take them with the two of them specifically?
Munakata, as if in reply to Fushimi’s puzzlement, continued, 'Speaking in plain words… having lost my power as a king, I have become weak. Don’t you think so, Fushimi-kun?’
“…Well, yeah, I guess,” Fushimi answered with some hesitation. He couldn’t figure out what designs Munakata had in mind when asking him that question. To sound out his intentions, Fushimi elaborated, “The Dresden Slate has been lost in the final battle against Jungle, so the Seven Kings, whose powers were bestowed upon them by it, no longer exist. As you are now, calling you the husk of a king… might be an exaggeration, but it’s a cold hard fact that right now you’re nothing more than a superability holder that’s just a little stronger than your typical beta class.”
“Fushimi, you’re going too far—”
'No, it is precisely as he said,’ Munakata interrupted Awashima’s reprimand. 'As I am now, there is no Sword of Damocles hanging over my head anymore, nor do I have a king’s absolute might to prove my kingly authority. However, even if kings no longer exist, there is still a great number of supernatural ability holders in this world. Considering the potential harm and chaos they might sow, my self-imposed duties as the Blue King did not go anywhere.’
“In other words, what you’re saying is that the world still needs the Blue King…”
'Yes, and now that I am no longer one, in order for me to fulfill my duty as a king, your help and power is essential. That is why we need to hold that photoshoot.’
“For public appeal, huh. To show that the power of the Blue King doesn’t lie in the ability of a standalone individual but in the unity of an organization… though it sounds awfully like whitewashing, if you ask me.”
'Of course, that is the official stance. Fabricating a faux but easily understandable reason, so to speak. My real motive is…’ There was a slight pause, and the two sensed Munakata smiling again. 'I just thought that socializing with the troops once in a while and promoting friendship this way was a good idea, simple as that.’
“Friendship, huh…”
'Thank you for your understanding.’
The line went dead, and Fushimi clicked his tongue quietly.
Watching him, Awashima surreptitiously nodded to herself.
What Munakata told Fushimi about his motives was about a half of the explanation Awashima herself had received a few days ago. Fushimi, having figured out so much from such a scarce exchange, was plently sharp-minded, except Munakata, after drawing a reaction out of Fushimi and giving him just enough information to encourage him to go along with the undertaking, had ended the conversation just in time to keep the rest of said information hidden.
The other half that Awashima was aware of she learned from the exchange that had taken place a few days prior.
What if the demand to submit the pictures could have the underlying objective of the government, that regarded an organization of superability holders as dangerous, trying to put a tight rein on Scepter 4 or, perhaps, remove the unwanted obstacle in its way…?
When Awashima voiced that fear, Munakata answered, “Fine by me. If they want to put a rein on us, it means that they feel they can connect with us, and if they are trying to remove us as an obstacle in their way, then they must see us as standing on the same ground. Until now, we and they were estranged, and that was where Jungle struck, inciting the crisis we have been put through not so long ago. If the government will be so kind as to shorten the distance between us of their own accord, to us it is beneficial, even if they are doing it with the objective to keep tabs on us.”
“So we can use the hand that is stretched out towards us to put the screws on us to our advantage… Am I understanding it correctly, sir?”
Munakata didn’t answer, just showed another smile,
Awashima made herself focus on the present again, “Fushimi…”
“I know.” Fushimi leaned listlessly and heavily on the back of his chair. “With the brilliant mark shining over his head gone, the person named Munakata Reishi has, in turn, found himself in a position with more freedom and more opportunities to be crafty and take advantage of others’ weaknesses… This unspoken connection between us and the rest of the world is going to be important from now on. This is, by no means, the way of doing things I find agreeable, but I assure you that I understand that it is necessary.”
“As long as you understand, that’s all I ask.”
“…It pisses me off though how gung-ho he is about it.”
Awashima let a strained smile curve her lips at his sulky tone before she could check it.
*
And so, the day of the photoshoot had come.
“Alright then, a test shot in… 3, 2, 1, smile!”
After the shutter clicked twice, then once more, the photographer lifted his head away from the finder. “This will do for the composition, but… excuse me, gentleman on the left from Captain-san, can I ask you to look at the camera please?”
“Fushimi—”
Munakata didn’t let Awashima finish, “No, he can stay as he is. I have no objection to the photograph capturing him being himself.”
“Haah.” The photographer could only incline his head in puzzlement, while Fushimi took the chance to turn even farther away from the camera.
“Okay then. Let’s get to it for real now—”
“Special Operations squad, draw!”
“”“Ma'am!”“” At Awashima’s command, the 8 specially chosen members of the Special Operations squad unsheathed their sabers and held them upright to their chests.
Now that the enormous Sword hanging in the sky and pointing down had disappeared, what ensured and protected the continued existence of the Blue King was a row of smaller swords on the ground pointing towards the heaven. For they were the strength that the head of Scepter 4, Munakata Reishi, relied on now.
“Alright, here we go—” Munakata whispered quietly yet distinctly when the photographer leaned over his camera the words that gave the subordinates standing behind him a renewed sense of pride and strength. “—We will advance with sword in hand for our cause is pure.”
