Chapter 93

"Kudo here, in charge of the investigation headquarters. Could you hand over that letter and report you mentioned right away?"

"Before that, may I ask a question?"

"What is it?"

"Do you trust that I am the real Kunitoku Kenjin?"

After a brief silence, Sudo shook his head slightly.

"I'm sorry, but at this point, I can't fully trust you."

"I understand. Then, could you look at the report first? The report was compiled by six teachers and the trainee teacher, Mr. Sugiyama. Please make your judgment after reading it."

As I took out the report from the shadow storage, Sudo's eyes widened.

"Is that also magic?"

"Yes, it allows me to store things in a shadow space. Here you go..."

"Wait! I need to check it first!"

The investigator called Katakami tried to snatch the report from the side, but I had no intention of handing it over.

"Hey, what do you think you're doing!"

"What's the matter? You've been rude from the start."

"What did you say... you..."

"Let it go, Katakami... it's fine."

After I handed over the report, Sudo put on gloves before accepting it and carefully opened the seal to start reading.

The report detailed being summoned to the Reisenburg Kingdom, the inhumane treatment at the garrison, the death of Sugiyama during the harsh training, and finally, escaping the garrison and reaching Volzard. It ended with the signatures and thumbprints of the seven.

"Hmm... the content is hard to believe at first glance, but from your magic and the handwriting in the report, it seems mostly accurate. I'll have to send this to the forensics team, but is that okay?"

"Yes, that's fine, but could you also make sure it reaches the principal and others?"

"Understood, I'll have copies sent."

"Also, I'd like the letters from my classmates to be delivered to their families..."

"Can I check the contents first?"

"Um... since there are private matters written in them, I'd prefer if you didn't open them..."

After a moment's thought, Sudo nodded.

"Understood, I'll arrange for them to be delivered to the families."

"Then, here they are..."

I took out the box of letters from the shadow storage again.

"Wow, so many... I guess it's natural with two hundred people..."

"Yes, everyone had a lot they wanted to say."

"By the way, Kunitoku, do you know about your family's situation?"

"Yes, actually..."

I explained how I returned to an empty home yesterday and gathered information at the library until I finished. Sudo nodded.

"Your mother was quite agitated when she was arrested, but she calmed down the next day and cooperated with the investigation. It seems the act was committed in a fit of anger, and she showed remorse and regret. We might have been too lax, but the surveillance wasn't adequate. I'm sorry..."

"To be honest, I still can't fully grasp the reality of it, and I don't know how to respond. For now, my priority is to get my classmates back, so I'd like to discuss the details later."

Actually, I'm afraid that if I hear too much, the reality will hit me and I'll be shocked.

"Understood. By the way, Kunitoku, I assume you brought the report and letters from the other world, but can't you bring people back?"

"Yes, the shadow space where I left the report and letters can't hold living things. However, I'm still trying to find a solution, as I don't fully understand how the magic works."

"I see... for example, would it be possible to bring a video camera from here, record something, and bring it back?"

"Yes, I think that's possible, but my home has been vacated, and I don't have any equipment or money."

"Your family might have requests, so keep that in mind."

"Understood."

"Then, I'd like to hear the details of your story... Morita, let's hear the story."

Morita, a young detective with a sturdy build and slightly droopy eyes, seemed approachable.

We moved to a different location, and he listened to the story from the summoning to today. After taking down the details, he asked me to repeat the story to check for inconsistencies.

"Hmm... there are no contradictions, and I saw you take out the box of letters with my own eyes, so I have to believe it. But if I only read the content, it sounds like pure fantasy."

"I didn't expect you to believe it just from the story, so I used magic to travel here."

"What does it feel like to use magic?"

"Hmm... it's hard to describe, but it's like... what I imagine actually happens, so it feels a bit strange."

"Can the other kids use magic normally?"

"Yes, they all can, but they use incantations to activate it."

"Magic... I'd like to try it myself, but I don't want to be locked up in such a terrible place."

Morita frowned as he tapped the report he had written.

"If this were to go to trial in Japan, would it be considered kidnapping and imprisonment?"

"Technically, it would be kidnapping and imprisonment leading to death or injury, but a trial in Japan might be difficult..."

"Right now, I can't bring Kamila here, but if I could, could she be tried in Japan?"

"Hmm... I understand your feelings, but it's complicated. There are many issues, but first, we need to prove how they were taken and the existence of magic."

"Could I demonstrate magic... no, that won't work... we need to prove the summoning ritual Kamila used, right?"

"Yes, but in modern society, the existence of magic hasn't been proven, so a warrant wouldn't be issued."

Moreover, the Reisenburg Kingdom is a foreign country with no diplomatic relations with Japan, there's a language barrier, and without the body of Sugiyama, proving murder or injury leading to death is difficult. It seems challenging to try Kamila and the others in Japan.

I thought if Kamila can't be tried in the other world, then a trial in Japan would be the solution, but it was too naive.

"To put it simply, think of it as a more complex version of the abduction of Japanese citizens by a certain country."

"I see... it won't be easy to resolve."

Currently, Kamila admits to summoning us, but negotiations between Japan and Reisenburg will complicate matters.

"Kunitoku, things will get tough from here on out."

"Tough... like the media?"

"No, the current situation is that only you can go to the other world, while the others are being protected in Volzard."

"Yes, that's the situation."

"You'll likely be questioned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Cabinet Office, and the National Public Safety Commission, and they'll request your cooperation."

"Really... it's that serious?"

"As I said, this is an abduction and a destructive act by a foreign country. The Japanese government can't ignore the significant harm to its citizens, especially since you're dealing with the Reisenburg Kingdom."

Indeed, when a Japanese journalist was captured by armed forces in a country with ongoing civil war, the government devoted all efforts to rescue them. With over two hundred people unable to return to Japan, it's natural for the government to take action. And, whatever is done, only I can travel between Volzard and Japan.

"Ah... I feel a heavy burden coming on."

"I'm sorry, but we need a lot of cooperation from you."

"But, it's difficult to have a trial in Japan, right?"

"Yes, but we can't stop investigating. Until the higher-ups decide to halt the investigation, it's our case."

This is what you might call adult matters.

And, as Morita said, various officials from different ministries appeared, and after explaining to one, another would come. This went on until night.

It would have been easier to gather everyone and explain once.

During the explanations, I learned a few things.

I thought of bringing back compensation in gold, but I didn't know that gold is subject to customs duties. However, given the circumstances, they might consider tax exemptions.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will calculate the compensation, including those who were injured or killed, and convert it to the current gold price. The amount of gold that can be purchased in Volzard will be the compensation requested from Kamila.

The response from the ministries will come after they consider my story, and I'll need to visit the investigation headquarters daily to stay in touch. The investigation headquarters will also collect letters from the families of my classmates.

After the explanations, I was about to leave when Morita invited me to dinner.

"Kunitoku, let's go for dinner. We'll be working together a lot, so I'll treat you."

"Is that okay? Thank you."

It seems like a reward for dealing with adult matters, so I'll gladly accept.

Morita led me to a conveyor belt sushi restaurant a short walk from the police station.

"Sorry... it's not a fancy place, but it's been a while since you've had sushi, right?"

"Yes... oh! I almost forgot..."

"What's wrong? Is it something important?"

"Yes, I'm sorry, Morita, could you lend me some money?"

"Did someone in the other world ask you for something?"

"Yes, the girls asked me to definitely buy this..."

This morning, before leaving Volzard, I forgot to buy something the class representative whispered to me.

I remembered when I saw the drugstore on the first floor of the sushi restaurant.

"I see, there's a shortage of medicine in the other world, right?"

"No, the medical level isn't as advanced as in Japan, but with healing magic, it's not that bad."

"Then, what did they ask you to buy?"

"Well... they asked me to buy boxes of day and night use..."

"Day and night use...?"

"Yes, I don't know how to ask for them..."

"Kunitoku, what are you talking about?"

"Well... it's... feminine hygiene products..."

"Oh... I see... okay, I'll pay, but you'll have to order from the clerk."

"Ugh... understood."

I went through the automatic doors of the drugstore and stepped into the feminine hygiene section, but the feeling of being out of place was overwhelming.

When female customers approached, I instinctively moved away from the shelves.

The looks I received were painful.

Moreover, with so many types like slim, long, and with wings, I had no idea which to buy.

I had no choice but to ask a clerk, but I couldn't ask a male clerk.

Why is Morita watching from so far away?

I glared at Morita, who was clutching his stomach in agony, and was then approached by a young female clerk.

"Customer, are you looking for something?"

"Yes! Well, um... you see, I'm not going to use them, but... my female classmates asked me to..."

I explained that my classmates in the other world asked me to send them, and asked the clerk to help me choose.

I was sweating so much, my throat was dry.

"I wasn't given any specific brand, so I don't know what to choose..."

"Let's get a variety, then?"

"Um, a variety...?"

"Well, heavy flow and regular flow for day use, and night use long should be enough. Just in case, you might want to include some tampons, heavy flow and regular flow."

"Okay, then, in boxes..."

"Boxes?"

"Yes, there are many people..."

"I see... understood. I'll prepare the items, please wait a moment."

"Thank you... phew..."

I probably look like a boiled octopus right now.

Morita paid for the four boxes of feminine hygiene products.

When Morita asked for a receipt in the name of the police station, the clerk looked puzzled.

"Morita, can this be expensed?"

"I don't know, but we can't request a refund without a receipt."

I pretended to load the four boxes into the car and then discreetly stored them in the shadow storage