It’s been a month since Fortress Area P336 had been retaken.
Its restoration has been proceeding smoothly, and work is being conducted by personnel centered on Familiars, Therianthropes, and Nereids.
Since the Stones have raised their vigilance, the present state of the battle had turned into an uneasy lull.
Metal Iris was developing rather smoothly, but the rest of humanity still couldn’t come together into a unified front.
As for the Stones, they have begun to increase the number of their Fortress Areas and Defense Domes.
Presently in Fortress Area P336, Blue was broadcasting her radio program from within Aristides.
「Good evening to all you listeners. It’s time for Dusk Buster. I’m your host, Blue. I’ll be in your care again, everyone. I want to introduce a new number today. It’s a song from the 21st century……」
Blue smoothly introduced the song and proceeded to play it.
This song was actually Blue’s favorite.
It was a classic anime song recommended by “The Guy Who Got Tricked by the Front Cover”.
「~~♪」
She sang in a soft voice as she scanned the requests sent in by the listeners to choose the next number.
Suddenly, the glass screen of Aristides’ broadcast room was tapped repeatedly.
It was the Therianthrope Lozere.
She put up a piece of paper against the glass and shook it repeatedly.
「Lozere? The mike is still on? Eh? No way? Kyaaah! I’m sorry!」
Blue turned off the microphone while hastily apologizing.
This kind of event was the absolute favorite of the listeners.
This broadcast quickly turned into a legendary episode, and before long it was widespread on WEB media.
Thanks to her clear singing voice and utterly cute reaction, Blue even earned the nickname “Fairy Blue”.
It didn’t take long for requests asking Blue to sing live to start coming in during broadcasts, making her all teary-eyed.
「I’m honored to join the famous Fairy Blue for shopping.」
「Right. I also think it’s amazing that I get to accompany Fairy Blue.」
Nyanta declared solemnly and Kou muttered nervously.
「As her manager, you need to constantly keep an eye on the surroundings. Idols can’t get involved in any scandals.」
「Mm.」
Aki and Aimer were also present.
「Just who is Fairy Blue? And what manager and idol!? If you pull that on me one more time, I’m going to shoot Unit 5 on the back, Mr. “Guy Who Got Tricked by the Front Cover”.」
「Don’t get angry for real…… I know already, okay?」
It seemed that Blue really hated being called by her new nickname.
Even someone as dense as Kou restrained himself in front of her ire.
A while ago, Kou had invited Aimer and the others to come to walk around the city block with him, and Blue also tagged along.
It seemed Aimer had invited her as well.
Fortunately, Kou didn’t see Aki and Nyanta’s eyes turning dark for a moment.
Voy quickly made his escape the moment he noticed the atmosphere.
「Do your best with carrying the luggage!」
He only left behind such words of encouragement.
「We can just use the delivery service nyaa, you idiot!」
The events of the day started with Kou trying to pacify an irritated Nyanta.
「Ehehe. How fun.」
Aimer was in an unusually good mood. She felt it was really worth coming along.
They checked out clothes, items from the Earth era, and Asian specialty products.
Kou had few chances to tour around places like this, but he had once again gotten that feeling of everyone living life normally.
There were no cars caught in traffic jams and no crowded trains.
However, various animals and Familiars came and went on the bustling streets, and his heart mysteriously calmed down.
「Kou, I want to go there next!」
「Shall we then?」
It was fun just to go to places Aki and Nyanta wanted to visit.
「There sure are a lot of people.」
「This is the first human mercenary recruitment drive of Metal Iris after all. Lots of hopefuls came from the world over.」
「That many?」
「Metal Iris is the most powerful Force among the emerging powers. Its military strength seems unfathomable and it’s won consecutive victories in combat. Of course, it’s gonna turn out this way.」
「But that also means things are getting pretty dangerous.」
Kou muttered.
They had certain won various battles. But those victories came with casualties. Familiars, Therianthropes, and humans had died.
「It’s also probably because we’ve only recruited Familiars, Therianthropes, and Nereids before nyaa.」
「Commercial facilities like shopping malls have been smoothly put up.」
「You like this stuff, right? When I suggested to the people from Benshin to open shop here, they agreed immediately.」
「Human Benshin employees can also get stationed here after all. In this place, Kou’s words are absolute.」
Aki and Nyanta explained the current situation.
Familiars who can survive on water alone didn’t really need to make money in the first place, so they conducted their businesses at reasonable prices. In that respect, Kou thought it would be fine if this place only had Familiars.
「But as the number of people here increases, the number of crude and strange folks also increases accordingly.」
They did have something akin to a police organization, and some of the Familiars going about the streets were actually serving that very role. Even the sparrows flying in the air were Familiars.
When it looks like something unsavory was about to happen, they’d attack the criminal like bullets to prevent crime. And then, the police dogs will take the offenders away.
Kou was concerned about the folks who would take advantage of the goodwill of Familiars and Therianthropes.
There were people everywhere who would take advantage of those who had good intentions after all.
「Please rest assured. As per the orders of the Shadow Boss, we make sure that no shady folks manage to get past our interviews.」
Blue emphasized Kou’s nickname of Shadow Boss. Perhaps it was her revenge for Kou calling her “Fairy Blue”.
「Alright Fai…… Oww. Sorry.」
Before he could even finish saying “Fairy”, Kou’s cheeks were pinched by a smiling Blue. Seen from the side, they only looked like very close lovers having a good-natured spat, and the jealous gazes of the two kemonomimi ladies sharply pierced Kou.
「Fine. You did promise me you’d treat me to a meal, right?」
「Yeah, I didn’t forget.」
「Eh? Since when!?」
Aki was lightly shocked. Kou thought she was making too much of a fuss about something so ordinary, but he didn’t understand a woman’s heart after all.
「Let’s have a meal together.」
They declared what they’d like to eat one after another and went to the nearest restaurant.