Chapter 29

Episode 29. Shark Pajamas

***

Although we succeeded, the aftermath was complicated.

The Peace Corps employees returned home safely, three prisoners were held in the Foundation’s isolation rooms, and Nanami might face disciplinary action for insubordination and intentional communication blackout.

This is the Humanoid Containment Wing.

The researchers from the Humanoid Research Department thought it would be good for me to meet the prisoners. I’m not sure if it’ll help, but I wanted to meet them too.

There are three prisoners: the Returnee, Kairos, and Cosmos. I’m not sure what happened to the others.

I stared at the man sitting behind the glass of the isolation room. Kairos. The person who infiltrated the Foundation’s facility and smuggled out an important prisoner.

Though he was caught again.

Kairos was wearing a black coat. It wasn’t the one he came in with. Seeing the Foundation’s emblem on the coat, it seemed the staff had provided him with something similar.

Black hair and brown eyes. His appearance alone didn’t reveal his nationality, but he had a somewhat exotic look. Overall, he gave off a rather intense impression.

Anyway. I sat down in the seat prepared in front of the glass, and Kairos bowed his head to me.

“Are there any inconveniences in the isolation room?”

Kairos ignored my question.

“What happened to the anthrax? Will my daughter, Miss Cosmos, survive?”

“She’ll recover well with the medication.”

Silence. Kairos let out a sigh of relief.

“I’m sorry. I’ll do anything. I don’t care if I die, but please save my daughter.”

The girl who opened the gate for teleportation.

“Is Miss Cosmos doing well?”

I don’t know what measures the Foundation’s researchers took to block teleportation, but it probably wasn’t a pleasant experience. As far as I know, they haven’t conducted any dangerous experiments yet.

“Miss Cosmos is doing well. Once the tests are finished, you should be able to see her by tomorrow.”

“Ah, that’s a relief.”

“Mr. Kairos. We’ve confirmed that you’re not biologically related to Miss Cosmos. Please tell us the truth. What is Miss Cosmos’s true identity?”

“……”

I glanced back for a moment.

“As you can see, Miss Cosmos is my adopted daughter, and she has a very special ability.”

The conversation was being recorded by the Humanoid Research Department researchers. Judging by Kairos’s expression, it seemed to be true.

Let’s ask more.

“Do you know what you’ve done now? You attacked the Foundation, smuggled out a dangerous supernatural ability user, and tried to shift the blame onto hostile groups.”

I wish that were the case. But it’s likely connected to the strange cultists I saw in the garden or the artists at the museum.

To be precise, there’s no evidence that it’s not connected.

I looked at the prisoner, but Kairos shook his head.

“I’m sorry. It was just cheap sympathy for a fellow anomaly, with no grand purpose.”

“Mr. Kairos. I want to ask about the supernatural entity called the ‘Librarian.’ Do you know what it is?”

The Librarian.

A supernatural entity found in the building where Kairos was hiding, resembling a humanoid form made of black tentacles.

It didn’t die even when shot, and aside from approaching, it didn’t show any hostile actions. Though it was subdued by Nanami’s gun before that.

“Those who die in the Temple of Knowledge serve the gods of knowledge forever. Those black entities. We don’t create them.”

I stared at Kairos.

Didn’t he realize that giving such a bizarre answer would make his position even more precarious?

Anyway, I got a clue. It’s connected to some supernatural space called the Temple of Knowledge.

It’s about time to wrap up the interview.

“Do you need anything?”

“I don’t. Please take good care of my daughter.”

“I’ll do my best.”

I stood up from my seat.

***

Next up is Miss Cosmos. Cosmos was already sitting in front of the glass panel in the isolation room, waiting. Did she know I was coming?

Still, she looked quite happy.

Cosmos was hugging a rabbit plushie, sitting in the isolation room. Where did she even get that?

“Hello, Miss Cosmos.”

“Nice to meet you.”

Cosmos was just a pretty girl. Judging by her appearance, she looked like a high school student.

She was wearing clothes provided by the Foundation, but the unusual thing was that her eyes occasionally glowed purple when you looked into them.

I briefly checked the research records. Miss Cosmos is a supernatural ability user capable of teleportation. There must be a way to prevent her from teleporting.

“Let me read the file for a moment.”

Hmm, here it is.

They mixed sedatives into her food, installed a Reality Anchoring Device in the containment wing, and the isolation room is lined with osmium. Similar to the Returnee’s case, she has 13 types of tracking devices attached.

Moreover, they’ve increased her suggestibility to make her more cooperative with the Foundation’s work.

Even though it’s good to be thorough, I’m not sure if conducting an interview in this state has any meaning. She’s just sitting there with her eyes open.

Let’s ask anyway.

“Miss Cosmos. Can you explain how you perform teleportation?”

“Hmm, I stretch out my hand and chant a spell, then a black spherical gate opens. It connects two points in reality, but using it consecutively or multiple times a day is very difficult.”

That was a much clearer answer than I expected.

What I really want to know is this. They’re ultimately members of a specific supernatural group. What is Cosmos’s group’s goal? What are they trying to do?

“Are there any inconveniences?”

“I want to get out.”

That’s a given.

“Once you’re treated and cooperate with the Foundation, we’ll do our best to let you out as soon as possible.”

Cosmos nodded.

***

The interview was over.

There weren’t any major breakthroughs, but at least there’s a record of the interview. As I stepped into my office, Popo walked over, bobbing up and down as if greeting me.

“Friend.”

Popo looked up at me.

I sat at my desk, fiddling with my notebook.

Everything seems connected, but there’s not enough information to make a direct judgment. There aren’t many people to ask, and I don’t feel like calling headquarters.

I joined the Foundation as the Director’s assistant. Thanks to my hard work, I’m now functioning like the mascot of the Director’s Office.

Foundation employees come to me when they want something confirmed or when they want to push something forward.

I’m inexperienced and don’t know much, but from the employees’ perspective, it seems reassuring to report to someone and shift some responsibility.

Popo climbed onto my lap.

“Popo, what do you think I should do?”

There was no answer. The decision is ultimately mine. Popo’s job is just to look cute.

***

“Uh, Dr. Kim! There’s a serious problem. You need to come and see this.”

***

[Regarding the recent movements of hostile groups]

[Author: Information Department]

[It is believed that the activities of hostile groups have significantly increased. We are working to identify the cause.]

[We do not believe the words of Cosmos and her father. The fact is, they tried to steal a weapon of mass destruction from the Foundation.]

[Even if we don’t dissect them immediately, there’s no need to believe their words. We must also research the connection between their supernatural abilities and hostile groups.]

[There’s an eclipse coming soon. Although a direct connection hasn’t been confirmed yet, we don’t think it’s unrelated.]

[The Peace Corps soldiers have returned safely. They whined a bit, but the Supernatural Phenomenon Management Agency seems to understand our situation.]

[Something big is coming.]

***

[Humanoid Supernatural Phenomena, Kairos and Cosmos.]

[Author: Kim Bari]

[Written by Dr. Kim after receiving a briefing.]

[The two entities claim they acted out of sympathy for the contained humanoid supernatural phenomena. It seems like a lie.]

[Kairos.]

[Kairos is an adult male who appears to be a foreigner. He speaks multiple languages.]

[He is believed to be a Wizard Type capable of utilizing supernatural phenomena as needed. Kairos has attacked Foundation facilities and destroyed Foundation assets at least once.]

[Cosmos.]

[Cosmos is a girl whom Kairos claims is his daughter. This claim has no basis, and the two entities do not share any genetic material.]

[She appears to be around high school age. So far, she has been cooperative with the Foundation. However, given her teleportation ability, she is an extremely dangerous supernatural phenomenon, and the Humanoid Research Department is maintaining the highest level of caution regarding her.]

[Since being contained, Cosmos has requested various items such as books, dolls, snacks, and clothing. All requests have been granted within reasonable limits.]

[P.S. If anyone knows what shark pajamas are, please come to the Humanoid Containment Wing.]