Gate: Thus the Sorcerous Kingdom Fought There

CHAPTER 22: Calm Before the Storm, Devouring Doubts

Nanami was indeed excited. Being her job was to stream events as a reporter, she should have had already gotten used to the process, but in light of the recent events, and thanks to her minuscule stage fright, starting a report was always tricky, especially when her manager had ordered her to interview a bunch of weirdos. Especially when she exactly knew where her sister was serving just now! It made her work even harder and sourer. She was indeed worried about her sister's safety.

Wrapped in a full body pink costume, her slight but elegant makeup was barely visible, but it was well enough to give her face a new light. Being Shino's sister, she was almost her exact carbon copy. Brown hair, stocky but great figure with sizable assets. The traits passed down of the women's branch of the Kuribayashi family since generations.

If not for her longer, shoulder length hair, less muscled, flair stature, and the slight, minuscule differences on her appearance, everyone would confuse her with her sister.

(Some people would do it anyway on the family gatherings.)

Fidgeting nervously, she prepared for her report, making sure her appearance was pretty enough for the live feed and the camera.

Behind her, the strange, ancient-looking edifice stretched. Or at least, the always vigilant steel and ferroconcrete dome were visible well enough. The structure the Japanese government had raised around the 'Gate' after the Ginza incident.

It was a necessary precaution against the invaders.

Last time the Empire used Wyvern riders to assault Ginza from above, but not anymore! If they tried to invade again, first, they would need to get through the sturdy fortification, then the soldiers, tanks and automated AA units stationed in the buffer zone, not to mention the countless reserve units garrisoned in the closest base, which were ready to jump and bring down the hammer on the invaders once more.

Behind the high fence, numerous troops bearing the badge of the JSDF did their daily duty. Some units had just arrived from the other side, while a few of them had just left to relieve the freshly arrived soldiers from their extended, otherworldly obligation.

Day after day trucks went in and out, delivering and bringing supplies, spoils of war and similar things. The traffic was constant. Because of this, the sturdy metal gate separating the structure from the outside world only closed when it was necessary.

Several soldiers bearing the badge of UN just passed the structure.

Several civilians before the high fence watched them with awe and admiration, but a few of them, only a few of them gazed them with spite and alienation. There were even some JSDF members who spat after they left, cursing the UN for their measly attempt to take control over Japanese soil.

The UN soldiers varied in nationality and gender. Men, women, Americans, French soldiers, Germans, etc. Every major and even a few minor UN members had sent troops to contribute to the cause.

After the Demonic invasion of the Capital, the representatives of the United Nations managed to pressure Japan to let a few of their units take part in the operation. Take a slice of the cake. Referring to the fact it was not the internal affair of Japan anymore. Those creatures and the presence of a most likely space capable civilisation was a threat that warranted such action. They needed cooperation to solve the situation.

Not speaking about the appearance of the beings that were strong enough to throw city-sized meteors like confetti. It was a real enough threat to make a move.

Some representatives even suggested installing underground nuclear silos on the other side, lest the Sorcerous Kingdom turned against them. Some said, merely blowing up the edifice would be enough to get rid of the problem, make sure no threat could pass in their world. Some urged a military campaign against the Sorcerous Kingdom, referring to the fact the subjugation and the takeover of the Saderan Empire were too much.