Editing Hagure Yuusha no Aesthetica:Volume 4 Chapter 1 (section)

===Part 1===
Printed text that could arouse the reader’s emotions completely occupied the cover.

The attractive headlines conveyed the authors’ stubbornness and passion.

Daily Sports News. The front page covers that reported everyday sports competition in the world all had a similar paragraph of text.

“Oh, they actually published it! Ahh~ which one should I choose?”

Kaidou Motoharu, who had entered the convenience store, stood beside the counter looking at the goods from the newspaper shelves. He finally selected the Daily Super Sports News with a fiery style. After paying, Kaidou took the newspaper and energetically walked out of the convenience store.

<Shocking News! Visiting Singapore’s Dusk!>

This was the Daily Super Sports News’ cover headline.

After the headline, there was a report regarding the terrorist group <Scarlet Dusk>’s destruction of Singapore’s unfinished Babel. However, the destruction of Babel was only used as bait to attract terrorist groups. The United Nations also issued a press release, confirming that the real Babel was still safe and sound.

To construct the high-rise Babel required the use of a special magic. The construction period could not be compared with a normal building. If they carried out a large scale construction at the predetermined location, it would become an easy target for terrorist attacks, thus a fake Babel was naturally needed. Even for the fake Babel, the protective measures could not be sloppy; as Babel was a important facility for C.O.C.O.O.N., a weak protection would inevitably reveal the authenticity of the building. Therefore, there had never been a record of Babel suffering an attack during construction.

“—This record was finally broken by us.”

After reading the report, Kaidou folded the newspaper and tucked it under his arm. He then took out his phone, selected a number from his contact list, and pressed the dial button.

“…What’s the matter?”

After the phone call connected, a girl’s dull and indifferent voice came from the other end of the phone.

Kaidou could not help but give a wry smile.

“There’s no need to be so cold right, I haven’t offended you. Meme, are you currently free to talk?”

“No, please keep it short.”

The girl’s reaction suddenly made Kaidou crack a smile. Although she said that it is inconvenient, she would still chat for an awfully long time. Even her appearance of being indifferent was just to hide her warm-heartedness. 

At this moment…

“…I can see your face revealing a strangely annoying smile, can I hang the phone call now?”

“No way, you can even see this? This is only a phone call, but you still keep a stiff attitude!?”

Kaidou patted his face and retracted his frivolous look.

“Meme, Actually I have something to ask you, the all-knowing person. After yesterday’s mission in Singapore, didn’t I return back earlier? So I want to know the aftermath of the event.”

In short –

“- Who was the last to stay?”

Through the phone call, Kaidou Motoharu asked his companions - <Scarlet Dusk> members - a question.

After receiving the notice from their commander, Kaidou and several others had flown to Singapore from various locations in the world to meet up, and together destroy the fake Babel’s construction. Yes, they knew from the beginning that it wasn’t the real Babel.

Even though it was a fake Babel, its protective measures and the hardness of the building were no different from the real Babel.

Therefore, the mission of destroying the fake Babel was ultimately the best field exercise.

All these efforts were to destroy the real Babel.

This mission had nearly full attendance, except for one person. That’s right, the only absentee was the boss. Even receiving the commander’s notice, <Scarlet Dusk> founder still used the excuse of “The great Amazon is calling me>, and directly expressed his willingness to not participate.

This was not an excuse for shirking, currently he should be in the Amazon lands alone. 

After the mission for destroying the fake Babel had ended, Kaidou immediately left Singapore. Because it was the commander’s request to monitor Akatsuki’s movements.

“I did not stay till the very last moment, and am unclear about the situation. Commander also seems to have left the scene early.”

“- But you should have “seen” it right?”

Kaidou chuckled with an appearance filled with confidence.

<Scarlet Dusk>’s mission mode had always been meeting up and disbanding at the location. After the mission was completed, it was up to the individual to decide their next action; the organization would not interfere. Thus, the past Kaidou was never interested in the after-actions of other members. However, the situation this time was different. Before Kaidou and the others started the mission, they had received information about a few C.O.C.O.O.N members trying to use this chance to eradicate <Scarlet Dusk>. Thus, when Kaidou left Singapore, there were still various bloodthirsty members staying behind. C.O.C.O.O.N viewed <Scarlet Dusk> as a thorn, and at the same time, <Scarlet Dusk> also viewed C.O.C.O.O.N as a pest. Both camps had the goal of getting rid of the other.

“… The C.O.C.O.O.N responsible for India and China Babel seemed to take advantage of the summit and went to Singapore to investigate, as a result there was a conflict with Luka and Claire.”

“Oh wow, they really fought against C.O.C.O.O.N.?”

In his excitement, Kaidou could not help but raise his voice. This was confidential information that would not appear in the news media or on the internet.

All the news media were subjected to strict controls and would block any unfavorable news about C.O.C.O.O.N. It was evident that C.O.C.O.O.N had a large influence. 

“So…Who won?”

Compared to Kaidou, who was jumping up with joy, the tone on the other end of the phone seemed to be extraordinarily calm.

“Both sides fought for a while, and in the end there was no victor. It seems that the battle was too intense and attracted a large crowd of media and onlookers, so it ended abruptedly.”

“What… So boring.”

With his expectations dashed, Kaidou hid his inner disappointment.

Although C.O.C.O.O.N controlled the world’s media, they could not stop the chatter between individuals. Neither C.O.C.O.O.N nor <Scarlet Dusk> wished to reveal their secrets in front of the world.

“Since you were looking forward to it, why did you not stay in the first place? You seem to like standing at the sidelines and observing.”

The tone on the other end of the phone seemed to disapprove, but Kaidou smiled slightly, and did not mind.

“That’s okay. Fighting is the greatest “stage”, but I still prefer to be the audience. This is also the reason why I wanted to be close to that guy.”

“So you deliberately live in the self-governed area and even became a Babel student? But you cannot ignore the commander’s summons; it must be hard to hide this kind of thing.”

“Ahah, there is a trick for it.”

Kaidou was slightly arrogant. The self-governed area always had strict control measures for the alternative world returnees.

However, these measures all follow certain rules.

“As long as you understand the rules under the “frame”, you will naturally find a loophole.”

“Just as they say a good swimmer drowning in shallow water, don’t overdo it.”

“Rest assured, this kind of sneaky act is not difficult for me.”

“…There’s no difference between you and a cockroach.”

After saying this, the other side hung up the phone.

“Huh? Hey…Hey…Hey…? Meme? Really, she does not even give me time to say thanks.”

Kaidou sighed, put away his cell phone and leisurely walked towards the residential areas.

Currently Kaidou’s position was the self-govern area’s 3rd residential area. Approximately 40% of JPN Babel students lived here. Kaidou’s own apartment also belonged to the 3rd residential area. 

But Kaidou’s direction was opposite of his own apartment. The buildings on both sides of the road were almost all single-family houses. Kaidou walked leisurely in the quiet residential area.

After walking for a while – 

“Oh! Here it is, that’s the place.”

The building that Kaidou had set as his goal appeared in his sight.
It was the living place of his recently met “Best Friend”.

“Why not use the rare spring break to increase our friendship. Aki, you must be looking forward to it too right?”
Muttering to himself, Kaidou suddenly widened his eyes.

“Oh, looks like someone was here first.”

Kaidou scratched his cheek, looking awkwardly. In front of Akatsuki’s doorstep stood a familiar girl.

“Geez, what just happened?”

Kaidou carefully looked at the girl in front of him. Even during spring break, the girl was still wearing the school uniform.

The Student Council and Disciplinary Officer‘s armband was sparkling.

Yes, the girl was JPN Babel High school division Vice president – Nanase Haruka.