Editing Hagure Yuusha no Aesthetica:Volume 9 Prologue (section)

===Part 1===

There was a country known as Japan, an island nation in Asia that once had the second largest economy in the world. However -- ever since 30 years ago when young men and women from around the world began to be summoned to different worlds its economic power had been seriously threatened. Those teenagers obtained technology as well as magical abilities that even mankind's cutting-edge science and technology couldn't hold a candle to.

Countries around the world were forced to implement policy reform. 

However, to this new wave of change it was evident that Japan was half a step too slow compared to the international community.

There was no consistent policy reform, and always played the fence to the international community. This carelessness of Japan forced them to pay a price.

However, under strong domestic public opinion pressure the Japanese Government had no choice but to amend its Constitution. Promoting the status of the self-defense forces to a national army, then through COCOON planned the self governed region and constructed Babel, and so on. After barely being able keep up with the other advanced countries Japan was somehow able to get back on par.

Therefore...... 

"Even though we have come this far, why....."

The 108th Prime Minister of Japan - Sasagawa Shinya cautiously groaned.

It was the middle of the night in the Prime Minister's official residence. More accurate to say, it was the top floor Prime Minister's Office.

Japan was currently facing a critical situation related to the survival of the nation.

The secret research on cultivated high-dimensional being cells were at the present time stolen by an unknown party.

At present, all technology and abilities concerning alternate worlds without exception fall under the jurisdiction of the COCOON.

Once their research on the cells of a high-dimensional beings was exposed, it would undoubtedly be viewed as the Japanese Government were undermining COCOON -- that was to say, the betrayal of the world.

"When that moment comes Cocoon and new United Nations will draft a resolution to remove Japan as a permanent member state... ... It might even be impossible that Japan's name on a country to disappear from the world map."

Sasagawa's speculation was not alarmist talk.

A country had once betrayed COCOON, and today not just their name was removed off the map, the country itself completely disappeared from the Earth.

Having said that, as a reward for establishing a self autonomous region as well as constructing Babel, COCOON allows new permanent members of the United Nations to conduct a minor amount of research on alternate world technology and abilities. Each country's government was limited to the level of research that would not threaten COCOON's position. COCOON typically turns a blind eye to these studies.

Unfortunately Japan was the world's leading technology and research power.

And by chance obtained a high-dimensional being's cells.

The Japanese Government saw this chance not as a misfortune but rather as God-given luck, and begun to research the taboo--<nowiki><P cells></nowiki> or <Phoenix cells>.

Now the <nowiki><P cells></nowiki> have been lost to JPN-Babel school of COCOON -- Hikami Kyouya's hands.

"The former Government unexpectedly left such a terrible mess, I really don't know if they had head screwed on." 

Sasagawa spits out his bitter feelings.

In fact, <Phoenix cell> research was not one of Sasagawa's directives.

There were several research projects that the prior Prime Minister approved that Sasagawa was not informed of. And until a few days after the laboratory being broken into and the <nowiki><P cells></nowiki> went missing Sasagawa did not even know of the existence research project.

But no matter how reluctant, Sasagawa still will take responsibility.

After all, he is Japan's Prime Minister thereupon inherited the country's past politics.

"-- Prime Minister."

There was a light knock at the door and his secretary quietly enters Sasagawa's office.

"The relevant ministries and agencies are awaiting in the conference room. The conference room is also set up with a secure video channel in which the armies chief of staff is already on standby."

"Ah... ... I understand." 

After receiving the report from his secretary, Sasagawa slowly got up from his chair.

"Umm, Prime Minister..." 

His secretary calls out with an anxious look. 

"...... Do we really want to do this?" 

"There is no other choice...... Japan's only chance is to make Hikami Kyouya the scapegoat and shoulder all the responsibility."

As Sasagawa said, Japan had little choice.

Ideally I want to apprehend Kyouya and completely suppresses JPN-Babel, then surrender him to COCOON's headquarters. If we do this it may be possible for COCOON to have mercy on us. If you think about it someday, under these circumstance this was the best option.

But if it is not possible, all the original evidence that Japanese government was researching the <Phoenix cells> should at least be destroyed. In a certain sense, it may be a blessing that JPN-Babel is currently in lock-down.

...... If I had to guess–

I'm afraid that Hikami Kyouya probably also betrayed COCOON. The <Phoenix cells> theft incident happened five days ago, and the Japanese Government has not yet been denounced by COCOON, which is the best evidence of that being the case.

Therefore, all we can do now is take a hard line approach.

"If there cannot be peaceful take over, I'm afraid that Hikami Kyouya and JPN-Babel must be leveled."

"However, they are still COCOON and besides the self governed region....has many innocent people staying there. In the unlikely event of having to sacrifice them, I'm afraid that it will give rise to intense criticism from home and abroad."

"I understand, and when that moment comes I will assume all responsibility. Even if I leave behind the stigma of being the worlds most genocidal manic, and even brought before the guillotine, I will not turn back."

"The Prime Minister's determination is admirable, but... ... I ask to forgive your subordinates presumptuous."

His secretary pauses for a moment.

"-- This decision is not influence by the Prime Minister's own personal grudge?"

"......" 

The confronted with secretary's question, Sasagawa fell silent.

He understood what the secretary's connotation.

Sasagawa indeed profoundly hated alternate worlds.

On account of him harboring a grudge about losing his family....

Sasagawa Shinya's family went through hellish pain when his family was summoned to alternate worlds.

The Sasagawa family was forced to endure the mercilessly sudden separation in silence.  Sasagawa has three children, and all of them were summoned to alternate worlds.

His eldest son did not come back from the alternate world.

His second son did come back, but suffered a great scar on his heart over there.

After his second son gained special abilities he was viewed as a monster and was forced into the self governed region. Ultimately unable to stand the torment of the great scar on his heart, he chose to commit suicide.

Sasagawa and his wife's resentment eventually lead to their mutual divorce.

Therefore...... 

"I really do profoundly hate alternate worlds and I wish I could destroy the self governed region. I don't know how many families are broken because of that region. But...I can assure you that this decision is definitely not my own personal grudge."

The reason is very simple ...... 

Sasagawa still has a son.

Since his youngest son returned to this world it is almost impossible to make contact with him. His youngest son reviles Sasagawa, who favored politics over his second son and as well as for his death.

If this battle plan is implemented, Sasagawa will have to sacrifice his only remaining son. However, as the leader of a country, his strategic decisions cannot be effected by his personal feelings.

On the account of him having to protect his family and further his country.

Even if he considers his family, there still is no other choice.

Thus, the Prime Minister of Japan Sasagawa Shinya firmly says:

"Absolutely never give up. Even If I have to pay any price for the possibility of this country surviving, so be it."