Genjitsushugi Yuusha no Oukoku Saikenki

Side Story 2: Nameless Heroes

Every evening in the Kingdom of Friedonia, a number of variety programs aired on the Jewel Voice Broadcast.

Depending on the day, it may be a singing program, or a serialized drama, a performance program centered around comedy and tricks, but all of them had a firm grip on the peoples hearts. With the high praise those programs received from the people of the kingdom, the number of fixed broadcaster receivers kept rising. Now they were even placed in small towns, and in the large cities there were multiple installations, increasing the number of places where people could watch. There were no means of recording, and all broadcasts were live, so there was a lack of freedom there, but broadcasts had taken solid root as part of this countrys culture.

Out of all those broadcast programs, there was a documentary drama currently on that had become a hit with the people.

The name of the program was Nameless Heroes.

[Nameless Heroes Episode 3: The Closers of the Gap]

What set this drama apart was the black curtain set up at the back of the screen.

Because the Jewel Voice Broadcast still only allowed for live broadcasts, drama programs involved the actors acting out the scripts the moment the broadcast began. Because of that, it was normal to have a proper set (backdrops, and such) behind the performing actors, to make it feel as little like a play as possible; but this drama was shot in front of a black curtain.

The other thing that stood out was that the characters all wore black hoods like the kuroko stagehands in a kabuki production. This, despite them wearing outfits appropriate to their role from the neck down.

Now, as for the effect this had: In combination with the black curtain, it made them appear to have no faces. Because it was a thin black cloth in front of their faces, the actors could see well enough to act, but the viewers watching the broadcast couldnt see the actors faces.

I believe you will see why this manner of presentation was used as we watch the program.

Now then, on the stage for todays drama there was a scene overflowing with the sorts of things seen in an experimental laboratory.

There were two young researchers, a man and a woman, wearing white coats, who were using a set of balance scales to measure out an amount of powder, or peering up into a round-bottomed flask being heated with an alcohol burner.

Oh, geez! The male researcher who had been measuring with the scales pounded on the table.

Hey, Toto, those chemicals are dangerous, so dont go shaking things, the female researcher said critically when she saw how her junior colleague was behaving.

The male researcher she called Toto wasnt done being angry yet. But, Momo! When we graduated from the Royal Academy, we entered Cosno Labs out of a passionate drive to develop something that will help the people of this country! Like Madam Genia of the House of Maxwell does! And yet... the work that comes our way is always just to research her research...

Unable to refute his words, the female researcher called Momo sighed. ...Its true, Genia has produced a lot of incredible inventions. But didnt Dr. Mattis always say that basic research is just as important?

Yeah, see, I cant accept that! Totos knuckles were white with frustration. Dr. Mattis is a great researcher! A great researcher whos produced results with slow, steady progress... but the only one who gets public praise is Genia, for her string of eccentric inventions!

...Yeah, Momo said. Well, I can understand the feeling...

No, we shouldnt have any mages in this lab who can use gravity manipulation magic, said Mattis.

B-But, Doctor, that pen is floating as we speak!

Hm... But the way it floats is strange. As if its been caught by something.

With that said, Mattis got closer, and passed his hand over the top of the pen. When he did, the pen moved with his right hand, as if it were attached to the bottom of it.

Huh?!

I see... So thats it.

While the two researchers were reacting with surprise, Mattis nodded sagely. Then, grasping the floating pen with his left hand, he had them take a good, close look at the space between the bottom of his hand and the pen.

Look closely. Dont you see something in between?

...Ah! Its very fine, but I do see something like a thread!