At the aquarium it was still okay, but the closer they got to the stadium where the concert was being held, the worse the traffic jams and the crowding became. By the time they reached the stadium, the lines had already formed into long dragons of people, and there were quite a few police on the road keeping order.
No wonder even Lycoris had shown up.
Hachiman's gaze swept across the crowd and fell on the ordinary-looking girls in light beige school uniforms with school bags over their shoulders, and he secretly marveled at the power of the mermaid songstresses.
Although he didn't know why Inoue Takina was here, he wasn't worried that Inoue Takina and Nishikigi Chisato would pose any threat to him.
But once he knew Lycoris existed, it only took a little attention to notice those Lycoris members disguised in school uniforms among the crowds.
Compared to the stunning Nishikigi Chisato and Inoue Takina, the girls in light beige uniforms matched the identity of operatives more: plain and unremarkable faces, blending into the crowd without drawing attention.
It was just that now the crowd was far too dense. Lycoris operatives would find it hard to discreetly assassinate with a silenced handgun in such a public place.
"Hello, excuse me, are you Mr. Hikigaya?"
As he gazed at the congested lines near the concert, Hachiman was just about to find an empty place to activate Love Live mode and teleport to Ellio and the others when he noticed a woman in sunglasses walking over.
Beneath the capable outfit was a sensual figure, a pair of long straight black-stockinged legs extending from her black professional attire.
"Mm, and you are?"
Hachiman looked doubtfully at the mature woman with long black straight hair before him, about the same age as Hiratsuka Shizuka.
Her clothing was common enough. He neither knew her nor could connect any traits in his memory to her identity.
He had never gone out of his way to hide his identity. Anyone who cared enough could easily find it out from various directions.
Proper exposure of identity could avoid a lot of trouble. Just look at Yukinoshita Haruno and Tohsaka Touka's attitude toward him, he didn't even need to say anything, not even to have Iris tag along. Everyone knew he wasn't someone easy to mess with.
But normally, even those who wanted to cling to him wouldn't rashly approach like this. Such a contact was too stiff.
"Please allow me to introduce myself first. I'm Smith Kuroko, coordinator of the Inter-Species Exchange Bureau, and currently considered the leader of MON squad." [T/N: From 'Monster Musume no Iru Nichijou']
Smith Kuroko removed her sunglasses, revealing her face, and looked at Hachiman, who was highly favored by demi-humans. She took out a special ID and handed it to him to prove her identity.
"Inter-Species Exchange Bureau? MON squad? Miss Smith, what business do you have with me?"
Hachiman, hearing her self-introduction, took her ID, and at once remembered who she was.
———
MON and the mermaid princess Meroune both came from Everyday Life with Monster Girls, where MON was a special organization.
Put simply, MON was an underground special forces unit like Lycoris, though much smaller in scale, not spread throughout Japan like Lycoris.
Since human crimes were handled by the police, crimes committed by supernaturally empowered non-humans needed their own measures. MON was established specifically for inter-species crimes, its members themselves demi-humans.
Of course, in the original it was called "monster girls," but in this world the term was "demi-humans," without much distinction between local and otherworldly ones.
Generally speaking, local demi-humans were weaker than those from other worlds. Likely due to lacking magic, their bloodlines had declined, unable to awaken, so they could hardly use magic, and their racial traits were more obvious.
For example, merfolk. Princess Meroune herself could not freely switch between mermaid and human form like Ellio and the others. To move on land she needed aids like a wheelchair.
"Nothing in particular. I was arranged by Princess Meroune to escort you, Mr. Hikigaya, to the concert venue," Smith Kuroko smiled and shook her head as she explained.
"Because the number of attendees is too great, and the safety of the mermaid songstresses is very important, it's not convenient for you to go in alone right now."
"Then I'll trouble you, Miss Smith. On my way here I saw quite a few Lycoris. Since MON is involved too, does that mean someone intends to target the mermaid songstresses?"
Hachiman nodded knowingly and followed Smith Kuroko through a special passage toward the concert.
Although he could've just found a quiet place and teleported straight there, since he was now curious he didn't leave right away.
He'd originally thought Nishikigi Chisato and Inoue Takina's presence was a coincidence. But seeing Smith Kuroko and MON here as well, he figured they were all here because of the demi-humans.
Most demi-humans who had exposed themselves publicly, or even those who hadn't, were gathered in Sobu High, more than half under his support.
If someone wanted to cause trouble for demi-humans, then rounding up, it meant they were targeting him.
And since it was aimed at him, he would just have to find some trouble for them instead.
"Mr. Hikigaya also knows about Lycoris? Actually, I haven't received intel that anyone is targeting the mermaid songstresses," Smith Kuroko paused, then smiled.
"Perhaps you don't often attend their concerts, or you'd know every mermaid concert always causes massive traffic jams and potential dangers. These are routine security checks."
"Police handle order in public, Lycoris eliminate threats before they sprout inside and outside the venue, and MON is responsible for the personal safety of the mermaid songstresses."
"Normally MON just plays the bodyguards, pushing back fans crowding too close. Under a mermaid's song, no one can still raise the will to attack them."
If it were other demi-humans hosting concerts, certainly plenty of people would try to sabotage, whether demi-human or human.
But mermaids from another world possessed the Voice of the Mermaid, able to enchant hearts and control bodies. Especially gifted songstresses could make even would-be saboteurs abandon violence under their songs and turn themselves in.
"I see. So no one is targeting them from the shadows, that's good."
Hachiman thought about it carefully, it was true. Who in their right mind would go against mermaid songstresses?
Ordinary people had zero resistance against their songs. At most, someone might sneakily cause damage near the venue, but no one dared face a songstress directly.
If he didn't have his immunity to mental control, he too might be unable to resist, losing control of his body at a single whisper in his ear.
Hmm… though in reality it was the reverse. They liked him more and more, and once in his arms, it was they who quickly lost control of their bodies.
"Please be assured, Mr. Hikigaya. Even if danger appears, MON and Lycoris will promptly handle it, without disturbing the concert."
As she led him to the stadium, Smith Kuroko introduced MON's current situation.
Though, like many others, she didn't understand why the mermaid songstresses, the mermaid princess, the elf princess, even the violent dragon clan chief, all favored Hachiman, the fact remained: so many demi-humans listened to him.
Thus, MON had to treat him with respect, even try to win his support, so in times of need they could gain the help of other demi-humans.
MON currently had only a few members: an immortal zombie, a sharpshooter cyclops, a towering ogre whose strength could smash buildings, and a shapeshifter mirror-being.
With so few, MON couldn't spread across Japan like Lycoris, handling multiple operations at once. They could only take on one mission at a time.
But since few demi-humans had entered human society, most living quietly or forming their own groups, and those exposed at Sobu High kept to themselves, MON's workload was light, just the occasional rogue causing disturbance.
A shapeshifter mirror-being?
Hearing Kuroko's explanation, Hikigaya suddenly recalled that aside from this shapeshifter, the original had a slime who could take the form of objects or people.
If both transformed into the same person… wouldn't that be triple the fun?
He was also curious about the zombie. Were they little zombies who grew up, or humans reborn after death?
Was there reproductive isolation between zombies and humans?
If not, would the child be a zombie or a human?
He didn't plan to research this, but he still wanted to ask.
However, MON didn't let him meet any of them, leaving his curiosity unsatisfied.
Smith Kuroko escorted him backstage, past the busy staff, to a quiet prep room. Not a single MON member was visible, all were hidden in the dark.
"Mr. Hikigaya, the mermaid songstresses are resting inside. MON members are guarding nearby. If you need anything, just call us."
After bringing him there, Smith Kuroko left, having noticed his unusual interest in strange demi-humans like zombies, cyclopes, and ogres. No wonder the elf princesses favored him.
In truth, Hikigaya didn't care much about unseen demi-humans. He barely had time for the beauties already around him, let alone to court others.
He just wanted more data, to help Lala with her research on bloodline awakening.
Princess Meroune's quest, Awakened Demi-Human, rewarded awakened mana essence.
That was powerful stuff. It could awaken dormant bloodlines, erase racial limitations, boost strength, and grant unique powers.
He figured it wasn't just useful for unawakened Meroune. Ellio and the mermaids, Iris and the elves should also benefit.
If ordinary elves absorbed enough, could they become high elves? Could high elves further raise their talent?
But to claim the reward, Meroune's bloodline had to awaken first.
That was the problem. If he already had awakened essence, he could push her day and night until she awakened. But without it, he had no method, only Lala's research.
Lala was studying demi-human bloodline awakening, but progress was slow.
It seemed not just lack of magic, since even Ellio's magic infusion couldn't stimulate Meroune to gain a human form. It might involve instinctual bloodline issues.
And Lala wasn't a life science expert. The real authority in biotech was Golden Darkness's "mother," Tearju Lunatique.
But how could he get close to her? He hadn't even seen Golden Darkness yet.
Knock! Knock!
"President finally came, oh wait, now it's Agent-san~"
Hikigaya knocked on the door of the prep room. The pink-haired, naturally cute mermaid Elusi peeked out, looked left and right to ensure no one was around, then hugged him tight, planted several kisses, cheeks flushed red with excitement, and pulled him eagerly inside.
———
BANG!
"H-he just went straight in…"
"As expected, their relationship isn't ordinary. He's even allowed in the mermaids' private prep room."
"Do you even need to say it? They kissed right at the door. Who doesn't know what's going to happen inside?"
"Unfit Idol, unfit idol! Doing stuff like this before the concert!"
"Bina, you're just jealous? You could be an idol too, an idol unfit together with Mr. Hikigaya~"
"Tch! I'm already the living dead. How could a zombie be an idol? A horror-themed limb-dropping idol?"
Once the door closed, several figures of differing builds stepped out of the darkness and stood guard outside, waiting for the concert.
But all their talk circled around Hikigaya just entering the mermaids' prep room.
Unlike Lycoris, who mainly dealt with humans, MON knew Hikigaya's legendary record with demi-humans very well.
They'd long admired him, fantasizing about having that kind of "close relationship" with him too.
They just never imagined he was that close to the mermaids. Not just friends, but much more.
If he'd only been friends, they still had hope, that he wouldn't mind their unusual appearances, willing to be friends.
But if it was that kind of relationship… they didn't dare compare themselves to mermaids or elf princesses.
Even the most normal-looking among them, the ogre with a small horn, was 2.27 meters tall. And then there were zombies.
It was good enough not to be discriminated against, dare they even dream of love?
The MON girls fell silent, leaning against the door to listen for any sounds inside, wondering if "that" was happening.
Yet no matter how they listened, there was no obvious noise.
Could it be… they'd guessed wrong? Maybe Elusi's kissing was just a special greeting?
The MON members looked at each other. Suddenly, hope of simply being friends with Hikigaya bloomed again.
———
[Prep Room]
Inside, besides the three songstresses for today's concert, were Princess Meroune, Sylpha, and Leticia.
"President, how was it playing with Komachi and the others today?"
The tanned gyaru mermaid Ayla, bent over changing clothes, saw Elusi pull Hikigaya inside. She quickly pulled an orange thigh-high sock over her toned bronze thigh.
Without bothering with shoes, she spread her arms wide and leapt onto Hikigaya, tumbling with him and Elusi onto the soft bed. She kissed his eye with a grin.
"The Yukinoshita sisters, the Tohsaka sisters, and with Shion too… must've been fun~"
Everyone knew who he was accompanying to the aquarium today. Those who wanted to join had been too exhausted last night, and those who hadn't joined in, like Nijika or Yui, were too shy.
So today only Komachi and Shion went with him.
"They're not like that with me, Ayla. What's in your head?"
Hikigaya sighed, holding Ayla down and ruffling her golden-brown hair.
He wasn't one to shirk responsibility, but Ayla couldn't just spout what he hadn't done.
"Hehe, sooner or later~"
Ayla didn't mind him messing up her freshly styled hair. Licking her lips, she stopped chatting and bent down to fight Elusi for kisses.
Elusi wasn't about to yield. Even if they were friends, even if they were both songstresses in the same group, she wouldn't back down now.
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