TN: Please read my translations only on my website since I never give my permission to any site to host my translations. And if you like my translations, please support this site on Ko-fi and Patreon to read several chapters ahead!
Enjoy~
TL: ALT
Chapter 187 – Unclouded Hatred
“See you later.”
After saying goodbye to Serika, who said she had to get ready for the welcome party, I walked to Shinjuku Station with no particular destination in mind to kill time, which I suddenly found myself in the early evening.
“…Hmm?”
As I approached the west exit of Shinjuku Station, I saw a crowd of people gathered in front of the station.
A campaign car was parked in front of the station entrance at the west exit roundabout, and many banners were around it.
I also noticed the presence of uniformed police officers.
Now that I have gained experience as an explorer, I can sense the presence of people who are also on the lookout for anything suspicious, such as uniformed police officers.
I thought it was a street campaign and was about to turn back, but then I saw the name on the banner and stopped.
The banner read:
‘Politics that will make your dreams come true―Seiji Tozaki, member of the House of Councillors of my own political party.’ [T/n: My own party is the political party’s name.]
“Of all people, that guy…”
Just as I was frowning, he climbed onto the podium of the campaign car.
People passing by looked at the politician on the podium.
“…Who is it?”
“Look, it’s that guy, the chairman of Rakan…”
“The head of a black company?”
“Didn’t his daughter cause a vicious accident?”
“How can he still be a member of parliament…”
The looks and voices of the passers-by are not exactly flattering or warm.
I thought the world was coming to an end when I heard that this guy was a member of parliament, but I’m relieved to see that the voters passing by seem normal.
So why did he get elected?
Because he was on his party’s proportional representation list.
It was the House of Councillors election in a year when the opposition party that had briefly been in power had disappointed the people, and his own party had won a landslide victory.
“Is this the year for the election of the House of Councillors?”
The House of Representatives will be dissolved, but the House of Councillors will be renewed at the end of its term.
I’m not saying I don’t follow the news, but I’m not interested enough in politics to know when elections are held.
While I was talking to myself like this,
Someone suddenly shouted from behind me, “What are you talking about, half asleep?”
A voice suddenly shouted from behind me, and I turned around.
With so many people around, it’s not really worth trying to sense anything.
Most of the pedestrians I saw were also given a blue judgment, and the “searchlight” points that had been absorbed by the Usurper were also blue.
The person I turned around to see was a high school student who was passionate about politics and lived in the next room of the apartment building.
He was wearing a school uniform, probably on his way home from school.
As a good-looking boy with a neutral face, he still looked good even when he made a mocking expression.
A young woman walking nearby chatted with her friend and said, “Wow, he’s so cool.”
“Yamato-kun?”
“That’s weird. Don’t call me that.”
“Sakurai-kun is too confusing.”
“Yamato’s fine. My old man was a total jerk, but at least this name is useful.”
Well, it’s a perfect name for a conservative high school media personality.
“Kurashiki-san… You should watch the news more. Unlike me, you’re an adult with the right to vote.”
“O-oh, my bad.”
I’m forced to apologize to him when he hits me with a good argument.
Actually, I didn’t vote in the election while I was a shut-in.
I just thought that I couldn’t understand why he was a member of the Diet, and my not voting was one reason.
Even if I had voted, it wouldn’t have stopped him from being elected, but I am undoubtedly partly responsible for the responsibility that all voters have.
“This election is a double election for the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors. My own party will probably win the election, but there’s one candidate who is attracting attention in some quarters… that’s him.”
He pointed at Seiji Tozaki, who had begun his campaign speech.
“Seiji Tozaki is a member of the House of Councillors, right?”
“Yes, until this term.”
“Until this term? That means…”
“That’s right. The infamous chairman of the Rakan is trying to switch from the House of Councillors to the House of Representatives.”
He explains without being asked.
“Why the House of Representatives?”
“I don’t know… maybe he feels stuck in corporate management and wants to get serious about politics? Maybe he’s thinking about becoming Prime Minister in the future.”
“You’ve got to be kidding…”
“Basically, the Prime Minister is elected from among the members of the House of Representatives. Although the Constitution allows the Prime Minister to be chosen from among the members of the House of Councillors, there is no precedent for the Prime Minister to be chosen from among the members of the House of Councillors. But that also depends on the results of this election.”
“Do you think he’ll win?”
I don’t know what ward this area in Shinjuku is in Tokyo, but it’s the heart of the city. My own party’s base isn’t as solid as the local constituencies.
With a notorious black businessman running, there even seems to be a possibility that the opposition candidate could win this constituency by chance.
“The single-seat constituency will be tough, but even if he loses the single-seat constituency, he should be able to win a seat in the proportional representation bloc. Seiji Tozaki has made large donations to my own party and helped recruit party members by using the power of the Rakan Group. He should be quite high on the proportional list.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. However, if he wants to be in the cabinet, he should win the public’s trust directly in the single-seat constituency, not by winning a seat in a by-election. He’s already seen as a symbol of black enterprise, and his reputation with the public is bad enough. If he loses in the single-seat constituency, there will be voices within the ruling party who will oppose Tozaki’s appointment to the cabinet.”
“I see.”
Yamato’s explanation was easy to understand.
As expected from a video blogger who specializes in the media, even if he’s rotten to the core.
“What about the Men’s Association? Do they support Seiji Tozaki?”
The Men’s Association, which has many former members of the Rakans (the Explorers’ Guild), is likely to support Seiji Tozaki, who could be said to be the true head of the Rakans.
Yamato frowned at my question.
“I am not a member of the Men’s Association. I don’t know what they’re up to.”
“But the companies that provide the funds for Genron.net are all under Rakan’s control, aren’t they?”
“You know a lot. Did Hisui Haitani pass on some of her wisdom to you?”
“Don’t you think that’s a contradiction? Your sister had a terrible experience with Rakan. On the surface, Rakan is supposed to be out of Seiji Tozaki’s hands, but no one really believes that.”
“I will use everything I can to reach my goal.”
“Goal?”
“Tch, did I talk too much?”
Yamato clicked his tongue, looked away, and turned his cold gaze to Tozaki on the campaign car.
Tozaki continued his speech, which was like a poem without concrete ideas, saying things like, “I want to make your dreams come true! “I want to create a country where everyone can have a dream!” and “Please trust me with your dreams!”
The mood of the audience was completely dead.
I don’t think he can win in the single-member district…
I looked at Yamato and was surprised.
At the hardness of Yamato’s gaze as he looked at Seiji Tozaki.
He usually has a cold look in his eyes, but when he stares at Tozaki, I can’t even feel the coldness anymore.
There is no burning anger, no cold contempt.
All that is left in Yamato’s eyes is pure, unclouded hatred.
I stand there panting and confused,
“I’m going home.”
He turns his back on Tozaki and disappears into the crowd.
“Hey, wait…”
I call, but it’s too late.
“Well, forget him…”
Even though there was still time before the welcome party, what was so sad about having to listen to Seiji Tozaki’s speech and wasting time?
There are better ways to waste time in this world.
But then I had an idea.
“Let’s appraise him… Seiji Tozaki…”
If you like my translations, please support me on Ko-Fi and subscribe my Patreon to read several chapters ahead!