Diet Broadcast.
It's the kind of TV program only political junkies would watch, yet lately its ratings have been quietly rising.
The reason? Isekai people.
Sometimes, someone gets reverse summoned from another world, and viewers tune in just to see if one appears.
"Now then, regarding the latest report on isekai summoning... please look at this letter."
During the usual Prime Minister's session, he makes his regular isekai report. The members of parliament expect nothing new, but today he surprises them.
—"Around noon today, I'll be reverse summoned. By Amaterasu."
Silence fills the chamber.
Even the young MP famous online for his quick comebacks can't find words.
"This was in my home mailbox this morning. With a shiitake mushroom."
Why the shiitake mushroom?
Everyone in the Diet shares the same thought.
"When exactly is 'around noon'!?"
The young MP finally snaps out of it and yells.
"No idea," says the Prime Minister.
As usual, his calm, almost careless tone only boosts his approval ratings.
"Well, she'll come when she comes. Let's all stay calm—"
"Hmm. So this is the other world?"
A second voice overlaps his.
Without warning, a woman stands in the center of the chamber.
She's tall, dark-skinned, silver-haired, and beautiful. Her long pointed ears draw every eye in the room.
—An elf! She's an elf!
Anonymous message boards nearly crash under the load. Don't comment about that out loud.
"Welcome to Japan," says Adachi, the Prime Minister. "I'm Adachi, serving as Prime Minister."
"I am Lynbel, elder of the elves living in the Ilui Forest."
Her title seems older than her appearance, but Adachi politely ignores it. Commenting on a lady's age is against the laws of every world.
"So, a Prime Minister is like an elder?" Lynbel asks.
"Not quite. More like a village head. Our elder here is the chairman."
"I see. He has aged well."
The chairman chuckles mysteriously. "Ho ho ho ho."
Fair assessment.
"You mentioned Amaterasu-sama earlier," Adachi says. "So you understand the situation?"
"Yes. She also asked me to deliver a message. The girl summoned to our world is safe. She reached a rural village and enjoys a farming life."
Relief spreads through the chamber.
"I'm truly sorry for the trouble," Adachi says.
But Lynbel suddenly bows deeply.
—Here we go again.
The MPs have learned to expect this by now.
"As you can see, we are Dark Elves. About five hundred years ago, we lost a war with humans and retreated deep into the forest. We accepted it as a territorial conflict."
That casually reveals she's over five hundred years old, but polite Japanese MPs don't react.
"Lately, some under-hundred youngsters started shouting about revenge. Pathetic fools—they couldn't win alone, so they attempted an isekai summoning. Then they lost the summoned girl and were too scared to search outside the forest."
So the Dark Elf youth are all bark, no bite. Lynbel must have her hands full.
"Through a spirit dwelling in our sacred tree, Amaterasu-sama warned us that the god of the underworld here was angry. So someone had to come. I chose to take responsibility as elder."
Maybe she just wanted to get away, but the MPs pretend not to notice. They also dump their problems on the Prime Minister, after all.
Japan remains peaceful today.
...
"She's devout, that elf," Amaterasu-sama says later in Takamagahara (T/N: Heaven in Shinto belief). "She even brought lots of fruits and vegetables as offerings."
Amaterasu beams. It seems Lynbel quickly adapted to Shinto customs. Respect for nature came naturally to her. Still, Amaterasu seems happier about the food than the faith.
"Elder sister," says Tsukuyomi-sama, "that elf is above a High Elf, possibly royal rank, correct?"
"Yep."
"Royal Elves live even longer than High Elves. Practically immortal."
"Hmm?"
Amaterasu tilts her head, not following.
"You began reverse summoning because souls for reincarnation were running out. Was it wise to summon someone who may never die?"
"..."
Amaterasu freezes. Apparently, she forgot her own reason for starting this project.
"...Thick shiitake mushrooms taste amazing with just butter, don't they?"
"...They do."
And so Amaterasu escapes reality through food once again.
Tsukuyomi sighs but lets it go.
Takamagahara is peaceful, as always.