Since I now know why Shiro and his gang had always lost to Gunjou. In a team which each member only carries one type of magic, it will be over if even one of them is out of commission. In that case, more members should be assembled so that the team can proceed even if a member gets taken out, but this class has a charismatic, vomit-girl called Mizuiro Gunjou, and more or less the entire class are subordinated to her and as such, he wasn't able to further increase his allies.
That was why Shiro had been losing --- well, at the very least, that should be what he is thinking.
With half-opened eyes, I look at Gunjou who is at the front of the classroom, giving instructions to her teammates regarding this particular labyrinth raid, and I then say.
"Hey Shiro."
"Hn?"
"Who's stronger, you or Gunjou?"
"Me."
"Hah."
"It's true, you know?"
"Well, fine."
While gazing at Gunjou's almond-shaped eyes and fair skin, I say.
"So what's Gunjou's slot configuration?"
Shiro too looks in the direction of Gunjou, and says.
"I don't know about that for this raid, but it should be a balanced configuration that gives more emphasis to offensive capabilities."
"...... oh. 3 offense, 2 defense, 1 support?"
"It's the opposite for defense and support. 1 defense and 2 support."
"Aah, I see. Feels good to know."
I smirk.
Even after gathering so many allies, Gunjou does not believe in anyone. She is an outright balanced type. Even if she were to lose all her allies, she has a slot configuration that would enable her to clear the labyrinth by herself. She is prepared for the worst possible scenario.
In other words, she is serious.
To the point of barfing from the nervousness arising out of her seriousness.
On the contrary, Shiro fully trusts in his buddies. Normally, with just these members, having each of them on a single class of magic would be unfathomable. Or, maybe it is because that it is necessary for a focused attack to shake Gunjou off with just these few members.
But if it comes to that, then indeed,
"With all slots equipped with specialized offensive magic, then Shiro should have more firepower when it comes down to killing each other......"
Though I have no idea whether humans do kill one another in a peaceful country like Japan.
By the way, in the other countries, in the underground world of the small countries, while raiding the labyrinths there, if one encounters other raiders, it would be an obvious thing to kill each other for personal gains.
Those with power will get everything.
Everyone else is an enemy.
Depending on the situation, there are even times when you can get attacked by your own teammates from behind.
In those places, there is no fool who will fill their slots with just one class of magic. There is a limit to how much of a good guy he can be. Or maybe, there is a special reason as to why he has to do that.
I look at Shiro with half-opened eyes.
"What?"
Said Shiro, to which I reply.
"I was pondering about whether you are a fool or you are having special circumstances."
"Ah?"
"Never mind. Well, seems like the real thing is starting."
I say.
I look out the window with half-opened eyes.
From afar, along with a roaring noise, there are five transport helicopters flying towards here.
We are going to move.
To Kanagawa Prefecture where the diseased girl is.
Pahn Pahn, Honjou-sensei knocks on the blackboard twice and says.
"Al~right, we're halfway through the fifth-hour period. We'll finish the remaining half while moving to the actual ground. Everyone, are you ready?"
On hearing that, my classmates remain quiet with nervous-looking faces.
Gunjou stands up and puffs out her chest.
"Huh, who do you think I am? I'm the genius Mizuiro Gunjou right? I was already ready since the day I was born."
What a liar. Didn't you just puke from being nervous?
Shiro then says. To his two pals behind.
"All right, let's go. We'll win this time."
And brings up his palm.
"Let's do this."
Endou Yousuke meets his hand with a slap.
"I'll do my best."
Yuuyami Himi also lightly slaps his hand in a timid way.
Finally, Shiro turns his terribly gloomy looking palm towards me.
"You too. Even though your friendship was bought with money, we're a team right now. Please look out for me."
"...... don't tell me you want me to hi-five you?"
"Yeah."
"You would have to excuse me due to religious reasons."
"Go to hell."
Shiro laughs.
And Gunjou is looking at the both of us. Glaring at me.
I grin stupidly with half-opened eyes.
Even as I smile, the situation continues to advance.
There is not much time left before the time limit will be up.
Honjou-sensei says.
"Now now, let's get going! Everyone, leave the classroom and board the choppers!"
And thus, we started moving towards Kanagawa Prefecture.
♦
13:03 PM
1 hour 27 minutes left before the diseased girl turns into an 《Eternal Labyrinth》
The transport helicopters lifted off with adolescent guys and girls packed into them.
Vibration.
Roaring noise.
The tension from my classmates.
The journey from Kichijou, Tokyo, to Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, by helicopters should take only about fifteen minutes, but for some reason, it seems like a long journey.
Beside me, sat Shiro's buddy, Yuuyami Himi. With a black ponytail. And timid-looking, down-turned eyes.
Himi calls out to me.
"E-Erm......"
I pretended to not hear her soft voice over the roar of the helicopter and did not answer.
Himi then starts,
"Ah......"
And then goes quiet. She hangs her head, looking troubled. After a few minutes of silence,
"Erm."
She once again calls out to me, this time with a slightly louder voice.
I turn my half-opened eyes to Himi and say.
"I'm actually ignoring you."
"Eh...... ah, sorry."
"So, what is it?"
"Erm, I mean...... I was wondering, Arisu-kun, are you already used to raiding labyrinths?"
"Why did you think that?"
"Well, it's because you look very calm."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah. You've been grinning all this while."
"Haha, more like smirking...... perhaps."
"So, does that mean you're not afraid?"
Himi asks, looking at me. Fear is reflected from her eyes.
I'm not afraid?
It is difficult to answer that. There is no way that I will not be afraid to go to a place where I might die. I too fear dying like anyone else.
But, I have gotten used to that. As I have been continuing to set foot in places where I might die, my senses have become numb and I have gotten used to it.
But it is not like my fear had disappeared. I am merely used to it. I am merely used to walking together with fear. I am just used to grinning like a fool, shrugging it off.
I continue grinning stupidly without answering, and Himi continues.
"I-I'm afraid. Even though this is already my third raid, I still......"
"Is that so? But isn't that normal?"
"But, people like Gunjou-san, Shiro-san and Yousuke-kun seem to remain unbothered by it, and yet, I'm so afraid that it's unbecoming......"
At the very least, I had seen Gujou vomit in the toilet so I do not think anyone would be able to remain 'unbothered'. Well
, it might just be a matter of degree.
Himi is extremely afraid. I wonder whether it is because of her strong sensitivity towards fear. But that is not a bad thing. The type that has strong sensitivity, gets a boost in their capabilities in sensory and support classes of magic.
And she has a full-support configuration in her cursed song selection.
Which means that she might provide a good amount of power in those.
I say to her.
"You know."
"Ah, yes."
"I understand that you're afraid, but what good will it do to tell me that?"
"Ah, ah, I-I'm sorry...... because we've never talked before despite being in the same team......"
"So?"
"Erm, I might not be of much help, but since you're someone whom Shiro-san relies on, you must be a really amazing person."
I look hard at her with half-opened eyes.
"So, as a full-support member, I will provide support to you with everything I got, so please take care of me, that's what...... I wanted to say......"
I stare at her with half-opened eyes.
"...... I-I'm sorry...... did I do something that made you angry?"
She says with a face that seems to be on the verge of tears, to which I reply.
"No. From the beginning, I have always had this face."
"Ah, I'm sorry."
"Well I get it. Do help me out when I need support."
"Y-Yes!"
"Then, can I make my very first request for now?"
"Yes, what'll it be?"
Said Himi happily, to which I say.
"I feel gloomy while we're on the move, so can you don't talk to me like you're a friend of mine?"
"Ah......"
This time, from behind Himi whose face is in shock, Mr. Glasses speaks up. His eyes behind those glasses are sharp.
Endou Yousuke is his name right? Looking at me, he says.
"Hey hey, don't bully Himi."
"Hn?"
"And also, you're a pretty unpleasant guy. What's wrong with you? Is there any benefit you can get from having an attitude that makes others hate you?"
I look up, at Yousuke with a thin smile on my face.
"At the very least, I can spend my off days quietly."
"Haha, because you lack friends?"
"That's right."
"Then, why don't we hang out together next time? After all, we're now teammates. We can go watch a movie on Sunday, and then chit-chat at a family restaurant."
"What kind of creepy thing is that?"
"Don't sweat the small stuff. Anyhow, in order for us to hang out together on our rest days ---"
Yousuke then holds out his hand. And he then says.
"Let's all survive this. I'm on all-defense, so I'll do everything in my power to not let any of my teammates die. Please take care of me, Shinnosuke."
Yousuke further goes on to take Himi's hand and put it above his. And further goes on to say to Shiro behind,
"Hey Shiro ~. Come over here. Let's do another huddle before it starts."
"Hn ~?"
Shiro's face pokes out and after looking at Yousuke and Himi, he piles his hand onto theirs.
I then wearily say to the trio who are hard-selling me with their piled up hands.
"Erm, I thought about this as well during the hi-five session, can you guys stop this kind of harassing act?"
Shiro then smiles and says.
"Shut up, just put your hand on top. I already paid you six million, didn't I?"
My hand was grabbed out of my own volition.
And with the hands of four people put together, one on top of another.
Yousuke says.
"Well, leader. Your speech please."
Shiro nods and says.
"We'll definitely win this time. The labyrinth difficulty is low. There'll be no casualties, and we'll get our hands on everything. Let's all survive and return, everyone!"
And then, the three team members of Shiro's team answer.
"Yeah!"
"Yes!"
"Crap, you're noisy ~"
At that moment, the helicopter starts descending.
At last, labyrinth infiltration is about to begin.
There is about one hour left before the time limit will be up.
If we fail to kill the girl, three million people might be sacrificed.
That is why we cannot fail.
We will kill the diseased girl in that remaining hour --- and save the world.
♦
It started.
The time started.
The last hour used for killing the girl started.
"............"
I take a deep breath in my seat.
Snap, snap, snap, I slowly snap my fingers, so slow to the point that it seems like my 《Headphone Fuzz》 will not even activate.
In order to calm my heart.
In order to calm my brain waves.
I move my finger, following the rhythm and the beat, and match my heartbeat to them. But still, my heart cannot seem to calm down.
Perhaps it is because of the tension of the other classmates in the helicopter that has spread to me, I am feeling strange and just cannot calm down,
"...... haha, I wonder whether it is because I'm pretty nervous myself."
I laugh at myself, by myself.
In the helicopter, there are some who are on the verge of tears. Some who are forcing themselves to laugh. Some who have turned their heads to the sky with their eyes closed. And some who are wearing vacant expressions, murmuring to themselves, though there should only be a few more minutes left to do that.
I wave my finger. I order my 《Headphone Fuzz》 to display the time limit before the diseased girl becomes a 《Complete Labyrinth》, which I had input beforehand.
Upon doing that, a blinking light appears in my mind, showing that there is one hour and five minutes left.
In other words, in another five minutes, we will infiltrate the labyrinth.
"Five minutes."
I mutter.
The time limit disappears.
From inside the helicopter, came Gunjou's voice.
"...... here it comes!"
I look at her with half-opened eyes. Gunjou's nervous yet determined face comes into my view. Beyond her, the rear of the helicopter starts opening slowly.
Instantly, as a gust of wind and a roaring noise enter, the sight of a blue sky comes into view. Even though a sound insulating function derived from a magic technology brought back from a labyrinth should be running inside the helicopter, it is still pretty noisy.
The sound of the wind. The sound of the propellers. How high are we in altitude right now, I wonder. We should not have flown to too low a place. Since the labyrinth disease's contagious area extends even upwards into the air, the helicopter should be flying at an altitude where it would not come into contact with that area.
Honjou-sensei stands up and raises her voice to pierce through the sound of wind that is blowing in.
"Now ~, it's finally time to kill the girl! It'll be fine! If you deal with it calmly, it should an easy win for you!"
Mizuiro Gunjou turns around and adds after her.
"Of course! If you all follow me, there won't be a problem, so everyone, just trust me and it'll be smooth sailing!"
Different from the nervous face she showed for an instant just now and the weak girl who puked in the toilet, her current expression is one of haughtiness, resoluteness, and full of confidence and composure.
But that is probably just an act. Or she is performing self-suggestion on herself. I look at her face with a grin.
Gunjou glares back at me and as expected, a smile surfaces on her as she says.
"Listen up everyone! We'll win this time too! We won't let Shiro and the rest who don't listen to me do a thing. We will! It is us who will! Clear this labyrinth and become saviors!"
At the same time she says that, the angle of the helicopter changes and the land be
low comes into sight.
The scenery of Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, which has been transformed into a labyrinth.
Twelve levels above ground.
Fifteen levels below ground.
I know that much, but from the looks of it, it seems to be as large as fifty kilometers in radius. A gigantic school looking more like a mountain range has appeared. Everything within that area has become the labyrinth.
And with that kind of scale, if we fail, three million people or more will probably die.
The students clearly waver on seeing the labyrinth. Naturally. It is not often that one can get to see a labyrinth that gigantic. And also, it is said that the difficulty of a labyrinth is correlated to its scale many a times.
"I-It's impossible for us......"
A guy just diagonal of me, trembles as he says that.
The vibes of fear immediately spread. The girl beside me is on the verge of tears and says.
"I-I...... didn't hear anything about it being this big......"
However, that budding fear is immediately dealt with.
"Don't waver, idiots!"
It is the angry cry of Gunjou.
"Didn't you hear what Sensei told us? The difficulty of the labyrinth is 0.4! That's like taking a walk in the park! If you listen to what I say, we can clear it even while humming a song! So now, everyone, look at me!"
Pahn, Pahn, Gunjou slaps her hands together. The students look at Gunjou. As before, she says with a great amount of composure.
"Now, let's ascertain this again before we go! Who is your leader? Who is the one who can protect you?"
One of the students then answers.
"...... i-it's Mizuiro Gunjou-sama."
"Eh? I can't hear you? Who is it?"
"It's the genius, Mizuiro Gunjou-sama!"
Gunjou nods with a look of satisfaction, grins and says.
"Then, there's nothing to fear. Don't shiver. Don't be afraid. As long as you follow me, all of you will be fine! Our team will once again kill the girl and clear the labyrinth!"
She proclaims, clenching her fist.
The atmosphere in the helicopter then changes. Gunjou has dispelled the anxiety of everybody and captured the hearts of the students in an instant.
I look intently at Gunjou, and smirk.
"...... taking on the responsibility of the lives of others, it's no wonder you puked in the toilet."
Shiro then speaks from beside me.