It means that they have a policy of accepting anyone as long as one is able to kill labyrinth diseased girls.
And they don't even bother to investigate those who enroll. I too, got into this school without any kind of investigation done on me.
But,
"Won't there be any trouble with that kind of self-assured attitude?"
On hearing me say that, Honjou Tsukasa answers right away.
"None. We know the motives of those who come to this school anyway. There are only four kinds of people here ~"
I narrow my eyes.
Four kinds of people.
I know instantly what kind they are.
1. Those who have no power nor money and came here despite not wanting to come.
2. Those who want to make a name for themselves here.
3. Those who really want to save the world.
However, those who are truly powerful, probably aren't here because of those three reasons.
If it's for money, they can make it anywhere.
If it's for power, they can get it in other organizations.
In the first place, it's possible to make a name for oneself even without coming here.
In that case, the rest would belong to the fourth type of people.
What is this group actually seeking?
"............"
Honjou Tsukasa halts.
She gives a tap to the wall along the corridor. I look at it. On the other side of the wall --- the land on the other side adjacent to this school is occupied by a certain labyrinth since ten years ago.
The world's most difficult eternal labyrinth which those associated with the military dream of raiding and bringing back technology from it.
The name of that labyrinth is ---
"《Apocalypse 666》. As the name of the diseased girl was Arisu, it's called by its more popular name, 《Apocalypse Alice》. The world's most difficult labyrinth. Anyway, you too came here aiming for that, didn't you? Arisu Shinnosuke-kun."
My homeroom teacher turned around.
Looking and smiling at me.
I didn't smile.
Suddenly, she makes a face as if she had only just realized it,
"Oh my, coincidentally, your name is also Arisu isn't it? Are you a relative or something?"
"No."
"Did you come here to save her or something?"
"Certainly not."
Honjou Tsukasa smiles on hearing that.
"Well, even you won't go that far, as one would expect ~ After all, there isn't any idiot who would go that far to save a girl who has turned into an eternal labyrinth. Since you can't make any money for saving her."
"............"
"Not to mention that it's said to be impossible."
"............"
"Then, who are you? But I'm not interested at all. Whether you are from a military organization from somewhere, or James Bond from England, feel free to investigate 《Apocalypse Alice》 as much as you like. Since at any rate, you won't be able to raid it. You'll only realize that it's a hell inside, a place where you cannot obtain a single thing."
"............"
"And, while you're realizing that...... or getting killed in the labyrinth...... students with real power who are driven by greed will for some reason gather in my class to save Japan. In the meantime, my bank account will also get saved. Aah, what great kids.
Now! Shinnosuke-kun.
Let's kill the girls and save the world together!"
Pahn, Honjou Tsukasa claps her hands together.
She grins again.
In spite of that, I couldn't smile. Since she said that she didn't need to know my true identity, there's no need for me to act like a good kid as well. Well, setting aside the fact on whether or not I have been acting like a good kid till now.
Honjou Tsukasa looks hard at me, smiles and says.
"Don't glare at me. Since I'll give you money. Also, please don't forget to register your bank account number. The Japanese government is expecting great things from you."
She turns her back to me.
And proceeds to the classroom.
I look intently at her departing back,
"...... ha, glare? My eyes have always been that way."
And smile.
Smirking.
Maybe my eyes look awful when I grin, but right now I'm actually feeling delighted.
The reason is because this place is a familiar world which I once again reacquaint myself with.
Humans are ugly. They can only think of themselves.
Obviously, they won't be thinking about saving others.
The moment one gets pointlessly attached by the words 'friend' or 'comrade', one dies. I've seen that many, many, many times.
"............"
On the other side of the corridor, Gunjou walks out of the classroom.
Honjou Tsukasa looks intently at Gunjou,
"Hi Gunjou! You were great today as well. It's all because of your existence that the world could be saved!"
Go to hell, I thought.
The petite Gunjou looks up at our homeroom teacher. Her face shines with brimming confidence.
"Of course! Who do you think I am! I am none other than Mizuiro Gunjou!"
The usual Gunjou.
And, she has already proven that she is the only one who infiltrates labyrinths not just for purely selfish motives.
Since, in that Asahi Momoka incident, she remained until the end. Drenched in blood as she risked her life, to protect her classmates and to try to save the world, and she had also worried herself sick about my injury.
If there's an unsightly reason as to why she has to be in this school no matter what ---
Then she probably belongs to the,
"...... third kind of people."
I mutter.
3. A fool who truly wants to save the world.
And, I hate those kind of people the most.
Those who belong to the third group are the ones who die most easily, the ones who get used by others most easily, and on top of that, even after they die, they leave a wound in the hearts of those who survive.
I probably would waver if Gunjou were to die, after seeing that weak side of hers. I won't be able to help but feel my heartstrings tugged. No, maybe, I would also waver if Shiro, Himi, Yousuke, or Kiri were to die.
But what use will that kind of feeling have?
This is that kind of place. A place where all might lose their lives tomorrow. If so, then why do people engage in such meaningless stuff?
Like I thought, I shouldn't go to karaoke with them. I shouldn't get close to any of them.
Gunjou is approaching me.
I pretend not to notice and turn my back towards her. I pass through the corridor, and descend the stairs. Our class is on the third floor; I descend all the way to the ground floor, and exit into the schoolyard.
Immediately upon doing that, Gunjou appears alongside me, on my right. Even though she has caught up to me, she is not passing me.
"...... I don't plan to go home with you, you know?"
On hearing that, without looking at me, Gunjou says.
"I'm not planning to go home with you either."
"Huuh? Then, why aren't you passing me?"
"I've been walking at this speed right from the beginning. I should be the one telling you not to walk alongside me."
While saying that, she continues walking at my pace. Does she have something she wants to tell me? Really depressing.
At that moment, a group of students around us look at us.
"Oh, it's Mizuiro Gunjou-san."
"The one beside her, is Arisu Shinnosuke-kun right?"
"You're kidding me, two members of the hero team that saved Kanagawa?"
"Are they going out?"
I turn my eyes in the direction of those gossiping girls and say with half-opened eyes.
"Yes. You got that right. We're actually on our way to a love hotel."
"W
hat!? Hey!?"
Gunjou looks up at me with an adorably blushing face. And grabs my arm firmly. Looks like she's angry.
But the girls just go wild with cries of 'Kyaa' at that
Gunjou says frantically,
"T-That's, not."
Cutting her off, I say.
"Then stop fawning over me, it's depressing. You will be seen as an easy woman, you know."
"Don't mess with me!"
Gunjou moves her right hand. It's a chop. I try to grab that arm of hers, but the path of her hand changes. I take a step backward. Matching me, Gunjou takes a step forward.
As expected of the top of the school year.
Her movements are nimble, but --- our hands clash several times, and finally, I grab Gunjou's arm. In the end, I'm the faster one.
Behind me,
"Wow, amazing, what's that? I couldn't see a thing. Are they human?"
Said a guy, and following that,
"A lover's quarrel, a lover's quarrel......"
A girl said something that's off the mark but I don't really care.
From below me, Gunjou glares at me with upturned eyes.
"Let me go. Or I'll kill you."
"Maybe I should just bring you to the hotel I'm putting up at."
"You."
She snaps her fingers. Her 《Headphone Fuzz》 starts playing. As she prepares to use her magic.
I let go of her arm and take a step backward,
"Just kidding. If the top of the grade Lady Gunjou sets her eyes on me, I'll get killed ~"
With her face red, she continues to glare at me,
"...... why......"
Glowering at me in chagrin, she says.
"...... why do you keep saying things to push me away......"
I smirk at that and reply.
"Obviously it's because I hate you."
"Uwu......"
"And you hate me too right?"
"I, I hate you."
"Then we're on the same page right? So stop getting close to me."
"I'm not getting close to you!"
"That so? That's great then. Well, goodbye and farewell."
I wave to Gunjou and turn my back towards her. Once again, I start walking towards the hotel I'm putting up at.
But, there and then,
"............"
Once again, Gunjou is walking along my side.
With a fed-up face, I look down at the petite Gunjou, and say.
"Look, can you stop following me?"
However, she seems to be bent on ignoring my words.
"T-There's just one thing, I want to ask you."
"I have none."
"...... I, have been wondering about...... how's your injury......"
By injury, she's referring to the injury I got from saving her during that Asahi Momoka incident. There was a period when we thought that my right leg would be limp forever, but that was not Gunjou's fault, but a result of my cousin Yayoi fiddling with it.
That's why she doesn't need to worry about it, and if she's really concerned, I did tell her to give me some money though.
Appearing concerned, she takes a few glances at me and says.
"...... today...... during the maneuvers...... you, don't seem too well so...... I thought maybe it's because of your injury......"
"It's none of your business right?"
"But that injury is because of me......"
"Then why don't we go ascertain it at the hotel? I mean, it'd be clear once I take off my clothes right?"
On hearing that, Gunjou's face turns bright red again, then flashes into a visage of anger, and she raises her fist. And hits me on the shoulder.
"...... and here, I was being worried!"
She said.
I look down at her,
"............"
It's really exasperating.
Even though she always has a high and mighty attitude, she really has a good personality. And it's because that somehow the thought of really not wanting her to die that I have is what exasperates me.
Despite the fact that people die here.
Despite the fact that they can die easily.
It's dangerous to have emotions for another. It's pointless. Inefficient. But, no matter how much displeasure I expressed, for some reason, she doesn't stay away from me. That goes the same for Shiro, Kiri, Yousuke, and Himi.
It'd be understandable if they had shown they had ulterior motives or something to gain from me but ---
"Hey Gunjou. I also have something to talk to you about."
I said as I took Gunjou's hand that had been used to hit me.
She then looks up at me with a worried face.
"Ah, ah, your injury really hurts right?"
But I shake my head and reply. Looking intently into her almond-shaped, yet large eyes,
"I don't hate you."
"Eh......!?"
Surprised, her eyes became even larger.
But unconcerned, I continue.
"It's because you are cute."
"Eh!? Er-Erm......"
"Because your brain matter is so adorable that I wonder whether you're actually an idiot."
"Gah!?"
"Because you are a good girl with a beautiful heart."
"...... uhn? Ah, erhm ~"
Not knowing whether I was speaking ill of her or praising her, her face appeared confused,
"So what're you trying to tell me!?"
She got angry.
I looked down at that foolish-looking, lovely Gunjou and say.
"In the past, all the girls I love died. My friends died too. They either died in the labyrinth, or got caught and died by the hands of those who sought to use my power, or died from the attacks of opposing organizations. No matter what, they just died died died, easily."
"............"
Gunjou looks intently at me.
I continue.
"And, you might just die tomorrow. I might just die today. So, is there even any meaning to our conversation......? Is your injury ok? Haha, what the hell's that?"
That's a question which Gunjou should be asking herself on a daily basis. Even if that's not the case, because she had lost a number of her classmate comrades during the Asahi Momoka incident; because she has such a strong sense of responsibility that she secretly vomited in the toilet from the anxiety that had stemmed from her desire of wanting to protect everyone and clear the labyrinth without getting anyone killed; and thus,
"What are the feelings you have towards me? Don't tell me it's love?"
"Well......"
"Probably not. You are just a little tired. You are just tired of seeing too many of your classmates die. That's why you just want a comrade who's a little stronger and who won't die so easily. Isn't that right?"
"............"
Gunjou glared at me without saying anything.
Because I was right. Since she too has vaguely realized the meaningless softness in her heart.
Basically, establishing cozy relationships with labyrinth raiders is meaningless. If one gets distracted by emotions, one will be unable to make swift judgments and that will only increase the danger. When it's time to abandon someone, it's necessary to abandon even one's lover.
She knows that too. Otherwise, she wouldn't have gotten this strong. She too is a resident of this dark world.
I nod.
"See, everything's cleared up now. I have a goal that I want to achieve. You too have a reason for being here right? Be it romance, love, friendship, all of them are hindrances. So, stop spewing pointless things and stay away from me. If you need a guy look for Shiro."
Gunjou continues to glare at me, still not saying anything.
But our conversation has ended.
I turn my back to her and once again start walking.
From behind me, she says.
"Th-Then...... then why did you save me?"
"............"
"There wasn't, any need to save me back there. You should have es
caped. But yet, you......"
I reply right away.
"I regretted that. Because of you, I got an idiotic injury."
"Eh, ah...... sorry......"
I exit the school gates. Gunjou's voice fades from my hearing. But there's no need to listen. Since she has nothing, neither friends, nor lovers.
At that moment, Pihh Pihh Pihh, the siren sounded.
It was the signal for the appearance of a diseased girl.
"Attention to all students of Girl Killing Curriculum. Please return to your classroom ASAP. A labyrinth disease victim has appeared in Toda city of Saitama Prefecture. We'll be starting the lesson for the purpose of killing the girl."
I turn around to face the school.
The students of the normal curriculum are hurrying out of the school, but the place that the diseased girl has appeared is not here in Tokyo.
It's Saitama.
Class will be starting again.
The lesson in killing the girl.
Just as I'm about to head back to school, I notice that the cellphone in my pocket is vibrating. Maybe it's our homeroom teacher Honjou Tsukasa, I thought, but the one who's calling is somebody else.
I pick up the call.
"Shinnosuke?"
A slightly high-pitched voice of a man. And strangely accented, bad Japanese.
His name is Liezel Baimeister.
A German.
16 years old.
The engineer who custom-boosted my 《Headphone Fuzz》 to illegal levels that would harm the human body.
"...... won't you get eavesdropped?"
"Who do you think I am?"
"A freak scientist."
"Are you praising me?"
"Well, yeah. But my cellphone may be tapped by the Japanese government or Taikou Pharmaceuticals."
"Not may be. It's being tapped. Currently, 3 corporations and a government is tapping your cellphone."
"Oh, who're they?"
"「Taikou Pharmaceuticals」, 「Phillip」, 「Kiryuuki Group」. China."
"Hmm, how about Japan?"
"They're not bothering with you, I suppose."
"Haha, that'll be good if it's true. So, what's up?"
"It's been a while and I want to meet you."
"Germany is too far."
"I'm in Japan now."
"Ah? Why?"
But, at that moment, Liezel's words stop.
"Hn...... wait a minute. I'm being hacked. The fella's kind of good."