I shouldn't bother going at all. Up till now, I have never heard of anyone raiding a time-limited rank 42 labyrinth. If anyone did that, it would be suicide. He would be a fool. He would have come down with the 'super-hero' syndrome. That is not the place to play hypocrisy.
"...... I definitely won't go. Saving the world my ass."
I said disgustedly.
"I'm not a fool. I'm not a fool."
I said the same thing twice.
But, if there were someone who could save Gunjou, it would be none other than me. If she becomes rank 420, no one will be able to save her anymore. There's nothing that can be done if we don't take care of it at rank 42.
"............"
On top of that, I have the Holy Sword in my hands.
I have the Holy Sword wielded by the hypocrite, which just might be able to sever the labyrinth disease from a diseased girl.
I snap my fingers. A cursed song flows from the 《Headphone Fuzz》.
The song of the Holy Sword.
The holy cursed song.
"............"
The news program on TV ends and a variety show starts. Artistes whom I have never seen before are chattering merrily.
A peaceful world. A tranquil world. A safe world. But a world that would have already disappeared if Gunjou hadn't been working hard. A world that would have already disappeared if no one had sacrificed herself.
But no one is thankful. That's because, no matter what kind of danger appears, or what kind of abnormal circumstances there are, a super-heroine like the amazing, foolish and frantic Gunjou would appear and risk her life to do something about it.
"............"
But that's not me. It should not be me. Because I have to save my little sister. Because I have to save my little sister. If that's the case, I shouldn't be using this Holy Sword, which may or may not be completed yet. I shouldn't show this to anyone. And I can't afford to die in the labyrinth as well.
I never can become a super hero.
Thus, I say.
"...... I shall abandon Gunjou."
Up till now, I have been doing that.
Up till now, I have been doing that.
Up till now, I have managed to survived this far from doing that.
Sounds of laughter ring out from the TV. Sounds of fun laughter ring out. I don't know what's so funny about that. Someone made fun of another and they seem to be enjoying themselves tremendously from that. I kick that box that has been projecting a crowd of smiling faces.
I pull its plug and the projection disappears.
The room returns to silence.
Only the sound of the clock can be heard.
The sound of Gunjou's remaining time, ticking away one second at a time.
"...... damn."
I stand up, for a reason that even I do not know.
♦
1:00 AM
《Kichijouji High School》
A dark, dark schoolyard.
A dark school premise.
The only places with their lights switched on are the staff room and the classroom of Class 5.
As I enter the classroom,
"Shinnosuke-kun!"
Kiryuu Kiri stands up.
I look inside the classroom.
Normally filled with twenty people, the classroom of Class 5 has only nine people in it.
Including me, it'll be ten.
Furthermore, putting aside Shiro, Yousuke, Himi and Kiri, I have never seen the other five students. Meaning they aren't students from class 5.
Kiri draws close to me immediately.
"Shinnosuke-kun, did you hear? Gunjou......"
"I already know."
"Ah, ah...... I see. Did you hear it from Sensei?"
I nod. More importantly, how did Kiri and the rest get wind of this?
It was said that Gunjou was in a different chopper from class 5 when her disease manifested. In that case, Kiri and the rest of the students should not have seen her during the onset of the disease. Those who saw would all have already been swallowed by the labyrinth.
And the news about Gunjou having the disease would have been concealed for a while even from the other surviving students.
A labyrinth becomes a highly difficult one when its diseased girl can employ magic. To top it off, Gunjou is the top of our grade. No fool would enter such a labyrinth. If they want to raid the labyrinth --- at the very least, assemble students for the purpose of attending the class, then they should have kept the new under cover.
But, Kiri knows.
From the looks of this turnout, the rest of the students probably know as well.
That's why we have such a small turnout.
Among all the classes, probably only the ten people here will be entering the labyrinth. For class 5, aside from the Hero team, Shiro, Himi, Yousuke, and Kiri, the rest have been 'wiped out'. Meaning that they have Escaped before even entering the labyrinth.
I ask.
"Hey Kiri."
"Hn?"
"How did you know about Gunjou coming down with the disease? Did you hear it from Honjou Tsukasa?"
But, she shakes her head.
"On the way from the labyrinth in Saitama...... I heard it over the radio message from the rescue chopper."
"............"
"They contacted the chopper of class 5 and said that Gunjou looked strange."
"............"
"Then, the people around suddenly started yelling, 'it's the labyrinth disease!' --- and an evacuation order was then given to all the choppers."
"...... that's enough. I got it."
It means that Gunjou's disease onset wasn't hidden from the other students.
Most of the students probably already bailed. Escaping before even entering the labyrinth.
And that's so right that it's almost too right. Rather, I'm surprised to find even ten people here. I should be going back too.
"............"
I look at the five people I don't know.
Three males.
Two females.
They are probably from class 3 and class 4. Class 1 and class 2 were probably swallowed up by the labyrinth.
Among them, a tall, well-featured young man speaks.
"...... oh, you must be the famous Arisu Shinnosuke-kun from the Hero Team! I'm happy to meet you. Let me introduce myself. I'm Santou Taisuke. I transferred here last month, and right now, I'm the top of class 3."
I look at him with half-opened eyes.
The guy called Santou approaches me and says.
"Even though the cowards ran off, the fate of the world rest on us. Let's save the world together!"
He extends his hand to me.
I look down at it in boredom,
"............"
Ignoring it, I return to my seat.
Santou smiles.
"What a shy guy. But anyway, let's give it our all together."
Is this guy saying that for real? Or did he catch the weird superhero syndrome in his head?
Another person, this time a girl, stands up.
"Erhm, everyone, please hear me. I, have a boyfriend who's in class 2......"
I no longer need to hear any further. Since I already know her motive for coming here.
"Erhm, my ability ranks around middle of class 4 so...... even though I might be a burden to the class 5 that's filled with capable people...... I'm willing to do anything! I'm willing do anything I can for this labyrinth raid so please! Save Hiroki!"
Who the hell's Hiroki?
Santou strokes her back trying to calm her down. She is trembling.
The other students look on as well. Well, each and every one of them probably has his or her own reason for raiding this absurd labyrinth I suppose.
Ignoring them, I return to my seat.
I look around the classroom again. As usual, both Himi and Yousuke are sticking close to Shiro like goldfish droppings.
Slumped on his desk, Shiro is sleeping. That's the righ
t move. Right now, it's 1 am, deep into the night. By the time we are done with our lesson and infiltrate the labyrinth within the next 6 hours, it'd already be morning. We'll be in no shape to raid the labyrinth if we are sleep-deprived.
However, if Shiro's taking a nap now, then, it means that he's serious in entering Gunjou's labyrinth.
Kiri takes the seat beside me, and peers into my face.
"...... what?"
She then says.
"Nothing, I just didn't expect you to come."
"Why?"
She merely smiles sadly, and says nothing.
But, from the look of her face, she understands.
That this labyrinth can't be raided.
Gunjou can't be killed.
But I ask,
"In that case, why're you here?"
Kiri appears to ponder a little, and replies.
"...... to save the world, I suppose?"
"I won't ask you anymore."
"Ah-haha."
She smiles sadly again.
While I don't know the meaning behind that, she probably has her own reason as well. A reason whereby she has to enter the labyrinth. Which reminds me, during the Asahi Momoka incident, she never Escaped as well until the very end. Despite having been abandoned by her classmates.
I look at her.
Receiving my gaze with her large eyes,
"I'll feel embarrassed if you stare at me like that ~"
She says and smiles again.
Unlike Gunjou, she's mentally strong. Really strong. Thus, she probably won't tell me whatever I ask. Not that I have any intention of asking though.
I turn my gaze in the direction of the window.
It's snowing again. I hate snow. As it chills my mood.
"Hey Shinnosuke-kun."
Says Kiri.
I did not answer. I just continue to stare into the night outside the window.
"Why did you come?"
"............"
"This raid is a foolhardy one, don't you think?"
"............"
"I think it's better to give up on it...... and also, I've always thought you would be the rational kind in something as precarious as this......"
"............"
"Or, could it be that you are in love with Gunjou-san?"
At that moment, I turn towards Kiri and say.
"Shut up. Then, let's go with that. It's because I love Gunjou so much that I can't help it. I really want to kill her. That's a hobby of mine. A hobby in killing girls. That's the reason why I came to this school. I mean, it's legal to kill girls right?"
I grin foolishly.
But, as if she hasn't been listening to me, Kiri looks hard at me, pouts with a troubled look, and says.
"...... if you were to die at that kind of place, then you wouldn't be able to go on that Christmas date with me."
"Did you just hear what I said? ...That I have a hobby in killing girls. On Christmas, I'll kill you too."
"Ah-haha. All right. Kill me."
"You know......"
But, Kiri says with a serious face.
"Shinnosuke-kun. It's better to go back. This is really a labyrinth that you shouldn't be entering......"
But at that moment, the siren rings.
Biih biih biih.
"Paging all students of the Girl Killing Curriculum. Please head to your classrooms ASAP. In the Musashino area of Tokyo, a labyrinth disease victim has appeared. We'll being the lesson in killing the girl."
It has been close to four hours since Gunjou's disease manifested. The labyrinth investigation by the research institution has probably ended. And that means we have six hours from now before Gunjou transforms into an eternal labyrinth.
Since it is standard to spend five hours to learn about the labyrinth and the labyrinth diseased girl, and the last hour to deal with it.
Shiro's eyes open at the sound of the siren. He scratches his head, then looks in my direction.
Seeing me seated at my seat, he looks a little surprised, then smiles.
"Hey Shinnosuke. I knew you'd come."
Completely opposite of Kiri.
I scowl and say.
"Ah? What the hell're you talking about?"
"You're the type who can't look away from a suffering classmate, aren't you?"
"Don't joke with me."
"Then why did you come? Escaping should have been the no-brainer choice."
"I could ask the same of you. I thought you were on bad terms with Gunjou, weren't you?"
But Shiro answers readily.
"I've said this before, but once someone becomes my comrade even once, I'll never abandon him to the best of my ability. That's my principle."
"I like how you mention that 'to the best of your ability' part."
On hearing that, Shiro shrugs his shoulders.
"It's foolish to throw away my life pointlessly. However, as long as the possibility exists, I won't abandon anyone."
"So, are you going to kill Gunjou? Did she ask you to kill her if she contracts the labyrinth disease?"
Shiro smiles and looks at me.
"I don't see the point of this discussion --- I'm here for the same reason as you, Shinnosuke. Gunjou's the type who would burden herself with everything; she's definitely the good kid who won't want to drag others into the labyrinth disease along with her. That's why I'm going there to kill her. Since she's a comrade."
A good kid.
Comrade.
Friends.
Lovers.
Shiro could actually say all those disgusting, creepy-sounding words with a straight face. I wonder what kind of environment he was brought up in. When I get involved with him --- no, when I get involved with these people, I can't be myself.
"I'm different from you. I'm here for a different reason."
That's right.
I have a reason.
I'm here to test my newly obtained 《Holy Sword switch》. It's not because of a comrade, or friend, or things like friendship. I'm here to perform human experimentation. I'm not naive. Not weak. There's no way I'm that kind of good guy......
But, Shiro interrupts.
"Ohh I see. But I don't believe you. You really want to save Gunjou right?"
"............"
"Just admit it. You're......"
"You really piss me off. I really am......"
"A nice guy who just won't admit that."
"We really can't get along. The first person I'm going to kill after entering the labyrinth is you."
"Hahaha."
On hearing our conversation, a girl who I don't know, probably from either class 3 or 4, can't bear it any longer and speaks up.
"Hey! Aren't you guys the Hero Team!? Why're you guys fighting in such a situation!?"
Yousuke then smiles and says.
"No no, they're always like that. But in the end, Shinnosuke went to karaoke with us."
I stand up and kick the desk. The desk flies toward Yousuke who's rattling away like a know-all.
Yousuke holds out his hand calmly.
His magic has already activated.
"Reverse Force switch ---"
He murmurs. It's a magic that Yousuke's good at. And I know that magic.
An invisible abstract space gets created before Yousuke's hand, and within that space, he's able to freely manipulate the strength and position of gravity to a certain extent.
The desk gets pulled violently by the strong gravity. And it flies towards the young man called Santou.
"Eh, ah, hey."
Santou dodges the desk. Just in the nick of time. Behind him, the girl who has a boyfriend in class 2 is unable to dodge it.
"Ugh."
She can't even scream.
"Rebound."
Says Yousuke. The desk stops right in the middle of the air, and then, losing its momentum, it drops down to the floor. After ascertaining that, he says,
"...... ah ~, from their movements just now, they probably won't be of much u
se Shiro."
Shiro nods.
"Yeah. If you guys are coming along for this labyrinth raid, then fill up all your slots in your 《Headphone Fuzz》 with support-class magic."
On hearing that, Santou says.
"Hey, wait a minute. I'm the top of class 3 after all ---"
But, cutting him off, Yousuke says.
"Himi, show him."
Himi looks surprised at suddenly being called, and with a fearful face,
"Eh? Erhm, me?"
"We have to make things clear to our comrades before class starts, don't we?"
"Erhm but......"
"Just do it ~"
Looking flustered, Himi stands up hesitantly. Turning to face Santou. She stands before him.
As Santou is tall, and Himi has a slender body, there is quite a contrast between their builds.
Yousuke says.
"By the way, in our team, Himi's physical prowess is not high, and offensive magic is not her forte either. But, as she's good at support magic, she wields only support magic."
Santou looks down at Himi. She still appears to be afraid.
"Haah...... and? Could it be that you're trying to tell me that I'm weaker than her?"
On hearing Santou's words, Himi replies.
"Erhm, well, then, I'll give you a slap, please dodge it."
"That'll be a breeze......"
"Here I come."
Himi whips up her hand. Santou tries to dodge it, but immediately after that, pahn, the sound of an impact on his cheek resounds.
Santou's eyes widen.
"Hey, wait a minute, I let my guard down just now."
"Then I'll do it again. Please dodge it."
Her hand flies up.
"Kuh."
Just as Santou gathers his energy, pahn, the sound of impact on his cheek rings out.
Even though Santou has a face showing that he is clueless as to what happened, nothing great really happened. Santou is just weak.
Himi says apologetically.
"...... I'm sorry for hitting you twice."
Yousuke claps his hands twice and says.
"Well, this is it ~ so let's make things clear. Though I'm stronger than Himi, compared to Shiro, Shinnosuke, and Kiri, my offensive magic is still far below theirs. But I'm good at defensive magic, so I have all my slots filled with defensive magic. I'll do my utmost to protect my comrades in this class, so let's do our best in our own roles."
Following that, the five new students seem to have decided to follow Shiro, Yousuke, and Himi.