Mokushiroku Arisu - Volume 03 Read online

  Mitsutomo Group hid all that from her and made use of her; and without knowing all that, she desperately worked hard, hoping for her parents' recognition ---

  I don't really consider that as the worst kind of situations. In the world of military organizations, labyrinths and magic, you'd often hear these kind of stories.

  But, if this is indeed true, then to Kujaku, Gunjou is no kin.

  She's merely a lab rat.

  And if this lab rat had ended up turning into a labyrinth and if she was here to dispose of this failing, then she would definitely need to kill her.

  But Kujaku did not do that.

  In a laid-back fashion, while smiling, she stabbed Gunjou's chest with a small knife which no one would think capable of dealing a fatal blow to a labyrinth diseased girl.

  "............"

  I recall that knife.

  The knife that Kujaku had.

  What on earth was that?

  A knife that wasn't used to behead her, nor to gouge out her gut, but merely used to stab into her chest.

  But was that really a knife?

  Could it be an article for implanting magic?

  Could it be that, what Kujaku used, was a type of magic much like my Holy Sword switch, which could be used to meddle with a labyrinth diseased girl?

  I look around my surroundings. In spite of severing Gunjou away, her labyrinth remains.

  And about the fact that right now, another eternal labyrinth nearby, 《Apocalypse Alice》, is connected to Gunjou's labyrinth.

  Could it be that that's the true motive behind Kujaku's knife?

  Then,

  "...... the true motive of Mitsutomo Group is the 《Apocalypse Alice》?"

  That's bad. While I'm wasting my time around here, there's a possibility that the Mitsutomo Group finding a way to making military use of my little sister Saki.

  I look at Gunjou and say.

  "Hey Gunjou, can I ask you something?"

  "What is it?"

  "Do you know Kujaku?"

  On hearing that, Gunjou's eyes go wide and she cocks her head to the side.

  "What kind of question is that? Of course I know...... you're talking about the bird peacock[2] right?"

  Seems like Gunjou doesn't know about Mitsutomo Kujaku.

  But that's to be expected.

  There's no researcher who would tell a lab rat that she's a lab rat.

  And I do not know whether or not I should tell her about her parentage right now. We are inside a labyrinth. It's not a good thing to learn the truth about one's parentage out of nowhere and waver because of that inside the labyrinth, I suppose.

  Even if I have to tell her, it'd be outside the labyrinth. And it should be at a fun place. The truth about her parents not being her real parents is not something that she should dwell on, so I think it's best to tell her when she's singing herself silly at a karaoke box. Maybe it's better to have Shiro, Yousuke and Himi along with us then.

  Thus, I ask another question.

  "What happened to Shiro and the rest?"

  On hearing that, Gunjou's eyes narrow slightly.

  On seeing that, my pulse quickens for an instant again.

  There's a possibility that Shiro and the rest had died, perhaps.

  If that happened, I'd probably be hurt again.

  Easily hurt.

  Because I'm weak. Terribly weak. That was why I didn't want to get close to anyone.

  "Sorry. We are digressing. Start from the beginning. From the time when I lost consciousness."

  I finally recover from my confusion, sort out my thoughts, and prepare to listen to the story.

  The information that I've sorted out in my mind are as follows:

  Gunjou was made used by the Mitsutomo Group.

  But she doesn't know it herself.

  There's a possibility that the knife that Kujaku used had a similar power to the Holy Sword switch, and by making use of Gunjou's labyrinth, Mitsutomo Group may be attempting to raid 《Apocalypse Alice》.

  But 『Metropolitan Kichijouji High』 probably has no connection with the Mitsutomo Group. If there was a connection, then Gunjou's parentage would probably not have been revealed to us. Thus, this is an experiment conducted independently by Mitsutomo Group. They should have wanted to perform their experiment without any interference. And it should have gone their way. Since there shouldn't have been anyone remaining who would challenge a time-limited rank 42 labyrinth.

  But something unexpected happened.

  Firstly, the top student Gunjou should have a disease onset occurring while she was in the chopper. And at that stage, the school's elite team should have been swallowed up by the labyrinth and disappear. In that scenario, there definitely wouldn't be anyone remaining who would challenge the resulting labyrinth. But, thanks to Gunjou riding in the chopper that was carrying the wounded, the entire Hero Team survived.

  That very Hero Team reached where Gunjou was. And ended up witnessing the experiment.

  Then, they should dispose the Hero Team. And there also wouldn't be any evidence left since they were inside the labyrinth.

  If this was an independent act of Mitsutomo Group, then, the act of causing a labyrinth disease onset in Tokyo area, could only amount to an act of terror. Before this got out, it was necessary to kill all witnesses.

  In other words, the chance of Shiro and the rest getting killed by the Valor Team is high.

  After sorting out all those thoughts, I ask.

  "...... so, what's the story?"

  On hearing that, Gunjou starts recounting what happened since I lost consciousness.

  * * *

  Chapter 3 - Shiro's Resolve

  Going back in time a little.

  Damn, I've let my guard down ---

  Thought Hishiro Shiro as he lay fallen on the ground, with a sword pierced through his back.

  Looking behind him, both Yousuke and Himi too had swords impaled into them. He could not move his body at all. It seemed like this was due to the magic embedded into the sword.

  A magic used for restraining others.

  "Kiri, you bitch......"

  By the time Shiro had uttered that, she was already onto her next prey. With beautiful long hair fluttering in the air, her body advanced lightly. A new Japanese sword was magically conjured into her right hand. She readied it.

  Her prey was a fool who was desperately trying to save his comrade. The fool's back was completely defenseless. He was totally unaware of Kiri behind him.

  Shiro attempted to shout "Shinnosuke!" to that fool, but it was already too late. Kiri's sword stabbed into the back of Shinnosuke.

  Shinnosuke did not react at all. It seemed like he never would have imagined that his comrade...... Kiri, would attack him from behind.

  And with that, it ended.

  They lost.

  Kiri was a traitor.

  Gunjou could not be saved.

  Then, what should he do?

  What was the correct thing that he should do?

  How could he protect his comrades?

  The only obvious choice was to Escape but, he couldn't move his finger. He couldn't select his magic song slots. He could move his head and mouth, but can't move anything below his neck.

  Thus, right now, the only cursed song that was playing in his head was the Thousand Deities Flash Of Light switch.

  【Open the foolish sky ♪

  Open the foolish land ♪

  The foolish us open Nirvana ♪】

  Shiro looked at Himi and Yousuke once again. He tried to query them with his eyes, but it was futile. But since he couldn't move his fingers, he couldn't Escape.

  Then how could they get out?

  "...... be on standby."

  He mouthed the order with only his lips. Himi and Yousuke's eyes responded to that.

  Shiro turned to face his front. And pondered.

  He probably could Escape. Since he had the cursed song, Thousand Deities Flash Of Light switch, playing.

/>   Additionally, he could freely bring out Thousand Deities Flash Of Light from anywhere that his hands could reach. If he invoked the boring-like magic with the drill-like tip of Thousand Deities Flash Of Light switch into the sword that was impaled into his chest, he could probably wrench the sword out.

  Of course, that carried some risk. For Thousand Deities Flash Of Light switch carried too much power and was a comparatively bland magic, he might fail to properly bore into the sword and end up shaving off part of his body instead. If that happened, he probably would have less than half of his body left.

  Besides, once he invoked that magic, he would leave himself a big opening. When that happened, the Valor Team probably wouldn't just sit around and watch.

  Therefore, he only had one chance.

  To pull out the sword with Thousand Deities Flash Of Light switch.

  And save his comrades.

  But which of his comrades should he save?

  Gunjou? Or Shinnosuke?

  Or, save Himi and Yousuke, regroup, then proceed to save Shinnosuke and Gunjou with them?

  Which one would it be? Which one had a better chance of succeeding?

  At any rate, he only had one chance.

  Just one.

  While Shiro was seeking for that one chance, this was what Shinnosuke and Kiri said to each other.

  "...... Kiri......, pull out your sword."

  "No way."

  "No, you'll pull it out. I believe in you......"

  "Ah-haha. You can't do that. You can't trust someone like me."

  "No way. I trust you."

  "You can't."

  "I trust you."

  "I said you can't."

  "Shut up! Didn't you talk about being comrades earlier! Therefore, you are our comrade!"

  Bellowed Shinnosuke.

  Comrade.

  That twisted Arisu Shinnosuke with a shitty personality hollered 'comrade'.

  "...... hey hey, are you for real?"

  Shiro smiled slightly. And his belief in Shinnosuke grew stronger.

  It seemed like Shinnosuke had yet to give up on saving Gunjou. In that case, he couldn't just bail out like that.

  It was decided. He would pull out Kiri's sword and run towards Shinnosuke. And he would leave everything to that rarely worked-up, desperate fool. If he was that serious, he might be able to succeed in saving Gunjou.

  Thus,

  "...... Thousand Deities......"

  However, Shiro's words stopped halfway.

  Because the situation suddenly changed.

  Kiri's back quivered. He could hear her voice that was hoarse with tears.

  "...... I, I really...... I thought I saw a dream in which I could really become your comrade......"

  It seemed like she was crying.

  "Kiri! Forget that and just pull out the sword!"

  "I can't. I...... I......"

  It seemed like Kiri was crying.

  "I don't know what kind of a hold they have on you but, but I, we'll protect you so please, pull out your sword!"

  Shinnosuke yelled. His fervent voice seemed like it could move things.

  But the world would not forgive that.

  Because Kiri was someone who lived in the darkness. It was not an uncommon story. Humans kept by military corporations and dictatorial countries; they weren't really uncommon.

  And, she was probably someone who was working for the Valor Team.

  A traitor.

  But, it wasn't really an uncommon story. It was really not uncommon to hear about someone stabbing her comrades in the back without batting an eyelid.

  Since, in the world of labyrinths where the rewards that could be reaped were great, those who became strong were all like that. Born in that darkness, raised in that darkness, but yet, they searched for a light somewhere.

  Kiri had probably already given up on searching for that light. That was the kind of face she had. That was the kind of girl, with a plastered smile on her face, she was.

  Everything was an act; a fake beauty.

  The world was dark.

  Miracles did not happen in this world.

  "Most of the time, that is."

  Murmured Shiro.

  But right now, a miracle was about to happen.

  Because Kiri had ended up crying.

  Thrown off by Shinnosuke's passion, Kiri's heart eventually moved.

  After that Shinnosuke with a horrible personality hollered loudly about her being a comrade, Kiri's heart eventually moved.

  There are times when the world changes. Even though it is an occasional thing, miracles do occur when someone hollers.

  Of course, right now, it had yet to happen. But, probably, it was not Shiro who was creating the miracle here. Shiro stopped his invocation of Thousand Deities Flash Of Light switch for now.

  Kiri's tears continued to flow, but she did not pull her sword out.

  "...... I'm sorry, Shinnosuke-kun."

  "Don't screw with me!"

  "Sorry...... sorry."

  Kiri continued to apologize in a quavering voice.

  Shiro looked intently at both Kiri and Shinnosuke. Staring at them with his red eyes.

  Then, he started analyzing the situation calmly.

  It was enough for just one person to holler up a miracle passionately. Right now, Shinnosuke was doing that.

  In that case, Shiro would gather in all the information calmly. This was teamwork. Since they only came to raid this labyrinth based on an agreement to trust one another. In that case, he would believe in them to the end, and it would be fine as long as they win in the end.

  "............"

  Kiri was crying.

  But this was not a place where she should be crying. If she cried, she would not be able to fulfill her role as a traitor. In other words, there was a possibility that she was not a traitor.

  Shiro looked at the sword pierced into his chest.

  The sword was impaled into his heart.

  But yet, he did not die.

  Kiri should possess several magics that could blast a human being into oblivion in just an instant. Reason being, the magic she had used was at a level that was able to deal with the monsters inside a high ranking labyrinth diseased girl.

  Then, why did they not die?

  The effect of Kiri's magic was for some reason of a restraining type. In order to make Shiro unable to move. But yet, his head and mouth could move. So that he could see what was happening. So that he could speak. Perhaps, this was actually a magic used for interrogation. While allowing the target's head and mouth to move, one could inflict wounds on the target before his very eyes, and interrogate him.

  But why did Kiri choose such a magic?

  If she did not want Shiro to interfere, then it would be better to just quickly kill him off.

  "Why."

  Murmured Shiro.

  "Why on earth."

  Shiro glared at Shinnosuke and Kiri.

  "What kind of visual message am I supposed to see here? Is there a hint to where the miracle will occur?"

  At that moment, the leader of the Valor Team, by the name Kujaku, raised her knife.

  "Stop!"

  Shinnosuke hollered.

  "Stop please! I...... I have a magic that can save Gunjou......"

  But nobody waited for him.

  Kujaku swung her knife down at Gunjou's chest.

  "............"

  Shiro grimaced.

  If Kiri was a traitor, an enemy, and only had intention of doing harm on them, then if he were to survive, he would probably later blame himself, who had been unable to move at this place.

  But, Shiro chose to believe Kiri. He chose to believe the feelings of Kiri who responded to Shinnosuke's cries with tears.

  Kujaku's knife pierced into Gunjou's chest.

  Gunjou, for some reason, did not die. But, a gah-hah escaped from her and she coughed out blood.

  At that moment, the time limit displayed in the 《Headphone Fuzz》 became 0.

>   But the Valor Team did not panic.

  Kiri too did not panic.

  It seemed like the time limit going to 0 was within their expectations.

  "Ah, ah, ah, ah."

  Gunjou started crying out.

  《Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, aaaaah, ah, aaaah, aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh》

  She turned into an eternal labyrinth.

  Once she got swallowed up by it, it would be the end.

  They would no longer be able to save Gunjou.

  They should Escape. Lying here and believing in the tears of Kiri and the passion of Shinnosuke was never a sane thing.

  However,

  "............"

  Shiro still did not use his magic. He searched for a chance. He believed in his comrades. At such a juncture, there was nothing else but to believe in his comrades.

  Gunjou hollered for a while, then went limp. It seemed that signaled to end of the eternal labyrinth transformation.

  Kujaku then said,

  "All right, this should be fine. If the magic has succeeded, then this labyrinth is now connected to the 《Apocalypse Alice》."

  She then pulled out the knife from Gunjou's chest. The knife disappeared. It seemed like that knife was a product born out of magic.

  "...... Apocalypse Alice."

  Murmured Shiro.

  In other words, that was their --- no, that was the military conglomerate Mitsutomo Group's objective. Gunjou was just a throwaway pawn. This was a plan to use Gunjou to connect to 《Apocalypse Alice》.

  Gunjou could no longer move. After ascertaining that, Kujaku looked in the direction of Kiri, and said.

  "But well, your acting earlier was pretty amazing, Kiri. Is there any point to shedding those tears?"

  Kiri looked at Kujaku and answered.

  "Nothing ~. It's because I'm the type that gets into the role."

  "The role of --- a comrade of the Hero Team?"

  Kiri wiped off tears, and a dark smile then surfaced on her,

  "Yeah. The peeps of the Hero Team are all really passionate. Things like comrades, friendship...... they're really stupid. But since I'm a good person, when I betray my comrades, for some reason, my chest hurts a little you see ~. Here."