1.      Maiden Race (1^st Time)

 

(0/25)

 

Setsuna woke up atop a scaffold built high in the air.

 

(1/25)

 

It was atop a towering structure—something like a watchtower, a surveillance post, or perhaps a lighthouse.

 

The scaffold was about fifteen meters square. The edges were completely enclosed by handrails. The material was primarily wood, and there was no ceiling. Consequently, there was nothing to block the light, and sunshine poured down over the entire area.

 

On such a scaffold, Setsuna woke up.

 

It seemed Setsuna wasn't the only one who had awakened. There were many other girls there. Almost all of them were already awake; some were looking around restlessly, others were leaning against the railings relaxing—each spending the time in their own way. Counting roughly, there were about fifty people. All were around Setsuna's age—young girls—and furthermore, everyone was dressed in the exact same outfit.

 

Setsuna pinched the fabric of <it>—what she was wearing—and examined it closely.

 

It was a gym uniform.

 

White fabric with a distinct texture, with black accents at key points like the collar and cuffs. On the chest bib, the two characters of her own name, <Setsuna>, danced. Covering her lower body were bloomers. An outfit that had disappeared from educational settings long ago, now used only by athletes.

 

In this country, there are mainly two occasions where a gym uniform is called for. One is during PE class at school. The other is when engaging in all manner of shady acts. Setsuna knew that this time, it fell into the latter category.

 

Setsuna stood up and walked to the edge of the scaffold.

 

She held the handrail and looked out at the surroundings.

 

And—she could not help but show her astonishment.

 

Outside the scaffold built high in the air, a bed of spikes grew densely. Not the small kind used for flower arranging, but massive ones that could easily skewer a human being vertically. They stood in disorder, like a cluster of coniferous trees.

 

The spikes were laid out on all four sides of the scaffold. Extending for a distance longer than the scaffold's diameter—at least thirty meters—without a single gap, and beyond that lay a real coniferous forest. It seemed this scaffold had been built in a clearing within the forest, but only its immediate perimeter was covered in artificial malice.

 

She had received an explanation beforehand, but she couldn't help being surprised.

 

Setsuna was convinced.

 

This is a real murder game.

 

(2/25)

 

A murder game held in the underworld.

 

If cleared, an extraordinary amount of prize money.

 

That was the summary of the explanation she received from the agent. Setsuna had participated with a skeptical feeling of no way, such a thing exists, but having been shown this, she had no choice but to believe. There was still doubt regarding the credibility of the <extraordinary prize money>, but in this case, that wasn't the issue. Because Setsuna's expectation lay primarily in the <murder game> part—.

 

"Excuse me."

 

Someone called out to her.

 

Looking to the side, there was a pair of players. One looked like a college student, and the other like an elementary schooler.

 

Seeing the two, Setsuna thought, sisters, maybe. Their features were somewhat similar, and they were clinging tightly to each other. The shorter one—this one was likely the younger sister—was burying her face in the other's chest, hugging her, while the one who seemed to be the older sister was gently stroking her head. Due to their posture, the player names on their bibs were not visible.

 

"Shall we talk, just a little?" the older sister said.

 

"Eh, ah... yes." Unaccustomed to suddenly chatting with a stranger, Setsuna panicked for a moment before replying.

 

"Thank you. I felt like talking to someone. I'm just so anxious..."

 

Saying that, the older sister lowered her gaze to look at the younger sister hugging her chest. Whether she was terrified or just unable to speak, the girl remained silent.

 

"Well, it would be anxiety-inducing, wouldn't it..." Setsuna replied. "A game where lives are at stake."

 

"Ah, so it really is that. Are you experienced?"

 

"No, it's my first time, but you can tell just by looking."

 

Directing her consciousness toward the bed of spikes filling her vision, Setsuna spoke.

 

"...Based on my observation," the player who was the older sister said, "it means we have to cross those logs."

 

Setsuna's facial muscles tensed. She realized her face had turned grim.

 

Yes—the impact of the spikes was so strong she hadn't dared to focus on it, but that was there too. Amidst the clusters of spikes, logs were extending out here and there. Some were thick, some were thin, but all were cut to the same height. Compared to the density of the spikes, their placement was sparse, and the distance between logs was less than a meter—meaning, they were at a distance where one could likely jump across with a standing long jump.

 

Furthermore, Setsuna had already spotted what seemed to be the destination. Far in the distance—so far that one would have to jump across logs dozens of times to reach it—there was another scaffold. Like this one, it was a structure made of assembled wood, but unlike here, it wasn't an isolated island on land; a path extended from it. Setsuna followed the path with her eyes, but it was swallowed by the surrounding coniferous forest midway and vanished from sight.

 

Spikes, logs, and a scaffold far away. What did these elements imply?

 

"It's a log-crossing obstacle course, I suppose," the older sister player said. "A game where we challenge this dangerous athletic course and move forward."

 

"If that's the case, it's no joke..." Setsuna replied. "No one would do it, something like this."

 

"We might have no choice but to do it."

 

"Meaning?"

 

"There's one more thing that concerns me. In the middle of this scaffold..." The older sister turned around. "It's faster if you look."

 

Setsuna and the sisters headed to the center of the scaffold.

 

Though the scaffold was made primarily of wood, a wide LCD screen was installed on the floor in the center. It seemed something was being displayed, but—

 

"...Someone is sleeping," Setsuna said.

 

Just as she said, there was a player sleeping on top of the panel.

 

She was tall, with long hair and a pale complexion like a ghost. The two characters <Yuki> written on her chest bib expanded and contracted slowly with each breath she took. Her body covered most of the LCD screen, so nothing could be seen.

 

"It wasn't like this when I looked earlier..." the older sister said. "Did she roll over and move?"

 

When Setsuna looked around the scaffold, the only player still sleeping was this girl named Yuki. Thinking what a sleepyhead, Setsuna moved her aside. Even then, she didn't wake up.

 

Now—on the LCD that was finally visible, a timer was displayed. It was counting down in seconds, and the current remaining time was about three minutes.

 

"I think it means start when it hits zero."

 

Setsuna agreed with the older sister's deduction. Whether it was simply a signal to start the game, or if something more would happen—she didn't know the details, but it was safe to assume there would be some kind of movement.

 

Since there seemed to be nothing to do but wait for the timer to hit zero, they did so. The surrounding players too—seeming to regard the timer as important—were paying attention to it to varying degrees.

 

While waiting, when Setsuna looked at the older sister player, she noticed <Shizuku> written on her bib. The younger sister was still hugging her tightly, but thanks to a slight shift in position, it became readable.

 

"Shizuku-san, is it?" Setsuna said.

 

"Eh? ...Ah, right, my name was hidden."

 

With this child's head—as if to say that, Shizuku stroked her sister's head.

 

Thinking it was good timing, Setsuna asked, "Is she your sister?"

 

"Yes. I chased after this child and participated in the game, so to speak..."

 

"Why is your sister in the game?"

 

"She was told there was a job where she could earn money quickly, so she participated. It seems she didn't know it was a murder game."

 

I see, she was deceived. Sisters together; normally, they are not the kind of people who should be in a place like this.

 

—Unlike me.

 

"Were you also deceived into participating, Setsuna-san?"

 

"No, I..."

 

Just as Setsuna began to answer, out of the corner of her eye, she saw the timer hit zero.

 

Immediately after.

 

Gatan, a sound like something falling was heard.

 

(3/25)

 

She couldn't tell which direction the sound came from.

 

So, Setsuna looked around. Still, it took time to know the cause of the sound. Not because it was something minute. Because the change was so massive, the discovery was conversely delayed.

 

The handrails had disappeared.

 

The handrails enclosing the scaffold were cleanly gone.

 

"...Did you see that, just now?"

 

Shizuku said. "What happened?" Setsuna asked.

 

"The handrails... fell. Along with the floor beneath them."

 

Setsuna looked at the edge of the scaffold. She couldn't find traces of the handrails falling. If part of the floor had collapsed, the floor area should be smaller than before, but she wasn't sure; she couldn't tell well.

 

Giving up on measuring the floor distance, Setsuna looked at the timer. The timer, which should have recorded zero once, now displayed <14:50>. The count was continuing even now, decreasing the number every second.

 

"...Is it... game start?"

 

Setsuna said. Shizuku shook her head to answer I don't know.

 

It was a situation lacking material for judgment. Certainly, with the handrails falling, the barrier between the scaffold and the outside was gone. It became easier to jump onto the logs, but this alone couldn't confirm it was the start signal.

 

Not just Setsuna and Shizuku, but the other players seemed to feel the same. Everyone was buzzing uniformly, and no one took a single step off the scaffold. According to the story Setsuna heard from the agent, there were supposedly experienced people who made this murder game their trade, but judging by this, were there none this time? Or was it a situation that confused even the experienced? Whatever the truth, no one moved, and time just passed.

 

Come to think of it, this is strange. Just waiting won't make the situation any better. The designer of this game—Setsuna didn't know if it was an individual or an organization—wouldn't have set up such a grand device without preparing something to light a fire under the players. Something should happen. It was probably wiser to start before that happened. Rationally, that was true, but seeing those spikes made reason recede and instinct emerge. She wanted some kind of change. She wanted something decisive, something that would make one understand instantly that they had to move forward.

 

In the scaffold filled with such feelings, the timer ticked away time, and eventually, it cut past twelve minutes.

 

And—the decisive event everyone wished for occurred.

 

"...!"

 

In that instant, Setsuna couldn't even flinch.

 

The floor of the scaffold—just like the handrails three minutes ago—as if being shaved off from the outside—

 

Collapsed.

 

Fortunately, Setsuna was near the timer—that is, near the center of the scaffold—so she escaped disaster, but there were several girls positioned in the collapse zone. Some started running the moment it began to crumble and barely managed to evacuate inward, but the rest shared their fate with the falling floor. After the screams of the falling victims continued for several seconds—

 

The sound of wood shattering and sounds that felt vividly fleshy reached the scaffold.

 

Inside her head, Setsuna braced herself to panic.

 

But surprisingly, that didn't happen. Just as Setsuna simply gasped, the other players must have done the same. A silence bordering on disgusting covered the area. Even though people had died, not a single person raised their voice. If they raised their voice, what just happened would be fixed as a fact, so perhaps that was why they remained silent. Setsuna even thought it would be more grateful if they panicked. She wanted to ease this nausea in her chest, like after consuming too much alcohol or fried food, even a little.

 

"It's three meters."

 

After a while, someone muttered.

 

That voice was, of course, trembling.

 

"Three minutes passed... so three meters. It falls three meters at a time..."

 

Setsuna's brain—working actively in contrast to her immobilized body—understood the meaning.

 

The size of the scaffold is fifteen meters square. And the timer is also fifteen minutes. Every three minutes, three meters of the scaffold are shaved off from the outside, and in the end, the entire scaffold will vanish. Therefore, before that happens, one must jump onto the logs. That is the rule. That is the problem setting. After all, that timer was unmistakably the signal to start.

 

Understanding everything, yet, Setsuna's body didn't move.

 

Can I really be this immobile? she thought. She should have known it was a murder game—she should have participated acknowledging that, yet when faced with danger, is this it? Truly, utterly uncontrollable. It felt like it represented her half-hearted personality, and Setsuna got angry at herself. This hopeless idiot—.

 

"Let's go."

 

At that moment, Setsuna was called.

 

It was Shizuku.

 

"Most likely, when the remaining time cuts past nine minutes, the scaffold will reduce again. If that happens, jumping onto the logs will become considerably difficult. We have to go quickly..."

 

The logs set up around the scaffold.

 

There were many at a distance that seemed jumpable with just a light hop. However, because part of the floor had fallen, the situation had changed from before. Since three meters had fallen, shared on both sides meant 1.5 meters. Calculations showed the distance had increased by that much. If the remaining time cut past nine minutes and the floor fell again, it would recede another 1.5 meters. Totaling three meters. A distance that would compel quite a struggle to jump across.

 

So, they had to go quickly, but.

 

"Besides... Setsuna-san, did you see? The logs also had LCD screens attached. Maybe this game means that..."

 

LCD? Setsuna thought. She hadn't observed that carefully.

 

Like this scaffold, the logs also have LCDs. What for? As timers? If so, what are they counting? Setsuna's brain was gradually stopping to work too. I don't want it to work, somewhere in her heart, she was thinking that.

 

"Let's go, Setsuna-san."

 

Shizuku met Setsuna's eyes and repeated.

 

But Setsuna couldn't reply. She couldn't answer yes, nor could she nod. Walking across the scaffold aiming for the logs was out of the question.

 

Shizuku glanced at the timer. Reflecting the display <11:02> in her eyes, she met Setsuna's gaze again,

 

"Excuse us."

 

She said.

 

"Let's meet again on the other shore."

 

Shizuku turned toward the logs. I'm being left behind, Setsuna understood. Wait—such an unreasonable plea, Setsuna didn't have to make, as her voice didn't come out well anyway.

 

Shizuku walked to the edge of the scaffold with her sister. There, Shizuku—probably because she couldn't jump while keeping her clung on—separated her sister. Shizuku had a brief conversation with the sister who was frightened no less than Setsuna. The content of the conversation wasn't audible, but she probably said something like I'll jump first, so follow me.

 

When that was done, the sisters began to warm up. They ran lightly around the area and did standing long jumps on the scaffold several times. Setsuna couldn't diagnose their athletic ability just from that, but the practice scene looked proper.

 

Finishing preparations, Shizuku finally pointed her toes outside the scaffold.

 

Except for her, presumably everyone was watching that state. While making a slightly complex face at the concentrated gazes, Shizuku took a sufficient run-up just as she did in practice, and,

 

Took off.

 

Instinctively, Setsuna closed her eyes.

 

It was an act embodying a pathetic spirit: thinking Shizuku might fail, yet not wanting to reflect that in her eyes. While feeling utterly disgusted with herself, Setsuna opened her eyes.

 

Then—fortunately, she was there.

 

She had both feet on one of the logs near the scaffold.

 

She succeeded. The feeling of happiness was momentary; Setsuna gasped. Because Shizuku's gaze was poured onto the log at her feet. More accurately, at the LCD screen attached to the log—. Observing with the knowledge that it was there, Setsuna could also discover it. However, she couldn't read the content of the screen. Setsuna approached the edge of the scaffold and strained her eyes.

 

<00:22> was displayed.

 

It's a timer. Thinking from the time elapsed, probably, it started from thirty seconds remaining. The moment Shizuku jumped onto the log, the counter started moving. A weight sensor or something must be attached. What happens when it hits zero—Setsuna already had a prediction. Shizuku seemed to think so too; at the stage where the timer cut past ten seconds, she jumped to a nearby log.

 

And.

 

At the moment of zero, the log burst with a bon sound.

 

A bomb must have been embedded inside. Emitting a burnt smell, it crumbled apart, no longer serving its purpose as a foothold.

 

"It's thirty seconds!"

 

Shizuku called out toward Setsuna and the others.

 

"In thirty seconds, the log crumbles! The timer activates the moment you step on it, and when it hits zero, that happens! In other words—the logs are first come, first served!"

 

After shouting that, Shizuku beckoned to her sister. Though scared, she jumped onto the log. Executing a splendid jump just like her older sister, the sisters then proceeded with the log crossing.

 

"Everyone back up!"

 

At that moment, someone said.

 

"Soon, it will cut past nine minutes!"

 

With a sensation like sweat bursting from her whole body, Setsuna ran.

 

However, not outside the scaffold—but inside.

 

Fortunately, she avoided becoming a fool who died standing idly by out of curiosity. The warner seemed to have allowed plenty of time; there was a considerable interval from when Setsuna entered the safety zone until the scaffold began to crumble. Thanks to that margin, seeing as no one died this time.

 

However, the distance to the logs receded again.

 

The players looked outside the scaffold. In their brains, probably, Shizuku's last words were repeating. Not just this scaffold, but the logs also have timers. They crumble in thirty seconds. A log someone stepped on bursts and becomes unusable forever—that fact was corroborated right before their eyes. The logs Shizuku and her sister jumped onto burst one after another. Bon, bon, bon, bon, bon, bon, bon.

 

Who started screaming first, she didn't know.

 

But this time, they truly panicked. As if the accumulated fear exploded, the girls raised screams grand enough that one might think the scaffold's LCD would crack like a wine glass.

 

However, that panic had a good effect too. It birthed those who made courageous choices besides Shizuku. One, then another, the girls challenged the log crossing. Although the distance had increased by three meters from the start, it wasn't a distance impossible to jump, and the success rate wasn't low—nor was it high. About half couldn't grab the log or jumped in a skewed direction and fell.

 

Setsuna watched in a daze as the players decreased from the scaffold.

 

Is this the time to be watching? a voice echoed in her head.

 

You aren't a spectator. You are a player too. If another three minutes pass and the scaffold crumbles, jumping to the logs will become almost impossible. I have to go quickly—. Scraping together her meager courage, Setsuna hardened her resolve.

 

After aiming at one of the logs still remaining nearby, she looked back once. To check the timer. Reflected in Setsuna's eyes was the LCD displaying <08:02>. The flustered girls in gym clothes. And—

 

"...Hah...?"

 

Setsuna said.

 

The courage she had gathered with much effort dissipated. Her mind went blank. Because she saw something impossible—something she felt was even more impossible in this situation extremely devoid of reality.

 

Setsuna squeezed her eyes shut and opened them. <It> was still there. Not an illusion created by Setsuna's brain driven to an extreme state, but certainly existing.

 

That was.

 

The figure of a player still sleeping peacefully amidst this vortex of panic.

 

(4/25)

 

Yuki woke up atop a scaffold built high in the air.

 

(5/25)

 

"Mu..."

 

Groaning, Yuki sat up.

 

Sunlight poured into her eyes, which were stuck with sleep crust. Seems to be outside. She is lying on a wooden floor. There are many other girls around Yuki, and it's somewhat chaotic. She wondered what was wrong.

 

"Ah, finally woke up...!"

 

A voice came from near Yuki.

 

Looking, there was a beautiful woman. For some reason, she was wearing gym clothes, and <Setsuna> was written on her chest bib. Is that her name?

 

The woman named Setsuna said, "Quickly! Hurry!" in an incredibly panicked tone.

 

"The game has already started! If you don't hurry, you'll die!"

 

Apologetically, the urgency didn't convey with those words. In the first place, Yuki didn't quite grasp why she was in a place like this. What is a game?

 

"What is a game?" Yuki voiced her frank doubt.

 

"...Tsk...!"

 

As if Yuki had said something bad, Setsuna grimaced. One second later, changing to a serious expression,

 

"Listen, Yuki-san."

 

She said.

 

"Listen well. I will explain only once. Because we have no time. Listen once and be convinced. Okay?"

 

Not really understanding, Yuki said, "Yes."

 

"We are participating in a survival game. This is the starting point. The game has already begun. From now on, just like those people are doing..."

 

Setsuna pointed outside this scaffold. On long extending logs, girls were jumping and crossing.

 

"We have to jump across the logs and go to the scaffold over there. Because this scaffold is scheduled to crumble in a few minutes. We have to escape before that. Understood?"

 

Even into Yuki's still-dazed head, that explanation was absorbed smoothly. "Ah..." Yuki let out a voice of understanding.

 

"I've seen a drama like this recently."

 

"It helps that you're quick on the uptake. Now, let's go."

 

Pulled by the hand by Setsuna, Yuki stood up. She noticed there that she was also made to wear gym clothes. "By the way, why gym clothes?" Yuki said.

 

"I have no recollection, when did we change?"

 

"...I'll explain later! Just shut up and follow me now!"

 

She was yelled at with a menacing look. Yuki obediently fell silent.

 

Yuki observed the logs placed around the scaffold. Their diameters varied; some were thick, some were thin. Setsuna set her sights on the thickest one among them—consequently, the one likely easiest to jump onto—and backed up. Taking a sufficient run-up to bridge the distance from the scaffold to the log—

 

Setsuna jumped.

 

The flight distance was slightly insufficient to jump directly on top. She hit her head on the corner, and her body collided with the side; Setsuna achieved contact with the log. Clinging to the log firmly, she scrambled up. Reaching the top of the log safely, she exhaled a large breath as if relieved from the bottom of her heart. What a clumsy person, Yuki thought.

 

Standing up, Setsuna signaled with a hand sign, <Come here>.

 

Yuki obeyed. Following the same steps Setsuna did earlier, she jumped—

 

—Onto the same log as Setsuna.

 

"...!????"

 

At a point-blank range where she could feel her breath, Setsuna rolled her eyes.

 

Though it was a thick log, space was tight for two people riding it. Yuki and Setsuna grappled with each other, swayed forward and backward a few times, and finally regained their balance.

 

"Wait... what are you doing!? Yuki-san."

 

"Eh, was that not allowed?"

 

"We go by separate routes! Don't get on the same log as me!"

 

Is that so, Yuki thought.

 

"You'd know if you thought about it, right? It's narrow if two people ride!"

 

"But, because you said follow me..."

 

"...I said it! But understand the context...!"

 

Having shouted continuously, Setsuna's voice was hoarse. Sorry about that, Yuki thought, but she also thought it was Setsuna's explanation that was bad.

 

"A-anyway..." Setsuna said. "We can't dawdle. Let's jump quickly. This log will also break when the timer hits zero."

 

Setsuna tapped the log ton-ton with her toe. An LCD screen was also attached to the log, and a countdown had begun. About fifteen seconds remaining. It probably means it will crumble when it hits zero.

 

"Understood," Yuki replied.

 

"So... which one of us shall go first?"

 

(6/25)

 

Pulling themselves together, Yuki and Setsuna challenged the log crossing.

 

Although there was a bit of trouble at the start, it was smooth sailing after that. The logs were placed in sufficient numbers and density that jumping wasn't a struggle. If one jumped calmly, failure was unlikely. In fact, looking around, not many players fell midway.

 

"I suppose... this is strictly the first stage," Setsuna commented.

 

Maintaining a distance where voices could reach, Yuki and Setsuna moved.

 

"Athletic courses like this... there must be several prepared ahead. Since a path continues from the scaffold over there..."

 

Yuki looked at the target scaffold. Indeed, a path extended from it. A fact suggesting there was more even after arriving. I see—since it's the first barrier, the difficulty is appropriate.

 

Yuki and Setsuna proceeded smoothly. It was so smooth that Yuki didn't get bored and fall asleep again—that didn't happen. It was a simple obstacle course, but there were a few chilling moments along the way. At one time, she accidentally stepped on a log someone had already passed. The timer had already activated, leaving only ten seconds. She hurriedly jumped to another log and escaped danger. At another time, Yuki's hair, which she had left long, got caught on the log's bark. Leaving a few strands of hair there, she decided to tie her hair up from then on. Receiving moderate stimulation like that, Yuki proceeded—

 

And the third problem occurred right before the goal.

 

"...There's no path," Setsuna said.

 

The goal scaffold of the first obstacle course, the log crossing.

 

Around it—there were almost no logs.

 

Yuki immediately understood the cause. Dozens of players had already passed here before Yuki and Setsuna. Since a log breaks automatically once stepped on, naturally, the phenomenon of logs running out occurs on that route. In other words, the opposite of an animal trail. The more it is trodden, the harder it becomes to pass.

 

Looking at their feet supported that guess. Mixed with the spikes, massive debris of burst logs could be seen. Originally, there were many logs.

 

"We have no choice but to detour..."

 

Saying that, Setsuna looked to the right side of the scaffold. There were still somewhat some logs remaining there. Going around to the right would increase the travel distance compared to going from the front, but choosing that route would surely be safer.

 

But, "That's a hassle," Yuki said.

 

"Can't we manage to go somehow?"

 

Yuki closely observed the sparse logs in front of the scaffold. Though sparse, it seemed not impossible to cross if one tried hard.

 

"If we go like this, this, and this, I think we can make it."

 

Yuki indicated the route she discovered with her finger. "No, no..." Setsuna shook her head.

 

"It might be possible, but there's no need to purposely risk danger..."

 

Yuki ignored Setsuna's warning. Since the timer on the log was approaching zero, she moved to the adjacent log. Toward Setsuna, who moved logs in the same way, Yuki said, "Setsuna-san, please go from the right side."

 

"Either way, it doesn't look like two people can go."

 

"...Are you serious?"

 

Seems kind of dramatic, she thought, but Yuki answered, "Yeah."

 

"Understood. ...Please be safe."

 

Setsuna said, and there, for the moment, the two's paths parted. Setsuna from the right route, Yuki from the front.

 

Yuki looked at the first log she should jump to. Four jumps required. From the edge of the log, utilizing that diameter—taking a run-up of just one step without wasting that slight distance—Yuki jumped.

 

The first jump, successful without incident.

 

The second jump, slightly lacking flight distance, she hit the side of the log like Setsuna earlier.

 

And—the third time. This was the hardest part. Predicting that pure jumping power wouldn't reach, Yuki turned her body sideways in the air and stretched out both arms. Barely, the tips of her hands hooked on. Using the friction of a few fingers to the maximum to pull her body forward, scraping the side of the log gatsu-gatsu with her shoes, she managed to climb the log while supporting her weight.

 

The fourth time had almost no distance, so it was a formality. When Yuki arrived at the scaffold, Setsuna wasn't there yet. Naturally, since Yuki chose the closer route. A little later, fortunately, Setsuna arrived at the scaffold in a safe state. Breathing a slow, large sigh of relief,

 

"...Splendid," Setsuna said.

 

"Thanks," Yuki replied.

 

"Ugh..."

 

Looking at the floor of the scaffold, Setsuna grimaced.

 

In the center, there was a timer similar to the starting point. The countdown had already begun. Yuki had confirmed that the timer started moving the moment Setsuna arrived.

 

Yuki looked back at the log path they had advanced through. As far as she could see, there wasn't a single player remaining. Yuki and the others seemed to be the last. It must be a mechanism where the timer starts moving the moment the last player arrives. It indicates that this scaffold is not an eternal safety zone.

 

"Shall we proceed?"

 

Without knowing who started it, the two said to each other and stepped onto the path extending from the scaffold. It was wide enough for Yuki and Setsuna—that is, two women—to walk side by side, with handrails on both ends. Spikes were laid out on both sides of the path just like around the scaffold, and it seemed impossible to get down. It seems dropping out of the game midway is not possible.

 

Also, on that path too, timers were attached at regular intervals.

 

"Will this place crumble too?" Yuki brought up the topic to Setsuna.

 

"I think so. The paths and scaffolds keep crumbling, so we have to move forward. That must be the gist of the game."

 

Like a forced side-scrolling electronic game, Yuki thought.

 

(7/25)

 

Proceeding along the path, there was another wide scaffold.

 

As Setsuna saw it, the size was about the same as the previous one. There was another separate scaffold in the distance. As usual, spikes were laid underneath, but what connected the two scaffolds wasn't logs.

 

Barbed wire nets—would be the term. Nets made by weaving barbed wire were stretched between the scaffolds. There were three in total, all oriented vertically. Like a spider crawling on a wall, it seemed they had to traverse along them.

 

Of the players who had arrived earlier, about half were already challenging the barbed wire nets. The remaining half, perhaps waiting for their turn, formed lines in front of each of the three nets. The total number was a little under forty. There should have been about fifty players initially, so subtracting the numbers, ten-odd people must have already broken through here or lost their lives in the log crossing earlier.

 

Among the players, there were familiar faces.

 

"Ah... You were safe."

 

It was Shizuku. Together with her sister, she was in line.

 

"Yes, somehow," Setsuna replied.

 

"Oh. The person behind is, surely..."

 

Directing her gaze at Yuki, Shizuku spoke. She seemed to remember this ghost girl who was sleeping on the timer.

 

"Yes, we crossed the logs together," Setsuna said. "Yuki-san was still sleeping even after the scaffold started falling... So I woke her up, and we accompanied each other."

 

"Thanks," seeing Yuki bow, Shizuku smiled wryly, "That must have been tough."

 

"By the way, this line? Is it a waiting list?" Setsuna asked.

 

"Seems like it. Spontaneously, it became such an arrangement. Since they are nets, if too many people get on, they might break, and there's a possibility of getting stuck ahead."

 

"I see..." Setsuna said, but,

 

"Wait. But why are you in line? Shizuku-san, didn't you arrive first?"

 

Shizuku and her sister challenged the log crossing earliest. Naturally, it's natural to think their goal was also quite early. Yet why are they in the half waiting for their turn, rather than the half challenging the barbed wire?

 

"Well, that is so, but... Just a bit," Shizuku muddled her words.

 

What is it, just as Setsuna was thinking, she felt a gaze being showered upon her. Shizuku's sister was directing a frightened look this way. Her eyes were swollen, and on her bib—above where the two characters <Kanade> were written—there was a marble pattern likely from tear tracks. It looked like she had cried considerably. She didn't appear injured, but did something happen?

 

She was curious, but probing would be awkward. "Well then, see you later," saying a parting greeting to Shizuku, Setsuna and Yuki lined up. Since the line Shizuku and the others were in had the fewest people, they chose that one.

 

"Is that person an acquaintance?"

 

Asked by Yuki, Setsuna replied, "Yes."

 

"She seemed like a normal person."

 

"Actually, I think she is a normal person. Both she and her sister seem not to have participated in the game by desire..."

 

"Hee... So there are people like that too."

 

Eventually, their turn came, and Yuki and Setsuna entrusted their weight to the barbed wire net. Setsuna first, Yuki behind.

 

Second obstacle—Barbed Wire Net. Unlike the logs earlier, the path is physically connected, so in that respect, the difficulty is lower. If you hook your hands and feet properly on the net, falling is unlikely.

 

However, it's hard to call it an easy win. After all, the material of the net is barbed wire—. Dangerous barbs are attached in large quantities. Therefore, one cannot grip the net firmly; one must support their weight by hooking their fingers. Since it is originally something laid to keep people away, just grabbing it to proceed is a difficult undertaking. Careful not to cut their arms exposed from the upper arm onwards or their legs exposed to the very base due to the bloomers, Setsuna and Yuki proceeded. Thanks to that caution, nothing happened for a while.

 

After 'a while' ended, trouble occurred.

 

The player proceeding in front of Setsuna stopped. Apparently stuck. From ahead, voices that sounded like a dispute could be heard. Setsuna tried to confirm what was happening, but blocked by the players' bodies and due to the sideways posture, she couldn't see well.

 

"Did something happen?"

 

Behind Setsuna, Yuki spoke. While holding onto the net, she was pulling her body back significantly. Probably trying to see ahead. But seemingly unable to see, Yuki tried to pull her body with even more momentum gu-gu. Influenced by that movement, the barbed wire net shook, and the vibration transmitted to Setsuna.

 

"Wait... Just a moment, Yuki-san. Don't shake it." Setsuna said.

 

"Eh? Ah, sorry."

 

With a face lacking remorse, Yuki bowed her head. What a carefree person, Setsuna thought. Does she really understand that if she falls, she dies—?

 

The two waited for the congestion to clear for a while. However, the situation wasn't changing; rather, it seemed to be following a path of deterioration. The voices of the dispute, which were only faintly audible at first, were gradually becoming louder. Seems they are heating up against each other. <Hurry up> <People are stuck behind>—<No> <I won't go anymore>. Such words became audible in fragments.

 

Leaking words reached Setsuna's ears. According to the content, it seems a player who stopped moving is ahead. She says she cut her hand on the barbed wire and it hurts too much to proceed. If your hands are no good, hook your wrists and go—the player behind persuades, but that way of speaking is somewhat high-handed, or rather rough, a type not suited for persuasion at all, conversely making her stubborn. While the talk dragged on, both gradually increased in voltage, falling into a state that could be called a quarrel—that seemed to be the situation.

 

I hate this, Setsuna thought. By nature, she had a personality that disliked conflict. Just hearing others arguing from the side made her stomach knot. Since both hands were hooked on the net, she couldn't even cover her ears—. Please end quickly, she wished.

 

"...Huh?"

 

Yuki said.

 

"Isn't it that person from earlier, this voice?"

 

"Eh?"

 

"Shizuku-san... was it. Is she trying to mediate?"

 

Setsuna listened. Indeed, mixed in with the arguing voices, a third party's voice with a relatively calm tone could be heard. Although she couldn't hear the content being spoken, the tone was certainly Shizuku's.

 

Setsuna imagined. Then, could the one stopping the line be Shizuku's sister—Kanade, was it? If Shizuku volunteered to be the mediator, it's natural to think so.

 

Since she hadn't heard the sister's voice, the truth of the matter was unknown. She had no choice but to listen to the argument silently.

 

"I'm bored..."

 

Yuki leaked an extremely honest impression.

 

"How much longer will this continue, I wonder."

 

"Who knows... Judging by that state, it looks like it will still take a long time." Setsuna replied. "But, it can't stay like this forever. This scaffold also has a timer, and it will crumble eventually... If we don't move before that, it's bad."

 

"? What are you talking about?"

 

"Eh?"

 

"...Ah, um, not about that trouble. About the game itself. It was said to be a survival game, but I wondered how much longer until game clear."

 

"Ah..."

 

That, Setsuna thought. Asked at a confusing timing, she misunderstood.

 

"Well, that too, won't it continue for a long time? From what I heard, the survival rate of the game is about 70%, and for beginners, it's even lower. I suppose challenging obstacles are still waiting ahead."

 

"What happens if we clear it? Is there prize money or something?"

 

"Yes, it seems there is. ...Or rather, Yuki-san, you weren't even told that?"

 

"Was everyone told?"

 

"I think so. At least I received a detailed explanation from the agent. I participated after hearing everything about the prize amount, the danger, and so on. How was it in your case, Yuki-san?"

 

"There was no explanation or anything. I was wandering in the city, and a woman in a black suit invited me saying there's a good part-time job, guided me to a car, and then suddenly I got sleepy... When I woke up, I was here."

 

"...Almost kidnapping."

 

It was a story hard to believe in many ways.

 

"Didn't you think it was suspicious, that?"

 

"I did think so, but not entirely. Just at that time, I had quit my previous part-time job. A dislikable person at the workplace... tsubo, Tsudo... um, that bossy auntie..."

 

"Otsubone-san (office matriarch), perhaps?"

 

"Right. I fought with her and was just unemployed. So I thought it was good timing."

 

"Even so, that's no good. Going along with such a shady story."

 

"But, money is necessary, right? Even you, Setsuna-san, participated because you thought so, right?"

 

When told that, she couldn't retort. Financial difficulty was also one of the reasons Setsuna participated in the game.

 

"—Do I look lifeless to you?"

 

Suddenly asked. "Eh?" Setsuna asked back.

 

"Like, that person in the black suit told me. That I'm the perfect talent. To you, who seems indifferent to living or dying, the world of games is suitable... I was invited like that."

 

"Hee..."

 

"Do I look that way? I'm not really conscious of it."

 

Setsuna looked at Yuki again. Certainly, this carefree nature unfitting for the situation; she looks somewhat broken as a person.

 

"Perhaps so," she gave a vague answer.

 

"I wonder... Are you the same, Setsuna-san? You don't really look lifeless, though."

 

"......"

 

Setsuna fell silent for a moment.

 

Good expression, she thought. <Lifeless>. A word very suitable to describe her current state.

 

"...You're right. I am too," she answered.

 

"Lifeless, I should say. Living has ceased to be natural within me. That's why I participated in this game."

 

The trigger was distancing herself from society.

 

Just as it is happening in front of Setsuna right now—the world is always, everywhere, someone fighting. Disliking that, she separated from human society.

 

While thinking about life alone in her room, how should she put it, the mode of her heart changed. The 'natural' that certainly existed until then blew away somewhere. She didn't actively want to die, but living wasn't the default either. It had been demoted to a parallel option with others.

 

At such a time, she met the agent and was invited to the game. A real murder game with no guarantee of life. She thought it was a suitable place for her current self. For Setsuna, who had no source of income, the clear reward prize money was attractive—and if she failed, then so be it; that was also something she desired.

 

Setsuna entrusted her ultimate fate to this game.

 

"Hmm..."

 

Yuki stated her impression.

 

"Like, I don't really understand."

 

That's better, Setsuna thought.

 

(8/25)

 

While Yuki and Setsuna were talking, the congestion cleared. Seems like some kind of settlement was reached. Without slipping off the net, and without falling along with the scaffold due to time over, the two broke through the barbed wire obstacle.

 

Going along the path continuing from the scaffold, the third obstacle—Zip Line appeared. Wires stretched from high to low places, down which one slides while hanging on a pulley. Fifty of them—probably matched to the initial number of players—were installed.

 

At first glance, it seemed devoid of danger, but the players immediately saw through its meaning. In other words, this is a lottery. A wire snapping while sliding, or a pulley breaking, throwing the user into the abyss—there must be some 'misses' rigged. The players tried to see through which ones they were, but to no avail. Every zip line looked the same to the eye. Seemed like a game purely left to luck. Eventually, as the scaffold's time limit approached, each entrusted themselves to finger luck, chose a zip line, and leaped into the air. As expected, several players had their wires cut and fell. Yuki and Setsuna were not included among them.

 

The fourth obstacle was a trampoline. Several giant trampolines were set up between scaffolds, a task to bounce well and aim for the opposite shore. Yuki broke through quite easily, but Setsuna went this way and that, seeming to struggle quite a bit. The following fifth obstacle was a balance beam, and the sixth was cliff climbing. The seventh obstacle—Current Pool was the hardest point so far. A pool with a raging current was placed between scaffolds, but water flowed out from its edge. In other words, a design where if you lose to the current and are swept away, you are thrown out of the pool. Dragging gym clothes heavy with absorbed water, Yuki managed to swim through. Gasping ze-haa, looking at other players resting similarly, about half had taken off their gym clothes. Is it okay to take them off, Yuki thought. I should have done that too—.

 

At the point of conquering the pool, the total number of players became twenty-five. According to what she heard from Setsuna, there were about fifty at first, so calculatedly halved. The remaining twenty-five—even they seemed to be gradually getting worn out. Due to the continuous harsh trials, even if their bodies were safe, their minds were getting beaten. Visibly, their expressions had become gloomy. An unpleasant darkness, Yuki thought. Something might happen, she intuited.

 

At the next obstacle, it happened.

 

(9/25)

 

Eighth Obstacle—Suspension Bridge.

 

Between the scaffolds, three suspension bridges were stretched. It was a setting similar to the barbed wire earlier, but unlike then, all three suspension bridges were dilapidated. Primitive suspension bridges made 100% of plant materials; the bridge planks were full of gaps and corroded here and there, the handrails woven from vines were frayed to shreds, and the vines supporting the main body from both sides looked exceedingly unreliable. Even at this moment, receiving just a breeze, they were making rattling, unsettling sounds.

 

The players, sufficiently trained by the obstacles so far, understood the gist. Cross this dilapidated bridge while being careful not to make it fall, it implies. The three bridges are, so to speak, extra lives. If all fall, the means to go to the other shore disappears, and players who haven't crossed the bridge by that point get a game over. While lacking the easy-to-understand flashiness of log crossing or the raging pool, it's an obstacle where total annihilation is conceivable in the worst case.

 

The players discussed. As a basic policy, it was unanimously decided to cross the bridge one by one. Since it was doubtful whether it could support even one person's weight, it was a perfectly legitimate conclusion. Using a tree branch nearby, they made lots and decided the order. The first was Shizuku's sister, Kanade.

 

However—.

 

"...!!"

 

She shook her head furiously.

 

She clung tightly to her sister, Shizuku.

 

"...I'm sorry. Until this child calms down, could you delay her turn?"

 

While stroking her sister's head, Shizuku said.

 

"There's no problem in delaying, right? Being earlier in the order means challenging the bridge while it's less burdened... Please, I beg you."

 

Not everyone was convinced by that request, but the logic held, so it was accepted.

 

Probably, something like this happened during the barbed wire too, Yuki imagined. The sisters Shizuku and Kanade, who apparently cleared the log crossing first; because Kanade got scared like this and hesitated for a while, their departure was delayed.

 

Except for Kanade, the order was decided without hindrance, and the players challenged the suspension bridges. Deciding for themselves which of the three bridges to use, one, then another proceeded.

 

The first bridge fell while the fifth person was crossing.

 

Too fast. A buzz arose. At this pace, it's bad—the players thought, but as if toying with that psychology, the second bridge didn't collapse easily. Most likely, only the first bridge was built weakly. Nonetheless, the second bridge also fell at the eighteenth person. Finally, with no options left, it was arranged for Kanade, who had calmed down, to cross as the nineteenth person.

 

Although she had recovered from the temporary panic state, even now, with a fearful appearance, she proceeded along the suspension bridge. The remaining six players—Yuki included—watched that challenge intently. Being in a position where they would get a game over if the third one fell, it was natural to be so. Though their observation likely contributed nothing, Kanade advanced slowly and steadily with trembling legs, reaching the center of the bridge where the burden on the bridge becomes maximum—consequently, the danger becomes maximum too.

 

There, the wind blew.

 

Quite strong. A strong wind that could be felt even from the scaffold where Yuki and the others were. As if it were natural, the entire bridge swayed greatly, and the supporting vines made buchi-buchi unpleasant sounds. Could it be—Yuki thought, but it didn't happen. The third bridge survived safely, and Kanade, who clung strongly to the handrail, avoided being thrown off.

 

But, she did not start walking again.

 

Powerlessly, she sat down on the spot. Her expression couldn't be seen from where Yuki was, but undoubtedly, she was terrified from the bottom of her heart.

 

Probably, at that time, all the players were thinking the same thing. Not only the six who hadn't crossed the bridge yet, but also those who had already crossed, could predict the words she would say next with considerable certainty, and wished, Don't say it, please not that.

 

That wish was easily betrayed.

 

"I can't, anymore..."

 

Quietly, but certainly, Kanade said.

 

"No. I can't walk anymore."

 

Whether those words were literal in meaning, she didn't know. Maybe her legs truly gave out, or maybe she said it meaning she didn't want to proceed out of fear. Either way, seen from the outside, the meaning is the same. On the remaining single suspension bridge, a player had stalled.

 

It means the progress of the game has completely stagnated.

 

"Give me a break..."

 

Fed up, someone remaining on the scaffold muttered. <Give me a break>—judging from the nuance that there had been multiple nuisances, maybe it was the person who argued with Kanade during the barbed wire. If so, she should have heard the voice, but Yuki didn't remember well.

 

"Kanade."

 

From the scaffold opposite, a voice called out to Kanade. It was Shizuku.

 

"Can't you walk?"

 

Koku-koku, Kanade nodded.

 

"Then, can't you crawl? You don't necessarily have to walk. Even if you crawl, the weight on the bridge won't change..."

 

Interpreting it as physically unable to walk, Shizuku attempts such persuasion.

 

However, Kanade shook her head. With both hands on the bridge planks, she sat still.

 

"Can you just get it over with!"

 

Eventually, a voice rose from Yuki's side of the scaffold too. The same person who muttered earlier.

 

"We don't have time here!"

 

Saying that, that player pointed at the timer attached to the scaffold floor. Indeed, there was no time. Because it was one person per bridge, and moreover had to be crossed carefully, it consumed time, and the time limit was approaching.

 

"It's your liberty to die alone, but can you not drag us into it!"

 

"Stop talking like that! Kanade is scared, right?"

 

Shizuku rebuked. That player clicked her tongue and cursed, "Speaking from a safe zone...", but probably thinking shouting wouldn't improve the situation, she fell silent.

 

"Please—Kanade."

 

While being considerate not to scare her, yet giving it firmness, with such a perfect tone, Shizuku pleaded.

 

Even so, Kanade was shaking her head.

 

While doing this and that, the scaffold's timer cut past twenty minutes. For the remaining six people to cross the bridge—seven including Kanade—it's a very tight time.

 

"......"

 

It's no good, Yuki thought.

 

At this rate, it ends. Whatever words are said, Kanade probably won't move an inch. The six people here, dragged down by her, will die—. Words won't do. Means beyond that must be used.

 

And, the one who can do that is likely none other than herself. Even that person shouting unpleasantly doesn't seem to have the courage for further intervention. I will do it. There is no other way. It's hit or miss, but it can't be helped. To make that decision, Yuki used not a bit of mental strength. Because since there was no other hand, she thought it was natural to do so.

 

Yuki stepped forward.

 

Before anyone could stop her—she stepped onto the suspension bridge.

 

(10/25)

 

Setsuna saw the whole sequence of events.

 

From the opposite shore of the scaffold, she certainly saw it. Atop the safety zone she secured by drawing the relatively early turn of twelfth, she watched clearly.

 

Yuki—stepped onto the suspension bridge. Without making footsteps like a ghost, without shaking the bridge, yet with the speed of a gale and raging waves, she ran atop the suspension bridge.

 

Arriving at the center in the blink of an eye. Before Kanade, sitting there, could notice the presence and turn around—

 

She pushed her shoulder.

 

To the left direction, she applied force.

 

There are no walls on this suspension bridge. Only unreliable handrails made of woven vines. If something rolls, there is nothing to stop that rotation. If it continues to roll, there is no choice but to fall off the suspension bridge. That is the natural logic.

 

As a natural logic, Kanade became so.

 

At the moment of falling, Kanade had a blank face. Surely, she didn't understand well what was done to her. Perhaps due to that, she didn't scream. Just the sound of a human weighing dozens of kilograms falling was heard, leading to the sound of accumulated kinetic energy being received by countless spikes, making holes all over the body.

 

In less than a minute, Kanade was removed from the bridge.

 

No one, nothing, not a single word of impression came out. As if imitating Kanade at the moment of death, everyone was blank. If someone had pushed her shoulder, Setsuna too would surely have tumbled off the scaffold and died.

 

Taking advantage of that void, Yuki crossed the suspension bridge completely. She had completely ignored the lottery order, but no player complained. Since she had gone to the center, the burden on the bridge would be the same whether she proceeded or returned, and also because it was hardly a situation where complaints could be made.

 

"Thanks."

 

Yuki greeted Setsuna normally. "...Thanks," Setsuna managed to reply.

 

"That was close."

 

Saying that, Yuki looked back at the suspension bridge. It wasn't the demeanor of someone who had just killed a person. Like she had swatted a bug or something—.

 

"Yuki—san."

 

At that moment—everyone there except Yuki must have frozen.

 

Shizuku spoke to Yuki. "Yes," Yuki answered with the same normal attitude.

 

"......"

 

Shizuku just silently looked at Yuki.

 

What will happen, Setsuna thought. Bad directions could be imagined endlessly. She couldn't fully assume the worst-case scenario. Whatever happened, it wouldn't be strange.

 

In the silence that continued for a while, "Something?" Yuki said.

 

Although no special nuance was imbued, from the context, the words had a clear implication.

 

—Your sister was at fault, right?—that implication.

 

"...No, nothing."

 

In the end, Shizuku answered only that.

 

She—didn't seem to be suppressing anger, nor enduring sadness. Not that; she was just stunned. The fact that happened just now on that suspension bridge, that absolutely irrevocable fact, she couldn't accept it. She looked that way.

 

Eventually, the next player began to cross the bridge. The third suspension bridge, momentarily bearing the weight of two people, still didn't fall, and one, then another, carried the remaining players to the opposite shore. Setsuna and the cleared players watched that silently. No one mentioned Kanade. As if there was an unwritten rule that one must not speak of it. To Setsuna, it couldn't help but seem like it represented the essence of some world. Ignoring inconvenient things, turning eyes away, pretending they didn't exist.

 

Setsuna directed her gaze at Yuki.

 

Ah—this person is a person who can survive, she thought. A person who can push others aside in a critical moment. A person who fights and can win. A person who can accept that as natural and not give even a glance to the dead human.

 

She is different from the very make of me.

 

(11/25)

 

Everyone finished crossing the suspension bridge.

 

Except for the two who died in the collapse of the first and second bridges and Kanade, there were no casualties. Since a path continued from the scaffold as usual, the players proceeded together. No one blamed Yuki for breaking the order. Lucky, Yuki secretly thought.

 

The players arrived before the final obstacle.

 

Final—was understood because a giant arch written <GOAL> was visible. However, directly beneath it, doors were lined up, and it was structured so that one couldn't pass through the arch without passing through them.

 

The players tried to open the doors immediately, but they were locked. There were fifteen doors in total, each numbered, but all were locked. The construction didn't look that sturdy, and it seemed possible to tackle and pry them open, but the moment a player voiced that, stern firearms—likely for cheat prevention—installed one on each side of the arch's pillars aimed at the players by remote control. Not wanting to be shot, the girls in gym clothes sheepishly moved away from the doors.

 

"...Is there anyone with a key among us?"

 

Someone asked. Everyone shook their heads in unison.

 

"Anyone who saw something looking like a key in the obstacles so far?"

 

Again, everyone shook their heads in unison.

 

"They're probably hidden in there, I guess."

 

Looking at it, Yuki spoke.

 

There was a plaza in front of the goal. About the same size as the scaffolds so far—roughly fifteen meters square—and part of the floor was hollowed out to become a pool.

 

Not a water pool. A ball pool. A pool full of colorful balls like in a paid corner of a game center. It was wider than any ball pool Yuki had seen in her life, having a size ample enough even if all twenty-two people here soaked in it.

 

Being placed in front of the goal meant that. The keys are hidden there. Maybe simply stuck to the floor, or maybe stored inside one of the thousands, tens of thousands of balls. If so, checking all of them is a huge task.

 

Moreover—a timer was attached to the rim of the pool. Its display was <46:02>. Just like before, this scaffold also has a time limit. Within that, they have to find the keys.

 

"Wait," someone said. "But there are only fifteen doors, right? That means..."

 

To put it bluntly, it's safe to assume only fifteen people will be saved. It's hard to think two or three people can enter one door. Was it set to save only fifteen from the start, or if a larger number had arrived, would the number of doors have been set higher? That is unknown.

 

"Shall we go with no hard feelings?"

 

Someone said. The person who cursed <Give me a break> earlier.

 

"Since sacrifice is unavoidable, no hard feelings regardless of who draws the short straw."

 

"What does that mean?" Yuki asked without a pause. "Does it mean forcibly stealing a key someone discovered to escape is also allowed?"

 

"...I leave the interpretation to each individual."

 

It was an ambiguous answer. "Is everyone ready?" that player asked. Confirming no stop came from anyone, she clapped her hands. "Then... Start!"

 

(12/25)

 

The players surged into the ball pool.

 

Yuki, Setsuna, and even the stunned Shizuku—though with slow steps—advanced into the pool and soaked in it.

 

Soaking in immediately, Yuki realized the depth of the pool was about her waist. Deeper than thought. That meant the number of balls was also more than estimated, making this increasingly difficult, thinking which, Yuki picked up one of the colorful balls and examined it. Because she thought if keys were hidden inside balls, there should be a mechanism.

 

Prediction hit; a single line was drawn in the center of the ball.

 

Like a gachapon capsule, it opens. Applying force to both sides of the ball, Yuki opened it and looked inside. —Since nothing was inside, she threw it outside the pool.

 

While trying to open the second ball, Yuki moved both eyes and looked at the other players. The majority were examining balls like Yuki. Some were opening to check inside, others were shaking to check. I see—Yuki thought. If the key is inside loose, just shaking can confirm the presence of contents. Since a case where it's fixed to the inner wall is also conceivable, there is a risk of overlooking the key if that were the case, but the time required for checking becomes shorter that way.

 

Which method should I go with—after thinking, Yuki decided to take a compromise. First hold an empty ball in one hand, hold the ball she wants to check in the other, and compare the weight. Then shake and listen to the sound; if she feels the sign of a key, open and check. If she doesn't think so, throw it away and go to the next. Reducing the risk of throwing away a ball with a key, while not taking too much time. Judging this to be realistically best, Yuki handled the balls quickly.

 

Continuing that work for several minutes,

 

"—Ah."

 

(13/25)

 

This is the most decisive element.

 

The biggest factor that birthed Yuki's peculiar game experience. Without this miracle, even Yuki, no matter how insensitive she was back then, couldn't have failed to notice. In many ways having it—or in a sense being lucky—it was a singular event to the extent that it seemed the god of victory or something did it to welcome Yuki to the world of games.

 

Anyway.

 

Yuki, within minutes of starting, easily found a key.

 

(14/25)

 

"—Ah."

 

Setsuna heard the mutter.

 

Looking toward the voice, Yuki was there.

 

She—was holding a key. A key with a very ordinary appearance in size and shape. No keychain or such attached. Since Yuki was holding the jagged key bit side, Setsuna could also see <6> written on the head of the key. Probably the corresponding door number.

 

Don't tell me, found already—it seemed Setsuna wasn't the only one thinking that. The discoverer Yuki herself was staring at it blankly, and the surrounding players were doing the same.

 

As if dodging the concentrated gazes, Yuki made herself small, bowed saying "...Excuse me for going ahead," and left the pool.

 

"...Wait, wait wait Yuki-san!"

 

Thinking she must ask, Setsuna spoke.

 

"Before you go, please tell me! Where and in what state was the key?"

 

"Eh? Ah..." Yuki replied. "Um, it was inside a green ball. It wasn't fixed, and it made a sound when shook so I knew immediately."

 

This information is huge, Setsuna thought. It might not be said that all keys are in green balls, but—that keys are inside balls, and inside in that state, is probably certain. There is no longer a need to open balls to check.

 

Yuki headed for the door.

 

At that time, two, three other players followed. As Yuki mentioned earlier, trying to steal the key—didn't seem to be the case. Yuki, sensing the presence, turned around and asked "Something?", and everyone backed away with vague smiles. Since fourteen keys still remained in the pool, and the opponent was that Yuki who did that on the suspension bridge, no one appeared who would try violence.

 

However, thinking if they could ride along with Yuki, when she inserted the key into door <6> and opened it, there was one player trying to follow behind.

 

There, a dry gunshot intruded.

 

One of the firearms attached to the arch spat fire. The back half of that player's head was blown to pieces, and unable to support her posture, she collapsed on the spot. Shot—rather, it should be described as smashed by a bullet; it was a violent destruction.

 

The overflowing blood turned into white fluff as soon as it touched the air. —<Preservation Treatment>. Players had undergone body modification beforehand, and spilled blood solidifies immediately. Setsuna had heard the name and explanation from the agent, and had seen players pierced by spikes become like that in the obstacles so far. But seeing it up close, this was the first time.

 

Firing without warning. Even though there was a warning in the form of fixing the target when checking the doors earlier—. It seems the stricter the violation intent becomes, the harsher the measure becomes. The remaining players who were trying to ride along with Yuki hurriedly dispersed. The person herself, Yuki—gave the fallen player a glance for just an instant, but immediately fixed herself and ran to the other side of the arch.

 

The door closed automatically. Since the key was left inserted in the doorknob, a player tried to open it again—while watching the state of the firearm. However, it didn't open. It seems once closed, a door cannot be opened. Seemingly unable to pull out the key either. The players gave up and returned to the pool.

 

In short, cheating is not allowed. Setsuna returned to searching for keys. Shake ball, throw, shake, throw; repeating the monotonous motion boring beyond measure. Being too monotonous, her feet moved unconsciously. Walking around inside the ball pool in circles like a dog chasing its own tail.

 

Continuing that work for several minutes, Setsuna felt the sensation of a foreign object.

 

Not from a ball. From her feet. Something hit her foot. Since it was a size noticeable to the touch, it didn't seem to be a key, but Setsuna picked it up and checked its identity.

 

It was a knife housed in a holster.

 

"...!?"

 

Setsuna was astounded.

 

Reflexively, she sank it into the pool.

 

Then, she observed the surroundings. The players were concentrating on searching for balls, and no one saw the knife—she thinks.

 

What does this mean? Setsuna's head filled with confusion. Why is a knife in the pool? A trap to hurt careless players—probably not. If so, they would put it in bare. The existence of the holster indicates equip this. For what? It's obvious. Twenty-two players, fifteen keys. Since supply doesn't catch up to demand, a scramble is absolutely unavoidable—

 

A tool for that, it means.

 

Setsuna observed the surroundings once more.

 

Players in gym clothes—what they are holding are only balls. No knives. No other weapons. Is this the only weapon sunk in the pool, or was Setsuna the first discoverer, or has everyone already discovered but—including that, is it <no hard feelings>?

 

"......"

 

Setsuna secretly raised her right leg in the pool.

 

Passing her leg through the holster, she equipped the knife.

 

"Found it!"

 

Just at that timing, someone said it, so Setsuna's heart skipped a beat.

 

Looking, one of the players was holding a key. Moving through the pool zabu-zabu.

 

Setsuna felt as if the knife on her right leg became hot. Chase?—the thought crossed her mind, but passed immediately. Impossible. Thrusting a knife at that person—or doing even more than that to steal the key, Setsuna couldn't possibly think of it.

 

However, for other girls, it didn't seem so.

 

Toward the player leaving the pool and heading for the door, there was a looming shadow.

 

Another player. In her hand, not a key, but a tool like a large hair clipper was gripped. Although seeing <it> actually was the first time, Setsuna immediately saw through the identity.

 

Stun gun.

 

As expected, other weapons were hidden in the pool—sooner or later than Setsuna thought so, the looter applied the stun gun to the opponent's back and fired once. Stealing the key. No player appeared trying to aim for further fisherman's profit, and the looter opened the door and reached the goal.

 

The pitiful player who had her key stolen—rolling in the plaza writhing in agony—stood up when the effect of the stun gun ended. This time she walked the path of a looter. As a player who discovered a key appeared again, she blocked the way as she tried to head to the door. However, she didn't have a weapon, and it became a scuffle. Grabbing each other's hair, scratching faces, cursing, punching, kicking.

 

Unable to watch that violence, Setsuna turned her face away and looked at the pool. That is impossible for me. I have no choice but to find a key by myself—thinking so, she immersed herself in the key search more and more.

 

But, not found. Ignoring such Setsuna, the timer ticked away time, cutting past twenty minutes, cutting past fifteen minutes. One, then another player found a key, and each time an ugly scramble took place. Without participating in such conflicts at all, Setsuna continued searching for a key.

 

Finding a ball with a key was when the remaining time cut past ten minutes.

 

(15/25)

 

Even without shaking, she knew immediately.

 

Because at the point of lifting it from the pool, she heard a sound slightly, and it was a bit heavy.

 

Setsuna suppressed her eager feelings. Calm down. Calm down. Calm down. Calm down. What's important is from here on. Finding the key. That is merely the first half of the mission. The other half is waiting from now—one far more dangerous and difficult than the first half.

 

She ran her eyes roughly over the entire pool. About ten other players still remained. If it became known that Setsuna found a key, all of these would become enemies. That must not happen. Although leaving the pool would naturally expose the matter—at least until then, until the very last timing, she wanted to delay discovery.

 

Setsuna sank the ball into the pool.

 

Inside that, she opened it.

 

By touch, she confirmed there was a key. Pushing aside balls, she saw the reality for just an instant. Confirming it was the key for <8>, Setsuna hid it under her gym clothes.

 

And—continued pretending to search for a key. Hold ball, shake, throw. While doing that, pretending to walk around inside the pool with foot habits, gradually bringing her body to the edge.

 

When she got close enough, Setsuna observed the plaza in front of the doors. No one lying in ambush. She observed the players remaining in the pool too. No one seemed to notice Setsuna's scheme.

 

I can do it, she was convinced.

 

Setsuna decided her resolve.

 

Simultaneous with throwing the ball, Setsuna started running. Exiting the pool, sprinting across the plaza, and taking out the key from her gym clothes simultaneously. After a few seconds, insert this guy into door <8>, open, and reach the goal. She could picture that future firmly in her head.

 

There was absolutely no oversight.

 

She acted it out perfectly.

 

So, she had prided herself, but.

 

(16/25)

 

Why did it turn out like this.

 

Shizuku had been thinking all along.

 

Until just yesterday, my world was peace itself. A slightly ditzy sister, a clever mother who often said <Shizuku takes after me>, a slightly foolish father who often responded <Then Kanade takes after me>, the fun life of four was supposed to continue forever. Why did it become like this? Who is bad? What is bad? Shizuku was thinking, but no answer came out.

 

At such a time, she found a weapon in the ball pool.

 

It is a handgun. That thing, surprisingly light like a toy, felt like it showed the way. I should use this. However, the timing was bad. At the point Shizuku found this, the opponent she wanted to use it on most had already reached the goal. Then, what should I do? Who should I choose? Shizuku's heart sought the locus of responsibility.

 

And, she arrived at a certain conversation.

 

—Yuki-san was still sleeping even after the scaffold started falling...

 

—I woke her up, and we accompanied each other.

 

Shizuku's gaze turned to that speaker.

 

Setsuna.

 

Right. If that person hadn't woken Yuki up, this wouldn't have happened. Like Yuki, she should be considered a principal offender. Not only searching out and killing Yuki after this game ends, she should also dispose of her here. With that, my peace is restored.

 

With that, Shizuku's heart finished reconstruction.

 

From then on, Shizuku observed Setsuna's behavior in detail. Eventually, since she showed signs of apparently finding a key, she conversely pretended not to know and escaped her alert network. Probably to deceive other players—Setsuna pretended to search for a key for a while, then ran out of the pool.

 

Shizuku immediately pointed the gun and fired in succession.

 

The third shot shot through her right leg.

 

(17/25)

 

"...!!"

 

Setsuna raised a voice that wasn't a voice.

 

Immediately unable to maintain body balance, she fell. Zukiri, zukiri, a pain distinct from the fall attacked continuously. Setsuna searched her whole body and found the source.

 

From her right leg, white fluff was overflowing.

 

Thanks to the <Preservation Treatment>, bleeding had stopped, but it hurts. A burning pain—Setsuna felt the exquisiteness of this phrase with her very skin. The wound was a small one that a finger might fit into; she could intuit it was a wound from a gunshot.

 

She was shot.

 

By whom? Setsuna's gaze naturally turned toward the pool.

 

And—she saw Shizuku with a handgun set up, coming up.

 

"...Something like this is strange."

 

Shizuku muttered.

 

"Originally, we weren't supposed to come to such a place. It's natural that we return safely. It had to be so."

 

The ring of that voice resembled Kanade. Not just because they are sisters. Because the mental state is the same, because she is mentally worn out, it sounds similar.

 

Shizuku moved the muzzle away from Setsuna and pointed it at the players in the pool behind. After dampening their spirits so no interference would enter, pointing the gun alternately at Setsuna and the pool, Shizuku walked, moving to a position where she could respond to both at any time.

 

"You found a key, Setsuna-san."

 

Shizuku said, looking at the key. dropped when she was shot, rolling right next to Setsuna.

 

"Shall I take it? Along with that life."

 

Saying that, she put her finger on the trigger of the handgun.

 

Looking at that muzzle, the throbbing pain in her right leg climbed into Setsuna's consciousness. She felt even an illusion as if an invisible laser was already being irradiated secretly and she was being attacked.

 

Setsuna looked at the knife on her right leg. She has a weapon too—but, no good. Just equipping something like this tentatively; she doesn't know how to handle it nor has the resolve to handle it. Because she didn't, she searched for a key. Besides—her leg is injured, and the opponent has a gun. How can she win? She can't see the path at all.

 

Shizuku's words reinforced that fact. Right. She is in a position dragged into the game. Between her and me who participated willingly, who is suitable to live? Something that doesn't need thinking. Besides, didn't you participate in the game wanting a kaishaku (assistance in suicide)? You were fed up with the conflict-filled floating world, right? Isn't it just what you wished for. Have her kill you here.

 

Setsuna closed her eyes.

 

With a face about to cry, she tried to pray to God.

 

However, at that time.

 

A ghost's hand stroked Setsuna's nape.

 

(18/25)

 

Certainly saw it. That figure.

 

The ghost-like player—Yuki. Cutting the wind, hair fluttering, running on the suspension bridge; in the world of images, Setsuna saw her figure.

 

But, within that, who Yuki pushed down was not Kanade. —It's Setsuna. For some reason, it was herself on the suspension bridge, and Yuki pushed that body away just as she did back then.

 

Setsuna falling from the bridge. Yuki looking down on that.

 

Instantly, the feeling from that time revived vividly. She who swept away the hindrance without hesitation—being shown that figure, she thought different from me. The ones who can cross the world successfully are people like this, she also thought something like jealousy. And—

 

If I could be like this, she certainly thought.

 

Ah—right. That figure. That behavior! That figure mowing down everything, standing alone on scorched earth. A pure and innocent figure that doesn't think about messy complicated things. Like that, I too, want to behave flawlessly.

 

In the world of imagination, Setsuna reached out to her.

 

In the world of reality too, her leg stepped forward.

 

(19/25)

 

When she realized, she was running.

 

Opening eyes, standing up, charging recklessly aiming at Shizuku.

 

But, foolish. Running head-on at an opponent with a gun is the height of bad policy, and in the first place, she couldn't run. The second step after starting to run—at the point weight was placed on the right leg which had no power due to being shot, gakun, Setsuna collapsed. Her body tilted diagonally, fell, and rolled goro-goro across the plaza.

 

In the midst of that, Setsuna heard a gunshot.

 

She shot. Setsuna braced for pain running through her body but—nothing in particular. Missed. Hearing further gunshots, two, three, but these didn't hit either. Because Setsuna is rolling? Hard to hit because moving? Come to think of it—she remembers that the first time too, it finally hit on the third shot. Right. Don't they say it often. Even if an amateur holds a gun, they can't handle it properly. Because the opponent is a gun? Because injured? So what. It's a battle between amateurs. There's plenty of chance!

 

Putting hands on the ground, Setsuna got up.

 

Utilizing the previous reflection, she ran like a dog with both hands and left leg. Thanks to rolling, the distance to Shizuku had already shrunk considerably. Less than ten meters in straight line distance. Toward the approaching Setsuna, Shizuku pointed the handgun. But didn't fire immediately. Probably switched to a policy of aiming carefully, but before she could finish aiming, Setsuna approached to a sufficient distance and jumped.

 

In the air, she pulled out the knife from the holster.

 

Matching Setsuna who was in midair, Shizuku readjusted her aim. Since her upper body tilted backward slightly due to that, Setsuna landed hitting that body with her knee. Body contact—namely zero distance. Do or be done, a point-blank range where one is free to do as they please.

 

Setsuna thrust the knife into Shizuku's neck.

 

Shizuku thrust the handgun against Setsuna's forehead.

 

Setsuna shook her head. Tried to escape the line of fire of the handgun—but, indeed, luck like before didn't work at this distance.

 

"...!!!!!!"

 

Setsuna took pain and heat like a hot iron plate pressed against her face.

 

Probably, the bullet slipped past the skull. Due to blood or tears, the right half of her vision blurred. Is the brain undamaged? Is this injury fatal? Don't know.

 

But, for the time being, hands moved. Didn't lose will either. The knife thrust into Shizuku's neck, Setsuna invaded deeper and deeper. Around the time it couldn't be stabbed any deeper, Shizuku fell backward. Due to posture, it naturally became a position where Setsuna was mounting her. Setsuna pulled out the knife and unleashed a second blow between <Shizu> and <ku> on the chest bib. Head, belly, arms, legs, she stabbed every part indiscriminately.

 

"—Die."

 

Before she knew it, Setsuna was saying it.

 

"You die! Everyone who hurts me, die!!"

 

She continued attacking without rest. Felt almost no fatigue. Surely, because she was too excited. Even when Shizuku stopped resisting, even when she became a state clearly dead, Setsuna didn't stop swinging the knife down. Because she thought if she slackened the momentum even a little, she would revert to herself from one minute ago.

 

Eventually, a gust of wind blew in the plaza and stroked the injury on Setsuna's right face.

 

A sharp pain zukiri pulled her back to sanity.

 

And, she remembered the situation. Look toward the pool. The remaining players are all dumbfounded. It could be said to show the fierceness of Setsuna and Shizuku's fight. There seemed to be no sign of attacking, but Setsuna still snatched the handgun from Shizuku's hand and threatened them just in case.

 

Where is the key, she searches. Look around, but nowhere. Did someone pick it up? Just as she thought that, she heard a sound charin of the key falling from her clothes. Seems she had thrust it into her gym clothes unconsciously.

 

Setsuna picked up the key. Crawling on the floor, she headed to the door, and passed through door <8>.

 

(20/25)

 

Beyond the door, a wide road continued.

 

Just a wide road. Nothing there. No obstacles, no spikes, no timer. Looking back, door <8> she just passed through was closing automatically. The letters <GOAL> written on the arch are mirror writing on this side. The reality that she reached the goal welled up futsu-futsu inside Setsuna.

 

"Wa. What happened to that face...?"

 

Being told that, Setsuna was surprised.

 

Looking to the side, Yuki was there. Right by the goal, sitting leaning against the arch. Seemed she was waiting for Setsuna.

 

"Setsuna-san... right? Probably."

 

Yuki said suspiciously. Currently, white fluff from the <Preservation Treatment> is stuck stickily to the right half of Setsuna's face, making facial identification doubtful. But judging from Yuki's gaze—she seemed to judge it was Setsuna from the name on the chest bib.

 

"It's Setsuna."

 

She answered. Just speaking pulled the skin of her face and hurt the injury.

 

"It's game clear already, right?" Setsuna asked.

 

"Yes. Probably so. Since we passed through the goal arch." Yuki looked at the arch, "Since it might not be the goal, I was waiting just in case though."

 

"Should we go along this road?"

 

Looking at the wide road in front, Setsuna said. In the distance, a place looking like the exit of the athletic field could be seen. Divided by an iron fence, the road changed to a forest road, and several cars were parked.

 

"I don't know, but everyone is heading over there."

 

Yuki said something like a pachinko parlor clerk.

 

Seems they have to go a little further. Setsuna walked together with Yuki. Since her right leg didn't move, she asked Yuki "Sorry, can you lend me a shoulder? I did in my right leg..." and had her do so.

 

While moving three-legged, her feelings calmed down. Excitement subsided, and her weak self showed its face again. She remembered what she had done.

 

"Yuki-san," Setsuna said.

 

"Yes."

 

"There is something I want to spit out. Will you listen?"

 

"What is it?"

 

"In the plaza earlier, I killed Shizuku-san."

 

Yuki didn't chime in.

 

"It became a scramble for the key. In that pool, various weapons were hidden... Using that, a conflict. The injury is because of that."

 

"Hee..."

 

"I was scared."

 

Setsuna's voice contained tears.

 

"Scared of dying. When it came to the moment, my body moved on its own."

 

Come to think of it, what is she doing. Despite being suicidal, when the stage was set, she refused it and killed the opponent. Moreover, an ordinary person just dragged into the game.

 

"What should I do, me."

 

She wasn't seeking an answer. She knew without asking. Nothing can be done, is the answer. For a half-hearted human like you, there is no place to arrive.

 

This world is hell. No courage to fly to the other world.

 

So—there is no salvation for me anywhere.

 

"Setsuna-san," Yuki said.

 

"Yes."

 

"I might be saying something late in the game, but is it okay?"

 

"Yes."

 

"Killing or dying... what are you talking about since a while ago?"

 

"Eh?"

 

"Somehow, you sound like it's a real death game."

 

(21/25)

 

She couldn't even be surprised.

 

She thought she was told something completely lacking context. "Ha...?" making a one-character response was the most Setsuna could do.

 

"I was thinking during the barbed wire too... but you are strangely invested, Setsuna-san. You should calm down. It's just a game after all."

 

She knew herself that her mouth was opening and closing paku-paku. So this is the state called being at a loss for words, she thought strangely calmly.

 

"It is real, though."

 

Taking time, Setsuna managed to say what she wanted to say.

 

"It is real, though."

 

"No way," Yuki laughed. Setsuna saw her smile for the first time. "Something like that, there's no way they can do it in modern Japan."

 

"Eh... um... then Yuki-san, conversely what did you think this was?"

 

"Some kind of project, right? A TV program, or a video site or streaming distribution. Though it's my first time seeing this much effort put into production."

 

"...Production..."

 

That can't be. No matter how insensitive a human is, one cannot dismiss all that happened as <Production>.

 

"Because, Yuki-san, didn't you see many dead players? Failing obstacles, pierced by spikes..."

 

"I saw, but were they really pierced? There was no blood. Just some white fluff coming out. Look, Setsuna-san too, you say you're injured but only white stuff is attached."

 

"No, this is the effect of <Preservation Treatment>..."

 

Up to there, Setsuna's mouth stopped. Did I explain about <Preservation Treatment> to Yuki?

 

"Besides, Setsuna-san also said it yourself. That it's simply a survival game."

 

Remembering further. Did I properly explain that this is a murder game? I didn't say <simply>, but I remember using the expression survival game. Since it was a desperate situation, I omitted detailed explanation.

 

Setsuna looked at Yuki.

 

On that figure, seemingly not a single scratch. In this game, she suffered absolutely no injury. That means, she had no opportunity to notice that white fluff is something coming out of the body. Since she didn't encounter dangerous eyes, she couldn't notice the danger either.

 

With this, her somewhat carefree attitude also makes sense. Since she didn't think her life was at stake, well, she could be carefree. —No, however—from the atmosphere of the surrounding players, shouldn't she guess at some stage? What an insensitive human, Setsuna thought.

 

Still, she has to admit.

 

This person cleared the game without knowing the situation she was placed in.

 

Wait—then, what about that? Pushing Kanade off at the suspension bridge was—because she thought she wouldn't die? Because she thought she would just drop out, so she could execute it?

 

Then what am I, who was influenced by that and survived—?

 

"Setsuna-san?"

 

With a slightly worried appearance, Yuki peered into Setsuna's face.

 

"Are you okay? Setsuna-san, are you alive?"

 

With that one word, everything broke.

 

Setsuna—started laughing.

 

Like a dam breaking, laughter and tears overflowed. Even though just laughing hurt the facial injury, she couldn't stop it no matter what. Amusement, sadness, absurdity, despair, many emotions were flickering, and there was no way to stop.

 

From the bottom of her heart, she thought.

 

When a guy like this is living, it's wrong for me to die.

 

(22/25)

 

Thus, the game ended.

 

A game composed only of beginners—<Maiden Race>. Number of participants, fifty. Survivors, thirteen. Of the fifteen keys hidden in the final obstacle, two were not discovered resulting in time up. Thirteen out of fifty—even for a game full of beginners, it ended recording a considerably low survival rate.

 

Also, not only survival rate, but it ended in a result hard to call high in continuation rate either. Only two remained in this world even after surviving. One is, player name, Yuki. She who cleared the game misunderstanding it as just <Play>, even after knowing the truth, continued as a player. Maybe I have talent, she thought. Although it took a slightly irregular form, the estimation of the agent who scouted her seemed not to be wrong.

 

And the other is—.

 

(23/25)

 

Yuki's agent was driving a car.

 

(24/25)

 

A car was running on a night road.

 

A black car that seemed about to melt into the darkness at any moment. Gripping the steering wheel is a woman with a cold atmosphere like a snow woman (Yuki-onna).

 

The woman has no real name.

 

Because upon becoming an agent, her family register was erased. However, since she didn't erase her memory, she remembers her original name. Yukino Nanami.

 

The player name when she participated in the game was—Setsuna.

 

Setsuna had become an agent. Changing her face, rinsing her name, becoming a completely different person, she became an existence supporting the world of games from the shadows.

 

If asked why, it was because she was in trouble for a job. Through that game—<Maiden Race>, Setsuna regained stability. She was able to redraw the line that normally should be drawn in a person's heart—but was vanishing from Setsuna's heart. That is fine, but the reality that she was distancing herself from society and unemployed remained unchanged. As for how to conduct herself in the future, Setsuna chose the path of an agent. She had had enough of participating in games, but thought might as well be involved in this world.

 

A while after becoming an agent, she learned that Yuki was continuing as a player. Immediately, she volunteered to be her exclusive attendant. She wanted to be by her side and watch the fate of her who swung her around thoroughly—who dropped the possessing spirit from her.

 

The car got caught at a traffic light.

 

Pecking the steering wheel, the agent sighed.

 

A sigh of worry. Her assigned player—Yuki seemed considerably worn out. The agent had just delivered her to her home after she cleared her sixty-second game earlier, but it seems she had forgotten about murdering her disciple Tamamo. Or maybe she was just pretending to forget, but either way, it means it's a serious matter that she had to do so. A situation unthinkable for Yuki around the time the agent first met her, but this means, after all, people cannot remain invincible forever.

 

She wished she could have said something witty like Yuki did back then, but—she couldn't think of anything significant. Just solemnly performing the job of sending her to the vicinity of her home, and she is on her way back. Things that are useless to think about, the agent ends up thinking. Will she recover? Will she continue as a player—?

 

Thinking so, a phone call came.

 

Looking at the mobile, the caller was Yuki. The light had already turned green and she was driving, but since prioritizing responding to her contact quickly was decided over obeying the law prohibiting phone use while driving, she answered immediately.

 

"Yes."

 

"Ah—Agent-san."

 

Yuki's voice is heard. Just with that one word, she understood she was panicking.

 

"Um, sleeping pills, about that... do you have them?"

 

Speaking of sleeping pills, probably that thing one drinks when participating in a game. Players are put to sleep with sleeping pills when transported to the game stage.

 

"I do have them," the agent replied.

 

"Ah, thank goodness—"

 

"Is something wrong?"

 

There was no answer. Instead, from the phone, a sound like gasa-gasa pushing through bushes could be heard. What on earth is happening, the agent thought.

 

Eventually, Yuki's voice was heard again. "...Please!"

 

"Come pick me up immediately! Me—put me to sleep right now!"

 

(25/25)

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