2. Snow Room (62.5th Time)

 

(0/44)

 

Time goes back a little.

 

(1/44)

 

"—How is it? Did you remember well?"

 

Prompted by the Phantom, Yuki opened her eyes.

 

What her eyes reflected was a single six-mat apartment room. That scene, unchanged from moments before. Her Phantom self, with the exact same face as Yuki, wearing the exact same jersey, grinning broadly, clung to her vision right in front of her and wouldn't leave.

 

Yuki did not reply.

 

But, she certainly was remembering. About her earliest self. Yes—my career started in such a peculiar way.

 

"You were an insensitive human, weren't you? In the past, more than now," the Phantom says.

 

"...So, what of it?" Yuki answers.

 

"So, I'm saying I'll return you to that."

 

The Phantom spread both arms.

 

"Entrust your spirit to me. If you do that, you can return to the self from back then."

 

Yuki frowned. She couldn't quite understand what the Phantom was saying.

 

"It means I'll take your place. I'll play the player on behalf of the heartbroken you. Unlike you, I don't think messily about weird things. I kill, I destroy, I stack up winning streak records, and that's the end of it. I'll advance things far better than you."

 

"You intend to hijack my spirit?"

 

"I wonder about the phrasing 'hijack'? Surely you think of me as some mysterious monster or something, but I am you yourself. A problem of your heart... Well, I suppose it's too late to go without even noticing the true nature of the game... but still, I'm more insensitive, concise, and stronger than the current you. Don't you want to return to such a me?"

 

"Don't be ridiculous."

 

Yuki answered bluntly.

 

"For what purpose... do you think I became the sensitive, complex, and weak human you speak of? It's for the ninety-nine times. Because I honed my senses for that. What's the point of returning that to the past? That would be putting the cart before the horse."

 

Yuki hated that kind of defiant attitude. Because she had seen many such players die. The ones who stop thinking about difficult things die first. The ones who lose their delicate senses die. If I were returned to the me of those days, surely, I wouldn't last three times.

 

However, the Phantom said "Is that so?" and wouldn't listen.

 

"Do you have any proof or something? Surprisingly, maybe returning would work out better, don't you think? Isn't it like that even looking around the world? Humans who behave like they've never been hurt once in their lives possess wealth and status. Wouldn't that be better? At least there is one advantage I can say for sure. That way, your heart is easier. To a degree incomparable to now."

 

Yuki wanted to retort, but stopped.

 

She is me. Arguing is fruitless. If I could argue her down and make her disappear, she wouldn't have appeared in the first place. Because Yuki's heart is leaning in that direction, she appeared.

 

"So... what will you do?"

 

The hallucinatory self asks.

 

"Let's have you answer clearly. Will you entrust it to me? Or will you remain as you are?"

 

"......"

 

Yuki thinks.

 

This choice is important. Undoubtedly, it will decisively direct my future. Without even thinking, without even intuiting, Yuki thought so as if she already knew it as a fact.

 

She can say no with her mouth. But that solves nothing. It is also a fact that she wants to return—not limited to the Tamamo incident, there will likely be many tough events waiting from now on. The endgame of the ninety-nine times. The loss of vision in one eye. And the accumulation of damage like her master. She can imagine an anxious future as much as she likes.

 

She desires her self from those days. Somewhere in her heart.

 

An insensitive self that can't even realize she is participating in a murder game.

 

The strongest self that wouldn't even notice she killed someone even if she did.

 

Yuki thought slowly. Even while doing so, the Phantom didn't rush her. She probably isn't seeking a gradual persuasion, but consent from the heart. Yuki fully took advantage of that attitude. She pondered for so long that it felt as if the sun had risen and set again, returning to the same time.

 

Reaching a state where thinking further wouldn't change the conclusion, Yuki looked into the Phantom's eyes.

 

"No."

 

She answered.

 

"I won't return to you. I have no intention of becoming at ease."

 

"...Is that so."

 

As if to say good grief, the Phantom shakes her head.

 

"That's unfortunate."

 

"Get lost from my sight."

 

"Unfortunately, it can't go like that."

 

Her Phantom self stood up and rolled her shoulders.

 

"If it could be settled peacefully, I intended to do so... If consent can't be obtained, then it can't be helped."

 

Furthermore, the Phantom stretched her arms. After loosening up a body that should be nothing but an illusion, she says.

 

"It just means I'll take your body by force."

 

(2/44)

 

The Phantom walked toward Yuki.

 

Advancing one step, then another. Since it's a small six-mat room, in just a few more steps, she would be within reaching distance.

 

In the slight moment before she closed in, Yuki thought. By force—did she say by force, just now? Don't tell me, she says she can do it? But she should be an illusion—. Although she couldn't wipe away the doubt, she braced herself against the fact that something shaped like a human was approaching with fighting spirit.

 

As if to show off to such Yuki, the Phantom slowly clenched her fist. Pulling that fist back, giving Yuki ample time to take a defensive posture,

 

She unleashed a punch at the face.

 

First, the obvious happened. The Phantom's fist contacted Yuki's arm placed in front of her face as a guard—and slipped through. It's nothing to be surprised about. It's normal. Since she's a Phantom, there's no way defending by putting up an arm would work.

 

However, an instant later, when the Phantom's punch hit her face, every corner of Yuki's body was filled with confusion. There was certainly a sensation of being struck, she staggered backward, and collided with the room's wall. She collapsed onto the floor instinctively, and couldn't stand up for a while.

 

"What's wrong?"

 

Looking down at Yuki, the Phantom says.

 

"Don't tell me, you thought I would unleash a punch that wouldn't hit?"

 

Amidst the confusion not yet clearing, Yuki touches the spot where she was hit—around the brow of her face. It throbs with pain. No blood is coming out, but she was certainly hit. What is this? What was done to me?

 

No—wrong. I did it. I am feeling as if I took a punch. Think about it. Normally, one wouldn't see a Phantom in the first place. Part of my mind is already out of my control. She can attack me from the world of the spirit!

 

The Phantom walks toward her again. Yuki hurriedly stands up.

 

My goodness—. She intended to have had a fair share of peculiar experiences, but being punched by an illusion is a first in her life. There probably won't be an opportunity to experience it again in the future.

 

However—however. If that's the story, Yuki has ways to respond too. By force? Fine. That's my specialty. Yuki took a stance, clenching both fists tightly. Without appearing overwhelmed by the fighting pose, nor being cautious, her Phantom self walks toward her without slowing down. After drawing her in to an appropriate distance, Yuki unleashed a right straight in return at the Phantom's face.

 

But, however.

 

This side's attack slipped through without any feeling of impact.

 

With a face exactly where Yuki's fist was passing through, the Phantom grinned—and then, this time, punched Yuki's solar plexus. That one hit properly, and Yuki collapsed.

 

"What are you doing? There's nothing there," the Phantom said mockingly.

 

"...Is there such a stupid story!"

 

Yuki shouted, pressing her painful stomach.

 

"It's not fair! Phantom!"

 

"Shouting like that... The neighbors will hear you, you know?"

 

The Phantom chuckles kukku.

 

"Not fair, you say? No such thing. This is ability. Doesn't it reflect the fact that the old me is stronger?"

 

Saying that, the Phantom's leg moved.

 

A kick. Yuki rolled reflexively and dodged that blow.

 

Next—as soon as she got up, she ran to the entrance. It was an almost instinctive judgment. Over there's attacks hit. This side's don't. So I have no choice but to run. That's all. Yuki at this time had no leeway to consider the consequences. Even begrudging the time to put on shoes, stretching her arms to the limit to quickly undo the lock and chain, Yuki opened the entrance door trying not to slow down as much as possible.

 

She went out into the apartment corridor. No one was there. Soon Yuki exited the building too, going along the night road. Turning back for just a moment, she saw the Phantom chasing her. Her speed is no different from Yuki's. Is our running power the same—thinking so, she continues to flee at full power.

 

On the other hand, her head was directing thoughts toward the future. What do I do from now on? I can't possibly run around for a lifetime. I have to do something about that Phantom—. In the first place, what does the Phantom intend to do with me? She used the phrase <take your body>. Specifically, what happens? Under what condition do I lose? If I physically faint? Or while being attacked, will my heart reach death by the same principle as hallucinating damage? I don't know. However, presumably, it's safe to assume the 'me' thinking like this here will disappear.

 

What's even more unknown is the victory condition. How can I kill her? It's been a long time since I was called a ghost by those around me, but I don't possess the means to land an attack on an illusion. I haven't even been able to get into the same ring. It's a state I can only think of as a game's losing event—.

 

"......"

 

Wait—a game?

 

"See, don't be lost in thought."

 

And there, she heard a voice from the side.

 

Looking, her Phantom self was right next to her. She had already entered an attack posture, rotating her body in mid-air.

 

In the instant before having a roundhouse kick landed on her, Yuki saw. There are stairs behind the Phantom. The neighborhood map and the path she ran came to mind. Taking those stairs would be a shortcut. She could come to this point with less distance and catch up to me—just as the logic was assembled, Yuki received a severe hit to her left flank.

 

Yuki rolled and collided with the guardrail installed at the edge of the road. This street was located on high ground, and beyond the guardrail was a small cliff. Slipping through it, Yuki threw herself off the cliff. Sliding down the wall paving the cliff with a pattern like a chocolate bar—she recently learned it's named a retaining wall—she landed on the road below. When Yuki looked up at the cliff, the Phantom was also just jumping over the guardrail. She runs hurriedly.

 

She was beaten again. But, there was a harvest too. Although she was indeed caught up to, it wasn't done by unreasonable mysterious power. Yuki was able to confirm the logic that she took a shortcut through the stairs.

 

Yes—logic. That is the keyword. That Phantom is an existence created by my head. Modeled after the invincible me that once was. It is nothing more than that. Just as she aptly said herself, she is by no means a mysterious monster.

 

Running power is the same, but if she takes a shortcut she might catch up—.

 

Since the old me is stronger, if it becomes a fistfight I'll be beaten one-sidedly—.

 

Both make sense within me. As the Phantom says, this guy is fair. Just because she's an illusion doesn't mean she can do anything. There are rules, and there are bindings. Following the logic I unconsciously set, this guy is moving.

 

If so—.

 

Inside Yuki, a strategy is assembled.

 

Anyway, what is needed first is time. She must stall the Phantom. As far as Yuki can think of, there is only one method for that. That is the first stage of the strategy.

 

And the second stage is—if she had to say, it would rely on someone else. But surely, she should manage something. Because she has actually done so in the past. Assuming she doesn't get angry at Yuki's current state of having a weakened heart and being tormented by a Phantom, that is—.

 

Yuki takes out her mobile phone.

 

Sadly, the screen was cracked. Probably when she rolled earlier. However, there was no problem with the functional aspect, and she was able to call the Agent.

 

"Yes," she answered the phone immediately.

 

"Ah—Agent-san," without greeting, Yuki conveys her business. "Um, sleeping pills, about that... do you have them?"

 

Perhaps the urgency was conveyed from her voice, the Agent answered briefly, "I do have them, but."

 

"Ah, thank goodness—"

 

"Is something wrong?"

 

Just as Yuki tried to spit out the answer, she felt bloodlust.

 

Yuki was able to react at an early timing to the high kick of the Phantom who was next to her before she knew it. Dodging by lowering her body, she entered a large shrubbery along the sidewalk that was just nearby. While passing through it making rustling sounds, Yuki says. "...Please!"

 

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

 

(3/44)

 

Although Yuki used the phrasing <Come pick me up> for convenience, that is impossible. It is not realistic to pick up Yuki by car while she runs around the streets and her position changes constantly.

 

Therefore, she decided to have the Agent wait somewhere nearby. First, Yuki sent her current location via a messaging app. Receiving that, she had the Agent propose a meeting place, and they took the method of Yuki heading there.

 

Incidentally, she was also told the current location by the Agent, but it wasn't that far from here. Come to think of it, it's natural; not even fifteen minutes in time had passed since the Agent dropped Yuki off. Due to the extraordinary experience of a Phantom appearing, Yuki felt as if about three days had passed, but in reality, the Agent was still nearby and could return immediately.

 

Yuki headed for the meeting point. It could be said that continuing to run from the Phantom was—at least for a while—not that difficult. Since the Phantom's running power itself is the same as Yuki's, if she is careful not to let her take shortcuts—if she arranges things so logic doesn't hold up, there is no worry of being caught up. The problem emerged around ten minutes after the escape began; simply put, the Phantom knew no fatigue. Is the logic that lactic acid doesn't accumulate in limbs that are only illusions, and lungs aren't troubled for oxygen—? Yuki, who gets tired in the flesh, gradually became exhausted and cornered.

 

When she found the long-awaited Agent's car, her legs were already in such a terrible state that she couldn't even walk straight.

 

"Yuki-san! Over here!"

 

Saying so, the Agent ran up. Her hands hold a capsule-type sleeping pill and a paper cup with water to swallow it.

 

For the current Yuki, it is an item she wants desperately enough for a hand to come out of her throat.

 

This was the first stage of the strategy. The Phantom created by my head—how should I stall it? Simple. Just make Yuki lose consciousness. Since there is no head to think, there is no way she sees a Phantom. A simple and clear solution. Of course, this alone doesn't lead to eradication, but it can buy time.

 

Moving her legs that are on the verge of limits, Yuki looks back.

 

The Phantom is there. Because Yuki's legs are slowing down, that distance is gradually shrinking. She probably won't be able to escape to the car. The Agent coming out was therefore a bold decision, but, even so, Yuki estimated it was doubtful whether she could run to her.

 

Yuki, the Agent, and the Phantom; the distance between the three shrinks.

 

In the midst of that—wait, Yuki thought.

 

Even assuming the Phantom catches up, what can she do? Since the Phantom is non-corporeal, she shouldn't be able to touch the Agent. She cannot interfere with her trying to hand over the sleeping pill. She could probably provide some interference by obstructing Yuki, the receiving side—but is it possible to engage in acts beyond that? From the Phantom's standpoint, it is natural to want to eliminate the Agent, but is that feasible? If she can, what kind of behavior would it be?

 

Yuki ended up thinking.

 

And, unconsciously, a logic was completed.

 

Sure enough.

 

Just a step ahead of Yuki, the Phantom made contact with the Agent.

 

Jumping high with both feet wearing sneakers—she delivered a drop kick to her.

 

At the blow she probably hadn't expected at all, the Agent was blown away and fell. Although she kept the sleeping pill in her hand, she dropped the paper cup. Drawing a circular trajectory, the paper cup rolled, spilling water onto the asphalt toro-toro.

 

"Yu, ki-san...?" the Agent says with a voice mixed with pain.

 

"I'm... I'm sorry! It's not me! It's true!"

 

Probably, as a reality event, Yuki kicked her. Yuki came out barefoot without wearing sneakers, and her legs were too exhausted to use for attacking, so maybe it was a punch. Anyway, she did something. Otherwise, the Agent couldn't have been blown away.

 

To the Agent who had ended up a little distance away, Yuki held out her hand. The meaning seemed to convey instantly, and she threw the sleeping pill over.

 

Yuki stares at the sleeping pill in the shape of a capsule. Yuki had a sense of dislike for capsules and could hardly drink them without water, but this isn't a situation to say such selfish things. Now is the time for overcoming, for growth. Yuki resolves to drink it but—

 

That hand was stopped.

 

Yuki's wrist was grabbed by the Phantom's hand.

 

Right behind her, the Phantom was sticking close. She could feel the sensation of her wrist being grasped and the breathing on her neck. If her hand won't move, Yuki tries to bring her mouth to the capsule, but there she notices her mouth is also blocked. The Phantom's other hand is covering her mouth. Of course, in reality, Yuki is probably just closing her mouth, but the fact remains she cannot take the sleeping pill.

 

Yuki twists her body trying to tear off the Phantom.

 

But, it was no good at all. The Phantom's strength is far stronger than Yuki's. It's not a partial story of hands or mouth, but a state where her whole body can hardly move. Yuki had secretly considered an emergency plan of slamming her head on the asphalt to faint—but in this plight, even that is impossible.

 

Damn it, she thinks strongly.

 

Just a little more—it was just a little more!

 

Yuki tried to conjure up every foul language in her head.

 

However—she couldn't do so. Because strength was rapidly draining from her head.

 

"—Yuki-san."

 

Before she knew it, the Agent was nearby.

 

"Presumptuously... I took the liberty of doing it on my own judgment. Since you had never shown means other than oral medicine before, I thought that was what you desired, but..."

 

The Agent raised one hand. That hand held neither the sleeping pill nor the paper cup.

 

"I carry not only oral medicine but also things like this. Situationally, I judged this to be better."

 

In her hand—was a syringe that was already empty.

 

Capable—Yuki wanted to say with all her might, but couldn't. So, she tried to express it with her face somehow. Until Yuki fell into the world of sleep, making the corners of her eyes look a bit gentle was the best she could do. Whether it conveyed or not, she surely wouldn't know.

 

(4/44)

 

The Agent laid Yuki, who had fallen asleep, on the back seat of the car.

 

Then, sitting in the driver's seat herself, she touched the area of her chest punched by Yuki. It hurts again. She was punched quite hard. However—judging from her words, it surely wasn't an act desired by the person herself. Everything is the fault of the Phantom tormenting her.

 

When she called earlier, she had heard the general circumstances from Yuki. Apparently, she sees a Phantom with the same appearance as herself. That Phantom blames Yuki, torments her, and is trying to hijack her—. Although it was a hard-to-believe story, considering Yuki's desperate look and her incoherent assault on the Agent, it wouldn't balance out without circumstances of that magnitude. Hard to believe, but understandable. Compared to her own circumstances working as an employee of an organization producing murder games, it could be said to have far more reality. After all, the <Royale Palace> incident had made her unstable.

 

Also, not just the circumstances, the Agent had heard about the upcoming strategy too. As the first stage of the strategy, put Yuki to sleep along with the Phantom. And the second stage—.

 

The Agent picked up her mobile and made a call.

 

The recipient was a person whose number she had registered just in case, but whom the Agent was calling for the first time. Will she answer a call from an unknown number at this time—thinking so, the Agent put the mobile to her ear and listened to the ringtone.

 

"—Yes. Hello."

 

Thankfully, she answered immediately.

 

It is a woman with a gentle voice. From the phone, mixed with the voice, the ringing sound of a bell rin-rin can be heard. Both symbolize the human she is.

 

"Excuse me for calling so late at night—Rinrin-san."

 

The Agent said.

 

"This is Yuki's Agent. I am calling regarding an urgent matter."

 

Rinrin. A blind former player, and the person who was Yuki's master of echolocation ability. About half a year ago, she fought Yuki in a simulated game set on a remote island.

 

"Oh my, Agent-san. What's the matter?"

 

Despite the late-night call, Rinrin says without seeming offended.

 

The Agent told the circumstances. When she finished listening to everything, "I see," Rinrin answered simply.

 

"Is that kind of thing common? When one acquires echolocation, do invisible things... like another self, become visible?"

 

"No way that happens, right? If it were so, I would warn her beforehand."

 

"Right..."

 

"But, it's a story often heard in the player world," Rinrin says. "The humans one killed blaming them in dreams, or being trapped in delusions that traps are set on the roadside and becoming unable to go out... There are many girls who become depressed for such reasons and become unable to continue as players. You can consider it an advanced version of that. Seems various things happened, and hand in hand with the power of echolocation, maybe it turned out like that."

 

"...Since you understand that much, I suppose you have already guessed the business?"

 

The Agent asked so.

 

Actually, what she wanted to ask Rinrin was already decided, but she dared to ask. If it's her, she should guess the intention without explanation—because Yuki had said so.

 

"Let's see..." Rinrin thought for a moment, then,

 

"That Phantom moves according to logic in her unconscious, right?"

 

"It seems so."

 

"If so, she should think a <Rule> to bind the Phantom is necessary... A rule to escape the current situation of being beaten one-sidedly and drag it into the same ring... Speaking of the most powerful rule for a player, only one comes to mind. A game where life is at stake."

 

Rinrin deepens her thoughts while voicing them.

 

"Then... is she seeking the holding of a simulated game from me? Conducting a game with her Phantom self, and defeating her through it. She must be drawing such a blueprint. So accurately, would it be a request to the Supplier through me...? How is it, am I right?"

 

"...Correct answer."

 

The Agent said.

 

That was—exactly the same as what Yuki conveyed to the Agent. Not only the content of the request, but the flow of logic was also perfectly the same. Impressive, the Agent thinks. Surely, there is something that only humans who have continued as players for a long time understand. The Agent harbors awe for both Yuki, who immediately set up a solution plan in the face of such extraordinary events, and Rinrin, who understands it like telepathy.

 

"Would you be able to accept?" the Agent asked.

 

"......"

 

However, there was no immediate reply.

 

Will I be refused—the Agent thinks. The simulated game half a year ago was because she sympathized with Yuki's circumstances of having misfortune with her vision. The circumstances this time are unrelated to that. Then, is it no wonder if she says it's none of her business—? The Agent braces herself for cold words, but,

 

"—Fine."

 

Rinrin said.

 

"...You will accept?"

 

"Yes. I'll let myself cooperate."

 

Ufufu, Rinrin laughed lightly,

 

"Let's see... Let's begin the <Ritual>. A high-class ritual sufficient to accept her imagination..."

 

Saying so, Rinrin laughed further.

 

That laughter resonated with the Agent's nerves. While saying thanks "...Thank you very much," feelings of anxiety gradually became thicker.

 

Recalling the battle on the remote island half a year ago, the Agent thinks.

 

Although it's a development as Yuki wished—was it really okay to ask this person?

 

(5/44)

 

On the way to being transported to the simulated game venue.

 

Yuki dreamed.

 

(6/44)

 

In usual games, that doesn't particularly happen. But perhaps because she slept in a slightly different way from usual—she dreamed. It wasn't a fantastical story at all, but something close to a flashback. More than two years ago—at the end of <Candle Woods>, it was when she was waiting for the end of the game with Airi.

 

That game had set a deadline of one week later. But due to that irregular, most participants dropped out and the situation stopped moving, so a measure for early termination was taken on the third day. Until that third day came—Yuki and Airi, the few survivors, were waiting in a room inside the venue equipped with living facilities.

 

"Since when has this murder game been held?"

 

In the midst of that, Airi asked Yuki.

 

Although Airi kept her distance from Yuki at first, as they spent one day, two days together, they had come to have some conversation.

 

"I don't know."

 

Yuki answers. In a tone more throwaway than now, specific to Yuki at that time.

 

"But, it seems to have existed from at least ten years ago. According to what surrounding players say."

 

"There are many regular players too, aren't there."

 

"There are. No, I should say there were."

 

"Surviving something like this many times, I can't believe it."

 

"Something like this is rare." Thinking of the disastrous scene of <Candle Woods>, Yuki answers, "Well, even so, they must be unbelievable guys."

 

"...What is fun about doing this?"

 

Memory is not certain whether she was actually asked something this intrusive. Since it's inside a dream, it might be Yuki's creation.

 

"Depends on the person."

 

Yuki answered.

 

"In Yuki-san's case, why?"

 

"It's not fun at all." Words came out without hesitation. "That's why I'm here."

 

"...?"

 

Airi made a puzzled face. However, Yuki did not explain further. Because it's not something to tell and let hear.

 

I think I'm bad at feeling happiness. Unable to find fulfillment in anything, I drifted and arrived here. The world of murder games—even this, I didn't feel destiny from the start particularly. It just fit somewhat better compared to others.

 

A long time has passed since then.

 

Even though recently, I finally began to feel precious things—.

 

However, now again, Yuki is suffering. Why does it become like this? Why can't I be at ease? Is there no paradise as I desire anywhere in this world?

 

Yuki, in the dream, reached out to the room's ceiling.

 

But, that ceiling distorted. The reaching hand also distorted. As if her brain was being stirred, her consciousness began to wobble. The boundary between reality and unreality became ambiguous, she felt a sensation like floating or sinking with her whole body, and—

 

When she realized, Yuki had awakened in a white room.

 

(7/44)

 

It was a white room.

 

Bleak, inorganic, it was a white room that such words fit well. Not an unpainted white like exposed concrete, but a chosen and painted white. In a room where that dominated the entire surface, Yuki awoke.

 

"Cold..."

 

Immediately upon waking, she felt a chill.

 

She understood the cause immediately. Yuki—was not wearing clothes.

 

No, accurately speaking, she is wearing a T-shirt, but the jersey she should have worn over it is missing. Touching her hair, the hairpin is gone too. Sneakers—she wasn't wearing them originally, but the three-piece set Yuki always wears is all gone.

 

"—Hi, are you awake?"

 

Being told so, Yuki looked toward the voice.

 

Her Phantom self was there. Leaning against the wall.

 

"...!!"

 

Yuki braces herself in just a shirt, but,

 

"Calm down."

 

The Phantom sneers at such Yuki.

 

"Don't brace yourself. The things you're worried about won't happen."

 

The Phantom says. Her outfit was just a shirt, same as Yuki.

 

Triggered by her appearance, Yuki remembers. Right—to stall the Phantom, I slept. Had the Agent contact Rinrin, had her arrange the simulated game—

 

And now, I am here.

 

Yuki looked around again.

 

It is a white room. Square layout, size about one size larger than the six-mat room of Yuki's house. Lights installed on the high ceiling illuminate the room increasingly white.

 

Although the impression was bleak and inorganic, it's not devoid of anything. What caught her eye first were two English words written on one side of the wall.

 

—<SNOW ROOM>.

 

<Snow Room>—probably the game name. Written large and black on the pure white wall, it stands out very much.

 

"Check the rules."

 

The Phantom said, jerking her chin.

 

At the destination of that jerk—right below <SNOW ROOM>—rule explanations were noted. Not text, but designs. Three pictograms like those used for road signs or facility guides are lined up.

 

The first is a design where stick figures drawn with utmost simplification are searching for something. There are two people, Yuki and the Phantom, in this space, and the design also has two people to match. The second is a design where one stick figure discovers clothes—probably the jersey—inside a treasure chest. And the third is a design where the person wearing it goes through a door and exits the building. The other person is staring at that scene enviously.

 

"Well, in short, it's an escape-type game."

 

The Phantom adds a supplement.

 

"Inside this building, a set of your clothes including the jersey is hidden. If you find it faster than the opponent and can escape from the building, it's game clear."

 

The Phantom jerked her chin again. Yuki turned her eyes to where she pointed.

 

There was a door there. A large double door. Tightly closed, and no handles, door levers, or keyholes are seen. It doesn't seem possible to open from here.

 

Stern-looking firearms are attached one on each side of the door. Probably devices for penalties. She remembers seeing them during her first game—<Maiden Race>. They are for punishing players who try to pass through the door illegally, and have an inseparable relationship with important doors, comparable to the shachihoko of castle keeps or shisa of Okinawan houses. On the floor near the door, there was an area with diagonal lines drawn. <If you enter without wearing the jersey, I'll shoot you to death>—it probably means.

 

Because of that elaborate preparation, one can read that that is probably the <Exit>.

 

I see, Yuki thinks. She understood the rules.

 

However—so what of it? The game started. That's fine. But, just because of that, there should be no reason for the Phantom to be quiet. Her goal is to hijack Yuki's spirit. Even though Yuki woke up and became able to be active again, why doesn't she resume attacking?

 

Yuki turned her eyes to the Phantom once more.

 

She is leaning against the wall. A wall surface different from where <SNOW ROOM> is written. Staying in the same posture, not moving a muscle.

 

Seeing that figure, intuition worked. "Hey," Yuki speaks to her.

 

"What."

 

"Can you move aside a little?"

 

The Phantom's expression stiffens slightly. "Why?" she says.

 

"Just because. Move."

 

The Phantom, making an increasingly difficult face, did as told.

 

Then—on the wall behind her too, pictograms were drawn.

 

There are two. A large diagonal line is drawn over both designs. <Prohibited Matters>, it probably means. The first is prohibition of damaging the jersey by tearing, burning, etc.

 

And the second is—prohibition of acts of violence.

 

"......"

 

Yuki laughed, fu.

 

So that's why the Phantom doesn't lay a hand on me. Playing a game with her Phantom self, binding actions with <Rules>—that scheme seems to have fit well. Seems Rinrin properly read Yuki's intent. It is a grateful thing.

 

"Coming up with stupid devices..."

 

The Phantom said as if grumbling.

 

"Preparing such a grand stage, thanks for the trouble. Do you want to escape from me that much?"

 

"Well yeah," Yuki answers.

 

"I'm hurt. Being refused so harshly..."

 

"Hurt?"

 

Yuki caught her slip of the tongue.

 

Because she thought there was meaning in doing so. This Phantom moves based on my unconscious. If so, if I can stand mentally dominant by catching slip of words, I should be able to chip away at that power.

 

"That makes me happy. It means I gave damage to you for the first time. I'll let myself go with this policy in the future too."

 

The Phantom didn't answer, just clicked her tongue.

 

"Let's start quickly, Main Body-dono," she says.

 

"Right, let's do that," Yuki responded.

 

The door in this room was not just that exit. There is one door on each of the other three sides too. Sliding doors like those in school classrooms. They probably lead to other rooms. How wide this building is—how much hardship she will be forced to undergo to find the jersey, she couldn't tell yet at this stage.

 

Toward one of those doors, the Phantom began to walk.

 

Then, katsun, a footstep sounded.

 

Yuki is surprised. At the fact that the Phantom made a footstep. It's probably not a real footstep. The Phantom doesn't exist, and even if she did, she's barefoot. There is no reason for a sound like katsun to ring. It's not ringing, it's being rung—acoustics are being used somewhere.

 

Katsun, katsun, the sound continues. The Phantom walks away. Soon she arrived in front of the door. It's a type of door where you hold the handle and slide, but of course the Phantom can't hold the handle. She shouldn't be able to open it but—

 

However, surprisingly, the door opened by itself.

 

—I think. It shouldn't be Yuki who opened it. There is a possibility Yuki acted as proxy like when she attacked the Agent, but probably not. She's getting unconfident in her senses soon, but there was considerable distance from Yuki's standing position to the door, and she thinks it's impossible after all. Just like the acoustic of footsteps, someone operated it from somewhere and opened it.

 

Anyway, the Phantom went out from the opened door. Yuki, left alone in the room, looked around restlessly.

 

In the corner of the ceiling, she found a small surveillance camera.

 

(8/44)

 

At the same time, in a separate room.

 

The Agent took her finger off the button.

 

(9/44)

 

—It finally started.

 

Yuki's Agent thought so as she took her finger off the door open/close button on the tablet.

 

And, took a wide field of view.

 

It was a bleak room in a different sense from the white room that was the game stage. Walls and floor were exposed concrete, and steel frames covered with dust-like fireproof coating could be seen on the ceiling. What existed were a few folding chairs and desks, monitors to supervise the state of the game, miscellaneous machinery whose identity was unknown, and cords supplying electricity and communication paths to all of them. Besides Yuki's Agent, Rinrin, and the Supplier, there was no one else.

 

It's a separate room to manage the game progress. It is in a different building from the white room where Yuki is.

 

"Did it go well?"

 

Rinrin asked.

 

"Yes. It seems so."

 

The Agent turned her eyes to one of the monitors.

 

The white room—the room serving as the game's start point was displayed there. One door is open. Yuki was looking around restlessly, and seeming to have just discovered the camera, looked this way.

 

There was no appearance of feeling incongruity on that face.

 

I guess I was able to direct it well, the Agent feels relieved for a moment. Since the conversation Yuki was having with the Phantom seemed to have reached a pause, she played the acoustic of footsteps, opened the room door by remote control, and made it look as if the Phantom went out.

 

"Now then... shall we start the other person too?"

 

Saying so, Rinrin switched on the microphone.

 

It was for sending voice to a white room, however, the target was not Yuki.

 

The Agent shifted her eyes to another monitor. A white room is displayed there too. It is a structure almost identical to the room where Yuki woke up.

 

However, a player who is not Yuki is displayed there.

 

Yes—this is precisely the biggest feature of this game. To manage the Phantom's actions, the Agents prepared another exact copy of the same game stage. Placing another player on that stage located on the first floor of the building directly below this separate room, having her proceed with the game. And linking the progress status of the two stages mutually, producing as if the Phantom really exists. That is the backstage of the game of one-on-one combat with the Phantom, <Snow Room>.

 

In other words, in reality, it is a confrontation between Yuki and the Collaborator acting as the Phantom's stand-in.

 

To that Collaborator, Rinrin speaks. "The opponent has started."

 

"You start the game too."

 

"Understood," the Collaborator answering was heard from the monitor's built-in speaker.

 

"Needless to say, do it seriously. Proceed with the game using all the power you possess. If there is any sign of cutting corners even a little, I will kill you. Understand?"

 

No, she can't understand that, the Agent thought.

 

What a way to talk to someone cooperating out of goodwill—the Agent wants to say, but the Collaborator answered calmly, "Of course." Whether she intends to do her best, or thinks it's okay to be killed.

 

"Also... when leaving the room, could you go out from the door directly in front from your view. Otherwise the logic won't fit."

 

"Logic? What does that mean?"

 

"You don't need to pry unnecessarily. Do as told."

 

"...I understand."

 

They haven't told the Collaborator the truth.

 

They only explained that—they created an escape-type practice game, so they want her to test play. So, accurately, the <Snow Room> the Collaborator is playing is an imitation game that truly won't take a life. Although they conveyed that—there is someone playing in another space at the same time, and progress statuses are linked mutually—she doesn't know at all that the opponent is Yuki, and moreover that that side is a genuine murder game. About the part that she is made to substitute for the Phantom Yuki sees, it is the same.

 

That said, the Collaborator probably suspects something too. Too much effort is put in for a practice game, the attitude of the Agents and associates is too serious,

 

And above all—because the person was that person.

 

(10/44)

 

Opening a different door from the one the Phantom passed through, Yuki left the room.

 

Immediately after, the door closed behind her. It's the type that closes on its own, often found in hospitals and public baths. Seems it's a design that not only opens by itself but also closes by itself—thinking so, Yuki looked around.

 

The destination after passing the door was also a white room. About the same size as the previous room, empty. There is not even the <SNOW ROOM> description or rule explanation, just one surveillance camera in the corner of the ceiling and one door on each of the four walls. Yuki chose the one in front among those doors, opened it, and stepped into the next room.

 

Once again, a similar white room.

 

Apparently, in this building, rooms of similar structure are lined up in large numbers. Yuki tried advancing straight for about three rooms, but every room had only doors and a camera. Let alone finding the jersey, things that looked like they might hide the jersey weren't found.

 

What does this mean—while thinking so, when she entered the fourth room, the door disappeared from the front. She must have hit the edge of the building. Since there is no door, she cannot go straight, so Yuki turned left. And goes straight again. Thinking that way she would eventually hit a room located at the corner of the building. From end room to end room with only three doors, Yuki moves.

 

Doing so—.

 

"Ah."

 

Yuki inadvertently raised her voice.

 

Because the Phantom appeared in front of her.

 

She didn't appear suddenly. An instant after Yuki entered the room, she entered the same room from the front door. Like Yuki, she seemed to be moving from room to room.

 

"Yo," the Phantom says.

 

"How is it, any results? Was there any progress?"

 

"Nothing yet," Yuki answers, "And you?"

 

"Well... similar to you I guess."

 

Instead of honestly saying zero progress, the Phantom answers meaningfully and passed by Yuki.

 

She follows that back with her eyes. Watched until the Phantom walked while playing the acoustic of footsteps, opened the door, left the room, and the door closed automatically.

 

As usual, the door is opening on its own, and footsteps are ringing. In reality, they are probably operating from outside but—what kind of rule is this managed by? Just operating randomly? Or is someone somewhere really opening doors and walking?

 

Probably the latter, Yuki thinks. A space of the same structure as this building exists—physically or electronically, she doesn't know—another one, and there must be a player moving around there. That movement reflects here in the form of footsteps and door opening/closing, and Yuki's mind gives flesh to that information in the form of the Phantom.

 

In other words, there is an opponent. <Snow Room> is by no means Yuki's single play, but a composition of confrontation with the Phantom.

 

Who on earth is the actual opponent—?

 

Yuki corrects her thought that was about to veer off. Wrong. That is not important now. What is important right now is—that this game is also a versus type. If so, she cannot play leisurely. She must don the jersey before the Phantom, and prove that this side is the self that should exist.

 

"...That said though."

 

Standing in the middle of the room, Yuki muttered.

 

That mutter was sucked into the walls and floor of the white room and disappeared.

 

It was a room that seemed to be a corner room. Only two doors. Similar to previous rooms—no, since there are only two doors—it's a room that can be said to have even less than before.

 

In such an environment, even if she tries to search for the jersey, where should she search? The current situation where she isn't even allowed the act of <Searching> and is just walking around, Yuki feels she hasn't been able to start the game in the true sense yet. A feeling of futility and impatience coming from lack of progress lay stagnant in her chest.

 

Venting those emotions in the form of a sigh, Yuki moved her legs to leave the corner room.

 

However—exactly at that next first step.

 

On the sole of her foot, she felt a squishy sensation like stepping on dog poop.

 

(11/44)

 

Yuki jumped back reflexively.

 

Looked at the floor. The floor that was right under Yuki's nose—the area where Yuki had placed her sole an instant ago, was dented.

 

A switch. She remembers with her whole body that this is a <Game>. Instantly Yuki's switch also turns on, she enters battle readiness and keeps a sharp watch on the surroundings. Expecting an attack of traps, blowdart or circular saw? but—

 

However, the situation moved in a diagonal-up direction.

 

Or rather, the wall moved. The smooth white wall surface surrounding the room—part of it slid, and something looking like a safe appeared from the back.

 

Yuki—with vigilance still undissolved—approaches the safe. Even approaching, the view that it seemed to be a safe didn't change. Some sentences are written on its door.

 

Q2. Choose the formal name of the Statue of Liberty from the following. A. Liberty Enlightening the World B. The Statue of Saint Aphrodite C. Liberty Leading the People D. Mother of Exiles

 

Wrong Answer Penalty: Electric current will flow through your body.

 

It is a modest problem.

 

Beside the question text, there are four metal buttons from <A> to <D>. It is natural to interpret that if she answers correctly the safe opens, and if she mistakes, <Wrong Answer Penalty>—electric current flows from the button.

 

"...I see," Yuki muttered.

 

In this building, presumably, there are many of these. Switches and problems are hidden behind floors and walls that look empty at a glance. It must be a game designed to drag them out and approach the whereabouts of the jersey.

 

Now—Yuki gazes at the question text. Four-choice question. Wrong answer penalty is electric current. Even if answering randomly, it will be correct with one-fourth chance, and she also has a feeling of wanting to check the temperature of the penalty. Yuki pressed the <C> button relying on hunch—

 

—An instant later, severe pain ran through Yuki's body.

 

"Gah...!?"

 

Yuki released her finger from the button.

 

And writhed on the floor. Painful. Not just the finger, the whole body hurts. Current passed through the finger from the button to the floor—Yuki understands amidst the still-continuing pain. She had experiences of eating electric current many times professionally, but among them, this competes for first or second level. Clearly, it is not an electric current set for a penalty of a problem that is, no matter how you think about it, like a warm-up at the very beginning of the game.

 

When the pain subsided, Yuki remembers.

 

That the designer of this game—is that Rinrin.

 

(12/44)

 

"—Seems she noticed."

 

In the separate room, Rinrin said.

 

Probably words regarding Yuki who found the first problem. Although Rinrin cannot see, she seemed to guess from Yuki's mutters heard from the monitor and the groan from receiving the electric current.

 

"It seems so," the Agent answers.

 

"Is it more accurate to say she finally noticed?"

 

"...Maybe."

 

The Agent looked at the monitor showing the Collaborator.

 

Currently, she was working on the third problem. Finding switches and solving problems is frighteningly fast. As expected, she is no ordinary person—while the Agent was admiring, she solved the third question too.

 

Opening the safe door, "Easy," the Collaborator said.

 

"Even for the early stage, isn't it too easy? You should raise the difficulty of the problems a bit more, or make the wrong answer penalty stricter. This lacks challenge too much."

 

"Don't talk familiarly," Rinrin answered. "Tackle it thinking it's a real game. Contact us only when necessary."

 

"Oh. However... isn't feedback of impressions necessary? It's a test play for that, right?"

 

At those words, Rinrin seemed a bit taken aback.

 

True, they called the Collaborator with that story. Sending frequent contact here is natural behavior.

 

"I'll hear it all together later," Rinrin equivocates. "You don't have to say impressions one by one. Understood?"

 

"Understood."

 

Even so, Rinrin is awfully harsh, the Agent thinks. Does she not like this Collaborator very much—?

 

(13/44)

 

Recovering from the electric current punishment, Yuki faced the problem again.

 

Q2. Choose the formal name of the Statue of Liberty from the following. A. Liberty Enlightening the World B. The Statue of Saint Aphrodite C. Liberty Leading the People D. Mother of Exiles

 

Wrong Answer Penalty: Electric current will flow through your body.

 

In exchange for pain, she knew <C> was a miss. Four choices became three choices, but she didn't feel like trying a random guess again. Think seriously. Formal name of the Statue of Liberty—Yuki didn't know it, but she thought she could identify the answer from the composition of choices. Thinking so, <B> and <D> which have different colors are probably wrong. It must be a quiz assumed to confuse between <A> and <C> which look similar in characters. And since <C> was incorrect, the correct answer is <A>.

 

Yuki pressed button <A>. She put her shirt in between just in case, but there was no reaction. Seems to be a format that doesn't react unless touched by a finger like a smartphone touch panel. They are thorough—Yuki pressed the button directly with her finger while feeling frustration. There was no recurring electric current, and the safe opened.

 

Inside, there was only one memo. She picks it up and reads.

 

Hint 2 There are twenty-five rooms in total in this building. Five square rooms are lined up vertically and horizontally respectively.

 

Doesn't seem to be a very important hint. Five by five, twenty-five rooms—she already had a guess it would be about that wide from the exploration so far. Since it wasn't a high-difficulty problem, maybe the reward is just so-so.

 

Although not useful, she didn't want it seen by the Phantom, so she collected the memo. The current Yuki is dressed in just a shirt, and since there were no pockets to store the memo, Yuki folded it into a thin strip and tied it to her hair as if tying an omikuji.

 

And, opening the door, she moves to the next room but—

 

"...Whoa..."

 

Yuki voices her surprise.

 

Because in the next room—a problem had already appeared.

 

Like the corner room earlier, part of the wall slid and there was a safe in the back. That problem seemed to be already solved too, and the safe door was flung open. Must be the Phantom's doing. She also seems to have realized the mechanism of this game.

 

Yuki approaches the safe and peeks inside.

 

The content was empty. The Phantom collected it—it probably means, but how is it processed in reality? Thinking so and observing the safe even better, she found a lid attached to the bottom. Dropped the content from here. Not just door opening/closing and footsteps, seems safe opening/closing and item collection are also expressed. While understanding one more game system, Yuki left the room.

 

At that time, the safe problem caught her eye.

 

She didn't read the question text properly, but she could confirm the description of the problem number written at the beginning—<Q6>.

 

(14/44)

 

When Yuki moved to the next room, there was no problem there. Only white floor, walls, and ceiling.

 

Yuki wandered around inside that room. Because a switch might be hidden here too, to find it—and also to think.

 

For now I am searching but—is it safe to assume there are a switch and a safe in this room too? It seems there are twenty-five rooms in total in this building, but are problems hidden in all of them? If so, total twenty-five questions—no wait—not necessarily one per room. It's possible two or three are hidden. Anyway, is the target jersey stored in one of those numerous safes?

 

"No—is it not such a simple story..."

 

Yuki said aloud.

 

She doesn't know other things, but she can say that for sure. If that were the case, what divides the fate of this game is who hits the correct safe first—in other words, it becomes a mere guessing game. Speaking from escape-type theory, it would be appropriate to view this strictly as <First Stage>.

 

While thinking such things, the foot of wandering Yuki stepped on a switch.

 

Part of the wall slid, and a safe appeared. The problem number written there was—

 

"...Number 17, huh."

 

Yuki confirms aloud.

 

The problem discovered first was number 2. The next room was number 6. The one next to that is number 17—she thought a little, but no regularity is found in the arrangement of numbers. Seems to be distributed completely randomly.

 

Yuki tackled the problem. Solving that problem utilizing the kana syllabary chart, when she opened the safe, only one felt-tip pen came out. Seems there are items like this besides memos. As usual, Yuki in just a shirt had no place to store it, so she hooked it over her ear like a horse racing tipster.

 

Even after that, Yuki went around rooms and searched for problems.

 

Anyway, for now, I have no choice but to solve randomly, she thought. In other rooms' floors too, switches were hidden and safes came out when stepped on. Problem types and difficulty varied by case, but all were of a level solvable by Yuki's brain, and she opened about three safes without a single wrong answer and collected contents. The first was a hint memo similar to the one obtained in the first problem. <Hint 5: A player who tries to leave the building without wearing the jersey will be shot to death> was written. Since it's something naturally understood by looking at the firearms at the starting point, it doesn't seem to be an important hint. The second was a palm-sized notebook. Probably for writing when solving problems. The third was a Morse code chart. It seemed there is a problem somewhere that cannot be solved without referring to this.

 

She explored the rooms where those problems were further, seeking a second, third switch, but couldn't find any. Is it really one problem per room—while deepening her guess, Yuki moves to a new room and searches for a switch again.

 

"...Still."

 

While solving the fourth problem found there, Yuki muttered.

 

To think this me is solving riddles—she thought.

 

I've become smarter. Compared to the past.

 

(15/44)

 

"—You, why are you attending here?"

 

In the past, she has been asked that.

 

The questioner is Hitomi. A classmate attending the same night school as Yuki, and a former player.

 

The place is that night school. During moving classrooms, or before homeroom—she remembers it was a situation where no one was around for some reason. That's why they could have such a conversation that cannot be let heard by ordinary people.

 

"Eh?" Yuki asks back.

 

"Why are you attending school?"

 

In her characteristic blunt tone, Hitomi says.

 

"You're continuing as a player, right? You. You're not washing your hands of it like me... is there a need to go to school?"

 

Ah, that's what she means, she thinks. "There is," Yuki answers.

 

"Even to continue as a player, minimum brains are needed."

 

It's been nearly two years since she started attending. The reason is exactly what Yuki just said. Whether what she studied is directly utilized in games—might not be the case, but she feels she can fight using her head more than before.

 

"Is that how it is..." Hitomi said,

 

"High school, you didn't go? Or did you quit?"

 

She asked further. Since Yuki transferred in the middle of the term, Hitomi knows she didn't advance straight.

 

"Didn't go," Yuki answers.

 

"My parents are laissez-faire, or rather, people not very interested in me... Like, once compulsory education is done, do as you like. So taking them at their word, after finishing junior high, I was wandering appropriately."

 

"Hee... Same as me."

 

Including a slight tone showing empathy, Hitomi said.

 

Yuki also, responding to that, relaxed her expression a little.

 

Living wanderingly, she became a player somehow.

 

That is everything explaining Yuki's past.

 

No background. No drama. With Yuki's personality at the time, such things couldn't arise. Lineage—maybe. Yuki strongly inherits her parents' nihilistic temperament. Since starting as a player, she has been completely estranged, but she doesn't hear of movement from their side, and Yuki has no plan to go show her face either. Probably, they won't meet again. She feels no wonder at becoming so.

 

Since it's so even for real family, it's more so for others. In her half-life, there are only two humans she was deeply involved with. One is Master. And the other is—Tamamo. That was the first time. Being approached by another person so much.

 

So, she didn't know what to do.

 

She didn't know.

 

(16/44)

 

"...Ah."

 

In one of the white rooms, Yuki muttered.

 

In that room, a problem had appeared without Yuki searching. The Phantom must have pressed the switch. Problem already exists in the entered room—this was the second occurrence, however, despite that, Yuki was a little surprised.

 

Because that problem was attached not to the wall, but to the floor.

 

Also, the size of the door where the problem is written is one size larger than before. Rather than a safe door, it looked like a hatch door leading to an underfloor space. It is thought that something like an underground storage space or underground passage exists beyond this door, but because the door is closed—because the problem hasn't been solved yet, she couldn't glimpse the truth.

 

Yuki approaches the problem and reads it.

 

Q?? What number problem is this? Input with numpad.

 

Wrong Answer Penalty: The ceiling of this room will fall.

 

Yuki frowned, largely enough that she knew it herself.

 

She didn't understand at all. No, she understands what is being asked. Answer the problem number—fill in this <Q??> part. What she doesn't understand is the solution. Wasn't it supposed to be that there is no regularity in the arrangement of problem numbers? Being asked that with a vibe like <What question number is it now?> is troubling.

 

Yuki thought for a while, and hypothesized maybe identify by elimination. Find all problems hidden one per room—this is also not confirmed yet though—erase numbers, and input the remaining one here. Indeed a likely hypothesis, but if so, the current Yuki cannot solve this problem. Maybe the Phantom thought the same way, so left it unsolved.

 

Concluding so, Yuki left the room.

 

Moved to the next room, stepping on the floor from end to end, searching for a switch again.

 

However, her head continued to think about that problem. That problem is probably important. It was a hatch door instead of a safe, and the air of the wrong answer penalty is different. <The ceiling of this room will fall>—details unknown, but safe to assume death if wrong answer. A penalty one step heavier than before. It could be said to represent the importance of the problem as is, but since it seems unsolvable currently, no choice, Yuki silently steps on the floor.

 

Thanks to being lost in thought, Yuki finished examining the floor with short perceived time.

 

But, the switch wasn't found.

 

"...Huh?"

 

Strange, Yuki thought.

 

In previous rooms, there was a switch somewhere on the floor every time. Could it be attached to the wall here? Or did she miss stepping on it because she searched while thinking? Considering that possibility, Yuki examines the floor from the end once more.

 

In the midst of that, the room door opened.

 

Katsun, katsun, footsteps were also heard. Means the Phantom entered the room. "Oh," recognizing Yuki's figure, the Phantom greeted, "Good day to you."

 

"Thanks."

 

Yuki said, and observes the Phantom without stopping her feet searching for the switch.

 

Just as Yuki is doing, the Phantom had tied memos and small items here and there on her hair. She also seems to be proceeding with the game. Of course that figure is nothing more than what Yuki imagined, so it's accurate to say Yuki's unconscious regards her as proceeding with the game.

 

The Phantom also directs observing eyes at Yuki,

 

"What are you doing?"

 

She says.

 

"Doing don-don on the floor like an idiot..."

 

"...What, you ask, I'm searching for a switch."

 

Yuki answers without stopping doing don-don on the floor.

 

To that answer, kukuku, the Phantom returned a laugh. A laugh containing insult as usual. What's with this guy, Yuki thinks.

 

"Is it okay, doing such a leisurely thing," the Phantom says. "The gap opens more and more."

 

"...?"

 

Meaningful remark again. However, not just a bluff, a nuance that there seems to be something behind it is felt. What is it.

 

Before Yuki could come up with an answer-like answer to that question, the Phantom moved. Passing by the side of Yuki doing don-don on the floor, she opened the door and moved to the next room.

 

It was the room with that problem.

 

Just before the door closed automatically, Yuki saw the Phantom crouching by the problem.

 

That greatly aroused Yuki's interest. Don't tell me—she can solve it? Too curious, she could no longer be searching for a switch. Yuki stopped her feet, went to open the door that just closed again, and stared at the Phantom's back appearing to input an answer. Because of the wrong answer penalty, she didn't enter the room, stopping at monitoring by the door.

 

In less than three seconds, the Phantom finished input and pressed the enter key.

 

Yuki stiffened her body.

 

But, the ceiling didn't fall. A pleasant electronic sound probably meaning correct answer rang, and the door opened.

 

Yuki is surprised. No—she must have answered because she had confidence, so it's not something to be surprised about, but still want to be surprised. How did she solve it? Elimination method should be impossible. As long as Yuki's room's problem isn't opened, the number cannot be narrowed to one. Yuki was monitoring the whole sequence of the Phantom answering, but the crucial answer was hidden by her back and invisible. It feels weird to say invisible blocked by an illusion but—anyway, she didn't know the answer, nor the process reaching the answer.

 

While Yuki is surprised, the Phantom tried to go down from both legs to beyond the door—underground space or underground passage.

 

Seeing that, bad, Yuki thought.

 

Naturally her legs moved forward. She instantaneously thought to chase the Phantom but—

 

However, at that time, her eyes met the Phantom's.

 

Yuki didn't miss that a sign of attack was mixed in her eye glint.

 

Also, she saw the Phantom's one hand placed on the door—fingertips hidden by the door shadow invisible—moved slightly.

 

With the above two, she guessed what would happen. With about the same naturalness as before, Yuki stopped her feet, turned on her heel, and returned the way she came running with increased speed.

 

On the way—.

 

Jarajara-jarajara, a sound of chains rubbing furiously was heard. Rather than two chains rubbing against each other, it was an irregular tone of something folded extending—a sound thought to be exactly like this if something tied to a chain was dropped from the ceiling.

 

Simultaneous with Yuki opening the door, straddling the threshold groove and returning to the next room, Do-un, she heard a sound resonating to the core of her body. In fact, vibration transmitted from the floor to her body, and Yuki lost balance and fell. In the state with hands on the floor, turning neck, body, whatever she could turn backward hurriedly, she looked back.

 

The ceiling, had fallen.

 

(17/44)

 

It was a state that could only be described as such.

 

The room with that problem where Yuki was just now—the ceiling is filling up its entire floor area. Since seeing a scene of a ceiling falling is a first in her life, Yuki struggled with the description but—for example, a diatomaceous earth bath mat, or a tile before being pasted on the floor, something like enlarging such a flat stone very much, is covering the room floor entirely. Several chains were attached to that huge stone. It is suspended from above.

 

That chain moved.

 

Making jarajara-jara sound again, extending. Along with that, the stone is hoisted up, returning to the original state.

 

Holding the door so as not to miss that scene, Yuki thinks. It's just as the wrong answer penalty said—the ceiling fell. Why did it fall? Of course, because a wrong answer was made. It's the Phantom's scheme. Into the door problem that was already open and shouldn't need answering, she input a further answer—and dared to input a wrong answer—activating the wrong answer penalty.

 

To crush Yuki, to murder her.

 

The sound of chains stopped, and the ceiling returned completely.

 

The original white room scene appeared. A room with nothing material-like except the hatch door on the floor.

 

That door was closed, but when the ceiling returned up, it opened.

 

The Phantom poked her face out. Directs her gaze at Yuki. Confirming she wasn't crushed to death, on the contrary not even suffering a scratch, han, she laughed.

 

"Whaat—too bad."

 

Leaving a parting remark, she closed the door again.

 

Damn it—feeling frustration, Yuki steps into the room. Approaches the hatch door, tries pulling the handle. But, doesn't open. Locked. The safe doors were a type that once solved stay open, but this door seems to be locked every time it closes. Judging from the Phantom's behavior earlier, it seems to open from inside, but cannot be opened from outside.

 

Unless correctly answering the door problem.

 

However—how on earth?

 

(18/44)

 

"—As expected, it was a magic square."

 

In the separate room, the Collaborator's voice arrived.

 

She, who solved that problem, was heading underground. Mixed with the sound of descending a ladder, her voice continues.

 

"It didn't look like there was an easy-to-understand rule in the sequence of problem numbers. One can consider noting down problem numbers of the other twenty-four rooms and identifying the number by elimination but... however, it seems not all rooms have problems hidden. Then, it can only be this."

 

"I told you not to talk to us, didn't I?"

 

Interrupting the Collaborator's words, Rinrin responded. "Noisy."

 

"? No, I intended it as a monologue but... Because it's true, right? Since Rinrin-san naturally knows the answer. There is no need for me to lecture."

 

Rinrin makes a sour face at the Collaborator who never shuts up.

 

The Agent looked at such her sideways.

 

Well, actually, that is the correct answer. That's why the hatch leading underground opened. It was planned to make her realize by a hint from solving another problem, but to think she would insight without clues—.

 

Magic square—a word referring to a square matrix where the sum of numbers is the same in all rows, columns, and diagonals. The total number is determined by matrix size; fifteen for three by three, thirty-four for four by four, and sixty-five for five by five. There are twenty-five rooms in five by five on the game stage, and the problem numbers are arranged to form a magic square.

 

Also, due to its property, unknown number parts can be inferred and filled. So, there is no need to know all other numbers to solve that problem. Or rather, it's a setting where that is impossible from the start. As the Collaborator said, not all rooms have problems hidden. For example, the room where Yuki was marking time literally until just now had neither switch nor problem prepared. Complete waste of effort.

 

Although the wrong answer penalty is set large—the difficulty itself is not that high. A nothing problem solvable even by elementary schoolers.

 

Provided one can view the situation with eagle eyes.

 

The Agent turned her eyes to the monitor showing Yuki. She, who seems unable to view the situation with eagle eyes, was holding her head in front of the door.

 

"...Thank goodness."

 

Seeing that figure, the Agent muttered.

 

Not <Thank goodness> in the sense that game progress is stagnating, of course, but meaning it was good she dodged the penalty. When the Collaborator purposely input a wrong answer, she was terrified. Since that action is invisible from Yuki's viewpoint, she feared she might be too late to escape but—as expected of a veteran player. Seeming to sense something bad, she retreated quickly and avoided the ceiling fall penalty.

 

In the <Snow Room> the Collaborator is playing too, there are wrong answer penalties. However, since it is strictly a test game, penalties are all simulated. Electric punishment just stings a little, and even if the ceiling falls, it is made of Styrofoam, so one won't die even if crushed.

 

However, since that wouldn't constitute a punishment, rules are set beforehand to wait one minute on the spot for small ones, five minutes for large ones when receiving a penalty. The Collaborator must think the opponent's game has the same settings. Sensing the opponent—Yuki entered the room from the door movement, the Collaborator activated the penalty to stall her for five minutes.

 

Fortunately, the worst situation was avoided. However, the Collaborator beat her to it. If Yuki continues to be stuck like this, the gap will widen further. Please quickly, as soon as possible, realize the solution to the problem—. Watching her charge holding her head in the monitor, the Agent prayed.

 

Whether that thought reached or not is uncertain.

 

But, Yuki released her hands from her head and said, "...I see!"

 

(19/44)

 

"Magic square!"

 

Releasing hands from the head she was holding, Yuki said.

 

Can only be that. Rooms lined up squarely. Number inference. Probably the only concept in the world linking the two.

 

If so, Yuki should be able to solve it too. Since the Phantom has already solved it, necessary information—problem numbers of each room—must be all present.

 

Yuki went around rooms in a great hurry. Recording problem numbers appearing in each room on the back of the memo with the felt-tip pen. Immediately after starting work, Yuki noticed there are quite a few problems left untouched. To solve that problem, the Phantom must have just revealed them.

 

Finishing patrolling rooms, Yuki returned to the room in question.

 

Spreading the memo, reflecting the fruits of the journey firmly in her eyes.

 

Immediately tackled the problem. Writing on the white floor with the felt-tip pen, calculating.

 

By the way, in school math tests, no one was superior to Yuki in making the question paper messy. Even calculations doable by mental arithmetic, she tends to write out, so it becomes full of writing immediately. In this case too, that quality was demonstrated regrettably. After all, she was in a hurry, and she could use the entire floor as calculation paper.

 

Around the time she began to wonder herself whether she was really solving a magic square or drawing a magic circle, the answer came out.

 

"...This should be it...?"

 

While circling the answer, however, Yuki becomes anxious.

 

She wanted to answer as soon as possible, but life is at stake. Yuki verified the calculation. Due to the property of magic squares, if the sum of each column is the same, the calculation should be correct. Checked twice just in case, probably, okay, she thinks.

 

Resolving herself, Yuki input the answer.

 

Pressed the enter key.

 

And, jumped back toward the door.

 

To be able to escape just in case the penalty activates—but the worry was needless. Electronic sound indicating correct answer rang, and the hatch door opened.

 

(20/44)

 

Beyond the door, a deep vertical shaft continued.

 

As expected, connects to underground. Does it mean there is no lighting underground—beyond the hole is dark, and from a certain point covered in complete darkness, invisible. Dropping the felt-tip pen into the darkness, karan-karan, a dry sound returned. At least doesn't seem bottomless.

 

Since there was a ladder on the shaft wall, she decided to grab it and descend. Relying on light pouring from above ground, descending step by step. From above ground it felt like she would fall into pitch darkness immediately, but from the underground viewpoint, surprisingly visibility was good, and she could descend smoothly.

 

Eventually, something cool touched Yuki's bare feet.

 

Reached the floor.

 

Yuki, landing underground, looks around. Above ground light almost dissipated coming this far, nothing visible. Touching the floor, there was a bumpy texture like stone pavement. Same for walls. Too natural for an underground passage, yet feels too maintained to be a cave. Somehow, Yuki associated it with dungeons in underground worlds appearing in RPGs etc.

 

In pitch darkness, shall I do it, Yuki decided.

 

Once, clicked her tongue.

 

Click sound echoed around. Yuki listened carefully to catch it hitting ceiling, walls, floor and bouncing back.

 

Echolocation. The power to grasp surrounding environment by hearing Yuki possesses. For current Yuki, darkness cannot be darkness. In the recent game—<Royale Palace>, she managed even fighting wielding a sword while blind. The Phantom should be in this underground space, and making sound to notify arrival was a risk but—even considering that, Yuki judged it wouldn't start without doing it.

 

Result of execution, understood a single path continued.

 

Yuki proceeded that path. Going for a while, hit a junction, so choosing path by finger luck, proceeded again. In the world of darkness, only click sounds and Yuki's barefoot slapping footsteps echo.

 

Come to think of it, proceeding in darkness wasn't the first time. Memory of ending up walking without light in the tenth game—<Scrap Building> revives.

 

And—memory of that nasty rich girl too.

 

There was such a guy, Yuki thinks. She is also, in a sense, one of the people deeply involved in Yuki's life. Seems I am better at making rivals than allies.

 

If she saw me now, what would she say? Must be furious indeed.

 

Rather, if she appeared again and slapped my cheek—.

 

"......"

 

Thinking stupid things, she smiled wryly.

 

Yuki hit a T-junction.

 

Path splits left and right. Listening to echo, she could read the left side is a dead end, but dared to go there. First impression received from this space—impression like an RPG dungeon made her do so. Even a dead end might not be just a dead end.

 

Before walking twenty steps, hit a wall.

 

Making click sound, understood something is at feet. Something like a large box. Upper part takes arch structure. Touching with hand to confirm, material is mainly wood, but seems to have metal reinforcement here and there.

 

Frankly, isn't it a treasure chest, she thinks.

 

At dungeon dead ends, there are treasure chests. Knocking outer wall Yuki inquires content, but sound doesn't echo well, not really clear. Trying to lift treasure chest to check by shaking, but seems fixed to floor and cannot move. Stopping trying to go strange back ways, Yuki takes the most royal road means to check content. In short, put hand on part of that treasure chest-like thing where lock or something should be around here.

 

Something like metal fitting touched finger.

 

Touch well to confirm. No keyhole or dial. Just a clasp like on school bags or business bags. Applying just slight force, it moved.

 

Can open.

 

That realization transmitted to hand through nerves, and with a tone almost habitual, Yuki undid the clasp and opened the treasure chest.

 

—An instant later, sensed danger.

 

More specific sign—heard wind cutting sound hohyu too.

 

Yuki hurriedly lay on her back. Something passed right above that body, creating slight wind, stroking Yuki's both feet exposed. Karan, making dry sound <it> hit wall, and sound of likely falling to floor was heard. Yuki got up, identified position from sound direction, picked <it> up. It was pitch darkness without single light, but knew identity from touch.

 

Blowdart.

 

Escape-type promise—trap.

 

"...As expected," Yuki muttered.

 

She had predicted. So she could react instantly. Stage device inseparable from escape types, and gadget inseparable from dungeons. Unlike problems above ground which had no danger if not wrong answer, seems there are things like this from now on.

 

Yuki peeked into the treasure chest. Since dark, cannot see content. Yuki made click sound, confirming no further traps lurking, put hand in treasure chest and took out content. Touching peta-peta for about ten seconds, understood switch is attached. Trying turning it on immediately,

 

Surroundings were illuminated brightly.

 

At sudden light, Yuki closed eyes.

 

Taking few seconds, managed to open eyes.

 

It, which emitted light itself and taught identity—was an electric lantern.

 

(21/44)

 

In a separate room.

 

Rinrin lifted her bottom from the folding chair and stood up.

 

Then, without saying a word, she made to leave the separate room. "Where are you going?" the Agent asked.

 

"I'm going to hunt some wild rabbits," Rinrin answered.

 

It was likely a euphemism for going to the toilet. It wasn't commonly heard, and it was the first time the Agent had heard the phrase, but perhaps in the world of players—back when Rinrin was active as a player—they used to speak like that.

 

Although there was no running water in this building, a temporary toilet had been set up outside. Rinrin headed there, leaving only the Agent and the Supplier in the separate room. The Supplier—a male, which was rare for someone involved in the games—was a man of few words, so the space fell into a silence that felt almost unnatural. However, since both of them were focused on the monitors, there was no awkwardness.

 

What the Agent was primarily watching was the monitor tracking Yuki's movements. Just like the white room above ground, cameras were installed underground as well. Since there was no lighting, they had relied solely on infrared until a moment ago, but now that Yuki had obtained a lantern, they could capture her figure using visible light as well.

 

Finally—the Agent thought. "Finally" in the sense that she had obtained a light source, and "finally" in the sense that she had descended underground. With this, she once again stood on the same stage as her opponent.

 

The Agent turned her eyes to the monitor showing the Collaborator.

 

Since she was the one who descended underground first, naturally, she was in the lead. She had already advanced through roughly half of the second stage following the surface—the underground dungeon. For illumination, she was using a ballpoint pen with a built-in light, an item obtained above ground. She had overlooked the lantern. The lantern provided far more light than the pen's single miniature bulb, so in that respect, Yuki could be said to have the advantage, but looking at it, the Collaborator didn't seem to feel any insufficiency with her light, and compared to the practical advantage of game progression, it was a trivial difference.

 

"...I guess this gap won't be closed anymore..."

 

Staring at that reality, the Agent muttered.

 

She hesitated to say something ominous while Yuki was struggling, but the fact was undeniable. After all, there were no traps in the Collaborator's dungeon—. Just like the wrong-answer penalties above ground, the traps underground were all simulated. Compared to Yuki, the Collaborator could advance through the dungeon without fear.

 

Even so, if there was still a chance for Yuki to win—.

 

It would only be at the final problem, deep underground.

 

She could only hope that her intuition wouldn't work there. Please, overlook that one thing, the Agent thought.

 

"—Still, this is elaborate."

 

Inside the monitor, the Collaborator spoke.

 

"To prepare even an underground space like this, it's quite authentic... I heard there is another stage just like this one, but how much did the preparation cost, I wonder?"

 

Again, the Agent thought. Despite Rinrin warning her repeatedly, the Collaborator frequently spoke to them. No matter how much Rinrin threatened her, she didn't get scared.

 

"Please be quiet."

 

Taking the microphone in Rinrin's stead, the Agent called out.

 

"Oh. That voice is, surely... Setsuna-san's, right?"

 

The Collaborator reacted.

 

The Collaborator knew the Agent's voice. They had met face-to-face when inviting her, and had engaged in some conversation. Of course, the Agent had concealed her identity as Yuki's Agent and used the name Setsuna—which was a pseudonym for the current Agent.

 

"Since Setsuna-san is answering, is Rinrin-san absent?"

 

The Agent did not answer the Collaborator's question.

 

"How long will she be absent? Did she simply go to the restroom, or did she go home...? If you seem to have time, how about it, shall we talk a little? While the demon is away."

 

The Collaborator laughed at her own joke.

 

The Agent did not laugh. She maintained silence, conveying her intent to refuse.

 

"You're cold."

 

Even so, the Collaborator continued speaking.

 

"Well then, allow me to talk to myself as I please. ...Goodness, these mechanisms and such, the design is truly dangerous and looks like a real game. Is the opponent going to be okay...?"

 

"Therefore, please concentrate on the game—"

 

And, just as she said that much.

 

The Agent's mouth stopped.

 

"...What did you say just now?" she asked.

 

"Therefore, I asked if the opponent is going to be okay," the Collaborator said.

 

"Why—do you worry about such a thing?"

 

The Agent naturally began to speak faster. She realized the blunder of initiating conversation herself, but it was already too late.

 

The Collaborator chuckled kukku before answering.

 

"You ask that? It's like giving yourself away."

 

It was true. If this game were truly just for practice, a test play, and there was absolutely no danger to one's life, reacting like this would be strange. Calm down, the Agent told herself.

 

"Honestly—I did think the story was strange," the Collaborator recounted.

 

"Maybe it's not just a test play, maybe there's some hidden agenda... I felt that way, but it really is so, isn't it?"

 

The Agent fell silent again. She thought she must not give the Collaborator any more clues.

 

"How about it? Why don't we reveal our hands to each other around here? Please tell me the true inside story of this game. If you do that, I can talk to you too. About why I thought only the opponent's game was real."

 

As expected, she has noticed. That the game on the other side is a matter of life and death—that there is a hidden side to this game.

 

How much does the Collaborator understand? the Agent wondered. Since she asked to "reveal hands," she clearly hasn't realized everything yet, but—. Anyway, I must remain silent, she thought. Otherwise, everything might be ruined.

 

"Refusal... is it?"

 

Seeming to interpret the Agent's silence that way, the Collaborator spoke.

 

"In that case... let's see. Shall I reveal another card from my side first? Perhaps that might change your mind."

 

The Collaborator paused for a breath, then continued.

 

"The person I am currently fighting against is a figure called by the player name Yuki. I am correct, am I not?"

 

(22/44)

 

The Agent became increasingly shaken.

 

How did she know? She could understand suspecting there might be a hidden agenda. The Agent herself thought the explanation that it was a test play might be a bit of a stretch. However, there should be no reason for Yuki's name to come up—.

 

"To tell the truth, I knew that from the beginning."

 

The Collaborator's voice reached the ears of the Agent, who was in a trance.

 

"At the point Rinrin-san approached me with the talk, I guessed it would be a story involving Yuki."

 

"...? Why...?"

 

Curiosity won over. Breaking her resolve, the Agent spoke.

 

"Because I had heard Rinrin-san's name from Yuki. About half a year ago, I suppose..."

 

"...You were meeting with Yuki? In private?"

 

"Yes. Didn't you hear from her?"

 

She hadn't heard. It was the first time hearing it. Even as an exclusive attendant, she didn't interfere with private interactions.

 

"That was the only miscalculation," said the Collaborator.

 

"And, it is also a fatal miscalculation. Rinrin-san and Setsuna-san, you both assumed it was my first meeting with you. However, in reality, I knew of the relationship between Rinrin-san and Yuki. That she had studied under her in the past."

 

"......"

 

"Once it became clear that Rinrin-san had come to visit me, I could no longer think of this as a coincidence. Because the only point of contact between Rinrin-san and me is Yuki... It is natural to think the talk would be about her."

 

The Agent couldn't do anything. She couldn't demand her to stop talking on her own, nor could she conversely urge her to continue. She became a statue, simply listening to the Collaborator's words.

 

"But, when I listened to the story, the situation seemed somewhat different. You want me to test play a practice game? ...Hey hey, surely not, I thought. It feels odd to say it myself, but I don't think you would call a human of my caliber for such a thing... and in the first place, the game setting is strange. Why go out of your way to create two venues and link the situations? You could just play in the same venue. What is the meaning of trying to hide the opponent to that extent?"

 

Of course, the Agent was aware of those flaws. However, she hadn't been able to come up with a fabrication that could explain them away well.

 

"Above all, it is extremely strange that Yuki's name didn't come up. The opponent is presumably Yuki... but why hide that? It's full of questions."

 

"...Then, why..." the Agent said.

 

In the Agent's memory, the Collaborator was supposed to have accepted readily. There shouldn't have been even a speck of behavior suggesting she felt it was full of questions.

 

"I decided not to ask, dare I say," the Collaborator answered.

 

"Judging from the atmosphere of Rinrin-san and Setsuna-san, it seemed like there were special circumstances. I decided not to be boorish, but I decided to make some deductions. And once my thoughts were organized, I wanted to throw them at you at some timing. That is now, this moment."

 

"...Could it be that you kept talking all this time as a setup for this?"

 

"Yes. I was waiting for you, not Rinrin-san, to appear. Rinrin-san didn't look like she would listen to me. I wanted a timing when she was away from her seat."

 

Then, the Agent should never have taken the microphone. She had to admit she had let her guard down. She had forgotten that she was dealing with a former player—someone who had survived in a world where life was at stake.

 

"Now then... shall I tell you my deduction?" the Collaborator said.

 

(23/44)

 

"As a premise... for the time being, I assumed the opponent is Yuki. If not, whatever the circumstances are, it doesn't matter... There is no harm in thinking so. It seems I am fighting Yuki. However, why separate the venues? What is the merit of doing so? Is there something bad about meeting? Or perhaps for some reason, she is in a place where we cannot meet directly?"

 

The Collaborator continued.

 

"I thought about various things but... the hypothesis that the game over there is 'real' fit best. What I am playing is for practice, but what Yuki is playing is the real thing where life is at stake. If so, separating the venues makes sense, and hiding the circumstances also makes sense. If it turns out I might kill Yuki, there is a fear that I might refuse this offer, or even if I accepted, I might pull my punches while playing."

 

Bullseye, the Agent thought.

 

"Over there, life is at stake. It seems safe to take that as the truth. Then, the next question—why is Yuki meeting with such a fate? There is no mistake that this is not a game led by the management. I rarely hear of games with only two players, there seem to be no costumes, and the ones visiting me should have been agents dressed in black."

 

When visiting the Collaborator, the Agent didn't wear her usual black suit to hide her identity. Also, feeling bad about asking her to undress to match Yuki's appearance, she had the Collaborator play in her casual clothes. The item required for escape was also set as a crown instead of a jersey. It was set up as a treasure hunting game.

 

"This is a game being held privately. No doubt about it. But why was such a thing held? ...What I thought of first was revenge. If I played the game thinking it was a test play, and unknowingly killed another person... malice can be felt in such a setting. Someone with a grudge against both me and Yuki is trying to murder both of us by the nastiest means conceivable."

 

The Agent's heart skipped a beat. Indeed, judging from the situation, one could only think so.

 

However, the Collaborator continued, "That probably isn't the case."

 

"It's a convincing hypothesis, but for that, neither Rinrin-san nor Setsuna-san had any venom. It didn't seem like you were trying to deceive me. There is a possibility that you two also don't know the truth—but then that serious atmosphere cannot be explained... Above all, the deciding factor is that my intuition as a player does not report danger. Even now that I've grown old and senile, I pride myself on being able to sense danger approaching my own body. If there is none of that, then it probably isn't a story of malice. Even though life is at stake, it is a game held with good intentions. By the good intentions of you two—or perhaps Yuki herself requested you two, and this game was held. However—"

 

The Collaborator fired the fourth "Why?".

 

"What on earth is the purpose of doing this? To prepare facilities of this scale, and two of them at that, must have cost no small amount of effort and funds. What is the objective of conducting a simulated game going to such lengths? Has a serious problem occurred to Yuki that warrants pouring in that many resources? —When I thought that, her disciple came to mind."

 

"Wha..." The Agent choked on her voice, then asked, "You know about that too?"

 

"Yes. I heard it from Yuki. She is terrible at human relationships, after all... There is a possibility that a serious problem occurred regarding something related to her. Thinking of that and looking at this game again, I found a noteworthy point in the setting. The point that mutual progress is synchronized down to the opening and closing of doors and every single footstep. It is awfully elaborate. I feel a will to make it look as if another player is really there, moving around the space. ...In that case... this is somewhat of a wild theory, but..."

 

After leaving a pause to attract the listener's attention,

 

"...How about the theory that she is seeing a ghost?"

 

The Collaborator said.

 

"For example... in a recent game, Yuki faced off directly against her disciple. She was able to survive by killing her, but unable to bear the sense of loss from losing her disciple, she came to be able to see her ghost. So she is trying to play a game with the ghost in a world of fantasy to bring closure in Yuki's own way..."

 

The Collaborator laughed. She seemed to find amusement in her own statement.

 

"...Is such a deduction too romantic?"

 

(24/44)

 

Not at all, the Agent thought.

 

It was almost the correct answer. She veered off the path slightly at the very end, but in the broad strokes—in the broad strokes that would be the most difficult to predict—she was right on the mark.

 

"How is it? How close am I to the core?" the Collaborator asked.

 

What to do, the Agent thought. Having listened this long, she inadvertently felt she should answer at least a word—but her current mission was the management of the simulated game. For that purpose, should she deny it to the end? If she did so, would she continue the game? Unlikely. But even if she admitted it, the situation would be the same. What to do. What should she do—.

 

"...If, that were the case—"

 

—What do you intend to do?

 

The Agent tried to ask.

 

However, she couldn't do so.

 

"What are you doing?"

 

The moment she heard that voice, the Agent prepared herself for death.

 

Rinrin had returned. She was walking briskly toward them. Although her expression was no different from usual, the hallucination of a demon or a devil or something terrifying could be seen behind it. The Agent, who had come to understand Yuki's feelings just a little, took her hand off the microphone and stepped away from the monitor.

 

Then, Rinrin picked up the microphone instead.

 

"What is your intention? You," she said to the Collaborator.

 

She seemed to have grasped the situation. The conversation must have been audible even outside the separate room.

 

"What is my intention, you ask?" the Collaborator answered.

 

"You were probing her," Rinrin glanced sideways at the Agent. "I believe I told you not to pry. Do you want to die?"

 

"Oh... was that not allowed?" The Collaborator feigned ignorance. "I intended to proceed with the game seriously to the end. If I could know the opponent's identity—the inside story of this game, it might work to my advantage, you see. Since I was told I would be killed if I cut corners even a little... naturally, I thought I must do so if there was an opportunity. Goodness, I apologize for overstepping."

 

It's a quibble, the Agent thought.

 

Advancing the game advantageously; that shouldn't have been the purpose. She spoke simply because she wanted to show off her deduction, simply because she wanted to know the truth. That should be all.

 

"Don't worry, I will continue the game," the Collaborator said.

 

"I will continue to tackle it without letting my guard down. Even if the opponent is Yuki."

 

"...Fine," Rinrin said.

 

"But, let this be the last time. There won't be a next time."

 

"As you wish."

 

Inside the monitor, the Collaborator shrugged her shoulders.

 

Seeing that gesture, the Agent thought. Asking this person might have been a mistake—no matter that she was the most suitable opponent.

 

(25/44)

 

Yuki advanced through the dungeon.

 

(26/44)

 

Even after that blowdart, traps frequently attacked Yuki. Sometimes flesh-tearing wires were strung up, sometimes blowdarts flew again, sometimes flames radiated from the walls, and sometimes parts of the ceiling fell. It probably meant the game was entering its climax; it had taken on a dangerous atmosphere, but nonetheless, these kinds of traps filled with killing intent were Yuki's specialty. She dodged them all without a single small scratch.

 

As she proceeded while doing so, she ran into a wall.

 

It wasn't just a wall. The material was the same as the surrounding walls, but there was a slit in the center. This was a door. However, there were no handles or doorknobs; instead, the usual thing was attached.

 

Q. If ☆△○＋△☆□＝□△□☆, what is the number that goes into ○?

 

Wrong Answer Penalty: Your arm will be severed.

 

Below the question text, there was a hole.

 

It was a hole large enough to pass an arm through. When she tried shining the lantern inside, she saw a numpad attached. It probably meant shove your arm in here and answer.

 

Around the hole, there was a carving imitating a human face. It was a face with a disquieting expression, looking angry, or conversely, frightened. The hole was open in the mouth part. If one shoved their arm in, it would look exactly like the face was eating the arm.

 

"...'Mouth of Truth', was it called..."

 

Yuki muttered.

 

It should have been that. A sculpture of a human face in a church in Rome or somewhere, with a legend that if a liar stuck their hand into the half-open mouth, it would be bitten off. Yuki had never been to Rome, but since it was a famous cultural property, she had seen replicas of it in various places. It wasn't just once or twice that she had carelessly stuck her hand in. However, she didn't feel like doing the same as back then.

 

Wrong Answer Penalty—Your arm will be severed.

 

She should probably assume this is the one true to the legend. A guillotine or something is installed inside the hole, and if she mistakes the answer, snip, she gets done in.

 

But, fortunately, she knew the answer, so it didn't seem like she would get to experience that legend. Yuki inserted her left arm into the hole and touched the numpad. Once the arm was in, the keys weren't visible, but since the numbers on the buttons were embossed, she could tell which was which by touch. Yuki hurriedly, yet carefully, input the answer <8> and pressed the enter key.

 

The guillotine did not fall.

 

Making a zugogogo sound, the wall slowly moved sideways. Because of that, Yuki was pulled sideways along with her arm, and she hurriedly pulled her arm out.

 

Eventually, the door opened fully, and a path appeared.

 

Yuki proceeded down that path. When she passed the point where the door was, making a zugogogo sound again, the door automatically closed. Without waiting for it to close completely, Yuki went ahead.

 

As she proceeded, a door appeared again.

 

That there was a question attached, and that there was a human face sculpture, was the same as before. The second question. Yuki safely input the correct answer to that question too and moved forward. Further, she handled the third question, the fourth question, advancing through the dark dungeon.

 

Meanwhile, she thought.

 

It was dangerous to be distracted in an environment where she didn't know where traps were, but she couldn't help but think. About the shadow protagonist of this game—the opponent acting as the stand-in for the Phantom.

 

Who on earth is it?

 

The candidate she thought of first was Rinrin. However, she is totally blind. She isn't suited for this game where one must read question texts, and even if she supplemented with Braille or voice guidance, the settings would become too advantageous for Yuki. It's impossible for her. Yuki's Agent and Supplier are not professional players in the first place. They would be insufficient to serve as a stand-in. There isn't a single candidate among the associates Yuki knows.

 

In other words, they must have called someone.

 

Just like the game stage, they also prepared another player. Who did they call? Some run-of-the-mill player won't do. It's odd to say it herself, but it is a Phantom threatening a player with sixty-two clears. They must have skills in Rinrin's class. A candidate satisfying that condition—a person Rinrin would likely single out—who on earth would it be?

 

An active skilled player like Airi or Maguma?

 

Or would it be a retired player like Hitomi or Koyomi?

 

For a moment, she even thought that Mishiro or her disciple might come out of hell.

 

However, finally, Yuki's conclusion solidified on one possibility. Yuki threw a question that couldn't possibly reach that person.

 

"...Don't tell me, it's you, right? Doctor (Hakushi)."

 

(27/44)

 

Hakushi reached the final problem.

 

(28/44)

 

Deep in the dungeon, there was a treasure chest.

 

It is painted gold. Reflecting Hakushi's pen light, it is shining brightly. She had discovered several treasure chests so far, but it was her first time seeing one like that. It is clearly different from the others. Presumably, it is the treasure chest containing the final objective—the crown required for escape.

 

In front of it, Hakushi stood.

 

"What are you standing around in a daze for?"

 

Through the earphone, Rinrin's voice reached her ear.

 

"Hurry up and proceed with the game. Don't tell me you're cutting corners?"

 

They were harsh words. Because of <that> earlier, more thorns could be seen in Rinrin's statements. "I am serious," Hakushi replied.

 

"It seems to be the last one, so I thought I'd be cautious. Any player would do so, right?"

 

"...Hmph."

 

Rinrin snorted, probably purposely so it could be heard.

 

Hakushi was desperate to stifle her laughter. Someone in the industry who can take this attitude with me is probably only this person among those still alive, she thought.

 

Rinrin. A person who was active in a generation even before Hakushi, who was an old-timer in the player world. Meeting her for this case was the first time, and they weren't directly in a senior-junior relationship, but the hierarchy coming from the difference in generations was working on both of them. Therefore, Hakushi was forced to use polite language, and conversely, Rinrin was like that all along. It had been a long time since she experienced being spoken to so high-handedly, and Hakushi felt amused.

 

Just this alone made hopping on this story worth it.

 

When she received the visit from Rinrin and Setsuna, Hakushi was greatly surprised. Because such things—setting aside her active days—had almost never happened since she retired. Hakushi holds the brilliant record of ninety-five clears, but her name is surprisingly unknown. Since <Candle Woods>, the player base had largely turned over, so her reputation had vanished.

 

Moreover, one of the visitors was Rinrin. A person Yuki had apparently studied under in the past. If so, it must be a case involving Yuki—Hakushi made such a prediction, but when she listened to the story, they said it was a game test play. It was too peaceful, and she couldn't help suspecting there was a hidden agenda, but she decided to dare not ask anything and accept it, and that is why she is here.

 

Hakushi approached the golden treasure chest.

 

Looking at it, the size was the same as the other treasure chests along the way. What was different was that it was painted gold and—that a question text was written on its front wall.

 

Q. Sum up all the shortest paths from the underground entrance to here and input.

 

Wrong Answer Penalty: The area around the treasure chest will collapse.

 

Reading the Wrong Answer Penalty section, Hakushi narrowed her eyes.

 

Then, pointing the pen light in all directions, she looked around.

 

She looked at what had been visible all along but she had dared not focus on. —The floor around the treasure chest is glass-paneled. Illuminating it with the light, she could see a space spreading out beneath the glass. A <Pitfall>, presumably. If she answers incorrectly, this glass covering the entire footing will collapse, and Hakushi will be dropped into the abyss.

 

"...If that happens, it's the end, huh," Hakushi said.

 

She couldn't tell well how deep the pitfall was with just the pen light—but in any case, if she fell once, she probably wouldn't be able to crawl back up. Hakushi's body does not possess the strength to perform such a feat. That is exactly why she retired as a player.

 

A veteran player who has gone through over ninety games—Hakushi. Her body is weak to the point where decent athletic ability can no longer be expected. Since this <Snow Room> is centered on puzzle-solving, she is managing somehow, but originally, it is not a body that can participate in games. If she answers wrong, that's it. Of course, she would be rescued in due course, but it would become a de facto dropout from the game.

 

She cannot answer wrong. She must answer correctly in one go no matter what.

 

Hakushi observed the question text closely.

 

Sum up all the shortest paths from the underground entrance to here. At first glance, it's a phrasing whose true meaning is unclear. There were no things looking like numbers on the way so far, and even if measuring the length of the path, she didn't know whether to input in meters or centimeters, and she didn't have tools to measure in the first place.

 

For now, I'll check the shortest path, thinking so, Hakushi took out the map.

 

It is a map. An item contained in one of the treasure chests, depicting an overhead view of the dungeon. Hakushi traced the shortest path with her finger to confirm, but the shape of numbers didn't particularly emerge. Naturally, numbers weren't written on the map either. Illuminating with the pen light, Hakushi observed the map even better and—

 

Noticed that the map was divided into twenty-five sections.

 

Looking closely, there are dotted lines on the map. Four each vertically and horizontally, at equal intervals. The entire map is five by five, divided into twenty-five sections. What that design reminds of—and consequently, the numbers corresponding to it, Hakushi knew.

 

"The magic square above ground, is it?"

 

Hakushi voiced out.

 

Right. They reuse those numbers. Look down at the shortest path from the underground entrance to here, compare it with the magic square above ground, sum up the numbers on the path, and input. That would be the solution.

 

Hakushi took out a memo.

 

On the back of it, she had noted down the array of the magic square calculated above ground. With information gathered this far, the rest is just simple addition. In less than ten seconds, Hakushi finished the mental arithmetic and input that answer on the numpad.

 

And—at the point of putting her finger on the enter key, she stopped for a moment.

 

It wasn't that she feared a wrong answer. Hakushi was convinced the answer was correct. In this kind of riddle solving, there is a feeling of this is it when correct. That sensation was certainly there. Both the method and calculation are undoubtedly correct.

 

So what she was thinking about was—is it okay to answer correctly?

 

Inside this treasure chest, presumably, is the final objective, the crown. If she collects it and exits the building, Hakushi clears the game. The opponent gets a game over. Is the opponent really Yuki—is the <Snow Room> Yuki is playing the real thing where life is at stake—in the end, she couldn't elicit the circumstances around that. Regarding the certainty of the deduction Hakushi told Setsuna, she herself is half-doubtful. But she believes half of it. Hakushi sees that if things go on like this, there is a sufficient possibility of something irrevocable happening.

 

Even so, should she press this enter key?

 

"......"

 

Hakushi thought for just a little—and spilled a smile at such a self.

 

I made a foolish consideration, she thought. Perhaps because it's a reasonably long association, she seems to have developed affection for Yuki. What Hakushi should do. Such a thing is decided. It is to continue the game with all her might. She doesn't really know if her deduction is correct but—even if assuming it was correct, the holding of this game is due to Yuki's will. Then, as a stage device for that, she will simply fulfill her role.

 

Even if that were a choice that drives her former disciple to death—.

 

Fine, die, she thought.

 

If that is the wish, she will do so. Become a corpse here.

 

Hakushi pressed the enter key. The answer typed into the LCD disappeared.

 

And—.

 

A blaring buzzer sound echoed throughout the area.

 

(29/44)

 

A blaring buzzer sound rang.

 

"...!?"

 

Yuki was surprised.

 

Just a sudden sound in the dark is surprising enough, but since it was a high-volume buzzer, the surprise was exceptional.

 

What is it, what is it, she thought. A sound like an emergency switch was pressed—. Don't tell me, I was beaten? Did the Phantom find the jersey? Is this sound to report that? Sudden impatience is born in Yuki's heart.

 

However, unfortunately, Yuki was forced into stagnation. Because she was in the middle of solving a door problem—this being the fifth one.

 

Q. In the maze below, which of the entrances <A>~<D> is connected to the goal?

 

Wrong Answer Penalty: Your arm will be severed.

 

Below the question, a maze was drawn.

 

It is a detailed one, like boys diligently draw during recess in elementary school. Inside the maze, there was an area written <GOAL>, and at the edge of the maze, there were four entrances—marked with symbols <A> to <D> respectively. Only one of these connects to the goal, so she has to identify and input it—. In short, a type of problem that can definitely be solved if time is taken, but takes time. Yuki was successfully stalled.

 

The buzzer sound is heard from right in front of the door. The source of the sound is close. Probably, this is the last door. Yuki felt the malice of the creator in the fact that the problem not only consumed time but was a multiple-choice question—a problem that might be answered correctly even by guessing. Exactly now, predicting this situation would occur, they dared to make it multiple choice.

 

To make her hurry. To make her guess.

 

"—......"

 

Yuki looked at her own left arm thrust into the mouth of the human face sculpture.

 

The decision was fast. Yuki cut off her left arm in her imagination—and input <D> without certainty.

 

And—imagination became reality.

 

"※※※※※...t!!"

 

Raising a voiceless voice, Yuki writhed on the floor.

 

It wasn't the first time. She has amputated limbs countless times, and even limited to the left arm, this is the several-th time. But she never gets used to that pain. As long as she is human, the day she gets used to it will probably never come. Even so, Yuki stood up quickly compared to an ordinary person, picked up the dropped lantern, and illuminated the wall.

 

From the Mouth of Truth, white fluff was overflowing.

 

It is what overflowed from Yuki's severed left arm. Yuki carefully pulled out <it> which was still housed inside the mouth so as not to destroy the internal tissues as much as possible. Leaving the left arm at the edge of the passage, she inserted her remaining answering right—her right arm, and input <C>. She wasn't certain about that either, but fortunately, it seemed to be correct, and the door opened.

 

The buzzer sound had already stopped ringing.

 

Yuki ran hurriedly.

 

On the way, as if blaming Yuki's carelessness, trap spears rained down from the ceiling. She tried to dodge—but even so, several tips tore Yuki's body. While spilling white fluff from the wounds, Yuki ran without slowing down.

 

Before long, she reached the end.

 

(30/44)

 

First, what jumped into Yuki's eyes was a treasure chest. Painted gold, it strongly reflected the light of the lantern Yuki held. Yuki tried to approach it but—

 

However, just before it, the stone pavement was cut off.

 

"Whoa..."

 

Leaking a voice, Yuki stopped.

 

Holding the lantern forward, she observed closely.

 

Right in front of Yuki, the floor was cut off, becoming a hole.

 

Since it was dark and she had single-eye vision, measuring the depth was difficult but—about ten meters, perhaps. It didn't seem to have been a hole from the start; when Yuki shifted her gaze left and right, she saw glass plates attached to the walls on both sides. Originally, those probably served the role of the floor. However, for some reason, they opened pa-kat to the left and right, pushing whoever was on the floor into the hole. In other words, this is a <Pitfall>.

 

She was also able to find the fool who seemed to have fallen for that gimmick.

 

"—Yo, Main Body-dono."

 

A familiar face and voice called out words to Yuki.

 

It is Yuki's Phantom. She was inside the hole. Climbing the stone wall, trying to escape from the pitfall.

 

Yuki, without returning the greeting,

 

"What happened?"

 

Asked point-blank.

 

"You can tell by looking, right. ...I messed up."

 

Saying that, the Phantom looked upward.

 

Beyond her gaze—positioned above the Phantom's head—was the golden treasure chest.

 

Looking closely, the treasure chest was in a strange state. Even though the glass floor had fallen, it remained there without falling. Observing even more closely, that mystery was solved. Fixing brackets were attached to several places on the side and bottom of the treasure chest. It was fixed to the wall.

 

Also, she could see something written on the treasure chest. Since the distance from Yuki's standing position to the treasure chest—that is, the pitfall was less than two meters square, confirming that two-line sentence was easy.

 

Q. Sum up all the shortest paths from the underground entrance to here and input.

 

Wrong Answer Penalty: The area around the treasure chest will collapse.

 

It is a problem.

 

Like the Mouth of Truth door and the safe above ground, it seems to be a type that doesn't open unless the problem is solved.

 

Yuki considered the solution. After a while, she got a flash that maybe she should use the magic square. Look down at the path taken to get here, sum up the problem numbers of the rooms above ground on the route, and input. Since Yuki is a seasoned player, she remembers the path she took. She has the magic square array noted on the back of the memo just in case, and she can collate the two to derive the answer. Surely the Phantom could have done the same.

 

However, if so, what is this situation?

 

Did the Phantom miscalculate? No, hard to think so. The explanation that the Phantom, who had proceeded with the game consistently dominantly so far, made a careless mistake at the end doesn't sit right. Besides—according to what Yuki considered earlier, the real opponent might be Hakushi. She can't imagine that person making such a foolish mistake.

 

If so, is there a hidden side to the problem? Yuki observed the problem even better and—

 

"—Ah."

 

Noticed.

 

The clause of the Wrong Answer Penalty. <The area around the treasure chest will collapse>—. However, can this situation be said to be collapsing? Certainly, the floor is gone, and the Phantom has been dropped into the abyss looking very much like she is being punished, but as a phenomenon, the glass floor just opened. It hasn't crumbled down. When saying <collapse>, doesn't it usually refer to a grander event?

 

There is a discrepancy between the description of the Wrong Answer Penalty and the actual state.

 

Which means—this is.

 

"Not a penalty... but a trap?"

 

Right. Same as the treasure chest Yuki opened first. At that time, a blowdart flew the moment she opened the lid. In this case, probably, the moment the Phantom answered the treasure chest problem, the pitfall trap activated.

 

Probably, the <collapse> the Wrong Answer Penalty speaks of is something larger scale. Not just the floor, but the ceiling and walls also crumble, creating more of a chaotic mess—that must be the arrangement. This glass floor that looks very much like it would collapse is, however, merely a trap that operates independently of the Wrong Answer Penalty.

 

In this treasure chest, in short, two types of traps are installed together. If one answers wrong, naturally a penalty occurs, but even if one answers correctly, a trap attacks the answerer. The first-time situation of a problem being attached to a treasure chest birthed this complexity. The Phantom was hook, line, and sinker caught by that complexity.

 

Wait a minute—then, what happens? The Phantom answered the problem. And if that didn't trigger the penalty—

 

In other words, she answered correctly?

 

Then, is the lock of the treasure chest already open?

 

"......"

 

Yuki looked at the Phantom.

 

Aiming for the treasure chest, she is climbing the wall. How much has she realized? Which meaning was the <I messed up> earlier? Did she misunderstand that she answered wrong, or did she mean she answered correctly but failed to think of the glass at her feet being a trap—? In either case, she will realize the truth if she touches the treasure chest.

 

Before that—Yuki must go ahead.

 

Yuki took a little distance from the pitfall.

 

She took a run-up equal to that distance. The width of the pitfall is less than two meters. Jumping over is easy. Yuki, holding the illuminating lantern, took off with bare feet and jumped.

 

She landed on top of the treasure chest fixed to the wall.

 

It seemed firmly fixed, and didn't fall even when jumped on. Yuki held the lantern handle in her mouth, and while dexterously holding onto the treasure chest with both legs, applied force to the treasure chest lid with her arm that had become only one.

 

Just as read, the treasure chest opened with a feeling of resistance.

 

And—Yuki instinctively gasped.

 

Inside the treasure chest painted gold even on the inner walls, the Ghost's (Yuki's) jersey was stored.

 

(31/44)

 

Not just the jersey. There are sneakers and a hair ornament too.

 

All are ready-made products manufactured in the tens of thousands, but at a glance, she knew they were none other than her own. Not by cheap clues like dirt or fraying, but she could somehow sense it. There was an aura specific to familiar tools used for many years.

 

That seemed to Yuki somehow like a very joyous thing. Probably not just because it was stored in a treasure chest, or because it was the final objective of the game. She felt like they were things that would return the currently unstable Yuki to the state she should be in. If she had both hands, she would raise them in banzai and rejoice. The skin of her whole body exposed to the outside air was seeking that touch specific to the jersey.

 

Immediately, Yuki reached for the set of clothes.

 

"—Wait."

 

A voice called out to such Yuki.

 

There is only one person who can send a voice to the current Yuki. No—there is not even one.

 

It is the Phantom. Aiming for the treasure chest, climbing the wall of the pitfall. It is still a distance Yuki cannot reach, but she fired at least a voice.

 

Yuki didn't answer. Silently put her arms through the jersey sleeves.

 

"Hey, don't ignore me. Let's talk..."

 

Looking up at Yuki, the Phantom says so.

 

"...If you have the stamina to talk, why don't you climb more seriously?"

 

Looking down at the Phantom, Yuki replied.

 

"Or is it a scheme to make me allocate attention to conversation and delay my changing even a little?"

 

"It's not like that. Since I'm just nearby, I just thought couldn't we talk..."

 

"I have nothing to talk about with you."

 

"Hey—are you going to go just like this?" The Phantom continued regardless. "Leaving me here, do you intend to survive alone?"

 

Yuki snorted.

 

What is she saying, she thought. Yuki took her eyes off the Phantom, picked up the jersey bottoms, and answered, "Why bring that up now."

 

"It's that kind of rule, and that kind of game, right."

 

"Rules, huh... You really love those, don't you."

 

Yuki shoved her bottom into the treasure chest to support her weight. Manipulating her right arm and both legs skillfully, she put her legs through the jersey.

 

"Hey... What happened to that left arm?"

 

To such Yuki, the Phantom still spoke.

 

"Did you mistake an answer at some door? ...No, that's wrong. You threw it away, right? Come to think of it, the last problem was four-choice. Thinking you had to hurry because the buzzer rang, you input an answer by guess, hit or miss. And you drew a blank. Right?"

 

Yuki didn't answer. Finished putting on the jersey, next she reached for the hair ornament.

 

"You're that kind of human. When push comes to shove, you can mercilessly cut off even your own body. You have no such thing as attachment. Nothing in this world is important to you. That's why you can do that. You heartless wretch."

 

Since putting on the hair ornament with just one hand seemed difficult, Yuki used her toes as assistance. It was a movement like a monkey and truly looked unsightly, but she managed to put it on.

 

"—Just like that, you killed me too, didn't you?"

 

At the familiar voice, Yuki was thunderstruck.

 

Looked down.

 

There was Tamamo.

 

(32/44)

 

Tamamo.

 

A beautiful girl whose trademark was hair tied in a bun. Yuki's former disciple, and the person who could be said to be the origin of this case.

 

She was inside the pitfall.

 

"...Tsk."

 

After a few beats, Yuki understood the situation.

 

Yuki is seeing Tamamo's Phantom. —Or rather—it would be appropriate to see it as the thing that originally took Yuki's form changing into Tamamo. Come to think of it, it's not strange at all for that to happen. Since it's an illusion, it doesn't matter whose form it takes. If there is a person more suitable for inflicting damage on Yuki, it should become that.

 

"How is it—Yuki-san."

 

With Tamamo's voice, with Tamamo's form, the Phantom said.

 

"Are you going to leave me behind even like this? Do you intend to kill me twice? Yuki-san..."

 

Yuki felt disgusted.

 

She could no longer continue changing. If she held the sneakers in this state of mind, she might throw them at the Phantom in anger.

 

Seeing that reaction and feeling a response, the Phantom continued with a voice inviting pity.

 

"Don't throw me away, Yuki-san. Don't leave me behind... Don't kill me..."

 

"...Don't do something stupid!"

 

Yuki shouted. It must be exactly what the Phantom wants, but she just couldn't stand it.

 

"With something like that! Do you think this I would hesitate!?"

 

No way she would. After all, it's an illusion. Tamamo died, and is nowhere in this world. Taking her home in delusion, restarting the delusional master-disciple relationship again. She has no intention of doing such a thing.

 

The Phantom, showered with angry roars—showed a malicious smile. An expression the real Tamamo would absolutely never make.

 

"No, I don't think so," the Phantom answered.

 

"But, seems I was able to strike a sore spot. ...Ah-ah, I lost. That's too bad. With this, the case is settled. The Phantom disappears, the disciple is gone too, back to the peaceful player life. Even though you killed me."

 

Yuki didn't answer. Maintaining a silence with a nuance slightly different from ignoring.

 

"But you know, be prepared. As long as Yuki-san is Yuki-san, a second and third me will surely appear. Are you going to do this then too? Making a fuss alone, after a while reaching some kind of settlement in your heart, forgetting everything and recovering nonchalantly... Do you intend to repeat such things?"

 

"...I will never make such a blunder again."

 

"No, you will. Because you are heartless... You fundamentally lack the heart to cherish and value all creation. You can't pay respect to anything, can't show it. There is not a single important thing in this world. Me, yourself, even the goal of ninety-nine times, deep down in your gut you think they don't matter."

 

As the Phantom continued speaking, her form distorted.

 

From Tamamo, returning to Yuki's form again.

 

"That's why you need rules. Unless you desperately drive in wedges, everything unravels apart... Because nothing is important, no one cherishes you. You can't build a proper relationship with anyone. Even if you build one temporarily, you ruin it yourself. And so you continue to writhe and suffer alone. A wandering ghost unable to touch people. That is the nature of the existence called you! Am I wrong!?"

 

Yuki tried to return words.

 

But, nothing came out. Say something, she thought. Don't let her speak. Remaining silent means admitting it. Anything is fine, say something back—. Contrary to that feeling, however, not even a single word came out of her mouth.

 

—It was then.

 

A pain zukiri ran through Yuki's body.

 

(33/44)

 

Not pain of the heart. Physical pain.

 

It originated from the wounds all over Yuki's body. The severed left arm, the skin torn by spears, the internal tissues damaged by electric current—she didn't know which was the source of the pain. Identifying it would be meaningless.

 

But, the moment of pain, Yuki felt her head become clear. Things she wanted to say, things she should say, were constructed in her head taking an orderly form. Ah—right—isn't that so. After having this much done for me, did you intend to remain unaware? You ingrate.

 

"...Wrong."

 

Yuki hurled those words at the Phantom.

 

"That's not true. If that were the case, this current situation wouldn't exist."

 

"...Hee?"

 

"I have many people I can rely on."

 

Yuki continued.

 

"Agent-san, Rinrin-san, Supplier-san... and I don't know who, but the opponent person too. Thanks to that cooperation, I am able to stand on the field of competition with you."

 

Words passed through her throat. Heat remained after them.

 

"If I were the heartless person you say—if I couldn't build a proper relationship with anyone, I shouldn't have been able to obtain cooperation. This game shouldn't have been held. This <Snow Room> itself, this very situation where I am arguing with you here, is the proof of my humanity!"

 

Yuki spat out all the words.

 

She used up all the words in her head. If something was said back, she had no second arrow.

 

However, the Phantom fell silent. Neither seeming frustrated nor amazed, but climbing the wall of the pitfall with a somewhat dissatisfied expression.

 

Receiving that, Yuki also silently proceeded with changing. Jersey top, bottom, hair ornament, and the last one—she picked up the sneakers and put her feet in them.

 

At that time, a memo fluttered down from the sneakers.

 

Yuki caught it. Raising the lantern to pour light onto the memo, she tried to read its content. The Phantom directed attention to such Yuki.

 

Written on the memo was this:

 

Hint 26

 

At the point either player finds the jersey, the <Violence Prohibition> rule is lost.

 

It becomes possible to engage in a scramble.

 

(34/44)

 

"Eh...?"

 

In the separate room, the Agent raised a voice of confusion.

 

Her gaze was poured onto the monitor. Not the underground where Yuki was, but the above-ground part. She was looking at the room that served as the starting point, where the game name and rule explanation were depicted.

 

Part of that room's wall slid.

 

It was the part where prohibited item two, the pictogram of <Violence Prohibition>, was depicted. It was replaced by a pure white wall, and the rule became invisible.

 

Further after that, she saw something like a memo falling from the sneakers.

 

What is that? the Agent thought. She didn't know such a thing existed. According to the game design she heard beforehand, after this, Yuki would escape the building and it would end. The game is already settled. Nothing more should happen.

 

"Ku, kuku..."

 

And there, the Agent heard Rinrin's chuckle.

 

"You seem surprised, Agent-san. I didn't tell you, so it's natural..."

 

"What does this mean?"

 

"It is exactly as reflected in your eyes," Rinrin said composedly. "The <Violence Prohibition> rule hid. In other words, that rule was lost. A memo fell from Yuki-san's sneakers, right? That is to inform her of the rule deletion."

 

"Wha..." The Agent was stuck for words for a moment, "Why!? If you do such a thing, isn't everything ruined!"

 

<Violence Prohibition>. The keystone rule that makes the match with the Phantom possible. Even though it was binding the Phantom with that, if she removed it—.

 

"I ask you conversely, did you think I would let her go home for free?" Rinrin said.

 

"Because violence is prohibited, robbery is impossible, the other self has no choice but to watch with envy, so she could escape peacefully and dispose of the Phantom. ...Did you think this I would allow such a lukewarm settlement?"

 

It was a gentle tone.

 

However, behind it, she felt disquieting emotions hidden. Something much thicker and deeper than toward the Collaborator earlier.

 

"...You were hiding it, weren't you," the Agent asked.

 

"Yes. Because surely you would oppose... Just before the completion of the game, I asked the Supplier to include this specification."

 

The Agent looked at the Supplier. He silently averted his eyes.

 

"Even so, I am quite angry," Rinrin said.

 

"When I first heard the story, honestly, I was disappointed in her. 'I killed my disciple and I'm shocked, please do something'? ...How worldly. I didn't think she was a girl who harbored such naive worries. She continues being a player sacrificing everything. Continues until death. Because I thought she was a girl with such resolve, I cooperated unsparingly..."

 

Rinrin leaned her back deeply into the folding chair, making it creak.

 

"So... at the very end, you pulled the ladder?" the Agent asked.

 

"I didn't pull it. I just teased her a little. Even if <defeating> the Phantom is impossible, surely she can <escape>? Then she just has to do so. If she can escape to the exit, the rules of this game will erase the Phantom..."

 

Rinrin picked up the microphone. Turning on the switch, "Hello. Are you alive?" she called out to the Collaborator.

 

(35/44)

 

"—Hello. Are you alive?"

 

Rinrin's voice reached the earphone.

 

Hakushi heard that at the bottom of the pitfall.

 

"...I am alive," Hakushi replied.

 

"The test play ends here. Good work. We'll head for rescue later, so please wait there."

 

"Is it over already?"

 

"Yes. Because surely she will manage on her own from here..."

 

Rinrin said <She>. Seems she wants to keep the inside story secret to the end.

 

"Besides, Hakushi-san, you can't escape on your own power, right? If you can't progress the game, there's no point in having you continue playing."

 

"Yes... well, you are right."

 

Hakushi looked at the entrance of the pitfall about ten meters above. My body does not possess the stamina to climb up this vertical shaft and escape.

 

"Then, see you later."

 

Rinrin said, and cut the call.

 

Hakushi leaned her weight deeply into the cushion on her back. A cushion was laid at the bottom of the pitfall, a specification so one wouldn't get injured even if falling.

 

I was beaten. I messed up at the very end. I should have been able to notice. The fact that the glass opened meant if I observed carefully, I should have been able to see the slit in the center. I should have been able to understand that this glass opening instead of collapsing—meant it was a trap unrelated to the Wrong Answer Penalty. Fool, Hakushi thought. Distracted by the inside story of the game and such, overlooking the crucial thing.

 

If the foothold crumbles even with a correct answer, what should Hakushi have done—she pondered, but obtained the answer immediately. Right. Trap for trap. It was on the way. Use that trap—.

 

(36/44)

 

Yuki placed the lantern inside the treasure chest and crushed the memo in her hand.

 

But she certainly remembers the content. Violence Ban Lifted—. It's useless to try to pretend she didn't see it. Just as she cannot erase the Phantom, she cannot forget the description of the memo.

 

Looked down.

 

The Phantom is there. Climbing toward here. She isn't spewing abusive words like earlier, moving her hands silently.

 

However—her mouth was distorted belligerently.

 

That guy, she's raring to go—. The content of the memo shouldn't have been visible to the Phantom, but she must have sensed the situation from Yuki's atmosphere. No, could she read minds in the first place?

 

However, the Phantom's hands don't reach yet. Although she has climbed up to about 70% of the wall height, it will likely still take a while to escape the pitfall. There is no way not to utilize this time advantage. Distance the Phantom even a little while she can. Yuki directed her eyes to the dungeon passage, put strength into both legs wearing sneakers, and holding the lantern in hand—

 

Jumped.

 

Unlike the way there, she couldn't take a run-up but—still, without problem, she could land both feet on the passage floor. Jin, numbness from the impact of landing rose from the soles of her feet.

 

Yuki ran without waiting for it to fade. Running through the passage, turning corners, passing through the group of spears longer than Yuki's height—the trap that hurt Yuki on the way there, she arrived at the back side of the door that ate Yuki's left arm earlier.

 

When Yuki stood in front of it, the door slowly opened making a zugogogo sound.

 

She thought a blood vessel would burst.

 

Like this—does it open this leisurely? Since it was so on the way there, it is natural that it is so on the way back, but for the current Yuki who wanted to hurry even a little, it was terribly frustrating. In the end, in a state not even one-third open, Yuki turned her body sideways and passed through the door like rushing onto a train. Since the lantern she held in her right arm got caught and was in the way, she threw it away.

 

And ran through the dungeon relying on click sounds.

 

When running, there is some difficulty in grasping terrain—bumping here and there, stumbling and falling, but even so Yuki reached the next door. Again passing her body through before it fully opened, and ran again. Passing through the third, fourth door.

 

The moment she arrived at the fifth door, Yuki heard footsteps.

 

It wasn't due to sound effects. It was the slapping footsteps of bare feet touching stone pavement. It is imaginary to Yuki. The Phantom is approaching—. Hearing footsteps means she must be quite close. Yuki panicked more and more, twisting her body between the doors more and more strongly, moving her limbs desperately to delay the moment of being caught up even a little.

 

Ran through the dungeon, to the underground entrance.

 

Climbed the ladder, to the hatch door.

 

Pushing the door open, light poured down. It was dazzling so Yuki turned her face backward—and saw the Phantom climbing the ladder. Yuki hurriedly jumped into the light, came out to the surface, and tried to close the hatch.

 

But, with just a little more to go, the door stopped moving.

 

Furthermore, a force trying to push it up worked.

 

The Phantom is pushing from underground. Yuki puts her weight on the door to resist that force—and at the same time felt a touch of absurdity. Why, because in reality, probably, Yuki is struggling alone. To an onlooker, it must have looked like incredibly skilled pantomime. But for Yuki, it is a desperate reality above all else.

 

Eventually, losing in strength to the Phantom, the hatch door gradually opened.

 

Through the gap in the door, Yuki's eyes caught the Phantom sticking out an elbow. She tried to kick it with her foot, but it passed through suka-suka. As expected, she cannot attack from this side. Damn. What to do. At this rate, the Phantom will also come out to the surface, and Yuki will have her jersey stolen. Regret that she should have just run away quickly without resisting strangely. Is there any hand. Is there no means of counterattack. Yuki ran her eyes quickly around and—

 

Her attention turned to the problem attached to the hatch door.

 

Q?? What number problem is this? Input with numpad.

 

Wrong Answer Penalty: The ceiling of this room will fall.

 

Before thinking, her hand moved.

 

She input a random number and pressed the enter key.

 

Yuki left the door and ran at full speed to a nearby door. Opening the sliding door, jumping into the next room, she looked back.

 

The Phantom opened the hatch and was about to come out to the surface.

 

However—witnessing the ceiling approaching the floor due to the Wrong Answer Penalty, she immediately closed the hatch and returned underground.

 

Do-un, a falling sound that resonates in the stomach occurred. Not doing the leisurely act of watching the ceiling rise slowly after that, of course, Yuki ran toward the exit.

 

It was payback for sometime. This should have bought a few seconds—Yuki harbored a feeling of "gotcha". Looking back while running to check, there was no sign of the Phantom. Seems she shook her off.

 

From door to door, from room to room, Yuki flees.

 

"I won't let you escape!"

 

In the midst of that, the Phantom's voice was heard.

 

"Do you think you can escape with something like this? Do you think you can end it? Impossible! You yourself shouldn't allow such a lukewarm settlement! Isn't that right! Even if I'm beaten this time, someday I'll haunt you again and catch you! I'll drag you to hell and take you there!"

 

"Don't just talk—try actually catching me!"

 

Yuki replied just one word.

 

Arrived at the starting point room. Entering immediately, Yuki noticed part of the rules on the wall had disappeared. She didn't have time to check properly, but probably the <Violence Prohibition> item.

 

The exit door was already open. The scenery outside is visible. In the spacious vacant lot, the Agent's black car is parked. Just a little more. Yuki tries to run through the path to the goal, which is less than ten steps away but—

 

However, before that.

 

Yuki was pulled back by her hair.

 

"...!"

 

Pain ran through Yuki's scalp.

 

Illusion—probably, but for Yuki it is reality. Receiving backward force, her feet stopped.

 

"—See, this is the result."

 

Right behind Yuki, the Phantom said.

 

A voice genuinely happy. A voice containing vulgar joy.

 

"You think you can't shake me off, at the bottom of your heart. That's why this happens. Am I wrong?"

 

While speaking, the Phantom pulled Yuki's hair forcefully.

 

Due to that, Yuki's head tilted, and her weight shifted backward. She cannot put her feet forward. Just a little more and she gets caught by the Phantom—a situation similar to the escape drama the other day. That time the excellent Agent managed somehow, but she isn't here. I have to manage on my own.

 

"Wrong, huh..."

 

Mixed with a groan, Yuki answered.

 

"The reason this happened... is because a settlement is necessary!"

 

Toward the Phantom behind emitting a dense presence, Yuki thought.

 

If you want it that much, I'll give it to you.

 

Heaven or hell, take me wherever.

 

"Gu, u—"

 

Yuki put strength into her neck.

 

Starting a contest of strength with the Phantom pulling her hair. She lost earlier, but this time she cannot lose. Yuki clenched her teeth, using all the power she had just to tilt her head another ten or twenty degrees. She knew herself that tremendous force was put into her face, distorting it into a monstrous look. Thought of the surveillance camera installed in the corner of the room. If possible don't look, please don't look at me like this—such thoughts floated into her head inappropriately.

 

Yuki swore in her heart.

 

Exposing such a pathetic figure, this is, absolutely the last time.

 

"...Aaaaaaaaah!!"

 

While raising a voice, Yuki put her foot forward.

 

She succeeded in advancing just one step.

 

She succeeded in dragging the Phantom just one step.

 

(37/44)

 

Just, one step.

 

However, this one step has great meaning. Because with this—not just Yuki but also the Phantom behind—stepped onto the floor of the slashed area.

 

Slashes are drawn on the floor just before the goal. It is to give a warning to players. And, on the left and right, stern firearms, the executors of the penalty, were installed. If one enters the slashed area without wearing a jersey, they will be shot to death—Yuki had set up that conjecture.

 

That conjecture is now verified.

 

"Yo—You—"

 

Sensing the situation, the Phantom tries to pull Yuki.

 

But, Yuki desperately holds her ground.

 

While doing so, the two firearms on the left and right moved. The aim was adjusted slightly behind Yuki—in other words, toward the Phantom who violated the rules. The Phantom's figure shouldn't be visible to the game management side, but since Yuki was giving off the atmosphere of appearing to be in a tug-of-war, they probably matched it.

 

However—that's all.

 

Those guns do not fire.

 

Naturally. Because that means firing at Yuki. Certainly the aim is shifted slightly backward, but there would be deviation. Even if to express the confrontation with the Phantom, even if the setting is equivalent to a real game, doing this much is ridiculous.

 

But, she needs them to do so.

 

If they don't do at least that much, this ridiculous story won't see a settlement.

 

"...Shoot."

 

So, Yuki said.

 

"Shoot! Don't hesitate!!"

 

(38/44)

 

"—Shoot! Don't hesitate!!"

 

Yuki's voice echoed in the separate room through the monitor.

 

Hearing that, Rinrin took her back off the chair. "What happened?" she asked the Agent.

 

"...That is... um..."

 

The Agent answered with a flustered voice.

 

"Yuki-san... has stopped. Near the exit, in the area with slash marks..."

 

"Meaning she was stopped by the Phantom?"

 

"It is thought so. And... since that Phantom is also in the area, she said <Shoot>..."

 

"......"

 

Rinrin pictured the scene in her head.

 

Then, amusement welled up visibly. "Fu, fufu..." Covering her mouth with her hand, she chuckled.

 

But, that wasn't enough to vent it, and the laughter gradually became louder. If she relaxed even a little, she felt like she would burst into loud laughter. To protect her character as a gentle older sister, Rinrin desperately held it back, vowing not to do that. Keeping the amusement that was about to burst within her body.

 

Based on rule violation, shoot the Phantom to death.

 

Right—that is a player. You understand well, don't you.

 

"So... what is she doing, now?" Rinrin asked.

 

"She performed up to the point of adjusting the aim. But... what shall we do...?"

 

"What shall we do or whatever—it depends on you, Agent-san, of course."

 

Rinrin stood up.

 

From the direction of the voice, she knew the Agent was sitting in front of the monitor. She gently placed her hands on her shoulders from behind.

 

"What do you want to do for her?"

 

The Agent didn't answer.

 

But, she felt emotions of hesitation drifting. That is natural. If she fires, she might end up shooting her charge to death. Of course the target is the Phantom, but there is plenty of possibility for an unfortunate accident to occur. Just to erase the Phantom, just to work on Yuki's unconscious, is it necessary to take that much risk? It is no wonder she thinks so.

 

How touching, Rinrin thought. She feels unbearably amused.

 

"If you can't do it, shall I shoot in your stead?"

 

Rinrin whispered in the Agent's ear.

 

However, she—judging from the movement of her shoulders—shook her head. "...No."

 

"I, will do it."

 

And—

 

(39/44)

 

Violent light and sound exploded.

 

(40/44)

 

At that moment, Yuki felt time become slow.

 

It is common for players. At the crucial moment of crucial moments, senses are sharpened without warning, and one comes to understand everything. One's physical condition, enemy player's movements, even calamities for which there are no longer means to avoid, everything.

 

Yuki certainly saw the bullets flying while trailing smoke.

 

The first shot grazed Yuki's neck. Sharp pain runs—but that sharpness told her it wasn't a deep wound. The speed of the bullet should be far faster than the speed at which pain nerve signals are transmitted, but why is it felt as <painful>—she thinks strangely calmly. The brain might be correcting the sequence of time well. Just like seeing the Phantom.

 

The next shot gouged Yuki's shoulder. She knew not only Yuki's skin but even the shoulder of the jersey split open—it is a worn-out jersey, but this is the first time getting a big scratch. Not limited to that shot, the next, and the next, scratched the jersey along with Yuki. It is her partner she finally regained, but this might not end without buying a replacement.

 

A certain shot invaded Yuki's back hair. Zori-zori, it went through involving hair. Naturally, it cannot shoot through hair which is just a bundle of thin lines, but heat and friction are transmitted. The hit parts are burned off. Yuki knew that but—however, why does it hit? From the firearms in front, aiming at Yuki's back hair should be difficult. Moreover, not just one shot, there was a sensation of many bullets going through Yuki's hair. What is happening? Isn't it as if the Phantom is really pulling the hair, making it easier to hit—.

 

Bordering on a certain shot, the force trying to take Yuki backward vanished.

 

Yuki, who was applying force opposing the Phantom—therefore, fell forward. Hit her knees, put hands on the floor, and—

 

There, the sense of time returned to normal.

 

Zugagagagaga, she heard gunshots continuing.

 

"...Tsk..."

 

Feeling a burning smell, Yuki looked back.

 

There.

 

Hair was scattered. Yuki's hair. Some long, some short. Putting a hand to the back, she understands the hair is zig-zagged here and there. Seems considerable amount was taken. She could also confirm the large amount of crushed bullets that were the culprits, bullet holes, and white fluff overflowing from Yuki's wounds.

 

That was all.

 

No one's figure was there.

 

No one's corpse was there.

 

(41/44)

 

In the separate room, the Agent operated the tablet.

 

It is for operating the penalty firearms. Since the target to shoot seemed to be gone, she returned both left and right to default angles.

 

And—sighed deeply.

 

Her whole body was sweaty, and blood had drained from her face. Naturally her hand is covering her mouth. It is a pose when feeling completely sick, and indeed, she felt sick. If Rinrin and the Supplier hadn't been in the same room, she might have vomited.

 

Thank goodness—she avoided killing Yuki. She hit her a few times, but it didn't lead to a serious matter. Truly, from the bottom of her heart, deeper than when she survived her first game, the Agent is relieved.

 

"—Good work."

 

Rinrin tapped the Agent's shoulder.

 

From the atmosphere, she must have read that the matter was settled.

 

"Thank you..."

 

The Agent answered so, and stood up unsteadily. To go pick up Yuki.

 

"Why don't you rest a little? You look exhausted."

 

Rinrin says so kindly but, "No, it's work, so..." she answers.

 

Judging from Yuki's state in the monitor, the Phantom must have left. The <Rules> of this game made it vanish. However, if she kept Yuki waiting—if such treatment impossible in a real game continued—perhaps her unconscious might overturn the judgment, and the Phantom might revive. To cut off that fear, she wants to go pick her up quickly—she didn't have the energy to put all that into words, so the Agent left the separate room without saying anything more and walked down the hallway.

 

So as not to fall, she proceeds stepping firmly one step at a time.

 

Meanwhile, her feelings calm down.

 

"...What was... that...?"

 

And, she voiced the doubt she harbored in her heart.

 

Because—it was just moments ago. Yuki stopped before the goal and was in a tug-of-war with the Phantom, but her hair was behaving strangely.

 

Specifically, it was stretched taut to an unnatural degree.

 

As if—someone was pulling from behind.

 

(42/44)

 

Of course, no one was there. Only Yuki alone.

 

However, what seemed to be the Phantom's deed—not as a mere illusion but as a real phenomenon—was visible even to the Agent's eyes. It was thanks to that she could aim at the Phantom accurately, but, what on earth was that phenomenon?

 

Was it just fluttering in the wind? That must be it. Physically, one can only think so. Since the exit door was open, it's not strange even if wind was blowing in. Due to pressure difference inside and outside the building or something, a local gust occurred. That the hair looked awfully taut was—just looked so on the monitor, in reality it must have been swaying. That should be it. She wants to think so.

 

She doesn't want to think it was a real psychic phenomenon.

 

She is already full with just the Phantom matter. She wants no more trouble. Just wind. Must be so. The Agent tells herself but—

 

—Good work, Setsuna-san.

 

At the voice blown into her ear, the Agent was astounded.

 

Look around.

 

Not there. No one. The figure of a ghost-like player, the figure of a lifeless player in gym clothes, was nowhere.

 

"......"

 

The Agent put a hand on her forehead damp with sweat.

 

I am tired, she decided to think.

 

(43/44)

 

Yuki went outside.

 

Outside the building was a vacant lot. Almost no artificial objects seen. Just the car thought to be the Agent's, the building Yuki just came out of, and—another building next to it. Were they managing the game there? Was the other game held there? She doesn't know about those things.

 

Just, Yuki saw the Agent coming out from the back of the building.

 

The Agent also seemed to discover Yuki immediately, and tsui-tsui, pointed at the car. Obeying what that movement likely instructed, Yuki walked to the car. Since fortunately there were no bullets hitting her legs, she could walk without problem.

 

"Ah... right."

 

Yuki muttered.

 

She remembered there were words she should use. Those words she felt she hadn't used in a while. Since she killed her as a player, she will say it. As a parting gift at least.

 

"Good Game."

 

Yuki said toward the air.

 

She tried waiting a little, but there was no reply from anyone.

 

So, "Good Game," Yuki answered herself. At the absurdity of that act, she made an itchy face.

 

(44/44)

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