3. Post-War Process

 

(0/3)

 

The one-on-one game with the Phantom—<Snow Room>—brought its curtains down. Although Yuki had been driven to the very brink, she managed to survive this time as well and defeated it.

 

However, there were about three sad sacrifices.

 

The first was Yuki's left arm. It was eaten by the Mouth of Truth and severed. Since <Snow Room> was not a game led by the management, Yuki had been terrified, thinking perhaps it will stay like this, but after clearing the game, she was put into the Agent's car, put to sleep with medication, sent home, and when she next woke up, it was already healed. Had they been able to utilize the management's medical support, or did she commission someone in the peripheral industry to reattach it? The details were unknown, but it seemed the Agent had managed things well again this time. Yuki thought, again and again, that she was blessed with an excellent partner.

 

The second was Yuki's jersey. It had been riddled bisu-bisu with bullets, ending up full of holes and scratches. The Agent had done her best to attempt repairs—just as she always did for game costumes—but the sight of the jersey, which was already worn-out and saggy to begin with, revived full of patches was truly pitiful, and she didn't feel like she wanted to use it for daily wear. Buying a replacement is unavoidable, I suppose, Yuki made the cold-hearted judgment. Well, even so, she thought she would at least do it the kindness of hanging it in the closet instead of throwing it away.

 

And the third was Yuki's back hair. This, too, was shot through with bullets, burned off here and there. This was also in a pitiful state. Losing hair—it was not a first experience for Yuki. In her twenty-ninth game, her hair had been melted along with her scalp and replanted with artificial strands. We can do the same this time if you wish—the Agent had proposed, but Yuki decided to choose a different solution.

 

So, days after the game, the Agent came to Yuki's home and prepared the arrangements to perform <that>. Specifically, laying a picnic sheet on the floor of the six-mat room, placing a chair on it for Yuki to sit, draping a cape around her neck, and the Agent standing behind her holding scissors.

 

There is only one kind of event in the world held in this state.

 

"...Are you really sure about this? Yuki-san."

 

When all preparations were complete, the Agent asked.

 

"Instead of cutting it, we can also restore it to its original length, you know?"

 

Yuki could tell the Agent touched her hair.

 

Just as she said—Yuki had asked the Agent for a haircut. Since it was a good opportunity, she decided to keep it short.

 

So that she would never again have her back hair pulled.

 

"Just chop it off roughly."

 

Yuki answered. Yuki was wearing that patched-up jersey so it wouldn't matter if hair fell on it. This was the garment's final job.

 

"Don't just trim it, you can make it much shorter. I want to change my look."

 

"Is it okay to entrust a haircut of that level to me? I have no experience."

 

"But, there's no one else I can ask."

 

Taking hair in this condition to a general barbershop would probably not be good. Perhaps there were beauticians who catered specifically to players, but Yuki didn't know of any. Even if there were, Yuki felt that she wanted to leave it to an acquaintance if possible. The experience of having a stranger holding a blade standing behind one for a long time is not a very pleasant one for a player.

 

"I don't mind if you mess up, so please do it at ease."

 

"...Understood."

 

With that, scissors were put to Yuki's hair.

 

During the haircut, Yuki talked about various things with the Agent. "Thank you for everything this time, Agent-san," she said first.

 

"It must have been tough, probably..."

 

"Yes, it was."

 

"Something like this won't happen ever again. Please continue to look after me from now on."

 

"Likewise."

 

They also talked about more raw subjects. "Come to think of it, where did the money for this game come from?"

 

"...My wallet, right? Needless to ask."

 

Even for the simulated game on the remote island, the preparation funds had come out of Yuki's wallet. Since there were quite large-scale preparations this time, it was predicted that the budget was also considerable.

 

"Until the next game, you might need to be somewhat frugal."

 

The Agent answered. Since game prize money is kept in a secret account managed by the administration, she can handle it in Yuki's stead during emergencies.

 

They also talked about the past. "By the way, recently, I've been remembering when I first started."

 

"That was back when Agent-san wasn't my agent yet."

 

"Oh..."

 

"My first game remains in my memory particularly. The me back then, I didn't realize it was a game where life was at stake. There was a person playing with me... I forgot the name... but that person's explanation was vague, and I didn't understand it well."

 

"My, my... I am terribly sorry."

 

"...?" Thinking it was a slightly strange response, Yuki frowned, but continued, "Ah, that's right. You have to properly notify all players beforehand that lives are at stake. Because it's not fair otherwise."

 

While talking about such things, the haircut progressed, and a somewhat finished form came into view. So far, there was no sign of it becoming a major accident. "After this, I'm meeting someone," Yuki confided.

 

"I have plans to meet up tonight."

 

"Eh..."

 

Understanding the responsibility was heavier than she thought, the Agent's hand stopped.

 

"Is that so? With whom?"

 

When Yuki told the name, the Agent asked, "...Why, with that person?"

 

"Because, I have to go and say thank you, don't I?"

 

(1/3)

 

Finishing the haircut, Yuki parted with the Agent.

 

She left the house and headed to the meeting place. She didn't have the Agent drive her. Since it was a private interaction, she made it a rule to always go on her own feet. Since she had allowed plenty of time, Yuki was able to arrive at the location without delay.

 

It was a magic bar.

 

It was the usual place. Somehow or other, she had been here quite a number of times. When she entered the shop, the person she was meeting was already there. "Yo," he gave a simple greeting.

 

"Good evening, Master," Yuki answered.

 

Hakushi. Yuki's master, and a legendary player who recorded ninety-five clears. He was characterized by a slender style without an ounce of wasted flesh, and even now, a long time after retiring, that figure had not faded.

 

Yuki sat next to Hakushi. Yuki ordered a soft drink, and Hakushi ordered some alcohol with a long, unidentifiable name. Not watching magic this time, "So, what's the business?" Hakushi asked.

 

"I came to say thank you," Yuki answered.

 

"Since you gave me training for the first time in a while."

 

"...So, it was you after all," Hakushi said convincingly.

 

"Ah. As I thought, the opponent was you, Master," Yuki also said convincingly.

 

"Hmm?" "Eh?"

 

She felt a sign that the story was getting tangled. "Um... Master, how did you hear it? This story," Yuki asked.

 

"The offer was that they made a practice game, so they wanted me to test play it. I knew there was an opponent in another venue, but I didn't know it was you."

 

"Ah... I see."

 

Indeed, that amount of information is probably appropriate to give to a collaborator. It wouldn't be wise to convey stories about the opponent being Yuki or about Phantoms and such.

 

"Did you not call me?" Hakushi asked.

 

"No. It was probably Rinrin-san's selection. ...Did you meet Rinrin-san?"

 

"Yeah. I was bullied quite a bit."

 

"Bullied? You, Master?"

 

"She is a pioneer over there. In terms of power dynamics, that's how it goes."

 

Yuki tried to imagine this heavyweight being bullied. However, she couldn't form an image at all.

 

"Then, it means neither of us knew the other's true identity," Yuki said.

 

"And apparently, we both guessed the other's true identity. ...How did you know it was me? Did you ask after the game ended?"

 

Yuki shook her head. "Well, just somehow. When I thought about who would be the worst opponent for me... Master's name came to mind."

 

In reality, it was a slightly more complicated deduction, but she decided to keep that hidden. Because she didn't want to talk to her master about the Phantom.

 

"By the way, Master. About that final problem," Yuki shifted the topic.

 

"The treasure chest wasn't open... which means you fell into the pitfall, right? Did you not realize that glass was a trap? Or did you fall on purpose?"

 

"Of course, on purpose," Hakushi answered smoothly. "Since a one-sided game is boring, I thought I'd give a little handicap... but it seems I gave too much."

 

"Liar," Yuki narrowed her eyes. "You're not the kind of person to do that, Master."

 

Hakushi didn't answer. But his slightly frustrated face told the whole story.

 

"It's pathetic. Living in comfort for a while, and this is the result," Hakushi became honest. "If I had observed the glass properly, I should have been able to confirm the cuts in it. Opening instead of collapsing—in other words, I should have been able to read that it was a trap. I have to say I was distracted."

 

"But, what should you have done about that? Clinging to the treasure chest to answer or something?"

 

"I might have been able to avoid the pitfall, but jumping to the other side after that is impossible with my body."

 

"Then, how..."

 

"Use the spear."

 

He must have considered it in his own way; the answer came back immediately.

 

"Near the final problem, there was a trap where spears rained down, right? The total length should have been about two meters. Longer than the width of the pitfall. Manipulate that to press the enter key, open the treasure chest, and rake out the item."

 

"Aren't spears heavy? Master, could you manipulate one?"

 

"The heavy part is the tip, right? Since the goal isn't to attack, I just have to break it off, or hold the tip side. Even so, the length is sufficient."

 

"I see..." Yuki started to be convinced, but, "Wait, but, even if that works for the jersey and sneakers, how do you retrieve the hair ornament? Raking it out with a spear is pushing it."

 

"Hair ornament? What are you talking about?"

 

"Eh?"

 

Hakushi turned his eyes to Yuki's bangs—to the hair ornament hanging there, and,

 

"Ah... Could it be, on your side, it was a game to retrieve that?"

 

"Was it different on your side, Master?"

 

"Different. It was a crown. Moreover, I was shown the real thing before the game. Since it was a cylindrical object without a top, just by passing it through the spear and sliding it, I could pull it to my hand. If it's that, even my arm strength could handle it."

 

I see, Yuki thought. A path for clearing had been properly prepared.

 

"Let me ask one thing too," said Hakushi. "What happened to that hair? Looking at it, it seems you just came from cutting it."

 

"Eh... how do you know?"

 

"There's hair on your clothes."

 

Looking where Hakushi's thumb pointed, sure enough, fragments of hair were stuck to the collar of her clothes. Traces clearly showing she had just had it cut.

 

While brushing them off, Yuki answered, "Various things happened."

 

"Is it something you can't tell me?"

 

"Well, yes. Or rather than can't tell, it's an embarrassing story, or something like that..."

 

Hakushi tilted his glass, and said one word. "As usual, seems you did something foolish."

 

With an expression to which not a single type of word could apply, "Yes, that's right," Yuki answered.

 

(2/3)

 

Yuki left the magic bar and started on her way home.

 

Just like on the way there, she decided to use the train for the return trip. Feeling the night wind hitting her neck—her neck now exposed to the outside air due to shortening her hair—she headed for the station.

 

There were many people near the station and inside the premises. Although the evening rush hour had passed, it was a time zone where human activity was still thriving. From outside to the station, from the station to outside, to restaurants attached to the station, to ATMs; respective purposes were creating a complex wave of people. Yuki tried to weave through it to head for the ticket gate but—

 

"...Huh?"

 

There, she suddenly noticed.

 

She understands.

 

She can see. The movement of the crowd. With a field of vision that should have lost depth perception with only one eye, she is walking as if it were natural, without bumping into anyone.

 

Come to think of it—she remembers she hasn't felt trouble with her single-eye vision for quite a while. Although there were originally no problems in daily life, she was supposed to be bad at complicated situations like this. Besides—because of the Phantom incident, she did various acts far removed from daily life. Running around the city, dodging traps. Why is it that mistakes unique to having one eye haven't happened even once?

 

"......"

 

Yuki wanted to try it out.

 

Gently, she closed her left eye, and walked through the crowd.

 

She didn't make a clicking sound. Since it's a sound that sounds like tongue-clicking to bystanders, she didn't really want to make it. Even if she did make it, she probably wouldn't be able to fully read human movements this complex.

 

However, despite that, Yuki was able to walk without problems.

 

As if a master of martial arts walking calmly through a rain of arrows—she passed through the crowd smoothly without bumping into anyone. Taking her IC card from her wallet, touching it to the ticket gate and passing through; she managed even that without relying on vision.

 

Yuki looked back and watched the crowd in front of the ticket gate. —What did I do just now? How did I get through that? It's unlikely the surrounding pedestrians gave way to me. Although my left eye was closed, my right eye was open. It shouldn't have been clear that I couldn't see. Did I read the air currents generated by the pedestrians? With this slightly sensitized neck.

 

She doesn't know, but she did something.

 

It is evolving. Yuki's sensory ability.

 

I suppose that makes sense—Yuki thinks. After all, she had fought with a human who didn't exist. Flying and jumping, talking, she imagined up to the point of playing a game. That experience trained Yuki's sensory abilities and raised them one rank higher.

 

That fact, how to put it, gave increasingly complex emotions to Yuki's chest. Depraved appetite—the word floats in her mind. Does the human called me turn even this kind of experience into nourishment? Killing a disciple, seeing a Phantom, suffering, and growing a size larger as a player? The human heart is apparently made quite conveniently, Yuki learns.

 

Remaining in a complex mood, Yuki boarded the train and stood at the station nearest her home.

 

Trudging along the night road.

 

On the way, Yuki realized there were still words she should use. She had already said <Good Game>, but thought she should say this too. Once the game is over, it's okay to say it. That is the rule. Sometimes becoming a Phantom and baring fangs at Yuki, but what saves her from that is also the rule. She decided to follow it this time too.

 

"My bad."

 

To no one in particular, Yuki muttered.

 

Of course, there was no reply from anyone.

 

(3/3)

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