Metoya Translation

2. Present Day (The 77.5th Time)

(0/17)

Shirou was inside a car.

(1/17)

It was a car driven by an Agent.

He sat in the passenger seat, resting his cheek on his hand.

They weren't heading to a game venue. Nor were they returning from finishing a game. This was private business. He had interactions with the Agent not just professionally but also privately, and occasionally had them drive him around.

With the hand not supporting his cheek, Shirou touched his smartphone. When he opened the map app, a point of light indicating his current location was moving through a mountainous area. Pinching in with two fingers widened the map's display range, revealing a single location marked with a pin.

This point was Shirou and the Agent's destination. They would arrive soon.

"Will it go well, I wonder..."

Shirou's Agent said anxiously.

"I don't know," Shirou answered.

"She is a person who seems just as difficult to please as Yuuki-san, after all... However, we have no choice but to win her over. In terms of clear counts, 'She' is far ahead of the pack."

"She" referred to a player named Magma.

She was a person characterized by a bear-like massive frame, recording somewhere around sixty game clears. As far as Shirou knew—with the proviso that Yuuki was excluded—she was the person closest to the ninety-ninth game.

They were heading to that Magma's home. To recruit her into "Mikkai." For the conquest of the ninety-ninth time, which was Shirou's ultimate goal, one outstanding player with the "prospect" and "will" to achieve the ninety-ninth clear was necessary. Initially, the plan was to bring Yuuki into the fold, but due to an unexpected turn of events, he had offended her, and was now forced to choose another candidate.

The car stopped on a hill with a good view. "Well then, I'm off," Shirou said.

"Good luck."

After planting a farewell kiss on the cheek of the Agent who said that, Shirou got out of the car.

(2/17)

The reason Shirou sought a player with so much experience was due to the special circumstances surrounding the ninety-ninth game.

There was no falsehood in what he had told Yuuki over the phone a short while ago. In the ninety-ninth game, the player challenging it nominates the participants. Although there were still many unknowns, such as the number of players and the game format, the unique nature of the participation method had been confirmed from multiple sources, and Shirou viewed this as a certainty, searching for a human close to the ninety-ninth time.

Shirou intends to "hitch a ride" on another player. The Achiever's Privilege of the ninety-ninth time—the ruling rights of the Management—will be divided among the participants who clear the game. In other words, Shirou's share would be just a small fraction, but Shirou believed that if he could just get his hands on even a part of the "Privilege," he could manage the rest somehow. He would suppress the other privilege recipients, kick them down, and eventually seize all power. He was convinced he had that strength. An organization with deep roots in the underworld—. If it were this, it would surely satisfy Shirou's hunger.

The greatest difficulty of the plan was, needless to say, procuring the player to challenge the ninety-ninth time. Participating even once was extremely dangerous, and very few humans could make it that far. Most players aimed for short-term earnings and quit after clearing three or four times. They had no prospect of reaching the ninety-ninth time, of course. There were a certain number of crazy players who loved violence and death and repeated participation for that sake, but that wouldn't do either. Players charmed by "Death" would die quickly, just as they desired. The madness to continue participating in killing games was necessary, but the reason to calmly seek life was also required. A sort of contradictory figure possessing both wheels of madness and reason was sought.

Shirou had found a few such eccentric individuals. Among them, the ones who stood out in clear counts were the two named Yuuki and Magma.

The first time he met Magma was in Shirou's eighth game. It was a game called "Primitive Age" with a prehistoric motif, and there was one player with a distinctly larger body and muscular build than the other girls. She looked strong at a glance, and feeling it was necessary to become acquaintances, Shirou did so.

Most recently, they met during the twenty-third time. By then, Shirou was already able to bring crows into the game, and through them, he succeeded in determining Magma's address, so Shirou noted the location. For a time when it might become necessary someday.

And—that "someday" was now.

Shirou stood in front of the entrance. He put his finger on the intercom and applied force—

"—Who is it?"

At that moment, a voice was heard from behind.

(3/17)

Shirou tried to turn around.

However, he could not. Before Shirou could take action, his arm was wrenched up tight—and he was pressed against the entrance door from his head to his chest. His lungs were strongly compressed, and he exhaled a sharp breath.

"Who is it?"

The voice came again.

He knew that tone. It was Magma's. Shirou was being restrained by her.

"I—I am a person called Shirou," he answered. "I am a player who met you, Magma-san, in a past game. Do you not remember?"

"Don't know you. I'm bad at remembering people's names."

Shirou secretly squirmed.

However, the force of the binding was too strong; it didn't seem like he could escape. It felt like more than just Magma having brute strength. There was a sense of supreme "technique," suggesting that due to the structure of the human body, one could absolutely not escape once in this posture.

"Don't struggle," Magma said.

"If you try to resist strangely, I'll break your arm. If you still resist, I'll hurt you even more."

It was probably not a bluff. Magma possessed both the "skill" and "will" sufficient to do that in abundance.

"W-Why..."

Shirou asked.

"'Why' are you being restrained?" Magma supplemented the sentence and answered.

"Well, because you're suspicious. Doing a job like this, it wouldn't be strange for a ruffian to appear at any time... I make it a rule to greet visitors I don't recognize with maximum caution."

Shirou hadn't noticed Magma approaching from behind at all. For the massive Magma, completely erasing her presence should be difficult, but—as expected of a master, perhaps.

"Now... shall I hear your business?"

(4/17)

The intercom at Shirou's house rang.

(5/17)

At the Shirou residence, members of "Mikkai" lived together. Although the owner of the building was Shirou, in reality, it was like a share house. Two people were at home at this time. Maya, a tall player who was head over heels for Shirou. And the other was Takami, who had just returned from finishing a game. Both were relaxing in the living room.

"I'll get it."

Maya said, standing up from the sofa and leaving the living room. Takami waved her hand lightly to see her off.

After a while, Maya's bouncy voice could be heard from the direction of the entrance, so it became clear that it was Shirou who had returned. Footsteps approached the living room, and Shirou appeared with Maya clinging to his body.

"Welcome back, Boss," Takami called out.

"I'm home..."

Shirou, who answered, looked haggard, reminiscent of a salaryman returning from overtime work.

"It ended in failure, did it? Judging by that look."

Takami asked. She had heard beforehand that he was going to recruit Magma.

"That's exactly it. It was completely hopeless..."

Shirou carried Maya and dived headfirst onto the sofa. The thick seat surface and internal springs caught their bodies.

"She wouldn't even listen to half of what I had to say. She's an individualist, so I thought recruitment would be difficult... but it was beyond my expectations."

Shirou hugged Maya. Maya gently stroked Shirou's head.

"Yuuki is a no-go, and Magma is a no-go too. What to do."

"Don't be depressed, Darling."

Maya encouraged him.

"Even without relying on them, surely we'll find a good move soon."

"I wonder..."

While having such a conversation, Shirou and Maya moved rustlingly on the sofa. They intended to start right here.

"Boss. Sorry, but before the fun, one more report."

When Takami called out, a glaring gaze that seemed to say "Don't interrupt" was sent from Maya, but disregarding it, she continued her words.

"I met Master Yuuki in the last game."

"...What did you say?" Shirou showed a reaction.

"I got complained at. That she had to move because of you guys."

"Ah... Apparently so."

"So, what will you do? Since it was a rare opportunity, I stuck some crows on her. Since Magma seems to have been a swing and a miss, will you approach this one again?"

"I wonder... It's hard to think relationship repair will succeed, though."

Shirou ruffled his hair with one hand and said, "Well, just in case, please note down the address. It won't hurt to have it."

"Roger."

By that time, Maya was not just glaring at Takami but jerking her chin shortly to assert "Get out," "Get out." Takami dared to curve the corner of her mouth provocatively before leaving the living room.

She walked down the corridor, heading to her own room. On the way, she passed in front of Busutake's room. She was a member of "Mikkai," but was currently absent. She was participating in a game. Several days had passed since she left, so Takami thought, Is it about time she came back?

She didn't think that she was dead. Because she couldn't imagine her dying.

(6/17)

It happened at twilight.

A customer entered a certain used bookstore.

(7/17)

It was a desolate used bookstore, the kind you might find one of in any town. It had an undecorated exterior that made it immediately obvious it was individually owned, not a chain store, and faded books were lined up under the eaves. The lighting inside the store was kept to a minimum, having a dimness reminiscent of a cave, making anyone who wasn't a serious book lover hesitate a little to enter. In fact, almost no one stopped by, and there wasn't a hint of it being profitable. It was the kind of used bookstore where the question "Why doesn't that place go out of business?" would naturally well up.

A single customer stopped by there.

It was a young girl. It might be rude to say, but she had a look that didn't seem very bright. She was somewhat ill-suited for a used bookstore like this. She had an atmosphere where she might say something like, "Me, I only read manga, you know," without any malice. In reality, that was the truth. That she wasn't smart was something she herself admitted, and as for books, she only read manga.

The girl's name was Kagura Ayame.

Her other name, though the kanji were different, was read the same: Kagura.

Kagura advanced into the bookstore. Cutting through the bookshelves densely packed in the narrow premises, the books piled flat because they couldn't fit on the shelves, and the smell of old paper drifting everywhere, she stood in front of the counter.

The shopkeeper was there. She was reading a book while sitting in her favorite wheelchair. She was a young woman, perhaps slightly older than Kagura, but her features looked several degrees more intelligent than Kagura's. Since she had been friendly with this shopkeeper for a long time, Kagura naturally knew her name.

"—Kotono-san."

Kagura called out.

At that, the shopkeeper looked up from her book and looked toward Kagura.

"...Ah, you were here..."

The shopkeeper—Kotono Shiori said.

"'You were here,' did you not notice until I called you?"

"Yeah. I was concentrating a little..." Holding up a hardcover book, Kotono answered.

"How careless... It's fine since it's me, but what would you do if it were a thief?"

"I don't really care. There's nothing here worth stealing anyway."

"Surely there are valuable old books."

"They wouldn't know anyway. People around here don't know the value of books."

Hah, Kotono exhaled in a jaded manner.

As could be seen from this attitude, this shop was not prosperous. To begin with, it wasn't for profit; it was a shop run as a hobby. Looking around the store, it seemed there wasn't a single customer other than Kagura, but this wasn't limited to just now. It was like this whenever she came. Kagura, too, wasn't coming here as a customer, but merely using it as a meeting place with a friend.

"I'm meeting up with Sana today, though..."

Looking around the store where no one else was present besides the two of them, Kagura said.

"Has she not come yet?"

Sana was the name of a friend who was a player. They were together during the third game, and since then, they met frequently outside the game. Unlike Kagura, she was a person with a steady personality, but strangely, they got along well.

"Ah..."

Kotono let out a voice mixed with a sigh, and then,

"If it's her, she's not coming anymore."

"Eh? What do you mean?"

"......"

Kotono fell silent. Placing the book she held on the counter, she looked intently at Kagura.

"Kagura. Listen carefully," she said. "I have to give you a regrettable report."

(8/17)

Snap, went the sound.

Yuuki opened her eyes.

(9/17)

After finishing her evening walk and returning home, Yuuki ate a simple meal. Although Yuuki used to rely on convenience store food, there wasn't a single convenience store in the neighborhood. What Yuuki ate at this time was a bento box that had been preserved in the freezer. It was arranged for an Agent to deliver them once every two weeks.

When she finished dinner, Yuuki went to bed. Her head was slightly fuzzy from the rise in blood sugar, and she spent an ambiguous time where her eyes were closed, but she definitely wasn't sleeping.

Then, at a certain moment—.

Snap, Yuuki opened her eyes.

Something had caught in her surveillance net. To be more specific—she felt a gaze. But, who? From where on earth?

Yuuki pulled back the bedroom curtain and looked outside. There were no human figures at all. If forced to say, there was a crow perched on a nearby telephone pole, and its round eyes like black pearls were turned toward Yuuki.

Just a crow, huh, Yuuki thought for a moment, but then she suddenly remembered. Come to think of it, she saw a crow before too. It was the night she received contact from Shirou. She didn't pay it much mind at the time, but thinking about it carefully, that was unusual. Crows are diurnal animals, so they should be sleeping soundly in their roosts at night.

And, Yuuki thought further. Just recently, she made contact with a member of "Mikkai." In the previous game—"Gimmickry Mansion"—Yuuki met Takami. Immediately after that, she saw a crow similar to that time. What did that mean?

"...Don't tell me..."

Muttering that, Yuuki glared intently at the crow.

She opened the window and went outside. Putting on the slippers placed right nearby, she walked through the garden. Since there was no fence set up at this house, she could go to the side of the telephone pole without obstacles.

Yuuki swept her eyes across the ground. She picked up two pebbles of handy size, held them in both hands, and turned her gaze to the crow perched on the telephone pole.

She threw the pebble in her left hand at the crow.

It didn't hit. At a stage far before the pebble reached it, the crow jumped into the air and dodged it.

However, reading that trajectory, the second pebble she released in succession hit the crow. Letting out an ambiguous moan that was neither "Gue" nor "Gie," it fell to the ground. Before it could spread its wings again, Yuuki pinned the crow down. Feeling the intense sensation of a living creature in the black lump struggling flap-flap in her hands, Yuuki observed it.

Looking at it, it was completely ordinary. There was no camera hidden in its eyes, nor a bug planted on its neck. However, with this many conditions aligned, it seemed impossible to overlook it as just a crow.

Yuuki took off her jersey. Wrapping the crow inside it, she took it home.

(10/17)

For the time being, she locked it in the bathroom.

Ignoring the crow thrashing about while scattering feathers, Yuuki picked up her mobile phone. Searching for Kokone's number from the phone book—she was a servant working at Shirou's house—she called her.

It connected immediately.

"Yes, this is Kokone..."

Her voice was mixed with something suspicious. She probably thought it was strange for Yuuki, who was supposed to be keeping "Mikkai" at a distance, to contact them.

"Long time no see. This is sudden, but I want you to put Takami on."

"...Takami, is it? Not Shirou?"

"Yeah. Please."

There, the call was put on hold for a moment. She waited while listening to cheap electronic sounds.

"Yes. This is Takami."

Eventually, it switched to a voice that sounded like it had a bad personality.

"It's been since the other day, Master Yuuki. To receive contact from you, what is the occasion?"

"Actually, just now, I caught a suspicious crow."

Yuuki went straight to the point.

"It was staring intently inside my house. By any chance, is this you guys' 'familiar'?"

She waited for the other party's response.

There was no proof. Will she play dumb? Yuuki thought, but unexpectedly,

"—Haha, I'm busted, huh."

Takami answered.

"You admit it?"

"Well, well, it's useless to hide it, right? Hasn't the conclusion already solidified within you, Master Yuuki?"

"That crow wasn't just monitoring me. —It tracked me." Yuuki stated her deduction. "You stuck it on me during 'Gimmickry Mansion,' didn't you? Crows under your influence were waiting around that mansion. You made them chase me after I cleared the game and got into the Agent's car, and they successfully followed me all the way to this house. In other words, you are bringing trained animals into the game. Am I right?"

"Who knows? I don't really know."

This time, Takami dodged the question. Probably because it was an act in the gray zone of the rules.

It was the first time she had heard of a case like this. "Bringing in" unauthorized items—that itself was a common story. A single wire, a single match, if one could bring even such things into the game, it would be a great help in clearing it. To raise the probability of survival even a little, there was no end to players attempting it. Yuuki herself, although not with that motive and resulting in failure, had done it during her thirtieth time.

That was also a place where the Management kept a strict eye. If things were brought in from the outside, it would hinder the show. Therefore, at the preparation stage of the game—the stage where players are transported to the hospital and undergo "anti-decay treatment"—every part of the whole body was checked, and unnecessary items were removed. There were ways to slip through the regulations, like Kyara who had armor inside her body or Riko who utilized her prosthetic limbs as weapons, but basically, tools could not be brought in.

However—.

Even the Management likely hadn't anticipated such a method. There was no way to notice a crow chasing Takami while she was being transported, and no one would think it suspicious if a crow was perched at the game venue.

"You thought of a clever trick. Using animals."

"I don't know what you're talking about, but I'll say I'm honored by the praise. ...But, you caught a bird? Did you set a trap or something? They shouldn't be stupid enough to get caught easily."

"No, I shot it down by throwing a stone."

"Haha...!"

Takami laughed for a while and then, "Magnificent. Like a hunter. So... how is it? The state of the prisoner."

"It's flapping around energetically in the bathroom. Cleaning looks like it'll be a hassle."

"Sorry about that. I won't ask for a handover particularly, so please dispose of it over there. Or... if you like, would you try keeping it, Master Yuuki? The world treats them as vermin, but once you get used to them, they're cute guys. If you tame it well, maybe you can make it do things like what you said earlier..."

"Not interested."

Yuuki answered coldly.

"I'll let it go. Disposing of a corpse is troublesome too."

"...Oh, is that okay? It'll come back here, you know. It has firmly memorized Master Yuuki's home."

"There isn't just one bird anyway, right? There must be others lurking somewhere too. Some might have already returned there. I'm changing my address."

She should consider the location of this house as already known to "Mikkai." It would cause trouble for the Agent, but she had no choice but to move again.

She was secretly tailed and her home was exposed. Regarding that, Yuuki harbored feelings closer to dissatisfaction than anger. This isn't it, she thought. Not this—but a more direct feeling.

Conscious of the numbness in her left arm, Yuuki said, "Did you pass on that message to Shirou?"

"Eh? Ah... come to think of it, not yet. My apologies."

"While you're at it, I want to request an additional message, is that okay?"

"Sure thing. What is it?"

"'Next time, let's go at it inside the game. Not this outside brawl.'"

"......"

"That is all, thanks."

Without waiting for Takami's reply, Yuuki hung up the phone.

She could still hear the sound of wings from the bathroom. Leaving the troublesome task for later, she called the Agent this time.

The first thing Yuuki said was,

"...I'm sorry, Agent-san. I messed up."

(11/17)

Takami returned the phone, which had gone silent, to Kokone, and the two headed to the living room.

Shirou and Maya were right there. They were watching TV while sticking together silently on the sofa.

"Boss. Do you have a moment?"

Takami spoke up.

With his gaze still on the TV, Shirou answered. "What is it?"

"Just now, there was a call from Master Yuuki. She noticed the crow."

Shirou looked over. His face said, What?

"And, how did you answer?"

"I tried denying it, just in case. But she seemed to know all our methods. She said she's changing her address again."

Takami scratched the tip of her nose.

"Also, it might be reported to the Management. It's not like we're cheating inside the game, so it probably won't mean immediate punishment, but... same methods might be difficult in the future."

"...Is that so."

Shirou leaned his back deeply into the sofa. He literally looked up at the heavens.

Unexpectedly, the shock seemed large. It was immediately after being rejected by Magma, so perhaps it was a "when it rains, it pours" situation. "Also, I've been entrusted with a message," Takami said, and stated Yuuki's message in full, but it didn't seem to really enter Shirou's ears. However, Takami conveyed it anyway. With this, she fulfilled the promise.

"Sorry, Boss. Cheer up."

Takami sent words of encouragement.

"Surely something good will happen soon, Darling."

"Don't call me Darling."

Maya glared at Takami. Takami silently shrugged her shoulders.

At that moment, the sound of the intercom was heard. Flap-flap, Kokone ran to the entrance, and when she returned to the living room next, she was accompanied by one other person. A girl with a harmless-looking appearance. A member of "Mikkai," Busutake. She had returned from the game.

"I have returned."

With an out-of-place bright voice, Busutake struck a salute pose.

Looking at her, there wasn't a single injury on her body. It seemed she handled it without difficulty this time as well.

"Ah... It is good you are safe, Busutake-san."

Shirou answered.

Seeming to read the haggardness from his voice, Busutake said, "Oh my. Are you tired? Shirou-san."

"He had inconveniences one after another, and he's depressed," Takami supplemented.

"Oho. In that case, I might be able to soften that."

"Meaning?"

"There is good news... In the game I just participated in, there was a girl who seemed promising as a new recruit for 'Mikkai.' When I tried inviting her, she said she'd be willing to listen, what shall we do?"

"Mikkai." This group organized by Shirou aimed to gather people with unique skills, share them, and improve their abilities as players, and was constantly recruiting new members.

"What kind of skills does that girl possess?"

"Rather than skills, it's more about the clear count. She didn't seem to remember the exact number, but I heard it's around eighty times. I think she could serve as a substitute for Mr. Yuuki, what do you think?"

Shirou was not the only one who showed surprise at that number. Takami did too.

Could it be—that besides Yuuki and Magma, there is someone closing in on the ninety-ninth time? They had already done a sweep of players active in the industry for a long time. If such a person existed, they should have recognized them long ago. The appearance of a third candidate was impossible.

"Is that true? That."

With a face just as suspicious as Takami's, Shirou asked.

"Well, I can't say for sure..."

Busutake stroked her neck.

"I only heard it from her own mouth, after all. If it's just talking, you can exaggerate as much as you want."

"What do you think, Busutake-san?"

"Well, I think it's true, though. She had the skill to match it."

"...If such a person exists, we should have marked them long ago... Does this mean she is a player we haven't met yet?"

Shirou put his hand on his chin. It was the same kind of doubt Takami was feeling.

"Ah, if it's that," Busutake said. "I think you probably just didn't notice. Because that person seemed to be hiding her true clear count."

"Hiding it?"

"Yes. You know how we often state our participation count during self-introductions? She was under-declaring that. I guess she hated standing out strangely. If I recall, was it fifteen times? She self-reported around that much. But watching her movements during the game, I thought she obviously had more experience, so I poked her a little. And then... well. It's just a surprise, isn't it?"

"...I forgot to ask the essential thing."

Shirou said.

"What is that player's name?"

(12/17)

Kagura Ayame.

Player name, Kagura.

If one were to express the human she was in a single word, she is an "Optimist." Without having ties to the past, without having goals for the future, she lived thinking that as long as the present was fun, that was fine.

One day, while she was working hard at her part-time job at a certain used bookstore, she was spoken to by the shopkeeper there, Kotono. "Hey."

"Kagura-san, are you not in need of money?"

Stopping her hand that was dusting the shelf for a moment, Kagura answered.

"Well, if you ask if I'm in need, I am. That's why I'm working part-time."

Speaking ultimately, there is probably no human who is not in need of money at all. Even for any millionaire, there are expensive purchases, and situations where they need money can occur. There is only the difference in the degree of the condition.

And, in Kagura's case, it could be said that her degree of need was greater than the average of humanity. She was a freelancer, and she had spending habits so bad she never kept her earnings overnight.

"I have a story for good earnings, are you not interested?"

Kotono fired that invitation line.

At the time, Kagura knew nothing about Kotono. She thought she was just a used bookstore owner. That she was a player in killing games in the past, that she became wheelchair-bound due to an injury in that game and retired as a player, and that after retiring, while running a used bookstore, she dabbled in the business of mediating new players commissioned by the Management—she knew none of it.

Without being given a proper explanation, Kagura participated in her first "Game" just as Kotono invited her to. It was a game called "Abandoned Condo," set in a derelict apartment building. The classification was escape type, and she just had to get out from the entrance on the first floor, but "Executioners" carrying thick meat cleavers were roaming inside the condo, and she had to move while slipping past their eyes.

It was a so-called stealth game, but most players were first-time beginners like Kagura, and they just panicked from the shock of being thrown into a life-or-death game, screaming in high tones as they were slaughtered by the Executioners. Kagura also panicked grandly without exception, but perhaps due to beginner's luck, fortune piled up well, and she was able to reach the game clear.

Kagura, who returned alive, obtained the prize money. About three million yen—income that couldn't be made public, and of course, completely tax-free. Holding the envelope containing that prize money, Kagura went to the used bookstore and closed in on Kotono who was at the counter.

"Welcome back, Kagura-san. You were safe."

With a feigned innocence, Kotono said that.

It was absolutely not the attitude of a human who sent a person to their death. Probably, at this time, Kagura should have gotten angry. I didn't hear it was a story like that. You tricked me, you shitty woman—shouting like that, she should have grabbed Kotono by the lapels. Or perhaps she should have feared and shunned such a store with connections to antisocial organizations, and ensured she never got involved again.

However, the action Kagura took was neither of those. Tossing the envelope that was swollen fat with three hundred bills onto the counter,

"...I got, this much."

She said.

"I see. Congratulations."

"Um... Thank you very much. For introducing me."

Kagura said things like that.

Of all things, Kagura expressed gratitude to the person who almost got her killed.

Kagura still remembers her state of mind at this time. Although she shuddered during the game, now not a fragment of that remained. There was no anger at being deceived either. Instead, there was a faint excitement. The pleasant sense of accomplishment from completing the prescribed task and clearing the game. And the joy-overflowing weight of the bundle of bills she held. Excitement composed of those two things occupied the majority of her heart.

A feeling of thinking such a self was creepy was also mixed in, just a little. Originally, she had an optimistic personality, and she had gotten through most of life's difficulties with this happy-go-lucky head, but she never thought it would be to this extent—. Kagura realized the strangeness of her own temper for the first time.

That was player aptitude.

Kagura was suited for the world of killing games.

(13/17)

With the prize money she obtained, Kagura played around to the fullest.

It was the first time she had such an amount at hand all at once. As long as she had money, there were mountains of things she wanted to do. Buying what she wanted, going where she wanted to go, displaying her talent as a playgirl to the utmost, she used up the prize money in just a few weeks.

Kagura went to Kotono again and had her mediate a second game. With her inherent optimism, she conquered this too, and the prize money bottomed out in a few months as expected. When she cleared the second time, an exclusive Agent was assigned, so she participated in the third game through them.

There, she had a painful experience. It was a game called "Undead Mall" set in a ruined shopping mall, and the rule was to escape from Management staff dressed as zombies for five days, but just before the end of the game, she was chased by a large number of zombies and fell into a situation where she thought it was the end. The one who saved her from that predicament was a player named Sana, who would later become her friend.

Thinking she definitely wanted to thank her, Kagura met Sana outside the game. She invited her on a premium trip to play for three days and two nights at the largest amusement park in the country.

When they arrived at the site, an Agent emitting an imposing atmosphere was right behind Sana, so Kagura was surprised.

"They're monitoring me so I don't run away."

Sana explained.

Kagura heard about her background. That she suffered from an intractable heart disease. That she relied on a medical institution owned by the Management to treat it. That she was forced into player activities in accordance with the contract signed at that time. What a girl, was the impression she held. A big difference from her carefree self.

While feeling something guilty in her heart, Kagura went around the amusement park with Sana. This hospitality was a first in Sana's life, and it seemed to please her greatly. Since then, the two became friends and entered a relationship where they met regularly outside the game.

And—.

(14/17)

In the backroom of the store, she heard the report of Sana's death.

"...Is that so."

Kagura said.

Sitting on a pipe chair that was store equipment, she assumed a drooping posture. Kotono, sitting opposite her, said nothing and patted Kagura's shoulder.

During the day today, Sana's Agent came to the store and reported to Kotono. Since the Agent was also informed of today's meeting, they probably took care so she wouldn't be left waiting in vain.

"It's that kind of world, after all... It can't be helped," Kotono said.

It's unfathomable. That she would die before a happy-go-lucky person like Kagura. She was convinced that there probably is no God in this world.

"So... what happens to Sana?" Kagura asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Um, you know, is the body returned to the bereaved family? Will a funeral be held for her?"

"Ah..."

Kotono looked like she hadn't considered it until just now.

"I wonder. I haven't really paid attention to it... If you like, shall I ask her Agent?"

"Can you ask?"

"Yeah. I got the phone number a little while ago. Wait a moment..."

Saying that, Kotono called the Agent. "Hello, this is Kotono. ...Yes. Yes." After a bit of exchange, she handed the phone to Kagura.

"This is Kagura."

"I am Sana's Agent. About this occasion, truly..."

Finishing the greeting quickly, she entered the main topic.

"There are several treatments for deceased players," the Agent said. "If the damage to the body is minimal, we sometimes repair it, fabricate a cause of death like a traffic accident, and return it to the family. If the damage is severe and there is a fear it suggests a criminal incident, we sometimes dispose of the body on our end. However... in this case, I believe it is neither of those."

"Even you don't know accurately, Agent-san?"

"Yes. Processing after death is outside my jurisdiction... However, considering the situation, I can make a guess. In Sana's case, there is the matter of the 'Contract.' She hasn't yet earned an amount equivalent to the cost of the surgery, so from the Management's perspective, they are in the red. Also, officially she is treated as missing, so there is no need to hand over the person to the family. In that case... they will likely take the form of 'selling' the body to cover the loss."

"Selling?"

Kagura parroted the word that came out unexpectedly.

"What is that? Selling, you say."

"It means exactly that. They will sell her body."

The Agent answered, but it didn't click for Kagura.

However, she felt a faint chill down her spine. She didn't understand the story yet, but she intuitively understood that at least it was something hair-raising.

"Due to the effect of the 'anti-decay treatment,' Sana's body is in a state where it is hard to rot."

The Agent added an explanation.

"In addition to that, several more treatments will be applied, and Sana-san's body will be modified into a 'Doll.' A silent doll of human size... Life still dwells in those eyes, and that skin remains fresh forever. It is a truly well-made doll, as if time was stopped while alive."

Somehow, Kagura remembered a story about a part-time job washing corpses. An urban legend about a job washing corpses in a pool filled to the brim with formalin to make cadavers for dissection. In the colorless transparent liquid, many corpses are jostling against each other, and Sana is mixed in there—such a scene floated in Kagura's mind.

"And then they sell it to dilettante 'Spectators.' They are people who come to see a cruelty show of young girls, originally. If it becomes a body of that, it fetches an exceptional price. It's a handy sub-business for the Management. You know how there are occasionally men who collect schoolgirl uniforms? In the same vein, there are maniacs among the 'Spectators' who collect bodies of young girls."

I see, there were 'Spectators,' Kagura thought. As a player, she didn't consciously think about it much, but they were constantly being watched. By pleasing them, this world was established.

"There are very rare cases where a buyer isn't found, but... in Sana-san's case, that won't happen. Even subtracting my bias as an Agent, she is a beauty. Surely there will be many takers. Her body will likely pass to one of the 'Spectators.'"

"...No way."

Kagura muttered.

Then, does that mean she can't be free even after death? Troubled by illness since childhood, forced into a killing game once cured, and after dying, having her body tampered with and added to the collection of some pervert she doesn't know—. Such a fate is pitiful.

"Can't something be done?"

"With my authority, nothing. It must be painful, but please understand."

Kagura placed the fist not holding the phone against her forehead.

The smart watch wrapped around her wrist came into view.

A stylish form. The most expensive one among the same products—the so-called flagship model. However, Kagura wasn't utilizing even half of its performance. To begin with, she didn't seek it for reasons of specs. When she saw it at the store, she thought its form was incredibly cool, wanted it badly, and bought it impulsively. It could be said to be an event symbolizing the nature of the human named Kagura.

Why is it not me? A foolish spendthrift like me lives, and a desperate human like her dies. How unfairly is this world made? Her usual optimism lay low for just this moment. Kagura even thought she was ashamed that she was alive. Even though if I live, I'll just squander money on drinking, eating, and gambling anyway—.

"......"

Squander?

"Um, Agent-san," Kagura asked. "How much does that doll cost?"

"Eh?"

"Through what channel is the body sold? Auction? Direct negotiation with the seller? Is it possible for a player, not a 'Spectator,' to purchase it?"

"Don't tell me, you intend to purchase Sana's body?"

"It's possible, right?"

"...I suppose it's not impossible," the Agent spoke while thinking. "The sale is conducted in the form of an online auction. It shouldn't be difficult to slip in pretending to be a 'Spectator,' but naturally, funds are necessary to win the bid. With Kagura-san's current assets, it likely won't be enough."

"How much?"

She got the Agent to tell her the approximate market price. Kagura couldn't judge if that was high or low as a price tag on a human corpse, but there was no mistake it was a purchase out of reach for the general public.

"Can I pay in installments or something?"

"You aren't buying a house... It's a lump sum in cash only."

"Then, I'll save up from now. Game prize money... That auction isn't happening tomorrow or the day after, right?"

"Well, that's... There is time to process the body, after all. But, why go that far?"

"She's a friend."

Kagura said strongly.

It was strange even to herself that such strong words flowed from her throat.

"So, at least, I want to mourn her in a proper way."

"Even if you hypothetically retrieve the body, you cannot bring it to a general undertaker. It's a 'processed' body."

"I know. I'll do that part privately or something, somehow..."

"...Do you think Sana will be happy with that? Do you think she desires for you to continue being a player—to expose yourself to danger—to retrieve her body?"

"...That is..."

She couldn't answer.

She probably doesn't desire it. That someone is forced into the game because of her. After all, is it just mere self-satisfaction? Is it "impulse buying," the same as when she bought this smartwatch?

When Kagura was about to fall into self-loathing again, she heard the sound of exhaling on the other end of the phone.

"I understand," the Agent said.

"I acknowledge Kagura-san's will. I will try to make moves so you can participate in the auction."

"...!"

Kagura shouted as if the words jumped out of her throat. "Thank you very much!"

"It's too early to say thanks. Please survive properly and save up your war funds."

"O... Of course."

"Well then, see you."

The call was cut from the Agent's side. Kagura stared at the silent mobile phone for five or ten seconds, then returned it to Kotono.

"Did you decide to buy Sana's body?"

Kotono asked. From Kagura's statements, she seemed to have grasped the situation.

"Yes. And then, I'll hold a funeral for her."

"That's rare. I didn't think you were the type of person to say 'I want to do this' yourself. I thought you had a personality of 'que sera sera.'"

"I'm surprised myself."

Kagura answered.

"But, I thought I had to do it."

Kagura felt something hot in her heart.

It was the first time in her life she felt like that.

(15/17)

A black car was driving on a dark night road.

"Sorry for the trouble."

In the passenger seat, Yuuki said.

"Don't worry about it."

In the driver's seat, the Agent answered.

Yuuki had the Agent drive the car. That house was known to "Mikkai." It couldn't be used anymore. Since she couldn't arrange a new house immediately, they were currently heading to a nearby hotel for the time being.

Yuuki recalled the words she conveyed to Takami. Next time we do it, inside the game. The reason she said such a thing was because she was conscious of the matter of her left arm. Soon, someone will harvest this from me. For the current Yuuki, Shirou, and "Mikkai," were convenient virtual enemies.

Is it them who will break me?

Or else—.

(16/17)

At a later date, Shirou went on a long trip and headed to a certain town.

It was a somewhat desolate residential area, of which there must be thousands in this country. The asphalt ground was cracked here and there, and spotted with black discolorations from gum. Apartments standing as if shrinking their shoulders on narrow land, tobacco shops where you couldn't tell if they were open or not, mass-produced condos whose shape even the residents probably couldn't remember clearly, privately owned eateries with awnings like hoods; standard buildings formed a flock. Not all buildings were old; there was a considerable number of detached houses that appeared to have been built within the last ten or few years, but—why was it?—there was little impression that the area was prospering because of them; rather, conversely, the "left-behind feeling" of this town was further promoted.

Passing by posters of local politicians and prefectural assembly members with fake smiles pasted here and there, Shirou stood in front of a certain apartment. It was a cheap apartment that felt like it was trying hard to produce a premium atmosphere. Shirou headed to room 302 and pressed the intercom, which seemed to be an outdated model.

"Yes..."

Along with a slightly gloomy voice, the door opened, and a young girl peeked out. She was a girl characterized by indigo eyes.

Shirou called her name.

"You are Airi-san, correct?"

(17/17)