Vol 1 Chapter 2 (2/2)
I can hear the voice of a wo fro
Following that,
”Haah, haah don't get jittery I-I'll be fine I' to be fine I'll do it this ti, without letting any of et killed!”
””
I narrowed my eyes and quietly close the door to the toilet
But, I can still hear the voice Since this place is terribly quiet with no one else but me
” I'enius I even have seven corporate sponsors Even Papa and Mareat expectations of me That's why I have to win; I will be worthless if I don't win all right Let's do it This tienius I'll absolutely clear the labyrinth!”
Pah, she patted her face, getting motivated, it seems from the sounds
A flushi+ng sound
Running water from the tap at the basin
It stops
And then, the woman comes out of the toilet
The self-proclaiirl --- Mizuiro Gunjou
With a sirl walks out of the toilet while wiping her hands with a handkerchief
I-I'll be fine I' to be fine
I have ainst the wall just beside the door to the toilet and as such, she never notice me when she cao without calling out to her More like, a gentleirl after seeing her do all
But sorry Unfortunately, I aentleman
S, I say
”Yaah, what a flashy way of throwing up, voirl”
In an instant, I can see Gunjou's small body make a startled jump in a funny way She immediately turns around Her face all red Filled with a mix of fluster and shalare at me,
”W-W-Wh-Wh-Why are you here in such a place!?”
”I a to the toilet”
”You don't need to coht! D-Don't tell me that you tailed me here?”
”Haha You are being over-sensitive Everyone's visiting the toilet just before the labyrinth raid, so it's crowded downstairs”
”Ah I-I see”
Gunjou seems to accept my explanation, but it was a lie The toilet below here is empty
Even after accepting what I have said, Gunjou glares at ain
”Even so, what's theat the female toilet! Pervert!”
”Ah-ha, I'm called that quite a lot today Even I wouldn't have the fetish of getting excited froirl puke”
Gunjou's face could not have beco, her lares at e of tears, and says
” h-how much have you heard?”
”About?”
”You've been listening all this while right? Toto myself in the toilet”
”You talking to yourself? Did you do so like that?”
”Eh!? Ah, you didn't hear that?”
As I see the color of relief gradually returning to Gunjou's face, I grin stupidly and say
”Yeah I didn't hear it I didn't hear anything like 'it's scary it's scary, I have to answer to the expectations of Papa and Mama'”
”Huh?”
Her eyes widen in surprise Her blue eyes seizehatred blazes in those eyes of hers She is really easy to figure out In an adorable way She holds out her slender right hand And snaps her fingers thrice
It was the sound indicating thatactivated
Gunjou says sharply
”I' to kill you!”
Unlike Kiri, when she says 'kill', shea 《Headphone Fuzz》 in her left ear
A right-brain type
An emotion-type
Further have been seen by soh
” Sea Moon Wheel switch”
Said Gunjou
I knew that ht back from the eternal labyrinth called Water-Death 7
By the way, that labyrinth had the architecture of a gigantic municipal pool but --- well, it does not ic should be hard to manipulate
Nu jellyfish ater inside the furiously with a Gwihn Gwihn sound The 'jellyfish' that are spinning like circular saill cut anything that touches them and inject a paralysis poison into the bloodstreaic is capable of, if I remember correctly
I look at that with half-opened eyes, and say
”Water ainst water so --- what a nice ic”
Gunjou says
”Whatever, activate your 《Headphone Fuzz》 as well I'll teach you ill happen when you make a fool out of me”
”But I don't want to learn ill happen”
”That doesn't et on with it! Hurry up! I'll really kill you, you know!?”
”Nah”
”Hey, stop ridiculing me already!”
Gunjou waves her fingers A water disc flies towards h speed, cut into the wall and lodges itself in it
A thin smile surfaces on my lips and I say
”You missed?”
”Are you an idiot!? If that had hit you, you would have died!”
”Ohto kill me?”
”That”
”Aah, I see Your ic sucks and you missed”
”There's no way that will haaaaapppeeenn!”
Gunjou raises both her hands in fury I have no idea how she can let loose so much emotions openly, but she just seems to be such a type
Possessing strong eic ---
I look hard at Gunjou and say
”Hey, voirl”
”If you use those words again, I'll separate your head from your body cleanly”
”Then Gunjou”
”Why are you using my first name!? I'll really send you fly”
But, I interrupt her and say
”You know why're you going to the labyrinths?”
”Eh?”
”If you're so afraid to the point of barfing, then you should just give up You're already a rich ht? Then, there should be many ways for you to obtain happiness There's no need for you to do so to a shi+tty place where people die right?”
On hearing that, Gunjou lowers her right hand that has been activating her ic
The 'jellyfish' disappear
Her blue eyes look hard at me and she says
” it doesn't concern you”
”Well, that's true too”
”Anyway, a second-rate coenius like me”
”I' that, am I?”
”Whatever, just don't interfere with me!”
Gunjou hollers angrily For soe of tears As expected of an eain and again
I say
”Hey Gunjou”
”Like I said earlier, don't call me by my first name”
But I cut her off
”If you like, shall I protect you?”
” eh”
”A girl like you doesn't need to shoulder everything by herself There's no need to be afraid of your friends dying, no need to tremble at the prospect of failure I can do all those in your place I'll protect you”
At that ht surprise
” h-hat are you saying? Erm erhh, does that mean”
Her cheeks turn red Her blue eyes waver, looking troubled Just as I thought, she is an eure out
I grin, and say
”So, will you pay me money?”
”Huh?”
For a while, Gunjou's face changes to one that see
Thus, I explain to her
”By the way, shi+ro see to payto pay ten ht Co out of fear, ten million is a cheap”
At that ht fist flying straight at e, but I took that fist The inside of ot cut, and I can taste iron
I lick ue and smile foolishly
” let's see, for the pain I' now, make that twelve million If you want me to help you”
”You're annoying, shut up trash!+”
”Then, our negotiations have failed? Are you okay with ht just lose, you know?”
”Hahh, don't get too carried away Who do you think I am?”
”Scaredy cat voirl?”
Her fist caain, but I did not take that this ti, I look at her intently
”I think you're going to need h”
”I don't need someone like you”
”Well, if you change yourthe way”
”I won't I'll teach you in the labyrinth That who's the real genius I'll teach you that someone of your level is of no use in that kind of place!”
After yelling angrily, Gunjou turns around And faces her back to me
At the sas out
It is sounding the start of the fourth hour
Therefore, I too start walking, and Gunjou then says
”Hey, stop following me!”
”Even if you tell me that, we're in the same class, aren't we?”
”If we return together, the rest ht!?”
”I was looking at you vo”
”Ah-uuwu I-I'll definitely kill you in the labyrinth!”
”Hahah”
I laugh, and head back to the classroom
『Fourth Hour ---
Lesson on selecting the irl』
The fourth-hour period --- is a lesson on selecting the ic that will be useful for this labyrinth raid
Basically, inside a 《Headphone Fuzz》, there is only roos
In other words, one can only use six varieties of ic
This means that one must deal with any kind of situation with just those, however, there were many a times that one would not be able to tackle the obstacles and traps a labyrinth had given rise to with just six varieties of ic
Let's just take the offensive class of ic as an example:
Extree offense
Close-range offense
Mid-range offense
Far-range offense
Extree offense
Special offense system
If one were to eic, one would have no rooic
Or say, roo traps Or ic used to forcibly open locked doors and so forth
Thus normally, the six available slots will be filled by 『2 Offense, 2 Defense, 2 Support (balanced configuration)』, or 『3 Offense, 2 Defense, 1 Support (offense-specialized configuration)』, or song distributions such as these that have a certain degree of balance will be employed
However, in the case of teaether
Those who excel in offensive e of offense; those who excel in defensive ic will undertake the responsibility of defense all by themselves
And while protecting those who only equip the through the labyrinth, the teay employed as a result
That is why one will need friends
The more friends one has, the ular situation could thus be dealt with
In order to break through the labyrinth this tiic that are absolutely necessary
Sensing of traps
Unlocking of ic locks
Along the route to the diseased girl located on the eighth level below ground, there are three locks that have to be undone
Two of the floors are trapped zones, according to the reports
However,
””
It is not so I am concerned with
As always,
Two slots for offense
One for defense
Three for support
This is the usual configuration I go with and I have used that in all the labyrinths I have raided Thus, I have no intention of changing anything this ti in others with the hope that your trust will be answered is a thing meant for the lazy felloho have been drowned in the lukeaters of a peaceful world
That hy, during that lesson --- while everyone was desperately fretting about what songs to choose for their 《Headphone Fuzz》, I azed out vacantly at the schoolyard
『Fifth Hour ---
Ti the labyrinth irl』
The final lesson before invading the labyrinth
It is a period used for discussing a the rest what sort of ic you have selected for your 《Headphone Fuzz》
But, since I have no buddies nor friends, I did not talk to anyone
””
Scratch that, in the midst of it, shi+ro approaches me and says
”All right I've transferred the money Just as promised, you're now in my team So I'll introduce the rest of the team to you”
I look at shi+ro Behind hiirl with black hair tied up into a ponytail And a bespectacled guy
shi+ro says
”Once we enter the labyrinth, these will be your buddies Yuuyami Himi is on all-support role Endou Yousuke on all-defense”
The girl's name is Yuuyami Himi
The bespectacled guy is Endou Yousuke, it seems
Each of theic In other words, these people employ teamwork
I ask shi+ro
”Then, you are on all-offense?”
But shi+ro grins and shakes his head
”I'm on all-specialized-offense”
”Huuh?”
”Well, mine are really special, so you can just think of the that you can adjust yours to a balanced configuration though”
I nod in affirmation
”It's just nice then”
”Yours is already balanced?”
”Yeah”
”All right Then, we can beat Gunjou this time”
Pachin, shi+ro snaps his finger once
I look at him in amazement
Since I nohy shi+ro and his gang had always lost to Gunjou In a teaic, it will be over if even one of them is out of commission In that case, more members should be asseets taken out, but this class has a charisirl called Mizuiro Gunjou, and more or less the entire class are subordinated to her and as such, he wasn't able to further increase his allies
That hy shi+ro had been losing --- well, at the very least, that should be what he is thinking
With half-opened eyes, I look at Gunjou who is at the front of the classroo this particular labyrinth raid, and I then say
”Hey shi+ro”
”Hn?”
”Who's stronger, you or Gunjou?”
”Me”
”Hah”
”It's true, you know?”
”Well, fine”
While gazing at Gunjou's almond-shaped eyes and fair skin, I say
”So what's Gunjou's slot configuration?”
shi+ro too looks in the direction of Gunjou, and says
”I don't know about that for this raid, but it should be a balanced configuration that gives more emphasis to offensive capabilities”
” oh 3 offense, 2 defense, 1 support?”
”It's the opposite for defense and support 1 defense and 2 support”
”Aah, I see Feels good to know”
I smirk
Even after gathering so many allies, Gunjou does not believe in anyone She is an outright balanced type Even if she were to lose all her allies, she has a slot configuration that would enable her to clear the labyrinth by herself She is prepared for the worst possible scenario
In other words, she is serious
To the point of barfing fro out of her seriousness
On the contrary, shi+ro fully trusts in his buddies Norle class of ic would be unfathomable Or, maybe it is because that it is necessary for a focused attack to shake Gunjou off with just these few members
But if it comes to that, then indeed,
”With all slots equipped with specialized offensive ic, then shi+ro should haveeach other”
Though I have no idea whether humans do kill one another in a peaceful country like japan
By the way, in the other countries, in the underground world of the s the labyrinths there, if one encounters other raiders, it would be an obvious thing to kill each other for personal gains
Those with poill get everything
Everyone else is an enemy
Depending on the situation, there are even tiet attacked by your own teammates from behind
In those places, there is no fool ill fill their slots with just one class of uy he can be Or maybe, there is a special reason as to why he has to do that
I look at shi+ro with half-opened eyes
”What?”
Said shi+ro, to which I reply
”I was pondering about whether you are a fool or you are having special circumstances”
”Ah?”
”Never ”
I say
I look out the ith half-opened eyes
Fro noise, there are five transport helicopters flying towards here
We are going to move
To Kanagawa Prefecture where the diseased girl is
Pahn Pahn, Honjou-sensei knocks on the blackboard twice and says
”Al~right, we're halfway through the fifth-hour period We'll finish the reround Everyone, are you ready?”
On hearing that,faces
Gunjou stands up and puffs out her chest
”Huh, who do you think I aht? I was already ready since the day I was born”
What a liar Didn't you just puke fro nervous?
shi+ro then says To his two pals behind
”All right, let's go We'll win this time”
And brings up his palm
”Let's do this”
Endou Yousuke meets his hand with a slap
”I'll do my best”
Yuuyahtly slaps his hand in a timid way
Finally, shi+ro turns his terribly gloo palm towards me
”You too Even though your friendshi+p was bought with ht now Please look out for me”
” don't tell me you want me to hi-five you?”
”Yeah”
”You would have to excuse ious reasons”
”Go to hell”
shi+ro laughs
And Gunjou is looking at the both of us Glaring at me
I grin stupidly with half-opened eyes
Even as I smile, the situation continues to advance
There is not much time left before the time limit will be up
Honjou-sensei says
”No, let's get going! Everyone, leave the classroom and board the choppers!”
And thus, we started awa Prefecture
♦
13:03 PM
1 hour 27 irl turns into an 《Eternal Labyrinth》
The transport helicopters lifted off with adolescent guys and girls packed into them
Vibration
Roaring noise
The tension from my classmates
The journey froawa Prefecture, by helicopters should take only about fifteenjourney
Beside me, sat shi+ro's buddy, Yuuya, down-turned eyes
Himi calls out to me
”E-Erm”
I pretended to not hear her soft voice over the roar of the helicopter and did not answer
Himi then starts,
”Ah”
And then goes quiet She hangs her head, looking troubled After a few minutes of silence,
”Erm”
She once again calls out to htly louder voice
I turn my half-opened eyes to Himi and say
”I' you”
”Eh ah, sorry”
”So, what is it?”
”Er, Arisu-kun, are you already used to raiding labyrinths?”
”Why did you think that?”
”Well, it's because you look very calm”
”Is that so?”
”Yeah You've been grinning all this while”
”Haha,perhaps”
”So, does that mean you're not afraid?”
Hi at me Fear is reflected from her eyes
I'm not afraid?
It is difficult to answer that There is no way that I will not be afraid to go to a place where Ilike anyone else
But, I have gotten used to that As I have been continuing to set foot in places where I otten used to it
But it is not like my fear had disappeared I aether with fear I a it off
I continue grinning stupidly without answering, and Himi continues
”I-I'h this is already my third raid, I still”
”Is that so? But isn't that normal?”
”But, people like Gunjou-san, shi+ro-san and Yousuke-kun seem to remain unbothered by it, and yet, I'”
At the very least, I had seen Gujou vomit in the toilet so I do not think anyone would be able to reree
Himi is extre sensitivity towards fear But that is not a bad thing The type that has strong sensitivity, gets a boost in their capabilities in sensory and support classes of ic
And she has a full-support configuration in her cursed song selection
Which ood amount of power in those
I say to her
”You know”
”Ah, yes”
”I understand that you're afraid, but what good will it do to tell me that?”
”Ah, ah, I-I' in the same team”
”So?”
”Erht not be of much help, but since you're someone who person”
I look hard at her with half-opened eyes
”So, as a full-support ot, so please take care of me, that's what I wanted to say”
I stare at her with half-opened eyes
” I-I'ry?”
She says with a face that seee of tears, to which I reply
”No Fro, I have always had this face”
”Ah, I'm sorry”
”Well I get it Do help me out when I need support”
”Y-Yes!”
”Then, can I make my very first request for now?”
”Yes, what'll it be?”
Said Himi happily, to which I say
”I feel gloomy while we're on the move, so can you don't talk to me like you're a friend of mine?”
”Ah”
This time, from behind Himi whose face is in shock, Mr Glasses speaks up His eyes behind those glasses are sharp
Endou Yousuke is his na at me, he says
”Hey hey, don't bully Himi”
”Hn?”
”And also, you're a pretty unpleasant guy What's wrong with you? Is there any benefit you can get fro an attitude that makes others hate you?”
I look up, at Yousuke with a thin smile on my face
”At the very least, I can spend my off days quietly”
”Haha, because you lack friends?”
”That's right”
”Then, why don't we hang out together next tio watch a movie on Sunday, and then chit-chat at a family restaurant”
”What kind of creepy thing is that?”
”Don't sweat the sether on our rest days ---”
Yousuke then holds out his hand And he then says
”Let's all survive this I' in my power to not let any of my teammates die Please take care of me, shi+nnosuke”
Yousuke further goes on to take Hioes on to say to shi+ro behind,
”Hey shi+ro ~ Come over here Let's do another huddle before it starts”
”Hn ~?”
shi+ro's face pokes out and after looking at Yousuke and Himi, he piles his hand onto theirs
I then wearily say to the trio who are hard-selling me with their piled up hands
”Er the hi-five session, can you guys stop this kind of harassing act?”
shi+ro then smiles and says
”Shut up, just put your hand on top I already paid you six million, didn't I?”
My hand was grabbed out of my own volition
And with the hands of four people put together, one on top of another
Yousuke says
”Well, leader Your speech please”
shi+ro nods and says
”We'll definitely win this time The labyrinth difficulty is low There'll be no casualties, and we'll get our hands on everything Let's all survive and return, everyone!”
And then, the three team members of shi+ro's team answer
”Yeah!”
”Yes!”
”crap, you're noisy ~”
At that
At last, labyrinth infiltration is about to begin
There is about one hour left before the time limit will be up
If we fail to kill the girl, three ht be sacrificed
That is e cannot fail
We will kill the diseased girl in that re hour --- and save the world
♦
It started
The time started
The last hour used for killing the girl started
””
I take a deep breath in my seat
Snap,