Vol 2 Chapter 2 (1/2)
Chapter 2 - The Spire that Pierces the Sky
Classroom
In the middle of lessons
Sixth hour period ---
Before the blackboard, a white-haired teacher is conducting a class on 『Moral』 education
Outside of the tiirls, the students in the 《Labyrinth Diseased Girl Killing Curriculuree
While I'm deeply interested as to what kind ofstudents who kill young girls to save the world, since what I learn here won't helpany attention
Today is the 2nd of December
It's winter
It is snowing lightly In the past, you would hardly see any snow in Tokyo in the irls of the world started contracting the 《Labyrinth Disease》, developing countries and several developed countries iped out and thereafter, snowfall became abundant
Maybe that was because the reduction in population halted global war, or maybe it was because of some other reason, I do not know
”Hey shi+nnosuke-kun”
A voice calls out to me from beside me
It's Kiryuu Kiri
With long ed face A slender body with large bulging breasts
She was in a different class until October, but taking advantage of the fact that half the students in our school year had either died or withdrawn fro the Asahi Momoka incident, she transferred to our class, to a seat beside me
And she calls out tovoice
”Hey hey”
””
”Hey hey hey”
””
I did not answer
”shi+nnosuke-kun, there's so I want to ask you”
Be it shi+ro or Kiri, why is this classpeople?
”Erm on the 24th you know 24th of December, shi+nnosuke-kun, will you be free?”
She's probably talking about Christmas I look in the direction of Kiri with a exasperated face, and say
” isn't it a little too early to talk about Christmas? We only just entered December”
Kiri then becomes a little shy,
”Christreat isn't it? When December comes, you can just feel that universal Christmas mood in the streets I, really love that atmosphere”
”I hate it It's dumb”
”So, will you be free?”
”No, I won't”
”Eh, eh, is that because, you'll be spending it with, erm a lover?”
”Yeah That's right Unlike you who has no partner for Christht That's the end to our less talk See you”
As I turn back to the , Kiri says
”Does that mean you'll be free on Christmas?”
As I turn back to the , Kiri says ”Does that mean you'll be free on Christmas?”
”Didn't I tell you that I have a lover?”
”Lies shi+nnosuke-kun, you look like a really unpleasant guy, so you aren't the type ould have a lover”
”What the hell are you up to?”
”Eh, what're you talking about?”
Without listening to the 『Moral』 education class, I look in the direction of the sleeping shi+ro, and Yousuke and Hi to class as well and are busying the their 《Headphone Fuzz》s
They too said a si like since I have no friends due to my horrible personality, they will become my friends
Of course, I won't deny the part where I have no friends, but I never said I wanted any friends, so please stay away from me
But yet, Kiri smiles happily
”So, about Christmas”
”Not interested”
”Well, ero”
”Then just go by yourself”
”Since you can't get a girlfriend and will be free for sure, I ondering, ether
”I'll kick your ass”
”Ah-haha ~”
She smiles happily
I look at that sed features She has to be popular She's also good at winning over people I really don't see how she would be troubled at not getting a partner for Christmas
There are still 22 days to Christmas Provided we don't die of course
This is that kind of school
A school where you may just die
Once again, I look out theSnow is starting to pile up
”Hey don't ignore me ~”
Said Kiri, to which I ignore IAccusto in et used to the curse, it reck ht away
And while listening to the curse, I ponder a bit
Kiri is probably here because of some circumstances
With capabilities like Kiri's, she can acquire erous place But yet, she's here She's in such a dangerous place Why?
””
She's strong
And smart
Including icians with capabilities like those of Kiri, shi+ro, and Gunjou to be gathered in the sa to pay high prices for icians of our level At the very least, Gunjou has 20 corporate sponsors backing her up
Taikou Phar to Yayoi provided it's true
Strong ician of that level, a corporation can have hi out a powerfulthe surface of the entire world
However, four such ht now, and instead of being labeled as those who are in for thelabeled with a ridiculous na to save the world
What kind of situation is this?
Is there a reason for this to be happening?
Or could it be just a coincidence?
As I' the snow pile up in the schoolyard, I continue pondering about Gunjou, Kiri, and shi+ro But, in theto do It's ht just die the next et betrayed the next day, and in the first place, it has nothing to do with saving my little sister Saki
The bell rings The sixth hour period has ended Today's school has ended I stand up
Kiri then says
”Hey shi+nnosuke-kun, were you listening to me?”
Of course, I wasn't I look down at Kiri, shrug, then, without the classroom
Kiri says
”Ah, ah, let's go back together”
”Don't want to”
”Eeh”
As we are having that conversation, Gunjou, who is sitting at the front of the classroo at rin and averther good will towards me
Jeez, the frequent preaching about co me vexed
What's the point of building a pointless friendshi+p when you ht just die to one another, so, what on earth do these guys want?
Yousuke says
”Hey shi+nnosuke, let's drop by at a nice grill house on the way back, shall we?”
Himi says
”Recently, we found a really good eatery Shall we go together?”
Re seated, shi+ro looks up at me
”Let's go, shi+nnosuke”
Behind me, Kiri raises her hand
”Ah, I want to go!”
Once again, Gunjou takes a few fleeting gli face, and stands up
”Y-You guys sure look like, you're getting along well, but if you think you can raid a labyrinth with that kind of pacifist attit”
But, I say to that,
”Just shut up”
Ignoring them, I exit the classroom
”Ah, shi+nnosuke-kun!”
Kiri calls out tothe corridor, I got away from the classroom
I can see a wo at the other end of the corridor
Navy blue suit High heels On her left ear, a 《Headphone Fuzz》 which looks like an earring
It's our homeroom teacher, Honjou Tsukasa
Honjou Tsukasa says
”Ah, are you going back? shi+nnosuke-kun”
”Yes”
”Remember to keep your cellphone on standby We'll call you once a diseased girl appears”
I cock my head to the side and say
”But, diseased girls should norht”
That's right
For some reason, this disease only activates between 8am to 2pm
The onset never happens in the late night, early ht
Since the disease onset only happens in the hours betweenand afternoon, humanity is able to react to it, and the students froo home in peace --- that should have been the case but
Honjou Tsukasa says
”That should have been the case but recently, there was a kid in Kansai who got an onset in the evening”
I look atincident Since a calareat calaht wipe out the entire world
”I didn't see any news on it”
”It's still under wraps”
”And you're telling me?”
Honjou Tsukasa looks hard at me and says
”Well, you're our important raider I trust my own students”
”You'll get betrayed you know?”
Honjou Tsukasa smiles
”Maybe But even the japanese governuished service in saving the 3 awa”
Hearing those words, I consider the possibility of Honjou Tsukasa and Metropolitan Kichijouji High not knowing about what Taikou Pharmaceuticals did
That Asahi Momoka incident was artificially caused by Taikou Pharmaceuticals but ---
Do the personnel of Kichijouji High know of this?
Or, Honjou Tsukasa doesn't know of this?
Or, she actually knows but is pretending not to know?
Whichever it is, it doesn't matter to me There are many instances whereby countries or ot blinded by the profits that could be gained from labyrinths and went crazy because of that
And I have no ti as I could saveelse matters
I say
”The one who did that was Gunjou, you know?”
”Even so, it wouldn't have been possible without your support So feel free to let me knohat you want I'll prepare it for you”
”Did you get a budget increase from the country?”
Such things do happen too
By getting Taikou Pharmaceuticals to create the incident, they could elevate the nah if they could suppress the incident And in the end, the governet --- there's a possibility that this hat they had aimed for
Is the mastermind Taikou Pharmaceuticals?
Or Metropolitan Kichijouji High?
Or the japanese government?
Like I thought, I shouldn't bother et ive a shi+t about the world
Upon hearing my question, Honjou Tsukasa smiled happily
”Even et frouys can just feel free to let me knohat you need”
”Ha, like installing a sauna in the shower roo to that effect?”
But Honjou Tsukasa simply nods
”If that's what you really want, we'll do it, Arisu shi+nnosuke-kun”
Seeet increase To the point where we can just splurge on s
”And also, you didn't register a bank account with the school, did you? We're going to deposit row er Ah, and also, it's fine even if it's a foreign unlawful account We have plenty of such guys in this school and so are lax about it”
As she said that, Honjou Tsukasa started walking
Passing me by
””
And I ponder about what Honjou Tsukasa just said
What did she mean by that?
--- We have plenty of such guys in this school and so are lax about it
Thatbetrayed
Strong felloill turn against you quickly They either get poached by spies froht fro
This is true for any country That's why I don't trust anyone I don't believe in the word 'comrade' Friends? Hah What the hell's that?
””
But, right now, Honjou Tsukasa is displaying an attitude that says that she is unconcerned about getting betrayed It means that the school is already prepared to take in students ill betray them
Itas one is able to kill labyrinth diseased girls
And they don't even bother to investigate those who enroll I too, got into this school without any kind of investigation done on me
But,
”Won't there be any trouble with that kind of self-assured attitude?”
On hearing ht away
”None We know the motives of those who come to this school anyway There are only four kinds of people here ~”
I narrow my eyes
Four kinds of people
I know instantly what kind they are
1 Those who have no power norto come
2 Those ant to make a name for themselves here
3 Those who really want to save the world
However, those who are truly powerful, probably aren't here because of those three reasons
If it's for money, they can make it anywhere
If it's for power, they can get it in other organizations
In the first place, it's possible tohere
In that case, the rest would belong to the fourth type of people
What is this group actually seeking?
””
Honjou Tsukasa halts
She gives a tap to the wall along the corridor I look at it On the other side of the wall --- the land on the other side adjacent to this school is occupied by a certain labyrinth since ten years ago
The world's most difficult eternal labyrinth which those associated with the y from it
The name of that labyrinth is ---
”《Apocalypse 666》 As the nairl was Arisu, it's called by its more popular name, 《Apocalypse Alice》 The world'sfor that, didn't you? Arisu shi+nnosuke-kun”
My homeroom teacher turned around
Looking and s at me
I didn't smile
Suddenly, she makes a face as if she had only just realized it,
”Oh my, coincidentally, your na?”
”No”
”Did you co?”
”Certainly not”
Honjou Tsukasa s that
”Well, even you won't go that far, as one would expect ~ After all, there isn't any idiot ould go that far to save a girl who has turned into an eternal labyrinth Since you can'ther”
””
”Not to mention that it's said to be impossible”
””
”Then, who are you? But I'anization froate 《Apocalypse Alice》 as much as you like Since at any rate, you won't be able to raid it You'll only realize that it's a hell inside, a place where you cannot obtain a single thing”
””
”And, while you're realizing that or getting killed in the labyrinth students with real poho are driven by greed will for soather in my class to save japan In the reat kids
Now! shi+nnosuke-kun
Let's kill the girls and save the world together!”
Pahn, Honjou Tsukasa claps her hands together
She grins again
In spite of that, I couldn't smile Since she said that she didn't need to know ood kid as well Well, setting aside the fact on whether or not I have been acting like a good kid till now
Honjou Tsukasa looks hard at me, smiles and says
”Don't glare at et to register your bank account nus from you”
She turns her back to me
And proceeds to the classroom
I look intently at her departing back,
” ha, glare? My eyes have always been that way”
And smile
S
Maybe ht now I'hted
The reason is because this place is a faain reacquaint myself with
Huly They can only think of themselves
Obviously, they won't be thinking about saving others
The ets pointlessly attached by the words 'friend' or 'comrade', one dies I've seen that many, many, many times
””
On the other side of the corridor, Gunjou walks out of the classroom
Honjou Tsukasa looks intently at Gunjou,
”Hi Gunjou! You were great today as well It's all because of your existence that the world could be saved!”
Go to hell, I thought
The petite Gunjou looks up at our ho confidence
”Of course! Who do you think I am! I am none other than Mizuiro Gunjou!”
The usual Gunjou
And, she has already proven that she is the only one who infiltrates labyrinths not just for purely selfish motives
Since, in that Asahi Momoka incident, she remained until the end Drenched in blood as she risked her life, to protect her classmates and to try to save the world, and she had also worried herself sick about my injury
If there's an unsightly reason as to why she has to be in this school no matter what ---
Then she probably belongs to the,
” third kind of people”
I mutter
3 A fool who truly wants to save the world
And, I hate those kind of people the most
Those who belong to the third group are the ones who die et used by others most easily, and on top of that, even after they die, they leave a wound in the hearts of those who survive
I probably would waver if Gunjou were to die, after seeing that weak side of hers I won't be able to help but feel ed No, maybe, I would also waver if shi+ro, Himi, Yousuke, or Kiri were to die
But what use will that kind of feeling have?
This is that kind of place A place where all age in such less stuff?
Like I thought, I shouldn't go to karaoke with theet close to any of them
Gunjou is approaching me
I pretend not to notice and turn h the corridor, and descend the stairs Our class is on the third floor; I descend all the way to the ground floor, and exit into the schoolyard
Iside ht up tome
” I don't plan to go home with you, you know?”
On hearing that, without looking at me, Gunjou says
”I'o home with you either”
”Huuh? Then, why aren't you passing me?”
”I've been walking at this speed right fro you not to walk alongside me”
While saying that, she continues walking atshe wants to tell
At that roup of students around us look at us
”Oh, it's Mizuiro Gunjou-san”
”The one beside her, is Arisu shi+nnosuke-kun right?”
”You're kidding awa?”
”Are they going out?”
I turn irls and say with half-opened eyes
”Yes You got that right We're actually on our way to a love hotel”
”What!? Hey!?”
Gunjou looks up at rabs ry
But the girls just go ith cries of 'Kyaa' at that
Gunjou says frantically,
”T-That's, not”
Cutting her off, I say
”Then stop fawning overYou will be seen as an easy woman, you know”
”Don't mess with me!”
Gunjou rab that ares I take a step backward Matching me, Gunjou takes a step forward
As expected of the top of the school year
Her movements are nirab Gunjou's arm In the end, I'm the faster one
Behind me,
”Wow, a Are they human?”
Said a guy, and following that,
”A lover's quarrel, a lover's quarrel”
A girl said so that's off the mark but I don't really care
Frolares at me with upturned eyes
”Let o Or I'll kill you”
”Maybe I should just bring you to the hotel I' up at”
”You”
She snaps her fingers Her 《Headphone Fuzz》 starts playing As she prepares to use her ic
I let go of her arm and take a step backward,
”Just kidding If the top of the grade Lady Gunjou sets her eyes on et killed ~”
With her face red, she continues to glare at me,
” why”
Glowering at rin, she says
” why do you keep saying things to push me away”
I smirk at that and reply
”Obviously it's because I hate you”
”Uwu”
”And you hate ht?”
”I, I hate you”
”Then we're on the sa close to me”
”I' close to you!”
”That so? That's great then Well, goodbye and farewell”
I wave to Gunjou and turntowards the hotel I' up at
But, there and then,
””
Once again, Gunjou is walking along my side
With a fed-up face, I look down at the petite Gunjou, and say
”Look, can you stop following me?”
However, she see my words
”T-There's just one thing, I want to ask you”
”I have none”
” I, have been wondering about how's your injury”
By injury, she's referring to the injury I got fro that Asahi Moht leg would be limp forever, but that was not Gunjou's fault, but a result ofwith it
That's why she doesn't need to worry about it, and if she's really concerned, I did tell her to give h
Appearing concerned, she takes a few glances at me and says
” today during the ht maybe it's because of your injury”
”It's none of your business right?”
”But that injury is because of me”
”Then why don't we go ascertain it at the hotel? I ht?”
On hearing that, Gunjou's face turns bright red again, then flashes into a visage of anger, and she raises her fist And hits me on the shoulder
” and here, I was being worried!”
She said
I look down at her,
””
It's really exasperating
Even though she always has a high and ood personality And it's because that so her to die that I have is what exasperates me
Despite the fact that people die here
Despite the fact that they can die easily
It's dangerous to have emotions for another It's pointless Inefficient But, no matter how much displeasure I expressed, for sooes the same for shi+ro, Kiri, Yousuke, and Himi
It'd be understandable if they had shown they had ulterior ain from me but ---
”Hey Gunjou I also have so to talk to you about”
I said as I took Gunjou's hand that had been used to hit me
She then looks up at me with a worried face
”Ah, ah, your injury really hurts right?”
But I shakeintently into her ale eyes,
”I don't hate you”
”Eh!?”
Surprised, her eyes becaer
But unconcerned, I continue
”It's because you are cute”
”Eh!? Er-Erm”
”Because your brain matter is so adorable that I wonder whether you're actually an idiot”
”Gah!?”
”Because you are a good girl with a beautiful heart”
” uhn? Ah, erhm ~”
Not knohether I was speaking ill of her or praising her, her face appeared confused,
”So what're you trying to tell me!?”
She got angry
I looked down at that foolish-looking, lovely Gunjou and say
”In the past, all the girls I love died My friends died too They either died in the labyrinth, or got caught and died by the hands of those who sought to use anizations No matter what, they just died died died, easily”
””
Gunjou looks intently at me
I continue
”And, you ht just die today So, is there even anyto our conversation? Is your injury ok? Haha, what the hell's that?”
That's a question which Gunjou should be asking herself on a daily basis Even if that's not the case, because she had lost a nu the Asahi Mo sense of responsibility that she secretly vomited in the toilet fro to protect everyone and clear the labyrinth without getting anyone killed; and thus,
”What are the feelings you have towards me? Don't tell me it's love?”
”Well”
”Probably not You are just a little tired You are just tired of seeing too many of your classmates die That's why you just want a coer and on't die so easily Isn't that right?”
””
Gunjou glared at
Because I was right Since she too has vaguely realized the less softness in her heart
Basically, establishi+ng cozy relationshi+ps with labyrinth raiders is ets distracted by eer When it's time to abandon someone, it's necessary to abandon even one's lover
She knows that too Otherwise, she wouldn't have gotten this strong She too is a resident of this dark world
I nod
”See, everything's cleared up now I have a goal that I want to achieve You too have a reason for being here right? Be it romance, love, friendshi+p, all of thes and stay away frouy look for shi+ro”
Gunjou continues to glare at
But our conversation has ended
I turn
From behind me, she says
”Th-Then then why did you save me?”
””
”There wasn't, any need to save me back there You should have escaped But yet, you”
I reply right away
”I regretted that Because of you, I got an idiotic injury”
”Eh, ah sorry”
I exit the school gates Gunjou's voice fades fro But there's no need to listen Since she has nothing, neither friends, nor lovers
At that moment, Pihh Pihh Pihh, the siren sounded
It was the signal for the appearance of a diseased girl
”Attention to all students of Girl Killing Curriculum Please return to your classroom ASAP A labyrinth disease victim has appeared in Toda city of Saita the lesson for the purpose of killing the girl”
I turn around to face the school
The students of the nor out of the school, but the place that the diseased girl has appeared is not here in Tokyo
It's Saitama
Class will be starting again
The lesson in killing the girl
Just as I'm about to head back to school, I notice that the cellphone inMaybe it's our hoht, but the one who's calling is somebody else
I pick up the call
”shi+nnosuke?”
A slightly high-pitched voice of a ely accented, bad japanese
His name is Liezel Baimeister
A German
16 years old
The engineer who custoal levels that would harm the human body
” won't you get eavesdropped?”
”Who do you think I am?”
”A freak scientist”
”Are you praising me?”
”Well, yeah But overnment or Taikou Pharmaceuticals”
”Not overn your cellphone”
”Oh, who're they?”
”「Taikou Pharmaceuticals」, 「Phillip」, 「Kiryuuki Group」 China”
”Hmm, how about japan?”
”They're not bothering with you, I suppose”
”Haha, that'll be good if it's true So, what's up?”
”It's been a while and I want to meet you”
”Germany is too far”
”I'm in japan now”
”Ah? Why?”
But, at that moment, Liezel's words stop
”Hn wait a ood”
”Shall I call you back?”