Vol 3 Chapter 5 (2/2)
But Liezel grins,
”Don't tell irl huh? If the Holy Sword switch was a success, then you shouldn't be coht?”
I look at Gunjou beside me She has been severed from the labyrinth, and is still alive
She's well and still human
The Holy Sword switch was a complete success
That was indeed an a
And Liezel probably knows that He grins And says while s
”So, hoas it?”
””
”Hurry up and tell me the outcome, shi+nnosuke”
” I' too much earlier”
I say softly While I said it softly, it should still be audible Since it was transmitted via by my 《Headphone Fuzz》
But Liezel just hted face and turns his ear to me
”Huh? What? What did you just say?”
”You heard ht?”
”Who's the genius?”
””
He is a thoroughly irritating guy Who the hell requested hiic?
”I' up”
On hearing that, with a satisfied face, Liezel says,
”Well don't do that I didn't call you to brag about what has already been established as a fact There's so else”
”I'd have guessed So what's up?”
Liezel then waves his finger The ca at Liezel moves Seems like it's a lab Lots of devices are strewn about messily
A on its screen The newscaster has a ghastly pale face Her voice trembles
”Today America made a declaration If japan continues to monopolize 《Apocalypse 666》 --- commonly known as 《Apocalypse Alice》, then they will prepare to take overnment ---”
At that s back to Liezel Liezel says in a really delighted manner
”Did you see that? Things have becoht now, it's not like the japanese governotten control of 《Apocalypse Alice》 So they can't hand it over If they can't hand it over, it'll beco to ht”
This is worst possible development
That's how fearful the world is of the ic that can be obtained from the Apocalypse Alice
Liezel continues
”And japan will surrender But will there be any o, when the 'Diversionary Magic Spoils of Labyrinths' had been brought back, this peaceful country has already crumbled The ones who hold power are the corporations Such as Mitsutomo Group or Taikou Pharmaceuticals Thus, the uess And it will begin froanizations of the world If that happens, it'll becoerous than now Because the enemy is human”
But at that moment, Liezel smiles
”Wait, well, you're used to killing other humans in the labyrinth anyway”
That's right
Those were the only places I had been
The only things I had seen to date were countryues, radicals,with one another, killing one another and snatching away power and technology
Ast them, those who stuck to ideals of love, romance, friendshi+p lost
Since there was none as rational
A moment of hesitation would cost your life
I stare at Liezel and say
”So, why're you telling me all this? Do you also want a piece of that power?”
But Liezel smiles and says
”No way, I have no interest in obtained power I don't kno a this Apocalypse Alice is, but I can ic from scratch”
But I didn't tell him to 'just hurry up and do it then' I can't afford the tie in any more needless conversation with him
There are many enemies
The organizations in the world would find a way to enter Apocalypse Alice and would invade it in hordes
I have to save my little sister before that happens
I say
”Just spit it out already”
On hearing that, Liezel says,
”Well ~ won't it be delightful to find everyone surprised and disappointed when the puppet I'irl whoic fro so much attention to?”
What a really twisted way of thinking
It's not normal
Not wanting so that everyone wants
Not wanting ic that could be used to conquer the world
To find it interesting to disappoint someone
But, it's because of that I say to him,
”Yeah, that's a nice way of thinking That's what I love about you”
To which Gunjou looks at nore her
Liezel says
”Haha, right? But I' me”
”I'm fine with that And so?”
”I'll back you up Let's clear it in the fastest possible way”
”There we go again More tangibly, what're you providing me?”
”The map of Apocalypse Alice”
”What”
”I've scanned it I' the scan”
If that's true, it'd be soy-wise, it's pretty unworldly Since he is able to transy sounds, pictures, and data into a labyrinth where signals are jammed
Liezel looks at me and says
”Now, you should praise ain?”
””
”And where's your thanks? If you don't say it, I won't send the data to you you know?”
I scowl at his words
”What the hell's wrong with you Then, you'll be satisfied if I thank you?”
”Yeah, that's right”
” tch thank”
But, Liezel cuts ht
”Shut up trash Your thanks aren't even worth crap”
”Aah!?”
”Hahaha, I' to send you the data”
He snaps his fingers
Instantly, I can tell that so forced into my head
My head hurts
A terrible pain assaults my brain
”Guh ah, hey, wait My head”
”I'll be laughing if your ets destroyed Since there's a 70 percent chance of that happening”
70 percent!?
”D-damn you”
A detailed e labyrinth
It's a labyrinth with 425 floors underground
And star marks are present in various places
There are about forty of them
They are probably the locations of the other raiders
Kujaku should have brought 100 people with her But the numbers were already down by more than half
Did they Escape?
Or die?
I don't know
Kujaku was 33 floors below
And separated froroup, 25 floors beloere 3 star marks
They were probably shi+ro, Yousuke, and Himi
They are alive At the very least, during the time when Liezel made the scan
More information pours in
They are data on the traps
Data on hidden doors
Data on safe zones
””
Even the information on the location of my little sister Saki is also sent
I forgetthat My eyes widen in disbelief at the fact that I ath to where my little sister was
Saki was just 35 floors below It's a considerably shallow location
I can feel
As it's not far away from where Kujaku was If I don't hurry, it'd be too late ---
But, as if he has read hts, Liezel says
”The raiders froroup have been stuck at the 33rd floor below for more than 10 days”
My headache disappears As all the data has been transmitted
I ask
”What's there?”
”Orhh, I did it Iyou This is the first time I've succeeded with a human subject Which means my research on this has adva”
”Whatever, just answer me What's down there?”
”Who knows? I have no idea”
”You even acquired the locations of traps and hidden doors and you don't know this?”
”I don't know And it's not like I' at it But I can tell you this, up until the 33rd floor below, there weren't that many fatalities”
But now, there are only 40 people Which means that Kujaku lost more than half her men there
”Do you also know the rank of the labyrinth?”
”I know It's 15 If it's you, you should be able to clear it easily right?”
Provided that that's its true rank It won't be that easy but I can clear it And it's probably the sa, and shi+ro they all Since Gunjou's labyrinth which ere raiding earlier is a rank 42
However, for a whole month, none of the raiders have come out
”The rank can't be trusted huh”
”And it's a value measured by a machine so to speak”
”And, is there anything else? Shall we start our 6 hour lesson on labyrinth diseased girl raiding here?”
”No, I've already given you plenty of intel The rest is up to you If you fail, it's your responsibility If you succeed, thank me”
He smiles and cuts off the transmission
Liezel disappears from my vision
The only things I can see now are the scenery of the corridor before me and the Gunjou beside me
”What's that about?”
She asks to which I reply
” the map of the labyrinth was somehow sent into my brain”
”Huh, how can such a”
How can such a thing be possible
That's right If so like that is possible, then on't need any lesson But practical usage is probably still far ahead in the future A technology that can destroy the brain with a 70 percent chance can only be used in urgent situations
But right now, it is urgent An urgent situation where it's worth trying with just a 30 percent chance of success
Kujaku and her people had reached the 33rd floor below half a o To put it in another way, they took half a month to reach the 33rd floor below
But if we have the map, and if it's really a rank 15 labyrinth, then we can catch up to her in no time
Gunjou says
” who in the world was that?”
”A pervert scientist”
”E-Erhm shi+nnosuke I say”
”Hn?”
”Erh”
”Ah?”
”D-Do you swing that way?”
I look at her in exasperation, then start walking
”Yeah, right Didn't you notice? That's why I have no interest in girls Can you stay away from me?”
While catching up to me, Gunjou says
”Wait, erhm, I, won't be prejudiced towards you”
”Shut up It's not that I was just being sarcastic Rather, it's not the tiht?”
As I say that, she looks up at me,
”Eh? Eh? It's not?”
”Just shut up already”
”It's not huh I see That's a relief”
”I thought you said you wouldn't be prejudiced?”
”Ah, no, I don't mean that”
”Meh, what's wrong with you?”
Anye don't have time to tarry around here We have to uard doe'll be killed
I don't know yet whether this labyrinth is really a rank 15 one Well, even so, the rabbits that had assaulted us till noeren't strong enough to reflect a her ranked labyrinth
I say to the Gunjou who is following behind me
”I heard it's a rank 15”
”Eh!? So low!? Then, the labyrinth ht have been clear”
But I shake my head
”But Mitsutomo Group is stalled on the 33rd floor below”
”You know even that?”
Gunjou's eyes widen
”I also know the locations of traps, hidden doors, and even the locations of shi+ro and the rest They are on the 25th floor below”
On hearing that, her face turns into one of suspicion,
”Is that info reliable? Could that guy be bribed by Mitsutomo Group”
”No, it's impossible”
I deny the possibility iht over and obediently follow Mitsutomo Group's orders
But,her a little too vehemently,
”Ah, sorry you trust that guy huh”
Gunjou says, but --- to use the word 'trust' on that pervert scientist is way too unbefitting on him
”No, even though he isn't someone who could be bribed by Mitsutomo Group, but, he's so at my failures, so your concern is not pointless Let's be careful The ht be fake --- have that in mind as we act”
Gunjou then nods
”Got it But on that map”
”Yeah shi+ro's position was indicated on it So, let's first try to meet up with shi+ro and the rest”
We then nod at each other and start running
♦
♦
♦
But the raid itself is simple
It is indeed a rank 15 labyrinth
The enemy is made up of only those rabbits And the frequency of their appearance is not that high There has not been any probleer
The only problee
Just huge
Because there is no scale on the map, I have underestimated it This labyrinth can't be cleared easily
Everywhere we look, a beautiful forest s
We initially ran without stopping in the forest, and before long, we got tired and finally switched to walking
In one day, clearing 4 floors is the limit
As the rabbit attack us every now and then, we have to set up a watch and take turns sleeping It's impossible to clear more than 4 floors At this rate, it will be 9 days before we reach the floor Kujaku is at
9 days
Only 9 days
””
But that figure is a figure of despair
Because we are short on food supplies
Fortunately, for water, along the e found a tank that was probably left by Kujaku's group It was tough to carry it but it contains about 10 liters of water If we ration it carefully, it will probably last us
But there was no food
We won't last for 9 days without food
””
But, two days went by without us eating anything
We can't carry on like that Even if we e to advance with just water, by the tiht It's just impossible
We should either Escape here or eat so
””
And at thatdeer in the forest
Different from the rabbits that have pocket watches --- it's just a nor deer
The deer does not notice us
If we use our ic, we can probably kill it easily
””
That is provided that it is a normal deer
If this were not a labyrinth and ere inside a norht to just kill and eat it
But this is a labyrinth
That deer is a product of this labyrinth
I don't knohat kind of ill effects it will have on the body if we eat it
””
I look hard at that deer, then look at Gunjou She looks more lively than me Maybe it's because of her small body, she probably needs less calories than me But I'm already near my limit
Gunjou looks up at me and says
”What should we do?”
I say
”You should Escape”
”It's better not to eat that deer?”
”Yeah Neither should we eat those fruits with poisonous looking colors on the trees”
I look up at the sky On the trees, are fruit resereen, yellow, purple, and pink
Those are definitely the same fruits that appeared in the illustrations of the book of 'Alice in Wonderland' that I had read with my little sister in the past
Gunjou looks up at them,
”I guess I don't really want to eat those pink and purple stuff”
She says and smiles
I say
”We shouldn't eat them Activate your Escape switch”
”But if I get out”
”You'll be killed? But, if you get out, there's still a chance of escaping But if you remain here, you'll definitely starve to death”
”Even if I eat those apples?”
”I already said you can't eat them”
”But shi+nnosuke, you're going to eat theht? The apples and deer”
On hearing that question, I smirk and reply
”Since they are apples and deer made by family, I won't be affected”
Gunjou then looks up atthat, she waves her fingers And mutters
”Sea Moon Wheel switch”
Moon wheels appear above Gunjou's head, and they cut down the fruit from the trees Several fruit drop down, and Gunjou takes two from them
A pink apple and a green apple
She starts putting the green one into her mouth
”I already told you don't do it! You ht catch the labyrinth disease”
I stop her hand
But she says
”I've already have a labyrinth disease onset once”
”That's not the issue here”
But, at that moment, a moon wheel flies towards me As it is about to slice my head off,
”Owah”
I dodge it frantically I take a step backward
”What the heck are you”
But Gunjou just grins and says
”If I die, Escape by yourself”
”Hey, wait!”
But, a crunching sound is heard and she eats the apple She munches a few times with an expression of wonder It's already too late The juice has probably already entered her sto found inside the labyrinth
The possibility of dying right away
The possibility of turning into a monster
The possibility of getting an unknown disease
But with a s face,
”It's totally an apple though!”
She laughs
I look intently at her ith disgusted face,
”Have you heard of the saying that foolhardiness does not equate to courage?”
”Yay”
She brings up and shows me the apple,
”Yay? Jeez How do you feel?”
Gunjou shrugs her shoulders and says
”Uhn Seeht But maybe there'll be some side effects later”
”If you know that, you shouldn't have eaten it duh”
While saying that, I too pick up a green apple
” at the very least, it smells like an apple”
”The one who doesn't eat it is a chicken”
I put the apple in my mouth Even the taste is that of an apple And it's even pretty tasty It's more tasty than any apple I had eaten before
Maybe it's because my stomach is empty, or maybe it's because my little sister has set these trees to bear tasty apples; whichever it is, I do not know
But I so that if it's my little sister, she would want to make these apples tasty
Gunjou looks at the deer and says
”Do we get the deer too?”
I shake my head
”There's no need to take any further risk Even for the apples, we'll pick the green ones If it's for 9 days or so, we should be able to e with just apples”
The problem with food is promptly solved
”Then, let's go”
Gunjou says
I nod
And we start walking
Along the way, I say
”I still think that you probably shouldn't have eaten the apples there”
Gunjou then replies immediately
”It's because the unuy doesn't want to eat it first”
Indeed She's quite right about that
I shrug my shoulders, and hurry on ahead