Vol 1 Chapter 3 (2/2)
In that instant, Cheech went “Ah!”, and reame world Where the dead can speak
“Oi oi, you Isn’t it obvious that the ru from the revived killed players”
“No, that’s iot killed in the tavern Those six people are all ot sick and went to hospital, they haven’t logged in ever since
There shouldn’t be anyone who has heard about the incident from the victims”
The irl who still had a floating smile on her face
“After that, we got the testiirl who came out of the tavern on the time estimated to be when the incident took place── it exactly matches your features”
“Wha, wait a second! Isn’t it way too unreasonable to label her like that!? There’s no way this kid is the player killer──”
Cheech leaned on the counter in a hurry The six uns and rifles and aied and raised both of her hands
“That’s right, I’m the culprit”
It surely doesn’t sound like a gag
The speechless Cheech was left behind, and the girl slowly rose fro both of her hands raised
“So, what about it?”
Her voice ay beyond having any sense of guilt The black girl gave a clear s golden eyes see
The first irl’s forehead and then threw out whather with his heart
“Why do you kill other players? Is it to show off your power, orit as a prank?”
“No way, it’s not for such stupid reasons”
“Then what?”
He exerts er The irl says her answer, a hole will show up on her breast── but even though it’s just a gae shown in his mind made Cheech’s body tremble
But, if this happened in the real world, he would’ve shown a raceful reaction
“That’s because──”
That irl’s sleeves She’s using the skill 《Sleeve Weapon》, a skill that allows the user to pull out s bound by the laws of physics
Every single uard, however In fact, all of them instantly opened fire
But, the girl’s for rapid-fire was beyond what she showed to be The Dillinger’s small bullets that were shot hit three of the men which disturbed all of their fire as they tried to avoid the re on the floor
There was also a ot shot on his shoulder As he was about to stand up, she delivered one last shot on his face She then restrained the re that man, who muffled a scream from severe pain, as a shi+eld
The girl then discards her Dillinger’s that were out of ammo and drew her main weapon
It was a jet-black revolver equipped with a flat square barrel, so he’s never seen in real world On the side of this disproportionately large barrel that is being held by a girl was the engraving of a snake warping around a land tortoise The silver coating on the gun shi+nes an intiht
『Ｉ．Ｅ． Genbu』 It bears the naine EkphrasisＩ．Ｅ．, a revolver with special power in 『CtG』
What happened after that was simple Very simple in fact
A continuous firing, aile line The roar-like overloading muzzle flashes and the thick iron plate increased the heat of the air within the tavern
Red gunfire and red gunfire By the time it all flakes off and disappears…
Six bodies of headlessaround in front of the tavern
In just ed to the pungent sunpowder; Cheech’s tavern had turned into a bloody garden All NPC clerks’ knees where soaked in blood as their legs trembled
“Errr other players was it?
And the girl who started the tragedy dutifully answered the question
“Those who expose their throats and bark── it’s just a simple providence to hunt such animals to death Do you understand? Dear meat head”
That sraceful, and that’s exactly why it was so terrifyingly dreadful
It was five irlher leftover hothis breath while hiding behind the counter
“Well then…… shall I go”
The girl’s footstepssounds of the swing door did Cheech finally raise up his hips froh of relief loosens his mouth
“Tha, that’s right…… the bartender didn’t die──”
Was what he wanted to say, but couldn’t It was because his head that was now above the counter was currently pressed against a muzzle Without even a need to look up, he heard a cheerful voice
“Last time, the bartender was a NPC after all”
You’re a PlayerHuman so I’ll kill you That what she meant
The sound of the haame after all so it’s not scary, he tells himself… but this is the first time I experienced what it’s like to have my brain blown…… Like hell I can stay calm!
Theturn
The swing door was opened wildly and a sure appeared
The suitar case on her left hand and pulled out a truncated horizontal two-barreled shotgun with her right
Along with the sound of gunshots, the body that was holding down Cheech trembled and collapsed Her back was bruised by the sudden shot
The newly-arrived guest drops her guitar case to the ground, and shot the girl’s head with the handgun she pulled out with her now empty left hand
Two bullets were casually shot as if just sprinkling insecticide SPLASH the bloody letters Head Shot Killed!! were splattered as if sweeping the floor
He was surprised at the fact that the deirl who did that appears to be less than ten years old surprised him more Why is she not a Travel Player CarrierPC── the idea to ask that sie situation Simply, he stared at the child in awe
The hazel cloak shi+nes as if it banked fire into the dimly lit store Her face which is cute and lovely e, but her expression was simply too cold
“E, er miss……?
He tiirl looked down the mannequincorpse she made in apathy and talked She spoke with a lisp voice
“Where is Memento?”
“Memento……?”
“A girl wearing black clothes She must have been here”
“Didn’t you beat her down just now?”
“This is not her”
When he looked at it── it certainly is not He couldn’t see it when his head was pressed against the gun, but what theisn’t a black robe; it is a waiter uniform Cheech is familiar with
“No way…… isn’t she Marian?”
She’s the clerk NPC he took over when he brought the store Why would Marian turn a gun on her employer… no, more than that, the voice froirl’s…… it was Memento
And then
“Pleasant to ht it was about time for you to show up”
The next voice he heard was froe
“However, isn’t it just somewhat too violent to shoot h we finally meet”
The one who spoke was an NPC waiter, John A youth set with a cheerful personality And from his mouth, he let out the exact same voice as Memento
“John, why!?”
While pointing the store’s ‘self-defense use’ rifle which he possessed towards the guitar case girl, she spoke, either to Cheech or the girl
“Meainst huenuine self-awareness, I can manipulate their every limb as if they were my own”
Cheech couldn’t get what she irl understood it And unsurprisingly, she stares at John with a lit ice fire[5] on her eyes
“Memento…… where are you now?”
“Waiting right outside, Haruha”
“Is that so”
The girl called Haruha then struck John Heart, neck, and forehead── the three key points in 『CtG』 were shot through in an instant, and lastly she blasted hiun The mannequin face popped out like pine cones bounced to the wall and fell to the floor as if it was dancing
After shooting all the bullets she had, the girl unsparingly duuitar case She then squatted and opened the lid of it which revealed all the tightly packed guns and azines inside it
Cheech was du the first bullet into a retrieved handgun, but when Haruha was about to go outside, he hurriedly tried to stop her
“W-wait young miss! Just howyou are, if you’re doing it alone you ht……”
He thought she would ignore hilanced back at Cheech and showed an innocent smile
“Thank you But Haruha will be fine, Mister
Haruha will surely kill all who dared to annoy daddy or mommy”
Meanwhile Me for her to show up
Different to the real world, the Gunman’s Glaive’s current ti violently on the midday
The place where the tavern is standing is what is known as the profane “Church Road” which is the aorta of this town; usually it’s flooded with passersby and horses However, in this moment, there’s only Memento seen on the street There sees, but no one dared to co one of theon the street
A strong wind blows through the frozen air of fear
The tavern swing door quietly opened and the opponent Me for appeared
Soft hair, an atmosphere of a transient world wrapped within her childishness, and a gaze that sank in the shadows She dropped the guitar case that hung on her shoulder and a dull sound echoed as it hit the ground
The girl then pulled out two strange guns with both of her hands
It has a realistically uniraved on its red old that shi+nes fiery It’s a gainal automatic pistol siun of destruction with tre capability
The grip changes depending on the player’s hand size, which appear to be really unbalanced for a girl who is not even ten years old yet, and the silhouette on both of her hand looks…
“Like amantle”
“Haruha is not a monkey”
She dutifully answered and stopped her step The distance they had is about ten irls’ vision, they were able to see each other’s eye moisture
As if to respond to Haruha who stopped her leg, dozens of people showed up fro the street and alleyway Every one of theuns or axes It’s not necessarily out of place but the appearance of old lady in an apron holding a rifle gives a unique intimidation
It’s all of the NPCs under Meirl in a large number
However, showing no interest to the surroundings, the girls begin their conversation
They talked about things that cannot be conveyed through their eyes At least up to that point the two, the girls’ dialogue──
“I know it, Haruha”
“Why did you hurt daddy?”
“Haruha as raised by humans and became human”
“Even though daddy did nothing wrong”
“Haruha who is a real human, unlike Meme”
“Mommy was scared”
“But, Meme couldn’t understand the difference”
“…… you made them cry……”
“What’s the difference between Meme and Haruha?”
“………… Haruha will…………!”
“If, there are no differences”
“What you did, ten times more”
“Haruha must not be here as well”
“Haruha will make you, pay”
““Thatiswhy””
““Die””
“ “ Die ” ”
The wind blows and the red mantle wildly flutters
Simultaneously, all the NPCs controlled by Me with the sound of nonsensical explosions, Haruha’s mantle was torn like firecrackers
But at that ure had already part ith thethrough the legs of the lined up NPCs, she shot their heads frole Blood spouted froh their jaws up to their brains, and as if taking an uppercut, their heads were thrown up into the air However, unlike boxers, they just kneeled as if praying and never ain
One after another the blood splash soared to the high sky and descended, red flowers blooround just like fireworks that turnaround the heaven and earth
Head Shot Killed !!Head Shot Killed !!
Head Shot Killed !!
Head Shot Killed !!Head Shot Killed !!
(Memento! The one who hurt daddy! ──Kill!)
Her sharpened ht line through calculation on her sight That was the rail spread by the world for Haruha It’s so that only those ere naturally born with understanding of virtual world providence and law can use, maneuver of revelation
That s the entire group
It blew like a violent storm
It took away the false human nature from the NPCdolls, and built a row of hollow mannequins in an instant
While slipping through the eneastrocnemius [calves?] in a close distance, she pulled the rifle of the enemy in front with her elbow and shot it to the enerabbed on the enemy’s neck with her knee and break his upper body with a cartwheel
After finally getting rid of NPC bodies that covered Meer with great accuracy However, the attack was stopped by a big man with an axe wherein the bullet hit his knee instead
──But she won’t stop Haruha discarded the gun without hesitation and pulled out knives from both of her sleeves
Using the knee of NPC as stepping stone, she cut through deeply into his neck Without stopping she cli her way out of the eneuitar case
That moment, her eyes met with Memento’s on the other side of the herd of NPCs On the other side where the burnt smell of heat distorted the air, she let out a joyful saze and unlocked the case
And, from inside she pulled out the third, and fourth Suzaku slide and coreat dexterity as she loaded the first bullet…
The killing resumed
◆
“This is… a”
Niiro’s heavy sigh broke the long silence
In the Kasugai household living rooh the screen without even wiping their sweat However from what Yuu observed, it seems each one of them fell silent for different reasons
Just like what he said before, Niiro was only watching to measure the potential of the experimental body his people created
Sitting next to Yuu, Miharu orried about Haruha ht She kept her voice fro her mouth with her hands
Meanwhile, Hajih her lips loose up close to a smile, her face was clearly pale Could it be that her position as a researcher and her personal feelings are conflicting with each other?
And finally, Yuu was clenching his teeth due to his own pitifulness
He cannot stand in the stage where Haruha’s life is at stake It also does not change the fact that this is the fight that detera filled by the bashful thought, the pain Meraved into his body and the words Haruha left becath from him
(Even though I must be the one who protect Haruha……)
『If that happens, Haruha will go back to home』
In the end, she said that He disappointed the person heto his mother who often leaves hi her about class observation day and sports day because she won’t come anyway He also won’t even try to consult to his
He didn’t know that being given up by someone was this painful
This ht be the consequential punishiven up, he lost hisof nausea reaches his neck, Hajime spoke
“This is as if…… she isn’t Haruha-chan”
She then cleared her throat, probably because her voice was huskier than she thought It sounded painful for Yuu as he felt the disconnection between the “Haruha” that fights ferociously on the screen and the “Haruha” that he knew A child who doesn’t need them, a child from “other side”……
But, the one who denied those words── the one who strongly denied those words was, Miharu
“No She is unmistakably, our Haruha Just look at the screen closely”
““…………?””
Unsure what she meant, Yuu and Haji at── there displayed the close-up figure of Haruha shooting a gun They both squinted their eyes to look more closely Haruha was there The upper half of her face was covered in shadow The only thing they can see was the wild muzzle flashes, but……
“Ah!!”
He then noticed, his eyes opened wide, and then shouted along with Hajime
““Aa, aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa────!””
Everything became obvious when he noticed that──
““The muzzle flashes became cat’s paws───────!?””
“S-Since when did she customized that……”
As Hajime wiped the sweat under her chin Miharu nodded deeply and smiled
“Shefashi+onable is a given”
Is it……? He thought
“Haha……”
He couldn’t help but to laugh noticing the cushi+on Haruha placed on top of the sofa also has animal paw pattern It’s all connected── she is Haruha No matter hoerful or fierce she became, she is unmistakably the sa
And then
That Haruha, was shot and blown off in the other side of the screen
◇
Three re NPC’s are left And finally Memento takes action
Shooosh with a shost, she caiant NPC in front of her, Haruha pierces through its sto with a knife, and finished it with a shoutei [ strike with the heel of the palm?] Swiftly, she pulled out Suzaku and shoved it back to where Memento is
Meuns’ paths didn’t cross with each other Meun aimed Memento’s heart── in a close distance, both of theet
It’s as called a Mexican standoff but,
The girls pulled the trigger without hesitation The violent roar broke the silent space and the iirls distort within the sound and heat The two flutter along with the stiunshots, and the bullets that were shot hit Haruha’s cheek and Meed to scrape off a piece of their opponent’s skin and spilled their blood However, the two didn’t stop
Guns exchanged fire
The unpowder
The two clashed each other’s fist to prevent their opponent froirls ere innate of the ground of the virtual world was so elaborate and without even a moment of hesitation All of the actions they made were simply done to defeat their opponent
Perfectly and infallible – the two inevitably equally matched It’s believed that it will stay that way── but
The situation will eventually lean to Haruha’s side
(Mustn’t lose…… mustn’t lose……! If Haruha loses──!)
Haruha’s strong will and purpose further accelerates her top speed She gradually pry open her line of fire, for each tiorithm of victory
And she finally reached it She finally had her opponent’s small key point under her line of fire On the deadly trajectory that pierces through Memento’s heart, her muzzle stopped!
At that instant, Haruha’s body was blown
“Ah……?”
Her shoulder was pierced by a bullet shot froht compared to that of an adult, soared like a leaf, and fell on the ground like mud
What she was able to perceive while helplessly rolling on the ground were that dozens of NPC had appeared in addition to the two left It seeht with Memento the second wave had shown up
Haruha who fell dramatically was quickly surrounded, and she is looked down by Memento with a thin smile
“Just a half-step more Very unfortunate isn’t it, Haruha?”
While she held down her shoulder, she glared up With a Hadzar restraint strength she was able to withstand the pain, but she can’t raise her arm in this condition
“……For sure, Haruha will beat you up Haruha won’t let you end 『This placeCtG』”
“Well indeed, if Haruha will not defeat Meme, Haruha won’t able to sustain her life after all”
Against Memento’s point, Haruha answered,
“……It doesn’t matter ill happen to Haruha”
She abandoned it
That child was always full of curiosity and was interested in everything However, against nameword that provides that small body of hers a place, she easily let out a voice warped in contempt
Memento narrowed her eyes It was the word that she, a person who earnestly seeking for self-definition up to now, couldn’t believe Is it that? Is it the difference between a herselffailure and a Haruhasuccess? If that is the case, then the next question Memento will deliver shall lead her to the answer she seeks
“If it’s true── then for what reason, is Haruha fighting for?”
◇
『Because this was the place whereas she likes』
In response to Haruha’s words
Miharu was stunned; the hands that were holding her scream up till now had dropped from her mouth
“Haruha…… just for that reason──”
『And also, this is the place where daddy will bid fareith his mommy!』
In response to Haruha’s next words
Yuu recalled the old story he told to Haruha as Clamp this (today basically) noon
『The reason I’ame is, to have a talk with my mother』
『Daddy’s mommy?』
『That’s right, she’s your grandh』
『She died……?』
『Yeah, that’s why it’s impossible to h, I hardly talked to her when she was still alive however
Even way before I obtained my sense of discretion she had always been busy with her work, and during the day I would stay in Fuyufu’s…… the girl we lected I suppose And also, the presents she gave ames she made at work She said that it were ones from before they were open for sale to the public, in other words beta versions They were full of defects and at tiot sick of them』
『Did she gave a huggy wuggy……?』
『Aaaah…… very rarely, I guess』
『That surely is lonely』
『That’s right…… and because of that, I didn’t really like ot a break she wouldn’t say anything to s stayed like that, she died』
『To die, is that right…… scary stuff』
『Yeah, it’s scary And what’s scarier is at the day of her funeral, a person who claiame for your sake”
It was because I don’t have a father, and because o to work she can only rarely take me out to play But it’s her wish to show the world to ht, a orld where even ain various places ……I’ but a weak and small kid like Haruha
And the last game she made is this “Cradle to the Glaive”』
『So this is…… This place, is the world grandma made……』
『Stupid isn’t it…… Me and my mother
She worked hard forworld but all I wanted was actually just a simple world where I can be withBut, also,