Accel World Vol 5 Chapter 5 (2/2)

“I’ve also been looking forward to this kind of event very much As so tiside the ain If possible, I would like to join forces with everyone and aioal of the race tomorroell However…”

She cut off her words for an instant, and dropped her gaze down to her legs wrapped within her long white dress

“…According to what Crow said, there are only four seats for crew members in the shuttle, and it see space Therefore, I would have to remain fixed on a seat without my wheelchair If I do that, this avatar of mine will just serve as an orna anything and slon the shuttle’s speed, it would be better if I didn’t board it in the first place”

“N-No way!”

Haruyuki reflexively cried out and tried to deny Sky Raker’s words

However—

If Raker were a long range type avatar, she could sufficiently play the role of attacker even while fixed onto her seat But, just as her vivid sky-blue color indicated, she was a pure close range type Most likely, in order for close range types to play the role of attacker in the race, they needed to be able to jump over to other shuttles For Sky Raker, who uses a wheelchair instead of legs, doing that would of course be impossible

Watching as Haruyuki grit his teeth hard, Raker spoke gently

“Karasu-san[5], don’t worry about it Even if I’m not there, I believe that you can surely reach the top at the top with you, Lotus, Pile and Bell”

—No, that’s wrong

I wanted to take you…to take you especially to that pillar reaching up to the sky There’s so I want to tell you, in that world above that covers the entire length of the 4000 kht that cannot be expressed on the ground, where it is weighed down by gravity…

At the saht that in his mind, Kuroyukihime also spoke in a pain-filled voice

“…Raker Your avatar’s body weight is probably lighter than Crow’s There won’t be ht of the shuttle whether you board it or not Besides, even if you can’t h if you just act as a defender…”

“You can’t do that, Lotus”

Raker decisively stopped her

“Your…and Nega Nebulas’ activities should, first and fore you to reach Level 10 If you end up in first place in toiven a considerable aet closer to your final objective In that case, you shouldn’t fuss over htly…Isn’t that right?”

Her words were far too logical, and more than that, far too painful Most likely, in Sky Raker’s heart, she had clearly regulated her own role, due to having a big limitation to her ion’s activities But conversely, she absolutely won’t participate in a battle where she will be a burden

In other words, it was like this

Sky Raker had already given up on Brain Burst for herself She had responded to Kuroyukihiion, but her onlyherself fro the thrill and exciteh fists Like a punishment that she will bear forever

—That’s wrong

Haruyuki once again whispered that in his mind

It was Haruyuki’s goal to ion master Kuroyukihi to be a knight that would continue to properly protect his king until that time came

He had no greater priority than that, but he did have a wish that was compatible with it

To play and enjoy the fighting game known as Brain Burst

Duels ht out of bitterness or pain Theypoints There only lies darkness that casts a deep shadow even over the real world down that path, like with the «Acceleration Research Society»

Of course, Haruyuki didn’t believe that Sky Raker would fall into such darkness either—but, if she still hadn’t forgiven herself, she would never be able to enjoy Brain Burst

However, Haruyuki didn’t have a way to convey his thoughts and feelings right now at this place It seemed to be the same for Kuroyukihime and Takumu, as both of their avatars were stiffened like rocks and weredown

Sky Raker tried to break the silence that engulfed everything other than the ticking time count, which showed 10 entle smile However, an instant before she could speak

“Raker-nee-san”

Without warning, Chiyuri addressed Raker with the name she had come to call her by

“What is it, Bell?”

“There’s…so about, but……”

Speaking in a voice as if she avering over so a firm will at its core, Lime Bell stood up She took several steps, and stood before Raker She took a deep breath, displayed an unusually serious expression on her mask—

“If you’re okay with it, Nee-san, I’d like to try out returning your legs to normal with my power”

And she said that

The instant he heard her words, Haruyuki widened his eyes Chiyuri’s—Lime Bell’s power, the special technique «Citron Call», had the effect of «reversing tieted with it

In ordinary duels, it was used as only a «fake healing ability» that restored the HP gauges of her allies But, the technique’s possible applications didn’t stop at that, as proved by the role it played in the battle against Frost Horn and Tourmaline Shell the other day Since enemies could move and escape from the technique, it was quite difficult to use it on the, it was possible to even force Enhanced Armaments summoned by the enemy to disappear

As such, Citron Call was a special technique even rarer than the actual healing ability in a certain sense—however

“B-But…Chiyu”

Haruyuki reflexively broke into the conversation

“Raker-san definitely lost her legs o Could you really turn back time that far back…?”

Chiyuri then tilted her pointy witch hat and answered whileit over

“Well…My «Citron Call» has two auge, rewinds the state of a duel avatar I target according to the seconds that have passed in the ga HP”

Then she held up two fingers and continued

“…And Mode 2, which consue, rewinds avatar status effects besides level-ups…in other words, according to each individual pere caused by external factors Like Enhanced Arht with points, or parts and techniques stolen froes one by one This is what I used to restore Haru’s wings before”

“So it…undoes peres”

Kuroyukihihtfully applied the ridge of her right hand’s sword to her

“It sounds simple, but when you think about it, it’s an unbelievable power It’s surely the natural ene-type ability users…”

“But, since it can’t apply negative interference on the status data of others who have not beento people other than the target cannot be returned That’s why I wouldn’t have been able to return Haru’s wings if I used it on Haru himself Also, since it’s easy to escape from the technique itself, it is difficult to use on an ene battle, Lotus-senpai”

As Haruyuki tried with difficulty to understand the rules of this slightly complicated technique, Takumu spoke up next

“Chii-chan, what is the es that «Citron Call Mode 2» can cancel by reverse order of when they occurred?”

“Err…I haven’t actually tried it, but considering how es”

“Three…huh —Raker-san, have you received any other status changes since losing your legs?”

After a short pause, the sky-blue answered Takumu’s question

“……Since I did an exchange of Enhanced Ares, then that would e in reverse order”

The instant he heard those words, Haruyuki reflexively asked

“U-Umm, master What about that wheelchair…?”

The silver wheelchair Sky Raker sat on was the same kind of Enhanced Ar whether the acquisition of this counted as a pere

But Raker shook her head lightly and spoke while quietly striking her chair’s wheels

“I acquired this right before I threay s”

She said that casually, but the e

In other words, when she had asked Black Lotus to cut off her legs, Sky Raker had predicted that the body part loss daht become eternal, or perhaps had resolved herself to it In other words, the da within the liher-ranked logic of that system…

“Bell”

Calling out to Chiyuri, Sky Raker’s voice interrupted Haruyuki’s thoughts As the gazes of the four other people present gathered on her, the Burst Linker that was still living as half a herentle tone

“Thank you I gratefully accept your feelings…But, even if it isn’t successful, don’t blame yourself for it The cause and effect of all this lies only within me, after all”

Haruyuki felt like those words were half directed to Black Lotus at the same time as Lime Bell The black crystal avatar’s body stiffened for a htly

Chiyuri broke the silence that fell onto the stage with a firm voice

“I understand, Raker-nee-san But, I will definitely return your legs to you And, Haru”

She suddenly turned her gaze and pointed her fingers at the blinking Haruyuki

“I think that the confir an Enhanced Armament will probably come out for you while I use my technique, but you s troublesome later if you don’t!”

“Y-Yeah, understood”

Haruyuki nodded, and then Chiyuri turned her gaze towards the upper right with a glance She was probably checking that her special technique was still charged up to the base from the territory battle earlier She then turned her face back down and took a step forward

While Lime Bell took one or two steps forward, Kuroyukihime, Takumu and Haruyuki stepped back

When the fresh green-covered avatar stood two e bell attached to her left arht up towards the sky

She leaned back her wide-brie breath Her slender body bended slightly

“Then, let’s do it……«Citron»……”

At the sa the technique nae counter-clockwise spin in the air A h she nor the HP of Haruyuki and the others, Chiyuri drew a circle in the air with her bell twice more, and then—

“……«Call»!!”

With a loud shout, she swung her left hand straight down

A yellow-green ribbon of light and a chord like that of an angel’s band was released fro sky-blue hair and the skirt of her white dress fluttered back strongly, and exposed her legs hidden beneath the at all beneath her round knee parts, as if they had been designed that way fro

As Sky Raker shut her dark red eye lenses and grasped her hands together in front of her chest, her entire body glowed lireen for a moment

[DO YOU ACQUIRE ENHANCED ARMAMENT «GALE THRUSTER»?]

Haruyuki quickly pressed the [NO] button of thethat appeared, which was flickering in and out irregularly unlike usual It was a sign that so returned to Sky Raker Iain This probably meant that Chiyuri’s ability had rewinded back to the second item transfer performed between Haruyuki and Sky Raker

Haruyuki once again admired how truly unbelievable it was Usually, it ithout saying that only GMs[6] had the exclusive right to cancel itea authority, GMs were often compared to God However, since Brain Burst had no so-called GMs, Chiyuri could be called the only one to have obtained the power of God—though only a same’s mysterious developer…

Haruyuki’swas bloay by the third flash

“……!!”

The three observers held their breaths together and merely widened their eyes

In the ht, they definitely saw sht blue particles attached Sky Raker’s knees They extended dohile rapidly increasing in nuether into thin cylindrical forue fors—

FUU

And then disappeared like visibly rains of ice

Irewwith the sound of bells, before vanishi+ng

In the center of the once again silent field, Liy However, Black Lotus instantly ht her back

The yellow-green avatar whispered in a hoarse voice while hanging her arms powerlessly at her sides

“……Why…Why…Why…didn’t they come back…?”

The one that answered her was Sky Raker as she quietly fixed the hem of her skirt

“It’s not your fault, Bell”

She shook her head slightly while giving a consoling smile

“This result proves that the logic of the systeas The «Iination Control System»…in other words, the «Incarnate System»…”

Haruyuki sucked in a sharp breath As a bigger reaction, Black Lotus drew back her right leg while still holding Lime Bell Her V-shaped mask quickly turned away

Facing the stock still Chiyuri and Kuroyukihime, Sky Raker calmly spoke

“Since Bell has still only heard the rough outline of the «Incarnate Systeo, I tried to raise the altitude lih e for sacrificing s, and I made a contract with God…no, the Devil My as only slightly granted My altitude lis did not return after that no matter how many times I Dived into the duel field It isEven I no longer understand how to undo it That’s why it’s not Bell’s fault that it won’t return to normal…much less your fault, Lotus”

—If you pursue e for gaining so

Blood Leopard of the Red Legion had once said that to Haruyuki Back then, Sky Raker’s iht have been in Leopard’s mind when she said that

In response to those words, Haruyuki answered with the following ‘I want to believe I want to believe in the Incarnate System—and in Brain Burst itself’

That must not be made into a lie Definitely For the sake of that as well, Haruyuki had to bring Sky Raker to the top of the Hermes Cord

“……Raker-san”

Haruyuki called out to her with a quiet but resolute will in his voice He gazed straight at her dark red eye lenses, and spoke

“I think that the strength of a teahting power Their power of observation, their judge your best because you’re all together is what’syou with us, we can becoer That’s why…that’s why”

Haruyuki could only speak up to there with his limited conversational skills Even so, he soripped his hands tightly, the big hand of Cyan Pile suddenly hit his shoulder from behind

“It’s just as Haru says Raker-san, you are an irreplaceable battle force in this legion”

Chiyuri also gave a big nod to Takumu’s words

“That’s right, Nee-san! We’re the strongest when the five of us are gathered together!”

And lastly, Kuroyukihime took a step forward

“That’s how it is, Raker It’s just as everyone says”

The leader of Nega Nebulas quietly spoke in a tone which expressed the pain hidden at her core

“I said it to you before I need you At any time…I will simplify it for you In tomorrow’s race, if you’re not there, we four won’t be able to do our very best Just that is reason enough for you to participate”

Although it was quite high-handed, they ords that contained direct penetrating power

Sky Raker widened her eyes for a ave a faint bitter smile—and shook her white hat as if to say “Really now”

“Lotus, the way you talk like that hasn’t change since we first met”

She looked down and lightly stroked her knee with her right hand

“…Things that are lost won’t return again But, there are also surely things that continue to shi+ne without being spoiled…The right to believe that, no, to wish for that to be so may still be left in me as well……”

Her whisper, hardly loud enough to be a sound, flowed out quietly from beneath her hat At the saht escape into the air

However, when she raised her head, Sky Raker only gave her usual gentle smile

“……Thank you, Lotus, Pile, Bell…and Crow I accept all your feelings —However”

Then, her expression became mischievous

“Since I’ to participate, you’ll have to throay naïve thoughts like getting second or third place We’ll either win completely, or burn out in the sky”

HII

Watching Haruyuki as he straightened his back, Takuhter

—You two don’t kno scary this person can truly be!

While shouting that inside his h it was a little stiff—from the bottom of his heart

References

↑ ”Utan” is presuutan”

↑ Master (shi+shou) in this casethe lines of “teacher”, butto someone, so it’s left like that

↑ Jack-knifing: basically, when a vehicle like a trailer (or in this case, athe back section to turn at an acute angle from the front section/wheel

↑ Yes, that’s literally what Ash Roller says in English, “Tera-Nothing” No idea what that’s supposed to mean

↑ Karasu: japanese for “crow” Left in japanese to differentiate when they say “Crow” in English

↑ GM: Game Master