Accel World Vol 7 Chapter 2 (2/2)
The Big Dipper
— Dokun, his heart unexpectedly skipped a beat He felt as if a spark was continuously flaring up deep in his head His eyes were oddly attracted to the star closest to the center out of the three stars of the handle Only that nameless star seemed to continue to pulsate at the same frequency as the spark in his head
Every flare caused a wave of pain in the core of his brain that passed along the central nervous systeh his neck and shoulders to the center of his back, between the left and right scapula — Stab Pain Stab Stab His body was in pain, yet it also felt like a foreign object being buried in his body……
‘…… -san, Kuu-san!’
Haruyuki suddenly lifted his head when he felt soht hand
Beside him, Ardor Maiden’s crimson eye-lenses revealed her worry He shook his head in a panic and answered hesitantly
‘So……sorry, must have dazed off……’
‘Is…… that so Then…… It must have been my mistake Sorry, but Kuu-san’s body…… for a ulfed by shadows……’
‘…………’
It seemed as if he had heard those exact words so the «Hero, when the shuttle was in the warp zone…… Sky Raker had pointed out the sa……
‘…… It, it ’
He basically gave the same response as last ti of worry and continued on
‘Rather than that…… we should consider our next step Re in this safe area is not an option’
‘…… Yes, that…… is true’
Utai too, as if to shake off her doubts, nodded her head firs
The two of them were hidden at a place fifty ate inner courtyard right now Directly across the rows of vermillion pillars to the west, was the stone road that connected north and south To the east was a sizable arden vibes The round corridor that ran alongside the as to the south
Uber- Warrior Enemies constantly patrolled the wide road and the corridor To sneak past them was no easy feat Loud splashes and the sound of heavy objects arden to the east fro it could basically be ruled out
The only viable route would be the narrow strip of space between the rows of pillars and the gardenthe one way course northward There was no exit to the north, only the palace that was the ic of the «Heian» Stage that antic shrine, that place should be called the inner shrine It was very likely that there were Ene inside Their target was not to clear the Imperial City but to find a Portal and survive with Utai — Ardor Maiden Approaching the palace carelessly only to fall into the «Infinite EK» state must be avoided
‘……Perhaps……’
Utai returned her attention fros back onto Haruyuki Sheas she pondered
‘Lotus and Raker should have already returned back to the real world via the Portal at the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Headquarters If separated fro battle, standard practice is to not take the risk of staying still and logout if possible’
‘Yeah…… that is, true’
Haruyuki nodded, the young girl kept going with her tender yet clear tone
‘If a «Safety»(TL Note: Written as ‘Eency Route Breaker’ 緊急回線切断, read as ‘Safety’セーフティ) has already been set, those who had left earlier can activate it so everyone can return back to the real world long enough to clarify the situation So if we just wait for the disconnection, ill return back to Haruyuki-san’s apartment…… I think……’
A «safety» hen the Neuro Linker woulda wired home server or aso, even if one was unable to reach a Portal in the Unlimited Neutral Field, companions ere able to leave in advance can activate the device acting as the circuit breaker, allowing a teout
Right now, Haruyuki and Utai, as well as Kuroyukihime, Fuuko, Taku room, connected to each other’s Neuro Linker in a daisy chain (TL Note: In electrical and electronic engineering a daisy chain is a wiring scheether in sequence or in a ring) Kuroyukihime and the others, who have returned via the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Headquarters Portal close to the Ie, would only need to pull out the XSB line connecting Haruyuki’s Neuro Linker and the Haruyuki family’s home server The next moment Haruyuki and Utai would automatically Burst Out
But Utai kept speaking while still in thought
‘…… Although the current situation is rather special, Lotus and the others are most likely to hesitate In any case, Kuu-san and I broke through Suzaku’s guard, due to that miraculous one-in-ten-thousand chance This is our only chance to explore the insides of the Imperial City We most likely won’t have another one’
‘We won’t have…… another one? If we use the saain……’
He was purely discussing the feasibility, there was no way Haruyuki would want to try that again Utai raised her left hand to point towards the south-west, past Haruyuki’s shoulders
‘Kuu-san, please take a look there The back of the south gate’
‘O, oh’
He turned and sneaked a peek at the large citadel gate standing fifty meters away from the shades of the round pillar that was behind him
The gate, coe panels, completely divided the inside and the outside of the Imperial City with its unbelievable o, a gap several dozen centie
Utai was pointing at the dead center of the gate He concentrated hard at it, using the bonfires on the ground as illue on there
It was a relief (TL Note: A piece of sculpture that use the n stands out froreater or lesser extent) A htly held the two gate panels together Intricate carvings had been made across the surface, but the thickness of the object made it clear that it was intended for a purpose other than pure decoration
‘………… Ah……’
He stared at it intently for a while and the ied in his head
An enor neck and a sharp beak opened wide It was in the form of «Sacred Beast Suzaku»
‘The gate’s…… seal……?’
Haruyuki felt Utai nod her head after he involuntarily blurted that out
‘I too think that is the case …… Kuu-san, I’m not sure if you noticed it…… That seal had been destroyed by soate’
‘Eh…… Ehhhhh!?’
He covered his own mouth after that accidental exclaain quickly
‘De, destroyed……!? It wasn’t originally able to open like that…… it was daed?’
‘That’s how I see it It wasn’t split apart vertically straight down thea crooked cross’
As if to re-enact the scene, Ardor Maiden straightened her fingers and ht hand (TL Note: Kawahara Reki was being playful here, instead of using ‘Cross’ in either japanese or katakana, he decided to use ‘Batten’, a word that best translates to ‘demerit cross’ What’s worse was the fact that he used the katakana version バッテンinstead of the kanji version 罰点)She kept on speaking in an even lower voice after she lowered her hand
‘However, a few seconds after we caenerated to form what you see here — In this world, keys and seals are all systeate will never open unless «Suzaku» is defeated That is to say…… so, or soate to open for that instance e approached it…… That’s what I believe…… ‘
‘Bu……but, wait a minute, that…… means……’
Haruyuki stared at the faraway ht of the bonfires He opened and closed his mouth over and over under the silver anised his thoughts
‘That ed to infiltrate the «Imperial City» before us…… and to facilitate anyone who ht……?’
‘…… Yes, that’s right’
‘Bu……but Sacred Beast Suzaku is still active Then how did this Burst Linker e to come in? Mai-san (TL Note: Haruyuki’s nickname for Utai’s Avatar form pronounced like ‘ate closed was real, the seal can’t have been destroyed like that since the start of the Accelerated World either…… There shouldn’t have been a way for that person to enter unless they defeated Suzaku…… right……?’
Utai placed her hands upon her knees again and slightly shook her head
‘I’m not sure either — To find out more, I fear…… we may have to enter the Imperial City’s inner shrine……’
Her words faded to a whisper at the end, Haruyuki turned his gaze to the north — to the inner shrine’s black silhouette blocking the starry skies
— Enter there, the center of the Accelerated World…… the center of the center……
I is completely impossible More importantly, there are bound to be Ene the front entrance of the inner shrine How in the world ah…………
He scrunched his shoulders as his thoughts continued to drift off pessiht at that moment
It was as if there was a screen deep in his mind and an unbelievable scene unfolded upon it
His own Avatar should be seated on the pebbles, yet he saw another him stand up and proceed north cautiously He hid in the shadows of the round pillars to avoid the gaze of the Warrior Eneilant but nevertheless steady pace, he approached the inner shrine His destination was not the heavily guarded front entrance, but aon the white wall a few dozen meters to the east……
‘— The issue with the seal can wait, I think we have to move now’
Utai’s voice reached Haruyuki’s ears and broke him out of his vivid vision He opened his eyes wide in shock and then blinked several times Utai did not seem to have noticed Haruyuki’s abnor at the distant inner shrine
‘Sooner or later, Lotus is going to forcibly Burst Out Kuu-san and I if we just wait like this But even if we do go back to the real world, the next ti to appear in this I difference between that and the «Infinite EK» state……’
‘Ah…… Yea, yeah, that’s true……’
Haruyuki responded after he reorganised his thoughts
‘Unless shi+nomi…… no, Mei-san and I return properly via a Portal, thisafter reopening that gate, dodging Suzaku’s attacks and heading for the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Headquarters on the other side of the bridge…… Our only other option is to find a new Portal within the Imperial City……’
‘Yes, that’s…… all there is to it’
Ardor Maiden nodded Haruyuki stared into her cri breath as he slowly spoke
‘Mai-san Even though this is a baseless and uncertain suggestion…… I, want to try the Imperial City inner shrine I don’t knohy…… but I feel like we can make it’
He stared at the young maiden as she tilted her head His Avatar, which had been sitting on the pebbles with crossed legs, had now unconsciously sat up straight He balled his fists on his knees, straightened his back and continued on
‘Of course, I understand that if we get killed by those Warriors or soer Enemies, ould fall into the absolute worst «Inside Imperial City Infinite EK» state I also understand that we shouldn’t take the risk because of sooing…… no, I feel…… like I have to go……’
To Haruyuki, these words were ones in which he placed considerable effort, although as always, they ended in mumbles At that exactit was i Burst Linker 2 levels above him
‘I understand’
Utai nodded her head, which was met by Haruyuki’s ‘Eh!?’ Theher kneeling position until their knees touched She reached out with her right hand while in this position and placed it upon Haruyuki’s tightly clenched fists
‘Kuu-san Back then, when you were being chased by Suzaku’s flames, you disobeyed Lotus’ retreat order to save me when I appeared at the altar That instant, I realised I can believe in you…… You are someone I can rely on No…… actually, I have known that since the first tiarden, when you frantically cleaning the pet house by yourself……’
‘No……that’s not true So…… someone like me, can’t, be……’
Haruyuki’s mumble came in a burst as he bowed his head deeply
‘I, always do things without considering…… always fail……that ti too, I splashed water all over you……’
As if recalling that incident, Utai laughed slightly and gripped Haruyuki’s hands tighter
‘I have said so before Losing, falling, failing…… true strengththese Even if we are killed on the way into the inner shrine, I’ about it’
Those words were gentle while harsh at the salea eyes, and nodded heavily
‘…… Yes I’m sure I can We will return alive…… back to the real world, where everyone is waiting for us’
(Translator’s colish…… )