「「「A message left behind by the Student Council President?」」」
We go back in time a little.
This conversation was taking place on their way to the airship station, after the girl who was nearly abducted had been returned home, accompanied by General Services.
The content Subaru relayed to them compelled even General Services (with their expertise) to re-evaluate their classification of this ordinary boy standing before them.
Whether it was a lie or the truth, this boy named Subaru claimed he might be the person the Student Council President, who disappeared half a year ago, was looking for.
「There was a simple way to distinguish, even if she didn't respond... but, all the information hasn't been gathered yet, and even if there is some misunderstanding... ーー I have to search further.」 (Subaru)
「Furthermore, Sanctum Tower, the secret lies in the fact that only the person they are searching for can operate its control device. If I awaken that dormant statue...」 (Subaru)
I will be able to bring a smile back to the faces of the two girls who were weeping like that. I, Natsuki Subaru, haven't repaid any of those debts yet...!
Even if all those events are said to have lost their meaning due to time reversal, I cannot lie to my memory or my past.
I feel ashamed of the self that kept making excuses that "it's fine as long as it reverts." Natsuki Subaru, can you, in such misery, raise your head before your father and mother?
「...」
「There are people I want to repay, and for that, in either case, I must 'handle the matter.'」 (Subaru)
「I will return to give back this gun I initially seized and all the property I took, and I will sincerely apologize, saying, 'I'm sorry,' after solving everything, at the very least.」 (Subaru)
「Because the condition for a happy ending is for everything to end with everyone smiling, isn't it?」 (Subaru)
「...」
「... I have an idea, then.」 (Kayoko)
Onigata Kayoko raised her voice. For Subaru, she was the smartest member of General Services, and her words were often valuable to everyone in the company, too.
「Since hearing Subaru's story, I've been considering something...」 (Kayoko)
「The matter might be related to the incident currently sweeping through Kivotos.」 (Kayoko)
「Might be? Did something catch your attention?」 (Subaru)
「ーー The Kaiser Corporation.」 (Kayoko)
The name of the company to which those foolish androids they had just encountered belonged reached Subaru and everyone else.
After receiving an explanation about it, Subaru hadn't thought it was more than just an ordinary corrupt company, but there must be something more to it. Subaru moved his elbow away from the window, adjusted his seating, and prepared to listen.
「Whether it's the abduction of that girl we just saw, or even the mission request we received... in any case, conflicts are currently increasing among randomly gathered groups across Kivotos, for unclear objectives.」 (Kayoko)
「The students being controlled don't know 'for what purpose' they started fighting; they say they only did it because they were paid.」 (Kayoko)
「...」 (Subaru)
Subaru's small mind was unable to grasp why these events were connected to his story...
「Amidst these conflicts, the Kaiser Corporation has been committing crimes in scattered locations, mostly abductions, of course.」 (Kayoko)
「Kaiser has been increasing its influence in every administrative district, both openly and secretly, and this has been happening since Sanctum Tower stopped operating. During its operation... when the Student Council President was closely monitoring it, they couldn't move.」 (Kayoko)
「In other words, the non-operation of Sanctum Tower is very convenient for Kaiser, and if it is reactivated, it must be after they can seize control of it. So, operating the tower now, in itself, constitutes a sign of Kivotos' recovery, and if that happens, Kaiser's activities will diminish...」 (Kayoko)
「ーー And amid this situation, we received a request from Kaiser: 'Abduct a living male who possesses no aura, with black hair and black eyes, and deliver him to us.'」 (Kayoko)
「...!!!」 (Subaru)
Silence. But it was not an awkward silence; it was the silence of astonishment at reaching a conclusion that could be accepted even if it were a lie.
Subaru looked at the logo affixed to the "Kaiser" car they were riding in and remembered Hina's mission in his first timeline.
Subaru knew through the documents he secretly reviewed in the reception room that the extreme acceleration he witnessed that day, and everything Hina did, was aimed at ending the conflict.
Even the conflict that occurred at the Respawn point was actually an armed conflict, if he thought about it now... And although the circulation of firearms is common in this world, it was certainly anomalous that continuous gunfire exchanges happened everywhere he went.
Perhaps Subaru didn't realize it due to the shock of the other world, but conflicts have their causes and require prior preparations for combat.
「You are a genius! Does this mean we'll be able to crush Kaiser's plots 'incidentally'?」 (Subaru)
「That is only a hypothesis, and although we don't know their exact goal, at the very least, operating the tower will eliminate *some* objective they have.」 (Kayoko)
Even though it was just a hypothesis, Subaru, whose mind wheels often turn only when lubricated, gave a look of respect toward Kayoko, who managed to deduce the common factor among a series of accidental events and placed the final piece of this long puzzle, which Subaru had brought.
He shook his head vigorously, nearly putting his hand on her shoulder in enthusiasm, but stopped, knowing some might dislike it.
「Alright! Good, good, good! I feel genuinely excited!」 (Subaru)
「... Wait, there is still one ambiguous point in this story, Kayoko.」 (Aro)
「Eh? What do you mean?」 (Kayoko)
「Right. Kaiser's request, which specifies 'a living male who possesses no aura, with black hair and black eyes,' suspiciously resembles the content of the message left by the Student Council President. I don't think this is a coincidence at all.」 (Aro)
「For them to look for Subaru, who came from 'outside,' today, at this specific time and situation... this requires something akin to prophecy. Perhaps the President's message holds that prophecy, meaning...」 (Aro)
「Yes, meaning, meaning...?」 (Subaru)
「ーー Meaning there might be an accomplice within the Student Council who is communicating with the Kaiser Corporation.」 (Kayoko)
「... Haaah... I see that clearly... ーー Isn't this dangerous?」 (Subaru)
The clearer the situation became, the wider the chessboard became, and Subaru faced an even more besieged position.
「Don't make a novice start a game of Shogi with missing pieces...! This is a much worse handicap. The bottom line is that before tomorrow comes... ーー」 (Subaru)
「We must solve everything, and conquer everything.」 (Subaru)
That's right, Kivotos might collapse by tomorrow.
There was one question that concerned Subaru, and it related to the fourth time loop.
His desire to find the conditions for repetition is why he is moving now.
Is death the only condition for returning, or will merely the arrival of tomorrow cause the loop?
If repetition only occurs upon death, it means he died that night without knowing, and the causes of death on the roof of a convenience store are limited. Was another grenade randomly thrown at him?
That is unlikely.
He can be certain of that. Subaru, who experienced death once, Subaru, who went through those insane moments, knows well that this time is different.
Even with that grenade that took his life in an instant, there was a gap between him and it.
A gap, a short, brief moment between "Soul" and "Death."
On that last night, there wasn't even that gap, and so Subaru believed the condition for repetition was different.
... However, there is a possibility; perhaps it was heavy shelling that wiped out the entire area, or a nuclear bomb. His feeling that death occurred that night is still strong...
— If that were the case, what would have happened "after that"?
「Saying the area became scorched earth won't be enough.」 (Subaru)
Apparently, even for the residents of Kivotos, taking a direct hit from a bullet causes damage no less severe than being pelted with stones.
As long as there is damage, there is a limit to endurance.
「... Damn it, I feel like I've been handed a rescue mission at the last checkpoint before the boss monster's room.」 (Subaru)
「ーー Kayoko, tell me, what is that plan...?」 (Subaru)
As Subaru asked the question, depressed by the certainty of this day ending, his eyes met Kayoko's.
From her gaze, one could sense that a brilliant strategy was about to be launched.
Subaru swallowed hard and waited for her words.
「A breach.」 (Kayoko)
「Eh?」 (Subaru)
「We will storm the Schale Office.」 (Kayoko)
「Mmm? Eh? Miss Kayoko? Did I hear you wrong...?」 (Subaru)
「It is as it sounds. The President (Aro) wants to stop Kaiser's evil deeds, and Subaru wants to reach the Schale Office.」 (Kayoko)
「So, let's proceed with a direct breach. We don't have time, do we?」 (Kayoko)
「ーー Madam Kayoko, allow me to offer one piece of advice... ーー Shouldn't we stop this?」 (Haruka)
「Hehe~! Kayoko-chan! That's a great idea!」 (Mutsuki)
「Eh? Eh? A-are we really going? We can't!」 (Aro)
「This is what is called a convergence of interests, President. Do you agree? .... President?」 (Kayoko)
「Heh, y-y-yes, I suppose so...? Let's do it then!!」 (Aro)
(Astonishing! Wh-what are you all saying!!) (Subaru)
「「...」」 (Kayoko and Mutsuki)
It should be noted that an attack on Schale, the Federal Investigation Office directly affiliated with the Student Council that manages the affairs of Kivotos...
Is equivalent to an arrest warrant being issued for them by the Kivotos Center, and all Academies and factions.
●○●○●
It was evening. General Services, due to their status, could not use Gehenna's airship station and were forced to proceed by car. Thus, the Kaiser car was used once again.
When they arrived and stepped out of the car, the sunlight that greeted them coincidentally reminded Subaru of that ominous day.
Subaru took a deep breath, and there was no fear in the breath he exhaled. "I will do everything in my power." The calamity wolf that was likely to attack at this time now had General Services to ward it off.
There was no negligence, no arrogance, and in Natsuki Subaru's heart, there was only firm resolve.
— At the very least, I will extend my hand to help those who asked for my assistance.
Subaru did not claim to understand everything he could do on his own; he was an unresourceful minor. He kept confidently saying he "could" do what he could not, accumulating one failure after another.
He loves himself too much, always blaming others to protect his ego, yet he is the least to understand himself—how ironic.
「Let's go.」 (Subaru)
Subaru performed a quick warm-up: bending and stretching his knees, moving from a squat to a trunk lift, and concluding with a deep breath... ーー He always concluded with this word.
「VICTORY!!」 (Subaru)
「V-VICTORY~...?」 (Aro)
Aro, who was doing some incomprehensible radio calisthenics next to him, followed suit, raising her arms high and shouting the magical word "Victory."
Victory, yes, "Victory" is Subaru's magic word, the word that lifts his spirits and sits at the top of Natsuki Subaru's mental library catalog of a hundred ideas.
「What is the value of transferring to another world, as long as I am the invincible Natsuki Subaru, at my strongest, running while carrying the Star in the Chariot Races!」 (Subaru)
「Come on then, Disaster Fox, and Kaiser Corporation! I will reach the finish line before both of you and achieve absolute victory!!」 (Subaru)
Subaru led the way, relying on that mysterious confidence and energy, but the first and largest wall he faced was an automatic door made of reinforced glass, naturally closed.
In the end, Subaru is Subaru... It is impossible for him to enter the Schale Office without help from Nanagami Rin...
「Alright, I'll blow up the door. Move away, Subaru!」 (Mutsuki)
「What?」 (Subaru)
Mutsuki, who had remained alone in the car, turned off the engine. A pile of homemade grenades was stacked in the back seat.
— She floored the gas pedal.
The car lunged directly toward the Schale entrance.
「At full speed!!! ーー?」 (Subaru)
Subaru tumbled, managed to evade the car, and a huge roar, which shattered the silence of the empty alley in the evening, pierced his ears.
Subaru rolled repeatedly, Kayoko caught him, and he survived the explosion shrapnel, his eyes filled with tears.
「That is dangerous! That is extremely dangerous!! I would have needed a hundred years to recover if Sister Kayoko hadn't intervened and embraced me!」 (Subaru)
「Does that mean you would have died~?」 (Mutsuki)
「Yes! Exactly! And how rude of you, you got out halfway! Thankfully, you are safe anyway!」 (Subaru)
「Hehe, thank you.」 (Mutsuki)
「You know I'm mocking you... But, is this decision... ーー correct? Well, in any case, the entrance is open! Let's go, everyone!」 (Subaru)
「Let's go quickly before the guards arrive! And remember, Subaru, it all depends on you. If you don't regain control of Sanctum Tower, everything will end!」 (Aro)
「I don't offer any guarantee for that; I'm not saying the insurance will cover... ーー I won't say that! 'I will do everything in my power.' If nothing happens simply by touching it again, we will deal with it then.」 (Subaru)
「... (Oh, now, too late, I wish I could take back my words...)」 (Aro)
While General Services, along with Subaru, headed towards the Schale stairs... Haruka remained alone, standing at the entrance and watching them.
She stood firmly, truly like a dog waiting for its master, clutching her short rifle.
When Subaru saw that, he was about to call out to her to ask her to follow them, but the other company members were climbing the stairs, ignoring Haruka.
「Ah? Wait! Why are you so suddenly harsh...」 (Subaru)
「Don't worry, this is also part of the plan... If the Calamity Wolf and Kaiser are coming, we need a gatekeeper! We are counting on you, Haruka!」 (Aro)
「Understood. From now on... I will not allow a single person to reach Ms. Aro.」 (Haruka)
「Well, are you really okay... ーー You must be the ones who know the answer, of course. I wish you safety from my side too! Good luck, Haruka!」 (Subaru)
「Ah, ah, thank you...」 (Haruka)
All the members of General Services trusted Haruka's fighting ability, and their ability to move forward without looking back was evidence of that long-lasting trust.
The critical point is the moment when the gatekeeper (Haruka) is breached. The withdrawal criterion for General Services in combat was determined by monitoring the status of the person with the most confusing withdrawal standards.
After running up the stairs for several minutes, they could not use the elevator due to a power outage and were forced to climb on foot, which posed a significant obstacle in this towering building.
Regardless of the three entities from Kivotos, Natsuki Subaru's reliance on his ordinary physical abilities was now a hindrance to him.
「Ugh!, Damn it, every step here is really high and big...」 (Subaru)
「What do you think? Can I carry Subaru-kun on my back?~」 (Mutsuki)
「.....」 (Subaru)
「No need to strain yourself...? You're from outside, aren't you? You don't have an aura, and we won't mock you if we carry you.」 (Aro)
「Ugh, ughhh... Don't underestimate me!!」 (Subaru)
「Wow, keep going, keep going~」 (Mutsuki)
The stairs in this skyscraper were unusually high. The physical strength that made Subaru invincible during his elementary and middle school days had greatly diminished in his current body.
Is the reason his lifestyle? It is agreed not to mention that. Nevertheless, he had done some light exercise, so he utilized his acquired perseverance and successfully climbed the stairs to the office.
「We succeeded in climbing... Ooh? Woah, woah, woah!?」 (Subaru)
Simultaneously, a huge explosion sound was heard coming from the floor below, the ground floor. Haruka must have started fighting.
Away from Subaru, who was anxiously staring at the empty floor, Kayoko's eyes fell upon a device she had not seen before, and a connected tablet fixed to the wall.
「...! Is that the recognition device?」 (Kayoko)
「Yes, that's it.」 (Subaru)
「Do you know how to use it?」 (Kayoko)
「No, not at all. All I know is that I have to touch it... and if it doesn't work, I'll be helpless.」 (Subaru)
「... You rely on chance just like the President...」 (Kayoko)
Subaru ignored Aro, who looked somewhat frustrated, and headed toward the tablet.
In truth, his statement, "nothing happened just by touching it," is not entirely accurate. In the first timeline, Subaru touched the tablet, and that is what made him stare at "that girl."
It is true that touching it was the spark that led to the flow of those unfamiliar memories with someone he didn't know.
「...」 (Subaru)
「I've been praying for nothing to happen for a long time, but please... let something happen now...!」 (Subaru)
Subaru touched the tablet with his index finger.
— There was no reaction.
「Damn it... what? What is missing? Does this mean I am not the person intended!?」 (Subaru)
Will it work if he licks it? Will it work if he punches it or rubs his skin on it? Subaru abandoned all shame and modesty and resorted to every possible method... but all his attempts failed.
In the end, even after he cried out for help, the gods did not seem to pay attention.
— At that moment, the two who were moving slightly away from Subaru's bizarre behavior (despite knowing the reason), and the only one who was laughing (Mutsuki), aimed their weapons toward the office door.
「My, my... Did you all come here to destroy that, too?」
「Ufufu... This is causing us trouble, causing us so much trouble.」
Subaru felt a shiver and a cold sweat run down his back. "They really came, damn it, I didn't want them to come," Subaru sighed to himself until his vision blurred, but he had no choice but to continue fiddling with the device without turning around.
The slightly high-pitched voice, and the laugh that carried a hint of madness, forcibly made him recall that moment, and he tightly clenched his fists.
Because the 「Calamity Fox」 was standing behind him.
「... Not a single scratch... ーー Did you avoid Haruka?」 (Kayoko)
「Yes, I am not foolish enough to confront a rabid dog like that, so I made those who provoked her face her instead.」
「More importantly... why did General Services come here? Did you receive a request, you strange people?」
「Hmph, don't underestimate us... We are not under anyone's command now, but lone wolves.」 (Aro)
「...? Then, why are you really here?」
「... Eh... To eliminate evil! While we commit evil!!」 (Aro)
(Inside Subaru's mind, he recalled Aro hesitating, with a confident yet trembling face, wondering: "Didn't you just hesitate about what to say?")
Given the delicacy of the situation, and as long as Aro was buying them time with the discussion... Subaru had to strive to activate the "Shittim Chest" before this lunatic person could do anything.
「Well, that's fine. You all die here, and I will destroy this place afterward.」
「Damn it... for what purpose did you come here!? We are here carrying an extremely noble and grand reason!」 (Subaru)
Subaru fiddled with the "Shittim Chest," while simultaneously watching the "Calamity Fox" out of the corner of his eye as he shouted those words.
Her face was covered with a fox-shaped mask, from which two real fox ears protruded. As for her clothes, could they be called a modified school uniform? It had a design that blended a uniform with traditional Japanese attire.
「I definitely came to destroy everything in this place.」
「But why...!」 (Subaru)
「A hobby.」
「... ーー」 (Subaru)
Astonishment. She was a monster impossible to reason with, despite the elegant appearance surrounding her.
Subaru was not lacking in plans to use his superior negotiation skills to calm the situation, but they would not work against such an opponent.
Subaru cleared everything from his mind except the idea of activation, and began to churn his brain at maximum speed to recover the memory. There must be a condition for activation other than just touching it. There must be a condition, or we will be in trouble.
「Well then, let's begin... which one of you wants to cry first? Please?」
「Do you think we'll do something clumsy like fighting in turns? Go, Mutsuki, Kayoko!」 (Aro)
「「Understood!」」
A firefight erupted. Mutsuki quickly kicked a desk and threw it in front of Subaru to serve as a shield from stray bullets, then swung and tossed her bag.
The closest to direct hand-to-hand combat in General Services is Haruka. Mutsuki and Kayoko operate from mid-range, and Aro, although she carries a sniper rifle, is capable of firing one-handed even from this distance, so she doesn't have many drawbacks.
In contrast, the Calamity Fox gripped her compact short rifle fitted with a bayonet, prepared to shoot down the flying bag, and was about to pull the trigger.
— But before she fully pulled the trigger, she felt a chill run through her intuition.
「... I'll give it back to you!」
She pulled back her rifle, grabbed the handle of the bag, and the moment she tried to throw it...
The sound of a grenade being activated came from inside the bag.
「Too late, dear~?」 (Mutsuki)
「My, my...」
— Explosion.
The fight erupted against the backdrop of the sunset.
In this narrow, indoor space, the Calamity Fox was able to repeat her surprise attacks. She used the documents that were kicked, the overturned desks, and everything around her to create continuous distraction in close combat, thus escaping their focused gaze in moments.
Her priorities were ordered as follows: destroy this place, then that man, and finally the President of General Services who was carrying a long-range weapon. However, the presence of the two girls in the front, who were thinking of providing tight cover, was a burden for her.
「Come on...! Subaru, is the situation still bad?」 (Aro)
「I have a plan! Do you have anything sharp that can cut?」 (Subaru)
「We don't have anything... and trying to reach the glass over there...」 (Aro)
Aro exchanged glances with Subaru, who was hiding behind the shield; there were fragments of a window shattered by the explosion. But exposure and running toward it would put the front line at great risk.
Therefore, the action Subaru took was...
「Ah, damn it! I can't back down now after all this preparation! I must prove my manhood!!」 (Subaru)
「Aro! Shoot!!」 (Subaru)
He raised his arm, asking her to shoot the palm of his hand.
「Everything preceding your wrist will fly off!!?」 (Aro)
「My goodness!?」
「At least you should use the rifle you have on your back...」
「This means I am required to have more resolve...!! Don't be a coward!!」 (Subaru)
Subaru immediately took off the rifle strap, raised the simple rifle he had seized, to fire it one-handed.
It was somewhat heavy... but his daily weightlifting exercises with a five-kilogram-plus dumbbell had paid off. He stuck the rifle to the back of his hand, fixed it to his shoulder and chin based on a wild idea, and tightened the strap hard to aim.
— His chin shook violently, causing the aiming to sway, but he pulled the trigger with firm resolve.
「Ugh... Agh... That hurts... AAARGH!!?」 (Subaru)
「S-stop pulling the trigger! Your finger is stuck on it!!」 (Aro)
「Aghhh... ーー Hfff!! A de-term-in-ation!!」 (Subaru)
Due to his body tensing up from the pain, he nearly fired several bullets into his own body. But thanks to his amateur attempt to fix the rifle, it quickly separated from him, enabling him to fire only one bullet that pierced the back of his hand...
Subaru pressed his chin and shoulder, which were affected by the recoil, and felt something resembling a dislocation. Then, he directed his bloodied hand...
「Haaah!!」 (Subaru)
— And struck the tablet strongly with it.
「...」
「...…」
「... Did it fail?」 (Subaru)
He closed his eyes tightly from the pain, having heard nothing due to the repeated gunfire near his ears... but was there any achievement?
He thought this, and slowly opened his eyes.
— What caught his attention was a brilliant blue light.
「Component match, dimensional interference confirmed, causal coefficient negated, restart initiated.」
「I have been waiting for you, Natsuki Subaru. I am A.R.O.N.A, the primary operating system for the Shittim Chest.」
「I was directed by the General Student Council President, and I, A.R.O.N.A, will now be Natsuki Subaru's assistant AI.」
「What are your orders?」
He heard nothing, absolutely nothing... but the small, white-haired girl who appeared on the tablet in front of him was definitely a beneficial entity for Natsuki Subaru.
The activation had begun, the activation had succeeded, and Natsuki Subaru truly was "that person."
Subaru felt relief at the current startup, mixed with depression at its launch... ーー To achieve the greatest goal of his coming here, he shouted:
「Restart Sanctum Tower... ーー」 (Subaru)
And in that moment of shouting.
「ーー!!!」
Subaru was violently shoved by someone.
In the corner of his vision, which was beginning to be overwhelmed by darkness, a faint glimmer appeared...
It was the red and black coat she was wearing.
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