"I sealed the Pseudo-Herrscher and was severely injured in that battle. Afterward, I was captured and brought back by Schicksal. What followed is what you see now."
From Kallen's words, it wasn't hard to tell that the person who had become a Pseudo-Herrscher because of the [Black Box] should have been someone very special to her. Yet,
Kallen used the term "Pseudo-Herrscher" with such detachment. Throughout her long explanation, she had remained calm, only showing a trace of indignation when mentioning Schicksal's failure to protect the people and their transformation into oppressors.
It was as if the things she spoke of weren't actual personal experiences, but a story she was merely reciting. Kiana didn't notice this peculiarity, but Hua Yi did.
Seeing through it but not calling it out, Hua Yi asked another question. "What punishment will you face next?"
"...The Council has already conducted a trial. Because I spoke in defense of the Pseudo-Herrscher at the hearing, I was sentenced to be hanged."
"How could they?!" Kiana exclaimed.
Kallen, however, offered a comforting smile. "It's alright. After all, I've already been through so much... I mean, I've already prepared myself mentally."
She corrected herself mid-sentence. The "idiot" Kiana failed to notice the detail, but Hua Yi caught it. He wasn't overly surprised and remained composed.
For a time, silence fell over them.
"It's getting late. You two should get some rest," Kallen said.
Kiana clenched her fists. Despite the fact that she was the one about to be hanged, Kallen was still able to show such effortless concern for others.
The girl lay down in a corner of the cell next to Hua Yi, her back to Kallen. After maintaining this position for about half an hour, Kiana peeked over her shoulder. Confirming that Kallen's eyes were closed and she had presumably fallen asleep, Kiana shook Hua Yi's arm.
"I want to help Kallen-sis."
"You should know where we are."
"I know, but I still can't just watch this happen! Can you understand me?"
"I understand. It's like watching a movie or reading a novel and seeing a plot so frustrating it makes you want to cough up blood. Many people would want to send razor blades to the director or author. Now, a chance to change things is right in front of us. Even though you know it's a simulation, you can't sit still, can you?"
"Yes, yes, exactly!"
"I feel the same way, but now isn't the time. You have to remember we are still inside Schicksal's Database... Acting recklessly could bring about unpredictable consequences. Please be a little more patient, Kiana, until the right moment arrives."
"...Alright." Kiana took several deep breaths to calm herself. If Hua Yi had a plan, she could suppress her impatience.
"Sleep well. Leave the rest to me." Hua Yi rubbed Kiana's head, telling her to rest early, and then closed his own eyes.
He wasn't sleeping, but rather sensing his own body. Since entering this special space, he had been able to vaguely feel something existing within him.
His current body wasn't physical. Logically, his body, clothes, and even the items he carried were reconstructed by Bronya within the VR environment through hacking. However, this one thing was different.
Hua Yi had a very clear realization: this thing wasn't something that existed within the VR world, nor was it a simulated illusion. It was something real that he already possessed.
It was a tachi. After he had obtained it from the supply system, he had been completely unable to sense its existenceuntil now.
Existing within his soul[Jizo Mitama - Void].
During his previous experiences in Virtual Reality, Hua Yi hadn't felt [Jizo Mitama - Void] at all. Not even the slightest sensation. But now, a change had occurred.
Whether [Jizo Mitama - Void] was affecting this special VR world, or this special VR world was affecting [Jizo Mitama - Void], Hua Yi wasn't sure. However, a few ideas were beginning to form.
To realize those ideas, he had to grasp that faint sensation and truly pull [Jizo Mitama - Void] out from his soul. Hua Yi needed time.
As for Bronya, Hua Yi didn't actually expect her to be able to provide any help from the real world through hacking. To be honest, he even doubted if Bronya knew what was happening on their end. His only hope for Bronya right now was that she wouldn't forcibly remove the connection helmets from his and Kiana's heads in the real world.
Real World, St. Freya Academy, Murata Himeko's Residence.
"What is with these two? It's been three hours, and it's already dinner time. Don't they plan to log out of the Virtual Reality? Has Kiana finally seen the light and decided to devote herself entirely to her studies?"
Murata Himeko rubbed her smooth chin as she looked at Kiana and Hua Yi, who were sitting cross-legged on the floor wearing their VR connection helmets.
Beside her, a trace of gravity appeared on Bronya's expressionless face. her pale fingers were tapping rapidly on the keyboard of a small computer.
"Apologies. An unexpected situation has occurred. Hua Yi and Kiana have entered an unknown territory. It exists within Schicksal's Database, yet it seems to have drifted outside the Database's scope."
"What?! Did Schicksal discover that we hacked into their Database?"
"No. Even Schicksal couldn't achieve this level of control. Bronya has used all her strength, yet she still cannot find a single trace of the area where Hua Yi and Kiana are located. This seems to involve more than just computer knowledge."
Himeko's brow furrowed deeply. Looking at Hua Yi's facewhich looked as though he were in a deep sleepher heart began to fill with uncontrollable panic.
"What should we do now? Can we just pull off the helmets and force a disconnect?"
"Negative. Even if Hua Yi and Kiana were still in a normal simulation, a sudden disconnection could cause mental damage. Currently, we can only wait. Bronya will monitor their vital signs at all times. We cannot use such crude methods to disconnect them unless a real danger appears."
"Then I'll go stall Raiden Mei while she's cooking... No, with her intelligence, I can't hide it from her. I'd better tell her the truth... If things really get dangerous, we'll have to ask Principal Theresa to contact Schicksal and work together to find a solution. As for the hacking... at worst, we'll offer a sincere apology and pay whatever compensation they want."
Bronya's fingers, which were flying across the keyboard, paused for a moment due to Himeko's anxious muttering. Sensing the other woman's genuine concern, Bronya's voice took on a firmer tone.
"At the very least, Bronya can guarantee that Hua Yi and Kiana's lives are not in danger. As for when they wake up, that will depend on them."
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