Chapter 121
「It’s the noon news on June 3rd. Nearly a week has passed since that terrorist incident. The Metropolitan Police Department has announced that all members of the ‘Crusaders’ involved in the terrorism have now been arrested. 」
I sit up in bed, still groggy but listening to the news. My usual room – the manga I borrowed from Reina, the cushion Momiji left behind, and the stacked video games. The ongoing news report completely frames the incident as the sole work of the ‘Crusaders’. Of course, they’re touting it as a result of the Self-Defense Force’s training, with Kōmitsu Solutions only mentioned as a victim. Even though they’re also the perpetrators who barbecued the ‘Crusaders’. I bet they still smelled like yakiniku sauce after being arrested.
Incidentally, the reason I’m so sleepy is because I stayed up late, enraged by the high-speed bowing taunt. So here I am on June 3rd with the news playing. Yes, today is the day of the ‘HAO’ update. The execution day for the final operation to settle everything.
「Moving on to the next news. Starting this evening, an online game ‘Hereafter Apollyon Online’ is launching a campaign where you get 1000 yen just for logging in. Simultaneously, they announced an unprecedented 100% off sale for ‘HAO’, causing a stir. This game has been under fire from many players since launching in March due to repeated maintenance, while also being the stage for a series of exposés called the Orange Book incident and Orange Cannon. With no limit on player numbers, skeptical voices are suggesting this campaign never intended to distribute money from the start, making it the focus of attention today.」
「Maintenance is scheduled to end soon, but it’s already a trending topic on social media. Especially Orange, who people are hoping will stream for the second time since getting caught up in the recent terrorism.」
「There was a lot of online buzz about the ‘Crusaders’ claiming responsibility statement referencing Orange. Currently under investigation, but rumors are already circulating that it was Orange who scattered the ‘Crusaders’. Because… oh, the next topic. On to the following news.」
It can’t be helped that they want player numbers for the final battle, but it’s an absolutely worst-case scam. From what I hear, the rights to Hereafter Corporation recently transferred to someone struggling with debt, who’s assuming they’ll go bankrupt. In other words, zero intention to pay. No, that’s too evil.
Harboring these thoughts, I change clothes. With lots to do before the final battle, neither Momiji nor Reina are here. Instead, Kana, who was in the kitchen, notices I’m awake and pricks up her ears. …I wonder if she’s not planning mischief again. As I think this, she greets me with 「Good morning, Father.」
Probably finding it a hassle to return to the Reina household, Kana has unceremoniously donned my white shirt. With slightly tousled hair, she plates food on a dish. The thing is, with Reina and the other Beastkin having difficulty moving for the past week, Kana has been tirelessly handling my security. Despite that, the fact that she’s even cooking for me is of course because Beastkin are tough, but apparently cooking is her hobby and a good change of pace. Well, when I say tirelessly, she does occasionally hand off to the Cyborg ladies to sleep a bit, but she says their noses aren’t sharp enough, making her uneasy. Well, certainly compared to Kana’s responsiveness from ‘synchronization’, it would seem that way.
There’s a reason for this level of vigilance. With this incident, it seems the esteemed state players have begun to make real moves. Even if the ‘Reformists’ suppress them, there’s a possibility they can’t fully restrain a show of force. After going so far as to toss a highway, it’d be a real pain to fail here.
「Today it’s simmered mackerel, miso soup, cabbage, and rolled omelette.」
「The rolled omelette isn’t Russian roulette, right?」
「It should be fine. Can’t you trust your stepdaughter…?」
Saying that, she looks up at me with moist eyes. But I haven’t forgotten – last night she high-speed bowing taunted me as I kept losing at Super Mecha Battle 2, and the day before there were locusts in the miso soup! Plus, this girl knows just how to toe the line of what’s forgivable, so she’s formidable. The locusts were properly de-legged and nicely tasty.
Thinking this, I eye it warily, but it’s truly an unremarkable meal. Finally, Kana explains to overly-vigilant me, pouting a little, the reason mischief is out of the question.
「It’s the most important day for you, Father. The day it’s decided whether we’ll be the ones ‘Fixed’ or the original world’s people. …I think it’ll be 1pm today, the same time as ‘HAO’ maintenance ends.」
Hearing that, I hurriedly check the clock. Indeed, it’s 12:59pm!? Certainly the news earlier said it was the noon news, but how did I forget something so critical and stay up late… it was the bowing taunt. To think it had that meaning, I’m impressed looking at Kana. She’s a capable stepdaughter, truly.
「There were better ways, but this was more fun for me.」
「Why you~!!!」
「Kyaa~」
She escapes in monotone. At the same time, the minute hand changes, and the terminal on the table vibrates with a notification. 「The ‘Fix’ is complete; ‘HAO’ remains active. This side is now the canonical world.」 The moment that notification appears, we both stop and sigh in relief. And I sincerely thank Kana. Imagining the possibility of disappearing in 2060 the instant it happened, last night I could only cower, unable to sleep a wink. I’m grateful she made me forget that. I wish she’d chosen a better method though. I still have a rift in my heart, y’know – a gamer’s grudge runs deep.
But what’s happening on the side that got fixed? Did they really prepare to defeat ‘UYK’, or is it still Ver-2.00? Uneasy, Kana and I stare at each other. Kana looks at me with a serious expression. One with none of the earlier playfulness, but genuine.
「Father. I await good news. May fortune favor you in battle.」
「Yeah.」
That’s right. This means 8 billion people are being used for another try, and naturally I’m one of the sacrifices. I have to inherit that and make it succeed. I clench my fist tight in my heart.
「Sure. –If there’s no login restriction!」
Kana’s cold gaze pierces my chest. But I mean, there’s a good chance the other me is alive and won’t let me log in, right? Say it’s so, other me.
But I also had a premonition. That I’m surely dead. What happens when an ordinary person stands at the fore as a prophet and heads to deadly ground – I know.
However, as expected, there was no login restriction. The problem is the cheers and shouts assailing my ears.
「The Prophet’s revival was at 1:48pm!! 2.6x odds, congrats to the winners!! 」
No, what are you guys doing.
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