Hidan no Aria - Volume 4 - Chapter 4

4th Ammo: Infighting -Falling out-

July 24th, in the afternoon. I arrived at Odaiba.

In order to make up for the credits that I was missing, I became security for the casino here.

The world celebrated summer holidays had arrived. However, as Jeanne so happily pointed out, I had a problem, and so I needed to do this kind of mission, which would probably be like tuition in another school. Which horrible path of life did I take? I might say this, but I knew. The path being, Aria.

Well, no matter how much I complain, nothing's going to change.

Dressed up as a young IT CEO, I straightened my flashy tie...and stepped onto the escalator going through Aqua City Odaiba, entering Tokyo's casino "Odaiba Golden Pyramidion"

Gambling has been legal in Japan for two years already. And the first casino to be built upon legalization was this one, "Odaiba Golden Pyramidion". Its name completely corresponded with how it looked, a gigantic golden pyramid-shaped casino, structured by a steel frame and glass, extremely glaring beneath the bright summer sun.

From the information that I read...there was a news report on this place a few years before, where according to the governor, who was interviewed, this design was inspired by "A design brought over to Japan from some other country, a colossal golden pyrimidion."

--Entering the air-conditioned building through the automatic doors, I arrived at an entrance lobby with a laser fountain inside. Moving forward, through this area...I reached the casino hall.

"I'd like some gambling chips. Today, a blue canary flew in the window[1]; I'll definitely be lucky." Reciting the code at the counter, and trading 1 million counterfeit yen for some colorful chips, I...may be acting, but I strode into the casino with a little bit of pride.

In the vicinity of the entrance to the casino, there were some slot machines, for those who wanted some cheap fun. Tourists and youngsters alike, as if playing slots on the side of the street, were excitedly watching the 7s flash by.

It looks like this floor had a seaside casino theme, and surrounding the whole hall--were waves, set up beforehand.

That pool that looked like a road of water wasn't for swimming, but for the bunny girl waitresses, allowing them to move around with great speed using the jet skis above the water.

"What would you like to drink?" "Whether it be cocktails, liquor, or coffee, it's all free." "If there's anything you want, please call one of the waitresses that are close by~"

Looking on from afar...that work method, just like a water strider, is really interesting

While I was staring at them--

Chi!

Suddenly, my ear was seized from below by someone.

"Stop drooling, you pervert!!"

A seiyuu-like voice suddenly exploded outwards, next to my ear. It assaulted my eardrum with as much power as the attack when we were fighting Vlad last month, "Wallachia's Magic Flute."

Not able to do anything except clasp my ear, I looked down...

Her pink twin-tails and her bunny ears were standing straight up with anger, her hands on her hips.

"--Hey Aria. I'm a customer, you know. You can't treat me like this."

I whispered to Aria, who was extremely upset for some reason.

Hearing my words, Aria "Hmphed" and she twisted her head around.

What. Was I the one who messed with you?

"Hey...are you doing your job as a waitress? I can't relax at all..."

"Of course I am. However, for some reason, nobody's ordering anything from me."

Pursing her lips, Aria bitterly looked around at all the men in the hall.

So that's how it is. Is that why you're unhappy?

Well...that's to be expected.

I looked at the tiny bunny girl Aria, standing in front of me, and my spirits lifted a little.

A few days ago, when we were trying these outfits out, I had thought that this bunny girl suit was designed for well-endowed women. Letting a high school student, no, letting Aria, whose height is that of a elementary school student, wear it is futile. She won't be popular at all. No matter how much padding you use to make up for it, it won't work.

However, if I dare to say that, I'll definitely be slaughtered by her bullets. With the thought of continuing my family name in mind, I changed the subject.

"...Anyways, why aren't you driving those?"

I stuck my chin out pointing towards the jet skis, and Aria, her eyes turning around, glaring at me--

"Shut up!"

Pa!

Chi!

-jumped into the air, stabbing those pointy rabbit ears directly into my eyes. These eyes are way harder than I thought!

"Uwaah!"

"You know that I can't swim! If you say anything else that's stupid, I'll play hole roulette with you! Understand!?"

Ho-how can she be this vicious! Aren't rabbits supposed to be gentle animals?

Having had my eyes destroyed by a mad rabbit's ears, I hurriedly moved to my security position in the inner part of the casino, as if running away.

These spacious rooms are the high-stake card-games and roulette tables with, where the customers change into professional gamblers.

Men wearing neat suits. Beautiful women wearing evening dresses. The intelligent types, bringing their laptops, their glasses flashing. And at first glance, tourists, but the expression in their eyes could not be said to be normal.

--I have to stay on high alert in this place. Thinking about whether or not any incidents were going to happen, I...standing next to the accessorized sports cars, carefully observed the jazz band on the stage, under the chandeliers. And...

Chatter...Chatter...

It looks like...there's already something going on.

In one corner of the hall, there was an abnormally large group of people clustered together.

(What happened...?)

Continuing to pretend to be a customer, I approached the crowd.

"Su-such a shy girl...she's too cute..." "It was so worth it to come here, even though I lost so much cash before I noticed her." "Ah, don't cover your breasts! Look this way!"

The men were shouting these kinds of catcalls.

They were even using their phones to take photos.

Did an idol come to the casino?

"Pl-please don't take photos of the waitresses!" "The notices on the entrance have already said that!"

Rescued by the other bunny girls, one of the bunny girls was desperately tugging on her ears, covering her face, and running away.

Hey...

Isn't that Shirayuki?

...How did something like this happen?

Half-crying, Shirayuki noticed that my face was twitching uncontrollably, and she rushed into the staff room, running away from the men, whose eyes were close to becoming heart shaped.

In order to avoid the suspicion of other customers, I idled outside the room for a while before entering the lounge. Shirayuki was the only one inside, sitting on a high-chair, catching her breath.

She was wearing a black swimsuit as well as high-fishnet stockings as part of her bunny girl outfit. Her rabbit ears...were taken off.

"Shirayuki. Didn't you say that you should stay in the shadows while working, not attracting attention?"

Hearing my voice, and going "Ah!" while raising her head, Shirayuki--

"Ki-Kin-chan...! I'm sorry! I'm sorry I'm sorry!"

-suddenly started apologizing to me, and she put her bunny ears back on her head, in a panic.

And she pulled them forward once again, obscuring her face.

Um...If you just wanted to cover your face...was there really a need to wear the rabbit ears again?

"Be-because Kin-chan...Kin-chan seemed to very happy when you saw Aria in this outfit, s-so I thought, does Kin-chan like this..."

Shirayuki's moist, black eyes looked at me surreptitiously through the gap between the bunny ears.

"That...we only wore that to test them for the upcoming job. This is so annoying, at that time, I--"

Hey, did I really look happy while being stepped on by high-heeled shoes?

Shirayuki's reality filter is amazingly terrifying!

"Um, if you expose that you're undercover, then our security job will be counted as failed. You should have known this as well. While there might be purposeful exposure in order to guard against the offender's actions, but the wishes of our client this time are very specific. We are supposed to move quietly, undercover, not disturbing the customer's pleasure. So why did you let so many people gather around?"

"...Th-that...I don't know either..."

Shirayuki, finally letting go of the bunny ears, looked at me with those eyes, under her smooth fringe.

And the forefingers of both hands were tapping at her face incessantly...

"We-wearing these clothes is really embarrassing...I wanted to carry out my work inconspicuously, but at some point in time, without me noticing...men had started gathering all around me..."

Ah...so that's how it is.

Looking at Shirayuki right now, I think I know the reason already.

Her knees twisting without pause, trying to hide her thighs, which were extremely visible through her fishnet stockings, Shirayuki's appearance nearly made me, somebody who hates being around girls, think that she was irresistible.

Shirayuki already had a figure that could rival that of idols, and now she was wearing something that revealed her snow-white skin. Only able to cover the area below her enormous breasts, she was wearing a very risque swimsuit.

Added to this, Shirayuki is extremely shy towards everybody, especially men, with me being the only exception. That kind of embarrassed attitude appears to have an unmatched appeal for one part of the male personality, making her extremely hard to resist. However, all it did was make me a little nervous.

This, combined with other factors...

Made the situation in the hall devolve to one akin to throwing a rabbit into a wolves' den.

"...All of that was because of your outfit. You're way more developed than Aria or Riko, so don't wear these kinds of risque clothes that excite men so well."

Sounding like her father, I made my conclusion.

"Ex-exciting...men...? Me....Me...?"

This ultra-secluded Miko, who had pretty much never left her shrine or school, blushed heavily.

Afterwards, *shi*...her shoulders retracted, seemingly conveying the message, "I'm extremely sorry for being born into this world". However, not a few seconds later, she seemed to have thought of something, and her face took on a "!" expression.

What is it...These series of movements just serves to make me feel that something ominous is going to happen...

"Men...Ki...Ki-Kin-chan is...is also a man. Right...?"

As if gathering up her courage, Shirayuki's--*shi*

-shoes hit the floor, making a tapping noise, and she stood up, holding one hand as if trying to cover her hips.

Afterward, *ShiShi*. She smoothed her fishnet stockings, embarrassed.

"...Th-then, th-these clothes...Wh-what do you think, Kin-chan...?"

Ah..."What do you think"?

Shirayuki, *shi*, twisted her knees inwards, watching my expression intently.

"I-if Kin-chan likes these kinds of clothes...th-then even if I'm wearing th-these clothes...e-even after this job is ov-over...what we agreed on..."

Shirayuki seemed to be playing out a scenario in her head, her hands grasping her blushing cheeks, screwing her eyes up.

"Before, in the ambulace room, the co-co-con-cont..."

From between the rabbit ears, as if matching up with her words, *fyuu, fyuu* hot air started to rise.

"What's wrong? Calm down, Shirayuki. Once you lose control, fire will start coming out."

"cont, co-con...con...tinu...ation! It's fine if we do it with a bunny suit...!"

For the sake of returning Shirayuki, who for some reason couldn't even say the single word "continuation" properly, back to normal--

"Hey, Shirayuki. What are you thinking about, all by yourself?"

I grabbed her shoulders, rocking her back and forth.

"Ri-right now? If you want to do it now, that's fine too! Bu-but, the lo-lock!"

Shirayuki, whose eyes seemed to be spinning, went into her overload sequence, just like before.

Can somebody tell me what turned her into this state?

"I-ha-ha-ha-ha-have to lock it!"

"Hey, go back to normal, got it?"

*shake shake* I put more power into my shaking.

"Ah, ah, ahhh."

I don't know how, but Shirayuki, seemingly up in the clouds right now, made an impossible, strange noise--Thump.

Her long, black hair shook, and she suddenly fell down, like a puppet whose strings have been cut.

This...is a new mode. Self-destruct, maybe? I have no way of understanding.

"Are...are you alright...?"

Looks like...I shouldn't need to worry.

She had an rapturous expression while fainting, almost as if she had ascended to heaven.

I don't know, nor do I wish to know what kind of happy events took place in Shirayuki's mind, but it's probably some fantasy which had content so strong that it exceeded the limits of her body.

For humans, the impossible is forbidden, after all.

Both Shirayuki and Aria couldn't be undercover guards if their lives depended on it.

But, we can't get fired because of this. For the sake of moving up a grade, even if it's by myself, I have to finish this commission. Thinking that way, I went to the 2nd floor of the casino--the floor for premium roulette tables.

On this special floor, the lowest wager is 1 million yen.

Only the wealthy members of this casino can gamble here. Even spectating requires a fee.

So, there shouldn't be many customers...was what I thought, but there was a crowd of spectators in one corner of the 2nd floor.

It looks like there's a fight taking place.

I used the employee keycard that I received along with these "young IT CEO" clothes and entered the floor, looking towards the corner that was luxuriously decorated with animal specimens.

There was a colossal roulette table there, and wearing a vest with a gold buckle, the small dealer was--

"..."

Reki.

With a *dong*, Reki struck the bell that signaled the start of the match, and she looked at the table, as expressionless as always.

Aria and Shirayuki were suffering from their bunny suits, but she was the only one who was wearing pants.

Reki...could it be that you are the one I can rely upon?

"Then, may the players please place their bets."

The crowd around applauded Reki, who said that smoothly.

The rules in different casinos are slightly different, but in roulette, the players first place their bets, and then the dealer throws a small ball into the rolling roulette wheel. That's the order of events.

"Ha, haha...such a strong...yet pitiful dealer I have never met before. I really did not expect that she'd be able to make me lose 35 million within 1 hour."

Saying that, one of the customers sitting by the side of the table, seemed to be extremely excited, even though he was the only one gambling.

"Could it be that you're the Goddess of luck?"

Goddess?

More like an assassin.

Keeping that to myself, I...suddenly noticed that I already had an impression of this man in my mind.

I've seen him on TV. I remember, he was nicknamed the Japanese Bill Gates, an actual young IT CEO. There's also a lot of rumours about his relationships with crowds and crowds of idols.

The people around rushed here to see this fabulously wealthy person?

"...The chips I have left are equivalent in value to what I've lost, which is 35 million. I'm putting it all on black!"

In the wake of the young CEO's extremely enthusiastic and excited voice and movements, *clack!* the tokens in question were pushed into the box designated "black"--This guy is obviously excited because he's on a losing-streak.

This means that all 35 of his 1 million tokens have been laid down, making the other customers cheer in excitement, but this...gives me a feeling of contradiction.

"'Black'? Then, if this ball lands in the black, your money will be doubled. OK?"

Reki, holding up the game ball, which looked like a white ping pong ball, kept her tone soft, her expression unchanging.

"OK. But what I want isn't tokens. If I win--I want you."

Hearing the young CEO say this, the surrounding guests raised an uproar.

"If I'm able to acquire lucky girl, I myself will become more lucky."

What the hell are you saying.

Bloody lolicon.

Anyways...I may not know how much you want Reki, but she's definitely not worth 35 million.

"..."

And Reki stayed silent.

The Reki as usual.

But, this isn't good. Not even giving off a friendly smile, she's making the surrounding guests think that she's angry at the young CEO's words.

This atmosphere is exactly like one right before a 1 on 1 duel.

With this, it doesn't matter whether the young CEO wins or Reki wins, there'll be problems either way.

Aria. Shirayuki. Reki. Can't you do your job properly?

...There's nothing for it. Time for me to act. This is for my credits.

"I'm sorry. I'd like to join the fun."

I raised my hands, and--sat next to the table as well.

The rules say that, as long as the dealer hasn't declared the betting as over, anyone can join, without exception.

The young CEO's eyes stared at me from under his gelled hair.

"Who are you, do you want the dealer for yourself?"

"I'm the boss of your competing company you know? I want to say that...but I only have this much cash on hand, a negligible amount. Hehe, I'm just trying to gamble."

Shrugging my shoulders, I took out one 1 million token, giving off the feeling of a CEO of a small company.

An atmosphere that said "some small-fry just appeared" appeared among the crowd...and slowly, they calmed down.

But, that's good.

That CEO is already overexcited. If he loses, he may start causing trouble because of his hurt pride.

So, in order to prevent that, I have to lose together with him.

But, if this CEO wins...Whatever. Reki, you'll have to find a way out of that one yourself.

"Place your bet, you brat. I won't give her to you."

I'm completely fine with that.

I want to bet on...that's right. Losing by betting on black would be too obvious. So, my color will be 'red'--the number is irrelevant. I carelessly put my tokens onto 23, my class number.

The chance of me winning is 1/36. There's no way I can win.

"...Then, the betting is over."

Reki looked at the table, and her normally expressionless face had a hint of anger in it, and she announced the end of betting.

Afterwards, she span the roulette, and as for the ball...*pa*

Without hesitation, just like a robot, she threw the ball into the roulette.

The ball followed the rotating of the roulette, moving--

*Roll Roll Roll Roll*

It's starting to jump up and down over the numbers.

Thunk. The CEO who had bet that enormous sum of money, 35 million, couldn't help but swallow, leaning over the table.

I also pretended to be nervous.

*Click, Click...Click Click*.

Click.

"--Red 23. Player #2 wins."

Hearing Reki's announcement--

The entire crowd cheered, everybody shouting "WOOOOAAAAHHHH!" at the same time. And the CEO...*Thump*, he slumped over the table, having lost everything. "...!"

Reki gathered the tokens that the CEO had put down, as well as the ones that I had put down, and pushed the chips, which added up to 36 million, using the T-shaped bar in front me, whose face was twitching uncontrollably.

"Here you are. 36x your wager."

Hey...could you pay more attention to the atmosphere, Reki...

Just now, you definitely made me win on purpose!

Nobody can control the position in which the ball will go. That's the entire basis of this game...but faced with Reki, such things are useless.

I gambled with the purpose of calming down the heated situation in the forefront of my mind, but this turn of events has made them get even more excited.

"Hahaha...I lost 70 million, didn't I? As I expected, I can't just let it go. But, I've already lost so much money. So my pitiful dealer-san . At least, your phone number...could you tell me it?"

Raising his head and saying that, the CEO appears to be someone who can't even fall down without getting something out of it.

That's probably why he got to be a CEO.

"Please behave yourself. It would be better if you returned today."

"No, you have to tell me...otherwise, your e-mail is fine too."

"All those that are gathered here, please disperse."

Ignoring the struggling young CEO and the guests milling around, Reki--

"There's an ill wind blowing."

turned her head towards me, saying that.

An ill wind...

"At least tell me your name!"

As the CEO continued to harass her, *Bang!*

From behind Reki, within the animal specimens--

A silver wolf rushed out like a hurricane.

"--!?"

That's Haimaki, the wolf that Reki is raising. So it was crouching over there.

The silver wolf used the roulette table as a step, and bounded over to the panicking crowd in an instant.

Every token, worth about a million, came down in a shower on the head of the CEO, who had fallen onto the floor, sitting on his ass.

At the same time that I turned my head that direction, Haimaki--Thud!

-smashed into, coming from the corner of the room, a person--?

"!"

What...is that...!?

That was an abnormal, indescribable man.

His skin looked like it had been painted black, naked except for a tea-colored cloth around his waist.

But even more strange than that, was his head.

That head, wasn't human.

That...appeared during the animal show that Aria likes to watch, a jackal-like canine head.

The head was a jackal, and the body--that guy, was using this kind of body.

My senses were screaming at me, telling me that this was definitely not some sort of masquerade, some sort of make up to go to a social gathering. The movement of that slit of a mouth, was far too natural.

Most importantly--in his hand, he was holding a half-moon shaped axe!

A robber come for money...that's not it. Is he trying to kill everybody here?

Taking Haimaki's charge attack, the Jackal, *Rip!*

-split the tiger machine by the wall, into two halves.

Coins rained down everywhere and the machine, current leaking out, flashed with sparks.

"This...What kind of special event is this!"

Shouted the young CEO...

"I really wish that this was an event too."

Seeing me remove my tie and draw my gun, he ran away, too scared to make a sound.

Following his panicked scramble to the other customers, who were escaping outside, *Shi*

The Jackal, his head still in Haimaki's jaws, stood up.

I...I can't believe it.

Having fought with him once before, I knew full well. Haimaki's weight is comparable to that of a motorcycle.

Even harder to believe was, that guy, with just a wave of his neck, flung Haimaki loose.

And--Haimaki, trying to stand up, was already nearly unconscious--those red eyes, and shining axe-edge, turned to face me.

Which means...his target is us?

"Be careful Kinji-san. That isn't a human."

While I chuckled and said to Reki, "I noticed."--

One bunny girl, going against the flow of escaping people, charged down from the stairs.

"...Mushihitogata[2]...!"

Both her eyes widened, calling the Jackal in front of me by that name was--Shirayuki.

"Kin-chan, run away--if you're touched by him, you'll receive his curse!"

Shouting out some SSR terminology, Shirayuki reached her hand to her back, looking as if she was going to draw her blade...but on that back, the normally ever-present Irokaneayame was missing.

That blade was withheld by Shirayuki's clan, and afterwards, it was stolen by somebody.

Frowning for a moment, Shirayuki immediately stuck her hand below her bunny girl suit's tail, fishing out several pieces of paper, no, they're amulets.

"Gohou no Hihomurafuda[3]--"

Reciting something, Shirayuki scattered the talismans into the air--

*Fwahh, Fwaah*. The talismans floated in the air in front of Shirayuki, then burst into flame.

"Kin-chan, get down!"

*Pa!* Screaming that out, Shirayuki brought her hands together.

With the echoes of her cry still lingering in the air, the five talismans turned into a fireball, and shot towards the Jackal, just like a flare.

The Jackal had just turned his head when--the fireball, as if avoiding his gaze, split in 5 different directions, forming an arc, not allowing the enemy a chance to escape...

*Pa Pa Pa Pa Pa!*

Like a flamethrower, flame enveloped that--

"Uu...!"

The room became stained with orange light in an instant, and I threw myself down...

"--It won't work. It should be fire-resistant."

Reki, her short hair fluttering from the wave of hot air, took out the sniper rifle she had hidden underneath the table.

As Reki said...

The Jackal, releasing clouds of white smoke, strode towards Shirayuki, not having taken any damage at all.

I'm hardly adept when it comes to the SSR, but I've heard Aria say that all abilities have an extremely complex 'attributes'. These attributes are split into 4~5 in games, but in a similar system, the powers that ability users use are split up into 70-80 attributes, and they serve to balance each other out through mutual weaknesses and strengths.

These 'attributes', having been researched thoroughly, can be summarized in one sentence. It's like playing rock-paper-scissors. Specific attributes are weak against other specific attributes. Conversely, specific attributes are able to withstand the attacks of other specific attributes. What happened just now was an example of this, the fire having no effect at all.

This information...Shirayuki should have known this.

"Come at me, puppet! I won't even let you touch Kin-chan!"

Her eyebrows shooting up, high heels thudding into the ground with a *Da*, and adopting a stance, holding her hands open, Shirayuki...even understanding the ineffectiveness of her own ability, still wanted to fight the enemy one-on-one.

"..."

Reki raised her SVD--but she was unable to fire.

And having already drawn my gun, I also realized that it would be extremely difficult to cover Shirayuki.

The Jackal was standing between Shirayuki and us. If our bullets pierced him or miss him, there's a high chance that we will hurt Shirayuki. But the Shirayuki as of now appeared to be too angry to notice this.

Shirayuki--once you feel that I'm in danger, do you go berserk like this!?

"--Hah--!"

Dodging past the Jackal's axe, Shirayuki's two fists thundered towards the enemy's eyes--*Click!*

-The Jackal dodged with the speed of a boxer, following up with a fist sent at Shirayuki's jaw.

"--!"

Shirayuki's legs, going into in an X-shape, were flung outwards...and she flew backwards, straight into the wall.

*Rumble* Under the crooked rabbit ears, seeming to look this way, her head had drooped forwards.

From the looks of it, she has a concussion. There's no way she can recover immediately.

"Shirayuki!"

I straightened my gun, thinking of charging in and engaging the Jackal, who was in the midst of sending her to heaven, in an Aru=Kata gunfight.

But, Reki tugged on my sleeve--

*whoosh*. Flying up onto the table, kneeling down on one knee, Reki--

"Kinji-san, lend me your shoulder."

*Pa!*

Using my shoulder as support, she pulled the trigger of the SVD.

*Bang!* The bullet pierced the Jackal's shoulder--close to the collarbone, leaving a bullet hole in one of the walls of the hall.

Just now, when Shirayuki drooped her head, a safe line of fire was created.

*HOWL!*

Finally returning from its dazed state, the silver wolf immediately used its razor-sharp teeth to bite down upon the body of the Jackal, which had been distorted by the impact of the bullet.

*HOWL! HOWL!* Having his neck and other areas continuously being ripped open, the Jackal--*Thud*

-lost power in his limbs...*Shi*

And as if melting, he became like black sand--that looked like iron ore.

And I, along with Haimaki, who was standing dazed atop the pile of sand, couldn't believe my eyes.

(Wha...What the hell is going on...!)

Still ringing from the thunder of the gunshot from just now, my ears...suddenly heard the noise of an insect.

"...?"

From within the sand--at that moment, a black scarab flew out.

I don't know what happened. I don't understand the situation at all.

But, that can be thought about later. Right now we have to take care of Shirayuki--

"Kinji-san, you can't go, that bug is very dangerous."

"Dangerous? Who cares about some insect. Right now, the most important thing is Shirayuki...!"

But, Reki's hands grasped my sleeve with all her strength.

Let go! Let go of me!

What the hell are you doing...!

That black scarab, as if trying to escape from Reki's gaze...flew out the window.

"Kinji-san."

Toneless--yet, full of anxiety, Reki's voice couldn't help but make me turn my head around.

Only to see Reki, *Click*

Attaching a 20-centimeter blade...below the barrel of the gun.

That's something like a tactical knife, a bayonet.

The SVD sniper rifle is of Russian make, a modification using an assault rifle as its basis. In close quarters a bayonet can be attached, giving it the ability to be used in melee.

"First, we're going to thin out the enemy in melee, let's change our location. This isn't a good place for sniping."

"Thin out...the enemy?"

Just now, you and the wolf, didn't you already vanquish the enemy?

"I only have 4 bullets left. There are more enemies than I have bullets."

Following Reki's gaze, I looked upwards--

"...!!"

Finally understanding the meaning of her words, my back stiffened.

That abnormal scene rendered me unable to move, as if I had been frozen.

On the other side of the exquisite chandelier, on the ceiling of the hall, several things, looking much like the Jackal of just now, were crawling there.

In total, there were about 10.

I...I looked back, looking at the bayonet-wielding Reki, still disguised as a dealer.

Before, back in Assault, I had carried out several missions with Reki.

But, I've never seen her get caught up in melee.

Because snipers by definition, don't like to be in close combat. They are masters of a completely different skillset than us, the Butei in Assault. They are specialists in long-range attacks.

Reki's slender arms being able to melee with those monsters--I could not imagine it.

(Shirayuki...!)

I have to quickly save the still unconscious Shirayuki.

But--how do I get through those monsters?

Those things, their eyes shining with red light, were staring towards us.

Not caring about Shirayuki, they...are probably waiting for Reki and I to save her, before launching a concerted attack. It looks like the intelligence of these things aren't as low as that of the Jackal from just now.

What do I do...What on Earth do I do.

I don't know...I don't know, the me as of now, doesn't know...!

---*Bang Bang Bang Bang!*

The sound of Colt M1911 Akimbo's continuous gunshots rang out!

The bullets, speeding across the room like a razor--*Thud! Thud!*

Two or three of the enemies dropped down from the ceiling.

"Haa. These things again?"

Saying those shocking words, that seiyuu-like voice belonged to...the small bunny girl...

Aria!

Appearing in the hall, Aria let loose a barrage of .45ACP bullets towards the enemies beside her, her pink twin-tails dancing in the wake of her movements.

Looking at Aria, her movements look as natural as a housekeeper's movements while cleaning with a broom.

She...has already gotten used to fighting with these monsters...

"Hey, Idiot Kinji, stop daydreaming!"

*Howl!* Aria bared her canines, the intensity of the action not losing to that of the Jackals, and she raised her hands far up, continually assaulting the enemies on the roof, all the while striding towards the center of the hall.

The Jackals, just like cockroaches, scuttled all around the roof, escaping from Aria, with a *Chi Chi* noise.

...Hey, isn't the position of the bunny and jackals the wrong way around?

"In these situations, you shouldn't wait for the enemy to act. You have to take action first!!"

*Bang! Bang!* Jumping around, using stools and tables as stepping-stones, Aria grabbed hold of the huge chandelier hanging down from the ceiling.

And, *shi, shi*, she clambered up its body.

"Reki!"

*Clank! Whoosh!*

Hearing Aria's call, the bullet that Reki fired grazed the metal chain of the chandelier.

Under this impact, the chandelier, with Aria on it, *Rumble*, started spinning around like a merry-go-round.

*Bang! Bang Bang Bang!*

Turning into a rotating emplacement, Aria fired and fired, continuing to attack the jackals on the roof without pause.

*Crash. Bang.*

Around me--bullet casings, stray bullets, splinters from the wall, and even bits of pieces of the jackals rained down.

"Ah, hey, Aria!"

Aria, you...ho-how can you be so direct, so unscrupulous.

Isn't this completely ignoring our distress, and just firing at every enemy you see!

*Bang!*

I looked towards the new gunshots, and noticed that Reki, who had rushed to Shirayuki's side at some point in time, was opening fire with the bayonet-attached SVD.

Those jackals that stood up after being blown off the roof by Aria, were promptly dispatched by her.

Seeing one of the jackals that fell down beside me about to stand up, I also--

Thud!

-able to do nothing else, I restricted his movement, piercing his thigh with a shot from my Beretta.

*Thud*. The jackals that fell down, as well as the ones that were destroyed by Aria all did the same thing...they dissolved into iron ore...and a scarab flew out of each pile of it.

I walked towards the center of the hall, staying alert of my surroundings, there were only two jackals left.

And both of them had fallen on the ground.

*Clank!*

Reki broke the iron chain holding the chandelier...*Crash!*

Falling down, bringing Aria along with it, the chandelier flattened one. Now, only one is left.

Having been surrounded by the three of us, the last one--

"Uwoohh--!"

-let loose a flute-like, piercing howl, and smashed through the glass, escaping.

Aria, sitting atop the chandelier, which looked like a giant cake, stood up with a *whoosh*--

"Really. I expended so much effort to let the customers escape, now that the golem has escaped--there might be trouble."

*Click Click*

She said, taking out spare magazines from God knows where, and slotted them inside the black and white M1911s.

"Golem...? Are you talking about these sand people? Just now, Shirayuki called them Mushihitogata--"

"Are you battling without knowing anything? Idiot! Just go back to elementary school!"

Even if I go back, they won't teach me about monsters like these, right?

"In Japan they're called dolls, Shikigami, clay dolls, and puppets. In the west, they're called golems, demons. In short, they're dolls made out of plants, paper, or clay through the use of abilities."

*Twirl Twirl Twirl* As if trying to release an electronic signal, Aria kept on spinning her hand around her head.

Hearing her words, my terror at seeing these monsters decreased. Especially because of her matter-of-fact tone.

"Which means that, they're monsters that are controlled by an ability user?"

"That's right. Ooh, you're pretty calm, Kinji."

"...I'm just used to it. It's such a shame."

"Then--"

Looking at Aria's smile,

"--let's have some fun."

With no other options, I did as she said. *Click*.

I loaded my Beretta, and prepared for pursuit.

Leaving Shirayuki for Reki to handle, I leaned out the window, looking for any hint of the enemy. Sliding down the slope on the pyramid, the jackal...

...was escaping by running on water.

This too!? Well, pleading for normality from a servant of an ability user is probably futile.

How should I chase it...I thought for a second. The answer was on the first floor, one floor below.

The things that the bunny girls were using as they were running away, the jet skis.

According to the schematics of the casino that we had acquired beforehand, the pool running through the first floor led into the sea. I'll use that to chase him there.

Last month, I had a vehicle pursuit with Reki, chasing that wolf. When there are two people riding, the driver sits in front, and the assaulter sits in the back. Judging from that, I should be the driver, and Aria the assaulter.

Thinking this way, I got on one of the jet skis floating by the side of the pool.

"Let's go. Aria, get on."

I said to Aria, who was following behind me.

"Are....are there no life vests? There should at least be a life ring, as well as floats for my arms..."

But, Aria was extremely unwilling to mount the jet ski.

Frowning, I--looked at Aria who was looking at the water, extremely tense, before I suddenly remembered.

That's right, this girl doesn't know how to swim.

But, to drive this vehicle, I need two hands. No matter what, I need an assaulter.

Then, should Reki and her switch positions? No, that won't work. Reki said she was out of bullets.

"Then you sit in front, I'll be in the back!"

Agitated, I sat in the back, and pulled Aria onto the jet ski.

"Uwah!"

Crying out like a kid, Aria--

-had already stepped onto the footrests of the floating jet ski, but with a slip, having stumbled over some component, she made the jet ski tilt dangerously.

"Wh-what are you doing!"

I quickly wrapped my arms around Aria's slender waist, supporting her, before I pulled her up.

*Splash!* Slumped over the driver's seat, Aria--

"Uwaaahhhh!"

-crying out, she used her bare arms to embrace me tightly.

"Hey...are you that scared!?"

Hey, sit the other way. If you aren't holding the controls, who's going to drive this.

"Ki-Kinji!"

Aria hugged me with all her strength, even her legs were wrapped around my body.

*Shi Shi Shi* She's almost exactly like a koala.

"Ah, hey!"

I wanted to push her off, but even Aria's head was stuck to my face.

Uuu. Aah, this pink hair still has that nice, sweet smell.

I pulled my head away from that hair and looked at Aria's face--

The Aria as of now, was shaking, almost exactly like a frightened rabbit. her eyelids were trembling uncontrollably.

"Ki-Kinji, I can't, I can't. I-I..."

Extremely agitated, she, her eyes full of tears, looked up at me. This, as well as that face, as cute as a doll's--made my heart skip a beat.

Aria...!

Even you, who's been titled with Quadra can cry. You're actually, actually...actually making these cute noises--

You're actually showing me such a cute expression!

(Uu...!)

Looking at her, wearing a swimsuit while clinging on to me, and finally realizing that the ferocious and fearless Aria from earlier had, in an instant, become just like a rabbit, so cute and lovable, I--

-Again, I changed.

I entered Hysteria Mode.

It was extremely fast this time as well. I don't know why, but if it's Aria...all my blood rushes to my core in a heartbeat. It doesn't give me even the slightest chance to resist going into Hysteria Mode.

Why might that be so?

"Aria."

To Aria's ear, which happened to be right next to my mouth, I used a deep, gentle voice--to whisper to her.

Uuu. Are you kidding me, me?

"Let's make a bet."

While whispering soft words into her ear, I glanced at the watch and speedometer mounted on the jet ski.

This can go really fast. Calculating the time that it would take to get the jackal in range...I noticed that although I was extremely agitated earlier, we still had a wealth of time.

"A-a bet...?"

Her hands still shivering, tightly gripping on to me, Aria asked.

That's right, Aria.

Think of something else, forget your fear.

"Right now it's 5:57. If we can finish hunting the jackal within 3 minutes, which means before 6:00, I'll give myself to you."

"Wh-wh-wha-what do you mean?"

"And opposed to that...if we don't manage to hunt him down, then Aria, will be mine."

I clearly said, stressing every syllable--

-Aria's camellia eyes widened into huge circles.

"Wh-wh-why're you saying these kinds of things again! Ah...ah, huh? Those conditions, whether you win or lose, aren't they both favorable for you!?"

I don't really know how to explain, but Aria's pale face from just a moment ago slowly became flushed with blood.

And also, her eyes seemed a little redder.

"'Favorable' for me? How? How could that be? Could you explain?"

With every sentence, I drew closer to Aria's face, stressing my syllables even more.

Aria, seeing me get closer and closer, went into a state of panic, whimpering "U-uu"

She seemed as if she wanted to say something, but she couldn't get the words out.

"Fuh... I'm joking. Aria is always so fun to tease."

Seeing me start chuckling, Aria started opening and closing her mouth...

*Chiiii!* Her eyebrows tensed up, she pounded a fist towards my temple with a *Bang!*

*Pa*

This fist, from point-blank range, without the weight of her body behind it, was easily caught by the me in Hysteria Mode.

"Isn't this a good method of attack? See...you've already calmed down."

And with my other hand, I gently prized Aria's legs, which were wearing fishnet stockings, off my back--*Spin*

As if dancing, I twirled her body in a semi-circle, making her face forward.

And from behind, I took hold of her hands gently, placing them on the handles.

"Don't be scared. Don't be scared. I am by your side. So--there's no need to be afraid. Right?"

From the backseat, as if I was a puppeteer controlling a doll, I guided Aria's movements--and as if using suggestion, I put my head next to her ear, constantly repeating my words.

Having already blushed all the way to her ears, Aria...

Lowered her head, as if trying to use her hair to cover her eyes...

*Whoosh*

And as if trying to be brief, she nodded her head without saying a word.

"Aria. Battling is like gambling. Those jackals that turned themselves into tokens and challenged us, failed. But now, they don't want to pay up, and they're running away."

I squeezed Aria's hands from behind, pushing the ignition of the jet ski.

*Rumble*...following the the noise of ignition, the engine started.

"So now, let's collect the debt. I'm not so kind as to sympathize with those that lose to me. Of course, this also applies to the wager concerning 'until 6 o'clock"...If Aria loses, I won't show any mercy."

I cruelly ignored Aria, who was saying, "Uh-u-um, di-didn't you say that you were joking?"

"Let's go, Aria. The roulette has been turned, it's time to throw the ball in."

"...They...They're both the same."

Finally raising her head, Aria spoke angrily, staring towards the sea.

"Both the same?"

"The Kinji right now! The Kinji just now! Both are Idiot Kinji!"

And with that, Aria floored the accelerator.

Suddenly, we were flung forward at great speed.

Racing through the small stretch of water inside the pyramid, the jet ski sped out to sea.

Its axe discarded, running all fours like an animal, the jackal...was faster than running on two legs, but we had more than enough time to catch him before he ran across the sea.

Aria was driving--as fast as the engine possibly allowed. There has to be a limit to top speed too, right? If we were a motorcycle, we would be doing a wheelie while bursting through the waves, approaching the enemy.

However, no matter what anyone says, that girl Aria, is a girl so simple that it's comforting.

My hair slightly wet from the spray of water, I...

-fixed my eyes upon the target, which had already entered my range.

"--Sorry, that's a dead end."

*Bang!*

I fired a 9mm parabellum bullet, hitting the jackal's ankle.

Sprinting on the surface of the water, the enemy fell down as if it had slipped, and covered with spray and foam...

it sank.

And, the scarab that appeared to have escaped a second before it had sunk, ran away from us.

We were hurtling at full speed. Knowing that if she just relied on the brakes, we would smash into the breakwater of the marina on the opposite shore, Aria--SCREEEECCCHH--...!

-span the jet ski around, raising a pillar of water like that of a fountain, before stopping.

*Shii*...*Shii*...

The waves that Aria had agitated just now, returned to normal.

*Click, Click*

Using such a crude method to stop just now, the engine had died.

...This is really unlucky. The engine dying in a place like this.

I glanced at Tokyo Bay, which was illuminated by the rays of sunset, and returned the Beretta to holster.

I still don't understand why those golems were attacking the casino, attacking us...

But, this counts as solved.

"Aria, let's go back to the golden pyrimidion. The chances are slim that an ability user who controls dolls would show up himself...but I'm a little worried about Shirayuki."

However...Aria didn't seem to be listening to me.

Dipping her head for some unknown reason, she was staring straight at the watch mounted on the handlebars.

"...Are you afraid again?"

I gently placed my hand on her creamy, white shoulder--

"Kyaa!"

Suddenly, Aria scurried off the seat, just like a rabbit.

What's wrong with her?

"W-we may have exceeded 3 minutes! W-we may have gone past 6:00!"

Standing up furiously, and although she was wearing high heels, she escaped to the end of the jet ski.

"...?"

"Bu-bu-but not right now!"

Looking at Aria, who was scared of me for some reason--I couldn't help but chuckle.

It looks like she's still worried about the 'wager' I talked about just now.

"Aria, water."

...I pointed at Aria's feet.

Aria looked at her feet, and seeing the water constantly rising, she was so scared that her lips started trembling uncontrollably.

Afterward...

*Shiiii!* She started crawling like a crab, slowly making her way behind the seat.

And-*shi*

-she grabbed my shoulders, bracing her head against my stomach, and pushed me forwards.

She's probably trying to tell me to drive. So she can occupy a position that I can't see.

"Hey...Aria."

Starting the engine once again, and like before, when we were riding the bicycle, I spoke to her,

"Just now--you said "not right now", right?"

"Um, um, ah, yeah. No. Definitely not."

"Then, what about, 'after'?"

"Huh!?"

Aria gave off a feeling that she was frozen, transmitted through her hand that was lying on my shoulder.

"'After' should be fine, right?"

I lazily smiled, turning my head around--

"I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I wasn't the one who lost! You're the one who lost! It's you who lost!"

"But, it went over 6:00 right?"

"No-no-no-no-no-no-nobody specified 6:00 in Tokyo! It's not 6:00 in London yet!"

Not knowing what to do, Aria madly searched for a reason to refuse me.

"--alright, I lose. Following the agreement, 'I'll give myself to you.'"

Kuh! Aria emitted out a strangled noise from her throat.

Haha, making her this embarrassed really makes me pity her.

I guess now's the time to change my principles--I won't chase this one down, even if she lost to me.

"But now that I think about it...who on Earth was controlling those jackals? I don't have the slightest clue."

I changed the subject, driving the jet ski in a straight line.

Aria, thinking that this was a chance to smooth over the wager from just now, eagerly answered my question, saying,

"Pro...probably a nationalist ability user from Egypt. Since a long, long time ago, Egyptian nationalists have, because the mummies of their pharaohs were taken to museums, and because their obelisks were taken by Rome or Paris, been extremely angry. You should learn more about these kinds of things."

She couldn't stop explaining about international crime, a topic she was very familiar with.

"This is also a pyramid-shaped casino...from their perspective, it could be seen as blasphemy. It's not that I don't understand where they're coming from, but violence is never the answer. Yeah."

...Are you really qualified to tell this to others?

I chuckled, but in my mind...

"Summer--is the season where a lot of couples form, you know?"

-Just as I was wondering why Shiranui's words would appear now--

--Bang...--

From the distance, came a sound like thunder.

It's a lot like...

A gunshot, right...?

However, blended in with the crashing of the waves, I found it hard to tell the difference.

"Kinji--be careful of the second shot--..."

Behind me--

Said Aria, in an inexplicably serious voice.

"The second shot?"

"Uu..."

"What's wrong?"

Still driving the jet ski, I turned my head around,

"--I think...I got...hit..."

Aria's hands, grasping my shoulders, loosened their grip--

At the same time that I turned around, Aria, her tails shining in the sunset, was leaning dangerously.

Her back, showing through that bold V-shaped opening on the bunny girl suit--

On that place, which was already scarred--

At that moment, the area that had been hit--as if a rose of blood was blooming--spurted out blood.

"Aria!?"

Losing all power in her body, Aria, slow-motion in my eyes, toppled from her seat...*Splash!*

"Aria!"

-and plunged into the ocean!

She was sniped by someone!

This is the obstacle-free sea. Visibility is extremely good.

It's a space where anyone, as long as they're a sniper, can hit us from anywhere.

And we were, by the jackals that came to attack us but got defeated, lured here.

Too stupid. Too stupid. We were way too careless!

Me--especially me.

I had finally entered Hysteria Mode--and my weakness of always wanting to help women, lowering my focus in the process, was completely exploited.

However, this isn't the time to regret! Right now, the most important thing is-

-Aria!

I have to go save Aria, who hasn't floated up yet!

I gritted my teeth and spun the jet ski around in a U shape--

"!"

I was shocked by the scene that lay behind me.

Just now, by those docks, at some point in time...a strange boat had appeared.

--And it was obviously not a modern boat.

Decorated with silver and gold, the boat was extremely slender, the stern and bow were like pillars, forming an L-shape, pointing at the sky.

On every 5-meter section of the oars, in a neat row, there were six jackals.

On the deck there was a cube-shaped cabin. The jewels encrusted into it shown under the light of the sunset.

And on the roof of that cabin--

-standing there was a nearly-naked, short-haired, beautiful woman, clad in very risque clothing.

The bridge of her nose was very high up. Her slender eyes radiated a terrifying pride. She had huge gold hoop-earrings. On her forehead was a cobra-like gold circlet. Her bra was shockingly slender, and ornate golden jewelry was draped over her chest. On her waist, there was a piece of silk that looked much like a fine golden band.

Wearing high-heeled slippers, stepping forward, the girl--

The fingers, with long red nails, grasped a WA2000 sniper rifle, painted for desert camouflage, which was aimed at my head.

--I'm finished.

A pistol versus a sniper rifle is like a sword versus a gun.

The mobile pistol has a huge advantage in close quarters, but when there's distance, it's impossible to hurt the user of the sniper rifle. At this distance, it's impossible for a pistol to hit. Even if the one who's aiming it is the me in Hysteria Mode. It's just one of the limitations of a pistol.

--I am completely powerless.

I'm afraid that I don't even have enough time to dive into the water to escape.

Aah. I--

in this kind of place.

in this kind of manner.

--am going to lose my life.

Assaulted by an unknown offender, my partner had been sniped, leaving me helpless, not able to do anything--

--Pa!

Suddenly, a supersonic bullet struck the girl in the forehead.

Late by one moment, from an amazingly far distance--Bang...! a gunshot reached my ears.

Turning around, in the golden pyramid's opened glass doors--in a prone position, her legs widened in order to improve accuracy and stability, the muzzle of Reki's rifle was pointed this way.

Reki.

The genius of Snipe, noticing the gunshot, immediately moved to the wall, noticed an enemy a few hundred meters away, went prone, took into account the wind speed, adjusted her scope, aimed--and counterattacked.

All this had taken her but 7 seconds.

All these steps had probably been clearly delineated in her mind before even 1 second had passed.

Those rapid reactions, I could find no words other than 'amazing' to describe it.

But that attack was an evident breach of Butei Law.

--Butei Law article 9.

Even if a Butei's companions are killed, even if he himself is going to die, he still cannot kill. This is the responsibility and obligation of all marksmen.

Just now, she said she only had 4 bullets remaining. The me in Hysteria Mode immediately started going through the gunshots in my memory...I immediately understood that that was her last one.

So I understood that she must have had the subjugation of the enemy in mind, but--

My face breaking into a cold sweat, I looked at the woman who had been struck...*Zz, Zzzz*...

That woman, as if trying to bury her own sniper rifle, turned into sand.

So that was also a golem!

The gold, silver, and jewel-encrusted decorations fell from her body, clattering as they hit the deck.

This scene, right out of a nightmare...made me question my own sanity for a moment.

But...

I hadn't woken up from this nightmare yet.

For me, the more, no, the most abhorrent nightmare to me, appeared from within the cabin.

Walking through the waterfall of jewels in the sunlight was...

...Nii...san...!?

"--!"

Completely stunned, I couldn't even yell out his name.

My, Nii-san...! Tohyama Kinichi the Butei, was standing right there, on the deck of that boat!

Appearing to have just woken up, Nii-san wasn't Kana this time, he was dressed up as a man.

That probably isn't a golem.

I knew for sure that it wasn't. It wasn't because of the simple reason of being his brother. Rather, it was killing intent.

Able to make offenders cower with just a glance, that colossal killing intent...I couldn't be wrong, it was Nii-san.

Having just woken up, Nii-san, because of confusion in his autonomic nervous system, couldn't regulate his body temperature. So even in the midst of the summer, he was wearing a pitch-black coat, and from head to toe, down to his gloves, he was dressed in black. The only thing that was differently colored--was the white fur making up his collar, his vest, a small part of it just visible through gaps in his clothing, and his face.

This reaper-like clothing added to...that face.

Although able to transform into a woman of unparalleled beauty, he was a man, but he was still beautiful enough to make any male model or idol cry, upon seeing his looks.

That flawless, handsome face, radiated an irresistible, frightening attraction.

"I--had a dream."

Nii-san...deeply, with a masculine voice, said to me.

"During my long sleep, I had a dream that the 'second chance' become reality... But..."

Looking down on me, Nii-san--

"Kinji--This is unfortunate. Letting Patra sneak-attack you means that, the 'second chance' no longer exists. In the end, my dream is just a summer dream like any other."

His long hair waving in the sea breeze, Nii-san looked straight at me.

"...Nii-san! I don't understand! What the hell is the 'second chance'! Who's Patra! Why are you...on the boat of the person who attacked Aria!"

I roared--

"This is "the boat of the sun". It's a replica of the boats from the far past that would carry the pharaoh's mummy to the pyramids. And using this to welcome Aria...was that your intention?--Patra."

Nii-san spoke to the sea.

And from within it...

*Gurgle Gurgle*...

*Gurgle Gurgle Gurgle*...

Once again, something completely unbelievable appeared.

That...was the resting place of a dead body, a coffin.

And it's a coffin made out of gold.

It's not rectangular, but human-shaped, I've seen them inside history textbooks. It's a sacred casket used back in ancient Egypt to hold royalty or nobility.

The tilted casket rose from within the sea, and sleeping inside was--

Aria...!

Completely stationary, Aria was lying inside.

On the surface of the sea, what appeared to be this gold coffin's lid appeared as well.

Immediately afterward, each hand holding the coffin and lid...the girl who hit Aria just now, rose from the depths as well.

She hadn't used any tricks, and as if being carried by an escalator, she ascended.

"--You cannot just call my name, Tohyama Kinichi."

Exactly like the golem from earlier, clad with innumerable amounts of jewelery, as well as being half-naked, the woman--

*Bang!* -slammed the lid onto the coffin containing Aria, all the while holding it above her head.

And carelessly--with one finger she lightly tossed the coffin, which must have weighed tons, onto the boat.

Bang...!

Gathering to catch it, a few of the jackals became pancakes.

The woman didn't even spare them a glance, and she was wearing a flirtatious smile, looking this way.

"1.9 credits, right? The cost of what you seek is pretty high, you know, brat."

--This bastard.

This bastard is the master controlling those jackals.

"I[4] do not understand you commoners, but if it is just a matter of leaving it up to my servants--it is extremely simple. Those credits should be related to the monetary reward and location. All I needed to do was use that as bait, hoho, and with that simple move, I lured you in. And you also stupidly brought along Aria, the most precious gift, to the pyramid, where my powers are infinite. Aria is extremely unlucky too. I never thought that that little boat would malfunction there and then. This allowed me to aim directly at her heart. Hoho. Looks like the curses that I prepared weren't a waste."

Nonchalantly standing on the surface of the water, she placed her hand by her mouth, laughing with inordinate amounts of pleasure.

Hoho. Hohohoho.

"--The cursed person will suffer great misfortune. Even my obstacle to the throne of I-U, Vlad, because of my curse...he got beaten by this little girl so easily. Hohoho."

The woman laughed with delight, and without using a rope ladder, as if walking on an invisible flight of stairs, she walked onto the ship that Nii-san had called "the ship of the sun".

(I-U...! Is she part of I-U!?)

Everything that happened suddenly fit together in the brain of the me in Hysteria Mode.

The amount of credits I was missing had already been advertised by the noticeboard at Butei High. So she prepared a job that would have exactly that amount of credits.

And not having noticed a thing, I--obediently walked into her trap.

Not only that, I politely brought Aria to I-U, her archenemies.

This woman is a sand user. On the day that I found out I had a credit demerit, the board at Masters was filled with jobs concerning large thefts of sand. That--was definitely her doing as well.

I should have noticed something.

Noticed this, extremely suspicious occurrence...!

"Ho"

Striding up onto the deck, the woman appeared to have thought of something.

"Now that I think about it, I did not kill anybody."

Turning around, she stuck one foot forward, towards me.

"The worthless sacrifice is so cold and distant. You. Might as well--die."

*whoosh* The woman's hands stretched out towards me...

"I myself am taking the time to turn you into a mummy and send you into a coffin, you know. Hohoho. It is an honor, it really is. You are happy, right--?"

Laughing "Hoho", her fingers started moving, as if playing an invisible piano.

What's going on...?

My body started exuding sweat. Something like steam, came from my hands...from my face, and from my mouth, rising out. What is that.

"--Patra, you're going against the rules."

Nii-san's--voice.

At the same time, the heat that was leaving my body stopped.

"What...getting me 'expelled', with things at this level, you wish to flaunt your rules?"

"If you want to return to I-U, then respect them."

"...You're an eyesore."

The woman squinted, turning around and looking at Nii-san, who had walked over to my side.

With that signal, all the jackals raised their oars, pointing them towards Nii-san at the same time.

The tip of those oars were as sharp as spearpoints.

But Nii-san payed no attention to them, but pointed at the edge of his own blade.

"'You can do what you like with Aria, but do not kill people freely."--You haven't forgotten the words that the 'Professor' told me to tell you, right?"

"..."

The girl--Patra, hearing this, pursed her lips, not saying anything.

"Patra, I realize that you wish to stand at the top of I-U. However, that still belongs to the 'Professor' right now. If you wish to succeed as the commander, you have to obey I-U."

"--No! When I want to kill, I kill! If there is no sacrifice, it is all meaningless!" Like a spoiled child, Patra started waving her hands around, *Clink Clink*--the gold bracelets on her arm rang out in unison with her movements.

"It's because of this, that you got 'expelled'. Patra, do you still not understand?"

"A-are you trying to shame me!? Right now you could not even touch me with your finger if you wanted to!"

Patra raised her willful eyes, pointing at the Odaiba Golden Pyramidion.

"...Right. Fighting with you next to a pyramid might not be the smartest thing to do."

"That is right! As long as that temple is by my side, my power is infinite! So I want to kill! If you do not let me, I-I will send you to a coffin! Is that all right!?"

Facing the agitated, yet unmoving, Patra...Nii-san suddenly approached her.

Amazing. That's such a natural movement, comparable to the flowing of water, an inescapable, inevitable footstep.

Nii-san raised Patra's chin with the forefinger on his right hand--

"--!"

-and suddenly, he kissed her deeply.

At the start, Patra seemed to be resisting, trying to push Nii-san away...but soon, in the midst of that melting contact, she gave up. And, she slowly closed her eyes...relaxing every muscle in her body.

At some point in time, Nii-san had grasped hold of Patra's limp waist, using his left arm to support her.

"--With that, please forgive him. He is my younger brother."

Nii-san used his fingers to gently straighten Patra's mussed hair.

From Nii-san, a different feeling from just now emerged--a stronger, more intense feeling permeated the air.

That's...HSS...! The name that Nii-san called Hysteria Mode! I understood.

At the same time that he placated Patra, Nii-san purposely entered Hysteria Mode.

This was the first time I had seen this. This was the first time I had seen Nii-san enter Hysteria Mode through contact with a woman. Not hurting women while entering HSS--that was one restriction that Nii-san had placed upon himself.

But, Patra...

She was blushing so hard that even I, from such a far distance, could see it clearly. She took a step back from Nii-san.

"To-Tohyama Kinichi--you dare use me? Even though you don't like me at all...!"

"--Don't use such hurtful words. I'm not clever enough to have guessed that things would have come to this."

Looking at Nii-san, staring straight at himself--Patra seemed to want cover her own gigantic breasts. And as if trying to calm herself down, she started breathing in and out, deeply--

"No...no matter what, I can't fight with the you in that mode. I may be able to win, but I'll definitely be hurt in the process. This is a crucial period in the process of becoming 'Professor'. I can't allow myself to be injured."

Said she, tossing something to Nii-san--

*Splash*

And as if running, she jumped into the ocean.

On the stern of the ship, the jackals, holding up the golden coffin that Aria was in, followed Patra,

"!"

Wanting to dive after the coffin, I--

"--Halt!"

stopped short, halted by Nii-san's shout.

.....!

The instinct was terrifying. In my heart, I had clearly wanted to save Aria...

But my body, just from hearing Nii-san's voice, froze, as if I had been bound.

--I understand.

If I ignore that voice, one lead bullet will find its way into my head.

The Nii-san as of now will definitely do so. That voice was such that I was able to understand this.

Not long after--*Zazan*...*Zazan*...

Above the waves, only the boat of the sun and Nii-san, and...I were left.

"--'Hidan no Aria[5]' --huh. What a hollow fantasy, a dream."

Nii-san said.

"Hidan no...Aria?"

What?

What's that?

I don't understand...but.

Aria.

I won't let you say that name.

You, the person who hurt her so much--I won't let you say her name!

"Nii-san...you tricked me! You said that you wouldn't kill Aria, right!"

Nii-san, once again, used that expression, full of disgust, to look at me, who was shouting.

"I--am not the one killing her. I'm just spectating."

"That's a technicality! If you had helped, then...Aria...Aria would...!"

"Not yet."

Saying that, Nii-san took out the thing that Patra had given to him earlier, the glass object.

Inside the spherical glass object, a seemingly unstoppable hourglass was fixed there.

"She hasn't died yet. That was just Patra's cursed bullet. She will live for 24 hours after this."

"...!"

"Patra is trying to use this time to undergo negotiations with the leader of I-U. So before that, she will keep Aria alive. However, only until the allotted time. No matter the result of Patra's negotations, there's no longer a 'second chance'. Since there isn't--Aria must die."

"Nii-san...do you want to see as Aria die...!? When you were in I-U...what did you let those lawless elite users do!"

Looking at me, who was shouting, Nii-san said--

"Lawless, huh?"

-and closed his eyes.

"Yes...I-U really is lawless. Not only do the world's laws have no meaning to them, but inside, there are no laws as well. After all, the members of I-U are free to do as they like, to reach their limits. The members of I-U only want to become strong, it doesn't matter what kind of methods they use to realize their goal. And--if there are things that will become obstacles, then they will kill them as well, and it won't matter either."

How is that...!

I didn't think that I-U was an organization that--will kill anybody they please, a gathering place for the elite, all who have different aims.

That kind of group...will definitely be liquidated from infighting. It's impossible for it to last.

As if replying to my thoughts--Nii-san continued to say,

"I-U's leader--'Professor', has always been constraining those outlaws. It is because of of his absolute existence, that I-U is able to last. However, that time--is about to end."

"End...?"

"The leader is dying. Not from sickness or injury, instead, he has reached the end of his life."

Saying that, Nii-san looked at me again with that colossal killing intent.

As if saying--

-after this, wake up and listen to me.

"Kinji. I-U is is not just a group to train elites. They are a group of super-powered people that even a military country would be incapable of stopping, they are a group, made for battle, that even have nuclear weapons. And within that Ignatis[6]--has a real aim of conquering the world. If the leader dies, and Ignatis takes hold of the power of I-U...they will definitely use I-U's power, and attack the world without care, wherever it may be, starting chaos and slaughter."

World...domination?

Absurd...!

That kind of thing, is I-U really...planning to do it?

"However, there are people who believe that I-U does not need that kind of future. They are the inheritors of the professor's will, people purely dedicated to the raising of their own strength--they are the faction called Daio[7]. Knowing the oncoming of the professor's death, they search for a new leader in order to continue the existence of I-U. Somebody that's able to become like the professor, an invincible existence, so they can restrict the outlaws. Strength, ability, immortality...at the end of a series of failed tests, they concluded that all the arrows were pointing to--Aria."

...Aria...?

"The 'professor' chose Aria to be his successor."

Aria...

was chosen to be...the head of...the organization she's always been chasing, I-U...?

Wh-what...what are you saying, Nii-san.

What's going on.

Why?

"We guided Aria into I-U. However, if she's not qualified--which means, weak, we'll kill her and find another leader. That is the conviction of those in Daio."

"Us-using these kinds of methods to abduct her...How do you expect Aria to listen to you!"

"She will listen. Once she's in front of the 'professor'. Aria will definitely give in to the 'professor'. Definitely."

Facing Nii-san's assertive words, I--was left speechless.

Once again look at me, Nii-san's eyes...were filled with a deep regret.

"Kinji--I"m sorry. I didn't tell you anything. I disappeared from the surface world in order to eradicate I-U, becoming part of them.

"Inside, I looked for a way to destroy them. And, what I found was--'falling out[8]'--"

--Falling out.

This Butei watchword, made me swallow.

That...is something that Butei do, when facing a strong group of offenders. They will form a divide between the factions inside the group, letting the enemies fight each other, weakening the group as a whole.

"Dividing the factions in I-U--to do this, the first step is to erase the leader that keeps them in check. So, I looked for a chance to create a leaderless situation. And the chances to do--were two in number. 'The first chance' is killing Aria at the same time the professor dies, creating a void where I-U has to look for a new leader. And 'the second chance' is assassinating the current leader--the professor--"

Nii-san repeated Kana's words, 'the second chance'...

So, it's a chance to annihilate I-U.

And it's a method through killing their leader...!

"Which means, 'the second chance' will ultimately lead to battle with I-U's 'professor'. During my long, long dream, I thought that you might be able to...therefore, I went all-in on this wager, 'the second chance'. However, it looks like I lost."

"......"

"You are still too unskilled. Since you were able to be surprise attacked by somebody like Patra so easily, it means 'the second chance' does not exist. Since there's no 'second chance', I will change my plan to 'the first chance'."

"The first chance".

Which is--killing Aria.

At the same time that the current leader dies, kill Aria, who's been designated as the next leader, creating a leaderless vacuum in I-U...

And at that time, provoke a falling out.

"Nii-san...as a Butei...you still want to kill people...!"

"Kinji. Before being a Butei, I was a man of the Tohyama bloodline. The Tohyama family have always been allies of justice. If it's for the sake of eradicating evil--and this time it's an enormous evil, I won't hesitate to sacrifice some lives. Remember this."

We're done talking--As if saying that, Nii-san turned around.

Patra's power is probably too far, as "the boat of the sun"...starting from the bow and stern, it started returning to fine sand.

In the midst of the sea breeze, it scattered, looking like mist.

Nii-san's outline, in the middle of the cloud of sand, started getting vaguer and vaguer.

--Nii-san!

Where are you going?

Are you going to I-U?

Are you going there to kill Aria?

Aria...

"Go back, Kinji."

Facing Nii-san, who had his back turned towards me---I grit my teeth.

"I-U isn't an organization you can defeat."

...Probably. That, I understand.

However.

That has nothing to do with what's happening now.

No matter what I-U is, it has nothing to do with me.

That isn't what I'm thinking about right now.

Nii-san is going to vanquish evil.

And because of that, he's ready to kill Aria.

Since that's the case, I have no choice but to make a decision.

--I have no choice but to choose one of the two roads.

Obey Nii-san.

Watching as I-U, that evil entity, is challenged by an 'ally of justice', the Nii-san that I respect more than anybody, not interfering, not intervening. Even if Aria dies, we have to follow the path of all those men in the Tohyama Bloodline--the path of justice.

The other road--protect, Aria.

Regardless of whether saving Aria will allow that evil organization I-U to continue to exist. Regardless of how much Nii-san insists that if I save Aria, she will become the leader of I-U, the path of choosing to still save my partner.

What do I do.

What should you do, Kinji.

This is a crossroad of fate.

Nobody can tell me which path is the correct one.

In front of my eyes, as if reinforcing that in my mind, there were no exits.

There was just the sea, as if laughing at me, the plaything of fate, continually moving.

Still inside the dust storm, Nii-san still not turning his head--to look at me, who still hadn't left, he said again.

"Go back, Kinji. I cannot allow you to die. Only one sacrifice, Aria, is needed."

--Aria!

Those words made me--as if I had received a great shock, floor the accelerator of the jet ski.

Towards the ship of the sun, which was slowly turning to sand, I sped.

The foam of the sea, coupled with the sand, splattered into my face, my body.

"--Wait! Nii-san!"

In a state of near blindness--

I flicked open the butterfly knife that Nii-san had left me, and wielded it.

--Clank!

Unable to see anything in the midst of the sand, my engine smashed into the hull of the boat of the sun.

Thrown out of the engine--

"Don't joke with me!"

*RIIIPPPPP*

I used all the strength in my body to plunge the knife into the hull.

Borrowing the momentum of being thrown out of the jet ski, I clambered, using my dagger...

onto the deck of the boat of the sun, which was collapsing like melting sugar, starting to sink.

In the midst of the sand, only a few meters away, Nii-san turned around.

That gaze--

-was full of fury.

Those eyes were those of demons, of dragons. Radiating a killing intent far beyond human comprehension.

Nii-san is really, really angry with me.

Up till now, the only time Nii-san has ever gotten angry with me is when I put myself in the thick of danger.

--Exactly like now.

But...But,

I cannot lose.

I've already passed through, I've already pierced it.

Pierced through the pathless sea. Broke through the sand storm that obscured the road ahead.

"Nii-san! You yourself should understand!"

I sheathed my knife, angrily staring at Nii-san, unwilling to give in.

"Regardless of your reasons, everything you've done has been wrong--you should understand that! Nii-san is lying to himself--lying to your weak, fragile self! If 'justice' truly exists, if you really are an ally of justice, then you cannot kill! You shouldn't kill people, you should save them! That's what a Butei does!"

"--Kinji. If 'justice' truly exists, then what do I do? This is something that I've thought about thousands of times, asked myself thousands of times. The root of 'justice' is the eradication of evil. For the sake of the weak, for the sake of the innocent world, sometimes, there will be sacrifices. No, most of the time, there will be sacrifices. It's time for you to realize that."

"Only that method is possible in order to protect the world...that's just an excuse!"

I did it.

I defied Nii-san--probably, for the sake of saving Aria.

I myself didn't understand why.

But, in spite of all this, I've taken this path. That is an unchanging reality.

To save the kidnapped Aria, I have to defeat Nii-san, and defeat that Patra.

And, in light of that...I am making an enemy of everyone in I-U.

And even the person that all those in I-U fear, the 'professor', I might have to defeat him as well.

It was a long, dangerous path, enough so that thinking about it made me dizzy.

But...

Who cares about that.

Aria has always been walking along such a path.

By yourself, called an Aria by all others, you fought with I-U!

"Kinji. Could it be that--you're disobeying your one and only aniki?"

"You're no longer my Nii-san...!"

"..."

"The thing I've been yearning for--the Nii-san of my past that was incomparably just, has already, during that winter, sunk with the Annbelle and died. The you as of now isn't my compassionate Nii-san. What 'justice'? What 'chance'? I don't care about any of that--I--"

I snapped open the holster strapped to my waist, drawing my Beretta.

As if severing everything between us.

"Nii-san...No, Ex-Butei of the Hall of Butei, Tohyama Kinichi! You, for the charge of premeditating murder--are under arrest!"

My gun pointed at his chest, Nii-san silently closed his eyes.

"Alright. I still have something I need to confirm, your HSS..."

HSS. My, Hysteria Mode.

"Aria changed you into it, right?"

"So what...!?"

"--Let me see it."

Said Nii-san, his fingers moving in the midst of the blowing sand.

"The time before this ship sinks completely--is around 15 minutes. In these 15 minutes, I will test you again. I will confirm if your feelings really are genuine. One more time, I will bet on the bond between you, and the 'Scarlet Ammo'--"

Nii-san didn't draw his gun.

Nor did he adopt any stance.

Wr-wrong.

He has. Just now, his fingertip moved towards me.

That unseen shot, that formless stance is--"Invisible Bullet"!

--*Bang!*

Nii-san's front, as if it were a light, flashed.

*Pa!*

"--!"

That shot, impossible to see, smashed directly into the middle of my chest, protected by a bulletproof uniform.

The blood in my whole body churning I stopped breathing for a moment, my consciousness going fuzzy as well.

But--

"Why didn't you dodge."

I only half-heard Nii-san's voice, due the huge impact I had just taken.

"I took it...on purpose. You have to understand."

Finally taking a step, I used all my strength to form my mouth into a weak smile.

By my mouth, one line of metallic-tasting blood, streamed downwards.

"...Your 'Invisible Bullet', I saw it--!"

Hearing my words, Nii-san's eyes widened.

Truth be told, I had already expected it to some degree.

And just now, I used my observation skills under Hysteria Mode to confirm.

"Nii-san. Before, we used to watch those John Wayne westerns, right? The basis of that skill, is him--"

Aria...

In Assault, you said that Nii-san's gun was a Colt Peacemaker.

That--indeed is the name of the gun, but more to the point, it's a gun that was designed in the mid-19th century, so old that museums collect it. It's not a gun that modern Butei would use.

But, against all expectation, Nii-san chose that kind of ancient revolver.

Why?

I had been thinking about it in one corner of my brain.

And I finally realized it.

The Colt Peacemaker--in the history of guns, is one of the best for quick drawing.

Stopping power, burst limit, accuracy. The automatic pistols of today have advantages in all areas. But if restricted to quick drawing, looking at the structure, revolvers have the advantage.

That kind of gun, added to Hysteria Mode, which hugely exceeds the limits of regular person's reflexes--

Can be titled with a quick draw that people's eyes are unable to follow.

That, is the secret behind the "Invisible Bullet".

"...As expected of my ototo[9]"

Said Nii-san, gritting his teeth.

"This skill that nobody has been able to pierce, has been found out by you. That alone, is worthy of praise. Looks like leaving is the right thing to do. Once again, you've improved due to the catalyst that is Aria."

Said Nii-san, his fingertip moving again--taking a stance.

--Here comes another one--!

"However, understanding it doesn't help you. Listen well, Kinji. All your skills in battle were taught by me. In that arsenal of moves, none of them can counter this 'Invisible Bullet'."

Kinji. Do not waver.

You've already rushed to this point. Think properly.

Since you weren't taught any, make one.

You've fought with Aria before. Make something that belongs only to you two. A new technique.

--Now, right here!

"Kinji. You will not be able to dodge this one. Even if it's the you in HSS, you cannot dodge the a bullet that only takes 1/36 of a second to find its target. This is absolute. Even I wouldn't be able to dodge."

My mind in Hysteria Mode--

Rewound through all the battles that I had shared with Aria at high speed.

And from within them, two battles flashed into my mind.

One, was the battle with the segways.

The other, was the recent one, with Vlad--

--!

"--Shallow."

A formless posture--

Seeing me adopt a stance the same as his, Nii-san sighed.

"Are you trying to mimic the same ability, Kinji? That is an automatic pistol. It's not suited to using 'Invisible Bullet'"

Hearing that, I was sure.

--I have exceeded Nii-san.

I can win.

This battle, I can win it.

In the wake of the increased decomposition of the sand boat, the sea breeze strengthened.

The sand was even stronger.

--Alright. Luck is in my favor.

Blow harder. Blow more furiously.

The more you do, the more advantage I have...

"Go to sleep Kinji. A younger brother that exceeds an older brother, does not exist--"

"Invisible Bullet"--is coming!

In that instant, in the eyes of the me in Hysteria Mode, everything started going in slow motion.

Nii-san's hand, that movement--

But even like this, I couldn't see his hand itself. However. I can see. I can see it--

The swirl of sand that Nii-san's hand is leaving behind--!

In the exact same movement as Nii-san, I raised my Beretta.

Basically, it was like thinking about your reflection in the mirror--and how to perform a different movement, before being able to hit it.

The selector of the Beretta was on the 3-burst fire that was mistakenly modified by Hiraga Aya from Amdo.

This is a mode where, once you pull the trigger, 2 bullets will exit at almost the same time--!

--*Bang!*

--*Clink!*

Piercing the silence, the gunshots, numbered 2.

It may have been nearly the same, but I was late by one instant.

Aiming at the center of my chest again, Nii-san's bullet hurtled over--

--*SCREEEEECH!*

Using the "Billiard Shot" from the battle with Vlad, changing the path of his bullet, deflecting it backwards--

And like the morning of the opening ceremony, breaking the Uzis on the Segways--

it entered the barrel of the Peacemaker that Nii-san had just fired.

Yes, if there was a name, it would be "Mirror Shot".

Making the the enemy's bullet re-enter the barrel, it is a technique that is both offensive and defensive.

"!"

--*Bang!*

Immediately after, the second bullet was fired, exiting the barrel at high speed--deflecting the first bullet I fired, which was now hurtling backwards at me, away once again. Under this "Billiard Shot", it flew off to one side.

This is a marksmanship technique that occurs within .1 seconds...

*Thud!* Nii-san's bullet, which had re-entered the barrel of the Colt Peacemaker, broke it.

And my bullet, *Rip!*, carrying the sound of grazing a sleeve, it was lost in the sandstorm.

Dropping the broken pistol, and while his handsome face was twisted into a frown--

The crumbling 'boat of the sun', sunk into the ocean.

The sand under our feet immediately crumbled and fell into the sea, bringing my brother and I with it.

--Nii-san.

I'm sorry.

In one corner of my heart, I knew that what Nii-san was doing wasn't wrong.

I had accepted in my heart the cruel truth that, in this world, there are things that cannot be solved so simply, but I still fought against you.

But, the same goes for me--

My feelings are not lies either.

I may not know why. But, if it's for her.

If it's for her, even if I have to walk a different path from you, I will be willing.

--Nii-san.

I've been separated from Nii-san...and this time, I've really lost it. I've really lost the goal that I've always had since I was a child.

What should I do from now on?

4th Ammo: Infighting -Falling out-July 24th, in the afternoon. I arrived at Odaiba.In order to make up for the credits that I was missing, I became security for the casino here.The world celebrated summer holidays had arrived. However, as Jeanne so happily pointed out, I had a problem, and so I needed to do this kind of mission, which would probably be like tuition in another school. Which horrible path of life did I take? I might say this, but I knew. The path being, Aria.Well, no matter how much I complain, nothing's going to change.Dressed up as a young IT CEO, I straightened my flashy tie...and stepped onto the escalator going through Aqua City Odaiba, entering Tokyo's casino "Odaiba Golden Pyramidion"Gambling has been legal in Japan for two years already. And the first casino to be built upon legalization was this one, "Odaiba Golden Pyramidion". Its name completely corresponded with how it looked, a gigantic golden pyramid-shaped casino, structured by a steel frame and glass, extremely glaring beneath the bright summer sun.From the information that I read...there was a news report on this place a few years before, where according to the governor, who was interviewed, this design was inspired by "A design brought over to Japan from some other country, a colossal golden pyrimidion."--Entering the air-conditioned building through the automatic doors, I arrived at an entrance lobby with a laser fountain inside. Moving forward, through this area...I reached the casino hall."I'd like some gambling chips. Today, a blue canary flew in the window1; I'll definitely be lucky." Reciting the code at the counter, and trading 1 million counterfeit yen for some colorful chips, I...may be acting, but I strode into the casino with a little bit of pride.In the vicinity of the entrance to the casino, there were some slot machines, for those who wanted some cheap fun. Tourists and youngsters alike, as if playing slots on the side of the street, were excitedly watching the 7s flash by.It looks like this floor had a seaside casino theme, and surrounding the whole hall--were waves, set up beforehand.That pool that looked like a road of water wasn't for swimming, but for the bunny girl waitresses, allowing them to move around with great speed using the jet skis above the water."What would you like to drink?" "Whether it be cocktails, liquor, or coffee, it's all free." "If there's anything you want, please call one of the waitresses that are close by~"Looking on from afar...that work method, just like awater strider, is really interestingWhile I was staring at them--Chi!Suddenly, my ear was seized from below by someone."Stop drooling, you pervert!!"A seiyuu-like voice suddenly exploded outwards, next to my ear. It assaulted my eardrum with as much power as the attack when we were fighting Vlad last month, "Wallachia's Magic Flute."Not able to do anything except clasp my ear, I looked down...Her pink twin-tails and her bunny ears were standing straight up with anger, her hands on her hips."--Hey Aria. I'm a customer, you know. You can't treat me like this."I whispered to Aria, who was extremely upset for some reason.Hearing my words, Aria "Hmphed" and she twisted her head around.What. Was I the one who messed with you?"Hey...are you doing your job as a waitress? I can't relax at all...""Of course I am. However, for some reason, nobody's ordering anything from me."Pursing her lips, Aria bitterly looked around at all the men in the hall.So that's how it is. Is that why you're unhappy?Well...that's to be expected.I looked at the tiny bunny girl Aria, standing in front of me, and my spirits lifted a little.A few days ago, when we were trying these outfits out, I had thought that this bunny girl suit was designed for well-endowed women. Letting a high school student, no, letting Aria, whose height is that of a elementary school student, wear it is futile. She won't be popular at all. No matter how much padding you use to make up for it, it won't work.However, if I dare to say that, I'll definitely be slaughtered by her bullets. With the thought of continuing my family name in mind, I changed the subject."...Anyways, why aren't you driving those?"I stuck my chin out pointing towards the jet skis, and Aria, her eyes turning around, glaring at me--"Shut up!"Pa!Chi!-jumped into the air, stabbing those pointy rabbit ears directly into my eyes. These eyes are way harder than I thought!"Uwaah!""You know that I can't swim! If you say anything else that's stupid, I'll play hole roulette with you! Understand!?"Ho-how can she be this vicious! Aren't rabbits supposed to be gentle animals?Having had my eyes destroyed by a mad rabbit's ears, I hurriedly moved to my security position in the inner part of the casino, as if running away.These spacious rooms are the high-stake card-games and roulette tables with, where the customers change into professional gamblers.Men wearing neat suits. Beautiful women wearing evening dresses. The intelligent types, bringing their laptops, their glasses flashing. And at first glance, tourists, but the expression in their eyes could not be said to be normal.--I have to stay on high alert in this place. Thinking about whether or not any incidents were going to happen, I...standing next to the accessorized sports cars, carefully observed the jazz band on the stage, under the chandeliers. And...Chatter...Chatter...It looks like...there's already something going on.In one corner of the hall, there was an abnormally large group of people clustered together.What happened...?Continuing to pretend to be a customer, I approached the crowd."Su-such a shy girl...she's too cute..." "It was so worth it to come here, even though I lost so much cash before I noticed her." "Ah, don't cover your breasts! Look this way!"The men were shouting these kinds of catcalls.They were even using their phones to take photos.Did an idol come to the casino?"Pl-please don't take photos of the waitresses!" "The notices on the entrance have already said that!"Rescued by the other bunny girls, one of the bunny girls was desperately tugging on her ears, covering her face, and running away.Hey...Isn't that Shirayuki?...How did something like this happen?Half-crying, Shirayuki noticed that my face was twitching uncontrollably, and she rushed into the staff room, running away from the men, whose eyes were close to becoming heart shaped.In order to avoid the suspicion of other customers, I idled outside the room for a while before entering the lounge. Shirayuki was the only one inside, sitting on a high-chair, catching her breath.She was wearing a black swimsuit as well as high-fishnet stockings as part of her bunny girl outfit. Her rabbit ears...were taken off."Shirayuki. Didn't you say that you should stay in the shadows while working, not attracting attention?"Hearing my voice, and going "Ah!" while raising her head, Shirayuki--"Ki-Kin-chan...! I'm sorry! I'm sorry I'm sorry!"-suddenly started apologizing to me, and she put her bunny ears back on her head, in a panic.And she pulled them forward once again, obscuring her face.Um...If you just wanted to cover your face...was there really a need to wear the rabbit ears again?"Be-because Kin-chan...Kin-chan seemed to very happy when you saw Aria in this outfit, s-so I thought, does Kin-chan like this..."Shirayuki's moist, black eyes looked at me surreptitiously through the gap between the bunny ears."That...we only wore that to test them for the upcoming job. This is so annoying, at that time, I--"Hey, did I really look happy while being stepped on by high-heeled shoes?Shirayuki's reality filter is amazingly terrifying!"Um, if you expose that you're undercover, then our security job will be counted as failed. You should have known this as well. While there might be purposeful exposure in order to guard against the offender's actions, but the wishes of our client this time are very specific. We are supposed to move quietly, undercover, not disturbing the customer's pleasure. So why did you let so many people gather around?""...Th-that...I don't know either..."Shirayuki, finally letting go of the bunny ears, looked at me with those eyes, under her smooth fringe.And the forefingers of both hands were tapping at her face incessantly..."We-wearing these clothes is really embarrassing...I wanted to carry out my work inconspicuously, but at some point in time, without me noticing...men had started gathering all around me..."Ah...so that's how it is.Looking at Shirayuki right now, I think I know the reason already.Her knees twisting without pause, trying to hide her thighs, which were extremely visible through her fishnet stockings, Shirayuki's appearance nearly made me, somebody who hates being around girls, think that she was irresistible.Shirayuki already had a figure that could rival that of idols, and now she was wearing something that revealed her snow-white skin. Only able to cover the area below her enormous breasts, she was wearing a very risque swimsuit.Added to this, Shirayuki is extremely shy towards everybody, especially men, with me being the only exception. That kind of embarrassed attitude appears to have an unmatched appeal for one part of the male personality, making her extremely hard to resist. However, all it did was make me a little nervous.This, combined with other factors...Made the situation in the hall devolve to one akin to throwing a rabbit into a wolves' den."...All of that was because of your outfit. You're way more developed than Aria or Riko, so don't wear these kinds of risque clothes that excite men so well."Sounding like her father, I made my conclusion."Ex-exciting...men...? Me....Me...?"This ultra-secluded Miko, who had pretty much never left her shrine or school, blushed heavily.Afterwards, *shi*...her shoulders retracted, seemingly conveying the message, "I'm extremely sorry for being born into this world". However, not a few seconds later, she seemed to have thought of something, and her face took on a "!" expression.What is it...These series of movements just serves to make me feel that something ominous is going to happen..."Men...Ki...Ki-Kin-chan is...is also a man. Right...?"As if gathering up her courage, Shirayuki's--*shi*-shoes hit the floor, making a tapping noise, and she stood up, holding one hand as if trying to cover her hips.Afterward, *ShiShi*. She smoothed her fishnet stockings, embarrassed."...Th-then, th-these clothes...Wh-what do you think, Kin-chan...?"Ah..."What do you think"?Shirayuki, *shi*, twisted her knees inwards, watching my expression intently."I-if Kin-chan likes these kinds of clothes...th-then even if I'm wearing th-these clothes...e-even after this job is ov-over...what we agreed on..."Shirayuki seemed to be playing out a scenario in her head, her hands grasping her blushing cheeks, screwing her eyes up."Before, in the ambulace room, the co-co-con-cont..."From between the rabbit ears, as if matching up with her words, *fyuu, fyuu* hot air started to rise."What's wrong? Calm down, Shirayuki. Once you lose control, fire will start coming out.""cont, co-con...con...tinu...ation! It's fine if we do it with a bunny suit...!"For the sake of returning Shirayuki, who for some reason couldn't even say the single word "continuation" properly, back to normal--"Hey, Shirayuki. What are you thinking about, all by yourself?"I grabbed her shoulders, rocking her back and forth."Ri-right now? If you want to do it now, that's fine too! Bu-but, the lo-lock!"Shirayuki, whose eyes seemed to be spinning, went into her overload sequence, just like before.Can somebody tell me what turned her into this state?"I-ha-ha-ha-ha-have to lock it!""Hey, go back to normal, got it?"*shake shake* I put more power into my shaking."Ah, ah, ahhh."I don't know how, but Shirayuki, seemingly up in the clouds right now, made an impossible, strange noise--Thump.Her long, black hair shook, and she suddenly fell down, like a puppet whose strings have been cut.This...is a new mode. Self-destruct, maybe? I have no way of understanding."Are...are you alright...?"Looks like...I shouldn't need to worry.She had an rapturous expression while fainting, almost as if she had ascended to heaven.I don't know, nor do I wish to know what kind of happy events took place in Shirayuki's mind, but it's probably some fantasy which had content so strong that it exceeded the limits of her body.For humans, the impossible is forbidden, after all.Both Shirayuki and Aria couldn't be undercover guards if their lives depended on it.But, we can't get fired because of this. For the sake of moving up a grade, even if it's by myself, I have to finish this commission. Thinking that way, I went to the 2nd floor of the casino--the floor for premium roulette tables.On this special floor, the lowest wager is 1 million yen.Only the wealthy members of this casino can gamble here. Even spectating requires a fee.So, there shouldn't be many customers...was what I thought, but there was a crowd of spectators in one corner of the 2nd floor.It looks like there's a fight taking place.I used the employee keycard that I received along with these "young IT CEO" clothes and entered the floor, looking towards the corner that was luxuriously decorated with animal specimens.There was a colossal roulette table there, and wearing a vest with a gold buckle, the small dealer was--"..."Reki.With a *dong*, Reki struck the bell that signaled the start of the match, and she looked at the table, as expressionless as always.Aria and Shirayuki were suffering from their bunny suits, but she was the only one who was wearing pants.Reki...could it be that you are the one I can rely upon?"Then, may the players please place their bets."The crowd around applauded Reki, who said that smoothly.The rules in different casinos are slightly different, but in roulette, the players first place their bets, and then the dealer throws a small ball into the rolling roulette wheel. That's the order of events."Ha, haha...such a strong...yet pitiful dealer I have never met before. I really did not expect that she'd be able to make me lose 35 million within 1 hour."Saying that, one of the customers sitting by the side of the table, seemed to be extremely excited, even though he was the only one gambling."Could it be that you're the Goddess of luck?"Goddess?More like an assassin.Keeping that to myself, I...suddenly noticed that I already had an impression of this man in my mind.I've seen him on TV. I remember, he was nicknamed the Japanese Bill Gates, an actual young IT CEO. There's also a lot of rumours about his relationships with crowds and crowds of idols.The people around rushed here to see this fabulously wealthy person?"...The chips I have left are equivalent in value to what I've lost, which is 35 million. I'm putting it all on black!"In the wake of the young CEO's extremely enthusiastic and excited voice and movements, *clack!* the tokens in question were pushed into the box designated "black"--This guy is obviously excited because he's on a losing-streak.This means that all 35 of his 1 million tokens have been laid down, making the other customers cheer in excitement, but this...gives me a feeling of contradiction."'Black'? Then, if this ball lands in the black, your money will be doubled. OK?"Reki, holding up the game ball, which looked like a white ping pong ball, kept her tone soft, her expression unchanging."OK. But what I want isn't tokens. If I win--I want you."Hearing the young CEO say this, the surrounding guests raised an uproar."If I'm able to acquire lucky girl, I myself will become more lucky."What the hell are you saying.Bloody lolicon.Anyways...I may not know how much you want Reki, but she's definitely not worth 35 million."..."And Reki stayed silent.The Reki as usual.But, this isn't good. Not even giving off a friendly smile, she's making the surrounding guests think that she's angry at the young CEO's words.This atmosphere is exactly like one right before a 1 on 1 duel.With this, it doesn't matter whether the young CEO wins or Reki wins, there'll be problems either way.Aria. Shirayuki. Reki. Can't you do your job properly?...There's nothing for it. Time for me to act. This is for my credits."I'm sorry. I'd like to join the fun."I raised my hands, and--sat next to the table as well.The rules say that, as long as the dealer hasn't declared the betting as over, anyone can join, without exception.The young CEO's eyes stared at me from under his gelled hair."Who are you, do you want the dealer for yourself?""I'm the boss of your competing company you know? I want to say that...but I only have this much cash on hand, a negligible amount. Hehe, I'm just trying to gamble."Shrugging my shoulders, I took out one 1 million token, giving off the feeling of a CEO of a small company.An atmosphere that said "some small-fry just appeared" appeared among the crowd...and slowly, they calmed down.But, that's good.That CEO is already overexcited. If he loses, he may start causing trouble because of his hurt pride.So, in order to prevent that, I have to lose together with him.But, if this CEO wins...Whatever. Reki, you'll have to find a way out of that one yourself."Place your bet, you brat. I won't give her to you."I'm completely fine with that.I want to bet on...that's right. Losing by betting on black would be too obvious. So, my color will be 'red'--the number is irrelevant. I carelessly put my tokens onto 23, my class number.The chance of me winning is 1/36. There's no way I can win."...Then, the betting is over."Reki looked at the table, and her normally expressionless face had a hint of anger in it, and she announced the end of betting.Afterwards, she span the roulette, and as for the ball...*pa*Without hesitation, just like a robot, she threw the ball into the roulette.The ball followed the rotating of the roulette, moving--*Roll Roll Roll Roll*It's starting to jump up and down over the numbers.Thunk. The CEO who had bet that enormous sum of money, 35 million, couldn't help but swallow, leaning over the table.I also pretended to be nervous.*Click, Click...Click Click*.Click."--Red 23. Player #2 wins."Hearing Reki's announcement--The entire crowd cheered, everybody shouting "WOOOOAAAAHHHH!" at the same time. And the CEO...*Thump*, he slumped over the table, having lost everything. "...!"Reki gathered the tokens that the CEO had put down, as well as the ones that I had put down, and pushed the chips, which added up to 36 million, using the T-shaped bar in front me, whose face was twitching uncontrollably."Here you are. 36x your wager."Hey...could you pay more attention to the atmosphere, Reki...Just now, you definitely made me win on purpose!Nobody can control the position in which the ball will go. That's the entire basis of this game...but faced with Reki, such things are useless.I gambled with the purpose of calming down the heated situation in the forefront of my mind, but this turn of events has made them get even more excited."Hahaha...I lost 70 million, didn't I? As I expected, I can't just let it go. But, I've already lost so much money. So my pitiful dealer-san . At least, your phone number...could you tell me it?"Raising his head and saying that, the CEO appears to be someone who can't even fall down without getting something out of it.That's probably why he got to be a CEO."Please behave yourself. It would be better if you returned today.""No, you have to tell me...otherwise, your e-mail is fine too.""All those that are gathered here, please disperse."Ignoring the struggling young CEO and the guests milling around, Reki--"There's an ill wind blowing."turned her head towards me, saying that.An ill wind..."At least tell me your name!"As the CEO continued to harass her, *Bang!*From behind Reki, within the animal specimens--A silver wolf rushed out like a hurricane."--!?"That's Haimaki, the wolf that Reki is raising. So it was crouching over there.The silver wolf used the roulette table as a step, and bounded over to the panicking crowd in an instant.Every token, worth about a million, came down in a shower on the head of the CEO, who had fallen onto the floor, sitting on his ass.At the same time that I turned my head that direction, Haimaki--Thud!-smashed into, coming from the corner of the room, a person--?"!"What...is that...!?That was an abnormal, indescribable man.His skin looked like it had been painted black, naked except for a tea-colored cloth around his waist.But even more strange than that, was his head.That head, wasn't human.That...appeared during the animal show that Aria likes to watch, a jackal-like canine head.The head was a jackal, and the body--that guy, was using this kind of body.My senses were screaming at me, telling me that this was definitely not some sort of masquerade, some sort of make up to go to a social gathering. The movement of that slit of a mouth, was far too natural.Most importantly--in his hand, he was holding a half-moon shaped axe!A robber come for money...that's not it. Is he trying to kill everybody here?Taking Haimaki's charge attack, the Jackal, *Rip!*-split the tiger machine by the wall, into two halves.Coins rained down everywhere and the machine, current leaking out, flashed with sparks."This...What kind of special event is this!"Shouted the young CEO..."I really wish that this was an event too."Seeing me remove my tie and draw my gun, he ran away, too scared to make a sound.Following his panicked scramble to the other customers, who were escaping outside, *Shi*The Jackal, his head still in Haimaki's jaws, stood up.I...I can't believe it.Having fought with him once before, I knew full well. Haimaki's weight is comparable to that of a motorcycle.Even harder to believe was, that guy, with just a wave of his neck, flung Haimaki loose.And--Haimaki, trying to stand up, was already nearly unconscious--those red eyes, and shining axe-edge, turned to face me.Which means...his target is us?"Be careful Kinji-san. That isn't a human."While I chuckled and said to Reki, "I noticed."--One bunny girl, going against the flow of escaping people, charged down from the stairs."...Mushihitogata2...!"Both her eyes widened, calling the Jackal in front of me by that name was--Shirayuki."Kin-chan, run away--if you're touched by him, you'll receive his curse!"Shouting out some SSR terminology, Shirayuki reached her hand to her back, looking as if she was going to draw her blade...but on that back, the normally ever-present Irokaneayame was missing.That blade was withheld by Shirayuki's clan, and afterwards, it was stolen by somebody.Frowning for a moment, Shirayuki immediately stuck her hand below her bunny girl suit's tail, fishing out several pieces of paper, no, they're amulets."Gohou no Hihomurafuda3--"Reciting something, Shirayuki scattered the talismans into the air--*Fwahh, Fwaah*. The talismans floated in the air in front of Shirayuki, then burst into flame."Kin-chan, get down!"*Pa!* Screaming that out, Shirayuki brought her hands together.With the echoes of her cry still lingering in the air, the five talismans turned into a fireball, and shot towards the Jackal, just like a flare.The Jackal had just turned his head when--the fireball, as if avoiding his gaze, split in 5 different directions, forming an arc, not allowing the enemy a chance to escape...*Pa Pa Pa Pa Pa!*Like a flamethrower, flame enveloped that--"Uu...!"The room became stained with orange light in an instant, and I threw myself down..."--It won't work. It should be fire-resistant."Reki, her short hair fluttering from the wave of hot air, took out the sniper rifle she had hidden underneath the table.As Reki said...The Jackal, releasing clouds of white smoke, strode towards Shirayuki, not having taken any damage at all.I'm hardly adept when it comes to the SSR, but I've heard Aria say that all abilities have an extremely complex 'attributes'. These attributes are split into 4~5 in games, but in a similar system, the powers that ability users use are split up into 70-80 attributes, and they serve to balance each other out through mutual weaknesses and strengths.These 'attributes', having been researched thoroughly, can be summarized in one sentence. It's like playing rock-paper-scissors. Specific attributes are weak against other specific attributes. Conversely, specific attributes are able to withstand the attacks of other specific attributes. What happened just now was an example of this, the fire having no effect at all.This information...Shirayuki should have known this."Come at me, puppet! I won't even let you touch Kin-chan!"Her eyebrows shooting up, high heels thudding into the ground with a *Da*, and adopting a stance, holding her hands open, Shirayuki...even understanding the ineffectiveness of her own ability, still wanted to fight the enemy one-on-one."..."Reki raised her SVD--but she was unable to fire.And having already drawn my gun, I also realized that it would be extremely difficult to cover Shirayuki.The Jackal was standing between Shirayuki and us. If our bullets pierced him or miss him, there's a high chance that we will hurt Shirayuki. But the Shirayuki as of now appeared to be too angry to notice this.Shirayuki--once you feel that I'm in danger, do you go berserk like this!?"--Hah--!"Dodging past the Jackal's axe, Shirayuki's two fists thundered towards the enemy's eyes--*Click!*-The Jackal dodged with the speed of a boxer, following up with a fist sent at Shirayuki's jaw."--!"Shirayuki's legs, going into in an X-shape, were flung outwards...and she flew backwards, straight into the wall.*Rumble* Under the crooked rabbit ears, seeming to look this way, her head had drooped forwards.From the looks of it, she has a concussion. There's no way she can recover immediately."Shirayuki!"I straightened my gun, thinking of charging in and engaging the Jackal, who was in the midst of sending her to heaven, in an Aru=Kata gunfight.But, Reki tugged on my sleeve--*whoosh*. Flying up onto the table, kneeling down on one knee, Reki--"Kinji-san, lend me your shoulder."*Pa!*Using my shoulder as support, she pulled the trigger of the SVD.*Bang!* The bullet pierced the Jackal's shoulder--close to the collarbone, leaving a bullet hole in one of the walls of the hall.Just now, when Shirayuki drooped her head, a safe line of fire was created.*HOWL!*Finally returning from its dazed state, the silver wolf immediately used its razor-sharp teeth to bite down upon the body of the Jackal, which had been distorted by the impact of the bullet.*HOWL! HOWL!* Having his neck and other areas continuously being ripped open, the Jackal--*Thud*-lost power in his limbs...*Shi*And as if melting, he became like black sand--that looked like iron ore.And I, along with Haimaki, who was standing dazed atop the pile of sand, couldn't believe my eyes.Wha...What the hell is going on...!Still ringing from the thunder of the gunshot from just now, my ears...suddenly heard the noise of an insect."...?"From within the sand--at that moment, a black scarab flew out.I don't know what happened. I don't understand the situation at all.But, that can be thought about later. Right now we have to take care of Shirayuki--"Kinji-san, you can't go, that bug is very dangerous.""Dangerous? Who cares about some insect. Right now, the most important thing is Shirayuki...!"But, Reki's hands grasped my sleeve with all her strength.Let go! Let go of me!What the hell are you doing...!That black scarab, as if trying to escape from Reki's gaze...flew out the window."Kinji-san."Toneless--yet, full of anxiety, Reki's voice couldn't help but make me turn my head around.Only to see Reki, *Click*Attaching a 20-centimeter blade...below the barrel of the gun.That's something like a tactical knife, a bayonet.The SVD sniper rifle is of Russian make, a modification using an assault rifle as its basis. In close quarters a bayonet can be attached, giving it the ability to be used in melee."First, we're going to thin out the enemy in melee, let's change our location. This isn't a good place for sniping.""Thin out...the enemy?"Just now, you and the wolf, didn't you already vanquish the enemy?"I only have 4 bullets left. There are more enemies than I have bullets."Following Reki's gaze, I looked upwards--"...!!"Finally understanding the meaning of her words, my back stiffened.That abnormal scene rendered me unable to move, as if I had been frozen.On the other side of the exquisite chandelier, on the ceiling of the hall, several things, looking much like the Jackal of just now, were crawling there.In total, there were about 10.I...I looked back, looking at the bayonet-wielding Reki, still disguised as a dealer.Before, back in Assault, I had carried out several missions with Reki.But, I've never seen her get caught up in melee.Because snipers by definition, don't like to be in close combat. They are masters of a completely different skillset than us, the Butei in Assault. They are specialists in long-range attacks.Reki's slender arms being able to melee with those monsters--I could not imagine it.Shirayuki...!I have to quickly save the still unconscious Shirayuki.But--how do I get through those monsters?Those things, their eyes shining with red light, were staring towards us.Not caring about Shirayuki, they...are probably waiting for Reki and I to save her, before launching a concerted attack. It looks like the intelligence of these things aren't as low as that of the Jackal from just now.What do I do...What on Earth do I do.I don't know...I don't know, the me as of now, doesn't know...!---*Bang Bang Bang Bang!*The sound of Colt M1911 Akimbo's continuous gunshots rang out!The bullets, speeding across the room like a razor--*Thud! Thud!*Two or three of the enemies dropped down from the ceiling."Haa. These things again?"Saying those shocking words, that seiyuu-like voice belonged to...the small bunny girl...Aria!Appearing in the hall, Aria let loose a barrage of .45ACP bullets towards the enemies beside her, her pink twin-tails dancing in the wake of her movements.Looking at Aria, her movements look as natural as a housekeeper's movements while cleaning with a broom.She...has already gotten used to fighting with these monsters..."Hey, Idiot Kinji, stop daydreaming!"*Howl!* Aria bared her canines, the intensity of the action not losing to that of the Jackals, and she raised her hands far up, continually assaulting the enemies on the roof, all the while striding towards the center of the hall.The Jackals, just like cockroaches, scuttled all around the roof, escaping from Aria, with a *Chi Chi* noise....Hey, isn't the position of the bunny and jackals the wrong way around?"In these situations, you shouldn't wait for the enemy to act. You have to take action first!!"*Bang! Bang!* Jumping around, using stools and tables as stepping-stones, Aria grabbed hold of the huge chandelier hanging down from the ceiling.And, *shi, shi*, she clambered up its body."Reki!"*Clank! Whoosh!*Hearing Aria's call, the bullet that Reki fired grazed the metal chain of the chandelier.Under this impact, the chandelier, with Aria on it, *Rumble*, started spinning around like a merry-go-round.*Bang! Bang Bang Bang!*Turning into a rotating emplacement, Aria fired and fired, continuing to attack the jackals on the roof without pause.*Crash. Bang.*Around me--bullet casings, stray bullets, splinters from the wall, and even bits of pieces of the jackals rained down."Ah, hey, Aria!"Aria, you...ho-how can you be so direct, so unscrupulous.Isn't this completely ignoring our distress, and just firing at every enemy you see!*Bang!*I looked towards the new gunshots, and noticed that Reki, who had rushed to Shirayuki's side at some point in time, was opening fire with the bayonet-attached SVD.Those jackals that stood up after being blown off the roof by Aria, were promptly dispatched by her.Seeing one of the jackals that fell down beside me about to stand up, I also--Thud!-able to do nothing else, I restricted his movement, piercing his thigh with a shot from my Beretta.*Thud*. The jackals that fell down, as well as the ones that were destroyed by Aria all did the same thing...they dissolved into iron ore...and a scarab flew out of each pile of it.I walked towards the center of the hall, staying alert of my surroundings, there were only two jackals left.And both of them had fallen on the ground.*Clank!*Reki broke the iron chain holding the chandelier...*Crash!*Falling down, bringing Aria along with it, the chandelier flattened one. Now, only one is left.Having been surrounded by the three of us, the last one--"Uwoohh--!"-let loose a flute-like, piercing howl, and smashed through the glass, escaping.Aria, sitting atop the chandelier, which looked like a giant cake, stood up with a *whoosh*--"Really. I expended so much effort to let the customers escape, now that the golem has escaped--there might be trouble."*Click Click*She said, taking out spare magazines from God knows where, and slotted them inside the black and white M1911s."Golem...? Are you talking about these sand people? Just now, Shirayuki called them Mushihitogata--""Are you battling without knowing anything? Idiot! Just go back to elementary school!"Even if I go back, they won't teach me about monsters like these, right?"In Japan they're called dolls, Shikigami, clay dolls, and puppets. In the west, they're called golems, demons. In short, they're dolls made out of plants, paper, or clay through the use of abilities."*Twirl Twirl Twirl* As if trying to release an electronic signal, Aria kept on spinning her hand around her head.Hearing her words, my terror at seeing these monsters decreased. Especially because of her matter-of-fact tone."Which means that, they're monsters that are controlled by an ability user?""That's right. Ooh, you're pretty calm, Kinji.""...I'm just used to it. It's such a shame.""Then--"Looking at Aria's smile,"--let's have some fun."With no other options, I did as she said. *Click*.I loaded my Beretta, and prepared for pursuit.Leaving Shirayuki for Reki to handle, I leaned out the window, looking for any hint of the enemy. Sliding down the slope on the pyramid, the jackal......was escaping by running on water.This too!? Well, pleading for normality from a servant of an ability user is probably futile.How should I chase it...I thought for a second. The answer was on the first floor, one floor below.The things that the bunny girls were using as they were running away, the jet skis.According to the schematics of the casino that we had acquired beforehand, the pool running through the first floor led into the sea. I'll use that to chase him there.Last month, I had a vehicle pursuit with Reki, chasing that wolf. When there are two people riding, the driver sits in front, and the assaulter sits in the back. Judging from that, I should be the driver, and Aria the assaulter.Thinking this way, I got on one of the jet skis floating by the side of the pool."Let's go. Aria, get on."I said to Aria, who was following behind me."Are....are there no life vests? There should at least be a life ring, as well as floats for my arms..."But, Aria was extremely unwilling to mount the jet ski.Frowning, I--looked at Aria who was looking at the water, extremely tense, before I suddenly remembered.That's right, this girl doesn't know how to swim.But, to drive this vehicle, I need two hands. No matter what, I need an assaulter.Then, should Reki and her switch positions? No, that won't work. Reki said she was out of bullets."Then you sit in front, I'll be in the back!"Agitated, I sat in the back, and pulled Aria onto the jet ski."Uwah!"Crying out like a kid, Aria---had already stepped onto the footrests of the floating jet ski, but with a slip, having stumbled over some component, she made the jet ski tilt dangerously."Wh-what are you doing!"I quickly wrapped my arms around Aria's slender waist, supporting her, before I pulled her up.*Splash!* Slumped over the driver's seat, Aria--"Uwaaahhhh!"-crying out, she used her bare arms to embrace me tightly."Hey...are you that scared!?"Hey, sit the other way. If you aren't holding the controls, who's going to drive this."Ki-Kinji!"Aria hugged me with all her strength, even her legs were wrapped around my body.*Shi Shi Shi* She's almost exactly like a koala."Ah, hey!"I wanted to push her off, but even Aria's head was stuck to my face.Uuu. Aah, this pink hair still has that nice, sweet smell.I pulled my head away from that hair and looked at Aria's face--The Aria as of now, was shaking, almost exactly like a frightened rabbit. her eyelids were trembling uncontrollably."Ki-Kinji, I can't, I can't. I-I..."Extremely agitated, she, her eyes full of tears, looked up at me. This, as well as that face, as cute as a doll's--made my heart skip a beat.Aria...!Even you, who's been titled with Quadra can cry. You're actually, actually...actually making these cute noises--You're actually showing me such a cute expression!Uu...!Looking at her, wearing a swimsuit while clinging on to me, and finally realizing that the ferocious and fearless Aria from earlier had, in an instant, become just like a rabbit, so cute and lovable, I---Again, I changed.I entered Hysteria Mode.It was extremely fast this time as well. I don't know why, but if it's Aria...all my blood rushes to my core in a heartbeat. It doesn't give me even the slightest chance to resist going into Hysteria Mode.Why might that be so?"Aria."To Aria's ear, which happened to be right next to my mouth, I used a deep, gentle voice--to whisper to her.Uuu. Are you kidding me, me?"Let's make a bet."While whispering soft words into her ear, I glanced at the watch and speedometer mounted on the jet ski.This can go really fast. Calculating the time that it would take to get the jackal in range...I noticed that although I was extremely agitated earlier, we still had a wealth of time."A-a bet...?"Her hands still shivering, tightly gripping on to me, Aria asked.That's right, Aria.Think of something else, forget your fear."Right now it's 5:57. If we can finish hunting the jackal within 3 minutes, which means before 6:00, I'll give myself to you.""Wh-wh-wha-what do you mean?""And opposed to that...if we don't manage to hunt him down, then Aria, will be mine."I clearly said, stressing every syllable---Aria's camellia eyes widened into huge circles."Wh-wh-why're you saying these kinds of things again! Ah...ah, huh? Those conditions, whether you win or lose, aren't they both favorable for you!?"I don't really know how to explain, but Aria's pale face from just a moment ago slowly became flushed with blood.And also, her eyes seemed a little redder."'Favorable' for me? How? How could that be? Could you explain?"With every sentence, I drew closer to Aria's face, stressing my syllables even more.Aria, seeing me get closer and closer, went into a state of panic, whimpering "U-uu"She seemed as if she wanted to say something, but she couldn't get the words out."Fuh... I'm joking. Aria is always so fun to tease."Seeing me start chuckling, Aria started opening and closing her mouth...*Chiiii!* Her eyebrows tensed up, she pounded a fist towards my temple with a *Bang!**Pa*This fist, from point-blank range, without the weight of her body behind it, was easily caught by the me in Hysteria Mode."Isn't this a good method of attack? See...you've already calmed down."And with my other hand, I gently prized Aria's legs, which were wearing fishnet stockings, off my back--*Spin*As if dancing, I twirled her body in a semi-circle, making her face forward.And from behind, I took hold of her hands gently, placing them on the handles."Don't be scared. Don't be scared. I am by your side. So--there's no need to be afraid. Right?"From the backseat, as if I was a puppeteer controlling a doll, I guided Aria's movements--and as if using suggestion, I put my head next to her ear, constantly repeating my words.Having already blushed all the way to her ears, Aria...Lowered her head, as if trying to use her hair to cover her eyes...*Whoosh*And as if trying to be brief, she nodded her head without saying a word."Aria. Battling is like gambling. Those jackals that turned themselves into tokens and challenged us, failed. But now, they don't want to pay up, and they're running away."I squeezed Aria's hands from behind, pushing the ignition of the jet ski.*Rumble*...following the the noise of ignition, the engine started."So now, let's collect the debt. I'm not so kind as to sympathize with those that lose to me. Of course, this also applies to the wager concerning 'until 6 o'clock"...If Aria loses, I won't show any mercy."I cruelly ignored Aria, who was saying, "Uh-u-um, di-didn't you say that you were joking?""Let's go, Aria. The roulette has been turned, it's time to throw the ball in.""...They...They're both the same."Finally raising her head, Aria spoke angrily, staring towards the sea."Both the same?""The Kinji right now! The Kinji just now! Both are Idiot Kinji!"And with that, Aria floored the accelerator.Suddenly, we were flung forward at great speed.Racing through the small stretch of water inside the pyramid, the jet ski sped out to sea.Its axe discarded, running all fours like an animal, the jackal...was faster than running on two legs, but we had more than enough time to catch him before he ran across the sea.Aria was driving--as fast as the engine possibly allowed. There has to be a limit to top speed too, right? If we were a motorcycle, we would be doing a wheelie while bursting through the waves, approaching the enemy.However, no matter what anyone says, that girl Aria, is a girl so simple that it's comforting.My hair slightly wet from the spray of water, I...-fixed my eyes upon the target, which had already entered my range."--Sorry, that's a dead end."*Bang!*I fired a 9mm parabellum bullet, hitting the jackal's ankle.Sprinting on the surface of the water, the enemy fell down as if it had slipped, and covered with spray and foam...it sank.And, the scarab that appeared to have escaped a second before it had sunk, ran away from us.We were hurtling at full speed. Knowing that if she just relied on the brakes, we would smash into the breakwater of the marina on the opposite shore, Aria--SCREEEECCCHH--...!-span the jet ski around, raising a pillar of water like that of a fountain, before stopping.*Shii*...*Shii*...The waves that Aria had agitated just now, returned to normal.*Click, Click*Using such a crude method to stop just now, the engine had died....This is really unlucky. The engine dying in a place like this.I glanced at Tokyo Bay, which was illuminated by the rays of sunset, and returned the Beretta to holster.I still don't understand why those golems were attacking the casino, attacking us...But, this counts as solved."Aria, let's go back to the golden pyrimidion. The chances are slim that an ability user who controls dolls would show up himself...but I'm a little worried about Shirayuki."However...Aria didn't seem to be listening to me.Dipping her head for some unknown reason, she was staring straight at the watch mounted on the handlebars."...Are you afraid again?"I gently placed my hand on her creamy, white shoulder--"Kyaa!"Suddenly, Aria scurried off the seat, just like a rabbit.What's wrong with her?"W-we may have exceeded 3 minutes! W-we may have gone past 6:00!"Standing up furiously, and although she was wearing high heels, she escaped to the end of the jet ski."...?""Bu-bu-but not right now!"Looking at Aria, who was scared of me for some reason--I couldn't help but chuckle.It looks like she's still worried about the 'wager' I talked about just now."Aria, water."...I pointed at Aria's feet.Aria looked at her feet, and seeing the water constantly rising, she was so scared that her lips started trembling uncontrollably.Afterward...*Shiiii!* She started crawling like a crab, slowly making her way behind the seat.And-*shi*-she grabbed my shoulders, bracing her head against my stomach, and pushed me forwards.She's probably trying to tell me to drive. So she can occupy a position that I can't see."Hey...Aria."Starting the engine once again, and like before, when we were riding the bicycle, I spoke to her,"Just now--you said "not right now", right?""Um, um, ah, yeah. No. Definitely not.""Then, what about, 'after'?""Huh!?"Aria gave off a feeling that she was frozen, transmitted through her hand that was lying on my shoulder."'After' should be fine, right?"I lazily smiled, turning my head around--"I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I wasn't the one who lost! You're the one who lost! It's you who lost!""But, it went over 6:00 right?""No-no-no-no-no-no-nobody specified 6:00 in Tokyo! It's not 6:00 in London yet!"Not knowing what to do, Aria madly searched for a reason to refuse me."--alright, I lose. Following the agreement, 'I'll give myself to you.'"Kuh! Aria emitted out a strangled noise from her throat.Haha, making her this embarrassed really makes me pity her.I guess now's the time to change my principles--I won't chase this one down, even if she lost to me."But now that I think about it...who on Earth was controlling those jackals? I don't have the slightest clue."I changed the subject, driving the jet ski in a straight line.Aria, thinking that this was a chance to smooth over the wager from just now, eagerly answered my question, saying,"Pro...probably a nationalist ability user from Egypt. Since a long, long time ago, Egyptian nationalists have, because the mummies of their pharaohs were taken to museums, and because their obelisks were taken by Rome or Paris, been extremely angry. You should learn more about these kinds of things."She couldn't stop explaining about international crime, a topic she was very familiar with."This is also a pyramid-shaped casino...from their perspective, it could be seen as blasphemy. It's not that I don't understand where they're coming from, but violence is never the answer. Yeah."...Are you really qualified to tell this to others?I chuckled, but in my mind..."Summer--is the season where a lot of couples form, you know?"-Just as I was wondering why Shiranui's words would appear now----Bang...--From the distance, came a sound like thunder.It's a lot like...A gunshot, right...?However, blended in with the crashing of the waves, I found it hard to tell the difference."Kinji--be careful of the second shot--..."Behind me--Said Aria, in an inexplicably serious voice."The second shot?""Uu...""What's wrong?"Still driving the jet ski, I turned my head around,"--I think...I got...hit..."Aria's hands, grasping my shoulders, loosened their grip--At the same time that I turned around, Aria, her tails shining in the sunset, was leaning dangerously.Her back, showing through that bold V-shaped opening on the bunny girl suit--On that place, which was already scarred--At that moment, the area that had been hit--as if a rose of blood was blooming--spurted out blood."Aria!?"Losing all power in her body, Aria, slow-motion in my eyes, toppled from her seat...*Splash!*"Aria!"-and plunged into the ocean!She was sniped by someone!This is the obstacle-free sea. Visibility is extremely good.It's a space where anyone, as long as they're a sniper, can hit us from anywhere.And we were, by the jackals that came to attack us but got defeated, lured here.Too stupid. Too stupid. We were way too careless!Me--especially me.I had finally entered Hysteria Mode--and my weakness of always wanting to help women, lowering my focus in the process, was completely exploited.However, this isn't the time to regret! Right now, the most important thing is--Aria!I have to go save Aria, who hasn't floated up yet!I gritted my teeth and spun the jet ski around in a U shape--"!"I was shocked by the scene that lay behind me.Just now, by those docks, at some point in time...a strange boat had appeared.--And it was obviously not a modern boat.Decorated with silver and gold, the boat was extremely slender, the stern and bow were like pillars, forming an L-shape, pointing at the sky.On every 5-meter section of the oars, in a neat row, there were six jackals.On the deck there was a cube-shaped cabin. The jewels encrusted into it shown under the light of the sunset.And on the roof of that cabin---standing there was a nearly-naked, short-haired, beautiful woman, clad in very risque clothing.The bridge of her nose was very high up. Her slender eyes radiated a terrifying pride. She had huge gold hoop-earrings. On her forehead was a cobra-like gold circlet. Her bra was shockingly slender, and ornate golden jewelry was draped over her chest. On her waist, there was a piece of silk that looked much like a fine golden band.Wearing high-heeled slippers, stepping forward, the girl--The fingers, with long red nails, grasped a WA2000 sniper rifle, painted for desert camouflage, which was aimed at my head.--I'm finished.A pistol versus a sniper rifle is like a sword versus a gun.The mobile pistol has a huge advantage in close quarters, but when there's distance, it's impossible to hurt the user of the sniper rifle. At this distance, it's impossible for a pistol to hit. Even if the one who's aiming it is the me in Hysteria Mode. It's just one of the limitations of a pistol.--I am completely powerless.I'm afraid that I don't even have enough time to dive into the water to escape.Aah. I--in this kind of place.in this kind of manner.--am going to lose my life.Assaulted by an unknown offender, my partner had been sniped, leaving me helpless, not able to do anything----Pa!Suddenly, a supersonic bullet struck the girl in the forehead.Late by one moment, from an amazingly far distance--Bang...! a gunshot reached my ears.Turning around, in the golden pyramid's opened glass doors--in a prone position, her legs widened in order to improve accuracy and stability, the muzzle of Reki's rifle was pointed this way.Reki.The genius of Snipe, noticing the gunshot, immediately moved to the wall, noticed an enemy a few hundred meters away, went prone, took into account the wind speed, adjusted her scope, aimed--and counterattacked.All this had taken her but 7 seconds.All these steps had probably been clearly delineated in her mind before even 1 second had passed.Those rapid reactions, I could find no words other than 'amazing' to describe it.But that attack was an evident breach of Butei Law.--Butei Law article 9.Even if a Butei's companions are killed, even if he himself is going to die, he still cannot kill. This is the responsibility and obligation of all marksmen.Just now, she said she only had 4 bullets remaining. The me in Hysteria Mode immediately started going through the gunshots in my memory...I immediately understood that that was her last one.So I understood that she must have had the subjugation of the enemy in mind, but--My face breaking into a cold sweat, I looked at the woman who had been struck...*Zz, Zzzz*...That woman, as if trying to bury her own sniper rifle, turned into sand.So that was also a golem!The gold, silver, and jewel-encrusted decorations fell from her body, clattering as they hit the deck.This scene, right out of a nightmare...made me question my own sanity for a moment.But...I hadn't woken up from this nightmare yet.For me, the more, no, themostabhorrent nightmare to me, appeared from within the cabin.Walking through the waterfall of jewels in the sunlight was......Nii...san...!?"--!"Completely stunned, I couldn't even yell out his name.My, Nii-san...! Tohyama Kinichi the Butei, was standing right there, on the deck of that boat!Appearing to have just woken up, Nii-san wasn't Kana this time, he was dressed up as a man.That probably isn't a golem.I knew for sure that it wasn't. It wasn't because of the simple reason of being his brother. Rather, it was killing intent.Able to make offenders cower with just a glance, that colossal killing intent...I couldn't be wrong, it was Nii-san.Having just woken up, Nii-san, because of confusion in his autonomic nervous system, couldn't regulate his body temperature. So even in the midst of the summer, he was wearing a pitch-black coat, and from head to toe, down to his gloves, he was dressed in black. The only thing that was differently colored--was the white fur making up his collar, his vest, a small part of it just visible through gaps in his clothing, and his face.This reaper-like clothing added to...that face.Although able to transform into a woman of unparalleled beauty, he was a man, but he was still beautiful enough to make any male model or idol cry, upon seeing his looks.That flawless, handsome face, radiated an irresistible, frightening attraction."I--had a dream."Nii-san...deeply, with a masculine voice, said to me."During my long sleep, I had a dream that the 'second chance' become reality... But..."Looking down on me, Nii-san--"Kinji--This is unfortunate. Letting Patra sneak-attack you means that, the 'second chance' no longer exists. In the end, my dream is just a summer dream like any other."His long hair waving in the sea breeze, Nii-san looked straight at me."...Nii-san! I don't understand! What the hell is the 'second chance'! Who's Patra! Why are you...on the boat of the person who attacked Aria!"I roared--"This is "the boat of the sun". It's a replica of the boats from the far past that would carry the pharaoh's mummy to the pyramids. And using this to welcome Aria...was that your intention?--Patra."Nii-san spoke to the sea.And from within it...*Gurgle Gurgle*...*Gurgle Gurgle Gurgle*...Once again, something completely unbelievable appeared.That...was the resting place of a dead body, a coffin.And it's a coffin made out of gold.It's not rectangular, but human-shaped, I've seen them inside history textbooks. It's a sacred casket used back in ancient Egypt to hold royalty or nobility.The tilted casket rose from within the sea, and sleeping inside was--Aria...!Completely stationary, Aria was lying inside.On the surface of the sea, what appeared to be this gold coffin's lid appeared as well.Immediately afterward, each hand holding the coffin and lid...the girl who hit Aria just now, rose from the depths as well.She hadn't used any tricks, and as if being carried by an escalator, she ascended."--You cannot just call my name, Tohyama Kinichi."Exactly like the golem from earlier, clad with innumerable amounts of jewelery, as well as being half-naked, the woman--*Bang!* -slammed the lid onto the coffin containing Aria, all the while holding it above her head.And carelessly--with one finger she lightly tossed the coffin, which must have weighed tons, onto the boat.Bang...!Gathering to catch it, a few of the jackals became pancakes.The woman didn't even spare them a glance, and she was wearing a flirtatious smile, looking this way."1.9 credits, right? The cost of what you seek is pretty high, you know, brat."--This bastard.This bastard is the master controlling those jackals."I4do not understand you commoners, but if it is just a matter of leaving it up to my servants--it is extremely simple. Those credits should be related to the monetary reward and location. All I needed to do was use that as bait, hoho, and with that simple move, I lured you in. And you also stupidly brought along Aria, the most precious gift, to the pyramid, where my powers are infinite. Aria is extremely unlucky too. I never thought that that little boat would malfunction there and then. This allowed me to aim directly at her heart. Hoho. Looks like the curses that I prepared weren't a waste."Nonchalantly standing on the surface of the water, she placed her hand by her mouth, laughing with inordinate amounts of pleasure.Hoho. Hohohoho."--The cursed person will suffer great misfortune. Even my obstacle to the throne of I-U, Vlad, because of my curse...he got beaten by this little girl so easily. Hohoho."The woman laughed with delight, and without using a rope ladder, as if walking on an invisible flight of stairs, she walked onto the ship that Nii-san had called "the ship of the sun".I-U...! Is she part of I-U!?Everything that happened suddenly fit together in the brain of the me in Hysteria Mode.The amount of credits I was missing had already been advertised by the noticeboard at Butei High. So she prepared a job that would have exactly that amount of credits.And not having noticed a thing, I--obediently walked into her trap.Not only that, I politely brought Aria to I-U, her archenemies.This woman is a sand user. On the day that I found out I had a credit demerit, the board at Masters was filled with jobs concerning large thefts of sand. That--was definitely her doing as well.I should have noticed something.Noticed this, extremely suspicious occurrence...!"Ho"Striding up onto the deck, the woman appeared to have thought of something."Now that I think about it, I did not kill anybody."Turning around, she stuck one foot forward, towards me."The worthless sacrifice is so cold and distant. You. Might as well--die."*whoosh* The woman's hands stretched out towards me..."I myself am taking the time to turn you into a mummy and send you into a coffin, you know. Hohoho. It is an honor, it really is. You are happy, right--?"Laughing "Hoho", her fingers started moving, as if playing an invisible piano.What's going on...?My body started exuding sweat. Something like steam, came from my hands...from my face, and from my mouth, rising out. What is that."--Patra, you're going against the rules."Nii-san's--voice.At the same time, the heat that was leaving my body stopped."What...getting me 'expelled', with things at this level, you wish to flaunt your rules?""If you want to return to I-U, then respect them.""...You're an eyesore."The woman squinted, turning around and looking at Nii-san, who had walked over to my side.With that signal, all the jackals raised their oars, pointing them towards Nii-san at the same time.The tip of those oars were as sharp as spearpoints.But Nii-san payed no attention to them, but pointed at the edge of his own blade."'You can do what you like with Aria, but do not kill people freely."--You haven't forgotten the words that the 'Professor' told me to tell you, right?""..."The girl--Patra, hearing this, pursed her lips, not saying anything."Patra, I realize that you wish to stand at the top of I-U. However, that still belongs to the 'Professor' right now. If you wish to succeed as the commander, you have to obey I-U.""--No! When I want to kill, I kill! If there is no sacrifice, it is all meaningless!" Like a spoiled child, Patra started waving her hands around, *Clink Clink*--the gold bracelets on her arm rang out in unison with her movements."It's because of this, that you got 'expelled'. Patra, do you still not understand?""A-are you trying to shame me!? Right now you could not even touch me with your finger if you wanted to!"Patra raised her willful eyes, pointing at the Odaiba Golden Pyramidion."...Right. Fighting with you next to a pyramid might not be the smartest thing to do.""That is right! As long as that temple is by my side, my power is infinite! So I want to kill! If you do not let me, I-I will send you to a coffin! Is that all right!?"Facing the agitated, yet unmoving, Patra...Nii-san suddenly approached her.Amazing. That's such a natural movement, comparable to the flowing of water, an inescapable, inevitable footstep.Nii-san raised Patra's chin with the forefinger on his right hand--"--!"-and suddenly, he kissed her deeply.At the start, Patra seemed to be resisting, trying to push Nii-san away...but soon, in the midst of that melting contact, she gave up. And, she slowly closed her eyes...relaxing every muscle in her body.At some point in time, Nii-san had grasped hold of Patra's limp waist, using his left arm to support her."--With that, please forgive him. He is my younger brother."Nii-san used his fingers to gently straighten Patra's mussed hair.From Nii-san, a different feeling from just now emerged--a stronger, more intense feeling permeated the air.That's...HSS...! The name that Nii-san called Hysteria Mode! I understood.At the same time that he placated Patra, Nii-san purposely entered Hysteria Mode.This was the first time I had seen this. This was the first time I had seen Nii-san enter Hysteria Mode through contact with a woman. Not hurting women while entering HSS--that was one restriction that Nii-san had placed upon himself.But, Patra...She was blushing so hard that even I, from such a far distance, could see it clearly. She took a step back from Nii-san."To-Tohyama Kinichi--you dare use me? Even though you don't like me at all...!""--Don't use such hurtful words. I'm not clever enough to have guessed that things would have come to this."Looking at Nii-san, staring straight at himself--Patra seemed to want cover her own gigantic breasts. And as if trying to calm herself down, she started breathing in and out, deeply--"No...no matter what, I can't fight with the you in that mode. I may be able to win, but I'll definitely be hurt in the process. This is a crucial period in the process of becoming 'Professor'. I can't allow myself to be injured."Said she, tossing something to Nii-san--*Splash*And as if running, she jumped into the ocean.On the stern of the ship, the jackals, holding up the golden coffin that Aria was in, followed Patra,"!"Wanting to dive after the coffin, I--"--Halt!"stopped short, halted by Nii-san's shout......!The instinct was terrifying. In my heart, I had clearly wanted to save Aria...But my body, just from hearing Nii-san's voice, froze, as if I had been bound.--I understand.If I ignore that voice, one lead bullet will find its way into my head.The Nii-san as of now will definitely do so. That voice was such that I was able to understand this.Not long after--*Zazan*...*Zazan*...Above the waves, only the boat of the sun and Nii-san, and...I were left."--'Hidan no Aria5' --huh. What a hollow fantasy, a dream."Nii-san said."Hidan no...Aria?"What?What's that?I don't understand...but.Aria.I won't let you say that name.You, the person who hurt her so much--I won't let you say her name!"Nii-san...you tricked me! You said that you wouldn't kill Aria, right!"Nii-san, once again, used that expression, full of disgust, to look at me, who was shouting."I--am not the one killing her. I'm just spectating.""That's a technicality! If you had helped, then...Aria...Aria would...!""Not yet."Saying that, Nii-san took out the thing that Patra had given to him earlier, the glass object.Inside the spherical glass object, a seemingly unstoppable hourglass was fixed there."She hasn't died yet. That was just Patra's cursed bullet. She will live for 24 hours after this.""...!""Patra is trying to use this time to undergo negotiations with the leader of I-U. So before that, she will keep Aria alive. However, only until the allotted time. No matter the result of Patra's negotations, there's no longer a 'second chance'. Since there isn't--Aria must die.""Nii-san...do you want to see as Aria die...!? When you were in I-U...what did you let those lawless elite users do!"Looking at me, who was shouting, Nii-san said--"Lawless, huh?"-and closed his eyes."Yes...I-U really is lawless. Not only do the world's laws have no meaning to them, but inside, there are no laws as well. After all, the members of I-U are free to do as they like, to reach their limits. The members of I-U only want to become strong, it doesn't matter what kind of methods they use to realize their goal. And--if there are things that will become obstacles, then they will kill them as well, and it won't matter either."How is that...!I didn't think that I-U was an organization that--will kill anybody they please, a gathering place for the elite, all who have different aims.That kind of group...will definitely be liquidated from infighting. It's impossible for it to last.As if replying to my thoughts--Nii-san continued to say,"I-U's leader--'Professor', has always been constraining those outlaws. It is because of of his absolute existence, that I-U is able to last. However, that time--is about to end.""End...?""The leader is dying. Not from sickness or injury, instead, he has reached the end of his life."Saying that, Nii-san looked at me again with that colossal killing intent.As if saying---after this, wake up and listen to me."Kinji. I-U is is not just a group to train elites. They are a group of super-powered people that even a military country would be incapable of stopping, they are a group, made for battle, that even have nuclear weapons. And within that Ignatis6--has a real aim of conquering the world. If the leader dies, and Ignatis takes hold of the power of I-U...they will definitely use I-U's power, and attack the world without care, wherever it may be, starting chaos and slaughter."World...domination?Absurd...!That kind of thing, is I-U really...planning to do it?"However, there are people who believe that I-U does not need that kind of future. They are the inheritors of the professor's will, people purely dedicated to the raising of their own strength--they are the faction called Daio7. Knowing the oncoming of the professor's death, they search for a new leader in order to continue the existence of I-U. Somebody that's able to become like the professor, an invincible existence, so they can restrict the outlaws. Strength, ability, immortality...at the end of a series of failed tests, they concluded that all the arrows were pointing to--Aria."...Aria...?"The 'professor' chose Aria to be his successor."Aria...was chosen to be...the head of...the organization she's always been chasing, I-U...?Wh-what...what are you saying, Nii-san.What's going on.Why?"We guided Aria into I-U. However, if she's not qualified--which means, weak, we'll kill her and find another leader. That is the conviction of those in Daio.""Us-using these kinds of methods to abduct her...How do you expect Aria to listen to you!""She will listen. Once she's in front of the 'professor'. Aria will definitely give in to the 'professor'. Definitely."Facing Nii-san's assertive words, I--was left speechless.Once again look at me, Nii-san's eyes...were filled with a deep regret."Kinji--I"m sorry. I didn't tell you anything. I disappeared from the surface world in order to eradicate I-U, becoming part of them."Inside, I looked for a way to destroy them. And, what I found was--'falling out8'--"--Falling out.This Butei watchword, made me swallow.That...is something that Butei do, when facing a strong group of offenders. They will form a divide between the factions inside the group, letting the enemies fight each other, weakening the group as a whole."Dividing the factions in I-U--to do this, the first step is to erase the leader that keeps them in check. So, I looked for a chance to create a leaderless situation. And the chances to do--were two in number. 'The first chance' is killing Aria at the same time the professor dies, creating a void where I-U has to look for a new leader. And 'the second chance' is assassinating the current leader--the professor--"Nii-san repeated Kana's words, 'the second chance'...So, it's a chance to annihilate I-U.And it's a method through killing their leader...!"Which means, 'the second chance' will ultimately lead to battle with I-U's 'professor'. During my long, long dream, I thought that you might be able to...therefore, I went all-in on this wager, 'the second chance'. However, it looks like I lost.""......""You are still too unskilled. Since you were able to be surprise attacked by somebody like Patra so easily, it means 'the second chance' does not exist. Since there's no 'second chance', I will change my plan to 'the first chance'.""The first chance".Which is--killing Aria.At the same time that the current leader dies, kill Aria, who's been designated as the next leader, creating a leaderless vacuum in I-U...And at that time, provoke a falling out."Nii-san...as a Butei...you still want to kill people...!""Kinji. Before being a Butei, I was a man of the Tohyama bloodline. The Tohyama family have always been allies of justice. If it's for the sake of eradicating evil--and this time it's an enormous evil, I won't hesitate to sacrifice some lives. Remember this."We're done talking--As if saying that, Nii-san turned around.Patra's power is probably too far, as "the boat of the sun"...starting from the bow and stern, it started returning to fine sand.In the midst of the sea breeze, it scattered, looking like mist.Nii-san's outline, in the middle of the cloud of sand, started getting vaguer and vaguer.--Nii-san!Where are you going?Are you going to I-U?Are you going there to kill Aria?Aria..."Go back, Kinji."Facing Nii-san, who had his back turned towards me---I grit my teeth."I-U isn't an organization you can defeat."...Probably. That, I understand.However.That has nothing to do with what's happening now.No matter what I-U is, it has nothing to do with me.That isn't what I'm thinking about right now.Nii-san is going to vanquish evil.And because of that, he's ready to kill Aria.Since that's the case, I have no choice but to make a decision.--I have no choice but to choose one of the two roads.Obey Nii-san.Watching as I-U, that evil entity, is challenged by an 'ally of justice', the Nii-san that I respect more than anybody, not interfering, not intervening. Even if Aria dies, we have to follow the path of all those men in the Tohyama Bloodline--the path of justice.The other road--protect, Aria.Regardless of whether saving Aria will allow that evil organization I-U to continue to exist. Regardless of how much Nii-san insists that if I save Aria, she will become the leader of I-U, the path of choosing to still save my partner.What do I do.What should you do, Kinji.This is a crossroad of fate.Nobody can tell me which path is the correct one.In front of my eyes, as if reinforcing that in my mind, there were no exits.There was just the sea, as if laughing at me, the plaything of fate, continually moving.Still inside the dust storm, Nii-san still not turning his head--to look at me, who still hadn't left, he said again."Go back, Kinji. I cannot allow you to die. Only one sacrifice, Aria, is needed."--Aria!Those words made me--as if I had received a great shock, floor the accelerator of the jet ski.Towards the ship of the sun, which was slowly turning to sand, I sped.The foam of the sea, coupled with the sand, splattered into my face, my body."--Wait! Nii-san!"In a state of near blindness--I flicked open the butterfly knife that Nii-san had left me, and wielded it.--Clank!Unable to see anything in the midst of the sand, my engine smashed into the hull of the boat of the sun.Thrown out of the engine--"Don't joke with me!"*RIIIPPPPP*I used all the strength in my body to plunge the knife into the hull.Borrowing the momentum of being thrown out of the jet ski, I clambered, using my dagger...onto the deck of the boat of the sun, which was collapsing like melting sugar, starting to sink.In the midst of the sand, only a few meters away, Nii-san turned around.That gaze---was full of fury.Those eyes were those of demons, of dragons. Radiating a killing intent far beyond human comprehension.Nii-san is really, really angry with me.Up till now, the only time Nii-san has ever gotten angry with me is when I put myself in the thick of danger.--Exactly like now.But...But,I cannot lose.I've already passed through, I've already pierced it.Pierced through the pathless sea. Broke through the sand storm that obscured the road ahead."Nii-san! You yourself should understand!"I sheathed my knife, angrily staring at Nii-san, unwilling to give in."Regardless of your reasons, everything you've done has been wrong--you should understand that! Nii-san is lying to himself--lying to your weak, fragile self! If 'justice' truly exists, if you really are an ally of justice, then you cannot kill! You shouldn't kill people, you should save them! That's what a Butei does!""--Kinji. If 'justice' truly exists, then what do I do? This is something that I've thought about thousands of times, asked myself thousands of times. The root of 'justice' is the eradication of evil. For the sake of the weak, for the sake of the innocent world, sometimes, there will be sacrifices. No, most of the time, there will be sacrifices. It's time for you to realize that.""Only that method is possible in order to protect the world...that's just an excuse!"I did it.I defied Nii-san--probably, for the sake of saving Aria.I myself didn't understand why.But, in spite of all this, I've taken this path. That is an unchanging reality.To save the kidnapped Aria, I have to defeat Nii-san, and defeat that Patra.And, in light of that...I am making an enemy of everyone in I-U.And even the person that all those in I-U fear, the 'professor', I might have to defeat him as well.It was a long, dangerous path, enough so that thinking about it made me dizzy.But...Who cares about that.Aria has always been walking along such a path.By yourself, called anAriaby all others, you fought with I-U!"Kinji. Could it be that--you're disobeying your one and only aniki?""You're no longer my Nii-san...!""...""The thing I've been yearning for--the Nii-san of my past that was incomparably just, has already, during that winter, sunk with the Annbelle and died. The you as of now isn't my compassionate Nii-san. What 'justice'? What 'chance'? I don't care about any of that--I--"I snapped open the holster strapped to my waist, drawing my Beretta.As if severing everything between us."Nii-san...No, Ex-Butei of the Hall of Butei, Tohyama Kinichi! You, for the charge of premeditating murder--are under arrest!"My gun pointed at his chest, Nii-san silently closed his eyes."Alright. I still have something I need to confirm, your HSS..."HSS. My, Hysteria Mode."Aria changed you into it, right?""So what...!?""--Let me see it."Said Nii-san, his fingers moving in the midst of the blowing sand."The time before this ship sinks completely--is around 15 minutes. In these 15 minutes, I will test you again. I will confirm if your feelings really are genuine. One more time, I will bet on the bond between you, and the 'Scarlet Ammo'--"Nii-san didn't draw his gun.Nor did he adopt any stance.Wr-wrong.He has. Just now, his fingertip moved towards me.That unseen shot, that formless stance is--"Invisible Bullet"!--*Bang!*Nii-san's front, as if it were a light, flashed.*Pa!*"--!"That shot, impossible to see, smashed directly into the middle of my chest, protected by a bulletproof uniform.The blood in my whole body churning I stopped breathing for a moment, my consciousness going fuzzy as well.But--"Why didn't you dodge."I only half-heard Nii-san's voice, due the huge impact I had just taken."I took it...on purpose. You have to understand."Finally taking a step, I used all my strength to form my mouth into a weak smile.By my mouth, one line of metallic-tasting blood, streamed downwards."...Your 'Invisible Bullet', I saw it--!"Hearing my words, Nii-san's eyes widened.Truth be told, I had already expected it to some degree.And just now, I used my observation skills under Hysteria Mode to confirm."Nii-san. Before, we used to watch those John Wayne westerns, right? The basis of that skill, is him--"Aria...In Assault, you said that Nii-san's gun was a Colt Peacemaker.That--indeed is the name of the gun, but more to the point, it's a gun that was designed in the mid-19th century, so old that museums collect it. It's not a gun that modern Butei would use.But, against all expectation, Nii-san chose that kind of ancient revolver.Why?I had been thinking about it in one corner of my brain.And I finally realized it.The Colt Peacemaker--in the history of guns, is one of the best for quick drawing.Stopping power, burst limit, accuracy. The automatic pistols of today have advantages in all areas. But if restricted to quick drawing, looking at the structure, revolvers have the advantage.That kind of gun, added to Hysteria Mode, which hugely exceeds the limits of regular person's reflexes--Can be titled with a quick draw that people's eyes are unable to follow.That, is the secret behind the "Invisible Bullet"."...As expected of my ototo9"Said Nii-san, gritting his teeth."This skill that nobody has been able to pierce, has been found out by you. That alone, is worthy of praise. Looks like leaving is the right thing to do. Once again, you've improved due to the catalyst that is Aria."Said Nii-san, his fingertip moving again--taking a stance.--Here comes another one--!"However, understanding it doesn't help you. Listen well, Kinji. All your skills in battle were taught by me. In that arsenal of moves, none of them can counter this 'Invisible Bullet'."Kinji. Do not waver.You've already rushed to this point. Think properly.Since you weren't taught any, make one.You've fought with Aria before. Make something that belongs only to you two. A new technique.--Now, right here!"Kinji. You will not be able to dodge this one. Even if it's the you in HSS, you cannot dodge the a bullet that only takes 1/36 of a second to find its target. This is absolute. Even I wouldn't be able to dodge."My mind in Hysteria Mode--Rewound through all the battles that I had shared with Aria at high speed.And from within them, two battles flashed into my mind.One, was the battle with the segways.The other, was the recent one, with Vlad----!"--Shallow."A formless posture--Seeing me adopt a stance the same as his, Nii-san sighed."Are you trying to mimic the same ability, Kinji? That is an automatic pistol. It's not suited to using 'Invisible Bullet'"Hearing that, I was sure.--I have exceeded Nii-san.I can win.This battle, I can win it.In the wake of the increased decomposition of the sand boat, the sea breeze strengthened.The sand was even stronger.--Alright. Luck is in my favor.Blow harder. Blow more furiously.The more you do, the more advantage I have..."Go to sleep Kinji. A younger brother that exceeds an older brother, does not exist--""Invisible Bullet"--is coming!In that instant, in the eyes of the me in Hysteria Mode, everything started going in slow motion.Nii-san's hand, that movement--But even like this, I couldn't see his hand itself. However. I can see. I can see it--The swirl of sand that Nii-san's hand is leaving behind--!In the exact same movement as Nii-san, I raised my Beretta.Basically, it was like thinking about your reflection in the mirror--and how to perform a different movement, before being able to hit it.The selector of the Beretta was on the 3-burst fire that was mistakenly modified by Hiraga Aya from Amdo.This is a mode where, once you pull the trigger, 2 bullets will exit at almost the same time--!--*Bang!*--*Clink!*Piercing the silence, the gunshots, numbered 2.It may have been nearly the same, but I was late by one instant.Aiming at the center of my chest again, Nii-san's bullet hurtled over----*SCREEEEECH!*Using the "Billiard Shot" from the battle with Vlad, changing the path of his bullet, deflecting it backwards--And like the morning of the opening ceremony, breaking the Uzis on the Segways--it entered the barrel of the Peacemaker that Nii-san had just fired.Yes, if there was a name, it would be "Mirror Shot".Making the the enemy's bullet re-enter the barrel, it is a technique that is both offensive and defensive."!"--*Bang!*Immediately after, the second bullet was fired, exiting the barrel at high speed--deflecting the first bullet I fired, which was now hurtling backwards at me, away once again. Under this "Billiard Shot", it flew off to one side.This is a marksmanship technique that occurs within .1 seconds...*Thud!* Nii-san's bullet, which had re-entered the barrel of the Colt Peacemaker, broke it.And my bullet, *Rip!*, carrying the sound of grazing a sleeve, it was lost in the sandstorm.Dropping the broken pistol, and while his handsome face was twisted into a frown--The crumbling 'boat of the sun', sunk into the ocean.The sand under our feet immediately crumbled and fell into the sea, bringing my brother and I with it.--Nii-san.I'm sorry.In one corner of my heart, I knew that what Nii-san was doing wasn't wrong.I had accepted in my heart the cruel truth that, in this world, there are things that cannot be solved so simply, but I still fought against you.But, the same goes for me--My feelings are not lies either.I may not know why. But, if it's for her.If it's for her, even if I have to walk a different path from you, I will be willing.--Nii-san.I've been separated from Nii-san...and this time, I've really lost it. I've really lost the goal that I've always had since I was a child.What should I do from now on?