That 204: Something Lost

In the end, what Yoneku Ginzuke sought wasn't "how to win."

It was "how to lose."

From the very moment he first met her, he had known.

"Regardless of what I do, I can't match up."

It wasn't because he saw the gap in power between himself and the girl who had lost her memory.

It was because he had sensed the feelings of the people here.

The initial trigger was— that girl who called herself Asada Rika.

While shielding the one she called "a person to be ended," she said this:

"If you're taking the place of that person, you can do whatever you want with me."

It was the image of a martyr who offered not just her life, but even her dignity.

In a world where ethics, common sense, and even God had betrayed her, such words were hardly ever spoken.

Ginsho had finally found what he had been searching for all along.

Something worth risking his life for.

Something truly beautiful.

Something he could sincerely call "justice" from the depths of his heart.

Of course, he fully understood the dangers inherent in the word "justice."

He knew all too well how that word could be used to justify violence.

And he was aware that the opposite of "justice" was often just another form of "justice."

Above all, he wants to know.

Is there a truly universal "justice" in this world?

Justice, not a deception used for self-justification, nor something that shifts with time and circumstance.

A clear solution to the trolley problem.

Yohu Ganko's dream has never changed since he was a child.

That's what it means to become a champion of justice.

...Maybe I'll find what I'm looking for right here.

▼

That said, deliberately losing isn't right.

I don't claim to be so arrogant as to label the weak as "evil," but at the very least, that isn't "justice"—there's no doubt about it.

So he stood in the sudden downpour, mentally annoyed, yet had no intention of holding back in the slightest.

He'd planned to play the villain who appears early in the story and later reforms—just for now.

"——hmm?"

Then, Gintaro noticed something floating around him that was further obstructing his already limited visibility in the torrential downpour.

" Fog...?"

A thick, dense white that seemed to have substance.

Amidst the heavy rain, intense steam was surging forth.

"I see. By combining the powers of 'Fire' and 'Water' like this..."

This was the kind of ability that became possible when the two 'players' worked together.

On the other side of the mist, a faint orange glow could be seen. That was probably where the steam was coming from.

There was no way to move recklessly now. Judging by how my body felt, my magical energy was already running out. Most likely, the outcome would be decided in the next exchange of attacks.

I've endured this far by pushing the enhancement from my "Unyielding" ability to its absolute limit—now, to finally send Okita Rinne flying out of the arena, I'll unleash my final move, "Justice's Iron Mallet."

My preparations are already complete.

—Now then, let me see what kind of power you possess…

In the palm of my right hand appears a mallet roughly 4 to 5 centimeters long.

Ginsho calls this toy-sized weapon the "Hammer of Justice."

—There's probably no way the other side knows what this technique truly is.

After all, it's a completely original skill devised solely by Yuki Ginsho.

It seems none of the enemy side has heard the announcement of "Phase 3."

Any player who has heard the "Phase 3" announcement should have already realized their new power.

The way to corrupt a "skill."

This technique, created by Ginsho manipulating the "Karma Judgment," grows stronger the closer the target's karma is to "evil."

And once unleashed while the target is within sight, it never misses.

I still have some reservations about how the player's moral judgment works, but I believe the "unfailingly accurate personal attack" will definitely be necessary in the future.

"——……fuuu……………"

With the Iron Hammer concealed in his right fist, Ginsho waits for the opponent's next move.

This foggy rain is just as bad for both of us.

——As soon as we meet, unleash the Iron Hammer. That'll decide the fight.

I still had the confidence that I held the advantage.

On our side, all we needed was to unleash the Iron Hammer the moment we made contact with the enemy.

On the other side, they'd have to land at least three or four attacks before they could strike.

——Well then. How will you respond...?

Somewhere deep inside, I found myself enjoying this situation.

Playing with two conflicting emotions.

I longed for my own destruction, yet absolutely refused to let it happen.

Moving straight toward the source of the mist, silencing my footsteps.

In the thick fog that even blocks sunlight, if there were any way to detect the other's location, it would likely be through sound alone.

With my ears sharpened by skill, I could clearly hear one set of footsteps.

Drip, drip, drip.

Each step, heavy and deliberate, as if pressing into the earth.

— I can sense your location as clearly as if it were right in my hand...

But suddenly, a small doubt arose.

She definitely used the Skill Assessment just now.

That meant all three of them should have noticed Yuki Ginsho's ability to enhance his five senses.

Then why go through the trouble of distracting us...?

The moment I realized this,

I thought I heard a sound cutting through the wind, mingling with the rain.

"——!?"

Even to myself, my reaction was quick, realizing the situation as it unfolded.

――I see. Probably used a comrade's help or something to leap this far...!

The target to attack is a choice between two.

The one who just charged at me.

And the one deliberately making loud footstep sounds.

Likely the first one is correct.

Deciding so, I hurled the *Justice's Mallet* toward that one—

—No! The one who jumped in was a feint!

At the very last moment, I realized the figure lunging at me from that silhouette was a maid-clad girl.

—So that’s how it is. Let the first one take a hit, then strike in the opening… Not bad for a makeshift combo!

If it had worked out, Nightku Ginsho would have been thoroughly defeated—both by the rules and as a player.

But it wasn’t enough to take down a seasoned veteran.

Ginsho ignored the maid-clad girl and focused on the other sound—now clearly audible footsteps.

"This is it...!"

I've got it!

He threw the Iron Hammer sideways, aiming directly at the target.

The world flipped upside down the very next instant.