Episode 278: Little Finger

"Alright, let's go with energy today! It's time for the daily video ranking from Kudryavka!"

While listening to the loud, incessant voice that streamed in once a day, the robot quietly walked.

Before the MC's announcement ended, the two slipped inside the coaster-style attraction of "Alice in Wonderland"—in the darkness, they carefully laid the robot down in an area where the mannequins were arranged in a cluttered manner. Covering it with a plastic sheet meant to keep dust off, which they'd taken from the control room, they finally let out a sigh of relief.

He glanced around. This was the scene where Alice faced the Queen of Hearts' trial, with a row of playing-card soldiers standing in formation.

The doll of the angry queen looked as if she were about to scream, "Cut off his head!"

"With this, we can finally relax, right?"

"Yeah."

In the darkness surrounded by idle dolls, the two sat back-to-back.

The ranking video had already ended, and quiet had returned to the surroundings.

Distantly, the girls' screams and cheers can be heard. They're filming a practice video for a juggling toy. Misato doesn't understand what's so funny about it, but there's a steady demand for videos of beautiful girls earnestly doing something. Apparently, their cries of frustration when they fail make for compelling material.

Checking the clock. It's just before six.

I'll take a shower now to wash away the smell of blood, then meet up with the others.

I'll at least let the others know the location of Reika's treasure.

How they choose to use that information is up to them.

Hmph, I let out a small sigh.

To be honest, this expedition can be called a great success.

Perhaps ten or so minutes passed.

A quiet pause followed—a comfortable silence.

We were all reflecting on our recent adventure.

It was Ryuri Mizutani who spoke first.

"Really... I'm so glad we're safe."

"Hmm."

"If it weren't for you, I don't think I could've managed."

"I know."

At that moment, Misaki remembered the piece of paper the girl had kept in her pocket,

"What exactly did you steal?"

"Oh, that... it's—"

Rui reached into her pocket and pulled something out.

It looked like nothing special—just a random scrap of notebook paper.

She stared at it intently... after a long pause, she said,

"Um... a device that temporarily manifests phenomena or entities whose existence is hard to prove... Does that make sense?"

"What kind of nonsense is that? I don't get it at all."

"Yeah, I know. Rikka didn't really understand its purpose either, so she just left it lying around like that."

Ringetsu Migen thought to herself. This person has knowledge, but their emotions are still that of a child.

That's why they end up blabbing about unnecessary things.

"So, then... who are you going to kill?"

"Huh?"

"You're using that— who are you going to kill with it?"

"It's not really meant to kill anyone... Why suddenly asking something like that?"

A sharp intake of breath reached her from behind.

"But you're our target, aren't you?"

"……………………"

"There were just too many strange things... And then, just now, when I was riding the robot, I saw it. What you really are."

Rui's status display showed exactly this.

"Ghost."

Once again, silence fell.

This silence was heavier, more solemn, than the one before.

Rui carefully chose her words, as if one wrong syllable would mean death.

"If you realized that... then why...?"

She could have ended herself at any time.

"Nothing special, really..."

"Really? Nothing special?"

Beauty wasn't the type to act based on logic or careful reasoning. That was precisely what set this girl apart from her friends and those around her.

"I just... had a hunch we could be friends."

"Huh?"

"Even if she's a monster, she wouldn't do anything terrible to a friend, right? Isn't that how it is?"

"Y-yeah..."

Rui hesitated, then spoke again.

"Like saying, 'That's right. Because I'm your friend, I'll never hurt you.' Even if you wag your tail like a puppy, would you really believe that?"

"Yeah, well..."

"Then you're awfully foolish."

"Why?"

But what if I'm lying? I don't really care about you at all, I don't even feel grateful, and maybe right before we part, I'll suddenly scratch you with my nails...

You couldn't beat me no matter how many times you tried.

Rui let out a brief "ggnu" sound,

"Well, but..."

"Listen. How about this? This is a secret promise just between us. If either of us ever loses our place in the world, we'll be each other's only ally."

"Just... just between us?"

"Yeah. Everyone around here's crazy. I'm crazy. You're crazy. That's why we have to figure things out together."

Without realizing she was quoting the famous line from *Alice in Wonderland*'s Cheshire Cat, Misato whispers, "In this world, there are countless meaningless miracles like this."

"Besides, you'll end up getting ditched by your friends sooner or later. You're just a nuisance, after all."

"Say it clearly, why don't you?... I'm not denying it, though."

"I don't know when I might be abandoned from where I am right now either. That's why, to prepare for that moment, we have to become real companions. What do you think?"

"Real...?"

Rui averted her gaze.

Even though she possessed far greater intelligence than peers of her age, she was shaken by the foolish and cruel words of this girl.

"So, you're secretly preparing to betray your comrades whenever you want...?"

"That's right, exactly."

Migen finally smiled, satisfied that her words had finally gotten through.

"Eventually, once monsters disappear from the world, the 'players' will surely start bullying humans. If that happens, I'll use robots to kill them all. That's why I need allies."

There was something chilling in her expression—so cold it even made Rui, who had long since ceased to be truly human, shiver faintly.

"But I helped commit murder."

"Yeah."

"Then I ate that person's heart."

"Yeah."

"That's why I'm pretending to be human."

"Yeah."

"My real face is even more grotesque... like a corpse, really."

"Yeah."

"My nails are sharp and dark, too."

"Yeah."

"Look at the scars on my shoulders and thighs. I was shot with a gun. They'll never heal."

"Yeah."

"All my companions have terrifying faces."

"Yeah."

"I might not be able to live up to your trust."

"Yeah."

Migon paused for a brief moment, then said,

"Everything... all of it... doesn't matter at all."

She quickly extended her little finger.

"So, let's make a pact."

It was an offer that would have been hard to resist for a girl who had lost every single member of her family.

In the darkness, the two girls intertwined their little fingers.