That 400: Unsettling Victory

"…Anyway. This means I've won."

I stare at Shizukawa Reika, bracing myself as if something G-shaped might suddenly leap out from the scattered trash at my feet.

"Ah, well done indeed."

She smiles, the kind of smile you'd give after losing a game of snap—casual, almost dismissive.

Hmm… still kind of unsettling.

"Just so you know— I expect you to keep your promise."

"I understand. So, come on then,"

She gave a subtle nod toward the camera recording us,

"The video gets automatically uploaded online."

"……………"

Honestly, that was a rather eerie move.

I couldn't fathom why she'd so actively do something that could work against her.

"I made up my mind from the start—I'd never become a deceitful ruler."

I finally realized, of course, that line was clearly directed at the camera.

……Well, whatever.

At least, what I need to do here is clear.

"Um... then."

I cleared my throat slightly,

"First, please have all members of the 'Immortal Squad' step down."

"That was already announced the moment you entered this room. 'Game over.'"

I have no intention of taking Asahina-san hostage...

"Then, I'd like you to hand over everything you currently possess as 'Queen.'"

"Uh-huh. Okay."

"Okay" like that? It's like handing over a snack.

"But just one thing... is that okay?"

"What is it?"

"I want you to guarantee my life. I don't want to be killed."

"Uh... well..."

"If I lost at rock-paper-scissors, I probably don't even have the right to ask for this. But I'm not strong enough to survive on my own."

I can't help but feel that emphasizing "if I lost at rock-paper-scissors" slightly shifts the impression.

If I refused this offer, I'd deserve to be treated like a mere animal—there's no getting around that.

I wonder... why is that?

There's no doubt she never intended to lose to me.

Still, I get the feeling she probably factored in the possibility of losing to some extent. That's how it seems.

"Of course, I don't intend to take your life."

"Really? That's good!"

"But even if I did, how would others feel about me...?"

It's fine. Just promise me that you won't suddenly cut my throat right now.

...?

I wonder why.

As if to say that as long as they could escape this place safely, they'd be secure forever from now on...

First, hand over ownership of the Soul Restoration Machine. I've heard you've rigged it with a bomb.

Hmm. Got it. Let's head over there now to remove it.

And she stood up, leaving the video recording running, and walked out of the soundproof room with a wobbly gait.

Only then did I realize—she seems to have trouble with her legs.

Since she's a "Player," she should know the healing magic, so it's probably not an injury. It appears to be something she was born with.

"Sorry... I have clubfoot."

"Huh?"

"You know, congenital clubfoot requires early treatment as a rule. But I was left to my own devices as a child by my parents. That's why I've always been like this. I thought maybe becoming a 'miracle worker' would cure it, but that wasn't the case either."

Her words seemed to carry an unspoken plea: "So please don't bully me."

In truth, she seemed to lack combat ability altogether as a 'player.'

That said, I'm not letting my guard down. Experience has taught me that the most dangerous opponent is one who accurately understands their own abilities and knows exactly how and when to use them.

After some hesitation, I wondered what to reply.

Well, people are different, and so are parents. There are always circumstances to consider.

I'll give a safe, neutral answer.

Walking a little behind her, I realized we were heading toward the highest section of the Avienia Castle.

Throughout the journey, Reika didn’t seem inclined to talk,

"Hey, Reika,"

I called out to her.

"What is it?"

"Can I ask you something?"

"Go ahead."

"I heard you were once a death row prisoner—something about being involved in a lynching murder."

"Yeah."

"Why would you get involved in something like that?"

"Are you really concerned about that?"

"No, no—this isn't something you can just brush off."

"But nowadays, killing people isn't exactly rare, is it? You've tried it yourself, haven't you?"

I look away. It seems she's just performed a *Karma Assessment* on me.

If that's the case, she should know—she should know I once had blood on my hands.

"I don't intend to make excuses... but the act of killing a person in the current circumstances differs, just slightly, from what I once did in a more stable society."

"Is that so? I don't think the circumstances surrounding a person's death matter when it comes to taking a life."

"That's true, I suppose."

"But then again... yes, there are various reasons, aren't there?"

She gazed upward at the ceiling, as if nostalgically remembering a distant past.

"One thing is... if you chase your ideals too hard, people can become intoxicated by their own sense of justice... I think that's what it means."

"?"

She says things that sound like they make sense, yet don't at all.

"Katsuta Katsuya"

"?"

"Kondo Ryōhei"

"?"

"Kodama Yukio, Sakata Atsushi, Ieda Kazuko"

"?"

"Kashiyama Ritsu and that little red-faced one"

"What's with this sudden list?"

"I still remember them even now. The names of the seven who died."

I furrowed my brow.

The words "the last one, the baby who was killed" made my chest tighten with nausea.

"Why...?"

"First, let me make this clear—I've never killed anyone with my own hands. Not in the past, and surely not in the future. If you don't believe me, go ahead and perform a Karma Judgment on me."

Still, the fact that the court labeled her a "death row prisoner" means she must have been guilty.

"But honestly, it's kind of funny. That case was pretty talked about back then. It was all over TV, and even made into books and movies—the 'Miyamayama Pension Incident.' But nowadays, kids don't even remember it. That's strange."

"Back then, I was only five or so. It's not surprising I don't know about it."

You're right. Hehehe. That's why I love young people. They're so foolish, yet wonderfully teachable...