Chapter 44

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《Warning

from the Sky》told me the crisis.

“… What?”

The muzzle for 8 people was facing us.

I don’t understand what’s happening.

I can’t understand what’s happening.

Four different units pointing their

guns at us at the same time?

That’s impossible.

What’s our best shot?

Where can we get a clear line of fire?

There isn’t.

We’re screwed.

There’s no way out.

It’s a dead end.

Too much unreasonable stuff happened a

sudden death.

“…?”

Inori-chan was looking at me.

I don’t even have time to think of the

best move, so I followed my instincts.

-“Protect Inori-chan”

I don’t know if this will lead to a

single victory.

That was the answer that my brain

reflexively gave me.

I immediately threw away the Sphere

Ship in my right hand and pointed my hand at Inori.

I touched her shoulder.

I pushed her as hard as I could.

Perhaps it was because I was in a

critical situation, but time seemed to pass more slowly.

I could see Inori’s face slowly

turning pale as she realized the situation.

–At the same time, I heard the sound

of gunfire.

The first bullet hit my right hand,

the one I used to push Inori away.

A purple effect from the shield and a

reddish-black light, which only occurs when a person is in a “painful” state,

gushed out.

I felt a tremendous shock, but there

was no pain.

The shield protected me

The second shot hit me in the side.

The shield protected me again

But the third shot.

Here, the shield reached its limit.

“…,”

《Warning

from the Sky》 tells me.

That is where the real action begins.

The barrage is about to begin.

The 100% release of pain sensation

bared its fangs at me.

“–“

That’s not good.

The pain is intense.

“Uwah.”

I felt a strange sensation in my right

shoulder as if a wind was blowing through my body.

But before I could figure out what it

was, the roar of several gunshots combined pierced my ears.

The wind increased in myriad ways.

It was strangely cold, I thought.

A few moments later, I felt it.

A few moments later, I felt a strange

coolness.

“U” Guaaaah!?!?”

I saw the true hell.

☆ 彡 ☆ 彡 ☆ 彡 ☆ 彡

“Huh … huh … huh hah…”

The next thing I know, I’m in a prison

camp.

The pain of being completely dead and

having the wind knocked out of my body was gone, but it was still well

ingrained in my memory.

I now know the horror of being shot –

the pain.

It was far beyond my imagination.

I didn’t know how long I had been

distracted by the intense pain, and I didn’t understand what was happening.

Was it just after I died, or did I

just let go for a few minutes?

Since the game hadn’t ended, it

probably hadn’t been that long, but it was hopeless.

Because I died, Inori-chan was alone.

“…”

I hurriedly opened the hologram and

looked at Inori-chan’s situation.

――.

Inori-chan was on both knees, staring

at the ground.

“… What is this?”

Right in front of Inori-chan, a man

was holding a gun.

He was a Vtuber from Zero Live, and I

had seen him before.

Their gun muzzle is pointing at the

back of Inori-chan’s head, and the mere pull of the trigger will kill her.

But the presence of several people

watching from the roofs of houses and trees surrounding the two men emphasized

the bizarre scene.

“These bastards!!!”

–Teaming.

I realized that this was an act of

cheating that could be considered out of the question in BR, forming a clique

even though they were enemies.

The people around Inori-chan are

Vtubers who I’ve seen with Suda somewhere.

The teaming was so blatant that there

was no need for proof.

If Suda’s words were correct, they

were probably all professional gamers.

Every one of them was higher ranked

than Inori-chan, and I could assume that they were the ones who were running at

the top of the rankings.

Considering that the number of muzzles

pointed at us was eight, we can see that at least that many people are hunting

down Inori-chan.

“Shit … !!! Shit !!!”

If I think about it calmly, it’s not

that crazy.

It was an act that Suda’s vileness

would not be surprised if he got his hands on – in fact, it was an injustice

that he deserved to get his hands on.

“I should have been vigilant from the

beginning … !! Why I don’t even notice this!!!!!!…… Damn !!!”

If Inori-chan and I knew it, I could

have done it.

We can hide and defeat them one by one

from the avatar that seems to be Vtuber.

Or, before they get together, find

Suda and decide the game.

I could have gotten a winning strategy

from anywhere.

“But there’s nothing I can do about

it.”

This is a prison camp.

It’s a place where you can’t do

anything without the help of your friends.

――I noticed when I saw the scenery

reflected in the hologram.

Inori-chan got her knees right in

front of the camp where I was trapped.

Then I realized what had happened to

me while I was in thought.

“… Inori-chan. To help me.”

Inori-chan came to help me without

giving up even though she was dealing with far superior professional gamers.

Believing that I could manage this

situation, I ran through to this point while resisting overwhelming despair.

I regretted her helplessness and

tears.

“I’m sorry … I’m sorry.”

It’s because of this systemically

indestructible wall and chain.

I can’t do anything.

I can’t go to help.

“Damn … !!!!!! Come off !!”

Although I knew it was useless, I

slammed the chain.

I wanted to jump out of the camp right

away and run to Inori-chan.

“Why … !! Isn’t there anything !? From

here, how we can win … !!”

The answer was “impossible”, which I

can understand because I played this game more than anyone else.

But I couldn’t help thinking.

“I don’t like it … I don’t like it !!

Even Inori-chan doesn’t give up !? Don’t give up on me too !!!”

I swore I’d protect you.

I’m going to save you from this

situation.

I’m going to turn everything upside

down.

The sound of the chains on my arms

clanking sounded.

This is.

This never-breaking chain blocks my

path.

“Let’s go … !!!”

☆ 彡 ☆ 彡 ☆ 彡 ☆ 彡

[Inori's POV]

“Looks like my bad legwork has come to

an end.”

I could hear Suda’s voice from the

roof a short distance away.

I was surrounded, and he pointed a gun

at my head.

There was nothing more I could do.

Maybe Hoshino-san could do something

about this situation, but I couldn’t think of anything else.

I’m almost a the prison camp. But if I

moved even a little, they’ll shoot me.

“…”

Everyone here is stronger than me.

All of them had terrifying aiming

power, and I couldn’t imagine winning even one-on-one.

What surprised me was that even Suda

was as good as the pros.

In a simple shootout, the pro gamers

would probably win, but in terms of strategy and getting around, I could see

that they were more than capable of making up for it.

“… Teaming. Isn’t this dirty?”

I glared at Suda and let my disgust

get the best of me.

“This is a game where hundreds of

millions of dollars are at stake. Do you think I care about such rules about

the system?”

But there was no hint of guilt in his

aloof reply.

“What a lowlife.”

“Haha, scary.”

It was frustrating.

I’m not going to let a man like this

take away my “Inori”.

“Well. The only ones left in this game

are us, Inori-kun. You can end it now, but ……, do you have any last words as

Inori? I’ll give you some time.”

It was a grin, a grin that made me

look like a fool.

He had a look of triumph and

confidence.

“No. I don’t have a hobby to entertain

you.”

It was the least I could do.

I remained resolute and never showed

any tears.

However, Suda didn’t seem to care

about me.

“I see. Well, that’s fine. Then I’ll

tell you how I plan to produce it after I receive it from you. You have the

right to know.”

“…?”

I’m not interested, I try to tell him.

“I want to take full advantage of the

friendships you have made.”

“–“

The words took my breath away.

“Inori, you have been involved with

the members of Zero Live to a certain extent. I’ll let you continue that

relationship, of course. I’m sure you’ll be happy to hear that. …… And then

there’s Kuon and-.“

Please stop.

“–Kanae-kun, I want you to get along

with her. I can get the number of views.”

I don’t want to see it.

“Oh, don’t worry about it. Don’t

worry, I’m going to give you plenty of acting lessons. They’ll never know

you’ve changed.”

I don’t like it.

“All you have to do is support me from

the outside. –You’ll just have to cheer from the outside, watching the new

Inori-kun get along with the girls.”

That’s the image that popped into my

mind.

I could feel the strength leaving my

legs.

“…………”

I got on my knees.

My heart couldn’t take it anymore.

“…? What’s wrong, Inori-kun?”

I was being trampled upon

unceremoniously.

My precious things are being

destroyed.

While feeling the tears that I decided

not to spill, I replied while standing down.

“… You can’t go unnoticed. Kanae-san

will notice it. We’re not in such a thin relationship.”

I’m sure Kanae will see through me.

I’m sure she will see through me.

I uttered an unfounded, mere desire.

“Is that so? People aren’t skeptical,

as long as they have an appearance, because she doesn’t know that there is such

a technique in the first place.”

“…”

Why is this man relentlessly trying to

hunt me down?

I don’t even know if it’s unconscious

or intentional.

And finally, Suda trampled even the

most important memory of me (Inori).

“It’s the same with Kazuto. After a month,

He’ll be supporting a new Inori-kun.”

Hello, really.

If even “Kazuto”, who occupies the

largest part of Inori’s heart, is gone.

What would be left for me?

It was the limit.

“… I don’t like it anymore …”

I can’t see what’s ahead.

“Inori, Inori … Why did I work so hard

…”

I can’t hold back my tears.

I can’t stop sobbing.

All the memories of the past come

flooding back.

The memories I enjoyed and the

memories I suffered were all my treasures.

Everything was stolen and against me.

“… Kazuto-san.”

What suddenly overflowed from my

mouth?

It was the name of my favorite person

(Inori).

“…………Save me..”

Even if I knew it was impossible, I

couldn’t help but speak it out.

☆ 彡 ☆ 彡 ☆ 彡 ☆ 彡

[Kazuto's POV]

Inori and Suda are talking about

something.

I don’t understand the content of the

story.

――But I knew Inori was crying.

“Suda … !!!!

Sudaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.”

Don’t make her cry.

Don’t make Inori-chan cry.

“I’m going right away …! Absolutely,

I’ll kill him … !!”

I was swept away by the raging

emotions and pulled the chain with all my might at that time.

The pain ran off as if my arm was

gone.

“…!”

Suddenly I remember Houki-kun’s words.

— “There is nothing in this world that

cannot be cut with knives. Except for indestructible objects.’

The chains that can't be broken.

The fact remains the same.

But what about my arm?

Can this left arm be cut off?

“…, …”

I open the storage.

The last thing in my storage was the

“Jack Leap” knife. The knife that I was holding when I died.

My breathing becomes ragged, both from

the small hope I see and the horror that chills me.

“Huh … huh … huh … huh.”

I remembered the pain from the

countless bullets that had pierced my body.

I’m sure this pain is not on that

level.

In LoS, “site defect” can occur under

extreme conditions.

Even if you have turned off your sense

of pain, many people are uncomfortable with the uncomfortable feeling they

can’t shake.

With 100% pain sensation, wake up by

yourself.

“… But I must protect Inori-chan …”

She was crying.

Although I was there and I saw her cry twice.

“Fu … Huh, Fu ………”

It’s all for everything that

Inori-chan loses.

Remember.

Remember her trajectory, memories, and

hardships.

I saw her frustration when things

didn’t work out.

I knew she was going through a lot of

trial and error without us seeing.

The number of her subscribers exceeded

100, then 1,000, then 10,000.

Each time, they thanked her and looked

happy and excited

She was so happy and excited to see

us. She had been working so hard, step by step, until now.

“There is no reason to take it so

easily … !!”

Be prepared.

Give it all away.

“… !!”

I hold the blade on my left arm.

My field of view suddenly narrowed.

Scary

Scary scary scary scary scary scary

scary scary scary scary scary scary scary scary scary scary scary scary scary

scary scary scary scary scary scary scary scary scary scary scary scary scary

scary scary scary scary scary scary scary scary scary scary scary scary scary

scary scary

Suddenly.

Through the hologram.

I heard a small voice.

“…………Save me.”

I.

For Inori-chan.

“UWAAAAAAAAAAAA !!!!!!!”

☆ 彡 ☆ 彡 ☆ 彡 ☆ 彡

“…………Save me.”

I knew that was impossible.

I knew it was impossible.

But I couldn’t help but wish for it

Hoshino-san’s face comes to my mind.

Even though I knew it was useless, I

couldn’t give up and tears spilled out.

But at that time.

“―――― Exceed”

My prayers were never going to come

true.

It was as if he had come to fulfill my

prayer by force.

There was a voice.

A voice that endures agony.

A voice that trembles with anger.

The next thing I knew, the door to the

camp was open.

And.

“-“Comet”!!!!!!”

The dazzling light made me close my

eyes.

The flash made me close my eyes.

I don’t know what happened.

“… I’m sorry for being late,

Inori-chan.”

I slowly lifted my eyelids, startled

by the voice that came from right in front of me, a voice I wasn’t supposed to

hear.

He slit the man who was pointing his

gun at me with the speed of a comet.

With the knife still in its full

swing, he slit another man.

“Kazuto, san.”

The man of my first love was standing

there.

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