"Haa... I'm bored..."
Haruta could feel that his business trip to Millennium was dragging on longer than he expected.
"Should I drop by Schale for a bit...?"
Haruta had always refused to drink coffee, calling it disgusting, but this time he needed something to keep him awake.
"...Well, I might as well head back for a little while."
Haruta was so used to it by now that he tore open space and stepped through without hesitation.
"...What could possibly happen?"
With that thought, Haruta returned to Schale and took care of the work that had piled up.
"...Akashi, I'm quicker at handling things now, right?"
"Mm... but you still keep relying on me!!!"
"Ehh... but just a little..."
"No!!!"
"Hmph... fine..."
"So! What are you going to do now?"
"Probably just rest?"
That was right. Haruta still had things to do, like playing with C&C and night dates with Hina and all sorts of other plans.
"Wait a second... nap time..."
"Haa... then who’s going to do the work in the meantime!!!"
"Akashi... just this once... really, just this once, please..."
"Haa... fine."
"Good! Then I’m going to sleep quickly."
Haruta checked the time for a moment and fell asleep.
7:33
Five hours later
"Akashi... what time is it now?"
Haruta rubbed his eyes as he got up.
Still not seeing clearly, he took a long time finding his phone on the table beside him.
Without thinking, he opened Momotalk.
"...Missed messages... 999 ????"
Haruta’s eyes flew open, and he immediately tapped the message.
[Sensei]
[Haruta! Aris has been kidnapped... I guess it’s starting now.]
"Haa... guess it’s time to do this."
Haruta quickly sorted out the situation and sharpened his weapons.
"...Let’s get started."
----------------------------
"Sis...."
"Uu..."
"That tin can really did this?"
"...Is that true?"
"What is going on...!"
Haruta arrived quickly while everyone was in the middle of a strategy meeting.
"Aris was... kidnapped..."
"What did you say?"
"Aris was kidnapped..."
Bang!
"Sorry... I’m not trying to take it out on you, but... I’m a little angry..."
Haruta punched the wall.
"So... what’s the plan?"
"For now, we think President Rio built something called Eridu and used it to kidnap Aris there."
After hearing the full details of the plan, Haruta thought for a moment and then said, "Hold on... instead of taking the train, can’t I just go there with my ability?"
"Huh? You can get there?"
"Well... I’m not totally sure, but... probably."
"Ah...?"
"Then! Let’s all go to Eridu together right now!"
"No, right now C&C and I are going in together. We’ll take down that girl named Toki who subdued Neru, then rescue Aris."
"Then..."
"Yeah, you guys..."
"We have no choice but to go by train?"
"Yeah. My spatial jumps have limits."
"...Alright, got it."
And so they made their plan, and Haruta set out for Eridu with everyone else.
The Game Development Department split into three teams and entered the supply transport route.
C&C and Haruta moved to deal with Toki.
Veritas provided remote support.
In total, three teams moved to rescue Aris.
"So... I guess this is where it really starts?"
With Haruta’s spatial jump, C&C and Haruta moved out, and the Game Development Department also slipped into the supply transport route.
"Then the operation begins."
After Sensei’s words, Haruta gripped his sword properly and quickly let red spread across his body.
"C&C is currently engaged in combat!"
The Engineering Department and the Game Development Department were infiltrating underground and aiming for the central tower.
"Damn it! Stupid robots!"
Haruta snapped in anger and swung his sword.
With every swing, robots were shredded apart.
The floor grew slick with oil.
"Greetings. I am Rio’s personal maid, Toki Asuma."
The moment Haruta saw Toki, he drew his sword and launched a slash immediately.
Clang!
Thud
The slash flew toward Toki’s body.
"?!"
Toki instantly felt an overwhelming killing intent and dodged. When a human faces extreme fear, the body freezes for an instant. Toki had almost died just now.
The murderous intent hit her all at once, and instinct took over, telling her that if that attack landed, she would die.
"...Rio, please grant permission to use weapons."
"Good. Permission granted."
A mechanical voice rang out, and Toki took off her clothes.
"...?"
Boom!
Then something burst out of the building and landed behind Toki.
"Abyssal Hesh equipped."
Then she climbed onto Abyssal Hesh.
"...Hey, Neru, take your people and fall back."
"Huh? You want me to withdraw from the battlefield right now?"
"No, I’m going to cut that thing down in one shot, and I’m definitely saving Aris too."
"...Haa... if that’s what you think..."
Haruta quickly sent Neru back while Toki was still putting on Abyssal Hesh.
"Hey! You! Toki Asuma!"
"Yes. I am currently Rio’s personal maid, Toki Asuma."
"Good! Take this and survive! You’re not allowed to die!"
At those words, Toki thought it was nothing special. Even if a student was hit by a single sword, they wouldn’t die or become crippled, so she was about to brush it off.
In that instant, her entire body froze. Not a shred of strength would go into her limbs.
"?! What is this..."
Haruta gripped the sword with both hands, the blade pointing upward.
"Hoo... seriously, don’t die!!!"
Red light began to gather around Haruta’s sword.
"Kyaaa!!!"
Toki thought that if that attack landed, she wouldn’t just be killed—she’d be torn apart beyond recognition.
"Then let’s begin."
Red light burst from Haruta’s body, from his arms and practically everywhere except his head.
Abyssal Hesh had a dodge system that was almost like precognition, but right now that ability wouldn’t activate.
"...Hoo."
After steadying his breathing once, Haruta immediately—
Fwoooosh!
A crisp sound, like heaven and earth splitting apart, burst from his sword.
The recoil cracked Haruta’s blade and blood spilled from his arm.
"?!?!"
Toki had clearly tried to dodge, but even after blocking with Abyssal Hesh’s arms, legs, and shield, the damage still reached her.
The robots were already split in half, and Toki was on the verge of losing consciousness.
"Hey! You okay?"
"..."
"Alright, excuse me for a second."
Haruta moved behind Toki and placed a hand on her back.
Zzzzt!
Then Toki’s wounds healed, and Haruta screamed.
"Kyaaaaaaa!!!"
"?? What are you doing right now?"
"Hoo... hoo... I just... felt like it..."
Haruta dodged the question with a shameless grin and grabbed Toki, putting her into his own space.
He normally used it to store weapons, but there was no choice, so he put Toki in there instead.
"...Haa... haa... the recoil..."
Haruta pushed through the pain rushing over him and quickly rejoined C&C.
After that, he joined up with the Game Development Department and helped them in the ongoing battle.
"Wait a second... is that thing really that stupid even in real life?"
What Haruta saw was the Avant-Garde Corps raining missiles down on everyone.
"...Well, that too."
Haruta put more strength into his arm, and red energy gathered in his blade.
Swoosh!
With another crisp sound, the Avant-Garde Corps’ head fell off.
Everyone who saw it on the spot gave the same verdict.
If that hit you, even a halo wouldn’t save you... that was what they thought.
"Then now..."
Thud
"Kuhk..."
Blood burst from Haruta’s mouth.
He had poured in so much power—after forcefully healing Toki just now, crushing the Avant-Garde Corps in one blow, and even breaking Abyssal Hesh in a single strike.
"...Damn it..."
As Haruta wiped the blood from his mouth and stood up, everyone silently watched him.
"Haruta...? You’re okay, right?"
"...A-are you alright?"
"Haruta!! Are you okay?!"
Maybe because everyone was worried about him, Haruta got back to his feet.
"...Haa... haa... for now, Aris first..."
And then everyone ran toward the central tower.
"Then let’s go!!!"
-----------------
"Toki?! Toki? Answer me! Where are you right now!?"
Rio called out for Toki, but no answer came back.
"...Then let’s hurry this up."
Then, from behind, the wall cracked, and Haruta suddenly grabbed Rio by the nape of the neck faster than sound.
"Hey... who said you could lay a hand on someone precious?"
Haruta asked Rio, murderous intent pouring off him.
"...I was... only doing it for the greater good...!"
"Do you know how much I suffered because of that damn greater good?"
"Hey! Rio!!!"
"Answer me! Do you have any idea how many people are hurting and grieving because of you right now?"
"I don't know..."
"Haa... for now, I’m taking Aris."
"Wait!"
Bang!
"Hold on... no way..."
Haruta couldn’t believe his eyes.
Aris’s eyes were shining pink.
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