"You can't hear it?"
"Where?"
Seems like Gunjou can't hear it. Then, what is that sound?
Just as I am pondering about that, my vision sways. The scenery to my upper diagonal left contorts as if there is some sort of interference.
"Wh-what?"
A window-like thing suddenly opens up there.
In that window, float the words
《Incoming transmission》.
Seems like that is something displayed by my 《Headphone Fuzz》 in my mind.
I can then hear a voice.
"Hey Shin...... ke............ hear............ hey............"
The interference is really bad.
But I know that voice.
It belongs to the scientist who made my 《Headphone Fuzz》s and the Holy Sword swtich, Liezel Baimeister.
But that's not possible. Due to the powerful radio wave barrier arisen from inside of the labyrinth, all kinds of transmission devices should be rendered useless.
But yet, Liezel is calling out to me.
"............ that inteference............ a sec...... I'll fix...... now."
Gunjou looks at me with questioning eyes.
I answer.
"I'm somehow getting a transmission in my 《Headphone Fuzz》 ."
"Huh? Transmission? From who? We're inside the labyrinth, you know?"
I know what she's trying to say. But since a transmission came in, I don't have a choice.
"Ah ~, it's my German friend. You've met him before."
Gunjou should have met him before her labyrinth disease onset.
"Wait, that guy in the foreign automobile......? Though he was at the back and I couldn't quite see him then."
I nod. At that moment, the transmission resumes.
"........................ aah aah, how is this? Is this good?"
I say.
"I can hear you. That aside, how did you manage this? This is the labyrinth, isn't it? What happened to the radio jamming?"
"Who do you think I am?"
"A perverted scientist."
"Call me a super genius scientist."
I shrug. Though I don't know whether or not Liezel is seeing me do that.
But at that moment, in the window, Liezel shows up in a camera that's looking down on us.
He's a German with eyes that are no less unpleasant than mine. Like me, he's also sixteen. Blond hair, green eyes.
Those eyes take me in and he says.
"What's the meaning behind that shrug? I'll kill you, you know?"
Seems like he can see me. Liezel has managed to develop the technology for transmitting into the labyrinth.
"When did you succeed in developing this?"
"Three days ago. The receiving unit was completed two years ago, so I put one into your 《Headphone Fuzz》."
"Don't put in random stuff without asking."
Liezel cackles in glee.
"By the way, since I've also managed to develop a self-destruction magic that can be triggered by a remote, I'll put it in next time."
"Hey, I'm kind of busy here and have no time to play games with you......"
"I know. You've been so busy these three days in raiding Apocalypse Alice that you had been ignoring my transmissions right?"
"...... you knew? Where did you hear it from?"
But, Liezel opens his arms and says delightedly.
"Where did I hear it from? The whole world is in an uproar about this."
Seems like the information about Apocalypse Alice becoming raidable has leaked out to the outside world.
With this, I can draw a conclusion from my earlier ruminations.
The fact that no one has yet to infiltrate the labyrinth is because they can't enter it yet.
Since if what's happening here is already made public, then the organizations throughout the world should have already infiltrated the labyrinth by now.
And if the labyrinth can't be re-infiltrated, then I can't Escape. I have to reach my little sister faster than anyone else, and use my Holy Sword switch to sever her from the labyrinth.
I say.
"I don't have time for idle chat."
"There you go again, without a genius like me, it'd impossible for you to raid Alice right?"
So that's what it's about. Liezel also wants a piece of it. He wants the magic that can be retrieved from Apocalypse Alice.
"What genius. Mitsutomo group developed a highly sophisticated magic to make use of a labyrinth diseased girl before you did. You lost."
On hearing that, Liezel's face turns really sour and he looks at me.
"Be careful of what you say, Shinnosuke. I could already make something like that before."
"Liar."
"I'm not lying. I could already make something like that before!"
Liezel says in a child-like manner.
I reply.
"Then, why didn't you make it? It's a magic that I needed."
But Liezel says to that.
"It's because you were an idiot and didn't ask me."
"...... ah?"
"I'd have made it if you had asked. But you didn't."
"Well, it's true that I didn't ask but......"
"Besides, instead of making use of a labyrinth diseased girl, the magic to sever her from the labyrinth without killing her is much more, much more difficult. Of course, Mitsutomo's magic that can weaken the Apocalypse Alice is pretty amazing, but Holy Sword switch is a much higher level magic."
That might indeed be true. In the first place, since I suppose that there is no organization that will be capricious enough to develop a magic that would be used to save a labyrinth diseased girl, I won't know whether other organizations would be able to develop one, or whether they would be interested in developing one.
Liezel says.
"By the way, you've used the Holy Sword switch right? How did it go?"
"............"
I did not answer.
But Liezel grins,
"Don't tell me that you've managed to save the labyrinth diseased girl huh? If the Holy Sword switch was a success, then you shouldn't be complaining about all those things to me right?"
I look at Gunjou beside me. She has been severed from the labyrinth, and is still alive.
She's well and still human.
The Holy Sword switch was a complete success.
That was indeed an amazing thing.
And Liezel probably knows that. He grins. And says while smiling.
"So, how was it?"
"............"
"Hurry up and tell me the outcome, Shinnosuke."
"........................ I'm sorry for saying too much earlier."
I say softly. While I said it softly, it should still be audible. Since it was transmitted via by my 《Headphone Fuzz》.
But Liezel just makes a really delighted face and turns his ear to me.
"Huh? What? What did you just say?"
"......You heard me right?"
"Who's the genius?"
"............"
He is a thoroughly irritating guy. Who the hell requested him to develop magic?
"I'm hanging up."
On hearing that, with a satisfied face, Liezel says,
"Well don't do that. I didn't call you to brag about what has already been established as a fact. There's something else."
"I'd have guessed. So what's up?"
Liezel then waves his finger. The camera that has been aiming at Liezel moves. Seems like it's a lab. Lots of devices are strewn about messily.
Among the devices is a small TV. A news program is showing on its screen. The newscaster has a ghastly pale face. Her voice trembles.
"Today America made a declaration. If Japan continues to monopolize 《Apocalypse 666》 --- commonly known as 《Apocalypse Alice》, then they will prepare to take military action to punish the Japanese government ---"
At that moment, the camera swings back to Liezel. Liezel says in a really delighted
manner.
"Did you see that? Things have become surprisingly merry right? But right now, it's not like the Japanese government has gotten control of 《Apocalypse Alice》. So they can't hand it over. If they can't hand it over, it'll become a full-fledged war. It'd be the end of Japan. According to my intel, America's going to fire missiles tonight."
This is worst possible development.
That's how fearful the world is of the magic that can be obtained from the Apocalypse Alice.
Liezel continues.
"And Japan will surrender. But will there be any meaning to that? Since 10 years ago, when the 'Diversionary Magic Spoils of Labyrinths' had been brought back, this peaceful country has already crumbled. The ones who hold power are the corporations. Such as Mitsutomo Group or Taikou Pharmaceuticals. Thus, the missile will probably be fired at Mitsutomo Group I guess. And it will begin from there. The race to raid Apocalypse Alice by the various organizations of the world. If that happens, it'll become even more dangerous than now. Because the enemy is human......."
But at that moment, Liezel smiles.
"Wait, well, you're used to killing other humans in the labyrinth anyway."
That's right.
Those were the only places I had been.
The only things I had seen to date were countrymen, fellow colleagues, radicals, mercenaries, terrorists, religious organizations clashing with one another, killing one another and snatching away power and technology.
Amongst them, those who stuck to ideals of love, romance, friendship lost.
Since there was none who was rational.
A moment of hesitation would cost your life.
I stare at Liezel and say.
"So, why're you telling me all this? Do you also want a piece of that power?"
But Liezel smiles and says.
"No way, I have no interest in obtained power. I don't know how amazing this Apocalypse Alice is, but I can make even more powerful magic from scratch."
But I didn't tell him to 'just hurry up and do it then'. I can't afford the time to engage in any more needless conversation with him.
There are many enemies.
The organizations in the world would find a way to enter Apocalypse Alice and would invade it in hordes.
I have to save my little sister before that happens.
I say.
"Just spit it out already."
On hearing that, Liezel says,
"Well ~ won't it be delightful to find everyone surprised and disappointed when the puppet I'm controlling brings back a girl whom he severs from the labyrinth, without bring back any magic from this place which the whole world is paying so much attention to?"
What a really twisted way of thinking.
It's not normal.
Not wanting something that everyone wants.
Not wanting magic that could be used to conquer the world.
To find it interesting to disappoint someone.
But, it's because of that I say to him,
"Yeah, that's a nice way of thinking. That's what I love about you."
To which Gunjou looks at me with a dumbfounded expression. I ignore her.
Liezel says.
"Haha, right? But I'm not happy about you loving me."
"I'm fine with that. And so?"
"I'll back you up. Let's clear it in the fastest possible way."
"There we go again. More tangibly, what're you providing me?"
"The map of Apocalypse Alice."
"What."
"I've scanned it. I'm sending it. I also grasp our rivals' positions during the scan."
If that's true, it'd be some really incredible intel. And also, technology-wise, it's pretty unworldly. Since he is able to transmit with some unknown technology sounds, pictures, and data into a labyrinth where signals are jammed.
Liezel looks at me and says.
"Now, you should praise me for sending you the map data. Who's the genius scientist again?"
"........."
"And where's your thanks? If you don't say it, I won't send the data to you you know?"
I scowl at his words.
"What the hell's wrong with you. Then, you'll be satisfied if I thank you?"
"Yeah, that's right."
"...... tch...... thank......"
But, Liezel cuts me off and says in delight.
"Shut up trash. Your thanks aren't even worth crap."
"Aah!?"
"Hahaha, I'm going to send you the data."
He snaps his fingers.
Instantly, I can tell that something is getting forced into my head.
My head hurts.
A terrible pain assaults my brain.
"Guh...... ah, hey, wait. My head......"
"I'll be laughing if your mind gets destroyed. Since there's a 70 percent chance of that happening."
70 percent!?
"D-Damn you......"
A detailed map surfaces in my head. It's a huge labyrinth.
It's a labyrinth with 425 floors underground.
And star marks are present in various places.
There are about forty of them.
They are probably the locations of the other raiders.
Kujaku should have brought 100 people with her. But the numbers were already down by more than half.
Did they Escape?
Or die?
I don't know.
Kujaku was 33 floors below.
And separated from Kujaku's group, 25 floors below, were 3 star marks.
They were probably Shiro, Yousuke, and Himi.
They are alive. At the very least, during the time when Liezel made the scan.
More information pours in.
They are data on the traps.
Data on hidden doors.
Data on safe zones.
"............"
Even the information on the location of my little sister Saki is also sent.
I forget my pain upon receiving that. My eyes widen in disbelief at the fact that I am now just within an arms' length to where my little sister was.
Saki was just 35 floors below. It's a considerably shallow location.
I can feel my pulse racing.
As it's not far away from where Kujaku was. If I don't hurry, it'd be too late ---
But, as if he has read my thoughts, Liezel says.
"The raiders from Mitsutomo group have been stuck at the 33rd floor below for more than 10 days."
My headache disappears. As all the data has been transmitted.
I ask.
"What's there?"
"Orhh, I did it. I managed to send everything without killing you. This is the first time I've succeeded with a human subject. Which means my research on this has adva......"
"Whatever, just answer me. What's down there?"
"Who knows? I have no idea."
"You even acquired the locations of traps and hidden doors and you don't know this?"
"I don't know. And it's not like I'm looking at it. But I can tell you this, up until the 33rd floor below, there weren't that many fatalities."
But now, there are only 40 people. Which means that Kujaku lost more than half her men there.
"Do you also know the rank of the labyrinth?"
"I know. It's 15. If it's you, you should be able to clear it easily right?"
Provided that that's its true rank. It won't be that easy but I can clear it. And it's probably the same for Kujaku and her gang, and Shiro they all. Since Gunjou's labyrinth which we were raiding earlier is a rank 42.
However, for a whole month, none of the raiders have come out.
"The rank can't be trusted huh."
"And it's a value measured by a machine so to speak."
"And, is there anything else? Shall we start our 6 hour lesson on labyrinth diseased girl raiding here?"
"No, I've already given you plenty of intel. The rest is up to you. If you fail, it's your responsibility. If you succeed, thank me."
He smiles
and cuts off the transmission.
Liezel disappears from my vision.
The only things I can see now are the scenery of the corridor before me and the Gunjou beside me.
"What's that about?"
She asks to which I reply.
"...... the map of the labyrinth was somehow sent into my brain."
"Huh, how can such a......"
How can such a thing be possible.
That's right. If something like that is possible, then we won't need any lesson. But practical usage is probably still far ahead in the future. A technology that can destroy the brain with a 70 percent chance can only be used in urgent situations.
But right now, it is urgent. An urgent situation where it's worth trying with just a 30 percent chance of success.
Kujaku and her people had reached the 33rd floor below half a month ago. To put it in another way, they took half a month to reach the 33rd floor below.
But if we have the map, and if it's really a rank 15 labyrinth, then we can catch up to her in no time.
Gunjou says.
"...... who in the world was that?"
"A pervert scientist."
"E-Erhm...... Shinnosuke I say......"
"Hn?"
"Erhm...... you did say...... you love that guy or something......"
"Ah?"
"D-Do you swing that way?"
I look at her in exasperation, then start walking.
"Yeah, right. Didn't you notice? That's why I have no interest in girls. Can you stay away from me?"
While catching up to me, Gunjou says.
"Wait, erhm, I, won't be prejudiced towards you......"
"Shut up. It's not that. I was just being sarcastic. Rather, it's not the time for this right?"
As I say that, she looks up at me,
"Eh? Eh? It's not?"
"Just shut up already."
"It's not huh. I see. That's a relief......"
"I thought you said you wouldn't be prejudiced?"
"Ah, no, I don't mean that......"
"Meh, what's wrong with you?"
Anyway, we don't have time to tarry around here. We have to make up for the lost month. But if we let our guard down, we'll be killed.
I don't know yet whether this labyrinth is really a rank 15 one. Well, even so, the rabbits that had assaulted us till now weren't strong enough to reflect a much higher ranked labyrinth.
I say to the Gunjou who is following behind me.
"I heard it's a rank 15."
"Eh!? So low!? Then, the labyrinth might have been clear......"
But I shake my head.
Mokushiroku Arisu - Volume 03 Page 8
