Chapter 43

1.

Golcote said,

My existence has twisted the structure of this story.

I am the one who causes the loss of its concepts and contexts.

What did he mean by that?

At first, I interpreted it as a reference to the variables I created. I had changed so much before the main story even began.

A variable that shouldn’t have existed.

An anomaly that distorted the original story’s narrative.

I only thought of it in that sense.

Furthermore, I saw myself as the main culprit disrupting the story Golcote desired.

That was how I understood it until this very moment.

“…Does this make any sense?”

This was my reaction upon witnessing the scene that followed.

What was about to unfold was indeed absurd, completely different from the original’s storyline.

Phenomena that didn’t fit the world’s genre, events that defied all context.

The incident that Golcote mentioned twisting the story’s structure.

It unfolded right before my eyes.

—

2.

To be honest, I thought it was a simple mission.

After all, it was a collaboration with C&C.

I felt invincible, fighting alongside Nero, Millennium’s strongest.

Indeed, all the girls were highly skilled.

A competent team, elevated potential, and confidence in victory.

Under such conditions, anyone would reach a similar conclusion, especially those confident in their abilities.

This was not just a belief but an inevitability.

C&C and I were undeniably skilled.

We were strong, and the enemies were weak. That was a fact.

However,

It was precisely because of this that an unexpected event occurred.

For instance, C&C, Millennium’s special unit, being defeated by someone inside the building.

Even if Nero was outside, the three members—Asuna and the others—were specialists in combat. Such a defeat was rare.

Ordinarily, that is.

“Asuna, report the internal situation. Asuna?”

“Karin-senpai?”

“Akane! What’s going on inside?”

Hence, the current situation was anything but ordinary.

In the span of ten minutes since they entered the building, communication from Asuna’s group had been cut off.

Not only Asuna but also Karin and Akane had failed to communicate. Immediately, Nero and my expressions turned grim.

It might be an overreaction. Perhaps there’s an interference device inside. Or they’re simply too busy to communicate right now.

However, my instincts were screaming at that moment.

“…Senpai.”

“Hmm.”

“There seems to be something unusual inside.”

There might be a presence in the building that even my heightened senses can barely detect.

Nero, evidently sensing the ominous vibes, glared at the main gate with an unusually hardened expression.

“It doesn’t matter what it is. If it’s an enemy, I’ll destroy it.”

Of course, there was no way Nero would back down.

Neither would I, for that matter.

Even if I encounter a situation I couldn’t foresee, our duty remains unchanged.

Fight the enemy and triumph.

That was enough for us.

“Let’s go!”

“Let’s proceed.”

We both pushed off simultaneously and dashed forward.

Our goal: the main gate, and beyond that, the enemies within.

With the intention of bursting through, we approached the gate—

BOOM—!

Or rather, we were about to.

That is, if someone hadn’t already shattered the gate and leaped out before us.

“What, what is that?!”

“…!”

Mistaking it for flying furniture, we dodged at first.

We quickly realized that it wasn’t an object but a person who had sprung out.

Moreover, a giant-sized “prisoner.”

[Ha ha ha ha! What a shame! I could’ve knocked out that dirt kid in one go!]

A thunderous, echoing voice reverberated.

Clearly female, yet the tone was reminiscent of a hardened gangster from the back alleys.

“What the hell is this thing?”

Nero cast a confused gaze at the figure that had leapt out from the gate but was shocked to see the heavily injured squad members following behind.

No, it was beyond shock; it ignited a seething rage in Nero.

“…Leader! The outside is already taken care of, right?”

“Leader, you’ve arrived.”

“Sorry, Leader. We couldn’t handle it.”

The injuries all over their bodies were anything but minor.

Nero’s expression, gritting her teeth with anger, turned toward the figure that had emerged outside.

An orange prison uniform.

A hulky build matching the coarse face.

And the rhino-shaped steel suit covering the whole body.

What a bizarre sight, Nero thought.

“…Is that the guy?”

[Yeah! I crushed all of those girls!]

“…”

[Even the famous C&C couldn’t do anything but look weak before my suit, huh? Heh heh heh!]

“You, you… dog…!”

Before Nero could charge at the figure due to the provocation, someone stopped her with an extended hand.

It was Hiiro, her junior.

“Hey, Junior. What’s going on— …Hey, what’s wrong with your face?”

“….”

But the moment Nero noticed Hiiro’s pale face, her boiling rage subsided.

Because,

Her junior’s face was deathly pale.

Whiter than pale; almost ghostly white.

As if he’d seen something that shouldn’t exist in this world. Like he had seen a ghost.

Then, Nero asked.

“Hey, hey, what’s going on?”

“…sh*t.”

“What? You, why are you swearing—”

“Why is Rhino here…?”

“…Rhino?”

“That guy shouldn’t be here. But why—”

“Rhino?”

At the sudden mention of the name, Nero tilted her head in confusion.

Not just her; everyone from C&C nearby was doing the same, puzzled by Hiiro’s odd behavior.

However, Hiiro continued ignoring them.

“This, this means… Does the distortion in the story’s structure refer to its literal twist rather than a metaphor?”

“…Hiro-senpai? Is something wrong?”

“It seems like he’s excited. Maybe we should calm him down— Wait?”

“Hey, you b*stard, Hiiro!”

“No! The attacks don’t work on him—!”

Just as they tried to stop Hiiro, he suddenly dashed forward.

At a speed they couldn’t keep up with, using all his strength.

In that path stood a prisoner in the rhino suit who had bested Asuna’s group.

The girls, shocked, shouted his name, but Hiiro showed no intention of stopping, glaring directly at the figure.

[Ho! So it’s the white one’s turn to fight now, huh?]

“Did the genre change? Is it because I was here? If so…”

[You’re out of your mind, I see. Then I’ll put some sense back into you with my fists!]

Hiiro seemed to only respond to whatever the prisoner, who as he said was Rhino, had to say.

“Is that guy the one I think he is?”

“Is this situation really the one I predicted?”

This was both a resolution and a conviction.

“I have to stop him.”

And then,

As he closed in on Rhino,

Hiiro swung his shield at the figure.

BOOM!!!

A powerful impact ensued.

A strike that would have knocked out an

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