Chapter 85

Rio Tsukatsuki.

The student council president of Millennium Science School.

She is also known by the nickname ‘Big Sister’ and is a character who first appears in Chapter 2 of Main Story Vol.2, where Millennium serves as the main stage.

Main Story Vol.2 primarily revolves around various incidents and accidents centered around one of Millennium’s clubs, the ‘Game Development Department’.

Most of the events in Main Story Vol.2 are tied to the android in the form of a girl, ‘AL-1S’, found in the ruins and known in-game as ‘Tendo Aris’. Rio, who appears in Chapter 2, also becomes involved in the storyline due to her connection to ‘Aris’.

However, there is one difference—she appears not as a hero but as a villain.

And her actions were such that they incited players with feelings of disdain and anger.

Rio’s actions were too cruel.

Too wicked, too ruthless.

Because Rio trampled on all the bonds the protagonists had built up to that point, defying the theme of ‘friendship’ in Main Story Vol.2.

The players were enraged at Rio and rebuked her.

Still, I wondered.

Was Rio, despite being a villain, truly an evil person?

I briefly pondered her nature.

Rio had always been rational and logical.

Fitting for the president of Millennium, a place of science, calculations, and proofs, she always calculated everything.

Even the fate and future of this world.

Through this process, Rio discerned the danger that Aris posed and sought to eliminate her preemptively to remove the threat.

For what? To protect Kiburatos.

To achieve a good end, she committed pseudo-evil acts, believing that her true purpose would be accomplished.

This was Rio’s nature and behavioral pattern.

In this way, Rio possessed a disposition that could be described as ‘super-rational’ rather than merely rational.

To the point that others might say she was “crazy.”

Thinking rationally, she would betray her comrades if it suited her needs and purposes.

Thinking rationally, she would hesitate not even at illegal actions if she truly believed they were right.

Thinking rationally, if ending someone’s life could save the world, she would do it without hesitation.

Understanding and logic.

Her calculating nature.

Once Rio drew a conclusion through her own reasoning, she held to it stubbornly and never changed her mind.

An unshakable will that wouldn’t waver no matter what obstacles came her way.

Fitting for the name Millennium Science School, these were the qualities that composed Rio, the student council president.

Later, after her defeat, Rio became somewhat less rational and showed a more ‘ordinary’ side, but not now. Now, Rio was in tyrant mode.

That’s why it was puzzling.

Why was Rio seeking me out at this point in time?

Why was she, always rational and logical, looking for me? And why did Noah come to warn me?

This question was answered by Himari.

“Hmph. That coward not acting openly means she has something to hide.”

We learned that Rio had started looking for me thanks to Noah, the secretary of Seminar, coming to tell us.

Himari stated that this process indicated why Rio was now looking for me—”because it wasn’t something done with integrity.”

Himari, whose personality, values, and beliefs were polar opposites to Rio’s after working on various projects with her, immediately began speaking ill of her. It was cute how she tapped the armrest of her wheelchair repeatedly because Rio irritated her.

Similarly, Amy, who had been with Himari for a long time, did not explicitly contradict her. Lying naked in front of the air conditioner, she lazily stared at us.

And I stood before the whiteboard, deep in thought.

“What could be the reason? Did she see something through prophecy? Is it something she had planned? Has my cover been blown while I was on hero duties? Or was Noah simply sent to probe me?”

It was difficult to deduce why Rio was tracking me—not because there weren’t enough reasons, but because there were too many.

Given the numerous actions I had taken so far, I knew that Rio would, in some way, recognize my existence.

Still, apart from that, it was not easy to infer why Rio was pursuing me.

After all, “You can know the bottom of a deep river, but not the depth of a person’s heart,” right? No matter how much I, as one who had possessed a body, knew this truth—that understanding the heart of a person is difficult.

“What do you think we should do?”

I rubbed my forehead and asked Himari.

She stopped tapping the armrest, looked up at my question, and answered with a disgruntled face.

“Just ignore her.”

“Huh?”

What kind of talk was that?

As I looked at Himari perplexed, she chuckled and explained nonchalantly.

“It’s really fine to ignore her. Anyway, I’ve already been blocking Hiiro’s information and constantly causing disruptions to block any tracking attempts. I’ve even had help from Veritas. Right, Amy?”

“Mmm… Don’t make me talk. It’s hot.”

“So don’t worry. If Hiiro is physically threatened, you can just destroy it all. If he’s threatened on an informational level… well, I’ll just destroy it, that’s all.”

“…”

Wow.

I couldn’t help but be impressed.

Were you doing all this in the background?

Staring at Himari with baffled eyes, her cheeks tinted slightly red in embarrassment, and she cleared her throat to continue.

“It’s my role to assist Hiiro. To get help from a genius little-miss hacker like me is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but I’m giving Hiiro special attention, you see?”

“…Thank you, Senior. I appreciate your care.”

“Hehe. Don’t mention it. But I’d like to hear about what Hiiro accomplished in Abidos and what happened this morning. Could you tell us about it?”

“Yes, of course.”

We finished the meeting thusly and began genuinely enjoying each other’s company.

I mostly told stories while Amy lying on the floor and Himari perched on my knee listened attentively; it was a pleasant time.

All the more enjoyable because we hadn’t seen each other for so long.

—

The next day, morning.

I visited the Engineering Department to meet another colleague.

The sounds of clashing, grinding, and scraping metal echoed through the club’s building as always.

The work sounds of modern-day blacksmiths.

Though chaotic, these sounds were strangely intriguing. As I entered the building, I took in the noisy scene.

As I wandered through the building for a few minutes, a voice called out to me.

“Hiiro!”

Turning my head, I saw Hibiki bounding towards me, her tail wagging vigorously.

I waved back enthusiastically as she approached, and she immediately hugged me tightly, clearly delighted to see me.

“Are you doing well, Hibiki?”

“Yeah… I was lonely without you, but I’m fine.”

“Have Utaha-senpai and Kotori been here too?”

“At the counseling room. They’re waiting for you.”

I nodded.

To meet Utaha and Kotori, who were waiting for me, I headed toward the now familiar room, Counseling Room No. 3. Opening the door, I heard a familiar voice from inside.

“Hiiro! You’re back!”

Kotori wasn’t visible, but Utaha was sitting there alone.

I greeted her as I let Hibiki down from the warm embrace.

“It’s been a while, Utaha.”

“Hehe. Likewise, hasn’t it been? Although it feels like weeks, it seems like an eternity because we’ve been meeting almost every day, right?”

“It could be. Anyway, where’s Kotori?”

“Ah, Kotori was called by a client and went out for a moment. She’ll probably return soon.”

I nodded slightly and sat on the couch.

Ah, this familiar, soft feeling. Long time no see.

As I briefly closed my eyes to enjoy the comfortable softness of the sofa, I heard Utaha’s teasing voice.

“So, what equipment this time?”

“Huh?”

“We’ve seen you come this often—didn’t you already come up with something in mind, right?”

“…If I say I just came to say hi?”

“A greeting? Come on, you’ll be here every day anyway. If you’re fine just by seeing us, that’s the greeting. So, just show it already. Quick, quick.”

“…”

I sighed in exasperation after a moment of silence, then pulled out the pre-drafted equipment conception from my pocket and placed it on the desk.

“Hey… how do you know me so well…?”

“Fwahaha.”

“Haha.”

Their laughter burst out at my response, making me feel foolish as I scratched my head and gave a wry smile.

In the meantime, they quickly snatched the conception and glanced over it before quickly reaching their conclusion.

“Not new equipment but modifications, huh? You’re planning to upgrade all the equipment you already have?”

“Yes. Since I haven’t thought of any specific ideas for new equipment yet…”

“Good. I had a few ideas myself already. Let’s get started. It’s going to get busy for the next while?”

“B-Begin right away?”

“Isn’t that what usually happens? I’ve been bored without you around lately, so it’s perfect.”

“…”

“Hehe. Let’s start already! We’re off!”

“Uh huh. See you later, Hiiro…”

They ran off to the workshop with unusual enthusiasm.

I was left alone in the counseling room, helplessly watching their backs.

“You crazy engineers…”

Why did you not even bother to chat a bit?

I sighed humorlessly and left the Engineering Department.

Next destination, Veritas.

Surely, I can have a proper conversation this time?

…

…

…

…

“Sorry, we’re busy. Come back later.”

“E-Excuse me…”

“We’ll contact you when we have time.”

<KUNG>

I got the cold shoulder.

—

With a gloomy expression after being shut out by Chiharu, I trudged back to the Bureau of Special Tasks.

As I moved towards the side of the Millennium Tower, passing the Millennium Data Center,

<TRILING>

my MomoTalk notification rang loudly by my ear.

Stopping in my tracks, I pulled out my phone from my pocket, unlocked it, and opened the app.

The top message. The sender was unknown.

Out of curiosity, I clicked the anonymous message.

And then…

“…?!”

I couldn’t help but gasp in shock.

Because the MomoTalk message said—

[Big Sister is watching you.]

An anonymous warning had been sent.

As I stood there in bewilderment, scrutinizing the message, the sender suddenly sent another message.

[When you stare into the abyss, the abyss stares back at you.]

[Hide your tail. Withdraw your gaze. Do not step where her sight reaches.]

[Do not attract the monster’s attention.]

A few seconds later, the message disappeared without a trace.

I stood there, taking deep breaths.

Despite the chilling messages, I made no outward sign of it and resumed my steps.

Though momentarily caught off guard by the ominous message, it wasn’t something unusual compared to what I’d been doing all along.

Still…

‘So this was why… This must’ve been the reason.’

I realized that the engineering team and Veritas had already been infiltrated by Rio’s influence.

Their refusal to talk to me, the strange behavior unlike usual…

That was the reason why.

[Big Sister is watching you.]

The tyrant of Millennium had officially begun her operations.

Her starting move was to make everyone around me suspicious.

—

The tyrant has begun her true game.

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