Mokushiroku Arisu - Volume 01

by Kagami Takaya

  I say, "Nothing in particular."

  "Then, you don't need to introduce yourself anymore?"

  "If that's okay."

  "Well, in that case, it's not. Please introduce yourself."

  My expression clouds, and I look at the students with half-opened eyes. By now, I was already done checking the faces of most of the students.

  Eight guys.

  Twelve girls.

  All of them had a headphone in either their right or left ear. Obviously. If you don't have a 《Headphone Fuzz》 here, you can't do a single thing.

  Such headphone-type magic activating devices were special devices whose use was only granted to individuals belonging to either the military or police organizations in Japan, or those who were tasked to raid 《Labyrinths》.

  Individuals who were not granted permission were forbidden from using them.

  They are treated like guns from before (though in the present day, the military does not use weapons from the previous era like guns), except that their power is on a different level from guns. Their versatility is different. The operating subtleties are different. Since they are packed with a genocidal amount of power that can create major incidents if they are mishandled.

  Thus, they are heavily restricted devices. The civilians are only allowed to use magic technologies employed in consumer electronics or other manufactured goods. Even for the military, their headphones are adjusted to a level usable by the majority.

  Therefore, the only ones allowed to employ magic that can forcibly stimulate their brains almost to their limits are a small portion of the elite, each tagged with an ID number and officially controlled by the country.

  And even among such elites, only the considerably talented ones were allowed to enroll in a place like 《Metropolitan Kichijouji High》.

  Elites.

  "...... elites, huh."

  With half-opened eyes, I smile faintly to the elites gathered in this classroom. Then gave a simple introduction of myself.

  "...... it's troubling when I'm suddenly asked to say something about myself but ——— just as said, I'm trash. I just want to become a lowly member at the edge of the class, so please don't concern yourself with me too much."

  A few of them appear uninterested in me.

  A few of them appear to dislike me.

  A few of them, who looked like goody-goodies, direct a pleasant, friendly gaze at me.

  And I have zero interest in any of them.

  Honjou Tsukasa-sensei says, "Is that all?"

  "Yes."

  "Then sit down. In the empty seat."

  The empty seat is located in the last row beside the window.

  And the top of that desk is decorated with a flower that appears to be mourning the dead.

  It probably isn't intended as harassment of the transfer student, I suppose.

  The person who originally sat in that seat had probably died.

  It was a flower placed for that deceased.

  This was that kind of school.

  I sit at my desk.

  I look down at the flower with half-opened eyes, and gently put the vase containing that flower down on the floor.

  I can feel the gazes of a few people turning hard. Were they the friends of the person who used to sit here?

  But, that doesn't matter. Since we aren't here to have fun.

  I narrow my eyes.

  And look out the window.

  Once again in the schoolyard, the Normal Curriculum students are having fun preparing for their P.E lesson. Not one among them wears a headphone. It isn't because a headphone would interfere with their P.E lesson.

  It was because they aren't allowed to use one.

  Or, they aren't interested in absurd things like 'putting their lives on the line and killing girls that bring forth extra-dimensional labyrinths'.

  That is indeed a wise choice, I think.

  Since Even if I can't become strong, someone will protect me: parents, school, or the local government.

  Or, Even if I can't save the world, someone will save the world: the country, the military, or corporations.

  In that case, putting my life on the line and becoming a magician is an idiotic thing to do ——— I can understand that kind of reasoning.

  Thus, this was a classroom where idiots known as elites were gathered.

  A classroom with a bunch of morons trying desperately, risking their lives using magic, while others lived peaceful, tranquil, ordinary, happy lives.

  Sensei says, "Well then, this concludes our homeroom. Shinnosuke-kun, while waiting for lessons to start, take the time to read through the school handbook."

  I look up, then open my bag. And take out a reasonably thick booklet.

  Metropolitan Kichijouji High

  《Labyrinth Diseased Girl Killing Curriculum》 ——— School Handbook

  The contents of the handbook are:

  * * *

  Metropolitan Kichijouji High is an institution established by the government, with the approval of the country, for the purpose of dealing with labyrinth–diseased patients at the onset of their illness.

  This school deals primarily with clearing age-limited labyrinths, which can only be infiltrated by those who are nineteen years or under.

  It is primarily entrusted with dealing with cases occurring in Kantou region. (In the event that the labyrinths which appear in North-East range, Central range, or Kinki range are too much for their respective high schools to handle, there's a possibility that we will be deployed there.)

  In the event that infected girls having an onset of their diseases appear, the cooperating research center attached to the school will immediately send their researchers to begin investigations of the labyrinth brought forth by the diseased girl. (The main cooperating research center currently is Taikou Pharmaceuticals.)

  The investigation focuses on:

  The girl's personality.

  The structure (map) of the labyrinth brought forth by the girl.

  The obstacles inside (enemies, traps).

  The girl's weak point.

  The time limit before the girl becomes an 《Eternal Labyrinth》 and envelops and anchors the surrounding area with the labyrinth.

  In parallel, the school charged with dealing the target girl will conduct a lesson/lecture covering the investigation's results for the students of the 《Girl Killing Curriculum》.

  In most of the cases, the time limit for such a lesson about the labyrinth girl is five hours.

  In the last hour, infiltration of the labyrinth to deal with the girl will take place.

  In those six hours (in total), everyone should work together and, with the resultant increased efficiency, kill the girl and save the world.

  Please do your best.

  * * *

  Well, that was basically what the handbook was about.

  I smirk and murmur, "Work Together, huh."

  I drop the handbook onto the desk with a thud.

  Before I knew it, the homeroom was long over and more than half of the break-time that followed had passed while I was reading the handbook.

  Then I realize that a number of students are crowding around at a distance, looking at me.

  The atmosphere coming from them is tense, yet lukewarm.

  From among them, one person comes forward.

  She is a slender, petite girl about 150 cm tall. Her beautiful blond hair is tied up into a ponytail. However, it doesn't look like it was dyed. Her natural hair color. Her eyes are pale blue. With fair skin. I wonder, is she a mixed-blood? Her eyes radiate a strong spirit. Her 《Headphone Fuzz》 is in her left ear.

  In other words, she is an emotion-type.

  A genius type.

  A type that is hard to deal with.

  The girl points straight at me and says, "Hey transfer student, I shall now tell you the rules of this classroom."

  See, she's hard to deal with.

  I look at her with half-opened eyes and smile.

 
"Aah, that'll be a life-saver. I'm kind of disconcerted by a new classroom."

  However, ignoring me, the girl folds her arms against the chest area of her sailor uniform, which hardly bulges, and speaks. Raising her sharp, pointed chin arrogantly like she doesn't care.

  "First, you must know the most important thing of this school. And that's me. My name is Mizuiro Gunjou. I have the best grades in the school year and the boss of this class."

  "Hehyh, Boss-san huh."

  "I have already cleared labyrinths twice without dying, killed the labyrinth diseased girls and saved the world."

  "Fuuhn."

  "Furthermore, I have raided eternal labyrinths four times and succeeded in bringing back 'Diversionary Magic Spoils of Labyrinths' without dying."

  "Ah, that's amazing."

  Four times.

  She had raided eternal labyrinths four times.

  That really was an amazing thing.

  By the way, I have already raided eternal labyrinths seven hundred and twenty-four times ——— but, I don't feel the need to say that. Since it was a number I could achieve at places where inhumane activities took place thanks to the mad scientists and powerful people of small countries who went berserk, which resulted in me raiding labyrinths on a daily basis without even any safety gear and I had to keep using magic at levels which could have ripped my brain to pieces while in the labyrinths.

  Thus, in a peaceful, safe, quiet country like Japan, for a person the same age as me to have raided eternal labyrinths four times, she would be quite competent, I suppose. Since compared to diseased girl labyrinths that still had a time limit, eternal labyrinths are much more dangerous and the chances of dying in them is high.

  In other words, this girl is competent and managed to bring back 'Diversionary Magic Spoils of Labyrinths' alive. Then, it wouldn't be strange if she was a super star with a number of corporate sponsors ——— at the moment I think about that, Gunjou speaks.

  "It's not something I need to be proud of, but I currently have 7 corporate sponsors supporting me."

  She is pretty openly proud of that. More like she gives no signs of trying to hide her brimming confidence and puffs her chest out. The size of her chest couldn't quite match up to the magnitude of her confidence, it seems.

  With that, I knew what kind of person she is.

  A haughty, impulsive idiot.

  But... well, she must be pretty rich if she has seven corporations backing her. She should also be well-connected among the rich. Even if she is capable of getting results, to have such connections at her age, she might possibly belong to the higher echelons of society.

  Her high class 《Headphone Fuzz》 is proof of that.

  《Mitsutomo Heavy Industries Made ・ Water-Death Type 1》.

  One can tell from the name that it is Japanese-made.

  "...... so?"

  On hearing my words, Gunjou just says, "You don't get it?"

  "In other words, in order for commoners like you all to survive, you have no choice but to follow me. A genius like me. This is the only rule. Get it?"

  Gunjou stretched her fair hand out.

  "Don't tell me that you want me to grab your hand?"

  A smile then surfaces on Gunjou's face.

  "I want you to humble yourself and subordinate yourself to me. Most of the class are under my command ——— they survived because of my protection."

  "Hehyh. I see."

  "Or are you going to make an enemy out of me? Like him?"

  Gunjou points her finger at the corner of the classroom.

  Directly opposite from my seat, the last row of the classroom. The seat before the door.

  A guy with gray hair sits there. He has sharp eyes. The color of his irises is a little strange. They are red. A cold red. Those red orbs look at me.

  "It's not like I'm making an enemy out of you though?"

  "You are, aren't you? You don't want to come under my protection and kept interfering with me, Hishiro Shiro."

  Gunjou speaks the guy's name.

  Hishiro Shiro ——— seems like it's this guy's name. Despite his red eyes, his name is 'White(Shiro)'. What kind of joke is this?

  Shiro too had a 《Headphone Fuzz》 in his left ear. Hey hey, is this class full of emotion-types?

  He is using a 《ROLAND Corporation Special Use Type 0》. Japanese-made. It isn't anything special but it is hard to handle and no simple thing. If he had it modified, then he would be a force to be reckoned with.

  Shiro says, "Hah, anyone who doesn't listen to you is an enemy? Queen-sama."

  Gunjou spreads both hands and smiles.

  "That's right. Useless ordinary people should just follow me obediently."

  Dohn, while remaining seated, Shiro kicks the desk of the neighboring student. The student whose desk got kick quivers with a start.

  "WTF. We haven't determined who's better yet."

  "I thought it would be obvious from our grades...... or do you want to have a go for real? I don't really mind though."

  In an instant, snap snap snap sounds ring out from both their fingers.

  Their 《Headphone Fuzz》s are activated.

  Their movements are incredibly fast.

  It seems their strength isn't just big talk.

  The classroom tenses.

  No one can move from the murderous intent flowing out from them.

  It looks like the entire class revolves around the two of them.

  It really is something I wasn't interested in.

  "...... well, just go ahead and do what you want."

  Both of them are just trash that stands out.

  I stand up. Start out of the classroom, completely ignoring what is happening.

  "Hold it right there."

  "Stop."

  Both Shiro and Gunjou speak at the same time. Which reminds me, Gunjou's name is also a color. White(Shiro) and Ultramarine(Gunjou). What color will you get if you mix them together?

  Gunjou says, "You haven't said who you are going to follow."

  Shiro says, "...... your aloof attitude also pisses me off hey."

  They are really troubling people. This really is a classroom where a bunch of moronic elites, isolated from the world, are risking their lives to save the world.

  I smirk with half-opened eyes.

  "Don't bully the nervous transfer student, please."

  "Then come under my wing."

  "Forget about her. If you prove useful, I'll protect you."

  "Haha, I'm sure popular. Don't tell me my time has come? Then, how about this? I'm really a whore on the inside, so whoever pays more, I'll join that person. Now, bid to your heart's content."

  ""Wha!?""

  Both of them look at me with slightly surprised faces.

  "Ah-hahaha."

  Laughing, I walk out of the classroom.

  I can hear the raging voice of Gunjou from the classroom.

  "A great person like me even came to talk to you, what's with that attitude!? Everyone, just ignore that fellow! Ignore him completely!"

  On hearing that, Shiro laughs.

  "Ha, hahaha, the rich girl is getting angry for being made fun of."

  "You are also being ridiculed, aren't you! I'll kick your ass!!"

  "Try me, bitch!"

  I gradually put distance between me and that meaningless conversation.

  Along the corridor.

  The ten-minute break is already over. The students start going back to their respective classes. Down the corridor stands the girl I met during the school transferring interview.

  Kiryuu Kiri.

  A 《Headphone Fuzz》 is in her right ear.

  A left brain type.

  The type who manipulates magic rationally.

  Different from before, she is now wearing the sailor uniform of 《Metropolitan Kichijouji High》. It seems she was also accepted into this school, which makes things bothersome.

  "Yaahh, we meet again, Mr. Aloof Bastard."

  "Who are you? I
don't remember you at all."

  "Liar liar. You reacted to my face, and your eyes immediately dropped down to my breasts right? Big pervert."

  On hearing her words, I do what she said, and look at her breasts with half-opened eyes. I stare at her breasts, bulging fully against her clothes.

  "Hey, I'll be embarrassed if you keep looking at them," she covers her breasts with her arms from my relentless gaze and says poutingly.

  "Eh, but I'm a pervert right?"

  "Jeez, your personality is bad as usual. Did you manage to make any friends?"

  "Of course. Roughly about hundred people."

  "This school has five classes of twenty students each, so there should only be a hundred people in total though."

  "Aah, in other words, I'm friends with everyone except you? Sorry, I just couldn't click well with your physiology."

  "Ah-haha. Should I kill you, jeez."

  Her words, unlike Gunjou, are probably a joke. Those who wear 《Headphone Fuzz》s in their right ear wouldn't be swayed by a moment of emotion.

  "But seriously, it won't do if you don't make any friends. Once you enter a labyrinth, you won't make it alone," Kiri says.

  "Hehyh, I see. I didn't know."

  "I'm not kidding, a lone wolf will die, you know?"

  "Then, did you manage to make any friends?"

  Kiri grins.

  "Of course, with my beauty."

  "Shut up."

  "Ah-haha. Well well, let's both work hard. I'm in class 3 so our infiltration points in the labyrinth might be different but the goal is the same, so do look out for me when we meet there."

  "I don't want to."

  "Here we go again."

  Ignoring her, I start walking.

  And pass by Kiri.