by Kamiya Yuu
Then, he said,
“Anyway, leaving that aside, let’s go to Tokyo.”
“—Eh?”
Naoto’s words caused Marie to stop.
Marie had yet to say what information she had on her side, including the truth about Grid Shiga’s puge, the conflict between Mie and Tokyo, and that they were on the brink of battle.
But why—once he noticed Marie’s skeptical look, Naoto answered,
“Hm? Did I say something weird there? AnchoR’s protecting that massive weapon, and she was supposed to be in Tokyo, right? In that case, that weapon’s destination is Tokyo if it moves—that’s what I think here. Am I wrong?”
“Yes…you’re right.”
Marie looked somewhat dumbfounded, and then she signed,
She was progressively used to such a thing; he would always come up with a deduction himself, completely ignoring minor details in the evidences or the situation.
“…Then, what are you going to do in Tokyo?”
“Eh? What else? Of course I’m going to save AnchoR. Anyone who can say no after hearing such a cute automata ‘pleading must be sick in the head of something. That’s impossible.”
…Is this guy an idiot after all?
Marie rubbed her temples that were struck with a sharp pain, and said,
“…You guys just came back from the underground, so I’m not sure if you know this. That weapon’s intending to attack Tokyo, you know?”
“Well, it is a weapon after all? I guess it is used for that sort of purpose, so?”
“So—seriously, you.”
“But I say, AnchoR’s ‘pleading’ me for help here, you know? Why don’t we just stop that massive weapon while we’re at it. Save AnchoR, beat massive weapon, and everything will end nicely, you know? We’ll get that mastermind or final boss in the meantime, since something like that will probably be in Tokyo. Can’t we just catch them all and deal with them?
“…”
Marie let out a deep sigh, and scowled.
And Halter interrupted from the side,
“…I’ll say, Naoto. It sounds easy, but it’s a question of how to do that. Do we have a way to stop that weapon?”
“That’s why we have to think about how to deal with that.”
Naoto merely said that nonchalantly.
Halter stroked his chin, and stoically stated,
“Tokyo is currently gathering the ‘military’, and Mie is activating the gigantic weapon. My guess is that Mie will strike first. It’s not a bad idea to remain on standby in Tokyo, but once those guys fight in Tokyo, Tokyo itself will get involved, you no?”
Naoto then immediately answered without hesitation,
“Then, let’s think of a way that won’t cause Tokyo to collapse.”
“In that case, we’re not going to be facing just the gigantic weapon. The Tokyo ‘military’ will become our enemies.”
“Those guys won’t our guys in the first place. We’ll just make use of them.”
“In that case, this time—”
“Ehh shut up already!!! We’ll just think of how to deal with them all, alright!!?”
Agitated, Naoto yelled.
He vented his thoughts at Halter and Marie,
“Stop yapping about logic here and there; we’re aiming for the same thing anyway! No matter who the hell says such logical thing, there’s no way I want to give up on AnchoR no matter what, whatever! If anyone tries to stop me, I’m going to chop him up even if he’s the president!”
“—”
Marie could not answer, and Naoto continued to emphasize,
“So? What are you going to do!? If you’re going to just yap ‘I can’t do it’ and run with your tails behind you, now that’s just what an idiot will do! Hah!?”
His taunting tone caused Marie to be agitated,
And before she knew it, she snapped back,
“—Don’t you look down on me!”
Her emerald eyes were lit with flame, and she let out such bombastic words.
Naoto and Marie faced off against each other, eyes staring at each other.
“Who do you think you’re talking to? Who do you think I am!?”
“Who cares about you now, you idiot!? ‘Right now’, you’re just a party pooper of a foul-tempered girl howling like a defeated dog!”
Neither side was willing to back down.
Sparks were flying between the gray eyes and emerald eyes.
“You don’t have a detailed plan, so stop coming up with those deluded one-sided wishes of yours!”
“You can’t do anything now~. If that’s called a detailed plan, I don’t need such a thing!”
“Eh!? Who are you calling useless now! Don’t decide that on your own!”
“Oh really? To me, you’ve been looking for such an excuse all this time.”
In her fury, Marie reached her hands out, and grabbed Naoto by the chest,
“—”
She was about to lash out, only to swallow her words back.
From up close, she stared at the gray eyes.
Clearly, disappointment could be felt form his expression, and Marie felt her body sizzle in agitation.
The shame caused her shoulders to tremble, the intense fury burning her inner heart.
She was fine with being scolded for being arrogant. It was a refreshing feeling to be arguing with someone else. She did not have to use honorifics when addressing others. All the volleying insults were par for the course.
But despite all of that,
There’s no way I want this guy pitying me here—!!
At that instance.
Like a lightning flash splitting through the night sky, her memories awoke.
“I—!”
She was once like that, facing off against him, and she said those words.
Back then, she said the one line of unwavering belief, yet she accidentally forgot about it.
That was the one prideful line that defined Marie Bell Breguet’s life.
Her emerald eyes sparkling, Marie shouted,
“—I’m a girl who thinks that there’s nothing that is impossible!!”
Ahh,Naoto merely let out a smirk.
“—That’s it. That’s how you should be. Or else you’re just an ordinary foul-tempered girl.”
Marie suddenly burst out laughing.
“Huhu…haha, ahahahaha!!”
Naoto in front of Marie, Halter and RyuZU stared back blankly, but she did not mind.
How can that be possible.
I only remembered such an obvious thing at this moment.
Marie said,
“Let’s confirm it—you’re a hopeless idiot here.”
“Hey.”
“—And yet you’re less of an idiot than I am.”
Marie immediately interjected, and let out a sigh.
From the side, RyuZU looked surprised as she said,
“It is rare to hear words that all parties will agree with—have you hit your head or something, Master Marie?”
“Yeah. I feel like I got hit on the head by a hammer or something. Being an idiot sure feels good.”
Marie happily relaxes herself as she shrugged.
—Definitely she thought.
Humanity might be as RyuZU had said, just a bunch of idiots.
They might end up spouting words of a loser as she did, saying that there was no value in the world.
But so what?
“In other words, there are only idiots on this world. They are all illogical, unreasonable, stubborn living beings—but even so, we should love each other, right? There may not be any value to this tattered world, but there’s definitely meaning to it.”
That was because though value was to be determined by others, the meaning was something they had to recognize themselves.
Thus, people lived for the sake of finding their raison d’etre.
s—Naoto Miura at least was not mistaken about this.
Marie then said,
“Oka
y, it’s true that you’re right, good idea to go to Tokyo. We’ll take on Mie and Tokyo at the same time, and we’ll somehow find a way to overturn the situation.”
“I don’t know what you want to do. But I’m not giving up on saving AnchoR here.”
“Understood. Our objectives won’t change. You want to save AnchoR, I want to save the world. WE’ll do what we want to do—anything for the sake of our goals.”
Halter then chimed in,
“Oi oi, Milady. I’m glad to see you pumped up again, but what’s your plan?”
“What else? We’re going to do everything.”
—Yes, there’s no need to put much care in choosing the right option. No matter whether I have the power I not, I won’t recognize that obligation.
“You’re seriously being mistaken here. We’re not the allies of justice here—we’re terrorists.”
And Marie’s thoughts began to run at breakneck pace.
Her petite body was giving off an ominous presence.
“I’m reflecting on it—till now, I haven’t been that defiant.”
And Marie clenched her fists hard.
Looking at her, Naoto retreated slightly, muttering,
“Erm…I wanna ask if I’ve somehow been forced into the role of an outrageous guy?”
“Relax Naoto. Thanks to you pushing me from behind, we’re going to get AnchoR.”
“I’ll try pushing you. Either that, or leave it to me to ram a car and knock you out.”
And Naoto’s attitude changed at the speed of light.
Looking at this scene, Halter’s lips twitched.
“I don’t know what you guys are thinking…but it’s definitely not a good thing.”
Marie nodded.
“Of course it isn’t. We’re going to do bad things here.”
She grinned at a muttering Halter, and turned towards Naoto,
“Now then, two questions I want to ask you.”
“Erm I have a very bad feeling about this, but what are they?”
Marie pointed her index finger at the person in front of her.
“First up. According to your tone, it sounds like you’re somehow able to stop AnchoR. Is that actually possible?”
“Yes.”
Naoto answered immediately.
However, RyuZU refuted,
“…If I may say so, Master Naoto. A machine that can best that girl in combat—”
“No, you can do it, RyuZU. I know without you saying that; I won’t let you be destroyed, and I won’t let AnchoR be destroyed. We’ll save AnchoR as to what she wished for. That’s definite.”
“Alright. We’ll leave that to you.”
Without asking for any basis, Marie then proceeded with the next question,
“Next, for RyuZU and AnchoR, how far are you willing to go to ensure both of their safeties?”
“I’ll definitely do anything. Is there a need to ask?”
Marie curled her lips into a smirk,
“—Halter, you heard that, right? Did you record it?”
“Ahh, yeah…”
“You said that you’re willing to do anything, right? You said it, you said it out there; don’t think of taking back your words once you said it.”
While Marie approached with vague intentions, Naoto backed away slightly saying,
“Eh, erm…no, well, I’m willing to do anything, yeah, if RyuZU and AnchoR can be saved without getting hurt. I’ll have to pass if I have to die here. RyuZU most probably won’t agree with that.”
The moment Naoto answered this, RyuZU showed hostility in her eyes as she stepped forward, ostensibly protecting Naoto,
“—Of course, if you wish for Master Naoto’s death or anything that will endanger him, Master Marie, please be mentally prepared for what happens afterwards. Since you got Master Naoto involved in this so carelessly and nearly cost him his life, I do have some thoughts with regards to that—”
“Don’t worry. I won’t let anyone die here. Nobody, none at all.”
Marie relaxed her shoulders, and let out a wry smile,
“But, well…I guess. Naoto, what’s your next remedial about ?”
“Eh? Modern history…?”
“I see, so that’s good, I guess. When you return back, there’s no need to study that textbook anymore.”
“…Hm?”
“I’m going to record your name in the textbook and make you the worst terrorist in history, got it♪”
Well, Halter interrupted,
“After all that show stuff, what exactly are you planning there, Milady?”
After hearing this question, Marie answered with a beam,
“It’s simple, actually.”
She paused,
“We’re going to attack Tokyo before the gigantic Mie weapon.”
Without waiting for the trio to understand her words, Marie continued on,
“According to what our side has gathered, and what you just said, I have a rough guess to what that weapon is used for. There’s still a little question of how we’re going to get that gigantic weapon to Tokyo though—”
With that size roaming on the land with the reinforced armor on it, it’ll destroy everything in its path from Mie to Tokyo when it moves forward.
By that time, it would not just be a problem for Tokyo alone. All the ‘miitaries’ in the path would fight back, and if the situation was disadvantageous, the ‘militaries’ from other countries may be dispatched to deal with it.
The crux that no matter how powerful that weapon was, it would not be very fast given its size. AS long as that weapon remained in a certain city, it would be destroyed alone with the city, sunk without being able to put up a fight,
In other words, Marie concluded,
“It’s a weapon that moves underground. The reason why it’s built underground isn’t just for cover. That hangar down there’s a launching dock connected to the deep underground “
At the same time, that would be the chance of winning for the Mie ‘military’.
One could imagine that they could not possibly station any forces in the deep underground.
Because nobody would have expected a weapon moving underground in the first place.
Once they were attacked from the underground, it would be meaningless no matter how many forces the ‘military’ deploy on the surface. If they did not destroy the city complete, there would be a possibility of them taking the Core Tower controlling the entire Tokyo region as hostage.
“So that’s why we’re going to start off with a terrorist act.”
“But what exactly are we going to do for that? Bomb the National Diet Building?”
Naoto looked a little bitter as he said that, and Marie stared at him blankly, saying,
“Idiot, it’s meaningless to do such a thing. I’m thinking of something grander than that—we’re going to use that time to control the entire Tokyo Grid.”
“You mean…like what happened in Kyoto?”
The memory of Marie and Naoto seizing control of the Core Tower to save Kyoto was fresh in the mind.
Are we doing that again? and in response to Naoto’s question. Marie nodded,
“Yeah. We’ll be able to evacuate the residents first, and as long as we leak false intel, we’ll lead the ‘military’ to the Tokyo ‘command post’. With that, the Technical Forces will definitely find out that there’s a weapon moving under them. We’ll just leave it to those guys…it’s a battle of prides here.”
“I want to go into the details…but I have a rough gist of what you’re saying here.”
Halter interrupted,
“But Milady, we are a little lacking in people to execute this plan. We also don’t have much time, and if we’re going to force our way through like this, both sides will not be ignoring us here. In the worst case scenario, AnchoR will be coming for us.”
“That’s the one thing I’m hoping for here—but well, it’s fine.”
Marie grinned, and shrugged,
“I kno
w that you may know about this, but I do have a lot of reliable friends here, you know?”
“—Do you really enjoy wrecking a lonely kid’s heart?”
And in response, Naoto’s inferiority complex was in full bloom as he muttered.
Chapter 4: 00:00 Returner
Gear Era 1016, February 6th, 10.34am.
Approximately 75km below the city of Mie, at the bottom of the city’s structures.
It slowly began to move, in that place the residents on the surface would definitely not see.
That was a massive metal spider.
320m tall, 932m long
The size was so massive it was unfathomable to think that it could move, and yet it was rumbling as it moved forward.
It burrowed up from the deep underground at the bottom of the city—in fact, space itself, and proceeded forth while breaking free from gravity itself.
In front of it was the Capital sphere of Japan—the Multiple Grid Tokyo.
Slowly, it began to move forward.
It would probably take half a day to arrive.
But while burrowing through the Clockwork Planet, the hollow floating in space, it continued to approach its prey accurately, desiring to deal a fatal blow, and surely this was an exceptionally dangerous thing that may end up destroying this planet.
This ominous spider continued to climb without anyone knowing, but a shadow observed it in secrecy.
“So it began to move…?”
The silver hair swayed as the profile muttered,
“This thing is really hideous beyond anything one is allowed to see…but it really is threatening.”
While saying these spiteful words, the shadow, RyuZU, narrowed her eyes.
Once she confirmed the monster’s actions, path and speed, she silently left the scene without anyone catching sight of her.
● ● ●
Gear Era 1016, February 6th, 6.27pm
There was a construct called the 4th Clock Tower at Tokyo, Japan, Grid Akihabara, Yasukuni Highway.
Basically, all Clock Towers were to be controlled under the ‘military’, but this was a rare exception used for technical research, and the nearby college was entrusted with the maintenance.
Some people were walking through the campus of this Akihabara Technical College.
They were dressed in similar blue work clothes, pushing carts that were carrying large loads, passing through the campus brazenly under the red sunset. There were still many students and teaching faculty in school, but none of them noticed those them walking in the campus.