Published at 26th of March 2019 12:07 am

Volume 3, Part 4

▶First Day {C} [Secret Meeting] with [Daiya Oomine], [Kazuki Hoshino]'s room

What to do in order to withstand Daiya; In the end, we came to the conclusion that I should just keep silent.

Daiya will doubtlessly try to confuse me, so just showing him a reaction is already dangerous. Since I have no confidence in being able to avoid his plan well, I have no other choice but covering my ears.

Sitting on the bed, I greeted Daiya by raising my hand when he entered the room. Daiya looked quickly around and sat down on the table.

"Kazu, let me ask you---"

"Daiya,"

I interrupted him immediately.

"I know that we're inside your 'box'. I can only conclude that you considered me easy to ally with and, hence, approached me with the aim of deceiving me. Therefore, from now on, I won't speak anymore."

Daiya seemed surprised at seeing me form a thin line with my mouth for a moment, but his expression quickly changed to a smirk.

"What are you talking about, Kazu?"

"......"

"What's the point of being quiet? Aren't you eager to ask me about the 'box'? You have to do something about the 'box', don't you!"

"......"

I won't utter another word. That's what we've decided on. If I answered him by my own judgment because 'this much should be no problem', he would exploit this gap. He would subtly hint that 'it's okay to speak' and eventually make me talk.

Therefore I won't speak.

"...aah, so you're passing the whole task to Otonashi, huh. It was her anyway, who told you to keep silent, right? You really aren't even for the birds. If you're only being silent, then even insects are superior to you as they won't possibly talk, ever."

I held both my hands over my ears.

"You can still hear me anyway. Hmpf, I'll tell you something good, Kazu!"

Daiya stood up, approached me and whispered into my ear.

"This 'box' doesn't originate from my 'wish'."

I reflexively widened my eyes upon hearing this and looked at Daiya.

Daiya raised a hearty laughter.

"Look! There you lose to insects."

"Uh..."

Stop getting rattled, me! Or else I won't be able to keep silent.

When he stopped laughing after a while, Daiya returned to the table. Then he focused on me and declared:

"But what I just said is true."

...I won't be deceived. There's no way I'd believe him. Not even I am this softhearted.

"Well, I guess it's impossible to force you to believe me. The inside of your head may be one big flower garden, but there's no way you'd believe anything like a fool. But why do you think I would claim specifically this?"

Daiya raised the corner of his mouth.

"Because it's the truth."

...I won't believe you. I definitely won't believe you.

"You should know that I didn't do anything for a while after obtaining a 'box'. In other words, I was merely in possession of the 'box' without using it. Tell me, Kazu, how can you be sure that I don't continue doing so even now?"

...this can't be. ...I'm sure it can't.

"You don't have to believe me. Believing me is impossible from the start after all. But still, Kazu, didn't you think of it like that just now? I'm probably lying, but what if I'm telling the truth? If so, wouldn't there be the need to consider the possibility of a different 'owner', no matter whether I'm telling the truth or not? ...hu, not something I should say, huh."

...Damn. It's exactly as he says.

I can't think of it as pure nonsense. In fact, it seemed strange to me that Daiya had mastered a 'box'. This doubt would get resolved if he's not the 'owner'.

If there's another 'owner' besides Daiya, then he would easily be able to kill us.

Daiya effortlessly succeeded shaking me up like this.

Of course, he didn't overlook this disturbance in me, this faint gap in my heart.

"Kazu, you are the [Sorcerer], aren't you?"

"......Eh?"

I let out my voice spontaneously.

"H-How d-did---?"

How did he find out? I didn't didn't make any fault that would reveal---

Having thought this far, I noticed something.

I made a mistake ---just now.

Daiya laughed pleasantly, probably because of the baffled grimace I made.

"Hahaha! I knew it from the start, but you really are too unimportant in this game, aren't you!"

While listening to his laughter, I bit on my lips.

Although Maria advised me so kindly, I brought it all to naught. I'm completely Daiya's poodle.

"......You're lucky, aren't you Daiya."

Daiya just by chance said [Sorcerer]. The probability is 1:6 ---no, 1:5, since he knows his own [class]. He just randomly named [Sorcerer] which happened to my actual [class]. ...If only I had another [class], only the fact that I'm not the [Sorcerer] would have been busted...

"I'm lucky? Don't you get why I especially asked you if you're the [Sorcerer]?"

"...What do you mean?"

Daiya kept quiet for a while and scratched his head then.

"Well, for now let's assume that I'm not the 'owner' of this 'box'."

"I don't think so."

"Shut up and listen. If it's not mine, then this would also mean that I don't wish for this «killer-game». Also, I wouldn't want you, my acquaintance, to die."

"...Yeah."

"Therefore, I wanted to ask you if your [class] was [Sorcerer]."

"......aren't those two statements a little disconnected?"

Daiya looked at me with awfully scorning eyes.

"Don't tell me you think that you're the safest because the [Sorcerer] has no enemies? If you seriously think so, then you don't have brains in this head of yours, but sh*t."

I lost my tongue because he guessed right.

"I'll explain it to you so politely that even a monkey would understand! Firstly, it's definitely the [Sorcerer] who has it the hardest to survive."

"...Why? The [Sorcerer]'s life or death is irrelevant to the victory conditions of the other [classes]."

"Even you understand that the [Revolutionary] is the most dangerous, right?"

I nodded. It doesn't even have to be mentioned that the [Revolutionary] is the most dangerous, having the ability of killing others on his own.

"The one the [Revolutionary] wants to get rid of the most is the [Sorcerer]. You see? Only the [Knight] can actually decide whether to kill or not, apart from the [Sorcerer]. However, the victory conditions of the [Knight] and the [Revolutionary] are rather similar, thus they are likely to conspire. If the [Sorcerer] dies, the danger to the [Revolutionary] will drop dramatically."

I took the portable terminal on the table and reread the explanation of the [classes].

...Indeed. Even if the [Revolutionary] killed the [King] who's directly opposing him, the [Prince] and [The Double] would just take his place; So his condition wouldn't change much. However, if the [Sorcerer] disappeared, the [Revolutionary] would immediately achieve an advantageous position.

"Hey, but that... wouldn't that mean that the [Revolutionary] is almost sure to win if the [Sorcerer] died...?"

"It's not that simple either. For one, some will guess the others' [classes] wrongly and no one would readily become the ally of the [Revolutionary]. And also,---"

Daiya rummaged my jute bag and took that rough knife out.

"No matter how advantageous or disadvantageous you may become in this game, in the worst case you have this. Ha, you can survive [Kingdom Royale] anytime, you just need to have the resolution to kill others directly!"

I held my breath.

...I'm convinced now. The 'owner' of the 'Game of Idleness' is insane.

"...Kazu, let me say just this."

Daiya said while stowing the knife away.

"You can't persuade the 'owner' until the killing starts. If you want to keep damage to the minimum, you have to kill the 'owner'. So---"

Daiya looked at me. He declared with an honest face, devoid of falsehood:

"No matter how much you struggle, it's decided that at least one person will die because of this 'box'."

I shook my head slightly and murmured,

"That's not, true---"

Daiya didn't say anything.

In fact, even I had already noticed it long ago.

That this is the truth. Long ago.

▶First Day {D} Big room

No one was there yet when I arrived at the big room.

I recalled the [Secret Meeting] with Daiya. In the end, I exposed to him that I'm the [Sorcerer] and I even lost confidence that he's the 'owner'.

There is the need to consider together with Maria how we should proceed from now on based on this. Actually I hurried to here to meet her as fast as possible, but---and right when I thought so, she appeared from her door.

"Maria!"

She looked at me with a grave face when I called out for her and sat down in front of me.

Maria had a [Secret Meeting] with Daiya, after he finished the [Secret Meeting] with me. Judging from her expression, she might have been shaken up like I was.

"...Did something happen with Daiya?"

"......Probably the same as with you. I'm principally considering Daiya the 'owner', but now I started to take the faint possibility of someone else being the 'owner' into consideration. So it has become even less judicious to tell the others easily about the 'box'."

"Though we have no time..."

"Yeah, that's exactly what bothers me. I'd like to use this time to talk to the others about themselves for the purpose of grasping their personality, but... I myself can't talk about me. After all I can't talk about my environment without mentioning the 'boxes'."

Maria's environment, huh.

Even I know almost nothing about it. She doesn't talk about herself at all and having seen her 'Flawed Bliss', I'm far from being able to ask her.

"Maria, tell me---"

"Hi there!"

Kamiuchi-kun entered the big room and raised his hand toward us. I flashed an awkward smile and waved back.

I shielded Maria's ear with my hand from him so that he wouldnt be able to hear my next words.

"Kazuki, you mustn't whisper. Showing them how we have secrets from them in the present state of affairs will arouse distrust in them."

"Ah, I see..."

"Don't worry about it too much, Maricchi. You're lovers after all, so it's natural you have some secrets, isn't it?"

"You may say so, but that doesn't mean that the others think so, too."

"You think so? Speaking of which, they are scary, aren't they? Especially Kaichou and Oomine-senpai."

"...Maria, were you already acquainted with Kamiuchi-kun perhaps?"

I asked so as his intimate tone bothered me.

"No, not at all."

"Whoa, isn't 'not at all' a bit too harsh? Haven't we talked several times already, before this?"

"You arbitrarily spoke to me several times, yes, but there was never a conversation."

Kamiuchi-kun shrugged his shoulders with an amazed expression.

"I only want to be healed by talking to a super beautiful girl, so there's no need to be on guard, though... It's not like I'm planning to pinch you from Hoshino-senpai, really!"

"...Listen, Kamiuchi-kun. Just so you know, Maria and I aren't really going out, you know?"

"No, it's too late for such restraint or modesty or whatever now."

He doesn't believe me, as expected.

While we were having this talk, everyone gathered in the big room. We sat down on our seats on Kaichou's instruction.

"Alright, has anyone thought of a way to get out of [Kingdom Royale]?"

After she said this at the very beginning, Kaichou crossed her arms and waited with a smile for an opinion.

I stole a glance at Daiya; He was looking in another direction as if he wasn't even listening to our conversation.

If the three people who know about the 'box' aren't saying anything, no one will say anything. ---was what I was certain of, but an unexpected person raised her hand timidly.

"Oh, Yuuri, do you know anything?"

"Umm, it's not a way to get out, but a way to restrain it... if you, don't mind?"

"Ooh, nice! Tell us your opinion with no worries!"

Urged by Kaichou, Yuuri-san nodded slightly.

"Uumm... I think we all agree that suspicion will worsen our situation. This guess of mine isn't wrong, is it?"

After confirming that we nodded, Yuuri-san continued.

"We don't know who has which [class]. We don't know who our enemies in this game are. I believe this is what leads to anxiety. Nobody wants to let the game proceed, right, everyone? So, why don't we just count to three and reveal our [classes]?"

Everyone was quite surprised at this bold proposal that was contrastive to the fainthearted tone that lied in her voice.

Yuuri-san faltered a little on seeing this reaction of ours, but bravely opened her mouth again.

"If we do so, no one will be able to jump the gun anymore. I think we will be able to trust everyone. It's also impossible to lie since we'll all say it at once. So if two named the same [class], we would know that one of them is lying. What... do you think?"

"Aah, Yuuri-chan you're brilliant! This is definitely the way to go!"

Upon receiving Kamiuchi-kun's high praise, Yuuri-san smiled bashfully and turned red.

"Further, we can only do this when all six people are present. Because it would become possible to lie if only one person was missing. ...ah, 'missing' sounds ominous, doesn't it, I'm sorry."

Yeah, worth trying... I think. But I can't approve lightly. There might be something I'm overlooking.

Maria should be thinking the same. After thinking for a while with crossed arms, she opened her mouth and said,

"I'm for it."

Even Maria did not find a catch? Then there's no problem.

I was about to approve right away, when---

"Hmpf"

Daiya sneered scornfully.

Yuuri-san made a mixed expression of disturbance and fright on seeing his reaction.

"...you don't like it, Daiya-san?"

"I don't like it at all."

"Please forgive me if my consideration was insufficient... may I ask for the reason, though?"

"I don't like how you play the good girl."

Yuuri-san widened her eyes and grew stiff to those unexpected words.

"What's that grimace? Are your ears made to only hear words that are convenient for you or what? I just told you that I don't feel like obeying you since I hate you, you fucking bitch."

Tears were welling up in Yuuri-san's eyes.

"Oomine-senpai. Aren't you getting carried away? Please apologize to Yuuri-chan."

"Hah? I should apologize? I'd rather expect the others to thank me! Guys, I'm disclosing to you that she's a coward. Right, Yanagi?"

Yuuri-san's shoulders twitched; she was on the verge of crying already.

"A-A coward? I am? Why...?"

"So let me ask: are you either the [Revolutionary] or the [Sorcerer]?"

Yuuri-san turned pale at once.

"No, you're not, are you?"

"...W-Why, do you---"

"In truth you know it. You know that the risk of a coming-out varies vastly between the single [classes]. Thus, you are none of the two comparatively endangered [classes]. I judged that you are a [class] that is relatively safe. How is it?"

She already seemed pitiful, but her pale face was still turning whiter.

"Such a wicked girl as yourself proposed this only for your own sake and not for improving the situation anyway, right?"

At last she started to shed tears after hearing this ill-will.

"Oi oi, do you think we'll forgive your deceit when you cry? Whoa, girls' tears are really convenient, aren't they? Being such a bitch, you can make them flow like a water tap anyway, right?"

"Cruel... this is just cruel of you..."

"You merely wanted to quickly know who has the dangerous [classes] - in order to survive."

"No... that's... I only, didn't want a killing to start, so, uuuuu..."

Yuuri-san was unable to stop her continuously flowing tears and dropped her gaze.

...indeed, Yuuri-san seems timid, so she might have not made this risky proposal if she was the [Revolutionary] or the [Sorcerer].

But still, she proposed this after thinking with all her might to improve the situation. Those remarks are indeed too cruel. As it seems, Kamiuchi-kun seemed to have similar thoughts; he was scowling at Daiya with such a might that it wouldn't be surprising if he attacked him right away.

"Didn't you just not want to say it because you're the [Revolutionary]? Sorry, Senpai, but if you really are the [Revolutionary], I honestly don't plan to let you act as you please, you know?"

"I see, so I'm the [Revolutionary], huh. I shall [assassinate] you in the next {E}-block, then."

Kamiuchi-kun seemed overwhelmed by Daiya who spoke clearly more ill-willed words than he had, and simply lost his tongue. He lost the will to counter and just screwed up his mouth.

"In the first place, I wouldn't need to object anyway! Right, Kaichou-san?"

Yuuri-san raised her tear-stained face to look at Kaichou. Kaichou showed her a wry smile and stated,

"...Well, yeah. Sorry Yuuri, but I'm basically also against it."

"W, hy...?"

"Certainly, there is a gain as you mentioned. However, the downside is bigger. For example, would we be able to keep cool if we knew that Oomine-kun, who's been acting like a jerk now, was the [Revolutionary]? In the worst case, wouldn't our suspicions increase further?"

"Well..."

"I'm also sure Oomine-kun would start to operate if that happened. He might try to get us under his control by highlighting his own power... There are several other downsides I can think of. Therefore, I'm against it in principle."

"......I see."

Yuuri-san became downcast when her proposal was even rejected by her friend.

"Right, an idiot like me should better keep silent... everyone, I'm sorry for upsetting you."

Another teardrop fell down from her eye.

"Y-Yuuri-san, please don't say that! I think it's a great idea, you know? And look; didn't even Maria approve of it?"

"...Hoshino-san."

I have to admit this was a pretty clumsy encouragement, but Yuuri-san smiled faintly at me anyhow.

"Come to think of it, why do you approve of this proposal, Otonashi-san?"

Kaichou asked Maria.

"Because I believe mutual understanding is more important than anything. As long we can't even reveal our [classes] to the others, nobody is going to be fully honest, am I wrong? I for one don't think something of that extent would cause us to assault each other. So what's your take on that?"

"Isn't this because you lack the sentiment of fear? We aren't all as strong as you, you know? I'm frightened, to be honest."

"Doesn't look like it."

"Because I'm making sure it doesn't look like it. Since everyone is going to take advantage of any weak spot I show... oh, it's no use acting cool if I blurt this out, is it?"

She said composedly. ...yeah, I also believe it's a lie that she's frightened.

"You have a point with claiming that it's necessary to reveal our [classes] in order to understand each other. But it's obviously too early for this as the situation is too uncertain right now."

"But it will be too late when the first corpse appears."

"Right. We ought to clear up the matter as soon as possible..."

She murmured and pursed her lips. Kaichou's habit when she thinks.

"Well, let's refrain from it today at least. Nobody is going to die on the first day after all, I think."

In the end, no one had a better proposal than Yuuri-san.

Of course we kept chatting with each other for better mutual understanding, but the time passed by without us finding anything to improve the state of affairs.

«It is - tiMe! - If you - don't reTurn - you are - going to - dIe!»

It was exactly «20:00» when I looked at my watch after hearing Noitan's announcement. The end of the {D}-block.

Daiya had quickly returned to his room, and Kaichou and Kamiuchi-kun were in the process of heading to their door.

Okay then, I had better return quickly as well.

When I was about to pass through the door, somebody grasped my sleeve.

"What, Maria?"

I turned around.

Not Maria, but Yuuri-san was standing there with wide eyes. I noticed my misunderstanding and turned red. Seeing me like this, she narrowed her eyes and formed a tender smile.

"E-Err... what's the matter, Yuuri-san?"

"Mh. I would like to express my thanks to you."

"...? Thanks for...?"

Yuuri-san seemed even more pleased when I tilted my head in wonderment.

"You don't understand right away, which means... you weren't deliberately kind to me to make me your ally..."

"...Eh?"

"Ah, no, never mind. ...do you really not understand? Look, didn't you cheer me up when I cried?"

"...Ah... that."

"So again, thank you."

Yuuri-san bowed deeply, whereupon I hurriedly replied,

"D-Don't... it's not like I did something great, really."

"But it helped me very much, you know?"

"T-That's... fortunate then..."

It was pretty embarrassing to be thanked formally like this.

Yuuri-san was smiling for some reason at my reddened face.

"...I have the feeling that it's okay to believe you even in this game."

"Eh?"

She seemed to hesitate a little, but eventually she readied herself and looked right into my eyes.

"If we trust each other, nobody will kill anyone. I believe so. ...Hoshino-san. Do you think I'm being too naïve?"

I shook my head vigorously to answer her persistent gaze.

"Not at all! I believe so, too."

"For real?"

She unknowingly grasped my right hand with both her hands in overwhelming joy, or so it looked to me. My face turned even hotter when I felt this warm, soft sensation.

"I think we would absolutely not lose to such a game if we all connected our hands and trusted each other. Therefore, let's first have mutual trust between ourselves."

"Y-Yeah..."

I was unable to look directly at her carefree smile and dropped my gaze reflexively.

Yuuri-san is, despite being an upperclassman... um, really cute.

"Kazuki."

I looked up as I was called by someone. Maria was watching us expressionlessly. ...I recently realized that she frequently shows this face when she's in a bad mood.

"The time's getting risky. Return quickly."

"Ah, yeah..."

Yuuri-san comprehended me when I looked at her and let go of my hand. Her expression seemed a little lonely to me.

"Yanagi, you should consider the time as well."

"Y-Yes..."

Yuuri-san was still frightened of Maria.

"...Um, Yuuri-san. It's okay, you can trust Maria!"

"Ah, yes. If you say so, Hoshino-san..."

"So, we have to go back to our respective rooms."

"Yes, you're right. ...ah, one more thing."

With these words, she brought her lips to my ear.

"I'll come to your place for a [Secret Meeting] tomorrow."

She whispered into my ear. Her breath touched my ear.

Yuuri-san danced away with small steps and disappeared beyond her door with a prankish smile.

I stared dumbfounded in the direction she disappeared in.

"...hmph."

Maria sneered ill-humoredly and disappeared beyond her door as well.

Left behind alone in the big room, I recalled her name.

«Yuuri Yanagi»

«Yanagi-san»

"......they resemble, I think."

Their faces don't. But I had the feeling that this prankish smile at the end resembled---her.

Resembled the other «Yanagi» I know.

Her, who I'm unlikely to meet ever again.

▶First Day {E} [Kazuki Hoshino]'s room

«[Yuuri Yanagi] was strangulated by [Assassination]»

Those letters were displayed on the monitor in my room.

As I was unable to comprehend those words, I couldn't show any reaction. I just kept rereading this message over and over.

She died?

Yuuri-san, died...?

"......what is this nonsense?"

I murmured unknowingly and couldn't suppress a small laugh.

I mean, didn't everybody say it?

That nobody is going to die on the first day. That it's going to be okay. They said so.

Yeah, they sure did! Tell me, someone... they said so, didn't they!?

«Yaa yaa yaa»

Those incomprehensible letters disappeared from the monitor and the green bear appeared instead.

«What a piTy - Yuuri-chan - dieD!»

"Don't lie!!"

I roared reflexively at Noitan.

« - Lie?»

At that very moment---

Noitan's graphic changed to one I had not seen yet. He opened his mouth to the verge of ripping.

«UHYAHYAHYAHYAHYAHYAHYA - Lie? - If only it was a lie, right? - But you know? - She's dead! - She was strangulated, so she died with her eyes popping out - her face turning all purple - and excreting piss and sh*t! - She died with a groooss visage and stank like hell, though she was so cute before!»

I always thought he's disgusting.

But this was the first time I felt hatred against him.

This is probably the true nature of Noitan---no, of the 'box'. The true nature of that dirty, hopeless, pathetic 'wish'.

«Too bad, isn't it? - You were so close to getting intimate with her - You could have had gotten between the blankets together with her if all went well - It really is too bad she died, isn't it!! - UHYAHYAHYAHYAHYAHYAHYAHYAHYAHYAHYAHYAHYAHYAHYAHYAHYAHYAHYAHYA»

I covered my ears because of his guffaw.

I will absolutely not admit such a 'wish'. The circumstances of the 'owner' don't matter to me. I don't care if there's a gap or not. I will absolutely not admit this, no matter what reason he may have had.

«UHYAHYAHYAHYAHYAHYAHYAHYAHYAHYAHYAHYAHYA»

Therefore, this guy is my enemy.

"......show me the proof!"

«Mh?»

Noitan's mouth returned to normal.

"Show me the proof that Yuuri-san's dead! If you don't, I won't believe it."

«The proof -hUh»

"Right! This is a lie anyway, so you won't---"

«Okay!»

Noitan disappeared. At the same moment, the door opened.

"...what...!"

The usual dark was hanging beyond the door.

I stood before the darkness and swallowed my saliva. I started to get doubts. What if Noitan was telling nothing but the truth and the «proof» that awaits me there is---

Even so, I have to go through the door---go through the dark.

I jumped through the door.

In the center of the mirror-inverted prison-like room was --- it.

"Ah"

Yuuri Yanagi's --- «XXXXX»

"A, Aah"

This was the perfect proof.

This made me realize. Realize reality.

Although I understood what this is, I failed at connecting it. I failed at connecting this with the appearance of that lovely girl.

I may have been unable to connect these remnants with her, but this terrible spectacle in itself broke my heart.

I lost control of my body while screaming and crumbled down. When I crumbled down, the distance between me and the «XXXXX» decreased. What once was supposed to be her lovely face, was now---

"---ugh, ghu"

A purple visage so ugly it made me almost forget sympathy.

Yeah, there was no lie or exaggeration in Noitan's explanation. She was there in the exact same state as Noitan had said.

Then, I finally managed to recognize it clearly.

Yuuri Yanagi died.

I was again unable to save «Yanagi-san»

---like this, [Kingdom Royale] started

with the death of the girl that claimed everything would go alright if we just connected our hands.

- [Yuuri Yanagi], death by [Assassination]

▶Second Day {B} Big room

A jute bag was blatantly placed on the table in the big room.

Its contents were almost the same as of the one in my room. The only difference was that the digital watch wasn't blue, but beige. Her portable terminal had become unusable.

There were also six portions of solid food. In other words, if someone else died, you could steal their food and extend your time limit. It probably was just another system to provoke murder.

It disgusted me.

We were all just sitting silently on our seats and gazed at the jute bag.

Next to me, Daiya was wiping the blood around his mouth away. He had been hit by Kamiuchi-kun shortly after the {B}-block started. Kamiuchi-kun firmly believed that the [Revolutionary]---the one that killed Yuuri-san---was Daiya.

"...at least he didn't use the knife."

Kaichou, who had stopped Kamiuchi-kun's rampage together with Maria, whispered so to Daiya.

---It wouldn't be strange for anyone else to start killing as well.

"People, let's calm down and go over it again. First a confirmation: The [Revolutionary] killed Yuuri. He killed such a kind girl. Furthermore, the culprit is among us. There's no doubt about that."

At first glance, she seemed as calm as yesterday, but her expression looked forced somehow and had lost its composure.

And her gaze was almost abnormally sharp.

"Our goal is to get out of [Kingdom Royale]. But now we have a second goal. That is, to find and kill the [Revolutionary]. That's OK, isn't it?"

"Wait, Shindou. What are you deciding there on your own accord?"

"Otonashi-san. Sorry, but I don't accept objections on that matter. Should I explain the reason to you? Firstly, we're going to get killed by him if we keep doing nothing. Secondly, it's safe to assume that he's the wirepuller or his accomplice, as he committed murder at this point in time. Thirdly, I won't be satisfied until he gets what he deserves."

"You said that you would ruin your life by killing someone. So, in other words, you're now prepared to ruin your own life, right?"

Maria asked. Kaichou was at a loss for words for a moment. But nonetheless she answered fluently,

"I don't know. But I just can't forgive him for killing Yuuri in such a gruesome way."

"......I see."

She probably judged that it was impossible and unnatural to persuade her there and then. Maria closed her mouth.

"Our goals are set. Or does someone want to add something?"

Kaichou looked at us, who were sitting there silently.

"Nothing? Okay, then let me express my opinion on---"

She stopped her words and widened her eyes, seeming surprised.

Daiya, who had not properly taken part in our conversation so far, had raised his hand.

"Do you want to say anything?"

"Yeah. ...well, I'll be silent if you have no interest in the suspect's words."

"I won't say that. ...But what kind of twist is this? Weren't you silent until now?"

"There's no way I could keep quiet when I'm without doubt the next who's going to be killed, with the way things are going now."

"Well, that's not surprising now, is it?"

Kamiuchi-kun sneered at this exchange of words.

"Suit yourself. But whatever you say, I won't change my mind, so every word of yours will just be noise to me, you know?"

"I don't care."

Daiya spat this out and turned his gaze to Kaichou.

"A question: Why did the [Revolutionary] choose Yuuri Yanagi?"

"Actually I've been wondering about that, too."

Kamiuchi-kun snapped at Kaichou, who had said so with a light frown.

"What are you saying, Senpais? Isn't that all the same? Do we really need to know more than that a certain somebody, who is the [Revolutionary], is a bastard that deserves being killed?"

"...Kamiuchi, would you kill Yanagi first if you were the [Revolutionary] and had to kill someone?"

"Could a piece of trash like you please refrain from talking to me? The only reason that I'm sitting here obediently is because you're going to get killed soon by [Sorcery] anyway!"

"Hah... you can't even comprehend human language, huh."

Daiya shrugged his shoulders exaggeratedly.

"What do you think, Kaichou? Would you want to kill Yanagi first?"

"...Not if I wanted to survive. To be frank, the first I would want to get rid of is you, Oomine-kun. While I think it's possible that Otonashi-san or I are targeted, I don't think anyone would want to eliminate Yuuri right away."

"Right? Or perhaps the [Revolutionary] found out that Yanagi was the [Sorcerer] and... well, that's impossible because yesterday I exposed that she's not."

Kaichou asked slightly irritated,

"OK, I get your point. So what?"

"In short, the aim of the [Revolutionary] was to provoke this situation."

I didn't understand his point. But the others got it right away. At once, there was an absolute silence in the room.

"...Haha"

Kamiuchi-kun's sneer was what broke this silence.

"Sorry, but I have no clue what you're talking about. Why would he need to make such a detour? If he wanted to kill you, he would just need to [assassinate] you, right? But the [Revolutionary] didn't do that, so isn't that proof that you're the [Revolutionary] yourself?"

"Don't you get that he might be suspected of being the [Revolutionary] if I died?"

Kamiuchi-kun widened his eyes and was at a loss for words. Kaichou opened her mouth instead.

"By seeming like the [Revolutionary], you act as his scapegoat---that's what you want to say, right, Oomine-kun? But can you prove that it's not just a lie you thought of in order to save your skin?"

"If I were the [Revolutionary], I would have had no reason to kill Yanagi first."

"Isn't this the same for every one of us?"

"Not necessarily."

Daiya took his portable terminal out of his pocket and replayed a voice.

«---So, why don't we just count to three and reveal our [classes]?»

"Yanagi wanted to unveil the [classes]. Maybe she wanted to avert distrust more than anyone. If so, it's highly probable that Yuuri Yanagi had already revealed her [class] to someone she trusted."

Both Kaichou and Kamiuchi-kun kept quiet.

"So? I wonder what the two that had a [Secret Meeting] with Yuuri Yanagi yesterday have to say?"

Suddenly, I recalled that Yuuri-san had planned to have a [Secret Meeting] with me.

If we really had this [Secret Meeting] today, she probably would've told me her [class].

But---That's right.

Of course she had more trust in Kaichou than in me, who she had met only recently. So why should she even tell me about her [class] before telling Kaichou?

"...but even if I found out about Yuuri's [class], how does that make me want to kill her straight away?"

"Oh, is the sagacious Mrs. Student Council President unable to figure out something of this degree? ...huhuhu, I'll let you know, then! The reason is... to steal Yanagi's [class]."

...There was no such rule in the explanation of [Kingdom Royale].

Unable to comprehend, I listened to Daiya closely.

"He wants to make the others believe I'm the [Revolutionary]. Of course he has to pretend being another [class] as he's the real [Revolutionary]. But if he simply claimed to be Yanagi's [class], the other players are unlikely to see through him. Dead men tell no tales, after all. Even if we did a coming-out now, he could simply use Yanagi's [class]."

Everyone kept quiet and waited for Daiya to continue.

But I still didn't get it. Was that reason enough to kill her first?

"Shall I simulate it for you? First, he takes advantage of the fact that he can claim to be Yanagi's [class] and suggests a coming-out. The victory conditions for the [Revolutionary] are to kill the [King], the [Prince] and [The Double]. ...hm, Yanagi was probably either the [Prince] or [The Double]."

"...how can you narrow it down this much?"

Kamiuchi-kun asked with a sour look.

"If the [King] gets killed, [The Double] will know because [Murder] becomes usable. Therefore, he would not be able to pretend being the [King] in front of [The Double]."

"But there's still the [Knight]!"

"If she were the [Knight], it would have been more beneficial to use Yanagi instead of killing her. And I don't even need to mention why she can't be the [Revolutionary] or the [Sorcerer], right?"

"......"

"The [Revolutionary] only needs to kill two more in order to win, since he has already killed Yanagi. As long everyone believes I am the [Revolutionary], he is unlikely to be targeted by the others. If he succeeds at finding out the others' [classes], he will know who he needs to kill. I could go into detail but... that would be tiresome so I won't."

Daiya continued with a light smile,

"But you realize that it's a huge advantage for him if he can make me appear to be the [Revolutionary], right? The way things are he's almost certain to win."

Having said so, Daiya---

---scowled at Iroha Shindou.

"I bet he was rejoicing mentally until before. To him, others are brainless pieces of sh*t that merely act as his foil anyway. He'd gladly kill those pieces of sh*t if he can survive by doing so. ...geez, how impertinent."

He sneered and declared,

"While being such a fool as to make me his enemy."

"......"

A certain thought crossed my mind.

Just because I hadn't taken part in the conversation, still being in shock from Yuuri's death, I noticed.

---What's happening here?

Snarling at each other, hating, doubting - what is this explosive situation? Isn't this exactly the situation we assumed would be the start of [Kingdom Royale]?

That's not good. That's not good at all! I mean, this would mean things are going just as planned. --- Just as the 'owner' of the 'Game of Idleness' planned!

If it goes on like this, we will kill each other and our lives will end.

That worst case has to be averted. For that purpose, we surely have to figure out the 'owner'. We have to unite. ...and yet---

"Cut it out already, Oomine-kun."

Kaichou's voice seemed completely different now.

Insuppressible anger and hatred contorted Kaichou's face.

"I'm amazed at how you can talk such baseless bullsh*t, full of confidence. Look down on people as you please, but I have no idea what kind of confidence you have to show such an attitude. If it's about grades at school, Otonashi-san's better. If it's about physical strength, Kamiuchi-kun is better. If it's about being trusted, Hoshino-kun's better. If it's about charm, Yuuri's better. Tell me, is there any area where you don't lose to someone else among us? Apart from the talent for hair-splitting, of course."

She flashed a deprecative smile, almost like Daiya.

"You're not better than those low-lives that take their anger out on others, unable to accept reality. No... you actually committed murder, so you're even below them."

Daiya reacted just with a smile similar to Kaichou's. She wasn't even trying to hide her aversion anymore.

"We don't live in a soft world where the others avoid you when you appear smart... because of a pathetic misunderstanding, you made a mistake where you won't get off with 'youthful indiscretion'. You killed Yuuri. ...haven't you noticed yet? It's the end for you! An incapable, powerless, useless guy like you will be easily crushed like an ant."

She continued with an inappropriately soft voice,

"I'm already perceiving you as my enemy, you know? I'm going to give it my all to crush you! Hey, I'm saying that---I'm going to kill you, do you get it?"

"So what?"

"......right, let's give you a leg up. First, I'll reveal that your delusions are nothing more than that, delusions! You claimed that Yuuri was either [The Double] or the [Prince]. But that is wrong. You overlooked something obvious. The [King] would know of the death of [The Double] because he would become unable to use [Substitution]. Uwaa, what a beginner's mistake! Which means that Yuuri's [class] could only be [Prince] if the [Revolutionary] wanted to fake his [class]."

I looked at Maria after hearing this. Maria, who was the [Prince], was just silently looking at the argument between those two.

"I'll confess! I knew Yuuri's [class]. Isn't that great, Oomine-kun? At least this hypothesis of yours was right. But listen, it was not [Prince]. Which means that the [Prince] is among us now. Hey, [Prince]-sama, you already know that these are only Oomine-kun's delusions, right?"

Daiya kept just quiet, apparently unable to object.

"Besides, if you were the [King] or [The Double], you would have surely noticed this, so you can't be one of those two [classes]. Well now, what [classes] remain?"

The remaining ones were [Knight] and [Revolutionary]. Daiya's [class] was narrowed down this far by Kaichou.

However, Daiya, who had been silent until now, started ridiculing her now.

"You go this far just to make me the bad guy? You sure are desperate."

"What?"

"I'm amazed at how you can boast this much just because you found a loophole in my hypothesis. I'm not the real [Revolutionary], so it's logical that I can only make assumptions. With your blether you merely demonstrated your hazardous human nature. I can construct as many new hypotheses as you want! Then you can delight in objecting to your heart's content, uselessly."

"Quit these desperate bluffs! Or else I'll slowly get angry because you're going too far with your poorness."

Seeing this sword-fight-like discussion before my very eyes, I thought:

---it really is too late.

[Kingdom Royale] became unstoppable the moment the first corpse appeared, the moment Yuuri-san was killed.

But... I can't accept that.

Yuuri-san said we'd be OK if we just trusted each other. And now her corpse is the reason why we cannot trust each other anymore. I can't accept such a horrible outcome.

The thought was so mortifying that tears overflowed my eyes. Kaichou noticed this and looked at me with wide eyes. A delicate arm was laid around my neck while I was desperately suppressing my tears.

Long hair clung to my cheeks and stopped my tears.

"......It's alright, Kazuki."

But I already knew. Those words of Maria lacked foundation.

"Hoshino-kun."

Kaichou called my name.

"I like this kind nature of yours."

Kaichou continued with a soft voice as to comfort a child,

"But I won't let your kindness get in my way, got it?"

Those words were more than enough to make me realize that there wouldn't be peace anymore.

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