"I sealed the Pseudo-Herrscher, and was seriously injured in that battle. Then I was captured by Schicksal and brought back. What happened after that is what you see now."
From Kallen's words, it wasn't hard to judge that the person who became a Pseudo-Herrscher because of the [Black Box] she brought to the Far East should be very special to Kallen. Yet Kallen was using the overly plain term "Pseudo-Herrscher." She said so many things, but apart from showing a little indignation when mentioning Schicksal's actions—how they failed to protect the people and instead became their oppressors—she was calm throughout.
It was as if she weren't really talking about her own experiences, but telling a story.
Kiana didn't notice this peculiar point, but Evan did.
He saw through it but didn't say it. Evan asked another question.
"What punishment will you receive next?"
"...The Council has already tried me. I spoke for the Pseudo-Herrscher at the trial, so I was sentenced to be hanged."
"How could they?!"
Kiana exclaimed, but Kallen instead gave a comforting smile.
"It's alright. After all, I've been through a lot... After all, I'm mentally prepared."
She quickly corrected her words midway. The fool Kiana didn't notice the detail, but Evan did. He wasn't too surprised and remained expressionless.
For a time, silence fell.
"It's getting late. You two should rest for a bit."
Even though she was to be executed soon, Kallen could still care for others so easily. Kiana clenched her fists for a moment.
The girl lay down in a corner of the prison, next to Evan, with her back to Kallen. After maintaining this posture quietly for about half an hour, Kiana secretly turned her head. Confirming that Kallen had closed her eyes and should have fallen into a dream, she shook Evan's arm.
"I want to help Big Sister Kallen."
"You should know where this is."
"I know, but I still can't stand it! Can you understand me?"
"I understand. It's like watching a movie or reading a novel and seeing a frustrating plot that makes you want to mail a razor blade to the director or author. Now there's a chance to change it right in front of you. Even though you know it's fake, you can't sit still, right?"
"Yes, yes, exactly!"
"My thoughts are the same as yours, but now is not the right time. You should know we are still in Schicksal's database... probably. Acting recklessly will bring unpredictable consequences. Before the right time comes, please be a little patient, Kiana."
"...Alright."
Kiana took a few deep breaths to calm down. If Evan already had a plan, she could also suppress her impatience.
"Sleep well. Leave the rest to me."
Evan rubbed Kiana's head, telling her to rest early, and he too closed his eyes.
Not to sleep, but to feel his body.
Ever since entering this special space, Evan could faintly feel the existence of something inside him.
His current body wasn't real. Logically, the current body, clothes, and even the items he carried were all recreated by Bronya in the virtual reality through hacking. But this one thing was different.
Evan had a very clear understanding that this thing was not something that existed in the virtual reality itself, nor was it a simulated illusion. It was something he already owned—something real.
It was a katana. After Evan obtained it from the Supply System, he couldn't feel its existence at all. But now, Evan felt it.
Existing within his soul—[Jizo Mitama · Void].
When he experienced those virtual realities before, Evan hadn't felt the existence of [Jizo Mitama · Void] at all, not in any degree. But now there was a change.
Whether [Jizo Mitama · Void] was affecting this special virtual reality, or this special virtual reality was affecting [Jizo Mitama · Void], Evan didn't know. But he was gradually having some ideas.
And to realize his idea, he needed to grasp that faint feeling, and then, truly pull [Jizo Mitama · Void] out of his soul.
Evan needed time.
As for Bronya, Evan actually didn't expect her to be able to provide any help from the real world through hacking. To be honest, Evan even suspected that Bronya didn't know their situation at all. The only hope Evan had for Bronya now was that she wouldn't forcibly take off the connection helmets on his and Kiana's heads in the real world.
...
Real world, St. Freya Academy, Himeko Murata's residence.
"What's the situation with these two guys? It's been three hours, and it's time for dinner. Are they still not planning to leave the virtual reality? Could it be that Kiana has had a great enlightenment, decided to turn over a new leaf, and thrown herself into studying?"
Himeko Murata touched her smooth chin and looked at Kiana and Evan, who were sitting cross-legged on the ground with virtual reality connection helmets on their heads, and said.
Beside her, a trace of solemnity appeared on Bronya's usually emotionless face. Her tender white fingers were rapidly tapping on the keyboard of a small computer.
"Sorry, an accident happened. Evan and Kiana have entered an unknown area. It exists in Schicksal's database, but also faintly detached from the scope of the database."
"What?! Could it be that Schicksal found out we invaded their database?"
"No, even Schicksal can't do this. Bronya has used her full strength but still can't find a single clue about the area where Evan and Kiana are. This seems to be more than just computer science."
Himeko Murata frowned tightly, looking at Evan's face, which seemed to have fallen into a deep sleep, and her heart gradually became extremely flustered.
"What should we do now? Can we forcibly take off the helmets to interrupt the connection?"
"No. Even if Evan and Kiana are in a normal virtual reality, suddenly removing the connection device will cause damage to their minds. We can only wait for now. Bronya will monitor their vital signs at all times. Before real danger appears, we can't use this brutal way to disconnect."
"Then I'll go stall Raiden Mei, who is cooking... no, Raiden Mei is too smart to be fooled. It's better to tell her the truth... If real danger appears, we can only ask Principal Theresa to contact Schicksal, and then our two sides will work together to find a solution. As for secretly invading Schicksal's database, what's the big deal? We'll just apologize sincerely. Whatever compensation Schicksal wants, we'll let them have it."
Bronya's hands, which had been tapping rapidly on the keyboard, paused for a moment because of Himeko Murata's anxious monologue. Feeling the other's extremely real concern, Bronya's voice also became more determined.
"At the very least, Bronya can guarantee that Evan and Kiana will not be in mortal danger. As for when they wake up, it depends on them."
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