CtG -Zero kara Sodateru Dennou Shoujo-:Volume1 Prologue

The bottle produces a gentle sound. The clouds became clearer. It’s done. It moves with its adorable body, it’s a cute little girl. What else do we wish for? What else do we desire in this world? The secret had been exposed to the light of day. Lend your ear and listen to that voice. That will become the voice of a person. It will become words. (『Faust』 Translation by Moriougai)

The moon quickly darkens as if warped in shadow.

He took a step back in reflex.

A step back. One, two---

As he took his third step, the shadowy figure descended along with a roar.

An Attack.

Although he managed to keep his balance, the earth shook as the mysterious figure land to the ground, forcing him to retreat even further.

He clicked his tongue in disappointment of himself and turned his gaze to the opponent in front of him.

---

With help from the faint light of moon, the great bird perched five meters away looked down on its crawling prey. The single eyeball on its head shone as it watched over from above.

It was grotesque.

If you ignore the size of its eyeball it would be just like a normal bird, and down from its wrist is coated by armor-like shell. With that, an attack on its leg will mostly be repelled.

『The Sky Debris Megalon Evis』

It’s tonight's target.

If you walk in small numbers at the eastern grassland it would come and attack--- That was all the information obtained up till now.

The boy gasped nervously and unsheathed <<Sukuramasakusu>>. (Editor Note: This is directly taken from the book, and the item is a sword if it isn't already obvious)

Then just as planned---

“Wait, will it be okay!?”

Just as he was about to take a step forward, a voice called over to him. It was his comrade who was hiding within the nearby bushes.

The avoidance from earlier was indeed a close one. It was gratifying that she worried, but…

“Idiot! Don’t be so loud!”

There was no other choice but to shout back. Sure enough, the great bird reacted to the voice of the comrade and kicked the ground.

It didn’t fly, but as if flying, it jumped.

Swiftly.

Big, at any rate it’s big.

With power appropriate to its big size, it created several meters of distance and challenged the newfound target.

“Uhyaaa!?”

With an uncontrolled scream, a girl hurriedly emerged from the bushes.

As if embracing her fluttering blonde hair, she rolled and fell onto the ground.

Aiming at the girl, the great bird swung up its claw.

Although the girl managed to stand up, she completely lost her chance to escape. In that moment, the sparkle of the claws made of sharpened rock were reflected on her quivering pupils. (Editor Note: TL missed this line, hastily made by unqualified TL, please edit if necessary)

Being hit and blown by the impact, the girl once again tumbled onto the grass.

The boy who was armed with a sword managed to follow up in time. However, by doing so, he was exposed to the claw of the great bird. The boy who charged in to save his comrade should have no way to escape.

With the rough noise of wind being sliced, the pole-like claw swung down. The girl couldn’t help but to shut her eyes.

From the looks of it, the boy who was wearing light armor wouldn’t able to handle the attack from the giant bird and would be expelled from this world.

---But even when the impact hit the ground, the boy’s presence (Marker) did not disappear.

When the girl timidly opened her eyes, the boy managed to retreat, making 5 to 6 meters in an instant. It was an unbelievable technique.

Unsurprisingly, the boy raised a sharp cry.

“Get down!”

The great bird’s feet were blown with a flash.

By its large sound, bugs that were resting upon its wing flew off in unison.

As the boy avoided its claw, he detonated the bombs he prepared earlier.

The staggered great bird spread its wings. According to the information, when hit by large weapons or the type, the wings would lose its balance.

Showering it with rain of arrows in an instance and dragging it to a trap. Without needing to confirm, there were obviously comrades hiding within the forest firing.

As the damage accumulates, the great bird will lower its back. Furthermore, damage on its wings would have the effect of temporarily preventing it from flying.

“I’m counting on you.”

“Y-yes!”

Leaded by the boy’s voice, the girl from before regulated her breathing and closed her eyes in hurry. Then quietly, a voice soaked through the night along with the wind. It was a cursed song to negate the bird-type giant monster’s 《Voice Curse》. Megalon Evis’ scream Death Throes would have had an effect of AOE instant death.

The wild singing voice lightly echoed through the hunter’s meadow. The girl’s hair shone faintly and she timidly opened her eyes to check on the effects of the song.

The boy’s body emitted light as he approached the great bird that is now lie on the ground. The drawn sword is swung under the moonlight.

“---Got you!!”

The great bird’s single eye was taken down in one swing.

CRITICAL HIT!!

The blood sprayed up into the air like the trace of a sonorous singing voice, and the words written in a neat system font on the full crimson moon dissipated. (TL note: Very unsure)

� ◆◆◆Prologue

『Cradle to the Glaive』, otherwise commonly known as 『CtG』, was in general a very realistic online role playing game set in a virtual world that was played by large number of players.

The place where the boy and his comrades fought the great bird Megalon Evis is called “Dragons’ Glaive”. Among other RPGs, the world of 『CtG』 is a very standard “World of Magic and Sword” composed with 1* world sphere that people possessed.

The moon at Dragons’ Glaive changes color each night.

The moon that day was blue. If one looked at the vast grassland one could see an eye-catching sight of transparent butterflies casually flying by. And in midst of such peacefulness...

“Are you a dung beetle?

It was when the boy sat down on a big rock and open up the menu screen that he got called that. The game menu that was displayed on the air hardly had any differences compared to those from traditional role playing games.

The boy then closed the menu by switching his gaze. There was no need to search for the owner of the voice. The face of a girl appeared in front of him. It was the girl who got blown off from earlier. The girl then kneeled down as to look into the boy’s face.

The boy unconsciously had taken back and hit the rock with his head. Even though the pain in game is cut down, the shock from it shakes away the boy’s vision ― and within his shaken vision, the girl appears to be laughing.

They’re discussing about the distribution of the quest reward from before, and what makes it surprising is that the girl turned out to be quite pretty. She’s like some kind of idol wearing a stage costume, and she seems to suits well with fluffy dresses.

Even though she fell onto the ground twice her clothes hardly have any traces of soil or dirt on it. Ultimately this is within a game, what in front of them is just illusion through electronic signal shown to the brain.

But that is not important right now.

The boy then stands up, cleared his throat and asks the girl.

“Do I look like bug to you?”

“But your second name tag says 《Clamp of Scarabaeus》 on it?”

The boy then switched to expansion mode to look at it. Indeed there is a string attached to a floating placard saying《Clamp of Scarabaeus》 around his shoulder. It’s a yellow tag that attached by other player. The boy—Clamp, let out a small sigh.

“Please do not mind. It just a thing those people gave me without permission…. it’s something like a nickname”

He’s referring to those people that give them assistance with arrow and bow from before. 【Labyrinth Troupe】is a small but long-established guild, Clamp is not a member but he often go together with them to finish quests. The girl in front of him seems to be a guest too just like him, but it’s the first time he ever meet her.

“Is that so” replied the girl.

“When I look at dictionary, scarab turned out to be a kind of dung beetle. Quite a weird nickname I say.

Aaa, do you know? There’s no dung beetle in Japan. Surprising isn’t it. It’s a famous insect. I expect it to be somewhere in place such as nearby park.”

And naturally the conversation continues. But it’s too fast-paced and really abrupt. Clamp is what you would call a person who’s bad with a “talk” and couldn’t help but to be confused in this situation, but it did not leave bad impression to the girl. “Hmm…. I see”

“Ah, you don’t have to be polite. It doesn’t seem we are that far of age”

Just like what the girl said, Clamp and the girl don’t seem to have much age differences.

That means both player’s ages are close to each other.

In『CtG』, players controls their in-game avatar through their brain’s nervous system. Therefore, the player’s gender, physique, and physical age shouldn’t be that far from their real self, otherwise they won’t able to operate it.

Of course, there are possibilities of kids make themselves look grown up or adults purposely make themselves look young… Well, such news is spreading through the internet, even so Clamp can only nod and sigh.

The girl’s smile in respond is charming to say the least, and goes without saying it’s truly powerful and bare its own weight. There’s no sane man who would go against that smile.

“My name is Mifa. Thank you for saving me earlier. I forgot to say thanks so I came here. I’ve only played 『CtG』 for a month, so I’m still a beginner. I hope we get well together, Scarabaeus-kun”

Along with powerful smile, the girl, Mifa held out her hand.

Clamp somehow felt defeat. He can’t win. That’s why rather than shaking her hand as he should, he take her hand as if giving up.

“Aaa, my regards Mifa. But that name is a bit…”

In that moment, above their connected hands, a pair of arc appeared.

The semi-circular arc of light doesn’t feel realistic at all. Both are flashing red and blue color, resembling like that of butterflies playing with each other.

“……What is this?”

Muttered Mifa absentmindedly. Clamp is a little bit more composed. Or maybe he’s just simply too surprised to react properly.

“This is an event…”

He had heard about this before. This is a special event that only occurs when condition is met between two players. When semicircular arcs of red and blue lights are displayed it means ―

“This is the signal for 『《Marriage》 Available』!!”

“Haaa…?”

Shouted Mifa loudly.

“What the heck is that? We’ve only met today right?”

“I don’t know… but the requirement for this event is 『Both player’s personality, aptitude, behavior logs are perfectly fit with each other and their compatibility level is at the highest level』… is what written on the official guide. It can only occur when both personality data are perfectly matched, and since the compatibility data are completely unknown there are only very few pairs who received this event and their number are less than two digits within over fifteen million players in this game. This is truly THE ULTRA RARE! A mystical event!”

“Y-you sure know a lot…”

Noticing that Mifa pulled back after hearing his overly passionate talk, Clamp quickly averted his eyes.

“….Well, there’s a reason for it actually. Because I’ve decided to 『Experience every Events』 in this game as a goal”

Hearing that Mifa’s eyes widen.

“To experience everything… are you serious? I heard there are over *** events in this game and of course still increasing”

“I don’t mind if it’s increasing. But what’s hard is to actually finish it, no matter how much time it takes, I must finish all of it within * years… I must”

“Hmm…”

While being illuminated by red and blue lights, Mifa let out her voice as if being impressed. And while reflecting the lights, she directed her gaze at Clamp.

“Best compatibility…. huh”

After rubbing her dazzling small lips with her finger, and said,

“Then… should we do it?”

It’s so sudden that Clamp blinked in panic.

“《Marriage》 I meant! If we let this go now, wonder when it will appear again”

“But… is it okay with such light feeling…”

“But, well…”

Mifa who’s unsure what to say suddenly burst out laughing lightheartedly.

“This is just inside a game after all”

If you think again it’s exactly like she said. After that both of them checked the online manual just in case if 《Marriage》 have some kind of demerit, but from what they read there are none.

Both of them close their online manual screen and stare at each other.

“W-well then… let’s… do it”

With mainly unsure (fluffy?) feeling Clamp escort the woman.

“Yeah, since we went this far”

Replied Mifa plainly as they proceed.

Both of them then held hands below the flying arc of lights. As they do that, the arcs stopped moving and slowly descent and approach both of their hands― it formed a circle. Then it starts circling both of their hands.

• CLING*

It made a metallic sound as if turning a lock.

And so their weddings complete simply like heating up a cup ramen. (Or instant noddle, your choice)

◆

―Just few seconds after the《Marriage》the boy returned from the illusionary grassland to reality.

And soon after that, “Emm… Then, dismiss?” said both of them fuzzily as goodbyes and log out from the game. Not like it’s a kind of chained events, and tomorrow both of them will head to their own school and lead their ordinary life.

They barely conscious about their wedding in virtual world event, and it just pass as if nothing happened, truly an unfulfilling experience.

Immediately after they logged out, the boy and girl felt a strange sensation when they returned to their real body.

『CtG』 work very similarly to real life and its operational mechanism barely have any differences to it. When controlling body with low precision it will feel very unreliable and naturally hard to control.

Kasugai Yuu who still trying to shake off the sensation of being “Clamp” took off the transparent visor on his head. That visor is called Rameil and is『CtG』 exclusive wearable gear used to dive into the game.

What seen after taking off the Rameil is a dark living room, there is no one there. It’s completely dark, and only the traces of faint lights can be seen throughout the house.

In the middle of the room is a needlessly big sofa. That is his recent comfortable spot. He uses this TV watching-exclusive spot to connect to 『CtG』, and it’s the most comfortable place to wake up at.

Within the faint darkness, *tick* *tock* the sound of an analog clock that hung on the wall filled the quietness of the room. Yuu looked at the clock, and both of its needles pointed at 12. Those needles might be the only animated object in the room…

―And suddenly he felt a chill run down his spine.

Along with that sensation, he can feel the movement of his own blood pulse. As if some kind of otherworldly being returns to this world.

“….I’m alive”

He unconsciously talked to himself as he reached out his hand to grab the mineral water on the table. Then a smile from a photo displayed on a frame on the table caught his eyes. As if being taken over, Yuu open his mouth and say―

“Mom…. I married with someone in a game”

Kasugai Yuu, he is a boy who turned sixteen today. It has been half a year since mother passed away. And from that day on, he have been living all alone in this house―

At…….

               least…..

supposed…. to…

◆

“DAAaaaaaaaad04:19, 4 February 2015 (CST)!!!”

• BAM*

Alongside a ruthless cry, Kasugai Yuu got pushed onto his “special seat” above the sofa by a little kid who jumped at him like a cannonball.

“Welcome home!!”

That kid is a girl. Her appearance is that of a little girl at age of eight years old. She is a very adorable and cute girl.

Her dazzling smile is so bright as if it illuminates the entire living room.

“Oi….”

Yuu suddenly let out a strict voice against the girl, but that is not because he got hurt from what she did.

“It’s not good you know. Look, you’re drenching wet”

The girl’s body is dripping hot water and she must’ve taken a bath after being hit by the heavy rain outside.

Her long hair that usually soft and fluffy are now sticking on her shoulder and back.

Yuu held both of the girl hands and pull her to stand in front of the sofa.

After clearing his throat, he looked straight to the girl’s eyes.

“Remember to wipe yourself immediately after coming out of the bath. Even though it’s summer you will get cold like that”

“Eeeee―....?”

The girl who came out from the dressing room with only wearing a piece of panties show no effort of covering herself at all. “But, but, if I wipe myself, Rasupu-chan will begin!”

How will you take responsibility for making me miss it? Says the girl through her eyes, and in respond, Yuu looked at the clock hanged on the wall. It’s almost seven p.m. It’s the time for girls’ famous anime 『Revive! Mystical Priest Girl Rasupu-chan 5』.

“But you can watch it anytime right”

TV show these days can be recorded immediately after the broadcast, so it can be viewed anytime.

But the girl only puffed her cheek hearing that.

“No! It must be watched at the right time!”

“But there will be CM (TV commercial/advertisement) running midway”

“But I won’t able to cheer if I don’t watch it at the right time―!”

“O-Oh, is... that so”

Somehow within her head watching at the broadcast time = live air. Breaking a child’s innocent is not option so he can only give up. It was then a voice coming from the bathroom is heard.

“I’ll wipe her up, please bring the towel here”

“No, no way! What are you saying!?”

What comes turned out to be a panicked voice then followed by the sound of hurried footsteps.

“I’ll wipe her! Kasugai-kun can just stay still there”

“Well if so then I will leave it to…. YOU!?”

The one who appeared is―― a girl with an amazing look holding a towel, coming out from the bathroom.

Even though she’s a girl, she’s definitely not a little girl, absolutely not.

“Aaa… look, the carpet is all wet…”

Just like Yuu, she is sixteen years old. A pale steam from the bath can be seen above her semi-long hair as she wipes it with a towel. She dressed very lightly with a simple shirt and a knee-length pant. She then goes on both knee and gently brushes the little girl’s hair.

That’s not important, really. She appears to be in hurry and forgot to wipe herself properly, because of that her shirt stick to body and her skin can be seen through.

From where Yuu is he can only see her back, but the nape of her neck and shoulder let out a nice fragrance. As a boy of his age, seeing that wonderful sight is a pleasant experience. If he bends his body a little he might able to see more of it.

“There, raise your hand and do a banzai. Say banzai!”

“Uuu, I won’t be able to watch Rasupu-chan”

And while they’re doing that― by the time they know it the anime opening theme song (1 minute 3* minutes) nearly end― and Yuu only noticed that after finish watching the scene of a girl wiping the body of a little girl.

After collecting himself, Yuu open his mouth.

“W-Well, Kugimiya-san…”

“Nn? What is it?”

The girl― Kugimiya Miharu replied without averting her attention from wiping the body of the child.

Even though he’s haunted with bad feeling, he had no choice but to say it.

“Kugimiya-san too… I mean… I suggest you to wipe yourself too, I think…”

“Ee?”

• Cliiiiiink*…. somehow the sound of Miharu’s neck creaking can be heard.

While staying where she was Miharu look down her awkward appearance, then she turned around. Her face remained expressionless but she’s clearly shaking/trembling.

“Why…., are you still here?”

Didn’t you told me to stay still? Was the answer that floating above his head.

While desperately averting his eyes, he replied with fast tongue.

“I get it, but Kugimiya-san, you should hurry up and take off your clothes or you will get cold, you came here in that outfit in and hurry right? I won’t think of anything that would break your heart or violated your body, that’s why I cannot avoid this situation, as I’m trying to explain this is, you know. An accident”

Without a warning, Miharu took the towel on her hand and *Slam* warped Yuu’s head with it to cover up his vision. The wet towel is not that hurt though.

“If it’s an accident then please don’t look even further. Go out!”

Although it’s clearly an unreasonable request, when he peeked through the towel, he sees Miharu’s eyes trembling as it let out tears. There’s no way he can rebel against that.

Okay okay…. He said while leaving the living room after displaying his compromise.

“Wait”

But he was stopped by Miharu.

When he fearfully turned around, the settled voice appears to be coming out from the head that is hiding behind the sofa.

“Well, Kasugai-kun. That was, I mean…. I was wrong. I’m sorry. Let’s be careful and don’t repeat it again”

And then while watching their “daughter” who’s glued to the TV screen, she continue.

“I’m her mother and Kasugai-kun is her father. But, you and I are…. not like that, not at all”

“……I know”

They’ve repeated this conversation over and over, he knew that.

He understand, but.

The current situation they’re in are hard to explain, what Miharu wanted to say is all lies to the nature of the problem.

While deeply thinking about that, Yuu finally leave the living room to the hallway.

It was just a week ago that place is still filled with nothing but darkness. But now,

“Eh? Mom, where is dad? Let’s watch this all of us together”

“We will call him after I calmed down”

From the living room he just left, the voice of a mother and her daughter can be heard.

They’re probably the strangest pair of mother and daughter in the world. That girl is definitely her daughter. But that mother….. is pretty much a stranger.

That’s right.

Everything began from the night of spring.

Two months ago, after his unbelievably reckless 《Marriage》 with Mifa in『Cradle to the Glaive』…

“My life….. is bugged”