Lie:verse Liars:Chapter 10

The intruder, whom I rescued from the swarm of "fake beasts" that filled the area, shouted "Urasaku Rintaro!" as soon as she saw my face.

"......Who is this girl? Why is she suddenly shouting the name of the main character of an eroge? Wow, I'm scared."

"You said that was your name!"

　She was wearing a mask and pointed at my face as I held her in a princess carry.

"No, no, no, wait a minute. I'm not that stupid. In what world are there high school boys who proudly use the name of the main character of an erotic game?"

"It's you! You are the one! You're the one who called yourself that!"

"Well, I have no idea what you're talking about. By the way, who are you?"

"It's me. You know who!"

"Is this some new type of scam?"

"No! My name is... I won't say it. I'll keep silent until Ura remembers."

　She turned away, pouting exaggeratedly that I could tell even through her mask.

Just as I was about to think about what to do about an intruder in such a bad mood, there was a loud explosion behind me.

I turned around to see the "fake beasts" blown to pieces by a grenade from Kon Komame.

"Ruu-kun, I'm sorry to bother you while you were having fun talking, but I think it would be better if you ran away quickly."

　I couldn't help but straighten my posture when I heard the voice of Kon coming through my earphones, more emotionless than usual.

"Y-you're right. Hey, Mashira. Come back quick, let's get the hell out of here."

"Actually, I'm already back."

As soon as I called out to her, Mashira, who had been acting out of control a moment ago, landed next to me.

“No way, you came back so quickly!?”

"No, I thought this incident right now would be more interesting.... So? You seem to be very close to this child, perhaps you are an acquaintance of Ruusuke?"

"Ruusuke is... Ura's real name?"

　I nodded reflexively at her question.

"The name comes from an old great guy named Ruusuke Skywalker......."

"I just call him Ruusuke, his real name is Haizora Ruu."

　And Mashira ruins everything yet again.

"Haizora, Ruu......."

The girl in my arms stares at my face.

"……What?"

"Somehow, your looks make a lot more sense now."

"What kind of face do you even think I have?"

By the way, as we were normally chatting like that while I'm holding her in my arms, with Mashira, who was making unnecessary jokes, we were all running away with all our might a group of "fake beasts" are approaching us from behind.

"Are you all right, Ruu-kun?"

　As we were running away, Kon, who had just pulled out from the sniper's point, joined us.

　Kon runs alongside me as I flee, peering into the face of the girl I'm holding and claps her hands together.

"I see. I thought I remembered seeing her somewhere, but she was the girl who Ruukun met two months ago in Higashiiku, Higashi Ward when he was just starting out."

"Oh, so that's it? You're an acquaintance of Ruusuke. Don't pretend you don't know who she is."

Mashira grinned and rubbed my shoulder with her elbow.

"Um...it's exactly what you said, Onee-san...how did you know about me?"

　Kon smiles in response to her question, but she can't help her curiosity.

"Oh, me? I'm the type of person who can see the past of someone just by looking at their face. Especially when it comes to Ruu-kun, I can see anything."

"Seriously?! That sounds like some kind of superpower or ability!"

"It's kind of a similar thing to that, but if I had to explain it, it would be more like a distorted gift of love..."

"I don't know if you're joking or if you're trying to look like some kind of stalker."

　I couldn't help but inwardly click my tongue.

　I thought I did a good job of losing her up that day, but she was following me after all, wasn't she, that Kon?

"I mean it! I knew it was you Ura! There was no mistake!"

　The girl fussing in my arms was starting to make my head hurt.

"It's fun to see what you look like in shambles, Ruusuke."

"Mashira, why do you look so happy?"

"Basically, I like seeing Ruusuke in trouble."

"...You really have a bad personality, you Oujo-sama."

"Oh, come on, don't give me such a straight compliment, it's embarrassing."

"Why does that sound like a compliment to you?"

"Because no one would ever talk about me like that in my normal life."

"What are you talking about with that sad, distant look in your eyes? The reality is that you simply are just too much of a decent and perfectly proper young lady!　Everyone looks up to you and doesn't even talk about you behind your back, well good for you! Is that some kind of roundabout way of bragging?"

"Hah? Ruusuke, are you picking a fight with me?"

"Oh no, anyway! As usual, stop pestering me! I'll take care of you later, so can you shut up for now!"

I jumped on the roof of the building, running as fast as I could so as not to be overtaken by the "fake beasts" that were closing in behind me.

"By the way, Ura. What kind of even situation is this?"

"Stop talking calmly at your own pace, you intruder! We just rescued the victim!"

"Let's see, it seems that this "fake world" is on the verge of collapse because there are no more victims who can become human pillars, and the "fake beasts" who were left behind started attacking which lead to Ura and the others to come and save me who didn't ask for any back-up?"

"Yes, that's exactly what happened!"

"Oh, well, thank you very much for going through all that trouble to save me."

"You're welcome!"

"The scenery of the "false world" after the victim's rescue is not something you see very often, and the behavior of the "fake beasts" are also interesting. It's not easy to see what's going on in the "false world" after the rescue of the victims, and the behavior of the "fake beasts" are also intriguing, to say the least."

"How the hell are you even calmly analyzing the situation while being princess carried!"

"Actually, I've been practicing magic here since this morning, but I got tired halfway through and fell asleep. It was kind of noisy, so I just woke up."

　Mashira laughs happily when she hears her words.

"This child's amazing! Coming to a fake world by herself and falling asleep is unheard of!"

"That's not funny at all!"

"Hey, Ura... no, you have a different name. Then, um... can I call you Ruu?"

"Don't be embarrassed to ask. It really doesn't matter on whatever you call me as."

"Yeah, I understand."

She grabbed my arm while looking somewhat happy.

"Even so, Ruu-kun seems to be quite friendly with this girl. It's rare for me to not be able to grasp the situation, would you mind explaining what happened between you two?"

"I'm curious too. Don't try to hide it, Ruusuke."

"Aah! Shut up! You guys should think about the situation more seriously! We're running for our lives, being chased by a fake beast!　Now is not the time to talk about that!"

"Ohhh, Ruu's trying to dodge the question."

"I'm not."

"You are."

　The three of them were in harmony with each other.

"......"

　Okay, I will keep silent for now. It's complicated to explain everything to them, so anyway, we're going to run away as fast as we can now, from all kinds of things.

　As we run desperately for the exit, we finally see a mansion with the "hole" leading to the real world in our field of vision. We're almost there.

"Ruu-kun, it's Makagami Homura-san!"

We looked over to see a beautiful woman wearing a symbolic red outfit standing at the entrance of the mansion.

　As we walk up to her, the familiar beauty opens her mouth to me.

"Oi, Haizora!"

"Sorry, Homura-san! Let's talk later!"

　I tried to quickly escape to the real world by passing right by Homura-san, but the moment we passed each other, I was grabbed by the neck of my uniform with all my might, and a "gulp" leaked from the back of my throat.

"Ho- Homura-san! Kh, i-it hurts!"

As I was forced to stop on the spot, Homura Makagami, the clan master of the "B.E. Butterfly Effect" to which we belong to, spoke indifferently.

"It was only just a few moments ago. I was happily immersed in watching a movie on my phone in my room at my house. The actress who plays the supporting role sang very well in the film, and I was literally enthralled by the diva's glittering singing and true-to-life performance in the climactic scene."

Homura-san was talking as if she was enchanted by that scene, but the tone of her voice immediately changed.

"It was at that moment. That's when I got a call on my phone from some Pennywise-looking son of a bitch."

　A-ah, of course. She's definitely referring to that clown-faced Caliburn agent.

"What did you think I do when my mood has been ruined, Haizora?"

"I think you get really angry. It's just a guess, but for the time being, I think you threw your phone or kicked something nearby."

"Do you think that has calmed me down?"

"I don't think so..."

'Cause right now, I can see that she's really mad. It's almost as if I could be erased from existence just by making eye contact with her.

"Haizora, where do you think I should direct my anger and resentment at?"

　Yes, I'm going to get killed but right now I am being stared at so hard by a beautiful lady with a serious look on her face.

"No, I get it Homura-san. I understand your anger. I'll get to that later! But things are a little tense right now!"

This other girl has been in my arms for a while now, watching behind me and frantically tapping my shoulder goofily. Of course, she is. After all, a swarm of "fake beasts" as far as the eye could see were rushing in from behind me.

"Don't get your priorities wrong, Haizora."

A crimson sword named "Shitotsuken" appeared in Makagami Homura's hand, and the moment it was swung――

―― Our field of view, which was about to be filled with fake beasts, was repainted in an instant by the brilliant flames of the 『Hellfire Gouka』.

　The crimson sparks quickly engulfed the "fake beasts," transforming the monsters into "eternal firewood" without even giving them time to scream.

"....Woah."

　A voice leaks out from the girl who was being carried in my arms.

　The "hellfire" that spreads throughout the area is a crimson curse that easily burns into the bodies of the "fake beasts" and burns them to death, never extinguishing until they die.

　In the face of Makagami Homura's "hellfire" move, which burns and spreads in the blink of an eye, the sheer numbers of the "fake beasts" are even a disadvantage.

　The intervention of a single "Awakened". This phase was easily overturned by the "B.E." clan master and one of the strongest third-generation awakened players, Makagami Homura.

　Homura-san pointed the crimson tip of her "disguise" at me.

"I will say it again, Haizora. Do not mistake the order of your priorities. The most important thing right now is to clarify where my anger should be directed, everything else is insignificant."

"......"

　It is true. I really do believe that one's ability as an "Awakened" has nothing to do with one's own character.

"So?"

"Um... For now, let's go beat up Ikuto-san. Then we can talk about it."

"I already beat him up when I came here."

　Aah-- she already murdered him. Well, he's a Caliburn agent, but she's superior to all of us in a way, right? Well, I thought he would at least defend himself.

　I guess that's why she's doing this because she's still angry.

"A-Anyway, let's talk about it after we return to the real world."

　--So, this time, we escaped from the "false world" safely.

　When Homura-san came out after us, the "hole" leading to the "false world" was being fixed as if the missing pieces were being repaired, and the "frayed edges" on the border between the real world and the "false world" were completely gone.

　For the time being, I let the intruder down from my carry, but she still held on to my arm and refused to let go.

"Um, will you let go of me?"

"I don't want to. I'm afraid you'll go away again. Don't leave me again this time!"

　The tone of her voice sounded happy despite her ostentatious manner.

　I sigh at the sight of her.

"Do you have any idea what you've gotten yourself into?"

"Huh? What about it?"

In no time at all, she was covered with shadows.

"Eh?"

　Scary men surround her. They looked like a bunch of low-life hoodlums hanging out in the area, but they were all Awakened, just like us, and members of the "B.E." clan.

　Surrounded by these people, she clung to my arm while shaking, and someone grabbed her head and squeezed it. It was Homura-san.

"Haizora, are you sure this is the right guy?"

"Yes, ma'am. The one you are looking for is her Homura-san, she is the one to whom you should direct your anger at."

She must have remembered the conversation in the "false world" we had earlier. Her face turned blue in a flash.

"Hey, little girl. We are going to take you to our hideout now, so be prepared."

　Homura-san's words are truly a death sentence. I say to you in my heart, I am sorry for your loss.

"Ru-Ruu, what should we do?"

"I'm glad you made it back from the "false world" alive and well. I don't really care what happens in the real world after this though."

　Homura-san's eyes narrowed as she watched the two of us interact.

"Speaking of which, you two seem pretty close. Do you know each other?"

"No, ma'am."

"Yes, we do!"

Our voices, which replied with the exact opposite answers, overlapped beautifully.

　Hearing that reply, Homura-san stared at me as I answered with a "NO".

"Haizora. What is this little girl's name?"

　To the clan master, who was obviously upset by being interrupted by her hobby of watching movies, I didn't have the courage to let the situation slide with my usual light talk, so I answered honestly.

"Kigisu Yuragi ma'aam."

　The hand holding my arm twitched.

　I glanced over and saw that I was looking at the person in question.

"So you really did remember......"

　She sways around so gleefully that you can tell even tell that she's smiling under a mask.

"I see. Well, that's all right. I'll listen to the details at the hideout. And before I go any further, don't think you can get away with this for free, Kigisu Yuragi."

She must have understood the anger overflowing from Homura-san as she felt it in her body.

　Yuragi took her phone out as it vibrated.

"The intruder who had entered the 《False World》 without application was safely protected. However, at the hands of an angry B.E. clan master, she was taken away to a den of thugs."

Caliburn agent Suminoe Ikuto, his left cheek swollen, closed the scene with a strange narration.