Katou Mana’s apprehensions that this was the worst-case scenario were perfectly reasonable. For example, the Lord of Darkness Kudou Riku had succeeded in infiltrating the fabricated world by matching his timing with Majima Takahiro’s entry. There was also the fact that the Absolute Blade Hibiya Kouji had slipped in among Jinguuji’s friends. It was more than possible that a Conduit had infiltrated those worlds too. That said, jumping straight to the conclusion, that wasn’t what had happened. It wasn’t what had happened at all. If only that were the case...
After all, that wouldn’t have been the worst-case scenario.
The real worst-case scenario was happening right now. Having made their way through three worlds, they’d reached their destination. Right after thinking they’d cornered the Evil Dragon...
“Huh...?”
Who was it who raised their voice in shock? It’d happened just a few seconds ago. The Evil Dragon’s unbelievable attack had coincidentally pierced one of the crystals that was keeping this castle floating, causing the defense mechanisms to activate. It was a horrible coincidence. That was what everyone in Majima Takahiro’s group believed. However, they’d misunderstood one thing.
Normally, there was no good or bad inherent in coincidence. People simply labeled these instances arbitrarily. It was therefore possible to reverse that label in hindsight. For Majima Takahiro’s group, this was a good coincidence—even if it opened the worst door possible.
“It stopped...?”
The defense mechanism wasn’t moving; nobody was hurt. However, it hadn’t been immobile this whole time. It had started up in an attempt to slaughter everyone in the room and then come to an immediate stop.
“Why...?”
Majima Takahiro muttered in astonishment. Being the only one capable of interfering with the mechanisms of this world, he knew exactly what had happened. Something had interfered with this world’s defense mechanism. Interference from the outside had neutralized the activation of the terrifying and indiscriminate attack.
However, despite being the only one capable of that, Majima Takahiro hadn’t been responsible. His power wouldn’t have stopped it in such a short time. What had interfered was a power tens, or even hundreds, of times more powerful than his. Fear of such an absurd being paralyzed his mind with shock. He spoke the name of the one responsible for this with trembling lips.
“Nakajima...?”
The boy who’d silenced the defense mechanism of this fabricated world looked back down at him with cold eyes.
✦ ✦ ✦
Majima Takahiro’s entire group was completely frozen as they stared up at the boy standing far in the distance. They couldn’t put their thoughts together properly. That only made sense. After all, if what they were thinking was true—everyone here was going to die.
“Senpai...? Senpai? What’s wrong, Senpai?!”
As that went on, Katou Mana’s voice played over the long-distance communication device Majima Takahiro was carrying. She’d come upon a certain possibility while acting independently of the group. She’d discovered that a Conduit—a visitor who had the power to interfere with the world itself—was pulling the strings behind this entire incident.
Nobody had the leisure to respond, though. Without even being given the chance to respond, the signal cut out. It had been forced to. Majima Takahiro had once interfered with Kaneki Mikihiko’s Aerial Knights inside a fabricated world. This had been accomplished far more naturally. The boy who’d done it pushed back his bangs.
“How can this be...?”
Within the perfect silence, his murmur reached everyone’s ears with strange clarity.
“This is the worst.”
There was clear grief in his voice. For some reason, just listening to him had shivers running down everyone’s spines.
“How could the curtain get pulled back in such a boring way?”
Nobody knew what he was grieving over. On the contrary, nobody could figure out what he was even thinking. Why had he instigated Jinguuji? And why had he gotten in Jinguuji’s way? Was his friendly behavior all fake? What was true and what was a lie? Nothing made sense. But that wasn’t the problem right now. Nakajima Kojirou didn’t deny it. That was the important part.
“You’re the mastermind...!”
In that instant, the tables turned utterly and completely.
The hero turned into a calamity.
Hope turned into despair.
Life turned into death.
Everyone tried to do something, but it was useless.
“Haaah... How boring...”
He held up his Sword of Light.
“It’s over. It’s all over.”
The inversion of their valiant leader into a conniving villain did nothing to diminish the truth of his power. This was the world’s strongest strike. Everything in sight was engulfed in light.
✦ ✦ ✦
