Nothing but white.
The white horizon continued on, leaving whoever set foot in it no choice but to believe it was endless. Said horizon blurred within that space, highlighting the only being there: a lone man sitting in a chair.
He was a young man, with beautiful facial features and white hair that framed them. Dressed in a hoodie, jeans, and an eye patch, he brought the wine glass on the table into his palm.
Numerous screens appeared around him, displaying the Japanese people living in the present world of La Vita Online—the players.
This man, Tatsuya Mikagami, gazed at the video feeds absently. There was no trace of emotion in his eyes, as if he were staring at ants crawling through the sand along a road.
“Those who merely live as their desires lead them...” Mikagami whispered.
Certain windows displayed players currently making their ways through the 13 Floors to Agartha—the members of the Lions of Patriotism, part of the Merchants’ Alliance.
“And those who struggle to maintain their humanity, even in a world like this.” He shifted his eyes toward the woman who led the Crimson Moon Brigade, part of the Adventurer’s Guild.
“And, of course, the man in a special position. The brother of the scales of this world.”
He nodded emotionally as he looked toward Shinobu Iijima. “Shinobu... You really will fight to the end to protect your own life and your beloved friends, won’t you?”
An ironic smile donned Mikagami’s face, as if he were laughing at his own joke. “All of these players have very human motivations, yet none of them will expect what awaits them.”
This twisted smile of his was also aimed at his past self.
Tatsuya Mikagami was born special. He hailed from a family of doctors that dated back to the Edo Period under Tokugawa. One could say their genius genes bonded with more genius genes to form a lineage with an impressive pedigree.
As a result, Mikagami was blessed with intelligence, beauty, and athletic ability. He made it into the medical department of a national university, making it only natural for him to have achievements on that level.
When he was young, he couldn’t understand why other people were so useless compared to him. He would realize why when he came of age: it was because he was special.
Therefore, it was his duty to pay his dues to society. Noblesse oblige, a phrase originating from French nobility. Mikagami had this as his life motto before he’d even heard of it.
There exists a manner of thinking in which those with power must set the standard for society as a whole. In modern day, this indicated that those with power...or rather, those raised in blessed environments should stand above society as its precedents.
Aligned with this ideal, Mikagami had not killed those in La Vita Online in vain. He had also never wielded violence as a result of being overcome by his whims. Such actions were not elegant; his aesthetics simply would not allow them.
That was why the actions he took to obtain Clan Coins in order to clear the game were unique. As a PKK (player killer killer), he kept his activities limited to the bona fide murderers known as PKs (player killers). He successfully fulfilled the conditions to escape the game.
But upon taking the leap, he ended up astounded. Why? Because...
Ha ha, of course I can’t see that far ahead. You’d be asking too much of me.
Mikagami completed his goal gorgeously and efficiently, without betraying his own convictions and even managing to maintain his dignity.
And yet, what awaited him were the words of a lone girl. They were so carefree, so innocent, and more than anything, they were correct.
Regardless, a situation outside of Tatsuya Mikagami’s expectations had occurred.
What came after was him returning to the world of La Vita Online as an “Executor” that would protect the game’s progress, as well as an “Observer” that would assist the girl.
Or perhaps he was merely a single man who longed to meet the lover he’d left in Japan once more.
“The whole thing really is in poor taste. I still can’t believe the conditions for someone to win the game are...those.”
Bringing the glass to his lips, he gulped down wine with a flourish.
“It’s spiteful, through and through.”
The players he watched through the screens were nothing more than clowns being herded around without exception. Such was the fate of those who pressed the wrong button early on. It was the simple truth—people whose cognitions were mistaken at their cores could not possibly arrive at the correct answers intentionally.
The same went for Mikagami in the past.
He looked down at the photo lying on the table. “A chance meeting between the brother and sister? Will that move the hand along the clockface of this world?”
On that photo was a girl of this world, who bore a strong resemblance to Shinobu Iijima’s sister, Megumi.
“Agartha... The time of transformation... Let’s see what happens.”