The Empty Box and Zeroth Maria
Book 3: Chapter 2

I wake up to a stench pungent enough to give me a headache.

“Huh…?”

A gasp of surprise at this sudden turn of events slips past my lips. The last thing I remember is diving into bed hoping to forget the potentially lifelong trauma of what happened today. I probably fell asleep after that…

…But then, where am I?

It’s black and dark. The air is thick with desire, like someone put it in a pot and boiled it down into a syrup. The atmosphere is sticky and sultry, clinging to my body. Viscous and gluey—over all of me.

Hesitantly, I get to my feet.

The view filling my eyes is all black, black, black, looming close and threatening to overwhelm me. I fight off the urge to collapse by planting a foot forward.

I notice a faint light within the darkness—a weak, pallid flickering. It’s like those electric bug zappers they have out in front of convenience stores. Even though I know it’s the last thing I should do, I find myself compelled to approach.

It seems to be about five yards away. Even so, each time I take a step forward, it feels like it’s getting that much farther away. My senses are ignoring reality and drawing out the distance.

My foot hits something. I look down.

“……Ack!”

It’s a girl’s body.

“Uh—ah, aah! Haah, haah, haaaaah…” As I struggle to get my breathing back under control, I look down at her again. She’s a young girl I don’t know with long hair, wearing pajamas… Wait, maybe I have at least seen her somewhere before. Maybe just enough to be somewhere in my memory…?

She’s not breathing. But she’s not dead, either. It’s more like she’s just…stopped.

I check my own clothes. I’m dressed the same way I was when I went to bed, in the T-shirt and shorts I use instead of pajamas.

I think I get it now. This girl and I were probably brought here while we were asleep.

And this…must be the inside of that Box.

I finally arrive directly in front of that pale light. Upon closer inspection, I see it’s coming from the cabinet of an old arcade game like the ones you’d find at a run-down hot-spring inn. On the display is what appears to be the title screen for something called Kingdom Royale.

I spot someone standing next to the game cabinet.

“……Daiya.”

He’s no different from before he disappeared, piercings and all.

“Long time no see, Kazu. What’s it been, two months or so?”

He’s speaking like we’re about to have a normal little chat. I have plenty to say to him, but first I ask the obvious question.

“…Is this your Box?”

“Do I really need to answer?” He’s right. It goes without saying that Daiya has finally used his Box. “Tedium is a monster… Some people might even try to slay it with a bullet to their own brains.”

I frown, unable to parse his comment.

He smiles and clarifies. “It’s a line from the book Hatachi no etude.”

“…What’s all this about, Daiya?”

“The wish I made with this Box, the ‘Game of Indolence.’”

I still have no idea what he’s getting at.

“You’re confused, I guess. Someone who enjoys mundanity like you probably doesn’t even have the capacity for boredom. Well, let me tell you, it’s a source of unimaginable pain and suffering.”

Is Daiya saying he dragged us in here for the Game of Indolence because he was bored? If so, it doesn’t get much more selfish than that, not to mention ridiculous.

“Judging by your face, I’m guessing you’re unwilling to try to understand me. People without imagination are always full of themselves.”

“……You can’t fool me. Using a Box to relieve your boredom is just stupid.”

“That’s fine if you don’t care to listen. Just remember, some people out there do feel that way.”

“…Well, maybe they should change that.”

“That’s not possible. It’s an issue with their core as a person. You can’t just rewrite someone’s true nature.”

“That’s…an excuse.”

“All right, then how about you correct your twisted obsession with normal life, too?”

I shut my mouth.

“No matter what you do, no matter where you go, there’s no escaping who you are inside. Just like how an ugly person will always be ugly no matter how expensive their clothes are or how much time they spend on makeup. You can’t change something immutable.”

“…So boredom is unbearable for you, but why does it have to be that way? There’s lots to enjoy out there, you know?”

“That’s just the way your core nature works. It catches and alters everything that happens. Things you find enjoyable will just be tedious to someone who’s naturally bored.”

“…And yet, here we all are, jealous of you and your abilities.”

“I’m nothing special. I know because I can see the limits of my own faculties. I will never accomplish anything and never obtain anything. I realize that now.”

I’m shocked at the bluntness of his admission. I never would have imagined someone like Daiya, who always seems so sure of himself, could think this way.

“If someone consumed by boredom uses a Box, the results will only stave off the tedium temporarily. That’s why this is all just a diversion. A pointless game.” Daiya’s mouth twitches up in a smile. “All the same, it’s still very important to me.”

I can’t seem to make heads or tails of his logic. But I’m now well aware that I’m never getting through to him with words.

“…Hey, Daiya. What kind of Box is this anyway?”

Daiya smiles faintly, then grips me by the shoulders and pushes me down onto the seat in front of the arcade machine.

“It’s just a little game for warding off ennui. There’s no meaning beyond that. So…”

Still maintaining a firm grip on my shoulders, Daiya leans in and whispers into my ear.

“…how about we engage in some meaningless slaughter?”

“…Huh?”

Daiya’s thumbs have dug in under my collarbone so I can’t escape. The screen in front of me begins to waver and sway. It’s like I’m drunk.

…Squeeze.

In the midst of the intoxication, something grips my head.

Something is reaching out from the screen of the arcade machine. It’s a transparent hand. And it has ahold of me.

“U-ungh…”

The inside of my head is crackling. More and more see-through hands appear. More, still more. The new limbs seize my head, my arms, my legs, my stomach, all of me, until my entire body is covered in them.

“D-Daiya—!!”

Daiya coolly ignores my angry glare, then says:

“See ya.”

And that’s when the hands…drag me in.

Day 1 <A> Kazuki Hoshino’s Room

I wake up with a start in unfamiliar surroundings, and my eyes fall upon a naked light bulb and a bare concrete ceiling.

“…What is this room?”

I can feel myself about to lose it, so I review what I can remember of what happened.

I’m sure I was sleeping on my bottom bunk. I don’t remember moving from there. I don’t remember leaving or meeting anyone, either.

I look around the room. The space is about the size of six tatami mats with an exposed toilet and sink. There’s also a table in the center of the room with a hemp sack lying on top of it.

What sticks out the most, however, is the cutting-edge twenty-inch monitor embedded in the wall, completely unbefitting this cell-like chamber.

I suddenly lower my gaze. I’m dressed in my school uniform with nothing in my pockets.

I reach into the hemp sack on the table and pull out its contents one at a time.

A pen. A notepad. A blue digital wristwatch. Seven sets of solid rations. A portable device that looks exactly like an iPod Touch.

And then…

“……”

…a knife, with a solid heft to it.

I slowly pull off the cover. The blade is thick, and it even has a serrated edge. It’s an authentic combat knife, just like the ones the military guys use in the movies.

“…What the—? Why is this here…?”

It’s clearly a weapon. An implement of warfare.

Is someone trying to make me fight? Or to put it another way, do I have to fight?

With a shake of my head, I toss the knife back in the bag. Realizing my body is trembling, I take a breath and try to collect myself.

I survey the room again. No windows. I can’t spot any vents, either. There is a single, extremely heavy-looking door. I think about opening it, but then I notice there’s no doorknob. I try pushing against it lightly, but it doesn’t even budge.

I totter unsteadily toward the bed and plop down.

“What the hell is happening…?”

I don’t understand. I don’t understand…but this is not normal.

…It’s not normal—not my everyday life.

I see. So maybe it’s…

“Good_morning.”

My heart almost leaps from my chest at the sudden voice.

I swivel my head, and on the previously black monitor I spot… What even is that? It’s bizarre, whatever it is.

“Geh-heh-heh_good_morning_Kazuki.”

Though the greeting itself is friendly, the voice sounds purely mechanical and devoid of intonation.

On the monitor is a lurid primary-green…bear, I think—maybe. The creature’s eyes have a sharp glint, and its overall misshapen form isn’t cute in the slightest—pretty gross, honestly.

“H​e​Y​_​h​e​y​_​h​e​y​_​h​o​w​_​a​r​e​_​y​o​u​? I​_​a​m​_​t​h​e​_​m​a​s​c​o​t​_​N​o​i​t​a​n. N​i​c​e​_​t​o​_​m​e​e​t​_​Y​o​U​.”

The mouth of the bear (Noitan?) moves up and down, although all the sprite is doing is raising and lowering its chin. Like I said, creepy.

“…What a horrible character. This would scare any kid to tears…”

“Who the hell are you calling horrible, you pig? You want me to smash your balls and make you a eunuch? Not that it wouldn’t suit you.”

“……Eep!”

H-he spoke back to me! And not only that, but he’s incredibly vulgar and really fluent all of a sudden!

Those wide-open, bloodshot eyes are terrifying, too!

“…U-uh…can you speak to me?”

“YeaH_I_can.”

The weird inflection is back. I guess he’s designed to only speak smoothly when he’s angry.

“Noitan—”

“That’s ‘Mr. Noitan’ to you, you presumptuous sack of trash. Be polite.”

“……Mr. Noitan. I don’t know how I got here. Could you tell me where I am?”

“I​n​s​i​d​e​_​a​_​g​a​m​e​_​c​a​l​l​e​d​_Kingdom_Royale. I’ll​_​e​x​P​L​a​i​n​_​m​o​R​E​_​l​a​t​e​r​_​w​h​e​n​_​E​V​E​r​y​o​n​e​_​h​a​s​_​g​a​t​h​e​r​e​d​_​b​u​t—”

“Everyone…? You mean I’m not the only one here?!”

“Okay, asshole, if you don’t learn to let people finish before butting in, I’ll rip out your tongue.”

“……I’m sorry.”

“T​h​e​_​d​o​o​r​_​i​s​_​g​o​i​n​g​_​t​o​_​o​p​e​n​. O​u​t​s​i​d​e​_​y​o​u​_​w​I​L​L​_​f​i​n​d​_​t​h​e​_​o​t​h​e​r​_​P​L​A​y​e​r​s​_​i​n​_​t​h​e​_​g​a​M​e. I​_​w​i​l​l​_​E​X​p​l​a​i​n​_​m​o​r​e​_​t​h​e​R​E​_​s​o​_​W​A​I​t​_​a​_​b​i​t​_​o​k​a​y?” Noitan says, and the heavy door slowly but smoothly begins to open.

“…May I leave?”

“Y​o​u​_​C​A​n​_​w​h​E​N​_​y​o​u​_​a​r​e​_​r​e​a​d​y.”

“Ready…?”

“O​u​t​s​i​d​e​_​t​h​e​_​d​o​o​r​_​I​s​_​a​_​c​O​m​m​O​N​_​r​O​o​m​. T​h​e​r​e​_​y​o​u​_​w​i​l​l​_​f​i​n​d​_​P​E​o​P​l​e​_​i​N​_​t​h​e​_​s​a​M​e​_​p​o​S​I​t​i​o​n​_​a​s​_​y​o​U​. A​r​e​_​y​o​u​_​r​e​a​D​Y​_​t​o​_​m​e​e​T​_​t​h​o​s​e​_​p​e​o​p​l​e​?”

“And what are we supposed to do?”

Noitan’s face contorts into that disturbing sprite.

“Kill one another,” he says.

“……Huh? What the—?”

Before I can finish speaking, the monitor shuts off. The door fully opens at exactly the same moment.

What is that?

An inky-black darkness like desire laid bare leads out from beyond the door.

So there’s a room out there? …I find that hard to believe. I’m pretty sure refusing to go isn’t an option, though.

I put on the blue wristwatch lying on the table and stand in front the door. I try to talk myself down as the terror threatens to overwhelm me.

…You’ll be fine. Everything’s gonna be okay.

I know nothing good lies ahead. But this is the inside of a Box, so she’ll be here.

…Maria will be here.

That’s how I know I’ll be okay.

And with that, I plunge forward into the darkness.

Day 1 <B> The Common Area

The view changes instantly.

The first thing I notice is that it’s white. Unnaturally so, like a newly built hospital without doctors or nurses or patients.

I have just enough time to take it in, and then…

“Urgh…?”

…I’m knocked flat.

Before I have time to wonder what happened or even register the pain of slamming against the floor, I’m staring down the point of a knife.

“What’s your name?”

I finally process the situation as I see a girl with midlength hair holding the weapon out at me.

“A-ahh…”

“Your name is ‘Ahh’? I’m guessing no. I want you to tell me your name here.”

Wh-who is this person?

“K-Kazuki Hoshino.”

I notice she’s wearing a uniform from my school and has an orange digital watch on her left wrist. Unsurprisingly, it’s the same as the watch I’m wearing, just a different color.

Does that mean she’s another player in the game? …Huh? Wait, has the killing already started, and this is checkmate for me? H-hold up, this is unfair!

Just as the situation looked to be too much…

“Kazuki!”

…Yeah, just hearing that voice makes me feel a million times better.

“Hmm, do you know him, Otonashi?”

“Yes, I do.”

The girl with the longish hair returns her gaze to me for a closer examination.

“…Hmm,” she says. She stands up, her expression never changing, and moves away. I don’t really get what happened, but apparently, she’s let me go.

“Are you all right, Kazuki?” Maria comes running up.

“Y-yeah…” I answer as I grab her extended hand. “B-but why exactly did she…?”

“Whoa!”

At the sound of yet another voice, I stop short and turn around to see what’s happening. The same girl has turned her knife on a boy with brown hair.

“…What’s this all about?” he asks as his eyes move to take in his surroundings. He seems surprised, but he’s also calm enough to be curious about us.

“…You’re awfully relaxed,” the girl comments, noticing the brown-haired boy’s attitude.

“Nah, that’s not true… I guess once I saw in your eyes that you weren’t going to go through with it, I knew I’d probably be okay.”

The girl answers him with a meaningful “Huh.” She then withdraws her knife and lets him go.

“…Oh, is that it?”

“Yes, go ahead.”

…She backed off from the brown-haired guy just like that, too. Why does she keep doing that?

Now that he’s off the hook, the brunet acts like he’s completely forgotten what just happened to him. “Oh-ho, three young beauties. Today’s my lucky day,” he says with a carefree smile.

Three…? Let’s see, there’s Maria, the girl with the knife, and then…

Next to the big monitor in the room, I spot a girl with long hair curled up in a small ball, as if trying to hug herself. Her skin is pale, striking a contrast with her deep-black hair that gives her a very trim and neat appearance.

And then there’s the beige watch around her wrist.

“It’s okay, Yuri!”

With a kindness not shown to us, the knife girl smiles and pats the black-haired girl on the head. The other girl’s fearful face relaxes slightly, but the darkness soon returns to her expression.

“…What’s going to happen to us?”

“We’ll figure something out!”

…Guess those two know each other.

“You’re the Kazuki Hoshino, correct?”

I look away from the two girls and toward the one who spoke to me. It’s the guy with brown hair.

“Do you know me?”

“Of course I do. Everybody knows you and Maricchi are a set. Don’t tell me you forgot about that epic entrance ceremony.”

As he answers, I notice his worn-out school uniform, silver necklace, and green digital watch on his arm… Now that I think about it, everyone here is dressed as a student from our school.

“Um, so what’s your name?”

“I’m— Oh yeah. Hey, President, it seems like the gang’s all here, so how about we do a round of self-introductions?” he says to the knife girl.

President? Does he mean the student council president? One of the Superhuman Three Kokone was talking about?

“You’re right. That might be a good idea.”

Now that I think about it, I’ve heard this same clear articulation through a microphone many times before. This girl with her confident smile… Yeah, no doubt about it—she’s the president of the student council.

So that means…I’m supposed to lock horns with a superhuman in a game of kill or be killed?

“Is this everyone?” the president asks the brunet.

“There’re chairs for six, so I’d think so.”

“Yeah, you’re probably right.”

…Huh? Six?

“Hold on a minute, there’s only five of us here—”

“Kazu, you got eyes in that head of yours?”

I hold my breath.

The six chairs are arranged evenly around the rectangular table in the middle of the room, and he’s sitting in the farthest one from me.

“…Daiya.”

Dressed in his school uniform, Daiya’s lips curl up in a little smile, and he raises his arm with its black digital watch as if to say, Long time no see.

We haven’t seen each other in two months, we’re finally meeting again in a place like this, and yet he’s greeting me like it’s been hardly any time at all.

“What? You know each other, too? ……I see.”

“President. Does that mean you’re nervous about us joining forces?”

For just a moment, the president seems caught off guard, but then she sighs and says, “Do whatever you want.”

This time, Daiya smirks.

What was up with that little interaction…? It’s like they’re already squaring off for battle… Or maybe it’s already begun? Is that why she pulled the knife on me?

“So I’m the one without any friends here? Being the odd man out sucks!”

The brown-haired kid clutches his head dramatically as if completely unaware of the tension between the two… Given his behavior, I wonder if he has any idea what’s happening to him…?

“Okay, right, self-introductions,” the president says. “Shall we give that a try? Let’s have a seat in these chairs since they’ve set them up for us.”

I sit directly across from Daiya, and Maria sits next to me. As I thought, there’s a watch on her wrist, too. It’s red.

“Now then, I’m sure you might already know a bit about me, but I’ll go ahead and start. I’m—”

“Can I say something first?” Maria interrupts, glaring at the student council president across from her.

“What?”

“I didn’t stop you earlier because I didn’t get the feeling you were really going to hurt him, but…what was the point of threatening Kazuki?”

“Oh, that?” The president explains, completely unfazed by the angry gaze directed her way. “If that ridiculous bear told you the same things it told me, then everyone already knows we’re about to play a game of killing. Right? That being the case, I figured someone might try to get a head start while everyone was confused, and if I did what I did, it might deter them. So in essence, I was just doing a bit of risk management.”

“Heh.” Daiya snorts derisively at that explanation.

The president is openly upset. “Okay… I’m pretty sure you’re Daiya Oomine. I’ve heard rumors about you. What was that sneer for?”

“Oh, just thinking that was an awful lie. Risk management? Do you really think anyone here is bloodthirsty enough to try to kill everyone because of that bear? It was all your plan to get the drop on us and establish a mental advantage, right? Don’t worry; the only one who would pull that is someone who’s already considering the possibility, like you.”

“A plan to gain a mental edge, eh? Wrong, so, so wrong. I’d never go for a plan with so many disadvantages. That’d just get me on everyone’s bad side, maybe even make me a target.”

“So you were just trying to find the mastermind? Gauging everyone’s reactions to see if you could catch someone behaving suspiciously?”

“Oh, stop, I wasn’t thinking that far ahead.” The president responds lightly, but I still can’t shake the feeling that a storm is brewing.

“Come on now, you guys. You’re all starting to freak me out here!” the brown-haired boy interjects.

“…Fine, but I have to say, you’re taking this remarkably well. I can tell you’re a tricky one,” the president replies.

“Cut me some slack. This is just what I’m like when I’m feeling off. Normally, I’m pretty quiet, but now I’m just a bit worked up or something… I don’t think I’m as nervous as your friend there, though.”

The quiet girl’s shoulders jerk as the conversation suddenly turns to her. “I-I’m sorry…”

“It’s okay, Yuri. There’s no need to apologize.”

“S-sorry, Iroha.”

The president smiles and shrugs at the girl apologizing next to her. “Ahh… I can just feel all the stress leaving me.”

“Nice one, Yuri.” The brown-haired boy gives her a thumbs-up.

“Huh? What? Did I do something…?”

The president starts giggling again as the girl blinks in confusion. “Shall we get back to the matter at hand and start those introductions? As you know, I’m Iroha Shindo, third-year student and the student council president. My skill is being able to fall asleep anywhere. My hobby is track and field.”

“You’re good enough at track and field to compete in national tournaments, and you call it a hobby? People must hate your guts,” Daiya interrupts.

“Well, listen to you. But the simple truth is that it is just a hobby. I’m actually not cut out for track at all. You have to rely on your physical abilities. As it happens, I’m not especially gifted there, which is why I’m not cut out for it; thus, it’s just a hobby.”

“That’s what I’m saying people hate about you.”

“Says the hateful little boy,” the president retorts without even missing a beat. She really is superhuman if she can go toe to toe with Daiya like this.

She nudges the girl next to her, prompting her to go next.

“Ah, I-I’m, um, a third-year, and, um, I’ve been one of Iroha’s friends since we were in the same class during our first year… Um, do I really need to say my skills, Iroha? Um…I don’t really know if I have any skills…but my hobby is reading. My name is Yuri… Yuri Yanagi.”

“Huh?” The word escapes my mouth before I can stop it. Did she say Yanagi?

“……Huh? Um, ah, did I say something strange?” The girl calling herself “Yuri Yanagi” seems flustered by my reaction.

“Ah.” I get ahold of myself and wave my hands vigorously. “I-it’s nothing. It’s just…I have a friend with the same last name.”

“O-oh, I see…”

Yanagi—no, that’ll just confuse things, so Yuri—is still giving me a strange look.

“Are you through, Yuri?” the president asks.

“Oh, um…” Yuri looks away. “N-nice to meet you.”

…Oh great, now she probably thinks I’m some sort of weirdo.

Having watched all this with a grin on his face, the brown-haired boy opens his mouth.

“You’re a real cutie, Yuri, dear. Just my type.”

“What?!”

“Hold on there, first-year. Don’t go hitting on Yuri. Don’t speak so familiarly to her, either.”

“Just so you know, President, you’re a bit too aggressive for my tastes.”

“As if I care. You introduce yourself next.”

“All righty. I’m Koudai Kamiuchi from first year, nice to meetcha. Oh, and it’s especially nice to meet you, Yuri. So, my hobby is slot machines… Oh, the ones in arcades, I mean.”

Daiya seems unexpectedly interested in Koudai Kamiuchi, the brown-haired boy, as he introduces himself. “Ahh, so you’re Kamiuchi, huh? I’ve heard a lot about you. Apparently, you never lose at pachinko slots.”

“Eh, that’s not true. Well, I guess overall I probably having a winning record. I just have good eyes.”

“Didn’t Haruaki Usui scout you for the baseball team? When you were in middle school, you got a reputation for causing trouble at sports tournaments.”

“I was scouted? I don’t really remember, I guess… Either way, there’s no chance in hell I’d play high school baseball. Besides, I’m way too delicate for those brutal practices. The go-home club suits me much better.”

He may not be one of the Superhuman Three, but maybe Kamiuchi is pretty incredible, too…

“…Uh, Yuri?”

“Y-yes?”

“Are you by any chance really smart or something?”

“Huh? Oh, I, um… Not at all.”

“Yuri always has the top scores in Class 1,” the president answers lightly.

Third-year Class 1? That’s the class for the elite humanities students aiming for Tokyo University. If she’s the head of the pack in there, then…

“Th-that’s only because you’re in the science class. If you were in humanities, I know you’d be better than I am…”

“Oh, just so you guys know, I got the second-best score on my entrance exam,” Kamiuchi chimes in. “Looks like we’re both second fiddles who can’t hold a candle to those cheaters at the top, Yuri.”

“O-oh…”

It seems he’s no slouch, either.

“Hmm. I’m beginning to see some commonalities among us. All at the top of our classes… Well, I can’t generalize too much, since we’re dealing with both sciences and humanities classes here, but it seems we’re all the first-and second-best students in our respective years. It’s consistent with the number of people.”

“Uh, but my grades are only slightly above average. I did pretty good on my finals, but even then, I’m still probably at the bottom of the top scorers, so…” I swallow the rest of my comment.

The student council president, Yuri, and Kamiuchi all eye me suspiciously.

…Why? Did I say something that strange just now?

“Just to confirm, Otonashi and Oomine are both number one in their classes, right?” the president says, looking at me.

I nod silently.

“I see.” She has a pleasant look on her face as she speaks, but her eyes are not smiling. “Then why are you the only one who’s different?”

I flinch in the face of her overpowering question.

What gives? Why are they looking at me like this?

“You can only afford to be so eager.”

The president’s gaze moves away from me…to Maria.

“Why’re you getting so intense before you even know what this game is about? Does that mean you agree with the killing and are all for taking part in it? If so, then you’re the one we need to be on guard against.”

“Th-that’s right. It’s not like anything has started yet…”

Prompted by Maria’s words, Yuri peeks over at the president as she gives her two cents. In response, the president stands quietly with her lips pursed for a moment. She doesn’t seem especially miffed, but more like this is just a habit of hers when she’s thinking.

She draws her mouth into a line, then lets out a long breath and replies, “You’re right. Maybe it is a bit crazy to start suspecting someone just because they don’t fit the theory that all of us are overachievers. Carrying around baseless suspicions could trip us up at some point.”

“If you want my input, the most suspicious of us all is our high and mighty president here with her penchant for jumping the gun,” Daiya says.

“Ha-ha-ha, I’m suspicious? Go take a look in the mirror.”

Daiya smiles happily at the president’s words.

“…Uh, what are we doing here? Are we already trying to find the culprit?”

The question shows an obvious inability to keep up with the situation, and the president’s mouth quirks upward slightly. “I don’t know if I would say we’re finding the culprit so much as just figuring out who we need to be on guard against. One of us could be the mastermind orchestrating this game, or maybe the mastermind’s accomplice who’s trying to facilitate the killing. Basically, if I can learn who they are, then I want to expose them before we pass the point of no return.”

The mastermind, eh?

Mastermind or whatever…I already know who the culprit who set all of this in motion is.

Daiya Oomine. There is no other possible culprit aside from him.

…But I’m beginning to understand that I can’t simply say this.

There isn’t any room for clumsy announcements here. I’m already under suspicion simply because my grades aren’t high enough. Going against the flow would only make them doubt me even more.

I wonder what would happen if I just said Daiya caused all of this by using the powers of his Box as an owner.

It would sound totally absurd. The only thing that would accomplish would be to convince them I cooked up some crazy lie to get Daiya in trouble.

That’s why I can’t say anything about the Box, no matter how right I am.

I’m sure the reason Maria is just brooding in silence is because she understands this, too.

“N​o​W​_​t​h​e​n​_​n​o​w​_​t​h​e​n​_​n​o​w​_​t​h​e​n​.​ ​I​_​c​a​n​_​S​E​e​_​t​h​a​T​_​t​h​e​_​p​A​R​A​n​o​i​a​_​i​s​_​r​e​A​L​l​y​_​S​t​a​r​T​i​n​g​_​t​o​_​k​i​c​k​_​i​n​. I’m_h​a​p​p​y​_​t​o​_​s​e​E​_​t​h​i​N​G​s​_​a​r​e​_​g​o​i​n​g​_​a​s​_​e​x​p​E​C​T​e​d​.”

We all simultaneously turn our gazes to the big monitor in the center of the wall. On the screen is the same decidedly un-cute bear from before. Seeing it on an even larger screen just makes the creepy factor all the more apparent.

The president sneers at the monitor. “Well, if it isn’t the scarebear.”

“Watch your mouth and call me Mr. Noitan. Just because you’re the student council president of a single school doesn’t mean you don’t smell like piss, so don’t get any ideas you’re something special.”

The president is smiling confidently, but Yuri lets out a small yelp and shrinks in shock at Noitan’s sudden sharp tongue and upsetting sprite.

…She isn’t especially short, but there’s definitely something about her that reminds me of a small animal… People often say the same about me, though, so it’s not like I can talk.

“Just get on with the explanation, scarebear.”

“Are you too dumb to understand language? I hope you die first.”

“Hey, Your Presidency. We won’t get anywhere at this rate, so how about you pipe down for a bit?”

“Fine, fine.”

In response to Daiya’s caustic remark, she shrugs and closes her mouth. After a bit of silence, the image of Noitan returns to normal, and his speech resumes its normal unsteady manner. He’s probably calmed down.

“NoW_I_wiLl_eXPlain_Kingdom_Royale.”

We watch the screen quietly.

“T​H​i​s​_​i​s​_​a​_​g​a​M​E​_​o​f​_​K​I​l​l​_​o​r​_​b​e​_​k​i​l​l​E​D​_​b​u​t​_​M​o​R​e​_​p​r​e​c​I​S​E​l​y​_​i​t​_​i​s​_​a​_​g​A​M​e​_​o​f​_​s​E​I​z​i​n​g​_​t​h​e​_​T​H​R​o​n​e​.”

We all look at one another as we listen to Noitan’s explanation.

“A​s​_​t​H​E​_​p​l​A​Y​e​r​s​_​o​f​_​t​h​i​s​_​g​a​m​e​_​Y​O​u​_​w​i​L​L​_​e​a​c​h​_​b​e​_​a​s​s​I​G​N​e​d​_​a​_​C​l​a​s​s​. Th​e​_​C​l​a​s​s​e​s​_​a​R​E​_​K​i​n​g​_​P​r​i​n​c​e​_​D​o​u​b​l​e​_​S​o​r​c​e​r​e​r​_​K​n​i​g​h​t​_​a​n​d​_​R​e​v​o​l​u​t​i​o​n​a​r​y. Ea​C​H​_​h​a​s​_​i​t​s​_​o​w​n​_​a​B​I​L​I​t​i​e​s​.”

“And how will we know our Class?”

“Y​o​U​_​c​a​n​_​c​H​E​C​k​_​y​o​u​r​_​C​l​a​s​s​_​o​N​_​t​h​e​_​M​O​N​i​t​o​r​_​i​n​_​y​o​u​r​_​r​O​O​M​. B​y​_​t​h​e​_​w​a​y​_​T​h​E​Y​_​a​r​e​_​t​O​U​c​h​_​S​C​R​E​e​n​s​_​s​o​_​y​O​U​_​c​a​n​_​o​P​E​R​A​t​e​_​t​h​e​m​_​i​N​_​v​A​R​I​o​u​s​_​w​a​y​s​_​d​E​P​E​N​D​i​n​g​_​o​n​_​y​o​u​r​_​C​l​a​s​s​.”

The president scowls as she listens to the rest.

“N​o​W​_​t​h​e​n​_​b​e​F​O​R​e​_​I​_​t​e​l​l​_​y​o​u​_​a​B​O​u​t​_​t​h​e​_​C​l​a​s​s​e​s​_​I​_​w​i​l​l​_​e​x​p​l​A​I​n​_​t​h​e​_​s​e​T​T​I​N​g​_​o​f​_​K​i​n​g​d​o​m​_​R​o​y​a​l​e​. Th​i​s​_​k​i​n​g​D​O​m​_​i​s​_​r​U​L​e​d​_​b​y​_​a​_​d​e​s​p​o​t​I​C​_​K​I​N​g​_​w​h​o​_​h​a​s​_​T​R​I​e​d​_​t​o​_​i​n​V​A​d​e​_​o​t​h​e​r​_​l​a​n​d​s​_​m​a​n​y​_​t​i​m​e​s​. A​n​d…”

“Noitan.”

Maria cuts off the bear as he begins to launch into a prologue like the ones people usually skip when they play video games.

“WHAt_is_it_Maria?”

“We don’t need all that. Just cut to the chase and tell us what we have to know about the game.”

“What the hell sort of attitude is that to take when someone is kindly trying to give you a thorough briefing? You’ve got a lotta nerve for a kid who reeks of piss.”

He’s back to the bloodshot eyes.

“You just said Shindo smelled like piss, too. Your vocabulary is weak.”

“If a bird trapped in a cage has time to kvetch over that, then you should probably spend it thinking about how to stay alive.”

Seemingly satisfied (?) now that he’s said his piece, Noitan’s image returns to normal.

“L​o​O​K​S​_​l​i​k​e​_​I​_​D​o​N’t_​h​a​v​e​_​a​_​c​h​o​i​C​E​. I’ll​_​j​u​S​T​_​t​e​l​l​_​y​o​U​_​t​h​e​_​m​a​I​N​_​p​O​I​n​t​s​. F​i​r​S​T​:​_​T​h​e​_​t​i​m​E​T​a​B​L​e​_​m​u​s​t​_​b​e​_​s​t​r​i​c​t​L​Y​_​O​B​S​e​r​v​e​d. B​r​e​a​k​_​i​t​_​a​N​d​_​y​o​u​_​w​i​L​L​_​b​e​_​a​u​t​o​m​A​T​i​C​a​l​l​y​_​E​l​i​m​i​n​a​t​e​d​_​s​o​_​b​e​_​c​A​R​e​F​u​l.”

“…What happens to us if we’re Eliminated?”

“Compulsory_execution.”

The air grows tense.

“B​y​_​b​e​h​E​A​D​I​n​g​_​N​A​t​U​R​a​l​l​y​. I​d​i​o​t​s​_​w​h​o​_​C​A​N’t_k​e​e​p​_​a​_​s​c​h​E​D​U​l​e​_​d​e​s​e​R​V​E​_​t​o​_​d​i​e.”

Yuri’s eyes are wide and unblinking. As she comes to understand that “execution” means exactly that, the color drains from her face.

Noitan continues without a care about her reaction. “T​H​E​r​e​_​i​s​_​a​l​s​o​_​a​n​_​o​v​e​r​a​l​l​_​T​I​M​e​_​l​i​m​I​T. Yo​U​_​h​a​v​e​_​S​E​V​e​n​_​p​A​C​k​s​_​o​F​_​r​a​t​i​o​n​s. En​O​U​g​h​_​f​o​r​_​e​x​a​C​T​l​y​_​o​n​e​_​w​e​e​k. T​h​e​y​_​a​r​e​_​m​a​G​I​C​_​r​a​T​I​O​n​s​. Y​o​u​_​c​a​n​_​e​A​T​_​o​n​l​y​_​o​n​e​_​M​E​A​l​_​a​_​D​A​y​_​a​n​d​_​n​o​t​_​g​e​t​_​h​u​n​G​R​Y. B​u​T​_​i​f​_​y​o​u​_​d​o​n’t_e​a​t​_​a​t​_​L​E​A​S​t​_​o​n​c​e​_​a​_​d​a​y​_​y​O​U​_​w​i​l​L​_​S​T​A​r​v​e​_​a​n​d​_​b​e​_​m​u​M​M​I​f​i​e​d​.”

“Mummified… Huh.” The president purses her lips while scratching her head. “So how do we win this game? I have no idea what we’re supposed to be doing.”

“W​e​L​L​_​t​h​e​_​c​o​n​d​i​t​i​o​n​s​_​f​o​r​_​v​i​c​T​o​r​Y​_​a​R​e​_​d​i​f​f​e​R​E​N​T​_​f​o​r​_​e​a​c​h​_​C​l​a​s​s​. F​o​R​_​e​x​A​M​P​l​e​_​t​h​e​_​K​i​n​g​_​w​i​n​s​_​i​f​_​h​e​_​d​i​s​P​O​S​e​s​_​o​f​_​a​l​l​_​t​h​o​s​e​_​g​u​N​N​I​N​g​_​f​o​r​_​h​I​S​_​t​h​r​o​n​e. I’ll​_​s​H​O​w​_​y​O​U​_​t​h​e​_​d​e​t​a​i​l​s​_​f​o​r​_​e​A​C​H​_​n​o​w.”

Noitan vanishes, and text appears on the screen.

The King

A king who assassinated his predecessor to seize the throne and has since conducted many invasions. He is extremely suspicious by nature and plots the murder of any and all who would threaten his position of power. The king is unaware that his paranoia has cost him the loyalty of his subjects.

He can ask his servants to commit Murder, but he cannot force them for fear they will turn against him.

There is no bright future in store for the kingdom under the rule of one who cannot trust others such as he.

Abilities of the King

• Murder

The King selects someone he wants to have killed and can then ask the Sorcerer or the Knight to carry out the act. The King may opt not to choose anyone, too.

• Switch Places

The King may trade places with the Double for one day only and avoid being the target of Assassination. If the King is targeted during the day while he is switching places, the Double will die instead of the King.

Victory Conditions for the King

Retain hold of the throne (dispose of the Prince and the Revolutionary, who threaten his position).The Prince

An ambitious man. Originally third in line to succeed for the throne, he took advantage of the suspicious nature of the King to have the other princes assassinated and is now the immediate heir. He is very wary of being suspected and has thus mastered anti-magic techniques.

If he ascends the throne, the kingdom will most likely become even more despotic.

Abilities of the Prince

• Anti-magic

The Prince may not be killed by Magic.

Victory Conditions for the Prince

Become the king (dispose of the King, Double, and Revolutionary).The Double

A former peasant who both respects the King and closely resembles him. Though he lacks ambitions of his own, he will absolutely never allow the Prince, who has continually mocked him, to seize the throne.

If a man with no aspirations such as he becomes king, the land will fall into ruin in no time at all.

Abilities of the Double

• Succession

If the King dies, or if Switch Places is used, the Double will have the ability to use Murder.

Victory Conditions for the Double

All people trying to kill him die (the Prince and the Revolutionary die).The Sorcerer

A servant of the King. He is close with the Prince and is also his instructor in all things magical. The Sorcerer is content as long as he is free to conduct his arcane research and has no interest in the throne. No matter how effective his magic proves, no one sees the value of the person holed up in his shell.

Abilities of the Sorcerer

• Magic

The Sorcerer may decide whether to actually kill characters selected for Murder. Characters he does kill become charred corpses.

Victory Conditions for the Sorcerer

Survive.The Knight

A subordinate of the King. Though in service to the throne, he is actually plotting revenge against the royal family that brought ruin to his homeland. The Knight believes he will only know happiness once the final member of the royal dynasty has been extinguished.

Naturally, one such as he who is consumed by feelings of loss will only fall to the darkness of despair.

Abilities of the Knight

• Death by Sword

The Knight may decide whether to actually kill characters selected for Murder. This ability may only be used if the Sorcerer is dead. Characters he does kill will die by decapitation.

Victory Conditions for the Knight

Achieve vengeance (the King and the Prince die).The Revolutionary

The right hand of the King. As a capable man, he has come to realize that the kingdom is doomed at this rate and is thus prepared to take up the mantle himself and lead the land.

It will never be possible for a ruler who has earned so much ire through assassinations to successfully guide the kingdom. The only fate that awaits him is to be assassinated himself.

Abilities of the Revolutionary

• Assassinate

The Revolutionary can Assassinate a character he specifies. He may also not choose anyone. The characters he kills will leave a strangled corpse.

Victory Conditions for the Revolutionary

Become the king (kill the King, the Prince, and the Double).

*The game ends when all the victory conditions of those still alive are fulfilled.

Everyone is so absorbed in reading and trying to work through the implications that they don’t utter a single word.

I stare at the screen with all my might, too, but that doesn’t give me any clue of what I should do next. All I know is that the ominous words “Murder” and “Assassinate” prove that we really will be killing one another in this game of Kingdom Royale.

“Hey, scarebear. How exactly do we use these Magic or Assassinate abilities?” the president asks.

“C​o​m​m​a​n​d​s​_​f​o​R​_​t​h​o​S​e​_​A​B​I​l​i​t​i​e​s​_​w​i​l​l​_​a​P​P​e​a​r​_​o​n​_​t​H​E​_​m​o​n​i​t​o​R​s​_​i​n​_​y​o​u​r​_​r​O​O​m​s. A​L​L​_​y​o​U​_​n​E​E​d​_​t​o​_​d​o​_​i​S​_​p​r​e​S​S​_​t​h​e​_​B​U​T​t​o​n​_​T​O​_​p​e​r​f​O​R​m​_​t​h​e​_​C​O​M​M​a​n​d. Y​o​U​_​c​a​n​_​K​I​l​l​_​a​s​_​e​a​s​y​_​a​S​_​y​o​u​_​w​o​U​L​D​_​b​U​y​_​a​_​t​r​a​i​n​_​T​I​C​k​e​t.”

Except for mine, everyone’s faces turn white. I look at Maria, unable to understand why they’re reacting so strongly.

“…Maria, I—”

“Don’t you see how dangerous this situation is?”

I nod slowly. Daiya looks at me with an exasperated smile… I mean, if I don’t get it, I don’t get it.

“Let’s say you feel you’re in danger… No, maybe that’s not good enough. Let’s say you’ve realized your death is almost certain. The only way to avoid this threat would be to kill a certain person. Would you be able to murder that person with a knife, Kazuki?”

“A-absolutely not.”

“How about if all it took was a press of a button?”

“Huh…?”

I could save my life with a single button, in exchange for the life of another.

“……I—I don’t think I could do that, either. Kill someone, I mean.”

“True, I’m sure you couldn’t. But do you think the others would arrive at that same conclusion?”

I instinctively take a look around me.

The student council president, the lady of action. The seemingly cowardly Yuri. The strangely easygoing Kamiuchi. And then Daiya, the owner.

“Do you have any conclusive proof that any of the six of us here, including you, wouldn’t take someone else’s life the moment they sense danger? …Let’s be honest here. I know I don’t.”

I’m almost positive that goes for everyone else, too.

“‘Someone here could very well kill me.’ The thought will probably cross all our minds. I think it goes without saying that paranoia will make the situation especially critical, don’t you agree?”

“B-but even if we could kill one another just by pressing a button, it’s still not an easy thing to do.”

“How about if we’re running out of time?”

“…Time?”

“It’s like that green bear said. There’s an overall time limit—namely, that we die if our rations run out. If there’s no victors at that point, then we all lose… We die, in other words.”

I swallow.

“Our goal isn’t simply to win; it’s to find a way out of the game. But if we start running out of time, that goal will start breaking down. Someone will abandon the idea of achieving it at all. This person will probably prioritize survival. They’ll even start thinking that if we’re all going to die anyway, they may as well fulfill their own conditions for victory. And then once there’s a corpse…it’s all over.”

“…Why?”

“There’s a dead body. That means we know someone is actively taking part in the game. If we rest on our laurels, they’ll end up killing us all. The rest of us will be forced to play the game as well. And that most likely means there will be no end until a victor is decided.”

No one contradicts Maria as she calmly lays out the facts. We’re all on the same page, it seems.

“The moment the first body appears, it’s all over…”

The bottom line is, we need to think of a way out of this game before someone makes a mistake.

“S​o​_​s​o​_​s​O​_​D​o​_​y​o​u​_​u​N​D​e​r​S​t​a​n​d​_​t​h​e​_​g​a​M​E​_​n​O​W​? I’lL​_​s​h​o​w​_​Y​O​u​_​t​h​e​_​t​i​m​e​T​A​B​l​e​_​n​o​W​. M​A​K​e​_​s​u​r​e​_​T​o​_​f​o​l​l​O​W​_​i​t​_​a​n​D​_​g​e​t​_​w​h​E​R​E​_​Y​O​u’r​e​_​g​o​i​n​g​_​w​i​T​H​I​n​_​f​i​v​e​_​m​i​n​u​t​E​S​_​O​f​_​t​h​e​_​s​c​h​e​D​U​L​e​d​_​t​i​M​E.”

The previous screen vanishes, and a timetable appears.