kscans

Chapter 178 - Noah’s Ark

Hayato couldn’t quite understand what Diite was saying, so he stopped trying to think about it.

However, he did want to reconfirm what he had heard. And he wanted time to process everything. That seemed like a normal thing to think.

"Diite-chan, um, about what you said earlier, is it really true? You can tell me it was a lie, you know."

"The part about Relic-kun being a hacker? It is undoubtedly true. I believe Ban-kun over there, who has lost all will to fight, would admit to it as well."

As Diite said this and looked at Ban, his body flinched.

It was less that he had lost the will to fight and more that he was already a hollow shell. He probably had no intention of resisting anymore. No matter how much of a cheat he was in virtual reality, it was all meaningless when his life or death in the real world was in someone else’s hands.

Ban’s only option was not to figure out how to escape, but how not to displease Diite.

Ban meekly nodded in response to Diite’s words.

"Y, yeah, it’s true… I learned hacking from Relic and Sonia. And I betrayed them. Red Snake was supposed to have become mine, but before I knew it, all the information about the organization and me was released online, and I was caught… I don’t know how they did it, but I think the two of them were behind it…"

The once-boastful Ban was now a shadow of his former self. He was hunched over, sitting limply in his chair, looking pitiful enough to feel sorry for.

Be that as it may, things had become undeniably clear.

From Hayato’s perspective, Relic was gentle and gentlemanly, and he in no way seemed like a criminal. His title was a former thief butler, but he had assumed that was just a setting. He never would have imagined him to be a master hacker in the real world.

And at this point, Hayato realized that the situation was strange.

"Diite-chan, a lot of things are strange, don’t you think?"

"What might that be?"

"My allies, or rather, my acquaintances, are all far too exceptional. Esha is a brilliant programmer, right? And besides Ash and the others, Veru-san and his group are famous actors. And Relic-san is a master hacker? It’s all too much of a coincidence. Why do only people like that gather around me? Am I releasing some kind of pheromone?"

"You are not releasing pheromones, and it is not particularly strange."

"…Why?"

"To begin with, all of the NPCs are exceptional. Only such people, or their families and acquaintances, were chosen as test players for the Another Frontier Project. It is not that exceptional people are gathering around you, Hayato-kun, but that the majority of NPCs in this world are exceptional."

"Ehh…?"

It was a rude thought, but Hayato’s honest opinion was that he had some acquaintances who made him tilt his head at the word "exceptional."

"I understand why you find it strange, Hayato-kun, but ‘exceptional’ comes with the condition of being so ‘in a specific field.’ On top of that, we selected members who seemed likely to give up on reality."

"Why would you do that?"

"Hayato-kun, are you familiar with something called Noah’s Ark?"

"What’s with the sudden question? I think it was a ship from some ancient myth or legend? Something about a family gathering pairs of animals, getting on the ship, and surviving a great flood, I think."

"Well, you have the general idea. The Another Frontier Project is much the same."

Diite continued to explain.

The Another Frontier Project was planned behind the scenes of the Frontier Project, which aimed for interstellar migration. It was merely an alternative in case the Frontier Project came to a standstill, not the main plan.

However, if the Frontier Project were to end in failure, the Another Frontier Project could not be allowed to fail. And even if this project succeeded, many people on Earth and in the colonies would die. At worst, there was even a possibility of extinction.

When Earth’s resources eventually recovered, the survivors of the Another Frontier Project and the survivors on Earth and in the colonies would have to rebuild the planet together.

What would be needed then are exceptional talents from all fields. Even criminals were no exception. As long as they were exceptional, they were accepted as members of the Another Frontier Project.

"Now, resources can be brought from other planets and the world crisis has been averted, but back then, we didn’t have the luxury of being picky. They were readily doing things like granting pardons to criminals."

"Ah, yeah. I don’t intend to blame you for that."

"Thank you. But you know, even in times like those, there are people who prioritize their own gain. A hundred years ago, and now, they have hacked us for the sole reason of wanting this technology. That is something I cannot forgive…"

Diite closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"The technology here was created by the geniuses of that time, who overcame various barriers and united as one. It was something they created by shaving away their very lives to preserve the human species, and it was likely the hope of everyone involved. Now, I truly believe that. Of course, the technology here is not mine alone, but it does not belong to any single individual. Besides, this virtual technology and I were discarded for a reason, so I have no intention of returning it. To those who would try to lay hands on this place for their own selfish desires, I will retaliate accordingly."

"Hic!"

The look on Diite’s face when she opened her eyes must have been terrifying. A small scream escaped Ban’s lips.

"Diite-chan, calm down. That sort of thing doesn’t suit you."

"…To protect this place, I am willing to do many things that do not suit me. Even if you were to tell me to stop, Hayato-kun."

"I have no intention of stopping you. But if you’re going to retaliate, you have to do it effectively."

When Hayato said that, Diite’s eyes widened. She had a look on her face as if she didn’t understand what he was saying.

"I understand how you feel, Diite-chan. No one likes having something important taken away from them. There’s no problem with fighting back against that. Everyone has that right."

"I did not expect you to affirm it to that extent, but I am happy to hear you say so."

"But I don’t think just retaliating blindly will do any good. For example, even if you retaliate against this Ban, that’s all it will be. If you’re going to do it, you have to retaliate against the organization."

Ban nodded repeatedly at Hayato’s words. He was probably saying that there was no point in retaliating against him alone.

"You are quite radical. In fact, I think saying such things does not suit you, Hayato-kun."

"This place is important to me too. Their goal may be to steal the technology, but it won’t end there. They’ll try to monopolize it, so in the worst case, they might even destroy this place. I don’t want that."

"I see, an important place. That is how you feel about it…"

"Though, there’s nothing I can do myself."

"…You’ve ruined everything. Though I suppose that is just like you."

"Um, what should I do…?"

Ban asked Diite in a timid manner.

"For a while, you will report to the organization that the plan is proceeding smoothly. In other words, you will buy us time. If things go well, I will return you to reality. And as a reward, I will give you enough money to live on for a while."

"R, really!"

"However, that is after we crush the organization. I can return you to reality before then, but I would not recommend it."

"…Why is that?"

"Do you think the organization will let you live when you fail to bring back the technology? Well, even if you did bring it back. Do you think they value the money they would give you more than your life?"

Ban was at a loss for words. He must have realized that there was a high probability of that happening.

This person said he betrayed Relic-san and the others, but was he really capable of such a thing? He seems a bit lacking in foresight, though…?

"Now then, there is much to be done, but let us return for now. They must be worried."

"W, wait, please wait, wh, what should I do…!"

"If you receive a communication from the organization, contact me immediately. I will confirm the communication and identify the other party."

"I, is that all I have to do…?"

"For the rest, just drag out the communication for as long as you can. Tell them you are currently negotiating with the AI."

"I, I understand. If possible, I would like this place to remain as it is…"

"You are using this place as a hideout, are you not? Then it is fine. I have already identified the coordinates. However, you would do well to remember. If you betray me, the promise is off. I will not stop your life support, but I will forcibly return you to reality. And I will dump you in some colony. If that happens, you will have no choice but to live in fear of the organization. If you want a safe retirement, you should cooperate with me and crush the organization."

Ban nodded his head stiffly. He must be tense from grasping the gravity of the situation.

Is he going to be okay…?

"Now, shall we go back, Hayato-kun?"

"Eh, ah, yeah. Well then, thanks for having us."

He said it to lighten the mood, but it seemed to have the opposite effect on Ban, whose face twitched.

Diite stood up and held her right hand out into the empty space, and a black door appeared there. Not an unstable, glitchy door, but a solid one.

"Come, let us return. This will take us back to the same place."

Havato nodded and passed through the door with Diite.

And as the door was closing, Ban began to say "Ah—," but he was a step too slow, and the door closed before his voice could be heard.

Havato had imagined that everyone would be worried, but that was not the situation. For some reason, he could hear the sounds of fighting from behind him.

"Hayato-sama! Diite-sama!"

"Ah, Relic-san—"

He was called from behind right after passing through the door, and he turned around. The door had already vanished, and he could see Relic coming toward him. Just as he thought it was awkward after learning all those things about Relic, he was shocked by the scene.

A single maid was rampaging like a fierce god, fighting with the surrounding members.

That maid was, without a doubt, Rose.

Rose’s eyes had a lifeless expression as she held a broom, rampaging about. Her movements were clearly abnormal, as if they surpassed the physical laws of this world.

"Eh, what’s going on?"

"It is a relief to see you both are safe. However, please escape at once. Rose-sama seems to be controlled by something and is attacking everyone indiscriminately. Many have already been defeated…"

Controlled…?

"It seems Ban-kun also applied a cheat to Rose-kun. She too is outside the laws of the world. He must not have disabled it… A demerit for him."

He didn't know what the demerit was for, but it probably wasn't anything good for Ban.

And Hayato, too, was a little angry at the absent Ban, thinking, "He left another troublesome souvenir."