Vol. 2 Ch. 2 Ep. 9: The Harsh Truth 1

"Tsukatsuki Rio...?"

Sensei, she's...the president of Millennium.

Wh-What's the president doing here...?

...

That's right, I'm the center of Millennium Science School, the one who leads Seminar, and...

...the one who chases the stars in hopes of solving the Millennium Conundrum.

I would have preferred for our first meeting to be a formal one, but...

You're not the reason I'm here today, Sensei.

Yes, the truth.

Since the incident a few days ago, you and the Game Development Department students must all be thinking the same thing.

You can't stop thinking about a completely unexpected side of a person you think of as a friend...and the destruction and chaos she caused.

And with that kind of thought process, the natural next step would be...

"This person I believed to be my friend, may not be a friend after all."

Isn't that correct, Sensei?

...!

"Rio, what nonsense are you spouting?"

Fine. I'll cut to the chase.

That little girl behind you...

More so, that "thing" behind you is no ordinary student.

That thing that you call Aris is...

She's the commander of a mysterious army invading from an unknown territory.

Aris is the Artifact enshrined by the nameless priests who worship the Nameless Gods, and the legacy left by the former inhabitants of Kivotos.

She's...

"Nameless...what?"

I...

I do not...understand what you are saying...

Hey! How dare you talk about her like that?!

You can't just come in here and say a bunch of things we don't understand and expect us to nod our heads and believe you!

Only my sister is allowed to do that to me! Aris is our friend, not some weirdo princess!

M-Midori...

You're right. My apologies. Maybe I was a bit inconsiderate.

To make it easier to understand, I'll compare this to a game that you often play.

Aris, your existence is essentially...

...that of an evil lord who was born to destroy this world.

...!

I'm telling you, it's all nonsense.

Why are you saying this?! What's your agenda?

I have no agenda. Actually, I want to ask you guys some questions.

You already saw and experienced what happened when Divi:Sion and Aris came into contact.

"Those...strange-looking robots?"

Yes. Correct.

You never should have come into contact with them.

I thought the robots were all being tracked through C&C and AMAS. I couldn't believe that some escaped the surveillance network.

That was clearly my mistake. I apologize.

H-Huh? Is the president...apologizing...?

Even so.

This event has proven that the threat I only hypothesized to exist is real.

To put it bluntly, the beings you encountered are disasters that poured out from the ruins.

They're a nightmare that will bring destruction to Millennium and Kivotos.

Aris' very existence is calling to them from the ruins.

This time we got lucky, since she only came into contact with half-damaged junk...

But I can assure you the next time won't play out as nicely for you.

"..."

There's only one way to deal with this threat as quickly as possible, Aris.

To deal with...this threat? I am the threat?

Yes, Aris. You have to disappear.

For the sake of this world, you shouldn't exist. You never should have existed.

...That is...but...

I just...wanted to be...a hero...

All I wanted...was to accomplish...game quests...

Unfortunately, that's not possible for you.

I don't have much experience with games...but I've enough knowledge about them to relate to you, at least.

So, let me ask you this.

You call yourself a hero, but...

You attacked your friend, and you hurt her. She still hasn't awoken.

Doesn't that sound more like a villain who should be defeated by a hero?

...!

Aris! That's a bunch of crap!

I heard that the Seminar president was a weirdo, but this is beyond my expectations! You're insane!

S-Sensei...! H-Help...

"...Rio, stop this. Right now."

What exactly should I stop?

Stop telling the truth? Turning away from reality helps no one, Sensei.

To blindly believe in your ideals is commendable, but irrational. This is the truth.

Wh-What...

What would I have to do...?

Don't worry. It's simple.

You're responsible for all the crises that have arisen here.

Your existence is the core of the problem. You're like a time bomb.

And if the cause of the problem is clear, the solution is also clear.

When there's a dangerous bomb around, we must take it to a safe place and disassemble it.

Disassemble...? I am...the bomb...?

Was that too difficult for you to understand? Let me put it simply.

Your halo must be destroyed.

?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Spare me the theatrics. Think about it. Was that even your halo to begin with?

You shouldn't have a halo at all. You're not human.

You're a machine, who happened to acquire a halo.

Aris, you're an AI that's gone mad.

As such, I can't just leave you to your own devices.

"I will not tolerate another word out of your mouth right now."

...I apologize. I've been told the way I speak is too harsh.

I suppose that's why most people don't like me.

So, maybe I am the problem.

But I don't care. You can misunderstand me all you want. I'm the one protecting everyone from danger.

Okay, it's your turn, Mikamo Neru.

...!

Neru...

...

"Neru...?"

...

Please don't take this personally.

C&C was originally a part of Seminar... To be exact, it's a club of agents that move under my direct command.

I hope you understand, I'm not doing this out of any kind of personal grudge. I'm simply doing what I need to do.

Even Sensei and the Game Development Department can't stand up against Neru, leader of C&C.

And there's no help coming for you.

The entire surrounding area is occupied by my AMAS. You'll be wiped out before any outsider can lift a finger.

Well, that's enough monologuing. Neru, retrieve Aris.

...

Little...upperclassman Neru...

...Ha.

Ha...?!

Argh! This is so frustrating!

Neru?! Why are you attacking me all of a sudden? You can't be...

"Neru!"

N-Neru?

You always make me do things I don't want to. And I do them!

But this? THIS?! You want me to kidnap an innocent student from my own school? So you can destroy her halo? My FRIEND?!

This is where I draw the line! I won't do it!

Did you think you could just keep pushing me around forever? That I would be your little marionette to play with for as long as we live?!

Neru... Are you betraying me?

Betraying? Ha! There's not any loyalty there to betray! I won't follow an order I don't agree with!

Ah, I see...

Neru, you've always been this way.

You've never hesitated to disobey an order if you were in a bad mood.

That volatile side you have is your strength...yet also the most annoying part of you.

That's why I calculated for this situation in advance.

It was a good choice to call just you and not every C&C member.

Huh? What?

Toki, you're up.

"Neru, watch out!"

Huh?

*cough* *cough* Who are you?!

Nice to meet you, Upperclassman Neru. And Sensei.

Affiliated with the C&C, I'm call sign Zero-Four.

Oh...a fifth...?

You attacked me from behind!

You won't get away with this!

"Neru, w-wait!"