Suddenly, let me tell you what I know about Sakuraba Rakka.

She’s a character from the original story of the social game “Mirror World’s Lutra.”

That’s all!

“Strong!?”

[Breaking News] Rakka-san is ridiculously strong.

I’m managing to dodge the spear with the power of the red bracelet, but still, there are no openings in her attacks.

If I’m not careful, this person could be on the level of Rokuhara-san!?

“Mizuhi-senpai, can you buy me some time until I retrieve the dagger?”

“Leave it to me.”

I dodge the thrusting spear and leap, switching positions with Mizuhi-senpai.

Without hesitation, Mizuhi-senpai slips into the space I’ve vacated and fires bullets at Sakuraba Rakka.

“Ahaha, that won’t work. Not with that attack. It’s only when Mizuhi, Miroku, and Toa all push their powers to the limit that it even works.”

The bullets are deflected by the spear.

Normally, flame and water shouldn’t be deflected.

However, for her, it’s as if swatting them away is second nature, and she smiles at Mizuhi-senpai cheerfully.

“Stop that creepy imitation.”

“How rude. It’s the real deal. Remember when Mizuhi first conquered a dungeon? I didn’t think Mizuhi would be so moved that she cried. I panicked.”

“Shut up.”

The bullets interrupt the conversation.

“Oops.”

With a playful demeanor, Sakuraba Rakka dodges the bullets.

In that instant, I pull a dagger from the ceiling and swing it down toward Sakuraba Rakka.

A temporary stiffening of my body caused by the dodge is used to launch a makeshift combination attack.

It clicks perfectly and heads toward Sakuraba Rakka.

But…

“Sigh. That won’t work. I won’t lose to something like that.”

“Wha–”

As if she could see it coming, she dodges the dagger and grabs my wrist, tossing me against the wall.

What am I supposed to do now?

“Ugh!”

“Kei!?”

“Don’t look away. You’re too caring for your friends. Eventually, that’s going to be used against you.”

“–!!”

The moment I get distracted, a spear comes down on Mizuhi-senpai.

She attempts to dodge, but fails, and her gun falls from her left hand.

“First one. Well, guns aren’t my thing, so I’ll just leave it alone.”

The gun rolls to the ground, and Sakuraba Rakka kicks it away, laughing.

…Isn’t she too strong?

She fights against Mizuhi-senpai with total knowledge, almost like reading the situation meta-wise, making her worse than Rokuhara-san.

And her murderous intent is real.

Her disposition and skills remain intact, and only her murderous intent exists as the dungeon’s master.

Normally, Mizuhi-senpai wouldn’t want to fight.

I could tell from the expression on Mizuhi-senpai’s face when Sakuraba Rakka was imitating her.

“Mizuhi, stop dawdling. I’ll skewer you.”

“Tch.”

Mizuhi-senpai desperately dodges.

Sakuraba Rakka’s attack pattern is probably just like hers.

Mizuhi-senpai hasn’t taken any mortal blows yet, but she’s definitely been hit by dangerous attacks.

But at this rate, she’ll lose eventually.

A monster imitating a human, and a person with limited stamina—obviously, the latter is at a disadvantage.

I’m the only one who can break this deadlock.

…No, only Sorciera can!

‘■■■■■!!!!’

It’s not you, sit down.

I’m talking about Sorciera in my cross-dressing guise!

‘■?’

She seems really mad.

But that’s not important right now!

I tear myself off the wall and stand up.

Then, I rush toward Sakuraba Rakka.

“Uooooo!!!”

“Ah, desperate?”

Without a change in expression, Sakuraba Rakka thrusts her spear.

…You fell for it, idiot!

I press the belly of the dagger against the point of the spear.

That way, the spear won’t pierce my body, and I can take the force of the impact.

“Ugh, waaahhh!”

“Kei!?”

The force of the spear sends me flying, and I break through the operating room wall.

Then, I spring backward and crash through three more walls, tumbling along the ground.

“Are you okay!? Respond!”

“I’m… cough… I’m okay!”

I shout back loudly, through the dust that has filled the room.

There’s nothing in the room, and no one is there.

No drone cameras either. Alright!

“Senpai, I’m coming now…!”

I stand up with resolve—and take off my uniform.

Then, I pull out what I’ve kept stored in the expanded zone of the Dive Gear.

It’s meant to store relics I pick up in dungeons, but for me, there’s something far more useful I should be keeping.

That’s right—cross-dressing stuff!

“Okay, wig… and wear this…”

My desire to become a beautiful girl reaches its limit, and in less than ten seconds, I’m fully dressed in women’s clothes.

Finally, I place a gas mask over my mouth.

I haven’t done my makeup, so I just want to cover my mouth to hide it.

‘■■■■■’

As soon as I finish changing, I hear a voice in my head directly conveying the information.

Oh, yeah, yeah. I get it.

“Star-reader’s staff Sorciera.”

From the red bracelet, a large scythe materializes.

With a gothic lolita dress, it’s my trademark scythe.

Perfect.

“Now, let’s go.”

I’ve adjusted my voice to a girl’s tone, squeezing my throat to make it sound just right.

Next, it’s time to party hard.

■

As a premise, Sakuraba Rakka is dead.

This was common knowledge to Teruue Mizuhi.

She was dead.

Though she hadn’t seen the body.

However, all the information pointed to her death.

Then, what is this in front of me?

“That guy was weaker than I thought. He doesn’t suit Mizuhi.”

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

Mizuhi kept her gun aimed, but it was easily deflected.

Just as expected.

Next, she closed the distance to Sakuraba Rakka and shot at point-blank range, disregarding the advantage of her gun.

The shot was supposed to catch Rakka off guard, but all Rakka did was tilt her head to avoid it.

Just as expected.

“The killing intent is too high. Your aim is simple and predictable. Honestly.”

Behind her, a bullet that passed by exploded into a large flame.

A complete surprise attack from behind.

However, Sakuraba Rakka didn’t even look back; she swung her spear and dispelled the explosion.

Just as expected.

As expected, Mizuhi could see no future in which she defeated Sakuraba Rakka.

“Did you forget my ability?”

“Wind manipulation, right?”

“That’s right. I can make wind armor like this, and even manipulate the reach of my spear.”

She knew it.

Teruue Mizuhi knew all of it.

But she only knew it.

“That guy is still alive. Shall we kill him first?”

“Do you think I’ll let you?”

“You can’t stop me. Besides, you can’t focus because you’re worrying about that guy.”

Sakuraba Rakka spun her spear and smiled.

A sunny smile. It was a smile that shouldn’t exist in the midst of this deadly game.

“Well, the order of death doesn’t matter. If we’re all going to die, you might as well go first.”

“Ugh.”

Sakuraba Rakka dashed forward.

No, she had only stepped forward.

With a single step, she reached top speed and thrust her spear. The target was Teruue Mizuhi’s head.

(Evasion… is impossible. …Counterattack is also out of the question.)

She understood everything.

It felt like watching a movie where you knew it was a bad ending—such a horrible feeling.

Even though she knew everything, she couldn’t do anything.

Nothing would reach.

The nightmare-like reality of helplessness.

“Hehe, gotcha.”

The innocent smile on her face was no different from back then.

It was just that the killing intent was now directed at her.

(So it’s over.)

The spear would reach her, and then everything would be over.

No, even if she died here, Mizuhi could easily imagine that the next would be Narou Kei, and then the collapse of Fectom Comprehensive Academy.

It would end.

All of it, because of one counterfeit thing.

Such an unavoidable tragedy.

Such a hopeless story.

Such… such… such—

(She can’t accept this!)

Her fighting spirit hadn’t died.

Mizuhi immediately pointed the gun at herself.

Before the spear could reach, the bullet would pierce her.

And, at that position, it would explode with her, taking Sakuraba Rakka with her.

(This is the best I can do.)

She understood that there was no conclusion in which everything could be saved.

That was precisely why this was the only and best move left for Teruue Mizuhi.

“You and I are the losers. Fake.”

Her finger was on the trigger.

At the moment the curtain was about to fall, with her life on the line—

“—You seem to be having quite a bit of fun.”

The wind blew.

It was silent, like a quiet night, yet it definitely radiated a presence, an untainted wind of loneliness, untouched by anything.

It suddenly appeared between Mizuhi and Sakuraba Rakka, as though it was cutting between them.

Black frills fluttered like they were dancing, and the silver-blue hair swirled in the breeze.

It seemed to pick up the spear aimed at Mizuhi and deflected it, sending it off course.

The tip of the spear passed just above Mizuhi’s head and embedded into the wall.

“…Well, well, a new challenger?”

As the trajectory of the spear was altered, Sakuraba Rakka widened her eyes in surprise for the first time.

“From here on, let’s play, just the two of us.”

“Hmm, sounds fun. You seem strong. What’s your name?”

In response to Rakka’s question, the girl ran her fingers along the large scythe and answered.

“—Sorciera. That’s my name.”