Arriving at the school.
Walking across the hallway of said building were Ikari and Empty.
Empty, glancing outside the windows was taken aback. Taking a closer look, there was no shimmering sunlight in the blue sky.
Rather, the whole sky was brightly lit overall.
"In this world, there is no sun. Eh? ... That's true; I guess the sun would be too large. Ah—this is a different world after all."
Ikari turned his head, glancing towards Empty, who was muttering to herself.
As Empty tilted her head, Ikari let out a 'ha" sigh.
They continued on until they came across the door of a particular class. The door was opened, so anyone passing on entering could be seen by everyone.
The interior style of the classroom, while a bit old, could be found anywhere in Japan.
Around were wooden chairs and desks standing side by side and some crude characters written on the already somewhat pale chalkboard.
However, what surprised Empty the most were the "girls" sitting on the classroom chairs that seemed to be of the same age as them. Alive, breathing, and moving.
There was no doubt that these creature were a human being, girls of the same generation.
Everyone's clothes were varied; some were dressed in outfits resembling school uniforms, while others were obviously dressed in casual clothes.
The girls turned their attention to Tokisaki Ikari and Empty.
Under that gaze, Empty clutched her chest in relief, understanding that there were other living people besides Ikari.
"That's a relief. Sure enough, there are some people here who are alive."
If she had carefully examined their gazes, she would have probably noticed that these stares held nothing but curiosity, hostility, malice, and murderous intent, but Empty was too happy to realise it at all.
On the podium, there were two dolls that were slightly larger than a baby. One of the dolls had long chestnut-coloured hair and a red kimono, giving it a somewhat gentle appearance.
Rather than saying "cute", it would be more appropriate to say "beautiful".
The other one was a rather short, blonde-haired young boy doll.
It was wearing a pair of trousers and carrying a backpack that matched the owner's preferences.
From that perspective, it was neither "cute" nor "beautiful". The word "gallant" would be most suitable in describing it.
For some reason, Empty thought of it as that.
Well, that appearance was not the problem.
The biggest issue was that the kimono doll suddenly began to wave its arms, leaning over and jumping from the podium.
"The doll moved…why…?"
Obviously, it was not relying on wires or external forces like motors to move.
Very naturally, its movements came close to a human being's actions.
But then, the kimono doll suddenly opened its mouth.
"─May I ask you your name?"
The beautiful kimono doll spoke with a voice like a fair chiming bell. Aside from being baffled and astonished, Empty had already given up thinking about this.
A doll was talking – this lack of common sense.
"New entry. Tokisaki Ikari."
In that instant, the doll's movements stopped. Its glass eyes stared at Ikari.
"You cannot join the game unless you have an invitation card."
However,
"I have one, right here."
Faced with those words, everyone but the two dolls stared at Ikari with a razor-sharp gaze as if to cut apart his body.
Although Empty could not understand, Ikari, however, ignoring such stares, went ahead.
"Simple. I defeated the original owner, and now it's fallen into my hands. Any complaints?"
Saying such words, his gaze swept across the entire classroom. Nobody spoke.
After a brief silence, the doll gently swayed its neck.
From Empty's point of view, the other party seemed somewhat reluctant. ... Even though it was just a doll.
"...I understand. What about that one?"
"Emergency bait."
"That's right. I am the emergency bait brought by Ikari-san…bait? Wait! I am bait?!"
Empty shouted in a panic. Against her retort, Ikari simply shrugged.
"Wait, Ikari-san. You can't do this to me. Yes! That statement is a violation of basic human rights!"
Are you even human in the first place? Everybody seemed to have such an expression on their face at that moment.
"Say. You claim to have defeated the original owner of the invitation. But where's the proof?"
Hearing that. The already astonished Empty suddenly felt chills down her spine.
Empty nervously looked at Ikari, who raised his head up.
"Is there any need for that?" His confident and condescending tone kept more weight behind those words of his.
".... I see then." The red kimono doll had responded accordingly.
As it looked to be okay for her to stay here, Empty was able to finally calm down and allowed herself to look around.
Taking a closer look at the girls around the same age, it was obvious that something unusual was in their hands. They were weapons – objects that could fit under that definition.
Great swords, long spears, gigantic bows disproportionate to those girls' bodies──even though those were at least understandable, there was also a huge inexplicable wooden cross.
Clap, a conspicuously loud rupture.
Looking at the strange doll standing on the podium, I saw it was striking its hands together.
Clap, clap, clap.
"Everyone, the participants of this time have all arrived as scheduled. Please allow me to close the registration."
The red kimono doll that had returned back to the podium softly spoke out.
"Apologies that I didn't tell you this earlier, but my name is Akako Machi. I will serve as the referee of the game."
Then, the short-haired doll spoke out in a stern voice.
"Likewise, Lycos will also serve as a referee. That is to say, our words are also the words of Doll Master."
Everyone displayed a complicated response to the word "Doll Master".
Fear, anxiety, timidness, fighting spirit, and hatred – all of those various emotions intermingled in the classroom.
"So then please raise your hand and introduce yourself in order. Furthermore, I will point out false declarations of weapons and Astral Dress here."
Lycos turned its attention to Akako Machi. Akako Machi took the list with one hand and slowly patrolled the classroom before beginning to call out each name.
"Participant no. 1, Sheri Musika, please stand up!"
"Here, here, over─here!"
A brown-toned girl energetically raised her hand. Her beautiful appearance and cheerful voice were somewhat reminiscent of a Brazilian style.
With an innocent smile, she looked to have faintly protruding teeth from her mouth to highlight her charm.
Her clothes were extremely simple with black spats and a pink T-shirt. It was better to say that it made her look considerably younger than her actual age.
Embedded on her hand was a large optic lens─. "Are those magnifying lenses…unyah!?"
"Please don't talk."
Ikari softly whispered while casually pinching Empty's ass.
However, regardless of this, Sherri stood up to face everyone, lowering her head while making a peace sign.
"I am of the Fifth Spirit type, Sheri Musika! My weapon is the Unsigned Angel
She said those cruel and dangerous words in a brisk tone.
"Umm...a joke..."
"...It's not."
"Hobbies are saving money! Hanging on to money to support siblings!"
Empty nodded, thinking that she might be a good child. From this point, Lycos pointed out in a sharp voice.
"However, she does not have any brothers or sisters." Empty was convinced that she was a bad child.
"Ahahaha. Exposed─"
Even so, with no hesitation about what she just said, Sheri suddenly sat back down on her chair.
"Participant number six."
"H-here!"
A girl stood up and bowed to the doll. Then, she lowered her head to her surroundings as well.
Although it would be rude to call it old-fashioned, for some reason her white sailor suit and long navy blue skirt felt like something belonging to an old standard.
Her hairstyle seemed to match this with three old-fashioned braids.
The corners of her eyes looked to be slightly drooping, which made her look quite mild──but there was also a fatal sense of discomfort.
The edge of a ring-shaped knife emitting light was hanging from the waist part of her skirt.
"…..Umm, what is that?"
"That is a chakram. It's an ancient Indian throwing weapon."
"Eight-type Spirit, I am Tonami Furue. The weapon is the Unsigned Angel
With the sound of applause, Empty thoughtfully clapped her hands. With a smile, Tonami waved her hand back.
Now this time for sure, Empty thought that she was a nice person.
"Just so you know, the chakram that girl has is the type that would loop of your head with a single strike."
"No, but even so, I still want to believe she's a good person...!"
If everyone were lovely, virtuous, and docile, then perhaps this world would change into a dead space without a given pause.
Such a hunch tightly wrapped around Empty.
"Participant number 11. Tsuan…is it?"
"...Tsuan. Tenth type Spirit, Tsuan."
The girl answered in a quiet voice in response to Akako Machi's question.
Dazzling hair that snatched one's sight away and a determined gaze that cast a cold indifference on everything – such beauty had charm regardless of gender.
"I would like you to stand up."
Hearing Lycos' words, Tsuan stood up silently.
In her hands was a long-handled war halberd.
A combination weapon that combined a sharp spear with a warhammer, it was free to choose between stabbing and smashing.
Empty turned her attention─their gazes intersected.
Her heart was beating extremely fiercely. Rather than shame or shyness, this was due to an intolerable sense of dread.
"Weapon is Unsigned Angel
Hearing what Tsuan had said, the classroom fell into chatter.
Everyone's eyes focused on her, but she gave a feeling of not thinking about it, as she just stared at the scenery outside the window.
"...Why did everyone get so noisy?"
"The name of
Indeed, if one could swing that weapon freely, it would be simple to crush
a single person.
"But it's impossible to lift such a weapon for a long time. She's not a gorilla."
A sudden chill, and the atmosphere of the classroom froze.
Tsuan glared at Empty—with that gaze, Empty thought, "Ah, I'm dead." Starting from the top of the head, it would be a single brush for an attack.
Apparently, it seemed that Empty's impression had brilliantly rubbed the girl's nerves the wrong way.
Suddenly, Ikari let out a chuckle, which was a rare expression Empty had only seen like a few times… less than twice, it would seem.
"Seems like you're already working your role as an emergency bait very well."
"T-that wasn't my plan in the least! How to describe it – it accidentally slipped!"
"...Hobbies, none. That's all. ... I am not a gorilla... Not a gorilla."
Tsuan said it twice, perhaps to stress its importance.
While glaaaaaaring intently at Empty, Tsuan sat down. Empty slammed her face downward to continue to escape from that gaze.
"Now then...continuing on participant number 13."
"Yes."
The girl holding the crude wooden cross and doll stood up. Compared to the other girls, she was extraordinarily young.
The girl was like a sugary confection covered in pink Lolita fashion.
She was the only one casting an innocent smile towards everyone since the very beginning.
"Fourth type Spirit, Ibusuki Panie. Weapon is the Unsigned Angel
Faced with that smile was a blessing in this world.
The only ones who barely responded to it were Empty and Tonami Furue. The rest all muttered "idiots" while casting a disgusted look.
Meanwhile, Ikari simply watched with his lips pressed thin.
Since from the moment she appeared in this classroom, she and everyone else here were not the same type of people.
Although Empty was the only one who couldn't understand, but──
"...?"
"What's wrong?"
"Oh, no, it's nothing."
Empty was the only one who perceived the subtle, unnatural two-faced nature of Ibusuki Panie.
That being said, it was truly a minuscule uncomfortable feeling.
For Empty's thought process right now, it would be best to do her utmost to grasp the current situation.
It would be unnecessary to be strongly attached to this subtle information, so Empty immediately disregarded that uncomfortable feeling.
"My hobby is sweets. Panie is happy as long as I get to eat sweets. But Panie needs a lot of
reiryoku to eat sweets. So, I need to kill. Uhh."
"That's a terrible incentive…"
"Other people are likely to be similar."
"Everyone's trying hard! Hey, hey, ohh──!"
Finally, Panie spoke while raising her arm, but nobody joined in agreement.
"Participant number 15."
"Yes! I am Hijikata Isami!"
A short-haired girl nimbly stood forward and lowered her head.
She looked to be part of a veritable sports department with sports shorts and a blue jersey on top.
Her reddish-brown eyes held an atmosphere of an unyielding will, and with a Japanese sword held in her hands (although it may be a bit too big to be called that), she looked like a cheerful samurai.
In regard to not only just her name and physical education attire, Ikari made a thoughtful expression.
"What's wrong?"
"That girl, she's the type a certain someone in my memory can't deal with."
"Ahh... I understand, I understand."
Empty didn't understand.
However, in front,
Isami, while holding up her Japanese sword, let out an ahahaha laugh with that look.
Then, the girl seated behind her supported her glasses up as she spoke.
"...Start introducing yourself quickly."
"Oh, that's right! I am of the First Spirit type, Hijikata Isami! My weapon is the Unsigned Angel
"Hobbies are fighting! Interest is also a battle! Let's all cut each other down together! But ideally I would like to slash unilaterally! Well, best regards!"
It transitioned from an athletic department to a human chopping department. Indeed, upon a closer look, there was a dangerous colour in her eyes.
How to describe it: she looked to be the type that would kill people cheerfully.
Continuing on, it was the girl who had cautioned Isami last time.
"Participant number 16."
"Yes."
A long black-haired girl wearing glasses stood up.
She was wearing a uniform: a navy blue blazer, white blouse, and a checkered skirt of average length.
The glasses were the so-called low-rimmed spectacles that looked good being suspended above the corners of her eyes.
If Isami was part of an athletic organisation, then she would be part of a literary one. It also gave the impression of having the attributes of a super aggressive discipline committee member…as Empty would judge so.
The girl with the western-style bow crossed gazes with Isami──exchanging fearless smiles.
There was likely a strong rivalry involved; Empty couldn't help but think that was the case.
"...Second Spirit type, Takashita Ayame. Weapon... Unsigned Angel
After that brief introduction, Ayame and Isami crossed gazes once again. In the absence of all other feelings, their fighting spirit began to seep out.
"How nice, a rival; what a youthful feeling!"
Empty cheered, much to Ikari's unchanging expression.
"Participant number 19."
"Ohh."
Even in this particularly rich lineup, an eye-catching girl stood up. Firstly were her clothes. A sailor suit with a tie removed along with a long skirt.
Held in a single hand was a long spear marked with a poisonous colour as it dripped down a quite disgusting purple liquid.
Golden hair, but it was obvious that it had been dyed. There were marks of black hair on her head that made her resemble pudding.
Her expression seemed close to exploding. In other words, if given the chance, her temper would explode immediately.
Compared to the other students,
"Ninth Spirit type, Nogi. The weapon is the Unsigned Angel
"Ummm."
Empty, having felt it was a bit unnatural for an introduction, gently raised her hand.
"Yes, bait-san."
"I know your last name, but what is your given name?" "..."
As Nogi sulked and shunted her face the other way, Lycos opened its mouth as a substitute.
"Her name is Aiai."
"Aiai."
Lycos nodded gently as it said her name again.
"Nogi Aiai."
"...That's an interesting name!"
Extremely quiet, the atmosphere in the classroom froze once again. Even Ikari had a dumbstruck "What did you just say…?" expression on his face.
"To say a name is interesting is really embarrassing…"
Aiai muttered with a murmur. "...Uhh, I'm sorry."
"Head to the back of the school building later to pay me back."
"Hiiiiiiii!"
Empty clung onto Ikari's arms, but Ikari, feeling that it was inconvenient, quickly his arm away.
"Participant number 23."
The next one to stand up was a very strangely dressed girl. Slightly brownish hair, a slim body, and above all, her face were hidden underneath bandages.
While standing up, her movements felt a bit rigid, likely due to concealing her face with bandages.
Her clothes also stood out excessively like a sore thumb, resembling just like a patient's pyjamas.
Even though there was a sense of cleanliness in that cyan colour, it still looked out of place in the classroom.
"...Sixth Spirit type, False Proxy. Unsigned angel
She stood up indifferently, bowed her head indifferently, and sat down indifferently.
"Are you...sick?"
She did not react at all to Empty's whisper. Ikari stared at her intently.
Merely on the account of spite. Merely on account of annoyance.
... From this, it was a little strange for Empty.
"Participant number 27."
Hearing Lycos address the crowd, a girl with plain bundled black hair silently raised her head. Her clothes were a remodelled indigo blue coloured sailor uniform, with a short skirt to the point of being overexposed.
From the gap of that sailor uniform, a fluttering black lace was visible; in any case, it was obviously not chainmail.
With a fierce expression, a sharp glint in her eyes wary of negligence, and a glimpse of those fiendishly seductive thighs… it was exactly just like a kunoichi.
She appeared to be strong. Very, very much so appearing to be strong.
But for some reason, there was a very dangerous atmosphere surrounding her, as if she would say, "Ku, kill me…" after being caught by the enemy.
"Seventh Spirit type, Sagakure Yui. Weapon is the Unsigned Angel is
She whispered coldly before immediately sitting back down.
And it was at this moment Ikari's previous neutral expression changed as he neared Empty.
"....It seems to me that she is the type to say, 'Ku, kill me," after being caught."
"...!"
In the moment Ikari whispered that, Empty judged it necessary to immediately pinch her own stomach with all her strength to prevent another mishap, but nothing had happened.
"..."
But while she continued to stare at this scene, there was no incident at all.
Having said that, it was not she herself but Ikari instead.
Of course, Ikari was also keeping his focus resolutely, but he looked calm otherwise.
"Participant number 29."
"She is absent."
Upon hearing what Ikari had said, Empty tilted her head──but in a short while let out a dumbfounded expression. It was her.
She was the girl that lost during her vicious fight against Ikari.
Akako Machi and Lycos nodded after looking around the classroom and confirmed that she was not here.
"Attendance number──none. For convenience, it will be number 29."
"So it's me, huh?"
Sitting next to her, Ikari had stood up.
Then, with a tone Empty couldn't put her hands on, Ikari gave a bombastic self-introduction.
"Inverse Spirit, Tokisaki Ikari. Angel