Chapter 141 – White Royal Capital ・ Down

The members of the drama club to which Haruka belonged to ended up practicing in the real world for as well.

Inside the virtual world, the volume of the speaker’s voice were automatically adjusted. But in the real world, it didn’t work like that. They had to practice in the real world in order to determine the right amount of volume needed in a situation.

“That’s enough for today. We’ll have to work harder for the competition next month, so please show up as much as possible everyone.”

“Aye…”

Owada listlessly replied while looking completely exhausted due to Sayaka’s strict guidance.

A part of Owada thought that it was because the practice session had been too hard. But another part of him, his pride, was shattered by the fact that the younger and less experienced Haruka ended up performing better than him.

As the members were getting ready to leave, there was a discreet knocking on the door of the clubroom.

All eyes were turned to the door.

“Come in.”

Ruriko called out to the visitor, and the door was slowly opened.

“Good afternoon. Is Obi-kun here?”

The visitor was Reika. She peeked into the clubroom with only her upper body visible.

“Reika.”

“Ah, Haru-kun.”

As soon as Reika saw Haruka, she stood in front of the entrance with a happy expression on her face.

Reika didn’t go inside, perhaps because she didn’t want to disturb their club activities.

Haruka walked over to her and lightly embraced her slender body.

Since they were in public, Haruka had kept his hug short and promptly released Reika.

“When will you be done?”

“We finished just now.”

“Then, why don’t we go home together?”

“Hold on a moment.”

When Haruka turned around to get his bag, he noticed that everyone from the drama club was frozen in shock.

Sayaka and Ruriko in particular were especially more so. At the same time they recalled that Haruka had mentioned that he had a lover when he came to join the club.

“Is that girl Obi’s girlfriend?”

Haruka then answered Sayaka’s question with a smile.

“Yes, she is.”

Sayaka and Ruriko were stunned by his answer.

Haruka had a flamboyant appearance. If they were being honest, his status didn’t show any promise. But still the two were gradually getting attracted to Haruka’s friendly, cheerful, and positive attitude.

When it came to acting instructions, Haruka would listen to both Sayaka and Ruriko’s guidance and would reflect on their teachings carefully in order to meet their expectations. There were often times where they would try to dye Haruka in their own color which ended up with the two girls fighting against each other.

“I’ll be heading off.”

With his bag in hand, Haruka leaves the club room with Reika.

“What’s so great about that guy?”

Owada complained from the bottom of his heart.

His words reached no one. Sayaka and Ruriko remained in the club room, looking blank all the while.

★

“Fufufu, I’m Haru-kun’s girlfriend!”

Reika’s mood was at it’s peak after she heard Haruka’s affirmation in the club room. She’s currently walking by his side with a spring on her step.

“It’s too late for you to back out now.”

“Ye~s♡”

Reika wrapped her hands around Haruka’s and rubbed her cheeks on his shoulder in a flirty way.

“Do you love me?”

“I do.”

“Eheheー”

Reika’s cheeks were dyed red, a wide grin visible on her face.

Haruka smiled softly after seeing Reika’s happy expression.

“Both Miyako and Ria are at the usual place, so let’s drop by there.”

“Where’s the usual place.”

“At the abandoned building.”

The abandoned building near the school was used by Haruka and the others to meet up when they go home together.

The deserted building in the school was sometimes used by students other than Haruka. The abandoned building was the perfect place since no one comes there.

It was an ideal meeting place.

Despite the presence of other students around them, Reika was walking happily through the school gate while clinging to Haruka’s arm.

“Haru-kun, you’re finally hereー”

Miyako immediately jumped on Haruka the moment she saw him arrive.

“Harukaー, good work at your club.”

Ria also walked over and pressed her face against Haruka’s chest. She was next to Miyako, who was currently sniffing Haruka. Reika had remained clinging on Haruka’s arm.

“Well then, let’s head home.”

“Haru-kun, piggyback ride~♡”

“Go ahead.”

Just as Haruka leaned forward a little, Miyako immediately jumped on his back without hesitation.

Reika took good notes in her mind about Haruka’s tendency of spoiling her lovers.

They went out from the lower level of the abandoned building and took a rarely used route to the house.

“Haruka’s house has become crowded, hasn’t it?”

“I’d rather be alone with Haru-kun.”

“That’s karma.”

“Ugh… Ueee…”

“Why are you crying?”

The Obi household had became more lively compared to the time when it was just Haruka and Yuzurika living there.

Ever since his home had became livelier, Haruka has always been anxious.

It’s because he doesn’t know if the girls who were normally out of his reach, the most precious flowers in the world, will really stay with him until the time of his euthanasia.

As one grows older, different experiences will accumulate. Values will change.

Love was not eternal.

Haruka pulled Ria next to him and hugged her tightly.

Ria was surprised. Though she had a hard time walking, she smiled at Haruka and walked as if supporting him.

Haruka knew all too well that he doesn’t possess a status worthy enough to walk alongside his lovers.

For now, he has no choice but to bind them with lust.

He carved and disciplined their innocent bodies to the point that no other man will ever satisfy them.

Haruka felt shameful that it was the only thing he could do.

He failed to realize that this means was so powerful that it was capable of binding his lovers to him for the rest of their lives.

★

A lone man suddenly appeared in front the group of students who just left the school with Haruka at the center.

He was an “old man” who’s wearing a black tailcoaat and a black silk hat.

“You are Miyako, correct?”

“Hm? That’s right..”

Miyako looked visibly confused. Her eyes wandered around the old man.

Haruka stared at the old man in front of him with a wary look on his face.

In this day and age, there were no “old men” present in Japan, the place where Haruka and the others live.

The people there don’t grow old and will continue to live on as young adults until they reach the end of their lifespan of 150 years.

Old people lived in the continent of Eugeia, as well as in the lower layer where the Old Humans live.

The man in front of them was probably from the latter.

He mostly likely climbed up from the lowest level.

“Can we help you, Ojii-san?”

Miyako got off Haruka’s back and stepped forward.

They stared at him, trying to figure out what his purpose was.

[Haruka, I’ve called the police. Time until arrival].

The estimated time until the arrival of the police was shown besides Ria’s message.

It was about 200 seconds.

“Have you people ever wondered about the technology of the Talisman?”

“? I’m not sure what you’re implying…”

“There are no screens in front of your eyes. The visual effects of the Talisman are all illusions created by your brains.”

“That much is obvious.”

The visual effects displayed by the Talisman are illusions created by a machine implanted in the brain.

If a visual effect was visible to everyone, it would mean that everyone was seeing the same illusion at the same time.

Seeing the attitudes of the young folks in front of him, the old man sighed.

“There’s no helping you people and your crazy sense of ethics…”

The police will arrive in 150 seconds-

“…Oh, well. I’m just going to do what I believe is right.”

With that, the old man reached into his pocket.

“Let the dead return back to the earth.”

The old man quickly pulled out a pistol with an unusually short barrel from his pocket.

The muzzle of the gun was pointed at Miyako.

“Miyako!!”

A dry gunshot echoed in the dimly lit street.

Again. And again. And Again.

It continued on until he emptied out the magazine.

As soon as the gunshots had ceased, a violent boom exploded in the castle town.

The ground shook and windows shattered in all directions.

Rising pillars of fire and black smoke covered the Royal Capital.