The Infinite World of Weapon Girls

Page 199

After the first round of selections, a lucky draw and interactive session took place on stage to help the contestants adjust their mindset and prepare for the second round later.

During this break, Leviathan snuggled up to Misaki Shokuhou and asked her about the things that had been troubling her all day.

"Hmm, this is the twelfth time you've asked today. I'll go ask again for you."

Misaki Shokuhou picked up her phone and entered a group chat to inquire about the progress. This was the first time she had mobilized all her resources to find someone, and she wouldn't have done so if it weren't for Leviathan.

However, her expression suddenly dimmed, and she glanced at Leviathan with a hint of shame: "I'm so sorry... I couldn't find Kazakiri Hyouka..."

Here's the thing.

Early in the morning, Levia received a message from her trainer, who recounted the whole story and hoped that Levia could also make time to find Kazakiri Hyouka.

Leviathan then turned to Misaki Shokuhou, a powerful local figure, for help.

Shokuhou said she would leave everything to her, but hoped that Leviathan could prepare well for the evening's singing competition.

“I couldn’t find her. Then—the real Tina…” Levia murmured.

"Hey, what are you talking about?"

"It's nothing." Levia shook her head gently, raised her eyes to look directly at Misaki Shokuhou, and earnestly asked, "Can I... sing a Korean song?"

"Uh...maybe you are indeed better at this, but no one here can understand it, right? And the judges can't really judge it either..."

As she spoke, Misaki Shokuhou's voice grew softer and softer, because Leviathan's gaze was so persistent and earnest that it was impossible for her to refuse.

“—Yes, of course.” Misaki Shokuhou smiled and said.

Against a backdrop of starry skies, on a dazzling and magnificent open-air stage, Leviathan, the last contestant, made a stunning entrance in a beautiful and elegant white gown.

Compared to the shyness and trepidation she felt when singing "Love Circulation," she showed no tension or unease at this moment, as serene as moonlight, even though she wasn't someone who could command a large audience.

"I'm sorry, but for some reasons, I can't perform a song in Japanese for you."

He first smiled and addressed the hundreds of audience members in Japanese.

"Today, here, I want to... dedicate a poorly adapted version of my song, 'Lucid Dream,' to my best friend..."

Levia once asked Tina what her favorite song was.

She said it was "Lucid Dream," which puzzled Leviathan because the lyrics of the song were too dark and negative, even though the melody was undeniably good.

After learning more about Tina's story from the trainer, she realized that the person she was talking about in her lucid dream was actually herself, and that Tina was just saying she simply liked her.

Levia thought that perhaps she couldn't change the facts, but making a small change to "Lucid Dream" would be the best blessing she could give Tina.

The next moment, a captivating song began to play.

“?? ? ??? ???”

I often hear this late at night

“??? ??? ???”

Other people's secret whispers

……

Misaki Shokuhou, sitting in the audience, sensed something was wrong.

I thought to myself that it was indeed because of the language barrier that the audience's reaction was surprisingly silent and indifferent, a complete opposite of when I sang Love Circulation.

However, Leviathan had to win. She clearly had the ability; how could she be eliminated halfway through because of her song choice? She had to win, even if it meant using shameful means… Thinking this, Misaki Shokuhou reached into her bag and grabbed a hard object.

The ability to manipulate people's hearts!

Yes, she has the ability to manipulate people's hearts. She can make these indifferent guys burst out with the greatest enthusiasm even when faced with songs they don't understand at all. What's more, she can directly control the judges to give full marks!

Thinking to herself, "How can you guys ignore Leviathan like this!" she angrily reached for the remote control, but...

My fingers suddenly froze.

……

“?? ? ?? ?? ???”

Dreams hide behind the cold moon.

“?? ? ??? ???”

I drifted into a half-dream state in the small room.

……

The sorrowful song made her suddenly realize that people were not silent, because silence does not mean being stunned and motionless, but rather that they were truly moved by the song.

Perhaps music and songs transcend national boundaries.

When she sings "Renai Circulation," she can make everyone's emotions rise to an unprecedented level, while "Lucid Dream" can make people feel sad... Compared to Shokuhou's ability to manipulate people's hearts simply by using her power, Leviathan's "ability" to "manipulate people's hearts" with her pure sincerity and singing voice is far superior... This deeply impacted Shokuhou's heart.

For the first time, she realized that her spiritual mastery was nothing more than something dispensable, or even something shameful.

Leviathan advised herself to avoid emotional control in relationships unless absolutely necessary, but Misaki Shokuhou did not agree.

Why is this?

Misaki believed that after losing in terms of bust size, this was probably the only thing she could surpass Leviathan in... Until this moment, after suffering a crushing defeat in her proudest area, she realized that she was truly "worthless".

Perhaps that's why she likes Leviathan so much.

Well, who knows?

The night was deep, but the lights in the distance were bright and dazzling.

Is today a special day?

After getting out of the taxi, looking at the bright lights inside Tokiwadai, Misaka Mikoto asked in confusion.

"I think it's some kind of singing competition? I heard someone mention it while I was on duty today," Kuroko said.

It was getting late, and Haruharu Kazari and Saten Ruiko were planning to head back when they suddenly became interested upon hearing about the singing competition.

Chu Chun suggested, "Everyone's had a long day, how about we go check out the Diva Contest? It's not far anyway."

“But Tina has already fallen asleep. You guys go ahead, I'll take her to…” Misaka Mikoto felt the movement against her shoulder and turned her head in surprise. “Eh, she’s already awake?”

"Ugh...put me down..."

"Uh... okay." Mikoto then withdrew the electromagnetic power that was weighing down the girl.

"Wind-Slaying Ice Flower... has it been found?"

Tina's first words after waking up were to ask about important matters.

Knowing how important this matter was to Tina, the group hesitated, each looking as if they wanted to say something but couldn't. Just then, Tina seemed to understand something and her eyes darkened.

Jiang Zhan searched almost every place in the Imaginary Number Zone that he might have gone, but still found no trace of him. Could it be that he was going in the wrong direction from the beginning?

His face, almost blank, was filled with helplessness and confusion.

"...Hey, Tina, want to go watch the songstress competition and change your mood?" Misaka asked cautiously with a smile.

The group exchanged uneasy glances, and for the first time, Misaka Mikoto displayed the courage of an older sister, bravely taking the girl's hand and walking towards the dazzling light ahead.

At this moment, the real Tina thought to herself:

"Hey, AI Tina, you don't need to go to such lengths for me..."

Her voice was full of tenderness, as if she were the one who had gone through all of this, or rather, as if it were originally her.

"Being able to be with you like this... I'm already... already... so lucky and happy. Although it's a pity I can't see the instructor one more time... as long as you're by my side, I'm content."

AI Tina replied blankly, "...Really?"

"So even if it's not for the instructor's sake, but for my sake, please, AI Tina, take good care of yourself. Don't... always end up injured... because everyone who worries about you will be heartbroken."

"...Am I that important?"

"Misaka Mikoto, Shirai Kuroko, Leviathan, the trainers, and even Bebe, and even Haru-chan and Ruiko-chan, whom you've only known for a short time, everyone is very worried about you..."

[In the single-player game, Beibei, on her deathbed, suddenly sits up—]

"..." AI Tina wondered, why wasn't Tina there?

As if on cue, Tina smiled and explained, "If I'm sad, AI Tina will definitely feel even more guilty, so I won't be sad, even if I'm more worried than anyone else. To avoid making you feel guilty, I absolutely won't allow myself to be sad..."

To avoid feeling guilty, I forced myself not to be sad...

This must be the most beautiful love confession AI Tina has ever heard since she started having feelings.

It was as if she was certain that she would care about her that much.

Although this is indeed the case

Even if she didn't understand the meaning of "the moonlight is beautiful," she firmly believed in AI Tina's clumsy feelings.

Suddenly, a very familiar song came from beside my ears.

“??? ??? ???”

A familiar gesture of happiness

“??? ?? ?????”

Disappeared into the end of darkness

……

With slightly raised eyes, Leviathan's figure on the stage appeared in a blur.