One-way traffic

So, what exactly did the two talk about after that?

"Wow, that's amazing...! A modern city that's two or three decades ahead of the rest of the world in technology actually appeared in the year 2000?!"

Even Accelerator himself felt that he was being led by the nose by the other party.

During this period, the girl's initial timidity gradually evolved into a conversation that seemed incredibly familiar and comfortable with her.

Look at Fujimaru Ritsuka now, practically standing right next to Accelerator. Where is that fearful, speechless look she had before?

"Why do you seem to be getting more and more arrogant?"

"Because it's really fun!"

As Fujimaru Ritsuka spoke, her eyes seemed to sparkle with golden stars.

"Although Matthew and I live in a place that is far more technologically advanced than the outside world, no matter how you look at it, it sounds like the place where Accelerator and Hatsune Miku live... is a much more interesting city than ours!"

Thinking about what Fujimaru Ritsuka had just described about the place they were in called Chaldea, Accelerator couldn't help but feel the same way.

Chaldea is located in Antarctica year-round, always buried in dark, icy wilderness.

Let alone a harmonious and prosperous urban landscape, even a clear day is a luxury to be found.

In terms of liveliness and diversity, Academy City is indeed more lively and interesting.

--but.

"Ah, perhaps that is indeed the case."

When the topic of that city comes up...

When talking about the place where Accelerator has spent almost his entire life.

The number one student in Academy City immediately revealed a dangerous expression on his face.

"But if you're thinking of coming to Academy City because you find it interesting, I advise you never to come."

"Eh…?"

Fujimaru Ritsuka originally spoke with reverence and even genuinely intended to say such things.

They were stunned and stood there in surprise.

Hmph. Accelerator had anticipated that the other party would make that face.

He didn't know what it was like to save six people, nor did he know what kind of growth this journey brought to Fujimaru Ritsuka's spirit.

At least he can be sure of one thing.

If a girl like her were to go to Academy City...

—Absolutely, it was like falling into an abyss, with no hope whatsoever.

This has nothing to do with strength or combat power; it wouldn't matter how many Servants like that Fujimaru Ritsuka had by her side.

Because when she truly witnesses the utter darkness of Academy City, her soul will ultimately be corrupted as well.

In that case, it would be better not to have any ideas like "going to a glamorous city like Academy City" in the first place.

Accelerator's goal was to completely shatter even the most basic possibilities.

That's probably why he said those things.

"I don't know what kind of life you've been through, but I'm putting this out there: don't look at that kind of place with any illusions, or you'll only end up miserable."

"Eh...oh..."

The girl blinked, still somewhat bewildered as to what Accelerator was saying and thinking.

…But that's normal.

In any case, they won't be able to go to Academy City, so there's no need to worry about it so much.

The first student in Academy City leaned against the wall, continuing to drink his coffee.

"It's getting late, it's time for you little girls to go to sleep."

"That's true... If you don't get a good night's sleep, it will definitely be very difficult to work tomorrow..."

In short, let's leave our conversation with Fujimaru Ritsuka here for tonight.

She simply waved to Accelerator and then left.

The first one stood alone on the rooftop once again.

As for Hatsune Miku, he had already spoken to her beforehand, telling her not to worry about herself and to just go to sleep.

Right now, the first person doesn't plan to go back downstairs to sleep or eat those dishes.

As night fell, the noise in Uruk gradually subsided.

The first one lay on the edge of the wall, ignoring the danger that seemed to threaten to fall at any moment.

The day has passed, and I can finally have some personal space to rest.

"...Seriously, what stupid thing did I just say?"

I can't believe I could chat with a girl like that for so long... I'm really stupid.

Accelerator pursed his lips, stopped thinking about it, and closed his eyes, ignoring everything.

I'm not trying to sleep, I'm just simply resting with my eyes closed.

That's right... just close your eyes for a few minutes.

The first person emptied their consciousness completely and sank into the deepest part of the dream.

——————————————————————————————————————————

As soon as I opened my eyes.

The world that appears before your eyes is not the roof you see when you close your eyes.

—?!

Accelerator paused for a moment, then immediately looked around.

The sound of water droplets falling came from beside me.

It looks like a cave, or like a shadow.

the most important is.

The vectors on my body are exhibiting a very special state.

'Not the flow of living people...?'

His ability to change the direction of energy allows him to directly observe the flow of energy through his senses, even without direct skin contact.

Accelerator was the first to realize that the flow of energy within himself was already strange.

That is not the vector of a living person.

Snap... Another sound came from behind.

He turned his head and saw a dark figure emerge from it.

are people.

No, that's not right.

The vector flow on that guy's body... it's not from a living person.

"Why would a living person come to the underworld?"

The underworld...?

"The underworld? What the hell are you talking about?"

Just as Accelerator was about to ask the other party a question, he discovered that there was more than one such mournful sound.

Pat-pat, pat-pat-pat—

Several, no… dozens of shadows approached from all around.

They are draped in black robes and resemble human figures, but their essence is completely different from that of humans.

It's more like the kind of zombie that Accelerator once encountered.

…In fact, they are even closer to the concept of “death” than those zombies.

“We were brutally murdered…without dignity, without prayer.”

"They were merely abandoned..."

The sound is getting closer.

Those dark figures... those beings that do not belong to the living, are gradually approaching and heading towards one side.

It approached him mercilessly, as if it wanted to devour him whole.

"Ah... have you come to mock us? Have you come to plunder us?!"

"Neither of them is necessary."

"A warm body, a warm breath, none of that is needed."

"Go to hell, go to hell—"

Go die, go die, go die, go die, go die, go die, go die, go die, go die, go die—

Countless cries, like lamentations, filled the entire space and the entire world.

In that instant, Accelerator finally realized what these guys really were.

It was neither a living being nor a zombie that existed in the middle of life and death.

Instead, they are genuine "undesirable spirits".

Carrying the scent of death, the undead reached out and mercilessly grabbed at his neck.

All living beings must be led into the valley of death.

—Bang! !

However, it was bounced off.

The withered arms of countless undead reaching out towards it.

They were instantly repelled by an invisible shield.

"Whoa—?!!"

To live or to die? It doesn't matter.

"I don't care what you guys are, I'm not going to bother with you at all."

A cold voice sounded.

The spirits stared wide-eyed, incredulous, frozen in place, unable to move.

That was a chilling sound, enough to pierce the body, no—to pierce the soul.

The white-haired, red-eyed living man, though alive, exuded an aura of death.

He spoke as if he had already slaughtered more than ten thousand lives.

"So, leave me alone... or do you want to die here again?"

It was just talking.

With just that one sentence... all the dead were rendered unable to move.

The positions have been reversed.

It was as if the living were still them, and the dead... no, the Grim Reaper who would turn them back into the dead, was right before their eyes.

The spirits wailed, trembling at the deathly sound that seemed to bind their souls. Just that one sentence was enough to terrify all the dead, who were spirits, into immobility.

"Wait."

This was in the midst of a situation that was about to escalate into a one-sided massacre.

Another voice broke the deathly silence.

Accelerator and the undead looked in that direction, where a figure stood... but with an aura different from the dead.

It is neither life nor death.