Chapter 305 Lingering Echoes and the Acquired Special Identity

White flowers, candles, and flesh representing the dead students.

At first, Takumi had not connected these Obsession Items together. But after speaking with Maki, he could not help but begin noticing them and realizing the hidden connections between them.

Only two people ever paid respects to those dead students. One was Hirano Sōsuke himself, and the other was his teacher.

Previously, Sōsuke had not acknowledged the [Teacher] identity Takumi possessed. Takumi himself had only started seeing certain things that had once been invisible or unclear after gradually becoming aware of them. Clearly, this hidden identity of his required him to notice it himself and actively play the role before it would slowly begin taking effect. Just like back in Red Nut Grey Cave, where he could only use the facilities inside the general's office to issue commands after actually entering the office itself.

Then, if he, while possessing the hidden identity of [Teacher], performed an act of mourning, would it strengthen and stabilize that identity in front of Sōsuke, this core obsession, thereby ensuring that he would not be shot dead on the spot after releasing and capturing Alice?

After all, that unnamed teacher had originated from Fujihana Middle School and was, in essence, also a researcher. Having Alice's aura on him would therefore be completely reasonable. So long as he established his identity as a teacher before the core obsession and brought that hidden identity he possessed to the surface, then perhaps he would not be erased for summoning Alice.

It was worth trying.

Takumi quickly told Mai his idea. After thinking it over, Mai told him to proceed carefully. She instructed him to carry out the test in the open area outside the courthouse and reminded him that if anything dangerous happened, he absolutely had to notify everyone immediately through the mental link.

The players were still discussing their next course of action, discussing how they could truly touch the needs of this Instance's core obsession. For safety reasons, Mai had not exposed Takumi and the others. Externally, the Shinomiya family was also acting under the name of cooperating with her Slacker Crew. After all, compared to proper Red Moon-level players, Takumi's current strength still fell short in certain areas. And on top of that, Takumi himself had mentioned the matter of the Obsession Item that carried Alice away returning to the Instance, which meant he had already damaged the interests of some Red Moon-level player. Therefore, until they confirmed the identity of the player who had lost that Obsession Item, it was best not to expose Takumi's existence.

As for why Miko likewise could not be exposed, the reason was even simpler. With her abnormal perception ability, a Red Moon-level player could completely transform her into some kind of detection device and use her that way. In the end, while the overwhelming majority of Red Moon-level players were capable of getting along amicably, working together, and even helping each other without expecting repayment, that was all built upon a relationship of equals. But from the perspective of the weak, things were not so simple.

After all, no matter how one looked at it, Takumi and the others were still severely lacking in strength. If they encountered a player who genuinely wanted to target them, resisting would be extremely difficult. At least, from Mai's perspective—someone unaware of Takumi's rollback ability—she could not imagine any way Takumi could resist powerful players harboring malice toward the weak. And since she herself could not protect Takumi around the clock twenty-four hours a day, she ultimately made that decision.

After deciding to test this approach, Takumi did not hesitate. Together with Miko, he quietly left the courthouse and walked to an open area outside. After confirming there was nothing nearby watching them, he took the white flowers and red candles out from his watch, then took out the Obsession Item formed from the fused flesh of the Bad Students.

Takumi had prepared two sets of flowers and candles. One set he placed beside himself untouched, while he held the other in his hands.

He placed the lump of flesh on the ground, then lit the candle and set the red candle before the flesh.

The lump of flesh, which had occasionally twitched and writhed before, completely quieted down the moment the candlelight began burning, as though it had become a dead object.

And when Takumi then placed the white flower before the flesh, he could vaguely feel this Obsession Item, overflowing with twisted resentment, calming down. He could feel those maddened resentments receiving some kind of comfort.

Miko stood not far away, silently watching Takumi's actions.

From her perspective, she could see the phantom silhouettes of students. She saw those shadows close their eyes, revealing expressions as though they had fallen into peaceful sleep.

Then the girl's gaze shifted elsewhere.

She saw a figure walking forward. A figure that came to Takumi's side, crouched down, and picked up the flowers and candle.

A faint flame flickered to life.

When Takumi turned his head, he discovered that at some point, an additional lit candle had appeared before the flesh Obsession Item. There was now also an extra white flower placed before the candle.

[No matter what we do, we can't change the tragedy that already happened. Rather than saying we're mourning the dead, or hoping the departed can rest in peace, it's more accurate to say we're simply satisfying ourselves… simply comforting ourselves through these actions.]

It was as though he could hear someone's voice echoing out—a voice tinged with melancholy, filled with the weight of long years.

[I know. But I'll still come here. Every year, I never forget to return to this place. I still fear, despise, and hate everything that happened back then. But I can't forget those things. Even if it's only as a reminder to myself, I'll still come back.]

And then came the voice of a young man beside him, firm and unwavering.

[Does remembering these things really have any meaning? You don't need anyone to forgive you. And me… heh. I'm not qualified to ask for anyone's forgiveness.]

[Of course I need forgiveness too. Because in the end, I was the only one who survived, wasn't I? So many people before me tried to escape that hell, yet I alone was the one who successfully made it out alive. I became that special exception, that one and only survivor. Someone like me… no matter what, I cannot forget what happened here. I've already made my decision, Teacher. I'm going to take the police recruitment exam. Even if I only become the lowest-ranked auxiliary officer, I still have to do something.]

[Is that so? Then do your best. But don't put too much pressure on yourself either. You just happened to survive. You don't owe anyone anything. You're not like me—you don't need to bear any sins. So long as your conscience is clear, that's enough.]

[Yeah. Then… see you again next year, Teacher. I'll keep writing letters to you.]

[You brat, you're seriously making things difficult for me. Every few days the post office keeps bringing letters over. What kind of secluded life is that supposed to be? Do you realize that because of you, all the villages around where I live are saying there's some weird old man living alone up in the mountains now?]

[Even so, I'll still write to you, Teacher. Because I'm the only person left who can still talk to you now, aren't I?]

[...Sigh. Do whatever you want.]

The illusion of the two conversing quickly faded away.

Takumi turned his head, but he did not see Hirano Sōsuke anywhere. It was as though he had never appeared at all, leaving behind no trace whatsoever. Yet those two burning red candles, along with the two white flowers, were already proof enough of his existence—more than enough for Takumi to understand what had just happened.

"Senpai? Did it already work?"

Miko, standing not far away, cautiously stepped a little closer as she spoke.

She had seen Hirano Sōsuke appear and disappear, but she had not seen the conversation Takumi witnessed, so she was not entirely sure what the current situation was.

"Yeah. It worked. Next… comes the crucial step."

Takumi gave a light nod, then turned to look at Miko beside him. And through that exchanged glance, the girl sensed the change in Takumi's aura, immediately realizing that he had completely activated the hidden identity he possessed.

Looking forward, looking past Miko's shoulder, toward that phantom standing in the distance with the same smiling expression as ever—

Takumi slowly curled his lips upward, revealing a smile even more exaggerated than Alice's own, startling Miko standing before him slightly before he finally spoke.

"Next… it's time to bring all of this to an end."

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