Retro Hero (6) - 24

It can happen to anyone.

Change and growth come to everyone. The ideas and beliefs we hold can change. That's a normal thing that happens to everyone.

There's no one in the world who is 100% right. A perfect human, a perfect being, cannot exist in the first place. Who in this universe can claim to be the most perfect being?

To say so is to boast of being the most arrogant and foolish being in the world. In this world, perfection does not exist.

Even if there is an end to growth, there is no end to perfection, to completion.

That's how the world is. There is no one more foolish than someone who thinks they are 100% right.

The moment we admit that we are imperfect humans, we are ready to learn, accept new things, and grow. The moment we deny that... no matter how great a person we were, we will only fall as a fool.

"Power... depends on how you use it..."

"What's wrong? Rio Pre... Senpai."

Not only did the blow offset Chesed's attack in one strike, but the blow that hit Chesed stopped him completely. Chesed, who had been attacked by mass-producing numerous robots. Her identity was also unknown, and the final blow he showed felt like a life-or-death danger.

And the terrifying power of Sensei, who defeated Chesed in one blow. Combined with the power he had shown before to control robots, she felt a momentary fear.

What if he used that power against the advanced city of Millennium? Conquering Millennium wouldn't take long. And robots were common in Kivotos, so conquering Kivotos wouldn't be a dream either. It was frightening to think of that power being misused.

However...

"I, for a moment, felt scared of Sensei. Alice too... because two of them looked the same."

"...Then, will you eliminate the two of them?"

Toki asked as if she were addressing the old Rio. Even if she had lost her memory, if Rio made such a request (order), Toki would try, even if it was impossible. Unlike C&C, who were under Semina, Toki, who was trained as Rio's sword, would move according to any order.

Even if it was a precious person... she would do it for now. Because that's what a tool is. Toki thought of Rio that way in the first place. She believed Rio would even sacrifice Toki herself if necessary. That's why she thought her personal powered suit, Abi-Eshuh, would have a self-destruct device in case of emergency.

Of course, Rio wasn't that cruel. She didn't give Toki such harsh orders, and she cared for Toki enough not to install a self-destruct device... but because of Rio's usual behavior and impression, Toki was convinced beyond just misunderstanding.

Rio, who received harsh evaluations in terms of personality except for her abilities, even from her villainous friend Himari and her close aide Semina. It was so bad that even student council presidents from other autonomous districts evaluated Rio as cold-blooded. An excessive rationalist, and a cold-blooded coward who eliminated potential threats in advance because she hated the uncertainty of "what ifs."

That's how she was evaluated.

"Eliminate...? Please don't say such scary things."

"I see."

Toki nodded, and unlike her expressionless face, she was relieved inside. Because even though it was only for a day, she recognized them as good people and close friends.

And that was the same for Rio. Like Toki, Rio didn't have friends. At best, Himari and Neru, who had known her for a long time, were more like villainous friends. They couldn't be called friends. Although they were the classmates who made the current Millennium possible, they had become distant due to Rio's behavior, unlike when they first entered the school.

In a way, it was worse than Toki. Toki assisted Rio with her personal affairs, and like Yuzu, she had circumstances that led her to repeat a grade, so she didn't have the opportunity to make friends... but Rio had plenty of opportunities. Even the distrustful Nagisa had friends she could trust, and the fool Makoto had many friends.

Kisaki had many close aides who truly followed her and whom she trusted, and even the self-righteous Cherino had close aides like Tomoe and Marina who were like friends(?). Even Hoshino of Abydos, still in decline despite having no debt, had juniors connected by strong bonds of friendship.

But Rio? Even with a trustworthy aide like Toki... Toki thought of herself as expendable, so they were far from being friends.

Even Tsurugi, who had major communication problems, had a best friend like Hasumi because of her good nature, but Rio had none. There was no one she could rely on in the first place.

"At first, I was scared for a moment... But, even though it was only for a day... we laughed and had fun together. I don't think Alice and Sensei would do anything bad, even with that kind of power."

"You trust them, Rio-senpai?"

"Trust... Yes, I'm trying to trust them. They're good people, right? The Game Development Club, and Sensei. They were so nice to me, even though I have amnesia. I don't feel any malice at all."

Certainly, at first, Sensei had suggested using Rio's situation, but no one actually used her. Everyone just acted sincerely to become friends with Rio while playing games together. They weren't trying to use their friendship with Rio to keep the club going. Instead, they were trying to find the G Bible to make achievements through game development.

Even though they said that, no one had any intention of using Rio. They were all, essentially, pure children, even if they were troublemakers.

Seeing Rio smiling and showing trust... Toki felt uncomfortable. She wondered if it was okay for a person to change so much, even with amnesia, and she felt cognitive dissonance.

"I don't know what I was like before I lost my memory, but now I believe. They're not bad people."

"I see."

"Your reaction is cold."

"No, it's your imagination."

Anyway, they left the factory where Chesed was... and looked around some more to find the G Bible. Then, they arrived at the abandoned building where they found Alice.

As they went inside, they heard a voice from the hallway.

{Are you AL-1S?}

"Alice is Alice?"

{...Voice confirmed. Divi:Sion system activated. Welcome.}

An old monitor screen turned on in response to Alice's voice. When told to ask anything, Momoi immediately asked about the G Bible. It said that the G Bible was there... It said it was there. And then the computer said it would self-destruct due to a system error.

So, they needed an object to transfer the data...

"How about my phone?"

Momoi didn't have her usual portable game console today, so Sensei took out her phone. She had the Shittim Chest anyway, so her phone wasn't really that important. So the Divi:Sion system was transferred to Sensei's phone.

The upload was complete, and the computer exploded.

"Let's see, on my phone..."

Just as he was about to check the system, saying that various things had been deleted due to capacity issues during the upload, sparks flew from the phone.

Crackle!

"Ugh!?"

""Sensei!?""

Electricity shocked Sensei, making his body tremble, and then the light in Sensei's eyes disappeared...

At that moment, inside Sensei's mind.

"Why are there two princesses...? That's not important. If they're both princesses, I just need to guide them both to their proper roles.

Key infiltrated Sensei who has taken the form of Key. She tried to take control of Sensei's body...

"But... this isn't the princess's body? Where is this?"

Unfortunately, although Sensei could use Key's power and looked exactly like her... surprisingly, inside, he was human. A pure human, not an artificial human-like Alice. He had just changed into her appearance and acquired her power.

Sensei had just lost consciousness for a moment because he was really electrocuted. So Key checked where she had entered if it wasn't the princess's body...

"Who are you, and why are you in my house?"

"...Who?"

Surprise! It was the Shittim Chest!

"You ask who I am? You hurt my precious Sensei, and you ask who I am!?"

"No, where is this... No, why am I in a box!? Then that's not the princess, but Sensei!? Why is Sensei in the princess's form!?"

"Just get out!"

Then, the Nameless God's princess, the AI Key, was kicked out after being hit by Arona Punch.

{Ugh... Why, is this happening...?}

"Ouch... I lost consciousness for a moment."

{Wh-Why...}

"Yes? Ah, are you the G Bible?"

{No, I'm not!?}

And so, Key was trapped in Sensei's phone by Arona.