Chapter 23: To the Side I Favor

"I have something I want to ask."

Immediately after the battle ended, Guriel adopted a posture of surrender and addressed me.

"It’s about my sister, Amurika."

She pointed toward a single mass-produced model.

"Hmm... so you’re Amurika?"

"You knew about her?"

"I’d like to say it’s because we’re both mass-produced models, but honestly, it was a little tip-off from Bug Route."

(That relaxed smile. She really does see through everything.)

...Crap, what do I do?

Knowing Guriel had a sister was a surprise in itself, but a mass-produced one? And right then, a lightbulb went off in my head. I knew exactly what kind of favor this girl was about to ask.

"Please! I want you to make my sister... make Amurika able to live freely, just like you!"

Called it! No, no, no, absolutely not! My regaining my memories was the fluke of all flukes. There’s no way I can just force someone’s memories to return and break the shackles of a mass-produced model’s programming!

Then again, I don't exactly dislike this kid...

"E=mc^2. That’s the rule of the world according to old man Einstein. If you want a result, you have to pay a price. Do you have anything to offer?"

"I have nothing. I am only a Phantasm Girl. But... I will offer myself. I came here prepared for that."

"Very well."

I’m not sure if I can actually pull this off, but let’s try picking a fight with destiny.

I reached out and grabbed Amurika’s head in a crushing grip.

Come on, show yourself.

"Hostile reaction detected. Head has been s-s-seized. Attempting r-r-reality restoration. Please leave the area imm縺励※縺上□縺輔＞縲らｹｰ繧願ｿ斐＠縺ｾ縺吶?ら峩縺｡縺ｫ縺昴?蝣ｴ縺九ｉ遘ｻ蜍輔ｒErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorErrorError"

"Executing kamikaze protocol to neutralize target."

"Yeah, I’m gonna pass on that."

The second I rejected the command, her hands flew up and began twisting my throat with a force greater than even my post-awakening strength. Guriel watched the scene with eyes full of despair.

"Agh... hck...!"

But I’m not stopping just because of that. I activated OYS, limiting its function strictly to analysis and erosion. Using my own status as a mass-produced model as a causal link, I aimed to soften her shackles.

Crack! Snap!

The five fingers holding her head split open vertically. A sharp, agonizing pain—like being stabbed with a dozen knives—shot through me. It was only that pain that allowed me to keep my sense of self intact.

That was a close one. I almost lost myself just now.

Using my remaining right hand, I wrenched the wrists that were still crushing my windpipe. With my airway finally clear, I whispered softly.

"The World!! My time is now!!"

I can’t undo everything, but I can loosen the threads of this braid just a little bit.

The timer stopped just as my hand finished splintering apart completely.

"Whew..."

"Amurika!"

If you want my review of that experience: I never want to do it again.

"You want my hand? It’s an early production model. It might fetch a high price from a collector."

"No... thank you."

"Whatever."

I used my blade to make a 'Real Escape'—literally, by severing the limb at the wrist. I tossed the hand aside like trash and turned on my heel.

"Wait! What about Amurika!"

"I’ve always preferred stories that look like a 'Merry Bad' ending but turn out to be a 'True' ending. But the Keeper keeps trying to make me meet these extra-dimensional entities."

"Pardon?"

"Basically, I'm saying take care of her."

"Oh! Thank you! Thank you so much!"

"Don’t get the wrong idea. You and your sister were just test subjects. This was a make-or-break gamble. Don't go thinking the dice will land on your side every time."

A faint smile curled at the corner of my mouth.

"I’m always on the side of whoever is most interesting."