Chapter 8: Lighter Pocket

POV - Protagonist

In this space where the perceived temperature had plunged below freezing, I continued to calculate the best course of action for my survival.

"Hey."

I dialed my alertness parameters to the maximum. She...

"What’s your name?"

"....What?"

The sheer randomness of the question made me drop my guard for a split second. It was too late to put up a front now, so I decided to introduce myself.

"Kazuto... Kazuto Amane."

"Heh. Nice to meet you, Kazuto."

She offered her left hand. I hesitated for a moment but took it almost immediately, sealing a handshake of "friendship." I had no idea how effective this gesture would be, but it was safe to say that a minimum level of safety was now guaranteed.

"That’s the first time a Phantasm Girl has ever asked for my name."

"Is that so? Maybe your affinity level just isn't high enough."

"Maybe..."

She seemed willing enough to talk.

"So, what are you here for? Surely you didn't break in just to say hello. Even a woman introduced by a friend would at least make small talk."

"You’ve got guts. I’ll give you that. I’m here so you can ask me a question. Anything you like. As long as it’s within my power to answer, I’ll give you one—just one."

"....!"

This wasn't something I could handle on my own. A right that could influence the very foundation of the Phantasm Girls—the very truth of this world—had been dropped onto my shoulders. She was smiling. It was as if she were telling me to ask my question carefully, making sure not to break the fragile glass marble in my hand. She was the one in control here.

"You’re quite leisurely about this. You have the skills to infiltrate this deep. You could probably suppress the entire headquarters by yourself."

"Should I count that as your question? Are you really going to toss the most meaningful question of your life into 'Dustopia'?"

With an airy laugh, she sat down on the sofa before I even realized it and pulled a cigarette from her pocket.

"There’s no smoking in this room."

"Then I’ll be the historic first. You should be honored."

She put the cigarette between her lips and tossed a metal lighter toward me.

"Can you light it for me?"

Chrono prodded the cigarette with her left index finger in a provocative gesture, waiting for my next move.

"..."

After a long silence, I complied, offering a small flame that began to tint the room gray.

"Nice. I don't hate that about you."

"Thanks."

"So, have you decided on your question?"

"Yeah..."

"Are you 'Lica'?"

It was something I had suspected for a long time. The possibility that Chrono was the original Lica who had given birth to all the others. And this question had a second layer of intent.

"Which one do you mean?"

"Both."

I had overlapped two questions into one. "Are you the Lica?" By using a loophole, I was trying to eliminate the possibility of her refusing to answer if the original Lica were hiding among the mass-produced units. On top of that, I was fishing for her model number.

"There. I’ve asked my one question."

"Oh?"

The temperature in the room dropped even further.

There were several weaknesses to this question. First, Chrono still held all the cards. She could kill me whenever she wanted. If she simply refused to answer, that would be the end of it.

Her answer was...!

"Haha... Hahaha! Ahahaha!!"

"....?!"

"Wow, not bad! Not bad at all! Just what I expected from the protagonist! Though..."

After her fit of laughter subsided, Chrono flashed a defiant smirk.

"You’re still lacking in experience, Newbie."

I felt her gaze soften, like a human watching a hatchling. Not like a "mother bird," though. Her gaze was closer to that of a god observing a mortal.

"Fine. I’ll answer both. I am Lica-A37. And I am Lica [REDACTED]."

"I didn't hear the second part."

It was as if some malicious editing had been applied. Even as I tried to process the information, my mind rejected it as meaningless, and the words slipped away.

"Oops. Looks like that was something I wasn't supposed to say. I’ll give you some information to make up for it. But before that..."

A37 tilted her head with calculated cuteness and held out her left hand.

"Show me what you tucked away in your pocket."

"Tsk..."

I couldn't win. I pulled out the voice recorder and handed it over. I assumed she was going to destroy it...

But instead, she held the recorder up to her face.

"Follow 'Burnatville.' The Naginami Trading Company has the information."

"....?! What did you say?"

"Just compensating you for the part you couldn't hear. Also, I think they’re about to arrive."

Suddenly, the door was kicked open with a bang, and my armed squad stormed in.

"Commander! Are you all right?!"

"Yeah... I’m fine."

"So that’s Chrono White..."

"Hmph. She looks familiar."

They all aimed their weapons at A37 simultaneously.

"Oh, right. Newbie! Bring me a Phantom Sword from the armory—a used one is fine."

"You think we’ll just hand it over?"

Scarlet tightened her finger on the trigger.

"You really think you can beat me? How naive."

"Give it to her."

"Commander?!"

"Commander, are you sure about this?"

"I have to believe it’s the right call. More than that, it’s all we can do. Scarlet, go get it."

"...I'll bring the one from the supply room next door."

A37 accepted a cylinder that looked like a relay baton.

"Nice. Well, I think it’s about time I take my leave."

"Hey! What about this?"

I held out the lighter she had thrown to me earlier.

"Hmm, you keep it! From now on, Newbie, you're my lighter pocket for life."

She unlatched the window and stepped onto the ledge.

"Let’s meet on the battlefield next time. Though I’d prefer not to be at each other's throats."

She leaned backward and vanished in an instant. The moment she was gone, the emergency alarms signaling an intruder began to blare so loudly the sound distorted.

"Commander..."

"Let’s go."

I prepared to head to the General Commander's office to report what had just happened.

...In the room, a faint scent of purple smoke still lingered.