Hundred - Volume 15 - Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Coming together / Diff and Miile / Apocalypse Plan  

– Haaa, haaa… 

Hayato kept running in the pitch-black, straight passage. 

Light finally appeared in his direction of movement. 

It looked like an exit. 

And the moment he came out of it. 

In a flash, something was leaping upon him. 

– Hayato! Ah—— 

Hayato instinctively dodged the something that was leaping upon him. 

By doing so, Emilia, the owner of the voice, ended up falling prostrated on the ground. The next thing that jumped in his eyes was just a large space. 

Not only Emilia had fallen there, but also Claire and Latia. 

Then again, and directing his eyes to Emilia, Hayato, 

– Err, are you the… real one? 

– That’s right! 

Emilia, who stood up and replied to him, said while clinging to Hayato. 

– There’s no doubt, you’re also the real Hayato! 

– Emilia Hermit, we are in the middle of an operation right now desuwayo! Get away from Kisaragi Hayato this very moment! 

– Excuse me? There’s no need for you to be jealous, you know? I’m just checking whether this is the real Hayato or not. 

– Hey, it doesn’t mean that you know that just because you clung to him, am I right!? 

– That’s why I’ll make sure of that by kissing him. Hayatoo ?. 

– Hey, stop it… Emilia! 

Hayato tried to push away Emilia who was sticking out her lips with both hands. 

– After all, even though he was a fake, Hayato was showing off how he was kissing with Claire! What I mean is that I want to stop having this mood-like of mine now! 

– What are you talking about!? 

Hayato shouted unexpectedly. 

By turning her face bright red, Claire also raised her voice to continue so. 

– I concur desuwayo! What are you spouting, Emilia Hermit!? Could it be that that sort of illusion was shown to you by that girl masuno!? 

– That’s right, then defeated prez and Hayato because that made me angry and while I was at it, I also defeated the “terminal” of that girl—— 

Etcetera, and while Emilia was in the middle of her explanation. 

Footsteps echoed there again. 

It wasn’t one, but two——. 

– … ah… 

– Here… 

Although all members were able to merge, they didn’t look happy. 

Rather, both Ryuuto and Aila were showing a cautious look. 

– Err, is, that so…? 

Closing her eyes partly, Aila looked at the faces of Hayato, Emilia, Claire and Latia. 

– Everyone is… real, yes? 

After he looked at the faces of the four people in the same way, Ryuuto asked with a puzzled expression. 

Of course, everyone who was in this place could understand the meaning of their reactions. 

– It appears that you guys, and similarly to us who are here, fell in that game set by that girl desuwane. 

It seemed that Ryuuto understood that with the words of Claire. 

– … so that means that everyone who has arrived at this place went through the game of that girl? 

– Yes, that’s exactly how it is desuwa. 

Ryuuto showed a relieved look, looking at Claire who nodded. 

Aila looked at his figure with a fleeting, sidelong glance. 

Ryuuto noticed so. 

– Is there something wrong? 

– N-no! Forget it! 

There was no way that she could say that she was conscious of him when remembering the illusion that was shown by the girl. Because of that, Aila continued her words to dodge the question, although her face was dyed bright red. 

– Mo-more importantly, this should mean that everyone cleared the game, right? What should we do next—— 

A voice resounded when Aila said so. 

– And noow, what shall I do? 

——It was the voice of the girl. 

Because of that, not only Aila but also the other five people noticed that the girl was near there. 

While receiving the gazes of Hayato and company, the girl grinned. 

– First of all, congratz. Everyone cleared the second game splendidly ?. It’s a complete defeat for me——but what do you think of the development of the third game, where there’s a fake among you that is still pretending? Don’t you think it’s intriguing? Aahahaha! 

Saying so, Emilia asked, glaring at the smiling girl as if she was making fun of them. 

– What on earth do you want? 

Those were words that spread dreadfulness. 

– What, you say? It’s decided, don’t you think? It’s killing time! 

Saying so, the girl showed an uncanny smile. 

– Even so, I thought that I disturbed your hearts using your quite weaknesses almost perfectly with the scanned data I got while you were fighting in space and the data I got when you were getting on?Planet X?, and yet, everyone survived successfully——in addition to using almost no energy! This is a truly boring result… Even though the opponents I used were experimental stage’s monster balls. 

Yareyare, the girl showed a gesture like sighing. 

– Besides, everyone was saying that they have bonds, that they have trust——it’s really irritating! Even though I think such things are fake! You look foolish when you believe in others than yourself! At best, it’s the same as being betrayed! 

– Are you saying that that’s why you make Savages and release them in space? 

Since she couldn’t believe in anyone else but herself, she was trying to erase everything. 

That was how Emilia felt it. 

Smiling with a puff, the girl answered. 

– Yup, that’s the reason. The world and all the people in it despaired me. That’s why I created the?V?news or Savages as you call them, the weapons that will destroy the whole world and scattered them throughout the universe. It’s no more than that. 

– Don’t laugh at us. 

That wasn’t the voice of Emilia. 

In that place and all of a sudden, a voice echoed. 

– If you’re despaired by the world, then don’t cause trouble for anyone and just kill yourself! 

That voice belonged to Liza. 

Liza created a sword of light in her hands and slashed at the girl. 

– Reinforcements!? 

The girl dodged the attack of Liza at the very limit. 

A person pursued her there. 

——Nii-san! 

The girl, who slashed at her while shouting, has a figure that resembled the girl that Hayato and the others were confronting up to now. Her skin and hair are white, her eyes are red. And on her head, she was wearing accessories similar to golden horns. 

Looking at that figure, the little girl who was called “Nii-san” showed a troubled look. 

– Why, why are you here…!? How and when did you break free!? 

– Liza-san helped me when Nii-san was busy. And then, I replaced myself with a dummy data that I was preparing. 

– Shit! 

After she dodged with a jump to the back the slashes that were continuously released by the girl. 

The girl that was called as “Nii-san” ended up disappearing just like that. 

– Huh? He ran away? 

– I am sure he went to check the situation. 

The girl replied to Emilia who muttered. 

– At this rate, do you think that?ZERO?itself is going to stop functioning? 

– …?ZERO?? What’s, that…? 

It was Latia who asked next. 

– It is the name of the system built on this planet——no, it is not an exaggeration to say that it is the name of the planet itself. 

– Oh, is that kind of thing? 

Latia recalled that?Planet X? was purely a temporary alias created by the people of Notre Dame. 

However, and at the same time, it was certain that a new doubt was born. 

– Why do you know such things masuno? 

It wasn’t Latia who asked about it. 

But Claire. 

– That’s right! Why was she saying “Nii-san?!? What’s the meaning of this!? 

Including Emilia who raised her voice next, there were questions of everyone with the exception of Liza. 

– I am sorry, I still haven’t introduced myself. 

Bowing her head quickly and giving that as her answer, the girl continued her words. 

– I am Miile. As I said before, the one just now is my older brother—— although I say so and that his figure is the one of a girl, I am the younger sister of Diff who created the system of?ZERO?that improves this planet——and also I am a person who has the same goal as you. 

– Same goal…? Are you sure about letting us stop the actions of this planet? 

– That won’t stop Nii-san——and also, it is my responsibility as he ended up making the decision to destroy the world. 

Miile replied clearly. 

Her look was serious. 

They couldn’t feel something like lack of clarity in it. 

– That means that it’s fine to think of you as an ally desuwane. 

– Yes. 

Miile nodded. 

Liza continued to affirm that. 

– There’s no doubt that she will be a valuable fighting power when capturing this planet. 

– We are in a race against time now. I want to advance towards the?Core?even if it is just a little before Nii-san makes a restoration to the system. So, would you mind if we talk while walking? 

– Understood. 

Claire nodded. 

– We believe in you. Nobody has a problem with that either masenwane? 

Not a single person gave a different opinion towards that. 

That reaction was something satisfactory for Liza. 

She smiled and talked to Miile. 

– Well then, Miile——would you guide us towards the core, towards the central part of this planet?ZERO?? 

 ? ? 

(How is the system of?ZERO?doing now?) 

A pure-white world. 

It was the world inside the network. 

Diff had took the figure of a little girl and now was attempting to grasp the situation while looking at the monitor deployed in front of him with an irritated look. 

To what extent was the intrusion of foreign enemies——. 

——No. 

It was to check to what extent the system was being seized, including Miile. 

Diff sighed, looking relieved as he was able to grasp that to a certain extent. 

(There seems to be less damage than I thought) 

But that didn’t mean that he hypothesized a situation like this. 

Naturally, he was taking countermeasures. 

Nonetheless, and to say nothing of the destruction of one of the CPUs of?ZERO?, the betrayal of Miile was a loss now that she sided with the enemy. 

It was a very troublesome thing, so he wanted to get her back quickly and as soon as possible. 

Depending on the situation, he will have to consider dealing with Miile as well. 

He must also deal with the elimination of the intruders. 

There were many things to do. 

——Oh, how fun. 

——It’s really enjoyable, it can’t be helped! 

This feeling, it’s the first time in how many years now! 

(I shall leave the repairs to the AI for now) 

He was in charge of securing Miile and the earthlings who have invaded?ZERO?. 

That was the conclusion of Diff. 

(Those persons, I expect them to be absolutely funny!) 

To destroy the world——the plan that would send everything back to zero. 

How long has passed since he started planning what he called?Apocalypse Plan?? 

——2 million years. 

No, it may be over 3 million years ago. 

From that day, Diff began a war against the world he resented, he decided to keep assembling secretly those who have a similar thought to him using the network. 

Slowly and steadily, Diff kept preparing——. 

——At last, that day came. 

The events of that day——. 

Diff recalled the events of the morning of the day he triggered the war. 

——These were the events of that day. 

As usual, an old man came. 

His name was Lugo. 

He was a military officer of the Empire of Enkarl, which was one of the countries that controlled planet Framel——a planet that achieved a development similar to the Earth, but more importantly, the mechanical civilization was just a bit more advanced and where human body remodeling technologies by implants were developed. 

He was one of those people who got the most out of everything for the sake of their own interests, and who imprisoned Diff, making him bear responsibility for the genocide using mass murder weapons. 

It was time for Lugo to come to this place and to bring an order to him. 

Diff always went in accordance with those, in order to gain time until he carried his plan forward. 

There was no doubt when thinking that today he would surely have to obey those orders as well. 

But, not today. 

Obeying the orders was no more. 

Diff pressed a key of the keyboard placed in front of him just before he got up from the front of the computer. 

It was to send an email to his collaborators telling them the start of the plan. 

Then Diff moved his feet forward to where Lugo was. 

– Why don’t we stop this already? 

Diff said to Lugo who was on the other side of the iron bars. 

– What do you mean? 

What are you saying? Lugo raised one of his eyebrows. 

– I’m telling you that your puppet exists no more. I’ll live for myself from now on. 

– Diff! What’re you saying, you bastard…! 

At that time, when Lugo shouted while shaking with rage. 

A gunshot resounded. 

– Wha——. 

Lugo collapsed with a thud. 

There was a hole in the left side of the chest, blood was leaking out from there. 

– What the, who…? 

Following those words, *cough!*, blood overflowed from the mouth of Lugo. 

– A small destructive weapon——a robot. 

A three-legged robot with arms that were like manipulators and a cylindrical body of 1 meter in length. 

That weapon brought a key to Diff. 

He made it do a duplicate of it beforehand. 

Using that, Diff opened the lock of the jail. 

– This robot is, of course, built by me. If I use this, I should be able to easily dominate planet Framel. 

– You intend… to betray me…? 

– You’re not the only one. The machines similar to this robot have already dominated the whole building. Not only numerous police officers and soldiers, but also high officials, secretaries, office workers as well as ordinary persons who have been visiting this place should have been dealt by all of them. 

– Wh-what…? Why, are you son of a bitch doing such a… 

– You guys are naïve, you know? 

Diff explained to Lugo as he showed an ominous smile on his face. He secretly made a device with which he was able to get in touch with the outside, he was steadily making progress in those preparations——. 

– Kuh, that means you bastard that you’re betraying our Empire? Is that your revenge against us, you son of a bitch!? 

– It’s proof of talent rather than revenge. My talent is not something that will be used by you and no one else. In order to prove it to yourself, I had to put it into practice like this. 

– Guuh! 

Stepping on the body of Lugo, Diff continued his words. 

– Also, there’s a thing you’re greatly misunderstanding. I’m not betraying this country. I’m doing this to betray the world. 

– The world…? 

– Uh huh. I thought of a strategy for that. 

A single machine couldn’t do anything. 

But if he intentionally caused a rebellion of the machines, then mankind, then he might be able to easily destroy all humanity. That was the plan of Diff. 

– That’s why I was pretending that those inventions were useful to people while I continued advancing on preparations below that. Everything was to hide the things for the?Apocalypse Plan?that has just begun. I also pretended to serve the country. And when those arrangements were ready, I put it into practice. The destruction of the world has now begun. 

– Diff——you’re broken. 

– Such kind of things often happen to geniuses, no? You weren’t able to use me well, and so you guys——no, the world is at fault. As they say, “you’re suffering the consequences of your own actions”. 

Diff inspected the body of Lugo and stole his gun. 

And then he pulled the trigger with its muzzled towards Lugo. 

——*Bang!* 

With his head bursting open, Lugo died. 

– Hahaha, hahahah! Not yet, the end of the world has just begun. But not even I can hold back anymore. Fufuh, Hahaha! Hahahahahahah! 

From that day on, his thorough destruction began. 

To demonstrate his strength and to demonstrate his talent, he would destroy not only the Empire of Enkarl, but also the neighboring countries one after another using the small destructive weapons together with the terrorists. 

As a result, and in less than a month, the planet Framel was almost destroyed. 

It was the overwhelming victory of Diff and the terrorists. 

However, the terrorists were no more than terrorists. 

They were no more than pieces, after all. 

Among them, people appeared and tried to create their own countries in the fallen world. 

Such people weren’t the pieces that Diff wanted. 

So, he disposed of them. 

He must give them death. 

The only one who can remain in the end is me? 

His purpose was the destruction of the whole world. 

To do that, pieces were needed, but since he came to this already, they were no longer necessary. 

The situation will not be reversed. 

Diff concluded so and sent emails to all the terrorists all at once. 

Thank you for everything till now. And, goodbye——? 

He issued an order to the robots to destroy all the hideouts of the terrorists. 

Even though he dumped the terrorists like he did, it took no more than two weeks for Diff to gully have control over planet Framel. 

Nonetheless, not all intelligent lives that were in planet Framel died. Although a few, some people survived, they were hiding below ground and others escaped to other planets. 

Naturally, he intended to eradicate them too, but even the opponents had people with some sort of intelligence. It wasn’t going to be easy. 

Two years had passed after that——. 

Around the time when the general suppression of intelligent life existing on the planets that surrounded planet Framel was over. 

Using one of the small planets among them, Diff started the construction of a factory. 

The purpose was to develop and research robots for the exploration outside of the galaxy and robots that would eradicate the life forms of the planets found. 

Diff planned to make those planets a site for universal suppression. 

He intended to migrate to that planet and become one with the planet. 

Due to the limited life of the human body, and to throw away his body, Diff devised a plan to survive and integrate with the planet. 

——Assimilation plan. 

Everything was to destroy this world and to see with his own eyes the end of it. 

Then again, a year passed from that. 

Diff sensed the presence of intruders into the factory. 

It wasn’t a direct invasion. 

It was an intrusion into the main computer that controlled this factory. 

Although some attempted to trespass several times before, all of them were able to be prevented by the security wall made by Diff. 

No one who was able to trespass so far. 

And no one would be able to do it from now on either. 

Even though he was thinking so——. 

(What the heck is he doing?) 

Diff tried to prepare for the confrontation against the invading opponent. 

Thereupon, a message from the third party arrived. 

It’s been a long time, Nii-san? 

When he saw those characters, the whole body of Diff trembled. 

(Impossible ——) 

It was that impossible. 

Nii-san. Please stop doing this sort of thing? 

With the text that arrived next, Diff was convinced. 

At the same time he was letting a smile show. 

– Miile… 

She was 8 years younger than him, she was the real younger sister of Diff. 

She herself also had a high honor of genius similar to Diff. 

Was it thanks to her intellect? 

Overcoming the subversive activities of the terrorists, she survived and appeared before his eyes in this way. 

Miile sent him letters many times during his imprisonment. 

I will show the proof of Nii-san’s innocence? 

Although that and other things were written, in reality, that never happened. 

His sister was surrounded by the Empire and chose the way to use her brain for the Empire. 

There was never a time where she gave help to him. 

It didn’t look like she came to meet him face to face after that, and her letters came no more either. 

Because of that, he thought that he didn’t matter to her. 

And yet, why—— 

Please reply, Nii-san. Nii-san——? 

This late in the game, my little sister called for me. 

Without a doubt, I understand that she came to me. 

In other words, she came to fight. 

If that’s the case——. 

(Fufuh, should I follow her game?) 

The network of the planet that Diff completed. 

The area of Miile that was built on top of it. 

Diff decided on purpose to head to that place. 

While it was no more than a network, the figure of his little sister that appeared there was——. 

It was the figure of Miile. 

– It’s been a long time, Nii-san. I am happy that you came. 

– Long time no see, Miile. But, your appearance hasn’t change at all, huh. 

Her figure was when Miile was a child——. 

It was the same when they met for the last time before Diff was imprisoned. 

– I thought this appearance was the best, then I did so. But, the real I grew considerably. That is all thanks to Nii-san too—— 

– … me? 

– Because of what Nii-san left behind——the research results of Nii-san, I was able to come this far in this way. 

– … is that so? 

Spilling a smile with a puff, Diff continued. 

– As one would expect of my younger sister. If it’s you, then there’s no mistake that you’ll be able to accomplish my objectives more quickly. What do you think, won’t you cooperate with my plan? 

– I can’t do that. 

With an immediate reply, Miile created a shining sword in her hand. 

– Although we are brothers, Nii-san and I are different. If Nii-san is the virus, then I am the vaccine——so I am making me responsible for your extermination! 

– Like I thought, that was your goal, huh… 

Diff created a sword similar to Miile’s in his hand. 

Their battle was inevitable. 

Sword and sword clashed with each other. 

Both were merely avatars created with particles drifting on the network. 

It was like they were playing a battle game, wagering the ownership of the network, so to speak. A proxy war of two engineers. 

It was a fierce battle.