"Bloody Eli."I thought there couldn't be a better title to describe Eli Wayless.That was until now."Hmm."For a moment he wondered why people called her [Bloody Eli] or [Sociopath]....First off, if something goes wrong she won't say more than three words before shooting someone in the head.When in danger, she has the cold-heartedness to sacrifice her subordinates without a second thought.Indiscriminate vengeance against hostile forces.Even recalling just the rough outline, that's enough.But now?As Eli glanced back while cutting through the wind...she held her mouth half-open with a tired expression.A strange sense of emptiness washed over me at the contrast.'Maybe she simply hasn't been pushed far enough yet for those personality flaws to show.'No one really knows what Eli has been through.There are no clues, and even if someone had a friendly relationship with her, they couldn't find out.Well... if she ever reaches that state, we'll have to be really careful.At the very least, you want to avoid becoming her enemy.That was probably every player's common thought.Even veteran players, if they thought they might end up opposing her, would choose to kill quickly.If you destroy a faction and become her enemy, she'll pursue you with obsessive ferocity.From then on, you'll have to play a whole different game inside the game.The genre would change to survival horror.There were even some odd players who preferred that, it seemed...Come to think of it, Eli Wayless did have °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° a definite fandom as a survivor.'There are a lot of strange people.'I admitted her outward attributes — I noticed them every time.Still, to like [Bloody Eli]... that taste is terrifying.Was that too frivolous a thought?Clack—My butt bumped against an unexpected stone and I snapped back to attention.Shaking off idle thoughts.I looked around.The city we rode through while pedaling wasn't pleasant.In that ashen space, which matched the acrid smell of gunpowder, screams and shouts mixed together.But the feeling I got watching that scene was, how to put it, somewhat monotonous.'So far, it's fine.'Given how bleak the future might be, the current situation felt trivial.Time to rest.I hit the brakes.Screeeech—Eli also stopped her electric bike a beat later."Huff....""Let's take a short break."Not because I was being considerate of her this time.There was simply a reason it had to be done.As she loosened the backpack she carried.Sssss—She yanked the zipper open.Inside were rations grabbed from the control center and a few comfort foods scavenged as loot.That's why.'I'd better eat quickly.'Why eat now?Obviously to reduce stress.[Chicken Sausage][Damp Baguette][Peanut Butter][Disposable Packed Lunch]…………"…It feels like you ate not long ago.""Ah, Eli, would you like some?""No, I feel queasy. I think I might puke.""It's still best to eat while you have the energy."Feeling awkward about eating alone, I spread some peanut butter on the baguette and offered it to her.She also carried a backpack, but it wasn't filled with food — it held a shotgun and ammo acquired from the mafia."Mr. Han.""Yes.""…No."That, in fact, was why she got tired faster than before.Her expression showed displeasure, but she forced it down.The weapon was a pretty high-end shotgun and heavy, but that's unavoidable.I can't hold firearms because I have the [Gun Phobia] trait.So it's impossible for me to pull out a gun and hand it over every time it's needed.Practicality over pointless manners is the better choice.Crunch, crunch—Hmm.Sudden though it was—'This tastes good.'I rather like the food in this world.It's about the quality of an expensive convenience-store meal kit.Thanks to it, not only did my system stats improve, my mental stress quickly stabilized as well.'That [High Basal Metabolic Rate] trait helps more than I thought.'Overeating would normally raise stress, but with [High Basal Metabolic rate], that's not an issue.A negative trait that would turn a player into a glutton instead became a useful one that frequently lowered stress.I finished with a gulp of soda and a satisfying sound rang out.Gulp— gulp—Ding!"Krrr..."[Stress reduced][Stress -20]—Stress: 60-'Finally getting back into a stable range.'Because anything could happen, my rule is to keep stress under 50.Given the circumstances, this level is acceptable."Phew..."I paused to catch my breath.Even in this situation, habit makes me scan my surroundings."Hmm."The scene was still chaotic.Some of those collapsed in the street were about to mutate or were patients whose artificial organs had stopped functioning due to an EMP.Others—gangs and looters smashing storefront windows—looked quietly insane.Something, though, caught my attention."What's that?""Why?"Eli, half-absentmindedly swallowing jam-smeared bread, also looked.Our gazes fixed on a particular spot.A rather strange scene was unfolding."Are they... sorting them?"A few who looked normal were covering their mouths with cloth and moving the fallen, repeating mechanical phrases."…Situation! …Cooperate…!"Because of the noise it was hard to hear clearly.But the eerie thing was that those who heard the voice all started jerking like broken machines."I'll go check it out.""Let's go together."Curiosity won out.Since this was before mutations started, we couldn't know the details of what had happened, but this scene was definitely unusual.As we closed the distance, the voice became clear."The Central Control Center has classified this as an epidemic! Everyone, please return to your homes or keep away from people showing symptoms! Please cooperate!""No way....""Looks like that man was handing out an official notice?"'This is something I didn't expect....'If the Central Control Center declared it an epidemic, that meant Ken Sasaki had taken action.Apparently he had distributed official notices to all major facilities still connected to the network.The officials who weren't showing symptoms trembled and pleaded.'So it's Ken after all.'Maybe lacking in abilities, but unrivaled in awareness and decisiveness.He had prepared for contingencies.He took at least the minimal measures so symptomatic and asymptomatic people could keep distance.Given the times, there weren't many enthusiastic people, but this was a clear positive sign.Ken's action shifted the balance."The humanist did something for once.""Excuse me? Humanist?""Just talking to myself."'Maybe a new group will form.'A faction centered around Ken Sasaki.I felt a little interest and hope."Let's start moving again. We've got a long way to go.""Yes, but how much farther?""The Fifth Defense Corps base is some distance away. If we keep going... a little farther than we've come, we should be there."We could actually get there faster, but we're deliberately taking a slightly longer route.We're avoiding areas where looters are likely to gather.'The problem is just ahead.'The area we're about to reach is one we can't turn back from.Turning back would waste too much time."Eli.""Yes."So I had to warn her."We're going to break through the Criminal Quarantine Zone.""Th— that rough place?""If something happens, just do exactly what I told you. Remember what I said?""In a crisis, it's advantageous to just shoot without hesitation...""…More precisely, when a crisis occurs, you need to be prepared to shoot without hesitation."It's probably a relief that she remembers.Eli tightened her backpack as if nervous.A little tension is good, but too much will make the body stiff.I forced a small smile to reassure her."Hopefully nothing like that will happen. They're busy — they won't bother with passing pedestrians.""Yes, I hope so too."'By now [Mother] will probably be laying the groundwork for the [Liberation Alliance].There's no time to delay any longer.I fold away all the complicated thoughts and start moving.We must reach the Fifth Defense Corps base as quickly as possible.It should be fine.But the vibe inside the Criminal Quarantine Zone was too tense to let my guard down."Hmm."Even in the fast-moving scenery I could see wary eyes.Their emotions were unmistakable.And I wasn't the only one who felt it."Huff! Huff!"Eli — who until just a moment ago couldn't pedal fast at all — was now pushing the pedals at a surprisingly high speed.She was even matching a pace that made me feel we should keep up with her."You don't need to overdo it.""...Hup!"She kept pedaling hard without answering, which made me a little worried.If she collapsed before we reached our destination, it would be a real headache.But the feeling I read in her eyes wasn't fear.What was it... a kind of obsession, maybe.'So she won't be a burden.'I thought it better than falling behind here — it'd be worse once we got out of the quarantine zone.'If she collapses, I'll have to carry her on the back.'Her stamina was still high enough that I could think that calmly.Instead of trying to stop her, I refocused on the surroundings.The quarantine zone looked much the same as other places.Fires burned in multiple spots.The shopping district was utterly smashed.But the further we went in, the more differences emerged.The interior atmosphere was strangely stiffer than the outskirts.People's tempers might be rougher, but order was being restored faster than anywhere else.From that I realized: the gangs' control had begun."You can slow down now."Maybe Eli noticed it too.Even before I said it, her speed had already come down somewhat.'She must be pretty tired.'Her breath came slowly.By then the area had fallen quiet; only intermittent explosions could be heard.'This isn't good.'Silence in a situation like this is never a good sign.Silence that makes you hold your breath means they're on extreme alert.As the wheels slowed, an undefinable pressure pressed in.Then —"Stop...!"Someone urgently blocked our way.Screeech—The brakes screamed loudly.The man who exactly barred our path looked terrified."...."Because of the mood, no question like "What's wrong?" came out.We simply exchanged looks with Eli and assessed the situation.The man swallowed, then reached to grab my collar.But—"Ah—!"His hand was subdued far too easily.Still, he screamed as if to make sure everyone could hear him."Hey, you bastard! That guy told us to stay so quiet like mice!"He acted like he’d known this all along.The man squeezed one eye shut desperately.His mouth formed the words: 'It's dangerous.'In the distance, visible through the chaos —"Pl-please... spare me!""You don't have to do this!"It was someone's [execution].

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