Chapter 5: Crusade

​1

​”Morning. Wait, where’s Kagura-san?”

​When Shuuto woke up and made his way to the living room, only Luxuria and Sakura were there. Kagura was nowhere to be found.

​”She’s actually not here. Maybe she headed to school early?” Luxuria said, her cheeks bulging as she stuffed her face with breakfast.

​It looked like she had prepared the meal before leaving.

​Shuuto didn’t think much of it at the time, assuming she simply had some business at the academy. Between teacher requests and remedial lessons, academy students stayed surprisingly busy.

​However, it seemed Kagura hadn’t shown up at school, either. Immediately after arriving, Shuuto and his group stopped by Class 1-B, but she wasn’t there. When they asked the other students, they all said they hadn’t seen her today.

​”Where could she have gone?”

​”Hmm, I haven’t a clue,” Luxuria hummed.

​”It’s not like she has the money to go out for a fancy breakfast, so it probably isn’t that,” Sakura added, tilting her head in confusion along with the others.

​Right then, a piercing alarm shrieked throughout the entire school.

​The siren blared from the speakers, accompanied by the electronic chirping of the students’ smartphones—the same sound used for the Localized Great Earthquakes.

​But the broadcast announcement was different.

“​An Apostle has descended! All students and faculty, please evacuate to the underground shelter immediately!”

​”An Apostle descent?! Right here at the academy?!”

​”No, that shouldn’t be possible. This is supposed to be a buffer zone… even the gods recognize this place as a neutral ground for humanity to build its strength…” Luxuria looked visibly rattled. This was a highly irregular situation.

​”Anyway, let’s just evacuate. The representatives will handle the fighting…”

​As Shuuto started to move, the intercom crackled to life again.

“​Shuuto Tsuda-san and Lux Amatsuka-san of Class 1-C, please report to the faculty office immediately.”

​”Wait, what about me? Am I getting snubbed?” Sakura pouted, looking displeased.

​”I’m actually relieved. Sakura, please get to the shelter quickly.”

​”…Fine. You guys be careful, okay, Onii-chan?”

​After parting ways with Sakura, Shuuto and Luxuria hurried toward the faculty office.

​The office was deserted. The teachers had likely already evacuated. Only one person remained: Alyssa Valkyria—the Principal of Valhalla Academy and a Goddess herself.

​”Shuuto, Luxuria, you’re here. First, I want you to look at this.”

​A tablet lay on the desk, displaying an image of the sky. A pillar of light was visible, with a silhouette standing within it. It was the same sight Shuuto had seen when Luxuria descended—the manifestation of an angel.

​Shuuto’s eyes widened in sheer shock when he saw the angel’s face.

​”Ka… Kagura-san…?”

​Kamino Kagura was there. She wasn’t wearing her school uniform; instead, she was clad in the same angelic raiment Luxuria had once worn, with white wings spread wide at her back.

​”Gula, the Angel of Gluttony… She had infiltrated our academy under the guise of ​Kamino Kagura,” Alyssa said, her voice laced with irritation.

​”No… way… Kagura-san is Gula…? How did I not notice…?”

​Luxuria was in a state of total confusion.

​”Now that I think about it, even my memories of her look like Gula. I’m supposed to know her well, so why…?”

​”The handiwork of the gods,” Alyssa explained. “Luxuria, you have fallen and are no longer a resident of the Celestial World. Since you know the Apostles well, your perception was altered so you couldn’t recognize an angel disguised as a human as your former comrade.”

​”That’s so mean… If I’d known she was Gula, I could have helped her out so much more~ I probably would have even covered her dorm fees!” Luxuria wailed.

​Is that really the part you regret? Shuuto wondered. Still, it was very much like her, and the thought helped ease Shuuto’s tension slightly.

​”But if she’s Gula, there’s no way she has a compatibility rate of only one percent,” Luxuria noted, looking puzzled.

​”She likely feigned weakness to avoid standing out during her infiltration. By playing the part of the ‘weakest’ and allowing others to look down on her, she ensured no one would suspect her of being an Apostle. I was completely fooled myself. My own perception must have been tampered with, as I failed to see through her appearance. I never imagined the bottom-ranked student was actually one of the Seven Apostles.”

​Alyssa looked incredibly frustrated.

​The gods aren’t exactly a united front, are they? Shuuto thought.

​Alyssa was heavily invested in humanity’s side. On the other hand, the Seven Apostles and the gods who commanded them were likely dead set on human extinction.

​Regardless, an Apostle sent by such a faction wouldn’t be weak. In fact, it took a certain level of skill just to lose convincingly. One had to work hard to avoid winning by mistake and act well enough so the opponent wouldn’t realize they were holding back. You had to lose while making the opponent and the audience believe you were fighting with everything you had.

​Shuuto didn’t know how long Kagura had been at the academy, but it was certainly longer than him. If she had been playing weak all that time without being suspected…

​Kagura was a true veteran.

​”So, why did you call for me and Luxuria?”

​”Because Gula personally nominated you. Shuuto, you will be the one to face Gula in a 《Crusade》.”

​”!!”

​Stunned by the unexpected demand, Shuuto couldn’t find the words to respond.

​”Normally, a Crusade is fought by representatives who have cleared strict criteria. However, it’s a different story when there is a direct nomination from an angel or the Celestial World—just like when you fought Luxuria recently.”

​”Kagura-san… is nominating me…?”

​”Whether it’s her own will or not is unclear. She might simply be following orders from Heaven. Regardless, the fact remains that you must participate.”

​(Kagura-san wants to fight me…)

​A flurry of questions surged within him. Why me? There was no reason for them to fight. Was she just following the gods’ orders?

​”Hey, hey, why was I called?”

​”You are an ‘option.’ If necessary, Luxuria is permitted to join the game alongside Shuuto. Specifically, her presence apparently doubles the number of times you can receive a penalty within the game.”

​”Then I’m definitely going!”

​”No, I’ll go alone,” Shuuto said, shaking his head.

​”I don’t know what kind of penalties we’re talking about. When I fought Luxuria, the penalty was literally taking off clothes, so they can set whatever they want, right?”

​”That’s true~.”

​”Then there’s a chance they’ll impose dangerous penalties. I don’t want to drag you into that, Luxuria.”

​”Ooh, Darling, you’re so sweet…” Luxuria’s eyes narrowed dreamily, but then she hugged him tight. “But that’s exactly why I want to come with you. My Darling’s pain is my pain. I want to fight in the same place and share the same penalties.”

​”Luxuria…”

​She was dead serious. If this was her choice, he wanted to respect it. Besides… all he had to do was win.

​”Alright. Let’s fight together.”

​”Yay♪”

​”It seems we have an agreement. Then, let us head to the battlefield.”

​Alyssa snapped her fingers, and a brilliant light enveloped Shuuto and Luxuria.

​”I am transferring you to the field. From here on, follow the instructions of the angel Gula and the 《Arbiter》.”

​2

​When the light faded, Shuuto and his companion found themselves standing in a different room.

​It was a perfect cube—the length, width, and height all appeared equal. Doors were set into the walls at the north, south, east, and west points.

​The interior was quite whimsical, furnished in a medieval style.

Mannequins of silver-haired women in Lolita fashion stood in rows; a tea set consisting of a charming pot and cups sat upon a table; and landscape oil paintings adorned the walls.

​Even through his indoor shoes, the carpet felt thick and plush.

​Kagura was already there, waiting for them. Beside her stood a woman in Lolita dress… though upon closer inspection, she too was a mannequin. Her facial features and body lines were more exquisite than the other mannequins in the room, but…

​”Welcome, Shuuto-sama, Luxuria-sama.”

​”Whoa! The mannequin talked!” Luxuria cried out in surprise. Shuuto didn’t shout, but he was equally startled.

​”I apologize for startling you. I am the Magic Doll who will serve as the 《Arbiter》 for this match.”

​The Magic Doll gave a slow, measured bow.

​”I am a doll animated by magic. My creator has installed the rules and philosophy of this game into my core; therefore, I can serve as an impartial 《Arbiter》, favoring neither the Celestial World nor the Human World.”

​”Since we chose a large-scale game this time, an 《Arbiter》 was provided,” Kagura said.

​”Kagura-san…”

​Shuuto hesitated, unsure how to address her, and simply settled for her name. But Kagura shook her head.

​”Gula. Gula is the Angel of Gluttony, Gula.”

​”…”

​”Since you are here, can I assume you have the will to fight?”

​”I don’t want to fight you, but things will get ugly if I don’t, right?”

​”If Shuuto does not fight, I will destroy this island without question. Valhalla Academy will be annihilated.”

​”…Why would you do that?”

​”The academy admitted an ‘Unqualified’ person like Shuuto. Heaven believes a price must be paid for that.”

​”But didn’t I get in because Heaven approved it in the first place?”

​”They did approve it once. However, a Goddess named Freya, the one in charge of the Crusades, raised an objection. After deliberation, Heaven concluded that the validity of an Unqualified person’s enrollment should be decided through a Crusade.”

​So that was why Kagura—no, Gula—had been dispatched.

​”If Shuuto defeats Gula, your enrollment will be officially recognized, and the safety of this island will be guaranteed. But if Gula wins, the academy will be disposed of. The entire island will be erased.”

​”I understand the official reason you’re here. But what about you? What do you think?”

​”? It doesn’t matter what Gula thinks. Gula is an angel. Angels are the puppets of God. No will exists within us.”

​A wave of unpleasantness washed over Shuuto, like a rough file scraping against his heart.

​(These ‘gods’ really think they can just do whatever they want, don’t they?)

​Shuuto’s gaze sharpened.

​Gula’s act of being weak was likely just a means to carry out the gods’ orders. Because she played the part of the weakest, she had ended up saddled with massive debt. She had even collapsed from hunger because she had no money.

​Gula had pushed herself to the limit to obey those orders—and yet, she claimed she had no will of her own. He didn’t know how she truly felt about it, but Shuuto refused to accept such a situation.

​”What happens to Gula if I win?”

​”I don’t know. I won’t be killed. But I don’t think Heaven has any use for an Apostle who loses.”

​”Then, Gula… if I win, come with us.”

​”?”

​”Let’s go to the academy together again. Let’s live together.”

​”Eh… Why…?” Gula tilted her head.

​”Because I like you, Gula.”

​”!!”

​”Wait just a minute, Darling!! Are you seriously cheating on me right in front of my face?!” Luxuria interjected.

​”Huh? No, this isn’t a romantic thing!?”

​”Oh, thank goodness.”

​Wait, I’m not even dating Luxuria, so it wouldn’t be cheating anyway, Shuuto thought, though he didn’t say it aloud.

​”…I don’t understand.”

​Gula’s brow furrowed. For someone as expressionless as her, it was a significant change.

​”Gula was deceiving Shuuto and the others. I was spying on you while pretending to be human, and now I’ve come to challenge you.”

​”Even so, it doesn’t change the fact that I had fun living and hanging out with you.” Shuuto spoke while looking Gula straight in the eye. “I enjoyed being with you, Gula. That’s why I want to pull you into the human world instead of leaving you in Heaven. This is just my own ego. If I win, just consider it. If you think about it and decide you don’t want to, that’s fine too.”

​”…I don’t understand,” Gula repeated. There was a faint look of inner turmoil on her face.

​”Sorry for making things difficult right before we fight. I wasn’t trying to use some psychological tactic…” Shuuto scratched his head. “Things got a bit awkward, so why don’t we move on to the game?”

​”Okay,” Gula nodded.

​”Then I shall take over the explanation from here,” the Magic Doll said, stepping forward.

​”The name of the game is 『Labyrinth Hunting』. The stage is a labyrinth constructed within this sub-space. You will be divided into the Prey side and the Hunter side for the hunt. ​The Prey side aims to escape from this labyrinth, while the Hunter side aims to devour the Prey before they can escape. Shuuto-sama and Luxuria-sama will be the Prey, and Gula-sama will be the Hunter. Regarding the Prey side, it would be appreciated if Shuuto-sama is considered the primary player, with Luxuria-sama serving as a companion.”

​”Understood.” “Got it.”

​”Thank you. Now, moving on to the explanation of the labyrinth.”

​The Magic Doll raised its right hand, and a holographic diagram appeared in the air. It was a 2D grid, ten squares by ten squares. The numbers 1 to 10 and letters A to J were marked along the axes.

​”This labyrinth consists of 10×10 squares, for a total of one hundred rooms. Each room has doors on all four sides. Between one and three of these are ‘correct’ doors that lead to the adjacent room. There will always be at least one ‘incorrect’ door, which will simply lead to a wall when opened. The correct and incorrect doors have been randomly set for each room in advance. However, for the outermost rooms, doors leading outside the grid are automatically set as incorrect. Please deduce the layout yourselves. ​The top-left room, 1A, is the Goal. The Prey will start from the bottom-right room, 10J—the room we are currently in—and aim for the Goal. The Hunter will start from the bottom-left room, 10A. Next, I shall explain the progression of the game.”

​With a pop, a large die appeared before Shuuto and the others. It was roughly the size of a moving box.

​”The Prey and the Hunter will move in turns. On your respective turns, you will roll the die. You can attempt as many ‘movement challenges’ as the number shown on the die. If you choose a door and it opens, you move to the next room; if it does not open, you simply consume one point from your roll. You repeat this for the total number shown on the die. ​If the Prey and the Hunter meet in the same room, a ‘Predation’ occurs. This happens regardless of whose turn it is. When Predation occurs, the movement phase immediately ends. During Predation, the Prey will be ‘eaten’ by the Hunter. Whatever the Hunter designates with her finger will be erased by the magic governing the game.”

​”Wait a second! Erased?!” Luxuria cried out in shock.

​”Yes, erased. This is the penalty for this game. The Prey will have one of six body parts eaten during Predation: the head, torso, right arm, left arm, right leg, or left leg. Please rest assured, there is no pain. Furthermore, if a leg is lost, we will arrange for the player to move via levitation, so do not worry about that.”

​”That is not the problem~!”

​”Will things return to normal once the game is over?” Shuuto asked.

​”As long as the head remains, restoration is possible. However… if the head disappears, the individual will fundamentally cease to exist. Therefore, while the order of consumption is generally free, the head must be the final part eaten.”

​”…”

​It was an insane penalty. System-wise, having Luxuria there increased the number of penalties they could take. That much was true. However, if they used the penalties to the limit, Luxuria would inevitably have her head eaten and cease to exist. In the end, the number of penalties one could take was the same as fighting alone.

​Then, a question occurred to him.

​”I’m the player, right? What happens if my head is eaten before Luxuria’s?”

​”A sharp question. If Shuuto-sama were to cease existing, the game could not continue. Therefore, if Shuuto-sama is fully consumed first, his existence will be restored as a spiritual entity. Something like a ghost. It is a pitiful existence that can touch nothing, but it is better than death, I should think. However… since the Hunter has the right to choose which part to eat, I do not know if such a situation will occur.”

​It seemed it was an exceptional case that wouldn’t normally happen.

​”Now then, back to the point. Finally, let us confirm the victory conditions for each side once more. The Prey side wins by reaching the Goal room. The Hunter side wins by devouring the bodies of both the player and the companion. Prohibited actions include stalling for more than five minutes. Please roll the die and choose a door within five minutes. Any questions?”

​The Magic Doll rotated its head, looking at Shuuto, Luxuria, and Gula in turn.

​”I’m fine.” “No problem!” “None.”

​All three nodded. However, Luxuria raised her hand.

​”Oh, wait! Can we have a strategy meeting before we start?”

​”Granted. The time limit is five minutes.”

​”Thanks♪” Luxuria turned to Shuuto and pouted her lips. “Let’s kiss.”

​”!? What’s gotten into you all of a sudden!?”

​”It’s not sudden~ I’m always thinking about how I want to kiss my Darling♪ —though that’s not the only reason.”

​So the first part wasn’t a lie either, Shuuto thought.

​”Gula is a formidable opponent. She’ll definitely use her 《Gift》. I should know what Gula’s Gift is, but I can’t seem to remember it~ Sorry for being useless.”

​”Don’t worry about it. It wouldn’t be fair if I knew the opponent’s trump card anyway, right?”

​”It’s already not fair when they’re using cheats! So, I figured I’d share some of my 《Colorful Heart》 with you. It’s fine if it’s for the sake of a fair fight, right?”

​Shuuto hesitated for a moment but eventually nodded.

​”Alright.” Luxuria’s life was on the line here. This was no time to be picky about methods.

​”But the mouth is a no-go. Can we do the cheek again?”

​”Geez~, you’re such a shy boy. Here♪”

​With a short chu sound, Luxuria’s lips brushed against his cheek.

​They were soft, as always. His heart rate quickened, and his body felt flush.

​”Aha, are you blushing? So cute~! You’re so cool usually, but you’re such an innocent soul in moments like this~♡”

​”Shut up. Let’s just start already.”

​Feeling flustered, he urged the Magic Doll to begin. It felt even more embarrassing because it seemed like he was trying to hide his blushing.

​”Understood. Let us begin. Gula-sama, the Hunter, will now warp to the bottom-left room.”

​Enveloped in light, Gula vanished.

---

​Game: Labyrinth Hunting

Victory Condition: Reach the Goal

Defeat Condition: Entire body devoured (Shuuto: 6 parts, Luxuria: 6 parts, total of 12 parts)

Violation: Stalling for more than 5 minutes

---

​3

​”The Prey goes first. Please roll the die.”

​While listening to the Magic Doll’s voice, Shuuto thought about the game.

​A turn-based game of tag using a maze. Since neither the Prey nor the Hunter knew the path at the start, it seemed fair on the surface. However, the Prey could eventually reach the goal through repeated attempts, while the Hunter had to navigate the maze while searching for a Prey whose location was unknown. The core gameplay felt fundamentally different for both sides.

​(If it’s okay for Predation to occur up to eleven times, the Prey side has a clear advantage. The odds of reaching the goal before being eaten eleven times are high. However, while protecting Luxuria… we can only enter Predation five times if we want to keep her head intact. That should make the balance quite tight.)

​(Also… depending on the maze routes, there will be mind games. As the full layout of the maze becomes clearer to both of us, we’ll be able to predict where the other is going. In some cases, we might need to take a detour to outsmart Gula. Of course, Gula might read that and lie in wait on the detour route herself.)

​That was about as much as he could consider before starting.

​”Alright, here I go.”

​Shuuto held the die in both hands and tossed it onto the floor. It rolled with a dull thud-thud. The material felt like a rubber ball.

​”A six! Give me a six!” Luxuria prayed… but the result was a three.

​”Hmm, well, it’s better than a one or a two!”

​”Yeah. With a three, we can at least make some attempts.”

​Currently, Shuuto and his companion were in room 10J. Since it was the bottom-right corner, the east and south doors were automatically incorrect. The only possibilities for the correct door were north or west. Without overthinking it, Shuuto chose the north door. Since he had no information, any choice was as good as another. It was a choice based on the vague idea of staying away from the Hunter. If it was a wall, then it didn’t matter anyway.

​When he opened the door, they moved into the next room (9J). The interior was almost identical. There were differences in the small items and the number of mannequins, but the consistent concept gave the rooms a unified feel.

​The next choice. Since they were still in column J, the east door remained a wall. To advance, they had to choose north or west. Shuuto chose west. When he opened the door, there was a wall. Incorrect.

​Shuuto then chose north. There was a path, so they proceeded to room 8J.

​Since he had used three movement challenges, the turn ended.

​《It is Gula-sama’s turn. Please roll the die.》

​The room seemed to be equipped with speakers, as the Magic Doll’s voice echoed throughout.

​《The result is a six.》

​Six… She had rolled a high number. However, Shuuto and the others were at least six squares away, so Predation was impossible. Or so he thought.

​”Found you.”

​Gula’s voice came from behind them. Startled, Shuuto spun around. Luxuria had the same reaction.

​Behind them was something that could only be described as a “hole.” A hole large enough for a person to pass through had opened in the space right before them, and they could see the other side. Gula was standing there.

​With her usual languid movements, Gula stepped over the threshold of the hole and entered their room. On the other side was a similar room. Once she was through, the hole shrank and eventually closed up entirely.

​”Wha—what was that…!?” Shuuto’s voice leaked out in spite of himself.

​”I used my 《Gift》,” Gula said simply. “Gula’s Gift is 《Devour》. I can devour anything. This time, I ate the space to connect the rooms.”

​”That’s right, that was her power…! I’d forgotten until now…” Luxuria looked vexed.

​”But is that even allowed?! You didn’t even use a door!”

​《I allow it,》 the Magic Doll’s voice came over the speaker. 《The rules of this game dictate that the Prey must reach the goal and the Hunter must devour the Prey. Each turn allows for movement challenges based on the die roll. Regarding doors, they are simply a means to move to the next room if the correct one is chosen. There is no rule stating that one must move through a door.》

​”Damn it…”

​”It can’t be helped, Luxuria. If the rules don’t forbid it and the Arbiter allows it, we have to follow along.”

​However, if that were the case…

​《It is now Predation Time. Gula-sama, which part of whom will you devour?》

​In response to the Magic Doll’s words, Gula silently pointed at Luxuria’s left arm. In an instant, the left arm vanished like smoke.

​”I’ll save the legs for last. It would be a pity if you had trouble walking.”

​”I can just levitate, so it doesn’t matter. You did say the magic would let me fly, right? As a former angel, I’m more used to that anyway, so I’d actually appreciate it.” Luxuria took a provocative stance.

​One penalty point consumed in the very first turn. The start was as bad as it could be.

​(In this game, a successful Predation carries a heavy significance,) Shuuto thought.

​Once Predation was successful, the Hunter would find it much easier to track the Prey’s location. When the Prey’s turn came, the Hunter would know which door they had used. They would also know the die roll, so if the roll was a one, the Hunter would know for certain where the Prey was, even if they couldn’t leave the room or only moved one square.

​And if Gula used her 《Gift》—her cheating power—Predation would be guaranteed once the location was pinpointed. As long as Predation succeeded, the probability of continuous successful Predations increased.

​In that sense, the die roll for the next turn would be crucial.

​《It is Shuuto-sama’s turn.》

​Following the Magic Doll’s voice, Shuuto rolled the die. The result was… two.

​”Please let it open on the first try!” Luxuria clasped her hands and prayed.

​However—

​When Shuuto opened the north door, a wall stood in his way. One point consumed. Shuuto then opened the west door, and he and Luxuria entered room 8I.

​《It is Gula-sama’s turn.》

​He couldn’t hear the sound from the next room, but she must be rolling the die.

​《The result is a six.》

​The worst possible number.

​After a short while, a hole opened in space with a gloop sound, and Gula stepped through. There was a strange lag. She had likely used the six points to scout the area before coming to 8I.

​《It is Predation Time.》

​At the Magic Doll’s voice, Gula started to point toward Luxuria’s right arm—but then shifted her finger to point at a mannequin instead. The mannequin’s head vanished into smoke.

​”What are you doing?” Shuuto asked.

​”You should understand by now. Shuuto and the others cannot defeat Gula,” she declared with a cold, expressionless face. “Gula’s Gift is perfectly suited for this game. Gula will start by erasing Luxuria. Shuuto can never reach the goal while Luxuria still remains. And the kind-hearted Shuuto cannot bear to sacrifice Luxuria.”

​”You certainly have a high opinion of me.”

​”Yes. Gula knows that Shuuto is a good person. I don’t want to do anything cruel to someone like you. If you surrender and leave the academy, Gula will have achieved her goal.”

​”But if I do that, Gula will remain a puppet of the gods forever.”

​”That is true.”

​”Then I can’t accept that. I won’t sacrifice Luxuria, and Gula, I won’t give up on you either. I’m going to conquer you.”

​”……Then I have no choice. We will continue the game. I will erase Luxuria’s right arm.”

​《That is not permitted,》 the Magic Doll interjected. 《Gula-sama has already performed her Predation. In Predation, the object pointed at is erased. This is not limited to the bodies of the player or the companion. Once it is performed, Predation is consumed even if an object unrelated to the score is erased.》

​”Ahaha! You went and wasted it, didn’t you~?” Luxuria mocked her at the first opportunity.

​”No matter. One point is just a margin of error,” Gula said, unfazed.

​《It is now Shuuto-sama’s turn.》

​4

I’d barked back at her with plenty of bravado, but there was no changing the fact that we were backed into a corner.

The situation was desperate. With that blatant cheating going on, Shuuto and the other “prey” were at a massive disadvantage.

But for a gamer, that was exactly the kind of scenario that got the blood pumping.

Conquering a difficult game—that’s what being a gamer is all about.

(It feels good to finally be able to fight for real.)

Part of him felt guilty. Luxuria’s life was on the line, yet he couldn’t suppress the thrill welling up inside him. It was irreverent, and he knew it.

(As long as I win, it’ll be fine. To do that… first, I need to put some distance between us and Gula.)

As long as Gula had eyes on them, their actions were restricted. Consulting with Luxuria was difficult, too. The immediate priority was skipping at least one “Hunt” phase.

To achieve that, he needed to roll a high number.

Before throwing the dice, Shuuto activated the 《Colorful Heart》 he’d received from Luxuria.

Gula’s color didn’t change. Instinctively, he understood that her current hue represented “Composure.”

At the very least, Gula wasn’t getting cocky after taking two points from them, nor was she growing paranoid that Shuuto had some secret counter-strategy.

It wasn’t much, as far as intel went.

Shuuto picked up the dice and tossed them.

He rolled a four. Not bad.

They moved smoothly through 7G—heading North, then West, then West again—but hit a dead end after opening the West door, leaving the two of them stuck in 7G.

Since they’d covered a fair amount of ground, he prayed that a Hunt wouldn’t trigger this turn.

《It is Gula-sama’s turn. …The roll is a six.》

“Another six…!?” Luxuria cried out.

That was three sixes in a row now.

Any ordinary gamer watching this would probably think one thing: Is she using loaded dice?

However, these dice were provided by the game system itself; tampering with them would be difficult. More importantly, top-tier players didn’t need to cheat with the dice.

Because…

“Gula can probably manipulate the dice rolls,” Shuuto muttered.

Among elite players, there were those capable of rolling whatever number they desired. In fact, many preferred plain, untampered dice because it allowed their technical skill to be reflected more accurately. Conversely, some players disliked physical dice precisely because a match between two people who could roll whatever they wanted would become monotonous.

《It is Shuuto-sama’s turn.》

Shuuto’s turn arrived without a Hunt triggering.

“Alright, Gula moved to a different room. Automaton, I have a question.”

《What is it?》

“Are there penalties for damaging the equipment on the field? Gula was breaking stuff earlier without getting in trouble, so I assume it’s fine, but I want to be sure.”

《While not recommended, there are no penalties. Why do you ask? Are you planning to vent your frustrations because you are losing?》

“Something like that.”

With that, Shuuto grabbed the arm of a nearby mannequin and yanked.

With a sharp crack, the right arm popped out of its socket.

“Comes off pretty easily.”

“Shuuto, are you okay? Are you feeling cornered? Do you want to bury your face in my chest and have a big ol’ squeeze?” Luxuria peered into Shuuto’s face with a look of genuine concern.

“Don’t worry. I’m perfectly calm. Luxuria, I have a request.”

“Yeah?”

“Ideally, it won’t come to this… but if you end up as just a head, could you refrain from using your flight and let me carry you in my arms?”

“Eee! What a passionate proposal! ♡ Of course it’s a yes! But why?”

“I’ll tell you when the time comes. For the explanation… just give her whatever sounds plausible. As long as Gula doesn’t get suspicious, it’s fine.”

“Roger that!”

“But I repeat: the best-case scenario is avoiding that entirely. Let’s do our best to reach the goal the normal way.”

Shuuto spoke with determination. However, it didn’t take long for Luxuria to be reduced to just a head. Over the next four turns, a Hunt occurred every single time.

Rolled a 3, reached room 6G. Luxuria’s right arm was taken.

Rolled a 2, reached room 5F. Luxuria’s right leg was taken.

Rolled a 5, reached room 7E. Luxuria’s left leg was taken.

Rolled a 1, reached room 8E. Luxuria’s torso was taken.

“Damn it…”

Shuuto grit his teeth as he watched Luxuria’s torso vanish into smoke. It was a macabre, borderline horrific sight—Luxuria’s head simply floating there in mid-air.

Gula was making full use of the capabilities of 《Devour》.

As long as Shuuto’s side played fair—rolling the dice and exploring the maze according to the number shown—Gula had a high probability of forcing a Hunt as long as she rolled sixes. Since Shuuto and Luxuria were moving normally, they could only cover two or three rooms per turn. Because she could narrow down their location, six attempts with 《Devour》 meant she was almost guaranteed to land a hit.

Gula was simply sticking to the basics. But when executed with such thoroughness, the victim was left with no room to breathe.

In the blink of an eye, Shuuto had been pushed to the very edge of the precipice.

(She’s strong… To think she was pretending to be the weakest with this much skill. It’s practically fraud.)

Shuuto used Colorful Heart to peek at Gula’s emotions again.

Still composed. Despite having Shuuto cornered, she wasn’t showing even a hint of excitement. There was no opening to exploit on an emotional level.

“Darling… I want you to hold me now. ♡”

“Can’t you just float?” Shuuto asked Luxuria bluntly.

“I mean, I could… but for the end, you know? I want to spend my final moments in the arms of the one I love.”

“Don’t say things that’ll bring bad luck.”

He had told her the reason didn’t matter, but he really wished she wouldn’t say things that killed the morale. They were already pushed far enough as it was.

Still, since he’d suggested it himself, Shuuto gathered Luxuria’s head into his arms. He held her tight, turning her face inward toward his chest.

“Haa… Such bliss…”

“Stop flirting and roll the dice already.”

Gula offered a sharp rebuke.

Any delay exceeding five minutes resulted in disqualification. It was better to make effective use of the time.

“My bad.”

Shuuto rolled the dice.

A six.

This was the moment of truth.

05

Watching Shuuto and Luxuria disappear behind the door, Gula couldn’t help but think they were a remarkably relaxed pair.

The two of them were exactly as they always were.

Shuuto, calm and collected; Luxuria, bright and energetic.

Despite being at a clear disadvantage, Shuuto showed no signs of panic, and Luxuria remained as combative as ever.

It almost felt as though they’d thrown the match, but since Gula had no way of knowing what they were setting up, she had no intention of letting her guard down.

Gula’s task was monotonous.

Manipulate the dice to roll a six, then use 《Devour》 to move through rooms where Shuuto and his partner might be. Once found, Hunt.

If she knew their position at the start of a turn, she would spend her time opening doors to grasp the maze’s layout.

It was the kind of monotony that would make someone like Luxuria get cranky and say “This is boring.” Luxuria had grown tired of the Crusade. She still performed perfectly in every game, but that boredom had led to the match with Shuuto—and her subsequent loss. Her downfall was likely that she’d underestimated Shuuto as an inferior opponent in their first meeting.

Thinking of it that way, Gula had no reason to lose. Gula wasn’t bored with the monotony of the Crusade. As long as she did this, she got food. That was reason enough to fight.

Nor did she underestimate Shuuto. He was a capable player. That was why, no matter how dull the game became, she would use her Gift to crush him utterly.

It was perfect.

This was how it should be.

Slaughtering the two of them was the job this time.

As a puppet of the gods, she just had to fulfill her role. If she did, she got to eat.

Conversely, if she didn’t, she wouldn’t get food and would starve.

(I… hate that.)

Gula had been born into a family of the lowest-ranked angels. They were poor, and she had known nothing but the gnawing ache of hunger.

“Why isn’t there any food in our house?”

Gula had asked her mother once. Her mother had simply worn a sorrowful expression.

“I’m sorry,” she’d said, leaving the question unanswered.

Now, Gula understood the answer.

There was a hierarchy among angels. It was absolute. Those at the bottom were poor; those at the top were wealthy. It was because those at the top were of high utility to the gods, and those at the bottom were of low utility.

Her family was poor for a simple, unyielding reason.

But thanks to that same logic, Gula had been able to claw her way up.

Because Gula had talent.

Gula remembered. The day she was discovered by Freya.

Gula had been participating in a game of underground poker run by Fallen Angels. These outcasts, who had no right to be in the Celestial World, would sneak in and set up gambling dens for angels. Gula had joined the game to earn enough to survive.

And after she’d won so decisively that she was practically “eating” the house, she’d been taken to a back room…

“You broke the rules,” a Fallen Angel said. He was the one in charge of the den.

Gula had been pinned facedown on the floor by two other Fallen Angels, unable to move.

“You’ll pay with your body. Angel wings fetch a high price.”

“…!!”

Yet another man stood there, wielding a massive sword.

I’m going to be cut…! Just as that thought crossed her mind…

“My, my~ there certainly are some dangerous people in here, aren’t there?”

Before anyone realized it, a woman with dark circles under her eyes was in the room.

“W-Who the hell are you!?” the man in charge barked, his voice trembling.

“What a way to talk to someone. I’m a God. Your former master.”

The woman—the Goddess—spoke listlessly. She toyed with her long hair with her right hand, speaking through a yawn. She looked as though she found the whole thing incredibly bothersome.

“Sorry, but I don’t have any use for you guys. There.”

The moment the Goddess clapped her hands, the bodies of every Fallen Angel burst into flames.

“AAAAAGGGGGHHHHHHH!!”

The Fallen Angels should have been protected by magical barriers. This person had bypassed them as if they were nothing and burned them to a crisp.

So this is the power of the gods… Gula was struck with both awe and terror.

In the next instant, Gula had been teleported to a different room.

The very room where she now frequently shared meals with Freya.

Yes… the person who had saved Gula was none other than Freya.

“For such a low-ranking angel… honestly, I was shocked. To maintain that kind of win rate in a place like that… your gaming sense is out of this world.”

Looking back, considering how the normally listless Freya had been that excited, her surprise must have been substantial.

“So, what do you say? Want to put that power to use? To be honest, I’ve been saddled with some annoying work… and I just couldn’t find the right angel for it. If you helped me out, it’d be a huge lifesaver.”

Freya spoke as though she were truly fed up with it all.

If that had been Gula’s first impression of her, she might have just looked like a useless slacker.

But having just seen her wipe out those Fallen Angels, even that listlessness seemed like the yoyuu of the truly powerful.

“Naturally, I can guarantee far better treatment than what you have now. If you take the job, your rank will go uuuuup, you know?”

“Will you… let me eat?”

“Of course.”

Things would be better than they were now. That alone made the choice worthwhile.

And besides, Gula never really had a choice to begin with.

Gula was an angel.

If she refused, she couldn’t complain if she ended up like those Fallen Angels.

And in truth, the treatment was far better than before.

She could eat her fill.

As long as she didn’t have to go back to those days, she could endure almost anything. Being mocked by everyone at the academy, losing everything and being penniless for a time, even nearly falling into slavery to another student.

Even… betraying her friends…

《It is Gula-sama’s turn.》

The Automaton’s voice rang out.

Gula took the dice in her hand and froze.

—If I throw these dice, the next step is to search for the two of them with 《Devour》.

Once found, I will eat Luxuria’s head.

Luxuria will vanish. This was a certainty. Even if Shuuto won, Luxuria would not return.

In other words… I will kill Luxuria.

The dice tumbled. The result was a six. It looked as though the dice were rigged to always show a six, but in reality, it was simply Gula’s technique guiding them to that result.

She activated 《Devour》.

She encountered Shuuto and Luxuria in the fifth room. Room 7C.

“Gula…!!”

Shuuto’s eyes widened as he held Luxuria’s head.

It was a look of shock born from a perfect understanding of what was about to happen.

Gula didn’t answer. She raised her right hand. Pointing at Luxuria’s head, preparing to erase her existence.

However, having only raised her hand halfway, Gula’s movement stopped.

“……..”

For some reason, she couldn’t move her hand any further.

All she had to do was point her finger and say, “I will eat Luxuria’s head.” That was all. And yet, she couldn’t do it.

—It wasn’t as though she and Luxuria were particularly close. The Seven Apostles were merely colleagues.

She had no attachment to her.

She shouldn’t have… and yet…

《What is the matter, Gula-sama? Please make your choice.》

In the back of her mind, memories of the days she’d spent with Luxuria came flooding back…

《Any delay exceeding five minutes will result in a loss by foul. Please make your choice.》

Her eyes grew hot, and tears began to spill down her cheeks…

“Gula…”

Shuuto was looking at Gula with a pained expression.

“I’m sorry. It’s because I’m too weak.”

Shuuto, the one about to have someone precious taken from him, was somehow apologizing to her.

As for Luxuria, she said nothing. She simply kept the back of her head toward Gula, buried in Shuuto’s chest.

If only she’d said one word of resentment, it would have been so much easier—

(No. I can’t.)

Gula lowered the hand she’d started to raise.

(Gula… can’t do this… I can’t kill a friend!)

『Do it.』

The moment the voice echoed in her head, a pain like an electric shock coursed through her entire body.

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!”

Gula clutched her head and dropped to her knees.

“It hurts…! It hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts!!”

It felt as though her entire body were being burned. She couldn’t help but scream.

“What’s wrong, Gula!?”

Shuuto asked in a panic, but the pain was too intense for her to even think of answering.

Then, Gula’s right arm began to move on its own.

Someone… was controlling her.

It was the protection Freya had embedded within Gula.

The punishment for attempting to disobey an order. And a magical program that automatically executed the optimal action.

“E-Eating… this.”

As though in a trance, she pointed at Luxuria’s head in Shuuto’s arms.

Luxuria’s head vanished into smoke.

(Ah… aah…!!)

I did it.

Luxuria… is gone…

“LUXURIA!!”

Shuuto fell to his knees, clutching at the smoke, and let out a harrowing scream.

“I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…”

Gula trembled violently.

She hadn’t meant to kill her. She’d realized at the very last second that she couldn’t. And yet, her body had acted on its own.

This was the fate of an angel.

An angel can never defy the commands of the gods.

Gula couldn’t do it. She couldn’t choose to save her friend.

Because Gula was an angel.

06

“Luxuria is dead. Do you still wish to continue the game?”

​Gula’s question hung in the air. Her expression was heavy with grief.

​Through the lens of 《Colorful Heart》, the colors swirling within her were like a turbulent crucible. Regret, sorrow, guilt, anger, and finally… resignation.

​It had only been for a short while, but she had spent time with Luxuria. She regretted being the one to do it; she mourned the loss of her friend; she was tormented by the weight of her sin; she was furious at herself for such a cruel act. Yet, as an Angel, she had resigned herself to the fact that it couldn’t be helped.

​Shuuto could see her struggling. Within her, “Kagura” and “Gula” were wavering—or so it seemed to him.

​There was ​Kamino Kagura, the girl who had spent her days as a student at the academy. Shuuto had picked her up when she was penniless, and they had shared a life together.

​Then there was Gula, the Angel of Gluttony. She was the one who had declared this 《Crusade》 upon humanity, seeking to seize their territory.

​Shuuto steeled his resolve.

​I cannot lose.

And I absolutely have to save Gula.

​“Of course we’re continuing. I told you, didn’t I? I’m going to be the one to make you fall.”

​“But… Gula wants to at least save Shuuto-kun. You don’t need to follow Luxuria into the abyss.”

​“You make it sound like I’m already a dead man.”

​“Shuuto-kun will die. Because Shuuto-kun cannot beat Gula.”

​“You say that like it’s a foregone conclusion.”

​“It is a certainty. The closer we get to the goal in this game, the more the advantage shifts to Gula.”

​“I figured as much. The routes to the goal are limited, so even if there’s some psychological maneuvering, it’ll just be neutralized. The combination of a roll of six and 《Devour》 is just that broken.”

​“If you understand that much, then why… why do you keep fighting?”

​“To make you fall. Besides, if I gave up now, Luxuria would never be able to rest in peace, right?”

​“……”

​“Persuasion is useless. It’s my turn. Let’s get started.”

​Shuuto rolled the die. It came up as a one.

​“Shuuto-kun…”

​“Hey, look on the bright side—it saves you the trouble of using your Gift. This thing is pretty exhausting, you know?”

​Shuuto activated 《Colorful Heart》. The emotion he felt radiating from Gula was pity.

​To her, he likely looked like he was acting out of desperation. Or perhaps it was just hollow bravado.

​Shuuto understood that his situation was incredibly dire. But his refusal to give up was genuine.

​He opened the eastern door. A corridor lay beyond. Correct.

​However, even with a correct guess…

​《It is Gula-sama’s turn.》

​Immediately after the magical doll made its announcement, Gula emerged from the same door Shuuto had just entered. Since he had only moved one room, it was painfully obvious where he had gone.

​《It is Hunting Time. Gula-sama, please make your selection.》

​“I will eat Shuuto-kun’s left arm.”

​Shuuto’s left arm dissolved into smoke and vanished. The moment it began to disappear, all sensation left his arm. It wasn’t the feeling of the arm being gone, exactly; just a total lack of sensation. It was like when your arm falls completely asleep after you’ve been lying on it.

​It wasn’t a pleasant feeling.

​“Are you still going to continue?”

​“Damn right I am.”

​Shuuto rolled the die again. The four turns that followed were nothing short of disastrous.

​Roll: 3. Room 9C. Lost right leg.

Roll: 2. Room 10B. Lost left leg.

Roll: 2. Room 9C. Lost torso.

Roll: 1. Room 9D. Lost right arm.

​His rolls were abysmal, and with a Hunt occurring every single time, Shuuto was reduced to nothing but a head in the blink of an eye.

​《Since you cannot roll the die in this state, I shall temporarily manifest your hands as spiritual entities.》

​As the magical doll spoke, sensation returned to Shuuto’s hands.

​《Normally, a spirit cannot touch physical objects, but these dice have been coated with magical energy to allow interaction.》

​“Thanks.”

​Shuuto gripped the die with one hand and threw it. A two. He tried to go east, but the door wouldn’t budge. He headed south instead, arriving in room 10D.

​《It is Gula-sama’s turn. The die roll is a six.》

​A hole gurgled open in space, and Gula stepped through.

​“…Shuuto-kun…”

​She looked like she regretted finding him. Gula rarely showed emotion, so even now, the change in her expression was subtle.

​And yet, Shuuto knew. He knew she found it tragic that she had to erase him. He didn’t even need to use 《Colorful Heart》 to see it.

​“I’m sorry, Shuuto-kun. Gula is…”

​“Don’t worry about it. Just get it over with.”

​His blunt tone likely made him sound like he’d finally snapped.

​“……”

​Gula looked down for a moment, then lifted her head. Her eyes were swimming with tears.

​“It was fun… living together. Thank you for feeding me so much delicious food. Thank you for being so kind.”

​Gula pointed her right hand at Shuuto’s head, which was floating in mid-air.

​“I will eat Shuuto-kun’s head.”

​Shuuto’s head vanished into smoke. The moment it disappeared, Gula bowed her head. Perhaps she couldn’t bear to watch him fade away.

​“…Shuuto-kun. With this, the game is over. Gula’s…”

​“Gula’s loss.”

​The voice echoed through the room. It was Shuuto’s voice.

​Gula looked up, her face a mask of shock. Standing there was a translucent version of Shuuto—his spiritual body.

​“Shuuto-kun…? But how…?”

​Bewildered, Gula could only manage a dazed whisper.

​《Since the player, Shuuto-sama, was eliminated while his companion, Luxuria-sama, had not yet been erased, Shuuto-sama has been temporarily resurrected as a spiritual entity.》

​The magical doll provided the explanation.

​“!? Luxuria hasn’t been erased?! That’s impossible! Gula definitely ate Luxuria’s head—”

​“No, you didn’t,” Shuuto interjected. “What you ate was the head of a mannequin.”

​“A mannequin…?”

​Gula’s eyes went distant as she searched her memories. Then, her eyes widened in realization.

​“Then, the reason Luxuria was hiding her face…”

​“That wasn’t Luxuria. It was a mannequin head, and she hid it so you wouldn’t notice the difference. During the turn after Luxuria was reduced to just a head, I used a roll of six to buy time. I detached the mannequin’s head and placed Luxuria’s head there instead.”

​“But… how? Why didn’t the magical doll say anything if I ate the wrong thing?”

​“Hunting turns are consumed even if you eat the wrong target. Remember when you ate the mannequin’s arm instead of Luxuria’s at the start? It probably didn’t point it out this time because of that precedent.”

​“Urgh… Fine! Then Gula will just find where Luxuria is and eat her for real!”

​“Not before it’s my turn.”

​Shuuto rolled the die. A six. Then, without even opening the door, Shuuto simply phased through the wall into the adjacent room, 10C.

​“!?”

​Gula realized the implication immediately. While he could touch the magically coated die, he was essentially a spirit that couldn’t touch anything else. That meant he could move through walls without needing to unlock doors.

​But—

​“Magical doll, is this allowed? Isn’t this a clear violation of the rules?” Gula protested instantly.

​《No, it is not a violation,》 the doll stated flatly. 《Regarding the doors, the rules only state that picking the correct door allows movement to the adjacent room. There is no clause stating that one must use this method to move.》

​“————!!”

​Those were the exact same words the magical doll had used when Gula first used 《Devour》 to jump to Shuuto’s location. If the doll were to forbid Shuuto from walking through walls, it would, by extension, have to forbid Gula from jumping through space with 《Devour》.

​Therefore, Shuuto’s actions were permitted.

​(The shortest distance between room 10D, where Gula is, and the goal at 1A is twelve rooms. Shuuto rolled a six, so he only has six rooms left… in the worst case, he’ll finish on the very next turn!)

​Gula searched her memories desperately. She had eaten Luxuria’s torso and left the head in room 8E. From there, Shuuto had gone to 7C. If he rolled a six, he could sweep all the surrounding rooms in a single turn. He would definitely find Luxuria’s head.

​Gula’s mind naturally began to calculate the logic of a winning path. Her instincts as an Angel were stoking her competitive spirit. Even though she had just wept for the friend she thought she killed, Gula was now calculating the optimal way to kill her all over again.

​Gula’s turn arrived. She rolled the die. Exactly a six.

​(Luxuria… Gula will definitely find you…)

​She attempted to trigger 《Devour》 to that end, but—

​“!? Gula can’t… eat the space…!!”

​《Devour》 failed to activate. At that moment, Shuuto was in room 7A. His eyes had transformed into what looked like blue kaleidoscopes.

​The 《Fallen Angel Eyes》—these blue eyes could nullify the Gifts of the Angels.

​“The 《Fallen Angel Eyes》 activated…!?”

​Gula’s voice nearly cracked. The timing was so perfect it was as if he had been saving it for this exact moment. For Gula, it was the absolute worst-case scenario.

​“Gula can’t use 《Devour》. Gula has to find her by guessing…!”

​Gula opened the western door. A wall. Five moves left.

North—correct. She entered 9D. Four moves left. No Luxuria’s head on the mannequin.

North again. A wall. Three moves left.

West—correct. She entered 9C. Two moves left. Luxuria wasn’t there either.

North—correct. She entered 8C. One move left. No Luxuria.

West—correct. She entered 8B. Zero moves left. Luxuria wasn’t there.

Turn end.

​《It is Shuuto-sama’s turn.》

​(If Gula can just make it to the next turn, Gula will definitely find her. Gula will be able to use 《Devour》 again, and there are hardly any candidate rooms left. As long as he doesn’t roll a six, Gula wins…)

​A five-out-of-six chance. The odds were heavily in her favor. Victory was right there.

​Now, the die roll was…

​《The die roll is a six.》

​“Ah…”

​Gula realized then. Shuuto had also been able to roll a six whenever he truly wanted to.

​Looking back, he had only rolled a six when it was absolutely vital—like when he had to hide Luxuria’s head. At all other times, he had rolled different numbers to make her think he couldn’t control the die, lulling her into a false sense of security. His string of catastrophic rolls after being left alone had likely been nothing more than a camouflage.

​And then, at the most critical moment, he had sprinted through those twelve spaces in the shortest possible time. It was a total defeat.

​《Shuuto-sama has reached 1A. The winner is Shuuto-sama.》