Part 55: Super High-school Level Update #49

Man's... Greatest Ambition...



You really like live women as much as the rest of us, don't you.



I thought they could serve as reference for the figures I'm going to make!
A real woman's body is a disgusting thing, but I could tolerate it naked... probably.



You're lucky none of them are here right now. You'd be dead in a second...

...and then, after spending some time talking, we heard chatting voices from outside the cafeteria.

The girls, having finished their bath, soon came back in.



Ahhh~ The water was great!



It sure is fun to spread our wings in a large public bath once in a while.



Yes. Just so...



I usually look forward to enjoying a cup of protein coffee after emerging from a bath, but...





It's too bad! We don't have time for that right now!!



...That is what I thought.



...Huh?



We discussed it while we were bathing. You are probably scheming something again...



Someone with your personality can't possibly leave us alone when we are having some fun...



W...what is this...? Am I being mocked...?



You're so cruel! And I even came here with a present for you!
...A present!?



Oh? Do I have your attention?
Upupu. In that case, please come to the gymnasium. That's where I prepared my present...



I'll be waiting, so don't dally!!





W...what's going on? What is he going to do this time...?



It's probably starting again...
He has another "motive" for us...



...Again?



No way... I don't wanna go...



I am also completely traumatized.



...It's okay. We have Alter Ego now. I'm sure it's going to find a way to help us. So for now...



...Let's just try to endure whatever it is that's coming.



When our heavy feet finally reached the gymnasium, we found people already waiting there.



I can't believe I was kept waiting by the likes of you. If I had permission to use a gun I'd have gone on a shooting rampage.
Togami-kun... You got here early?



Are you late because you forgot how to walk? You need to alternate your right and left legs in order to move forward.



Heh heh... you're just the same as always. But on the other hand...



............



Ah! She's back to her gloomy self...



She sneezed loudly, and suddenly turned back to normal...



A personality change triggered by a sneeze. That sure is a convenient scenario.



H...how rude... Calling people "gloomy"......
I wish you'd all get trapped under a Mikoshi and die just after pulling a "great luck" Mikuji...

A Mikuji is a popular paper fortune you can get at Shinto shrines (for a modest price). A Mikoshi is a Shinto shrine's fancy decorated palanquin that's carried around during festivals, and is believed to carry the shrine's local deity.



She only stops stuttering when she's badmouthing others...



...In any case, it seems we are all here.



So it's going to start soon...









Good, you bastards are all here! Well then, let's begin!!



Just get on with it. What motive are you going to give us now?



You will not succeed trapping us again, no matter what your plans are.



She's right...! We won't lose to despair anymore...!



Upupu... I assumed you'd get used to it by now...
So... this time, I'm changing my strategy.
Up until now, I pushed you into a corner, hitting you with the cold harsh north wind...



But from time to time, it's good to let you feel the warmth of the sun! Ahahahaha!!



So, to keep things short, what I have this time is...
...this!!







Ten billion yen!!

Under the current exchange rate, ten billion yen is approximately 125 million dollars.

It's my present to any student who graduates!
What do you think? It's ten billion yen! Ten billion!!
You can't wait to start working, can you!?



So it's money... That's the "motive" this time.

A figure like ten billion yen... that's...



...Way too little.
............



Money... That's certainly as standard as motives come.
Both in mystery fiction... and in real life...



B...but...



After all we've been through, we're not going to kill any more of our friends just for the sake of money!!



...a human being's life can not be bought for a price.



And, you know, ten billion... It's a figure that doesn't even seem real...
That's right... It's just like everyone just said...
We don't care if it's 10 billion or any other number...
No, it's not just regarding money. From now on, we don't care what you try to do...
We are not going to kill any more of our friends for anything!



That's some impressive bravado you're displaying here.



I'm looking forward to seeing your pure collaborative school life!

After saying those ill-foreboding words, Monobear disappeared, leaving the large pile of money on the podium.





W...will it really be fine...?
There's no one here... who would kill just to get some money, right...?



Did you already forget what I taught you? You can't judge others based on your own values...



T...there is someone like that here, isn't there? Someone who's pressed for money...!!



I won much more than 10 billion with my gambling. My lifestyle lacks for nothing.



W...what about Yamada...? You surely could use the money, couldn't you!?



I'm a best-selling doujin author! I have enough money to buy all the DVDs and comics I need!!



So, so, so...!!



Enough. Suspecting others because of a trifling thing like money is an ugly thing to do.



U...u...u...ugly!?



There is no need to worry. Even if you do, if anything is to happen it will just happen.
That's... what this game is like.

*Ding dong ding dong*







Ehhh.... This is a school announcement. It is now 10pm.
Night Time begins now.
The cafeteria’s doors will be locked shortly. You are forbidden to enter it.
Well then, good night. I wish you all have pleasant dreams...



It's already this late...



Before we go our different ways, let me remind you one more time...
From this night on, I'm leaving my dorm room's door open so I can know if anything happens to Alter Ego...
But I would suggest you not to come into my room recklessly just because the door is open.



I might mistake your intentions... and someone might come to harm as a result.

She said it in calm, quiet voice. But... the words themselves were packed with a real sense of power.



Anyway, let's just go back to our rooms for today, 'right?



Listen to me! Try not to think about the money! If you agree, you're free to go!!



...Isn't that right, Ishimaru-chi?



...........



...That's what I thought.



I returned to my room and went straight to bed.

Money... There's no way any of us will kill just to get some...
Those words left my mouth, but something deep inside my heart was deeply doubtful.

Last time, when the motive was the revelation of secrets, it was just the same.

...And someone still ended up dead because of such an unbelievable motive.

We all know that.
But, this time...

This time... things will be different......

The program Fujisaki-kun left us... Alter Ego.
It's a beam of hope we finally got our hands on.

I'm sure... as long as we have it......



MONOBEAR THEATER



Babies... sure are cunning.
You know how, had I not been translated into English right now, they'd have "-chan" right there built into their name? That's like declaring their cuteness there and then.
That's why I'd really like to be called "Monobear-chan".
See? With just this small change, my cuteness increased by 10 percent!
That's right! There is not enough "chan" in the world!
If we had more "chan" we could save the world!
Culprit-chan, War-chan, Pollution-chan...
Traffic-accident-chan, Inheritance-dispute-chan, Deflation-chan...
Dark subjects immediately turn light and fluffy!
We can spread our dreams everywhere!