The man didn't seem to have taken much damage, but because his leg was slightly crooked, he couldn't run well. We left the man behind and ran from the scene. According to the others, there were a massive number of ordinary people who had undergone this kind of transformation.
The abnormality seemed to have started while I was playing the VR game. A while after I lost consciousness, an image was displayed on the stadium's giant screen.
[FEVER TIME!!]
Immediately after, the audience members in the venue began to suffer and started emitting strong aura. Then, some became violent and started brawling. Most of them supposedly launched attacks at us iTubers.
According to Blade's assessment, this wasn't an intentional act, but rather they were instinctively sensing and being drawn to strong fluctuations of aura. There was no rational goal, only actions seeking destruction.
Judging by the amount of aura being released from the spectators' bodies, it was thought they would quickly exhaust their life force and become unable to move, but that prediction was wrong. they charged recklessly while leaking an apparently bottomless amount of aura.
Even so, for people like Blade, they were only strong enough to be easily handled, but like the man we saw earlier, they possessed incredible resilience and would get back up to attack over and over again. Since causing serious injuries might leave permanent aftereffects, they had abandoned the stadium where the audience was concentrated and fled this far.
Little was known about this phenomenon. Since the rampaging spectators had red crystals growing from the wrists where their wristbands were attached, it was speculated that this substance was the cause.
Not every spectator was caught up in this abnormality. Some maintained their sanity. It was said those people were often moving in small, close-knit groups. While nothing could be said for certain, they felt that people in unstable mental states were more likely to develop the abnormality, while those with a mental support system tended to avoid it.
That prevention method wasn't guaranteed, and once the symptoms appeared, they were uncontrollable. I asked if there was any treatment.
"I suspect it's some kind of Nen ability, but in my experience, these types of abilities are predicated on using the subjects until they are spent. Even if the ability were canceled, they likely wouldn't return to normal."
I realized I was shocked by that answer. I wasn't arrogant enough to think I could save every single victim. I had just run away and left that man behind. The responsibility I felt was different.
I recognized those red crystals. The material felt similar to the exoskeleton of my main insect body. Furthermore, they looked very much like the 'disaster' that occurred on that island when Six obtained the 'Power of Salvation'—those red crystals that grew like plants and spread in an instant.
Is this related to my ability?
It wasn't an impossible story. Just as Noah had unintentionally let his 'Hatsu' run wild and spread a Nen-based disease, there was a possibility that I had unconsciously used some kind of ability. I desperately denied it in my heart, but once the worst-case prediction had surfaced, it stuck in my head and wouldn't leave.
And then, the smartphone I kept in my backpack. When my main body, which was inside with it, checked, my smartphone was covered in red crystals and in an unusable state. Between what happened in the VR space where I fought Milluki and this, there were too many things I couldn't process, and my mind was becoming a mess.
Did the game management know information about this ability that I didn't? There were signs that made it seem like they were clearly incorporating this phenomenon as part of the game.
If I could make contact with the enemies at the heart of the management, maybe I could get some information. Just like when I fought Milluki, I felt that in order to lure out the enemy, I first had to play into their hands.
I had to make a proposal to everyone here. It was a terribly selfish claim. Even so, I couldn't choose to just say nothing and let myself be swept along. I steeled my resolve and opened my mouth.
"So, you're saying, 'I found out where Pomerni is, so I want to go there'?"
As if to preempt me, Velvet cut off my words. I hadn't even said anything yet. Why did she know what I was going to say?
"Milluki was hinting at something like that. Since you returned safely from the VR game, I can guess that you reached some kind of agreement with him."
She was right. As promised, Milluki had told me where Pomerni was. Next, Velvet pointed in a certain direction. Looking that way, I saw several monitors installed on the street. All of them were showing the same footage.
From the list screen showing the names of the game's players, the names of the disqualified iTubers had disappeared. The only ones remaining were Pomerni and Six. Velvet and the others' names were gone.
"Blade, Noah, and I had applied to withdraw earlier, so if we assume that was finally accepted just now, it provides a partial explanation. A partial one."
Velvet stopped running. The rest of us followed suit and halted our pace.
"Isn't this all a bit too convenient? Your name and Pomerni's just happen to remain, and you just happen to have found out Pomerni's location from Milluki. I've had my doubts about many things from the start, but isn't it time you explained yourself? Including the contents of that backpack."
It felt as if my heart had stopped. Did she look inside? When? No, there was a time when I was unconscious. It would have been perfectly possible during that gap.
"S-Sorry! I tried to stop her, but she was so forceful...!"
I was being suspected. From Velvet's perspective, it was a natural suspicion. And I had no way to clear that doubt. It was obvious that a poor lie would be seen through, and I didn't think she would believe me even if I honestly said I didn't know anything.
Even my proposal to head toward Pomerni's location would seem like an obvious trap to Velvet. According to Milluki, this information was reasonably credible. It was information based on internal management documents he had obtained through hacking.
However, despite Milluki being able to probe that deep into the enemy's heart, he was unable to find out the true purpose of this game. It was information not recorded on any computer specifically to prevent leaks even in an emergency. In other words, the location of Pomerni was information the enemy didn't mind having revealed.
Pomerni was likely there, but the enemy would be expecting that location to be discovered, Milluki had said. In other words, it was highly likely to be a trap. I was consciously trying to jump into danger while knowing that.
If I were allowed to act alone it would be simple, but Velvet had been told by the Saherta agents to protect me, and Blade had his mission as a Hunter to guard me. I wasn't in a position to act without everyone's consent. That was why, conversely, the fact that this proposal was coming from me made her suspect it was the mastermind's doing.
"Answer me. Depending on your response, don't forget that things might not end peacefully."
I could see from Velvet's aura that she had entered a combat-ready state. Noah was just flustered, but Blade seemed to be watching calmly with a firm will. He didn't stop Velvet; he too was waiting for my words.
I agonized over what to say. No matter what I said, it likely wouldn't have enough persuasive power to erase Velvet's suspicion. After worrying, I realized all I could do was convey my true feelings.
I told them honestly that the red crystals currently affecting the audience might be related to me, but I didn't know the cause. And I told them that my resolve to go save Pomerni hadn't changed.
Hearing that answer, which wasn't really an answer, Velvet took on an exasperated expression. But I had no more words.
I could only say I didn't know the things I didn't know, and Pomerni had to be saved now. No matter how long we waited without doing anything, the opportunity wouldn't just arrive. If anything, the chance of saving him would only decrease. Considering what the management of this game had done, there was no telling what they might do next.
This was my selfishness. But that could be said for everyone. The promise Velvet made with the agents was something she had decided on her own, and the guard request Blade received wasn't something I had asked for.
I wasn't going to back down here. On top of that, if Velvet were to become my enemy, there was nothing I could do. I didn't think I had a chance of winning, but even so, there was a feeling I couldn't abandon. I strengthened the aura I used for 'Ten'.
"I-I'm always on Mama's side!"
Amidst the rising tension, Noah jumped between us as if to break the strained atmosphere.
"I don't care who Mama is. Even if I'm betrayed, I won't have any regrets. Thanks to Six, I was able to 'see Mama off' in the true sense of the word."
While I had thought in my heart that I would be fine alone, when Noah spoke up, a part of me felt relieved. Even while thinking I shouldn't involve him in danger, I suppose I was somewhere expecting that Noah would say that without thinking too deeply.
A bit unreliable, but a reassuring and precious comrade.
"So, I'm following Mama anywhere. That's all!"
Velvet didn't even look at Noah as he made his declaration with a sharp pointing gesture. She likely expected this development. her eyes were fixed on one person: Blade. She was more concerned with his movements than with Six's.
Blade, who had maintained his silence, moved slowly after receiving Velvet's gaze. He stood on the opposite side of Noah, lining up next to me.
"I happen to agree with Six-kun's proposal."
"...Are you serious?"
It felt strange to think this after he had sided with me, but the surprise was greater than the joy. I had fully expected Blade, given his position, to oppose me.
"To not restrain the person I'm guarding even though they're about to do something dangerous, and instead lend a hand... as a Hunter who took on a request, I'm a failure. But more than that, I feel a 'conscience' in her claim. I feel the same way about wanting to save Pomerni. You can't catch the tiger's cub without entering the tiger's den. There may be enemy schemes that only become visible once you throw yourself into danger."
Blade said he couldn't overlook the deeds of a management that didn't view people as human. He saw this incident as a grave threat where, unless the truth was quickly uncovered and the enemy's identity grasped, a massive number of similar victims might appear again. He had chosen the path of active participation to reach a resolution.
"The comrade standing next to you might be connected to the mastermind, you know?"
"Six-kun might indeed be heavily involved in this incident in some way. But that's something that happened regardless of her intent. She said herself she knows nothing."
"You actually believe that?"
"There is no falsehood. That is how it seemed to me. Though when it comes to the ability to see through others' lies, I don't think I can match you, Velvet-kun."
Velvet didn't return any words to the smiling Blade. Her aura, which had been in a combat-ready state, returned to normal.
"If Blade is going to side with you, then I have nothing more to say. Do as you please. I'm pulling out of this alliance."
It took a moment for me to understand her statement. In other words, from here on, Velvet would be acting separately. She would no longer be involved with us.
If I thought about it, there was nothing strange about it. She was just saying she couldn't follow us as we jumped into a stage prepared by the enemy. Even the promise to the Saherta agents was only good as long as she was alive. There was no need for her to risk her life to protect me.
It would have been fine if she could have stopped my actions, but she must have sensed that no matter how much she tried to persuade me, my mind wouldn't change. Furthermore, with Blade joining the Pomerni rescue faction, it became difficult to make me submit through force. In this situation, offering to withdraw herself was the best way to avoid trouble.
"I fought hard, and I should have achieved enough results. Make sure you explain that properly to the Saherta agents."
"Understood. There is no fault in that decision. Leave Six-kun's protection to me and get some rest."
"Me too! I'm here too!"
Without any further parting words, Velvet turned on her heel and walked away. It was a very dry separation.
At first, I had just thought she was a cold person. Sarcastic, suspicious, and without a shred of friendliness. An unpleasant iTuber who gained popularity by attacking others' faults. That was a fact, but at some point, I had come to believe that wasn't all there was to her.
She had left the alliance, but that decision didn't have to be made now. It wouldn't have been strange if she had made that decision while I was unconscious, after she had looked inside my backpack.
Not just Velvet, but the other two as well hadn't abandoned me on the spot. She had waited for me to wake up and sought an explanation directly from my mouth.
That might have simply been an act with the goal of extracting information from me. However, I didn't feel that her questioning was uncomfortable. She had seriously listened to Six's words, looked at the 'human' named Six, and judged something. That was how I felt.
Our claims had clashed, but as a result, even if we had ended up fighting, even if I had lost, I probably wouldn't have hated her.
I couldn't put it into words, but I sent those feelings toward Velvet's receding back as I watched her go.