Chapter 269

Genocide Online ~Playtime Diary of an Evil Young Girl~

Rena Ichijo’s Daily Life #14 #

I really like scenes with rain or snow.

(Sssshhhh)

The sound of pouring rain echoes from outside… I can’t seem to muster the desire to go home or play games, so I’ve been sitting on the steel stairs of this abandoned building, unsure of when it might collapse. The windows are already broken, and the building is decaying and rusting away. Weak sunlight filters in through the rain clouds.

The steel stairs outside this unreliable building, attached like an afterthought, also have holes in the makeshift roof here and there. Rainwater that seeps in from those holes flows down, washing away the blood of the small animals I played with while wetting my school uniform skirt.

Even without the rainwater trickling in from the holes, a little wind is all it takes for raindrops to easily change course and hit my cheeks, wetting them.

“… "

I support my raised knee with both hands and rest my face against it, which causes my wet hair to stick to my cheeks, feeling a bit unpleasant. I try wiggling my other ankle, but my leather shoes just deflect the rain, and my socks absorb the rainwater, making them heavy.

I spend several tens of minutes like this, exposed to the rain and wind, until my body is completely chilled, and even my breath appears white.

…Since then, I’ve suddenly encountered those twins in the game and have been pretending not to see them ever since the perverted gentleman’s advice. As usual, I’ve been releasing my stress through gaming and having fun to support myself. Of course, playing with my friends and enjoying free time in the game was very enjoyable…there is no lie there.

…But at the same time, there is something that has been smoldering deep in my heart.

Those two siblings, who resemble the adults I hate so much…it is emotionally difficult for me to get along with them.

However, if that were something important that my mother had prepared for me to live a normal life…

If it was something that my mother had done as a mother for my sake…

In fact, I was lucky enough that I didn’t have any normal friends for several years after my mother’s death.

So, was my mother worried about that?

I found that game by pure chance, and if I hadn’t played it, I wouldn’t have met Hannes-san, Yuu-san, Maria-san, and the others either.

In other words, my mother’s concerns were correct.

Is it okay to continue avoiding it like this, without suddenly facing it head-on? What kind of result will that bring for me?

…Thinking about these things that have no clear answers, and all of it, is all because of that man and woman.

“…What is that?”

“Can’t you tell just by looking? It’s an old photo.”

“Why is there a photo of my mother that I don’t know about?”

“There are plenty of photos you don’t know about.”

“But I’m in this one…there’s also an unfamiliar baby.”

“Don’t you remember? It’s Komari and Masayoshi.”

“Why…are those two in there?”

“That’s right! Rena-chan met Komari and the others–”

“Please don’t speak.”

“Please answer me. Is that real?”

“It’s something we took when you were a creepy three-year-old. Even if you don’t remember, it can’t be helped.”

“Look at me and say that. Are you talking to yourself?”

“Just go away. It’s something we took because Reiko begged us to, but we hardly remember…it’s not necessary.”

“…Please don’t decide on your own. All of my mother’s photos belong to me.”

“Hmph! Even if we, whom you hate, are in them?”

“…Even so.”

“Do whatever you want. Unlike me, you have few memories with Reiko…you can only cling to such things, right?”

“…! …I’m going home.”

“A customer is coming. Don’t show your face at the main house for a while.”

“…You don’t have to tell me.”

Since that day, I haven’t been sure about what I’m feeling…or what I want to do.

“…”

Even when I try squeezing my right hand that was treated by Mr. Yamamoto, it only sends pain signals to my brain without any meaning.

Why do I have to be so confused…no, it’s because my mother is involved in everything that I do.

Like a machine that spits out errors due to the contradiction between my usual behavior and my mother’s presence.

“…You’re here, catching a cold.”

Suddenly, a blunt voice comes down from above, as if forcefully dragging my thoughts out of the depths.

“…Mr. Masaki, is it?”

“…What’s with that damp face?”

When I look up and turn to the upper level behind me, I see Mr. Masaki looking down at me with a pale face.

Judging from the fact that he’s holding a second umbrella, was he looking for me?

“I don’t know what happened, but those two were worried and contacted me.”

“…Is that so?”

“Yamamoto? The butler-like guy was also looking for you…saying you didn’t come back at the usual time.”

“He’s not just ‘butler-like,’ he is a butler.”

“…Seriously, as expected of a noble.”

Without delving too deeply, why is Mr. Masaki sitting next to me without caring that his pants are getting wet, even though he said he came to look for me because other people were worried?

Wasn’t he supposed to have come to take me home?

“To be exact, I’m the head of the household, who manages all the details of the house, including the butlers and servants, and is closest to the master.”

“That old man was such an important person? His tone was weird though…”

“It’s too late to worry about that now.”

“Well, that’s true.”

Seems like the conversation has run out of topics, so I stare at Mr. Masaki’s profile as he remains silent with his mouth in a straight line.

It’s typical of him to try challenging something even though he only has this much to work with, isn’t it?

“…In the game, a new dungeon has been found.”

“Oh, really?”

“Whoever clears it first wins. Of course, it’ll be one-on-one.”

“Is that okay? Without the support of our allies?”

“Hmph! I alone am enough to beat you, aren’t I?”

Well, technically I fight with my familiar demons, so I told him that, but judging from Mr. Masaki’s current attitude, he won’t back down even if I say that.

“…Okay, then let’s make it a competition.”

Right now, I just want to distract myself with something.

“…Alright? Come at me with everything you’ve got.”

“Huh? Of course, I’m serious about this.”

“Hmph, we’ll see.”

Did I say something he didn’t like?

…I can’t tell what the cause is at times like this, can I?

“…It’s getting dark, and the forecast says it’s going to get worse.”

“Is that so?”

“Is that so? Then go home! You won’t be able to play the game if you catch a cold!”

“I see.”

“That’s what I’m talking about!”

I see, then let’s go home for today.

“Hey!”

“…Did you buy this for me?”

“It’s just a cheap plastic umbrella you can buy at a convenience store…Come on, I’ll walk you part of the way home.”

I take the plastic umbrella from Mr. Masaki and, unlike a few minutes ago, stand up easily…then open the umbrella and follow Mr. Masaki’s lead down the stairs.

“…You don’t have to force yourself to ask for help, but take care of yourself, even if you can’t rely on others.”

“Rena? I won’t force you to tell me what happened… but, you know? Even if you can’t ask for help from anyone, make sure to take care of yourself.”

“…Yes.”

She quietly responds to the words that sound familiar to her.