["Stelle, the one standing before you is tonight's true protagonist." Screwllum explained calmly. "She left a backdoor in the office, intending to remotely hack in while you entered the Simulated Universe, then find some way to accompany us."]
["I must say, she is also a highly skilled performer. Misdirection is always the most effective method."]
["So you two knew from the very beginning?"]
["Apologies, but Herta forbade me from revealing any information in advance. She said that in this plan, what matters is not wisdom, but ignorance." Screwllum paused, then continued. "But in my view, what is most important—is persistence and sincerity. Without a doubt, every single move Mr. Leonard made completely drew her attention."]
["So then, are you satisfied with this journey through the Simulated Universe—Ms. Silver Wolf?"]
[Silver Wolf crossed her arms and gave a cold laugh. "Hmph, you figured it out long ago, huh? I knew it wouldn't be that easy to fool you." She looked at Screwllum slowly approaching her. "All that idle chatter along the way—it was all said for my benefit, right?"]
["So the whole thing about shutting down the Simulated Universe and the argument with Herta—it was all an act? Just to lure me into the trap?"]
["That depends on how you interpret it. Herta and I have always spoken bluntly; such sharp confrontations are quite common between us—calling it entirely a performance would be inaccurate."]
[Silver Wolf turned her head away and gave a soft huff.]
["See, Ms. Silver Wolf is truly a brilliant hacker. She calculates everything, leaving plenty of variables and contingencies. The only unexpected factor was my sudden visit to the space station, along with the bad news of shutting down the Simulated Universe. That alone nearly ruined her entire setup."]
[Add to that her later risky intrusion into the Simulated Universe... In Screwllum's eyes, that was the full picture of events.]
["Full picture? No no, you got the most crucial point wrong." Silver Wolf shook her head. "I wasn't taking a desperate gamble—I was thrilled and eager to try. Understand? Screwllum, do you know how excited I was the moment you appeared?"]
["A worthy opponent—how long has it been since I last enjoyed this kind of fun? The Legion are primitives, the Corporation is barely passable—only the Club ever gave me any real entertainment."]
——
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba.
In the courtyard of Demon Slayer Corps headquarters, moonlight poured down like water. The Hashira had gathered together, discussing the young girl appearing on the Celestial Screen.
"This 'hacker' thing is truly strange. Back when she came to the space station with Kafka, my attention was all on Kafka's Spirit Whisper—I completely overlooked Silver Wolf's methods." Himejima Gyomei clasped his hands together, tears streaming down his face. "Now it seems her techniques are no less miraculous than 'Spirit Whisper'... No sword in hand, yet she can decide victory from a thousand miles away."
"I actually think 'hacking' is stronger than Kafka's Spirit Whisper. Even Kafka wouldn't dare casually say something like 'the Legion are primitives,' right?"
Iguro Obanai lightly tapped his knee with his finger. "From this girl's tone, plus the fact she can match a genius like Screwllum in skill... the Corporation probably really is a place she can come and go as she pleases."
Tomoka Giyu sat quietly to the side. At the words, he slightly raised his eyes. "Sorry, but I have a question—I've been hearing them talk about 'hacking,' 'computers,' 'silicon-based matrices' and such since earlier... Do any of you actually know what those words mean?"]
["And you've been talking about this 'hacker' for so long—do you even know what it is they do?"]
["..."]
As soon as Tomioka Giyu's words fell, the scene fell into dead silence.
Everyone had heard Screwllum constantly mentioning "hacker" and assumed it was some wondrous technology from Punklorde, but when pressed for deeper details—what exactly it involved—opinions differed wildly.
Himejima Gyomei thought it was a method to remotely project one's figure and voice. Kanroji Mitsuri believed it was a way to seal monsters inside walls. Iguro Obanai, who had listened most attentively, thought it was editing reality to help the Stellaron Hunters escape the Corporation's pursuit.
"It feels like the blind men touching the elephant..." Shinobu Kocho let out a "pfft" and burst into laughter. "Their technology has long surpassed our imagination. Among the Stellaron Hunters, it feels like that Mr. Blade is actually a bit closer to us."
——
["Reality really is a game—but if it isn't fun, then what's the point of the game? Two geniuses personally extending me an invitation, a challenge letter—how could I possibly not gladly accept? If it were you, could you?"]
["Screwllum: "Are you certain you can walk away unscathed?"]
["Of course." Silver Wolf tapped lightly on her wrist a few times, looking at the Aether Cartridge glowing white beside her. "And take it with me."]
["Oh? A copy? Completed during our earlier conversation?"]
["Otherwise why would I bother with all that introductory chatter with you? I wasn't the only one stalling for time. Herta might be reverse-hacking along my intrusion path right now. You and I staying here trading blows—it's just a rerun of our last confrontation."]
["Fine by me. I'm looking forward to it! So how are you planning to stop me this time? Turn the Simulated Universe into a black box? Team up with the Corporation for an intergalactic siege? Screwllum, will I finally get to see your real strength?"]
[Silver Wolf was even about to ask him to make it more fun for her, but Screwllum simply gave a gentlemanly bow, his voice calm and unhurried. "Apologies, Ms. Silver Wolf. None of what you are anticipating will happen. Now, you may leave."]
[Silver Wolf was instantly stunned. "Huh?"]
——
Dragon Raja.
200 meters underground in Cassell College's library.
Finger let out a "Huh?" almost in perfect sync with Silver Wolf.
"Are you kidding me? What the hell is this? Not even taking the bait?" Finger ruffled his blond hair wildly. "This is like preparing a three-day, three-night confession, only for the other person to say 'you're a good person'!"
A projection of a girl in a white gauze dress appeared in the air, floating barefoot above the console, her silver hair cascading like a waterfall. Norma tilted her head slightly. "Finger, do you need me to analyze the girl's psychology for you?"
"It's a metaphor! A metaphor!" Finger emphasized repeatedly. "I was even going to have you try parsing the attack-defense data they generate—maybe we could reuse it for something."
Norma gently shook her head at the words. "I'm sorry, Finger, but I'm afraid this cannot be parsed."
"You give up before it even starts?" Finger was stunned. "Come on, bring out the energy you had when you breached the Pentagon!"
"Breaching the Pentagon is simple, but this is completely different from the technology on the Celestial Screen." Norma stated frankly. "The technology currently mastered by the Corporation would likely require Earth to undergo dozens of technological revolutions and thousands upon thousands of years of development just to even 'understand' it. As for the attack-defense data generated by these two geniuses..."
For once, Finger saw a troubled expression on Norma's face.
"Alright, I was too rash." Finger stood up and patted the dust off his pants. "But Norma—if there were a chance, would you want to witness these two's confrontation?"
"If the premise is that their data won't overload my floating-point operations and cause a shutdown... then of course I would be willing."