After Miyabi finished speaking, she quietly stepped aside.
Then, after setting out some snacks for Soukaku, Harumasa stepped forward and asked, "How long does 'sufficient combat' actually last?"
It was only natural for him to be concerned, considering how often he thought about taking leave.
"There's no fixed time limit. It depends on the HIA's needs. However, according to the system's design, the test will automatically end once we defeat all the test monsters."
While Yanagi was answering, Harumasa noticed the book she was holding.
"Deputy Chief, what is that book you're holding?" he asked curiously.
"It's the technical manual for the new VR system. I borrowed it from a staff member. Most of the information I just mentioned came from it."
"What does page 273 of the technical manual say?"
Harumasa immediately followed up with the question, and Yanagi answered without hesitation.
"Page 273 contains the emergency shutdown procedures and troubleshooting guidelines for synchronization errors."
"That's too strange! You answered without even opening the book! Did you memorize the entire thing in such a short time? At this rate, you'll lose your hair, Deputy Chief!"
Harumasa looked genuinely shocked, while Miyabi, who was standing nearby, spoke up in a serious tone.
"Miss Yanagi, I hope you'll be my successor after I retire."
"It's a little early to be thinking about that, Chief. Alright, enough of these strange questions. Let's prepare to begin the test."
Yanagi adjusted her glasses with a hint of helplessness. Gathering as much information as possible was simply a skill every intelligence officer should possess.
"We're starting the VR test now? Alright, then please recite the activation slogan. Once you do, the system will begin loading the test environment. The slogan is... 'To protect the city, I, Dr. Mimi, transform into light!' T-That's it."
The staff member looked a little embarrassed, but who could blame her? The slogan had been invented by one of the researchers.
Incidentally, Dr. Mimi was the cat that lived in their research lab.
"Alright, everyone, please begin!"
The staff member looked at the group with barely concealed excitement. If special regulations hadn't prohibited photography, she would have loved to record what was about to happen.
"To protect the city, I, Miyabi, transform into light."
Miyabi took the lead, showing almost no sign of embarrassment.
Seeing this, the other three recited the slogan in turn.
As their consciousnesses were transferred into the system, they entered the VR environment and began the combat test.
Meanwhile, elsewhere, at a video rental store, a brother and sister were browsing through videotapes.
"By the way, Brother, you promised Miss Yanagi that you'd spend the night at her place tonight. Does that mean we won't be having dinner at home?"
"Yes. But if you want to eat my cooking, I can make dinner at home before we head over."
Belle shook her head. It was only one meal.
She could always have it another time. There was no need to make things so troublesome.
Besides, Odile and Odette's cooking had improved considerably lately, even if they were still nowhere near her brother's level.
After purchasing the videotapes, the siblings returned to the entrance of the HIA headquarters.
Many enthusiastic fans were still gathered outside.
"They still haven't come out yet. Well, Brother, let's wait here for a while."
As Belle spoke, she turned to look at Wise beside her, only to realize that something seemed off about his expression.
"Huh? Brother, you look terrible. Did something happen?"
The last time she had seen her brother wear that expression was during that Carnival.
"Hmm, nothing. I just suddenly remembered something. Belle, wait for me here for a moment. I'll be right back."
After saying that, Wise hurried off. The reason for his haste was the warning transmitted by his ability, Sense of Security.
At the same time, inside the VR system, Section 6 was informed that the test had been completed.
Following the instructions of the off-site staff, they selected the option to exit. Although Yanagi felt that something was off, she couldn't quite put her finger on it.
It wasn't until they returned to "reality" and prepared to leave that they noticed the official vehicle was missing from the parking lot.
When they returned to the HIA lobby, they found that not only was the staff member who had greeted them earlier gone, but the front desk staff had vanished as well.
The eerie situation made even Miyabi realize that something was wrong. The circumstances were far too strange.
The four immediately split up to investigate, and Yanagi soon discovered something peculiar.
The VR machine they had used earlier was still powered on despite clearly being unused.
As they continued their investigation, they eventually went outside and found Lumina Square completely deserted, as though every resident had vanished without a trace.
Yanagi had never truly considered how vast Lumina Square was before.
When the crowds disappeared, the sounds, the breaths, the warmth—every element that represented life and vitality—seemed to have been hollowed out.
All that remained was an empty shell radiating an indescribable sense of unease, as if...
"...like being in a Hollow," Yanagi spoke with a grave expression.
Harumasa, standing beside her, immediately stiffened.
"Stop, Deputy Chief. Please stop that mind-reading ability of yours! I'm already scared enough!"
"Huh? Harumasa, are you afraid of an empty plaza?" Soukaku asked from beside him.
"I'm afraid of how many of my leave requests your 'mom' has seen through..." Harumasa answered with a guilty expression and lowered his head.
Soukaku blinked innocently.
"Mom? I only have a sister and a brother right now!"
After the brief interruption, Yanagi reviewed the information they had gathered: the empty plaza, the Chief not being chased by fans, Soukaku not feeling hungry, and Harumasa's abnormal pain perception.
She finally arrived at a conclusion.
They were still inside virtual reality. For some reason, they had failed to log out successfully.
"Just in case, I can activate Safe Mode for everyone later. I still remember the procedure from the technical manual."
With that, Yanagi led everyone back to the VR machine.
However, the moment she activated Safe Mode on herself, Soukaku and Harumasa suddenly attacked her.
Yanagi instinctively raised her weapon to block, but before she could fully react, a figure appeared and intercepted the attack.
"What... what happened?"
After a brief moment of shock, Yanagi quickly regained her composure.
Soukaku immediately spoke in a flustered tone.
"Waaah! Yanagi! My body isn't listening to me?!"
Soukaku's words were quickly echoed by Harumasa and Miyabi.
However, everyone's attention soon shifted to the man who had suddenly appeared.
"It seems you've all run into quite a bit of trouble. Don't be nervous. I mean no harm. I came here specifically to help you."
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Zenless Zone Zero: The Almighty Incubus of Sixth Street
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