Ch.176[Chapter 176] 12 Hours

Click.

Another count went up.

Now the Ferris wheel displayed the text 7/12.

“We’ve passed the halfway mark!”

Sir Dominic shouted as he swept away explosives with the bottom edge of his shield.

The explosives flew over the attackers’ heads, seemingly taking out one, two, or perhaps five of them.

“Just wait a little longer! I’ll speed up the repairs even if it’s a bit risky!”

Fast. Don Castello thought to himself.

In fact, two things needed to happen simultaneously to make the Ferris wheel turn.

One was charging the backup batteries to power the Ferris wheel.

The other was repairing the Ferris wheel itself.

In the current situation, the batteries would certainly be charged in time.

However, the problem was… the durability of the Ferris wheel.

Since GachaWorld had been abandoned for so long, none of the attractions were functioning properly.

Don Castello had poured money into other attractions to get them temporarily operational, but the Ferris wheel was different.

It needed to be perfect and complete.

Perhaps that’s why?

Don Castello, hands trembling, had emptied even the emergency funds hidden in his shoe soles to pour money into restoring the Ferris wheel.

“If there’s any silver lining, I suppose it’s this.”

Don Castello said with a gaunt face.

Sir Dominica’s gun spat fire.

And another attacker fell into an unconscious state.

Sir Dominic and Sir Dominica simultaneously pushed their shields forward, forcing those who had advanced half a step to retreat two steps.

“Fortunately, the enemies aren’t interested in the Ferris wheel. If we can just buy time here—”

Six more hours. Don Castello muttered.

“…that should be enough.”

Don Castello glanced at Sir Dominic and Sir Dominica before turning his attention back to the documents.

Right now, he needed to focus all his attention on the Ferris wheel.

Fortunately… Sir Dominic and Sir Dominica were definitely doing their part to make that possible.

…

“So that’s how it is.”

However, these words from Don Castello were transmitted directly to Boss and Z.

It was only natural.

The attackers each carried radios to receive instructions from Boss, and due to the excessively long standoff, communications were happening non-stop.

It was fortunate for Boss that one sharp-eared attacker had heard Don Castello’s words.

At the very least, having a card to avoid this excessively long standoff could create a favorable situation for Boss.

“Just pretend to maintain the standoff. And divide your forces to send some to the Ferris wheel.”

“But we’re a bit short on explosives.”

“I’ll send reinforcements.”

“What? But—”

“This isn’t the back alley. The rules are different here.”

Boss continued.

“Unlike the back alleys where you’re done once you’re deployed, here we can send reinforcements as much as we want.”

“…Ah! I see! The rules are different—I almost made a mistake!”

In GachaWorld, each area sometimes had special rules.

There were rules that someone like Sir Dominic, who operated alone, didn’t need to worry about much. But there were also various unique rules, such as being banned from re-entering for a certain period after dying in that area, or the last survivor receiving special bonuses until the next period.

And the back alley where Boss and Z lived had a rule that once you declared war and died, you couldn’t re-enter until the war was over.

“Anyway, divide your forces and send them to the Ferris wheel immediately. The rest should continue surrounding Don Castello.”

“Yes!”

Click. The radio transmission ended.

They must have gone to relay Boss’s message.

“What do you think, Z?”

“Well, it’s fifty-fifty. Could be a trap, could be the truth. Just fifty-fifty.”

Boss sighed at Z’s response.

“But it’s information that costs us nothing to act on.”

Boss looked at the Ferris wheel.

The Ferris wheel, now more than half lit up.

Though still rusty and twisted in places, it was gradually being restored.

“That might have been the key point all along.”

Boss stood up abruptly.

“Yes. That’s the key point.”

“What’s going on?”

Z questioned Boss’s strange behavior.

“Think about it. The Ferris wheel is practically the center of this GachaWorld. It’s the symbol of GachaWorld.”

Signature. Main. What should I call it? Boss muttered.

“Anyway, what happens when the Ferris wheel that’s practically the symbol of GachaWorld is restored?”

“…Are you suggesting GachaWorld becomes activated?”

“Exactly.”

Boss answered Z’s question with a serious expression.

“More precisely, GachaWorld returns to its original state.”

Click. Another count went up.

8/12.

“The original purpose of GachaWorld was entertainment.”

“Not war or fighting, but something more fundamental… fun.”

Boss muttered quietly before looking at Z and continuing.

“Originally, actions that harmed others were prohibited inside GachaWorld. The principle was that no one had the right to have their enjoyment disturbed. But now? There’s no intervention even when fighting breaks out inside. This is evidence that GachaWorld hasn’t been activated yet. That Ferris wheel is probably the field generator that creates GachaWorld’s peace zones. If that’s the case…”

“The moment it activates, we’re done for.”

“That’s right.”

Z added an explanation to Boss’s words.

Boss nodded in agreement with Z’s explanation.

“Then…”

“Yes. Time is on their side. That’s why we need to stop the restoration of that Ferris wheel immediately.”

Boss smiled wickedly.

It seemed Don Castello had been quite clever, but in the end, he had revealed a weakness.

“Send the reinforcements to the Ferris wheel right now. And if possible…”

Boss glanced at the Ferris wheel.

“Bring all the explosives we have.”

Boss lit a cigar with a bright smile.

Thinking it was as good as victory already.

…

“—or so they think.”

Don Castello muttered.

As Sir Dominic and Sir Dominica pushed all the attackers out with their shields, the office door was restored.

Don Castello had spent money to instantly repair the office.

“Surely one of them must have heard what I muttered.”

Don Castello smiled brightly.

Having put in so much effort, Don Castello had returned to his normal weight and now looked like a confident businessman.

“If that’s the case… they’ll definitely do everything they can to stop the Ferris wheel’s restoration.”

“Shouldn’t we go protect the Ferris wheel immediately then?”

Sir Dominic asked as he locked the door.

The newly installed door was made of iron, with a horizontal bar structure for locking.

“No need.”

Don Castello smiled at Sir Dominic.

“In fact, that’s exactly what I’m counting on.”

“What do you mean by that?”

Sir Dominica asked.

“You’re counting on… them attacking the Ferris wheel?”

“There’s a hidden gimmick about the GachaWorld Ferris wheel that only those in the know understand.”

Don Castello said as he signed documents.

“And if you don’t know about that gimmick, you’re bound to fall victim to it.”

Don Castello tried hard to maintain his composure.

But he couldn’t stop the corners of his mouth from slowly rising.

…

“Everyone, keep up the good work! The enemy’s offensive is weakening!”

The Governor encouraged the androids from atop the outpost with a megaphone.

It wasn’t just empty encouragement.

The zombies’ offensive was actually weakening, and the androids could feel it too.

The Governor glanced at the Ferris wheel.

The count was now at 8.

Four more counts remained.

The Governor didn’t know what would happen when that count finished, but he hoped it would help their situation.

That’s when it happened.

BOOM!

The sound of an explosion came from the direction of the Ferris wheel.

“…The Ferris wheel!”

The Governor looked at the Ferris wheel where black smoke had started to rise.

The Ferris wheel appeared unaffected, as if this level of explosion was nothing to worry about.

However, it was impossible to be reassured by just one explosion.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

As if the first explosion had been a signal flare, explosions occurred in succession.

The chain of explosions was so severe that black and white smoke completely obscured the Ferris wheel.

“…Good heavens.”

The Governor clutched his head, which was beginning to ache.

He assumed the Ferris wheel couldn’t possibly remain intact amid such explosions.

For the Governor, who had considered the Ferris wheel a symbol of hope, this was frustrating.

“…Huh?”

But soon the Governor’s expression turned puzzled.

Then he looked toward where the Ferris wheel had been with a surprised expression.

As the smoke gradually cleared, the Ferris wheel reappeared.

In perfect condition.

“…How?”

The Ferris wheel still stood tall at the center of GachaWorld.

Without any change.

No, there was a change.

Click.

That sound was heard.

The Governor raised his head at the sound.

And looked at the count with surprised eyes.

9/12.

Another count had gone up.

A count that had just increased not long ago and still had quite a way to go.