The Degree
Mona's Confession

“Do you really mean that, Leo?” asked the Order, he still could not believe that the existence of the object was in this place. Hidden in Open World.

Surely no one would believe that. But there's no point in Leo making such a lie. Their choice is only to believe it.

“In the Market no thermonuclear weapons available. However, who could have guessed that Secret prepared him personally for the task he created.” Arthur even began to break out in cold sweat when he found out that it was capable of exploding at any moment.

“I don't mean to doubt Leo. At first I wanted to convey this after seeing it firsthand. Besides, I hope none of the people here try to master for himself.”

This is the situation Ray wants to avoid. Undoubtedly those who master this weapon will be able to become absolute leaders in the Open World.

Everyone looked at each other and smiled. They then looked at Ray with tenderness and conviction.

“Take it easy. I've decided to finish all this. We're gonna keep this secret between us. There was nowhere to betray,” The Order said without a doubt, she was slightly bowed as she said 'Will settle all'.

“For me there is no point in mastering this narrow place. If there is anything I want ... I want to immediately go to the outside world after getting what I want,” said Arthur who smiled wryly.

Everyone comes to this place with different destinations and from different parts of the world.

Each of them has a lot that cannot be expressed. Just like Ray with his past. Everyone here is similar.

“So, what should we do now?” ask Terumi to dilute the situation.

But it is unfortunate that these talks will not end anytime soon. Looking at the Order, Ray knew that the person had the same thoughts as him.

“Retsuji Arthur is a famous and powerful Rookie, he also has strong idealism. I have no doubt about his position. Terumi, Leo, and Sebastian. For Ray. He led us to the true conclusion of the Rebellion's actions so the possibility of treason is small. Besides he was Erina's chosen man, the Order's” closed his eyes and took a breath, he opened his eyes and stared intently at the girl who had been silent since. “Only you, Mona. Only you who do not have a clear position.”

The order emphasizes the word 'No' in its sentence. Although he claimed to be a prisoner of Rebellion, who knows that it was a lie they made to put a traitor among them.

“Wait first! He—” Arthur was about to defend him, but Ray interrupted immediately.

“Just because you have clear power and position, doesn't mean trust in you can be shared with this woman, Arthur.”

“You may be willing to be a guarantor for her, but what good is the guarantee if one day because of this woman, everything here disappears?” Sebastian gave his support to Ray's words.

Just because people believed that Arthur wouldn't betray. Not that people who trusted Arthur also could not betray.

This is not a place for a beautiful friendship story, but it is a place with a story full of grief and betrayal. Thought Ray.

The truth is, Ray didn't instill complete trust in anyone in this room.

Trust always has the most expensive price in this world as does self-esteem.

“Bamun—”

“What's wrong, Arthur. I knew it would be like this, and therefore I was ready with whatever was going to happen.” Mona showed a gentle smile as she gently held Arthur's fingers.

Arthur started to calm down and nodded. No more signs of rejection or resistance from him.

“Now ... time for interrogation.” When the Order closed its eyes. Both Leo, Terumi and Sebastian point a gun at Mona.

“Oi-!”

“It's okay, Arthur!” Mona stops Arthur despite his trembling body.

Ray was surprised by their cohesiveness in this matter. There has never been such a conversation before. It seems that the Order is used to interrogation.

It's soothing because I don't have to reveal myself more.

With this kind of threat, someone who is in fear and panic cannot make a perfect lie. Even if the answer is prepared, it will be difficult to avoid leakage through body language.

The weapon is a bluff and a good threat at the same time.

“Now, let's start where you met Arthur.”

The order begins with a light question.

“I met him on second and third assignments. We together completed the puzzle of the door in the second task, and avoided the obstacles in the third task.”

“It's true, chief. Me and Leo are on the same third assignment as them.” Terumi ascertains the truth.

“In the past I have also completed a puzzle task. It was not a lie,” The Order nodded after confirming it.

Ray begins to wonder if only he is experiencing dangerous tasks all along. Well, he felt unworthy to ask because it would be disturbing.

“Then what happens after the task?”

“I parted ways with Arthur and went through different tasks. I had to climb a wall full of distractions on the fourth task.”

“So you're only with Arthur until the third task, huh. I doubt it a little" said the Order.

“Let's just relax, he's not lying. I was on the same job. Ignoring the details of the task, there were only six survivors of the task. And, I don't remember that woman.”

Ray still vividly remembered the people who occupied the seats. There was one other woman, but Ray was sure it wasn't Mona.

“Six people? I had expected that the task of the tutorial had not changed at all. Fighting over the chair is the most painful part.”

The Order experienced this in the past. It was evident from his face and his actions that knew it.

“It seems Erina and Mein are also there," Sebastian added.

“Then, what do you do after arriving at Open World?”

“I dance.”

“Hah? You're kidding.”

“This is real.”

“Dancing for what?” The Order looks troubled when Mona looks earnest about it.

“It's embarrassing. At first I thought that somehow managed to get out of all the painful tasks and get back to where I came from. I—”

“You're too happy to dance around, right? In short you are an idiot and a silly.”

The order does not want to hear more. After all without the need for Mona to talk a lot everyone knows what happened to her back then.

“When I was dancing at the time. That's where Virgo showed up and invited me to join him.”

It was a dark night and it was believed that there was no one else but the two of them.

Accompanied by moonlight that provides illumination. Mona didn't have many options to choose from.

“This is not the place you expected. This is another task made by Secret. You won't be free if it goes on like this,” Virgo extends his hand as if giving help, “Come with me. Together let us rebel and get out of this place. This hell.”

Mona still remembers her words clearly and how Virgo invited her back then.

“In the end he found out about my past and forced me to show the Name Card. After learning what my Degree is, he started using me as he pleased. Fortunately there was no harassment.”

And, until that time comes. Coinciding with the day of the attack, Mona overhears something she shouldn't have heard. Not only that, the biggest sin he committed was to look at it.

“Then what's the reason for chasing you and trying to kill you?”

“For sure because of that,” Mona hugged herself trembling. His fear was not in the gun he was holding, but he was afraid of something else. “It was when I saw him unlock the helmet as well as the mask that covered his face.”

I don't know how many. Again, everyone was surprised by something else. It was as if this was a special day for everyone to be shocked.

Ray wondered if there were any other facts that would surprise everyone again.

“His face .. did you manage to see it?” terumi asked because she was very curious about it.

“Unfortunately no. I can't confirm if he's a man or a woman. But all I know, he has long blonde hair.”

Blonde hair. Ray was convinced that the answer was between westerners and Europeans. Although it does not rule out the possibility that he is also Asian, for now the picture is still gray.

“What is that? I'm not sure Virgo will put a lot of energy into killing you.”

“Yes. I have one other thing that his accomplice may not know.”

“Dan, what is it?”

“It ..” Mona refused to say it. He was afraid something would happen to him.

How not? It could happen, if Virgo had prepared a deep threat to Mona.

“Take it easy. I promised I'd get people to protect you. I'll never renege on a promise I made,” the Order tried to convince Mona.

This he could not do by force because something related to psychological is very complicated. Wrong handling will make everything difficult.

Already I guess, this guy is used to this field. He's better than he looks. Ray thought as he observed the Order.

“Take it easy, Mona. Whatever happens, I will protect you. Even duty won't separate us.” Arthur showed a gentle smile as he patted Mona on the head.

From that smile he made Mona amazed. His eyes were wide open and barely blinking at all. He was really hypnotized by that beautiful face.

Little scream 'Kyaa!' coming from Terumi. For the girls it seems that it is a romantic incident that they crave. While Leo, the Order and Sebastian somehow showed faces of jealous mixed nausea.

It was almost like they were envious of not being able to say that to a girl, and nauseated by alay things.

I don't understand it at all. What is a good thing about a clearly lying word and a pat on the head?

Ray knows that words can be deceiving and manipulating. And, because he knew it, Ray never trusted people's words completely.

Meanwhile, a head clap is still a head clap. No matter how much of an impact it had on one's psychology, it was still just a head pat.

Ray begins to think that Arthur is actually a terrible person. He was able to subdue the girl in that halmeh action.

“You really?”

“Ya.”

“Then ...,” Mona began to show her determination and say what other things she knew.

A question came to Ray's mind:

Is it really that easy to manipulate a girl?