From Firefly Onward, Speedrunning the World — Section 49

As far as Firefly knew, only Sakurai Sara was working to support herself and her brother. It was still unclear whether her younger brother, Sakurai Keiwa, had found a job.

Besides, Sakurai Keiwa was busy being a Kamen Rider now, so it would probably be difficult for him to keep a steady job.

"No, I bought them to eat, after all!"

Sakurai Sara waved her hand, showing that she did not mind. She normally would not buy things like these, but they had happened to be on sale at the supermarket today.

Even discounted, they were still a little expensive for her, but she could not resist buying a little of each.

It was still early, so Sakurai Sara was in no rush to cook. Instead, she chatted with Firefly, and most of their conversation revolved around Kurama Neon.

Sakurai Sara was incredibly lively and cheerful, and being around her never felt awkward.

Firefly also found it very comfortable talking with her.

But thinking of what Sakurai Sara might suffer in the future, Firefly gave it some thought before taking out an item and giving it to her.

"Ms. Sara, this is for you... Please, you must accept it."

Firefly took out a Light Cone and handed it to her.

"What is this?"

Sakurai Sara looked curiously at the item in Firefly's hand. It resembled a crystalline card, with something like amber embedded in it—and within that amber was a crescent moon.

It was strange. It did not look like any ordinary object.

"This is a Light Cone. It's difficult for me to explain exactly what it is."

"You can carry it with you as a protective charm. It will keep you safe..."

It was hard to explain the Light Cone clearly to Sakurai Sara, and she would have difficulty believing it anyway. It would be better for her to treat it as a protective charm.

It was a Preservation Light Cone—[Stasis].

It was a faint power condensed from time itself.

It was all those insignificant fleeting moments that wove together into magnificent destiny.

"Only things unconstrained by time can endure and be passed down through time."

Its existence alone would be enough to ensure that Sakurai Sara came to no harm.

"A protective charm?"

A charm like this?

Still, it did look mysterious. Its presence felt like a black hole, as though it were about to pull even her consciousness inside.

While Firefly was chatting with Sakurai Sara, all the remaining participating Riders had gathered at the Desire Grand Prix venue.

But after arriving, they did not see Game Master Girori. Instead, an unfamiliar man was standing beside Tsumuri.

"Why did you suddenly summon us, Tsumuri?"

"Is the Desire Grand Prix continuing?"

They exchanged glances, none of them understanding what was going on. They did not even know what had happened to Desire Grand Prix Operations after that game of Concentration ended.

"It is not."

"First of all, we apologize. There have been some problems with the Desire Grand Prix..."

After glancing at Niram's expression, Tsumuri stepped forward and addressed everyone.

"There's a problem with the Desire Grand Prix?"

"What happened?!"

Everyone was greatly surprised. Had something really happened when the Game Master entered the field last time?

But compared to that, Azuma Michinaga was more concerned about something else.

"Don't tell me the Desire Grand Prix can't continue from now on."

Azuma Michinaga stared fixedly at Tsumuri. Before he had eliminated every Kamen Rider, he had no intention of letting the Desire Grand Prix end.

Otherwise, what would all his efforts amount to?

Selling Out Desire Grand Prix Operations at the Drop of a Hat

Ukiyo Ace remained silent, lowering his head as though lost in thought.

After learning about his mother's situation, he had been thinking every moment about saving her. But he had realized that he could not do it in his current state.

He alone had no way to fight against Desire Grand Prix Operations.

There were only two paths before him now. One was to cooperate with that Stellaron Hunter, while the other was to advance further in the Desire Grand Prix and wait for a suitable opportunity.

For now, he could only play along with Desire Grand Prix Operations, look for a chance to cooperate with the Stellaron Hunter, and wait for the right moment to rescue his mother.

"We are deeply sorry, but due to the Stellaron Hunter Sam, Game Master Girori has been confirmed dead. At the same time, the Game Master's Vision Driver has fallen into the hands of the Stellaron Hunter Sam."

"Without the Game Master's Vision Driver, even becoming a God of Desire would not make it possible to grant wishes."

"And the Desire Grand Prix can no longer continue!"

Tsumuri explained the situation with a hesitant expression. Even if they wanted to continue the Desire Grand Prix, they simply could not do so without the Vision Driver.

"What? The Game Master is dead?"

"That Stellaron Hunter Sam actually suspended the Desire Grand Prix..."

Listening to Tsumuri's explanation, Sakurai Keiwa and the others were utterly shocked. They had never expected the situation to be this bad.

Did that mean their identities as Kamen Riders were coming to an end as well?

"So, what you mean is..."

"As long as we take the Game Master's Driver back from Stellaron Hunter Sam, the Desire Grand Prix can continue and wishes can still be granted, right?"

Unlike the others' shock, Azuma Michinaga stepped forward and directly asked Tsumuri whether he had understood correctly.

In the end, they were simply missing the Game Master's Driver.

That thing was necessary to grant wishes...

"Contestant Azuma..."

Just as Tsumuri looked at Azuma Michinaga and was about to say something, Niram stepped out from the side and spoke to him.

"You're right. As long as you can reclaim the Vision Driver, the game can continue, and wishes can still be granted!"

"Moreover, whoever retrieves the Vision Driver will become the next Desire God."

Niram fixed his gaze on Azuma Michinaga. Whoever could retrieve the Vision Driver, it would not be impossible to grant them a wish directly.

"..."

Hearing the man before them, everyone's expressions changed.

"Is what you said true?"

Everyone looked toward Tsumuri, unsure whether this man was telling the truth.

"This is Lord Niram, the game producer of Desire Grand Prix Operations. What he says is the decision of Desire Grand Prix Operations."

Tsumuri hurriedly explained to everyone.

"A game producer..."

He sounded like quite an important figure within Desire Grand Prix Operations.

"When all's said and done, this means the Desire Grand Prix has turned into a game where we take the Vision Driver back from Stellaron Hunter Sam, right?"

"You could understand it that way."

Niram nodded.

He did not expect these Rider contestants to defeat that Stellaron Hunter. It would be enough if they retrieved the Driver.

However, when he thought of the phantom from last time.

Even now, he could not understand what kind of terrifying existence it had been. He had searched through the internal records of the Desire Grand Prix these past few days, yet found nothing at all.

It was an existence that could no longer be explained by technology.

"Taking the Driver from Stellaron Hunter Sam won't be easy!"

Although the objective had been confirmed, they still frowned deeply. They had all witnessed the Stellaron Hunter's strength, especially Azuma Michinaga and Ukiyo Ace...

What was more, even the Game Master had been killed by him.

This was a game where they could die if they were not careful.

But not everyone was thinking of taking the Driver back from Stellaron Hunter Sam.

At least, Kurama Neon and Ukiyo Ace were not.

In Kurama Neon's view, she was now on Sam's side. Within the Desire Grand Prix, she was the Stellaron Hunters' inside agent.

Instead, she needed to tell Firefly this information.

So Sam and the others could stay on guard...

But had Mister Sam really killed the Game Master?

"Stellaron Hunter Sam..."

Ukiyo Ace also had no intention of competing for the Vision Driver. Compared to that, he was more interested in cooperating with the other side to deal with Desire Grand Prix Operations, so that he could find a chance to rescue his mother.

After learning information about his mother, becoming the Desire God no longer seemed as important.