This is a society governed by law now

Seeing that the wax figure did not seem to be lying, Himeko grew thoughtful. "In that case, you should be my enemy."

"You're the original, and I'm the photocopy. How bad do you think your photocopy could possibly be? Thanks to you, my head's full of things like the Trailblaze and the Astral Express now too. Oh, right, and coffee!"

"Really?"

Himeko looked this completely unserious "self" up and down. She could not see the slightest trace of herself in her.

Himeko would not claim to be particularly refined or gentle, but she would never sink so low as to roll around on the floor.

"But your background is so extraordinary that I'm starting to question whether it's real."

"If you weren't lying, then everything you saw was real."

Himeko and the wax figure looked at each other, the gazes of three eyes meeting. Himeko was certain it was telling the truth.

As for why there were three eyes, that was naturally because Himeko had smashed the wax figure with a wrench, and it had not been molded back into shape yet.

"I believe you," Himeko gave her answer.

Whatever the reason, since this... self before her had her heart set on the Trailblaze, Himeko had to figure out how to abduct it onto the Express.

Honestly, Himeko absolutely refused to accept that this thing was also Himeko. One Himeko was quite enough.

"By the way, are you okay like that?" Taco pointed uncertainly at the wax figure's flattened half-head. A human would have dropped dead on the spot.

"No problem. I'll just find an experienced craftsman to mold it back later."

Himeko stepped forward, pulled the wrench lodged in the wax figure's face free, and put it back into her suitcase.

"Can you leave the wax museum?"

"Of course. The Trailblaze goes wherever it wants," the wax Himeko said, hands on her hips.

"True enough. But it'll be a hassle to communicate while we're moving around if you don't have your own name. What's your name?"

"Fake..."

With a splat, the other half of the wax Himeko's head was flattened too.

Himeko wiped her hand, which was still warm and had a few bits of wax stuck to it. The other half of the wax Himeko's head was now equally unrecognizable.

"I can't see! I can't see! My eyes!"

"You mustn't be so rude."

"I was wrong! Mom-"

Taco stood to one side, watching the two of them.

Why was the wax Himeko's putty-like head so different from the wax figures he remembered? Weren't wax figures supposed to be hard?

Just like the one beside him.

Taco pressed the wax figure's face. He could even scratch it with his fingernails.

But why did this thing look so much like him?

[Target: Taco? Level-one danger. I'll give you the most direct, most truthful, least roundabout, most gut-wrenching truth: it's here to take you.]

"...??! Holy shit!"

Taco jolted all over and cried out, instinctively punching the wax figure in the head.

Himeko, who was teaching the wax figure what it could and could not say, looked up at the noise and saw Taco in a chokehold by another version of himself, his eyes already beginning to roll back.

Without the slightest hesitation, Himeko brought the enormous saw blade slashing down from above.

Taco watched Himeko's ferocious move and the approaching saw. No matter how he looked at it, Himeko intended to slice both man and monster in half.

By now, he had accepted his fate. He simply closed his eyes and left himself to God's will.

[Fantastic! She can kill the monster and the human. Two birds with one stone!]

[Does she have to kill someone?]

[There's a reward for killing people. It's delivered itself right to her door, so why turn it down?]

[Am I the only one who noticed Himeko is level-five danger?]

[Why did Himeko beat the wax figure up like that? If she doesn't want her, give her to me! I'll definitely treat her well!]

[By all rights, the wax figure should be fighting the original to the death. Why is their relationship getting weird with Himeko?]

[If you ask me, Himeko isn't normal either. Shouldn't she have gone straight to a restaurant or convenience store to scavenge important supplies? Instead, she's here playing with wax figures.]

[Where are the commentators? Tell Himeko to collect food and medicine! What the hell are they holding those radios for? Just watching?]

[If you're so capable, why don't you do it?]

[Because I wasn't selected.]

[Would you go if you were selected?]

[I'd go as a commentator. Find someone better qualified to be a contestant.]

In the studio, the three commentators were keeping their eyes and ears peeled in every direction.

"Why are there so many countries in the world?! I can't keep up! I told you we should've supported Qin Shi Huang!"

WarGreymon was getting frantic.

As one contestant after another reached the first stop, the three commentators realized they had to keep track of the other contestants' movements at all times to make the most of the three surprise-attack opportunities in their hands.

As for communication, after a brief discussion, the three discovered that Himeko did not seem to particularly need information from them in that regard.

Those without a grudge against her had received immediate warnings from the authorities backing them upon entering the stop: be cautious around Himeko, and preferably avoid antagonizing her.

Those with a grudge were even worse off, hiding away out of sight, terrified Himeko would catch them and dismember them with her chainsaw.

Since there was no need to worry about Himeko's strength, and she had a good head on her shoulders too, what was there to worry about? All they had to do was watch everyone else.

But with over a hundred contestants worldwide, three pairs of eyes could barely keep up.

"Will the government pay for eye drops? I'm going blind!"

"WarGreymon, I think there's a problem with our strategy."

Zhang San was the first to crack. He decisively called a halt to the other two.

"We don't need to watch in such detail at all. Just focus on Himeko!"

Wang Wu was puzzled.

"But what if the others are plotting something?"

"The answer is simple." Zhang San adjusted his glasses. "We outsource it."

"That makes sense."

The three, their eyes swimming, immediately agreed and decisively requested that the authorities assign enough personnel to monitor the other contestants. If anything arose that might threaten Himeko, they could report it to them.

As for things like Japan collecting instant noodles today or America taking a piss tomorrow, having them learn about each incident one by one was really a waste of their talents.

Only after arranging everything did they notice that a situation had arisen on Himeko's end.

"Haha, we're screwed. We're going to get flamed online!"

"Good thing I'm WarGreymon. They can't pin the abuse on me."

"Keep dreaming. Someone's already doxxed us."

"What?! Forget it, let's leave that aside for now. This is a society governed by law now, and the moral order hasn't collapsed yet. Let's focus on Himeko first."

In the wax museum, Himeko did not slice both the person and the wax figure to pieces with one stroke as everyone had imagined. Instead, she deftly avoided Taco while dealing with the wax figure.

The rapidly spinning Monomolecular Saw swept through the wax figure without any resistance, severing it.

Himeko grabbed Taco by the collar with one hand and hurled him backward, standing alone in front of the wax figure.

"Be careful."

Though cut in two, the wax figure did not die. The two pieces, still retaining their human shape, tried to draw back together.

Himeko shook her head slightly. A burst of flame erupted from her hand, instantly engulfing the wax figure.

The intense heat instantly melted the resin and wax that made up the figure. Even the metal framework inside began to glow red and soften.

"Burn to ashes."