§ 357. Hide and seek 2
Hide and seek
The rules are simple.
This map starts with party members separated, leaving the leader alone.
Party members wander around this foggy map somewhere, encountering and fighting monsters that embody their inner weaknesses.
The leader becomes the tagger and finds the party members one by one and touches them to end the game.
In the meantime, if the party members fail to defeat the monsters or the leader is late, they lose.
Party members will be banned from the party for a month to recuperate.
Therefore, the way to clear this map is to run through the fog zone faster than anyone else and touch your party members.
“Then, I’ll be back. Ayla.”
“Is this okay?”
“Of course. Rather, if I don’t move quickly, it seems like everyone will be in trouble.”
“······Yes. Have a nice trip. Wolfram.”
“Originally…you should move with me too.”
“I’ve already heard. The more I move, the more illusions that appear.”
“······.”
Yes, that’s right.
This is also extremely annoying.
If you join a party and go around, the types of monsters you encounter will increase.
therefore···.
“Don’t worry and have a nice trip.”
I thank you for your consideration before leaving.
Something suddenly occurred to me.
“Ayla. Ayla Tristar.”
“yes.”
“I am not against you.”
“······?”
“If you try to kill me, I will ask you why and respond.”
“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
therefore.
“Even if my fake version appears, you can deal with it without hesitation. I would never attack you, so if I attack you in my form, it would all be fake.”
“······.”
hmm.
If I had said this much, I think Aila would have understood.
Well, now is the time to go find the others, including Rudika.
I’d like to stay as still as possible.
If we’re too late… Eve and Sylphia will be in more danger than the others.
“Then I’ll be off.”
***
Ayla clenched her fists as she watched Wolfram run blankly into the fog.
“Ah… Really. Is it okay to say something like that at a time like this?”
Lethal.
So, I can’t help but fall in love once more.
He wasn’t originally the type of person to say things like that, but at some point he changed.
Although I am happy about the change, I can’t control my pounding heart.
Yejeo was definitely not this kind of person.
“Hmm. Now that I think about it, I think he’s changed since Eve betrayed him. Before that… we didn’t really talk much.”
Without Wolfram, there’s no need to cover your burning face.
Ayla smiled brightly, her face still red, her arms resting on her waist.
I wanted to enjoy this aftertaste a little longer, but it seemed like there was no time for that.
【···I don’t want to be sold···.】
【Ayla···. Ayla Tristar···. Are you betraying me···.】
His shameful childhood, and a ghost that resembles Wolfram but is not him.
Ayla took the advice of her beloved fiancé and raised her right hand.
“【Black Crystal: Short-shot: Strongest: Giant: Surefire: Destruction: Instant Death: Pursuit】”
A flow of magical power that even confuses ghosts.
A black crystal of a size that can easily jump over one’s own body.
no.
It’s not just that big… it even surpasses the golem in the student council basement.
【······ah?】
【······What are you planning to do, Ayla.】
A hammer blow to his shameful past as a child.
And a hammer to the ghost who impersonated my dear fiancé.
“Okay. Just die cleanly.”
After the giant black crystal was projected and the shameful dark history of the past and the false ghosts were completely destroyed, Ayla stretched out and thought for a moment.
“From the moment we get out of here, I’ll try to let go of my shyness… What if Wolfram finds it burdensome? Hmm….”
It was a lovely worry.
***
——————
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When Eve first disappeared.
I set Eve’s party location to last.
In this field, the location of missing party members is not completely random, but is fixed based on the party member’s order and the timing of their disappearance.
That is, when you first meet Ayla, you will then encounter Rudica.
And as I was running through the fog like that.
【Rudika. Rudikaaaaaaaaaa!! I curse youaaaaaa!】
“······.”
There was Rudica, fighting an illusion right before my eyes.
No matter how you look at it, the fantasy was an assassin.
It had a large body, and its face was hidden by a hood, but it was still huge.
What made it clear that he was an assassin and not a warrior was his nimble movements.
It was a movement that was beyond the power of those muscles, but the man did it. He supported the huge body with one thumb, and then bounced his body back with just the recoil of his wrist.
I could tell without a doubt that he was a master among assassins.
However.
In the end, we are human, and humans cannot be recorded in myths.
That is, it can never reach the monster called Rudica.
【Someone like you wasn’t born!】
“Yeah. I didn’t really want to be born either.”
Rudica stabbed the man’s dagger precisely between his eyebrows and spun him around halfway.
And so the illusion disappeared.
You weren’t supposed to give birth to her? That is… You gave birth to Rudika?
Oh, I see. So you’re a midwife?
…No, that can’t be. So that person is Rudica’s biological father.
Yeah, right.
That guy was born into a tough family, too.
“Rudica.”
“······Ah. I thought this would happen. It seems like this fog is bringing out enemies that provoke my anger.”
“······.”
“But still, I hoped you wouldn’t show up, Wolfram.”
“hmm?”
“I don’t want to cut off your welcome, but no… since it is your welcome, I will cut it with all my heart.”
Just a moment.
Why do you hold a dagger properly?
hey?
Are you thinking of having a fight with me?
Wait a minute. As civilized people, we need to have an intelligent conversation…
Rudika lowered her body and rushed forward.
Tch.
Is it true?
Among the attacks of Rudika Hassan Shadow, none of her attacks have any standby motions. This is the only attack that has motions.
That’s zero hundred zero.
The method of blocking is the same as before.
While taking a stance, he put pressure on them with his imperial bloodline, restricting their movements.
“【You idiot!”
“···ah?”
The center of gravity is forcibly disturbed by parrying.
“【Foolish guy】”
“Huh?”
It’s not even a berserk attack, and even I, with skill level 17, can barely handle the zero-back-zero that I normally use.
But still, Rudica is Rudica.
Even as I fall, he holds the dagger to my neck.
and
Just a little faster than that, my potion bottle poured over Rudika’s head.
Dribble, dribble, dribble.
“Huh!?”
“Tsk. Are you feeling better? It’s a status effect cure potion. Are you no longer confused? Answer me properly, you idiot.”
“······Ah, yeah. Phew, it’s loose. It’s loose···.”
“Okay. Then tell me. Who am I?”
“···Wolfram von Lohengrin. My friend.···A true friend at that.”
Only then did I relax my posture, and Rudica’s hand holding the dagger also went limp.
Sitting in the same position, Rudica stared blankly into space and muttered.
“······Ah, ah···. Mi. I’m sorry. Wolfram. What on earth did I···.”
“Don’t worry. You’re not hurt.”
“Ha, but.”
“Didn’t you say you weren’t hurt? There’s something more important than that.”
“What’s more important···?”
“Can you explain what you encountered and what happened?”
At my words, Rudika closed her mouth.
Maybe you don’t want to explain.
Without pressing for an answer, I just looked at her, and Rudika opened her mouth as if she was possessed by something.
“···There. I met my father’s apparition.”
“Was that assassin’s vision your father?”
“Yeah. That’s my father right after he got on his knees and lost to me when I was seven.”
I see.
Aha. I see.
“So, you knocked out your father when you were seven?”
“Yes. That’s right. I took a wooden dagger and knocked him down. That day was the day I became Hassan of the Shadow family.”
Yeah, yeah.
That’s why your father put a curse on you.
···It won’t work.
I really don’t know what this is talking about.
What happened?
“Yeah. Anyway… I understand. So, your father… I hate to say this, but he didn’t seem to be happy about your victory.”
“That’s right. Since that day, everyone has been looking at me like a monster.”
As she said this, Rudika quietly looked into the fog and muttered.
“When my father knelt down, my mother was also afraid of me. Yes. Because I was so strong, everyone ran away. So from that day on, I tried to smile a lot.”
“Did something like that happen?”
“If you smile, at least you won’t be scared.”
There was no expression on Rudica’s face as she stared blankly into the fog.
Honestly, I don’t know.
At the age of seven. The child who overthrew his father and became a symbol of fear for the entire clan?
The strongest in the clan? A strength that even parents curse?
hmm······.
I see
“Rudica.”
“what?”
“Even if you say you’re strong, you’ve lost to me for the second time.”
“·········what?”
“You are not the strongest. This is the second time you have lost to me. If I had hit you after the drop just now, I would have won. Do you admit it?”
So, does that mean I’m the strongest since I beat you twice?
“Uh, uh, yeah···. T, is that so? You beat me twice, right?”
“That’s why.”
I raised my hand, ruffled Rudika’s hair, and chuckled.
“The story is that I, Wolfram von Lohengrin, am the strongest and most powerful person in the world.”
“ah?”
“Well. Now, you don’t have to be lonely. You are not lonely. Do you dare to call yourself the strongest and fear the loneliness that you display when you have been defeated twice?”
“ah.”
Anyway, this is what it means to be a sensitive child of this age.
“Don’t worry, none of us will distance ourselves from you, fearing your strength. And at the center of it all, I, the strongest, will always be there.”
“······I see.”
“Yes. So, I’ll shoulder all the burden of being the strongest so you can enjoy yourself without worry.”
“Haha… Ahaha! I understand. Hmm. Then I’ll leave my strongest to you!”
Saying that, Rudika smiled brightly and sat down.
“Then I’ll go rescue the next guy, and you wait here.”
“Okay. Then I’ll wait. Go.”
Rudika lay down on the spot.
And soon, he fell into a deep sleep with a very peaceful smile.
ruler.
Let’s go find the next guy.
***
After that, I met Nephthys.
“Senior! Senior! I was just sitting there!”
“Well done.”
You did a great job.
Really, kind and gentle Nephthys didn’t move an inch.
Why on earth do you move around so wildly and fight your own ghosts? Why don’t you feel better if you don’t fight?
Nephthy looked at me with eyes that were almost puppy-like.
The way he looked at me with the momentum of saying, “Praise me! Praise me!” radiating from his entire body.
It’s not like it’s some giant retriever or anything…
“So, senior, please compliment me!”
“I’m in a hurry. Instead of praising you, please bear with this for now.”
I grabbed Nephthy’s shoulder and stroked her head. Oh, good job.
“···Ah, ah? Uh, uh······.”
“I’m in a hurry. I’ll praise you again later.”
“Ah, no···. This, this too, thank you···.”
Okay, so I handed over the Nephthys.
Next is mille-feuille.
“Oh, senior.”
“Mille-feuille? This isn’t your place. Have you been wandering around?”
“Huh? …Oh, I think I moved a little bit. Sorry.”
“······Have you encountered anything? An enemy that would tear at your heart···.”
“Not at all?”
Mille-feuille tilted her head.
Have you really never met?
I see. Now that he’s beaten everyone up with his fists, including Keltus, does that mean he no longer has emotional scars?
I’m scared. I’m so scared.
Okay. Then Ayla. Rudica. Nephthys. And Mille-feuille.
The last one left is Eve, who is guarded by Sylphia.
Due to the nature of this map, the first member to disappear will inevitably encounter the enemy.
That way, we can know what threats lurk in this mountain range.
That is, Eve will be facing a vicious enemy.
For that reason, I sent Sylphia to Eve’s side from the beginning.
Of course, I also finished taking care of Sylphia.
【Never be afraid. I am by your side. If you are afraid, think of me.】
The reason I didn’t cast it on other party members is because if you cast all immunity in advance, it will be lifted the moment you disappear. In the first place, if you drink the immunity potion and come back, it’s over. This isn’t a world where such a quick attack will work.
But Sylphia is different.
That guy is not a party member according to the system.
So, by now, Eve must be protected in an immune state.
“Fortunately, there is plenty of time.”
Thanks to the help of the giant retriever Nephthys and the fearless Mille-Feuille, there is plenty of time until the final hide-and-seek.
I walked leisurely and found Eve, who was with Sylphia.
The game of tag is over.
Now, all you have to do is quickly eat the reward and run away.
So, I approached them.
“······What are you doing?”
“Wolfram?”
“Now, wait a minute. Wolfram is here?”
Sylphia looks confused as she looks this way.
And Eve, who is desperately hiding something behind her back.
【Ugh, ugh, let go! Let go! Do you know who I am?! Are you really here? Really?!】
“I know! I really know, so just be quiet!”
【I’m Eve Pon… Ugh!】
and.
A familiar voice rang in my ears.
So, it was as if Eve, right in front of me, was forcing herself to sound young.
“Now, wait a minute. So this is. Oh, huh!?”
Eve missed the struggling thing, and soon it came barreling towards her from behind.
first of all.
It’s tiny. It’s small.
Blonde hair, blue eyes. Round.
No matter how much I think about it… where have I seen that face, where have I heard that voice, where have I seen that expression.
【Is this really Wolfram Brother? Even though he’s old, he still looks the same. He really looks ugly. Isn’t he? Wolfram Brother?】
Wow, this is really Eve.
Even when he was young, he was so chubby and unruly.
Yes. I am Wolfram Brother.
Yes, come······.
“?”
Brother?
Who are you?
Me?
