Chapter 155 : Forced Sale - 3
Chapter 155: Forced Sale - 3
Although Sienne couldn’t see our expressions, she must have sensed the atmosphere, because she asked with a slightly puzzled tone.
“Why are you all making those faces?”
“How do you even know what kind of faces we’re making?”
“I can see with the eyes of the mind. You’re all looking at me like I’m some kind of vulgar person.”
“That’s a misunderstanding. It’s just… selling stones at that kind of price makes my conscience ache a little.”
“Didn’t your conscience already disappear the moment you decided on Forced Sale?”
Well, she wasn’t wrong.
If we could manipulate the number pad anyway, there was no need to win by a measly 1 Silver coin.
Armelia spoke.
“What matters is matching the final profit of all seven of us. Even a difference of 1 Silver coin means someone will be eliminated.”
“Exactly. Let’s recalculate with that as the priority.”
After a while—
We determined the exact prices each stone needed to be sold for, based on everyone’s current profit.
Since our lives were on the line, we checked the calculations multiple times.
I was certain.
‘Perfect.’
We would pass, and Edgar would be eliminated.
At that moment, the Diary Book spoke.
[Is that so. Hmm.]
‘What? Got a problem?’
[I don’t have a problem. I just think Mason is foolish.]
‘That’s worse than having a problem.’
I grumbled a bit, but soon reconsidered.
The Diary Book had pointed out key issues several times before.
For example, during the Bungee Jump Quest, when I was focused solely on stopping Edgar from taking first place, it warned me—
Just because Edgar was first in the Future Diary didn’t mean I was second.
If not for that, I would’ve lost first place to Karin and been dragged to Hell.
‘So what’s wrong with my plan? You think Benjamin won’t be able to control B?’
[No. That should be possible somehow. I also agree with controlling B to manipulate the number pad.]
‘Then?’
[Do you think Edgar will just stand there and watch?]
‘What are you talking about? Of course he has no choice but to watch. Fighting between participants isn’t allow—’
Right as I said that—
It hit me like lightning.
That’s right.
Fighting between participants wasn’t allowed.
But there were no restrictions on fighting B or harming B!
[Exactly. You’re already exploiting that loophole yourself.]
‘…….’
[Since opposing B isn’t penalized, you comfortably planned to have Benjamin control her. What if Edgar reaches the same conclusion?]
I had no answer.
Groaning, I spoke.
“There’s still a remaining risk.”
“What?”
“Edgar.”
I shared the flaw the Diary Book had pointed out.
Berseum stroked his mustache.
“I see. So you’re saying…”
“Yes. If Edgar sees Benjamin controlling B, he’ll act. For example, he might rush at B and cut off her arms.”
“…!”
“And then hide them. If that happens, B’s fingerprints are gone, and no one can operate the number pad.”
Everyone’s expressions darkened.
Karin spoke.
“Then we just stop him. If he approaches B.”
“That could lead to a fight.”
“He can’t fight. If participants fight, they’re eliminated—”
“Right. Mutual destruction. But someone like him might go that far.”
Even I doubted he’d really go that far.
But Edgar had proven time and again that he was completely insane.
“Now that we’ve thought of this possibility, we can’t just sit back.”
“Then what?”
“We still have time. Let’s think about how to block his sudden moves.”
Everyone nodded.
For the remaining time, we focused solely on thinking.
We had to eliminate Edgar.
We had to stop his madness.
What would he do?
What else did we need to prepare?
Time kept passing.
Then—
Armelia spoke.
“Mason. One hour left.”
“What? Already?”
“Yes. In the end, I could only think of a basic method. We stop Edgar with everything we have.”
Her idea was simple.
Berseum would use defensive magic to block Edgar.
If Edgar broke through, we would grab B and flee.
“That’s all I’ve got. Sorry for being dull.”
“If Your Highness says that, what does that make Aina?”
Aina’s lips twitched.
“Ever since Karin joined, I’m no longer the dumb one.”
“Why are you dragging me into this?”
“That’s unfair.”
“How is that unfair?”
At that moment—
A spark flashed in my mind.
“Karin. What did you just say?”
“Huh? That you’re being unfair—”
“No, before that.”
“Why are you dragging me into this?”
Dragging someone in.
Pulling someone who’s just standing there.
Wait… wait.
Would this actually work?
No—
We already confirmed it.
B just needed to say “I’ll buy it” or “I won’t.”
And use her fingerprint on the number pad.
Then there was no contradiction.
I made up my mind and said to Karin,
“Thanks. That gave me an idea.”
“Huh? What?”
“Noona!”
I called out to Magireta.
She appeared, her robe fluttering.
“What now?”
“I need your help.”
“…What?”
“There’s something I really want from you.”
Magireta laughed.
“You didn’t forget, did you? You can’t trade with me during this quest. Edgar already—”
“I don’t mean a Hidden Rule trade. I don’t need your omnipotence.”
“Then?”
“I just want help. A small favor, based on goodwill.”
Interest flickered in her eyes.
The others also looked curious.
I continued.
“When Edgar took hostages, you delivered letters. You also brought Kaid into my dream. Those were forms of help, weren’t they? Not formal trades.”
“That wasn’t during a quest. Right now, we clearly are—”
“What I’m asking for is even smaller than that. Something trivial.”
Silence followed.
Then Magireta spoke.
“…Fine. I’ll hear it. But if it’s too much, I might treat it as a trade.”
“It won’t be. I don’t need your omnipotence at all.”
“Alright. What do you want?”
I answered clearly.
Time was up.
Swoosh.
We returned to B.
Edgar was there.
And the sacrifice he had brought.
“…Huh?”
I froze.
The others were equally shocked.
Armelia trembled as she stared at the figure beside Edgar.
“His Majesty the Emperor?”
That’s right.
That lunatic had brought even the ruler of the Empire.
To feed him to B.
“Is that really the Emperor?”
“Yes. It’s the same face from the Hide-and-Seek Quest.”
“This is insane… why the Emperor of all people…”
Then Sienne spoke coldly.
“Edgar has finally done something I can approve of.”
“Sienne.”
“…Sorry. That wasn’t appropriate in front of you, Your Highness.”
“No. It’s understandable. He’s the one who destroyed your kingdom.”
Armelia said that, but her voice was bitter.
I spoke to Edgar.
“Why him?”
“Hehe. ‘Him’? That’s rude. Shouldn’t you kneel?”
“……”
“Since it’s the last round, I wanted to widen the gap as much as possible.”
He continued casually.
“Living food, intelligent food—I’ve satisfied those.”
“……”
“So maybe there’s another preference. Like the highest-status food.”
“So you brought the Emperor?”
“I couldn’t risk being overtaken. I had to be thorough.”
Armelia shouted,
“Edgar! If the Emperor is eaten, the Empire will fall into chaos!”
“Not my problem.”
“How can you say that—”
She stopped.
Perhaps she wanted to say—
* Wasn’t it you who built the Empire?
Edgar tilted his head.
“Anyway, what did you bring?”
“……”
“Well, it doesn’t matter. Shall we begin? I’ll go first.”
I stayed silent.
Edgar shrugged—
Thud.
—and kicked the Emperor’s back.
“Get on the table.”
“Yes.”
What am I even looking at?
The Emperor obeyed.
B was already drooling.
“I’ll buy thi—”
“Wait.”
“Lady Magireta?”
“Hold on. Things are about to get interesting.”
Magireta stopped B.
And looked at us with a smile full of anticipation.
‘Damn.’
I knew what she wanted.
Carefully, I turned to Benjamin.
“Mr. Benjamin. Right now—”
But then—
Sienne interrupted.
“Shall we do it next? Our plan.”
Aina and Benjamin followed.
“I agree. Next.”
“Sorry, but I agree.”
Those three had deep grudges against the Emperor.
Sienne’s kingdom was destroyed.
Aina and Benjamin’s families were wiped out.
All because of the man on that table.
Then Berseum, Armelia, and Karin spoke.
“Calm down. We cannot let the Emperor die. I hate him too, but we must be rational.”
“I beg you. If he dies, the Empire will fall into chaos.”
“I don’t care either way, but I hate chaos. When the head is gone, things get messy.”
Three against three.
Magireta clearly delayed B to watch this.
Soon, everyone looked at me.
So I had to decide.
Originally, I wanted to save the Emperor.
He might know Edgar’s real name.
‘But Edgar will be eliminated anyway… if our plan works.’
Then there was no need.
No reason to save him.
‘No. That’s not the point.’
The real issue wasn’t the Emperor.
It was that our group was splitting over this.
I took out a coin.
“I’ll decide with this.”
“…Mason. This isn’t something to decide lightly.”
“You’re leaving our revenge to a coin?”
I spoke firmly.
“What matters most right now?”
“……”
“For me, it’s our survival. All of us surviving and reaching the end together.”
“……”
“Is there anything more important than that?”
No one spoke.
“If I choose one side, it will create resentment. As your leader.”
“……”
“Even a small crack can grow into division. That’s what Magireta wants.”
“…Mason.”
“I won’t let that happen. You all matter most to me.”
Silence filled the air.
“From now on, this coin has no good or evil. No right or wrong. No will. No emotion. Understand that.”
“……”
“Then I’ll toss—”
“There’s no need.”
“That’s enough, Mason.”
Aina and Armelia spoke at the same time.
They looked at each other in surprise.