Chapter 185 : Campaign - 2
Chapter 185: Campaign - 2
For a moment, everyone froze.
In contrast, Jehar applauded in response.
“Exactly. As expected, you're quite clever.”
“…….”
“Although the concept of an MVP is different from that of a king or emperor in the human world, they're still the administrator who protects our territory. They're an extremely important existence.”
“…….”
“We aren't simply holding a Popularity Poll right now.”
“We're voting to choose the MVP who will preside over the Fifth Territory.”
“That's why we have no choice but to be cautious.”
Everyone nodded for the time being.
But a moment later, they all widened their eyes in surprise.
They had just realized something from what Jehar had said.
Aina almost shouted,
“Wait. Hold on. Something's strange.”
“What do you find strange?”
“The fact that the only candidates for the Fifth Territory's MVP are Mason and Edgar. Are you saying that throughout all those years, not a single participant who was originally human ever qualified to become an MVP?”
“…….”
“Take Edgar for example. This is already his fifth participation. We assumed he'd qualified to become an MVP long ago.”
Jehar quietly shook his head.
“Among the high-ranking monsters I gathered were some who had gone through the game together with Edgar.”
“They didn't make it to the final game with him like I did, but judging from the overall trend, they all said it would've been impossible.”
What had the condition for becoming an MVP been again?
The Hidden Rule.
-MVP is awarded to the participant who monopolizes at least 60 percent of the first-place rewards throughout their Cohort.
Hadn't he said earlier that the oldest former human monster was over one hundred thousand years old?
Almost to myself, I muttered,
“In one hundred thousand years, not a single participant obtained over 60 percent of all the first-place rewards? That's hard to believe.”
“Is that really so surprising?”
“Well, of course it is... Even an idiot like Odline became an MVP.”
“Hm? Ah, I see. It's understandable that you'd misunderstand.”
Raising his index finger, he explained,
“I've heard that during the eras of the previous races, games were held extremely frequently. Sometimes the next Cohort would begin only a few days after the previous one ended.”
“……!”
“Furthermore, those races ruled the world for periods that couldn't even be compared to humanity.”
“In other words, they had far more Cohorts...”
“And naturally, with a much larger sample size, the probability of producing an MVP was also much higher.”
That explanation made sense.
'Come to think of it, Helena wasn't actually an MVP either.'
Only three individuals had truly become MVPs through their own ability.
It seemed monopolizing 60 percent of the first-place rewards was much harder than we'd imagined.
...Still.
'Magireta really is becoming more and more bored.'
More bored with the Human Era than she had been with the Era of Elves.
More bored with the Era of Elves than the Era of the Celestials.
And more bored with the Era of the Celestials than the Era of Dragons.
That was why each race's period of dominion over the world had grown shorter.
Whenever Magireta became bored, she wiped that race out.
At that moment, Jehar spoke.
“More importantly, your own chances aren't very high either, Mr. Mason.”
“……Excuse me?”
“Even someone who's displayed achievements as extraordinary as yours has only a very slim chance of becoming an MVP.”
“So it wouldn't be fair to blame those who came before you for failing to meet the conditions.”
“No, that's beside the point. Wait a moment.”
I cautiously asked,
“How many games are there in total?”
The first thing I'd confirmed after learning about the existence of MVPs.
Every Cohort had the same total number of games.
Otherwise, the number of first-place rewards needed to reach '60 percent' would differ from one Cohort to another.
Jehar answered,
“The Thirteenth Quest is the final one.”
“At least during the Human Era, every Cohort ended with the Thirteenth Quest.”
The Thirteenth!
We were currently on the Tenth.
'We're almost at the end already?'
For a moment, a chill ran through my entire body as though I had suddenly come down with a fever.
Taking out a notebook and pen from my bag, I turned to Armelia.
“Your Highness.”
“You remember who obtained each first-place reward up until now, don't you?”
“Of course.”
“Please list them.”
“I need to organize everything.”
“Not who currently possesses the rewards.”
“I mean who actually earned first place and received them.”
Armelia immediately began listing them without hesitation.
-Kanesella: Edgar
-Extra Life: Edgar
-Teleportation Bead: Mason, Armelia, Aina
-Brooch: Mason, Armelia, Aina, Berseum, Edgar, and fifteen Ordinary participants
-Compass: Edgar
-The Pill that Overdrives Talent (Growth Pill): Louis
-Replication Bag: Mason
-Invisibility Cloak: Kaid
-Listening Device: Mason, Armelia, Aina, Berseum, Sienne, Benjamin, Karin
So, putting it all together...
-First-place rewards earned by Mason: 4
-First-place rewards earned by Edgar: 4
I see.
Edgar and I had been tied this entire time.
And the Thirteenth Quest was the last one.
Sixty percent of thirteen first-place rewards was 7.8.
Meaning eight.
“……I need to earn four more first-place rewards.”
“Yes.”
“And there are only four games remaining.”
“Including the Popularity Poll currently in progress.”
“I understand now.”
“I also understand why all of you have been hesitating.”
Whichever one of us received all of their votes would win first place in this quest.
In other words, they'd be opening the possibility of that person becoming the MVP.
Conversely, if they refused to vote for someone, then even if that person won first place in every remaining game, they would never become the MVP.
'But there's one thing they don't know.'
I'd made a contract with Edgar.
In the Twelfth Quest, where the Shoes would appear, I'd agreed to concede first place to him.
If I won first place there, I'd be breaking our contract.
Magireta would punish me.
So I didn't have four opportunities left.
I only had three.
I needed four more first-place rewards to become the MVP.
Which meant...
'It's already impossible.'
'I can't become the MVP.'
Not that I particularly wanted to.
If they learned that fact, they'd vote for Edgar without hesitation.
They'd make him the MVP.
That absolutely couldn't happen.
At that moment, Kaid's voice rang out.
“Huh? But Mr. Mason already—”
Thud!
Wham!
Without warning, everyone in our group punched him.
Having suddenly suffered what was practically a group beating, Kaid cried out indignantly,
“What was that for?!”
“Shut up.”
“Please shut up.”
“Be quiet.”
“Silence.”
“Keep your mouth shut.”
“Shut up.”
With tears welling in his eyes, Kaid turned to Louis.
“Am I... perhaps hated?”
“Yeah.”
“You didn't know?”
“…….”
Jehar tilted his head in confusion.
I waved my hand, diverting his attention.
“Anyway, none of you intend to forfeit, correct?”
“No.”
“We'll make a decision one way or another.”
“When will you decide?”
“One day before the Popularity Poll ends.”
I estimated the date.
About two weeks remained.
Jehar seemed to have excellent control over the monsters of the Fifth Territory, so that schedule probably wouldn't change.
In other words, I had two weeks left to think.
Changing the subject, I asked,
“Is there somewhere we can stay?”
“Hm? Of course.”
“But why?”
“Please find us a suitable place.”
Then I slowly continued,
“Because I'd like to spend the next two weeks campaigning.”
Perhaps because they retained the habits they had as humans, the monsters of the Fifth Territory had built neat residential homes.
Jehar gave us one of the vacant houses.
“Then please make yourselves comfortable.”
“Sienne, you too.”
“…….”
“What is it?”
“You've barely spoken since earlier.”
“Jehar, could it be that you...”
“No.”
“It's nothing.”
She shook her head with a somewhat sorrowful expression.
Jehar looked as though he wanted to say something.
But eventually, he gave up and left.
Only then did Armelia speak to Sienne.
“Lady Sienne.”
“Time truly is frightening.”
“To think Jehar would end up saying such things.”
“Yes.”
“That's why I think you're even more remarkable.”
“Hm?”
“You've lived through exactly the same amount of time as Jehar.”
“And yet you've remained faithful to your original convictions.”
A smile returned to Sienne's face.
“Thank you.”
“Well... I suppose it's because I was never exposed to an extreme environment like Hell.”
“Lady Sienne.”
“Hoo.”
“Enough about me.”
“Mr. Mason, what should we do now?”
After organizing my thoughts, I answered,
“I only have one objective.”
“To make the monsters of the Fifth Territory distribute one vote each to every Ordinary participant.”
Karin tilted her head.
“One vote for every Ordinary participant?”
“Why go that far?”
“That's because...”
I couldn't exactly say it was because of the points.
Before I could answer, Armelia replied instead.
“That isn't even worth asking.”
“If it's Mason, then naturally he'd try to save as many participants as possible.”
“Ah.”
“Again?”
“What do you mean, 'again?'”
“Nothing.”
“I think I'm finally starting to understand how Aina feels.”
At that moment, Berseum stroked his mustache before speaking.
“May I say something rather cold-hearted?”
“Yes, of course.”
“What if, instead of giving one vote to every Ordinary participant, we ask them all to cast their votes for you instead, Mason?”
“Then...”
He glanced at the Mini Bulletin Board.
■ Popularity Poll in Progress
※ Overall Voter Turnout: 70 Percent
1st. Edgar Tyler (43 Percent)
2nd. Mason Gear (27 Percent)
“If you receive the Fifth Territory's 30 percent, you'll reach 57 percent.”
“You'll defeat Edgar.”
“You mean I'd obtain the first-place reward?”
“Exactly.”
“Though every remaining Ordinary participant would be eliminated.”
“...Perhaps that was too much of a 'monster's' way of thinking.”
A self-deprecating smile appeared on his face.
Aina spoke.
“Don't start thinking like the monsters too, old man.”
“Hm.”
“My apologies.”
“I suppose worrying about my son made me lose sight of myself for a moment.”
“It's alright.”
“I understand how you feel.”
Actually, I didn't think Berseum's suggestion was inhuman.
Humans could become selfish whenever circumstances demanded it.
But this would probably be my last opportunity to reach the staggering figure of fifty thousand points.
So this time, I had to choose the survival of the Ordinary participants over the first-place reward.
Reaffirming my resolve, I declared,
“I'll still save the Ordinary participants.”
“Even if it means handing the first-place reward to Edgar.”
“Hm.”
“Then what exactly should we do?”
Crossing my arms, I answered,
“Let's figure that out from now on.”
Even after thinking for quite a while, no particularly good idea came to mind.
Eventually, we decided to rely on persistence.
We personally went around the Fifth Territory, campaigning from place to place.
“Everyone.”
“The participants of this Cohort were once humans just like all of you.”
“Are you really going to leave them to die?”
“…….”
“Please spare one precious vote for the unfortunate Ordinary participants.”
“Your single vote can save them.”
However, the responses we received weren't encouraging.
“Who's that?”
“Haven't you heard from Mr. Jehar?”
“That's Mason.”
“The guy who came to our territory.”
“But what's with all that nonsense?”
“I mean, it'd be one thing if he were asking us to vote for him.”
“Why is he so obsessed with helping the Ordinary participants?”
They all murmured among themselves.
Eventually, someone raised a hand and interrupted my speech.
“Hold on.”
“There's something I want to ask.”
“Go ahead.”
After I gave permission, he asked his question.
It was a rather difficult one to answer.
“Do you not want to become the MVP?”