Chapter 191
Chapter 191
Chapter 1: Meteor
We returned to the Deut Territory.
It had truly been an eventful quest.
If we ranked them by sheer hardship, this one would probably be near the top.
But the reward had been more than worth it.
-Current Points: 50,788
Even after purchasing my Awakening Pill, I still had points left over.
Considering the points I would earn in the future, I should be able to buy Benjamin's and Karin's Awakening Pills without any difficulty.
At this point, the basic preparations we needed before the final quest could be considered complete.
I was smiling to myself when Armelia spoke.
“Lady Sienne. About what happened with Jehar……”
“It's alright, Your Highness the Princess. It's over now.”
“But you gave up your eye for his sake.”
“Jehar also gave up the kingdom's restoration for my sake. We each sacrificed one thing for the other. I think it was a clean ending where neither of us owed the other anything.”
“……”
“I always think this, but Your Highness the Princess is truly kind.”
Armelia awkwardly waved her hand.
Unexpectedly, Louis stepped forward after her and comforted Sienne.
“You'll meet someone better.”
“Yes. You too.”
“Hmph. Forget it. I don't intend to meet anyone anymore. I'm sick of being betrayed.”
“Then just find someone you can keep completely under your control. Someone who could never betray you.”
“Where would I ever find someone like that?”
Someone already completely under control...
Well, rather than a person, there seemed to be a certain monster.
Without realizing it, I looked toward Kaid.
He tilted his head while crunching on the snacks in front of him.
“What is it?”
“I was just thinking your expression still looks as clueless as ever.”
“No, seriously. Why do you always make fun of me every time you open your mouth? Huh?”
“Can't I tease you a little? This time I literally saved your life.”
“Well, I suppose that's true. Then please, tease me as much as you like. Hehe.”
I slowly shook my head.
Berseum spoke up.
“Still, we learned something incredible this time. I never expected the Thirteenth Quest to be the last.”
“Yeah. There are only three quests left now.”
“It really feels like we're in the final stretch.”
“Let's make it to the end. Everyone, stay alive.”
“Of course.”
A faint smile appeared on my face at their determination.
Then I muttered inwardly.
'It's not just the game that's nearing its end.'
[What do you mean?]
'We've uncovered another piece of the secret hidden inside this enormous game.'
The newly unlocked 'Second Memory Fragment.'
Last time, all I learned was that Magireta had proposed the game to someone.
What new information would I uncover this time?
[Would you like to view it immediately?]
'No. There's something I need to do first.'
[Huh?]
Instead of answering, I took out a Receiver and put it in my ear.
It was paired with the Transmitter I'd attached to Edgar before.
Aina asked,
“What are you doing?”
“I'm going to check the Listening Device I attached to Edgar.”
“Oh, right. I wonder what happened to that guy. It looked like something horrible happened to him in the First Territory.”
“We're about to find out.”
Whoosh.
A Mini Bulletin Board appeared before my eyes.
I manipulated it and searched through the previously recorded audio.
Edgar entering the First Territory with Odline.
Then the brief conversation with the First Territory's MVP.
And finally, the unpleasant crunching sound.
'I'd already listened up to here.'
Was there anything recorded after that?
I scrolled further.
Then—
-Edgar.
-Ms. Magireta.
-Hehe. You really suit each other. Shall I show you what your condition looks like now?
Magireta's voice!
'Damn it. Just as I thought. Edgar was still alive.'
The Listening Device automatically returned when the target died.
Since the Transmitter attached to Edgar had never been recovered, I'd already suspected he was still alive.
Still, I was disappointed that he seemed healthy enough to carry on a conversation.
Holding my breath, I continued listening.
-Abomination. That's what I call this one.
-……
-Abomination can instantly kill everything nearby. It's a monster that absorbs the prey it kills into its own body. Normally, it prefers killing first and absorbing afterward...
-……
-But since you don't die, I suppose it absorbed you while you were still alive.
So the First Territory's MVP was called Abomination.
That probably wasn't its real name.
Just like Helena had been called Medusa, it was probably just a nickname.
'So Edgar was absorbed by the First Territory's MVP.'
Since the Listening Device only transmitted sound, it was difficult to imagine Edgar's current condition.
But judging from the conversation, it was probably something utterly nauseating.
I also learned about the first-place reward the monster had obtained.
After listening that far, I removed the Receiver.
Then I spoke to my companions, who were all staring at me.
“Edgar is alive. But it sounds like he's unable to move freely.”
“Why?”
“I think he was absorbed by the First Territory's MVP, a monster called Abomination.”
“What exactly does absorbed mean...?”
“Apparently he's literally buried inside the MVP's flesh. I didn't see it myself, so I can't really describe it.”
Everyone tilted their heads in confusion.
Karin grinned.
“So basically, he's in a miserable state? Haha, serves him right.”
“Yeah. And from the sound of it, he can't participate in the next quest in that condition. Magireta seems to consider Edgar gone and now recognizes him as part of Abomination.”
“Huh? Then doesn't that mean we've already won automatically?”
If he couldn't participate in the next quest, that was effectively the same as being eliminated.
Being eliminated in the next quest meant he couldn't finish first in the game involving the Shoes' Credit Right.
Which, in turn, meant becoming Magireta's toy.
For a brief moment, everyone's faces brightened.
Without us having to lift a finger, that troublesome, infuriating Edgar was practically guaranteed to be eliminated.
But...
I slowly shook my head.
“Big Sister Magireta.”
“Yes, little brother.”
As if she'd been waiting, Magireta appeared with a swish.
My companions all stared at me in shock.
Armelia frowned.
“Mason. We finally finished the game and could relax for once. Why would you summon this demon?”
“Princess, you really don't like me, do you?”
“No, not exactly. I merely despise you.”
“Wow. Listen to that.”
I chuckled and looked at Magireta.
“Big Sister. As you know, I can see the future.”
“Right.”
“In the future I saw, it looks like a whole bunch of 'broken' Magiretas appear again.”
Instantly, Magireta's expression stiffened.
The same happened to everyone else.
The Diary Book interrupted in alarm.
[Mr. Mason, why would you tell her that?]
'You said that every time I absorb another Memory Fragment, Magireta also regains memories. Just in a different way... In other words, a certain number of Magiretas recover their memories.'
[That's true.]
'Then if I unlock the Second Memory Fragment now, it means the broken Magiretas will appear again. I should warn her beforehand.'
[Why would you warn Magireta about that?]
Why?
Instead of answering the Diary Book, I addressed Magireta.
“So I'd appreciate it if you could deal with them in advance. Another Magireta who blindly sides with Edgar might appear again.”
“Hm. Just asking to be sure... This isn't because you're simply reading the future, right? It's not that 'you doing something' causes those broken versions to appear?”
Sharp.
Of course, I immediately put on the most innocent expression I could.
“As if that could possibly be true.”
“It absolutely could if it's you, little brother.”
“Anyway, it sounds like Edgar suffered something truly horrifying at the hands of the First Territory's MVP.”
“Don't phrase it like a guess. You heard everything through your Listening Device.”
“If another broken Magireta appears, she'll probably rescue Edgar from inside Abomination. Please stop that from happening.”
Magireta frowned unpleasantly.
“I was planning to do that anyway.”
“That's good to hear.”
“It irritates me that it feels like I'm taking orders from my little brother.”
“Orders? Please think of it as advice from someone who's worried about his big sister.”
“You certainly know how to talk.”
After saying that, Magireta started to disappear.
I hurriedly stopped her.
“By the way, Abomination is just a nickname, right? What's the First Territory MVP's real name?”
Magireta smiled faintly.
“Find out yourself. You're good at doing things on your own, aren't you?”
And then she disappeared completely.
I scratched my head.
Benjamin spoke.
“So you asked for the First Territory MVP's real name because you wanted information about it.”
“That's right.”
“You're not seriously thinking of making an enemy of that MVP too, are you? We already have more than enough enemies in Hell.”
“Of course not. Besides, the First Territory MVP is acting as Edgar's prison. I should be thanking it, not picking a fight with it.”
“Even so, why go out of your way to learn more about it...?”
I let out a quiet sigh.
“Our Human Era lasted roughly one hundred thousand years.”
“Yes. I remember Jehar mentioning something like that. He said the oldest resident of the Fifth Territory was around one hundred thousand years old.”
“And the era of the Elves ended one hundred thirteen thousand years ago. The Celestials supposedly went extinct three hundred twenty-eight thousand years ago.”
“You mentioned that before, Mr. Mason. Though I still have no idea how you found that out.”
“And finally, the Dragons... Remember what happened back in the Second Territory? When I tried to bribe the Voters, one of the monsters laughed and said this.”
-Kid. How long do you think we lived in our previous lives?
-……
-A lifespan your short-lived races could never imagine. And after that, we've spent over five hundred thousand years as monsters.
In other words, the Dragons had gone extinct roughly five hundred thousand years ago.
“In other words, those four races—including humans—all existed within roughly the same time frame.”
“I don't know if I'd call hundreds of thousands of years 'roughly the same.'”
“Compared to the monsters of the First Territory, they are. Jehar said the first race of the First Territory ruled the world about three million years ago.”
Compared to the races after the Dragons, the difference was overwhelming.
To an ordinary human, several hundred thousand years and three million years both felt unimaginably distant...
Even so, there was still a clear distinction.
“I think the race that existed before the First Territory monsters was something special compared to the races that came after the Dragons.”
“So that's why you asked Magireta for the MVP's real name.”
“Exactly. Since she wouldn't tell me, I'll have to find another way.”
“……”
“Well, I'm not planning to do anything immediately. Let's call it a day.”
Aina blinked.
“Huh? We're breaking up already?”
“Yeah. I'm a bit tired.”
“Well... I guess I am too.”
Everyone nodded.
Of course, only part of what I'd said was true.
I was tired, but I could have stayed with them much longer if I wanted.
The real problem was that I couldn't sit still anymore.
Click.
After returning to my room, I closed the door and lay down on the bed.
Then I spoke to the Diary Book.
'Alright. Let's see it. The Second Memory Fragment.'
At my request, the Diary Book opened.
Just like last time, a single page tore itself free and was absorbed into me.
At the same time, another vision appeared.
Last time, all I'd seen had been pure white clouds.
Behind those clouds, I had only heard Magireta's voice alternating with someone else's.
But this time was different.
“……I lost.”
It was Magireta!
I could see her clearly.
She looked exactly the same as she did now.
Who was standing across from her?
I hurriedly turned my head.
But I couldn't clearly see the other's face.
The figure wore pure white clothes and had an enormous build...
Yet the face was hidden behind a brilliant light.
That mysterious being finally spoke.
“Do you know which game this is?”
“Who knows? I've never bothered counting.”
“It is the 134,501st game.”
“So it's already been that many.”
He continued in a languid voice.
“I'm starting to grow tired of this. It was quite entertaining at first.”