Chapter 29
The puzzle before us was a sliding puzzle.
Using the empty space to move the puzzle pieces, matching shapes or numbers.
It's a basic puzzle, also known as the essence of puzzles.
I moved the puzzle pieces quickly.
"Zero, you shouldn't move it randomly. In times like this, you need to stay calm..."
"Keke, isn't this a fun puzzle? I couldn't let you have all the fun by yourself, senior."
"This isn't something you can enjoy... Uh...?"
Rodelin couldn't finish her sentence.
Probably because the completion of the puzzle was steadily increasing.
After completing about 90%, I muttered with my arms crossed.
"Hmm... The problem is that last part. I think I need to change the order of the three patterns..."
"Zero, this is...!"
As she responded, Rodelin's hands became busy.
Actually, it was easy. The puzzle was designed to be solved by spinning the three patterns around.
Click-.
Thunk-.
"The door is open!"
"Long live the senior!"
Luna and Raymon cheered.
Rodelin smiled awkwardly and waved at them.
"Zero, I'm sorry. Actually, it was you who solved the problem..."
"Keke, it's fine. I really didn't know. I would have given up if it weren't for you, senior."
"Hmm, giving up is not a good habit. Let's make today a starting point for improvement."
The warm atmosphere didn't last long.
Because another door appeared before us.
"...Is this a quiz this time?"
The door was covered in Demon language.
On its right side were three levers of different colors.
If the first trial was a puzzle, then the second was a quiz.
The quiz would be easy if one could interpret the Demon language.
"Blue, grey, and black levers."
"The question on the door... I'm not sure. There are words like white and black..."
Maybe she was recalling her Demon Archeology class.
Rodelin began to sweat profusely.
"This is troublesome. We need a scholar proficient in Demon Archeology..."
"When mixing colors at a ratio of white 9, black 1, pull the lever of the resulting color."
"I see. So that's the question. Then it must be grey...?"
Rodelin quickly turned her head towards me.
I turned to face her as well.
Her expression was different from her usual stern look, showing surprise.
It was cute.
"Zero, do you know Demon language?"
"Keke, I have a personal interest in it. I know a little, just a little."
In reality, I'm not just a little knowledgeable, but a master.
The [Translation] skill even interprets Demon language.
Well, even without the skill, it wouldn't have been a problem for me since I knew the answer in advance.
"Is that so? I was lucky then."
Rodelin tilted her head as if something was off.
Pulling the grey lever, the door opened slightly with a heavy sound.
At the same time, everyone except me flinched.
"Magic...! So there really was a demon!"
Rodelin grabbed my collar and pulled me back.
What? Did everyone feel it except me?
I'm like a complete outcast here.
"...Stay here, everyone. I will go and take care of it quickly."
"What! Senior, you're going alone?"
"Luna, in truth, demons are not that strong. I can eliminate them in a single strike."
But everyone here knew.
They knew Rodelin was lying.
"We will fight together!"
"I understand your feelings, but waiting for rescue increases our chances of survival..."
"We are also students of the Academy! Didn't you say earlier, no trial is too much for Annwood Academy students!"
"Luna..."
"I, I will also try my best! I might not be of much help but..."
"Raymon..."
Goodness, what a melodrama.
I'd appreciate it if you could leave me out...
"Thank you, everyone. Zero, you feel the same, right?"
Huh?
"I had momentarily forgotten. That all of you are Academy students who have passed the rigorous entrance exam."
Excuse me, can you not hear me?
"Let's go together. But I'll take the vanguard."
...Hmm. Seems like I don't have a say in this.
Well, I wasn't planning to sit out since I'm central to this strategy anyway.
"What about Raymon's weapon?"
"Hmm, can't be helped. He'll have to use my scabbard."
Raymon, who was exchanged for Granny's 1 gold (?).
Currently, he was without a weapon.
He couldn't have imagined going on an adventure to hunt a demon.
"Raymon, use this."
"Huh? But then Zero..."
"Keke, I have a different weapon."
After handing my sword to Raymon, I reached into my pocket.
A pocket dimension. From there, something elongated slowly began to reveal itself.
Everyone's eyes widened. Even the parrot's.
Because...
"A mop...?"
"Keke, yes. A really big and great one."
"..."
No one responded to my bragging.
They just gave me strange looks and whispered among themselves.
Why though? This is a really good weapon.
"I feel like I shouldn't even ask, but I'll do it out of courtesy. Why are you taking that out now?"
"Keke, that's a secret."
"..."
Luna started to tremble, about to spit out some words.
But she held back, realizing this wasn't the time.
Someone approached and took my hand.
It was Raymon. He was shedding tears.
"I, I'm the reason... You're sacrificing yourself. What am I to..."
That's not it.
This is actually my real weapon, a new strategy to exploit the demon's shard.
"I, I'll protect you for sure. Don't worry about Zero!"
Raymon, shedding tears like chicken droppings, seemed genuinely moved.
I whispered to him softly.
"Raymon, hold the sword in your left hand."
"Huh? Why, why?"
Because you are.
Left-handed.
In fact, Raymon didn't even know he was left-handed.
He just held the sword in his right hand because other kids did.
Not knowing this, he fooled both enemies and allies until the middle of the episode.
He's really pure evil incarnate.
"Keke, trust me. We're BFFs, right?"
"Yes, yes! That's right. We're BFFs, so I'll fight with my left hand even if it kills me!"
With that, everyone was ready to fight.
Rodelin was the vanguard, and the rest lined up behind.
'Actually, I want to arrange a formation...'
Me, who even decoded the demon's language after the puzzle.
It's okay for now, but once this is over, Rodelin's suspicions will begin.
Considering the 'strategy' I newly devised, Rodelin's suspicions will only grow stronger.
So I'll arrange a formation and share strategies in the middle of the fight.
'It'll work out somehow as long as I play it off as being smart and observant.'
With Raymon unexpectedly joining, this should be fine.
"Then let's go. Everyone, stay sharp."
Everyone nodded in agreement instead of speaking.
Bang!
Rodelin, who was regulating his breathing, kicked the door and charged.
We followed behind him.
"Left, right, above clear! Front is...!"
No need to say it; everyone was watching.
A pitch-black sphere big enough to block the view, with throbbing veins on it.
The sight was nauseating.
"...Egg?"
A black egg. And its bottom was stained with a dark red color.
It resembled the erosion we studied in textbooks.
"...Erosion!"
With Rodelin's remark, the confirmation was complete.
At the same time, the black egg convulsed violently.
Veins tore as the center split into a large straight line, revealing a giant eyeball.
A being created during experiments on erosion.
The demon's shard revealed itself.
* * *
Parrot's Diary #4
It was a day when I was playing with Luterus.
"Ah, right. You haven't been there yet, have you?"
"There?"
"It's called the Tomb of the Sacred Sword. It's where the hero fought the great demon and met his end."
Hero.
A being people called a hero.
I was intrigued. Luterus had always dreamed of being a hero.
"Let's go! For fun! Let's go!"
"Hehe, I knew you'd say that, being my friend."
We arrived at the location of the Sacred Sword.
Indeed, it was a bit old, but it had a noble aura.
There's a legend that the sword of the hero can't be pulled out.
"Someday, I too will wield such a sword against demons... Huh?"
Swoosh.
Luterus, holding the Sacred Sword, met my eyes.
Don't look at me like that. I'm more shocked than you are right now.
Why... did it come out?
At the same time.
"Aaaaahhhhhh!"
The floor disappeared, and Luterus vanished into the darkness.
* * *
A pitch-black egg as dark as ink.
Contrasting with its bright yellow iris and vertically slit black pupil.
It looked exactly like a fragment of a demon from the game.
'Seeing it up close, it's grotesque.'
The thick veins pulsating periodically added to its bizarre feel.
Rodelin didn't rush in immediately.
Partly due to the lack of information on the opponent, but also because she's considering the most effective way to attack based on its appearance.
This is the basic of fighting.
"An egg... There are signs of erosion around it. No need to approach it hastily."
The opponent, presumed to be a demon, was in the form of an egg.
It showed no signs of movement, not even an attempt to roll, let alone arms or legs.
This means it currently has no means to attack us.
"Even if it takes time, throwing weapons seems like the best option."
When everyone, except me, nodded in agreement,
The demon's shard glanced over us, and a sound like scraping metal echoed.
"Who is it this time? Again, mere mortals. As ever, your weakness remains unchanged."
It seemed capable of speech, despite its lack of a mouth.
When its gaze turned to me,
"Hmm? What are you? You feel familiar somehow... A human, intriguing."
"..."
"Good timing. I needed an explanation for what happened during my recovery. Stay out of this for now. I'll spare your life."
Rodelin, Luna, and Raymon glanced at me.
They all must have felt it. The 'familiarity' in that grating voice.
Just by saying that, it's clear it intends to spare me.
That level of familiarity was being shown.
Tap-tap.
Rodelin shifted her position slightly.
A spot where she could keep an eye on both me and the demon's shard.
I needed to explain, but I held my tongue. Because.
'This is a new line for me.'
It means a hidden piece was triggered for some reason.
It can't be just because I tried in Episode 1. Others had tried it before too.
So, it must be.
'My traits?'
The [Ominous Aura] skill and my slit-eyed impression.
Though it's displeasing to ordinary people, it might attract those with evil tendencies.
'Yes, that's it.'
I can feel it. The vibe of a veteran player.
How to act in front of those with 'evil tendencies' to get favorable outcomes.
"Keke, pleased to meet you, fragment of a demon. 'He' sent me to you."
Then, indeed.
It's best to make use of this situation.
--TL Notes--
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