Trapped in a Game That Flopped

Chapter 131

Episode 131

I thought for a moment about what other ways there were for nations to unite, but nothing particular came to mind.

Then, a sudden thought struck me, and I felt absurd.

'...Why am I thinking about this crap so seriously?'

It's not like knowing that will change the situation.

Dealing with this madman for so long, I felt like I was getting swept up in his pace without realizing it.

When I looked up, that bastard Kassel was already staring at me with his arms crossed.

I seethed at his arrogant attitude, which seemed to say, "Go on, keep talking."

"...Anyway, I have no intention of participating, so don't think about such cruel things."

"I had no idea that requesting diplomatic relations for the sake of unity between nations was a 'cruel' thing."

He let out a snort, as if to taunt me.

"Well, I suppose it might be quite cruel for you, who extremely hates running into me."

"Whatever it is, I'm saying you should just leave me out of your thoughts!"

As I shuddered and shouted without realizing it, Kassel suddenly let out a 'Kk' and covered his face with his hand, bowing his head.

"Haha. You really are..."

And then, he started laughing so hard his shoulders were shaking.

'That madman, what's wrong with him?'

My eyes widened, and I stared blankly at him, acting like a man possessed.

What on earth was so funny?

The corners of his mouth were turned up high as he kept bursting out in chuckles.

[Crown Prince Kassel Ludwig feels a strong interest in you.]

The system window that suddenly popped up made me feel strange.

'Madman...'

Even as I thought he wasn't in his right mind, my heart pounded unpleasantly again.

I hurriedly tore my gaze away from that bright face.

It was a while before Kassel got his laughter under control and spoke.

"It's a pity you won't participate. Sari Song."

I, who didn't know why he'd laughed or why he'd suddenly become interested, just checked the remaining time with a sullen expression.

It felt like an hour had passed, but there was still a long way to go until ten minutes were up.

'Aargh. Should I just jump?'

Just as I was anxiously glancing over the railing.

"By the way, I have something to ask."

"..."

"Is 'Sari Song' your real name?"

He asked, his voice still laced with laughter.

"Why do you ask?"

A sharp voice slipped out.

After saying it, I felt a slight regret, thinking I had reacted too sensitively.

But surprisingly, Kassel didn't seem to find it unpleasant.

"Just curious."

He shrugged and added casually.

"How could a person's name be like that?"

"What's wrong with my name?"

"As far as I know, your sibling, who is scheduled to arrive tomorrow, seems to have a normal name."

I had no idea he would have confirmed even that.

I stared at Kassel with surprised eyes for a moment, then thought about the intention behind his question.

'...Is he testing me?'

There was no way I'd know the name of the real Solenian royalty.

But judging by his constant smirking, he definitely hadn't asked with good intentions.

I flared up, gritted my teeth, and retorted.

"Are you saying my name isn't normal?"

"That's not what I meant. Don't misinterpret."

Unbelievably, he made a rather troubled expression at my words.

Then he nodded, as if he understood.

"Judging by your reaction, it must be your real name."

How can he only say things that piss me off?

I, who had been glancing toward the railing, snapped my head toward him and glared with fiery eyes.

"Just know... that you've now insulted my parents who gave me my name."

"I told you not to misinterpret."

He said that, then suddenly burst into pleasant laughter again.

[Crown Prince Kassel Ludwig feels greatly amused by you.]

'Madman. Stop laughing!'

Today, I felt like I was seeing unheard-of sides of the infamous Male Lead, and I couldn't hide my discomfort as I looked at the system window.

After a moment, he stopped his short laugh and suddenly returned to the main topic, pointing something out in a low voice.

"But unlike you, that other close friend of yours did participate in the tournament."

"Ah."

I felt a pang of guilt.

The tournament hasn't even started yet.

It was a little terrifying, wondering just how much Kassel had figured out.

But the fact that he was paying attention to Elaine, a main character, was good news, so I quickly replied.

"Elaine's abilities are outstanding. He's the one who helped rescue the Saintess from the Pope earlier."

I didn't want to talk to this bastard any longer, so I decided to use my remaining time to praise Elaine.

Just like how I'd tried to connect Adam and Kassel at Count Hailey's estate.

"It seems he's already learned to use Belisser's Eye freely."

At my words, Kassel's eyes widened for a moment as he muttered.

Hearing that, I also realized that fact anew.

It was just a short time ago that he was having strange thoughts and forcing out tears.

Seeing as he helped me, he must have figured out some method.

As I was recalling the earlier events, I was shocked by a sudden realization.

'Come to think of it... that brat Elaine. He recognized me?!'

Unlike Kassel, Elaine shouldn't have seen my face directly...

He definitely threw the onion right at me.

As I was floundering, not understanding how, Elaine's voice suddenly flashed through my mind.

"Lucy said your hair is cherry-blossom-colored, so it sparkles."

"Why does Lucy keep saying noona is pretty? She's never even seen you."

Only then did I understand how Elaine had recognized me at a glance.

'As I thought, this damn beauty is the problem!'

I had a thought that maybe the reason Kassel knew I was in the arena so quickly was also because of this appearance.

'Hah... As expected, I stand out too much. To think that being set up to be pretty would be this tiring.'

I sighed, vowing to never take off my robe from now on.

I had no idea that all this time, Kassel was watching me with great interest.

[Crown Prince Kassel Ludwig is curious about your delusions.]

[Crown Prince Kassel Ludwig harbors slight doubts about your mental health.]

'That bastard.'

Only after the system window popped up did I realize I'd been too lost in thought in front of someone, and I hurriedly spat out my words.

"A-anyway, I believe Elaine is suitable to be the Hero for the monster subjugation Your Highness is looking for."

"..."

"As you've surmised, he uses Belisser's Eye freely and is far more competent than I."

I didn't miss the chance and praised Elaine to the skies.

At that, Kassel suddenly stroked his chin with one hand.

"That's strange."

"What? What is..."

"It definitely seems like the right words."

"..."

"But every time you say something like that, I get a twisted feeling."

I was extremely dumbfounded by those words.

'Hey, when did I ever say something like this before!'

Of course, I had said something similar about Adam before leaving Hailey.

But I'd said that as the Apothecary, not in this form.

I was angry at his personality, getting a 'twisted feeling', and wanted to argue, but it was pointless.

Because there were only five minutes left until the forced summon.

"I think I have to go now."

I hurriedly took a teleport scroll from the inner pocket of my dress.

I had to make it look good, because if I just disappeared from a forced summon, it might arouse suspicion.

"In any case, thank you for your help today."

And, let's really never see each other again.

I added that inwardly as I gave him my final farewell.

But he suddenly brought up something unexpected.

"The brooch. It suits you."

"What..."

I unconsciously followed his gaze and looked down, and my jaw dropped.

'Right, the brooch!'

The situation had progressed so rapidly that I had completely forgotten to take it off as soon as I entered the arena.

"Th-this is..."

I fumbled with a distressed expression, then finally let out a deep sigh.

"Thanks to you, I've used it well. I was planning to return it someday..."

In any case, failing to take it off was my mistake, so I added that as a courtesy.

And the moment I quickly tried to remove the brooch.

"It's not like you can sell it to anyone, so just wear it well."

At Kassel's words, my hand, which was pressing the pin, froze.

I was planning to sell it off as soon as the quest was over. What kind of shocking news was this?

"Wh...y?"

"Because I've prohibited the purchase of all items from the black market."

I stammered the question back at him, and received an indifferent reply.

He suddenly looked back at me with a mischievous expression.

"Why? Were you planning to sell it?"

"Th-that's not it, but..."

I felt a pang of guilt and preemptively denied it.

Even so, I just couldn't understand, and my lips kept moving.

This is a game where you have to sell the items you get to make money. If he blocks that, how on earth are users supposed to make money?

'This crazy game.'

I, who had been sputtering, barely gathered my wits and asked.

"Then why on earth did you give this to me?"

"That's a good question."

"..."

"Why did I give you that?"

As if he didn't know either, Kassel murmured in a self-deprecating tone.

Now, three minutes.

In any case, this was an important issue to take up with those developer bastards, not this bastard who was just an AI.

I looked at the little time remaining and held up the teleport scroll.

"Anyway... thank you for the brooch, too. Well then, goodbye..."

"The invitation to the Imperial Palace, are you still refusing?"

He suddenly cut me off and asked the same question again.

'Can we just say goodbye already!'

Anger beginning to simmer, I answered curtly and coldly.

"Yes."

"Then there's no choice."

At that, he gave an indifferent nod.

I thought that was the end of our conversation.

Until he muttered those ominous words.

"A barrier was activated a short while ago, preventing anyone other than tournament participants from using magic tools inside the arena."

"What? Wh-what..."

"It means that even if you tear that, you can't escape this time."

He gestured with his chin at the teleport scroll I was holding.

I couldn't immediately understand the words that were suddenly pouring out and was just bewildered.

Because I'd never heard of such a barrier in the main game, outside of the temple.

In that time, a group of knights in black armor rushed up behind Kassel.

"You'll have to come with me to the Imperial Palace for an investigation into the former Pope's criminal acts and your collusive relationship with the new Pope, Princess."

"..."

"This is an order."

His cold expression sent a chill through my heart.

Was this why he'd held me here, spouting that nonsense?

'...I should have just left the arena immediately.'

This was all because of that damn laugh.

Bewitched by that damn smiling face...

With the belated realization, all sorts of emotions resembling regret and anger washed over me.

But even so, it wasn't despairing at all.

Rather, this boiling emotion was...

'That bastard. So this is how you're going to play?'

...close to the thrill of having found a chance to get revenge on him.

Now, one minute.

I quickly checked the remaining time, gave him a slight smile, and then leaped onto the railing.

"What..."

At my sudden action, Kassel's eyes, as well as the eyes of the knights standing behind him, all widened in shock.

Seeing that, I felt a little refreshed.

"It seems you've forgotten that I'm a mage, Your Highness."

"It would be better not to do anything useless, Princess."

He, who had been hesitating as if he'd rush at me at any moment, gritted his teeth and spat.

"It's dangerous, so get down now."

"This thing is really just for show, you know."

I waved the scroll loosely in front of his eyes.

Swoooosh.

Just then, a fierce wind whipped past.

I obediently let go of the piece of paper fluttering wildly.

Flutter!

The scroll, riding the wind, circled near Kassel and then was pushed over the railing and disappeared.

While the knights flinched, reflexively trying to grab the scroll, Kassel didn't even twitch, just stared at me.

"You can't catch me with a barrier like that, Your Highness."

I smiled brightly at him.

[Crown Prince Kassel Ludwig is flustered by your actions.]

[Crown Prince Kassel Ludwig feels a trace of anger toward you.]

[Crown Prince Kassel Ludwig is convinced you have a mental problem.]

[Crown Prince Kassel Ludwig…]

Leaving behind the system windows that were popping up one after another over his head, as if he was quite surprised.

I leaned back without hesitation.

The cool wind enveloped me.

And in that eternal-seeming moment, the man with the hardened face, his bright red eyes frozen, rushed toward me, reaching out his hand.

Swoosh!

With a dizzying sensation, my body began to plummet helplessly.

"...ri!"

I faintly heard Kassel's voice calling me through the fierce sound of the wind.

And in that instant, I witnessed his horrified eyes.

"Haha."

Without feeling any fear, I burst into a bright laugh, feeling so refreshed.

And the moment I closed my eyes and opened them again.

[You have arrived in Dover Village.]