Trapped in a Game That Flopped

Chapter 144

Episode 144

I, who had been holding my breath and listening to that bastard's words, was so surprised for a moment that I almost jumped out of the pocket.

'That crazy bastard! Where's the rule that says that!'

Changing the rules in the middle of the tournament.

No matter how much he's the organizer, isn't this too arbitrary?

Of course, I had planned to take care of the monster in the Imperial Palace dungeon eventually.

But it wasn't right now.

'That son of a bitch, he's doing this on purpose to screw us over.'

Just as I was trembling at the reality that I couldn't go out and grab him by the collar right now.

Elaine must have been just as flabbergasted, as he, who had just been stuttering 'ub-ub-ub,' finally questioned him in my place.

"Changing the rules in the middle, where's the rule that says that!"

"Didn't you just say you didn't care about the rankings? A rule change would be more helpful for getting last place."

"Ugh..."

When that bastard brought up what he had said just a moment ago, Elaine couldn't say anything and trembled once.

'Despicable bastard!'

Of course, it was the same for me.

Fortunately, Elaine quickly regained his senses.

"I, I was just saying that! And, if the rules just change in the middle like this, it will definitely cause confusion among the participants!"

"There's no need to worry about that. If they were participants in their right minds, they would have finished clearing their assigned dungeon first."

"..."

Elaine, who had somehow managed to refute him logically, was ultimately defeated without even putting up a fight.

I felt a surge of anger at the words 'participants in their right minds,' but I couldn't blame the silent Elaine.

Annoyingly, Kassel was right.

By now, most of the top-ranking participants would have cleared their assigned dungeons and be aiming for other dungeons.

Just like Adam, whom I saw yesterday.

"Tsk tsk. There's still half the time left. Is there really a need to go that far."

It was then. Seizing the gap of silence after the war of words between Adam and Kassel ended, another person cut in, clicking their tongue.

"Hero Green Mask's words have a point. If the rules are changed arbitrarily like that, it will bring great confusion to the heroes."

For some reason, the Emperor stepped in, taking Elaine's side.

However, it was a sound that had no effect on the bastard whose personality was already ruined, regardless of patricide or anything else.

"This is not something Your Majesty needs to worry about."

Kassel barked in a cold voice, enough to make any affection one had completely disappear.

"Th, this bastard...!"

It was only natural for the Emperor to erupt with anger in a fiery voice.

"If I do not worry about the Imperial Palace's affairs, then who will!"

"You didn't even care when I said I was holding the tournament, but now I can't understand the reason for inviting a participant to a place like this."

"How dare someone like you spout such reckless words!"

Bang!

The Emperor slammed the table once more and panted roughly.

Clang!

Because of that, the sharp sound of dishes falling to the floor, breaking and colliding, echoed out.

I started to worry that at this rate, either the Emperor's hand or the table would end up broken.

'He's still the Emperor, is it okay to act like that?'

No matter how much he, having been reinstated, held the real power, this was a class society where his position could be stripped at any time by the Emperor's command.

Unlike before, which was closer to a squabble, it was a touch-and-go situation with tension raised to the max.

However, even in the tense atmosphere, Kassel didn't stop running his mouth.

"Stop this useless nonsense, and just enjoy your tea time with the nobles as you always do."

"Kassel Ludwig!"

"Or, it wouldn't be so bad to take off that heavy crown in advance and just settle down in the forest for the rest of your life."

It was a voice tinged with a faint laugh, as if mocking the Emperor, but a deep-seated hatred could be felt beneath it.

Of course, Kassel had his reasons.

The Emperor was one of the main people who had turned him, the Crown Prince, into the most miserable of sinners and then pushed him off to Hailey to die.

"You bastard, you stubbornly refused to die in Hailey and came back alive, just to insult me at every turn!"

Bang!

At Kassel's words, which had crossed the line, the Emperor slammed the table again and roared.

"I will never pass the throne to you, not even over my dead body!"

"That's truly a shame. Who knows if it won't just be your eyes, but your whole body covered in dirt."

"Y, you... you son of a bitch...! Guards! For the crime of insulting me, bind this bastard at once and throw him in the underground prison...!"

Fling.

It was then. The moment the Emperor finally called the soldiers to give the order to imprison Kassel, the sound of the banquet hall door being roughly opened was heard.

Thud, thud.

I thought soldiers would swarm in, but unexpectedly, only a single set of footsteps was heard.

Someone walked in quickly and recited perfunctorily, in a tone that wasn't very apologetic.

"My apologies for entering so suddenly, Your Majesty."

"You, you are... W, what is the meaning of this, Count Hailey!"

'Adam?'

Thanks to the Emperor's fuss, I was able to identify the person who had suddenly burst into the banquet hall.

Adam didn't react much to the Emperor's roar.

He simply stated the reason for his entrance to Kassel.

"Your Highness. I apologize for interrupting the banquet, but I have an urgent matter to report..."

At that moment, Adam's words suddenly trailed off.

At the same time, I felt Elaine's body flinch.

It seemed the two of them had recognized each other.

'Of all times to run into each other, why now...'

Not after a long time had passed, but just yesterday, the very person who stole the Queen Siren's Essence was sitting right in front of his superior.

It was understandable that Adam would stop talking, dumbfounded.

But fortunately, he, being quite rational, didn't immediately cause a scene in this place to kill his rival, unlike his lord.

The sound of whispering continued, as if he was resuming the words he had paused.

I desperately wanted to hear what he was reporting, but I couldn't hear it, no matter how hard I listened.

A short while later. Screeech.

"Something urgent has come up, so I must be going."

The sound of Kassel dragging his chair and bidding farewell was heard.

"Keuhm!"

The thoroughly angered Emperor didn't even deign to reply, openly showing his displeasure.

I didn't miss this chance and tapped Elaine's body.

'Let's use this chance to leave!'

There didn't seem to be much to gain from having a private audience with the Emperor any longer anyway.

At times like this, it was faster to just harass the developers.

"W, well, I should also be going..."

Elaine, who understood my signal, tactfully stood up to leave.

However,

"You should stay and eat more comfortably. The food seemed to suit your palate."

That Kassel-bastard, whom I thought had left a while ago, offered to Elaine.

Elaine hesitated and refused.

"I'm full now..."

"Sit."

But a cold utterance returned.

It was an offer in name, but no different from a command.

'That damned bastard, why isn't he letting us go?!'

At Elaine's movement as he hesitantly sat back down, I thumped my chest in frustration.

"In an unfamiliar place, not even knowing what's in it, tsk."

Finally, that Kassel-bastard muttered something, it was unclear if it was to himself or 'talking-in-front-of-someone,' and then left the banquet hall.

"Uuht...! Was he insulting me?!"

Elaine only realized the meaning a few minutes after Kassel left, and fumed.

'Sigh.'

His way of speaking was detestable, but I, who partially agreed with Kassel's words, could only let out a sigh.

Fortunately, seeing as he was still fine, it didn't seem like the Emperor had put anything in the food.

"My apologies, Hero Green Mask."

As soon as the Crown Prince left, the Emperor's tone, which had been shouting just a moment ago, changed, becoming elegant as if nothing had happened.

"That son of a bitch ruined our long-awaited luncheon. I've lost face. I'll order them to prepare the dessert properly, at least."

"I haven't finished this ye... Ugh!"

"Guards! Clear the table and bring out the dessert!"

I once again punched Elaine in the side, who was still coveting the food even after hearing that from Kassel.

Fortunately, the Emperor pretended not to hear and called an attendant.

Seeing that, it was clear he hadn't called him just to leisurely eat a meal.

The clattering sound of attendants clearing the table was heard.

And a short while later, silence finally fell upon the banquet hall.

The Emperor, after a brief pause, finally opened his mouth.

"...You, then you still haven't caught the forest monster?"

"Yes, well..."

"Tsk tsk. I understand completely. To be assigned all alone without a single colleague, that Crown Prince bastard really has no heart..."

The Emperor, who had clicked his tongue and relentlessly disparaged Kassel, abruptly fell silent.

Tap, tap, tap.

And the sound of him tapping the teacup repeatedly with his finger, as if in thought, was heard.

'Is he finally going to reveal his true intentions.'

I pricked up my ears, slightly tense.

Whatever the Emperor was about to say, I couldn't gauge whether it would be beneficial to us.

"About that monster, Hero Green Mask."

After quite a long time, the Emperor finally opened his mouth.

"I can help you catch it."

"Pardon?!"

At the sudden words, Elaine asked back, as if shouting.

"How..."

"You saw them, didn't you? The mages stationed there."

I couldn't tell what scheme the Emperor was plotting to 'help' Elaine.

I just knew that the ominous premonition I had felt when I first entered the Imperial Palace was creeping up and about to come true.

Seeing as he mentioned the mages, it seemed that damned main quest was about to be moved up again.

'But why?!'

This time, I hadn't proceeded with the quests out of order like in the temple, nor was it a situation where the quest was automatically unlocked because my level was too high, like when I caught the Giga Centipede.

So I couldn't understand why a quest that should only open after the tournament was completely over was popping up in the middle.

'This crazy buggy-ass game. Those damned developers!'

'Just you wait until I get back, your eardrums are gonna burst!'

Just as I was grinding my teeth at the developers, Elaine tried to dissuade the Emperor in a rather cautious voice.

"But... having someone else help with the dungeon clear is against the rules."

"Hoho. I am the rules and the law of this country. Who would dare say anything when I decide to personally resolve an issue happening in my own front yard?"

"Th, that may be so, but..."

"I will send someone at midnight tonight."

The Emperor urged Elaine in a deliberately secretive voice to come to the dungeon at midnight.

"If you catch the Imperial Palace forest monster, you might even be able to aim for first place. Haha, am I wrong?"

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

The front of the palace where the Emperor resided was quiet.

"I don't know what's what..."

Elaine, who had left the banquet hall after giving a vague affirmative answer, muttered in a low voice, his feelings complicated.

"Agh. I didn't even get to eat one cookie in the end."

I, who had intended to stay quiet until we reached the tent in front of the dungeon, finally couldn't hold it in and shouted.

"You pig-like bastard! Is this really the time to be worrying about something like that!"

We don't even know what that old snake-like Emperor meant by that, but this bastard is just so carefree.

"What? Pig?!"

But, as if bristling at my words, that bastard yanked open the pocket entrance that had been closed.

Through the opening, that bastard's huge, wheat-colored eyes could be seen vividly.

The extremely moist and vivid eyeball looked like a monster's.

"Ack! Groth!"

"I held back on all the food I wanted to eat and even answered just like you said! You could at least praise me, but you call me a pig?! That's too much, you queen of violence ajumma!"

"What? Ajumma?! You...!"

"Correct it, quickly! Not a pig, but a cute little piglet..."

It was then.

"Hey."

With the sound of someone walking over, a voice calling for Elaine was heard.

"Hup...!"

Elaine hurriedly closed the entrance of the pocket I was in.

"Ah, you... haven't left yet?"

"I still have business."

"Ah."

This very familiar voice was, of course, Kassel.

'He left in such a hurry, so why hasn't he gone yet!'

Along with Elaine, I, too, was feeling extremely flustered.

Of course, my voice, being miniaturized, was so small that only Elaine, who was right next to me, could barely make it out.

Therefore, it was more likely that others wouldn't notice my presence.

But, why was my heart pounding like crazy?

"W, well, I'll be going then."

Fortunately, Elaine hurriedly tried to leave.

As expected of my pupil, he had a knack for running away.

"Wait."

But, just as in the banquet hall, that damned bastard never let a single thing slide.

"But... who were you talking to just now?"

"..."

"And I'm also curious why you're holding onto your pocket like that."

Thud, thud.

The sound of leisurely footsteps, stubbornly approaching this way.

'No...!'

I just trembled, huddled in the farthest corner of the pocket.