Chapter 104
“So Tia is running around asking to be dusted off by bugs…?”
It’s been two hours since the Survival began.
After joining Arthur right at the start, she felt the urge to cover her ears because of Arthur’s incessant chatter.
He kept going on about his training, and stories about dating other girls like Tia and Stella—honestly, she couldn’t care less; it was just noise.
In a world where polygamy is permissible, it seemed that Arthur’s goal was to have multiple women around him.
But he was so lacking in the basics that it was almost laughable. What on earth was he thinking, recounting dating tales while alone with a girl?
‘Could he have learned about romance from a book…?’
When she searched for information at the library, she remembered a few things from having read just about every book.
Like ‘How to Win Someone’s Affection’ and ‘100 Ways to Be a Cool Guy.’
She never imagined anyone would try to use that knowledge in real life.
What Arthur was doing was probably boasting about having many girls and being popular, like if he didn’t snatch one up soon, he’d be sold out. If that wasn’t the case, then he was just foolishly spreading tales about having a second girlfriend.
Well, it might have worked on other girls, but the problem was that there wasn’t even a speck of affection in her heart for Arthur.
Riche listened to Arthur’s ramblings with one ear while pondering the hints Luke had given her.
In reflecting on her earlier conversation with Luke, something dawned on her.
Even though Arthur seemed like a local, inside he was a person from another world, like Luke.
Originally, Riche didn’t believe in gods, but if Luke’s words were true, then who but a god could do such a thing?
And if a god does exist, why would they insert a strange guy like Arthur into a perfectly fine person?
‘Is this Arthur’s real personality…?’
No… it can’t be. If that were the case, I wouldn’t be able to like such a guy.
Riche strongly rejected that notion.
The only reason she had joined up with that guy she despised was for one reason only.
To use him.
Blood Moon, magical exhaustion, Arthur. Those were three hints given by Luke.
They hinted that Hex would show up during this Survival training, and just by the fact that Arthur was involved meant he was somehow tied to her.
‘Come to think of it… Arthur said he knew too.’
Luke had hinted that there was someone who would give up anything if she asked. And that person was Arthur, who, being possessed like Luke, likely knew everything she was curious about.
Thinking about it, it was irritating. He knew the very information she most needed, wanted her affection, and yet he didn’t share the crucial details and kept them hidden.
If he had really been oblivious until now, then it would be one thing, but since she had already discovered the truth, it only made it more infuriating.
‘Should I just ask him now?’
So far, she had avoided him and hadn’t thought to ask.
If it were her usual self, she wouldn’t hesitate to use any means to achieve her goal. She should have asked outright long ago, so for her to even avoid him felt impressive in a way.
“So, I was buying a hairpin when—”
“Hey.”
“Uh? Why? Did you not understand something I just said?”
No, she wasn’t curious about any of that at all.
“Do you know what a Hex is?”
“……”
She just threw it out there to test if he knew. Suddenly, the mouth that had been chattering away shut tight.
Seeing his reaction, it was clear he couldn’t possibly be ignorant.
Ah, he apparently had no intention of telling her. Honestly, she hadn’t expected anything from him. If he was going to share, he would have done so ages ago; besides, he already knew.
“Uh, well? What is it? I feel like it’s the first time I’m hearing about it?”
He awkwardly lied with an expression that didn’t fit. Was he generally this bad at lying, or was he caught off guard by such an unexpected topic?
If it were Luke, he would have just told her.
Luke might be lazy about certain things, but he wasn’t one to keep things hidden.
Even if he’d kept his mouth shut about this hint, he would have found some way to convey it.
“But why’s that? Oh, not that I think you know, but I’m just curious.”
His expression read, ‘Is there anything I can help with?’
Help? Now? After knowing everything, pretending to be helpful is just hypocrisy.
The insincerity of his expression made her eyebrows twitch.
Unintentionally, she felt her brows furrowing and decided to speak up to distract from the irritation.
“…It’s nothing.”
She could just blurt out that she already heard it all from Luke, exposing what he had concealed and scolding him for hiding information when he wanted her affection, but also had the gall to pretend otherwise.
The reason she skimmed over was because she had plans to use Arthur.
For everything he had hidden, she would hide everything she knew in return.
And with the deception he had spun, she would be willing to use him.
‘Not bad… this character education.’
In the past, if someone gave her information, she would have excitedly followed them around, but now it wasn’t the case.
Thinking that the person with the information was superior was a big mistake.
The foolish held great power and information meant for exploitation; if the opponent saw themselves on top, she could be above them instead.
“Forget what I just said. Let’s hurry and find the others.”
“Got it… huh?!”
Suddenly, Arthur, who had been walking in front, stumbled unexpectedly.
In a very unnatural manner.
“…What are you doing?”
“Ugh… Sorry. I think I tripped.”
“Haah… I told you to watch where you’re going.”
She scolded him in a tone of disappointment.
Arthur was walking backward while chatting with Riche, looking at her.
Naturally, he would trip if he walked like that with his eyes on her.
“Uh, uh. Got it…”
With a gloomy face, he turned back to face forward.
The good ambiance they had just moments before crumbled in an instant.
It was clear the good mood had only been a one-sided feeling of Arthur’s.
Just then, as Riche thought they should quickly regroup with Tia and Stella to prepare for dinner—
“Ugh?!”
Arthur, who had been fine walking, fell again.
This time, he was walking properly, looking ahead.
“…Are you doing this on purpose?”
Was he trying to lighten up the heavy mood with a physical gag?
Did he not realize that would only make it more awkward?
She was about to say something genuinely, but Arthur’s pitiful plea made her mouth open and close again.
“Ah, no! Someone tripped me! Riche, you just saw it, right?! I was walking straight ahead!”
“Are you saying the roots of a tree suddenly moved to trip your leg?”
Lies should be told sparingly; in a forest where there were only herself and Arthur visible, who could possibly trip him?
It would be far more believable to say another human possessed her body and forced her to fall.
“I’m telling the truth, believe me!”
“…Alright. I’ll believe you.”
Even if what he said were true, there was no way to prove it, and since continuing to discuss it seemed pointless, Riche decided to just think of it that way.
“Haah… It’s true though.”
Grumbling, Arthur dusted himself off and resumed walking.
This time, she hoped he wouldn’t fall again.
However, the situation turned out to be the opposite of her thoughts.
“Ugh!”
Once.
“Ah?!”
Twice.
“C-cough! Shit! Who hit me?! It’s definitely a person!”
Even the last time, he wasn’t falling over but holding his head as if he’d just been struck, wildly swinging his sword.
‘…What’s happening?’
At this point, it became clear he wasn’t doing it on purpose.
If so, who was it?
Could this have something to do with Hex?
‘No… that seems too mundane.’
If it were related to Hex, he wouldn’t pull such childish pranks. That guy preferred to hide and provoke rather than engage in indiscriminate violence.
If he were involved, he would have shown up right in front of her and made fun of her for having a cozy date with her boyfriend.
‘Could it be another student…?’
Arthur had mentioned that someone tripped him.
If that’s the case, they had been lingering nearby.
With a tinge of suspicion, Riche expanded her senses as much as possible.
Then she felt the presence of someone she couldn’t identify just moments ago.
At this distance, if they used an artifact or a magical tool, she should have caught on, but perhaps they were too distracted with their thoughts.
There were three of them.
Whoever they were, they had approached stealthily.
Having discerned their positions, Riche could do nothing but tense up.
‘…!!’
They were right in front of Arthur and her.
If they intended to ambush, the outcome was already determined.
‘Did someone bring an artifact or magical tool?’
No, they couldn’t be students.
Students wouldn’t dare engage in such an insulting behavior.
As the First Best, even if they dared to attack, they’d surely know that taking such actions against her would return to haunt them.
Then who, exactly, could it be…?
While Riche was on guard and deep in contemplation, Arthur continued to cry out in pain.
“Ow! I got hit!”
“Shit, why’s it only me under attack?”
They were unreasonably fixated on tormenting Arthur.
‘Wait…’
Three attackers.
And right beside her, she was a mere backdrop, while they relentlessly targeted Arthur.
Not to injure him, but it was akin to harassment.
‘Oh, by the way, didn’t the professors say they’d be hiding and moving around the island…?’
Professors, three people, targeting only Arthur.
And she happened to know a person who fit all those common traits.
“Could it be…?”
