The Cruel Clock and the Final Challenger

Every action of Luomei was displayed perfectly before us through the projection. Her distress and anxiety were palpable, conveying directly to us.

Our hearts pounded with anxiety as she bravely attempted to climb the tree. She tumbled repeatedly, her slender frame acquiring numerous scratches and trails of blood from the branches, while her legs developed unsightly bruises.

Witnessing this sight, the more sensitive Elizabeth immediately shed tears. Adam, unable to restrain himself any longer, took a step forward, intending to rush into the forest.

Of course, Grinning Darby blocked his path, standing directly in front of him.

“Oh my, dear guest, only one person is permitted to participate in each ‘Challenge’,” Grinning Darby chirped. “Of course, if you insist on rushing in, I won’t stop you. However, doing so would end the ‘Challenge’ immediately, resulting in a direct disqualification and loss.”

Knowing Luomei had not yet given up, Adam understood that his rash intervention would render all her efforts futile.

“‘Tch!'”

Helpless, he could only stand rooted to the spot, expressing his displeasure with a click of his tongue.

Yet, amidst this chaotic scene, Luomei actually managed to climb the tree, her fingers nearly reaching the small bird.

“Luomei…!”

Our hearts collectively lodged in our throats.

However, the very instant her fingers were about to touch the bird, the little green creature fluttered its wings, vanishing in a flash.

“Oh, what a shame!”

Everyone present couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret.

“Hee hee hee~”

Only Grinning Darby continued to laugh, utterly heartless.

A glance at the clock revealed that well over half the allotted time had passed. Yet, Luomei still hadn’t managed to catch even a single bird.

It seemed just as Grinning Darby had claimed; these birds were highly sensitive to both humans and magic.

For Luomei, who excelled in magic but lacked physical prowess, this challenge was undoubtedly the worst possible match.

To face two consecutive challenges so ill-suited to her strengths… it was difficult not to suspect Grinning Darby of foul play.

‘No, that couldn’t be right.’

After all, the first two challenges seemed tailor-made for Margaret and the Young Miss.

Furthermore, Grinning Darby had genuinely appeared shocked by the challenge outcomes.

‘[Dynamic Difficulty]’

The phrase suddenly sprang into my mind. My sister had mentioned it when offering advice… Could this ‘dynamic difficulty’ be why the last two challenges had been so unfavorable?

‘It felt as though we were being led by the nose, leaving an unsettling feeling.’

“Hmm? Has she noticed it already?”

Grinning Darby’s abrupt remark pulled my thoughts back to the challenge arena.

Through the projection, I saw Luomei had stopped searching for birds. Instead, she was now squatting in place.

‘Had she given up?’

‘It made sense… after all, she was already covered in scrapes and bruises. It would be entirely normal to be unable to continue.’

“Eileen, what is that magic circle?”

The Young Miss directed her question to me.

“Hm…?”

Only then did I look closely, realizing Luomei had squatted down to draw a magic circle.

The magic circle was quite recognizable.

“‘Vine Entrapment?'”

‘But wasn’t that a trap spell? And hadn’t trap magic already failed?’

What was even more perplexing was that she scattered berries onto the magic circle, then hid herself in a nearby bush.

‘Was she trying to lure and capture the birds this way? Yet, these birds always detected magic before it activated, escaping every time.’

Furthermore, despite her supposed disguise, one of her hands reached out from the bushes, pressing onto the magic circle.

‘Wouldn’t that scare the birds away from approaching?’

“Indeed, she noticed it~”

Unlike me, who was utterly bewildered, Grinning Darby seemed to understand something.

“It’s not the magical energy that’s detected, but the flow… Oh dear, this isn’t looking good.”

‘What on earth was he babbling about?’

“Eileen! Look!”

At that very moment, the Young Miss called my name once more.

The instant I refocused my attention on the challenge arena, my eyes widened in surprise.

A small bird had actually landed on the magic circle. As time passed, other birds, their suspicions quelled, began to descend onto the circle one by one.

‘But even so, wouldn’t they still escape before the magic circle activated?’

Holding onto this question, my eyes were fixed on the girl in the projection. And then, a miracle unfolded.

A birdcage formed from numerous vines, trapping the greedy little birds!

Now, they couldn’t escape even if they had wings!

“Wow!”

‘Could it be…!’

Just as her small hand was about to touch the bird…

Ding, ding, ding—!!!

The clock chimed, utterly out of sync with the moment.

Unbeknownst to them, the hand had completed its full rotation.

This signified that the challenge time was up.

The entire forest vanished the moment time ran out, leaving behind only the stunned little squirrel.

“Hee hee hee~! Time’s up! Challenge over!”

Grinning Darby mockingly laughed at Luomei.

‘Had he foreseen this all along?’

‘No wonder he had remained so unperturbed, even after clearly understanding Luomei’s intentions!’

“How unfortunate! The fourth challenge—failed!”

“How… how could this be…”

After uttering those helpless words, large teardrops rolled from the little squirrel’s eyes. Her body lost all strength, and she collapsed onto the ground.

Simultaneously, a large figure flashed past us. Adam scooped up the tear-soaked little creature, comforting her in his clumsy way.

“You tried hard enough! It was just… a bit of bad luck!”

“Wuu… but… but it was just a tiny bit away…”

“I understand how you feel… just cry it all out now! You’ll feel much better once you do!”

Hearing his words, the girl’s tear ducts completely gave way.

“Wuu wuu… Ahhh ahhh ahhh—”

With the sound of sobbing as a backdrop, the Young Miss cast a cold glance at the clown-like demon.

“Hey, didn’t you say ‘Paradise’ was a place meant to bring smiles to people’s faces?”

“Hee hee hee~ ‘Paradise’ is indeed so, but this is not ‘Paradise’; it’s a ‘Challenge’~ Challenges have both tears and laughter, isn’t that perfectly normal?”

‘Just making excuses…’

“Hee hee hee~”

Grinning Darby chuckled mischievously, then moved on to the next topic.

“Well then, esteemed guests, the final challenge is next.” ‘Is he really announcing the next challenge now, when a girl is still crying?’

‘Was this fellow truly human, or utterly devoid of humanity?’

“Currently, you all stand at two wins and two losses~ The upcoming match will determine the overall success of the entire ‘Challenge’~ Please pay close attention~”

‘He deliberately rubbed salt in the wound, that heartless wretch… Was he truly a demon after all?’

“Now then, please select your final challenger~”

His gaze landed on me… after all, I was the only one left who could participate.

Just as I prepared to step forward, a warmth spread through my palm.

Turning, I saw the Young Miss had taken my hand.

“Eileen, you can do it.”

“Yes, await my good news, Young Miss.”

After a slight nod, I walked over to Grinning Darby.

“Hee hee hee~ Are you the final challenger?”

“Yes.”

Normally, in such a crucial moment, I might have felt a flicker of nervousness.

But now, all I wanted was to thoroughly wipe that smirk off Grinning Darby’s face, to make him utterly incapable of laughing again!

“Bring on any challenge, I’m ready for it!”