The Upgraded Game and Lingering Memories

“Hehehe~ This young lady is quite proactive, aren’t we? Then, without further ado~”

Snap!

My consciousness wavered for a moment.

“…?”

When my vision cleared once more, I couldn’t help but pause.

There was a simple reason for my shock: at this moment, only Grinning Darby and I remained.

“What exactly did you do? Where are the Young Miss and the others? Where did you teleport them?”

‘Could the final challenge really be tied to their safety? Like those shows I used to watch, where failure meant sacrificing the other participants?’

“Hehehe~ There’s no need for our guest to worry~ They are perfectly safe~ And no, I didn’t teleport them away. Instead, I’ve brought *you* alone to a new space~”

“…Is that so? The surroundings look exactly the same as before; only the number of people doesn’t match.”

Well, considering the space itself was just an empty expanse, it did indeed look identical at first glance.

“Then why did you teleport me here alone? What do you intend to do?”

As I spoke, I subtly pressed my hand against the hidden dagger at my side.

“Hehehe~ You needn’t be so vigilant~ This challenge merely ‘permits only one observer,’ so it’s just the two of us now~”

“Hmm? What kind of challenge is that? What challenge needs to be hidden from others?”

“It’s quite simple~ Just a common little game~ ‘Red Light, Green Light’~ I wonder if the young lady has ever heard of it?”

“I have heard of it, yes…”

‘But is it really that simple? If so, why restrict the number of observers?’

“Hehehe~ Young lady, please don’t worry~ Of course, this game is an upgraded version~ Guaranteed to be exhilarating~”

“Upgraded version? How has it been upgraded?”

“It’s quite simple~ As you advance, many things will try to obstruct you~”

As he spoke, his gaze, hidden beneath his mask, fell upon my hand concealed behind my back.

“Naturally, in this challenge, you may freely use weapons and magic~ After all, this isn’t ‘Paradise,’ so none of ‘Paradise’s’ rules will apply here~”

Pausing briefly, he continued:

“Furthermore, the ultimate goal isn’t to touch me, but to pierce my heart~ Also, as I said, the rules of ‘Paradise’ no longer apply, meaning your safety is no longer guaranteed. Please be mindful~”

‘…?’

‘Why has this suddenly become so un-peaceful? The previous four games were quite amicable, but now it’s become a matter of life and death.’

“However~ if you are caught turning around, it will only be judged as a failed challenge, and you won’t suffer any harm~”

After explaining the rules, he looked at me again.

“What do you say? Will you still participate in the ‘challenge’? Giving up now will only result in a forfeiture~”

‘What is this fellow saying? We’ve come this far; how could I possibly retreat? Besides, our original purpose for coming here was to acquire the ‘Sealed Casket’! How can I just remember to play and forget about our true objective?’

“I will participate.”

I replied without hesitation.

“Hehehe~ Very well then…”

Snap!

After the snap of his fingers, the distance between Grinning Darby and me instantly stretched, as if space itself had been elongated.

“Are you ready?”

“Of course!”

“Hehehe~ Please listen carefully to the command~”

He turned his back.

“Three, two, one, GO!”

Taking the declaration as my cue, I immediately began to sprint.

But just as Grinning Darby had said, many strange things suddenly appeared on the field, attempting to block my path.

There were objects resembling spiked balls, and amorphous, slimy substances.

Most perilous of all, however, were the specters and ghosts…

“Ugh…!”

‘I was a little startled, but not to the point of being unable to move. Perhaps it was the training I received in the ‘Haunted House’? If this had been the day before yesterday, I surely wouldn’t have been able to move a muscle… Now, I’m terrifyingly strong!’

Using a Wind Blade, I sliced through the chaotic obstacles.

Then, I froze all the skeletons with an Ice Wall.

Finally, I dispersed the ghosts with fire.

“Red Light, Green Light!”

Grinning Darby turned his head, and I halted all movement, stopping in place like a statue.

Then, a flash of white light appeared before my eyes—

****

…

‘I am no ordinary demon. Or rather, I am an incompletely evolved demon beast. A demon beast born from a human should not become a demon, yet I broke free from that rule. I possess individual will and ‘Authority,’ but unlike other demons, I don’t pledge loyalty or subservience to the Demon King. In contrast, I’ve forgotten even my memories from when I was human.’

“In her words, I suppose I am the same kind of existence. That being said, I’m actually quite a mess myself. After all, I should have died, but somehow, I ended up here.” The girl pushed up the item she called ‘glasses’ and offered me a wry smile.

According to her, she wasn’t from this world. Like me, neither of us was a product of this world’s ‘rules’; we were more like accidental anomalies, born by chance.

****

“…?”

‘What were those images I just saw?’

“The next round is about to begin~”

Grinning Darby’s voice pulled my thoughts back to reality. Seeing that he had already turned away…

‘I need to close the distance!’

“Three——”

This time, the path was blocked by butterflies with brown patterns.

“Two——”

However, they were exceptionally fragile.

“One——”

Merely a gentle gust of wind was enough to sweep them all away.

“Red Light, Green Light!”

As Grinning Darby turned back, other images once again appeared before my eyes—

****

…

My first encounter with her was in a wild forest.

“Are you alright?”

Having just battled a demon beast, my body was covered in wounds. I was neither human nor demon, rejected by humans and attacked by demon beasts. Yet, she extended a helping hand to someone like me, who belonged nowhere.

“I see… We are both beings who can’t truly integrate into this world, aren’t we? Then, let me stay by your side from now on!”

At that moment, she was like a butterfly dancing in the forest, exuding a floral fragrance that made it impossible to look away.

****

My consciousness returned to reality.

‘Were those just now Grinning Darby’s memories? But even though the snippets felt long, no time had passed at all…’

“Continuing to the next round~”

There was no time left for me to ponder. I had to continue my sprint forward.

“Three——”

This time, the attackers were masks adorned with various expressions.

“Two——”

The density of the attacks was slightly higher than the previous round, but they weren’t particularly aggressive.

“One——”

With just a casual stab from an ice shard, they all shattered. Any that slipped through could be cleaved apart with my dagger.

“Red Light, Green Light!”

Immediately after, I was plunged into the next memory.

****

…

“Neh, neh, neh, why do you never smile?” she asked, walking cheerfully in front of me with a grin.

“My face is covered in crystals… I can’t change my expression.”

“Eh… What a shame. I actually think your face is quite handsome~”

“But… the villagers all say this scarred face is terrifying?”

“If I think it’s handsome, then it’s handsome! But since that’s the case, let me make you a smiling mask!”

With that, she tore off a vine and wove a crooked, twisted mask… one that, at least, still vaguely resembled a smiling face.

“Hehe~ I’m quite good with my hands, you know~”

‘Could this even be considered ‘good’?’

“When I find better materials, I’ll make you an even better one!”

Perhaps because I showed no expression, she didn’t notice my inner turmoil. No, on the contrary, she smiled brightly. That radiant smile completely captivated my heart.

“Mm…”

I merely nodded, dumbfounded.

“Hehe~ Then it’s a promise!”

‘That smile… I will never forget it for the rest of my life.’