Chapter 6: Offering a Sacrifice – 1

The rain of gold coins sent people into a frenzy.

“Uh, uh?”

“What the— It’s money? Gold coins!”

“Wait! Don’t push! Move aside.”

“Damn, is there anything I can scoop these up with?”

In an instant, people went wild like lunatics.

Someone took off their coat and began sweeping the coins piled on the ground into it like raking leaves.

Another person threw themselves onto the heap of coins, flailing their arms as if swimming.

Armelia spoke with a troubled expression.

“Everyone’s being toyed with by that witch. Have they already forgotten how we were treated just a moment ago?”

“……”

“Let’s not end up like them. Mason…? What are you doing?”

“Huh? I’m collecting gold coins.”

For the record, the one who took off his coat to sweep up coins earlier was me.

Armelia exclaimed, her face full of disbelief.

“Why are you doing that?”

“I can’t exactly take off my pants to use instead, can I?”

“That’s your answer?”

“Don’t look at me like I’ve lost my mind. The situation’s still grim, but if it’s going to stay grim, I’d rather be miserable and rich.”

“Haa…”

As Armelia let out a sigh fit for an old man, Magireta’s voice echoed through the air.

“Even if you make a fuss, the rewards will be divided fairly according to headcount. I know you’re excited, but let me finish what I was saying first.”

“……”

“Now, everyone open your mouths.”

Of course, neither Armelia nor I opened ours.

Soon, something tapped against our lips and fell to the ground.

‘Paper?’

I caught the falling paper.

Those foolish enough to open their mouths were now pulling saliva-soaked slips from between their lips.

Rustle.

I unfolded the paper.

—Bucklet Forest.

Bucklet Forest?

What was this?

Then Armelia spoke.

“May I ask what yours says? I’ll show you mine as well.”

“Yes, of course. Here.”

“Bucklet Forest… Mine says the same thing.”

The slips we each received bore the same name.

Armelia frowned slightly and murmured.

“That’s a forest in the southern part of the Empire. I recall it being a remote, completely undeveloped area.”

“You know it well. I’m not familiar with any geography or landmarks.”

“Well, isn’t that normal? Ordinary citizens live and die in their territories. But as a princess, I learned maps as part of my education.”

“Why would she give us these notes?”

“How should I know what that crazy woman’s scheming?”

We both looked up at Magireta.

Surely, there would be an explanation.

But instead, she waved her arm cheerfully and said,

“Alright! You’ve all done well. Take it easy until the next game.”

“What?”

“See you then.”

At that moment—

The world began to crumble.

The vast field large enough to hold a massive crowd blurred and faded.

The overflowing corpses vanished.

And so did our consciousness—Armelia’s and mine.

I turned my heavy eyes toward Armelia.

“Mason…”

She couldn’t finish her sentence before her eyes closed.

And I followed right after.

[You have successfully completed the first quest: “Self-Introduction.”]

[The “Secret Chat” function in your diary has been upgraded.]

[Hidden Quest: Armelia’s Survival achieved. Reward: 100 points.]

That was the last thing I heard.

Sunlight pierced through the window, tickling my eyes.

I slowly woke up.

‘…What the. Was that a dream?’

Of course, it had to be.

It wasn’t some magic from the drunken tales of old men—something like that couldn’t possibly happen in real life.

Rustle.

“Hm?”

Just then, I felt something in my hand.

A small slip of paper.

Written on it was—

—Bucklet Forest.

A chill shot up from the tips of my toes to the top of my head.

I shot upright and looked around.

Nothing had changed in my small attic room.

Except for one thing.

“A bag?”

A bag full of gold coins sat there.

At that moment—

Creak.

Someone was coming up the stairs.

From the sound of the footsteps, I could tell who it was.

I hastily pushed the bag under the desk and slipped the note into my chest pocket.

Knock knock.

“Mason. Are you awake? May I come in?”

Mrs. Meyren!

I prayed my voice wouldn’t tremble as I replied.

“Yes, come in.”

Clack.

The door opened, revealing Mrs. Meyren with her warm, gentle face.

Though she smiled, a faint shadow lingered over her expression.

“Sorry to bother you so early in the morning.”

“No, not at all.”

“It’s just… about Mr. Forgotten.”

I swallowed hard.

Mr. Forgotten’s head and body had been severed—he was dead.

Could it be that his corpse had returned to his room?

But her next words were different.

“He’s gone.”

“Gone?”

“That’s right. He was sleeping beside me, snoring as usual… but when I woke up this morning, he was gone.”

“……”

“You know how he always sleeps in late, right? This has never happened before, so it’s strange.”

She tried to brush off her unease with a laugh.

I carefully searched for the right words.

Everything that happened yesterday—must never be spoken of.

Not in words, not through expressions, not through behavior.

Revealing it in any form would mean elimination.

In the end, I cautiously lied.

“Maybe he just woke up early for once. Perhaps he went out for a walk to enjoy the morning air.”

“Yes… yes, that must be it.”

“Don’t worry, ma’am. Ah, I should get ready and come downstairs soon.”

“Oh, sorry, dear. I didn’t mean to trouble you with something so unsettling first thing in the morning. I’ll go on ahead.”

Mrs. Meyren left the room with a slightly lightened expression, as if she had just shrugged off a burden after hearing my words.

“Phew.”

I sat on the bed and rubbed my face.

What a terrible thing to do. Truly, a terrible thing.

Magireta must be enjoying seeing me like this. That damned demon.

‘Wait a minute. Now that I think about it.’

Everything that had happened yesterday had gone far beyond the limits of imagination. But among all that, there was one thing I was particularly curious about.

‘The diary.’

As I murmured those words, the diary floated up in the air as if summoned by magic.

It automatically fluttered open and revealed a line to me.

Huh?

The pages began to turn on their own.

The next page, which I couldn’t read yesterday, spread open before me.

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