"Did you hear what the commentator said? 'Unexpected consequences,' huh! Hah! What a wonderful euphemism for a betrayal suffered by a human being."

  "Ma'am, they're just doing their job, after all. But what I don't understand is how an NPC can be so cruel."

  "Princess Flora isn't an ordinary NPC, my dear assistant," the doctor said, smiling at the innocent blankness in her assistant's stare. She continued:

  "After all, there is an 'organic' artificial intelligence present within the universes of The Six Hours of God. And the artificial intelligence here... it doesn't forget what it experiences."

  "I don't understand, Ma'am."

  "Number 99... and the trace of a fallen kingdom."

  ***

  "Was it really worth all that trouble just for this scrap of parchment, Princess?"

  "Of course, it wasn't going to be easy, Number 1. But I assure you, this beginning was a necessary step for your dreams."

  "It's annoying that we took a casualty so early in the journey. I didn't want to eliminate Number 7 with my own hands."

  "I am saddened by the loss of our precious companion. But you did the right thing; she would have been a burden to us. And don't forget, a true leader must be able to make difficult decisions, right?"

  As Number 1 and Princess Flora conversed, Number 25 and Number 4 could only listen in silence. While Number 25 tried to ignore what she heard and focused on calming her nerves, Number 4's utter lack of reaction as he walked made it difficult for her to keep her composure.

  'From here on out, it’s like descending into a bottomless pit without a rope,' Number 25 thought. She didn't want to be the next victim in the group she was currently stuck with.

  However, she was also curious about where this scrap of parchment—the very thing they had lost teammates for—would lead them. Besides, rebelling against the group right now would be no different than suicide, considering Number 1's power. That, combined with the Princess's mysterious nature and Number 4's unnerving silence, told her that she needed to stay in line—at least for now.

  Perhaps an opportunity on the road, or maybe someone they might encounter, could turn the tide in her favor.

  While keeping her mind busy with these thoughts, Number 25 glanced first at Number 4, standing diagonally to her right, and then at Princess Flora and Number 1 walking ahead of him.

  Rather than a conversation, the duo seemed engaged in a session of Flora showering Number 1 with flattery.

  Number 4, walking right behind them, maintained his silence, but he hadn't taken his eyes off the parchment in Flora's hand for a single second.

  Number 25 was just imagining getting out of these tunnels and taking a breath of relief when Number 4 shattered that hope by breaking his silence.

  "So, Princess... where exactly are we going to use that scroll?"

  The dissatisfaction in Number 4's voice cut the mutual flattery session between Number 1 and Flora short.

  "To access a treasure in my kingdom, which is quite close to this mountain. I believe I can be of great help to you all through this," Flora said.

  The fact that her expression didn't change for even a second only soured Number 4's face further, goading him into speaking more cuttingly.

  "I'm quite curious what useful things could possibly come out of your destroyed kingdom... Princess of the Ruins."

  The moment Number 4 finished his sentence, Number 1 spun around. In a flash, he grabbed 4 by the throat with his right hand and slammed him hard against the wall, pinning him there.

  As Number 1 tightened his grip on his throat, cutting off his breath, the dullness in Number 4's eyes was equivalent to that of a man who no longer cared to take another step.

  Noticing this, Number 25 instinctively reached for her bow with her right hand.

  "Cut out the pointless moves, 25!" Number 1 barked furiously. He then turned his gaze back to Number 4's empty stare and continued.

  "As for you... If you're going to keep acting childish over someone who was useless to us, I can send you right to her side. Once Phase 1 ends, you two can watch the remaining two phases together. How does that sound?"

  "That is quite enough, my dear 1. Otherwise, our precious Number 4 is going to be eliminated by suffocation," the Princess said.

  She continued speaking in an affectionate manner, as if she hadn't even heard the insult directed at her moments ago.

  Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

  "Our dear Number 4's grief must have clouded his mind. Believe me, none of us wanted the loss of Number 7. But if she had become a burden, she would have been an obstacle to the victory of you precious players. I do not want that to happen."

  "So, are you just going to overlook the disrespect shown to you, Princess?"

  "I don't believe it was disrespect, Number 1. My kingdom truly did witness a terrible fate. I would love to tell you more about it, but right now, we need to get out of these tunnels and clear our heads, don't we?"

  The Princess's soothing demeanor caused Number 1's anger to slowly subside, leading him to withdraw his right hand from Number 4's throat.

  Finally released, Number 4 collapsed to the ground, coughing. He tried to soothe his oxygen-starved lungs with the stifling air of the tunnels.

  Number 25, on the other hand, hadn't been able to shake off the shock of these sudden developments. Even though she tried not to show it on her face, she couldn't stop her heart from pounding against her ribs as if trying to escape.

  Princess Flora slowly approached Number 4, who was struggling to breathe on the ground.

  "My dear 4, I think what we've experienced has been overwhelming for all of us. How about we get out of these tunnels first, and then I'll answer your question? Does that sound good?"

  In response to the offer, Number 4 silently lifted his head toward Flora. Unable to refuse, he gave a slight nod of confirmation.

  "Thank you, my dear 4," Flora said, and continued, "Then let's continue on our way immediately, shall we?"

  The remaining members of the team maintained their silence and began to follow the Princess.

  ***

  After what felt like an eternity, the team emerged from the tunnels to find themselves beneath a sweet sunset, caressed by cool winds.

  After regaining their composure and finding a moment of relief, Flora pointed out the endless forest stretching before them and the structures barely visible at its center.

  Tired and silent, they continued their descent down the mountain slopes, racing against the falling darkness.

  As the last light of day gave way to the canvas of the night, the team arrived at the forest's edge. Deciding it was pointless to push any further, they chose to make camp there.

  While Number 4 gathered firewood, Princess Flora and Number 1 continued their conversation, and Number 25, as always, remained a silent observer from a distance.

  As Number 4 got the fire going, the crackling warmth of the wood seemed to offer the team a fleeting sense of peace amidst the silent night.

  "I apologize for speaking so rashly, Princess," Number 4 said. He sat with his legs pulled up to his chest, arms wrapped around them, never once taking his eyes off the fire.

  Flora, sitting with her legs together and hands resting gracefully on her skirt, responded with her characteristic elegance.

  "Thank you, my dear 4."

  She paused just as she was about to continue. The glow of the charring wood was reflected in her pupils. Bathed in the orange light of the fire, she wore an expression that was sorrowful for the first time, but more importantly, it was real.

  "Are you alright, Princess?" Number 1 asked. His voice was unusually still and slow. When his question met with silence, he continued.

  "I actually don't mean to trigger bad memories from the past. But back during the test day, the locals where I was stationed couldn't stop praising the beauty and splendor of the Elf Kingdom."

  "It truly was..."

  The Princess swallowed the rest of her words just as she started speaking. She took a deep breath, then gently brushed her hair back with her hands, restoring the smile that never seemed to leave her face.

  "Ahh, truly, we possessed a kingdom of breathtaking beauty. Under my father's rule and the Goddess's wisdom, we shone brightly. When we learned that you precious players would be guests in our world, an atmosphere of excited anticipation took hold."

  "We gathered intelligence on every arriving player, making meticulous preparations just in case they paid us a visit. As time passed, there were even a few with whom we established contact."

  Flora brought her right hand to her throat. She began to rub it gently, as if trying to soothe a phantom pain lodged there.

  "If you don't wish to talk about these things, don't wear yourself out, Princess," Number 1 said.

  Flora shook her head slightly and continued with difficulty.

  "You deserve to know these things the most," Flora said.

  Indeed, the entire team had turned their full attention to the Princess. Like eager puppies, they hung on her every word, desperate to glean whatever valuable information she could provide.

  "Following our positive interactions with the other arriving players, word reached us that one final player had materialized right within our forest. We went to welcome him with great joy."

  "Before us stood someone clad in pitch-black light armor, with a cape trailing just above the ground and a completely dull, emotionless expression. Number 99."

  Flora paused once more. Feeling the warmth of Number 1’s hand on her own, tears streamed down, leaving tracks upon her cheeks.

  "Ahh, that man..." she said. The grace in her voice had given way to a trembling tone, a chaotic mix of anger and sorrow.

  She surrendered her right hand to Number 1's warmth, gently wiped her tears with her left hand, and continued.

  "At first, everything seemed normal. Rather than communicating with us, this dull player simply observed his surroundings in silence. But one day, everything changed. He stood before my father with utter disrespect and voiced grievances regarding a human village very close to us. Even though my late father tried to overlook this disrespect and diffuse the situation, he had already made his decision."

  Unable to hold back her tears any longer, Flora completely lost her composure and wailed:

  "A single man... Without a shred of remorse on his face, distinguishing neither innocent nor woman, child nor elder... he wiped out the Goddess's faithful, magnificent kingdom!"

  As her sobs cut her words short, Flora covered her face with her hands, trying to quell her emotional breakdown.

  "More than anything... when that man skewered my father on that cursed black sword, I am certain of it," she said.

  She paused, clasping Number 1's hands once again. Locking her tear-filled green eyes onto Number 1's golden gaze, she continued:

  "My dear 1, I swear to you... my father's soul is trapped inside that cursed blade."

  Shaken by what they had heard, the team couldn't bear to watch Princess Flora suffer any longer and cut the conversation short.

  While Number 4 and Number 1 tried to comfort the Princess, Number 25 withdrew to her corner and began to gaze up at the vast ocean of stars.

  'Who is this Number 99?' she wondered. 'More importantly, could he be a salvation for me? Or would I find myself clinging to a poisonous snake while trying to escape the current? And the real question: Is he truly as ruthless as this insincere princess described?'

  Trying to find a path through the Princess's story only led her into more questions and chaos, sharpening her mind further. However, finally succumbing to the persistent demands of her exhausted body, she decided to set these problems aside for now and put an end to this long night.

  A/N (Author's Note):

  Rating or a Follow! It helps the story immensely.