As Abigail, I caused trouble in infinite space.

"Because I really want a rabbit."

Pest responded to the anxious Larine with a nonchalant remark.

Ten days—just a little short, just a little short of a 50/50 situation. However, there was nothing else left to use for negotiation. As everyone racked their brains—Ren made up his mind and spoke:

"We are willing to extend the game's timeline."

"What did you say?"

"The game will resume after one week, and the end time... will be 24 hours after the start time. Furthermore, the organizers will be considered the winners when the game time ends."

The sound of Black Rabbit, Sandra, and the others swallowing their saliva echoed in the VIP room.

"...Are you serious? You mean you're mentally prepared to accept a complete victory for the organizers?"

"Yes. To avoid any deaths, a week is the absolute limit. Considering the symptoms and panic that will likely appear in the future, this is the critical point where our mental and physical strength can barely withstand it. We cannot continue to endure any longer. Therefore, all communities will accept unconditional surrender."

"..."

Pest put her hand to her mouth in thought. This was a proposal that would benefit both parties.

The participants who want time to prepare and solve the puzzle.

The organizers want to acquire outstanding talent without causing harm.

A time limit of one week plus one day could be considered an ideal timeframe—though that's true.

(...I'm so unwilling to accept this.)

Pest was quite unhappy. At first glance, the negotiations seemed to be proceeding reasonably, but in the end, everything went according to the participants' plan. This made her extremely dissatisfied.

Indeed, she was still a newbie. Although she called herself the Demon King, she was also a complete novice. Not being able to control the game's current state at will might, in a way, be an unavoidable outcome. However, what dissatisfied Pest the most was—

"I say, Ren. If you can survive this week... do you think you can defeat the Demon King?"

"can."

He answered as if by reflex. Because Ren had answered without thinking, he broke out in a cold sweat.

Even so, Ren remained convinced that his comrades would achieve final victory.

"Really? I understand."

Pest's previously displeased expression vanished, replaced by a radiant smile. With a beautiful, blossoming smile, she began to speak:

"I declare that I will absolutely make you my toy."

Intense rage flashed in her eyes. A strong black wind swept by, causing the participants to cover their faces. The organizer—"Black Death Spotted Demon King"—vanished without a trace, leaving behind only a black "contract document."

Gift Game Name: The Pied Piper of Hameln

List of participants:

Currently, all participants and organizers (including the Box Garden Nobles) in the outer gate, fourth outer gate, and boundary wall stage areas of the 3999999 outer gate, the fourth outer gate, and the boundary wall stage area are part of this community.

The participants and the organizers designate a game leader:

The Sun's Operator, the Celestial White Yaksha (Contact is prohibited during the hiatus as he is currently unable to participate in the battle).

Prohibited activities for participants:

Deaths resulting from suicide and homosexual violence.

Leaving the game area (stage area) during an interruption is prohibited.

During the suspension period, the area of ​​free movement is limited to a 500-square-meter area around the Grand Festival headquarters.

Victory conditions for the organizer:

Subdue and kill all the contestants.

Once the eight-day time limit expires, victory will be achieved immediately and unconditionally.

Victory conditions for the contestant:

Break away from false traditions and establish genuine ones.

During the interruption:

A week is set as a period of non-aggression between the two parties.

Oath: We respect the above and host the Gift Game based on honor, the banner, and the authority of the organizer.

Fantasy Magic Book Group: Hamel's Seal

"Just leave like this?"

Looking at the now empty and deserted opposite side, Abigail said casually.

"So this is the final result of your negotiations? It's really a mess, no matter how you look at it. You added so many conditions just to get the conditions to restart the game within a week."

Jin looked ashamed in response to Abigail's criticism:

"Miss Abigail, I'm so sorry to have troubled you this time."

"I don't really care about that. However, I could have won by force, but now they've taken this opportunity to remove the condition of defeating the game leader of the organizers. Now I'm powerless. I'm not very good at thinking, so the remaining condition will have to be left to you."

"Don't worry, I'll definitely solve this puzzle in a week!"

Ren clenched his fist and said firmly.

"Then it's up to you guys. You'd better work hard these next few days, or it won't be fun if you end up flipping the table."

............

"Bird! Bird!!"

A young voice and cold water droplets sliding down her cheeks.

A tiny force is shaking my body.

"Waaaah... Waaah...! Flying... Flying bird... Flying bird!"

Beneath my body was hard ground, and I couldn't feel the warmth of the soil emanating from it.

The damp soil mercilessly stole my body heat.

The fact that I feel I can relax and let my consciousness gradually fade away seems a bit out of character for me.

"I'm fine, so don't cry."

The pointed-hat fairy sobbed and hugged Kudo Asuka's cheek. She must have been very worried, her face was covered in tears.

"Luckily you're alright... In that moment of panic, I stuffed you into my clothes. Luckily, my ** isn't as big as Black Rabbit's."

Kudo Asuka made a self-deprecating joke, but then felt a little hurt. However, it was all her own fault.

As her consciousness began to return, Kudo Asuka sat up and looked around. Was this a hole in the Boundary Wall? Seeing the walls around her made of a material similar to an exhibition hall, Kudo Asuka recalled the situation before and after she lost consciousness, tilting her head in confusion.

"I remember I was... right, I was kicked away by that woman!"

Kudo Asuka suddenly stood up. Recalling the incident, she immediately jumped up and stood straight, driven by anger. Although that woman was unforgivable, Kudo Asuka was also furious that she had displayed such an unsightly behavior of being kicked twice.

How could I not swallow this insult?! No! Absolutely not!

"Flying...birds...so energetic...?"

The pointed-hat elf opened its tiny eyes wide, seemingly somewhat surprised.

Kuon Asuka grabbed the Pokémon, put it on her shoulder, and began to wander around looking for an exit.

This place seemed to be man-made, with torches stuck in the walls everywhere as a light source. Just in case, Kudo Asuka took a torch and began to move forward along the cave, eventually arriving in front of a huge door that was almost as high as the ceiling.

"A place like this has a door...? And this emblem... I feel like I've seen it somewhere before?"

The massive doors were carved with patterns that appeared to be flags.

The fact that there is such a huge iron gate in the underground passage where light cannot reach, coupled with the exquisite technique of carving the flag pattern, is astonishing.

If I had to say where I saw it, it would be at an exhibition.

"...birds."

The pointed-hat elf called to the ancient bird in a calm tone, pointing to the center of the gate.

A piece of parchment was pasted on it.

Gifted Game Name: Miracle Bearer

Participant List: Kuon Asuka

• Solution condition: Make the divine iron automaton Dean obey your commands.

Defeat condition: When the participant fails to meet the above-mentioned conditions for breaking the game.

Oath: I respect the above and, based on honor and the banner, will participate in the Gift Game.

Ratcatcher's Mark

"This is... a contract document? Could it be...?"

"Birds".

After Kuon Asuka finished reading the contents of the parchment, the pointed-hat elf jumped off her shoulder, chose a suitable rock face, and stood on the protrusion.

The eyes on the elf's childlike face revealed a look that seemed to hold a mixture of loneliness, sadness, and joy. Then—

"This is a gift I want to give you, and I hope you will accept it."

Then let the false fairy tale—put an end to the story of the rat catcher.

The sound came from all directions. It didn't come from the elf in front of them, but from the empty space in the cave and from the inside of the rock walls.

Besides them, there were other people present. Kuon Asuka, recalling her origins as a pointed-hat elf, intuitively understood...

Her companions are here.

Chapter 291 Halftime

"Group of spirits, are you earth spirits or something like that?"

"Yes, we are the souls of 130 people who perished in Hameln, people who lost their lives due to natural disasters."

Souls like Aisha, who perished in natural disasters such as the will-o'-the-wisp, sometimes use the remains of their souls as nourishment to sublimate into new extraordinary individuals.

From humans to elves. After undergoing a form of "rebirth," elves acquire spiritual status and merit.