"What...?"
Staring at Leon as he pulled his head back, the frown on my face deepened.
"What are you talking about?"
But even as I asked again, he wouldn’t answer.
Instead, he kept his hand extended.
"Are you not going to give it?"
"Explain yourself first. Are you threatening me?"
Initially, I had some expectations. I expected him to have some sort of dignity and, to some extent, be reliable. However, it was clear that I had been mistaken.
’No, I’m not. I knew from the start he was going to be like this.’
I suddenly recalled the words the man who had greeted us at the start had said about him.
’Some of you, on the other hand, do it because you’re good at it. You don’t really find much pleasure in your line of work, but you do enjoy being the center of attention. You like showing your abilities and receiving all the praise from the media and your fans.’
I didn’t know why I was suddenly reminded of such words.
In fact, I was even more confused about how they flew over my head, and only now I recalled them.
’No, now that I think about it... the man seemed to know quite a lot about us.’
Why?
Why did I never notice?
"Am I threatening you?"
Suddenly, Leon burst out laughing.
His laugh echoed throughout as he looked at me as though I were an idiot.
"Did you hear what I said to you? Why would I be threatening you?"
"What?"
I became even more confused.
No...
More than confusion, I was just trying to deny any sort of other thought.
I clenched and released my fists.
’Yeah, it’s not possible.’
"So it seems like you’re still unaware."
Leon stopped smiling, his eye flickering for a brief moment as he looked at me.
"Take a look around you. In particular, look over there."
He pointed towards where Drake, Esteban, and the others were. Including the members of his own group. They were all laughing and chatting together, seemingly talking about something extremely funny.
"...They don’t realize it, but they’ve already been affected. Their minds are weak, and they’ve succumbed to the comfort that is presented around them."
Leon’s voice echoed quietly next to me.
"It’s pitiful, really. A lot of them are Paragons carrying the dreams of many Guilds and people. They are some of the best of the best within our world. And yet... they’ve succumbed to the temptation of this place."
"But what does that—"
"You’re not that much different yourself."
Leon continued, his voice growing softer. Almost amused in some regards.
"You’ve fallen for the temptation."
"No, I haven’t. I—"
"But you have. I’ve seen you fall for the temptation. I saw everything, and I didn’t stop it when I could’ve."
"....!"
My heart suddenly squeezed, my expression changing as I turned my head slowly, meeting Leon’s line of sight as his smile widened. Almost twisted.
"From the start, I never trusted you. I didn’t let you go up there because I wanted you to find the information. I let you go up there because I knew something was going to happen. From the moment you were in the forest, I could see it."
He pressed his finger onto my forehead.
"...The gap in your mind."
"That’s... not. That’s..."
"I was shocked when you managed to rank ahead of me during the First Trial. Honestly, I was really having a hard time keeping it together. If not for the fact that I knew that we were being watched, I wouldn’t have been trying so hard to look friendly."
Scratching the side of his face, Leon’s face turned disgusted for a brief moment.
"Still feel sick about that. But..."
He turned his attention back to me, his smile widening.
"Seeing the current state that you’re in, all is good. My competition is now gone, and I can just claim credit for everything. There’s no doubt about it that I’ll now rank first."
He reached his hand towards me once more.
But this time, he didn’t ask.
Instead, he pressed his hand over my shoulder. I wanted to struggle or do something, but I felt powerless.
’Realmwalker!"
’Conductor!’
’Mirelle!’
’Mr. Jingles!’
My nodes weren’t working.
My connection with the anomalies was similarly gone.
’No, no...’
"So this is the data transmitter?"
Before I knew it, Leon held onto the data transmitter. He had taken it from me without me even realizing.
No, but it didn’t matter.
None of it mattered as I pushed past Leon, heading back into the castle.
’No, it’s not possible. It makes no sense at all. I’m sure he’s just messing with me. I feel alive. There’s no way that I’m dead. It can’t be...’
Walking up the stairs, my steps no longer felt as loud.
If anything, I couldn’t even hear them.
"Haa... Haaa..."
That didn’t matter to me. It was irrelevant.
Walking all the way to the same floor as before, I retraced my steps, going back to the rooms that I had visited.
"....."
Soon, I came to a stop.
I stared at the room, the door still open as if inviting me in. Before I realized it, my feet began to move on their own, carrying me toward the doorway ahead.
Ba... Thump! Ba... Thump! Ba... Thump!
It almost felt as though I could hear the sound of my own heartbeat.
No, it was clear to me.
It was loud. So loud.
But—
"....."
As if it had been an illusion from the start, it stopped at once.
Creaaaaak—
Along with the creaking, I stared at the body hanging from the ceiling.
My lips trembled.
"Ah..."
I stumbled back.
Thump!
***
"Hahaha. Let’s drink more!"
"...This wine is so good! I’ve never had such good wine!"
"Right? I wish I could stay longer."
"Ah, Leon! You’re here."
"Mhm."
Smiling, Leon looked at the group in front of him. In particular, he paid attention to the remaining members of his team as he placed his hand over their shoulders.
"May I have a word with my team for a moment? It won’t take long."
"Haha, of course!"
Drake shouted, downing the wine in his cup.
"Take as much time as you want while I enjoy this! It’s so good!"
"Hahaha."
Laughter erupted, and Leon joined in too as he pulled his team members aside, despite their protests.
"What is it, Squad Leader? I wanted to enjoy the wine a bit more."
"Yeah, the good is so good. Why don’t you try it?"
"If—"
"We’ll be leaving now."
"——!"
"....!!"
The faces of his members changed immediately. However, before any of them could say a word, Leon held onto the data transmitter.
"I’ve got what we came for. Let’s go."
"But—"
"Follow."
His words poured cold water on their minds.
In that instant, it was as if whatever had been affecting their minds had stopped. They quickly snapped out of whatever state they were in and started following him from behind as Leon tossed the data transmitter in his grasp.
He wasn’t lying...
He really could’ve saved Seth if he wanted to.
He had followed him from behind and watched as everything unfolded. It wouldn’t have cost him anything to stop him.
But...
Why?
Why would he save him?
’It’s a competition after all.’
"Really, what a pity."