Ch.223223. Pandemonium (3)

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I open the board game’s cover with a feeling like I’m opening Pandora’s box.

Anyway, it was clear that I didn’t have many options in this situation.

If our gathering falls apart because this board game feels awkward, the atmosphere that follows will undoubtedly be something I don’t even want to imagine.

“…Shall we play?”

“…Well, um. I suppose.”

“…Wow, this should be fun.”

Hearing these consecutive responses that sound like their souls have left their bodies, I open the cover with a feeling of reluctance.

Soon, two simple cubic dice, character cards, and the main board are neatly set up.

The victory objective is a simple structure where you win if you accumulate a certain amount of money or romance points. Nothing difficult to understand.

And as I somehow ended up taking the role of game master, everyone drew one character card each.

The cards made of magic stone are distributed to each person. As soon as each person picks one up, a string of text describing their character information appears above it.

Simultaneously, several virtual pieces resembling each person’s appearance pop up on the game board.

‘…Oh.’

Even this gets recreated.

It’s really amazing how the technology in this world works.

High technology unexpectedly pops up in the most unlikely places.

“Well, I think we should introduce the character cards first. Let’s start with Elnore.”

“…I suppose. My character is—”

Elnore’s expression instantly crumpled.

“…A first-time bride with a philandering husband, it seems.”

“…”

A moment of silence fell among the group, but I once again summoned my indomitable will and opened my mouth with all my might.

“…Oh, is that so. Well, first you need to roll the dice to determine your current status.”

“…Understood.”

As Elnore rolled the dice with somewhat more hostile movements than before, two cubic dice tumbled across the table.

I check the numbers displayed and then shift my gaze back to the rulebook.

“So, with those numbers…”

I feel my diaphragm contracting.

But showing any sign of being conscious about the content at this point would make things even worse. I close my eyes tightly and speak the content.

“…Recently, your relationship has become somewhat neglected. You’re in a crisis situation where your husband could be stolen by someone else at any time.”

“…”

“…”

“…So, about my character card.”

With a sense of crisis that the situation might explode if things continue like this, I somehow continue speaking in a cheerful voice.

“It seems I can raise romance points more easily compared to other characters. The setting is that I’m a philanderer who attracts women without even trying… which doesn’t really suit me…”

“…”

“…”

Although there was no actual physical force exerted, I felt a crushing pressure as if my entire body was about to explode.

“…I’ll roll the dice.”

So I quietly shut my mouth and roll the dice. I feel like I might die the moment I open my mouth.

“Let’s see, my status is… simply single. No special characteristics, always open to new encounters—”

(“Perfect for a philanderer.”)

I ignore Beatrix’s snide remark that flies to my ears with a snort.

Why does this person have such a high level of hatred toward me?

[What did you expect?]

“…”

[Try to refute it if you can. A guy who seduced his best friend and goes around playing with countless women—]

Shut up.

While Calivan is rambling, Elia, who had looked at her character card and rolled the dice, tilted her head and asked me a question.

“Teacher, is there a marriage system in this game?”

“Ah, it says here. Players can get married to each other on specific squares, and married players gain double romance points?”

Upon hearing those words, Elia smiled mischievously. It was the kind of smile that made everyone present feel ominous.

“My character can make the male half of a married couple my minion. I’m a seductress.”

“…”

“My current status is that I enjoy breaking up established couples. Any handsome man nearby is welcome-♥”

Saying that, Elia winks at me.

“—That’s what it says.”

“…”

Immediately after, she changes her expression completely as she says this, showing truly snake-like slickness.

She’s shown hints of this before, but now I strongly feel she’s deliberately doing this to tease Elnore.

Indeed, seeing this, Elnore glared and opened her mouth.

“Why are you reading it with such affectation?”

“I’m just reading exactly what’s written?”

“…I’m not in the mood for jokes. Do you really want to settle this here—”

“Beatrix, please introduce yourself…!”

I desperately try to divert attention before the suffocating situation continues.

Seeing my desperate attempt, Beatrix smirks and rolls the dice.

You’re trying hard, trying hard. That’s what her expression seems to say.

She scans her character card while rolling the dice.

“Let’s see, my status is…”

But.

As soon as she sees what’s written on her character card, that smile completely disappears.

“Beatrix?”

“…”

“What is it?”

“…Um, well, that’s…”

Seeing Beatrix stammering in confusion, Elnore’s eyes immediately narrowed.

Before Beatrix could react, Elnore snatched the character card.

“Elnore, w-wait a moment!”

Following that panicked voice, Elnore’s cold statement dropped.

“The subject is a single woman hungry for marriage. If there is a single man nearby, she will definitely pair up with him.”

“…”

Everyone’s gaze flew to the game board, to check which single male piece was near Beatrix’s piece.

Then, as soon as they saw it.

“…It’s Teacher?”

Elia opened her mouth with an expression as cold as Elnore’s.

“So, Teacher and Beatrix are married?”

“…”

“Abandoning both me and the Student Council President?”

“…”

“…”

A much more devastating silence fell around us than before.

In contrast, inside the Soul Linker, I can hear the annoying sound of Calivan laughing his lungs out.

[How do you manage to do this with everything you do?]

“…”

I agree.

With all sincerity.

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Beatrix rolled the dice with a tense expression.

This isn’t just an ordinary stern face. It’s comparable to the level of life-and-death struggle I’ve been experiencing the entire time I’ve been here.

“Please low numbers, please low numbers, please low numbers…”

Muttering like that, Beatrix throws the two dice.

Then, she anxiously scans the numbers on the dice as they clatter to a stop.

Two sixes.

The maximum possible result.

“…”

“…”

While both Beatrix and I grimace simultaneously, our pieces on the game board embrace each other and rub cheeks.

Happy expressions are plastered across both faces. Unlike us in reality.

Immediately, it progresses to a scene where I princess-carry Beatrix and throw her onto a bed.

Then, as if the game board is censoring itself, a curtain unfolds in a cartoonish manner, and dozens of hearts pour down over it.

Next, the voice of the narrator embedded in the game board cheerfully rings out.

[The couple’s relationship is too good! They’ve had three children in a row!]

“…”

“…”

“…”

“…”

[Everyone gives congratulatory money! The love between ‘Darwood’ and ‘Beatrix’ is shining throughout the world! They’re currently in first place!]

I want to destroy the game board.

No joke, I want to flip everything over and pretend none of this ever happened.

My already sweaty palms are now as wet as if there’s been a flood.

The life has been gradually draining from the faces of Elnore and Elia as they stare at the game board. The sight of their eyes losing their light gives me chills.

While I’m desperately trying to read the room, Elia extends a few tokens used as game currency to me with lifeless eyes.

“…Congratulations.”

“…”

“…”

Beatrix and I swallow dryly as we accept them. Then, Elia’s head turns slightly.

“…Student Council President, you should give some too.”

“…”

At those words, Elnore also extended congratulatory money with trembling hands. The tokens sliding across the table clearly contained a mix of complicated emotions.

And for good reason.

Her fiancé married her best friend, and they’re having children left and right because their relationship is so good, and she has to congratulate them on it. Even if it’s a game, what woman would accept this with a smile?

‘…How did it come to this…!’

Actually, the atmosphere wasn’t this terrifying at the beginning of the game.

Even when the setup turned out like this, although Beatrix and I were extremely tense, Elnore and Elia didn’t show much reaction compared to their initial displeasure.

Especially Elnore, whom I was worried about, even tried to lighten the mood by making uncharacteristic jokes.

Thinking about it, it seems like she was deliberately trying to improve her own mood by making those jokes.

Given what followed, that’s probably a good thing.

“My turn.”

Elnore picked up the dice, speaking in a voice that could bring frost even in midsummer.

Then the dice roll across the board, and Elnore’s piece bounces along the game board, reaching the square where Beatrix and I are tied together.

[Contact with other pieces. Courtship request!]

On the game board, my piece is shown vigorously shaking its head at Elnore’s piece, which is waiting outside the door with a bouquet.

[You tried to court the man, but were thoroughly rejected! Instead, the couple’s relationship grows even stronger!]

“…”

Along with those words, Beatrix’s piece appears on the game board, laughing and mocking Elnore’s piece, which is crying with whimpers.

As soon as she saw that, a thick vein popped out on Elnore’s forehead. Her eyes are almost bloodshot.

Seeing that, Beatrix and I turn ashen.

“…Um, Elnore?”

I address her with a trembling voice.

“…Hmm.”

“I-it’s just a game.”

“…I’m not bothered.”

That’s a lie. She’s bothered to death.

While Beatrix and I are trembling, Elia picks up the dice with still-lifeless eyes.

“…Haaah…”

She lets out a deep sigh. It’s called a sigh, but it looks more like she’s releasing steam to calm the heat rising throughout her body.

“Here I go.”

With those words, the dice roll across the game board again. Elia’s piece walks across the game board and reaches the square where everyone is gathered.

[Contact with other pieces. Courtship request!]

This time, the same event as with Elnore occurs.

Elia’s piece walks seductively toward my piece. She appears gorgeously adorned from head to toe, reflecting her character trait as a seductress.

My piece momentarily blushes as she blows a hand kiss and winks at me. But upon seeing the ring on his finger, he closes his eyes and shakes his head.

[‘Seductress’ trait gives additional benefits to courtship!]

[But the couple’s relationship is too good! Target ‘Darwood’ resists the courtship!]

[Roll the dice to determine if the resistance is successful!]

With those words, the dice pop out toward me.

“…”

I roll them with trembling hands.

Two ones appear.

[Resistance failed!]

“…”

[Target enters ‘Cheating’ status. His wife hasn’t found out yet, but if discovered, romance points will be drastically reduced!]

As soon as those words appear, my piece on the game board puts on a dazed expression, removes the ring from his finger, and puts it in his pocket.

Then, with a “hoo-hoo-hoo” laugh, he snuggles into Elia’s arms. And as if they’ve found their soulmates, they kiss each other lovingly—

“…My goodness.”

While Elia blushes and light returns to her eyes.

“…”

“…”

Beatrix’s gaze, like she’s looking at garbage, is fixed on me. Her face is as if she’s seeing something disgusting.

But that’s not all.

The edge of the table that Elnore is holding is cracking with a creaking sound. Now her entire body is trembling uncontrollably.

It’s the game Beatrix who’s been betrayed, but it’s definitely the real one who’s more upset.

She probably got triggered by me ‘removing the ring’ and ‘cheating’ with ‘Elia’.

“…”

No.

No, it wasn’t me.

It’s just a game scenario.

It wasn’t me…!

[…No one’s going to listen in this atmosphere?]

“…”

[Hey, this game is fun. How long are we playing?]

With Calivan’s cheerful voice, and the sound of something grinding between Elnore’s teeth beside me.

With a feeling like I’m about to faint, I pray.

Please.

Let me survive this…!

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