Ch.4140. Party Members (4)

# 40. Party Members (4)

“Do you know about the ‘Desperate Person’ trait?”

“What’s that?”

“My trait.”

It’s a valuable trait that helped me tremendously in yesterday’s bet with her.

But it seemed Elin didn’t know about this trait either.

“You don’t know?”

“No, what does it do?”

“It helps me achieve something I desperately want.”

Elin’s expression turned to surprise as she spoke.

“Then isn’t that why?”

“What do you mean?”

“Didn’t you get that skill because you desperately wanted to change the future?”

“That’s the only possibility.”

“It’s a trait unique to you, not in any books, right?”

“Yeah.”

Unlike skills, traits could be acquired based on each person’s “story,” so having a unique trait was quite common.

Of course, there were also popular traits like “Loser.”

“When did you get it? That trait?”

I looked at her working at the counter and said:

“When she passed away, and the same goes for that skill.”

“Then it’s definitely because of that.”

“But I already knew that?”

“Shut up.”

Elin seemed a bit embarrassed and changed the subject.

“So who are you going to use that skill-stealing on?”

“I’m still thinking about it.”

Elin looked like she was secretly hoping for something.

I found her expression a bit annoying, so I spoke honestly.

“It’s definitely not going to be you, okay? What are you expecting?”

“I knew that. So who are you thinking of using it on?”

“The Knight Commanders, the Heroes, and perhaps His Imperial Majesty?”

When Elin heard the word “Hero,” her eyes widened as she spoke.

“Heroes? You don’t mean…?”

Heroes possess a skill called [Hero’s Mark] thanks to the “Hero” trait they’re born with.

That skill allows them to summon spirit weapons, which are the trademark of heroes.

Spirit weapons, also called divine items, boast performance on a completely different level compared to other items.

Of course, the “Hero” trait itself is incredibly rare.

Even in the Kainis Empire with its population of 200 million, there are only 3 people with this trait.

However, the problem is…

“It’s random, isn’t it? Will it work?”

“I believe in my luck.”

“As if.”

As Elin said, the probability is too low.

But I think it’s a worthwhile gamble since heroes likely have many other excellent skills.

“It’s a lottery with no blanks.”

“Do whatever you want, and prepare well for next week.”

With those final words, Elin left the library.

As soon as she left, I immediately went to the counter where she had been.

I sat down in the seat next to hers, and she, who had been watching me, asked:

“What were you doing up there?”

“It’s a secret.”

“Will you tell me someday?”

I replied in a rather serious tone:

“Yes, I’ll tell you someday.”

Someday I’ll have to tell her the truth.

Why I made that expression when we first met, why I came to like her, and what she meant to me.

She seemed surprised by my sudden seriousness.

“I’ll be waiting. Seems like there’s quite a profound reason.”

“You always trust me like this. Thank you.”

“A ruler shouldn’t doubt their subordinates. And from the start, it’s better not to use someone you have doubts about.”

“‘Don’t use those you doubt, and don’t doubt those you use’?”

I thought about the meaning of that phrase in my mind.

‘Don’t employ someone you doubt, and once you decide to employ someone, don’t doubt them.’

It was a statement that clearly showed she had the makings of an emperor.

“Yes, something like that.”

“What if I betray you?”

“Could you?”

I burst into laughter at her words.

“No, that would be impossible.”

Betraying her… it was certainly something I couldn’t even imagine.

She silently smiled without saying anything.

Meanwhile, Rachel, who had appeared beside us at some point, asked:

“Excuse me? Aren’t you working?”

“There’s no one here.”

“Even so, you shouldn’t be flirting at the counter.”

When she heard the word “flirting,” she blushed and denied it.

“N-no, this isn’t flirting, it’s more like… checking a subject’s loyalty?”

“Sure, if you say so. So when are you two going to start dating?”

I quietly laughed as I watched her face grow increasingly red.

She urgently called out to me.

“Don’t just sit there laughing, say something!”

“Maybe within a year? That’s what I think, at least.”

“No!”

“Please keep it down, this is a library.”

***

The remaining week passed faster than expected, and finally, the time came.

“Are you sure about this?”

“About what?”

“We’re 300 against 3, can we even win?”

Contrary to Elin’s concerns, we would overwhelmingly win.

“With Elizabeth Michaela here, how could we lose?”

“Don’t use my full name.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

This time, some skilled friends wouldn’t be participating, and some less skilled ones would be joining.

Of course, that doesn’t mean they should be underestimated.

“We’ll win, just fight without worrying. Our party leader will take care of everything.”

That reliable party leader said:

“Albert, you know the elimination conditions for the survival set, right?”

“Of course I do. Elimination occurs when life force drops below 10%, when someone surrenders, and eliminated participants are immediately teleported outside the set.”

Hearing my words, Elin said:

“And inside the set, life force won’t drop below 10% no matter what, so don’t hold back—cut them all down.”

“That’s pretty brutal.”

“That’s how it has to be.”

“I know.”

Though I’d never done it before, I understood these things.

Confirming kills is basic on the battlefield.

Meanwhile, she, who had been constantly checking her phone, spoke to the first participants waiting at the entrance:

“Please enter now. You have 30 minutes.”

Hearing this, people rushed into the set.

Elin asked her:

“Do we just wait for 30 minutes?”

“Yes.”

Upon hearing this, Elin immediately took out her phone.

She seemed to dislike just waiting and wanted to do something on her phone.

I also took out my phone like Elin.

Reading recent articles, the 30 minutes passed very quickly, and finally it was our turn.

She announced the news to the people inside the set through speakers placed throughout.

“Let’s go.”

We finally entered the set.

The set resembled a jungle, and entering it felt like stepping into another world.

“The time limit is 1 hour and 30 minutes, so we have plenty of time. I’ll go alone, and you two stay together to eliminate as many people as possible.”

Though we both showed clear signs of dislike, we had no choice but to follow her instructions.

After parting with her, Elin said to me:

“Do well.”

“Over there.”

When I pointed to a small thicket with my finger, Elin immediately raised her staff.

-Zzzap!-

Those hit by Elin’s magic tried to flee in a hurry, but their speed was far too slow.

-Slash!-

Using [Swift], I caught up to them and swung my sword, resulting in their elimination and teleportation outside the set.

I spoke to Elin, who was walking slowly toward me:

“Try to do that from now on. Unique skills drain too much mana.”

“Got it. Let’s hurry.”

Elin and I hurried to eliminate the remaining participants.

***

At the same time.

In another area, something quite brutal was happening.

Even those who thought they were well-hidden couldn’t escape her notice.

She found hidden participants with uncanny precision and eliminated them.

Someone about to be eliminated asked her as she approached slowly:

“How did you know I was here?!”

She pointed to the frozen ground and said:

“This is my home ground. It’s going to hurt quite a bit. Be careful.”

With those words, ice spears hovering in the air pierced through his body.

He screamed and was teleported outside the set.

His friends trembled as they witnessed this.

“What is that…”

“Why did she have to come this way…”

Some despaired like this.

“I surrender! I surrender!”

“I surrender too…”

While others gave up.

She spoke to them:

“How about trying to fight?”

But her words didn’t reach them, and they either surrendered or tried to flee.

She sighed at the current situation.

“Do you think you can escape?”

She used [Ice Magic] toward those who were fleeing.

Watching the scene of numerous people being eliminated, she felt a bitter emotion.

‘Everyone’s giving up even on a fight like this.’

The condition she values most in party members isn’t current skill.

It’s “courage.”

The courage to charge at an opponent even knowing you’ll lose.

The courage to stand proudly before the enemy for your country.

But they lacked that.

Far from fighting, they were busy running away or quick to surrender.

She asked herself about her party members, who must be working hard right now:

‘Was I expecting too much?’

And she recalled her memories with those party members.