"…what about your first lead image then? Keeping a maiden captive and staging a revolt?"
.....
"Hey, you. Akansha, come with me. We need to talk."
He led her out of the palace courtyard, through narrow hallways lit by flickering torchlight, until they were far from the others—alone.
Akansha crossed her arms. "What's this about?"
"I want to be king."
She raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you already one?"
"I'm the princess's knight. Not king."
"So? Marry her. Problem solved."
"I don't want to marry someone so... dead in the brain."
She snorted. "Fair."
"But I'm serious. If you won't join me... then die."
He drew his sword in one clean motion, pressing it to her throat.
Akansha didn't flinch. "Wow. Really committing to the act, huh?"
"I'm not acting."
"Yes, you are."
Anik said nothing.
She stared him down, unwavering. "If you were really betraying her, you'd have tried this before. You wouldn't bring me here for a dramatic speech. And you wouldn't hesitate like you are now."
"I'm not hesitating."
"Then do it. Go ahead."
He raised the sword.
Akansha closed her eyes. "I can't fight you. I'll die. But I won't betray her."
The blade hovered, trembling slightly. Then—
He lowered it.
"You passed."
Her eyes opened slowly. "Took you long enough."
"You figured it out early?"
"Of course. You're good with blades, not drama."
"There won't be a next time."
"There's always a next time."
"…Come on. She's waiting. We need to go over the plan."
A few minutes earlier
"…what about your first lead image then? Keeping a maiden captive and staging a revolt?"
"You're such an idiot," Anik muttered. "No wonder your sister couldn't keep a straight face."
"Huh?"
"Nothing. What's your plan then, strategist?"
"I haven't come up with one yet."
"I figured. Good thing I did."
"Oh? Do share"
.....
Back in the quiet room, Ashleen was curled up with the kid beside her, half-asleep.
"Are you sure she wants to explain the plan?" Akansha asked as she stepped in.
"Oh, you're back…" Ashleen yawned, rubbing her eyes. "At first I was worried. Then I figured—no way you'd play villain's obedient sidekick."
"Villain's sidekick, huh?" Anik raised a brow.
"Anik, go explain the plan."
"You do it."
"You're the mastermind."
"You're executing it."
"It's dumb."
"Ironic coming from you and also, you agreed."
"Just do it."
He sighed and turned to Akansha, who looked vaguely entertained by the bickering.
"We need to manage the sleeping arrangements," he said. "Split everyone into two groups—one sleeps, one stays on watch. Rotate them. Trustworthy people in both groups, just in case something happens."
Akansha nodded slowly. "Not bad. What's the real reason?"
"We need eyes on people who might turn."
Her tone shifted. "Who do you suspect?"
"Healer aunt. And your partner."
She stiffened. "You think they're enemies?"
"They're strong, respected, and unbound. That makes them perfect agents if there's another system twist. Your partner's isolated now—easy to flip. The healer's always been a little too careful."
"She's had multiple chances to kill Ashleen and didn't."
"Exactly. That's why she's dangerous. She has the power to."
Akansha frowned. "You think she's an NPC?"
"She doesn't have a partner."
She pointed at the kid. "He doesn't either."
Anik hesitated. Of course, he knew more than he let on. The truth was, this world wasn't built for logic—it followed the logic of the webcomic it was based on. Every ten years, new players were summoned. Some survived long enough to become godlike observers—'higher beings' pulling strings. Anik had read the whole story. But he couldn't say any of that. Not yet.
"Guys, why do you think so much??" Ashleen mumbled from her corner. "Just rest."
"That's because our great leader isn't using her brain," Akansha smirked.
"I should thank my savior, then. Oh my god!"
"What now?" Akansha said.
"I forgot to thank you for saving me back there!"
"You mean in that mini battle?"
"Yeah!"
"You scared the crap out of me!"
"…Huh?" Anik blinked.
"Oh my god," Akansha echoed.
Anik stiffened, Ashleen giggled..
"Nothing. Just messing with you." added Akansha.
Anik stared at both of them. Maybe he was the only sane one after all.
"Can we focus?" he sighed.
The two girls exchanged glances like schoolgirls sharing a joke in class.
"Fine," Ashleen said, sitting up cross-legged. "Let's get serious."
SYSTEM ANNOUNCEMENT:
Your arrangements are futile.
You performed well in your first scenario, but survival once does not grant freedom. Trust yourselves—your lives depend on it.
Your next scenario is about to begin.
The voice echoed as if meant for everyone—not just them.
"You sound more humane this time," Ashleen murmured. Suddenly, the creature appeared, smiling slyly in front of her.
"So you can respond to us? Why ignore us last time?"
"Haha. You should pay more attention. Higher beings—both benevolent and cruel—are watching you. I've investigated you thoroughly." It clicked its tongue and vanished before finishing.
"…What did that even mean?" Akansha asked, visibly shaken.
"I feel like the protagonist now," Ashleen muttered. "Higher beings watching us? Maybe this is how I whould've reacted back in… my previous world."
"That wasn't a previous life," Akansha said gently. Her skill—empathic or intuitive—told her Ashleen was deeply sad, though she couldn't fully read her. Maybe that's why she wasn't afraid when Anik pulled a sword on her earlier. She didn't feel anything from him.
Anik noticed too. He didn't have a skill like hers, but he could feel Ashleen's quiet sorrow. Still, after a life of isolation, he had no idea how to respond.
Suddenly, everything went black.
So black, it felt like a wall of void. A very suffocating one.
Anik flinched. "Am I… blind?"
"Wtf! Am I blind now?" Akansha panicked, touching her face.
"No," Anik replied, scanning the darkness. Now that the initial panic of being blind had left, he noticed the ringing in his ears and dryness in his throat.
"Brother." A tug on his shirt. It was the kid.
"Stay close. I'll figure it out." Anik said reasuuring him.
"Wait—how did you find him so fast? And grab his shirt? I can swear you three were right in front of me before but now I've been stumbling around but didn't find a single one. Is that your power?"
The kid ignored her.
"Brother should find the bad sister," the kid whispered.
A system warning flashed:
Your partner's mentality is breaking down. Power fluctuation detected.
His chest tightened. Under the light of the message, he found her—Ashleen, unmoving.
"Ashleen!"
No reply.
He stepped forward. Then another. But… was he getting closer?
"Bro, this way." The kid pulled him in a different direction. Anik felt skeptical but followed nonetheless, After a few steps, he guided Anik's hand to Ashleen's body.
"She's here," the boy said, then left to find Akansha.
Akansha was stumbling blindly, frustrated. The kid whispered, "Stay away from them. You can't help."
The words stung, but she knew they were true.
Back by Ashleen's side, Anik whispered, "Ashleen…"
He reached out, knowing she might not be herself and attack again—those claws were sharper than any blade.
But that wasn't enough to stop him. He had to act.