Episode 285: Four Little Pigs

"You're being bullied by the other three."

Upon reading those words, I freeze for a moment.

"Wha—?"

"What's wrong?"

"——Ninune's. It's nothing, really?"

"Hmm. You're nervous?"

"No."

"Since so many people are watching, try to tone down the eccentric behavior."

"I know that. Anyway, how exactly do you plan to decide the outcome of this match?"

"The thing is... it seems like this game might assign individual rankings to each player upon completion. Let's say the one with the higher rank between me and you wins."

"What about the other two?"

"They'll mainly be handled through follow-up. I'll give instructions to each individually via private chat."

Looking over, it seems a score is displayed in the upper right corner of the screen.

"Hmm... I've got something I'd like to try. Is that okay?"

"What is it?"

Without a word, I swung the rubber cup I was equipped with down onto the yellow pig being manipulated by the "Gambler" guy.

With a soft *pokori!* sound effect, my points increased.

"Yow! What the hell are you doing?"

"I see. Then, Tora-chan, please hit me this time."

"...Are you sure?"

"Yes. I want to start every game by fully understanding the rules."

Just as instructed, the yellow pig swung its sword down onto my character.

A sickening *thud* echoed as my red pig's body was drenched in blood.

At the same time, the HP gauge displayed on my monitor dropped sharply.

"Wha— it actually hurts quite a bit."

"Is that so? Guess the damage really is completely different."

"...Any other changes?"

"No, not really?"

"For example, any altered parameters?"

"Hmm... it seems my 'happiness level' has dropped a bit....What's this? 'Because the leader injured their companions,' apparently."

"I see."

It seems this game—though it appears to have the same goal for everyone—actually assigns different criteria for scoring based on each player.

My goal, it seems, is to end up being the one who holds my companions back.

What kind of twisted game is this...?

White Pig: "Seriously, don't just start fighting out of nowhere!"

Red Pig: "Huh, hehehe. Sorry 'bout that. Just wanted to test something."

Yellow Pig: "I couldn't help but jump in too, but that won't happen again."

Blue Pig: "……………………"

The four little pigs, pretending to be close friends on the surface, set off on their journey from our home.

"For now, I've got no idea where we're headed..."

"When in situations like this, it's standard procedure to gather information in town, isn't it?"

"Yeah."

The four of them trudged along the road one after another.

Midway, they spotted a character clearly collapsed and unconscious.

"Pl-please help... I was attacked by a wolf tribe..."

He was covered in scratches and cuts, on the verge of death.

Myself and the "Gambler" rushed over immediately and began questioning him.

"I am a servant of Princess Byakko, the princess taken captive at the Western Keep... She is currently imprisoned by the Wolf Tribe. Someone! Brave soul! Take me to the town's healer... Please, help save Princess Byakko..."

A thought bubble reading "Yes" and another reading "No" appeared above each of our characters' heads.

Of course, we unhesitatingly chose "Yes"... but.

There was one player who answered, "No."

藍月美言ちゃんです。

彼女の操作する青色の豚さんは、とことこと倒れた従者さんの元へ駆け寄り、その喉元を、ざっくりと掻き斬りました。

「な、ナニいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいいい！？」

「なにやってんの美言ちゃあああああああああああああああん！？」

美言ちゃんの頭に、ぺっぺらっぽっぽっぽーと、金色の星が輝きます。

It seems she leveled up from the murder just now.

Yellow Pig: 'W-What kind of thing is this! Killing an innocent person like this!'

White Pig: 'W-What kind of thing is this! Killing an innocent person like this!' (probably joking)

Red Pig: 'Hilarious.'

Blue Pig: 'Heehee! Heeheehee... The smell of blood... it's amazing...'

Migan-chan seemed to know her place, responding not with words but through the in-game chat.

'Kill one, kill many—become stronger. Isn't this a tough game?'

Seriously?

...Well, I can't say I don't get it.

"There are times when keeping important figures alive proves more useful in the long run."

But surprisingly, the gambler who had been shocked just moments ago now counters.

"No, I don't get it. Considering the twisted mindset of the man who created this... it's actually quite likely that what we're seeing now is the optimal solution."

Hmm.

I didn't consciously argue against that, simply nodding in agreement.

"Besides, this is a competition. A strategy to gain a significant advantage early on and pull away cleanly, isn't it?"

I glance quickly, our eyes meeting through the monitor.

...Well, actually, there's no real strategy or plan behind this at all.

"Ah, well, that's not bad, is it? Let's head toward the city as originally planned, shall we?"

"………………Tch."

Thud—roughly collapsing into the gaming chair.

Huh? Something feels off all of a sudden?

"But before that! Blue! You did take something from that guy you just killed, didn't you?"

Migimi-chan doesn't respond.

"Party assets are managed by me, the leader. Put everything on the ground. Otherwise……"

Almost simultaneously, "Gambling Master" and Tamachan raised their weapons.

"We're going to kill each other."

At the same time, clack clack clack clack, the sound of Miyomi-chan swiftly typing on her keyboard echoed.

'Got it.'

Then, she placed on the ground what appeared to be an important-looking item called the "Western Pass," along with a substantial amount of gold coins. Several healing potions and a few scrolls for casting attack spells were also laid out.

"Wow! This guy really was worth killing. Heh heh heh..."

A smile returned to the "Gambler's" face as he saw it.

"Listen, Blue. If you're hiding anything else, I'll beat you senseless later. Got it?"

『Got it.』

"Alright then, let's head to town—onward to town."

We moved along the road, avoiding eye contact with the corpse that had been brutally slaughtered.

With a vague sense that what lay ahead would make me feel even worse than before.