Chapter 370: Strategy Guide

After passing through the staff area, you burst out into the space lined with buildings from the Land of Dreams, already crowded with quite a few young girls.

I suppose gathering in groups is just how human beings are wired psychologically.

"Ah! There she is!"

A girl around middle school age rudely points right at me, instantly drawing everyone's attention.

"Anonymous-san! Wait up!"

While most girls are grinning like fans chasing an idol, some take it surprisingly seriously—ones like that tend to be holding things like chili spray or a stun gun.

Honestly, getting involved with them could be dangerous.

It's not just me—more precisely, it's them.

If you're careless enough to fight back, you might end up on the wrong end of a bad reaction.

"Just a little—just a little, right!? Split the VP evenly! Even split is fine—!"

"No, I’m fine with thirty percent!"

"I’ll take twenty percent!"

"Thirty percent for blood donation services, just one percent—how about that!?"

"Fine, I’ll take just the right to revive! No more than that!"

It's turning into some kind of bargaining session, isn't it?

Maybe I should just let them catch me, earn plenty of VP, and spend my remaining days in peace.

That way, there'd be no need to fight Reika-san, and I could live a much easier life.

...I thought about it, but decided against it.

It just feels irritating, somehow.

Of course, it wasn't difficult to lose ordinary girls like them.

I quickly climbed onto nearby buildings and leapt from rooftop to rooftop, making their annoying cries disappear in no time.

Avienia Castle, located in the heart of Land Central, was just a ten-minute walk from the Cartoon Area we were in.

Just as I was about to quickly end the game before being assaulted by the "players" en masse—

"…………Hello there, 'Nameless' guy."

A glasses-wearing boy stood atop a cartoonishly warped, wobbling chimney, its shape twisted and exaggerated.

Shichireiri-kun.

Looking at me with a stern expression, his features delicately beautiful—so reminiscent of my younger sister—

"I heard the announcement."

"Oh?"

"Looks like we're allowed to join the game too. How about we play around a bit?"

...We?

A bad feeling crept over me as I glanced around. Though about ten meters apart, Tōru-san and... another one, the "Guardian" uncle, were both watching me from the rooftop.

Only Tōru is waving with his usual cheerful smile, while the other two show absolutely no sign of excitement, not at all like they're about to play tag with a high school girl.

Looking up at him, I felt quite awkward.

"...I intend to defeat Reika and seize the Soul Restoration Machine. I'd prefer you not interfere, if possible."

Hmm, is that so?

His indifferent tone was as if he were a completely different person from the one who had once treated me to delicious yakitori.

— I can feel our perceptions drifting further apart. It’s truly heartbreaking.

Her feelings a moment ago aren’t necessarily the same as his.

"If that's the case, I guess I really have to stop this 'Nameless' person. It's such a shame—just about to reach Ran's turn, and now we'll have to start over from the beginning."

"……Then, let me revive Ran-chan first."

"I'm not sure if that'll work out so smoothly. 'Nameless' treats everyone equally, so if they hear about someone else's more serious situation, they might end up prioritizing that person instead."

"But I promise you... me..."

Before he could finish, Ritomo gave a sad smile.

"Sorry. Please understand....Actually, the reason we're fighting doesn't matter at all. Here, it's already decided that we're just buying time—there's no other way it could be."

"Wait, seriously? That's real?"

I raised an eyebrow sharply.

"Does that mean it's the agreement between 'Guardian' and Reika-san?"

"No... It was an order from above. Honestly, as 'Players,' we have almost no authority to command."

That reminded me of something similar I'd heard before, when Mr. Tōru couldn't join the exploration of the "Infinite Well" door.

"However, as a matter of principle for those on the field— we'll fight one-on-one. We can't possibly resort to such pitiful tactics, like overwhelming a single girl with multiple people."

I don't mind personally.

"By the way, Reru-kun, are you someone who can die?"

"...You mean whether I'm over or under twenty, right?"

"Of course."

"I'm over twenty. By the way, Tōrō and Soga are too."

So mistakes can't happen.

"I'd like to have a fair fight, and then leave the rest to chance."

"No fixed matches. Unfortunately, there's surveillance watching."

Hmm.

None of these people, not even any of them, will join my plan to overthrow the nation.

Either way, I don't think I'll be able to stay in this country for long.

Reluctantly, I performed a Skill Assessment on Shichiretsu Ryou-kun.

His ability that I can't stop thinking about...

Job: Warrior

Level: 49

Skills: Grappling Technique (Advanced), Ultimate Techniques I–V, Natural Healing (Strong), Skin Reinforcement, Bone Reinforcement, High Hunger Resistance, Fire Magic I–V, Water Magic I–V, Lightning Magic I–IV, Healing Magic I–V, Attack Power V, Defense Power V, Magic Resistance V

This... well, how should I put it?

He's just packed with solid, dependable skills, isn't he.

It's clear he's been fighting alongside the team all along, even if he doesn't remember the Skill Assessment.

Even if you calculate from the very beginning, with his already-acquired Basic Martial Arts skill, it seems he's acquired every possible skill exactly. That alone gives me the sense of his serious personality.

Yet, there's one puzzling aspect that defines him.

What he holds in his hand isn't a weapon or anything of the sort—it's a book, worn down to the point of being practically falling apart from heavy use.

On the book's cover, large letters read: "It's okay. This is the guidebook to defeating Alice-chan."

The title, as noted, is: *My Me's 'End of the World' Guidebook (Fastest Edition)*.