Chapter 405: A Sad Curse

"Ah, I see. I've got the general idea now."

Crossing his arms, the gambler circled slowly around Shizukawa Reika's room.

Beside him, his silent partner—Tamā—searched for the hidden kitty corner that only existed in VIP rooms.

Waiting for the two who had been contacted were Nanami, the Playwright, and Tazuri, the Liberator.

"Seriously, while I wasn't around, you two went and acted on your own, huh?"

"What else could I do? It's not my fault that Tora-kun couldn't make it in time."

"Damn it."

He couldn't even complain—there was no point in saying anything now...

He’d been dozing off since just a while ago, having pulled an all-nighter the day before. Maybe living in the "kingdom" for so long had made him too complacent.

"So, the game's decided by the 'nameless' winning, right?"

"Yeah, but we don't know what's going to happen, do we?"

That's true. Better to be careful than sorry.

I just can't stand the fact that only one "Hungry One" is guarding Reika.

According to the rumors, there are multiple "Hungry Ones" who have entered this country.

The four of them rummage through Shizukawa Reika's room without hesitation, like a typhoon passing through.

There's no doubt the "Nameless" came here. There's video footage to prove it.

But after that, their whereabouts became unknown.

They undoubtedly headed toward the "Soul Restoration Machine"...

"Where the hell is that 'Soul Restoration Machine (that thing)' anyway?"

"Can't say. There's no clue left behind."

"Damn it. Even though they're poisoned, why would they go alone?"

"...But that's just like the 'Nameless' girl."

"Just like her?"

"She always has this habit of taking on everything herself—back when we escaped 'The Mirror Country,' she was determined to shoulder the blame alone, even if we hadn't stopped her."

"……Hmm."

I understand that.

Her strength and weakness were both tied to her obsession with finding the perfect solution, pushing herself too far.

After all, she expected herself to be a flawless being, even though no human ever truly is.

Perhaps it's because of her own gentleness that she lost her companions before—maybe that's what's shaping this girl.

If so, then it's a kind of curse.

A sorrowful curse, one without a target to hate.

"What should we do? Should we use your Infinite Dice Roll?"

"No. Impossible. If I roll dice for every single fork in this complicated castle, my magic won't last."

"Hmm... what on earth should we do now?"

"Guess we've just gotta wait, huh."

Reluctantly, the "Gambler" slumps onto a dusty sofa.

It's not just frustration over being denied a chance to act.

He's also worried about his friend.

"Does he realize he's all alone right now?"

Or maybe he knows it—but still believes there's something more important to prioritize.

—That's possible.

For example, the "resurrection of a companion."

He gnaws on his fingernails.

I've been trying to avoid it after the "end," but I've finally relapsed.

"That's not like him. Is he panicking?"

Then, the maid-suit-clad Tenmi Tsuzuri said,

"Maybe so....I specifically asked him to look after Yuki when we parted..."

"Huh! Even if that's true, it's his own responsibility, you know."

Still, I can understand how he feels.

Honestly, facing something that goes against the very nature of life—like resurrecting the dead—being calm would be the odd thing.

—Or perhaps "Nameless" herself is simply dreaming of miracles.

She lost her entire family before the "End."

Of course, given the design of the "Soul Restoration Machine," there's no way she could ever bring them back.

But if there were even the slightest hint that it were possible, a flaw might easily emerge—so small, even the person herself wouldn't notice it.

"Let's just focus on preparing for the worst-case scenario."

"The worst case...?"

"I don't know."

"You don't know...?"

"That's exactly what 'worst case' means—something none of us here can predict."

The gambler glanced at the jaggedly bitten nail.

"Traitor," he muttered.

"Traitor?"

Suzuri widened her eyes.

"Who's that referring to?"

"Well, I just said it off the top of my head."

"Huh. I thought you had some reason."

Sighing in relief.

"Sure, I don't know. But, you know—like, that girl, Kuni Asuka, right? Where'd she go?"

"I don't know. I was just taken a moment ago. Maybe she's trapped somewhere, still."

"...I see."

"But Asuka's different. She cares about her friends."

"Hmph."

Yet in this world, even someone who cares about their friends can betray them.

Once more, the "Gambler" gnawed on their fingernails.

"By the way—actually, Gambler-san..."

"Hmm?"

"Did you pass through that certain attraction on your way here?"

"Yeah... I heard this route was the quickest. What about it?"

"Did you happen to meet anyone along the way?"

"Sure did. I saw a few people—like those 'Immortal Squad' guys you guys beat up."

"Is that so."

Zanri paused, lost in thought.

"...Saya-chan."

"Huh?"

"Where is Hanei Saya-chan?"