Ruler

Have you clearly informed those three of the competition arrangements?

Yes, we gave them your royal order on the eve of the competition, just as Your Majesty had ordered.

It's just... the person you asked us to look for, the head of the Great Library, Her Excellency Zawa, has not been seen.

Huh, I feel like I keep seeing her somewhere recently... Never mind, even if a competition event was arranged just for her, she would most likely choose not to participate.

Anyway, for the sake of Eastrise's reputation and my prestige, this Sports Meet must be perfect. Understand?

Yes, Your Majesty! As your servant, I will do my best for Your Majesty!

Very good. You may retire, and I will attend to other matters.

(...Is it almost time? I have to go prepare for the event I'm going to participate in.)

Your Majesty Raeon, I've been waiting for you.

You've worked hard. The forged identity credentials and the corresponding disguise magic have been prepared, right?

As per your instructions, I have prepared the identity of an ordinary young woman of Eastrise. The corresponding parameters have also been adjusted, and the disguise magic can be used at any time.

Are you truly going to participate in the competition yourself? Even with me following you as an escort, this is too much of a risk...

I knew you would say something to stop me, so I deliberately concealed my identity. I will only participate in this competition and will return to the usual ''Royal Raeon'' immediately afterwards...

...Or do you mean to say that I do not even have the right to pursue this wish?

It is my mistake. I am only worried about your safety. No one has the power to restrict the Premier. I will cast a spell for you here.

My appearance will be different this way, and no one can tell without a closer look... What is the name of this disguised identity?

The name is Rayanne, which is pronounced the same as your name. Only the spelling is different.

It seems you have also put some thought into it. Very good. It's time to go to the competition venue next.

Ah... You should also be careful about the way you speak, and don't show too much of your usual tone and attitude.

Indeed... I understand. You don't have to use honorifics with me either.

It seems all the participants have arrived. The number of participants in this treasure hunt is the largest ever, and there are quite a few who have never participated before. So, let me briefly outline the process of this event.

Unlike other tournaments that require advancing in stages to determine the winner, the treasure hunt is a multi-player event where all participants search for hidden treasures together in a designated area. The first one to find the treasure wins.

(Well, it's really the same rules as the ones I heard before... But this is my first time experiencing it.)

So, you are also allowed to team up with whoever you want, but there will only be one winner.

(Okay, my escort and I can be a team, and if I do win in the end, I can get her to receive the prize on my behalf.)

I will give each participant basic supplies and a map showing the first target location. The competition will officially begin immediately after you get your maps!

Great! Let me put aside the usual political problems and annoyances for this event and enjoy it.

...

Oh, is this the first location?

It seems you two have solved the riddle hidden in the map.

It was just a few jigsaw puzzles... Though the process of cutting up the map and sewing it back together according to the clues was a bit tedious.

Ahem, this is a competition after all, so it should be entertaining and competitive at the same time... Well then, let me give you information on the next location.

Ahead is our secret room which we're prepared for this event. You need to unlock many traps and get the clue items placed in the very center in order to progress in the competition.

Oooh, that sounds interesting. I hope it's at least more difficult than the map puzzle. Okay, let's go in.

Found it! This is it! ...What? It's a map again?

Raeon... Miss Rayanne, you seem very happy.

It's certainly a pleasure to solve puzzles. Besides, it's the first time I've done something I want to do.

Not because of the needs of the country, or because of the duties... simply because I want to do it. I'm content to have this little piece of freedom.

I see... If you feel that way, then I will continue to accompany you in this ''play.''

, Hey, you two, stop right there.

Is she... talking to us with that rude tone?

Hah? Is there anyone else here besides you two women? Whatever, hurry up and give me the clues you got!

I saw you! You guys came out of that labyrinth... Consider this your unlucky day. Be good girls if you want to stay alive.

Huh? Wait, are you planning to... rob us both?

Hah! If you know what's good for you, then hand over the stuff now... Why do you look happy?

Well... probably because now I have a reason to get some exercise. I haven't worked my muscles for a long time.

Wahhhhh! W-What the hell are you?! Why do you have such frightening power?

I'm not obligated to tell you. If you want to win, you should rely on your own strength. Taking a shortcut like this is disgraceful.

Stay here until the committee removes you from the venue. If you dare to do anything, it won't just end with you getting hurt.

I could not gracefully dodge a hidden weapon after casting the Disguise Hex. But this wound is shameful.

Your Majesty, please allow me to heal you with my Healing Hex.

Good. But don't tell anyone else about this.

Oh! I didn't expect another team to arrive at this location so soon.

The map this time also requires knowledge of trigrams and the I Ching to decipher the exact location... What are the non-Eastrise contestants to do?

Well, congratulations to both of you, your team is the second to arrive here. The final reward of this treasure hunt is in the ruins ahead. Find it, and you will win!

So, one team already went in? This is not good, we need to speed up!

Hmm... According to the map, we should be getting closer to the treasure... Huh? There's someone in front of us?

I see. I wondered why there were footsteps other than ours nearby. It seems there really are other people who can reach the end of the treasure hunt.

Huh? Y-You are...

Chiraha, the leader of the ''Watchtower''... Also someone who is considered an ordinary person with no noble power.

... (This woman did not notice my disguise? Also, I can't believe she would participate in a Sports Meet event...)

There is no need to be so formal. It seems you probably know what the Watchtower is all about. However, I'm just an ordinary participant today.

Let's put aside our statuses and fight purely to take the victory.

...Sure. (No, I made the rules. As long as we are participating in the Sports Meet, regardless of identity or status, there is only the striving for victory!)

Good, then let's get started!

Huh, your power is far beyond what I imagined... Are you interested in joining the Watchtower? Great rewards, and great fame await you.

Please allow me to refuse. Here, there is only the winner and the loser of the competition!

Haha, what big words. Let's do this next move then... Magic Seal! Your annoying lightning power will be contained here.

Wh, ! It's just a competition! Why are you using a forbidden secret technique?!

Because, Checkmate, Your Majesty Raeon.

You... You know my true identity?!

Ahhh, I knew from the beginning. The fact that you hid your identity for the competition was already known to our inside man.

And it's no accident that you were able to appear here and be alone with our people... The competition team has been bought off by us and the map you were given was specially made.

Guh! You scoundrel! How dare you carry out such a despicable plot at the sacred Sports Meet!

What ''Sports Meet''? Each faction has its own plans and thoughts, and you're delusional if you want everyone to abandon their positions and ambitions and play along.

Why?! I just... just want to relax. Why am I burdened with ''responsibility'' and ''identity'' even at a time like this...

Childish Premier, you must remember, even if you want to relax, for just one second, your enemy will never let go of the opportunity to be rid of you.

Now, you have only one guard with you. You can't use your lightning power, and you can't communicate with the outside world in this cave, it's a dead end.

What...! This manner... this kind of loss... It is never something I would want...

Oh? Another childish tantrum?

Shut up! This place is... This world is... mine! If I want, I can ''start over'' countless times!

Let me start over, let it all go back to the beginning...

Sorry, I can't let you do that. I've waited for this moment... dozens of times.

Huh? L-Let go of me! A mere attendant dares...

I am not your personal guard, and this appearance was a disguise just to reach this moment. My real name...

Yes, I am Zawa. You have been looking for me for a long time.

Zawa? Since when have you been using that disguise? I-I didn't notice at all...

I will explain all this after we ''leave''...You see, the real enemy is coming.

You have detected the ''anomaly.'' The maintainer of order, the other side of you, will appear.

My... other side? W-What is that?!

Administrator Raeon, the Dragon Orchid has sensed your desire to restart this simulation environment, the Sports Meet.

An unknown loophole led you to break the taboo you set: ''Perceive that this is not the real world.''

Therefore, the process of resetting the simulated environment will be executed after erasing all your memories.

Even the ''master of the illusion'' is controlled by its rules, huh? The Dragon Orchid sure is a wonderful and tricky existence.

Well, let's make your illusion disappear so that we can have a chance to talk.

Zawa, tell me what this is all about!

Your Majesty, you should have sensed it too. This place is an illusion, and the entire Sports Meet is a large illusion born from your imagination.

You, me, Miss Pan Pan, Miss Shiyu, and General Firentia are all trapped in it, and it is the power of the Dragon Orchid that maintains it all.

Ah, yes... Shiyu said she wanted to experiment with the Dragon Orchid... So we got into close contact with it... And then... The experiment...

The experiment went awry and we were affected by the power of the Dragon Orchid. Our consciousness and spirits entered this illusion dominated by you and are experiencing it over and over.

To get you out, I need to stop the Dragon Orchid's self-reboot so that the illusion cannot be maintained... And to do this, I need you to remember the current ''sense of anomaly.''

But won't my memories be lost because of the reset?

As long as you do not forget that the world where you are is not real. The rest will be left to the memory expert, me.

Your Majesty, our family has done research and found a way to help you enhance your spiritual power.

Oh yes, it's the study that I asked you to carry out.

It is my pleasure. Your own spiritual power is already far beyond that of normal people, and to stimulate it further requires a greater source of energy... In other words, the power of the Dragon Orchid.

Oho, you are unexpectedly bold to be playing with the idea of our royal family's greatest treasure.

There is no cause for worry. The power of the Dragon Orchid can only be used by you, so I am only presenting this method to you. It is up to you to decide to use it or not.

...Sure. However, since the Dragon Orchid has to be used... It means your method is just theoretical, right?

Yes, this method has a certain number of unknowns. If possible, it would be best to gather some test subjects for testing...

No, there is no need for that. I have my own arrangements.

The people are already here?

...So, the test subjects you mentioned refer to us?

No, that is not what Her Majesty meant. Besides, aren't all those who came here the pillars of our country? Her Majesty would never let so many people risk their lives together.

There is no need to be suspicious. A medium is needed to stimulate the power of the Dragon Orchid. Most of the people who can bear its power, other than myself, are here.

If this experiment succeeds, all of you present will be able to gain a boost in power. If it fails, I will be able to return the excess power to the Dragon Orchid in time to reduce the risk of the experiment.

I don't know much about complicated things... Whatever it is, I'll just stay with Your Majesty and finish this experiment!

...

Then, there is no time to lose. Prepare yourselves. I'm going to follow Shiyu's method to stimulate the Dragon Orchid.

Huh? Wait, this is... No! This isn't what's happening now?! This is... my memory?!

Uh... Just now, that was...

Administrator, that was your memory. I captured your memories while you were using the Dragon Orchid, so I was able to form the corresponding memory scene directly here.

...What do you mean? Is it not your intention to immerse the rest of us in an illusion? Why must I tell you what has happened in reality?

There is no intention. I am just a spirit mimic of the Dragon Orchid... sort of an AI-like existence. The reason why this part of the memory is shown is because of your subconscious, Administrator.

My... subconscious?

You want to know the truth, but at the same time, you feel uncomfortable with this illusionary world. This dissonance is what led to the failure of my functions.

In any case, it is my duty to respond to the Administrator's call. Now, please tell me what you really think. Do you want to leave, or do you want to continue your reincarnation?

I...

Your Majesty, this illusion is starting to get rather unstable. If it continues like this, we will still suffer mental damage even if we break free from the illusion.

That means it needs to be made stable again... What do you propose I do?

You are the owner of this illusion. Only you can detect where exactly it went wrong... However, since it is a world formed by memories, then...

, the problem must lie with your own memories.

My memory? I understand. I will go around and look for the ''memory leak.''

Is this the place... The land beyond here has disappeared... It's like a bug in a game.

...

Even the ''people'' in the dream world have lost their normal reactions? This ''Sports Meet'' really is just a false existence...

This will make the dream world a little more stable... I hope I can hold out until Zawa solves the problem.