Ophelia tried to ignore the audience's expected response. She knew more or less what it would be like. To be sure, there was nothing positive about it.
The girl didn't do anything different. She continued to follow Madam Lin's orders. But the difference was that Ophelia could now voice her opinion.
"My eyes haven't fully awakened yet, so the abilities that people mention can't be used yet. Only Calliope's family knows that Calliope's eyes only awaken when they are around 20-25 years old."
"It seems that even someone like Madam cannot get information about that."
Ophelia stopped at the intersection.
"But--"
// How, sweetie? //
".... The right side, madam."
Ophelia replied after seeing the darkness emitted by the left side.
// Alright, go //
"Yes, madam."
Ophelia walked to the right.
"--even eyes that have not risen are still useful."
As Ophelia said, even though it had not fully awakened, Calliope's eyes could still see something else. It could see long distances, see clearly at night and see the direction of danger signs. So Ophelia utilized that and exaggerated it a bit in order to persuade Madam Lin to use it as an Avatar.
{ What's on the left? }
The MC piqued the audience's curiosity.
{ Hmm, camera! Take a quick look at the left side! } the MC exclaimed.
Instantly the Stadium's main screen revealed the road on the left. The question at the end of that road is a trick question. Compared to easy questions or difficult questions, trick questions are the ones to avoid. Because no matter what the answer is, there will be troublesome traps that are difficult to pass with strength alone.
{ Wow, great!!! How did you know that? } marveled the MC.
{ Is this the Calliope Family's ability!? Sugoi~!! }
------------------- •••• -------------------
I am at the beginning of everything, but not at the end or in the middle of it. I appear only once in a thousand years. I am something precious and many want me. What am I?
Answer Options:
a) Chance
b) Luck
c) Success
------------------- •••• -------------------
Ophelia froze in front of the answer. It's not a trick question. But if you're not careful, the answer can be tricky. Because in this question, there is an element of ambiguity or exaggeration to confuse the player and complicate the actual answer.
"Madam... This..."
// Easy question huh? Hmm... Choose the answer with small points only. I don't want the Labyrinth to get too long //
"So the answer is...?"
// Hmm? Obviously C, right? Answer A has medium points and answer B has big points // said Madam without hesitation. The answer was really easy to guess.
But Ophelia didn't think so.
"..... She's trapped."
// Hurry up, sweetie. We have a little over an hour left //
"Yes... Madam..."
Ophelia furrowed her brow. Her eyes looked straight at the door. As her left hand pressed the C button, her right hand tightly held her spear pen. Preparing for whatever would emerge from there.
"This question is not the easy type. It's the type of difficult question that will bring out monsters."
"This question focuses on abstract concepts that should be thought about deeply. The answer with the most points from this question should be... C."
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****OOO****
Character Information
Name: Madam LinNova: III OrangeRace: OniAge: UnknownStatus: Eastern Ruler of the 3rd FloorAffiliation: 3rd Floor Eastern Region [https://img.wattpad.com/9c8ff9f13017ceb0e4ff8f003be5cf12985432ae/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f73694d466544346d7446647434513d3d2d313334373236393430362e313739326463333633333837383936353736313730343834363832322e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Name: Madam Lin
Nova: III Orange
Race: Oni
Age: Unknown
Status: Eastern Ruler of the 3rd Floor
Affiliation: 3rd Floor Eastern Region
-------------------------------------------------
Name: Ophelia CalliopeNova: II OrangeRace: Human [With Dragon Blessing]Age: 17Status: Lady of the Calliope FamilyAffiliation: Calliope Family [https://img.wattpad.com/7d97f130aa02d204f72dd2e9c83fc914763f1592/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f74763865504c31567459597361773d3d2d313334373236393430362e3137393264633065363965393663333233343435383239373436322e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Name: Ophelia Calliope
Nova: II Orange
Race: Human [With Dragon Blessing]
Age: 17
Status: Lady of the Calliope Family
Affiliation: Calliope Family
-------------------------------------------------
Name: Vif (?)Nova: IX BlueRace: Dragon (?)Age: UnknownStatus: Envy [Fake]3rd Floor Northern Lord [Fake]Affiliation: 3rd Floor Northern Region [Fake]Nemesis Guild [Fake] [https://img.wattpad.com/01773792f964c0e44ecc15f9adb410cb3819cce3/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f42484c565879486e435f6d6538773d3d2d3231322e3137363334363939396539666631306232323637313932333230352e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Name: Vif (?)
Nova: IX Blue
Race: Dragon (?)
Age: Unknown
Status: Envy [Fake]
3rd Floor Northern Lord [Fake]
Affiliation: 3rd Floor Northern Region [Fake]
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
Nemesis Guild [Fake]
****OOO****
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Once the answer is selected, the door opens and turns into a wall once passed through.
And sure enough. The kobolds were already preparing to attack Ophelia. They immediately attacked the girl right after the door turned into a wall.
TAAANNNNGGGGG
Fortunately, Ophelia had prepared first. She swiftly blocked the Kobold's attack with her spear pen.
// What!? How could...! //
Madam Lin was so shocked that she unconsciously got up from her chair.
// Why did a monster come out!? Especially... Kobolds!? //
Kobolds!? // [https://img.wattpad.com/cf5e56b0fa57f9211d1596f6a5444b0d48dc19c5/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f6d58733752704d303964555378513d3d2d3231322e313736333436393634626161336336623134393139323434383433322e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Kobold [https://img.wattpad.com/b56b2fdbfd4c52ee411abaf21ea2b4d31d0e0e0b/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f6f6935507a714c696455623475513d3d2d3231322e313736333436393761656336303765393437343035373030353239372e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Kobold
The creature that resembles the embodiment of a lizard man and a wolf is one of the monsters that should only be encountered on 16th or 24th Floor and above. In other words, Kobold was not a monster that Tier I Orange could easily deal with. Moreover, what attacked Ophelia was 7 at once.
"Unlucky... no, or lucky?" thought Ophelia in confusion.
She moved nimbly to dodge the Kobolds' attacks while parrying and counterattacking.
Ophelia smiled, "This is a good opportunity. I should buy some time. That way, Envy should be able to arrive first."
"Or at best, my time will be up here."
The girl glanced in another direction in the middle of the fight.
"Madam will not be suspicious because she herself made the wrong choice. And it's normal for the I Orange to struggle against Kobolds."
"But it will be suspicious if I look too obvious. At the very least, I should look like I'm trying first."
[ Third Stage of Spear Pen Art ]
Ophelia stopped dodging. She stayed in one spot and spun her spear from right to left and continuously like that at high speed until her spear looked like a fan that kept spinning elegantly.
All the attacks of the kobolds in front of her bounced after being hit by the vortex of her spear. This time Ophelia focused her speed and movement on her spear so that she could not move quickly. But thanks to that, none of the kobold attacks did any damage to her.
// Can't you stab them in the heart like before, dear? // Asked Madam starting to worry (at the ticking clock).
"I'm sorry madam, but...",
Ophelia made an apologetic face, she tried to attack the Kobold's skin.
TAAAAANGG
CLAAAANGG
But all the attacks bounced off. It felt like Ophelia was attacking iron with iron.
"...As you can see, their scales are too hard."
// ...... //
Madam Lin gritted her teeth. She was trying to think of a way to get out of this situation.
As Ophelia predicted, Madam Lin herself knew that Kobold was not an easy opponent for I Orange. Especially when she was attacked by a group.
"....!"
At that moment, something caught Madam Lin's attention.
On the screen in front of her, Madam Lin could see a little wider than Ophelia. And she vaguely saw something that she could utilize.
The woman grinned slyly.
// Dear Ophelia //
Ophelia, "?"
// You trust your madam, don't you? //she asked, making Ophelia feel bad.
"What's going on? All of a sudden?" the girl thought in the middle of her fight.
"Of course I trust you, madam."
// Good, now... Take yourself off guard and let the kobold hurt you // Madam Lin ordered.
"!?"
Ophelia gasped in shock.
// Do it, Ophelia. This is order //
"......."
Ophelia didn't understand such a suicide order. But if Madam's goal was to win, she wouldn't have gotten Ophelia so badly injured that she couldn't continue the journey.
"Yes... Madam."
Obeying Madam Lin's orders, Ophelia deliberately caught herself off guard until one of the kobolds inflicted a sizable wound on her left arm. She made it seem as if everything flowed naturally. So that the audience who were watching were made to panic and worry about it.
"Kuhhhh..."
Ophelia immediately pretended to be trying to strike back at the Kobold. And left her back open so that another Kobold slashed at her from behind.
"Argghhhh..."
BRAAAAAGGGHHH
The girl collapsed in a pool of blood. She was surrounded by seven kobolds who were ready to kill her on the spot. The kobold who looked like their leader stood at the front. He raised his sword high as if giving a command for the other Kobolds to immediately lunge at Ophelia.
"LIAAA!!!!"
"OPHELIA NEE-SAN!!!!!"
"!?"
The people who knew Ophelia on stage (Bere, Ruka, Lenarya and Zeta) and were watching her, were made to glare and almost moved to save her even though the place itself was different.
Ophelia herself is actually starting to get scared by this situation. Until finally, she realized why Madam Lin forced this situation on her.
BLAAAAAARRRRR
Powerful flames burned the seven kobolds in front of Ophelia.
TAP TAP TAP
"!!!"
Instantly, the eyes of the people + the camera screen fell on a person walking towards Ophelia.
"ENVY-SAMAAAA!!!!!!!!!" The excitement of the audience was gratifying.
Yes, Envy who had been watching Ophelia fight for a while couldn't bear the sight and ended up helping her.
Madam Lin had guessed that. An "Envy" would definitely not stand by and watch a slave die because of her master's selfishness. She would definitely come to her rescue. Madam Lin believed that ever since she noticed Envy's presence faintly on her screen.
{ Woah, woah, woah!!! Look at this guys!!! Envy-sama is helping her opponent!? What's going on! } the MC was just as excited.
{ Envy-sama? Are you sure? The one you're helping is your opponent~? }
Envy did not say anything. She just stayed silent and briefly looked at the injured Ophelia.
"KIIIIIIKKKKKK!!!!!!!"
Envy's attack was not strong enough to kill the kobolds. Once they regained their composure, they immediately fought Envy's fire by slashing their tails at each other.
Enraged at being attacked so suddenly, the seven Kobolds lunged at Envy for revenge.
// Now, Ophelia! // Madam Lin exclaimed.
Ophelia quickly took out a potion from her pouch, drank it until her wound healed and left the place as quickly as she could. Leaving the kobolds with Envy.
"........"
{ ....... }
The audience and MC were speechless.
{ W-What a cunning tactic guys! } the MC was excited.
{ Wow, this is it!!! I should be amazed or creeped out, guys!!! }
{ Madam, you're called a cheater!}
"None of my actions are against the rules," Madam replied with a faint smile.
{ You're right... You're right!!! But... Umm... Yeah, you're right! }
Although the MC and the audience didn't like Madam Lin's method. But they couldn't deny that it was a smart move. Not only could she save her own time, but she could also waste the opponent's time.
In a situation like this, using all means is the best way. And conversely, sticking to virtue like Envy did was detrimental to herself. They knew that, so none of them blamed Madam Lin's method even though they were annoyed too.
{ Really guys... Smart and cunning are a bit different } said the MC in the end.
{ It's hard... Which one do you want to watch guys? Should the main screen show only madam's Avatar? Or only Envy-sama? }
"Envy-sama only, Class!!!"
"Ah, but I'm curious about Calliope..."
"Don't you want to see how Envy-sama dealt with 7 Kobolds when her nova was only I Orange?"
"I want to..."
"Alright, Envy-sama Class!!!"
"I want to see Envy-sama!!!"
"Envy-sama! Envy-sama!!!"
The MC nodded with an annoying face.
{ UmU UmU... I understand, deal with it! }
{ Okay, cameraman~! Show us Envy-sama! }
The main screen showed Envy who was left behind by Ophelia with the Kobolds.
Unlike Ophelia who used the spear technique to dodge and parry, Envy only moved to avoid and let her hand hang without doing anything. Her gaze was still fixed on the path Ophelia had taken earlier.
"........."
No one could guess what Envy was thinking.
Perhaps Envy was angry at being left behind by the person she saved. Maybe it was direction because her opponent was taking advantage of her. Perhaps grateful that Ophelia was okay. Maybe she regretted her decision. Or other possibilities.
And just maybe, all their guesses were wrong.
After all, since the beginning of this gamble, Envy did not say anything if she was not asked. When the screen showed her, only the sounds of the battle and the situation could be heard. Especially since Envy also always finished everything calmly, seeing Envy on the screen was like watching a silent mode video.
So why do people still like watching her?
Of course, because...
CLAAAANGG
Envy's sword was extended. After Envy slashed it to the side, the sword instantly extended and the sword body seemed to open. Changing its shape into a chain with the tip of the sword.
She swung the chain like a whip to wrap the kobolds together.
DAAAAARRRRRHH
Then from the chain, thick red flames came out and exploded instantly. It caused the kobolds to suffer severe burns but not enough to kill them. But that was Envy's goal.
"...... This should be enough."
Envy glanced at the Kobold who had collapsed in her chains.
The kobolds were dragged to a different path from the one Ophelia had taken.
Quiet steps as always. And as usual too, people were transfixed by it.