Depraved Hero's Path-Chapter 56: Undying Archives Of Old: Trickster’s Game, Cleared!

"That’s the Sleight of Hand," Marianne muttered. "Isn’t it?"

A shiver went down her spine as she moved to the side, causing the spike that had gone through her chest to leave her body as if phasing through.

"The damage to the room that disappeared was caused by these." Marianne’s lips curled upwards nervously. "Now that I recognize them as illusions, they can’t hurt me anymore."

[Two minutes have passed.]

[The Trickster’s Assault Intensifies further!]

Marianne turned in the Amulet’s direction.

’It was a fight club situation from the start. The black liquid that filled the place... That’s what is used to attack. The liquid ripples before turning into arms or spikes. When there are no ripples, the liquid isn’t used. An illusion is created!’ Marianne thought as she spun in the air. ’Eight out of ten... Eighty percent of the attacks are illusions! This is a piece of cake!’

Her eyebrow twitched at the thought.

’No, it’s because this is a piece of cake that I struggled. Because my Stats are so high, I dodged with ease and got careless. Were my Stats lower, was I struggling from the start, I might have given this more thought and noticed the ripples, or lack thereof, much sooner!’

Her Golden Eyes shone, and the illusion broke.

"Lesson learned." Marianne muttered with a smile as she reached for the Trickster’s Amulet.

[You have taken hold of the Trickster’s Amulet!]

[The Trickster’s Assault reaches Maximum Level!]

[Time Remaining: 34 seconds!]

"Hahahaha!" Marianne laughed out loud as her body spun in the air. "Even the Maximum Level without illusions is the same as the First Level with illusions!"

***

"Hm." Elijah scratched his chin. "That’s a bit too difficult, don’t you think?"

"Nope♪" Rifna hummed. "The Difficulty is A, but that’s because the Trickster’s Assault is different for each Participant."

"So it was harder for Marianne because of her strength?" Zarath asked.

"Correct♪"

"I guess that’s fair." Elijah shrugged.

With one Participant having Cleared their Game before the others,

[Do you accept?]

Léa stared for a moment before clicking.

"Wha-" Everything around her had suddenly changed.

"First!" Rifna shouted, pointing at Léa.

"What the fuck? I was just in the restroom?!"

"Yeah, it’s kind of trippy." Elijah nodded as he tapped the couch. "Take a seat."

"Why? Wait... Where are we? Why is it so dark in here? And who’s the cat girl?"

"Hiya♪"

"She’s the uh... Game Master, I guess?"

Léa stared silently for a moment.

The Game Master, Elijah, and Zarath were seated on the same couch.

It was certainly a strange view that raised a dozen more questions.

Still, Léa decided to play it cool.

"Alright." She shrugged and walked closer to the couch.

"This spot’s reserrrved." Rifna pointed at the other end of the couch.

"Tsk. Guess I’ll sit with the Demon."

"The Demon has a name!" Zarath complained.

"See? Noticing your cuteness, even Léa wants to sit with you."

"Nahahaha! Compliments won’t get you anywhere!"

’Judging from the expression on her face, I think compliments might.’ Léa thought with a sigh as she took a seat.

"You did well." Elijah said, peeking beyond Zarath.

"Yeah, congrats." Zarath smiled.

Léa frowned for a moment.

"Why is the Demon being supportive?"

"Because we’re a team!"

"Don’t you just want... Stuff from Elijah?"

Zarath’s eyes narrowed. She got closer to Léa and whispered.

"Can you shut up, please? I can’t get what I want if I keep acting the way I have been."

"Oh." Léa was surprised by the Demon’s words. After all, she could relate. "I get it." Léa nodded. "So you’re faking... It...."

Her words trailed off as she noticed the huge screens.

"What the fuck? You guys are watching us?"

"Yeah. Without the sound though." Elijah sighed.

"The sound is off limits." Rifna shrugged.

"It was funny watching you crawl through the ventilation ducts like a worm." Zarath chuckled.

"..."

"Or watching you stand on the toilet-"

"That was great." Elijah said, interrupting Zarath’s teasing. "You didn’t jump to conclusions too fast, and you kept thinking the whole way through."

"Thanks..." Léa scratched her head. "How are Marianne and Katherine doing? Wait, since you’re here, that means you’ve Cleared a Game already, no?"

"Weell..." His gaze moved, and Léa followed it.

"That crown is the Relic?"

"Yeah."

"Master needs his Party for the Game." Zarath explained as she nodded. "That’s why we’re waiting and watching."

"I see." Léa answered despite being slightly confused. ’Why did we get separated if some Games require groups, then?’

Elijah and Zarath quickly caught her up to speed.

"So Marianne is fighting against... Whatever that is, and Katherine against a Painting?"

"Pretty much." Zarath answered, nodding continually with her arms crossed.

"Fear was the main element of my Game." Léa held a hand to her chin as she watched the screens. "What about theirs?"

"For Marianne, it’s illusions."

"Oh, that should be no problem then."

"Yeah, you would think..."

"I guess illusions work because they can’t be distinguished from reality." Léa whispered. "Realizing that illusory magic is being used is more than half of the problem. Marianne might have the means to see through illusions, but you would have to realize that an illusion is in play first."

"Or just spam it." Marianne said a moment after appearing behind the couch. "The Skill actually hurts my eyes and gives me a headache if I use it for too long. Still, I could probably give things a quick scan at the beginning just to make sure. I guess it’s a habit I need to develop." She muttered before hopping onto the couch. "So why are we on a couch? Who’s the cat girl? Did you get another love interest for your harem, Elijah?"

He slowly turned away from Marianne and towards Rifna.

"I wish-"

"Yeah, you wish! Nahahaha! You guys are funny!"

Léa tapped Marianne’s shoulder, catching her attention.

"How did it go?"

"Pretty good at first, then horribly in the middle, then perfectly at the end." Marianne frowned as Zarath tapped her shoulder. "Oh, thanks? I guess?" She muttered, taking the soda can handed to her. "I got an S Clear Rank, so that’s nice."

"Cool, that’s good, happy for you..." Léa answered with her lips pressed together.

"Jealousy is ugly, Léa" Zarath muttered as she flipped her hair.

"...!"

"Only one Game left♪" Rifna whispered, seated by Elijah’s side. "How do you think this one will go?"