Leon and Rossweisse dashed through the dark corridors of the ancient castle, eventually finding refuge in the cellar, where it was relatively safer. They leaned against the wall and slowly slid down, taking a moment to catch their breath.
Rossweisse glanced at Leon after a brief silence. "Are you really another lone wolf?"
Leon pressed his lips together before nodding. "Yes."
The Queen closed her eyes with a sigh. "I cleared your name for nothing. If I'd known, I would've let them vote you out."
"Your Majesty, there's a red demon out there hunting down our entire family. Maybe we should focus on teaming up to take her down first?"
Leon was beginning to understand the feeling he had once imposed on defeated Dragon Kings—a helplessness that clawed in the final, desperate moments. Isha's keen intellect, combined with her [Doctor] role, made her nearly untouchable in this game. Leon had been forced to drag his queen along on the run just to stay alive.
"I think my sister's using those antidotes she handed out, combined with the [Meeting's Over] card, to carry out long-range kills."
"And with her [Doctor] role, I suspect her kill cards trigger specifically with that antidote. Meaning... anyone who took it is marked."
Rossweisse's voice grew heavy. "Even in a game, being cornered like this tastes bitter."
"I didn't take the antidote."
"What?"
Leon pulled a small, transparent box from his pocket, revealing an orange-flavored candy.
Rossweisse stared. "If you didn't take it, how did you avoid the disease from the Alchemy Lab?"
"With the [Mint Tea] you gave me."
Leon flicked the candy away. "Good thing I was cautious. Otherwise, I'd already be out from that [Meeting's Over] trick just now."
Rossweisse nodded. "But Noah and I both took the antidote. That means we can't even get close to my sister. She can kill us instantly."
"Right now," she continued, "you're the only one who can attack her."
She was right. Only another lone wolf could fight the lone wolf.
"But neither of us has a kill card... How do we even fight her?" Leon sighed.
Was a slow death their only fate?
"Seriously, lone wolf? You've gone the whole game without finding a kill card? That's just pitiful," Rossweisse said with a raised brow.
Leon groaned. "When luck's bad, it's really bad."
A long silence fell. Time ticked by. Dripping water echoed through the stone chamber.
Between them, the deadly cake sat. A single bite would instantly poison a player.
Rossweisse stared at it, her gaze tightening.
Then, her eyes widened.
"Honestly... I don't care if I win."
She reached into her pocket and pulled out her main quest card.
"My mission is like Claudia's—to help [The Princess] recover the Black Sacred Stone. But I also have a hidden task: to leave the castle with it."
"That's my 'true victory' condition."
"But from the start... I never really considered that part, because—"
"Because you want our daughter to win, right?" Leon finished, smiling.
Rossweisse laughed softly and nodded. "Exactly. Noah finally has a chance to play with her sisters and friends. I want her to win. She's always been so competitive."
"But now her sisters and friends are gone. All the pressure's on her."
"That only makes me want her to win more," Rossweisse said firmly. "This isn't just a game, Leon."
"When Noah remembers this night—years, decades from now—I want her to smile and say, 'I saved them all.'"
"She'll gain something far beyond just winning."
"I understand, Rossweisse." Leon looked over at the silver-haired woman beside him with pride.
"You're not just a mother anymore."
"Hmm?"
"You've become a mom."
Rossweisse blinked. "Is there a difference?"
"Of course. Remember how happy Noah and Muwen were when you asked them to call you 'Mom' instead of 'Mother'?"
Rossweisse paused, her eyes growing soft.
Then, she chuckled. "I get it."
"So... are you asking the lone wolf to act as bait while you and Noah escape?"
Rossweisse shook her head. "No, that's too dangerous, and besides..."
"Besides?"
Her cheeks flushed as she turned away, burying her face in the crook of her arm.
"And besides, I wouldn't let my child's dad do something like that."
Leon grinned. "Can't you just say 'dad' instead of 'my child's father'?"
"No. Shut up."
Rossweisse shot him a glare. "Just promise me you'll let Noah win in the end, and I'll..."
"You'll what?"
Her voice dropped to a whisper. She motioned for him to lean in.
When he did, she murmured something inaudible—
Leon sprang up.
"You're serious?!"
"Yes."
"Well, I already wanted Noah to win, but with that on the table—your sister's going down tonight, dragon god or not!"
Rossweisse laughed. "Alright, alright, keep it down! She might hear you!"
Leon sank back beside her. "So, I take it you've got a plan?"
Rossweisse picked up the cake. "Yes. But the cake isn't for her."
Leon's brow lifted. "Then who—?"
"It's for me."
---
At the top of the castle, down a dim hallway…
Noah was backed against a locked wooden door. Her "red demon" of an aunt loomed ever closer.
"Oh my dear, dear [Princess], there's nowhere left to run," Isha purred.
In her hand was a gleaming kill card.
Its effect: any player within five meters who had taken the [Doctor]'s antidote was instantly vulnerable.
Isha twirled the card between her fingers, smiling sweetly as she approached.
Noah stared, horrified.
Auntie Isha… Please don't turn into someone like this!
Even in her panic, she thought, Muwen, don't ever become like this if you take up the Red Dragon King's role!
"Auntie... can't we talk this out?" Noah pleaded.
"Oh, sweet Noah, let's chat after the game, hmm? Now come here, and Auntie won't have to chase you."
Why are you saying such terrifying things in such a gentle voice?!
Noah's back hit the door. She gripped her last item card: [Cycle of Despair].
It could only activate if there were just two players left.
But her parents were likely still alive. That meant she couldn't use it.
What now...?
Noah's lip trembled.
---
In the Observation Room, Muwen and Helena stood before the Memory Stone, watching Noah's confrontation.
"It's over..." Muwen whispered. "Big sister can't escape."
"I thought Uncle Leon and Aunt Rossweisse were strong... but Aunt Isha is just... terrifying," Helena said.
The usually playful pink-haired dragon girl looked grim.
"Hang on, big sis! Just hang on till the meeting—we can vote her out!" Muwen cried.
"It's no use," said Claudia, sipping tea behind them.
"There's still more than forty minutes before eight o'clock. Leon and Rossweisse can't hold out that long. This match... belongs to the Red Dragon King."
The little dragons went quiet, silently praying for their sister's safety.
---
"Noah, come here. Auntie will carry you to the Observation Room."
Noah's heart pounded. She was trapped.
But she would not surrender.
If it were Dad, he wouldn't—
"Player—"
A voice echoed through the hall.
Noah reached into her pocket, expecting her Memory Stone to announce her defeat.
But it was silent.
"If it's not mine..."
"Player [Doctor] has been killed. Player [Doctor] has been killed."
Isha froze. Her elegant features twisted in confusion and horror.
"Why... how...?"
Creaaak—
The wooden door behind Noah creaked open.
A figure emerged from the darkness.
It was a man.
[Avenger]
Ability: Upon witnessing a 'kill,' gain a single 'kill' opportunity.
In his hand...
Was a small cake.
With one bite missing.