GAME OF CONTRADICTIONS (PT1)

DAY 1

"Ugh..."

Slowly starting to stand up from the ground while grabbing his head in pain, Alexander found himself and Kobayashi positioned by the seaside. However, neither of the two had any recollection of coming here whatsoever. Kobayashi was silent and unconscious on the ground

Kobayashi, a few moments later, came to himself. He stood up and brushed a few leaves off of his attire, examining the area.

"Where are we...?" asked Alexander, confusion evident from his expression.

Kobayashi's face lit up, joy coursing through his body. This place was very familiar to him. It was as if he had been here before. Alexander took note of Kobayashi's joyous expression, which made him even more confused than previously.

"This is the homeland of my clan...this is my homeland where I was born and raised."

"And how exactly did we get here...?" Alexander asked.

"This is the game Aisha challenged us to play, remember?"

"Oh, yeah...right... We're going to die, aren't we?"

Alexander's mood went from confused to disappointed and depressed, his shoulders slumping down. He had already given up any hope of emerging victorious in this game.

"Nonsense, we're going to win this game easily."

Kobayashi smiled reassuringly at Alexander.

"Come, let us find the main area so we will have access to shelter and other resources."

Kobayashi began making his way through a wooded area. He gestured for Alexander to follow him so he could guide him. Alexander cheered up slightly, but he looked upset by the wooded terrain. It reminded him of the time he fell in mud when they first arrived in the new world.

"Do we really have to go through there?"

Alexander seemed hesitant to follow Kobayashi. He didn't want to become a mess like last time. Ruining his appearance would make him more distressed than dying because of a loss.

"Just follow me. I know my way around here very well. It's like a labyrinth around here and you'll likely end up getting lost. Just follow me and you'll be safe."

Alexander followed Kobayashi, who was clearing the way by slicing through vines and other shrubbery with his Katana. The blade managed to catch Alexander's attention.

"Why are you using that? Isn't that going to make your blade dull and reduce it to nothing more than a mere rod?"

"Well, yes, it will likely decrease the sharpness of my blade and make it dull. But this is a magic-induced simulation, not real life. Besides, as long as it stays intact we should be fine. Aisha said we just need something to strike her as a tagging system, not something to slice her limbs off and make her suffer in agony."

Kobayashi continued to clear the way with his blade. He clearly didn't care about whether or not his blade became dull. He wasn't exactly wanting to behead anyone if he attempted to strike them above the shoulders. As long as the Katana stayed in one piece, they would be fine.

Eventually the two found themself in a clearing, a dazzling temple on their left. There were numerous dirt trails and small huts for shelter. And standing in the middle of the entire village-like area was a large statue in the center of the area, which appeared as if it were some sort of sacred artifact judging from the condition it was in; it appeared as if it were newly sculpted just days ago. Not even a speck of dust dared to come into contact with the object. Alexander recognized the monument as the statue of Kobayashi's father which Kobayashi had created earlier during their training.

"Aisha was definitely right when she said the game generates the world based on the players' memories. This isn't any different from my homeland in even the slightest. It even included this fool's replica into the land."

Kobayashi's face, which previously showed signs of immense joy, began to falter momentarily. Despite only being gone from his old world for a short amount of time, it was apparent he missed it (though the image of his father seemed to slightly anger him). He had never once left his home in his entire life. Although, he also had a hint of sadness and longing in his expression.

"If only people could be generated alongside the lands..."

Kobayashi sighed softly. He wished that his family and friends could've been here. He knew that if they were generated as part of the game, they would not necessarily be his legitimate friends and family, but he would've at least gotten to see their faces in person again. Despite Kobayashi having a stoic and calm behavior, he was still a human like everyone else, and he valued his friends and family above all else in his life.

"I honestly think it would be terrible. I mean, what if someone circulated information about our location to Aisha? That would end the game in an instant," Alexander said. He, unlike Kobayashi, seemed to be happier that nobody was there other than themselves. Alexander was more of the type of person who enjoyed being alone. Perhaps it stemmed from the negative experiences those around him caused in the past, whether it be intentional or unintentional.

"I have an idea..."

Kobayashi walked into a large hut, the one he lived in before being taken to the new world. It was a bit strange to see Kobayashi just leave Alexander alone outside. Nonetheless, Alexander stayed outside the hut, not seeming to care very much about being by himself. Yet he was uncomfortable with the fact he didn't know anything about where they were. New places were always something that made Alexander nervous.

"Why do you have those?"

Alexander saw Kobayashi carrying out an armful of logs. He was confused about why Kobayashi had wood.

"We'll start a fire so we can stay warm when night falls. And before you ask about our game plan, I think it's best if we camp out on land one of us is familiar with, like our homelands."

Kobayashi began stacking the wood in a small pit to make a fire. The pit was presumably older, having old ashes stuck to the walls of the pit. It seemed he had done this many times before to the point of not breaking a sweat and he finished stacking the firewoodin well under a minute.

"Don't you think it's a bit early to start a fire?"

"Well, you're right about that. However, it's best to prepare early. We might not get the chance to build a fire later, because we're going to need to spend our time planning for tomorrow on what we'll need to do, whether that include gathering food or finding supplies to make weapons and traps."

Kobayashi walked back inside his hut and returned with a small bag. He reached inside and pulled out a few small wild fruits, handing them to Alexander and eating a few himself.

"You should eat these. Food around here has never been easy to come by. It's the worst natural hardship my people ever face."

"Uh..."

Alexander looked at the small fruits in his hands, a bit hesitant whether he should eat them or not. They looked shriveled and disgusting, but he knew he had no choice and ultimately decided he would partake in consuming the food.

"I guess I'll start a fire..."

Alexander kneeled down by the neatly stacked wood and began attempting to ignite the fire. Kobayashi smiled and thanked him, bowing his head slightly.

"Looks like it's already getting dark..."

Kobayashi looked over at the horizon, the sun setting and faintly lighting the sky with a dark orange hue. He smiled and sat on the ground, looking up at the darkening sky. It was just like before he was taken to the other world. He would be able to gaze upon the same stars he saw every night. If only he still had his friends and family around...

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DAY 2

"Alexander, wake up. We need to gather some supplies so we can start making some weapons."

Kobayashi gently kicked the sleeping Alexander's foot, waking him from his slumber.

The fire from last night had mostly burned to nothing, but there were still a few hot coals in the fire, causing smoke to rise. Kobayashi stomped it out, as he knew it would be a beacon to give away their location.

"Ugh...the sun hasn't even completely risen yet... Let me sleep longer..."

Alexander held his arm over his eyes in a failed attempt to block out the sunlight from the rising sun, but Kobayashi lightly kicked his arm out of his face.

"We need to prepare for disaster. Aisha could appear any moment and ambush both of us, and you would be completely defenseless. It would be advantageous if both of us gathered the resources as soon as possible."

Alexander finally caved into Kobayashi's persuasion to make him get up. He slowly stood up from the ground. He had a miserable expression on his face, still tired and wanting to go back to sleep. But he knew Kobayashi would never permit such a thing.

"We're fortunate Aisha is required to craft weapons as well, or else we'd likely already be dead."

"I hate this game... I don't care if I lose if it means I'd get to sleep longer..." Alexander grumbled, still a bit cranky from not being able to sleep longer. Kobayashi chuckled a bit, amused by Alexander's childish behavior.

"Come on, let's gather some supplies."

Kobayashi took the lead, Alexander following him into a thick wooded area. The area of the clan's village area itself was clear, but the rest of the surrounding landscape was littered with a thick layer of trees. Alexander was still a bit weary of the forest, scared he might fall into the mud and ruin his appearance like when they first arrived to the new world. He didn't even attempt to hide his weariness, taking cautious steps around mud puddles.

"Where did you get the axe?"

Alexander hadn't noticed before, but Kobayashi was carrying an axe made of stone. He never saw Kobayashi equipped with the weapon yesterday.

"Oh, this? This axe is what my companions used to harvest wood, and several axes like this one were mass produced by an old friend of mine. You can find several of these lying around in certain huts."

Kobayashi stopped at a small tree, beginning to chop at the base of it. Alexander stood back at a distance and watched, not sure of what to do.

"If there are so many of those axes, why can't we just use those for weapons?"

"Well, it's simple, Alexander. These axes are only good for close-range attacks, unless you have a very impressive aim with heavy objects. We need to make bows and similar weapons for long-ranged attacks. If Aisha is as intelligent as she claims to be, she'll also be crafting long-ranged weapons. If she were to trap us in a bad spot, we could at least have something to fight back with."

Kobayashi finally finished downing the tree. It came down swiftly, making a loud thud sound as it crashed into the ground. Kobayashi began to cut the tree into medium-sized logs and place them into a pile.

"Alexander, would you mind taking these back to our encampment? We can use these for firewood and to craft miscellaneous items."

"Yeah, sure..."

Alexander picked up a few logs at a time, carried them to the duo's encampment, came back to pick up more logs, and repeated the process until the tree was completely cut completely and carried back. The two repeated the process with multiple trees for three rest of the day.

Later that evening, Kobayashi began to carve away at the logs while Alexander attempted to neatly stack woods like Kobayashi did the previous night.

"Alexander, could you fetch something for me?"

Kobayashi called for Alexander's attention. He looked over at Kobayashi, listening to his request.

"Would you mind to go to that hut over there and bring all of the string? I used to make bows with the string and it's going to be necessary in the process of crafting long ranged weapons."

Kobayashi pointed to one of the many huts in the distance, showing Alexander which hut to go to. The one he pointed to was unique compared to the rest of the huts; it seemed smaller, not even large enough to inhabit as a home. It instead seemed like a shed for lounging or perhaps craftwork.

"Sure, give me a moment and I'll return with it."

Alexander left and walked over to the hut, entering it and picking up string that was in an open drawer. He couldn't help but also notice a necklace and portrait laying on a desk.

"Nakamura Suzuki?"

The necklace had a name carved in it. The sketch was of a young girl and what seemed to be Kobayashi. Alexander was confused about why there was a drawing of Kobayashi and a random girl, but he brushed it off and thought it might be a sensitive subject to Kobayashi. He would have brought it up to Kobayashi and questioned him on it out of curiosity, though he didn't want to upset Kobayashi with a potentially harsh subject.

He left the hut with the string and returned to Kobayashi, handing him the string.

"Thank you very much, Alexander."

After a few minutes, Kobayashi held up a bow to showcase to Alexander.

"The wood from those trees are perfect for making bows."

He pulled on the string with all of his might, and the wood bended perfectly without snapping.

"Here, this one's for you. Please take care of it and don't lose or damage it."

Kobayashi handed the bow to Alexander, who didn't say anything.

"You do know how to use a bow, correct?"

Alexander nodded his head, though he seemed a bit unsure. In truth he had never practiced using a bow much before. He used it a few times during his time in the old world, though he lacked the skill of properly using a bow.

"Yes...but not I'm not very good at it. I've only practiced a few times, and even then I was bad."

"Don't worry, you don't need to be perfect when using a bow, just good enough to hit your target."

Kobayashi smiled and pulled out another bow. It seemed he had been working on two bows the entire time, which slightly shocked Alexander.

"You made both of those that quickly?"

"Yes, I did. I used to do this a lot before being brought here, particularly I did it often in my youth."

Kobayashi pulled on his bow, making sure it would work and not snap.

"Well, I suppose I should start making the arrows now. We don't need anything lethal, so we shouldn't need anything other than the wood itself."

Kobayashi began to get to work to make the arrows for the bows. He was very skilled when it came to craftsmanship. He could make anything he wanted. Kobayashi spent the rest of the day making arrows, while Alexander spent the rest of the day relaxing after he finished stacking the wood for a new fire. He seemed to learn well from seeing Kobayashi build a fire the previous night.

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DAYS 3-5

Nothing to note occurred on day three, four, or five. However, the boredom in those days did seem to drive Alexander near the brink of insanity. Kobayashi and Alexander only continued to gather resources which would prove to be useful at a later time like food, water, and miscellaneous items around the area from the huts like satchels and weapons.

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DAY 6

With no sign of Aisha, the two continued their typical routine throughout the morning and evening. When night fell, Kobayashi was found lying peacefully on the ground, gazing upon the breathtaking twinkling night sky. Alexander was in one of the huts asleep.

"I'll come back one day, even if it's just for a little bit... After I fix this out of touch world..." Kobayashi mumbled quietly with a hint of depression in his voice. Despite being happy he was given the chance to begin a new life in this new world, he began to miss what he had back in his old life. Even though it wasn't particularly large, he had a family, but the chances were likely that he wasn't going to see them again until he and Alexander restored the divine law. Kobayashi was sure he wanted to live in this world after he restored the divine law, but he wanted to at least see his family one last time. He never even got to give a proper farewell before being pulled into this mess of a society. Despite missing his small family, however, his overall emotional and mental state was starting to increase since he arrived here.

"...?"

Kobayashi turned his head instantly after hearing a snap come from the forest. It was strange how Kobayashi could hear the snap, as it was very quiet and would be inaudible to the average human. He always possessed an inhuman sense of hearing and sight ever since he was a child.

Kobayashi slowly picked up a bow that was laying beside him and also picked up his katana before making his way to a hut Alexander made himself a home in.

He opened the door and shook Alexander awake.

"Alexander, get up. We have to go right now; I think Aisha has found us," Kobayashi said in a hushed tone, cautious of bringing attention to their precise position.

"What?"

Alexander rubbed his eyes and slowly got up from his resting place. He didn't hear anything outside other than insects chirping. He seemed to be confused why Kobayashi was in his hut.

"I said Aisha has found us. I heard something snap in the forest. We need to depart immediately."

"I'm sure she hasn't found us. You probably just imagined yourself hearing it. I'll even prove it to you, you delusional old man."

Alexander went to open the door, but found himself instantly frozen in fear as an arrow flew at hypersonic speeds directly towards his face. If it were to make contact with his face, he would be knocked unconscious in an instant. Kobayashi took no time to slam the door shut before Alexander could get hit. The arrow's velocity was enough to cause it to pierce through the door, a sharp metal tip poking through the door.

"You could've lost one of our winning chances like that. What were you thinking?"

Kobayashi's tone was calm, though it was clear he was disappointed in Alexander. Every chance mattered in this game, and losing even one of them would majorly impact the results of the game. Alexander could only stand frozen in fear of what just happened.

"T-That could've killed me!"

Kobayashi sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. He was beginning to think of Alexander as a pure embodiment of idiocy.

"Come on, let's get out of here before she actually does kill us. Make sure to grab your stuff as well."

"How are we supposed to leave?! The only door in or out of here is being used as target practice by Aisha!"

"I have an idea, just stay with me."

Alexander hurriedly gathered all of the items of significance and listened to what Kobayashi had to say.

"Kobayashi!!! Do something already!!!"

Alexander began to grow more frightened after a log from the fire outside was thrown into the hut through a small window. The hut began to burst into flames only seconds later.

"Don't worry, Alexander. These hut walls aren't very durable against attacks."

"How's that supposed to make me feel better?!"

Kobayashi kicked down the back side of the wall and motioned for Alexander to start running.

"Run into the forest in that direction. Don't stop running, just stay on the path you see first and follow it."

Kobayashi highlighted a straight line with his finger and gave Alexander a push. It was clear he was in no mood to have Alexander stay with him.

"What about you?!"

"I'm going to stay here and grant you some time to get out of here."

"Just don't lose all of your winning chances!"

Alexander began running into the dark forest while Kobayashi hid behind a nearby hut that was unaffected by the fire. He couldn't help but think of Alexander as an idiot while he hid, finding his last remark to be a bit contradictory. He took the few seconds he had to carefully think of a plan for how to spare time and get out of here as well. He knew if he lost here, Alexander couldn't carry out the game anymore.

"This is all I have..."

Kobayashi stepped out of his hiding area and saw Aisha watching the fiery chaos unraveling with the huts, the fire reflecting in her emerald eyes. She seemed to enjoy the sight of the countless burning homes as the fire was beginning to spread from hut to hut, the entire area slowly igniting into flames.

"Congratulations. I see you managed to find us, Aisha."

Aisha was wearing her typical attire, though she had a crossbow in her left hand. She let out a scoff at the sight of Kobayashi, not expecting him to walk out into the open, directly in front of her like he was wanting to be killed.

"You seem to be more idiotic than I originally thought. Did you really think stepping in an open area could be a good idea? How stupid do you have to be to do such a dumb thing?"

Aisha raised her crossbow at Kobayashi and fired at him—

But at the last moment Kobayashi unexpectedly unsheathed his katana and held it in front of him, managing to completely halt the arrow by cutting it in half down the center.

"H-how did you do that?! You must be cheating!"

Aisha was stunned by what just happened. But the truth was, despite her accusations, he didn't utilize any unfair methods. He managed to achieve such a feat through pure skill alone. Kobayashi was so fast when drawing his katana, her eyes couldn't even process it. He took no time in hesitating to charge at her. With Aisha being in a state of confusion, she couldn't reload her crossbow soon enough. With a swift slash of Kobayashi's katana, Aisha's arm was hit.

He then spotted five individual glowing marks on her arm and realized each person had a tally for their remaining chances. It was perhaps something Aisha was ignorant about.

"You can't do that!!! Face me on equal terms!!!"

Aisha's attitude quickly became enraged by the fact she just lost one of her chances. She pulled a dagger, which was previously concealed in a small pouch in the shoulder-area of her top. She attempted to strike Kobayashi, but he managed to jump back and appeared to have faded into the night.

"Where did you go?! I refuse to let you get away with this!"

Aisha looked around her frantically as the area continued to burn, though Kobayashi was nowhere to be found.

"You are good at this game, Aisha, I must admit."

Kobayashi's voice echoed in the darkness. He had not a negative tone when speaking to her, though she took offense from his words. The fire was illuminating the area slightly, which seemed to make her a bit nervous. Aisha turned in circles, waiting for Kobayashi to make an attack. She was blind and left alone in the open, vulnerable to an attack from any direction. Kobayashi had hopelessly trapped her.

"Just come out already! Stop being a coward!"

Kobayashi continued to hide his pretense. He went silent and had no intention of coming out anytime soon. The longer he hid, the further Alexander would go; and the further Alexander was, the more difficult it would be for Aisha to find and attack him if she were to make it out of here.

Aisha calmed down and took a deep breath, listening around her without making any noises herself. It was quiet. Too quiet. No footsteps were heard, no breathing, or any type of movement at all—it was dead silence. Aisha's stress levels rose with each passing moment, unaware of where Kobayashi was or what his next move would be. The former samurai was far too experienced in the art of combat. From all of his years as a warrior for one of the most powerful clans to ever rule in Japan, it would be considered useless to hold out hope of victory against the unconquerable beast in his own environment.

"Eep!"

Kobayashi's katana missed Aisha's head by not even an inch, a chilling breeze hitting the back of her neck from the motion. He finally revealed himself from the dark. If it had not been for Aisha's quick reflexes, she would've lost another chance.

"You won't make it through this game, Kobayashi! I will reveal you to be the fraud you are, I will destroy everything you believe belongs to you!"

Kobayashi laughed softly because of her anger, finding it slightly amusing how she was so infuriated. He saw the fury and rage she held and where it stemmed from. He could only see her reasons for being so hateful to be immature.

He then attempted to hit the dagger out of her hand using his katana, but she was somehow strong enough to keep hold of it.

"You're quite strong to be a royal. Judging from your overall physical appearance, I thought you would've lost grip on the dagger as it went flying immediately after my strike."

Kobayash was impressed by Aisha's pure strength. During Kobayashi's time as a Samurai, he never met somebody who could keep hold of their weapon after he struck them. Not even his fellow warriors were immune to his fierce attacks in training. The fact she managed to keep hold of her weapon was astounding to him.

"Did you really think that I, the last of the royal family, would fall victim to your pathetic attack?"

Aisha took a few steps back, thinking of a way to get the upper hand in the current situation. She was being extremely condescending towards Kobayashi while doing so. He kept his ground, adjusting his blade in his hand; it seemed he was waiting for her to make the first move here.

"I must say, you do have exceptional fighting skills considering you were raised in a world without violence, Aisha."

"Please, stop trying to flatter me and think I'll grant you the win because of such mindless nonsense you're bantering on about."

Aisha blitzed forward, nearly striking Kobayashi directly in the face, but he jumped backwards just moments before the dagger collided with his face.

"This is the end for you, Kobayashi Hachiman. After I disqualify you, Alexander will then fall victim to being exposed as a fraud."

Aisha backed Kobayashi into a burning hut, and it seemed he had nowhere to go now. After being promised the victory, Kobayashi would seem to soon meet his demise. Maybe he and Alexander really weren't the prophesied men who would come to save this world. Perhaps it was only a lie from the beginning.

"Aisha, I must give you the credit you deserve, you are indeed a clever individual."

Kobayashi let his guard down for a moment as Aisha continued to approach him.

"However, I would rather die than fail this world and lose my second chance at life. And even if I lose my second chance of life along the way, I'll make certain this world doesn't lose its last chance of survival."

In the blink of an eye, he lunged forward and struck Aisha in the torso, sending her flying to the ground.

"You put up a good fight, but I will never be defeated so easily."

Kobayashi began to walk out of the door, though Aisha threw her dagger at him in a last attempt to get rid of one of his chances.

"Mmph..."

Kobayashi grabbed his ankle, a bit of pain running up his leg—Aisha managed to strike Kobayashi and seemingly erase one of his chances, a mark disappearing from his arm.

"Very clever..."

Kobayashi ran outside and seemingly disappeared into the night. Aisha looked around, but seemed to find nothing. He was gone. She would need to start looking for him and Alexander again.

"Maybe they're not as brainless as I assumed..."

Aisha sighed and had a defeated expression on her face for a moment, though the expression eventually faded away. She was now trapped in a burning building with no escape, yet this sudden change of events seemed to not alarm her in even the slightest way. She reached for her side, but she then became shocked to find whatever it was she was looking for was gone.

"It's gone?! How could he possibly have stolen it?! That cunning bastard!"

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DAY 7

As the night's sky began to light up a bright orange color marking the beginning of day 7, Kobayashi made his way to the end of the thick forest and found Alexander asleep on the ground. It seemed he became exhausted after running all night and collapsed from exhaustion. He nudged Alexander with his boot to wake him up.

"You waited for me, I see. Thank you very much, Alexander."

Alexander rolled over and had a surprised expression on his face.

"You made it out? I didn't expect that..."

Alexander slowly got up from the ground, still shocked by the fact Kobayashi managed to escape from the chaotic situation caused by Aisha. He didn't foresee Kobayashi escaping the royal woman's near guaranteed victory.

"Well, I guess your entire homeland was turned to ashes, huh? I'm sorry that happened..."

Despite Alexander's blunt comment, he seemed to feel genuine sympathy towards Kobayashi. But he wasn't bothered by the comment and only smiled at Alexander.

"It's really not of any concern. It's not my legitimate homeland. I left everything in good hands prior to me being brought to the new world, so I'm sure it still stands strong even after being transported here."

The two stood in awkward silence for a few seconds until Kobayashi pulled out a map. It seemed to be of the entire simulated world.

"Where did you ever manage to get that from?" Alexander asked Kobayashi, curious of how he managed to obtain such a crucial item of utmost importance.

"Well, this is going to be a long explanation, but you see, I felt a bit weary of Aisha, so when I shook her hand in the moments leading up to being put into our slumber and simulation, I cast a spell using Astral Vitality which allowed me to access her visual and audible senses at any moment I pleased. Using that, I discovered Aisha cheated and obtained a map she created instantly after waking up. Likewise, listening to her hearing and judging from her dialogue with herself, I discovered she peered into our memories beforehand and knew the layouts of every memory we are consciously aware of. And since I had access to her visual perception, I knew when she was near. I likewise anticipated her peering into our past and pushed the true memories of my homeland into my subconscious mind and fabricated a false layout in my conscious mind while she looked into our memories before swapping the memories moments before being brought here so she would have no idea of the layout. But to our misfortune, my spell accessing her senses was rendered useless after her first confrontation."

Alexander was at a loss of words. Not only had Kobayashi managed to anticipate Aisha's cheating and successfully evade her tactics, but he also deduced that Aisha got hold of their memories. Even his father, who was a brilliant tactician, could have ever achieved such a feat, which came as another shock to Alexander.

"And that map holds the key to victory, am I correct?"

"It depends on your definition of 'key to victory'. The map showcases the entire layout of this world, but it's certainly not the key to complete victory. Yet I'm sure this will help us evade Aisha to a small extent and adapt to our surroundings quicker."

Kobayashi handed the map to Alexander. Alexander seemed to not understand why Kobayashi gave him the map and was instead a bit puzzled, looking at the map quizzically.

"Uh, Kobayashi, why did you give me this...?"

"Because I already memorized it while I was seeing it from Aisha's perspective. It wasn't very hard to do because of my memorizing skills, but you're going to likely need a bit to analyze it so hold on to it. Anyways, let us set out to the east."

"Wait, before we head off, if we called out the cheating directly in front of her, couldn't we technically get an automatic victory since she used unfair tactics?"

"We could...but I also used what could be considered 'unfair tactics', so both parties would likely be declared out and it would be a draw. In summary, neither of us would win and neither of us would lose."

"Ah, I see..."

Alexander let out a sigh, disappointed the two couldn't win right now by calling out Aisha's cheating. It would be a long time before the game was over, and Aisha was still hot on their trail.

Kobayashi took the lead as usual, walking through a vast meadow full of breathtakingly beautiful flowers. A nice scent filled the area from the diverse flowers, and the area's vibrant, gorgeous landscape could not be described by mere words. The sun was rising, the sky lit only slightly with orange as the moon shone brightly overhead. Kobayashi noticed the landscape wasn't from his memories, and it likely wasn't from Alexander's either. He remembered seeing a painting similar to this in the palace— meaning it was Aisha's memory. With a new world this charming and enchanting, it would be impossible to deny the invitation of settling down here.

"I think I'm going to love it here once I finish what I am indebted to do..."

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DAY 8

After a full day and night with no rest or stopping, the duo found themselves in an uncomfortably silent and abandoned town.

"Home..." Alexander mumbled quietly.

The area was based on Alexander's memory from the original world when he was still a teen. The town would have typically been busy and filled with bright and energetic crowds, but it was now just a silent abandoned civilization. The area brought much nostalgia to Alexander, yet it also brought many memories back that he would've preferred to never think about again. The once festive atmosphere with parades and bright celebrations was now replaced with blank and empty space devoid of any life forms. It was enough to make one depressed.

"I take it this is your homeland, hm, Alexander?"

"Yes, that is correct."

"Is this area safe enough, that if we encounter Aisha again we can flee?"

"It's the safest place I've ever known. It may not be guarded by trained knights like it previously was, but the buildings still have sturdy walls and could withstand nearly any attack."

"That's excellent. We should stay here for as long as we can."

Alexander sat down on the ground, tired from their long trip. It most definitely would take Aisha a lengthy time to find them again with how far they traveled from Kobayashi's homeland, so they would be safe for a long period of time. With fortified city walls built by the finest architects of the time, safety from sudden attacks was a guarantee. The only way into the city would be through the open gates; only two main entry points existed which would be very beneficial on the two's behalf.

Alexander hastily dug into a bag he took along with him before Aisha's attack, which had a variety of food in it. He offered the bag to Kobayashi, who happily accepted the food.

After the two finished eating, Kobayashi realized something that would be significant to their survival.

"Is there any water source here? If we don't drink anything, we could die from dehydration."

Alexander nodded his head and pointed to a well in the distance.

"That well over there is used for most of the citizens here. Just send the bucket down and get as much water as you can."

Kobayashi went over to the well and picked up a wooden bucket, examining it curiously. Afterwards he sent it down and pulled the water back up. Sitting the filled bucket on the edge of the stone well, Kobayashi cupped his hands together and began inhaling water as if it were air. After he was finished drinking the water, he brought the bucket over to Alexander and sat it down.

"Drink as much as you can, Alexander."

"You don't have to emphasize that to me!"

Alexander took no time to cup his hands together and started drinking as much water as he could.

Following Alexander finishing, he let out a sigh of relief and fell back on the ground in relaxation. He could now be relieved of the stress of elimination in the game. And, even if for only the moment, this felt life changing to him.

"Where can we find shelter? We're going to need to stay protected from the natural weather as long as we can."

Alexander stood up, stretching out and yawning before going to a distant building and opening the door, walking inside as if it were his own home. He was too lazy to say anything at the moment and gestured inside. He then finally spoke with a tired, carefree voice:

"This belongs to one of my father's few acquaintances. It's a pretty basic layout and doesn't have much, though it offers shelter and a comfortable place to sleep. But if you ask me, it's a total dump that needs to be demolished."

Alexander laid down on one of the two beds in the building and fell asleep without any hesitation. Kobayashi saw this and let out a soft chuckle, finding it funny. He didn't understand why Alexander was so hostile towards the structure, but he was deriving amusement from seeing the hostility. He laid down on the other bed, which was on the opposite side of the room and looked up at the ceiling with tired eyes. He soon fell asleep too.

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DAY 9

With the arrival of dawn, the 9th day was initiated. Alexander was immersed in a blissful slumber in the hope. Kobayashi was awake and had already left the location, exploring the area to satisfy his wonder. Within no time he managed to locate a library. He knew it would likely contain books which contained some insight into Alexander's past. With a newfound urge to dive deeper into Alexander's old life, Kobayashi eagerly entered the library without a moment's hesitation.

"This is amazing... The books here outnumber even the library in this new world. There must be something to spike my interest I can get my hands on here!"

Towering shelves of books neatly aligned in straight lines managed to pique Kobayashi's interest to a peak. He walked to one of the shelves like an excited youth and reached out his arm to grab a book off of it, though he was soon disappointed by what he discovered.

"Nothing... I guess this place really does generate off of only your memory."

The book was blank, not a single word written anywhere on the hundreds of blank sheets.

He picked up another book, hoping it might contain writing.

"How disappointing... Are you seriously telling me that Alexander hasn't even read one book in his entire lifetime? What a boring life he must live, being ignorant of the beauty in such divine literature."

Being met with the same problem, Kobayashi put the book back and left the library, disappointed he missed out on such a large array of knowledge. No, disappointment wasn't a word that would describe the feeling of being let down he was experiencing. Being teased by such a wealthy amount of knowledge, only for it to be snagged away like it were some sort of bait. He couldn't even begin to comprehend how boring and dull Alexander's life must be to not even touch one piece of literature in this entire library. And thinking even further on it, he began to ponder how one could live without coming into contact with what he considered to be immaculate. He knew Alexander didn't seem to take much interest in anything related to literature and seemed more of a person who was wild and focused on a partying lifestyle full of fleeting pleasures, but it began to seem like a miserable way of life to Kobayashi that he would call torture if to be put through it himself. Though, he was impressed by the fact that Alexander managed to remember the title and author of every book in the library, as every book Kobayashi laid eyes on had the title and author's name written on it.

Later that day, after finding nothing at the library, Kobayashi met back up with Alexander, who finally awakened from his sleep. It was a bit irritating to Kobayashi how slothful Alexander could be. His eye even twitched a bit at the sight of Alexander still in bed without a care in the world.

"So this is your homeland, Alexander? It seems smaller than I would've imagined."

"Yes, it is. I wouldn't be happy if anywhere else was my home. But the lands away from here were much better, especially when it came to having a good time."

"I don't want to hear about the 'fun times'," Kobayashi added silently.

Alexander then diverted his attention out a window, reminiscing of the past when people filled the streets. Those times, despite being lows in his life, brought a smile to his face. While he did enjoy travel and uncontrolled partying, he missed the calm and peaceful parades he experienced as a child.

"I'm assuming this is your father, and that's your mother?"

Kobayashi pointed to two different portraits. One was of Alexander's father and the other was of his mother. Each portrait was carefully painted with an extra amount of detail and effort compared to pictures in other homes. The portraits looked identical to his parents with not even a single mistake visible.

"That's correct. That's my father and mother when they were younger."

Alexander seemed a bit depressed remembering his mother and how she gave him up without a second thought. The sight of his father in a better state than the last time he saw him was something to pull him to a better emotional state, but he was much more focused on the image of his mother instead of his father. An undying sense of wrath targeted towards his mother lurked sinisterly in the depths of his heart. He had forgiven his father and even attempted to move on from the pain caused by her, but this had triggered him and tried to reopen a healed wound. He closed his fists tightly, anger beginning to boil within him the longer he stared the picture down. Seeing how he hit a sensitive, Kobayashi decided to change the subject to divert Alexander's mind from his mother. He didn't want to see Alexander lose his composure over something that could never be changed.

"Where are the nearest food sources? What we have won't be anywhere near enough to keep us alive for the remainder of the game. It would be best if we were to scavenge for some consumables."

Alexander snapped out of his trance, being pulled back to reality by Kobayashi. His hands began to gradually open back up. He looked down and let out an exhale, letting go of the thought for now.

"There are some markets that sell fruits and other foods that would last us for a decent amount of time just a bit down the street. I'll show you where they're at."

Alexander and Kobayashi spent the rest of the day gathering food from the markets. They roughly gathered enough to supply the both of them for the remainder of the game if it were to be rationed properly.

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DAY 14

Arriving at the 14th day and nearing the halfway mark, Kobayashi reviewed his contingency play for the game and possible obstacles to assure it still could play out effectively. He fortunately found nothing major that could disrupt his plan, which brought him relief. He had begun to feel stressed Aisha could counter his plan, though he didn't see any logical move from her, even if it involved cheating, that could foil his plan. But even then, after considering what seemed to be infinite possibilities of what she could do based on her previous actions, it felt as if there was a missing piece to the entire thing. That unnerved Kobayashi, even though he refused to admit it.

"Alexander, I think Aisha has long lost us for the time being. It's been days since there's been any signs of other people. However, we'll likely be seeing her in a few more days. I'm sure it could be good luck for us..." Kobayashi said with a bit of skepticism regarding if it would be beneficial to the two of them.

"Well, that would be fortunate for us, wouldn't it?" Alexander asked, a bit curious why Kobayashi wasn't entirely sure if it would help them in the long run.

"The thing is, if Aisha does appear soon, we could potentially end this game faster. While it's not much time wasted in the outside world, it would be preferable to escape this simulation as soon as possible. Yet I suppose it doesn't present too much of a threat whether we do or do not finish the game early."

Kobayashi sighed softly, a bit unsure of what to do now. He knew it was too risky to move into any unfamiliar territory and it would be better to stay here, though he wasn't sure if it was strategically the best move to stay here. What brought him comfort was knowing he and Alexander would win if Aisha decided to not reappear and instead continued staying hidden. But it was far too unlikely she would voluntarily forfeit the game.

"Um, K-Kobayashi...?"

Alexander's heart sank and he was filled with dread at the sound of footsteps echoing ominously outside the entrance to the building. A feeling of dread then filled both of the men, a sense of despair and certain death arriving within moments. The air felt heavy and unbreathable as if all of the oxygen had just been removed from the room. Sweat ran down Alexander's cheek as his anxiety grew. Kobayashi was too stunned to even move for a second.

"Get behind me, Alexander."

Kobayashi hastily pulled out his katana and stood on guard, anticipating for the door to open. If he were to be eliminated, it would still give Alexander time to flee again and get to the next landmark. That's all that mattered to Kobayashi, as long as the game could be won.

"You apes truly do tend to overreact..."

Entering the building with a look of disdain towards the duo, it was none other than Johan. Though, his physical appearance had notably changed since their last meeting. It was in such a way that he bore some notable traits with Kobayashi...no, he was an identical copy of Kobayashi. But despite having the appearance of the friendly and cooperative Kobayashi, the murderous aura of Johan was felt strongly throughout the room. He was still just as terrifying as the first time they met.

"Johan, is that you?" asked Alexander.

"Who do you think I am, you primitive dimwit?"

Kobayashi lowered his guard and seemed relieved Aisha wasn't the one who showed up. But the fear of this primordial entity's presence still lingered within Kobayashi. The fact that this life form's true form could vaporize the entire world alone was bone chilling to him. One wrong word and their lives could be gone within a millisecond.

Letting out a groan of frustration, Johan seated himself on Alexander's bed. Well, no? He seemed to be hovering over the surface of the bed and avoiding contact. What a weird thing to do...

"You're just as grumpy as always, I see, Johan. And why are you refusing to touch a simple bed?"

"I prefer to not be contaminated by the filth of monkeys. To be turned unclean by such lesser creatures disgusts me to my very core."

Alexander huffed at Johan. He indeed held a deep grudge against the divine entity, but clearly not enough to speak back with the same condescending tone Johan was using on him. He too knew the suffering he could cause if he even switched to his true form. And Alexander did not feel like experiencing the same agony he did prior to being brought into the game.

"You recovered quickly to my surprise. With someone as stupid and emotionally immature as you, I thought your soul sickness would've killed you by now. If it were not for the perseverance of your specially created souls by The One True God, you would already be in the fiery pit."

Alexander scoffed at Johan's insult, his negative view on Johan only growing worse as the conversation continued on. Kobayashi stepped into the unpleasant talk to end the fussing, not wanting to listen to the conflict anymore. But he didn't directly address Johan as being the one in the wrong, and he was too weary to do so right now. He knew Johan's pridefulness and feeling of superiority would lead him to murder them without a second of hesitation, even if it were a direct order to refrain from doing so by The One True God himself.

"So, I assume you're here for a reason, right Johan? Would you mind explaining why?"

Johan cleared his throat and adjusted himself, not sure how to say exactly what he wanted to express.

"According to my...superior Jahora, The One True God sends his...congratulations to you for your cooperation in the current situation of this world. Both The One True God and Jahora find you two to be...intriguing and noteworthy men who seem unstoppable by any natural means."

Johan said this with much hesitation and lacked as much praise to the duo as possible. He was attempting to downplay the original message of The One True God to the fullest. His hatred for the human race was certainly evident.

But Kobayashi sensed something when Johan spoke. He had resentment in his voice targeted at someone, which wouldn't normally catch his attention. The thing that caught Kobayashi's attention the most, however, was the fact Johan had no reason to resent one individual. Who did he resent? Was it The One True God? Perhaps Johan was envious of the praise Kobayashi and Alexander were receiving. And it then came to Kobayashi's mind—had Johan ever received praise from The One True God? Or did Johan crave to be given praise for the works he accomplished in the name of The One True God, like a child wishing to receive praise from their father for the tasks given to them? Kobayashi decided it was the latter of the two.

"Ah, I likewise would like to direct my thanks to The One True God for including me in a chance to save this world and giving me another chance in life. And thank you, Johan, for delivering us his words to us."

Kobayashi replied to Johan with much gratitude and appreciation at the supposed congratulations from The One True God. He appreciated the gesture, even though Johan made the message as dull as possible. Johan didn't even seem to acknowledge Kobayashi's thanks and instead remained silent.

"May I ask why you've copied my appearance?"

"I did it only because I'm tired of using the same useless appearance. If I'm going to look like a monkey, I'd prefer to have some variety when I'd like."

Johan stood up and snapped his fingers, sending a chill down Kobayashi and Alexander's spines. Nothing seemed to change, but Kobayashi had a terrible feeling in his stomach and Alexander soon followed. The dread and anxiety in the room continued to heighten as the time passed.

"What did you just do?" Kobayashi asked Johan.

"Did you think I only came here to uplift your pride on behalf of the command of my superior? No. I came here so I can speed up the process of you idiots repairing this broken universe; I'm going to cease that brat's mind down to the lowest level, where she's a drooling vegetable and has not a single clue about even the simplest functions. She'll probably choke on her own saliva as a result of her stupidity. As of now, I've freezed time here so that I can explain the process to you two."

Kobayashi took no time to object to Johan's cruel attitude, finding it evil how a being of such divine nature could possibly imagine doing such a thing. The fear was still in Kobayashi's stomach, but he drew the line of holding his voice when another human life was put at risk.

"No, you can't mentally kill Aisha. I want a somewhat fair game to be played out, and I wouldn't accept victory if it came from such a cruel and sadistic ploy. She's a fellow human being. I have made a vow to myself that I will never let another human life fade if I can stop their death."

"Kobayashi does have a point," Alexander added.

Johan sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration, annoyed by how Kobayashi was so determined to keep his vows.

"Don't you understand? I've seen nearly everything that could ever play out in this simulation, and there are infinite possibilities in each of the hundreds of free will decisions an individual makes every second. There are only five possible outcomes where you and Alexander win. It's not even a fair match for you two either; cheats of all sorts have been used against you in only 14 days."

Kobayashi seemed intrigued when Johan claimed to see everything which could possibly happen during the game. It was something not even he could comprehend, and that astounded him.

"I'm still standing on my decision—I won't let you use extreme unfair power to end this game. But I find it hard for me not to ask you, how did you manage to see every possibility of the game?"

"I looked into the scepter of divine knowledge. Anyone in the heavenly realm with basic authority can peer into it as they please."

Johan's expression made it clear to Kobayashi that he wasn't going to elaborate on what this 'scepter' was, so he decided to hold back on the question and let it go.

"And you got here...how, exactly?" Alexander asked, a subtle hint of anger still lingering in his voice.

"I searched for you two after receiving command from Jahora and found you two baboons unconscious. I only needed to look into your simplistic minds to find you two."

"You can do that? You didn't even ask for our consent to look into our minds!" Alexander seemed more irritated at the fact Johan didn't ask for permission to enter their minds, but Johan couldn't care less about Alexander's opinion.

Johan then gave Alexander a glare which silenced him, wanting to strike dismay into the heart of him. Johan was certainly a heartless man who cared not about the feelings or life of humans.

"Well, I have completed the task given to me. It's best that I take my leave now."

Johan turned around to walk out the door, but he stopped at the doorway. He was uncertain and hesitant to talk, his voice trapped in his throat and unable to climb its way out. Was it that he, for once, wished to say something to save the lives of humans? Or did he just want to say something negative about them but couldn't find the correct words to insult them? After a few seconds, he decided to speak about what was troubling his mind.

"While I would've preferred to let you two find this out yourselves...I recommend that after a second game here in this world, you locate Rakusaka Tastu, the king of the demon race. He holds immense power and influence in this world, and he's one of the first beings created by The One True God. He possesses far more power than the average lifeforms of even gifted abilities. He's even met The One True God face to face, something not even I have yet achieved."

"Thank you, Johan. We deeply appreciate your willingness to share your knowledge with us."

Johan left the building and seemed to disappear into nowhere. The strange feelings in Kobayashi and Alexander's stomach soon disappeared as well. The fear and dread caused by Johan's aura receded in an instant. It was as if they had awakened from a nightmare. Kobayashi was puzzled by the guardian. A being who was created to maintain peace and preserve the human race caused such disturbance and fear while hating the things he was created to protect. What could have ever caused such hatred and anger to compile in the entity formed by what would be viewed as perfection, The One True God? That was a question not even Kobayashi could answer.

————————————————————————

DAY 15

"We need to prepare, Alexander. Aisha's next attack will be any day now, and we still haven't placed even basic traps around the entrances."

Transitioning Alexander into day 15 by lightly slapping him, Kobyashi spoke with a determined tone.

Alexander had no idea of what Kobayashi was talking about and grumbled before scratching his head in confusion. He hadn't even heard what Kobayashi said and was more concerned about sleeping longer.

"What are you rambling on about, old man?"

"Just follow me and I'll explain along the way."

Kobayashi turned around to face the door and walked outside. Alexander seemed frustrated that he was woken up so early (the sun hadn't even come up and the stars were still visible outside), but he hesitantly followed Kobayashi outside.

"So what's this about? What pointless thing have you obsessed about to the point you believe we need to prepare for it?"

Kobayashi pulled out what looked to be a rough sketch of a complex system and studied it thoroughly. Alexander saw the sketch and failed to comprehend anything on the paper, seeming perplexed about what the illustration could be portraying.

"We will place triggers around the entrances to your city. I'm planning on using different strategies to conceal the trap, and it will be guaranteed to eliminate multiple of Aisha's chances. The first ingredient I'll need is our bows."

Alexander stopped Kobayashi in the middle of his explanation, already finding what he was proposing to be too risky. He found the bold plan of using their most advantageous weapons in a trap, where they would likely be forced to be left behind, to be a suicide wish.

"Kobayashi, if we use our bows, we'll lose our ranged defense tactics if we are to encounter her face-to-face. Don't you think that's a bit too risky?"

Kobayashi dismissed Alexander's worry and happily continued on with his explanation.

"You are correct. However, you should let me finish explaining my strategy before jumping to unnecessary conclusions. The initial part of the plan is to deduce Aisha's most likely point of entry so we can eliminate wasting time and resources on different entry points."

Kobayashi took a moment to think before continuing once more.

"So, since I know the area well enough after a few days, the most likely point of entry she would use would be over there," he pointed to their right hand side before further explaining, "This is because there are many shop tents and other structures to somewhat hide her movement from a long distance view. The other areas are too baren of structures to conceal her movement efficiently. And if she chose this entrance, she would then be able to gain access to one of the buildings close to your family friend's home and use a ranged attack, which would likely involve magic, to attack us and end the game."

Kobayashi stopped and put out his arm, stopping Alexander as well without any elaboration on why.

"Now what are you doing?" Alexander asked him, confused about why they had stopped.

"Let me give you a visual of the trap I'd like to set."

Kobayashi picked up a nearby stick and began illustrating what he was planning to do by highlighting on a wall.

"This is where Aisha would come in. As I'm sure you know, there are two buildings at this entrance area with windows facing the likely direction she would enter, which would immediately direct her to the streets where the shop tents are. My idea is that we could angle our bows in the two buildings to face towards the fourth shop tent specifically to make her think everything is normal, as she will have already passed through three tents and let her guard down. And when Aisha walks even in a close proximity, a transparent magic trigger, like something measuring the weight of the area, could be linked to our bows and set off to hit her twice. This would take not only one, but two of her chances away."

Kobayashi threw the stick aside and continued walking along like normal. Alexander stood in place for a few seconds, processing everything Kobayashi had just explained. It seemed too complex to him, far too risky and contingent to be considered a possibility of success in the game. The far-fetched theory this could even pass as an efficient and reliable strategy in Kobayashi's mind caused Alexander to become bewildered.

"Don't you think your plan is just a bit too...unrealistic? You're relying on the possibility Aisha comes through that exact location, she enters the specific tent, lets her guard down, and she doesn't dodge out of the way of our arrows, which would be far away and fairly easy to dodge. Your strategy is being held together by a thread because of the many possible scenarios that need to play out."

Kobayashi smiled reassuringly and patted Alexander's shoulder as they continued to walk.

"Don't fret, Alexander. I'm certain we can do this, even if it seems impossible. I just need your cooperation to help and that's it."

The two entered the building at the edge of the township. The entire structure was dark, desolate and void of any decoration or props like a desert, creating a slightly eerie atmosphere. The two wandered up the stairs, Kobayashi taking the lead as the wooden stairs creaked loudly with each step taken. It was a perfect area for unexpected horror to take action.

As the two reached the top floor, Kobayashi positioned both of their bows on a sharp angle which aimed towards the fourth market tent like he explained in his strategy.

Alexander still seemed a bit uncertain whether this strategy would work or not. The chances of Aisha doing everything required to enter the trap and not dodge the arrows after they were fired was so incredibly low that impossible could indeed describe the chances of occurrence; it didn't take a genius to figure that out. For once Alexander was right about something—Kobayashi's scheme was far too unrealistic and implausible. Not even the highest-stake gamblers would put their life on the line for a plan so riddled with such unlikelihood. But he couldn't argue against Kobayashi; he didn't have any better ideas for a trap and knew Kobayashi's prediction skills were at least higher than the average person's predictions. Even if Alexander had one idea to trap Aisha, he would have brought it up the very minute it entered his mind.

"Are you sure this is going to work exactly according to your plan? You can't guarantee something with such a slim margin of occurring."

Kobayashi laughed to himself, amused by Alexander's question. He seemed far too carefree and calm about the true risk behind this. He held out his hand and pulled the bow back without touching it, presumably using Astral Vitality to do so. Looking back at Alexander, he once again brushed off Alexander's line of thinking.

"The possibility of Aisha doing everything I said would need to take place is nearly impossible, I'll give you the truthful answer of your concern in regards to that. But this strategy is the most efficient out of anything we could do to prevent Aisha from unexpectedly attacking us here. And let me give an explanation if it would ease your worry; the chances of her confidently walking through the main entrance is too improbable for someone with her intellect. Only an idiot comes through the front door of a fortress. I've done some calculations for the possibilities of her actions, and this was by far the most likely scenario which could be countered. Everything else that could occur was either much more likely to not happen, or it couldn't be countered. So yes, I'm certain this will pan out just fine."

After Kobayashi finished addressing Alexander's concerns, he began to descend back down the steps. Alexander pursued him, deciding to not ask anything else about the decided course of action. But he still felt as if Kobayashi's decision was illogical and would, without a doubt, fail them. It was an unshakable feeling deeply within his gut. The feeling of an inevitable doom that would end everything. The presumption that he could not do anything to stop an incoming assault costing their very lives resonated in his mind. It was a similar feelings to the moment he realized he couldn't save his father's life all of those years ago. Alexander was certain he and Kobayashi would be the next to lose their lives.

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DAY 16

"Have you ever seen the ocean, Alexander?"

Kobayashi sat atop of a stone wall connected to Alexander's acquaintance's home, his feet dangling carelessly over the edge as the sun began to fall, painting the sky with a blanket of bright and warm colors. In this moment Kobayashi was experiencing an unusual amount of joy. Alexander was never sure why he was so ecstatic since they first came to the new world. The man Alexander originally came to this strange world alongside was a stoic and composed individual who showed no emotion, but it seemed that man was beginning to transition into an expressive and kind character. He had never seen anything like it before and couldn't understand what was causing such changes to the old man.

"Yes, I've seen the ocean twice in my lifetime, but I don't remember it very well. I've heard much about it from other people. I saw my father's friend paint a picture of it, and he also told me stories of the ocean, when he was once a fisherman."

Kobayashi stared at the sunset, seeming to be reminiscing of a nostalgic and treasured moment in his past. Alexander observed Kobayashi was currently living in a memory, but he was still confused about why Kobayashi was changing from the person he was when they first arrived in this world. He understood the concept of a world full of peace was something revolutionary and it even began to change him in minor ways, but to change someone to such a drastic extent in such a short period of time felt like something out of a fiction to Alexander.

Kobayashi smiled as he pulled out what seemed to be a newly sketched picture of a younger him and a young girl standing amidst a war torn village. The angle he held it at declared he was trying to share the image with Alexander. The piece conveyed much emotion even to someone such as Alexander, though he didn't understand what the context of the image was. From the details, to the use of color, to the background's paused brutality, it was a piece that showed the darkness of what should have been a long-forgotten past full of hatred and suffering; yet the interaction between the once young man and child was a beacon in the bloodshed and violence surrounding them.

"This is a girl who survived an attack from my father's rival clan... I felt guilty for what happened to her parents who were slaughtered like animals by a butcher, and took her in without a second thought, raising her like she was my own child. And I remember so vividly how when she was a small child, she loved to see the ocean and play in the water. I'd take her to the sea every evening near sundown, just so I could see her smile, full of warmth and joy, and know that I did something good for once in my life. She was the lone thing to bring me momentary happiness in a world of suffering; not my brother's offspring, not my old friends, not the riches offered to me by the vanquished enemy clans, but the smile of a youthful girl who was put through unimaginable pain at such a young age...that's what helped me keep hope in such a disturbing race, us humans."

Kobayashi paused, putting the sketch away and going silent for a short time as if he were overtaken with emotion. His eyes teared up a bit, though it was barely visible and Alexander took no notice of it. Upon their first meeting, Alexander would've never expected Kobayashi to become so emotional and expressive compared to his former stoic self.

"She's getting older now, and since I'm gone from the old world she'll become the next leader of the clan. I did everything in my power to make sure she would never suffer hardships in life again, even going as far to make sure my deceased brother's children couldn't inherit the title of the clan leader."

Kobayashi pondered deeply once again, reflecting on his life choices and what led him to be the way he formerly was. He never wanted to turn back to being the way he was before he came to his world. He used to be so depressed and broken before he came here. He never before felt as if his life had purpose or meaning. He wished he could die for the lives he claimed in the battlefield as a warrior in his youth days. Before his arrival he was depressed, uncaring, lonely, and felt as if he was never going to do anything with his life—he was undoubtedly hopeless.

"Alexander, you are the first person in a long time who I consider to be..." Kobayashi laughed lightly and wiped the tear from his eye, "a real friend."

Alexander sat down beside Kobayashi and laughed with him. Despite Alexander being cranky at some points and unbearably playful at other moments, he was beginning to take things much more seriously since he met Kobayashi. And perhaps, though seeming a bit unlikely, he was likewise changing for the better. He gazed upon the sunset with Kobayashi and let out a relaxed and content sigh.

"Kobayashi, I have to admit...I find you to be a true friend, too."

Maybe the two would change for the better and forget their past. Kobayashi could settle down and start a family like he wanted to when he was younger, he could at long last acquire the happy life he always wished for. And Alexander could potentially spend his days traveling and learning how to become literate and live the life he always wished for as a traveler. In the hopes of both men, they wished to start anew and let go of the anchoring past, holding them captive to misery. Once everything was fixed, it would all become a matter of choice with what they did in their remaining years.

After the sun had finished setting, Kobayashi stood up and looked towards the area he suspected Aisha would enter.

"Let's go, Alexander. I'll find a position for us to attack her after the arrows make initial contact."

"Alright...I'm following you..." Alexander said with a tired tone, his typically slothful behavior affecting him. In all honesty he hadn't a care in the world about what would happen and instead wanted to sleep.

The two began to make their way to the roof of a building in close proximity to the fourth tent. Kobayashi extended his hand and closed his eyes while facing the direction of the fourth tent.

"The trigger is set in place and concealed. The arrows will auto fire the moment she sets foot on the area."

Alexander was unresponsive, which was no surprise to Kobayashi. He then turned back to find Alexander asleep on the roof. It seemed that perhaps Alexander was too lazy and sleepy to even wait for Aisha to attack them. Kobayashi, if it hadn't been an important moment, probably would've smacked him for his incompetence. He knew if it were all in his hands, they would've been eliminated the second Aisha found their location in the first few days. Alexander did have his own moments where it seemed he was a complete moron.

"I suppose you'll know when it's time after you hear a commotion..."

Kobayashi let out a soft sigh, laying a low quality and rusty sword to the side of Alexander for when Aisha arrived. It was an undeniable fact that Alexander had zero survival instincts. He wanted to make sure the numbskull had at least some sort of weapon to defend himself.

"She's coming...wake up..."

Kobayashi shook Alexander awake (he seemed to be annoyed he was shaken out of his slumber) and adjusted his stance to be ready to jump off the roof to surprise attack Aisha. With his inhuman eyes, he spotted the young woman silently and sneakily moving through the entrance like a thief, just as he predicted. After he lost sight of her, he knew she had entered the first market tent and would soon find her way into the fourth one. He put his hand on his katana and began to wait patiently for the bows to trigger.

"Be ready, Alexander..."

After only a few seconds of silence, Kobayashi heard the tension on the bows release and knew that she had entered the fourth tent, which was directly below them.

"Now!"

Kobayashi jumped down before the arrow even had the chance to hit Aisha. The moment he made contact with the ground, he witnessed Aisha miraculously dodge the first arrow, the tip of the arrow coming within not even a hair's length of making contact. The second one, however, made contact with her right leg and threw her off balance, causing her to fall over. Alexander clumsily descended from the rooftop during this period with his sword, landing directly beside Aisha and almost falling over. He took no time to hesitate striking her, but Kobayashi attempted to object to this action.

"Wait, no, Alexander, stop!"

Aisha hastily recovered from her fall and picked up a broken piece of wood from the tent, hitting Alexander's sword out of his hand with it. Though Kobayashi knew the young woman possessed exceptional strength, he never thought Alexander could have gotten the sword literally beaten out of his hand. Kobayashi began to question if he really was trained as a knight for years. She then took out her dagger and stabbed Alexander three consecutive times within the blink of an eye, taking no hesitation to unleash her ruthless flurry of attacks on the poor soul.

"You fools really have no bounds to your stupidity, do you?"

Aisha sneered at Alexander and nearly achieved a fourth stab to Alexander's chest before Kobayashi managed to kick Alexander out of the way and strike Aisha in the abdomen with his Katana. The attack was so forceful it sent her stumbling backwards, draining the breath from her lungs and causing her to gasp for air for a second. It was a painful feeling, something she had never experienced before. It even made her a bit scared when she couldn't breathe.

"You two idiots never learn anything. You can't defeat a royal! Inevitable victory runs in my very blood!"

Aisha hurdled at Kobayashi with lightning speed, ready to finish the game here and now and prove the two to be frauds. She was much more aggressive than the last time they battled.

"This ends now!"

Aisha attempted to strike him with her dagger, but Kobayashi's reflexes were shockingly quick enough to pull up his Katana and block the attack. The old warrior was a threat that she had underestimated to the fullest. Yet at the same time, the young ruler was indeed a threat to the both of them, someone who could certainly end them if Kobayashi didn't make haste to formulate his plans fast enough. It was two sides of the same coin in this case. Aisha was a superior in brute strength to Kobayashi despite her small frame, but Kobayashi was far ahead in terms of skill and versatility.

"You won't take the throne from me! I won't let my family's title of undefeated end with me! I will keep my family's reputation until I die!"

Aisha screamed at Kobayashi, sending flurries of attacks that could barely be blocked by him. Even Kobayashi, known as the strongest warrior of all generations in Japan, was struggling to keep up with the bombardment at this point. His sword vibrated in his hands with each collision of her dagger, causing a pain in his hands. The combined force and pain was nearly enough to make Kobayashi drop the sword, though he persevered through the hardship and kept hold of his sword. She was far too strong for even the abilities bestowed upon those with royal blood. She was a force of otherworldly power and strength. And yet, in spite of all the strength and power she possessed, she seemed completely fueled by pride and an unknown hatred alone.

"Aisha, I must say this again, you're an impressive fighter. You hold much potential in the art of fighting for someone who lacks usual combat in their life."

Kobayashi said while deflecting her hits, seeming to be surprised and yet delighted by her pure strength and skill. The last time he was ever put through such a difficult situation was on the battlefield years ago. She was putting far more effort into eliminating Kobayashi here than when she attempted to eliminate him back at his homeland. Her disturbingly hateful emotions gave her an unsettling determination and desire to humiliate Kobayashi and watch him die at the hands of the kemono race.

"Flattery doesn't work on me! You should be ashamed for daring to charm me!"

As the chaos ensued, Alexander recovered from the ground. He was out for the entirety of the fight and was momentarily confused by what was unfolding before his eyes. After Kobayashi pushed him to the ground, he hit his head on a barrel and fainted, and at his awakening he became dizzy and uneasy for a bit. The moment his senses readjusted, he noticed how much of a threatening situation Kobayashi was in. He picked up his sword and charged towards Aisha in hopes of creating a chance for Kobayashi to attack. Even though he was not the brightest or most caring person, he didn't want to see his friend be tortured by her.

"How do you like this, you royal piece of rubbish?!"

In less than an instant, Aisha managed to halt her relentless onslaught on Kobayashi and rotate her body to stab Alexander twice in the chest. Pain flowed through the knight's chest from the potent attacks, and he let out an involuntary gasp of agony. Kobayashi seized the opportunity to land a blow on her leg, but his decision to attack and let down his guard left the opportunity for Aisha to once again spin and strike Kobayashi in the head. The two men fell to the ground, with even Kobayashi beginning to feel hopeless.

"Alexander, run as fast as you can and get out of here! At least we'll stand a chance of winning if one of us survives!" shouted Kobayashi with a commanding tone. He didn't want to lose his only ally in the game, especially when they were nearing so close to the end of the game. Though, to much annoyance, Alexander couldn't give up all hope and leave Kobayashi behind. He couldn't abandon his only friend he had. And he was aware that if the samurai were eliminated, the game would be over soon after. Alexander knew he was pointless in the game if he didn't have someone to tell him what to do and how to survive.

"I won't leave you behind!"

Alexander mustered up the strength to strike Aisha hard enough to send her stumbling into the wall, causing her to fall unconscious. He created the perfect moment to escape from this place with his friend, but he couldn't run anymore. He refused to flee like a coward any longer.

"We must end this now!" Alexander declared as he began to stumble towards Aisha with the remaining strength in his aching body.

Kobayashi saw the situation as the best time to get back up from the ground. After he readjusted while standing up, he spotted something critical.

"Alexander, get out of there!"

Kobayashi had seen through Aisha's act; she had only pretended to be knocked out. She wished to take advantage of the situation and trap whoever would wander towards her, and Alexander was the unfortunate victim of her deceptive scheme. He was not clever enough to spot her act of deception, and that would cost him his last chance in the game.

"Simulated player Alexander Webb of the English royal family has been eliminated," announced an unseen automated voice after Aisha's dagger pierced through his back. He had turned around to listen to Kobayashi and had no time to escape from her or even process his words in time to think of retreating, causing him to be felled by the Queen.

"Alexander..."

Kobayashi's heart sank at the sight of Alexander, who fell to his knees. Though this was only a simulation, it sparked old, dark memories in Kobayashi's mind. He was too stunned to even utter a simple sentence. The past was destined to tug at him throughout his game. And he then realized something—it was a possibility Aisha read him as the type to have a barbaric and traumatic past when she first met him in the library, and it was all a plot to mentally shatter him. Finding Kobayashi's sorrowful state to be the perfect moment to also catch him off guard, she threw her dagger at his leg and reaped another chance from him. She had no sympathy for him, and she was in some way pleasured by the sight of his dejected face.

"You won't be victorious, Aisha. I will never allow your family pride to cause the downfall of this world," after he had uttered these words, Kobayashi vanished into the night breeze like a phantom. With only 14 days remaining, losing 2 chances in this attack, and letting the opponent acquire the last piece of familiar land, Kobayashi was on track to lose the game soon. The tides had turned, and he was now put in the disadvantageous position.

He only needed to accept Johan's offer and he would have never been in this situation. The only thing to view with a positive outlook was the fact he was in possession of more chances than Aisha. The odds were in her favor, as the last remaining area for Kobayashi to flee to would be the lands of her memories, meaning he would have no idea how to navigate the area and would be susceptible to getting lost while she could easily track him down and eliminate him.