Chapter 87 - Mysterious Voice

Finally... I have my mind rested. The event lasted only for hours. It was still relieving to have. As I have a working brain, I still need to replenish the mental energy I used.

It didn't actually exist. It was just the health of my brain, currently. Since I don't get tired physically, my brain gets tired instead.

Ellena finally finished her morning routine and decided to hunt some monsters. However, on the way, a voice resounded.

"Welcome participants! This is your second day. As this 4 suns and 3 moons test, it will cover up a total of three days! And this second sun will be the day where the test will begin!"

The voice was heavy and hoarse-like as it also sent chills down the spines. It was creepy that the moment it talked, the forest became silent.

Ellena also remained silent and listened to the voice eagerly. She didn't make any sound until the voice continued.

"First of all, the test wasn't actually as easy as you thought. You won't just survive because all of you will try to hunt down one participant in the test."

For a moment... The sound paused... I waited... and anticipated the name of the participant. However, while I was waiting, I remembered last night's scene.

There's someone who wants Ellena dead for an unknown reason. And as I overthought it, I became overwrought and looked at Ellena, who was looking nowhere to listen to the voice intently.

"You are going to hunt a participant named Noelle, also known as 'The Masked Monster'."

I felt buried again. I heard Ellena's alias and that matched up with my worries. Someone is really eager to kill her, but who?

Ellena started to get worried too. Who wants her dead? It feels like an endless abyss to me as I can't find any person who might.

But... Someone entered my mind... It was Hubert Lumbert. He might be the mastermind behind this, but I can't think of any way. If he was it, why now?

Hubert might be wary of his grandchildren and, even worse, would want them to be assassinated, but why now? When it was already months...?

"Aaron..." Ellena made a worried look as she gazed at me.

We must be wise right now! This isn't my expertise, as I haven't fought an invisible enemy in the past. At least, I just contributed to countering criminals' plans. However, this time, I don't know the plan.

I can not build plenty of possibilities. This brain is too small for me to think. Even if I have a calculator system nature, it won't help since it's for a long-run situation.

"For every person who can kill her and bring her head, they will receive a reward. And also, everyone can pass the test even without contributing." The voice said.

"She's a dangerous being, so this is a must. But don't worry, you won't die here, I assure you. But her, she'll be affected by death in this place."

Wait... Something is wrong. Did he just say that he modified the artifact's mechanism? Yesterday, I heard that if someone dies, they would be kicked out of the forest. But right now, he just said that she'll not be affected by it?

So it points me to someone capable of it... The landlord...

But why? Even though she was mysterious, she still did not do anything wrong and, from what I remember, the guild was neutral.

This isn't right. The Murphy family is the only one who can change the mechanism, but it can also not be changed by them since it was borrowed by the guild.

I'm stuck here... It feels like there are barriers imprisoning me in this hectic situation.

Ellena's safety depends on this...

"So! What are you waiting for? Start hunting her!" The voice continued and my heartbeat just skipped a beat.

***

Everyone was busy with their jobs. As they woke up for another day, they hunted for their meal. Others just wanted to have an easy fight and others wanted a satisfying one.

However, whilst they were hunting, a sound resounded throughout the whole forest. No one knows where it came from and the forest has become silent at the moment.

Listening to the voice, they gasped in surprise when a revelation was announced. The Masked Monster was dangerous? And hearing that, their hearts justly urged them to hunt her.

They already thought that it came from the guild since the guild was operating the test.

Some wanted to hunt her as the guild announced she was dangerous. Others wanted the rewards instead. However, they were stiffened for a moment when they recalled the rumors about her.

Can they really defeat an individual that's already comparable to a silver-ranker in caliber?

Everyone parted their ways, so it was impossible to coordinate.

When they finally decided, they moved their feet and searched for other participants. It would be better if they tried to coordinate with each other. If not, they won't get the reward from the announcement.

Even though they are skeptical about it, they can't ignore the fact that they would pass after hunting her. And even if they needed her head, they could just defy their conscience.

It's for the best and the most beneficial. They don't know the real identity of their prey, but no one cares. They are fixed on rewards and other benefits.

Ellena, who was starting to feel agitated, thought about it for a moment.

'Should I escape right now? But if I do it, does it mean that I will really become a criminal? What's my offense though?'

Then she paused when she remembered something. 'Ah! That must be the mastermind who was behind this. Was it because I killed his subordinate? I call it 'fighting for my life though.'

"Ellena... What do you think about this?" Aaron asked her as she was still pondering.

Ellena stopped her pondering and looked at him. "I don't have a choice but to fight. This might be helpful to me, right? If I become flexible in fighting humans and monsters, I can continue to survive."

"You're right. This might be another way for you to practice your sword. Although I have a plan to recreate guns for your convenience, I can not still make a blueprint of it since I don't know if I can replicate it in this world." Aaron said.

"Guns?" Ellena raised her eyebrows.

"Oh... Right, you don't know it. Guns are long-range weapons in my world where they can kill or hurt a person fatally in just the blink of an eye. I can explain it to you clearly, but only after this. I will try to replicate one."

"Okay... I think I can wait and it's exciting."

"Yeah. It is... I hope that this time things will go on your side."

"Don't worry... I have you right? Even if I need to fight plenty of potential silver-rankers, I won't be defeated because I have you."

Aaron smiled, hearing the sweet words coming from Ellena's mouth.