Future Diary Survival Game

Chapter 10: First Come, First Served – 2

Magireta smiled as she replied.

“Hmm, let’s see? Maybe I’ll allow up to 16.5 people? I’ll just split one person in half and let them both through.”

“……That’s an answer, I suppose. So, up to sixteen people.”

“I’m serious. Don’t twist my words.”

“Could you perhaps give us tools or food? Or maybe even weapons? I’m the youngest one here, after all.”

The moment she mentioned weapons, everyone’s expressions stiffened.

There was no rule in this quest that explicitly forbade violence.

“I’ll give out tools, weapons, and food. But not just to you, my dear. Everyone will receive their fair share.”

“……”

“Any other questions?”

I slowly raised my hand.

Everyone’s gaze turned toward me.

The girl who had just asked a question also looked in my direction.

And then—

Our eyes met.

It was at that moment.

Huh?

That girl’s name was Aina?

After Armelia, now I had to make sure she survived too?

[Yes.]

‘Damn it, I wasn’t asking you, Diary Book.’

[I apologize. But while we’re on the topic, my name isn’t “Diary Book.”]

‘You have a name?’

[Yes.]

‘What is it?’

Just then, Magireta’s voice interrupted.

“Right, I was wondering when you’d speak up. What’s your question?”

“Why are there only thirty-three of us here?”

“What do you mean?”

“There must have been tons of survivors from the first quest.”

“Ah, that.”

She answered as if it was nothing worth worrying about.

“Don’t worry. At this very moment, countless groups across the continent are playing the exact same ‘first come, first served’ game.”

“What? But you’re here right now.”

“Mm-hm. That’s right.”

“Then who’s managing the other locations? Do you have subordinates or something?”

“No. I’m the one managing those too.”

That didn’t make any sense.

Magireta shrugged.

“Like this.”

Ssshhk—

In an instant, the Magireta sitting on the rock doubled.

Then there were five of her.

Ten. Twenty.

It wasn’t an illusion or a trick of the eye.

“Does that answer your question?”

Ah. My head hurt.

Originally, I’d planned to come up with some kind of strategy with Armelia.

But—

Snap.

The moment Magireta snapped her fingers, I found myself standing on a cliff so high it made my knees go weak.

“Gasp.”

I instinctively sucked in a breath and landed on my backside.

[You appear to have acrophobia.]

‘Do you think that’s why I’m surprised right now?’

[Yes.]

‘Forget it. Just give me the Diary Book. I need to use the secret communication function.’

[Understood.]

Swoosh—

The Diary Book floated into the air.

I grabbed it and spoke through my thoughts.

[Your Highness.]

[Mason. Are you unharmed?]

[It’s been less than a minute since the game started, so yes.]

[Good. You suddenly disappeared… Well, not just you, actually.]

[Where are you, Your Highness?]

There was a brief pause, as if she were looking around.

Then Armelia spoke again.

[I can’t say exactly. All I see are thick trees everywhere around me.]

[Right. You did say Bucklet Forest was in the middle of nowhere.]

[Yes. Even the Imperial Palace doesn’t have a proper map of this place.]

[Hmm. I suppose we should regroup first.]

I scratched my head.

[Your Highness, can you climb trees?]

[I can. Quite well, actually.]

[That might still be difficult, though.]

[I said I’m good at it.]

[You don’t need to overdo it.]

Her voice came back, slightly irritated.

[I said I’m good at it, didn’t I?]

[Then prove it.]

[Prove it how?]

[You still have your dagger, right? Luckily, it’s sunny today. Climb the tallest tree nearby and reflect sunlight with your blade.]

Armelia seemed to realize what I meant and grumbled.

[You could’ve just asked nicely from the start.]

Sorry.

I know it’s a bit crazy of me to think this way about a princess, but—

She’s kind of fun to tease.

I looked down from the cliff.

My starting point was extremely fortunate.

From here, I could see nearly all of Bucklet Forest spread out below me.

The first thing that caught my eye was the massive beam of light emanating from the rock where Magireta had been.

‘Judging by the distance, it’s not that far.’

Except that the forest below had no clear paths at all.

As I slowly turned in a full circle, something glittered from atop a tree in the distance.

That must’ve been Armelia.

[Found you. You’re closer than I expected.]

[Good. What now?]

[I’m on a cliff right now. Before I climb down, I’ll sketch a quick map of the forest and its surroundings.]

[……All right. That’s wise.]

[Don’t worry too much. As long as you stay hidden atop a tall tree, you won’t be in much danger.]

[I was never worried.]

[I’ll keep this magic link open, but please don’t talk for a while. I need to focus.]

[…….]

Guess she’d already decided to stop talking.

I spoke to the Diary Book again.

‘All right, start drawing.’

[Excuse me?]

‘Draw. A map of Bucklet Forest.’

[I don’t have that function.]

‘Even if you don’t, I would’ve drawn it in today’s diary entry anyway. That’s the kind of person I am.’

[…….]

‘In other words, I’m not telling you to draw it. I’m telling you to record the map I’ll be drawing. In the meantime, I’ll check the gear Magireta gave me.’

[……That’s technically against the rules.]

The Diary Book grumbled but then flipped through its pages with a flutter.

It began to draw small, squiggly lines on one of the pages.

Erasing and redrawing several times.

It was exactly my style of drawing.

I stared in fascination and asked,

‘So, what’s your name again?’

[Busy concentrating. Please be quiet.]

Got it.

Next to me was a massive backpack.

It must have been the survival tools and food Magireta had distributed to each of us.

I unpacked them one by one.

Well-dried jerky and drinking water.

Ropes and flint.

And a weapon.

“A weapon? Is this it?”

I picked up a knife that looked oddly familiar.

A kitchen knife.

She gave me a kitchen knife as a weapon?

……

Did she prepare this because I used to be a restaurant worker?

Back then, when we were short on staff, I often worked in the kitchen.

The head chef trusted me enough that, aside from the main menu, I made most of the dishes myself.

And now, I held a knife exactly like the ones I used back then.

‘Maybe…’

Magireta might have given each person the weapon they were most skilled with.

If one of the thirty-three participants was a knight or mercenary… I didn’t even want to imagine it.

Unlike the first quest, there were no rules forbidding violence this time.

Anyway, just as I finished checking my gear—

[It’s done.]

The Diary Book flipped open.

There was a perfectly detailed map on the page—so flawless that I doubted I’d ever drawn that well.

‘Can this be shown to others? Just this page?’

[What?]

‘I told Her Highness I’d be late because I was drawing the map. But you can’t be seen by her, right?’

The Diary Book hesitated before answering.

[If you tear out the page, it becomes visible to others.]

‘Oh. That’s convenient.’

[Please tear it gently.]

‘Sure. Thanks.’

Rip.

I tore the page out in one go.

[Kyaaa!!]

‘Ah—! S-sorry!’

[I told you to do it gently!]

‘That would hurt more. Wait, why does it even hurt in the first place?’

[Forget it.]

The Diary Book vanished, apparently sulking.

I scratched my head and slung on my backpack.

Earlier, I’d told the Diary Book it was just transferring the map I would’ve drawn myself, but in truth, there was a huge difference.

‘Wow. This is insane.’

The details were so vivid it would’ve taken me at least ten hours to draw something like this normally.

Even if I wrote today’s diary, I wouldn’t have drawn such a perfect map—just a rough sketch from memory.

‘So if it’s something I could do myself, the Diary Book helps me perform at my absolute best.’

A very useful bit of information—and a pretty generous kind of support.

Now I actually felt a little bad about tearing the page so roughly.

It took me over five hours to climb down the cliff with my poor equipment.

By the time I finally reached the ground, the sky was already glowing with sunset.

[Panting]

[I made it down.]

[You worked hard. You’re not injured, are you?]

[No, thankfully.]

[To descend such a high cliff unscathed—you’re quite strong.]

[I’d say so.]

Though, truthfully, it wasn’t just my stamina. The Diary Book had guided me along the fastest and safest route down.

Anyway, after catching my breath, I said,

[There aren’t any obstacles between me and Your Highness now. I’ll see you in about thirty minutes.]

[You don’t have to come all the way here. You must be tired from the climb. Wouldn’t it be better if I came to you instead?]

[No. I’ll come. You’re closer to that beam of light.]

[All right. There’s plenty of time, so no need to rush.]

[Yes.]

[Come quickly.]

[What?]

Just as I was about to ask if she had mood swings—

[Someone’s holding a dagger to my throat.]

Her trembling voice left no room for doubt—it wasn’t a joke.

Since no one could overhear our secret talk, I steadied myself and carefully asked,

[Please describe it in more detail. Can you see their face?]

[No. They’re behind me. Said they’d kill me if I turned around…]

[You’re in a tree, right?]

[Yes. I should be well hidden among the big leaves, but how did they find me?]

[Their voice?]

[A girl’s. Quite young, too.]

At once, Aina’s face flashed through my mind.

Apparently, Armelia had a similar thought.

[It’s the same one who questioned Magireta earlier. And now that I think about it, she’s the one who asked me a ‘question’ during the first quest too.]

[Fate, huh. But how did that kid climb such a tall tree—and find Your Highness who was hiding so well?]

[Should I ask her?]

[……No. Don’t provoke her. What is she saying now?]

[Hold on.]

I quickened my pace, waiting nervously for Armelia’s reply.

But no response came.

Panicking, I shouted to the Diary Book,

‘The secret link’s been cut. Why?’

[Two possibilities. She’s either dead or unconscious.]

‘……’

[Don’t worry. The latter. If she’d died, this sentence would’ve disappeared.]

The Diary Book floated up again.

Thank goodness.

Relieved, I gathered my thoughts.

‘To climb that high silently and knock her out without a sound…’

That wasn’t something a normal person could do.

But if not an ordinary person, then what?

Could a girl that young really possess such skills?

[What will you do?]

‘I’m heading to the meeting spot. If she only knocked out the Princess…’

[Then she’s trying to lure you, Mason.]

‘Probably.’

The question was—why?

I barely knew Aina’s name, and she likely knew nothing about me.

In a competitive quest like this, why bother luring me at all?

‘I’ll know when I get there.’

I hurried my pace.

The secret link with the Diary Book was completely private.

So when I arrived beneath the tree where Armelia should be, I spoke aloud naturally.

“I’m here. You can come down now.”

“I already did.”

Shff.

Just like with Armelia earlier, a blade pressed against my throat again.

I gripped the invisible Diary Book in my hand.

[Your Highness.]

[Ugh… Mason?]

[Good evening. Even though it’s night.]

[What’s going on?]

[What’s your current situation?]

[I’m tied up with rope and gagged. Ugh… There’s a big tree beside me.]

I looked at the tree in front of me.

So she’s behind that.

Then Aina spoke.

“Let’s talk for a bit.”