Future Diary Survival Game

Chapter 18: Note Test – 1

As that thought crossed my mind, Armelia murmured quietly.

“Once this quest ends, how many will survive?”

“If we assume there are exactly two hundred participants… fifty will be eliminated in the first week, thirty-seven in the second, twenty-eight in the third. That’s a total of a hundred fifteen. More than half will be gone.”

Magireta had explained that only twenty-five percent would be eliminated, claiming there was nothing to worry about unless one was truly unlucky.

But that was a clever trap.

If one calmly sat down and did the math, the conclusion was clear — in the end, more than half would be eliminated in this quest.

Armelia’s expression hardened upon hearing the specific numbers.

“That doesn’t feel very pleasant.”

“Why not?”

“I hate to admit it, but this game is far too advantageous for me.”

“That’s a good thing, isn’t it?”

“But it’s never going to be an easy quest for the others. Even if the starting line has been made equal, for ordinary people who aren’t used to reading or studying, even simple memorization will be difficult.”

Saying that, she quietly turned her gaze toward Aina.

Aina bristled.

“Why are you looking at me? You two have been treating me like an idiot lately, haven’t you?”

“I wasn’t referring specifically to you. It’s just that among the three of us, the one whose mind is….”

“My mind is what.”

“Lacking.”

“You said it? You actually said it?”

“In any case, we’ll be watching others get eliminated helplessly. Thinking about that doesn’t feel good.”

At that, Aina grumbled.

“You really think about the most useless things.”

“……?”

“Who knows how many quests we still have left, but it’s obvious that only a handful will make it in the end. From that perspective, everyone here is ultimately a competitor, right? Shouldn’t you be glad if a bunch of them get eliminated now?”

“……”

“Even I, with my supposedly lacking brain, understand that much.”

Is she sulking?

But to my surprise, Armelia fell into deep thought.

Then suddenly, she nodded.

“You’re right. That makes sense.”

“It’s more than just making sense.”

“But I don’t want to save them merely out of sentiment. If we create a way for them to survive… in other words, if we extend kindness to them, we might receive unexpected rewards in the next quest.”

Huh?

Wait.

Something about what the Princess just said gave me an idea.

‘Hey, Diary Book.’

[Yes.]

‘I have a question.’

I began a mental conversation with the Diary Book.

Meanwhile, Armelia and Aina’s voices were gradually rising.

“Ha. You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“I’m not. This is something Cecil told me. She said, ‘Help as many people as you can, and show kindness whenever possible. Even if only one out of those acts brings back a reward, it’s still a gain.’”

“Who’s Cecil?”

“That’s not important.”

“Whoever she is, she sounds naive.”

“Take that back.”

“Take it back? Please. One in a hundred, one in a thousand chances of being repaid — that’s a miracle.”

“I said take it back.”

“And if I don’t?”

While they were arguing, I was finishing up my conversation with the Diary Book.

‘I see. So I can communicate secretly with anyone I’ve saved even once? Even if they aren’t a hidden quest target?’

[Yes. To be exact, only with those you’ve completely saved within a single quest.]

‘If I save all two hundred people here…’

[Then Sir Mason will be able to have secret conversations with all two hundred of them.]

I nodded to myself.

If I showed my ability to the other participants of this quest — if I made them believe that following Mason Gear would give them a chance to survive —

Then maybe in the next quest, and the one after that, I could use that to my advantage.

Especially if I could communicate secretly with them.

—I’ll make sure you survive. So please, do as I ask.

Something like that.

Meanwhile, the two’s argument had become rougher.

“That’s why I thought you’d be eliminated in the first quest.”

“I know I’m lacking. But that’s no reason to insult Cecil.”

“Oh please, how is that even an insult?”

“The young lady of the Noel Family has such a foul mouth.”

“You dare mention my family? How dare you?”

I quietly stepped between them.

Then I spoke calmly.

“Both of you, please calm down. This isn’t the time for us to fight among ourselves.”

“……”

“……”

“For what it’s worth, I agree with saving those people.”

Armelia’s face brightened at once.

Aina’s, on the other hand, stiffened.

“So you’re trying to act like a saint too, huh?”

“Aina, you’re being too short-sighted.”

“What, what?”

“Unlike the Princess, I don’t plan to sit around waiting for some kind of repayment. But if we show our capability, if we make them believe we’re their best chance at survival… they might try to share their knowledge or insights with us. Why throw away that possibility?”

Aina suddenly went silent.

Armelia spoke again.

“Yes. That’s exactly what I meant…”

“But Your Highness, you go too far. At times, it seems like you prioritize saving others over your own survival.”

“Eh? No, that’s not true.”

“I mean unconsciously. You tried to yield your arrival order to me and Aina during the second quest, didn’t you? I’ll say this again — with that mindset, you won’t last to the end.”

Soon, both of them wore similar expressions.

Like… cats caught in the rain?

They seemed lost in thought.

I clapped my hands lightly.

“Well, let’s worry about that later. For now, let’s deal with what’s in front of us.”

“Huh?”

“Just a moment.”

Tap.

I jumped onto the table.

“Everyone, may I have your attention for a moment!”

“Huh? What’s going on?”

“Wait, I’ve seen that guy before.”

“He’s the one with all those tricks. Let’s hear him out.”

“Yeah, he was sharp even in the first quest.”

I scratched my head and continued.

“This quest can actually be cleared easily. Total survival isn’t just a dream.”

“What? But in every test, twenty-five percent are eliminated no matter what!”

“No. Not if we all get perfect scores.”

The crowd fell silent.

I went on.

“If everyone gets perfect scores, the concept of a bottom twenty-five percent doesn’t exist. Even Magireta won’t be able to twist the rules that far.”

“Well, sure, but… reading all those books and getting full marks? That’s impossible.”

“It’s not. The sheer number of books may seem overwhelming, but look at the rules posted on the bulletin board again.”

Everyone’s gaze turned upward into the air.

Rule No. 2.

2. The test questions are drawn from the range of books read by the participants.

I shouted aloud.

“In other words, we just need to take turns reading the same book! Preferably, the one that looks the easiest.”

“……!”

“If we do that, according to Rule No. 2, the Note Test will only include questions from that single book.”

“Y-You’re right.”

“No matter how poor someone’s memory is, given an entire week, they should be able to master one book. No — you must master it. Memorize it so thoroughly that it haunts your dreams.”

This was a matter of survival.

Begging to live without at least that much effort would be shameless.

Hope began to flicker across everyone’s faces.

Armelia smiled brightly, and even Aina nodded, looking surprised.

But…

I couldn’t shake off a faint unease.

If I was the one who wrote the Future Diary, how did I not think of such a simple solution?

I didn’t believe I could have been that stupid.

With this method, even Aina would have no trouble passing.

But then why—

Why, in the diary, had Aina been eliminated in the very first Note Test?

The answer came only a few seconds later.

“I refuse!”

A booming voice rang out.

Startled, I turned around — it was Matets.

He was glaring at Armelia with murderous eyes.

“I’ll read as many books as I can.”

“What did you say? Didn’t you hear what I just said?”

“I heard you. Those were fantastically beautiful words. I might even have nodded along — if she weren’t here!”

He pointed straight at Armelia.

Armelia flared up.

“If I weren’t here? What do you mean by that?”

“Do you remember ten years ago, Your Highness?”

“……Of course.”

“Then you must also remember the humiliation and ridicule I suffered that day. I, who had devoted my life to learning, was utterly defeated by a ten-year-old child.”

“That was—”

“I—! I, Matets Boltram! Have never once in my life suffered such disgrace!”

The veins in his neck bulged.

“I learned to read before I learned to walk. I was always called a prodigy, always respected and admired — and yet that day became a trauma I could never erase. All because of you!”

“I’m not one who clings to rank, but your tone and words are unfit for addressing a Princess. Watch your tongue.”

“Ha! Once we entered this damned game, we all became equals. There’s no such thing as rank here!”

“……”

“In this quest, I’ll overturn the results of that day. I’ll make it happen, no matter what.”

His eyes gleamed with malice.

I quickly stepped in.

“Even so, what’s the point of reading more books? You can settle the score within one book.”

“Foolish. If we limit ourselves to one book, it’ll only ever end in a draw. You know her memory ability, don’t you?”

“Yeah, I know it. Which is exactly why I think what you’re doing is pointless. You’re just throwing an egg at a rock.”

“Ahahaha! The Princess may have been born with that perfect memory, but I, through pure effort, have developed a flawless memorization method! My own unique weapon, forged after the humiliation she gave me!”

He ground his teeth.

“To pit my method against her perfect memory — and win! That’s the only way to avenge that day’s disgrace!”

“You idiot. The more books you read, the wider the range of test questions becomes! That means everyone else’s chances of passing drop!”

“Don’t care. As long as I can surpass her, that’s all that matters.”

Swish.

Aina could no longer hold back and drew out one of her assassination needles.

Just as she was about to throw it like lightning—

“Careful.”

Magireta’s voice echoed from above.

She was pointing her index finger toward Aina.

“Keep quiet in the reading room.”

“……There’s no rule that says I can’t kill someone, though?”

“So now you’re speaking informally too. Must be the influence of traveling around with little brother.”

“……”

“You’re right — it doesn’t explicitly say you can’t kill. But look at Rule No. 3.”

Rule No. 3.

If you obstruct others from reading, you will be eliminated.

Magireta continued.

“When someone dies, they can’t read anymore. Isn’t that right?”

“……”

“If you understand, put that away. Since you seem close to your brother, I’ll let it slide with a warning.”

Aina bit her lip and put the needle away.

That only seemed to embolden Matets even more.

“Whew. That was scary for a second, but good to know.”

“Matets.”

“Heh. What is it, Princess?”

“Don’t do this.”

Armelia stepped forward.

“I’ll formally apologize for what happened that day. I was just a child, and I acted arrogantly. Please forgive me.”

“Hahaha! That’s how you beg forgiveness?”

“What?”

“Kneel! Kneel before me and—huh!”

“Alright.”

Before he could finish, Armelia immediately knelt down!

I could only blink in disbelief.

Aina’s jaw dropped as she grabbed Armelia’s shoulder.

“Hey, what are you doing? Get up!”

But Armelia ignored her and spoke to Matets.

“I was wrong.”

“……”

“So please, let’s read just one book. I’m begging you.”

Silence. Stillness.

The one who finally broke it was Matets.

With a smile that made me want to punch him, he said,

“What if I refuse~?”

“Matets!”

“Don’t say my name so lightly! A Princess who kneels anywhere doesn’t deserve to call me by name!”

“I won’t forgive this. When this quest is over, I’ll find you and—”

“Haha. The connections I made back when I was the Tower Lord are still alive and well. Even if you try, with their help I’ll disappear where you can’t find me.”

He pulled out a book.

Magireta had just confirmed no one could harm another here.

So he sat down confidently, pulled out a chair, and said,

“Well then, time to start studying.”