Player

It was still morning, and slightly scorching Sunlight shone directly upon the earth.

"Ah... the things written in these books are completely useless..."

Deep within the still empty and silent Library, a White-haired, red-eyed little loli sat on her knees against a bookshelf in considerable irritation, a hefty book resting on her legs.

It was a book rarely borrowed, titled The Analysis and Study of Human Psychology.

"Normally speaking, if a normal person saw a Young Girl emerge alone from an empty bamboo grove early in the morning and keep staring at him without blinking, he should feel at least a little afraid, right!? How could anyone think of greeting her instead!? That guy was way too thick-nerved!?"

The moment she recalled that utterly embarrassing incident, the little loli gritted her teeth in fury.

As a newbie player who had only recently debuted, she believed herself to be among the truly talented ones. Combined with how difficult her own special nature was to detect, she had always thought she would leave her other companions far behind.

But it was one thing for her first almost-successful target to be interrupted. After that, during her two consecutive attempts, she had first become a complete Tool Person, and then her second carefully prepared entrance had been gloriously ignored...

Thinking of the bountiful harvest her other companion had reaped over the past two days, she felt her anger rising again.

As luck would have it, just as she was sulking here alone, an adorably cute little boy entered the Library. He carried a Backpack stuffed with four dolls whose faces had been twisted together by terror, while holding another doll in his hands.

"It's already been two whole days. Looks like you still haven't gained anything at all."

The little boy raised the doll in his hands as if showing it off, looking proud and even somewhat overbearing.

"Look, I've already collected five in total. So? Do you need me to give one to poor little you?"

"Hmph. If I were you, I'd either hide obediently or hurry up and leave. You caused such a huge commotion and still aren't leaving—are you trying to get yourself killed?"

The little loli glanced at the doll in his hands, and a flash of disgust passed through her eyes.

"It won't be long before those Players arrive. If you want to die, you'd better not drag me down with you."

"Players? Compared to hunting these humans who can't resist at all, hunting Players brings the greatest profit."

With a cold smile, the little boy roughly stuffed the doll in his hands into the Backpack on his back.

"Don't worry, I'm not an idiot. Would I do something so unwise? The high-Level Players nearby have all been tied up by something else lately. The only Players who can come investigate this school are newbie players who have just obtained their Player Qualification. They're only newbies. Do you really think I'd be afraid?"

"Oh, then I wish you a smooth journey. Farewell, bye-bye."

Lowering her head, the little loli resumed reading the hefty book on her lap, answering with obvious perfunctoriness.

"Once you're eliminated by those newbie players, I'll burn incense at your grave next year."

"What? Aren't you tempted? You still haven't gained anything at all, have you? You're scared just because we'd be hunting a few newbie players?"

Spreading his hands, the little boy wore a fanatical expression.

"Come on, let's work together to hunt those newbie players who are about to arrive!! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! With our abilities combined, we'll be absolutely invincible!!"

"No. You and I aren't the same kind."

The little loli shot a deeply disgusted look at the bulging Backpack on the little boy's back and snorted.

"Don't think I don't know what you're plotting. You want to use me as Cannon Fodder? Don't make me laugh. Do I look that easy to fool?"

"Tch, if you don't want to, forget it."

The fanatical expression on his face quickly returned to calm. After staring for a while at the little loli, who remained completely unmoved by his words, the little boy clicked his tongue and turned around indifferently.

"Anyway, as long as you don't envy me later. You idiot who still hasn't gained anything, just wait and..."

Before he could finish, the little boy suddenly spun around at a speed completely incompatible with his age and stepped toward the little loli's shadow cast by the Sunlight streaming through the window.

"...become my puppet!!"

With a muffled bang, the little boy successfully... stepped on nothing.

"Oh, hello, goodbye, bye-bye."

At some point, the little loli had completely hidden herself beneath the shadow cast by a tall bookshelf. She yawned carelessly.

The little boy: "..."

For a moment, the atmosphere became somewhat awkward.

"Idiot. I know your ability perfectly well. Did you really think I'd give you that chance? I'm not some fool."

Standing on tiptoe, the little loli placed The Analysis and Study of Human Psychology back onto the bookshelf, and her figure silently sank into the floor.

"Here's a piece of advice. After all, I don't want to see a former companion die so stupidly. Don't underestimate those Players. Even if they're only Level 1 newbies, it's the same. After all, among those who can obtain Player Qualification, which one is easy to deal with? Knowing when to stop is the necessary rule for living longer."

"Ah... of course I know. Players are hard to deal with, even newbie players..."

After confirming that she had left, the little boy lowered his head to look at his palm. An extraordinarily eerie and exaggerated curve spread across his lips.

"But as they say, Fortune Favors the Bold. If you don't take a little risk, how can you gain anything? I'm very particular about how I do things... They're only some low-Level Players..."