Liang Is Supposed to Be My Teammate (Continued)

"I am just an ordinary civilian."

"That's settled then. Hopefully, the good guys will win."

After delivering his last words, player number 10's avatar went black, marking him as the first contestant to exit the game.

[Sheriff, please select the speaking order for this round.]

[Player #2, please speak]

Surprisingly, Sheriff #12 chose to start with Player #2, who hadn't spoken until now.

"Um, I don't know why everyone wants to push me against it. I'm a good single person."

"Is it because I didn't run for sheriff?"

"I don't think this way of thinking is right. What if all three wolves choose to run for sheriff in this competition? That kind of thing could happen... right?"

"I once encountered a situation where four wolves were running for sheriff at the same time, and we even won... Sorry, I'm getting a bit off-topic."

Player 2's opening remarks immediately raised eyebrows, consisting of lengthy and illogical self-justifications. Even Player 10, who had already been eliminated, was far more eloquent in his speech.

Although being an ordinary citizen is a status where you can win without much agency, you should at least share some of your thoughts and information.

"As player number 10 mentioned earlier, player number 9 is highly suspicious, and I agree."

"Look, we can now confirm that player number 10 is a good guy, so anyone who opposes him is likely a werewolf."

"Today we'll listen to player number 10 and vote out number 9 first."

"I, I'm definitely a good person, and I'm really good! If you vote me out, the good people won't win."

Seemingly to bolster their persuasiveness, or perhaps not wanting to be eliminated so early, player number 2 emphasized their identity again at the end, which felt like a blatant attempt to cover up their insecurity.

"That was such a stupid game."

"It sounds like they're on a completely different level from everyone else."

"By the way, can anyone guess who this guy is?"

The First Year students on the cruise ship also twitched their lips in disapproval, and some even went so far as to find the published list of contestants and jokingly discuss who this number 2 was.

"Is it Ayanokoji Kiyotaka from Class D? I heard that even the Class D didn't know he had secretly signed up before the game started."

"Huh? Is that so? This kind of overconfidence really gives the impression of those flawed products in Class D."

"I'm so nervous I can't even speak properly, hehe."

Just as the students were about to label Player 2 with Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's name, Player 3's statement immediately stunned them.

[Player #2 has finished speaking]

[Player #3, please speak]

Hahahaha!

"It's unbelievable that so many foolish players doubt me, especially since I made a guess that the prophet is fake."

"Of course I know this statement will make you doubt me, but--"

"What do your doubts have to do with beautiful me? Because I am a good person, a good person, a good person!"

"You self-proclaimed prophet, number 12, you hate me? Then come and investigate me right now, tonight!"

"The werewolves probably won't skip killing the seer tonight, right? No way, no way?"

"By tomorrow daytime, number 12 will have no choice but to obediently hand over the badge to me!"

Everyone subconsciously lowered their voices when Player 3 spoke; the emotion was so intense, completely devoid of any pretense or finesse.

"Although I am just a commoner, the title of sheriff is very fitting for me."

He suddenly lowered his voice:

"Let me lead you to victory."

[Player #3 has finished speaking]

[Player #4, please speak]

"If the witch doesn't use the antidote on the first night, she's most likely been chosen as a lover."

"On the surface, this board represents four divine roles for the good guys: seer, witch, idiot, and hunter. But if the thief buried one of them, there are actually only three divine roles left."

"In this situation, the good guys' witch shouldn't refrain from using the antidote on the first night, because if the werewolf accidentally kills a divine being, the good guys will have a very difficult time."

"I think similarly to Player 10. The witch is very likely the chosen couple and wants to save the antidote to save her partner."

"However, the werewolves will probably kill the Seer (number 12) tonight. The witch should use her antidote. If the Seer dies tomorrow morning, then the witch will be the third party. Of course, there's also the possibility that she'll be buried."

"Then there's the wolf pit. Player number 10, the good guy, left, so our good guy side needs to send out a wolf today, otherwise we'll fall behind in the rounds. The thief hasn't jumped out yet, so we don't know how many priests the good guys have."

"Therefore, we must be very careful in sending people today, or we will lose control."

"As for Player 1, since you insist on identifying me as a couple, then I'll just say you're a couple too. Of course, maybe Player 1 is Cupid, deliberately trying to mislead the good guys."

Who knows?

"I trust both Seer #12 and Seer #11. Now that #10 is out, #9 is indeed a strong suspect. But #2's statement just now was also inappropriate, and he's out again."

"Let's see either 2 or 9 appear this round, and the prophet will decide the outcome himself."

"That's too late."

Sakayanagi Arisu really liked the scene when she first met Kitagawa Ryo. The boy leaning against the white hospital bed was as cool and quiet as his name suggested. The freshest morning sunlight shone through the window, and the girl pushed open the door to the ward and met the boy's eyes.

Her impeccable appearance made it hard for even the nurses to believe that she was the perpetrator of a heinous assault. Sakayanagi Arisu sat on a chair by the hospital bed, elegantly observing her.

What is your name?

Perhaps having been asked this question many times before, the boy's answer sounded quite formulaic; he nodded slightly.

"Kitagawa Ryo, just call me Kitagawa."

However, Sakayanagi Arisu stopped using that name from that time onwards; her instincts told her that the two words had nothing to do with the person.

"Hello, Liang."

My name is Sakayanagi Arisu.

Sakayanagi Arisu, in a rather unreasonable manner, chose to address the other person by their first name.

After exchanging names, the two sized each other up, each trying to guess the other's thoughts.

Sakayanagi Arisu is a girl who could easily be called "cute," but her beauty is matched by a dangerous aura.

Many brightly colored creatures in nature are poisonous; the more beautiful they are, the more dangerous they are.

Based on this rule, they are the same type of people.

"Play a Chess with me."

Sakayanagi Arisu raised her chin. On the table in the corner of the ward, chess pieces were scattered on the Chess.

She had heard from the nurses that Kitagawa Ryo would play Go by himself in his spare time, which made Sakayanagi Arisu feel a little amused.

Kitagawa Ryo did not refuse. Perhaps he realized that the girl sitting in front of him could change the outcome of the trial, or perhaps he just wanted to kill some time.

Sakayanagi Arisu's composed expression began to crumble after twenty minutes.

The hand holding the black chess piece was long and fair, so much so that one could almost imagine the tenderness he would exude when he held someone else's hand.

But now this hand is slowly destroying the white pieces' defenses until it makes a checkmate move.

However, the other party did not say "Checkmate (General)". He simply withdrew his hand and stared at Sakayanagi Arisu as if he was annoyed.

Years later, Sakayanagi Arisu realized that her obsession with her rival, Kitagawa Ryo, began with that look and gesture, as if a long-dormant sense had been suddenly awakened.

Sakayanagi Arisu didn't care about Kitagawa Ryo's past, nor did she care why he had such a high level of Chess skill. In fact, with the Sakayanagi Family's capabilities, she could easily find out everything about him if she wanted to.

However, Sakayanagi Arisu did not choose to do so. At first, she didn't even care about Karuizawa Kei, because she was just a name in the defense. She didn't care what had happened between the two of them, nor did she care whether Kitagawa Ryo had actually hurt her to protect the girl.

Just like a child seeing their favorite doll in a roadside cabinet, Sakayanagi Arisu chose Kitagawa Ryo as her desired toy.

Children won't care about the material of the doll, its manufacturing date, or its history on the assembly line.

"How about we make a deal?"

Sakayanagi Arisu intends to pay the fee.

"I can help with Karuizawa Kei's medical expenses and subsequent school transfer."

Although she didn't know Kitagawa Ryo, Sakayanagi Arisu could deduce the boy's intentions from his actions.

"But you need to stay by my side until you satisfy me."

Kitagawa Ryo spoke for the first time:

"What's the meaning?"

His voice was very pleasant, like stepping onto a stone staircase on an autumn morning.

"Um?"

Sakayanagi Arisu reached out and roughly ruffled Kitagawa Ryo's hair:

Simply put, you are employed by me personally.

As if tacitly acknowledging Kitagawa Ryo's agreement, Sakayanagi Arisu opened the window, the wind ruffling her silver-white hair, which the girl gently tucked behind her ears.

"What does Karuizawa Kei mean to you?"

Who knows?

Kitagawa Ryo answered from behind her.

When Shiina Hiyori saw Kitagawa Ryo again, more than a year had passed since that case. One morning, as she was spitting out toothpaste foam in front of the mirror as usual, she received a call from Kitagawa Ryo.

However, to all of Shiina Hiyori's questions, Kitagawa Ryo's most frequent answer was a vague "Who knows?", as if he were coaxing a kindergarten child.

Just like before, those four words kept Shiina Hiyori out of the room; she still didn't know anything about his past.

However, Shiina Hiyori still carefully avoided these questions. After that incident, she didn't ask about them again. The two of them continued to chat freely as before, discussing the mystery novels they had recently read.

Shiina Hiyori also considered investigating the answer to what happened back then, just like a real detective.

However, she quickly abandoned the idea, because from Kitagawa Ryo's occasional words and from the few reports she had read, those past events felt like sharp knives cutting into her hands. Shiina Hiyori felt that this was reopening her friend's old wounds.

Simply imagining the other person's possible pain was enough for Shiina Hiyori to let go of all her suspicions, dissatisfaction, resentment, and other negative emotions.

So when she first learned that Karuizawa Kei had entered Tokyo Advanced Nurturing High School, Shiina Hiyori didn't have any particular thoughts. It wasn't because the other party didn't remember the incident at all, but simply because even Kitagawa Ryo didn't say much, so she didn't feel the need to interfere.

However, after this semester, Shiina Hiyori suddenly discovered that Karuizawa Kei and Kitagawa Ryo's relationship was actually starting to improve.

Especially after hearing from Ryuen Kakeru that the two of them went to the swimming pool together.

A person who can't swim tries to save a person who can swim.

[Only makes things worse]

Who knows?

Suddenly, I heard a familiar sentence, the tone and manner of the reply almost etched into my memory.

Shiina Hiyori looked at the portrait of number 4.

She finally smiled.

Alongside Shiina Hiyori, Sakayanagi Arisu is located on campus.

I've found you!

I've found you!

Different yet similar thoughts flashed through their minds in an instant:

[Teammate #4, the werewolf, is doomed.]

[Teammate #4 is doomed]

[Currently available information (updated at the end of each chapter):]

No. 3 Koenji Rokusuke