17 The Royal Capital of the Past Part 01

"... Somehow, I feel like there are a lot of guys who are restless. Why?"

After finishing what I wanted to do that day, I went around the "Town of Beginnings" to pass the time.

If you look around, everyone seems to have the menu screen open, muttering something and shaking their feet.

Excited boys and girls, and big kids with fighting spirit as if they've lived for this day... Really, what's going on in this town today.

── Such a question of mine will be resolved by a voice pouring down from heaven.

"Ping Pong Pang Pong"

≪Thank you very much for coming. I'm the GM in charge of the event right now, my name is Ray, also known as 01.»

"The gentle voice I heard just the other day reached everyone in town."

Although she is invisible, her self-proclaimed name makes her who she really is.

"... Rei-san, tell me."

"The players around me tilted their heads."

"Well, 'Rei' is the name I gave him, so it's only a question."

01, that's why it's an easy name, Rei...is it really good?

Without knowing what I was thinking, Mr. Rei continued his announcement.

≪From now on, we will hold the pre-update event "Phantom Song King's Music".

As previously posted on the official website, players will be asked to head to the past of a country somewhere in this world for a period of one week in your world.

"Of course, if you open up the world someday, you will be able to reach it, but please understand that the appearance of the city will change greatly depending on your choices."

I could understand well that it was a special one-off quest with an elaborate name.

"The world of the past, what an event full of fantasy."

I was surprised because this was the first large-scale event for all players.

"Since you said before the update, will you continue to do it before the update?"

≪This time, the event points will determine the solo party ranking. I'll keep the addition method a secret, but as a hint, let me tell you that it's important to help someone. Even if you do bad things, no one will be happy."

At the same time as Mr. Rei said so, a huge magic circle was deployed at our feet.

It's so complicated that even a [Production God] can't analyze it instantly.

...Well, if it's not instantaneous, in other words, it's cheating that the part that's in sight is gradually soaked in the brain's understanding.

≪The magic circle will send you back to the past. Please end this tragedy by the time the update ends."

"Rei sent us to the event area with a clear flag."

"However, I accepted that line."

──Nothing is impossible for this hypocrite!

Together with a dazzling flash of light, we were certainly transported to the event area where the event would take place.

It's only natural for her to slowly open her accustomed eyes and try to imprint the new world on her eyelids.

"... Huh?"

But the reason I doubted it was because of my intuition, which I didn't even know was there.

A familiar townscape, a familiar sight ─ the already visible royal castle was reflected in my field of vision.

"Hey... can it be here?"

"It's precisely because they know this that they feel uneasy."

He ruminates on what he said earlier, and still speaks his guesses.

"Is this… Neiro Kingdom?"

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SIDE: A certain slave girl

... Our village was peaceful.

My father grows vegetables in the field,

"My mother cooks at home."

Me and her sister are helping such a mother.

The royal castle that can be seen from afar, and the large town nearby.

"It's not as good as that place, but I thought it would be fun to live with everyone."

...Yes, until that day.

"... hmm... huh?"

"When I woke up, I was under the bed."

I found myself unable to comprehend the situation, but there was something I had to prioritize.

"It's noisy outside..."

I realized I was under the bed because it was bright outside and I could see the bed.

"I can't do that on a pitch black night."

"I was able to wake up because it was noisy outside."

"Wow, wow, wow, wow, she's screaming as if she's running away from something."

"! Fuuri..."

Next to me, who was sorting out the situation, my younger sister Fuli was asleep.

She didn't notice the noise outside and was sound asleep... Fufu, calmed down a bit.

"Father..., Mother..."

I whispered to make sure they weren't around, but...they didn't reply.

"He's probably not here, but there's probably a reason why we're here."

With that thought in mind, I chose to wake up Fuli immediately.

"I thought that if I just waited, the turmoil outside wouldn't end...if I just hid, I wouldn't be able to see my father and mother."

"Furi. Hey, Furi wake up..."

"...n, nuu...oneechan, why are you here?"

"After that, listen carefully. Father and mother hid us under the bed and disappeared. Outside... it's bright and noisy like this. Something must have happened."

"...Yeah, I understand."

"Unlike me, Fuli is a great girl who can understand everything right away."

He is calm even in times like this, and even with his sleepy eyes, he confirms what to do.

"Even if you hide, it's probably dangerous. Can you come outside with your sister?"

"...Yeah. If you hold my hand."

"I really think she's a good sister."

Seeing my hand trembling, Huli gently held her hand.

Her head was spinning in such a situation where she didn't know what was going on.

But at the same pace, Fuli keeps my mind calm.

Fuli and I held our breath as we came to the door of the house.

The warmth of your hands warms my frozen heart.

Relying only on its warmth, he slowly opened the door──

"...older sister"

"What is this..."

The scenery that appeared in front of me was far beyond my imagination.

Fuli seemed to mutter something, but I didn't even have time to notice.

"Is the village... on fire?"

"The world was dyed red."

From top to bottom, everything was dyed in flames, and the house, fields, and barns were all on fire.

"And... everyone..."

The voices I heard were screams and cries from everyone in the village.

The reason why they are getting smaller and smaller is because they are sitting quietly in the center of the square.

"... Onee-chan, look over there."

"That's a thief!?"

"... I don't think so."

Fuli didn't seem to have any confirmation, but there were many men in dirty clothes looking ahead.

They had weapons in their hands...some had red marks on them, as if they had used them on someone else.

"Ah, Fal..."

We were stunned by the situation, but from afar we could see a boy going wild.

"Let go! Do you guys think the king will forgive you for doing this!"

Because they are shouting loudly, even those of us who are watching from behind the scenes can hear them.

But when one of the men did something to Fal... the voice suddenly disappeared.

"... Collar"

"picture?"

"... Fal has a collar on his neck. And others too."

"No way... is it a 'collar of slavery'?"

"My mother taught me something."

If you put the "collar of slavery" around her neck, she'll stop moving, just like you said.

That's because she has to obey the orders of the person wearing it... but why would anyone in this village have such an item?

"Fu, Furi, what should I do?"

"... I'm looking for you. Then, even if you're hiding, you'll probably find me."

"That's right. Then I have to run away."

"... But if you do that, you'll find out."

"In the first place, we were overconfident that we were hiding properly."

"That's why we were able to have a conversation like this."

──I guess that's why you didn't notice.

"... Oh, are you still there?"

"From somewhere, I heard a voice."

It was a very scary voice that I had never heard before.

"..."

"Furi!"

In the next moment, Fuli fell to the ground.

I bent over and bent over to hold Houri.

"that...?"

Then, just like Fuli, I found myself lying down before I knew it.

I couldn't move my body as I said, and I couldn't even look in the direction of Fuli.

"Damn, you guys who put in a lot of trouble... Let's shut up."

When the man said something, I heard a dull clanging sound coming from where Fuli was. 　

"I'm sure it's the sound of the collar being put on."

(I have to run away, but Fuuri! I can't move my body, how can I move──)

My thoughts went round and round, but a cold collar was put on my neck.

The clattering sound seemed like a shinigami announcing death.

"'Don't be conscious, walk silently'"

"My memory suddenly cuts off here."