Leon fled with Roswitha all the way to a cellar in the ancient castle.

This place was relatively safer.

The couple leaned against the wall and slowly slid down to sit.

After catching her breath for a moment, Roswitha looked at Leon.

"Are you really the other Lone Wolf?"

Leon pressed his lips together, then nodded. "Yes."

The queen closed her eyes and sighed. "I can't believe I proved your innocence. If I’d known this earlier, I would’ve let them vote you out."

"Your Majesty, there's a red demon outside trying to kill our entire family right now. How about we focus on figuring out a way to take her down together first?"

Leon could somewhat understand now how those Dragon Kings he defeated in the past felt.

It was this sensation: that deep, profound, powerless feeling at the final moment.

Isa's sharp intellect combined with her status as the [Doctor] allowed her to wreak havoc in this game to her heart's content.

As a result, General Leon had no choice but to temporarily flee with his wife, trying to stay beyond Isa's range of attack and avoid her deadly strikes.

"My sister is probably using those antidotes we received to perform remote kills through each [End of Meeting]."

"Plus, with her identity as the [Doctor], the kill tools she got must work in conjunction with the antidotes."

"In other words... anyone who took those antidotes at the start is inevitably being hunted by her. It’s only a matter of time before we get killed."

Roswitha’s voice turned a little heavy. Even though this was just a game, being cornered like this still left a sense of indignation.

"Actually, I didn’t take the antidote."

"What?"

Leon pulled a small transparent box out of his pocket, which contained a single orange-flavored candy.

Roswitha eyed the candy, "If you didn’t take it, how did you resist the infectious disease?"

"I used the [Mint Tea] you gave me."

Leon tossed the candy aside. "Good thing I was cautious back then. Otherwise, I might’ve been taken out by that [End of Meeting Kill] earlier."

"But both Noa and I took the antidote. We can’t get close to my sister; her kill cards will take us out instantly."

Roswitha added, "That means... you’re the only one who can strike back at my sister now."

The queen was correct.

At this point, the only one who could kill a Lone Wolf was another Lone Wolf.

"But we don’t have any kill cards. How are we supposed to fight back against her?"

The question circled back to its starting point.

If they wanted to fight, they first needed weapons to fight with.

But General Leon was currently “unarmed,” and he couldn’t call for a [Temporary Meeting] to vote Isa out.

So, after deliberating, were they still doomed to a slow demise?

"Wow, Lone Wolf sir, how have you gone through this entire game without finding even a single kill card? That’s so lame," Roswitha couldn’t help but tease.

Hearing that, Leon did have to admit his luck was abysmal.

They had spent thirty or forty hours on the game, and he hadn’t encountered even one kill card!

"When misfortune strikes, it really strikes hard," Leon said, acknowledging the fact.

The couple fell into silence.

They desperately needed a way to deal with Isa, or else everything would be over.

The [Princess]’s life would be forfeit, and their [Old Friend] wouldn’t make it out of the castle with the Black Holy Stone.

Everything would fall into the hands of the red demon [Doctor].

Tick-tock—tick-tock—

The sound of dripping water echoed from a corner of the cellar, the only clear and audible noise in the space.

The cake, capable of poisoning a player to death, lay directly between Leon and Roswitha.

The queen’s gaze gradually settled on it.

Suddenly, Roswitha’s pupils widened slightly.

"Actually... I don’t care whether I win or not."

As she spoke, Roswitha pulled out her mainline task card from her pocket.

"My mission setup is quite similar to Senior Claudia’s. My primary task is to help the [Princess] retrieve the Black Holy Stone. But I also have a hidden mission—escaping the castle with the [Black Holy Stone]. That’s my true victory condition."

"Which ending I choose depends solely on the player’s decision."

"But from the start... I never considered completing the hidden mission because—"

"Because you wanted our dear daughter to win, right?" Leon smiled, finishing her sentence for her.

Roswitha let out a playful snort, then nodded. "Right. That child rarely gets a chance to play happily with her sisters and friends. I want her to win. Noa has such a strong competitive spirit, after all."

"But now, her two sisters and her friend have all fallen, and the entire pressure is on her shoulders," Leon commented.

"That only makes me want her to win even more."

Roswitha said, "This isn’t just a game, Leon."

"Think about it. Years, maybe even decades from now, when Noa looks back at this castle adventure, she’ll proudly say it was her who saved all of us at the end."

"And what she gains isn’t just a victory—it’s an incredibly precious memory."

"I understand what you mean, Roswitha." Leon’s lips curled into a smile. After a brief pause, he turned to the silver-haired beauty beside him.

"You’re not acting much like a mother anymore."

"Huh?"

"You’re behaving more like... a mom."

"What’s the difference between a mother and a mom?"

"Of course, there’s a difference. Remember when you insisted Noa and Muen start calling you ‘Mom’ instead of ‘Mother’? Do you recall how happy they were?"

Roswitha paused, her thoughts pulled briefly back into the past.

After a short moment, she gave a knowing smile. "I understand."

"So... are you trying to persuade me, the Lone Wolf, to buy time for you and our daughter until the meeting starts?"

Roswitha shook her head. "No, no, no. The risk would be far too great. Besides..."

"Besides?"

She looked straight ahead, and a slight blush quietly crept over her cheeks.

Roswitha buried half her face in her arms, and a muffled voice came from within. Her words spilled out quickly, as if trying to escape.

"Besides, I would never let my children’s father do something like that."

"Could you just refer to ‘children’s father’ with a single word?" Leon teased with a mischievous grin.

"Nope. Shut up."

Roswitha shot him an eye-roll, then continued, "As long as you promise me that in the end, you’ll let Noa win, I will..."

"You will what?"

Roswitha seemed hesitant. She beckoned Leon closer with a crooked finger.

Leon obediently leaned in.

"I’ll—"

Hearing her whisper, General Leon immediately shot up from the floor.

"Are you serious?"

"Absolutely."

"Alright, I was already planning to help Noa win, but I wasn’t too motivated. Now, with that condition... let me just say this—"

"Your sister’s life ends today! Not even the Dragon God can stop me!"

Roswitha let out a light laugh. "Alright, alright. Stop shouting, or you’ll bring her here."

Leon sat back down. "So, judging from what you said earlier, you’ve got a plan?"

"Yes."

Roswitha picked up the poisoned cake from the floor.

"Your sister won’t eat it, though, will she?" Leon asked.

"No, no. It’s not for her. I’m... going to eat it."

...

Top floor of the ancient castle, in the corridor.

Noa had been cornered by the "Red Demon" aunt to a sealed wooden door.

The door was locked from the other side and could not be opened.

"Oh my, oh my~ [Princess], there’s nowhere left to run," Isa cooed.

Isa held a kill card in her hand. Its effect was:

It could eliminate any player within a 5-meter radius who had consumed the [Doctor’s Special Antidote].

She fanned herself lightly with the card as she slowly inched closer to Noa, who had no retreat.

Noa had never been this terrified of her aunt before.

Dear heavens, Aurora, you definitely can’t go to Aunt Isa’s Red Dragon Temple to become the next Red Dragon Queen!

Or you’ll turn into someone like this!

"Auntie... c-can we talk this out?" Noa stuttered, trying to summon any shred of humanity left in Isa.

"Oh, sweet Noa, of course we can talk—after the game ends. But for now, I need to take care of you quickly so I can go deal with your dear mom and dad. Be a good girl now, and don’t make this harder for your auntie."

How could such terrifying words sound so gentle?!

This is enough to leave childhood trauma!

Noa pressed tightly against the wooden door, clutching a single item card in her hand. It was the [Circle of Despair].

But the [Circle of Despair] could only be activated when there were only two players left.

From what Isa had said, her parents were still "alive," which meant she couldn’t use the card.

What should she do... what should she do...

Noa bit her lower lip. Even knowing it was just a game, the pressure was overwhelming.

Meanwhile, in the observation room of the gods, three little dragon girls stood in front of a massive Recording Stone, watching the confrontation between Noa and Isa.

"It’s over. Big sis is trapped," Muen said, her voice filled with disappointment.

"I thought Uncle Leon and Aunt Roswitha were strong. But I never imagined Aunt Isa... would be stronger," Helena added.

Even the playful pink-haired dragon girl felt a pang of worry for her big sister.

"Big sis, hold on for just a little longer. They’ll be able to vote Aunt Isa out soon."

"It’s no use."

From the corner of the observation room, Claudia sipped her tea calmly as she said,

"There’s still more than forty minutes until eight o’clock. Not even Leon and Roswitha can last that long. This game... is as good as won for the Red Dragon Queen."

The little dragon girls remained in front of the Recording Stone, silently praying for the figure still struggling in desperate resistance.

...

"Noa, come here. It’s okay—I’ll carry you to the observation room myself," Isa said, closing in step by step.

Isa was now just about to reach the attack range with her card.

Noa’s heartbeat quickened rapidly.

She was well aware that there was no way to escape her aunt's "pursuit" now.

But even so, she wouldn’t surrender without a fight.

If it were Dad, he definitely would—

"Player—"

Suddenly, the voice of a staff member echoed through the silent corridor.

Noa quickly lowered her head to check the Recording Stone in her pocket. Was it her elimination notice?

But when Noa took out the Recording Stone, she found that it showed no signs of activity.

"If it's not mine... then it must be—"

"Player [Doctor] has been 'eliminated'; Player [Doctor] has been eliminated."

Isa froze on the spot, her delicate face filled with shock.

"Why... how could this happen..."

Creak—

The wooden door behind Noa slowly opened.

That familiar man was standing right behind her.

[Avenger]

[When you personally witness an 'elimination,' you immediately acquire one 'elimination' ability.]

In his hand, was a piece of cake with a small bite taken out of it.