FLME Ch32: Battle Royale Recording

Not thinking about the complexities for now, Yu Wen glanced at the health bar on the back of his hand. It was still sufficient, enough to last about ten hours.

It had been nearly an hour since they entered the ancient castle.

It was time to regroup with the others, Yu Wen thought.

Some information couldn’t be found by exploring alone; it needed to be pieced together with companions. They were like a puzzle divided into six pieces. Putting them together would reveal the outline, but no one knew if a piece was broken beyond repair, needing the nutrients from hunting other pieces for restoration. Cooperation and mutual benefit were good, but under the survival crisis, even a small concealment could push someone into the abyss.

Selfishness could prevail in just a moment of thought.

He picked up his sword and was about to leave when a hand grabbed his ankle.

…Yu Wen looked down.

A pale hand reached out from the fireplace, gripping his ankle tightly.

The health bar on the back of his hand suddenly dropped.

Yu Wen tried to move, but the pale hand, with bulging veins and knotted muscles, did not budge.

What’s the deal, man?

Just grabbing wasn’t enough, why not let go?

Yu Wen put down his sword, crouched, and prepared to reason with it, but the hand suddenly let go, then grabbed his shoulder and pulled him forcefully into the fireplace.

“!”

Yu Wen quickly grabbed the fireplace frame.

Goodness, it was trying to drag him into a confined space to drain his health bar.

Would he let it succeed?

The fireplace was filled with ash and some unburned wood. A solid wall had an opening replaced by a black elastic band, and the pale hand reached through it.

Yu Wen found the wall and kicked it hard.

The director in front of the monitor saw Yu Wen being grabbed by an NPC and let out a sigh of relief, “Just in time, good thing we prepared more secret rooms. Give him more information, try to keep him stuck longer, and let the others catch up…”

The assistant director was less optimistic.

“…Why hasn’t he been dragged in yet?”

Both directors craned their necks to look at the monitor.

In the study, after a brief standoff, the pale hand gave up Yu Wen’s shoulder and started shaking the foot he had braced against the wall.

Yu Wen stuck his head out of the fireplace.

He had been pulled with one foot held, his hips almost split apart. Now he finally could exert force, using both hands and feet to crawl out.

The force on his ankle was terrifying, and Yu Wen couldn’t help but feel a bit envious.

Due to being born prematurely, he was a bit frail as a child. People always crave what they lack, so he vowed to grow up to be a muscular, handsome guy.

This dream was thwarted by an elderly traditional Chinese medicine doctor, who said, “Health maintenance should be moderate. Your qi and blood are deficient, so you are not suitable for intense and strenuous exercise…”

The doctor added, unless you change your picky eating habits and replenish your qi and blood.

Yu Wen: I’m not picky; it’s just that the food is terrible.

As expected, he couldn’t replenish his qi and blood, couldn’t exercise, and had no muscles.

However! He had super flexibility and indomitable perseverance!

You might be strong.

But I’m not just for show!

With this in mind, he rolled forcefully and used inertia to successfully break free from the pale hand’s grip.

The director and assistant director: “…”

On the screen, Yu Wen dusted off his cloak, raised his chin proudly, took his sword, and walked out the door like a true victorious warrior.

–

Two minutes later, Yu Wen was called back by a small broadcast in the study.

“…Hero, hero, have you noticed anything strange about the castle? The remnants of the demon king linger, secretly watching, deceiving naive travelers to become his blade… Perhaps, try talking to him; it might yield unexpected results.”

Yu Wen: “…”

If it’s a clue NPC, why did it drain my health bar? Do I look that healthy?

He glanced at his health bar—less than a third left!

Yu Wen held his sword and pondered in front of the fireplace for a full three minutes.

He was weighing whether the clues from the demon king were worth the risk.

After a while, he sighed inwardly and crawled in.

The demon king said:

“Great hero, your resilience moves me. Your bravery is sharper than swords. I am dead, but my soul has turned into an unending curse that eternally binds this place. Only by sacrificing your companions’ souls can there be a glimmer of hope. Great hero, what will you choose?”

Yu Wen stood quietly, not speaking.

It was a dimly lit secret room, or rather, more like a corridor. The entrance had closed behind him, and the path ahead was pitch black.

On either side stood light-blocking glass. The NPC playing the demon king wandered around, shining a flashlight from below to cast a ghastly, pale face with a sinister smile full of malice.

Yu Wen thought it was fortunate that he wasn’t grabbed once inside.

If you had told me earlier that I wouldn’t be grabbed once I came in, I would’ve come in sooner.

He pondered for a moment and tried to “talk to the demon king.”

“Dear demon king, may I ask how you died?”

Demon king: “…Hero, you are very rude.”

Yu Wen: “Oh, then report a thread.”

Demon king: “…”

They stared at each other through the glass. The demon king’s ghostly green pupils burned with anger, but he still smiled, a strange and eerie smile full of schadenfreude.

Yu Wen couldn’t help but admire the NPC’s acting skills.

“Even a demon king has weaknesses. Everything in the world has weaknesses. You have them too.”

Yu Wen: “By you,’ do you mean?”

“You and your companions.”

Yu Wen: “What are our weaknesses?”

The demon king raised his chin, his smile tinged with pride.

He said disdainfully, “Your weakness is yourselves.”

Yu Wen remained silent.

The NPC, unsure if he understood, was about to elaborate when the hero in front of him thoughtfully spoke up, “Who found your weakness and killed you?”

Demon king: “…”

He seemed to grit his teeth for a while before squeezing out two words, “The princess.”

–

【The third year of King William I’s reign, sunny.

Honestly, I really don’t like writing diaries. There are so many interesting things every day; how can I decide what to include?

But the great magician likes to write diaries and sometimes presses beautiful flowers into the pages. I want to talk to him more, so from today on, the princess will also write a diary!

This should be the correct format.

Yes, I remember the great magician’s diary was written like this… Haha, secretly writing here, actually, I’ve read the great magician’s diary!

I just happened to see it! His diary was blown to the ground by the wind, and I picked it up for him. He wrote in his diary that I’m interesting!

Gods, thank you!

Actually, I like the great magician. Hmm… I hope he knows, but I also hope he doesn’t.

It’s really frustrating.

The third year of King William I’s reign, sunny.

The great magician said… diaries should not be shared or used as topics for casual conversation…

Sigh, if only I were as old as the great magician. Then I could understand why he is always watching, observing, and why he doesn’t like noise.

By the way! Although the great magician is older, he is definitely not ugly! He is a handsome and tall half-elf with pointed ears and snow-white hair. His hair can be braided into very long braids… very beautiful!

Sigh… why does the great magician always praise me as a cute little girl?

Is it because I’m not pretty enough?

Or because I’m not brave enough?

The third year of King William I’s reign, sunny.

Gods! I can’t believe it, and you wouldn’t believe what the hero did…

He brought back that dragon!

Gods! What was he thinking? That dragon is fierce and evil! After capturing me, it wouldn’t even give me food! Its crimes against me are unforgivable! There’s no more despicable creature than it! And the hero! My best friend! He actually!

I’m angry!

The third year of King William I’s reign, sunny.

I haven’t spoken to the hero for three days.

The third year of King William I’s reign, sunny.

I’ve gone seven days without speaking to the hero.

On the sixth day, he came to borrow the big bathhouse. When I asked him what he needed it for, he actually said it was to bathe the dragon!

Is this normal?!

Why does he want to be friends with the dragon!

Him being friends with the dragon means he doesn’t want to be friends with me!

I’m not going to pay any attention to him anymore!

The third year of King William I’s reign, sunny.

The dragon was scolded by the townspeople today…

They threw vegetable scraps and rotten eggs at it… The dragon is incredibly fierce and scared off the people on the street with its glaring eyes… But it was covered in filth…

Alright, though it wasn’t clean to begin with.

But considering its pitiful state, I can let it use the big bathhouse to bathe.

Actually, the dragon isn’t as bad as people say…

It just doesn’t give me food, but it hasn’t done anything truly terrible, hasn’t burned farmers’ fields, or robbed merchant caravans…

Alright, I admit, if it apologizes for not giving me food, I might forgive it and reluctantly become friends with it.

The third year of King William I’s reign, sunny.

The dragon! Bad!

It broke my big bathhouse!

And it didn’t apologize!

I hate it!

The third year of King William I’s reign, sunny.

The hero called in the dwarves to help repair the bathhouse.

The newly repaired bathhouse is even bigger and brighter; I really like it.

The great magician and the elf also came. I haven’t seen them for a long time, and I miss them.

Will they come every time the bathhouse is damaged?

Hehe, then I can let the dragon bathe a few more times.

The third year of King William I’s reign, sunny.

The dwarves brought wine. He is the kingdom’s most skilled craftsman; his hands are more dexterous than any weaving machine I’ve seen. He can make anything.

They drank wine and chatted in the garden.

The dwarf said he would forge a powerful holy sword for the hero.

The hero said that’s great!

The dwarf said that once this sword is forged, it can cut through even the strongest magic in the world.

The great magician smiled and said he would cast an indestructible spell on the sword.

The hero happily said that once the sword is forged, they would travel the world and destroy all evil.

The elf nodded with a smile, as usual, very shy and reserved, not very talkative.

The dragon lay lazily nearby, puffing out air.

Upon hearing this, it raised its head, opened its eyes, and spoke.

It said, embed the scales from my neck into the sword’s scabbard. Then, when you summon me, you won’t need magic; just point the sword’s tip to the sky, and I will come as promised.

The hero smiled and extended a hand to touch claws with it.

…

I don’t really understand their conversation.

Because I don’t know magic and can’t wield a sword.

I’m just a delicate princess.

That night, I covered my head with the blanket and cried for a long time.

Why am I a princess? Why not a hero? An elf? Or a dwarf, or a great magician?

My friends are leaving me.

I’m so sad.

**The fourth year of William I’s reign, sunny.**

From today, the princess will read books! Lots and lots of books! Although I am a delicate princess, I want to use wisdom to become a member of the hero’s team!

Yay!

I read for twenty minutes today!

I’m awesome!

Rewarding myself with thirty minutes of playtime!

…

The eighth year of King William I’s reign, sunny.

Father wants to choose a suitor for me. The first one he selected was the hero.

I refused.

Father asked why, since you two have a good relationship. I was puzzled.

I said, “I can stay with the hero even when I’m eighty, fighting for buttered bread, or even arguing with him at eighty… But why should we marry? He doesn’t love me, and I don’t love him.”

At that time, the hero was right next to me, nodding in agreement.

Father chose many other outstanding young men, but I didn’t like any of them.

I already have someone I like.

…

The thirteenth year of Kimg William I’s reign, sunny.

I’ve been kidnapped again.

Gods, am I really so beautiful? Do I need to be kidnapped every few years?

Unfortunately, I am a delicate princess. I can’t resist.

On the way here, I secretly left many markers, believing that soon my friends will come to rescue me.

I am as delicate as before.

But fortunately, I have read many books and become smarter.

The thirteenth year of King William I’s reign, sunny.

The demon king locked me in the basement, where there are mice and cockroaches, filthy and messy.

By accident, I overheard his minions talking.

The minions said the demon king had discovered the heroes’ whereabouts and planned to use this opportunity to set a trap, capturing the powerful hero team all at once. After that, no one would be able to stop the demon king from ravaging the world.

I feel anxious.

What to do? What to do? What to do?

I deeply know that this enemy is much stronger than ever.

The demon king’s magic is as endless as mountains; he has many minions, and there are monsters everywhere…

Maybe I shouldn’t have left those markers…

No, I must warn them.

But how can I warn them?

The thirteenth year of King William I’s reign, sunny.

I can’t get out.

What to do…

The thirteenth year of King William I’s reign, sunny.

After thinking for a whole day and night, I finally figured it out.

I need to kill the demon king.

I remember the demon king’s weakness; I saw it in a book.

I must kill it, I think.

–

“…Me????”

In the quiet basement, Tong Li read her diary by the faint light of the “night pearl” overhead.

Seeing the end, she was shocked and incredulous, pointing at herself, “I killed it?”

“Not necessarily.” Fan Xiangyang was both amused and helpless at her terrified expression. “It’s possible you wanted to kill it but didn’t succeed; after all, this is just your diary.”

Tong Li felt somewhat relieved. She was nearly frightened to death by the diary. It was the demon king, after all. The entire castle was created by it—how could she have killed it?

“Since we agreed to form an alliance, and I’ve shared my diary, Teacher Fan can’t betray me.” She sighed in relief and leaned against the wall, chatting with Fan Xiangyang.

This was a basement, and she hadn’t been able to find a way out until Fan Xiangyang burst in and found the key upstairs based on the clues.

Damn it, the key was upstairs.

If no one had come in, wouldn’t she have been trapped here for a while?

Fan Xiangyang smiled wryly and showed her the blood bar on his hand, with nearly half remaining.

“Even if you’re on my hunting list, with this blood bar, there’s no need to kill you. Besides, I’ve given you all my information, haven’t I?”

The basement had its advantages; there were no brass birds here, and Tong Li’s blood bar was the least diminished among all the members. When Fan Xiangyang came in, she had only lost a sliver of health.

They quickly reached a consensus—an alliance and information exchange.

Their blood bars were high, so there was no immediate risk of betrayal.

Tong Li flipped through her diary, muttering, “So did the demon king die or not…”

–

“She killed me.” The demon king said this with a look of disgust, hatred, and regret, making his expression particularly sinister.

Yu Wen, holding a sword, leaned against the wall.

He said, “Please start your speech.”

Demon King: “…”

Yu Wen: “Sorry, please tell your story.”

The demon king glared at him again. Yu Wen almost laughed at the staff’s professionalism.

“…She pretended to be obedient and invited me to dinner—but in reality, she had dripped her own blood into my wine.”

Yu Wen: “What was the use of her blood?”

The demon king said proudly, “My only weakness is the blood of a pure person.”

Yu Wen: “She is a pure person?”

The demon king: “Before drinking her blood, I didn’t know. After drinking her blood, I was certain that she was a rare pure person in a century. Her soul and blood are the purest and sweetest I’ve ever tasted.”

…That’s quite something.

What’s this called? Enjoying oneself before dying, being glamorous even as a ghost?

“She is the most foolish princess I’ve ever seen!” The demon king said angrily. “She doesn’t know any magic, is so delicate that she can’t even withstand hunger, cries all night when bitten by rats in the basement… I thought she was no threat! But she dared—if she weren’t a pure person…”

Yu Wen: “But she is.”

Purity counters evil; that’s the truth of the world.

The demon king said, “Indeed, my body has perished, but my soul endures! The foolish and delicate princess was knocked out by the magical energy dispersed by my body’s demise. The monsters threw her into the basement, and I decided to starve her to death, satisfying my own gratification…

And then, the hero team arrived.

They actually wanted to save her! Save this foolish princess? I wouldn’t allow it, I wouldn’t accept it. I lost my body and must make someone suffer a thousand times more pain!

So I cursed this place.

I cursed that the demon king’s castle would become the strongest prison in the world, with countless monsters turning into ghostly birds that devour their flesh and blood. I cursed that time would freeze upon them, their wounds eternally etched, never healing! O, magic as vast as mountains! I wish you to become the most evil curse magic, limited to seven days. If none among them is willing to sacrifice a companion’s soul to nourish the demon king, let them never leave!”

Sacrifice, companion’s soul?

Yu Wen blinked slightly.

It seemed he suddenly understood… why everyone was saying, “I can’t get out.”

The powerful demon king left a desperate counterattack, trapping the entire hero team.

“Your weakness is yourselves.”

Yes.

Their weakness is their companions.

“…Thank you for your story.”

After a long time, Yu Wen spoke up, standing straight, and politely gave a gentleman’s bow, bidding farewell to the demon king: “I’m glad to hear of your misfortune. I’m off to the next challenge. Farewell, Your Excellency.”

He stepped forward, walking steadily towards the end of the corridor.