Shiver Mask - An accessory item that adds the shiver effect to attacks at a certain rate.

　The shiver state is like a fainting spell. Unless the mask is removed, the creature will be paralyzed, unable to move, speak, attack, or defend itself.

　However, this mask of shiver. When equipped, it grants a certain probability of shiver, but if you use it as an "item", the effect changes again.

　Yes, just now, if you see ...... that screaming figure or hear it scream in person, as Cigarone (・・・・・・・) used it, you'll almost certainly eat shivers. As a result, it seems that everyone here has been eaten, except me. Everyone didn't move an inch.

　Okay, I didn't think they'd use it that way. Mevion's PvP is "no items allowed" unless there are some exceptions. Therefore, if you want to make use of it, you have to equip it, but it's too wasteful to fill up your precious accessory slot with these masks. There are a few people who use them to capture dungeons, but at grade A, most monsters have shiver resistance, so there is no use for them.

　However, what about it? This was such an effective way to surprise people who didn't know what the masks were for. It was an amazing idea. I was honestly impressed.


"I knew you knew how to get around it.


　The man approaching me leisurely is Cigarone.

　The knights with swords are surrounding me in a clean circle with a radius of about fifteen meters, but they are currently in a state of shivering and can't move a single step. It's like a match ring made of people.


''How could they do this?''

　I asked curiously, and Mr. Cigarone pulled his head back and raised the corners of his mouth in mockery, and then broke the silence when he was about five meters away from me.


'I would not wish to have a situation where no one is willing to listen to you. I'm sorry that I was a little too 'coarse' with His Highness Melson."

!


　It's been a great day.

　That Mr. Cigarone has apologized. He didn't bow down at all, but he apologized clearly in his words.

　In addition, he stabbed Melson in the face with the same sarcasm as ever with the same sarcasm as he did. Well, I knew it was, but it seems that it was Melson who ordered the Bawi extract to be planted in the cup.


'I don't mind. It was my carelessness (...).

Haha!


　I'll follow his lead and return the sarcasm. Mr. Cigarone gave a short laugh.


'Well, let's have a little chat. We were in the middle of a drinking affair, and somehow I found some free time.

　And then he piles on more sarcasm. He really loves sarcasm.


'What's your story?'

Then what is your purpose in infiltrating the Empire under false pretenses? This is what I want to hear. Oh, don't get me wrong, I'm not accusing you of anything. Just pure interest.

　Oh, I got a surprisingly decent question.


'I can't say it in a nutshell, but I thought I'd do something about ...... the empire anyway.

Why?

'My image of the empire is a cool, meritocratic country. I thought of it as a powerful country that could overwhelm other countries by force of arms alone. I like that kind of empire. But when I was in the Castal Kingdom, the imperial goblins were very annoying to me. And the Emperor. He was a different kind of coward than I imagined. Well, I guess it's because I was brainwashed.

You don't like the art of manipulation?

I don't mind the spying, but it's not in the character of the Empire.

'Ha, ha, ha!　Hahahahahaha!　That's why you yourself came all the way to the Empire to set an example!


　...... No, it wasn't meant to be that way for me, but maybe that's what it is.

　It's just that Winfilled is the one to leave it to.


"At first I was going to destroy it, but now I don't care. What will happen is what will happen.

Hmph. The Empire was already in ruins two years before you arrived. He must have missed the boat.

Yeah. A nice way of saying it. That's a nice way of putting it.

'But for me, and for the Marvel Empire, you are a very good thing. To be honest, I was aware that Spica was the reason for this. Plus, it was something like brainwashing. I was convinced when His Majesty abandoned Val Moreau. He had also seen that contact was dangerous, given the circumstances of Spica's first audience with him. However, even after a little over a year and a half of realizing this, we were finally unable to come to a solution. In other words, you were a crossover.


　Great, you've noticed it. And even the conditions for activating the 《Brainwashing Magic》.

　It must have been quite a bone to try to deal with Spica without the eyes of Gordo and Casablanca while performing the work of the Prime Minister while being vigilant to avoid contact with Spica.

　Oh, so that's why he was pretending to be a shit and a whimper. You were implying that you were obedient despite all the things you said with your mouth, and that you didn't need to be brainwashed.


'You're wondering about that face, my tone of voice, aren't you?　That was definitely a pretense, but it was also a case of resentment. I'm not a talker in my own right by nature.

Oh, exasperation.


　Was the general that good?

　Well, if I had to do paperwork every day, I might say it was shit.


'But it worked out well, though. Maybe that's what they say about multiplying a negative by a negative and a negative by a positive.


　Mr. Cigarone says with satisfaction.

　By minus, I suppose he means Spica and me.

　In other words, I was going to destroy the empire, but I'm here to destroy the cause of the empire's destruction.


'Let's just say I'm glad to be of service.

'Hmm. Hence, it would be presumptuous of me to offer this as a finale.

The finale: "The finale: ......?


　I thought it was a place to exchange a few words slowly in front of a crowd to reveal the truth.

　What's more?


I told you. I told you I was feeling a lot of resentment.

　Depression?　I don't know.



They're all fighting for someone else.


!



　Seeing Mr. Cigarone, who speaks in an awfully calm voice, as if fighting for someone else is a bad thing, I can see everything.

　He has a way of talking about it that makes everyone here feel like a fait accompli. But the words tickle my fancy.


"You're just like me, aren't you?


　Oh, yes.

　That's what I lived for.


"I can't stand to fight for anyone else but myself. Isn't that what you are?

It must be.


　I remember what I said to Nova during the battle for the God's throne.

　Each and every battle is a battle for my life.

　It's such an extreme game that it's a lot of fun.


　...... Cigarone. Is that what you are too?

　You're aching for it too, aren't you?



Let's do it, Eight Crowns. Second First test.



　You're right: ......!



Cigarone, I'll tell you a good thing when it's over. Until then--

?


　Ping, flick a coin.




Let me have a good dream.




　As soon as the coin dropped, he took out a 16lb fluorocarbon.

　Cigarone also took out the spider silk as a matter of course in this interval.

　The exchange of "Infantry Thread Manipulation" began immediately afterwards. The right hand and the left hand, in turn, are rolled out without any interval, and they play each other to close the gap.

　I'm surprised, the basics are as good as the Tenmoza fighters.

　So how about this one?


"Law.

　When I connected the "Incense Carpenter Thread Manipulation" to the "Gui Ma Thread Manipulation" and took out the torch, Cigarone raised one eyebrow.

　The spider silk is the weak point of the torch. The Prince responded with his dragon beard, but what does Cigarone do?


!

　He took a step back from the pause and avoided it with a sleight of hand while placing the spider silk in his inventory.

　And right after - I started preparing for the 《Ryoma Body Technique》.

　Ahhhhhh, well, how could I remember a dragon horse~?

　It's a reading muscle.

　I immediately pull the thread to bring the torch to my hand, and at the same time let go of the thread, preparing to perform the Gui Ma Jutsu Tsuki at the moment I hold the torch in my hand.

　The torch is a "stick" decision. It can be handled by [Staff Jutsu]. It's not a good idea to have a good idea of what you're talking about, but it's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're talking about.


"I see.

　Cigarone muttered a single word of understanding, and as soon as the preparation of the 《Long Horse Body Technique》 was complete, he accelerated right beside him and ducked Gui Ma, and with enough time to spare, he immediately cancelled the skill and took out his bow from his inventory.


''Hey!''

　Evaluate the situation. If I dodge, you'll get a knight in the back.


It's a handicap.

　No, you're the one who says that.

　So what, you want me to do something without ducking.

　You're going to have to go to ...... to have fun.


"Oraa!　Ola-la-la!

"Ha-ha!

　As a result of being cornered, the only thing I could think of was to use the 《Infantry Body Technique》 to punch down each arrow individually. This is the only skill I can prepare continuously enough to catch up with the continuous firing of the 《Infantry Archery》.

　Cigarone was unexpectedly firing a series of infantry while laughing.

　Ah, I've taken damage from this. It's not a problem because I've already unraveled the change, but it's somewhat frustrating. Shall I use 《Infantry Archery》 to intercept it?　That's good.


You can do that too?

Try it.

　At the ninth interval of the infantry barrage, I also take out a mithril longbow from my inventory.

　Cigarone kept the corners of his mouth up and began firing his infantry streak again, as if testing me.


'Brilliant!'

　I can admire it.

　But it's easier than that practice of throwing a bunch of rocks in the air and hitting them while moving. You can't get praised for this.


"Is this a compliment?

!

　I wanted you to give me a compliment.

　No, you didn't seem to notice, so why not praise me?

　Oh well. In time for Cigarone's ninth shot interval, I had actually sneaked off two shots in one shot, just once, so that my response would end up being the eighth shot. To be precise, I snatched the first shot and then snatched the second one, which was adjusted in position to come on top of that extension.

　Hence, Cigarone must have been surprised when my 《Infantry Archery》 flew at him, which was not supposed to come during the interval.


''Correct.''

　Ten consecutive shots will cause a five second cool time. Hence, it's a bad idea to respond by combining infantry. But if you don't, you'll be able to hit the vital point in the chest, so you'll have to duck.

　The middle of the chest is the hardest part to avoid if you are targeted. Hence, Cigarone's stance is broken. This is your chance.


"Oh, good, good!

　But to prevent that from happening, Cigarone began to chant the "Wind Attribute San-no-Kata".

　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make use of your fairly low stance to hide your magic circle just like "prone chanting". It was a natural move that killed two birds with one stone. But unfortunately, the magic circle was glimpsed for a moment.


............

　When I politely showed my response by preparing the advantageous attribute of "earth attribute, Sanno type", Cigarone's expression suddenly became cloudy.

　Hmm?　Yeah, I get it. Namep has been found out. In truth, it was the end of the story after I dealt with it with [Demon Magic]. Or rather, the decision has already been made a long time ago.


''It's a handicap.

　When I said exactly the same thing to Cigarone, Cigarone grinned.

　At about the same time, I shoot [magic] at each other to offset it.


　Now, let's start over.

　What is it, it's getting more and more like a charm battle.

　However, everyone here is forced to watch the game, so it's worth the fascination.

　Look at the faces of everyone.

　The emperor, the princess, the prince, the prince, the general, the knights, the soldiers, the maids, everyone is watching.


It's about time.

?

Let's go with the finale.

............



　...... finale. Ah, yes, that's what I'm talking about.

　You're telling me to beat the most powerful man in the Empire, Cigarone, and be the most powerful man in the name.

　That's why he created a situation where no one could interfere and raised me so much before the match started. He said that I'm a boat to be crossed, and that I'm a thankful one for the Empire.

　Defeating Cigarone would be the final touch, I guess.

　Now you have a perfect existence that no one can complain about in a meritocracy.


What's up with that?


　You were certainly my kind of guy. I could relate to you for a while.

　But the ...... depth (...) was different.

　Sadly, that's all. But it's too much, too definitive.

　It's a bad habit. I get my hopes up.

　I thought it was just this once. It was obvious. A wide variety of skills to remember. High enough status. His skills are above and beyond top-notch. This was a new opponent.

　Again. How many times have I heard that? Come on, man, that's enough.


Come on.

　Cigarone invites you with the Infantry Spearmanship.

　You're right, I'll do whatever you want. How do you respond to this deliberate preoccupation with preparation, and the rush of your Archery to the Flying Wheel?


!

　I put my spear away.

　I read that I'm going to bring out my shield, cancel the flying car, and prepare the "Incense Car Swordsmanship" while taking out my sword. It's because this one has the advantage if the timing is tight.


　But ...... Cigarone did not take out any weapons.

　The [body art] response?　But at this time, against a sword, that's reckless. If you have thrown the game away--!



Sorry about that.

'Whoa!



　--He threw me. Me.


　《Infantry Aikijutsu, Throwing》...... It is a skill of receiving.

　I was swept away the moment I swung my sword out, and with that momentum I was blown backwards by Cigarone.

　It's not just a matter of time before you get to the point where you'll be able to get a good idea of what you're looking for.


　It's a good idea to have a good balance between the two, and if you don't have a good response to your opponent's nage, you'll lose .......



"


　No way.

　Oh, no.

　I was betrayed, Cigarone.

　Was it an off-the-board tactic, a mental attack, a deception, or how shall I put it, but it was a good way to do it anyway.

　I see, I see. I'm sure I'd like this kind of trickery.

　You take two turns at once. It keeps going back and forth from negative to positive. A minus became a plus, then a minus, then a plus, and now a minus?　Then the next one is a plus.

　It's a fitting finale. I'd like to think so, from now on.



...... Second Firth Test. For what it's worth, I have to ask you, why don't you go down if you're not getting it?


　Cigarone, you're scared out of your mind, you don't want to look like that in PvP.


"Want to know?

Oh, come on.

"Your throwing was too lenient. You don't know a single thing about aiki-jutsu.


　Too much force. 'Look, look, we're going to throw now~', Cigarone's arms, legs, body and gaze advertised that loudly. Once you know you're going to be thrown by that moment, you'll be reasonably well prepared to land.


'...... ho ......'


　Cigarone's expression further changed to a blue one. Is it because they know that [Aikijutsu] is at the amateur level, or is she feeling frustrated that she was unlucky enough to not be able to get a down, or maybe she's impatient that her deception is no longer applicable again? Either way, it's not a PvP-friendly face.

　It's just - apparently, it's a good thing to be expected.

　And ...... I have a face that I can't say about others either. But the edges of my mouth go up on their own.

　It's fun. I really appreciate you setting this up.


　Now, Cigarone. Let's finish up and go--!