As expected of the legendary dragon slayer, Leon possessed an unparalleled understanding of dragon habits. When he sent the message to Isha, her response was immediate and concise: "Ready anytime."
It was clear that things had been too calm on the Red Dragon Clan's side recently, leaving their fiery eldest sister bored and eagerly looking for an excuse for some family fun. With Isha's confirmation, their group finally had the required eight players.
A few days later, they set off for the floating metropolis of Sky City. The journey was filled with the excited chatter of the young dragon girls, all buzzing about the upcoming live-action interactive game.
"I heard that some of the senior dragons at the academy have already played it and said it was amazing," Helena said, her voice dreamy. "Apparently, one of the seniors won the grand prize in the end. She drew the princess card—so lucky!"
The three Melkvey sisters exchanged glances. They could guess what the princess card represented; it was likely the prime role, similar to the Seer or Sheriff in the werewolf games they'd played before. But why was drawing the princess card considered especially lucky?
Helena noticed their confusion and eagerly explained, "The rules of the game are simple. Eight people draw identity cards at random. Once you get your card, you have to play that role for the next seventy-two hours, acting in character to enhance the immersion. That's one of the main selling points of this interactive game. And the princess is the main character in the game's storyline—noble, intelligent, and admired by everyone."
Noah blinked, thought for a moment, and then remarked with characteristic insight, "A god-tier role in the good faction."
Helena paused, impressed. "Oh, Noah, you've played games like werewolf before?"
"Yeah, our family is pretty big, so we play different party games to pass the time," Noah replied.
If the princess card was indeed the "god-tier" role, then whoever drew it would naturally have a higher chance of guiding their faction to victory. Of course, this live-action game was bound to be more complex than simple parlor games. The flyer had mentioned elements like "role-playing" and "NPC side quests." So, besides being good at deduction and debate, players would likely need to complete individual tasks to succeed.
"I'm even more excited now. I hope I draw the princess card," Helena said, sitting comfortably on the dragon's back as she gazed up at the passing clouds. She then glanced down at Noah, resting her chin in her hands with a sly smile. "Noah, what card do you hope to draw?"
"Me..." Noah thought for a moment. "The knight card, I guess."
Helena's eyes sparkled. "Is that because knights can protect the princess?"
"No," Noah said, her tone practical and eager for the challenge. "Because knights can slay wolves."
"..."
Helena understood now. Her best friend had a wonderfully straightforward personality. In adult terms, she was a "no-nonsense girl." Not romantic at all!
But the situation wasn't that simple. As the Silver Dragon Clan's eldest princess, Noah had honed her perception by successfully navigating countless political and social situations. Helena's subtle hints hadn't gone unnoticed. If Noah had played along and said, "I want to draw the knight card so I can protect you, Helena," a dramatic, jealous scene with Muen might have erupted before they even reached Sky City.
So, Noah answered the way she did as a strategic move to avoid stirring up any premature "storm of emotions." She glanced at Muen and saw that her little sister, while calm on the surface, had her big blue eyes darting toward Helena every few seconds, as if she feared she'd lose Noah's attention to her friend at any moment.
Noah sighed internally with a helpless smile and shook her head. Oh, sisterly possessiveness~ When will this silly girl ever grow up?
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.
.
The lively chatter continued all the way until they arrived at the dazzling, tiered city in the clouds. Since the Red Dragon Clan's territory was closer, Isha was already there waiting for them. Standing amidst the crowd, her striking red hair and stunning features made her easy to spot. With her arms crossed and her signature sly, playful smile, she exuded a captivating, cunning vibe.
"If you were any slower, I'd have started growing moss," she teased as they approached.
"Sorry, sister. How long have you been waiting?" Rossweise asked.
"Ten minutes."
"Ten minutes and you're already growing moss?" Leon quipped, joining the banter. "With that kind of rapid growth, you could single-handedly lead a desert reforestation project."
Isha shot a playful glare at her brother-in-law. "Well, looks like not only has your leg healed, but your sharp tongue is back in full force, too."
Isha had only heard about Leon's injury a few days prior. Rossweise had told her he'd simply tripped over a stone while traveling. Ha! Who'd believe that? But even though she doubted the story, Isha didn't push for answers. As long as this extraordinary couple didn't pull off any more world-shattering stunts like "lightning and fire destroying a kingdom," she was content to let them have their secrets.
During the playful banter, Isha's attention shifted to the elegant, blue-haired woman beside them. "Lady Claudia, we met once at the Twilight Tower," Isha said, greeting her first as the younger of the two.
Claudia nodded gracefully. "Just like Rossweise, you are a remarkably impressive young queen."
"Not at all, I still have much to learn from you," Isha replied with polite humility.
After the pleasantries, the young dragon girls could no longer contain their excitement and rushed forward.
"Auntie~"
"Auntie, give us a hug~"
Isha's face instantly lit up with an uncontrollable, radiant smile—the genuine, unreserved joy of a doting aunt. She knelt down, hugging and kissing each little dragon girl in turn. In the end, she picked up Aurora, who shared her warm red-and-pink color palette. Isha adored all three girls equally, but she had a special soft spot for Aurora. After all, they both shared a playful, mischievous streak. The older one loved observing and gently stirring the pot among the adults; the younger one delighted in the harmless chaos between her sisters. Together, they were the perfect red-pink duo, a team built for endless amusement!
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More than half an hour later, the group finally reached the venue for the live-action interactive game, "Castle Secrets." Because the game lasted a full seventy-two hours, it required advance reservations. Thankfully, Helena, ever the planner, had handled all the booking details.
The staff welcomed them warmly and, after a quick identity check, led them to a small, intimate room that resembled a private meeting space.
"Welcome, everyone, to our newly launched live-action interactive game, 'Castle Secrets'," a game facilitator began. "Let me first introduce the background story."
"In a mysterious, ancient castle, there exists a legendary artifact capable of granting any wish—the Black Sacred Stone. The castle was ruled by a wise and beloved king who, on his deathbed, revealed the existence of the Black Sacred Stone to his only daughter, the princess. He urged her to use its power wisely and to never, ever let it fall into the wrong hands."
"After the king's death, many dignitaries and friends attended the funeral to honor the great ruler. That evening, some guests, having traveled from distant lands, stayed overnight at the castle, where the princess welcomed them with traditional hospitality."
"After dinner, the princess returned to her room and, as was her nightly habit, checked the wooden box hidden under her bed—the box that contained the key to the secret chamber holding the Black Sacred Stone. But when she opened it, she was horrified to find the key was missing! She immediately summoned her personal guards and rushed to the chamber, only to find the door wide open and the sacred stone gone."
"In a panic, the princess ordered the castle gates sealed immediately. At that moment, including the princess herself, there were eight people left trapped inside the castle."
The facilitator listed them off: "The princess, her two closest friends, a loyal guard, the queen, an old friend of the late king, the royal chef, and the castle's doctor."
"Now then—" As the facilitator finished the introduction, another staff member placed eight face-down identity cards on the central table. "Please each draw your identity card."
The young dragon girls eagerly reached out and each picked a card.
"Eh~~ why am I the princess's friend?" Muen said, her voice laced with slight disappointment. Every little girl had a princess dream, even if she was a real princess back in the Silver Dragon Sanctuary. That didn't stop her from wanting to play one in a game.
"Aurora, what did you get?" Muen asked, peeking over her younger sister's shoulder.
Aurora, utterly unfazed, turned her card over. "Also the princess's friend. Ha, this princess sure has a lot of friends."
Helena drew her card next and revealed the Guard.
She glanced around the room before her eyes settled intently on Noah. "Noah, what did you draw?" she asked, her voice full of anticipation.
Noah blinked, her face as calm and composed as ever. With practiced grace, she flipped over her card with her fingertips.
Princess.
"Wow~ you drew the princess!" Helena exclaimed, her face lighting up. "And I'm the guard, so that means... I get to protect you up close!"
Up close. Protect.
Warning! Warning!
You have triggered the sisterly rival!
Aurora could almost feel the surge of competitive determination radiating from Muen, who was, unfortunately, stuck in the same "friend" faction as her. Good, Aurora thought, the game's drama is already heating up even before it properly begins!
"I drew the doctor," Isha announced, showing her card.
"What about you, Rossweise?" she asked.
"Oh, I got the chef," Rossweise said, frowning slightly at her card. "Ugh, why the chef?"
"Because your cooking skills desperately need the practice," Leon jabbed, taking the chance to poke fun at her.
Rossweise simply rolled her eyes at him, unwilling to dignify that comment with a response.
"I drew the queen," Claudia announced with a sigh. "Ugh... why do I always end up playing the mother roles?" She recalled being cast as Leon's "evil mother" during a school play years ago. It seemed some roles were destined to follow her.
That left Leon's card, which was, naturally, the last one: The King's Old Friend.
He turned the card over slowly, revealing the elegant script at the top. But what truly caught Leon's eye, and sent a jolt of surprise through him, were the smaller, finely printed words just beneath the title:
[Old Friend, Independent Faction]
[Objective: Eliminate Everyone]