Chapter 39: The Girl in the Golden Field

Pikachu shook her head upon hearing the question.

“I couldn’t find him. The situation is so stacked against him right now, and yet he’s still running around. I have no idea what he’s thinking!”

“That little bitch Dieyu is missing too. I bet those two are off doing something unsavory.”

“Hah… they really must want to die together!”

Although Pikachu didn’t particularly like Dieyu, they had been grouped together on the first day.

Since they were both girls, she felt somewhat frustrated on her behalf.

She didn’t understand why, given the current situation, they weren’t out looking for the werewolves instead of playing a vanishing act.

Great Emperor Zhenwu scratched his head.

“Maybe they’re that Cupid and Werewolf couple or something.”

“Oh, by the way, the Village Chief isn’t around either. Do you think she’s a Wolf too?”

Pikachu immediately waved her hand dismissively.

“There’s no way she’s a Wolf!”

Zhenwu didn’t understand.

He stared at her, wide-eyed.

“Why not?”

Pikachu frowned slightly.

‘I just feel like she isn’t.’

There were four girls in this game.

The Ordinary Girl Village Chief was actually the most unremarkable among them.

Her looks and attire couldn’t compare to Dieyu or Taoqimao, and she was somewhat sharp-tongued and gloomy.

Yet, even though the Village Chief’s biting remarks made Pikachu want to punch someone, she still preferred her over Dieyu and Taoqimao, whom she found highly suspicious.

The Village Chief’s straightforward nature and the way she didn’t hide her emotions made her more likable.

She was someone who read the room even worse than Pikachu herself!

Pikachu found that kind of drive admirable; it reminded her of how she had been a few years ago.

Hearing that Pikachu was relying solely on intuition, Zhenwu didn’t know what to say.

He shifted awkwardly until Pikachu, seeing his hesitation, finally gave him the boot.

“Why don’t you go chat with Conan?”

“Anyway, I’m going to wait for Shiba Daye to get back. I’ll make my judgment after I’ve talked to him.”

“I don’t really trust Conan. He doesn’t feel like a good person to me.”

“I’m going to sleep now. Don’t bother me unless it’s important!”

As Pikachu spoke, she moved to close the door, but Zhenwu quickly grabbed the frame to stop her.

“Wait, wait, wait!”

“I have some private matters… how should I put this…”

“I’m just really stressed, and I need someone to talk to.”

“To be honest, sister, you’re the one I trust most out of everyone here!”

“Help me analyze things.”

“Oh, right, right! Do you want a drink?”

“I’ve got drinks here!!!”

Pikachu’s brow furrowed slightly.

“Are they cold?”

“Ice-cold!”

Zhenwu promised quickly.

“Then come in!”

With that, Great Emperor Zhenwu finally stepped into Pikachu’s Thatched Hut.

To be honest, this was the first time he had ever entered a girl’s “bedroom.”

Even though Pikachu was built sturdier than he was, Zhenwu still felt a bit constrained.

“You’re a grown man, why are you being so shy? Just sit down. All these rooms are the same!”

Zhenwu sat on a chair, not daring to let his eyes wander.

Remembering the cold drinks, he pulled out his Game Card.

[Grandpa’s Deluxe Meal]

[Effect: An 89.9-yuan Grandpa’s Deluxe Meal. The drinks are ice-cold and the burgers are hot~]

[Card Description: Even though it is only an N-rank Card, it can be a lifesaver in wilderness survival games! Enjoy this fleeting culinary indulgence!]

As Zhenwu activated his Game Card, three burgers, two orders of large fries, a small bucket of chicken legs and nuggets, and two cups of iced fruit juice appeared on the table.

Zhenwu didn’t stand on ceremony.

He grabbed a burger and started eating, then looked at Pikachu.

“Don’t be shy, sister. Eat whatever you like.”

“I was planning to save this for a few days.”

“Sigh, but I don’t know if I’ll even survive the night. We might as well eat it now!”

“Mmm, this chicken is so fragrant!”

Pikachu didn’t hold back either.

She took a sip of the iced juice and felt much more refreshed.

She frowned slightly.

“I don’t have much of an appetite, I can’t really eat. You, on the other hand, always seem to have a good appetite.”

“What’s going on? Why do you think you won’t survive the night?”

“Though, this Game Card of yours…”

‘It’s so useless…’

Zhenwu pursed his lips, his face smeared with salad dressing.

He looked like he was about to cry.

“It’s an N Card. My luck is just bad, nothing I can do about it. But it really does smell good, much better than steamed buns or flatbread!”

“Sister, I drew the Idiot card. I told Shiba Daye yesterday, and I told Conan today.”

“The Witch isn’t saving anyone. I feel like I’m going to die!”

“I just finished talking to Conan, and he comforted me, saying it’s fine.”

“But thinking back, it’s definitely not fine! How could it be fine?”

“I’m panicking right now. What should I do?!”

“Also, even though you favor Shiba Daye, what Conan said makes a lot of sense. He’s working hard to find the Wolves for everyone. I think you should believe him.”

“If only to stay alive, we have to trust him.”

Pikachu had been enjoying the iced juice, but after hearing Zhenwu’s words, she slammed the cup onto the table in a rage.

“Are you stupid?!”

“My God, you really are an idiot!”

“How could you tell anyone about something like that?!”

“If you don’t die, who will?!”

Pikachu was kind-hearted, and since she believed Zhenwu wasn’t a Wolf, she was genuinely worried for him.

She walked over to him and began berating him.

“You shouldn’t have even told me!”

“We have twelve players in total. Two are dead, leaving ten players.”

“There are likely still three Werewolves, plus the Cupid and the couple!”

“To put it bluntly, the bad guys probably make up half the group!”

“You’re literally seeking death!”

“You’re infuriating me!!!”

Despite his large build, Zhenwu turned red and hung his head as Pikachu scolded him.

He was angry at himself as well.

“Sigh, I just can’t keep a secret!”

“At first, I thought they were good people. I just couldn’t help myself because I wanted to prove that I was a good person too!”

“Oh, right, Shiba Daye specifically told me yesterday not to tell anyone else!”

“My stupid brain!!!”

“Sister, tell me, what should I do now?”

Pikachu paced the room a few times before plopping down on the bed.

She looked at Zhenwu, who was still holding half a burger.

She slapped her thigh.

“What else can you do? Look for the Wolves!”

“You better go offer some incense!”

“Pray that the Witch suddenly finds her conscience and saves you!”

“Also, wait for Shiba Daye to return. After I hear his explanation, wait to see whose side I take!”

“Don’t go off and vote like a moron on your own, do you hear me, you ‘Idiot’ card holder!”

Zhenwu nodded repeatedly, looking like a student being lectured by a strict principal.

“Yes, yes, I understand!”

“Sister, I definitely won’t vote blindly!”

“I’ll trust you!”

***

After parting ways with Zhenwu, Conan went to look for the Ordinary Girl Village Chief.

Unfortunately, after searching the entire area, he couldn’t find her.

He settled under the shade of a tree to start calculating his next move.

Two players had died last night.

Their identities were unknown, but at the very least, Qian Lao Ben was definitely a good person.

While the death of a couple could also result in two players dying, the odds of the Werewolves killing one and the Witch poisoning the other—and both being in the same couple—were far too low.

Since Cupid hadn’t revealed himself, he had undoubtedly done something bad.

Conan certainly hoped that two Wolves were the couple, as that would give the good side a massive advantage.

If one member of a couple was eliminated, the other would die as well.

If it were one Wolf and one good person, the problem wasn’t too large either.

After all, his analysis had already convinced everyone that there were Wolves among them.

If the Werewolves heard his words, they might even hope for their teammate to be eliminated, likely following his lead in the voting.

The scenario Conan feared most was a Witch and a Werewolf being the couple.

If that were the case, they and Cupid would form a Third Faction, needing to kill everyone else to win.

After all, the Witch hadn’t saved anyone last night and had even poisoned someone!

Conan didn’t believe the Witch was a fool who would do something so detrimental to their own side.

Only someone in a Third Faction would want fewer and fewer people to remain alive!

Therefore, the possibility of the Witch and a Werewolf being a couple was quite high!

Thinking of this, Conan frowned.

The pressure was mounting.

‘Hah… and that’s not even the worst-case scenario.’

‘The Prophet hasn’t come looking for me yet. I’m afraid the good side started this game in a disastrous position—an absolute disadvantage.’

‘If that Thief who was too scared to show himself chose a Werewolf identity and buried the Prophet card… (Buried: A card not selected and thus excluded from the current game.)’

‘If that’s the case, the good faction only has two gods: the Idiot and the Hunter…’

‘Once that idiot Zhenwu dies tonight, I’ll be in danger tomorrow!!!’

Beads of sweat formed on Conan’s forehead as he thought.

He bit his finger, his mind racing.

Even though these were just worst-case theories, it didn’t stop the instinctive fear of them coming true.

‘So, Shiba Daye must be eliminated today!’

‘If even one player with a good identity is voted out by mistake, I’m afraid the game will be lost after tonight.’

‘Unrivaled openly questioned Shiba Daye on the first day. It didn’t look like an act; he’ll definitely follow my lead today.’

‘Zhenwu is wavering. I’ll chat with him again this afternoon, so that vote shouldn’t be an issue.’

‘Pikachu has been siding with Shiba Daye, but she’s likely just a deceived good person. When Shiba Daye returns and is rendered speechless by my arguments, the worst that could happen is she’ll abstain, if she doesn’t vote for him.’

‘Cthulhu and Baiduren are highly suspicious. There’s a high probability one is a Wolf, but after hearing my speech today, they probably want Shiba Daye dead too.’

‘In that case, I already control more than half the votes…’

‘However, it’s hard to say if Cthulhu or Baiduren might suddenly flip their votes. Taoqimao and Dieyu will likely follow Shiba Daye and vote for me…’

‘Hehe, at least one of those two is in the couple or is Cupid!’

‘Therefore, the Village Chief’s vote is vital. If I can secure her, today is in the bag!!!’

If he got her vote, he would control at least five out of the ten remaining players.

If Pikachu actually joined his side, that would be six votes!

‘No, I still need to find the Village Chief!’

Conan realized that the key figure today was indeed that Ordinary Girl Village Chief who kept everyone at arm’s length.

Conan spent over two hours thinking under the shade of the tree.

After searching the Village for a long time without finding her, he decided to check the small hill at the back.

Unexpectedly, he spotted the ordinary girl in the fields.

She was still wearing the same tracksuit and a black baseball cap.

She was holding a stalk of rice and crouching in the middle of the golden wheat field, doing who-knows-what.

As Conan approached cautiously, he caught a glimpse of her very ordinary profile and was struck with shock!

The ordinary girl was actually wearing a faint smile!!!