do you like him?

Nicole blushed deeply as she realized about whom the two were talking about.

"Isn't it right? He saved you like a prince on a white horse. I bet your heart must have fluttered a little, right!?" Wendy didn't miss the opportunity to playfully tease her, and also Sylvie joined in.

"I…I…I don't…know…" Nicole stammered, her cheeks reddening further.

"What does that mean?"

"I am very grateful to him. After all, he saved me… but in the end, he lost his arm…"

"That's the thing!! Is there anyone out there who would sacrifice his arm just to save you!?" Wendy enthusiastically explained.

"No, b-but…"

"And besides, with his ranking on the leaderboard, I'm sure he'll easily get that mysterious potion, and by then, his arm will be back to normal!!" Wendy reassured her.

Nicole looked at them with determination and said, "I-I know! That's why I will try my best to help him!"

"That's great and all, but you still haven't told us whether you like him or not," Wendy continued to tease her, a mischievous grin on her face.

"Add let's not forget that kiss! Although it was emergency, it still counts!!" Wendy added.

"What!? She kissed him!?!"

"I-It wasn't a kiss!!! I mean it was-! P-Please!!!!! D-Don't talk a-about that!!" Just remembering that night and his lips, made her go complete red.

"So tell us, do you like him?" Wendy asked her again.

"Ehhh?!? I-I don't… know." Under the teasing gazes of her friends, Nicole returned to her shy, uncertain demeanor and blushed again.

"What's that supposed to mean? Just answer yes or no!" Even Sylvie playfully prodded.

"I don't know…"

"Oh, right! Fred once mentioned when he was bored that he and Kalsie were still single! You should seize this opportunity before he gets someone else!" Wendy added, trying to tease her further.

"Eh?! P-Please… let's not talk about it…"

The two friends burst into laughter, thoroughly enjoying their good-natured teasing and lighting up the heavy atmosphere around them.

****

By now, Wendy's group had ventured deep into the maze, where they hadn't encountered a single person.

"How big exactly is this place?!" Wendy couldn't help but exclaim in annoyance.

"I don't even know which way we came from," added Nicole, clearly frustrated with the labyrinthine nature of their surroundings.

"Shush, wait a sec," Sylvie interjected, suddenly signaling for them to be quiet.

"What is it?" Wendy inquired in a hushed tone.

Sylvie concentrated on her hearing, her expression focused and attentive.

"I can hear footsteps… coming towards us. It sounds like more than ten people or so," Sylvie reported.

The news sent a jolt of alarm through the group.

"What should we do?" Sylvie turned to them for guidance.

"What else? If they're enemies, we'll defeat them," Wendy replied confidently. Though the idea of facing more than ten adversaries was daunting, Wendy remained resolute.

They quickly sought cover behind a corner, which provided them with an ideal vantage point. From there, they could remain hidden until the right moment to strike.

"Their noises are getting closer," Sylvie informed them in a hushed voice.

"What can you hear?" Nicole asked quietly.

"I think it's a group of people shouting or trying to catch someone," Sylvie replied.

Wendy nodded thoughtfully. "Let's wait and see who they are before we attack. We might not need to engage if they're not a threat."

And so, they patiently bided their time, concealed behind the corner, as the group of approaching individuals grew nearer. Thanks to their hiding spot, they will be hidden well, even if a boisterous group raced past them.

Before long, the sounds of a group of young men shouting reached their ears.

"Stop!"

"What kind of a Ranker are you!!!"

The words of the approaching group piqued their curiosity, especially the word 'Ranker', and Wendy's group continued to observe in silence, their readiness to engage balanced by the need to assess the situation.

"Just give up!"

"Running won't help you!"

A cacophony of angry shouts and curses were hurled at the person being chased.

"Hah!! Did you all take me for a fool? I asked for a one-on-one fight, and I'd even take on five at once, but you cowards denied it!! If you've got any guts, come face me one by one!!!" The voice, filled with anger and fatigue, rang out in defiance against the pursuing group.

As the person's shouts echoed through the maze, the girls in Wendy's group immediately recognized the voice.

"Is that who I think it is?" Sylvie looked at Wendy, her eyes wide with realization.

"That idiot!!! What is he doing!?!" Wendy's reaction was a mix of irritation and concern.

"He's in danger…"

*****************

"Hah Hah Hah," Fred panted heavily after a long and frantic run.

"Finally, you have nowhere to run. You're like a mouse caught in a trap now." A man holding a spear eyed Fred with greed.

Fred found himself standing at a dead-end, his escape routes cut off by a dozen hostile figures.

When he had woken up, he was alone, much like Kalsie, but his luck had taken a darker turn as he encountered enemies along the way.

Fred's weapon was a large bow, while his opponents wielded various melee weapons. When they initially ambushed him, Fred had managed to fend off their attacks with his arrows. However, realizing the disadvantage of his situation, he had opted to flee, ultimately leading him to this point.

"Before we get into this, let's decide who gets the honor of killing me," Fred said with a wry smile on his face.

"I mean, only one person can claim my kill count, but there are fifteen of you." He added.

"That's...!" The group of assailants suddenly realized the conundrum.

"Obviously, it'll be me!!" one of them declared.

"Why should it be you!?"

"I'm the leader! So I should do it!"

"Huh?! No way!!!"

As Fred anticipated, the group erupted into a heated argument, with even more voices joining the fray. The prospect of claiming Fred's kill count was too tempting, and no one wanted to leave the opportunity.

Amid the escalating dispute, Fred calmly sat down, his back against the wall, and chuckled at the spectacle unfolding before him. He found amusement in their bickering and greed.

"Can we settle this later, perhaps?! Look at him, he's just laughing!!" A perceptive member of the group pointed out Fred's mirth, prompting others to realize his ploy.

"Humph, your little plan didn't work!! Go ahead and laugh while you can. No one's coming to save you!!!" The same person who had initiated the confrontation advanced toward Fred, issuing a threatening challenge.

But Fred's smile only widened.

"I wouldn't be so sure about that." A mocking voice suddenly cut through the tension from behind the group.

Startled, they hastily turned around to confront the new arrivals. Standing there were Wendy, Sylvie, and Nicole, their expressions stern and unyielding.

"Oye, fatty. Are you okay?" Wendy called out to Fred.