Welcome to Paris (1)

If people don't enter a scenario area by themselves, the system can force them to move there.

For example, here, we have 12 hours to arrive to the 3rd scenario area. If we fail to do so, we'll die.

Since it's the 3rd scenario in Paris, it's where the protagonists in my novel were teleported to after their 2nd scenario ended. I will probably encounter some of them.

I dialed Norwood's phone number.

Ding, ding, ding—

After a few seconds, he picked up.

[Allo?]

"Allo, I don't have a driving license. Could you give me a ride to Paris?"

[…]

There was a moment of silence at the other end of the call.

I'm aware that this request sounds wrong on too many levels.

I awkwardly broke the silence.

"Erm, I mean, I don't have a driving license…"

[I know, you already said it.]

If you know then answer. Of course, if you intend to refuse, it's better to drag on the silence.

Yes, this request reveals that I'm a player and could also reveal that he's a player if he accepts. It would also seem absurd to a normal person that someone suddenly asks to give them a ride to Paris in the middle of the night. He'll probably refuse…

There was a sigh at the other end of the phone.

[…Okay.]

My brain registered the situation.

[I.. also had to go there anyway.]

So, Norwood is a player and he decided to reveal it to me for an unknown reason. Maybe because he finds me suspicious?

"Thank you very much. I'll send you my address right now."

After telling him where I live and hanging up, I waited for him.

Even though it's going to last a long time, it would be annoying to carry around spare clothes…

I went to the bathroom and took some bandages and band aids that I put in my pockets just in case. A bottle of disinfectant would be too cumbersome…

Then, I also stuffed my coat's pockets with lollipops. And If I'm thirsty… It's fine, I don't like water anyway, I'm sure I can endure one week without drinking.

I just realized I intend to wear a coat in Summer.

Details. I'm storing food to survive. Unhealthy food, but food nonetheless. However, isn't the temperature going to dehydrate me more?

I mentally shook my head. It's not a big deal, I'm a superhuman composed of less than 50% of water anyway.

Which only shows that I already have a serious case of dehydration, but let's hope there's drinkable water out there.

That was not a detail described in my novel, but since my characters survived, there should be some.

Grabbing a knife, I hesitated on whether to take the gun or not.

Even though it would be great for intimidation, there aren't many bullets, I'm not good at aiming and I'm done for if I get caught illegally carrying a firearm by the authorities.

Considering the scenario's content, I decided against it.

Now, where should I put this knife?

I tried to leave it in my shoe but it made walking uncomfortable. In my sock, it was also too noticeable… Don't I have any foldable knife?

As I rummaged through my drawers, I heard the sound of a car parking and my phone vibrated.

[I'm here.]

Reading the message, I seized two sharp knives, some tissue to wrap their blades in it, put on my shoes and ran down the stairs. I already had my coat on.

Opening the car's door and taking the seat next to him, I noticed the odd look on Norwood's face who was looking at the knives I was holding in broad daylight.

What? At least it's not a firearm.

"Want one?"

The profiler opened his mouth as if he had something to say but closed it in the end, shaking his head as a no.

Too bad, I really wonder what a profiler thinks about someone carrying knives around.

Wrapping the blades with tissue to not get cut, I wondered once again where I should put them.

In the end, I settled on my inner coat pocket which was quite large and my jeans' front pocket.

Glancing at the silent Norwood, my gaze then turned to the GPS. I stared at the estimated time left until we arrived.

Not a word was exchanged until we approached our destination.

I yawned.

There should be no electricity in Paris at this time so I won't be able to charge my phone. I turned it off for the time being, in case Norwood isn't able to drive me back home and I need a GPS to find my way.

"…Paris is ahead."

In the distance, a dense black fog blocked our view.

"Maybe it's delimitating the boundaries of the scenario area?"

I shrugged.

"Maybe."

The more we went in, the denser the fog got. Because of that, we had to stop the car.

Putting my sleeve in front of my nose, I tried not to inhale too much of it. After all, I knew where it came from.

Approaching the center, the origin of that 'fog' was soon revealed.

It wasn't fog, but smoke.

I still wonder how there were able to ignite metal. Is this a plot hole?

Staring at the burning Eiffel Tower, the flames engulfing the metallic structure that was still proudly standing in the middle of the square, I addressed Norwood.

[You have successfully reached the designated location in time.]

The 3rd scenario will now begin.

[The 3rd scenario will now begin.]

"Welcome to Paris."

[Life and death: Scenario 3 #3945

Survive.]

Now, there was only one rule.

[Good luck.]

It was to survive.

[167:32:58]

Still 7 days left.

'Life and death'. The scenario wearing this name has only one rule: to survive.

There is no other indication about against what we should survive, how the rankings are calculated, a penalty or a reward.

We are only shown the rankings of the top 20 here, with names followed by a certain amount of points, and a time limit.

It is a big contrast compared to the two previous games we played before.

Norwood was thoughtful.

"Survive…?"

However, I feel quite proud that I managed to make my dear reader confused by creating such a scenario. I look forward to seeing his conclusions on this matter.

Now, we should first figure out the situation here. Even though I already know what's happening, some unexpected variables could have intervened, and I'm also pretending to not know anything about the current apocalypse in front of Norwood.

The 3rd scenario started many days ago for the people who were already here. In short, we arrived after people have already formed groups and organized themselves to fend off against monsters.

Yes, monsters. What did you expect from me anyway? Fluff and a happy ending? I'm sorry, since I wrote about a system forcing people to kill each other, I thought you'd understand that it's not this novel's genre.

I pointed at something in the distance.

"Look, there seem to be walls over there."

It's a little exciting to see the things I wrote about unfolding in front of my eyes. Even the camp is like how I imagined it to be.

One of my characters was leading a group here, maybe it's their leader?

You'll totally deadpan at me after seeing how I named him with my great naming sense, that's why I won't tell you his name yet. Many of you may immediately recognize who it was based on because of this characteristic.

But hey, first, I named him many years ago, and yes, that's supposed to be an excuse. Second, I also did it with more than a third of the other characters… Now I dug my grave.

So, Norwood, let's go there. I want to see my characters.

A few dozens meters away from the Eiffel Tower, there was an improvised barrier seemingly made from the walls of the destroyed buildings around it. Behind the barrier was a camp of survivors.

Wow, I said I'd figure out the situation with Norwood but I'm already spoiling everything.

We approached the camp then the profiler knocked on the huge doors.

"…"

Looking around, I addressed him.

"But, Norwood, isn't it kind of strange?

He should have noticed it by now.

"Even if there is nobody guarding outside because of hidden dangers we aren't aware of, isn't it a bit too silent inside?"

If this really was a human settlement, we should at least be able to hear some traces of life when we're so close.

The exterior also looks more damaged than how I wrote it.

I innocently lowered my voice to say the next words.

"This is a development worthy of a horror novel, are you scared?"

But I guess it's about to turn into a horror novel too at this rate.

Remember when I mentioned there were monsters here?

It seems like we have already encountered some.

Some disturbing ones, too.

Probably freaked out, the profiler kept a calm facade and pushed the door, managing to open it without much difficulty. However, the numerous tents supposed to shelter people behind the high defensive wall were empty.

"Norwood…"

The smoke condensed in front of my eyes, blocking my sight.

Hearing my call, the profiler turned back.

But it was already too late.