After successfully eliminating Lisa, Valerius coiled up the rope and hung it from his waist.
"Huh?"
"That close?"
After Lisa was eliminated, one of the arrows disappeared. He had originally planned to follow the remaining two arrows and eliminate those players next.
But to his surprise…
One of the remaining arrows was incredibly close.
"Well then…"
"You're next."
Without wasting another second, Valerius followed the arrow straight back into the table tennis hall.
He opened the door.
The arrow disappeared.
Which meant…
The player was hiding inside this room.
"What?!"
"Why?!"
Hu Tao nearly screamed from her hiding place.
Didn't Valerius already search this room before?
Why is he searching it again?!
Now she and Sigewinne were completely trapped in a dead end.
Sigewinne's eyes widened as she slowly turned toward Hu Tao.
Her expression said only one thing.
Was it you…?
Did you bring the enemy here?
"It wasn't me!"
Hu Tao frantically shook her head.
She was absolutely certain Valerius hadn't seen her.
When Lisa handed her the item earlier, there had been a wall around the corner separating them.
There was no way she'd been exposed.
And even if she had…
How could Valerius possibly know she'd hide in the table tennis hall afterward?
Rustle…
Valerius began removing the piles of equipment one by one.
Hu Tao didn't hesitate any longer.
She immediately pulled out her Random Teleport Card.
"See ya!"
Whoosh!
A flash of light erupted.
Hu Tao vanished from the room.
"…Huh?"
Sigewinne blinked in disbelief.
That item was amazing.
She'd escaped just like that?
"Oh?"
"She ran away?"
Valerius sounded genuinely surprised.
That's right!
She ran away!
Go chase her!
Sigewinne silently prayed.
As long as Valerius went after Hu Tao…
She would be safe.
"Hmph."
"You're lucky you escaped so quickly."
Valerius sighed in disappointment.
So there were teleportation items too.
Since Hu Tao had already escaped…
There was no point continuing the search.
He turned and walked out of the room.
"Whew…"
Sigewinne finally relaxed.
Fortunately…
Hu Tao's teleportation had caused such a commotion that it drew Valerius's attention away from her.
Outside the room…
Valerius was considering where to search next.
Then suddenly…
The arrow that had disappeared reappeared.
"…Wait."
"There's still someone inside!"
He instantly realized his mistake.
Earlier…
Whenever he entered a room, the guiding arrow disappeared.
He'd assumed there was only one player hiding inside.
When Hu Tao escaped using an item…
He naturally believed the room was empty.
But now…
The arrow had returned.
Which meant…
Someone else was still inside.
Without hesitation…
He turned around and walked back in.
Sigewinne: "...…"
What is this?!
Didn't you already leave?!
Why are you back?!
Valerius began moving the equipment again.
A short while later…
Sigewinne's pitiful little face appeared before him.
"Oh?"
"Isn't this Head Nurse Sigewinne?"
Curled into the corner with her knees hugged tightly to her chest…
Sigewinne looked like a frightened little animal.
Meanwhile…
Valerius looked exactly like the wolf who had caught Little Red Riding Hood.
"…How about…"
"You come out on your own?"
"Mmm…"
She shook her head desperately and shrank even farther into the corner.
Seeing her like this…
Even Valerius didn't know what to say.
For some reason…
He felt like he was bullying a child.
"How about this?"
"If you come out…"
"I'll let you run one more time."
"Really?"
"Really."
"Come on out."
After thinking for a while…
Sigewinne decided to gamble.
If she stayed here…
She'd definitely be eliminated.
But perhaps…
Just perhaps…
Valerius would actually let her run first.
[Dr. Ratio: Another one fell for it.]
[Furina: I'm so mad! How can anyone still believe Valerius?!]
[Navia: Half a word from Valerius can't be trusted.]
[Wriothesley: Bullying children… that's too much.]
[Chevreuse: Exactly. I think Valerius should go easy on the Head Nurse.]
[Tartaglia: "Children?" Isn't she older than all of you?]
Tartaglia burst out laughing.
Sigewinne was a Melusine.
Compared to her…
Everyone else here was practically a child.
[Furina: Whose side are you on?!]
[Tartaglia: Liyue's, obviously. Why?]
[Furina: Uh… right… Liyue…]
She felt rather depressed.
Ever since Arlecchino had joined Fontaine…
She'd subconsciously lumped all the Fatui together.
Only now did she remember…
Tartaglia belonged to the Liyue faction.
After crawling out of her hiding place…
Sigewinne immediately put as much distance between herself and Valerius as possible.
"I said I'd let you run first."
"Don't worry."
"I don't lie."
"Really?"
"Of course."
"I'm the most honest person you'll ever meet."
[Kaeya: "Don't lie"? Lisa's about to cry herself unconscious.]
[Diluc: Lisa came in last place, didn't she?]
[Barbara: If she's last… doesn't that mean she'll be punished?]
[Lisa: The three of you, shut up.]
Back in Mondstadt's library…
Lisa's face was completely dark.
I know I'm getting punished!
You don't have to keep reminding me!
I'm miserable enough already!
And you're still making fun of me!
Heartless!
"Lisa."
"So you're back."
At that moment…
Jean walked into the library.
"What are you here for?"
"Oh."
"I came to teach you how to deal with punishments."
Earlier you laughed at me.
Now it's my turn.
"Get out."
Back inside the game arena…
Valerius opened the door and looked toward Sigewinne.
"I'll give you…"
"Three seconds."
"…Three?"
Sigewinne's eyes nearly popped out.
She knew Valerius could be shameless…
But not this shameless.
Your legs are so much longer than mine!
How am I supposed to outrun you in three seconds?!
"That's already a generous discount."
"So?"
"Are you running or not?"
"I'll run!"
What choice did she have?
It was better than surrendering on the spot.
Without another word…
Sigewinne sprinted out the door on her tiny little legs.
"One…"
"Two…"
"Three…"
"Here I come."
True to his word…
The instant three seconds were up…
Valerius took off after her.
[Jing Yuan: Sigh… the difference is simply too great.]
[Yukong: He's completely merciless.]
[Seele: He already gave her three seconds. That's generous enough.]
[Cocolia: You… sigh…]
Watching Seele's friend slowly fall into Valerius's grasp…
Cocolia couldn't help developing a headache.
How are they supposed to get along after this?
Valerius jogged casually behind Sigewinne while urging her on.
"Hurry up."
"I'm about to catch you."
"Waaah…"
Sigewinne felt like crying.
Why are you so fast?!
My legs are about to give out!
And you're only jogging!
After reaching the football field…
Sigewinne simply started running laps around it.
With Valerius constantly chasing behind her…
Finding another hiding place was impossible.
She might as well keep running in the open.
At least…
The wide field reduced the chances of tripping.
One lap…
Two laps…
As the number of laps increased…
Sigewinne's stamina finally reached its limit.
Even so…
Her little legs continued moving purely on instinct.
[Zhu Yuan: It's over… she's definitely getting caught now.]
[Jane: She's already bought everyone plenty of time.]
[Qingyi: Well done.]
[Lucy: So that's why she kept running even though she knew she couldn't escape. She was stalling for time.]
[Navia: "Little girl?"]
[Chevreuse: She's much older than you are.]
[Piper: We're all young at heart anyway!]
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