Chapter 430: Bias

<Goddess Vysis POV>

I made up my mind.

Enough with all this overthinking———- no more.

Stalling for time might be giving the enemy the advantage.

My clone takes a leap———- just one bound, and it’s upon Seras.

(If, by a slim chance, he uses his Abnormal State Skill here to test for the presence of <Dispel Bubble>, that would be ideal…… if not———-)

If I can tear open that Late-version Fly King Outfit, I’ll see what’s inside.

Seras stepped forward.

Her blade of light clashes with my clone’s warped arm-blade, the two striking against each other.

[ ! ]

(That ugly elf——— she’s matching blades evenly with my clone……!?)

My clone’s performance surpasses my own.

Which means, if my true body were to clash directly with Seras now———

(……Should I join in myself?)

I consider it.

So far, there’s no sign he intends to use his Abnormal State Skill.

(If he’d just be stupid enough to throw it out carelessly, I could have confirmed Mimori really was behind that mask but……)

Apparently, he isn’t quite that thoughtless.

(So then, what do I do? Should I add my own strength to this fight? No…… if possible, I’d rather not move too far from here……)

Where I stand now could be called a “safe zone”.

I can survey the full range of the Forbidden Curse without obstruction.

A position suited for defense.

I press two fingers beneath my nose.

(……Besides.)

Even for me, dragging things out carries meaning.

There’s something else.

Something completely unexpected is happening with my clone.

At first, I thought it was my imagination.

But as time passed, I grew certain.

Slowly, steadily———–

With the passage of time, my clone’s power is increasing.

By contrast……

Seras Ashrain’s current form must have a time limit.

If there weren’t, she would have taken that form from the start.

She would have just used that form against Wormungandr.

Yet, she didn’t show it until she faced me.

Therefore, I can safely assume her current form cannot last.

On the other hand, mine grows stronger the longer the fight continues.

(Meaning, the longer this drags on, the more the scales tip toward me…… that’s the structure of this battle. But still……)

There’s something concerning.

My clone’s unknown condition from excessive intake of the black-violet orbs.

At this rate…… will its power just keep climbing endlessly?

(If there is a limit……)

Once it hits that ceiling, the clone might “burst”.

Like a bubble swelling too far and popping.

[……At the very least……]

If only I could confirm the one inside that Late-version Fly King Outfit.

If it isn’t Mimori behind that mask……

Then the real one must be hiding elsewhere———– that would be the logical conclusion.

I still haven’t seen that Forbidden Race either.

(Surely they’re aiming at something……)

I am extremely wary of Touka Mimori.

Watching his fights through the eyes of my Divine Servants has backfired.

I saw it.

I felt it.

He “strikes” only after calculating every move.

(Leaving the fact of who the one behind the mask unknown……)

Deliberately making me over-focus on him, so he can carve out a “blind spot” huh……

I can see what he’s aiming.

“Overfocus on Touka Mimori, and from that blind spot he’ll drive with the Forbidden Curse.”

But———– even knowing that, I cannot afford not to have him within the range of my awareness.

(Still……)

That Elven Princess Knight, crossing blades evenly with my clone.

And she’s careful not to let her strikes reach the Late-version Fly King Outfit behind her.

Meaning she has the leeway to spare such concern.

What’s more, right after their first clash, she landed shallow cuts on my clone in just a few exchanges.

Likely to confirm its blood color.

By confirming the white blood, she identified it as a clone.

Truly———- The height of petty cleverness.

(But still…… her defense is good, yet she can’t seem to press an attack decisively……? That was my impression in her fight with Wormungandr too———- defending was that ugly elf’s strong point?) ȓãNÒβËᶊ

When it comes to defending, she’s solid, but she lacks the force to turn defense into offense.

The thought runs through my head.

If I were to join the battle, perhaps I could finish things up here at once———–

(This fight……)

If I kill Touka Mimori———— victory is mine.

Asagi Iuksaba’s reading of this labyrinth battle was accurate.

That’s how I see it.

She betrayed me, but she was a clever woman———– I recognize that.

It’s frustrating, but I can’t deny it.

(Then———-)

If I press the attack alongside my clone, kill what’s behind that mask and kill Seras———

Things would be simple.

That’s all it takes to end this.

I’m clearly overthinking.

This must be exactly what they want.

The one behind that mask is just Touka Mimori, and Seras Ashrain is already at full power.

All I have to do is think simply.

Their aim is to tangle my thoughts and stop my true body from acting.

Ahh…… the answer is so simple.

The correct move is———- stop overthinking, crush them head-on, and kill them.

(How dare you mock me——- YOU D*MNED BRATS!)

I almost broke into a run———

(Guh……)

……Was doing such a thing really the right move?

If I wait a little longer, my clone will surpass Seras’s combat ability.

Even if their goal is to buy time……

With time, my clone alone can take Seras down.

I don’t even have to join in.

Even if the others regroup, does any of them have more combat power than Seras?

Mad Emperor and that black Leopardkin are both weaker and seriously wounded.

Itsuki is injured and out of MP, Hijiri is in tatters.

None of them surpass Seras Ashrain in combat ability.

The only one who might is Ayaka but———

(She didn’t interfere in Seras’ fight with Wormungandr…… which means, just as planned, she was killed by the composite Agito……)

Or maybe she still hasn’t been killed, just crying and screaming.

(That trash with a flower garden in her head wouldn’t have the guts to kill the poor composite…… ahh, knowing Sogou-san, she probably tried to save it…… but I laid a trap in that composite♪ Ahhh, how I wish I could see that trash’s despairing face~~♪)

At any rate.

With Ayaka effectively gone——— there’s no more force beyond this.

The leftover dregs, I can deal with myself.

Besides……

(If that ugly elf with her oh-so-solid bonds falls into disadvantage……)

I grin.

Mimori…… you’ll have no choice but to move.

———–Unn.

Here, I’ll wait.

I just have to remain here in this safe zone, letting the clone strengthen naturally.

As long as I’m here, I can handle anything coming at me myself.

I’ll maintain the current state of this battle.

Right now, all I need to do is pour everything into protecting myself.

(……That was close.)

I let out a sigh of relief.

By holding back, I can once more analyze the enemy’s aim more deeply.

(Isn’t there some meaning in them trying to move me from this spot?)

If I’d lost my cool and charged in back then……

Wouldn’t I have fallen right into their trap?

(Fuuu…… I nearly threw away victory in a moment of emotion…… dangerous, far too dangerous……)

[……Fufu.]

The Fly King still shows no sign of assisting Seras.

(Ufufufu…… could it be that the one inside…… is actually the Forbidden Race, catching me off guard……?)

And then———– Seras notices it as well.

That the clone she faces is slowly, steadily, growing stronger.

[This is the best.]

The first brought to your end will be you, ugly elf.

At that moment……

[…………….?]

A coiling discomfort twists through me.

(What……? The points of erosion around me…… the white walls of the labyrinth are——— ……!)

[This is……!? D- Don’t tell me——– !? Guh……!]

I see it now.

[Their aim…… is this……!? So…… they’ve staked everything on a gamble!? D*mn brats, how dare they————!]

<Nyantan Kikeepat POV>

Before we stormed the royal castle, I asked a question.

I simply turned the words of the Fly King into a question.

[Most likely, Vysis will come out of the throne room herself, yes?]

I had advanced through the labyrinth and joined up with the Fly King and the others before the castle gates.

Before we made our assault, Fly King———- Touka Mimori waited for a while for the other allies to gather.

It was then that he spoke about our next course of action.

When I asked him, he replied,

[Yeah——— there’s even a phrase for it: action bias.]

[Action bias……?]

[It’s a human tendency, where even if doing nothing would be the best choice, people still move and do something. The more the future feels uncertain or the more anxious they get, the stronger that urge becomes. Moving around distracts from the anxiety better than sitting still.]

He added that sometimes moving really is the right answer.

[So, in your reading…… Vysis is the same way?]

[Judging from her behavior right before she was abandoned…… and from Hijiri’s analysis, even if she’s a Deity, her mind works very much like a human’s———– at least, that’s also the impression I get.]

I found myself agreeing with that.

[And besides…… just because she’s lived for countless years doesn’t mean she’s gained some transcendent way of thinking. Well, even in my world, longevity doesn’t automatically make one virtuous. If anything, some grow worse with age———– less able to restrain their emotions, more short-sighted.]

[In other words, we can assume Vysis’ mind works like a human’s.]

[Exactly. And if Loqierra’s reading is correct———– then it’s highly likely that Vysis shares her sight with the Divine Servants. Like I mentioned before we entered the labyrinth.]

I had already heard that.

That much had been pointed out before the labyrinth raid.

[Looking back, up to this Royal Capital, we’ve crushed Vysis’ schemes again and again———– whether by intent or not. From her perspective, everything she tries keeps getting smashed apart.]

Touka paused a moment.

[And now, if Vysis were to share the Divine Servants’ vision, watch “our battles” here in the labyrinth, and then still emerge victorious……]

Not just me, Loqierra and the others also listened in silence as he continued.

[We could strengthen her conviction that “our side always has some kind of plan prepared before every battle”———- That’s exactly what I meant before we entered the labyrinth.]

Loqierra nodded once.

[You want Vysis to think “These people were definitely planning something”…… That we’re not the kind to fight recklessly———- You said before the labyrinth raid that you wanted her to think that, didn’t you?]

“Yeah”, Touka affirmed.

[That’s why I wanted to link up early with my comrades who could “fight” with my Abnormal State Skills, and crush the Divine Servants in a near-flawless way———- Or, if Hijiri guided those with strong combat power, we might’ve had another path to a near-flawless victory. From Kashima’s report, it seems that Divine Servant Yomibito was taken down…… maybe Hijiri handled him. Of course, it could’ve been Sogou as well.]

Loqierra looked at him, seeking confirmation.

[So, you wanted to send Vysis the message———- through the Divine Servants’ eyes, that you had this all covered, that this much was already within expectations. And…… you figure you’ve achieved that to some extent?]

Touka nodded.

[That’s what I’m hoping. We didn’t beat Ars or Wormungandr easily, but…… at the very least, I think we got her to recognize that “we adapt to the situation with the best possible measures, and we never neglect our preparations”.]

Then Touka went on,

[And besides…… it wasn’t her original body. Vysis sent a clone into the labyrinth outside the castle.]

That was something Touka had already analyzed before the raid.

“Most likely, up until the very end, Vysis won’t move from near the goal of the labyrinth———- the throne room.”

I remembered Touka’s words from before we entered.

“We’ve crushed Vysis’ schemes at every turn so far. That’s bound to make her “overly cautious”. The way this labyrinth is set up feels like proof of that. Everything about it screams that she wants to avoid a direct clash with the Fly King’s Squadron———– that’s the impression I get.”

Loqierra, back then, had agreed.

“So you’re saying she won’t show herself so easily huh. Yeah, with Vysis’ personality, I can see her doing that……”

“And Vysis isn’t the kind who cares about her allies——— her subordinates. From everything we’ve learned, that much is obvious. People like her always push their underlings into reckless fights. They want to stay in the safe zone and just “wait and see”.”

But in truth, that isn’t the best strategy.

She risks throwing away precious forces for nothing.

Putting her own safety and peace of mind first could corner her even more, leaving her without enough forces when it matters most.

Loqierra had pointed out,

“But at the same time, that also means she has that much faith in the Divine Servants. If she didn’t believe they could win on their own, she wouldn’t do this, no matter what.”

Touka had agreed with that as well.

And finally,

“So, based on all this…… once we’re inside, we don’t need to account for Vysis showing up right away———– That’s how I see it.”

When my recollection ended, Loqierra was already carrying the conversation forward.

[———-Judging from that clone Kashima-chan ran into, we can say your reading was spot on. The chance of the true body appearing was low. But now, with things as they are……]

“Exactly”, Touka nodded.

[The situation where Vysis could afford to just “wait”——— has now flipped on its head.]

This tied back to his earlier talk about action bias.

Now, instead of staying put, her anxiety would swell until she simply couldn’t sit still anymore.

From the Fly King Outfit…… I felt something ominous rising, like a sinister aura.

Touka spoke.

[By turning her shared sight with the Divine Servants against her, by pressing down on her with raw, suffocating pressure…… the more pressure falling on Vysis, the more it’ll feel to her like staying put is the wrong move……]

And that was why he believed she’d come out now.

Then Touka turned his face toward me.

[If she had a close aide like you around, she might have someone to consult with, to calm herself down a little. But from what I’ve heard, there’s no one like that left at Vysis’ side. And when a person is left all alone in a situation like this…… it’s not hard to imagine what their mind will do.]

He snorted.

[When your life’s on the line, and you’re left utterly alone, that kind of mental state…… I tasted it enough back in those ruins to last a lifetime.]

<Author’s Notes>

The next chapter is scheduled to be updated tomorrow, October 5th (Sunday), around 9:00 PM.

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