＜Infinite Dendrogram＞

□ [Armored Pilot] Hugo Receps

"Hide...?

[The King of Spells] 's declared playname, "Are you sure that fits?" whine with the thought.

'Jesus, it's hide-and-seek. I'm the Hide, that's the SEEK you're looking for. I'd like to recruit someone else to help me with man-made tactics. "

If this one is a ghost in hide, then the number difference does give it an advantage.

Conversely, you can say that that one is overwhelmingly unfavourable.

If you can add more ghosts to these four, you're on hold.

'Except there are four respondents here right now. If you find me, I want you to say the word "LS" while pointing at me.

You can look for as many people as you want, but only four people, including Cuba, have the right to catch the hidden.

It's called a euphemism, it really sounds like a kid's play.

"Yes... and here's an explanation of the penalty."

"Penalties?"

'Anyone who says' I followed you 'to a person who's not me is out at that point. You get a punitive game on the spot, and you lose your right to answer it. "

With one finger up, [the King of Spells] says so.

And stand a second one.

It's not long enough for me to leave this room. You shouldn't even make collaborators outside in the meantime, right? You're all out then. '

Third one.

'And violent searches are against the rules. Against violence! We're all out even if we do that! That's fun to play with!

Fourth one.

'If they're all out, it's my win. And, seventy minutes after I left... I mean, if you can't find me in an hour's search time, I win too. "

…………

The content is the hide of the anomaly.

Find the hidden [King of Spells], point him in the finger and say 'LS - I followed him' and he wins.

The time limit is an hour, defeated if you can't find it.

Those who misanswer are disqualified. All acts of violence and violations of the rules of time are disqualified.

You can add as many collaborators as you want besides the respondents.

Without the answerer, victory over there.

There are more restrictions than I thought.

However, the interests of the land are here with Mr. Manigold and Mr. Isala, and Mr. Manigold would find numerous collaborators in this city.

Both have unfavourable conditions.

"Question. What's the play area? Inside this city hall?

'It's not here. Range is this [Dragnomad] city. Except in the building. It's a game. "

Somewhere outdoors. At this point, the place of hiding is quite limited.

When that happens, is that the other side at a disadvantage?

'So, is the question over?

"Misunderstood, but how do we determine?

"This is it."

[The King of Spells] took four watch-like accessories out of his pocket.

If you look closely, it replaces the dial of the clock and has a glowing stone that resembles [Gem].

"It's an accessory to the judgment and punishment game."

"... I see. The Curse King."

"It's out of my mind! As far as I'm concerned, it's a celebratory (...) item!

[The King of Spells] says in an indignant manner, but there's no way you can believe that.

It would be a curse at the point of the punishment game.

'That explains the game. So, do you want to take it?

…………

Mr. Manigold seems to be conceiving.

But clearly, I don't need to take this game.

Because [Amnille], which is the price for this game, is just what I need for my [White Rose]. It's not like Cardina needs it.

To that end, betting on the beads, which are important goods for Cardina's diplomacy… cannot normally be considered.

Though I thought so......

"… confirm one last thing"

'I have a lot of questions, but I don't mind. So, what is it?

"The [Amnil] branch is the size of not getting into this conference room, huh?

'Right. With reckoning & approximation......... well, I think we need to hit through the wall or ceiling, huh?

"Right. That's all your betting money, isn't it?

"Of course you are."

"Let's take it"

Mr. Manigold took...... [King of Spells] 's play.

"Mr. Manigold......!?

"Mmm! That's a good answer!

With the acknowledgment of the play, [the King of Spells] turns and rejoices on the spot with the Krull.

Then I'll hide now! I want you to put on that accessory and come look for me when you have enough -!

That's how he opened the door cleverly while spinning with the circle, and [the King of Spells] left the conference room.

I am distracted and Mr. Manigold is opening a window to check the time.

"... Mr. Manigold, could I have taken this game? [Amnil] 's... I can't believe I'm betting on beads for [White Rose]..."

"Never mind. Then call Cuco, too."

"... Yes"

I called Cuco, wondering if it was really okay.

"Cuco, what do you know about the situation?

"Sure. Let me handle it."

Cuco, who was evacuating him inside the crest, seems to know everything.

I just don't have a heart. I look proud.

"... yes. Had you ever done hide-and-seek?

"It's amazing."

That's what I say, chest out with no expression.

... I think Cuco and I have been together for a long time, but when did we hide enough to say we were good at it?

When I was in the clan, I guess?

"More Hugo than that. He was a jerk."

"Huh?... Oh, indeed"

Indeed it is.

When I first walked into this room, I only made crazy statements, but in my explanations of negotiation and play, the tone was the only unusual statement of something odd.

Does that make any sense?

"Well, check the status quo. After enough searching for a collaborator. This means that [the King of Spells] has the confidence to hide in the last ten minutes."

Mr. Manigold is talking while wearing the accessories left over from [the King of Spells].

"Considering the speed of movement of a man who is a magician and does not have mobility skills, is the range about half of this city"

"What's the case with riding an obedient demon?

"If so, it stands out. You'll soon be able to grab a foothold with your listening. And because it stands out, he should be changing that outfit."

"I see..."

Because the original outfit stands out, if you change, that's all you get camouflage.

... but what will that disgusting oxygen cylinder do?

"... horns on the rabbit, after enough time, recruit collaborators in man-made sea tactics..."

"No, we can't use our collaborators much"

"Huh?"

"It's a rule against violence. Let's just say our collaborators did a violent search in an unknown way." Where is [the King of Spells]! 'That sounds rough, etc. Worst case scenario, at that point, it will be our defeat "

……

"The more collaborators we get, the more out of control the situation becomes. And right now, there's no trustworthy body either."

"I can trust you...?

"Those who want to take this opportunity to pull their legs may also be in Cardina. We're directly under the chairman of the council, but some of the leading hostiles are like the mayor of Cortana."

... is that what you mean?

I mean, Mr. Manigold took the fight after finding out he couldn't recruit a collaborator from the start.

"Isara, did he say anything before we got here?

"… many are close to the paranoia at the beginning of the negotiations"

"That's... very sad."

If they keep saying that one on one against the other, I'll run. Log out.

"But he also said something that bothered me"

"What's that?

"'[Dragnomad] has beads! And you're here for an equally important purpose!'... and"

Isara, you don't have to imitate your voice...

Seriously, this guy.

…………

Mr. Manigold held his mouth and seemed to have an idea about the 'important purpose'.

"Do you have any idea?

"There are a few. But depending on what position (...) he said it was an important purpose, the answer would change. It's on hold."

After enough of this, we went outside the city hall to find the [King of Spells].

◇

Shortly afterwards, the green and red HENTAI stood arm in front of the entrance to the city hall.

…………

I'm not supposed to hide...

What is it? Is that HENTAI's self-assertion?

"Is that... decoy?

"I was wondering if that was likely..."

Mr. Manigold and Mr. Isala were talking that way as they thought.

"Decoy?"

"Naturally, Decoy should have more than a misanswer."

I see.

The right to answer is four times for four. Those who misanswer are out.

If you refer to the state 'not me' and so on... that's the thing.

"[The King of Spells]?

…………

The HENTAI questioned is silent.

I don't know if you're silent because of someone else, or to avoid finding out in person with your voice.

But he doesn't run away, he stands there without wandering.

For a moment I thought it was Sushiyamako, but I can hear the breathing noise from that oxygen mask, so definitely human.

"In the Nursing..."

"... Hate and those green clothes are bespoke gear. It has the ability to block Nursing and Appraisal Eyes."

High performance HENTAI suit for nothing......!

"... Now, no matter how you look at it, it's decoy, but there can be cases where that thing is real. It would be judged violent to pull masks and clothes."

"What do you want to do?

"... bespoke clothes would not be able to get that many. Crush one decoy or attract the right answer. It makes sense to use it here for once."

"Lord, then I will answer"

"... ok"

Ms. Isara takes the initiative to step forward and point to HENTAI.

"LS, I put it on"

It's a boo-boo!

Instead of the word 'incorrect', HENTAI's voice echoed from the accessories.

The accessory emits light with an irritating voice, enveloping Ms. Isala's body.

When the blinding glow stopped,

……

There I had the same hair and skin color as Isara... a child about four years old (...) sat around.

"............... Is that Isala?

"Yes. Wow, Yishara"

With a slightly tongueless mouth, the child...... Isala said so.

"Oops, dude?

"... well. Are you going back to your child until you remember................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

I don't know about Mr. Manigold, and Isala, a really childish trick.

Looking at her, Mr. Manigold was holding his forehead to work his headache.

Isala looks like she doesn't know who she's dealing with, but she looks at Mr. Manigold without being particularly frightened.

"Mr. Manigold, is this... that HENTAI's?

"Oh. Neverland, that's Super Embrio. I heard rumors that it's a (...) skill to rewind an organism to a child... as you can see the effect. Besides, I didn't know [the King of Spells] 's skills allowed him to activate remotely..."

He has the skill of "Creative Curse Object" in the Spellmaster system, and can make articles that work with the establishment of specific conditions, starting with "Equipment to the Body".

The higher the skill level, the wider the range of effects and skills that can be specified or encapsulated, and the [King of Spells] at skill level EX seemed to encapsulate even his own < Embrio > skills.

"... Isara's [Princess Steel] stays put. Status also......... almost unchanged. What's the difference between an adult and a child?"

Mr. Manigold is checking Isala's status in the party window.

"Are you saying that being a child doesn't weaken you?

"Oh. In the first place, most of this < Infinite Dendrogram > status is tied to jobs that are followed, not flesh. Whether the physical is as if it were a different giant and fairy, some jobs outnumber the fairy. So even now, I don't wind up to Job where my flesh is rejuvenated.... Oh, Isala. Don't move around too much. I'm not used to physical abilities at my current mental age."

As you explain to me, Mr. Manigold holds Mr. Isala and stops.

Ms. Isara tries to move that she did, but she doesn't seem to be reluctant to hold it.

"Isala..."

"... because you're young to the spirit. Yeah, we're probably fine. It's within the mental protection of the Master."

... That helps.

It's too much fear to be left before that HENTAI in the condition of a child who knows nothing. It would certainly be traumatic.

"Can't you prevent this effect, Mr. Manigold's jipang?

"I can't."

Zipang that turns every attack into money to prevent it.

But even then, 'I can't,' Mr. Manigold assured me.

"How could that be..."

"Hey, Hugo. Rejuvenation is... debuff?

"Huh?.................. ah"

"As I said earlier, there is almost no weakening in terms of status. This is simply the flesh returning to the child, and the power remains... As an organism, it's an act that keeps you away from death."

Mr. Manigold said, "I mean..."

"This is a buff (...). I can't prevent it."

I said it was unprotected because it wasn't an attack.

"With this accessory to the punishment game, there will be fifty thousand people who want it"

- As far as I'm concerned, it's a celebratory (...) item!

That's what the [King of Spells] said.

An item to celebrate (buff) rather than curse (debuff).

If you listen to me like this, it's like a tip or something.

…………

"... tips?

Looking back, there was something else in [the King of Spells] 's statement that came to mind.

For example, when specifying where to hide.

- It's not here. Range is this [Dragnomad] city. Except in the building.

When asked about the range, the word was coming out in no time without the appearance of distress.

Not here (...).

I didn't think about the rules for a place to hide after playing hide-and-seek, it was as if... I had decided in advance where to hide (...).

"... puha!

At that time, there was a loud and exhaling sound and the sound of clothes coming off.

Then someone wearing HENTAI gear takes it off and exposes his face.

I can see around twenty, he was a normal young man.

"I finally took it off......!

That's what the person who was playing Decoy said and dropped HENTAI gear on the ground as if it were something horrible.

"... I see. Was there also a curse on any of the equipment? You know, the curse of not being able to talk, the curse of not being able to move from the spot."

"That's right! This weird guy in the outfit told me that if you would stand in this outfit for an hour, I would do the money...! I was free, so when I took it lightly, I couldn't move...!

Don't take such a monstrous story...

"I see. Did this misanswer end the role and set you free?"

"No, it was tough. The clothes weren't uncomfortable, but the oxygen mask was cramped... Besides, it smells a little disgusting, so come on..."

…………

If the contents of the cylinder were the same thing, it would be tough on normal people......

Let me not tell you what a cylinder it was.

"Can you tell us about the person who gave you that gear? Did you see her face?

"No, they gave me a whole range of gear while dressed the same as this... I walked right into that alley and I couldn't see..."

... I knew there was more than one of these costumes.

At least one will be able to prepare decoys in the future.

Nothing but that tip. I don't know what's in the outfit if you take it off.

With a mask and an oxygen mask, there is little skin exposure, and even the hair I was seeing may be a rash or something.

...... hmm?

"…… it is possible that the person has already taken it off. But..."

- The air with an average age of 13 + is the same as the air for me.

[The King of Spells] did say that.

That's why he's wearing an oxygen mask.

It may be a bluff if you think about it normally... but I'm probably serious.

Paranoid...... If you believe in your own valve, you shouldn't be able to take that mask off.

Even so... no, that's why...

"If it's a place just for kids (...), does that mean you can remove the oxygen mask?

If the average age of the air he says is less than or equal to 12 years old, we don't need that mask.

"Mr. Manigold. Is there a place around here where kids get together?

"The preschool is on the right back, and the orphanage run by Isala is on the left back of [Dragnomad]"

A smaller Mr. Isala is being called by name and leaning his neck.

"He must be in one of the two facilities."

"Then let's split up and go. Face wise, I'm in kindergarten school, Hugo's in orphanage. I'll give you the map."

"Okay!

That's how we headed to where HENTAI seemed to lurk in each of us.

"Well...... I need to leave this Isala at home first."

That's what Mr. Manigold said, and it seemed like he was going to leave Mr. Isala at the main residence on the way to kindergarten school.

...... yeah. It sounds pathetic to bring you in front of HENTAI with me like this.

To be continued