The Greatest Supreme

* Allied Performers Count Progress: Completed (3/3)

* Fingerprint Submission Progress: Submitted (1/1)

* Association Name Progress: Named

—

Ha, haha.

”We, we
e alive… ”

I could see the relief on Rins face as he mumbled those words. Even I couldn believe what I had gone through.

”Haaa, ” sighed Samantha. She added, ”…Nice, Zekiel. ”

Spark.

[Quest Act I has been completed!]

[Congratulations on your first Stage Performance!]

[You can now access your Personal System!]

Personal System…?

[Distributing Performance Reward…]

[Performance Reward has been distributed!]

[You have received (+1) Gold Talent!]

[You have received (+10) Stage Presence!]

”What are these terminologies…? ” Samantha was looking at the System messages as she muttered that.

…Don worry, you
e not alone; thats also my question.

I glanced at Rin, and he was still in disbelief as he covered his face with his hands while sitting on the floor. Earlier, his eyes were on the verge of crying, so it couldn be helped.

Then…

Blink!

The boardroom table, the cabinets, and even the wine, all inside the stage disappeared.

[Stage Spectacle has been released!]

[The Non-visible Barrier will be released in 10 seconds…]

[10…9…]

Amid the countdown, Fia broke her silence and asked me.

”…Whats with the name? ”

[7…]

”Hm? ”

”The name of the Association. ”

I pressed the Minimize button and looked up the message I had missed on my System message panel.

— [You are now officially a part of fdyfguhi34jodgt Association!] | sent a min. ago.

”We survived and thats what is important for now. ”

She stared at me, then averted her gaze on the floating windows in front of her.

[2…1…]

[The «Quest Stage» will be exterminated…]

[The Non-visible Barrier has been released!]

At that moment, a loud crowd gradually manifested in my ears.

…What?

There appeared a crowd of people. They were the same audience earlier. However, I could pick up the terror in the atmosphere. Some were crying in the corner, some were completely pale, and some were just blankly staring at the ceiling.

[The «Quest Stage» has officially ended!]

[Performer Zekiel Radnier has reached the Exit of the «Quest Stage».]

…Whats happening?

Then…

[Your Stage Performance has gained 4.79 Stars, with 978 votes!]

…What?

[The rating will be converted into Influence.]

[You have received (+8) Influence!]

”Wait, didn they vanish? ” Samantha had a complicated expression as she said that while looking at the group of people. I also had no idea of what was going on.

…Well, what do I expect in this world full of mysteries?

”B-blood! The blood is still flowing. ” One of the audience shouted in disgust.

The wound I have in my palm has not completely healed yet. I looked at the allies beside me, and they were applying pressure on their bloody hands.

”Medics! ” One of the security personnel shouted.

…Didn they just suspect us as terrorists? What happened to them? Why suddenly…

I looked around. However, there was someone I couldn find. It was their leader who insisted on passing through the barrier prior.

The group of security officers approached us.

Reflexively, we stepped backward.

”…I t-thought all of you would die as well. ” One of them spoke.

…As well?

Fia took a step forward and apathetically opened her mouth.

”Aren we the enemies? ”

”…W-we
e sorry. We didn mean to— ”

I butted in and asked them.

”Where is your leader? ”

They had dreadful expressions on their faces.

”A-ah t-that… ”

He hesitated while gripping his hand.

I asked him, ”What happened to him? ”

Ive got a bad feeling about this.

”…H-he, hes gone. ”

Samantha stepped forward and confusedly asked, ”What do you mean gone? ”

”I d-don know. He just became unconscious and vanished. ”

Haaa.

…Please, give me a break.

Then, Samantha turned her head toward the other officers as if she was asking them if they knew what had truly happened. However, they only just shook their heads.

Then their acting leader spoke once again.

”Actually… some people also. ”

My eyes trembled at his words.

Then, the medics came. But, they also had a disheveled appearance.

I asked for consent to tell me thoroughly the situation.

”Can you tell us the details? ”

Earlier…

* * *

Spark.

[You are an Audience. You cannot enter the «Quest Stage». ]

”You bastards and bitches. ”

They observed the stage and watched the group of Zekiel.

⌐[Hi, Im Rin Ardolf. Nice to meet you! Lets shake hands.] Rin then offered his hand.

⌐[Nice to meet you, too!]

⌐And Samantha and Rin acted like they met for the first time and shook hands.

”Chief inspector! Theres nothing we can do right now. Shouldn we drop the accusation that they were the terrorists? ”

”Why? Doesn it make sense? When this place had a blackout, they just disappeared. And when the lights returned, they came back. You know, they might just use all of these tactics for diversion. ”

”Sir, but you already said something like this barrier, these virtual screens are supposed to be not possible. Maybe they are just victims too! ”

”…I believe in super technology. I am also superstitious and believe in magic. Maybe they acquired something like that! ”

”S-sir! All of what you have just said are contradictory. Wake u— ”

⌐[Lets group hug!]

The chief inspector shouted towards the group of Zekiel Radnier.

”Are you all deaf? Don pretend! ”

”Sir! They already can hear us. Lets just follow what Aristotle had said. ”

However, the chief inspector did not listen to his colleague. Once again, he slammed the wall, and…

Spark.

Engk, engk.

[Warning! Such continuous actions will lead to a penalty!]

Slam!

”I don car- ”

It did not spark anymore. However…

”S-sir? Sir! ”

The people behind the security personnel were also shocked. They, once more, began panicking.

The chief inspector fell to the ground, unconscious.

⌐[You know Miss, I really admire your beauty and height. You are intelligent and very charismatic! Maybe we can be friends, yes?]

⌐Fia had a disgusted expression on her face, as well as Samantha.

⌐[Haha, you know, Rin… Instead that we will form a strong mutual bond, Fia will form hostility towards you. Stop being such a creep, man.]

”Sir! Chief, wake up! ”

⌐[What, Zekiel? Im just giving a compliment. When you, whos handsome, said nice things to them, it was a compliment. But when it comes to me, who doesn have a face like yours… Its harassment. I swear its so unfair.]

”Sir, can you hear me? ”

⌐Samantha explained, [Haa. Its not about the face, Rin. The problem was the delivery. Zekiel felt genuine, while you acted as if you were trying to hit on her. Plus, he said that we were nice to be with and complimented our inner qualities… Yet you talked about our superficial appearance.]

The medics came.

”Check his breathing! ” Uttered one of the security personnel.

⌐[Im just trying to befriend her,] Rin replied.

⌐Zekiel checked the timer, [Quest Act I Remaining time: 00:00:12:50]

”No breathing, Sir! ”

⌐Zekiel suggested, [Lets play a game.]

⌐[Thats a good idea!] Samantha agreed. Rin was nodding his head while Fia just stayed silent.

”Check his pulse! ”

⌐[Lets do the truth-or-dare. Rin, truth or dare?] Zekiel asked.

⌐[Uh… dare.]

⌐[Bark like a dog, three times.]

”N-no p-pulse. ”

”Then proceed to resuscitation! ”

⌐[I hate you, dude. Uhm, ehem. Arf, arf, arf!]

⌐Zekiel and Samantha snickered. Then Samantha spoke, [Ha, haha. I can believe we
e doing this while our lives are at stake.]

”…10.11.12.13… ” The medical personnel counted as he performed the CPR.

⌐Fia interrupted the little momentum of enjoyment, [Sto, now. It still doesn work.]

⌐Rin sighed and fully realized his circumstances. Then, he tried to infiltrate the barrier.

Spark.

⌐[Aw! Dang, we can pass through this barrier.]

”…28. 29. 30… ”

At that moment…

Blink.

The body of the chief instantly disappeared.

”W-what j-just happened? ” muttered the medic.

”N-no way. ”

The Quest Act continued, however, the Audience watched the blank area where the chief inspector had been instead of the performance.

Spark.

The acting leader looked at the messages.

[Warning! An Audience should watch at least 75% of the Quest Act! The Stage Performance is almost 25% from completion! Watch Progress: 6.9%]

[Failure to meet an Audience Requirement will result in a penalty!]

These messages also appeared on many people behind him.

”Fuck. ”

Then, he shouted.

”We should do first what Aristotle has said! Focus on the performance, or else youll possibly die! ”

However, they just lowered their heads.

He grabbed the megaphone and told them once more in a much-frustrated voice.

[Focus! Are you letting yourselves submit to danger? Even if you want to quit, you cannot go outside of this studio hall since we
e all locked up here!]

He added, [This is your reality now! Its time to wake up!]

The case was that they already had woken up; nevertheless, it does not mean that the nightmare was going to stop.

However, something was burning within them. Something innate to humans, their instincts— it was their resolve.

Survival.

If they could not stop the nightmare even after waking up, there was only one thing they could do at present.

It was to play with the nightmare itself.

Then, they raised their chins and sat properly on the seats.

”Haaa. ” The acting leader sat as well.

⌐[How are you finding the conference thus far?] asked Zekiel.

⌐[Its been wonderful. Its a welcome distraction from the office,] replied Fia.

⌐[Do you all want to go out to drink? My treat,] suggested Rin while having a fake smile on his face.

⌐[Id be delighted,] Samantha had an excited tone in her voice.

”W-what are they doing? ” One of the audience asked her seatmate.

”I think they are acting… ”

Then, they glanced over the Audience Guide.

—

[Audience Guide: Quest Act I]

Performers Goals: Have a strong mutual bond with all other Performers within the «Quest Stage». After the bonding process, all Performers will submit their fingerprints and provide a name for the Association through the Virtual Contract.

Performers Progress:

*Total bonds created: 1/6

*Total fingerprints submitted: 0/4

*Association Name: (Unnamed)

*Note: If any two Performers within the «Quest Stage» have not formed a mutual bond, Virtual Contract will be invalidated. Hence, the Performers cannot create an Association, and all Performers will receive the Absolute Death Nonperformance Penalty.

Audience Requirements: Audience should watch at least 75% of the Quest Act. After the Quest Act, Audience should submit their rating to each Performer within 10 seconds.

Compliance Reward: (+5) Silver Talent, (+10) Audience Power

Noncompliance Penalty: Absolute Death

—

After almost ten minutes…

”Is that Sanduguan? ”

”Huh? I thought the right way of doing that… I mean, never mind. ”

”Oh, lord. They
e so slow, times running out. ”

”I wonder what will be the Associations name. ”

—[fdyfguhi34jodgt Association has been registered!]

”What? Ha— ”

[Submission of Ratings is now open!]

[Voting will end after 10 seconds!]

There appeared a pop-up message.

—

[Rate!]

Instruction: Rate the following Performers based on their performance.

*Fia Arcuri: ✰✰✰✰✰

*Rin Ardolf: ✰✰✰✰✰

*Samantha Manansala: ✰✰✰✰✰

*Zekiel Radnier: ✰✰✰✰✰

Note: The ratings will be automatically submitted once an Audience has rated all Performers.

—

[10…9…]

The Audience then cast their votes. However…

[3…2…1…]

”W-wait! Im not done yet, ” the old lady frantically said.

[Submission of Ratings is now closed!]

Then, the old lady looked at the message.

[You have not submitted the Ratings.]

[Noncompliance Penalty will be imposed!]

”Ah— ”

Then, the lady instantly disappeared.

”W-what happened to her? ”

Then, a child… a mother… followed the old lady.

”W-whats happening? ” One of the audience uttered in fear.

The people once again had a fright on their faces as they observed those people disappear.

”Wait, didn they vanish? ” Samantha said.

* * *

”I see. ”

I looked at my hand bound by bandages.

Then, I heard a message popping up,

[Nexus Rendezvous will commence in 30 minutes!]

”W-what? ”