Walking alone through the sports complex, Lisa quickly realized just how enormous the place was.
Beyond the basketball court was a football field.
Farther ahead stood another building that looked like an indoor sports arena.
"I'll check over there first."
Sparkle, the walking embodiment of chaos, was still in the basketball arena.
Lisa had no desire to stay anywhere near her.
As for the football field…
It was far too open and offered almost no places to hide.
Without hesitation, Lisa headed toward the neighboring building.
Stepping inside…
She found herself in a long corridor lined with numerous closed doors.
She tried pushing one open.
It didn't budge.
"So these must be the rooms that require keys."
The rules had mentioned that certain rooms would remain locked until players found the proper keys.
Lisa was certain these were them.
After walking farther down the hallway…
She entered an indoor table tennis hall.
A single ping-pong table sat in the center of the room, surrounded by spectator seating.
"Hm?"
Approaching the table, she noticed a small card resting on top.
[Mission: Return the Ball]
[Pick up the paddle and return every ball launched at you. Note: The ball's first bounce must land on the opponent's side of the table.]
"So this is one of the missions!"
Lisa's eyes lit up.
She hadn't expected to stumble across one so quickly.
If she completed enough missions and collected useful items…
Her chances of surviving would increase dramatically.
Without another thought, she walked to one side of the table, picked up a paddle, and faced the ball launcher opposite her.
"I'm ready."
As soon as she finished speaking…
The launcher whirred to life and fired its first ball.
"I've got it."
Having never played table tennis before…
Lisa instinctively swung upward.
The moment the paddle connected…
The ball shot high into the air.
Fortunately, she hadn't used much force.
The ball landed neatly on the opposite side of the table.
"Easy enough."
After successfully returning several more balls, Lisa became increasingly pleased.
This mission isn't difficult at all.
Even someone who's never played before can handle it.
Suddenly—
Everything changed.
The launcher seemed to go berserk.
A ball rocketed toward her.
Its speed was so absurdly fast that Lisa couldn't react in time.
The ping-pong ball whistled past her face, stirring the air as it flew by.
"Th-That's fast!"
[Mission Failed]
"Again."
She started another attempt.
This time, Lisa remained completely focused.
The previous surprise attack had caught her off guard.
She wouldn't make the same mistake twice.
Sure enough…
Prepared in advance, she successfully returned the high-speed shot.
"There."
"That should do it."
She glanced at the machine.
Only three balls remained.
"Come on."
"As long as I return these last three, I'll get my reward."
Thunk!
Another ball launched.
"I've got it."
Thunk!
The second-to-last ball.
"I've got it."
The machine paused briefly before launching the final ball.
This one was obviously different.
It shot forward like lightning.
And instead of aiming for the table…
It came straight at her face.
"Ah!"
Caught completely off guard…
Lisa was struck squarely on the forehead by the ping-pong ball.
She stumbled backward and fell.
[Mission Failed]
"Hiss…"
Rubbing her forehead…
She winced in pain.
Her head was still buzzing.
"I refuse to believe this…"
"Again."
[Mission Failed]
"Again."
[Mission Failed]
"Again!"
[Mission Failed]
"Oh, forget this!"
Every single attempt ended with that final ball.
Lisa tossed the paddle aside.
"I'm done."
She had figured it out.
This mission existed purely to waste players' time.
And she'd foolishly spent half the hour playing along.
Still rubbing her throbbing forehead…
She turned and walked away.
She needed to find a proper hiding place.
She wasn't going to waste any more time fighting that ridiculous machine.
Reaching the spectator stands…
She looked around.
From here, the entire arena was visible at a glance.
"Not a good hiding place."
After only a quick inspection, Lisa concluded that the hall offered nowhere suitable to hide.
She'd have to search another building instead.
"Hm?"
Just as she was about to leave…
She spotted another small card lying on one of the seats nearby.
She immediately walked over.
[Mission: Your Best Friend's Little Secret]
[Reveal one little secret about your best friend. The greater the livestream's reaction, the better your reward. Note: If audience response is insufficient, the mission fails. Fabricating rumors or making personal attacks is strictly prohibited.]
"W-What kind of mission is this?!"
Lisa's eyes widened.
She'd assumed every mission would be something like table tennis.
Who would've thought there'd be one like this?
Who was her best friend?
Without question…
Jean.
So…
If she revealed one of Jean's little secrets…
She could earn a useful reward?
For a moment, Lisa hesitated.
The audience reaction needed to be enthusiastic.
If she only mentioned something trivial…
The mission would probably fail.
But if she revealed one of Jean's real secrets…
She'd almost certainly be in trouble once they got home.
Meanwhile, the livestream exploded.
Jean: "Y-You can do that?!"
Jean was horrified.
Surely Lisa wouldn't actually sell her out over a mere reward…
Who knew what she'd reveal?
Barbara: "I… I don't think Lisa would…"
Kaeya: "To be honest…"
"I'm a little curious."
Diluc: "Ahem…"
"…I admit I am too."
Jean: "Master Diluc… please don't encourage this!"
Jean was starting to panic.
Everyone seemed to be gradually transforming into chaos gremlins.
If Lisa really exposed one of her secrets…
How was she supposed to face everyone afterward?
And what kind of mission was this anyway?
Shouldn't it require the other person's consent?
Rosaria: "Popcorn's ready. Begin."
Sampo: "Oho~"
"Now this is entertainment."
Bronya: "This… doesn't seem appropriate…"
Seele: "Just answer honestly."
"Aren't you curious?"
Bronya: "…I am."
How could she not be?
Jean had always appeared perfectly proper and dependable.
Learning one of her hidden secrets…
Sounded surprisingly interesting.
Besides…
The rules specifically prohibited personal attacks.
So…
Listening shouldn't hurt.
Lynx: "Pela and I are no longer best friends."
"We're officially done."
Lynx was suddenly terrified.
What if Pela found the same mission?
Wouldn't she expose all of Lynx's embarrassing stories too?
Serval: "Now I'm curious."
"What kind of secrets does little Lynx have?"
Cocolia: "What a pity."
"I wasn't the participant."
Serval: "Get lost."
"You and I aren't even friends."
Cocolia: "I never said my best friend was you."
Serval: "…"
Cloud Retainer: "They're merely little secrets."
"Why be so afraid?"
Cloud Retainer couldn't understand everyone's reaction.
The moment "secret" was mentioned…
People were ready to disown their best friends.
She was absolutely certain…
If she had drawn this mission…
Neither Guizhong nor Ping would ever blame her.
Mm.
Absolutely not.
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