Chapter 12: Painless pistil

Maintaining the game’s integrity is every player’s duty.
If the man couldn’t do it, Pride would take over.
She was happy to do so.
“The player who disrupted the game has received due punishment. The persecuted player deserves compensation.”
“Grant you painless petals, may your game be joyful.”
A small spider lily gently floated down to Bai Feifei, who caught it, a bit dazed.
Her body no longer hurt; it seemed the flower had fully healed her.
“The girl won the game. Per the rules, she may leave the amusement park alive.”
Rustle.
Pride’s script flipped a page as she looked at Bai Feifei.
“Miss Witch, can I take my sister with me?”
Bai Feifei was a bit scared—this was a witch!
If not for the witch healing her and delivering justice, she’d never dare make a request.
She felt this witch was different from the vile beings people described.
She sensed something special from Pride, an urge to draw closer.
Pride ignored her request, continuing.
“As the game’s designer and creator, Augustus decides to personally experience the game, to feel its joy.”
Augustus’s body moved forward uncontrollably, falling from the tracks.
At twenty to thirty meters high, he hit the ground with only minor injuries.
This defied common sense.
Augustus was desperate—was this really a witch?
Pride!
After Lust, Sloth, and Greed, Pride had emerged!
How was this possible!
Pride’s appearance had caused no stir!
If he’d known she was Pride from the start, he’d have fled immediately.
But there were no ifs!
He was doomed, doomed!
“The planner Augustus and his assistant, the tiger, slowly move to the center, ready to experience their own game, checking for potential flaws.”
Augustus and the tiger reached the center, beginning push-ups.
“As expected of the game’s creator, Augustus takes the lead, finishing a hundred first!”
To match the game’s high energy, Pride raised her voice, but it lacked any emotional inflection.
Instead of rousing the crowd’s excitement, it startled them.
They thought Pride was about to go berserk and kill everyone.
Hearing her words, Augustus’s despair vanished—he could live!
“But Augustus moved too fast, his arms aching, slowing at the ninety-ninth.”
Pride’s tone shifted, making Augustus’s heart sink like he’d eaten filth.
A deeply ominous feeling gripped him.
“The tiger catches up, about to surpass Augustus! It overtakes!”
No!
Augustus glanced at the tiger, rising from its ninety-ninth push-up, about to hit a hundred.
“But…”
The tiger froze at ninety-nine and a half!
“The tiger’s arms ache terribly, regrettably failing to reach the hundredth.”
The tiger slowly lowered, its massive hands trembling.
“Seeing this, Augustus catches up, performing an astonishing…”
Augustus perked up, listening intently to Pride’s words—it had to be the hundredth!
He’d won!
“Ninety-ninth and a half!”
F*ck!
Augustus cursed inwardly; Pride was toying with him like a clown!
Damn witch!
“Augustus can’t hold on, slowly lowering his body.”
“Thinking it over, he grits his teeth to finish the last one.”
“But his arms can’t support his body for the final push-up. Augustus tries up and down, over and over, but fails.”
Augustus went up and down, stopped by Pride multiple times.
His arms, initially free of pain, now trembled under his body’s weight.
A drop of sweat hit the ground.
Augustus couldn’t hold on.
But Pride’s power kept him from collapsing fully, forcing him to struggle despite his arms giving out.
“Regrettably, as the game’s planner and creator, he succumbs to physical strain, failing to complete the test with his assistant, collapsing on the ground.”
Augustus and the tiger lay panting, savoring the hard-earned rest.
Pride’s voice, like a grim reaper, echoed faintly.
“Both failed the game’s objective. Did they lose, or did they lose?”
No!
Augustus’s heart rang with alarm as a crushing force pressed down on him.
The tiger was crushed first, its polluted blood and flesh splattering onto Augustus.
His heart turned to ash, seeing no hope of survival.
“Failing the game’s objective means defeat. Per the rules, losers cannot leave the amusement park alive.”
Augustus cursed inwardly; he never imagined he’d fall to his own rules.
Even if it was due to her forced control, he was filled with regret.
If he’d set rules allowing losers a chance to live, he might not be dying now!
Damn, damn, damn!
My plans aren’t complete; I haven’t claimed an Arcana seat.
Why is there a witch here!
Why did this happen—my plans!
My power, my everything!
Augustus clenched his teeth, eyes bloodshot, staring at Pride.
In utter unwillingness, he broke free of her control for a moment, shouting.
“Witch!”
Bang!
The crisp sound of shattering glass rang out.
Pride turned to look; the barrier around the amusement park was breaking.
Someone outside was attacking it.
Boom!
Following Pride’s gaze, a massive hole was blasted through the barrier.
Two figures, one yellow, one red, painfully familiar to Pride, appeared in the breach.
The magical girls were here; she needed to end the theater quickly.
Pride prepared to close the curtain, but a fierce attack roared toward her.
She raised her hand, shattering the attack.
The sudden assault annoyed her, interrupting her finale.
In that moment, Augustus crushed his pocket watch with all his might.
A massive surge of magic, formed from negative emotions, enveloped him, whisking him away.
The villain had escaped!
Pride’s breathing grew heavy, her chest rising and falling noticeably.
Rustle!
Her script began flipping backward, the second puppet theater a failure.
The written words vanished, returning to its original blank state.
“Witch, surrender!”
Rose’s voice reached Pride’s ears.