I became a vampire princess and then a dragon girl?

"It's just that the host up there randomly selects people from the guests to participate, but the specific format hasn't been announced yet. Ah, it's time to start selecting people again!"

After saying that, the elf girl waved her hands excitedly.

"Okay! Thank you all for your support. Now I'm going to select the next participant! Whoever catches this ball will be the next lucky winner!"

As the host on the stage spoke, he casually threw the ball in his hand into the crowd below.

then…

"Eh?!"

Istina, who was next to Eve, was hit accurately by the ball.

"Alright! Let's congratulate this lucky winner. Please come up to the stage!"

"Y-Sir Yong?"

She seemed a little hesitant about being called Daoistina for no reason, not knowing whether she should get involved.

"Let's go up and take a look. It looks quite interesting. If I get the chance, I will follow."

"OK then."

However, at Eve's instigation, Istina still took the ball to the stage.

After several rounds of different selection methods, a total of thirty people were selected and stood in a neat row on the stage. Unfortunately, Eve was not selected and could only watch from the sidelines with Ilvia and the others, leaving Istina alone on the stage, confused.

"Okay! Everyone, please wear this headband."

As he spoke, a team of staff members below the stage randomly distributed six colors of headbands to everyone. As everyone put on the headbands, densely packed small light screens appeared in front of the store, displaying the scene in front of everyone.

"Next, please choose the weapons you want to use. Please rest assured that these weapons are non-lethal."

As he spoke, several staff members came onto the stage pushing carts loaded with various wooden weapons.

"By the way, participants who choose bows and arrows, please note that the number of arrows is limited. Once they are used up, you will need to replenish them yourself, so please remember to recycle them~"

Without much hesitation, Istina chose the rapier as her weapon. After all, her weapon, the elf Nikilo, was a rapier, and she had also practiced some techniques in this area. Most of the other contestants chose bows and arrows. After all, they were elves, and everyone was proficient in archery.

"Okay! Now that everyone has chosen their weapons, here are the rules! The contestants will be divided into six groups based on the color of their headbands. Led by our store staff, you will enter the store to compete. You must use your weapons to hit members of other groups to eliminate them. You are prohibited from removing your headbands or using any auxiliary magic or weapon spirits. You are also prohibited from forming alliances, otherwise you will be immediately declared the loser! Bows and arrows are only effective with active attacks using the tip of the arrow, so don't try to exploit loopholes."

Listening to the host introducing the rules, Eve suddenly remembered a rumor.

"By the way, it's said that the elves seem to be surprisingly good at winning. It seems to be true."

On the other side, the host continued to introduce the rules.

"For players using melee weapons, only one attack every five seconds will count. If you are hit ten times in a row in a short period of time, you will be eliminated. The number of hits will be restored over time, so everyone should pay attention to cooperation. In addition, to prevent everyone from not going out to explore, everyone must move to another floor every twenty minutes. After moving, you are not allowed to return immediately. Everyone's position will be displayed in real time on the screen here."

As he spoke, projections of three floors of the shopping mall appeared in mid-air, with each floor having four roads leading to other floors.

"Every member of the winning team will be eligible for a lifetime free meal, regardless of whether they are eliminated or not. So good luck to everyone!"

As he spoke, several staff members came out and put blindfolds on the contestants and led them into the store.

"Hmm... Why does it feel like a battle royale..."

After listening to the rules, Eve complained somewhat helplessly.

"But the rules are quite complete. At first glance, there don't seem to be any loopholes. Hmm... I can take this opportunity to see how much progress Tina has made."

As the many contestants were divided into six teams and brought into the store, the competition was about to officially begin.

Taking into account the fact that there are contestants who are not from the Moon Elves clan, as well as the effect of the broadcast on the light screen outside, the organizers also specially turned on the lights in the store to illuminate the originally dim store.

Under the lights, the shelves in the mall are neatly arranged, blocking people's sight. Various decorations and partitions also provide sufficient cover for everyone. The six teams have also taken their positions, with two teams on each floor, forming diagonal lines, to avoid conflicts as soon as the teams enter.

Just like that, the alternate world version of the Battle Royale event is about to begin!

§ 41 Pre-match preparation

"Okay! There are five minutes left before the competition officially begins. Please take off your blindfolds and allocate this time as you see fit. However, you are prohibited from leaving your current location. There is a map of the mall in your pockets. You can get a feel for the mall first."

The host's voice came from the sound-transmitting crystals distributed throughout the mall.

"A warm reminder: please control your volume when communicating. The other teams may be very close to you. So, players, keep your best efforts."

As the host's broadcast ended, Istina also looked around at the other four people in the team. Although she was inexplicably involved, with her personality, she would still choose to take this game seriously.

"Everyone, please introduce yourselves. My name is Istina. As you can see, I'm not an elf, but a foreign traveler. I'm quite strong, and my weapon is a rapier."

As she spoke, Istina swung the weapon in her hand twice to show off her strength.

"Alice, adventurer, shortbow."

"Laurel/Jimati/Louise, not much combat experience, weapon is a longbow."

The rest of the team were from the Moon Elves, and their weapons were naturally bows and arrows. Each of them had twenty arrows in their quiver, which was quite a pressure. Even if every arrow hit its target, it would only be enough to eliminate eight people.

And except for Alice, the other people in the team don’t have much combat experience, but on the other hand, the same may be true for other teams?

And when fighting in a terrain like a shopping mall, it might be inconvenient to draw the longbow, so the main fighting force is just herself and Alice.

"Let's decide on the temporary captain first."

As she spoke, Istina looked at Alice.

"Miss Alice, do you have any experience commanding a battle?"

During the time Eve was active as a hero, she was also responsible for some combat command matters, and she had some experience.

"No, I'm just a member of the adventurer team. If Miss Istina knows how to command better, you can be the captain."

"Alright, then I'll take the captain's position for now. Since I'm the only melee fighter, Miss Alice will take command while I'm out fighting. Is everyone agreed?"

"Well, we don't have much combat experience, so I'll leave it to you. Just tell me what you want."

Louise said after listening to Istina's arrangements.

"Ah."

The other two also echoed.

"Okay, then everyone, please give Miss Alice five of your arrows. Short bows with quick draws are more suitable for use in the mall. Once the arrows are shot, try to retrieve them. If you find arrows lost by other teams, you should also retrieve them after confirming they are not traps."

The others had no objection to Istina's suggestion, so the number of arrows in Alice's quiver increased by fifteen, reaching thirty-five.

"We still have two minutes. Let's take another look at the map to confirm the situation around us."

As she spoke, Istina spread the map in front of them.

In the corner of the map, it was written in small letters: 'It is forbidden to damage the decorations in the store. Violators will be penalized. There are mysterious supplies in the store that can be used in the game.'

"We are currently in the lower left corner of the third floor."

After comparing the merchandise areas on the map, Istina identified their current location. The mall was structured with two inclined stairs on the left and right, and two vertical spiral staircases in the middle. Their location was closest to the inclined stairs on the left.

"The nearest path to the lower level is in the upper left corner. The transfer is every twenty minutes, so there's no need to rush. But remember to keep track of the time after it officially starts so you don't miss it. Also, be careful of sneak attacks when you go down."

Then Istina began to speculate on the locations of other teams.

"Based on our position, the other team on the third floor should be in the upper right corner. The organizers wouldn't let us get attacked right after we go down, so the team on the second floor is likely to be some distance away from all four staircases. My personal guess is that they're between the inclined and spiral staircases."

As she spoke, Istina lightly tapped two locations on the map. The shops there formed a large I-shape, which might prevent the two teams on the second floor from encountering each other too quickly while preventing them from immediately waiting at the stairs.

"So, let's explore the third floor first. If there's no chance of defeating the enemy, we should prioritize avoiding the battle. After about fifteen minutes, we'll head to the second floor. Okay? Any suggestions?"

Looking at everyone nodding silently, Istina put away the map in her hand.

"Okay, there are still a few seconds left, everyone please get ready."

But at this moment Alice suddenly spoke out.

"Wait a moment."

"Hmm? What's wrong? Does Alice have any other suggestions?"

"Ah, nothing else, everyone."

Alice said as she looked around at everyone.

“The reward from this competition is very important to me, so I hope everyone can help me win the championship.”

"Well... I'll do my best, but Alice, can you tell me the reason?"

Hearing Alice's request, Louise asked while fiddling with one side of her hair.

"I have a twin sister."

"!"

Upon hearing Alice's words, the three people except Istina immediately showed surprised expressions.

"I see."

Louise stopped fiddling with her hair and put on a serious expression.

"Don't worry, we will do our best to help you win."

As if she noticed Istina's confusion, Laurel whispered into her ear.

"Twins are a rare and unfortunate occurrence among the elves, as one of them will be extremely frail and sickly from birth. So if Alice receives this reward, it will be easier for her to take care of her sister."

"Is this so..."

After listening to her explanation, Istina put on a serious expression and spoke to Alice.

"Don't worry, Miss Alice, we will definitely win, I promise!"

"……Thanks."

Looking at Istina's confident look and everyone's serious expressions, Alice opened her mouth slightly as if she wanted to say something, but in the end everything was melted into a thank you.

But in fact, Istina wanted to think about more, such as whether her brave master could solve this problem. She would ask her after the game.

By the way, I don’t know if this free meal can be transferred. If it can, her free meal can be transferred to Alice’s sister.

"Game start!"

At this moment, the host's voice sounded, announcing the official start of the competition.

So, can Istina's team win, and can Alice's sister be cured? To find out what happens next, please stay tuned for the next episode (not).

§ 42 Forced scene change

"Game start!"

As the host's voice came, Istina immediately gave instructions.

"Alice, come with me to explore the third floor. Louise, go to the front stairs and see if you can sneak up on the people heading to the third floor. If they're outnumbered, don't attack. Okay, let's get started."

Seeing that the other three had found a hidden place to hide, Istina also took Alice to explore the third floor carefully.

Because the mall was very quiet, Istina could even hear the heartbeats of people around her with her senses, thus avoiding the possibility of being attacked by surprise.

Of course, she didn't intend to be so serious from the beginning, it was because of Alice.

After all, when she reaches this level, it feels like she is playing a game with a small hole. It can be said to be bullying. Where there is a frame, you don’t hit it? (No)

"Istina, this way."

Alice pointed to a small wooden box not far away that looked out of place with the surroundings. It had the words "supply box" written on it.

"Let me open it, and I'll leave the vigilance to you."

"Ah."

After responding, Alice hid aside, with an arrow on the bow in her hand, guarding against other teams that might appear.

咚咚

Istina tapped the ground and the box around it lightly with the rapier in her hand a few times to make sure there was no problem, then she carefully opened the box.

squeak

The hinge of the box seemed to have been specially processed. Although Istina's movements were very slow, the harsh sound was still particularly noticeable in the quiet shopping mall.