'I've been framed…'
Alice stared at the three menacing figures before her, her heart pounding nervously.
Truth be told, Alice was never good with people—especially men. And these three looked particularly rough.
"Um… if I said I don't know that person at all, would you believe me?" she explained softly.
At the same time, she made up her mind—she was going to find whoever set her up.
Even though the culprit looked like a child, in Orario, there was a race called Pallum—a tribe of diminutive demi-humans. That little trickster was probably one of them, and what's more, she knew magic. Alice had sensed magical energy radiating from her—and she'd memorized its signature.
Next time they crossed paths, Alice would definitely catch her and teach her a proper lesson. But for now, she had more pressing matters to deal with.
Hearing Alice's explanation, the three rather disheveled-looking male adventurers continued to glare fiercely at her.
So Alice held up the small bag and knife the Pallum girl had thrown her way.
"These are what she tossed at me. The bag is full of nothing but rocks, and the knife is the cheapest kind—completely worthless."
"So you see, she was just trying to trick you into chasing me instead of her. I'm not with her—understand?"
Alice looked at them sincerely as she explained.
This time, the three adventurers' eyes shifted from anger to doubt. The hostility in their expressions faded.
Seeing their change in attitude, Alice breathed a quiet sigh of relief.
If she could avoid a fight, that was definitely for the best.
"So… could you let me pass? I still need to go dungeon diving."
Hearing this, the three exchanged glances and began to back off. After all, this girl they'd cornered didn't seem the least bit afraid—which probably meant she was confident she could take them, whether through her own strength or the backing of her Familia.
What's more, her clothes were spotless—not a speck of dust. That alone spoke volumes.
Meanwhile, they'd been completely played by that Pallum. Their gear and money were gone, and on their way here, they'd even been bitten a couple of times by Killer Ants.
Their combat ability had taken a nosedive. Picking a fight with someone who might be way out of their league was the last thing they needed.
As for that Pallum and their stolen belongings… they'd just have to swallow the loss. By now, she was long gone.
After a brief huddle, they decided to leave.
But just then, one of them noticed the doll hanging from Alice's waist and frowned deeply.
"That doll…"
"What's up? Let's get moving already—that Killer Ant bite still hurts like hell. Those things really pack a sting," the leader grumbled.
His eyes glinted. "Boss, do you remember that bounty the Hephaestus Familia put out a month or two ago?"
The second guy chimed in, "You mean the one offering a top-grade Hephaestus weapon in exchange for one of those 'Alice Dolls'?"
He nodded. "Yeah. Take a look at the doll on this girl—doesn't it look just like it?"
The leader narrowed his eyes. "It really does. So… we take it? That bounty from Hephaestus Familia is still active, right?"
He smirked. "If that doll is the real deal, we'll be set. There were only ten in total—ten top-grade weapons up for grabs."
The second guy sounded worried. "But we don't know anything about her Familia or how strong she is. And we're not in great shape right now. What if we can't take her?"
He shook his head. "She can't be that strong. We had her surrounded, but she didn't even get angry—just tried to explain herself. You think a real powerhouse would bother explaining to the likes of us?"
"Good point…" the other two murmured in agreement.
"And as for her Familia?" he grinned slyly. "How many adventurers die in the Dungeon every day? Who's gonna know?"
"So…?" The leader looked at the second guy.
"We go for it?" the second guy asked the third guy.
"We go for it," the third guy said firmly.
All this "plotting" happened right in front of Alice.
They kept their voices low—inaudible to ordinary people—but Alice was far from ordinary. She heard every word.
'Just how stupid are these three? Even if I couldn't hear them, anyone could tell they're up to no good when they huddle together like that. And their greed and murderous intent are practically oozing out of them…'
Alice sighed inwardly.
"Then again, people in this world really are the worst. Are folks like Tione and Lefiya just rare exceptions? Why does everyone I meet have to be like this?"
Aside from the gods, the only people Alice truly acknowledged were Lefiya and Tione.
She'd crossed paths with plenty of others, though. Back when she used to set up a street stall, she often ran into unpleasant types. In fact, more than nine out of ten people she met were exactly the kind she couldn't stand.
That included the Pallum who'd just framed her—and these three now scheming against her.
Alice's gaze turned cold.
"Shanghai, Hourai. Take them out." Her tone was calm and even. Though Alice herself had never taken a life, in her [Memories], nearly everyone in Gensokyo had blood on their hands—even the Alice of that world.
Besides, perhaps because she no longer considered herself human, Alice felt no unease ordering Shanghai and Hourai to kill.
On her command, Shanghai and Hourai immediately attacked the three while they were still "plotting."
The archer doll fired three arrows in rapid succession—each striking forehead, throat, and heart. The magical arrows pierced their bodies and erupted, destroying their brains and hearts. The arrow to the throat also shredded their vocal cords.
At the same time, the mage dolls each launched two fireballs—the same kind of attack that could incinerate a Spider—right at the trio.
Without even a chance to scream, the three were killed instantly and reduced to ashes.
As if nothing had happened, Alice continued deeper into the fifth floor of the Dungeon.
--+--
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