"Friendship comes first, life comes second; if you’re the eighth to finish, please do yourself in," Lyle read the slogan at the top of the Andrei promotional brochure for the City of Wandering Competition, and shifted his gaze to Mr. Gentleman, "Are you serious?"

After much consideration, Mr. Dean finally agreed to Andrei’s participation in the annual racial supremacy battle of the City of Wandering. Mr. Dean personally went to the Secret Pivot Council and negotiated with Mr. Lord of the City, finally settling the schedule of the event.

As the marketing department of Andrei, the Literary Society hastily produced a promotional brochure like the one in Lyle’s hand. Although it followed the format of a sports competition, this brochure was heavily infused with the Andrei style—starting with the dire slogan. Lyle looked at the cover, with its promotional illustration showing a smiling human running at the front, and Death with its scythe close behind.

A game of survival?

Lyle caught the steaming cup of red tea Alianna passed to him; her skills had indeed improved quite a bit, though it was a tad too sweet.

Due to the City of Wandering Competition, all major research at Andrei Academy had to be paused. Lyle sat in the Cup of Luxury, stroking Light Bats with Mr. Dragon, enjoying tea with Alianna, and chatting away with Mr. Gentleman—utterly delightful.

Just thirty minutes ago, Mr. Gentleman had walked in with the newly produced brochures.

"You’re serious about this marketing slogan? It’s not a joke?"

Mr. Gentleman, in his facade of flesh and blood, answered earnestly with a smile and lively gestures, "Of course we’re serious. We conducted a genuine study of Arcanists’ human customs to create such a humanized brochure!"

Haha.

"However, about that suicide part, that’s our personal touch—a populist crystallization combining human and Lich cultures!"

"So, ’if you’re the eighth to finish, please do yourself in’ is real? A punishment?"

"No, no, no..." Mr. Gentleman waved his fingers, adopting a mournful look as though Dr. Epidemic simply lacked understanding, "It’s not a punishment, it’s Andrei’s form of reward, a consolation for those unfortunate souls who failed to place."

Fail to achieve and you die—Andrei’s competitive spirit seemed a bit too intense.

Mr. Gentleman sat down without grace, crossing his legs, "Someone once said..."

"The world is unfair; we can’t choose where we’re born, but we can choose how we die."

"Who said that?" To speak such a profound truth.

"Mr. Raymond," Alianna put down her empty teacup, propped her chin on her palms, her pale cheeks flushed with adorable rosy color from the hot drink, and looked at Lyle. "And at the time, he was glowing while holding Mr. Dark at the Literary Society’s door, his exact words were..."

"The world is unfair; we can’t choose where we’re born, but I am just, and you can choose how you die. Speak, George’s lackeys, the Literary Society, how do you wish to die?"

As she spoke, Alianna covered her lips, her shoulders quivering gently with laughter, "Then the Literary Society became the chandelier group of Andrei’s main hall, for three days, the kind that sings hymns."

"Pfft." While enduring Mr. Gentleman’s frank stare, Lyle barely held it in. "Please, continue about your suicide bonus, Mr. Gentleman."

"Ah, the past cannot be revisited." Mr. Gentleman, revived with vigor, continued, "After the influence of disguising as flesh and blood, our people grew increasingly curious about all kinds of human experiences."

"That includes human death."

"Our brethren’s deaths are varied, some confusing and unexpected, fading into gravel-like memories over the aeons after interchanges with our Literary Society and related clubs."

"Andrei now offers a variety of funeral services! Want to die like a king, or a tyrant? Or perhaps like a heinous villain! Welcome to customize your funeral service! Fulfill your wishes, a satisfying way to die!"

"The first hundred applicants also receive a collectible King Level guillotine! During the Competition, contestants participate for free!"

"So attentive, so populist! What are you waiting for! Come and die with us!"

I refuse to believe that Liches would genuinely participate in a sports festival, that would be absurd. Lyle suddenly felt a shiver down his spine, a malice was climbing up his back.

"Per the headmaster’s request, every club must have ’voluntary’ competitors."

Click, Lyle felt his heart sink, he looked at Alianna with a face full of horror. Mr. Dragon, as an elder, definitely would not compete, and Mr. Gentleman wore an expression that spelled nothing but luring others into a trap.

And his dear Alianna was looking at him with a cute, mischievous smile.

"Alianna..." But I’m a human.

"Whichever doctor you are, I like you," Alianna stuck out her tongue and lightly licked her lips, "If I could always hold your ’head’ close, that would be nice."

Lyle saw himself in Alianna’s arms, watching Nia running around with his battered body.

"No way!!!" His scream startled the Light Bat in Mr. Dragon’s hand bones, Mr. Dragon also woke from his daze, nodding as he looked at Lyle wearing a bird beak mask.

"I see, you don’t want to lose, huh (losers receive funeral services), worthy of being my student. Alas, it’s a pity you’ve just become a member of the Salvation Association and have already been banned from competing, otherwise, I was really looking forward to seeing you claim glory."

"Banned?"

"Due to the rules," Mr. Gentleman spread his hands, "the headmaster and the Arcanists have set some regulations."

"First, excessive power, Andrei Salvation Association members cannot participate in official events to prevent the outbreak of a Lich calamity. Second, Andrei members must always wear flesh disguises to diminish the Order Side’s repulsion against evil creatures."

The first rule seemed reasonable, after all, if you put someone like Raymond on the field, any competition would turn into a bloodbath.

The second rule, does it carry a hint of racial discrimination? Can that really be okay?

"Are all beings from the Chaotic Side required to disguise themselves?"

"Technically, yes, but with the Chaotic Side, can you really expect them to follow rules? It has already become an unwritten rule within the written ones."

"So, Andrei is not planning to..."

"No, Andrei are law-abiding good citizens!" Mr. Gentleman straightened his chest, speaking words Lyle couldn’t understand, "We will comply and wear the disguises."

"Because it’s fun."

Lyle nodded, Liches indeed preferred experiencing life.

"Then, should the Order Side also put on disguises to meet the aesthetic preferences of the Chaotic Side?" That would only be fair.

"No need, because the Chaotic Side basically doesn’t hate the side of the light, because, if they did, they would have started fighting right there and then."

Without the burden of forced participation, that means I can now easily entertain myself for a while. Lyle smiled as he flipped through the agenda, looking at the schedule of events.

There weren’t any competitions the first few days, but there were various intercultural exchange programs between different races, like the Literature Club and the Elf Race’s Music of Life, the Weight Loss Club and the Pure Maid Experience House’s essential oil sumo wrestling, and so on.

Lyle widened his eyes as he saw the tag for the article on the Hellfire demon.

"The Necromancer Figure Club and the Black Abyssal Demons co-hosting..."

"Hellfire performance competition?!"