Chapter 109: The Power to Discern
Imitating someone’s voice is unexpectedly difficult.
The reason is that you can’t directly hear “the voice that others hear.”
While “your own voice” is a composite of air-conducted sound (through the air) and bone-conducted sound (through your bones), “the voice others hear” is only air-conducted. That difference causes the gap.
So here’s a question: if someone can mimic a voice so well it could be mistaken for the real person, what exactly is it that they’re hearing?
"Next is battle royale, huh. Alright, I’m dropping everyone!"
Top Chat: Looks fun
Top Chat: Elf-san’s totally switched on
Top Chat: Not as extreme as the God of Reverse, but Elf-san’s the type who gets fired up when enemies are strong
Top Chat: Yeah, that’s true
Top Chat: Hear the voice of the Elf who’s found a barrel, and all living things shall be dropped into holes
Top Chat: Is that from Kokin Wakashū?
"Dance Hall?"
The stage for the second match was a floating room, its glowing chandelier and many suspended paintings giving it a noble atmosphere.
Top Chat: Wow, Elf-san figured that out quick
Top Chat: The paintings even have aristocrat-looking people in them
Top Chat: But yeah, first thing you notice is the pile of barrels in the middle lol
"Here we go."
The match began. Almost all twenty players who had been waiting at the room’s edges sprinted toward the center, aiming to grab barrels and keep away from the holes. But—
Top Chat: Elf-san’s going in for a barrel—nope!
Top Chat: Poi poi poi!
Top Chat: She just tossed three people straight into holes as a greeting!
Top Chat: "They were noble sacrifices" icons are popping up everywhere, lol
"Yah! Hah! This one’s mine!"
Top Chat: Ah, I see. Since everyone’s clumping in the middle, it’s easier to dodge by staying near the edge
Top Chat: And if you can grab flying barrels, that’s enough
Top Chat: A few people fell thanks to Elf-san’s counterattacks
Top Chat: She’s gotten way better at maneuvering
"Whoops, that’s close."
"Tch! Not bad, Elf!"
Top Chat: Kirishi-tan’s aiming from an angle!
Top Chat: Crossfire?
Top Chat: Yeah, looks like it
Top Chat: But to shoot diagonally, she has to go near the edge herself
Top Chat: Sure enough, now Kirishi-tan’s getting targeted too, lol
"Ugh, come on! Aim at Elf instead of me! You know she’ll cause trouble if you leave her alone!"
Top Chat: Lol
Top Chat: "Cause trouble," she says
Top Chat: But she’s right!
Top Chat: Kirishi-tan can’t seem to focus on offense
Top Chat: Elf-san’s busy intercepting, while Kirishi-tan’s struggling to fend off interruptions
Top Chat: Elf-san’s gradually gaining the advantage, but it’s a stalemate
"……"
Top Chat: Huh? What about Kyōka-chan, who declared she’d go all out?
Top Chat: Oh yeah, haven’t seen her
Top Chat: She’s in the middle though
Top Chat: Did she move?
Top Chat: Nope
Top Chat: Actually, not moving… or rather—
"Fuuuh…"
Top Chat: …She’s just standing still?
Top Chat: Looks like she’s holding her hand to her ear and not moving. Is her avatar bugging out?
Top Chat: This happened right when everyone started ganging up on Elf-san
Top Chat: What’s she trying to do?
"Finally… I caught it."
Top Chat: Oh?
Top Chat: She moved
Top Chat: Just throwing a barrel?
Top Chat: What’s the plan?
"Hm."
Top Chat: Elf dodged it easily, lol
Top Chat: What was that?
Top Chat: Wait
Top Chat: Huh
Top Chat: Ehhhhhh!?
"I’m done for."
"Haah… thank goodness. I was worried what I’d do if I messed up."
As the words announcing Elf’s elimination appeared, the final ten survivors were set. "Mission Complete" icons floated up all around, as players congratulated one another on successfully taking down Elf.
But such heartwarming camaraderie was completely overshadowed by the sheer shock on the viewers’ side of the screen.
Top Chat: What… was that just now?
Top Chat: Like, Elf dodged Kyōka-chan’s barrel, but then five barrels flew at her at once, right?
Top Chat: Commentary! We need commentary!
"When I dodged, it went thump-thump-thump-thump-thump, all at once."
Top Chat: Cute
Top Chat: Doesn’t explain anything, but cute
Top Chat: Elf-speak is too hard, so please explain for us, Kyōka-chan
"Um, I was listening carefully to the rhythm of the people throwing barrels at Onii-chan."
Top Chat: Rhythm?
"You know how some people throw the moment they grab one, while others take their time aiming before tossing?"
Top Chat: True
Top Chat: Some are impatient, some are laid-back
"So right before five people’s timings lined up, I threw a barrel and nudged Onii-chan’s movement ever so slightly."
Top Chat: Ahh, I see
Top Chat: Makes sense—wait, no it doesn’t!
Top Chat: Hearing the rhythm of barrel throws!?
Top Chat: Aren’t the sounds all just "whoosh" anyway?
"There are subtle differences depending on the motion."
Top Chat: For real?
Top Chat: Never noticed that
Top Chat: When twenty people are just chucking barrels randomly, who even thinks to listen for that?
Top Chat: Wow, so her one-shot ear-copy thing was real after all…
Top Chat: Anyone got a reference?
Top Chat: I’m a sailor, but there was this time the Siren did a whole ensemble by ear on the first try
Top Chat: We all thought it was impossible, so no one paid it much mind, but…
Top Chat: Yeah…
Top Chat: Like sister, like sister
"I’m her brother."
Top Chat: Yep
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