chapter 27
27. As expected, being a winner isn’t something obtained through jokes.
“But seriously, what are we going to do about Dike?”
Adikia, half-jokingly, had considered sacrificing Dike as a foreign offering.
However, looking at Yudahee, who was now gazing at the currently unconscious Dike, Adikia felt it might be more than a mere joke, possibly executing the consciousness of a sacrificial being.
“Um… well…”
Yudahee, smiling without saying a word, somehow made Adikia feel a bit uneasy.
Adikia knew better than anyone else, having experienced firsthand those who went insane by deviating from their standards.
But at the same time, Adikia found comfort in being on the same side, despite the madness.
“I’m just asking to be sure, sacrificing him as an offering… It doesn’t involve actually killing a deity or something, right? Killing a deity doesn’t mean the deity worshipped dies as well, but…”
Adikia’s worried gaze reached Dike, who was sticking out his tongue without saying anything.
“Are you worried about Dike by any chance?”
Reacting as if stung by those words, Adikia stammered, “No! It’s not that I’m worried about Dike dying… It’s more about what happens after he dies… If Dike’s deity dies, the contract will break… Then there will undoubtedly be issues with the interdimensional safe, leading to potential problems with the double contract…”
“Considering that, didn’t you forcibly try to drag him out of the arena before?”
“After being thrown out without leaving anything behind… I thought this guy would come to his senses once he tastes rock bottom. Well, not like that! No! Absolutely not.”
It was Adikia, shaking her head vehemently and shouting.
Of course, from Yudahee’s perspective, watching it from a step away, it was an amusing situation.
They say strong denial is a form of affirmation.
The one she used to despise was actually worried and, in a way, trying to take care of her. Yet, in doing so, falling into the cliché of being maliciously rude… What a delicious irony.
Hey, try, try.
“I won’t kill or anything like that.”
“Yeah, that’s right, isn’t it?”
“Just because it’s a sacrifice doesn’t mean I’ll actually take out the heart like some ancient Aztec, strangle the neck, twist the intestines, and make a rope out of the intestines. Hey, what era are we in? We should do it more smartly.”
…
For some reason, Adikia, saying she won’t kill, became even more unsettling.
“But still, we should definitely do some brain-picking.”
After all, gamblers play with their toes if their hands are cut off, and if their toes are cut off, they gamble with their mouths. Crazy folks.
But… Wouldn’t anyone’s thinking change after receiving a foreign news once?
The sensations of the tentacles extending deep into the cerebral cortex…! Foreign news full course, I will definitely show you what it is…!
It might be to the extent that she couldn’t even speak, but well, that’s what it takes to fix all of Deke’s bad habits.
“…What? Brain…?”
Adikia, who didn’t understand, asked, but Yudahee pretended not to know.
If you mess with the divine body too much, the mind might collapse, and if it’s too weak, there might be a side effect of this dirty temperament becoming stronger.
There were potential side effects of turning from a simple gambling addict to a distorted state, where a hustler might emerge…!
The situation called for the summoning of a presence capable of controlling such subtleties.
In Yudahee’s mind, a list of those who could handle such matters flashed by in the dozens, if not hundreds… A suitable candidate came to mind at the right moment, but unfortunately, it wasn’t something to be dealt with immediately.
Doing it right away had… no precedent.
Suddenly, the Valkyries from the management department might barge in, claiming a violation of some Earth law – a situation that could lead to their arrest.
If even Atlock Nacho’s case alone could cause such a disturbance, realizing that beings from other galaxies could also get involved?
Perhaps he might really be prevented from participating in the arena itself.
So, rather than doing it right away in the arena, it would be wiser to detonate it right there on the scene.
Dividing the task into two, it would be better to do it together if it could be handled all at once.
Why didn’t Mikaela say such things?
[In the arena, any power is usable, and the principle is laid down that no responsibility will be questioned.]
The disciplinary punishment was carried out because Necronomicon posted mentally contaminated content in the divine gallery, not because it summoned the Great Old One from outer space, so the management department didn’t intervene for that reason alone.
In other words… as long as it doesn’t completely destroy the arena like before, it should be fine to play freely, right?
Yudahee’s plan was gradually taking shape in his mind.
He thought that there could be no perfect crime committed in a place where no responsibility is questioned.
To be sure, when he compared the rules of the arena registered in the divine gallery and the contents written in Deca’s [Guidebook for the Goddesses Traveling in the Arena…], he confirmed that there was no problem within the arena itself.
“First place, can I do it~”
“No, seriously, what are you scheming? Just tell me! I’m your contracted goddess, right? Where on earth is a contractor who doesn’t even tell the assigned goddess!?”
Adikia grabbed Yudahee’s arm with all her strength and hung from it, but even if she did, Yudahee wasn’t someone who would easily reveal it.
“It will be revealed in 60 seconds… Ah, is it two days?”
“Just tell me!”
It was a completely futile plea.
—–
Time flowed swiftly.
“Are you ready?”
“As long as I have my Barrisada, I’m good to go!”
Penelope, holding Barrisada, blinked her eyes, murmuring, ‘Ah, this chilly and solid sensation…’
Immediately, Balkan’s supersonic Honey Night aimed at Penelope’s concubine for retribution…!
Thunk— Penelope cringed with a sound.
Whether the contractee, who wished she had a bit more backbone, could actually listen is uncertain. If Balkan hadn’t intervened, perhaps somewhere, wrapped in a thick blanket, she would spend the whole day browsing the internet, watching Bill Gates and Zuckerberg battle it out—why does that thought cross his mind?
Tsk, tsk.
Balkan, with a cold tongue, suddenly found himself in a waiting room filled with numerous devotees from his own forge.
Honestly, with the recent opening, he thought it might be a bit awkward due to significant changes, but it wasn’t much different from the previous assembly room.
The only noticeable difference was the billboard on the wall, slightly enlarged to match the size of the expanded arena.
Nevertheless, Penelope’s gaze was wandering around the building as if exploring it for the first time.
“But were there so many devotees here…? I don’t remember that…”
Exaggerating a bit, it felt like devotees were brushing against her shoulders every step she took.
“Well, it’s the first match of the second arena, so it’s natural that people are overflowing to see it.”
Some opted to watch the broadcast in the devotee gallery without coming to the arena, but since it was a monumental match, most of the devotees seemed to have participated.
In the midst of such a crowd, Penelope, holding Varisada tightly in her arms, scanned the surroundings. Suddenly, as if she had discovered something, she exclaimed, pointing with her finger.
There, unlike the last time, Judahhee was neatly dressed, looking well-equipped in her own way. The primitive appearance was absent this time, and she seemed to have prepared herself in her own style.
“Hmm…”
From the Balkan perspective, it might be lacking, but considering the limited preparation time, it could still pass as acceptable. A Parasu, given by Balkan last time, hung from her waist.
Just as Balkan recognized Judahhee, Judahhee also recognized Balkan, shaking hands as she approached.
“Are you not having popcorn today? We haven’t met enough to warrant stealing it, though.”
“hahahaha, you have to have a reason to eat popcorn. But more importantly, you-“
Balkan’s eyes turned towards Judahhee’s side.
There, instead of Judahhee’s original contracted companion, Dike, Adikia, who didn’t hide her rough appearance, was taking her place.
Judging by the faintly connected traces of divine power, it seemed like the two had formed a contract.
“Could it be that Dike has been discarded?”
She didn’t seem like someone who would do that, but was it just his misconception?
While Balkan chuckled, Judahhee waved her hands with a carefree smile.
“Oh, I didn’t discard her. She’s just waiting outside for a moment. We have a dual contract, you know.”
“Dual contract?”
Balkan’s gaze shifted between Judahhee and Adikia.
Then, as if something dawned on him, he didn’t nod approvingly but shook his head.
“So, the rumor is true… bringing popcorn. That’s the real deal, isn’t it?”
“Ah, no!”
“Your strength is impressive.”
“I said no! This damn inspiration is real!!!”
Adikia, who was next to Yudahee, vehemently denied with a shout, drawing even more attention from those around.
[Currently, Yudahee spotted in the arenaㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
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-In the midst of a conversation about the Balkans and expressions, it seems like the original contract goddess, Dike, who was supposed to be next to her, is nowhere to be seen, and Adikia is occupying the space ㅇㅇ
ㄴIn the last video, Adikia was seen chopping with an axe nearby. Why did she suddenly change her course to this side?
ㄴI’m also nearby, but from what I’ve heard, it seems like the contract wasn’t terminated. Considering the discussion about double contracts, it seems like both of them are contracted.
ㄴWait, so was that true? A threesome contract ㄷㄷ Honestly, I thought it was just a rumor, but it seems like it’s confirmed.
[Regarding the term ‘double contract,’ does it possibly mean being alone…?]
-The fact that the first contract goddess Dike is not visible… Yudahee’s feelings are already leaning towards Adikia, and while Adikia is out enjoying the match with Yudahee in the arena, Dike is left alone, watching the broadcast, murmuring towards the game she couldn’t participate in, ‘If it were me, I could have done better-‘ as she indulges in self-pity. What a plot ㅇㄷ?
ㄴWhat’s inside this guy’s head that he’s thinking such thoughtsㅋㅋㅋㅋ
ㄴSoft NTR of self-pity… This is really precious…
ㄴWhere’s the soft part in NTR? This crazy cultist.
ㄴBut if it ultimately leads back to the protagonist, isn’t it a mild ending?
ㄴWhere do you even live?
Amidst the gallery’s sophisticated conversation turning messy, Yudahee was focused on her task.
Checking her physical condition one last time, making sure nothing was missing…
Zap-.
The gaze continued to be fixated.
Although I could dismiss the gazes of numerous worshippers looking in this direction, it seemed impossible to ignore the hostility that was openly expressed.
Turning to the side, a girl standing behind Balkan was glaring in our direction, holding a sword in her arms.
With disheveled white hair falling down to her waist, she wore loose clothing resembling a martial arts uniform. Yet, despite that, her prominent chest couldn’t be concealed.
“Oh.”
Some ideal type that stimulated Yudahee’s inner thoughts… or so it seemed, but ah…
She wasn’t wearing glasses.
That’s a shame…
After all, glasses are supposed to be the finishing touch, the secret weapon that completes everything. The absence of that is like a red bean missing from a fish-shaped bun or seaweed missing from a pina colada.
“Ah, I didn’t introduce her. This is Penelope, my contractor. She’s a fellow champion like yourself.”
As Balkan introduced her, Yudahee’s eyes widened slightly.
Although she didn’t seem to have anything special at first glance… still, knowing each other doesn’t hurt, so they exchanged handshakes.
“You jerk!”
He got a cold rejection.
A posture as if she could draw her sword at any moment.
Of course, along with those words, a *pop* – Balkan’s honey bomb exploded on Penelope.
Before she could even react, Yudahee was slightly dazed by the unexpected event.
‘Ugh… even though the opponent is a monster in breaking the bonds of pure love through NTR…!’ muttered Yudahee, but she succumbed once again to Balkan’s powerful honey bomb.
“Sorry, it’s because being the only contractor looks like this.”
“Well… I understand.”
Strange folks were abundant, and bizarre rumors circulated widely.
But…
Step by step, Yudahee took a step towards Penelope, and Penelope, in the same manner, took a step back.
As Yudahee’s eyes observed that scene, a thought crossed his mind.
He had initially thought of her as just a crazy woman, but unconsciously adjusting the distance between them.
Matching precisely with the approximately 80cm sword length, she maintained a precise distance from Yudahee.
Penelope could always reach Yudahee, but the parasol at Yudahee’s waist was an unreachable reach.
An absolute distance.
And as they both realized the meaning behind that distance, their gazes subtly changed.
Indeed, being a winner wasn’t achieved through mere jokes.
Quickly searching for Penelope, Yudahee found out that she was a 2-year contract player with a record of winning five times.
While others considered breaking into the top 10 an achievement, she might be one of those who could win in this competition, sharing the same SSR ranking as Yudahee.
Penelope of the small sword type.
Although Yudahee won through a daybreak using Atlach-Nacha, Penelope truly earned her victories through intense battles with opponents.
It was an obvious fact that the martial arts accumulated by such a person were by no means shallow. Still…
“Hmm… If only the dice roll in my favor a bit, maybe it’ll end in four… no, five rounds…?”
—–
Penelope, too, was bewildered by Yudahee’s advancing footsteps.
It appeared as if he was simply charging in with brute force, but… there was no sign of any gaps in that posture.
Certainly, within the range where Penelope could swing her barisada, she could easily sever the opponent’s neck… Then why?
The possibility of winning simply couldn’t be grasped.
A pressure entirely different from what was seen in the video surrounded them.
Is this really just the atmosphere of a contract participant who entered the arena once?
Don’t be ridiculous. A shiver ran down Penelope’s arm as if the thick smell of blood was permeating.
Established a conjecture.
If, at this moment, she were to draw her sword, could she swiftly cut through Yudahee’s neck?
Imagining the sword slashing, instead of the opponent’s neck barely hanging in her range, it was more like the future where the axe he threw embedded itself in her head that appeared first.
“….”
This is more monstrous than I thought.
Penelope chewed on the trashy video, which, unlike the previous match footage, didn’t represent even 1% of the danger Yudahee possessed.