episode_0029

“Look at this! I’ve really found something amazing, you know?”

The teacher, Yog, dashed into the classroom, holding something in both hands, looking excited.

A small gray box with a red button attached to it.

“It’s called the 5-Trillion-Year Button! When you press it, you spend 5 trillion years in another dimension… and when it’s over, you return here, having lost all your memories!”

“Damn it—”

Yudahee stepped back as if her breath might touch the button.

She had never seen anything brought in from outside that was so full of malice.

Before the malice, it was simply a devil’s button that could ruin one’s life just by touching it out of curiosity…!

“No way! I won’t do it! Don’t touch it! Don’t touch! Get rid of it! Azathoth! Azathoth, please save me! Damn it, your second-in-command is trying to assassinate me right now!”

Aaah!

She tried to scream and run away, but she ended up under Yog-Sothoth’s tentacles.

“Ugh, ugh—!”

Her whole body was forcibly pressed down by the tentacles, feeling like her fingers were about to break from resisting with all her might.

Her brain was ravaged by the tentacles that entered through her ears, her strength drained from her body, and then—she pressed the button.

Click.

She pressed it.

Feeling an electric current throughout her body and simultaneously being sucked somewhere, she thought she would be bounced into the empty space of 5 trillion years… but no…?

Click, click.

Yudahee repeatedly pressed the button, feeling absolutely nothing, just meaningless sounds echoing. There was no terrifying 5-trillion-year-like sensation at all, despite the fear that engulfed her.

Yog, who had brought the box, just smiled coolly at her reaction.

“Hmm… Seems like it doesn’t work for you after all.”

“…Fake? No, is it real…?”

Without answering her question, Yog simply took the box from her hand, sending shivers down her spine, but all Yudahee could do was look at him with resentment and affection.

“But still, it seems to work for the guy behind you. Lucky.”

“The guy behind…?”

Yudahee, who turned back at Yog’s inexplicable words, found nothing but darkness and emptiness. Nonetheless, Yog behaved as if someone were there.

“Welcome, Contract Holder of Ruin.”

Yudahee, unable to comprehend, muttered that trying to understand the delirious foreigner was madness, then turned away.

Gosh, I really need to escape.

==============================================

“Keke….!”

How lucky, incredibly lucky.

One after another, all his equipment came out of the boxes in an instant. He held the talisman in his hand.

A talisman forged under the moonlight for 100 days, filled with fervent prayers and wishes, along with a small bronze hand mirror to peer into the target’s mind.

He had been anxious about not acquiring it and possibly being eliminated from the competition, but it seemed luck was on his side, the Ruin was favoring him.

A creature among creatures created with the support of the union of ghostly deities, Imemangryang, which he would never have had the chance to use… But it seemed fortune favored the prepared mind, or so they said, finally, his opportunity had arrived.

“Peer into the memories of the previous winner Yudahee! Clearly see the technique that ruined the past arena and carve it into the talisman!”

The powerful command echoed incessantly in Yog’s mind, and he, as if responding, took the talisman and mirror and walked forward slowly.

It was easy to know where Yudahee was. Right after entering the arena, he had lightly sprinkled tracking incense on the equipment he was wearing.

Though tracking incense was quite a stretch to track 400km, within the current arena limit of 100km, it was easily detectable.

With closed eyes and hands clasped together, Yog slowly tried to sense the location, but…

“What’s this?”

No trace of the incense was detected anywhere in the arena.

He tried again, but the result was the same.

Had the scent he sprinkled on Yudahee’s equipment completely evaporated?

“Could it be… I still haven’t obtained any equipment… No, that can’t be true.”

The situation had progressed well beyond the 30-minute mark since the start of the match. It was only natural for most participants to have acquired at least one or two pieces of their own equipment by now. However, there were exceptions. For instance—

“…Why are rabbit pajamas even an option?”

Yu Dahee sighed deeply as she gazed at a set of clothes with pink rabbit ears attached. If luck was involved, this misfortune had certainly crossed into the realm of calamity. Despite having effortlessly dispatched the previous three contractees with just a pencil, Yu Dahee still found herself without her own equipment.

Rabbit pajamas, a pencil, ballpoint pen, fork, butter knife, and even a deceitful bowl and slippers had all popped out. “…”

This must be the epitome of utter disappointment. Could it be that what I’m opening right now isn’t an equipment random box but rather a random junk box? Otherwise, there’s no way to justify the outrageous contents of this box. Just as frustration began to crease her brow, she finally achieved something.

“Ah… Parashu… You’ve finally shown up…”

Seeing an actual weapon among the miscellaneous items filled Yu Dahee with indescribable joy. Sob, indeed, there’s no one like Parashu. If I go back, I’ll have to meticulously clean you, oil you up, and take care of you.

The number of survivors displayed in the sky had already reached 77 out of 100. Considering that Yu Dahee had contributed to reducing three of them, the progress was quite rapid.

Given the vast 100km x 100km size of the arena, it was natural not to encounter everyone at the beginning if they were evenly distributed. However, it seemed that some areas had been grouped together for summoning purposes, but Yu Dahee quickly dismissed that thought.

As the physical constraints gradually eased with the passage of time, sensation returned. Moreover, with Parashu in hand, it seemed that strength was further bolstered with each original equipment obtained. This drew numerous lingering glances.

One, two, three… No, could it be that instead of 100km, it was actually more like 1km? The palpable presence of so many contractees made it seem as though the area was much smaller than initially thought.

Even with a rough estimate, there were over 20 contractees hiding their bodies in the ruins, peering at this side with an intensity that rivaled that of a yandere stalker.

“Hmm…”

There wasn’t really any occasion for contractees to gather like this. Just to be sure, I even checked if there was a bounty on Adikia until the very end, but there was nothing of the sort…

If we had to nitpick, it could only be revenge for the last match, or perhaps the cautioning opponent being trampled before they could grow any larger.

Pretending not to notice, taking a step closer, then retracting when stopped, and gradually approaching again was quite an annoying behavior.

If he were a man, he would definitely confront them, but these bastards… Yudahee’s brow furrowed.

It’s not like it’s something impossible to chase after… Is there really a need to exert force from this side?

If so, then it’s necessary to forcibly draw them out.

“Let’s see if they can hide after doing this once. You bastards.”

There was no offering for a human sacrifice like last time, but despite that, it was still simple enough to assume a form.

Even if he took on a form, he couldn’t call out to Artlach Naja.

Because that was the deal with the management bureau.

But those present here didn’t know that… It could be very well exploited.

Shaking hands as if sealing a deal, he turned his body naturally towards where most were hiding, and screams erupted.

“Ahh! That bastard!”

“He’s trying to pull that stunt again! Scatter! No, to the opposite side!”

From those desperately trying to avoid getting caught, to those trembling like a frog hit by a stone, and even those rushing towards Yudahee with weapons in hand.

Thud!

As dust rose, some were propelled off the ground and flew towards this side like arrows.

Familiar faces met Yudahee’s eyes.

Unlike the clown-like Yudahee, adorned with various colored parts, all of them were uniformly equipped.

They cheered as they looked at Yudahee, who, despite being right in front of them, did not react.

Thinking that this guy was nothing if not for that damn strange summoning, they swung their swords towards Yudahee’s neck, but… they didn’t know.

Yoo Da-hee had slaughtered three individuals armed with weapons while being unarmed herself. It was simply an incident that occurred with just a single pencil.

Those who could have told the story were already lying on the ground with evenly round holes in their foreheads. How could they tell anyone now?

Just before the blade touched her neck, it swiftly bounced upward. Her wrist, which had been numb with resistance, when looked at, revealed Yoo Da-hee’s right hand holding a parasol instead.

The numb wrist suddenly became hot. For a moment, even as she stared blankly at her wrist that had been torn to pieces, the contractor stood upright in that spot.

A drop of blood formed at the tip of the parasol, and the die rolled within Yoo Da-hee’s mind.

“You give out crappy equipment, but the attack is still critical?”

Then, slowly, a line of blood emerged from her forehead, leaving no room for rebellion.

What would someone do whose body had been precisely split into two?

“Kyaah. What a sight.”

The others, astonished, tried to escape, but it wasn’t Yoo Da-hee who let them go. They were already too close. Moreover, it didn’t matter if they tried to flee.

Would those who remembered the events from the previous match be able to turn their backs and run away after seeing this?

They desperately tried to interrupt Yoo Da-hee’s consciousness, tears in their eyes, but all they received was the cold edge of the parasol’s axe.

“….This game is seriously messed up!”

“This f***ing son of a b**** GOA. T is-”

Like moths flying towards a flame.

“Mmm, delicious~”

Yoo Da-hee savored the praise.