Chapter 51: Abusing

“What’s this?”

Albus, skimming through the logs of the duel tournament, noticed something peculiar in the record of Akuyuham, a player who had been eliminated in the round of 16 after losing to the Prince. 

Although the name registered in the status window was indeed Akuyuham, the true identity behind it was someone else entirely.

“I never imagined this could happen.”

Originally, the player Akuyuham should have appeared in the duel arena through the system’s designated warp. 

But for some reason, the system had recognized Orabas, Akuyuham’s subordinate, as Akuyuham.

“It seems that Akuyuham manipulated the part of the status window corresponding to his nickname using dark magic.”

The status window usually reflected the name by which a player perceives themselves, but Akuyuham had partially hacked the system.

“This might mean the game’s system is more vulnerable than I thought.”

What Akuyuham did was merely disguise his subordinate Orabas’s nickname as his own, but the act itself meant he had breached the game’s system. 

First, there was the time-stopping bug, and now hacking to impersonate another player.

Albus felt the necessity for a security system, Rudera. 

Although the abuse so far hadn’t been catastrophic, leaving it unchecked could lead to massive exploitation in the future. 

Given the impact that incidents like this had even in the real world, Albus was deep in thought.

Strengthening the security system was an obvious need. 

He planned to execute it with the help of Dua and the Guide, but the punishment for previous abusers was still unclear.

“Should I punish them publicly…”

In the games Albus had experienced in his past life, those who disrupted the game’s order through hacking or bug abuse were usually banned and publicly announced. 

Although it might have been their first offense, it seemed necessary to issue a proper punishment and publicize it to restore order.

Albus scrolled through the community posts, skimming over those about Leighton.

“The problem is that Leighton is the most promising contender in the tournament right now…”

The two most popular players with the highest chances of winning the current duel tournament were the Executor, Leighton, and the First Princess, Rebecca. 

They were both powerhouses capable of standing among the continent’s strongest, having defeated the Elf Aus and the Sword Emperor, causing their stocks to rise immensely. 

Their unusually loyal fanbases even turned the community into a mudslinging battleground.

Title: “House Moms Forget the Princess is Rudera’s Absolute Deity, Blessed by the GM?” 

Content: “Do you think anyone can beat the Princess, who is practically the GM’s representative, in this tournament she’s hosting? Comments:”

• “Do you even know where this continent is? Where else can you find a god as fair as the GM?”
• “In Rudera, you don’t win just because you believe in the GM. If that were the case, the beastmen would have won everything by now.”
• “The lowest of the continent have also been brought to Rudera and healed by the GM. Do you think they’ll intervene in the middle of the tournament? Does that even make sense?”

‘I’m not particularly fair, though.’

Intervening midway and punishing Leighton for his abusive acts to make the Princess win would have unimaginable repercussions. 

But ignoring it wasn’t an option either, putting Albus in a difficult position.

“First, I should focus on properly establishing the security system.”

Albus opened the system command window.

***

Leighton’s Waiting Room

“Argh! I lost!”

The Executor, Lenya, burst into the room, lightly tapping her head in frustration.

“…Well, your opponent was the Princess. It couldn’t be helped.”

Leighton adjusted his glasses as he greeted her.

Lenya’s opponent in the quarterfinals was the First Princess of the Empire, a woman so powerful she seemed almost divine.

‘If she didn’t use that, even I might not be able to defeat her.’

Leighton’s heart still pounded at the memory of the duel between the Sword Emperor and the Princess.

“Senior, you really don’t understand a woman’s heart! I’m asking for comfort, not analysis! And there’s a bigger problem! Senior Schneizel is going to scold me! Ugh!”

Lenya clutched her head in despair.

“Given your opponent, I doubt you’ll hear much from him.”

Or will you? If it’s Schneizel, then maybe…

Thud.

Lenya grasped Leighton’s hands with both of hers.

“Senior… You’re my last hope.”

“…Huh?”

“Please defeat the Princess in the final match and win the championship. That way, I won’t get scolded when I return! You can do it, can’t you?”

“Hahaha. I’m only human. There’s no way I could defeat such a monster.”

Once Wald’s safety was secured, he had no intention of using that power again. It was something he had to reserve for that day. Although, if he lost because he held back, that man would not be pleased.

“First, you have to defeat the Second Prince in your next match.”

Leighton’s upcoming opponent in the semifinals was the Second Prince of the Empire.

“Yes. He won’t be an easy opponent.”

Although he would be easier compared to the Elf he faced in the round of 32, it wouldn’t be simple without using that power.

“You can do it, Senior! Crush the noble blood of the Empire and show them the true power of the Republic’s freedom!”

“The power of freedom…”

It was the value he once sought and upheld above all else, before learning the truth about his father.

No, now it was something he pursued and yearned for to break away from it.

Lenya left to allow Leighton to rest, and as he lay on the sofa for a while, a sound rang out.

Ding.

– You have a new message.

“…A message!”

Could it be from a guild member at the Academy? 

Leighton immediately sat up and opened the message screen, hoping to confirm news about securing Wald.

But contrary to his expectations, the sender was someone completely unexpected.

“…The GM?”

It was someone he never could have imagined.

***

“The next match is finally~~~~the semifinals! The winner of this duel will advance to the finals. The first participant in the semifinals is~~~none other than the first man chosen by the GM~~~the Beast King Brigand!”

Roar!

A massive figure emerged from a pillar of light, fully armored with enormous gauntlets on both hands.

“And facing him is the GM’s chosen monarch~~~the First Princess, Rebecca!”

Whoosh!

Like the Beast King, the First Princess was summoned amidst a pillar of blue flames.

“Chosen by the Lord…”

The Beast King, locking eyes with the Princess, spoke.

“For thousands of years, our people, the beastmen, have been without a god. Unlike the Elves, blessed by the World Tree, or you humans, graced by Deus and Alia, we lacked divine favor.”

“What exactly… are you trying to say?”

“We beastmen were considered a cursed race, persecuted for eternity, unable even to gather in one place, wandering the continent and barely maintaining our existence. So I devoted my life to saving our people.”

“…I am aware. Your achievements in uniting the forsaken race and founding a nation will be remembered in history.”

“But without a god, our race could never stand on equal footing with others. Without a proper deity, we were bound by limitations!”

The Beast King’s voice grew louder as he raised his fist high, his emotions intensifying.

“They say we can’t have a god? That no deity will accept us? Then I will become a god. I will be the savior of our race. I sought to achieve greatness and more, walking a path with no precedent and no clear end.”

‘So that was the reason for seeking out challenges…’

Before the eyes of all, the true intent of the Beast King, who sought hardship even after stabilizing his kingdom, was revealed.

“Then came salvation. Our forgotten deity descended upon us, lifting our race from the depths of damnation with the divine grace of our great Lord!”

The Beast King’s face now shone with joy.

“We beastmen follow the will of Duamutef and the GM, who brought us salvation. The GM is our Lord; their enemies are our enemies, and their messengers are our angels.”

Ding.

– The match is about to begin.

“Princess Rebecca. If you truly are the monarch established by our Lord, the one sent to us by divine will! We will follow you. So show us. Prove it.”

The Beast King created an aura of power in both fists and leaped high into the air.

“Prove that you are our king!”

Boom.

After a prolonged battle, the Beast King’s massive frame finally collapsed, kneeling.

“…Magic, spear technique, shield mastery, divine power. And even aura. To be proficient in all areas…”

The Beast King’s lips curled into a grin.

“Truly, you are the blessed…messenger of our Lord.”

Thud.

“In accordance with the command of our savior, we beastmen acknowledge and follow you as our king, Princess Rebecca.”

The Beast King knelt and placed his fist over his left chest.

“May the light of the GM always shine upon you. Long live our king.”

It was the first time in the history of the continent that the beastmen had pledged allegiance to a member of another race.