episode_0011

[1/100]

An alarm symbolizing first place hovered over Yoo Dahee’s head, but the match showed no sign of ending.

The cause was probably due to that ancient being.

[“It’s been a while, Yoo Dahee.”]

Even with just one leg, At’ulak Nacha, who could cover the entire world, stooped down, and in an instant, the shadow fell upon the ground.

With eight enormous pupils filling the sky, its shining figure was the epitome of surrealism.

The remaining legs that couldn’t stretch were floating in the vast universe.

[“This isn’t the Earth you described… It’s so different from the Earth you depicted. It’s a separate space that reflects your existence… a place endowed with immortality in a strange way.”]

Its black eyes moved around, surveying the ruined arena.

[“Using the entire planet as a catalyst… but it seems difficult to sustain any longer, stepping lightly in delight simply pierced through the planet.”]

Actions befitting the scale of manipulating a planet… No, it was a nuisance.

Originally, Yoo Dahee intended to momentarily project the appearance of At’ulak Nacha to instantly scramble the minds of all participants, but she never expected it to physically crush like this.

A situation that was neither a success nor a failure for a gambler.

If she had known it would turn out like this… she might have summoned a different being instead. But regrets always come too late.

It was irreversible.

“Um… but do you really have no intention of going back…”

[“It’s been a while, Outer Yuda, seeing such a longing face, are you so eager to enter?”]

Ugh, Yoo Dahee’s gaze dropped.

Summoning someone who was somewhat favorable to her, yet facing such strong resistance, was a defeat.

Thinking she had some camaraderie due to the various things they had done together in the outer universe, but perhaps it was just her own thoughts!

Yoo Dahee’s mind was dizzy about how to make up for it.

…She couldn’t get a sense of it.

[“It might be nice to take a stroll in this universe after a long time, but….”]

“Galactic war… a galactic war is happening…!”

The gaze of a massive spider, traversing the universe, turned somberly toward Yudahee.

“Ugh…”

Looking at Yudahee, who was clutching her head, it was really quite understandable. At that cuteness, Artlagna chuckled softly… “Kukuku.”

In space, sound is generally unheard, but within Artlagna’s domain, the universe resonated with sound, as if it were natural for space to quiver lightly beyond its boundaries.

From her perspective, humans were nothing more than mere specks of dust, yet being able to boast about giving this human a drop of nectar to other beings might be a good thing.

Moreover, it wouldn’t be bad to leave a debt with Yudahee.

[…Grant her mercy, especially considering the affection shown thus far.]

“…. Huh? Really…?”

Ancient beings were not known for easily yielding, but Yudahee cast a pleading glance as they withdrew without resistance.

If they had been any other insignificant beings, their hostile glances would have been met with incineration, but unfortunately, antagonistic actions towards Yudahee were not only prohibited, but also…

In this universe, to harm the only being that understood them was akin to denying oneself. Would anyone do such a thing?

Artlagna chuckled and lightly touched the ring of blood writhing around her probe.

She had put what she learned from her mentor to good use, but it was ridiculous to confine similar beings to just three.

Even if she could forcibly summon her own children for a very brief period, for Artlagna, it was nothing more than an alarm saying, ‘Please… return in 0.2 seconds… please, Sensei!’

As the flesh slowly dispersed along the ring, Artlagna gazed at the bodies of the contractors scattered around.

Just by glancing, she roughly grasped how things were unfolding.

Playing with these toys, even the gods of her universe seemed incredibly starved for amusement.

The bodies turned to dust in an instant, then reassembled the next moment.

And in their place appeared a nude woman with long red hair spread out.

Like the descent of gods creating divine bodies on earth, Atlock Nacha also created human bodies by reusing scattered corpses in a similar manner.

Not the normal divine body created through time and sacrifice, but a kind of makeshift product, yet it should be sufficient for the role it was created for.

The woman with hair emitting an eerie red glow and empty eye sockets gently caressed Yudahee’s cheek.

“Ge-e-ek…!”

Perhaps recalling memories of the past, Yudahee twitched slightly, but such a sight was acceptable.

No matter what expression he made, it seemed quite acceptable to Atlock Nacha.

Why, isn’t there a saying on Earth like that? Something about being born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth.

A bold child who came to him long ago, claiming to be the disciple of his name hidden in a corner of the universe, asking him to weave clothes out of spider silk.

Without even knowing what his spider silk meant, he just rummaged through his necronomicon in his head— “Um… so, does this mean granting a wish…? No, this is a double entendre… really, if you’re going to teach me, at least teach me properly, you old hag…!” mumbled Yudahee, overlapping with his current self.

Whether then or now, he hadn’t changed much on the surface, but to an entity living through infinite time, Yudahee was always a child.

A child who understood the same kind of monster as himself.

[Instead, shall I take something else in return?]

It was a sudden attack.

Atlock Nacha grabbed Yudahee’s head with both hands and pressed their faces together.

“Ugh! Ugh!”

Emotions that were not reciprocal but simply one-way flooded Yudahee.

An awkward kiss without interlocking fingers, closing eyes, or pressing bodies against each other.

The sensation of kissing Atlock Nacha was… more bitter and mixed with pain than sweet… it was full of the taste of blood.

“Eh, eegh!”

…No, really, the taste of blood!

Yudahee hastily pushed Atlock Nacha away and stuck out his tongue.

The tip was slightly cut, and blood was spurting out.

Looking at him as if finding him cute, Atlock Nacha’s mouth was a mess of Yudahee’s blood, as she smiled.

“Ee-eek, ee-eek!”

Yudahee was suddenly unable to speak due to the intense pain, clutching her tongue.

This crazy spider is real.

[Hmm… I couldn’t resist tasting it a little bit.]

Gulping, At’urak Nacha wiped her mouth, filled with blood.

From the perspective of a third party, it was a chilling sight, but for some reason, Yudahee seemed to forget the pain in her tongue and… thought that her appearance suited her so well.

…At’urak Nacha, stained red, was so beautiful.

[Then, Yudahee, it’s time to say goodbye for a while.]

As the massive figure covering the universe gradually disappeared, the divine body also dispersed like an illusion.

[Let’s meet again.]

When the warmth of the hand caressing her cheek gradually cooled, the text in the sky changed.

[1/100->Winner: Yudahee, contractor of Dike Astraea! Congratulations!]

*****

….. The universe went dark for a moment.

Every view illuminating the arena was extinguished by an unknown shockwave.

The waiting room was instantly filled with darkness, something that had not happened since the tournament began.

Up until now, even with U.R.F mode, even if dozens of meteors were falling, the sight-sharing setting was configured to broadcast without any interference.

What on earth is happening?

While the screen remained unrecovered, the attendance count in the arena was functioning normally.

Darkness and changing numbers.

[19/100]

More than half were out at once.

“What, what’s going on! Death in one blow? My contractor has been eliminated..!”

Amidst the astonishment, another change occurred.

[1/100]

Silence flowed.

“…Is it over?”

“Is this a lie?”

“Hey you crazy bastards-! Why isn’t the screen coming back on! All the personal screens are out too!”

“You officials just take our money and don’t do your job, fix it right away! Why are you neglecting your duties!”

“No, then, who on earth won…!”

The message that usually appears when there’s only one person left kept getting delayed.

The commotion in the arena where contractors were active, no matter what happened, the impulsive deities, unable to bear this situation any longer, were about to rise up and protest when an alert was updated.

[1/100->Winner: Yoo Da-hee, contractor of Dike Astraea! Congratulations!]

Countless flowers began to bloom around the dazed Dike as the customary victory ceremony unfolded in the arena. Normally, everyone would have applauded at the sight, but…

“Wha… winner? Yoo Da-hee won…?”

Just then, the management seemed to regain control, and the screen began to display normally. However, it was not a close-up of the contractors, but rather a distant view from space. It seemed hastily put together.

And the state of the arena as seen from there… was truly shocking. An endless abyss covered the arena, or rather, a massive hole had pierced through the very planet serving as its foundation. The planet, infused with blessings and divine power, the stage for the competition, was slowly crumbling.

“What is this…”

The final recording of the arena played back. The sight of Yoo Da-hee surrounded by numerous contractors, yet he seemed to pay them no mind, looking beyond them.

[…I promised I’d never use this… This is all your fault.]

His quiet muttering went unheard. Yoo Da-hee, who had closed his eyes and formed a contract, opened them, and simultaneously, every screen displayed -NO SIGNAL-.

A seemingly simple victor’s podium, but those present were not ordinary deities. Could that monster, who shattered the planet forming the foundation of the arena with a single blow, be called a mere contractor?

Was this the deed of a novice contractor who made their debut with no prior records, and on top of that, received a penalty so severe it was considered rare? Everyone wanted to ask if this was a bad joke, but the atmosphere did not allow for it.

Podgy descended, and underneath, the surviving champion Yoo Dahee revealed himself.

“Oh, so you’re coming back to the waiting room? Looks like all the dead guys got kicked back to Earth, huh?”

Yoo Dahee grimaced, rolling his tongue uncomfortably in his mouth.

It was said that if there was no surprise, nothing would come out of his mouth, and all the deities in the waiting room had the same thought.

…Except for one person.

“Yaaay! Victory, victory! Dahee, our Yoo Dahee won, he’s the champion!”

Too overjoyed, Deke rushed over and grabbed Yoo Dahee, trying to kiss him on the cheek, but…

“Damn it, J.O.A.T goddess, do you have any idea what I’ve been through… Stand over there with your hands up, will you?!”

“Ouch, Dahee!”

Yoo Dahee ruthlessly turned away from Deke, who couldn’t control himself.

With that bitter taste of blood, the first match came to an end.