episode_0021

[But does it really matter if it’s a hoax or not?]

– The management bureau is in control of a planet (fact).

– The management bureau is cooperating with Manma Jeon (confirmed by on-site special envoy).

– It has been confirmed that the controlled planet has an arena barrier deployed (photo from Shinboong).

– Everything has actually been revealed, so what does it matter whether it’s a hoax or not, or whether it’s forced or not!

ㄴIs that so…? (buying more theme stocks)

ㄴCome to think of it, it seems like that might be the case… (short-term speculation, observing…)

ㄴHmm, now that I hear it, it makes sense. (switching to long 100 times over)

As Dike’s heart boiled as if in a lie, he cut his losses and the stocks rose…

“Ah!”

Quickly tried repurchasing, but…

[But still, something feels a bit off? A hoax is a bit;;]

They fall.

“S-Sell!”

[But the photo is clearly photoshopped haha, cooperation between Manma Jeon and Manjinjeon x2, a money-doubling event~]

They rise.

“D-Dump it all!”

In the fluctuating tick-tock, Dike’s points melted away. A miraculous trading method of buying at the top and selling at the bottom, ultimately leaving Dike with barely 0.1 point of power.

Since he had started with only 1 point, that’s how it ended. If he had put in more points, the next week’s rental power payment for this penthouse would have collapsed completely.

…Certainly, he would have been chased away by a truck.

As Dike struggled to contain his bitter feelings and half-crawled out into the living room, Adikia was wearing a victorious smile.

The result of riding the flow led by Yoo Da-hee, approached with a light heart, even if everything was lost, and the investment of 5 points’ worth of power returned as a result exceeding 40 points.

“Ohohohoho!”

This is the power of his own abilities…!

Adikia’s gaze, lips tightly pressed together, turned towards Dike crawling on the floor.

A return that was utterly miserable, in stark contrast to the confident expression heading to the corner.

The expression on Nangpae’s face made it obvious that the result was all too predictable without needing to be explicitly stated.

“Ugh…!”

Even though he had been deprived of the Golden Apple by Dike, everything else, he would possess…!

Adikia gazed at Yudahee with a self-assured expression.

Entangled in a trial and with some misunderstandings… but not a bad contractor.

No, rather an excessively, if not overwhelmingly, qualified top-tier contractor…!

Since the SSR Dike mentioned was certainly no lie, it was truly strange how luck favored him from such unexpected places…

Even if it was U.R.F, the blow capable of shattering a planet was simply astounding.

Therefore, there was no reason for Adikia not to respond to the fervent calls being sent by other deities.

Though she wanted to forcibly snatch it away, the same move as Malcolm wouldn’t work.

Moreover, thinking back to the time in the arena, what Yudahee disliked was reveling in looking down on others.

There was no doubt she abhorred wielding an axe or a parasol against herself, a goddess.

Hence, restraint was necessary.

Instead, she approached with a conciliatory gesture…!

Removing the wanderer’s outer garment was not a gust of wind, but a warm sunshine!

She gently placed her hand on Yudahee’s shoulder as she focused on the divine gallery window.

“By any chance… is there a special reason for contracting with Dike?”

“Huh? Not really? Strictly speaking, it wasn’t a normal contract, but rather being on the receiving end.”

On the day he returned, didn’t he get hit by a truck, and even unknowingly stamped his signature on a joint guarantee contract to participate in and win the arena, then sent it off to the Dimensional Credit Union…

In military terms, he was not just a discharged soldier, but a disaster, a man-made (인재) one. A divine (신재) disaster.

Saying “Sis, I don’t like this,” why are you opening your eyes like that! and aiming from 1 o’clock to 12 o’clock and firing, was equivalent to shooting oneself.

Yudahee standing in that line was truly unfortunate.

Of course, it was only now that Yoo Dahee firmly grasped Dike’s leash, designating the adhering divine beings as a large shield to block aggro. She even had plans to provoke other divine beings into taking all the aggro from the front and, if necessary, to use Dike as a shield to strike back at them.

This goddess still had some tricks up her sleeve.

Upon hearing Yoo Dahee’s story, Adikia extended her hand with a gentle smile. It was a condition that Yoo Dahee couldn’t help but accept.

“How about making a contract with me then?”

“No! This little thief—!”

Crrreak…!

Dike, who had become sensitive due to previous experiences of having his contractor stolen, stood in front of Yoo Dahee.

He had been too complacent, thinking he wouldn’t fall victim to absurd rumors. But his opponent was none other than Amkoyang, who had previously snatched away his contractor…

With no guarantee that it wouldn’t happen again, Dike’s crisis radar shot up to its highest level.

Warning, warning, warning, warning!

“If you make a contract with me, I can cancel the joint guarantee for the debt that Dike was forcibly contracted into.”

“But, but I’ve already sent the original contract to the Interdimensional Credit Vault! How could you possibly undo that?”

Dike shouted as if there were no way this could happen, but Adikia smiled as if pitying him.

“Look… The current manager of the Interdimensional Credit Vault is, oh? From the same galaxy as me? Moreover, I influenced their performance appraisal by providing advice and assistance in galaxy development in the past. Can’t they do me this one favor?”

Pushing back Dike’s furrowed forehead with her index finger, Adikia continued, “If we can prove that the contract was made illegally, it will be canceled, right? A contract forced without the other party’s consent qualifies for cancellation, doesn’t it?”

“Ugh…!”

Dike was left speechless.

“If you make a contract with me, I’ll also provide these benefits.”

Displayed on the hologram screen was none other than the accursed tactical weapon of the divine-class gallery…

[Oral (九綱), Polarization (偏光), Crow and Declaration (声明), Gap of Hypocrisy…. 200% H-type…!]

– HAL-CAS!

“Ah, no! I displayed it wrong!”

Pressed the wrong button.

Though a glance that seemed to say, “Did you see that…?” brushed by…

Really, truly, it’s not what it seems…!

Adikia hurriedly closed the window and, with a flushed face, presented what she had originally intended to display.

The maximum treasures that a goddess could offer.

Unlike Dike, who approached poverty and financial sense converging at zero, Adikia’s planetary system was akin to Saudi Arabia in comparison to Earth… a notch below, but essentially a place with a similar genetic makeup.

A resource planet abundant in rare metals even among the divine, with Orialcon being its primary export.

The precious item Yudahee currently possessed was made of Orialcon…!

Adikia, offering coveted items for trade among the divines, was convinced that he would have to take his hand.

Hoho… Let the poor goddess just twiddle her thumbs there…!

Watching Dike nervously biting her nails, it felt like all the anger she had built up until now was dissipating.

“This is merely a personal favor, and under normal circumstances, I would manipulate the contractors in the arena to recoup investment costs, but I’m different from those divines. It doesn’t matter if I go out and lose and come back.”

“Oh.”

Yudahee was more intriguing than the treasures.

From the start, he had shielded Dike as a means to maintain his own peace.

The arena was one of the factors hindering that, but he didn’t care.

“Instead, once a year, clash with full force in the arena whenever I want.”

“Is that really all?”

“Yeah, that’s all.”

An incredibly free arrangement unlike Dike, struggling to repay debts… A truly unparalleled free contract, allowing anything else!

Hold my hand! Hold my hand, Yoo Dahee!

Adikia extended her hand with a smile of victory, but Yoo Dahee did not take it. As she reached out, there seemed to be an immense hesitation filling Yoo Dahee’s expression. Then, she began to mutter incomprehensible words.

“God… glasses…? No… hyeomgyeong… shibgyeong… jolgyeong… But why… here, this side is right…”

As Yoo Dahee spoke these words, her eyes, for some reason, were half-closed, gazing into some distant past.

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

Have you hit Old One again, Yoo Dahee?

What happens if you hit him?

What do you gain by hurting someone who hurts themselves?

Yoo Dahee, you are…

“Ah, damn it, this guy keeps making a scene.”

Dooly – Yoo Dahee remained.

“What? Is this bastard not my child? Is this a human or a beast? Ah, Great Old One! Great! Great! You’re truly remarkable!”

Yoo Dahee forcefully struck the head of the sturdy Ktuga once more.

[Kyaaah! You goddamn son of a-!]

The living flame, Ktuga, grumbled and vented his dissatisfaction while writhing, but well, what could he do?

This is the invincible Necronomicon, Yoo Dahee.

If you have any complaints, go translate the Necronomicon perfectly and come back.

She smacked the bald head of Ktuga firmly, but Ktuga himself made no move.

Yoo Dahee was the being that everyone, including herself, had hoped for. The interpreter and guide of all outsiders.

The decree handed down from ‘our dim-witted father’ prohibited even the slightest harm to Yoo Dahee, the visitor from another realm, which led to the current situation.

Like a dog chasing a chicken, Ktuga just looked up at the roof, eventually swallowing his frustration at the inevitable and left.

As if urging him to listen, Yoo Dahee began to jeer at him.

“Ooh, you trash! You’re trying to abandon my child, you trash! Ooh, you’re not even qualified to be a parent!”

Amidst the barrage of jeers, Yoo Dahee’s actions were suddenly halted by the arrival of her mentor from behind. A figure that perfectly matched Yoo Dahee’s ideal type—white hair, ample bosom, and even a hat, all in the form of a woman—flipped her foreign appearance and smiled.

“Ugh, my head…!” Yoo Dahee clutched her head once more. It seemed she was still struggling to adapt to the slight touch on her mind from the last time.

“I understand what’s going on, but how about enduring the hitting?”

Saying so, as the mentor’s slender fingers brushed past Yoo Dahee’s ear, she let out a cute whimper, curling up.

“In the future, there will be much more you’ll have to endure.”

“No, what else do I have to endure…?” Yoo Dahee retorted, poking her lips out. The mentor chuckled briefly and then spoke.

“For example… even if a blonde, plump goddess from Earth were to burden you with a debt of 500 billion, you must endure and wait without fail.”

“Um… that’s oddly specific…?”

What on earth was this talk? Her mentor was no ordinary foreigner. Could one even call her an ordinary foreigner? She simply wished to be called YOG, and despite being truly eccentric, she taught Dahee the usage of Necronomicon. Her true nature was a being feared and revered even by foreigners. One who transcended everything, yet was everything. A gateway transcending all dimensions, itself the key and guardian. One who observes all—past, present, and future. The Vice King, Lurker at the Threshold, Yog-Sothoth.

When such a mentor said something… it was as good as certain to come true…!

The future…! Had she observed the future!

“Is there something you know..? Returning to Earth…? If you know that much, huh? Master! Master! You! You damn alien! What do you know?! Tell me! Speak up!”

Yudahee screamed and caused a ruckus, but Yog Sothoth was not the type to simply accept it quietly.

“Oh, I guess this is something I shouldn’t talk about. Well, should I just pretend it never happened~”

As his fingertips began to squirm, starting to transform into tentacles, Yudahee, sensing something amiss, awkwardly took a step back.

Even if the brain couldn’t retain memories, the forced erasure of knowledge from the body itself, the distortion of common sense, and the terror of brain phagia…!

She tried to evade it by leaping away, but could she really escape?

It was an inevitable outcome.

“Gaaah-”

As her whole body began to be engulfed by the tentacles and writhing, something abruptly dropped to the ground.

There, with her memories physically erased, only a single hamster remained, licking the floor.

“Mmm~”

As expected, seeing her reaction, Yog grinned and guided the now crawling Yudahee, providing a pillow for her knees.

It would take some time for her to come to her senses, and while she fiercely licked at her leg, well, it wasn’t particularly unpleasant.

A little tickling, this kind of light physical contact was permissible.

In the meantime, Yog placed his hand on Yudahee’s head, lifted the curtain, and glimpsed into the distant future.

A very distant future. After Yudahee returned to Earth… experienced the events… and the future where Adikia reached out her hand.

If there was no intervention, at this moment, Yudahee would undoubtedly take Adikia’s hand…

“But then, it wouldn’t be any fun, would it?”

Therefore, Yog decided to indulge in a little caprice.

He swallowed up the entire time period in which Yudahee enjoyed a comfortable life… [Gulp] …and devoured it whole.

The fear of the possibility of a future that could have unfolded vanished into the alien’s mouth.

Yet, Yog-Sothoth, seemingly unfazed, simply wiped his mouth and gently brushed Yudahee’s hair.

I refused the offer and found amusement in dealing with all sorts of incidents.

Planted a very subtle suggestion in Yudahee’s mind so that I could interfere in the future.

A hint to reject Adikia’s hand.

And –

A very subtle hint that you must never leave the side of that goddess.

The mischievous outer god let out an enigmatic laugh.