Chapter 511
Grit…
Godirak clenched his molars so hard they nearly broke.
“You… bastard.”
Being utterly disregarded in front of so many onlookers—it was only natural for rage to well up.
But with Bendivia present, he couldn’t make a show of force.
All he could do was grind his teeth and glare with all his might.
“Hmm. So, we have a dissenting vote.”
Bendivia stroked his chin, his face full of smiles.
As if he could barely contain his amusement at the situation.
Murmur, murmur!
Once again, the hall erupted in commotion.
The suitability assessment was little more than a formality.
If you didn’t want to make enemies of rival factions, you simply didn’t oppose.
Even for those casting a dissenting vote, the risk was too great.
And yet.
A human, neither an administrator nor a resident.
To throw out such a provocative dissent.
[The minor faction ‘Bedramium’ is showing strong curiosity toward you.]
[The minor faction ‘Chiu’ wishes to speak with you.]
[The minor faction ‘Inca’s Evening’ proposes cooperation with the Veteran Corporation.]
Multiple status windows flashed before Jinhyuk’s eyes.
Causing such a major incident against Godirak, infamous for his cruelty, had apparently piqued quite a bit of interest.
‘Most of them are useless bottom-feeders from the upper floors… but there are still a few noteworthy factions.’
Especially one among them stood out from the rest.
He would have sought them out himself even if they hadn’t approached first.
“So, this is how it’s going to be.”
“I expected as much. There’s no way Jinhyuk would just sit still.”
“That’s just like my contractor. So, are we about to clash with those guys?”
Chun Yoosung, Teresa, and Alice each made a remark.
As if their bodies had been itching for action, they cracked their joints.
Godirak’s gaze shifted to Rick.
“Rick… does that human’s will represent yours as well?”
The final decision to object didn’t rest with the invitee, but rather the administrator who brought him.
In other words, the one who decided to start this fight was Rick Hennessy.
“I didn’t intend for this much chaos either, but now that things have come this far, what choice is there? The game has begun—one of us is going to be smashed.”
“Kek! You’ll regret this…”
“No way.”
Godirak and Rick snarled at each other.
With that, the agreement between administrators was concluded.
Clap!
Bendivia brought his hands together.
“Well, it’s decided, then. Now, let’s talk about the kind of match you’ll be having. Do either of you have something special in mind?”
“Match? I’ll just kill him here and nominate our administrator as the candidate.”
Sssh…
Gapellius unfurled his whip.
Fwoosh!
Instantly, a surge of heat and light erupted.
The whip, imbued with crimson flames, looked ready to incinerate everything nearby at any moment.
“That’s not bad… but wouldn’t a plain one-on-one be too disappointing for the spectators?”
“Disappointing? What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I just mean I’d rather avoid games where I have too much of an advantage. I’ve never lost a one-on-one, you see.”
“…What… did you say?”
At Jinhyuk’s words, Gapellius’s handsome face twisted in anger.
To think he’d hear a mere human claim a one-on-one would be boring.
Such humiliation was beyond words.
“You must have a death wish!”
Boom!
A terrifying murderous aura burst from Gapellius’s body.
“Hey now, don’t get so worked up. If you lose your cool, it just makes you look like you’re agreeing with me. How about we just tweak the type of bet a little?”
“From the looks of it, you must have some event you’re confident in. Go ahead, suggest whatever you want—I’ll crush you no matter what.”
“Really? Then…”
Jinhyuk glanced at the floating islands.
At this point, surely…
‘Found it.’
As expected, they had come here too.
“How about a chariot race? We circle around this area, and whoever reaches the finish line first wins. And, of course, anything goes to the other chariot during the race.”
“Ha… hahaha…”
Gapellius let out a scoff, as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
He couldn’t help but be dumbfounded.
Jinhyuk’s suggestion wasn’t just provocation—it was the sort that trampled all over his pride.
“So… you’re saying… you want to race chariots against me, who was chosen by Helios, the one who brings up the sun?”
“It’s the only way things feel even remotely balanced.”
Jinhyuk shrugged.
And he didn’t forget to add one more thing.
“Looks like the deities from Olympus have arrived too. Now that I’ve set the stage, you’re not thinking of turning it down, are you? That’d be an insult to all the spectators waiting.”
On the other side of the platform.
From a floating stone reserved not for common deities but for the highest among them, a new presence revealed itself.
At some point, the deities of Olympus had arrived to observe the selection of the high-level administrator.
And among them, naturally, was the goddess Aphrodite—who held a special place in Gapellius’s heart.
Twitch.
Gapellius’s eyes wavered.
To be utterly humiliated in front of Aphrodite—such a thing could never be allowed.
Now, whatever it took, he had to win.
‘Feels like I’m being drawn in…’
He didn’t like that the opponent kept controlling the stage, but it didn’t matter.
Every dawn, he had admired Helios carrying the sun and had driven the sun chariot for countless ages.
“I accept your wager.”
“Heh. I’ll absolutely destroy you.”
With Gapellius and Godirak’s agreement, the match was set.
⁕ ⁕ ⁕
The match would begin in about an hour.
Once preparations were complete, two chariots would streak across the sky.
“Are you sure about this? If you’re doing it because of me, you really don’t have to push yourself so hard.”
Rick cautiously spoke.
“We’ll proceed as planned. You promised to help restore the [Napoleon’s Coronation] in exchange for my help for you to become a high-level administrator.”
“I know, but…”
He must be worried that this was too much.
Though relations with Olympus were already tense, they hadn’t yet declared open war.
There was still room for reconciliation versus punching someone in the face.
But this event would be a point of no return.
That was what concerned Rick.
“Just think of it as a token of our past association. Veteran Corporation offers special services for our long-time clients.”
“Thank you for saying that.”
“In return.”
Jinhyuk added a word.
“If things wrap up well, you have to answer just one question of mine.”
“……”
Rick’s expression changed completely.
The gentle smile vanished, replaced by a faint wariness.
“When you say question… what kind do you mean?”
“Well, you’ll find out when the time comes. Or maybe you already know.”
Trying to probe Rick was pointless.
If you poked around carelessly, he’d only hide himself away even deeper.
In that case, it was better to just go after him openly.
At least, the Rick Hennessy I know is the type who always keeps his word once he’s given it.
“Understood. If I become a high-level administrator, whatever you ask—if it’s within my knowledge, I’ll answer sincerely.”
“That’s enough. Then, see you in a bit.”
Jinhyuk flashed a bright smile and walked toward the open area in the back.
There, a run-down chariot and various materials were scattered about.
The horses meant to pull the chariot were wandering everywhere.
“Damn it. How are we supposed to race with these things… Ah!”
Chun Yoosung, struggling to pull the reins, spotted Jinhyuk approaching.
“Damn it, Kang Jinhyuk!”
“Hm?”
“I don’t mind making a bet. I can even understand that much. But how the hell are we supposed to beat that monster with this kind of stuff? And how are we supposed to figure out which of these horses are any good out of so many?”
Chun Yoosung pointed at Gapellius’s chariot in the distance.
A massive chariot adorned in gold and red.
Wheels blazing with the very energy of the sun, spewing fierce flames without rest.
And the chariot was drawn by none other than four Pegasi.
As far as racing went, this was a rigged game from the start.
“I doubt we’ll even be able to build a decent chariot in the time limit…”
Teresa let out a sigh, holding two planks of wood in her hands.
From everyone’s reaction, the situation was clearly bad.
Chun Yoosung always grumbled, but for even Teresa to look this gloomy—
Just then.
“Contractor. I have a good idea.”
Alice puffed up, striking a confident pose.
For some reason, it sparked a strange sense of expectation.
She was a household head, after all. Maybe she really had a hidden trick.
“All right, Alice. Let’s hear it.”
“This match is just about flying ahead of the other team, right?”
“That’s right.”
“Then I’ll just carry you and fly faster than their chariot. If it’s just the two of us, we’ll be way more agile… and I’d be happy, too… hehe.”
A proposal bursting with personal feelings.
Of course, it wasn’t even remotely possible.
“Did you already forget we have to use a chariot?”
“T-then… maybe I can just play the role of the chariot too?”
“Think that’ll work?”
“…Guess not.”
Alice sulked and shrank back.
“So, we really have to do this ourselves. In that case, which horses should we pick? There must be some that have a chance, right?”
Among the many horses in the field—obviously, none of them could beat Gapellius’s Pegasi.
They weren’t Pegasi, just ordinary horses, and their bloodlines didn’t even compare.
“There aren’t any.”
“What?”
“There’s no chance of winning with these horses.”
“So you’re saying we should just give up?”
“No, that’s not it.”
‘There aren’t any winning horses “here,” but that doesn’t mean we have to choose only from what’s provided.’
Just as Gapellius brought his own Pegasi, they just needed to prepare their own matching horses.
⁕ ⁕ ⁕
As always, the contractor’s summons pulled me from the subspace.
And, instinctively, I grabbed the delicious mana stone placed before me.
That was all.
That was really all…
But while I was eating the mana stone, a bridle was slipped around my neck.
“Mogii?”
“Miyoo?”
“Kraaa?”
“Hmph. For such a noble divine beast with an IQ of 300 like myself to fall into a trap… This must be some extraordinarily powerful magic.”
Goguma, Fried, Havelian, and Malang the Azure Dragon.
Four horses were ready.
And next—
Jinhyuk activated his personal status window and called someone from another floor.
[Attempting video call.]
But—
[The target has refused the video call.]
A message radiating clear resolve.
Ho.
Look at this?
A sly smile spread on Jinhyuk’s lips.
[Attempting video call again.]
[If refused again, you warn that their limbs will be disassembled and used as weapons.]
Even loan sharks can’t call people at night anymore, but—
In the Tower of Trials, it doesn’t matter if it’s day, night, or dawn.
If you don’t want to die, it’s better to just answer right away.
[The target has accepted the call.]
