Chapter 72
Chapter 72
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: Faith and Forfeits
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"Hmm, hm."
A low humming sound. She gathered a handful of her silver-blue thread-like hair and slowly brushed it out with an ivory comb.
A girl with fluffy, soft-looking brown hair and brown eyes. Bervert smiled as she watched Gadia, seated before her, accept the touch with a docile demeanor through the mirror.
"Think about it. A world where all humans enjoy their rights without lifting a finger."
Farming done by the 견인족 or 우족, fishing by mermaids, orchards by elves, blacksmithing by dwarves, maids by gnomes. And noble guards by dragons.
"No realism there."
"No, sister. It's real. It'll become reality someday. You saw it that day, didn't you?"
The sight of filthy subhumans kneeling before the miracle bestowed by their god.
Bervert licked her lips like savoring the taste of sugar-glazed jelly and smiled.
"I like you, sister. I want to do faith activities together. What’s clouding your faith? Hm? We humans were born the most perfect race."
Just for being born into this world, they deserved respect.
Even humans without any abilities were noble simply for being human, and someone like Gadia, who ranked high in every aspect, deserved even greater recognition.
The other races were born solely to serve humans, so using them for comfort and happiness—how was that discrimination?
Letting them live in the same world as humans without wiping them out was already a blessing from their god.
Despite such immense mercy, when would these filthy-blooded creatures barking for more realize their place?
Bervert let out a sweet sigh, pressing one hand to her cheek and tilting her head.
"It upsets me."
Soon, a living god. On the day that god fully manifests.
This world would be purified, and the chosen humans—superior in looks, intelligence, and traits—would watch over the cleansed continent in their god's domain as a new beginning dawned.
Yet Gadia, perfect by Bervert's standards, still hadn't converted to the Holy God Church. How could this be?
"I'm studying the scriptures too."
Gadia continued calmly, striving to keep her composure. At first, she'd thought naive Bervert had been brainwashed by some weird cult and tried to save her.
*It's dangerous.*
But the religion was far grander than Gadia had imagined. Now, pulling out recklessly could lead to who-knows-what.
Hoping the goosebumps prickling her skin wouldn't snag on Bervert's brushing hand, Gadia spoke. Bervert carefully tucked a strand of silver-blue hair caught in the comb into her pocket and smiled.
"Only the Holy God Church will truly appreciate you, sister. You know that."
*Our god favors humans who don't yield to hardship.*
*So He'll forgive a little mischief, right?*
Bervert patted her pocket with Gadia's hair and smiled brightly.
* * *
"Long time since we were all together. New party member's joined too, so how about a friendly gathering?"
Finally, after pressuring Bahadi and Gamur, I'd gotten Kane's weapon upgraded, and it felt great.
Bahadi said artifacts of this level had a high chance of awakening spirituality if given a proper name, so I'd named it 'Skah.'
Kane's weapon 'Skah' upgraded, Leaf joined, Zero got a new skin like he'd chugged cash for outerwear changes.
*Nice, real nice.*
On a day like this, a party seemed fitting.
Sure, there was accumulated mental fatigue, and we'd eaten heartily at Gamur's mansion, so this was more like a tea party with snacks and drinks piled high.
—My voice is registered only for administrator Kane and Adelian administrator. What should I do?
The stone-faced golem asked me blankly. I handed Leaf a chalkboard and pen.
Sign language seemed slower.
"Even so, I could kinda read your expressions."
Luna tilted her head, noting how oddly well she synced with Leaf. I waved it off.
"You sync with Leaf, Luna, but Zero? No way you'd chat easy."
Zero, with a gentle face, glanced between Leaf and me before speaking.
"Uh... is that one our tank?"
"Yeah. Speaking of, Zero, what'd you learn from Gamur and Bahadi?"
I'd heard a quick rundown, but hadn't seen it myself.
Zero grinned, his nose suddenly held high.
"I'm no baggage now, Adelian sir."
"Never called you baggage."
"But I always wanted to help. I wasn't good at anything."
How long since escaping the labyrinth? He was still green as grass—no way I'd expected much.
Honestly, Zero was more like a hostage to keep other doppelgangers in check, and that role was plenty. But apparently not to him.
"Show me."
Sinking into the plush chair, I fiddled with Aegis floating idly in the air. Zero stood confidently.
"First off, I can use some abilities of my kin under me. Not perfectly, though."
He ticked off fingers as he added,
"With this power, I can wield an axe well, my movements feel smoother."
Far sight, detection borrowing, brief swordsmanship and beast taming.
*Zero's turning into a real jack-of-all-trades.*
I nodded contentedly and started practicing attaching Aegis to him.
"And some magic resistance? Hard to explain."
"That's roughly what Bahadi said. Hostile magic effects reduced, friendly ones amplified. Easy way to think of it."
Zero beamed with an 'ah, got it.' Silent Kane spoke up.
"You can use swordsmanship?"
"No. Think it was my mistake."
Zero snapped to attention at Kane's words. Kane furrowed his brow.
"Don't bully the kid. Zero, spar with Leaf for a bit. Like real combat."
Leaf self-repaired if broken and, as a golem, could turn off pain senses for spars—unlike real fights.
Perfect match for Zero, unused to attacking others.
"Kane, you should sync up with me too."
Zero nodded at Luna's words.
I ran the friendly gathering again, practicing Aegis attachment on Zero.
Nothing bonds like games.
Country that swallowed all Valbus's artifacts, so I pulled a dealer artifact from sub-space. Everyone but Leaf narrowed their eyes slightly.
"Why the look?"
"That's the gambling artifact from that senile gambler, right, young master?"
I nodded, set it on the table, and grinned.
"Unity events like this? Games. And games need what? Forfeits for fun."
I smiled oh-so-kindly. Zero rubbed his neck.
"No way the forfeit is..."
"Here, you and Leaf can regrow heads, but Luna and Kane can't."
Wait, what was my image that 'forfeit' meant neck-chop?
"Forfeit is... veggie juice."
Humane, right? Bitter on tongue, good for body!
"How's that much different from decapitation?"
"Tongue instead of neck... taste buds destroyed..."
Luna and Kane, who knew veggie juice hell, froze. Zero and Leaf, clueless, tilted heads.
"What's got you seniors like that?"
—What is veggie juice, administrator?
Zero and Leaf prompted. Kane and I spoke in unison.
"Bitter on tongue, good for body."
"Not fit for human consumption."
Hey, no. By that logic, Luna who'd eaten it multiple times wasn't human? Even if she's bunnykin, you're human, right?
I glared; Kane glared back.
"Then win and no problem."
If I bust first, chance to feed me juice. I snickered; Luna paled, Kane sat silently.
"Young master... you might faint if you drink."
"No dark knight? Let's go, all."
We circled the round table, fired up. Zero eyed a win over me; Luna aimed not last.
Kane stone-faced, probably 'taste your own medicine.' Leaf looked confident.
"Leaf, no taste shutdown."
Leaf's brows twitched slightly. No cheating.
"Deal."
Grinning, I activated the dealer artifact for Innocent Blackjack like with Valbus.
Chips: 20 candies each, no money.
*After that Valbus showdown, me last? Nah.*
"Oh, looks tasty."
No. Zero at 19.
Cheek bulging from rolling candy, Leaf side-eyed, then snuck one when Zero looked away.
Who corrupted Leaf already?
Zero down to 18.
Kane opened to warn; I stomped his foot, took the dealt cards.
Multiplayer meant bluffing with reads, busts or lives.
Kane lost a couple early catching feel; Leaf unreadable as golem.
Luna and Zero? Faces like open books.
I showed big bets on strong hands, mixed bluffs to snag candies on weak, folded ambiguities without peeking—built stack steady.
Kane started textbook swaps and bets, then shone like I should've sat him against Valbus.
Luna big losses offset small wins for break-even. Leaf wild bets swung huge ups and downs.
But after rounds, weakest: Zero. Expression control futile, tells everywhere. Failed bluffs tanked candies, and crucially,
"Candies short, Zero."
"Huh? Why? I only ate one. Senior... lend one?"
Thanks to Leaf snacking Zero's, short one—forced bust.
"Zero, time for body-good stuff. Right?"
"If body-good, losing's not real forfeit? Seniors... why the faces..."
I smiled, whipped up overdue veggie juice with spirit forest ingredients.
Window open, hold breath mixing. Mind bubbles popping gas.
Luna plugged ears with handkerchief over nose; Kane stepped back.
Pffft—
Bubble burst, slimy goo like fermented slime from rotten swamp. Poured into cup for Zero—his pale face went ghostly white.
"This... edible?"
"Good for body. Right?"
I grinned at Kane and Luna; they nodded reluctantly.
They'd seen effects—no denying.
Zero eyed me then juice, lips quivering like he'd beg. I cut him off.
"Each word adds a glass."
Zero's eyes shook. Clueless on true horror, he gripped cup determined, chugged.
Glug glug. Glug glug.
Then.
Thud!
Zero passed out. No heaving or tears—just downed it and toppled backward. No one caught; floor dive.
"I get it, but no one grabs?"
"Not a body that bruises easy."
—Agreed.
"Thought it was an act..."
Cold bunch.
—Is this assassination material, made by administrator?
Leaf lifted collapsed Zero to sofa, scooped a drop from floor cup into mouth.
—Request taste block. Request taste block.
Leaf slumped trembling. I burst laughing.