Chapter 42
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: Reward Competition
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Taking advantage of the night, a shadow infiltrated Ju Gonghyeok's mountain lodge.
Breaking through the guards required more than just Stealth (E+); he supplemented it with unrealistic martial arts and agile movements.
Having slipped in through a hole in the floor, he passed the soundly sleeping holy beasts and stood before Ju Gonghyeok's bed.
On the bed lay a figure wrapped entirely in bandages.
“Get up.”
The intruder, ‘X,’ spoke, and the figure on the bed bolted upright.
“Friend, did you finish the job properly?”
“Yeah, it's done, so go sleep over there.”
‘X’ pointed to a large chest in the corner, feigning familiarity.
“Got it. I'll wait in there.”
The bandaged man cheerfully opened the chest and crammed himself inside.
“Friend, I can't close the lid. Could you help?”
“Sure.”
Bam!
‘X’ kicked the chest shut with a loud bang.
‘X’ stowed his mask in his inventory and pulled fresh bandages from the corner.
The one who'd entered the chest on his command was someone brainwashed by Gonghyeok's skill.
The skill he'd devoured from Yulia on the second floor: Dream Hypnosis (C).
Its low rank meant it could only maintain hypnosis on up to four people, and it didn't work well on those with high willpower or mental stats.
‘Still, it's enough to set the stage.’
As Gonghyeok wrapped the bandages around himself, the previously sleeping Nathaniel awoke.
- It's her.
An intentional presence from behind him.
White feathers scattered through the room.
‘She's here.’
Sensing it instinctively, Gonghyeok turned around.
Behind him stood an angel who looked like a girl with her red hair in twin tails.
Of course, her forehead was furrowed in clear displeasure.
“A lovely angel graces a man's home in the dead of night. How improper.”
“Filth, drop the actor's tone. It's grating.”
Azazel warned him in a low, cute voice that carried an edge.
Gonghyeok chuckled inwardly.
‘She tells me not to act, but...’
What could he do? This was already the seventh time playing out this scene. Our cute little Azazel.
Resisting the urge to pinch her puffed-up cheeks, Gonghyeok fetched a chair.
“My angel, have a seat here.”
“......No need.”
With a curt refusal laced with irritation, Gonghyeok shrugged once and pulled out a cigarette case from beside the bed.
That's when a tuft of tawny hair wriggled out from between the folds of his chest pocket.
It was Nathaniel, who'd been hiding inside his clothes.
- Phew! Finally out. Azazel! Azazel! Take me with you! I can't stand this guy anymore!
“Nathaniel, sorry, but I don't have the authority to...”
- You got a fancy promotion, so you can afford to say that. I'm in hell right now! What's the point of coming back to life? He smears me with honey and tosses me to bugs, or rummages through my stinking guts every time!
Before the awkward-looking Azazel, the little angel's furious tirade continued.
- Verbal abuse, violence, sexual harassment, overwork—it's all major violations of angel labor laws and decorum regulations! Why'd he have to make that Spirit Summoning Scroll and drag me back from peaceful death...?
Thwack!
Gonghyeok's carefully aimed knuckle rap landed on Nathaniel's tiny occiput.
The little angel's head snapped forward, then slumped limply.
As Gonghyeok tucked the unconscious Nathaniel back into his bosom, Azazel said with a look of disbelief.
“Couldn't you just cancel the summon?”
“You're right. But this way's more fun.”
“......I truly can't fathom what you're up to.”
Azazel clutched her head for a moment, then glared at Gonghyeok.
“I really can't figure out what you're doing. Why haven't you cleared the third floor?”
“Phew...... The third floor has plenty of good tobacco ingredients.”
Gonghyeok was already smoking a cigarette.
Not a pipe, but a proper paper-wrapped one—a kwallien.
A custom job bought for 20 purple coins each, with the tobacco swapped out.
“The other zones on the third floor were cleared of Tyrannosaurus by the first or second week, or people escaped via their own arks. It's nearly wrapped up now. But you deliberately didn't kill the Tyrannosaurus.”
“Wow, impressive folks. I couldn't catch it at all.”
Azazel closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose.
“I'll ask once more, filth.
Why? On the first week, you could've slain that dinosaur and by the tenth day completed an ark for 3,000, evacuating 2,700 people.
That would've been the ultimate reward. Massive time-save bonuses plus max rescues—you'd have gone down as the greatest savior. And been recognized as the true proxy for us angels.”
Her hand left the bridge of her nose, and sharp light gleamed in Azazel's eyes.
“S-grade accessory ‘Belt of Divine Power.’
Two blue coins and 270 navy coins based on headcount.
Plus the special skill ‘Strike of Judgment’ and title 「Ark King」. Why throw away the chance to claim it all at once?”
“Azazel, don't overreact. I can still get half of that now.”
“Right, Lady Azazel. Flaunting stuff like that just kills your feminine charm.”
Someone wrapped their arms affectionately around Gonghyeok's neck.
It was Lilianne, gently cradling his head.
“She promised me an S-grade accessory ‘Eye of the Wasteland,’ one blue coin, 150 navy coins, the ‘Dark Knight’ skill book, and the title 「Blood-Reeking Clown.」”
“You expect me to trust that you've made a pact with that whore and taken her absurd quest?”
“Oh dear! How crude. Lilianne despises loose-tongued women like that~.”
A battle of nerves erupted between the fuming angel and the nonchalant succubus.
“Lilianne.”
“Yes♡, Lord Gonghyeok.”
Gonghyeok grabbed Lilianne's face and shoved it away roughly.
“We only have a verbal agreement—no down payment or other terms—so quit acting cozy.”
“......Lord Gonghyeok. Being that cold hurts my feelings.”
“Lilianne, you know what? A woman jealous in front of another looks ugliest. Play it cool.”
At a loss for words, Lilianne banged her forehead against the wall.
‘Why am I even with this guy...’ she grumbled bitterly.
“You're all having a grand time.”
“Alright, then, Azazel. Shall we get to the story you want?”
He stubbed out his nearly spent cigarette and looked at her.
“Is that all you can offer?”
“Hah! Negotiating at this stage? Fine. Kill that damn dinosaur now, and I'll throw in the ‘Judgment Knight’ skill book. If you can kill it, that is.”
“Oh my? Then I'll up the navy coins by 50.”
The angel scoffed at the demon's counter.
“Tch. I'll add one more blue coin.”
*Ding ding~* “The S-grade accessory ‘Eye of the Wasteland’ has been upgraded to the S++-grade accessory ‘Horn of Genigal’~.”
“......Is it really okay to tamper with stuff on the third floor that much?”
“If an angel strikes first, then the Four Heavenly Kings' Byincliff would praise me, saying, ‘Demons can't lag in generosity!’”
The angel's rewards were objectively superior.
But that was because her quest was the harder one.
Plus, considering the coins and items from the remaining hunters' corpses, the filth's cost-benefit wouldn't add up.
Biting her lip, Azazel said quietly.
“SS-grade, the Demon-Shattering Hammer Hontar. But no blue coins.”
“Oh my oh my oh my oh my! Lady Azazel's gone all in! No takebacks!? Really, no takebacks!?”
“Quiet, you lust demon. I claim the title of archangel. I won't retract my word.”
Just as the succubus said.
A spark of rivalry had made her overbid a bit.
She'd surely face reprimands from Metatron later.
It stung to think about, but Azazel had some confidence.
If the filth Ju Gonghyeok truly committed to working for the angels, the returns would far exceed this.
For him, she could endure a little scolding.
Azazel looked at Gonghyeok with confident eyes.
“Well, filth? Can't resist now, can you?”
The angel's expectant tone echoed through the lodge.
But Gonghyeok was far too blasé.
He yawned and lit a second cigarette.
Azazel froze stiff.
“Filth?”
“Hm? Oh, sorry sorry. Is that really it?”
“Th-that?”
“Hmm. Yeah, I see.”
Nodding a few times, Gonghyeok asked with a disappointed face.
“But seriously, that's all you can do?”
Followed by Gonghyeok's small sigh.
Something 'snapped' in Azazel's mind.
“Fuck off!”
The angel's wings stiffened straight, and dazzling light poured from her body.
Trembling with rage, Azazel pointed accusingly.
“You—you—you said on the first floor you'd side with the angels! That you'd stand with us to save humanity, punish those who messed with demons!”
Puff—
The smoke he'd held in his mouth billowed out like a sigh into the air.
“Azazel, you forgot. I said it depends on you.”
“On me? What more do I have to do! You think I haven't done anything? I begged other archangels for rewards! Endured the shame of overstepping, making Metatron catch flak from the Demon King, all while trying so hard!”
Tears welled in the aggrieved Azazel's eyes.
“And, and...... you said I was kind, smart, cute......
So I thought you were fully on our side...... You said I was the best......”
Seeing Azazel's voice grow watery too, Gonghyeok snapped to attention.
He stubbed out his cigarette, strode boldly to her.
“Sorry, Azazel. I think I misjudged.”
“Filth......?”
He dropped to one knee to meet her eye level, his hand rising to her head.
“Did our Azazel get upset because I didn't call her cute? There there. I'll pet your head.”
“......”
Gonghyeok ruffled Azazel's hair like soothing a child.
“There there, Azazel's the cutest to me. Yeah, the cutest in the world. Aww, look at these cheeks. So squishy.”
His other hand pinched and pulled at Azazel's cheek.
Warm and perfectly molding to his hand, the angel's cheek boasted a heavenly texture beyond human reach.
“Ha. Ha. Ha.”
A hollow laugh escaped the angel.
Her last shred of pride violated by Gonghyeok's hand, the light faded from Azazel's eyes.
“Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha.”
“Um, excuse me? Lady Azazel?”
“Haha. Ahh. Aaaah! Kyaeeeeeee—!”
“Eek!?”
Lilianne, sensing danger, spoke up, but the deranged-laughing Azazel shrieked madly again.
“Keeee— Aaaaaaaa—!”
“Um, Lady Azazel? Maybe calm down a bi......”
“Aaaaaah— Aaaaaah— Aaahhhh— Deeee—!”
“Hahaha. Azazel's voice is pretty too. What can't you do?”
“You're a bitch! Back off!”
Space warped around the hysterical Azazel.
The terrified Lilianne shoved Gonghyeok away, and rainbow light enveloped Azazel.
Flickering a few times, her form blurred, and soon Azazel vanished from the room.
“She's gone.”
“You know the entire third floor nearly got obliterated just now?”
“Too bad. Your contractor almost scored a historic win among demon pactors. Archangel provoked into blowing up the third floor! That's a millennium's worth of bragging material.”
“Lord Contractor, achievements matter, but life matters more?”
The demon asked Gonghyeok, who chuckled throatily.
“But you turned down those rewards. Some were overkill, stuff you might not even get from perfectly clearing the fourth floor.”
“Not enough. Not nearly enough.”
“You never intended to accept from the start, did you? Both the angel grand ark quest and the demon hidden quest were just for show.”
She sighed.
“It doesn't add up. The angel quest and demon quest are completely at odds.
You can't ace both, and dragging it out shrinks both rewards. Better to either save everyone fast or kill everyone fast, whichever.”
She gave him a sly glance.
“What makes you so confident?”
“Hm, Lilianne. We're in the same boat, even if it's just a verbal pact.”
Gonghyeok said, lighting his third cigarette in a chain.
“Soon, the ‘gods’ will descend here.”
“‘Gods’?”
“You'll know when the time comes. Want more info......”
Gonghyeok lifted Lilianne's chin.
“Kill your direct superior, Four Heavenly King Cluesti. Become my subordinate. Then I'll tell you.”
“......You really don't know when to hold back.”
Clunk!
As Lilianne looked a bit rattled, the lodge door opened.
“Captain! Something wrong? Saw light leaking out.”
“Ah, nothing much. Just used an avatar after a while.”
Gonghyeok tied the bandages alone, speaking sociably.
No trace remained of the raging angel or fawning demon.