The Dead (3)
Someone once said that sports are dramas without scripts. This rings especially true for sports where winners and losers are clearly divided. It's full of twists—teams on the verge of defeat mounting comebacks, frontrunners suddenly getting overturned. That's why fans scream themselves hoarse even against overwhelming odds. You might snatch a win from a powerhouse, and even in defeat, there's hope for the future. We'll never give up on that 0.1% chance. The moment you do, the game's over. Why do we love sports? Because no one knows who'll win.
Like those words, sports are a culture where outcomes can't be predicted. In a world already short on entertainment, diving headfirst into them is only natural. Even for nobles with noble blood running through their veins.
Is it going in? Is it going in?! Shwoooosh!GOOOAL! Chames United!
In the dying minutes of the match, they score the comeback goal! Th-that was an incredible team play! The Leor players are hanging their heads!
In the private training ground reserved exclusively for Mephisto royalty, a crystal orb at the center broadcast the relay magic.
Rivals Chames United—Chaeyu for short—and Leor. They were locked in a do-or-die grudge match. Chaeyu had been at a disadvantage from the start, but they'd pulled off the reversal. Even the commentators were stumbling over their words in excitement.
"……"
And one person had watched the whole scene unfold.
Kairin, princess of Mephisto and high-nick user ChangguPrincess on the Gallery.
She steadied her trembling lips and posted to the Gallery. Only after hitting the "submit" button did she unleash all the pent-up emotion.
"Kyaaaaahhh!!!"
Kairin dashed around the training ground like a madwoman, bellowing in triumph. No, less a cheer and more a beastly roar. She'd tossed aside all poise, dignity, and etiquette expected of a princess—raw, unfiltered reaction! She was so thrilled she unwittingly burst mana everywhere, scarring the ground with big and small damages.
If a stranger had seen her face, they'd think: No drug could make you grin like that.
"It's real? It's real?! Right?!"
After rampaging like a rabid dog, Kairin returned to her seat. Her breathing was hot and ragged, her blue skin flushed red from the hype.
What a brilliant attacking buildup. Even the defenders joined in. Exactly. Half-abandoning defense turned out to be...
The relay magic crystal orb, enhanced by Oriharukon for top-tier video, audio, and connection quality, displayed the scene Kairin craved in hologram form.
Leor players! Not much time left... Huh? Marta with the intercept! Straight into attack! To Kone on the left. Kone breaks through. Leor needs to block him! Pass inside to Kone... Ah! Defender clears it!
"Aah!"
Kairin let out a groan of regret. A chance to properly sink Leor had slipped away. But the attack lived on. She gripped her seat, holding her breath in this nail-biter.
Match over! What a sweaty comeback victory! Chaeyu players collapse in joy. They overcame the pressure beautifully.
Clap clap clap clap!
The moment the game ended, Kairin applauded with genuine fervor. The stadium fans responded with a standing ovation for the players who'd delivered the thrilling reversal.
"Ah. Seriously. How the hell did they win that?"
Overcome by exhaustion, Kairin slumped down. She rubbed her dry face in disbelief, then glanced at the broadcast. Cameras panned over each player's beaming, euphoric faces.
"Yeah, yeah, smile all you want. You always lost with those gloomy mugs anyway."
That loss to a rising underdog last time? Forgotten. Because they'd beaten the infuriating rival! It was like ten years of heartburn melting away. In its place surged massive positive energy—dopamine, baby. No wonder they call sports more addictive than drugs.
Just like Grills said.
Kairin sneaked onto the Gallery. As Grills predicted—even if they conceded three, score four—the miracle unfolded, and everyone lost it. One comment especially caught her eye.
└YasaengGrill
If our defense concedes 3, our attack scores 4.
└Sounds like bullshit but... makes sense...!
└Sage advice lololol
└Words of someone who's found enlightenment? lol
└Pilgrimage to the holy site. Make Chaeyu champions.
└Pilgrimage achieved. Make me hook up with my crush.
└Pump my stocks!
└Help me ace my exams!
The so-called "holy site pilgrimage" began—folk faith wishing on a post that nailed the future. But Grills' site was next-level. No one expected it to come true. The impact of reality piercing extreme odds.
Gotta send more uniforms.
Thanks to Oriharukon, she'd savored the crisp reversal live. Normally, streams glitch after 80 minutes, but this was flawless. Kairin hummed happily through the post-game interviews—the real dessert.
How does it feel to finally beat Leor?
Feels great, no question. Our players' never-say-die win feels even more precious.
Chaeyu's coach was bald as a cue ball—what they call a "chrome dome." Nothing special; league's full of 'em. Just so striking, they go by "Baldy."
Baldness is universal pain, race be damned. Of course, mocking it IRL is a dick move. But the Gallery? Fair game. Endless bald jokes there.
What was the key to victory?
Our players' grit was top-notch. And...
Standard stuff, then MVP interview. No surprise: the hat-trick hero who scored all three.
In soccer where every goal counts, solo-triple is insane. Earning MVP? Duh.
You looked light on your feet today. No need to explain the comeback.
What happened in the locker room?
Coach said: If they score 2, we score 3. If 3, we score 4.
"Huh?"
Kairin blinked wide at the interview. Déjà vu city. She quietly recorded it.
At first, I thought it was crazy. But after equalizing, it clicked.
What clicked?
If they score 3, we score 4. That's the answer.
...No way the coach is on the Gallery too?
Too spot-on to be coincidence. Suspicious. But hey, not bad. More aggressive play ahead. Chaeyu always defended to death and still lost winnable games. Force-feeding them the wrong style stifles talent.
"Hehehe~"
Kairin hummed, basking in long-lost bliss, tidying up. The reversal thrill still tingled everywhere.
They say baseball's decided bottom ninth—like this vibe.
Makes sense why people watch. No clue till the final out.
Kairin stepped out with newfound insight, swapping into her Chaeyu uniform dress first.
"Well done, Princess."
The elderly butler awaited outside. Kairin nodded, a slight smile bonus. Noticing it, he ventured carefully:
"Progress in training, I see."
"Yeah. Big breakthrough for once."
Mid-sentence, her father Asmode popped to mind. He'd started around the same time. Butler might know.
"Father?"
"Well..."
The butler hesitated, reluctant. Kairin raised a brow.
"His Majesty... made no progress. Seemed to lose control, actually."
"Hm?"
Kairin blinked. Asmode losing control? Demons flare mana when emotions spike—like her manic sprint. That was joy; rage would've wrecked everything. Butler's caution implied fury.
"Thought he'd mellowed last decade. Something happen?"
"Not sure. But definitely bad vibes."
"Got it. I'll watch."
Kairin nodded and walked off. Butler bowed and left. Heading to her room, she pondered Asmode's rage.
Thought he was past that phase.
Asmode terrified. Raw power plus charisma. Family got leniency; others saw the Demon King.
Everyone snaps sometimes.
Kairin shrugged it off. He never hurt people—just smashed stuff. Never laid a hand on her in life.
She flopped onto her plush bed.
"Hehehe."
Perverted grin, belying her icy haughtiness—pure gremlin smile.
When's the last time I felt this?
Rare thrill, faded from memory. Pleasure-hungry demons scoff at drugs. Yet here she was, euphoric like never before.
Not the time. Gallery awaits.
She'd grind Gallery the rest of the day. It was already overrun by resurrected Chaeyu fans. Welcome to Chames United Gallery.
That post rocketed to featured with massive recs. Sure, with Gallery pop, rec-to-disrec was only 2:1. Still huge.
???: You guys suck.
(Photo of emblem with horse motif)
You guys suck lololol
└Instant trashbag lolol
└lolol Can't handle reversals lol
└How could you? lolol
└KingLeor Barely beat us once lol
└ChangguPrincess Yup~ 3-goal comeback~ You sucky-wucky~ hehe
└KingLeor One game and you're trying so hard tsk tsk
└ChangguPrincess So what's the score? 4-3!
└KingLeor lol So champions now?
└ChangguPrincess Beat the scrub team, good enuf~!
└lolol Scraping just right lolol
└???: Know why you lost? 'Cause you faced our Chaeyu!
└Chaeyu brats all cocky af lol
└Jealous? Win then~
"Heeheeheeheehee."
Kairin savored rare "happiness."
*****
While every Chaeyu fan hit peak bliss.
└Olfather Good news and bad news. Which first?
└YasaengGrill Uh... bad first?
└Olfather My heart exploded.
└YasaengGrill Teacher?
Grills got all the news from Olfather.