Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Wow, I Thought She'd Be Haughty and It'd Fail, but This Big Sis Was Surprisingly Super Easy? Lucky~☆
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At night, Pomi would sneak out of Cloé's dorm and come to me.
We'd agreed not to interfere with each other while swapping Constellations, but what could I do if she insisted on running away?
Blame Rasha-ra for not having legs, I guess~?
After finishing our evening workout, Seol Harin and I met up again post-shower.
She'd brought a ton of winter clothes, just as I'd instructed.
"What, planning a sudden trip to the Antarctic or something?"
"Something like that."
"Huh...? For real......? Wait, never mind that—what's with you still in that shirt? You're totally messing with me, aren't you?"
"Hah? You think this body would shiver from a little cold?!"
I'm immune to the cold.
Thanks to Pomi's stigma, my body doesn't feel it anymore.
Anyway.
All that's left is activating the Constellation event.
The method is simple.
Recite the dialogue from the in-game choice prompt.
"Hey, Pomi. You look kinda down today. Something wrong?"
"Well... There's this race I have to enter today... but I don't have confidence doing it alone......"
"Hey!! Quit being annoying!!!"
"Woof...?"
"You should've said something sooner if that was the case!! If the super cute SSS-rank fluffy Constellation needs help, of course her owner—me—would step up!!!"
"Woof......♡"
Pomi threw her arms around me in a hug.
A moment later, she was enveloped in a pure white glow.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Gate to the Constellation's world created! Paang-!
The light burst outward, forming a gate.
The path to the Constellation's world.
"Wh-what the...?"
Seol Harin looked a bit scared by the unfamiliar sight.
"Hey, sow! Get in there!!"
"What did you call me? Do you even know what this is...?"
"That's why I'm sending the slave first!!!"
"Ha...! I know you're joking, but that's the worst line ever! Not like you at a—?"
Thwack!
Too annoying to explain, I just chucked Seol Harin into the gate.
"Woof woof!!"
Pomi followed right after her.
I picked up Rasha-ra and faced her.
"Hey, Bendy."
"......"
"Gonna show you a shit-ton of mood-lifting stuff, so get hyped~ kekeke."
I jumped into the gate too.
After a bit of nausea...
Before us stretched a vast white snowy plain and a castle of ice.
Pomi's homeland, the Glacier Empire.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Wh-where... is this...?"
Seol Harin stared wide-eyed.
Even Kim Taeyang was looking around in rare wonder.
Pomi excitedly explained to them.
"This is Pomi's hometown!! Today is the sled dog race!! I'm gonna win here for sure!! Awoooo-"
As Pomi howled, a pack of sled dogs came rushing from somewhere.
Eight of them.
With Pomi, that made nine sled dogs gathered together.
"So cute.... Pomi, are these all your friends?"
"Yeah! They're my teammates pulling the sled with me today!"
"Hi, cuties...!"
Seol Harin reached out to pet them.
And right then—
Grrrrrr......!!!
Woof woof woof woof woof!!!!!
Yip!! Yip!!!!
They turned hostile on her immediately.
"Wh-why...?"
"Kekeke. Why do you think? No way Pomi would badmouth her vicious owner to her friends, right?!"
"What...? Pomi! Is that true? Did you talk bad about me to your friends?!"
"Woof...? Pomi has to turn back into dog form now, can't talk."
Pomi played innocent as she shifted back to dog form.
Even if she harbored resentment toward her former owner, getting caught trash-talking felt a bit guilty.
Shocked, Seol Harin muttered, "Getting dissed by puppies......"
That's when a group of sled dogs approached Pomi.
Grrrrr...
They wrinkled their snouts out of nowhere.
Pomi knew their leader.
'Kailas...!'
He was the winner of the last sled race.
Grrrr......!!
Pomi growled back.
"Pomi...? You okay?"
"Hey, sow. Leave it. Dogs got their own drama."
Her owner was right.
Kailas.
He was the enemy who'd killed Pomi's sister...!
Pomi and Kailas's pack started conversing in dog language.
To Kim Taeyang and Seol Harin, it just sounded like 'grrr' and 'woof woof!'—literal barking—but there was real talk in there.
"(Who's this? Glacial the lame sled dog's little sis, Glacis?)"
"(Don't you dare say my sister's name, you filthy killer dog!! And my name's not Glacis anymore—it's Pomi!!)"
Pomi proudly revealed her new name.
Kailas flinched a bit at the corny sound.
"(Po-Pomi...?)"
"(Yeah! Pomi!)"
Kailas's flustered pack muttered among themselves.
"(Tch... that's cool......)"
"(Pomi. What a badass name...)"
"(I want a cute name like Pokko or Kami too...)"
Human-friendly names were trending among sled dogs.
"(Shut your traps, all of you!)"
Kailas barked at his envious pack, and they whimpered silent.
"(Fine, Pomi. Gotta admit, it's a killer name. But a name's just a name. I'll win this race too. You lame mutts can't keep up.)"
"(We'll see about that!)"
"(Keep yapping and you'll regret it? Might end up crossing the rainbow bridge like your sis? Kekeke.)"
Rainbow bridge...!
For dogs, that was some vicious cursing...!!
"(Kailas! How dare you...!)"
Pomi growled, remembering her sister.
Her sister's name was Glacial.
The top contender in the last race.
The vile Kailas had eliminated the rival dirty.
Bribed an assassin dog to rip Glacial apart.
Thinking of her sister fueled rage.
Pomi couldn't hold back and spat a double curse.
"(You... you cat-like bastard!!)"
"(Wh-what? What'd you call me...? C-CA-CA-CAT?!)"
Grrrrrrrrrrrrr!!
Yip yip yip!!! Yipyipyipyip-!!!!
Woofwoofwoofwoofwoof!!! Woofwoofwoofwoofwoofwoof!!!!! Woofwoofwoof!!!!!!!
Awoooooooo──────────!!
(※ Replaced with howls due to unspeakable cat insults flying everywhere.) The scene turned into total chaos...!
In the end, Kim Taeyang and the rival hero had to step in to calm the dogs.
"(Stupid bitch! I'll send you to join your sister for sure...!)"
Kailas vanished with a murderous glare of warning.
Meanwhile, Pomi was worried.
'I talked big, but... can I really win...?'
Kailas was the real deal, skill-wise, separate from his scummy nature.
Lagging behind Glacial, but still the top sled dog Constellation around.
Then Kim Taeyang petted Pomi.
"Hey, Pomi."
"Woof?"
"Don't get down. You're the best sled dog, no matter what anyone says."
"Woof......!"
Those words skyrocketed Pomi's confidence.
'My owner called me the best...!'
Nothing pumps up a dog like owner praise.
'Owner's amazing! So Pomi can win!!'
Pomi stretched and pawed the ground, prepping for the race.
"Awoooo!!"
She rallied her teammates with a big howl.
"Awoooo!"
"Awooooooo!!"
Morale at max.
'Sis! I'll avenge you!! I've got an awesome owner!!!'
Pomi's confidence maxed out too.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After the dog chaos blew over.
The race was about to start.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Welcome to the 2,837th Glacier Empire Sled Dog Race! If chosen by a sled dog Constellation, anyone from any dimension can participate!! About 100 teams competing.
That means over 1,000 sled dog Constellations and 100+ bound heroes all gathered.
But all these rivals are total extras.
Heroes with bizarre hairstyles that scream "last-minute personality injection."
Aliens that might not even exist in this world.
Even characters from the same dev's previous games.
Basically, NPCs made just for this event...?
Hearing "any dimension" suggests Academia's Constellations share a multiverse or something...
I know zilch about it.
Not mentioned in-game.
Anyway.
Not the point.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Create unforgettable memories with your sled dog Constellation!! Winner receives a gold medal and commemorative collar!! The prize for the winner.
Pretty damn juicy.
True to an ero-game, the collar's effect is super lewd.
Just slap it on the target, and they obey.
Cheat item—endless uses once you snag it.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Participants, prepare for the race!! I hopped on the prepared sled with Seol Harin.
Pomi and her pals hooked themselves up for sled-pulling.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ 3… 2… 1…! Bang!!
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ The race begins!! Incredible!! They're blasting off at invisible speeds!!! Straight into the race after that simple intro!
Ero-game pacing is sloppy on purpose—that's the charm...!
"Hey, Pomi! Full throttle from the start—go go go!!"
"Woof woof!!"
In-game, this was a mini-game.
Just nail the arrow keys, easy win.
Figured it'd be a breeze IRL too...
"Wh-what's that?!"
"Hah? A snowball, duh?!!"
A massive snowball rolling down the uphill...!
"C-can we dodge it?! It's too big!!!"
One hit and we'd be buried, tumbling together.
Glancing at other teams—they were blasting it with ranged attacks.
Our team's only ranged option... Rasha-ra, barely...!
"Hey, Bendy! Take out that snowball!!"
I swung the whip on timing.
But—
Slosh...
The whip just jiggled limply.
Not that I suck at whipping.
Rasha-ra lacked will.
"Boring.... Handle it yourselves......"
"You bastard......!!!!!"
Kaboom!!
Couldn't dodge—crashed into the snowball.
Yelp...!
Crash!!
Our sled flipped.
"Ugh... You...! You okay?!"
"Worry about yourself! This body's forged in steel! Pomi, you good?!"
"Woof!"
Pomi and the crew seemed unscathed.
Problem was the sled.
"The sled... it's totally smashed......"
Half-destroyed from the impact.
No sled, no race.
Sensing defeat, Pomi shifted to humanoid and plopped down crying.
"Waaah.... Sis, I tried to avenge you....... But I'm too dumb...... Sob sob siiiiis......"
"......"
"......"
Sudden heavy mood.
Real heartbreaking sobs.
Seol Harin tried comforting her quick, but no dice.
Atmosphere colder than the weather.
'Just as I planned.'
There was a way to dodge—game's side path for free pass.
But I used Rasha-ra on purpose.
To make her feel responsible...!
"Hey, Bendy. You fucked everything up."
"Why me......?"
"Playing dumb? Look at Pomi bawling! If you'd hit that snowball right, this wouldn't happen!! Huh?!!"
"...Th-that."
"Your shitty pride left Pomi unable to avenge her sis and collapsed!! Whatever our deal, once you're in the race, give it your all!!! And this ain't even my gig—it's Pomi's?!!!"
"Y-yeah.... This time, I definitely... messed up......"
Rasha-ra finally admitted fault.
She's a super moral Constellation.
Pin the blame, she feels guilty—easy character.
Gaslighting's a breeze.
"Bendy. Reflecting?"
"Sorry.... I'll make it up to Pomi personally for this......"
"Nah, skip that. If you're really sorry, hustle from now on."
"From now...? Our sled's wrecked...?"
Yeah.
Ours is toast.
But others' are still around?
Just NTR a sled, problem solved???
Slide—
Slipped on the orange sunglasses hooked in my shirt.
Beach flip-flops.
Swim trunks.
Hawaiian shirt.
Orange shades—beach thug full set complete...!
Full set has bonus effects!!
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Beach Thug Full Set Effect Activated Hunting Power +500%!
>Charm +85 on first-time women!
Sleds still lagging behind from snowball dodging—tons of 'em.
I waved at one with a pretty silver-haired woman.
"Hey, big sis! Got time? Let's hang!"
"Oh my?"
Shkreeee—!!
Sled halted right in front of me.
"This... hunting?"
Beach thug full set in snowy plains, seducing a girl.
That's Kim Taeyang.
"Wow. Thought she'd be haughty and it'd flop, but this big sis was surprisingly super easy? Lucky~☆"
"Hehe. Was bored solo anyway. But weird? Flirting mid-race...?"
"Duh, it's bullshit?!! Who flirts during a race?!!!"
"Huh......?!"
Kudangtang────────!
Eye contact with Seol Harin, then I flipped her sled.
She tumbled into the rolling snowball and rolled down the hill.
Kim Taeyang: Hunt and assassinate success.
Power of the beach thug set!
"Hey! Hook up and hop on!!"
We hijacked the sled swift.
F1 pit stop-level frenzy and precision.
"Pomi!! We're back in!! Not too late!!!"
"Woof woof!!"
"Hey, Bendy!! Cooperate properly this time!! Got it?!!!"
"...Got it."
Crack!! Crack!!!
Rasha-ra finally whipping right.
Her lashes made Pomi stronger, faster.
Thanks to Pomi's trait.
⚔ STATUS ⚔ ◆ Instinct of the Sled Dog ◆ Description + When Glacis is hit by whip weapons, damage becomes focus boost. 'Instinct of the Sled Dog' is a key.
Unlocks Rasha-ra's hidden trait: 'SM Whip'.
⚔ STATUS ⚔ ◆ SM Whip (Unopened) ◆ Description + Opens if Rasha-ra whips someone happy. To unlock the hidden trait, whip someone into joy.
"Woof woof! Love the whip!!"
To Pomi, whipping was pure buff.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Rasha-ra's favorability slightly increases.] [Rasha-ra's favorability slightly increases.] [Rasha-ra's favorability slightly increases.] Rasha-ra's favorability ticking up each time.
She'll gradually awaken to her true nature.
That she's not a weapon for hurting,
But an SM tool for pleasure...!
Now for the comeback win.
And slam Close Confession Press on blissed-out Rasha-ra!!!
Focused on the race, Seol Harin piped up.
"Um......"
"Hah? What?!"
"That woman earlier.... Know her or something?"
"As if?!"
"...Okay then."
Why ask such a pointless question?
Jealous even in this clutch moment...?
Seol Harin! You slut...!!
How horny are you?!!
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Roll roll roll... Roll.
Thud.
A giant snow clump from the hill finally stopped far behind the start line.
The woman buried in it sighed, getting up.
"Phew.... Close."
Had high hopes for the race.
But some thug's pickup line lured her into ruin.
Not like her to be so sloppy.
'Drawn in somehow.... Hot bod?'
Brushing off snow, her sled dog caught up—skinny, bony, unlike others.
Nasty wound on its neck.
"Whine...."
"It's fine, Glacial. Not your fault.... Good job. Head underground now."
She booped its nose.
Glacial instantly died, flesh rotting to yellow bones in seconds.
She opened her bag and collected them.
"Anyway, that guy had Harin next to him, right?"
She recalled the face beside the man.
Too charmed then to notice, but it was definitely Seol Harin.
"Why's my little sis hanging with a thug like that?"
Her name: Seol Hajeong.
Eldest daughter of Korea's top conglomerate,
And Seol Harin's big sis.
Also,
"Well, third-year fieldwork ends soon—I'll find out then."
A current third-year at Ark Academy.
Clatter—
Bag full of bones, she trudged away from the track.
Last place disqualification, but mood was good.
"Things'll get fun when I get back. As her big sis... and Student Council President...."
Another anticipation warmed her chest.