Chapter 72
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: Enemies Meet on a Single Rope
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'There's a maxim you must never forget during the Selection Process.'
『Underestimate at your peril—there's no bottom, no end.』
If someone harms you, you have to pay them back somehow. Ignore it, and you'll face endless unfair treatment with no reprieve.
Of course, scraping by at rock bottom, I learned survival over revenge—but the core principle's the same. Hell, I made damn sure to repay those bastards just like me in kind.
"Baby, think we can make it up this time?"
"Yeah, somehow I reckon we can."
I looked down at the couple climbing the rope. Grunting and groaning, the pair wriggled upward like maggots. I watched them intently, every twitch.
Once they'd hit about a quarter of the way, I grabbed the line and yanked it up with a sharp tug.
"Wh-what the hell!"
"Huh?!"
The couple screamed in panic, clinging desperately to the rope as they stared up at me.
"Honey, looks like someone's up top pulling the rope for us?"
"Whoever it is, guy's got some good instincts."
But the rope that had been hauling them up steadily soon ground to a halt. I'd reeled them in just ten meters or so, then let go. No sooner had they started thanking me than the complaints flew.
"Hey! If you're gonna pull us up, put some real muscle into it!"
"Yeah! What was the point of that half-assed tug?!"
Ten meters—they should've been grateful. Instead, they bitched that it wasn't enough.
"Fuck, you listening to us up there?!"
I thought back to the folks who'd thanked me politely as they passed earlier. What a contrast. I leaned out and called down.
"Oh, yeah, I'm listening. But who the hell is this? Isn't this the pair who cut my rope a minute ago?"
"Uh... what?"
The woman stared hard at my face, then her eyes went wide. Flustered, she pointed me out to her boyfriend.
"It's that asshole from before."
"Who?"
"You know, the unlucky prick whose rope we cut, baby."
Ah? The guy caught on a beat later and glared up at me.
"You fucking bastard, how the hell are you still alive?"
"......"
"Pull this rope up nice now, before I come up there and beat your ass black and blue for everything."
I couldn't believe it.
What the fuck gave him the balls to talk like that?
Was the guy just stupid?
At least the woman had some brains—she fidgeted, unsure, without grinding my gears like her boyfriend.
I tossed back a line.
"Fuck off."
"Huh? What'd you just say?"
"Your dick. Can't even fight worth shit, but strutting 'cause your girl's watching."
"You lost your fucking mind?! Stay right there, asshole! I'm coming up now!"
The guy started climbing toward me. As he tried to pass his girlfriend, I deliberately drew my sword and waved it right in front of them.
"You might wanna stay put. Or I cut this rope?"
"Bullshit! Go ahead, cut it! Like a weak-ass runt like you could kill anyone—keep dreaming!"
But when I pressed the blade right against it and sliced a bit, making the line sway wildly, the guy finally froze and looked up. "Uh-oh?" Panic etched clear on his face.
The woman, even more freaked, yelled up at me.
"W-wait a sec! Y-you're really gonna cut it?!"
Even switching to polite speech. I nodded.
"Your boyfriend told me to."
"N-no, wait! Don't! W-we'll apologize! For just now and earlier—please!"
The woman was quick on the uptake, at least. Knew when to bend.
But the guy? He sensed the shit hitting the fan but swallowed his pride instead of apologizing, just watching.
"Please don't cut the rope!"
"Hm."
I trailed off, sword still in hand. Her face went ghost-white. Their fate, dangling on that tightrope, hung entirely on my mood.
'This enough payback?'
I nodded at the sullen guy, whose ass was clearly clenching.
"Fine. Won't cut it."
"Th-thank you!"
Relief washed over her. The guy spat and grumbled.
"Ptoo. Fucking retard scaring us for no reason."
"B-baby, shh. He'll hear you."
Too late—I'd heard it all. I flashed a grin down at the woman, who looked up awkwardly with a forced smile.
With that settled, they resumed climbing the rope. Or tried to.
"Nngh..."
But they couldn't.
"Come on, baby, you got this."
"I-I'm trying... b-but..."
The woman, drained from tussling with me, stalled out. Even the guy—stronger, with more stamina—couldn't make progress while "helping" her.
...Yeah, that was the point. I'd stalled just for this.
'Revenge in the Selection Process is cruel.'
Not a straight kill.
Toy with 'em plenty first.
Cripple their limbs so they can't live or die easy. Toss 'em to monsters as breeding holes or hosts.
'Not really my style for hardcore torture.'
But after a decade of seeing that shit, it rubbed off on me subconsciously.
Case in point: back in the Tutorial, when those pricks eyed my gear, I chucked my axe at their knees, not heads.
Brain says "no loose ends," but body targets spots that don't kill quick.
Legs first, so they can't run.
"Nngh... nngh... Ah, no good."
"Can't make it, baby? Then rest down below and try again."
"Y-yeah... sounds good."
They started descending the rope. That's when I yanked it up.
"Huh?"
"What the fuck are you doing?!"
I reeled it in, positioning them between me and the rest area far below. No safe spots to lean—no ledge, nothing. Let go, and splat.
"You prick!"
The pissed-off guy climbed toward me. I lowered the rope just enough. Confusion flashed in his eyes.
We both knew it then.
He had no strength left to reach me.
"B-baby!"
Even if he could, his girl was one slip from plummeting. To keep her safe, he'd have to scoot down and brace her ass on his shoulders right now.
Whoosh!
Right on cue—he slid back down to support her. I hoisted the rope again.
"Hang in there just a bit, baby."
"How long?! I'm dying here!"
"Just hold on. That asshole's gripping the rope to drop us. Dumb fuck. We just endure till he tires and slips. Then we slide to safety below, rest up, chase him down, and fuck him raw."
Oh? Clocked me holding it one-handed already? Decent eye—but still a moron. Low IQ.
'Just cut the damn rope first?'
No need, though. I was comfy.
"Light as a feather."
Two people dangling, and one arm did it. Strength 120 perks. From gorging on stat shards in that sea pit.
I flexed casually with one arm, and the guy lost it.
"Let go now! Wanna die for real?!"
Still clueless. Begging for worse.
"B-baby... I can't anymore."
She whined about dying of exhaustion.
But look closer—she was the problem too. Perched on her boyfriend like a throne, what was so tiring?
She could fool him, but her grip and tensed muscles? She was lounging comfy on his shoulders.
Pulling the saint act.
"Baby, do something."
"You get off easy if I survive this!"
Boyfriend puffed up with macho bullshit for her sake.
As they flailed and cursed,
I pinned them to the sheer cliff with the rope—loosen if they climbed, reel if they dropped. Toyed like cats with yarn.
Despair crept over their faces.
Strength gone, death inching close.
"...Damn it."
Resignation hit—the moment they decided to let go. That's when I spoke up.
"Wanna live?"
Their faces lit up.
"But I've got terms."
"Terms...?"
"Yeah. Let me taste your girl."
Hope flickered briefly—then the guy erupted.
"Fuck that! Better to die!"
Damn. Tramples others' lives easy, laughs it off, but his own? Passionate fire. Optimized for the Selection Process, like the Crimson Flame Witch.
Problem was, that pissed me off.
"Really wanna die that bad?"
"Yeah!"
"Your girl's thinking different, though."
"What...?"
Perched on his shoulders, she knew she was next if he dropped. She pondered seriously.
And I saw right through it.
'Debating: agree after he falls, or before?'
No boyfriend guilt later, but solos the Trials ahead alone.
"B-baby? No, right?"
She decided.
"...Baby, cooperate, please."
"What? Crawling to that prick? No way! Better die than—!"
"You...! Don't care if your girl dies?! I wanna live!"
Her outburst cowed him.
"B-but..."
"But what?! Got anything to say? Should've prevented this! Useless and embarrassing! Shut up and cooperate!"
"......"
Stung silent by her barbs. I asked again.
"So, what's the verdict?"
"I-I'll do it!"
"Alright, sending another rope right beside. Switch over— you only."
She grabbed the new line I dropped. I released his, then hauled hers up steadily.
Her face drew closer, inch by inch.