Chapter 673: I'm Trying to Terminate My Contract with the Goddess, but She's Obsessed [R-18] (19)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 673: I'm Trying to Terminate My Contract with the Goddess, but She's Obsessed [R-18] (19)
Verdandi suddenly suggested I try meditating.
“How about you try meditating?”
“All of a sudden?”
“Yes. You’ve gained a new power, and now your precious lover has returned… Shouldn’t you work on resolving your other issues?”
“Hmm, but I don’t think meditating will solve them right away.”
“Doing something is better than doing nothing. And meditating consistently like this will be more helpful than searching for Skuld.”
As always, Verdandi didn’t forget to offer practical advice. Her blue eyes seemed to pierce right through me.
“True… you have a point.”
Deep down, I figured there had to be a reason she brought this up right now, at this specific moment. I couldn’t just dismiss the words of a goddess of fate.
Since I had no reason to refuse, I decided to act on it immediately.
I sat on the floor in the lotus position. She sat across from me and spoke softly.
“I’ll stay by your side.”
I began to meditate, but at first, my mind was filled with all sorts of distracting thoughts. The Survival, the Eight Immortals, the Predation ability, and even the still-hazy memories of my past.
[Trait: Clear Mirror, Still Water is activated.]
The distracting thoughts in my head vanished. The meditation itself didn't bring about any dramatic changes.
Just my head clearing up a bit thanks to the Clear Mirror, Still Water effect, I guess?
I continued to meditate steadily for the remainder of the time, and before I knew it, the day of the Survival main tournament had arrived.
*
The day of the Survival main tournament.
The Gangnam Sports Complex was decorated even more lavishly than it had been for the preliminaries. Giant holographic billboards adorned the sky, and tens of thousands of spectators had gathered.
First up was the monster hunt, wasn't it?
I retraced my memories of the original story. The format involved participants competing against each other in a virtual space created by the gods while simultaneously hunting monsters they had also created.
The monsters’ strength and the points awarded for killing them varied by color and size. White ones were weak but gave few points, while black ones were strong but worth a lot.
You passed once you reached the target score, first come, first served.
I remembered that the protagonist of the original story had started gaining significant attention at this stage. He had used his Power of Synchronicity to pull off a series of miraculous feats of luck.
I looked around the waiting room.
All the other participants were staring at me, their wariness unconcealed.
They’ll probably target me first.
They weren't a threat to me individually, but if they ganged up on me, it would just be a nuisance.
If I had reached the Profound Realm, there would be no reason to continue participating in the Survival.
But since I hadn't, I had no choice but to keep participating, if only for Verdandi's safety.
After waiting for a long while in tense silence, the start of the first round of the main tournament was finally announced.
“Participants, you will now move to the transfer gates.”
With the familiar announcement, a shimmering blue portal opened in front of me. As I stepped through it, the scenery before my eyes changed in an instant.
A vast, primeval forest. Trees that looked to be hundreds of years old completely blotted out the sky, making the forest dark and damp despite it being broad daylight. The cries of unidentifiable creatures filled the air.
This round didn't have a time limit, right?
I checked the bracelet on my wrist.
[Survival Main Tournament Round 1 will now begin.]
Rules: Automatically advance upon acquiring a final score of 1,000 points.
Points are awarded for each kill based on color.
- Gray: 10 points
- Blue: 50 points
- Red: 100 points
- Gold: 500 points
One thousand points… That means I’d have to kill a hundred gray monsters.
Considering the competition with other participants, it was more realistic to aim for higher-grade monsters.
There’s only one gold monster…
In the original story, the gold monster was only ever mentioned. A few participants had challenged it before, but all had failed. Since the gold monster was different each time, no strategy for defeating it existed.
But I knew the identity of this round’s gold monster, thanks to the original story.
It was a replica of Typhon.
The father of all monsters in Greek mythology. Calling it a replica was just the staff's blatant warning to not even think about touching it and to just run away.
Maybe I should crush it for some publicity.
In my hand was the new sword Danya had painstakingly crafted for me, and I was wearing a custom coat emblazoned with the symbol representing her.
Danya would want me to put on a spectacular performance.
Besides, this entire event was being broadcast live. Leaving a strong impression while the gods and the general public were watching would be beneficial in many ways.
Most importantly, the moment I wielded Gram, my power was revealed to the entire world. This was my chance to send a clear warning to the factions targeting Verdandi.
I lightly gripped the hilt of my new sword and examined the blade. It was perfectly balanced, just as expected of Danya’s craftsmanship.
For now, I'll warm up by hunting some gray or blue monsters.
Following the roars of monsters in the distance, I cautiously made my way deeper into the forest. The sounds of other participants already engaged in battle echoed from all directions.
*
Meanwhile, in the spectators' gallery where the gods were gathered.
In a VIP viewing box adorned with brilliant crystals, dozens of gods were watching the Survival on a massive screen. Each was commenting on the participants they sponsored or found interesting.
In one corner, Freya was biting her nails as she watched the man on the screen.
So annoying. Because of that man… my reputation lately…
The more famous Jin Seo-yun became, the more the video that had spread across the internet resurfaced.
She had used her authority to delete it all, but there was no way to erase it from the minds of those who had already seen it.
Her gaze was fixed solely on Jin Seo-yun. No matter what flashy techniques the other participants displayed, they didn't register in her eyes.
“Freya, why are you so fidgety?”
Idun, a friendly goddess sitting next to her, asked with a worried expression. Startled, Freya snapped back to her senses. She tried her best to act nonchalant as she replied.
“It’s nothing… I’m just not in a good mood…”
“Ah, it’s because of Verdandi’s contractor, isn’t it?”
Idun nodded in understanding as she pointed at the screen.
“No, it’s not! I don’t care about a man like him!”
Freya’s face flushed as she shot to her feet and shouted. The gazes of the surrounding gods all turned to her.
“If it’s not, it’s not. Why are you suddenly getting so angry? You’re acting really strange today.”
Idun looked up at Freya with a puzzled expression.
“I’m sorry… I got carried away…”
Freya mumbled an excuse and sat back down. But her eyes remained glued to the screen.
Idun studied Freya’s expression carefully and muttered, “Don’t tell me… you’re interested in him after he insulted you like that?”
“...Of course not.”
Just then, a woman with an unpleasant voice chimed in.
“Oh my, so that’s the man who called you a slut. He’s handsome.”
At the sound of that seductive yet decadent voice, Freya’s head turned as if on a rusty hinge.
“…Aphrodite. What are you doing here?”
“I came to see the human who’s become the talk of the town among the gods lately.”
Freya felt a surge of irritation but did her best to suppress it.
Dignity… I must maintain my dignity… Getting worked up means I lose.
“Hmm, I like that man.”
Aphrodite licked her lips as she watched Jin Seo-yun on the screen. Unlike the other participants, he moved with a relaxed air as he hunted monsters, reminiscent of the heroes of old.
“I wonder what he’s like in bed…”
Her gaze then shifted toward Verdandi.
“Verdandi, how is he? Have you had a taste of that man? Or are you still a virgin?”
“Huhu, let’s just say Master Seo-yun is truly incredible.”
Verdandi smiled, a faint blush on her cheeks. But her smile held a strange sort of confidence.
“Oh my, so you’ve already experienced him? I’m jealous.”
“Huhu, I’ll have to say no comment.”
“How cute. What do you say, Verdandi? Want to play with me? I’ve been interested in you for a while. How about we include your contractor, too?”
Aphrodite whispered, placing a hand on Verdandi’s shoulder.
“Oh my, I’ll have to decline that offer.”
“What a shame.”
“You vulgar bitch. If you’re going to act like that, get out of here.”
Freya’s sharp words cut through the air.
Aphrodite smiled leisurely and sat down in the seat right next to Freya.
“Vulgar? That’s harsh. I’m just being true to my desires. But Freya, why are you so sensitive today?”
“Who’s sensitive?! I just can’t stand the sight of you!”
“You’re extra prickly today.”
Aphrodite smiled knowingly and pointed at the screen.
“More importantly, it looks like that man is heading over there, doesn’t it?”
At her words, the gods focused on the screen. On it, Jin Seo-yun was heading into the depths of the forest, an area other participants were actively avoiding, where the darkness was thickest.
“Good heavens, is that human going to fight Typhon?” one of the gods exclaimed in horror.
“No, he couldn’t possibly know Typhon is there.”
“Hah, is this how he gets eliminated? Just when things were starting to get interesting.”
“Verdandi, what a pity. It seems your contractor is about to be eliminated.”
The other gods feigned sympathy, but inwardly, they were hoping he would be eliminated for real.
“Huhu, will he really?”
Verdandi just kept smiling as she watched the screen. Unlike the other gods, she showed no signs of worry.
Aphrodite looked at Verdandi.
“Why are you so relaxed? You don’t actually think that man can defeat Typhon, do you?”
“Who knows?”
“Interesting. The fact that you’re this composed… does that mean you know something?”
On the screen, Jin Seo-yun was venturing deeper and deeper into the darkness. The surrounding trees grew larger and more grotesque. And in the distance, the heavy thud of footsteps began to shake the ground.
“Grrrrrrr…”
A low growl blanketed the entire forest. The gods watching the screen tensed up.
“It’s appeared…”
“So that’s the replica of Typhon.”
Beyond the screen, a colossal shadow began to emerge from between the trees. It was the size of a building, its upper body resembling a human’s, but below its waist writhed hundreds of snake-like tails, like tentacles. Then, the replica of Typhon let out a deafening roar and spread its massive wings.
“Is that man going to run now?”
“Of course he will. No matter how strong he is, that thing is…”
But the Jin Seo-yun on the screen showed no signs of fleeing. Instead, he drew his sword and began to walk toward Typhon.
“Is… is that madman really going to fight it?”