Chapter 775: Maliet Hister’s Heritage Site (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 775: Maliet Hister’s Heritage Site (5)
When she opened her eyes, she saw the record windows glowing blue, the footage having just ended.
For a long while, Valeria stared at them as if gazing at the stars, unable to look away.
[How, was it. My master’s, world.]
“It was very beautiful.”
Valeria answered the golem’s question without a moment’s hesitation.
A film of moisture gathered at the corners of her eyes.
Jin hesitated for a moment before reaching out his right hand toward Valeria’s left. His calloused hand brushed against the back of hers before gently covering it. She did not pull away.
Was my teacher’s hand always this small?
It felt quite different from when he had held her hand in his past life. It was because Jin was so much larger now than he had been back then. In his previous life, Jin had mostly leaned on Valeria, but now it was the opposite.
The two lay there for a while, staring up at the ceiling.
Do not push your life into a place of desolation and ruin.
Maliet’s final words ignited a fire within Valeria that she had never harbored before.
The capacity to love the world, for instance.
Even if she had to carry a cruel fate from birth, lose those she walked with, and spend her days chasing a distant revenge like a phantom…
Even so, the idea that one must occasionally fill their life with something bright, the impulse to reach out to another—this was Maliet's legacy to Valeria.
Jin, too, was deeply moved by Maliet’s great life.
As Maliet had said, the world needed more children who weren't forced into fighting.
“Valeria.”
“Yes?”
“It makes me happy to feel like you’re getting better.”
Those were words Jin had often heard from Valeria in his past life. Whenever Jin managed to crawl out of his ruinous state, Valeria would praise him just like that.
[Oh, look at this. What a nice picture. Oooooh.]
[Khahaha! This is no time to be playing at romance, is it?]
The ones who appeared, speaking like third-rate villains, were Zen and Teben. Jin and Valeria naturally let go of each other's hands as they stood up.
[So, are you ready to take the Grand Test we’ve prepared with our heart and soul?]
While Jin and Valeria were watching Maliet’s life, five hours had passed outside. During that time, Zen and Teben had carefully deliberated and prepared a test to determine if they would hand over the communication device.
The golem sighed and shook its head.
[Zen, Teben. They really, act like, they won't, give the, communication device, if you, fail. Even though, they made it, to give, to their descendants, this is, such strange behavior.]
[Hmph! Just as Maliet left traps, we are simply conducting a test!]
[Indeed! You can’t just get things for free.]
Teben and Zen’s faces were flushed with excitement, and their eyes were wide and frantic, despite them being ghosts.
They had already gained enough achievements and emotional resonance from the Heritage Site, but they couldn't afford to leave without the ultra-long-distance communication device, which was their primary goal.
If it were a test of martial prowess like the traps in the Heritage Site, there would be no reason to be nervous. However, it didn't seem like the two of them would demand a battle.
What kind of test is it?
I expect it’ll be something related to magic or magitech.
Even if it were a test involving such problems, they were confident. Jin and Valeria were both skilled enough to get perfect scores on even the highest-level academy exams in Viment or Zipple.
Just as a hint of tension and curiosity began to rise, Teben stepped forward.
[Kyakyakya! It seems you’ve finally grasped the situation. Why, are you afraid the test will be too difficult?]
[Nothing in this world is easy!]
“Ancestor, and Dr. Zen. What is the test you have prepared?”
[That is!]
[None other than!]
[Right now!]
[Rock!]
[Paper!]
[Scissors!]
[It is!]
The sight of Zen and Teben speaking alternately while striking bizarre poses left Jin and Valeria speechless for a moment.
“……Rock-paper-scissors?”
“We just have to win a game of rock-paper-scissors against you two?”
[Kyakyakyakya! Yes, rock-paper-scissors! No matter how strong you are, there is no answer to this.]
[Mm! Thinking of this fair and perfect test has enriched my life as a researcher.]
[I say this on the name of Hister: if you cannot defeat us at rock-paper-scissors, there is no communication device!]
To think the result of five hours of intense deliberation was rock-paper-scissors…
Jin was speechless once again, but Valeria felt herself getting somewhat swept up in their pace.
In Valeria’s mind, rock-paper-scissors was purely a game of luck. One could lose in the blink of an eye.
[For your information, the two of us have been training in rock-paper-scissors for the past three hundred and fifty years.]
[Teben and I are practically the Great Demon Kings of Rock-Paper-Scissors. No, we are the Great Demon Kings. Can fledglings like you possibly defeat us?]
“Ancestor, you just said it was a fair test.”
[Who will come first? The rules are simple. The first team to win twenty rounds is the victor! Each person has ten lives. If you lose ten times, you’re out. Conversely, you can keep fighting your opponent until you lose ten times.]
[Decide on your vanguard. Teben Hister will go first for us. The strongest always appears last, so I have no choice but to follow Teben.]
[What are you talking about, Zen? You clearly said just now that since I’m stronger, I should go first to break their spirits…]
[Ahem, there must be a mosquito buzzing around. Who’s coming out first?]
Jin and Valeria exchanged troubled glances. Valeria decided to go first. Jin was the one currently maintaining his composure, after all.
“I will go first, Ancestor.”
[Yes, a battle between Hister and Hister is much better to look at. Kekehe, let us begin! Rock, paper, scissors!]
When Teben suddenly shouted the command and thrust his hand out, Valeria responded reflexively. The result: Teben’s paper, Valeria’s rock.
“Ugh.”
[Kyakyakyakya! This is the dignity of an ancestor. Rock-paper-scissors is psychological warfare. While I have mastered it, you are a mere novice… Most people instinctively throw rock when they’re flustered. That’s why you lost! Rock, paper, scissors!]
“Ah.”
[Scissors? I have rock! My victory again. Fine, next time I shall throw paper. You will win if you throw scissors. Huhuhu, can you throw scissors? It’s not a difficult task. Rock, paper, scissors! Oh dear, you threw paper instead of scissors? How unfortunate.]
Valeria had thrown paper to counter Teben’s rock, but Teben had anticipated even that and thrown scissors.
“You clearly said you would throw paper…”
[The world of competition is cold. You are paying the price for not trusting your ancestor! If you had thrown scissors as I said, you would have at least secured a draw. Keke, this is why you’re a fledgling. Rock, paper, scissors!]
Surprisingly, Teben’s claim of training in rock-paper-scissors for 350 years didn't seem to be a lie. He relentlessly shook Valeria’s composure, pressuring her psychologically and appearing to read her every move.
It’s no use. Teacher is completely caught in his pace.
Valeria, unusually flustered, continued the game.
When the match was over, the score between Teben and Valeria was 9 to 1. Valeria stared at the scoreboard the golem had written on a chalkboard, an expression of disbelief on her face. She never imagined she would face such a merciless defeat in rock-paper-scissors.
[Well done, Teben. You even had the leisure to lose one round. Did you show mercy because she’s a descendant?]
[Kekekeke. Zen, it looks like you won’t even get a chance to step up.]
[But don't let your guard down. That fellow hasn't lost his cool yet.]
[You aren't even my descendant, so I shall defeat you with a perfect record…]
Now Jin had to handle both of them alone.
“Jin, be careful. He’s a real master. How… can this be? It’s just rock-paper-scissors.”
Jin nodded and stepped forward. A lonely gust of wind blew from somewhere, passing between him and Teben.
[Runcandel fledgling, I’m going to throw rock.]
“Go ahead.”
[Oh? Acting tough, are we? Keke. Let’s see if your boldness can hold out. Rock, paper, scissors!]
Teben threw rock. Jin threw paper.
[Ho? I feel the urge to cook you using even higher-level psychology.]
“I will throw paper.”
[Provoking me in reverse? You need a lesson in manners! Rock, paper, scissors!]
This time Jin threw scissors, and Teben threw paper.
[……Scissors? There was no reason to throw scissors there!]
“Is that so? I just felt like changing it up.”
[You… you’re a master… Or are you just lucky?]
“Rock, paper, scissors. You have rock; as you can see, I threw paper.”
[What? I lost again?]
In that manner, Jin instantly crushed Teben’s momentum. Teben failed to win a single time out of his remaining nine lives.
Valeria watched Jin and Teben alternately with wide eyes.
[This can’t be! You cheated somehow!]
[No, cheating. Statistically, improbable, but, entirely, possible.]
[Step back, Teben. He was out of your league.]
As Zen stepped forward, speaking like a big shot, Teben glared at him through gritted teeth.
[Zen, stop acting like you’re stronger than me!]
[Hmph, to lose by skill and then make a pathetic scene by claiming cheating. I’m disappointed, Teben. Were you only a man of that caliber?]
[Why, you little—! Hey, don't hold me back!]
As the golem and Valeria held Teben back, Zen smirked.
[My whole body is trembling with the feeling of having met a worthy opponent after so long… Jin Runcandel. If you can defeat even me, Zen Rootber, I shall grant you the communication device.]
“If you’re ready, let’s begin.”
A moment of tension flowed between the two.
In truth, Zen was the only one excited and nervous. Jin was confident he could win every single round, whether they played a hundred or a thousand times.
I’m glad it’s rock-paper-scissors. If it were something like a coin toss, it would have been truly dangerous.
Rock-paper-scissors was a game that could never be fair to a warrior with superhuman visual perception.
Jin, who could see and dodge the swift sword of a 10-star knight, could not possibly miss the subtle shift in an opponent’s hand as it formed its shape.
Just like Teben before him, Zen didn't have the slightest clue about that fact.
[Rock, paper, scissors!]
“Rock. I win.”
[Ugh!]
“This time, I lost.”
[Rock, paper, scissors! Two wins in a row for me!]
Jin deliberately staged a close match. He judged it better to give Zen a satisfyingly close match before ultimately winning, rather than drawing unnecessary suspicion by crushing him outright.
[Paper!]
“Scissors!”
[Result, ten to eight, Jin, Runcandel, victory.]
Jin and Valeria high-fived and laughed, while Zen bowed his head for a moment before accepting the result.
[I should have just stuck with rock as I first intended… It was a good match, Jin Runcandel.]
[Zen must have learned a lot as well… Fufu, a lesson well-learned, Jin Runcandel. Bring the communication device, Zen. It is time for the winner to take all.]
This time, Teben acted like he was the bigger man.
[Don't get cocky! I’m definitely better than you at rock-paper-scissors!]
[And what’s the result of that 'great' rock-paper-scissors of yours? That’s why I said we should do a coin toss.]
The two bickered for a moment before bringing the communication device over together. Though harsh words were exchanged, it didn't seem like their feelings were truly hurt.
[Finally, I shall be free from my duty. Thank you for winning, our descendant and Jin Runcandel.]
[Congratulations, to the, new, successors.]
The golem clapped its hands, congratulating Jin and Valeria.