Dickhead Youth (1)
I sent Shin Yu-hee off with her five wins. I immediately scooped up everything she'd left behind and hauled it back to my room. By now, she was probably meeting up with Estiel, chatting about Goddess Points.
Too bad I couldn't give her a heads-up beforehand.
Estiel could see and hear every bit of this. I'd been careful not to let it slip to Shemiri or Chekhov and the others, but honestly? Even if I straight-up told them, "This place is a virtual space cooked up by angels," it wouldn't be a huge deal. They'd just kill me on the spot, that's all.
If Shemiri or Chekhov realized they were basically AI NPCs in a simulation—mere stepping stones for tutorial-stage hero candidates—a bloodbath would erupt. Shemiri and I had a decent rapport going now, so maybe she'd let it slide, but Chekhov? She's a wildcard. Sure, if by some miracle they bought the line, "Hey, we're just prepping folks to fight demons anyway," it might blow over. But no need to poke the bear.
The real headache was the higher-ups above Estiel. Once they reviewed her report and peeked at everything that went down here? If they got curious about how Chekhov's Arena churned out such prime output and dove into the details?
Yeah, gotta play it safe.
Last thing I wanted was to get flagged by some demon-hunting fanatic archangel and spend the rest of my days as a glorified demon-punching puppet hero. I'd lived that sucker's life in my first playthrough. This second round? I was doing me.
To throw off any suspicion about ditching the first clear, I'd planted one key seed: Was it because I'm a regressor that I cleared Chekhov's Arena like this? Nah. If I'd known about it from a previous loop, I'd have gunned straight for that first clear, no question. Maybe some angel would buy that logic. At least it gave me cover.
All I could do now was hope Estiel guided Shin Yu-hee right. She'd seen the girl's talent firsthand, so she'd hook her up with some cheat-level ability for that one Goddess Point. Whether a growth-type skill or something to bloom her knife talent, it'd give Shin Yu-hee the foundation to blast through the tutorial and become a full hero. Unless it was some snowball-from-scratch build like mine.
Handled the angel side, now to wrap this place up clean.
Leave Shin Yu-hee to Estiel. I'd tidy up the rest of Chekhov's Arena nice and neat. How? Business as usual, rolling with the punches.
"Well, well, a big fish has arrived."
I tracked down Grimwald first. The goblin lit up with a grin the second he spotted me, flipping open the stack of exchange vouchers and ledger by his side.
"Thanks to you, I've settled hundreds already. With Helma's brothel blowing sky-high, vouchers flooded the market—folks are snapping up goods left and right. Some are even paying premiums to cash 'em in. Heh."
"Twenty minutes ago, a baron from the noble alliance bit it."
"...Huh?"
"That girl I had tagging along? She hit five wins and bailed. Called out a noble alliance baron specifically."
"Ooh... That's worth celebrating, but you heading out right away?"
"Nah. Not planning to."
Grimwald tilted his head. Arena folk who'd wandered over to the exchange started perking up, eavesdropping hard.
"Why not? Got revenge on someone?"
"Obviously. Spread the word to everyone in the arena—a 'warning.'"
"Warning?"
"Yeah. My prey." I jabbed at the voucher pile I'd earned him. "Make it known far and wide: I'm staking every last one of these to call out Park Chang-su—the guy who came in with me as my five-win sacrifice."
"Ho ho..."
"One more thing. If anyone steps up as Park Chang-su's proxy, tell 'em I'll proxy for the opponent, no questions asked. Anyone he calls out can come to me, and I'll sub in for free."
"...Ruthless, or what? What the hell did he do to you?"
"He knows better than anyone."
Everyone knew. From the moment I'd offed Helma, who the strongest human in this arena was. No one was stepping up to back a marked man like that.
Park Chang-su had two outs: the system's protection until nominations opened. Or hitting five wins and bailing before me. Unless he pulled off a miracle while I was balls-deep and distracted, he was a dead man walking, sweating bullets somewhere in the shadows, waiting for the axe.
If he grew a spine and tried something drastic? I'd handle it then. No paradise for runaways, right?
"These fresh vouchers enough to spread the rumor? Need more juice?"
"Please. Rumors are freebies around here. Hell, it's already spreading." Grimwald nodded at the arena denizens hanging on my every word behind me. "You think those guys'll keep quiet? Helma's crew's toast, you smoked a noble baron... Looks like the noble alliance is next."
"Not necessarily." Shin Yu-hee had just picked a comfy target from them on a whim.
"Don't care. Just Park Chang-su. Take that fucker down, and I'm good. If Chekhov bends the rules right now and lets me kill him and bounce, I'd dump every voucher here, hit five wins, and ghost."
"Less than two days left—she won't make exceptions. Got it. Anything else on the table?"
"Obviously." I pulled out my room key. "Renew this, and snag me a few more rooms while you're at it."
"Rooms...?"
"Yeah. You got plenty, right?"
"Taking care of your old crew? All of 'em?"
"You know it."
Vouchers turned to trash in two days anyway. Folks figured they'd trade for gear and smuggle it out, but to me? Useless.
"Everyone but Park Chang-su. Single rooms, same grade as mine. One per head. Doable?"
"Vouchers aren't the issue." Grimwald stuffed a fistful into his pocket, grinning sleazily. "Want the girls near your room?"
Real subtle.
"Nah. Mix 'em up. Random as fuck. Floors, numbers—shred the lot."
"Huh? Why? Next door's easier to hit up."
"They'll sniff me out anyway."
"......."
Grimwald gawked, then stroked his chin, face shifting. "...How about swapping your room for one with a bed that fits five more?"
"You got that?"
"Yup."
"Hook it up. And toss in a decent one-handed axe."
Figured. Cozy with management had its perks.
"Oh, and if she comes looking? Just tip me off where I am."
* * *
Key in hand from Grimwald, I cracked open the door to what felt like the VIP suite.
"Damn."
Luxury on steroids. Familiar to me by now, but first-timers? Jaw-drop city. Like a mini noble lord's chamber ripped from medieval fantasy—opulent as hell. The kind that screamed decadence.
"Ah, fuck."
Half-expecting it, I beelined for the bathroom—and yeah, the curse flew out.
"Tub's in here."
There it was. Massive, big enough for two easy.
Should've skipped the standing shower and soaked with Shin Yu-hee, fucked slow and lazy.
No helping it. She was gone. I flopped onto the bed.
"Alright, then—"
Knock knock knock.
Mid-thought about a soak, the knock hit. I had a guess who, but if wrong? Handle accordingly. Door swung open with a creak.
A girl outside bowed deep. "O-oppa...!"
Kim Chae-rin. Solo. No one else. Fastest on the draw, sharpest move.
"Who...?"
"K-Kim Chae-rin."
"Know. Spill—what's up?"
"Gonna leave me out here?"
"Problem?"
"...Oppa."
She glanced around, shook her head quick. "No one's here. Just me."
"Got it."
"......."
"......."
"I mean."
"State your business. Bottom line."
"The armor Shin Yu-hee wore... I want it."
Called it. Knew someone'd covet her castoffs. And boom, here she was.
"Lend it to me?"
"What're you offering?"
"...Me too."
Kim Chae-rin clenched her fist, pointing low. "I can suck dick too."
"Hm..."
"N-not just sucking... I'll do it."
"Yeah? Fine then." I waved her off. "Fetch Choi Yu-jin first."
"Huh? Why Yu-jin unnie...?"
"Even cold water has a top and bottom."
Hierarchy had to be crystal.
"Order of things."
How much mana would this net me?