Chapter 186
Chapter 186
Chapter 186: Special Match (3)
Translation: godtl
"Leoni Wolf? What are you doing here?"
Si-mun's face was filled with bewilderment.
It was only natural.
Leoni Wolf.
In his past life, she was the younger sister of Fabian Wolf—Odin's sponsor and Germany's high-ranker.
At the same time, she was a formidable player in her own right, strong enough to rise to the ranks of high-rankers.
But above all else—
'Leoni was brave, sure, but she wasn't the type to throw her life away like this.'
Despite her tough and valiant fighting style,
Leoni Wolf was a cautious individual.
So much so that Fabian, who had been chosen by Odin, often entrusted her with the role of raid leader.
Had she read the expression on Si-mun's face?
"You seem surprised to see me here."
Leoni Wolf curled the corner of her lips.
Si-mun gave a small shake of his head.
"It'd be a lie to say I'm not. A cautious person like you, in a place like this?"
"Cautious, you say?"
Her eyebrow arched in sync with her smirk.
Leoni stared at Si-mun with an inscrutable gaze.
"It's something I hear often, but... we've only met once, haven't we?"
During the Platinum division of the National Tournament.
Leoni, who had been Germany's top player and Korea's final opponent.
After that, they hadn't even been matched together in the Arena.
"You seem to know me awfully well."
At her suspicion, Si-mun shrugged nonchalantly.
"Everyone keeps tabs on promising players from other countries, don't they?"
"That may be so, but... Honestly, I thought I'd be beneath your notice after that humiliating defeat."
Perhaps she was pleased that Si-mun remembered her.
"Guess I wasn't that forgettable after all."
Leoni's smile deepened.
"You're right, Kim Si-mun. I don't usually fight without a safety net."
"Then why did you enter the Special Match? Aren't you affiliated with Valtenberg?"
Valtenberg.
A prestigious German family and the current strongest guild in Germany.
Which meant—
'They must have accessed the information I leaked through the Black Market.'
The intel he had disseminated through Lin, the intermediary—that the Death Exemption Talisman would appear in the achievement shop in a week.
Valtenberg's guild should have been aware of it.
Yet this woman, who prided herself on caution, had jumped into the Special Match without the talisman?
"I didn't know I was this emotional either, but..."
A tinge of bitterness swirled within her deepening smile.
Then—
"Let's just say it's because of you, Kim Si-mun."
"Me?"
Si-mun was momentarily stunned by the abrupt statement.
Then—
"Ah."
He let out a small sigh.
'Is it because of her defeat in the last National Tournament?'
Leoni Wolf.
As mentioned earlier, she was a valiant player.
And thanks to her added caution, she had even earned the favor of Brynhildr, the vanguard of Valhalla and a Constellation.
But—
'Well, she was always insanely competitive in my past life too.'
Perhaps it was the inherent belligerence of combat-oriented players?
Her bravery was heavily backed by an overwhelming desire to win.
Even in the regular Arenas of his past life—
'Whenever Germany's ranking dropped, Valtenberg Guild would immediately go into emergency mode.'
They'd impose a complete media blackout, seal all information leaks,
and drive the entire guild through hellish training until they secured victory in the next event match.
Naturally, even her older brother, Fabian Wolf—a high-ranker himself—was no exception.
And now, that very woman was saying—
"You're right. Just as you thought, Kim Si-mun. Ever since my defeat at your hands in the National Tournament, I haven't been able to sleep properly."
Even after wielding the power of a Constellation, she had been utterly crushed.
How could she possibly maintain her usual composure?
"It wasn't even a proper fight I lost."
Even now, the memory seemed humiliating.
"Falling asleep out of nowhere? What kind of nonsense is that?!"
Her face flushed red as her voice rose sharply.
Leoni glared at Si-mun with piercing eyes.
"What the hell did you do? How did you put me to sleep when I had the power of a Constellation?"
Under the weight of her intensity—
"Uh..."
Si-mun scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"Honestly, I don't really know either."
"What?"
It was clearly not the answer she had expected.
Leoni froze for a moment in blank astonishment.
But what could she do?
"It's the truth. I just used a skill, and you fell asleep."
That was the honest fact.
'Though Odin and the other Constellations seemed to know something about it... I genuinely have no idea.'
Of course, after Leoni had fallen asleep,
the Constellations' conversation had hinted at some deeper meaning behind it all—but that was all.
As far as Si-mun was concerned, he truly had no clue.
"Well, whatever. It doesn't matter. We can settle it in the next Arena match."
At Leoni's muttered words, Si-mun's expression darkened slightly.
'If Leoni dies here, it'll be a problem...'
Beyond her vastly superior stats compared to the National Tournament,
Leoni Wolf was one of the high-rankers who had led the European players to the very end—
even after Europe fell and they were forced to migrate to America.
Unlike the Demon King Faust,
she was someone who clearly distinguished right from wrong,
and time and again, she had stopped Faust's power-drunk madness.
'Leoni has to live.'
Leoni Wolf was someone who absolutely had to survive.
But.
'Even if I do everything to protect her, in a Survival match, she'll still end up dead...'
The Survival event.
A mode where only one out of a hundred could live—
no matter how hard he tried to keep her alive, in the end, he would have to kill her himself.
Then.
[Constellation Odin speaks:"Hey, kids? I've got a favor to ask." He turns to the other Constellations.]
[Four Constellations tilt their heads at Odin in confusion.]
Si-mun recalled Odin's earlier reaction.
Soon after—
[Constellation Odin speaks:"Well... Brynhildr asked me to spare this one. Mind helping out?" He gives an awkward smile.]
[Constellation Black Goat snaps back sharply:"Bullshit. If she ran wild without knowing her place, she should pay the price."]
[Constellation Heavenly Demon smirks:"Courage without strength is mere recklessness."]
[Constellation Baal nods slowly:"Hmm."]
The Constellations' reactions poured in one after another.
But.
[Constellation Odin whines:"Damn it! You know Brynhildr's the vanguard of Valhalla! Cut me some slack here!"]
[Constellation Zeus strokes his beard regretfully:"A god-king's dignity is important. I'd vote in favor, but..."]
Only Zeus responded favorably to Odin.
The other Constellations remained indifferent.
At this—
'Wait, is there a way to save Leoni?'
Si-mun tilted his head briefly in thought.
Then—
'Right! Rule Intervention! Since this isn't an irregular Arena, Rule Intervention is possible!'
His eyes gleaming, Si-mun turned to the Constellations and spoke up.
"I share Brynhildr-nim's concerns."
"What are you suddenly talking about? Why would Brynhildr-nim—?"
Leoni, standing beside him, questioned him, but Si-mun neatly ignored her and continued.
"If there's a way, I beg you to spare her."
Fortunately, did his words take effect?
[Constellations Odin and Zeus turn their gleaming eyes toward you.]
[Three Constellations fall silent at your words.]
Apart from Odin and Zeus, the other three Constellations sank into momentary silence—
[Constellation Black Goat grumbles:"Hmm... The person in question isn't even here. Should our kid really be the one bringing this up first?" She gives a displeased look.]
Black Goat shattered the brief silence.
Then—
[Constellation Brynhildr appears promptly, as if waiting:"It is an honor to stand before such exalted beings. I am Brynhildr of Valhalla." She bows deeply in greeting.]
[Constellation Black Goat looks down at her:"What kind of half-assed courtesy is this? If you have a request, crawl here yourself. Why send our kid and that brat?"]
[Constellation Heavenly Demon sneers:"Hoho! No wonder your sponsored one is so reckless."]
[Constellation Baal strokes his chin and nods:"Hmm."]
The Constellations unanimously criticized Brynhildr.
In response—
[Constellation Brynhildr bows even deeper:"This lowly one dared not approach your exalted presences directly, fearing it would be discourteous. I beg you to set aside your displeasure."]
Brynhildr bowed her head even deeper in apology.
Fortunately, it seemed to have an effect.
[Constellation Black Goat pursed her lips and said,"Well, anyway. Just like Athena, these youngsters these days are quick to read the room."]
[Constellation Heavenly Demon and Baal nodded solemnly in agreement.]
The opposition from the three Constellations had softened somewhat.
[Constellation Black Goat tilted her head and asked,"But... with just empty hands?"]
[Constellation Brynhildr hastily replied,"Of course not! I have prepared offerings for all esteemed beings here—"]
[Constellation Black Goat snorted and gave her a pointed look."Ha! You really think your paltry offerings would mean anything to us?"]
'Huh? Why am I suddenly involved?'
Si-mun blinked in surprise as Black Goat's sudden attention turned toward him.
[Constellation Brynhildr immediately bowed her head."This lowly one was ignorant and failed to grasp your profound intentions!"]
But soon, a message window popped up, revealing the reason.
Si-mun checked the mission.
[Mission]
- Constellation Brynhildr wishes for her sponsored player, Leoni Wolf, to survive.
Ensure Leoni Wolf survives this Arena.
Reward: Brynhildr's Armor (One-time use)
And then—
"Insane!"
The exclamation burst out of him before he could stop it.
And for good reason.
'Brynhildr's Armor—that's the same armor that allowed Leoni Wolf to tank against the Dragon Emperor, isn't it?!'
Brynhildr's Armor.
Also known as the Valkyrie Suit, it was the very armor that had allowed Leoni Wolf to hold her ground against the Dragon Emperor during its descent in Europe.
Back then, while her brother Fabian Wolf led the assault against the Dragon Emperor, Leoni had been the one enduring its attacks—thanks to this very armor.
Si-mun slowly nodded as he read the words "one-time use."
'Seeing that it's labeled as one-time, it must be the same armor used during the Dragon Emperor's descent.'
After Europe fell and the survivors fled to America—
'After the Dragon Emperor's descent, she never demonstrated that level of tanking ability again.'
In fact, after relocating to America, hadn't she even admitted in an interview that 'that level of endurance was only temporary'?
Most likely, she had obtained Brynhildr's Armor through a sponsorship or quest and used it specifically against the Dragon Emperor.
"I accept."
Si-mun quickly confirmed the mission.
At that—
[Constellation Heavenly Demon stroked his beard and chuckled."Hoho. It seems the sincerity has won them over."]
[Constellation Black Goat nodded."If they're willing to lend that out, they must be serious about this."]
[Constellation Baal smiled in satisfaction."Hmm!"]
The reactions of the three Constellations rose in unison.
[Constellation Odin bounced excitedly."Hehe! So everyone's in agreement, then?"]
[Constellation Zeus turned toward Si-mun and nodded with a pleased smile.]
The approving responses of the two other Constellations followed.
A moment later—
[Condition 'Cooperation' has been added.]
[All participants will now form teams of two.]
An unbelievable result appeared.
"W-what?!"
"What kind of nonsense is this?"
"Cooperation? Out of nowhere?"
Gasps poured out across the dim desert sands.
And who could blame them?
"Wasn't this supposed to be Survival?"
"Hey! What's this 'cooperation' nonsense in a Survival match?!"
Because in the middle of a Survival match, a sudden Cooperation condition had been added.
Dozens of matched heteromorphs stared in bewilderment at the floating system notification.
One of them finally spoke up.
"Don't tell me... a Constellation just performed a Rule Intervention?"
And with that—
"What? Rule Intervention?"
"What kind of insane Constellation would interfere in a mere Platinum Arena?!"
"Right. Is there some demi-god race here or something?"
"None of the races here seem capable of that."
The murmurs spread like wildfire among the heteromorphs.
Amidst the clamor, a golden-haired woman listened quietly.
'Cooperation in a Survival match? Ridiculous.'
Leoni Wolf let out a dry laugh.
Then—
'Wait. Come to think of it, didn't Kim Si-mun mention Brynhildr earlier?'
Her smirk vanished in an instant.
'And didn't he just accept something? No way—!'
Her head instinctively whipped toward Si-mun.
"Hey, Kim—"
Just as she was about to call out to him—
[All participants have been matched.]
[You have been paired with Player Kim Si-mun.]
[Location: Duat's 'Desert of the Scales.']
A series of messages appeared.
Whoosh—
The surrounding sands darkened into a chilling monochrome.