42. They say if a person changes overnight, they die.
Despite being shattered into pieces by Yudahee’s blow, the grotesque body did not completely die.
In front of the grotesque, reconstructed on Earth once again due to its immortality, there was a gathering of numerous Valkyries.
“Raise your hands and turn around, Grotesque!”
The opponent, who had been possessed by an outsider, had returned to being an ordinary contractor, even though the appearance and aura now seemed all lies, it was still no time to let one’s guard down.
The Valkyries, with their swords drawn, glared at the Grotesque, and –
Thud.
The Grotesque collapsed without any response.
Approaching the fallen figure without any reaction, a Valkyrie carefully turned him over.
“Ugh…!”
Then, she immediately covered her nose and backed away.
The acrid smoke coming from his nose and mouth, as if a person were burning from the inside, and moreover, his eyes were clouded over like those of a dead fish.
He looked no different from a dead body, although his heart was still weakly beating… but only for a moment, as it gradually stiffened and stopped.
This was the state of someone possessed by an outsider.
“Situation end, situation end… Tsk.”
I’ve seen my fair share of corpses, but Valkyrie wrinkled her nose at the sight of these particularly gruesome, contaminated bodies.
And leaving that scene behind…
In the extradimensional cosmos beyond, Yog-Sothoth brought the box from Shub-Niggurath’s hands.
“Alright, with this, the closed beta test is over~”
Shub-Niggurath, wearing a satisfied expression, had Yudahui nestled in his arms, incessantly caressing her.
Even after struggling for a while, Yudahui gave up on screaming and just meekly accepted the caresses, though it wasn’t entirely willingly.
“Hoho, such a good girl, good girls deserve a reward, don’t they?”
“N-No! Don’t! I don’t need it! Please!”
Gyaaah!
While the past Yudahui was being buried under Shub-Niggurath’s attentions, at the back, numerous Outer Gods and Great Old Ones had gathered.
Even if they bickered and fought when they gathered in one place, they all seemed to have the same longing look in their eyes as they gazed at Yog-Sothoth. It was clear they desired something.
[A new plaything]
[Amusement, it is. Amusement never seen before]
[Brother, it’s a brother. My future brother… Can I meet him? Can I meet him? Can I meet him- hehehe…. I can meet him, I can make a mess of everything…]
[Love…?]
Hmm~
Yog-Sothoth, already surrounded by eager beings, chuckled and held the 5-billion-year box tightly.
With so many yearning for it, what else could one do?
“Look… A new body… There’s quite a presence, huh?”
It was Yog Sothoth, smiling as he gazed into the future.
—–
The first match, ending with Yudahee’s victory, delivered a much larger impact compared to the previous one that had destroyed the arena.
Overwhelming performance unrelated to equipment.
Even with the same SSR, the difference in experience and skill was evident.
Unexpectedly confronting the contracted divine being, and in the end…
Dealing an incomprehensible blow that tore apart the arena alongside the demon lord.
Everyone shivered at the unknown sensation that transcended the screen.
The contracted divine beings, who had been focusing on the match, now turned their attention to Yudahee’s summoning of her contracted divine being, Dike.
Since the previous match, the contracted divine beings observing Yudahee’s actions had been aware.
Yudahee’s true ability lay not in her mastery of the body, but in her summoning.
The summoning ritual, with its concise spells and actions, contained deep meanings within, and the very reason for each small gesture made it almost an art form.
Although it was a rare ability even among the contracted individuals, it wasn’t entirely absent. Therefore, the divine beings immediately set out to find individuals with summoning abilities right after the match ended.
Perhaps, their contracted individuals could also summon like Yudahee?
Attempts to summon divine beings into the arena through the contract holders had not been unheard of.
Divine beings participating in human matches?
How sweet of a phrase it was, and the enthusiasm of the demon lords of the Manmaeon Company was not without reason.
However, the considerable cost associated with summoning divine beings into the arena had been a major drawback.
For instance, the lack of cost-effectiveness had been a contributing factor to the decline in summoning divine beings.
In the conventional method, summoning a divine being once incurred costs along with the preparation of the altar, offerings, and more…
Summoning about ten contractors in the usual way could cost enough to throw them into the arena without hesitation.
However, Yudahee’s method was a way never seen before.
New rituals, spells, procedures, and even the ritual of sacrificing oneself on the spot, unseen anywhere else.
In the realm of summoning ceremonies, a new possibility unfolded, just like that.
Moreover, the offering for summoning a divine being was not some philosopher’s stone hidden in the folds of a robe but merely the corpses of contractors strewn at the back – a realization that prompted them to immediately begin preparations.
And, instructing their contractors to do exactly what Yudahee had done…
As if it would go well.
“We followed your orders, but… errors kept occurring.”
[Errors?]
“The circuit and method of this spell conducting the summoning ritual… It’s a method we’ve never seen before.”
[Never seen before? First… Well, that’s good. First.]
As if anyone wouldn’t know it’s the first time.
So, offering such massive support.
The holographic figure scolded with irritation, not buying into the contractors’ excuses.
In that place, Yudahee performing the summoning ritual was captured from 360 degrees, a perfect recording showing every detail.
It was not the kind typically broadcast externally but rather an internal editing material for meticulous control over every action of the target.
Originally, it was one of the materials that should never be leaked, but if you invest enormous power, what deal couldn’t be struck?
[Look… This is the technology, the summoning ritual. I don’t expect a perfect imitation. Just create a similar effect, even if it costs 130, 140, 150, no, even 200 sacrifices, like Yudahee did with a hundred offerings.]
“We knew that and tried, but… it was impossible.”
At those words, the divine body’s anger erupted.
How much had she supported, only to find it impossible to imitate?
The things piled behind were a mountain of precious materials that couldn’t be obtained even with the same weight of gold.
[Yudahee achieved that in a barren plain with nothing! And that too, with just the corpses of contractees scattered behind!]
The contractee caught by the neck seemed to express the inevitability with words held within.
“I’m sorry, but I… am not Yudahee.”
Grrrk.
The divine body’s teeth involuntarily clenched.
If seeing the surface was not enough, there was only one remaining method.
To meticulously unravel the inner thoughts and figure out how the deity was summoned.
Due to the restrictions imposed by the Guardian Authority on Earth, harming the opponent was not possible, but interference in the mind, just to peek at that information, could somehow be mitigated.
At most, a few penalties would be incurred.
Even considering that, Yudahee’s summoning method was worth copying.
Would it be possible to properly replicate it with these unimpressive contractees?
That meant she had to personally investigate the thoughts inside the human named Yudahee.
Personally taking action was terribly bothersome, but… if she could just jump into the arena, it was tolerable enough.
With that thought, the divine bodies, one by one, began to move… and Yog Sothoth watched them with a smile.
The human body and mind were frail, only serving for a single use, but the divine bodies currently in use were a bit different.
Many times over, if only the physical form remained intact, they were top-tier goods among top-tier goods…!
The deities occupying the divine bodies were a bit more resilient than humans, but how long could they endure if she personally manipulated them?
Yogsotos placed a sign as he felt the increasing number of deities trying to peek into Yudahee’s mental world.
[Virtual Reality Service Official Open Beta~]
[Limited Seats]
[0/10]….[1/10]…. [3/10]….
[🙏Please use a nice greeting when asking about the price.]
[🙏I’m not an old one who repliesㅜㅜ Please keep at least a minimum of courtesy!]
It was a natural result that foreign news poured in like a flood.
Those who couldn’t easily escape the outer universe due to the foolish orders of their father.
They were all thirsty for amusement, and there were no others in the outer universe. How could they break free from that restriction and have such a vivid experience?
Look at Shub Nigras, who first experienced this, smiling happily in the corner over there.
How satisfied he looks.
“Ga-ah-ah- save me-“
Of course, Yudahee lying underneath didn’t come into view at all.
Just… Yogsotos’s gaze was fixed on the carrot he was shaking.
Already, three people had boarded in the blink of an eye.
There was no time to waste.
They were all from the outer universe, rushing to Yogsotos with everything they had.
—–
“Hmm… Something’s tickling my ear.”
He scratched his ear with his finger, but it didn’t feel any cooler.
Could someone really insult her own friend…
She couldn’t find the cause at all.
“More importantly, I can’t return this.”
Yudahee looked at the borrowed Barisada in her hand and lost her words.
She had only borrowed it for a moment, but this situation was like…
– I’ll just use it for a moment and return it~
– When did I not return it? Hey, why that expression? hahahaha;;
– Oh, that thing I borrowed before? Hey, why that look, hahahaha.
She didn’t intend for such a position, but the situation unintentionally turned out that way…
Certainly, she had used it well.
Even though she accepted her true feelings – the desire to secretly enjoy it to the fullest…
The face of Penelope, who was pouting, came to mind, and she couldn’t bring herself to do so.
The feeling of having something precious taken away… Was it really not NTR, as Penelope had said?
Moreover, she was also the contracted agent of the rising Balkan inspiration, so she had to return it.
Hmm, should she return it in the next arena?
Boooooom-
Not a complaint from Barisada, but an urgent demand to go outside right now.
As if it didn’t care about Yudahee’s hand at all, the blade of Barisada vibrated fiercely, sending a sweet night to its sharp edge.
Keep it down!
Thunk!
But she couldn’t just rush out to return the silent Barisada-
“Yudahee! Yudahee! Stop her! Stop her!”
From Noble mtl dot com
As soon as she opened the door leading outside, she had no choice but to close it again due to the countless flashes and pouring crowd.
Hmm, this isn’t right after all.
Click.
It was Yudahee who, out of caution, locked the door multiple times, even the deadbolt.
How did it come to this?
All she wanted was a peaceful life.
The beginning of it all was undoubtedly Deke.
If he hadn’t hit her with a truck-.
If she hadn’t been forced into a contract-.
None of this would have happened.
She turned her body to head to the living room to give Deke a piece of her mind, but Yudahee just couldn’t bring herself to do it.
The sight of Deke, sitting neatly in place, brewing tea in his smart attire… was so unfamiliar.
Come to think of it, the last thing Deke did before being dragged to the arena was investing in stocks.
When Yudahee gently asked, Deke waved it off.
“Stocks? Oh, I wouldn’t do such a thing.”
“Hmm… Lately, my expenses have been high… I might need to tighten the belt a bit.”
“Ah! Using a household account book might be a good idea! Clarifying the expenses and income can help improve unnecessary spending habits!”
“Still, it’s fortunate that Yudahee won and earned some points. Thank you, my contractor!”
The cursed goddess who was pushed by a Sekai truck… Is it really possible to say that the Dike of that time and the Dike of now are the same?
“W-What, what…!”
Adikia, shocked by the sight, stood there with her mouth wide open.
“Thank you, my contractor, thank you, my contractor, thank you, my contractor, thank you…. Dike…?”
A sudden and drastic change,
“….Is that okay?”
Slowly approaching Yudahee, Adikia couldn’t help but ask if this was really the Dike she knew, and all he could do was respond with a subtle smile.
“It should be… right?”
It was understandable that she was puzzled whether it was Dike’s outer skin or something else wrapped around him…. But that was truly a 99.99% pure Dike.
The remaining 0.01%… might be different?
They say people die if they change overnight.
Watching Dike enjoying the tranquility while sipping on tea, there was nothing to say.
She had requested a slight touch to his mind from Niallatotep, but she hadn’t wished for such a drastic change.
What on earth was going on in Dike’s mind?
“Ahahahahaha.”
Dike chuckled, swallowing the tea with an unknown laughter.