Chapter 399

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

Chapter 399: Gift Breakthrough (3)

"Ah...!"

It's not about expelling the guests, but rather alleviating the negative karma...

'It makes sense!'

Upon hearing Aldo's words, Yeongwoo's eyes widened in realization.

If the balance of this planet is off, even with Aldo, the extreme righteous prince, personally making his appearance, the only option left would be to reduce the overflowing negative karma.

Moreover, it was clear who the source of that negative karma was.

—It seems that there is already enough negative karma in your guest list, Yeongwoo!

"Y-yes, I thought so?"

—Yes! So, I think it would be fine to alleviate some of it.

With this statement, Aldo's previously droopy head hardened.

Creak.

It became solid, almost like a rectangular shape, similar to the special knight, Domtao.

Whatever the reason, it was clear that Aldo had made up his mind.

'Aldo...!'

While Yeongwoo admired him in his heart, Aldo turned his head to look at the ranking of the gifts.

[1st Place] Mara, Ominous Eye 「private」

[2nd Place] Dogo, 「3 billion」

[3rd Place] Lemu, Lightning Rod 「1.6 billion」

[4th Place] Kwaya's Hammer, Private

[5th Place] Cheok, 90 million

He was probably estimating how much he needed to surpass Mara and take the first place in the ranking.

—2nd place has already reached 3 billion. Indeed...

"Your Highness, are you sure about this? I don't even know how much Mara's gift is!"

Yeongwoo asked, but secretly, he didn’t mind if Aldo failed to overtake Mara for first place.

'After all, to challenge Mara, more than 3 billion is required. From my perspective, it's a win-win.'

Of course, if Aldo lost, he would no longer be able to maintain the balance of the universe, something he cherished.

Also, Mara’s retaliatory expulsion was inevitable.

Therefore, while he hoped Aldo would win, in the end...

'This is a business of gifts. Just because someone is righteous doesn't mean they should win. The one who brings in the most money is the winner.'

His gaze then shifted toward the Shelbir royal family's money vessels.

How much money was in those vessels?

‘There are piles of coins...'

Given Aldo's declaration of maintaining balance even after looking at the ranking, it was clear that more than 3 billion had been brought in.

After all, the second-place gift had already reached 3 billion.

But, this venue also had secondary gifts, didn't it?

Even if the ranking for first place was won here in the lobby, what could happen in the main ceremony hall was beyond Yeongwoo’s knowledge.

—The gift ceremony will begin.

Finally, Aldo spoke in a solemn voice and clenched his fist, which made Kobu lift up the steel signature plate.

—Your Highness, will this signature plate be sufficient?

—Yes, that should be fine. But make sure you hold it tightly.

—Huh? Hold it tightly?

As Kobu nervously asked, Aldo stretched his right shoulder and fist back.

Thud.

—Huh? What, Your Highness?

Seeing Aldo's stance, Kobu was startled and shrank back, but Aldo's massive fist struck the air with a loud noise.

Baaam!

Aldo's method of signing was a punch.

"What?”

Contrary to expectations, Yeongwoo was shocked and left speechless.

In the meantime...

Thoooooom!

The signature plate, receiving Aldo's punch, nearly folded in half.

—Ugh!

As Kobu, who was holding the signature plate, lost his balance and nearly fell backward, Aldo quickly grabbed his shoulder.

—A-are you alright?

Aldo's head returned to its usual soft form, and soon, an announcement came from the gift ceremony.

Pah!

< The second son of Shelbir, Aldo >

「Gift payment completed!」

"...Huh?"

Yeongwoo was once again surprised upon seeing the gift payment notification.

This notification only appeared when the gift giver's rank was below level 3 according to the Universal Law of Gifts.

In other words, it meant that Aldo, who had challenged Dogo and Mara, was a level 4 or lower existence.

'...Of course, he couldn't be level 3. After all, he went through the planetary upgrade assessment with me.'

Still, Yeongwoo had secretly hoped that Aldo's rank might be higher than he expected.

Otherwise, how could he stand so unfazed in front of the King of Destruction and the King of Demons?

But the actual rank of Aldo was... probably lower than Lemu or even Yeongwoo, who might be a level 7.

'So, what does this mean? Was he just brave because of ignorance?'

Or had his righteous nature clouded his judgment?

‘Maybe being part of the royal family gives him some kind of power. Whatever it is, that guy is...'

A complete madman.

As Yeongwoo stared at Aldo, who had turned so righteous, the gift ceremony finally revealed the amount received from the Shelbir royal family.

Pah!

「Congratulations on the marriage of Strongest Sword Yeongwoo's parents, Kim Jeonggu/Song Jiseon, with a gift of 5 billion Karma, received!」

A lump sum of 5 billion in cash.

Everyone in the area gasped and started murmuring when they saw the message projected on the wall.

-Five billion...?

-Did he just gift 5 billion?

-That’s probably what’s in those vessels.

As the crowd whispered, something strange began to happen.

Shhyaaah!

From above, an ominous sound echoed, and the steel throne that had been supporting Mara vanished into thin air as if it had melted away.

—Huh?

—What!

—T-There!

Everyone's eyes widened in shock, focusing all their attention on Mara’s reaction to suddenly losing his throne.

However.

「You…!」

This was Mara they were dealing with—the King of Ten Thousand Demons and the Master of the Void.

As soon as he lost his throne, he planted his feet firmly in midair and immediately extended his left arm, sending out a streak of pitch-black lightning.

Chaaaarrrk!

‘Huh? That bastard?’

Having had his throne taken from him, Mara had lost his composure and crossed the line.

—Your Highness…!

The first to realize this, aside from Yeongwoo, was none other than Domtao, a special knight of the Shelbir royal family.

Kwaaak!

He threw himself forward to block in front of the prince, while Yeongwoo swiftly drew his weapon, Bastard.

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

‘Yeah, damn it. If not now, when else will I get to cross blades with a Rank-3?’

He couldn’t possibly fight Mara head-on, but he was at least determined to block that lightning strike.

After all, Bastard had been created for the purpose of overthrowing one’s superior.

So, just as Yeongwoo and Domtao were about to move—

Whooosh!

A greatsword flew in from somewhere, slicing through Mara’s lightning in midair.

—Huh?

—What!

Yeongwoo and Domtao both turned their heads in shock to see where the sword had come from, only to spot Chairman Dogo, his cloak billowing as he stood tall.

His gaze was not on the two insignificant beings but rather locked onto Mara, who, like him, was still suspended in midair.

—This is disgraceful. Your opponent is royalty. Do you really wish to make things more troublesome? And to think you would dare to insult the royal family in my presence.

At this, Mara curled his blackened left hand and spoke.

「Stay out of this, Dogo! You’re the only witness here.」

‘What?’

Yeongwoo picked up on at least two important insights from this.

First, no matter how powerful a Rank-3 being was, there seemed to be an unspoken cosmic law forbidding them from recklessly attacking royalty.

Second, the chairman clearly took that law very seriously.

‘Is it because he’s royalty himself?’

The exact reason was unclear.

Either way, it seemed that the chairman was willing to fight Mara if it meant upholding the dignity of the royal family.

He reached out and reclaimed his greatsword from where it had embedded itself in the ground, then pointed its tip directly at Mara.

—There is indeed a witness here. So, if you wish there were none, then deploy your domain and choose your battleground.

‘B-Battleground? What does he mean by "deploy your domain"?’

Yeongwoo couldn’t understand.

Mara, on the other hand, narrowed the crack running across his forehead the moment he heard Dogo’s proposal.

「You’ve lost your mind. Are you really willing to gamble your life for a mere insect?」

Dogo adjusted his sword’s angle even more threateningly.

—How dull-witted you are, Mara!

「What?」

—This is the Arena of the Ceremony. The victor has already been decided. Why do you insist on defiling a sacred duel?

This place was one where battles were fought with money, not power.

Dogo was essentially telling Mara to accept the results.

—You are a useless weakling, Mara…!

‘T-That seems a little harsh, doesn’t it?’

Cold sweat beaded on Yeongwoo’s forehead.

As the host, he had nothing to gain from a battle between two Rank-3 beings erupting here.

If such powerful figures started fighting, the guests would be slaughtered, and the wedding venue would be utterly destroyed.

“Please, calm yourselves…!”

Yeongwoo finally resolved to step in and mediate.

Vrrrrrrr…

At that moment, the steel throne—now claimed by Aldo—glided through the air.

It passed right between Mara and Dogo.

「……?」

—……?

The two Rank-3 beings, who had been on the verge of clashing, fell silent in momentary confusion.

Meanwhile, Aldo steered the throne toward the main hall and slowly turned it around to face everyone in the lobby.

—E-Everyone, be silent.

“…What?”

Contrary to Aldo’s command, Yeongwoo’s mouth fell open in shock.

Then, from atop his throne, Aldo raised a finger and pointed at Mara.

—I believe… you, sir, are the biggest problem here.

「Oh?」

—Yes. So, please leave… I ask you as the top-ranked individual in the Ceremony!

At this, the crack running across Mara’s face quivered and twisted.

‘That bastard… he’s smiling.’

It was true.

Mara was laughing—his chest even trembled slightly with amusement.

Because Mara had already entered the main hall before, he knew what lay inside.

「Kid, I admit you’re an amusing one.」

Mara then wrapped himself in darkness and began approaching the throne.

Aldo, meanwhile, turned to Yeongwoo and Dogo in a panic.

—E-Expulsion! Expulsion…!

Then, he frantically asked Yeongwoo.

—Yeongwoo! What is happening? The expulsion authority isn't working…!

Yeongwoo covered half of his face with his left hand.

He had to stifle his laughter.

“My apologies. I should have told you in advance…”

—T-Told me what?

“There’s a second round of the Ceremony duel waiting inside the main hall.”

—W-WHAT?! What did you just say?!

Realizing this, Aldo turned his throne toward the main hall and confirmed the presence of the second-round duelists.

And then, he let out something close to a shriek.

—Y-You damned villains!

At last, Aldo’s composure began to crack.

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]