The Fourth Night (8)

Chapter 289. The Fourth Night (8)⁠​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌⁠

It seemed he had seen a name he should not have.

Though he tried not to show it, deep down Park Chan-woo could not help but scowl.

‘Aheta is alive.’

She had clearly been bankrupted. On the third night, the demon Gremory had declared her bankruptcy, and Aheta’s body had been transferred to auction.⁠​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌⁠

Later, he had heard that the ‘Demon King of Infernal Flame’ had purchased Aheta at a special auction, but… There was no way it was just someone with the same name. In other words…

‘Did the Demon King of Infernal Flame keep Aheta alive?’

Logically speaking, it meant she had been spared. But there was still something that did not make sense.

‘A qualification like that of a Night Manager dwells within the soul and body. It should be impossible to strip Aheta of all her qualifications while keeping her alive.’⁠​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌⁠

There are limits. The Demon King of Infernal Flame had stripped Aheta of all authority. Just by looking at this ‘Fourth Night’ alone, one could tell how vast the ‘manager’ authority possessed by the Demon King of Infernal Flame was. Above all… according to Adora, most of Aheta’s territory had been transferred to the Demon King of Infernal Flame.

That was impossible without killing her.

Yet, she was alive.

Even being used as a ‘dealer.’⁠​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌⁠

Ding!

『Global Announcement.』

『The ‘Hidden Game’ has begun.』

『All guests of the casino may, at times, be invited to participate in a ‘Hidden Game.’』⁠​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌⁠

『The first game is ‘Guess the Winner.’』

『From now on, participants of the ‘Hidden Game’ may recruit ‘five’ guests from the casino using coins.』

『‘Mercenaries’ must fight bloodbaths against designated monsters.』

『Round 1. ‘100 Enhanced Fallen Ghosts’ VS Five Mercenaries.』⁠​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌⁠

『Upon victory, the employer gains 50 coins.』

A notice regarding the game appeared.

The people gathered in the VIP room began murmuring.

“So we’re not the ones fighting directly?”⁠​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌⁠

“Seems that way.” “It sounds like we must hire five ‘mercenaries’ from among the casino’s guests.”

At the same time, another window appeared before their eyes. A list of participants’ numbers and faces, no other information was given.

Naturally, complaints arose.

“Wait. We’re supposed to hire five just by looking at this?”⁠​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌⁠

“And we have to pay the coins to hire them?”

“We’ll have to choose carefully.”

“But there’s no guarantee they’ll accept even if we offer.”

“Win, and you get 50 coins. So the fight must be decided within that limit, huh.”⁠​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌⁠

To avoid a loss, mercenaries had to be hired for less than 50 coins.

The more one knew of strong individuals, the better the advantage. But since they were only to act as simple mercenaries, it was likely they wouldn’t move for cheap.

That line, ‘the employer gains 50 coins upon victory’, would have been broadcast to everyone in the casino as well.

“...”

For a moment, several people’s gazes landed on Park Chan-woo.

To them, Park Chan-woo was clearly the ‘hidden card’ of the Hidden Game. With over 10,000 coins, losing a few dozen coins meant nothing to him.

It was obviously a game in his favor. But Park Chan-woo’s thoughts were different.

‘The Fourth Night’s essence is to defeat the dealer. I must never take a loss.’⁠​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌⁠

On the surface, it looked like a contest among the guests, but to truly win, one had to overwhelm the dealer. Just as he had handed defeats to Lukar and Diamante.

This ‘Hidden Game’ was the same. Minimal investment, maximum victory. The difficulty would only increase exponentially as the game progressed and so would the rewards.

He was confident. Because…

‘I know almost all the world’s strong ones.’⁠​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌⁠

Park Chan-woo was a regressor. Having returned from the ruined future, he knew nearly all of the strong figures.

The game overwhelmingly favored him. The problem was the other factors.

Shooong!

Shoooong!

People began disappearing one by one. Warps had been generated, forcibly transferring them.

Soon, a warp appeared beneath his own feet.

『Transferring to the VVIP Room.』

『Hidden Dealer ‘Aheta’ makes her appearance!』⁠​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌⁠

Shooong!

* * *

Fallen Ghosts.

Monsters of level 10, and scouts. They were also the very first monsters to appear when Earth was swallowed by the Abyss.⁠​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌⁠

100 of these terrifying monsters appeared, enhanced. How much stronger they were, the ‘mercenaries’ could not know.

Judging the monsters was solely the employer’s responsibility.

Without keen eyes, the mercenaries would just die in vain.

“This is a place to test your discernment.”⁠​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌⁠

As soon as they were transferred to the VVIP room, the people could not help but tense up.

A demon lord, radiating overwhelming presence, scanning the room.

The dealer overseeing the Hidden Game, Aheta.

“…You should be dead.”

Han-shin spoke in a hostile voice.

A being who should not be alive stood there, right before their eyes. For Aheta to vanish was the only way the ‘Avatar Contract’ could be terminated.

And it had indeed ended, allowing new contracts to proceed.

“The Demon King of Infernal Flame bestowed mercy. Though I died, only my ‘memories’ were preserved, allowing me to join this new game.”⁠​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌⁠

Madness.

Han-shin’s face contorted even further.

So Aheta was dead. That thing was but a puppet carrying Aheta’s memories. If it were merely a puppet, there would be no issue.

“Han-shin, my avatar.”

“...!”

“...!!!”

Everyone listening was horrified. Their eyes widened like lanterns, mouths agape as they stared at Han-shin.

“Y-You’re Aheta’s avatar?”

“That bitch...!”

Their reactions were all the same.

The Lord of the Moon, Aheta, had presided over the ‘Three Nights.’

If Han-shin was her avatar, he must have reaped immense gains and committed countless atrocities in the process.⁠​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌⁠

“…As I expected.”

Lee Hyuk-soo also glared coldly at Han-shin.

He had somewhat suspected it. Han-shin’s strength was otherwise difficult to explain. With everyone’s hostile glares upon him, Han-shin drew his sword.

He pointed it at Aheta’s neck.⁠​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌⁠

“Our contract is finished. I am no longer your avatar.”

“I know.”

“Say such nonsense again, and I’ll take your head.”

“…You’ve certainly grown stronger. You could even face most high-ranking demons now. But to cut me down, you’ve still have far to go.”⁠​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌⁠

Though not at the level of a Demon King, Aheta was far beyond an ordinary demon lord. Han-shin, who had only just surpassed the level of a high-ranking demon, could not yet match her.

Expressionless, Aheta continued.

“And Han-shin, you were not my only avatar.”

“What is this, confession time all of a sudden?”⁠​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌⁠

“Another of my avatars is here. More capable and more promising than you.”

“…Not interested.”

“Oh, but you will be. Once you hear the name.”

Han-shin gave no reply.

Regardless, Aheta turned her head.

When her eyes met another’s, Aheta spoke.

“Lee Hyuk-soo.”

“…What?”

“The savior of humanity, Lee Hyuk-soo, is Aheta’s avatar?”

At such an unexpected name, everyone was thrown into shock.

Lee Hyuk-soo frowned.

“Utter nonsense. I’ve never contracted with the Creator. If you want, use this ‘Avatar Lens’ to check for yourself.”⁠​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌⁠

“True. You never did contract with the ‘Creator.’”

“…Then how am I your ‘avatar’?”

“Because the ancient being you contracted with, the ‘Lion King,’ is my apostle.”

“…What?”

The Lion King who wielded shadows draws his power from the ‘moon.’ And since I am the Lord of the Moon, naturally we are connected, are we not?

“That can’t be...”

Lee Hyuk-soo shook his head.

Nonsense, it was mere sophistry.⁠​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌⁠

Yet he could not strongly refute it.

The Lord of the Moon, Aheta. And the Lion King who wielded shadows, their powers did seem to align. And otherwise, how would Aheta know that Lee Hyuk-soo had contracted with the Lion King?

“So Lee Hyuk-soo is really an avatar?”

“Both of those two...”

“Ha, absurd.”

“All this time you deceived us!”

The crowd’s fury grew uncontrollably.

Perhaps because they felt deceived. A murderous intent could even be felt. Emotions surged so violently it was hard to think straight.⁠​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌⁠

Aheta was toying with their emotions.

The reason was simple.

‘To cloud their judgment.’

So they would be unable to make proper decisions in the upcoming ‘Hidden Game.’ But for just planting doubts, the emotional waves were too fierce.⁠​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌⁠

It was likely due to Aheta’s ability, or some hidden device.

And then Aheta pushed further.

“More than half of you here are avatars. Why are you getting angry?”

“W-What is that supposed to mean?!”⁠​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌⁠

“Stop spouting nonsense!”

Those struck at their core only grew more heated. But Aheta, still expressionless, merely scanned their faces. And like guilty thieves, the participants avoided her gaze.

…It did not seem like she was just trying to shake them.

There was more.

Some hidden mechanism here.

Looking around, he saw no devices broadcasting video. Nor could he sense any particular magic.

If it was hidden from his eyes, it must be a small magical tool with limited function.

‘If the conversations here are being broadcast to the entire casino...’⁠​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌⁠

At most, only sound.

Broadcasting visuals across the casino would require immense magic power. But merely transmitting sound could be done with very little.

Clearly, she intended to cast doubt and plunge humanity into confusion.

One thing was certain, the hiring of mercenaries had just become even more difficult. Few would be willing to follow the will of an avatar. But even more pressing than that problem…⁠​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌⁠

Frankly, nothing else mattered. Not even that Aheta knew the Lion King’s identity, nor that she was mixing truths and lies in her speech.

Park Chan-woo looked at Aheta with quiet tension.

Because right now, Aheta…

“...”

...was looking straight at him.