The ‘Queen’ of Kiki Island sat in an antique chair, checking dozens of screens laid out before her.
Today, countless outsiders were using the private facilities.
They lost or gained KP dozens of times a day.
Kler, the owner of this place, turned the circulation of KP into a form of gambling, but the Queen thought it was not very effective beyond making money.
“I’m so bored…”
All predictable outcomes.
She had high hopes when the ‘Blessed One’ appeared five months ago.
But the Blessed One couldn’t even withstand their own blessing and died just like that.
Of course, as an immortal user, it wasn’t a complete death, but losing the blessing and the right to enter Kiki Island practically meant they were dead.
Paaaar!
The badge hanging on the Queen’s ample chest shone brightly.
A signal that KP was coming in.
As the only queen, she could earn a portion of KP, the fee for using the private facilities, once a day.
Her privilege of holding a badge that was much higher than the others.
“To be precise, it was a contract by someone else, though.”
“Kler… when on earth are you planning to gather all the blessings?”
Originally, she was a famous resident of Kiki Island, not particularly special except for her stunning beauty.
It was Kler, an outsider and another Blessed One, who came looking for her.
Kler made a ‘certain’ contract with the queen, obtained control over Kiki Island, and transformed it into the third major tourist destination of Deoen.
Kler started making a fortune while the Queen was promised all the “blessings” and the greatest power of Kiki Island…
“You money bug…”
Now, more than a year and a half later, there had been no progress.
It might be a short time, but for the Queen, it felt rather long.
More importantly, even when she encountered the three Blessed Ones about a year ago, Kler didn’t exert much effort to catch them.
“Rather, they were let go. Useful for making money.”
Afterward, he laughed it off as if he had a plan.
In the end, all the Queen had gained was the blessing she received when she first contracted with him.
She had received nothing more.
The reason she kept observing those beneath her despite the title of ‘Queen’ was because of this.
If she didn’t watch, Kler would surely intervene and just let the Blessed Ones go.
“Sigh…”
But even that had its limits, and the Queen, who had already dedicated so much of her mind, was starting to feel weary.
“Let’s call it a day.”
Just as the Queen was about to suppress her frustrations and turn off the boring screens—
─777!
“…Jackpot?”
Jackpot has been struck.
Up until now, no one except for that Kler had ever hit this jackpot.
The Queen wiped all the screens clear and illuminated just one.
A woman with a beauty so stunning that it was dizzying, even when compared to herself, the Queen.
Her attire definitely marked her as an outsider, but her aura and appearance were closer to those of this place.
In an instant, the Queen felt half certain and focused on her screen.
It was as if the Goddess of Luck was watching over her; she began to sweep away all the gambling without a hitch.
Nothing could stop her, and her KP grew rapidly enough to rise a level in a flash.
“…Jack!”
A man entered through the ornately carved door.
A man slightly shorter than the Queen, sporting a large strawberry badge.
“Go bring me that woman.”
“Understood.”
Thud.
“I found her…”
Finally, he found the ‘Blessed One.’
♤
■
“Welcome, darling.”
The Blessed One, Lily, entered, guided by Jack.
‘Lily Elbrite.’
An outsider who had been in Kiki Island for less than a day.
She possessed exceptional skills and was currently enjoying a break with her fellow outsiders.
The Queen could hardly hide her surprise as she recalled the information she had received.
‘Incredible… isn’t it?’
She was much more beautiful than when viewed through the screen.
An ethereal appearance that even shook the Blessed One herself.
The Queen lightly greeted her with an alluring gaze.
Zing…
The Queen’s sole blessing, ‘Enchanting,’ seeped into her words and burrowed into Lily’s ears.
“Hello.”
‘…?’
However, it seemed that the blessing had no effect at all, as Lily nonchalantly sat down in the chair placed before her.
She seemed quite at ease, tilting the wine glass on the table.
The Queen felt slightly flustered but calmly regained her composure.
Whether the blessing worked or not, she was still the second-in-command of this place.
Even if Kler showed up, he could not treat her carelessly due to their contract.
“Hmm. Nice to meet you. I’m Ellice Ria, the head of this private facility. Feel free to call me Queen, darling.”
“Isn’t it usually the other way around?”
“Queen is shorter than Ellice, isn’t it?”
Hehe. The Queen sipped her wine with an enchanting smile.
‘As expected…’
The enchantment wasn’t working.
It wasn’t simply because her opponent was a woman.
The great races of Kiki Island bestow blessings that disregard gender and logic.
The power of the blessing is absolute.
The power is absolute.
Fascination is certainly an ability that can enchant even the Blessed One.
If you’re truly the Blessed One of “Luck,” then you absolutely cannot resist fascination.
Unless it’s something that increases the ‘possibility’ of not being enchanted.
However, Lily didn’t feel like her possibility increased; it seemed more like she was completely unaffected from the start.
“Almost as if it were impossible from the get-go.”
Thud.
“Take it.”
“?”
Five strawberries.
Compared to herself as a ‘Queen,’ it’s a very low-level offering, but it’s way more than what this newly arrived Outsider deserves.
“You’ve already gained close to 30 million KP, right? The rumors are flying.”
“I was just lucky.”
“Luck…”
Cough.
“Yeah, you were lucky.”
So, I absolutely need to get that blessing.
“I’ll be straightforward.”
Swipe.
Another card is placed on the table.
The card’s color matched Lily’s red card but was slightly different.
♤
Some of it was tinted gold.
“Inside is 1 billion KP. That’s about 30,000 gold.”
30,000 gold is a pretty steep price, right?
“If you take that, I’d like you to help me with something I want. You feel it too, don’t you? That nonsensical luck.”
“……”
“That luck is a power that only exists on Kiki Island. Once you leave the island, it naturally disappears, and even if you come back, it won’t be very efficient.”
It wouldn’t make any sense either.
The Queen leaned forward over the table.
Despite the daringly dressed Queen getting all up in her face, Lily didn’t flinch even once.
The Queen felt a bit frustrated and cleared her throat! She leaned back again.
“So, take that and give me ‘Luck’ in return. Of course, not just this card, but the best service…”
“Sure.”
“You’ll be thoroughly satisfied. Right?”
God, are you saying you’ll give it?
“Really?”
“Yes. I’ll give it to you.”
“Why?”
Usually, Outsiders who received blessings obsessed over them.
Blessings are powers bestowed by the great race of Kiki Island.
Even though it was said that the blessings were limited to Kiki Island, that wasn’t entirely true.
If blessings on Kiki Island are 100, outside it’s around 10.
That’s a tenfold lower figure, but each blessing can have effects that rival or surpass even mythical levels.
Because of these characteristics, most Blessed Ones either forcibly tried to possess it and ended up dead or left with the blessings.
I couldn’t die or leave with a blessing.
It means there was absolutely no way I could just give it away.
Lily tilted her head while sipping wine.
“I came to hang out. I’ve enjoyed enough already, so it’s no big deal.”
“Darling…”
“Of course, I’ll take everything I can get.”
“Ugh, yeah! Of course! Need more? I’ll give you more!”
“It’s fine.”
Since I’ve enjoyed everything as promised.
Moreover, knowing that it’s the effect of the ability called ‘Luck,’ gambling any further doesn’t make sense.
The queen nodded with a happy face and took a deep breath.
“Ah~ Finally getting one more… Nice…”
“How should I give it to you?”
“Huh? Normally, the great altar opens once every three months, but since the day has already passed, we have to wait two more months. The conditions are a bit strict. Waiting for two months won’t be hard, right?”
“Yes.”
Since my vacation is supposed to end tomorrow, and I won’t have another chance to come back, two months seems impossible.
“Then it’s simple! Darling just needs to die for me once!”
“Excuse me?”
“If you’re an immortal outsider, it should be perfectly doable, right? Of course, there’s a downside to dying, so I’m planning to offer plenty of compensation in return. It’s not a bad deal for you—”
“I’ll pass.”
“…Huh?”
I placed the card down and got up from my seat.
Since I came for a trip, I was just going to give it up.
‘This changes the conversation.’
“I’m sorry, but I don’t think I can die for you.”
“Wait! I’m planning on giving a lot of rewards! A compensation that wouldn’t even come close to any loss—”
“No reward is worth me dying.”
Death is not a word permitted for me.
I don’t want death either.
“I’ll use the private facility up to here. I’m scheduled to head to Kiki Island tomorrow afternoon.”
“…….Darling?”
“If you want, you can act a little forcefully. I won’t interfere with that.”
Creeeak…
The vintage door opened, revealing my waiting party.
I smiled at them and then looked back.
The queen stared at me with a blank expression.
“However, you will have to take responsibility.”
If you touched me.
Thud!
“D-Darling…”
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