Chapter 489 – Oh, please let it be a dream.
Honestly, it still doesn’t feel very realistic.
The huge arena, just as big as the South Korean Academy.
There were definitely evacuations, yet here are countless people filling the arena.
The voice of the commentator blaring loudly, hyping the crowd.
A massive scoreboard high up so that people from afar can see.
And are they really broadcasting live? With numerous cameras and drones.
It was a spectacle too surreal to be perceived as reality.
In a way, everything I’ve experienced until now felt like a dream.
A vivid nightmare, at that.
But the moment I heard Woof from Piece clearly.
[So this is that Japanese expedition guy.]
‘……Hearing that shtty sound makes it feel real, fck.’
I could feel keenly that this was a cruel reality.
[Anyway, if this body is erotic, isn’t this fine?]
‘You’re just full of erotic issues.’
[You f*cking bastard.]
Nowadays, it’s actually stranger for Piece to speak normally.
Anyway, this sight is making me want to quit the fight even more.
I think there are just too many people gathered here.
It feels like I left my shop behind too.
“Why are there so many people…?”
“It feels like all the subjects of the Greater Japan Empire are here www.”
Still, I decided to face this fight without a fuss.
“So, are you saying you won’t do it?”
“……I have to.”
Truthfully, this is a kind of karmic retribution.
Though Hyeji’s way of organizing this was a bit reckless and violent.
Once we toyed with Hyeji’s chest, this was entirely our fault.
Plus, she looked genuinely desperate, in a way we never usually see.
“Please, win for me, brother. I, Hyeji, will kneel.”
“……Don’t kneel, f*ck…”
That small wish doesn’t seem too unreasonable, right?
Some people might wonder about this.
It’s unprecedented to manipulate data; is it even possible?
Elcia seemed to have the same question, asking Kyoukyou.
“But since Hyeji’s chest is observable, is it okay to change the data whimsically?”
“Of course it’s possible www.”
But Kyoukyou answered confidently, as if it were nothing to worry about.
“After all, pulling off that much of a scam is basic in the Greater Japan Empire www.”
“Ah! I see!”
Indeed, Kyoukyou is right.
In Japan, there are numerous instances of incitement and fabrication.
History, culture, food, research results, data, radiation levels, you name it.
Japan engages in manipulation across nearly all domains.
“There’s also the AV cover scam, how hard can this be?”
“Well, some of those who said they’d work in the shop had photos that looked completely different.”
Manipulating Hyeji’s data should be no issue whatsoever.
[Isn’t South Korea as much of a scam country as Japan?]
‘That’s why it’s known as the sibling nation.’
[Ah.]
Manipulation in Japan isn’t even manipulation; it’s just everyday life.
“Guess you’re well aware since you’re a flat-lander!”
“Even ear goblins have enough intelligence to understand this www.”
Despite that, I still felt unsure about this fight.
Even just in terms of physical specs, it’s unclear whether I’ll win.
If they’ve come out this seriously, they must have prepared thoroughly.
That was starting to show, beginning with some unreasonable rules.
For instance, the rule stating that one cannot use items beyond what they originally possessed.
And that the victory condition is to incapacitate the opponent using any means is another matter.
Each side is not allowed to express dissatisfaction about incidents occurring during the match.
Sure, since this is a public fight, at least there’ll be some safety measures.
But that doesn’t mean I can just breathe easily.
In other words, it implies they’d turn a blind eye even if extreme situations arise.
[They could create a half-idiot and claim they weren’t at fault.]
‘If things go south, they can just pin the blame on the AI ninja and shut up.’
In the end, it means I must win this fight solely with what I have.
Of course, this applies to both sides, so it might backfire on the Japanese side.
But do those shady Japanese Hunter Academy bastards really not think about that?
They likely laid down such conditions with the presumption they’d win.
And that assumption didn’t just end in thought.
This time, it manifested in a somewhat tangible form.
Through none other than the betting system of the Japan Hunter Academy.
Whether they copied South Korea or intended to profit handsomely now.
The Japan Hunter Academy started accepting bets on the match result.
Naturally, the odds were set sky-high for my victory.
[Why is this manual? Even recycling betting tickets…?]
‘I haven’t… grown at all…’
At that level, losing on my part might just be seen as common sense.
Though, the heroines didn’t care about those odds at all.
Without a hint of hesitation, they placed their bets on my victory.
The actual person involved lacks confidence though.
“Shinwoo, we bet the money we earned earlier.”
“…….You saved some emergency funds, right?”
“None!”
“Do you think we would even think about that?”
“Don’t worry, if it comes to it, the staff will just squeeze a bit more.”
Even Kyoukyou placed a bet on my victory.
And that was in a pretty extreme manner, just like us.
“Watachi also bet all my tuition fees on Shinwoo-chan www.”
To be honest, that part was quite surprising.
No matter how close Kyoukyou is with us, Kyoukyou is still Japanese.
Considering a friendly match between South Korea and Japan, Japanese people typically choose Japan out of patriotism.
“……Aren’t you Japanese…? What about your homeland…?”
“The country that pays me is Watachi’s homeland www.”
Well, if it’s Kyoukyou, that’s pretty much her typical choice.
[Young, huh? Totally MZ vibes.]
‘Is this guy an M for having it rough? Z vibes are too strong.’
[Young f*ck.]
At that moment, Hyeji asks Kyoukyou a serious question.
“Kyoukyou, can I ask you something?”
“Sure www.”
This was a rather sharp question that kind of overshadowed the mood.
No, it pierced right through the core.
“But can we really receive our money?”
Immediately, this is about whether we can definitely get paid.
In fact, few things are more important than that.
Even if we earn money, not being able to collect it feels like losing money.
Honestly, the amount we bet was colossal.
It wouldn’t be strange if they suddenly decided they couldn’t pay us in Japan.
In that sense, Hyeji’s question was very appropriate.
“But about that, don’t worry www.”
“Why?”
Kyoukyou answered immediately, saying there’s no need to worry.
It was a bit too confident to simply be a positive outlook.
I wondered if there was something she was relying on.
“If it’s not enough, they will just take it from the citizens’ deposits www.”
“Ah.”
Indeed, it seemed so trustworthy.
Now that I think about it, it’s hard to believe.
The academy is a crucial institution of the nation.
No matter how few people are in the academy, that still holds.
‘……But is this truly a crucial institution…?’
[Isn’t a prison a crucial institution? Isn’t this a gathering of idiots?]
‘Ah, it was a detention center.’
So if any loss occurs there, the debt automatically falls to the government.
“But they might not pay back anyway! Japan usually ignores others’ words!”
“If they pull that crap even during a friendly match, they’d get wrecked www.”
“Withdrawing from deposits… What if a protest breaks out?”
“Such folks are treated as non-nationals or Zainichi www.”
“……Honestly, Korea doesn’t seem like such a bad country after all…”
Anyway, right now I was waiting for my turn in the waiting room at the corner of the arena.
As I watched various proceedings happening in the center before the match.
[They’re putting on quite a show.]
‘Ah, I’m super nervous.’
Moreover, as Piece said, it was surprisingly elaborate for a spur-of-the-moment event.
An opening to announce the start of the event. Followed by sponsor advertisements.
Introduction of me and the AI ninja competing. Then ads from companies linked to the academy.
The opinions of the commentators on the win-lose. Ads from weapon manufacturing companies for hunters.
Quick interviews with academy students conducted before the match. And more ads.
A history of the academy. Ads for the Japanese version of Nobelpia. Introduction of betting odds. Ads.
In effect, most of it was just advertising.
[No, f*ck! Why are there so many ads?!]
‘Enough already, you bastards…’
I don’t know how long I waited.
Finally, it was my turn to step out, and just as I entered the center of the arena.
At that moment, I spotted the AI ninja also slowly walking towards the center.
And they were clad in heavy armor, which is so un-ninja-like.
“What’ve you brought so much stuff for?”
「You must prepare thoroughly for a battle, right, Human!」
‘Is this f*cking guy here to wage war…?’
[Looks like he has no intention of letting me out alive.]
And as if he changed his speaking module too.
“Your voice is different; did you change that too?”
「Yes. I got sponsors.」
To be honest, it was way too much preparation to face just one person.
“Anyway, go easy on me.”
「Are you nervous?」
Well, now that it’s come to this, I can’t really do anything about it.
“Yeah.”
「……Uh… this was not what I expected…」
Just as we appeared, another ad started playing.
This time, it was an ad for the academy that developed the AI ninja.
And as soon as it was over, the AI ninja and I charged at each other.
Respecting each other with the traditional greetings.
「Do-mo! Korean Slayer desu!」
“Do-mo. F*cking bastard desu.”
And thus, the curtain rose on the battle between man and machine.
