Chapter 112 [Bonus Chapter] A New Deal [3]

While Iris was thinking about the possibility of Nathan, Nathan himself was gloating in his mind.

After closing his eyes and ears, he felt that the one he was talking to was Eth and not somebody else.

With this, Nathan was able to keep a calm mind and scam Iris.

'I want to buy Merlin, but with Sword Maiden already here, it can't be helped. I'll give up on her.'

The reason Nathan refused was that he didn't want to do anything with Sword Maiden.

In the novel, it was never told on what basis members of Round Table were ranked. But Nathan and a few fans had a theory.

'The higher the rank, the crazier and more psychotic the member. So, as Seat 1, Sword Maiden is obviously the craziest of all.'

Iris, who heard his answer, grinned.

'He doesn't seem to be bluffing. But even then, he has the guts to say that to my face. Isn't he afraid I'll kill him if I am pissed? I think I'm quite famous for doing that.'

While Nathan was boasting about his genius mind, Iris was thinking on her own.

'The more I watch, the more interesting he seems. I definitely want him.'

"If I tell you that, I will gift you the mage. Will you agree?"

'Huh? She will give Merlin to me.'

Nathan suddenly felt that things took a wrong turn somewhere.

'What does she want from me?'

"…I will. Since the Sword Maiden is being this generous, does she want something from me?"

Sweating internally, he probed her.

He knew that he had successfully scammed Iris into believing that he was a big shot, but the problem seems to be something else entirely!

"I do actually. How about we make an Oath?"

Before Nathan could say something, Iris spoke again.

"It's nothing much. In the next rounds of the top 8, if you win against Vile reaper, the battle slaves will be a gift to you from me."

"….I trust your words. We don't need an Oath for this."

"Oh, we do. After all, if you lose, you will be working under me."

"….If I lose, I have to come under you?"

"I'm making a personal unit of elites. You will be joining it if you lose."

Iris grinned ferociously.

"It's a good deal, isn't it? After all 'a big shot like you' will easily win against Vile reaper."

Nathan blinked, and the color drained from Eth's face while he clutched his head.

'I think I just got fucked by myself?'

(You bet!)

'Oh, that's bad.'

(Bad? B.A.D and nothing else? That's all you have to say?)

'Why? Why did it have to be this nut-case who possessed my body?!' For the first time, Eth wondered if he should have fought Nathan for control over the body.

Vile Reaper was at least Lvl 21 and he had 4SP/Lvl talent. Moreover, he is already recruited by Iris.

It was as clear as day that Iris was trying to trick Nathan into working under her.

It was bad, in a lot of ways!

'We can't refuse'

Suddenly, Nathan spoke in a serious voice.

Although he was joking, he also knew the severity of the situation. Iris had cornered him in a situation he can't refuse.

Also, he was sure that Iris will help Vile reaper behind the scene. The chances of him winning were pathetically low.

But even then, Nathan didn't regret the words he spoke to Iris when she asked about Merlin.

All Nathan knew about her personality was that she was prone to killing people simply because they bored her. In the novel, Iris once massacred 4 cities for the reason they weren't 'interesting'.

He didn't want to risk her attacking him, but he didn't know if he should agree or disagree.

So, he gave a neutral answer.

He chose the safest path and answered in an interesting way.

(What are you going to do now?)

'There's nothing else to do.'

"…Let's make the Oath but…."

"There's something you want?"

Nathan nodded.

He was putting his life on the line by fighting Vile reaper. There was no way Nathan was going to leave with only Merlin.

"I want a harmonization elixir."

"Deal."

*

"Can I talk to you?"

I spoke to Huntress, who was sitting amongst the crowd. With Isabell constantly looking toward her and Huntress herself wearing the suspicious grey robes, it wasn't hard to find her.

Huntress nodded, and after my recommendation, we went to a secluded area.

"What do you want?"

"I saved those two in the 1st round. I want compensation for that."

'Agree. Please agree.'

Now that I was going to fight Vile reaper I had to win against Mother Mash if I wanted to advance to the top 8.

Sword Maiden said that she will announce that the first match of the top 8 will be between Viler Reaper and me. That is, of course, only if I win against Mother Mash.

Losing against Mother Mash will be counted as my loss and so will running away from the match.

Putting aside the problem of winning against Mother Mash aside, there was something I had needed Huntress' help in.

Huntress didn't answer for a long time.

I was beginning to worry that she was going to refuse until she spoke.

"Speak. Keep in mind, I'll only agree if it's nothing too outrageous."

"Don't worry, it's not too much. You only have to…."

*

"It's done"

I exhaled deeply, looking at Huntress' departing back. She had agreed to help me.

(Why are you smiling?)

'Everything is going perfectly.'

(No, it isn't!)

Oh, Eth, it is, believe me, it is.

I was already thinking of how to kill Vile reaper before the attack starts.

With his ability to teleport, he was surely going to be the biggest hurdle in my escape. Huntress will be busy against high-level awakeners.

I doubt she will have time to kill Vile reaper when she will be blocking Sword Maiden and her entourage.

This only made Vile reaper's teleportation more dangerous. He could decide to chase me and he will have no problem catching up to me with his teleportation.

At first, I was planning on using a bomb beneath the top16 seating area to catch Vile reaper off guard when the attack starts, and kill him there.

But this plan was risky as I would also get caught in the damage radius. I needed to be in that area when the attack starts to reach the prize room before Leon and Isabell.

(Your smile is turning weird)

'You jealous of my million-volt smile?'

I got a way to kill Vile Reaper formally. Although the probability of winning against him was low, it was still higher and safer than using the bomb, as I initially planned.

But the biggest prize wasn't this.

It was Eth believing that Iris cornered me to make the Oath, and I didn't want to agree when in truth Merlin and Harmonization elixir were only an added bonus. I would've still agreed if I could fight against Vile reaper.

This proved that I can lie to Eth. As long as I didn't say it explicitly he won't know that I am lying.

He wouldn't know that I lied, as long as he himself arrives at the conclusion that I was saying the truth and I don't tell him otherwise.

There were many things in this world that were suspicious.

X, Y, the unknown entity responsible for my transmigration, and…. Eth.

He was someone who was talented enough to create an acquired skill, yet never appeared in the novel. The gaps in his memory and his strangely intervened relationships with many important characters.

It would be good if Eth was just an unfortunate soul like me.

But if he was someone who was orchestrating things from the background or was related to it, I needed a way to deceive him.

"I hope everything turns out well."

(Me too)