Chapter 916 916: The Jester Goddess

Chapter 916 Chapter 916: The Jester Goddess

"The question is... what are you to us, Riley Ross?"

"I am... Death."

The silence that followed that statement almost whistled loudly in the air. Most of them already had their attention on the two when the pale female god approached Riley, but with those words coming out of Riley's mouth, everyone's eyes were now practically fixated on them.

They did not really know how to react — and why would they? They were not the ones Riley was talking to. And in the first place, they were all aware of who the woman was.

She was one of the previous champions of the tower, and was known for eyeing out for newbies and trying to rile them up; something even provoking them so they would be eliminated from the competition. After all, any acts of unwanted violence on the floor they were in warrants immediate expulsion from the tower, most newbies usually won't know that.

The Jester Goddess, Marleen.

"Thank you for introducing me to no one, guys," Marleen let out a small groan as she looked at the other gods watching them; slightly swaying herself on her seat as she turned her attention back to Riley,

"As they were monologuing in their minds, my name is Marleen."

"Hm."

"Are you not going to introduce yourself?" Marleen raised an eyebrow as she looked Riley in the eyes.

"It would seem you already know who I am, Miss Marleen," Riley just shrugged before taking a sip of his milk soda.

"Oh..." Marleen lightly puttered her lips and tongue, "...You really like that drink, huh? Thank you for letting me experience how you taste it."

"..." Riley only blinked a couple of times as he returned Marleen's gaze, "You have a really interesting ability, Miss Marleen. It is not just reading minds, no?"

"No, no," Marleen let out a small chuckle as she urged Riley to take another sip of his milk soda, "I experience what other experience. Their inner-most and deepest feelings. Their desire. Their wants and dislikes. I do not read minds, not exactly...

...I become you, only to an extent, of course."

"I changed my mind, it is a sad ability," Riley let out a small sigh as he shook his head.

"You really feel that way, huh?" Marleen wryly chuckled, "I like it. It allows me not to be bored like the others here — It allows me to live and experience several lives. I am living yours now...

...and it is such a sad beginning."

"I suppose," a very small smile started to form on Riley's face as he continued to look Marleen in the eyes; even leaning forward, "Go ahead. Look further, Miss Marleen."

"Oh...?" Marleen let out another chuckle, "You are very amusing for someone so young, barely even a speck. Most of the gods here would quickly run away from me since they do not want their lives shared."

"The story of my life is meant to be shared, Miss Marleen," Riley pointed a finger on the temple of his head, gesturing to Marleen to go ahead and, "Dig deeper."

"Hm," Marleen just shrugged.

"Will you not get eliminated by using another ability, Miss Marleen?"

"This is not another ability or a superpower at all," Miss Marleen slightly hummed as she shook her head, "It is an innate ability of my species — it is hard to explain, but it has something to do with synchronizing the muscles in our brains to another."

"You have muscles in your brain?" Riley blinked a couple of times as Marleen began leaning closer and closer to him; even changing chairs to sit next to him.

"I do," Marleen closed her eyes, "Oh, your sister was the one who introduced you to the beverage you are drinking right now. I see now why you like it so much; the love you feel for your sister, although confused, is truly genuine and pure...

...thank you for letting me feel that, in your own way."

"Sucks for you then, little boy. He doesn't consider anyone his friends," Marleen scoffed.

"Did he tell you that?" Yanchuen looked back and forth between Riley and Marleen.

"He doesn't need to, I've already dug through his mind."

"You swam through his mind," Yanchuen sighed, "And sometimes, our thoughts lie. It is better to hear words than thoughts."

"...I think you have that mixed up there, buddy," Marleen squinted, "Have I ever told you I don't like you?"

"Yes, more than you should."

"Yeah? How is me vocalizing my thoughts working out for you, then?" Marleen let out a cheeky giggle as she looked mockingly at Yanchuen.

"I like it," Yanchuen only smiled, "Because I love you, Marleen."

"Please, it's been like a hundred thousand years," Marleen formed her hand into a gun and gestured to shoot herself, "You still can't possibly feel that for me."

"Dig deep into my mind, then," Yanchuen smiled.

"No," Marleen clicked her tongue.

"The two of you seem really close. Former lovers?" Riley blinked a couple of times.

"Indeed."

"We were, past tense. And everyone here knows everyone," Marleen shrugged, "You and that... themarian are the only new faces on the 91st floor. And trust me...

...that is not good for you."

"Yes," Yanchuen nodded, "Marleen is only the first part of the hazing you and that woman are about to go through — mostly you, since you are physically the weaker one."

"What—I'm not part of the hazing. What are you talking about?"

"Marleen, anyone you talk to becomes the target of the hazing," Yanchuen sighed.

"Since when? And trust me... Riley Ross is not going to be bullied here. He's... different."

"What sort of hazing should I expect?" Riley tilted his head to the side, "I thought violence was not allowed on the 91st floor."

"You will learn that our kind can be...

...very creative."

And as soon as Yanchuen said that, a knife came flying from out of nowhere; heading straight toward Riley's face. Of course, Riley was able to catch the knife with no problem at all.

"S...sorry."

Riley and Yanchuen then turned to look at where the knife came from, only to see someone kneeling on the ground.

"I slipped."

"Oh," Riley blinked a couple of times as he looked at Yanchuen, who just nodded his head. Riley, however, just started to smile as he turned his focus back to the one who 'accidentally' threw the knife at him, "It is fine...

...I also have the tendency of slipping."