180 – Nymphs and the Darkness Game #4
“’Tomb Raiders’?”
After reporting Atlas to the police, I received contact regarding his identity from A-Rank Cha Yura.
Apparently, Atlas is one of the grave robbers known as “Tomb Raiders.”
They seem to be an international criminal organization that has established Egypt as a major base, traversing cultural heritage sites and ruins worldwide to acquire and sell artifacts.
“Yura, with an international crime organization on the loose, shouldn’t we cancel the Dual Stone tournament?”
I imagined the possible dangers.
On the other end of the phone, Cha Yura clicked her tongue.
“It could unnecessarily increase public anxiety. It might provoke the criminals more than needed. And our Korean government has a policy of never negotiating with terrorists or criminals.”
The opinion was that once criminals start to get a grip on Korea, we might face even more criminals in the future.
It was a somewhat plausible story.
It was hard for me to decide what the right judgment was.
“Oh dear.”
I came to the card tournament with a light heart.
I thought maybe this tournament itself was a bait to draw out the “Tomb Raiders” and wipe them out in one fell swoop.
“I don’t know what it is, but this Inoi has gained all the points necessary to advance to the finals…! No nymphs could advance so quickly to the finals like this…!”
Swish-.
Inoi proudly puffed out her chest and shouted.
I was quite relieved that Inoi had won against Atlas.
I hoped the other nymphs were doing well too.
“Muhuh, that Illinois has activated the magic card ‘Invisible Hand’ which costs 7…! The effect is that it attacks the opponent for the number rolled on the dice multiplied by 500…!”
Pop-.
From a distance, I could see Illinois competing against someone.
“By the way, Illinois’s dice starts from 7 and goes up to 12…! This is a special die only given to VIP shareholders of Dual Stone…!”
“Gyaaaah…! To have the legendary diamond dice…! The capitalist deck is just too powerful…! I admit my defeat…!”
What kind of match was that?
It seemed Illinois easily defeated her opponent.
It was truly the power of capitalism.
“Muhuh, this Illinois has reached the finals…! The special card that will be the prize is something Illinois will take out and sell at a high price…!”
Illinois seemed to be aiming to produce the special card prize.
Creating a one-of-a-kind limited edition card.
It would definitely be expensive.
It made sense that Illinois, who loved money, was targeting it.
“Illinois, don’t wander around carelessly. There are dangerous guys on the loose.”
Chattering like a sea anemone.
I explained the situation to Illinois, using the Nymph language to chatter away.
Illinois frowned.
“Do you mean there are disgusting grave robbers running around…? This is absolutely unacceptable…! It will be justice for this Illinois to take all the money they earned through illegal means!”
It seemed Illinois understood my explanation well.
We were now looking for Coris, and Coris was also engaged in a match.
“This Coris is summoning ‘Blue-Eyed Core’ with a cost of 8 and will immediately attack the opponent using the effect of the magic card ‘Ambush’…!”
‘Blue-Eyed Core.’
It was a super rare card boasting an attack power of 3,000. Its appearance resembled a woman with blue eyes and was similar to America’s S-Ranker, ‘Outlaw Casey.’
It seemed the rumor that the augmented reality version model of Dual Stone was inspired by existing awakened beings or celebrities was indeed true.
“I-I lost…”
The opponent, directly attacked by the card with 3,000 attack power, acknowledged their defeat. Those who saw that were greatly murmuring.
“Did they just defeat ‘Yaiba the Underhand’ who was a serious contender for the championship? Who on earth is that…? Yaiba made it to the finals in last year’s tournament…!”
“Moreover, to use a card said to only exist in three pieces worldwide, ‘Blue-Eyed Core’…! I’ve never seen someone actually use that card…!”
I wasn’t sure, but it seemed the person Coris faced was an incredibly skilled gamer, and the card Coris was using was quite rare.
Soon Coris raised her hand in excitement.
“I don’t know what’s going on, but it seems Coris has won…! In fact, Coris doesn’t know the rules of this game very well, but it’s incredibly fun…!”
So it was.
Anyway, I was relieved to gather the scattered nymphs again.
Thank goodness nothing happened.
# # #
“All the nymph sisters have succeeded in advancing to the finals…! Let’s dance the joy nymph dance…!”
“This Coris is happy to be playing cards with the nymph sisters…!”
“I feel very good…! Let’s dance…!”
Dum-chit, dum-chit-.
The nymphs danced.
People watching remarked, “Are they the mascots we hired for this event? So cute.” or “It feels like watching my granddaughters.” and smiled happily.
“You guys, if you’re going to move separately, take Ahn Ahn or Kkungkkungi with you.”
Just as I was giving a light warning to the nymphs, it happened.
Grrr…!
Kkungkkungi, who had been perched on my shoulder, fluffed up like he was very angry.
For reference, there were two instances when Kkungkkungi fluffed up his fur.
One was when he was simply bored and wanted to fluff up his fur.
The other was when someone threatening invaded his territory.
“It’s the Squirrel Beast Haildo.”
Someone called my name.
Turning my head, I saw a woman in a robe that matched the pleasant autumn weather approaching me.
She was a voluminous woman that was clearly visible even beneath her robe, and her voice was smooth as if coated in oil.
“You’re a participant too, right? Let’s have a match. And the winner takes everything from the loser. What do you say? It’s not a bad proposal, is it?”
Clank-.
The cross-shaped necklace around her neck shone ominously in black.
I could tell the woman in front of me was at least an A-Rank Awakened.
Could she be a member of the criminal organization “Tomb Raiders”?
Seeing Kkungkkungi growl in a very guarded manner made it seem like a plausible story.
Swish-.
I placed my hand on the beam saber at my waist.
I was prepared to draw it if necessary when the woman clicked her tongue.
“You wouldn’t want to draw that sword if I were you. You know what happens when a problem arises in a big city filled with people, right? We want to stay quiet too.”
Is she threatening me?
It looked quite likely that if we clashed violently, the “Tomb Raiders” would take citizens hostage and cause harm.
It was confirmed that S-Ranker Cha Yura’s remark, “I want to handle this quietly if possible,” was indeed a very reasonable strategy at that moment.
I calmly asked, “What is your purpose?”
“Game.”
“Card game? Is it really just to play a simple game with me?”
Let’s dig for information.
When I asked with that in mind, the woman replied.
“A simple card game, is it? Does this ‘Dual Stone’ really look that simple? No, it’s a type of magical ritual called ‘Senet’ that has been conducted since long ago when gods walked in the golden desert.”
Senet.
It was said to be the board game that inspired ‘Dual Stone.’
It was cited as evidence of intellectual entertainment, found even in tombs dating back to 3,500 BC.
“In those ancient times, games were not just play. They were the means to predict fortune and misfortune, commune with the gods, and sometimes become the very dice that determined the fate of humans and the world…!”
Flutter-!
The woman forcefully pulled down her robe, which she had draped over her, revealing her bronzed skin strikingly characterized by orange hair and golden eyes.
Besides her face, she was clad in a leather suit from neck to toe, leaving no exposed skin.
“That look is—.”
“I know. I look like ‘Priest – Teto,’ right? But I won’t tell you why. If you want to ask me, beat me! The game has already started…! ‘Key of the Snake’…!”
The woman picked up the cross-shaped ornament around her neck and shouted.
Wooong-.
It seemed blinding light was emitted, and then a sound like a snake flicking its tongue ominously enveloped the surroundings.
“This world is one where only the winners take everything. The loser will lose everything. Haildo, I will take everything from you. Even your cute little animals…!”
Sssss-.
As the snake’s cry continued to spread, Inoi trembled.
“This is the aura of a god…! I can feel the presence of a god…! This Inoi can feel it because I am a fairy…!”
“Even if it’s a divine aura, this is the energy of a wicked evil god…! I can tell it’s the energy of an evil god like Typhon…!”
“To summon the aura of a nymph-hating evil god, it’s simply disgusting…! That Illinois will call for a lawyer…!”
