SCT-Novel Chapter 181 : The First MVP
Chapter 181 : The First MVP
Odline remained silent.Edgar continued speaking.
“As if they made a promise, the high-ranking monsters of the First Territory aren't voting. A level of unity like this means someone is controlling them.”
-You're saying that's the First MVP?
“Who else could it be?”
After thinking carefully for a moment, Odline answered.
-I'm sorry, but even I don't know anything about the First MVP.
“You're useless.”
-Ha. How did I end up in a position where trash like you gets to say that to me?
“I already know that the MVPs don't really interact with one another. But surely you at least know the name. Just like how you knew Drod Kuhalim and Helena's names despite never meeting them.”
-I told you, I don't know. The First MVP and the high-ranking monsters living there are extremely isolated. There's absolutely no interaction between us.
As he spoke, Odline corrected himself.
-No, there is at least one thing I know.
“Please tell me.”
-The First Territory is the Land of Death.
“……?”
-The area south of the Teper River is generally called the First Territory... but every monster that crosses that river dies.
Edgar tilted his head.
“You just said there was no interaction. Then how did you learn that?”
-I once sent Kaid to scout that area.
“Why?”
-I wanted to draw a map of Hell and offer it to Lady Magireta as a gift.
“…….”
-That incompetent fool Kaid failed to map the First Territory. He died not long after crossing the river.
Edgar clicked his tongue quietly.
“It's not good to treat your subordinates like that. That's why you've lost everyone's respect.”
-And feeding my maggots to Louis was a good thing?
“That's different.”
“How is it different?”
“……Anyway, I need to go to the First Territory. Please create a passage leading there.”
-Didn't you hear what I just said?
Edgar shrugged.
“I'm not saying I'll cross the river. Just send me to the boundary of the First Territory.”
-……?
“If I linger near the border, the First MVP will come looking for me. Then we'll have an opportunity to talk.”
-How can you be so sure?
“Isn't it obvious?”
Edgar continued in a low voice.
“All the monsters of the First Territory are delaying their votes as though they planned it together. There's nothing natural about that.”
-…….
“The First Territory's MVP is intentionally preventing them from voting. Most likely because they want something from me or Mason.”
-You're saying that fellow wants to make a deal with you?
“Yes. To properly finish this game, they'll need the cooperation of the monsters from our territories. They'll probably be thinking something like, ‘We'll cooperate, so hand over what we want.’”
So there was no need to cross the river.
The First MVP didn't want Mason or me dead.
They wanted something from us.
If I stayed nearby and waited, they would undoubtedly come to us first.
That was Edgar's explanation.
Odline found it convincing.
-Hmm. Fine. Let's try it.
“Then I'd appreciate it if you could do it right away.”
-Alright.
Vwoong.
A black hole opened.
A hole connected to the boundary of the Teper River.
Edgar lightly slapped his own cheek.
Then he smirked and muttered,
“I wonder what exactly the First MVP wants.”
The moment I said I was going to the First Territory, Kaid started making a scene.
“Absolutely not! That's the Land of Death!”
“How do you know that?”
“A while ago, Master sent me scouting all over Hell because he wanted to draw a map.”
Come to think of it, I remembered hearing about that.
That was when Kaid met Beat.
The information from back then had proven quite useful.
“So?”
“The First Territory... I died not long after crossing the Teper River.”
“You died?”
“Yes. Master revived me afterward, though.”
Magireta had said the same thing.
That it was the Land of Death.
“And it wasn't just me. Not a single monster that entered the First Territory ever returned.”
“Hm. Has any monster from the First Territory ever come outside?”
“Not that I know of.”
“Sounds like an incredibly closed-off place.”
Kaid nodded so vigorously it practically made a buzzing sound.
“So we're not going. If I die now, do you think Master will revive me? I'm a complete traitor.”
“Don't worry. I'm not telling you to go. The same goes for the rest of my companions.”
Armelia asked,
“Mason. Then?”
“I plan to wait at the boundary before crossing the Teper River.”
“But why...?”
“Because the First MVP must want something from us. Otherwise, there'd be no reason to stop everyone from exercising their voting rights.”
Armelia nodded.
“I see. So the voters of the First Territory are effectively the casting vote.”
“The casting vote?”
“When a decision is evenly split between approval and rejection, the outcome is decided by whichever side gains the support of a third party. That third party is called the casting vote.”
I see.
I continued,
“The First MVP will try to contact us in order to exercise that so-called casting vote.”
“…….”
“If we simply wait on this side of the Teper River, they'll come to us on their own. They know we can't enter their territory.”
Aina cut in.
“What if they don't? The MVP might try playing a game of nerves. Like saying, ‘If you want something from me, come find me yourself.’”
“I don't think that'll happen, but if we wait a long time and still get no response, then I'll have to use this.”
As I said that, I took out the Invisibility Cloak.
Aina lightly clapped her hands.
“Oh. Right, we had that.”
“Yeah. This Invisibility Cloak doesn't just make you invisible. It makes the world treat you as though you don't exist at all.”
“…….”
“So putting this on and entering the First Territory is another option.”
“It completely nullifies physical attacks, sure... but would it even work in the so-called Land of Death?”
“Probably.”
At my uncertain answer, Armelia spoke again.
“‘Probably’ isn't good enough. You only have one life.”
“You're right. Then should we put the cloak on Kaid and send him in first? As a test.”
“Ah, um... Ummm...”
“You're seriously considering it. I thought you'd naturally object.”
Kaid opened and closed his mouth in disbelief.
Seeing he was about to protest again, I quickly continued.
“I was the one who suggested it, but now that I think about it, the Invisibility Cloak isn't actually a good idea.”
“Why?”
“Because only one person can use it. Entering the First Territory with it would mean separating from the rest of the group.”
“Hmm.”
“We should stay together whenever possible. More importantly...”
I changed the subject.
“Let's talk about that later. Your Highness, you've been counting the Second Territory's voters, right?”
“Of course. There were exactly 45,228.”
“Since we subtract the eight of you, that means 45,220 high-ranking monsters voted for me. That's 27 percent of the voters.”
In other words, after doing the math...
“That means the total number of voters in Hell is around 167,481.”
I counted on my fingers for a moment and continued calculating.
Soon, a smile spread across my lips.
The Diary Book asked,
[Why are you smiling?]
'Because the high-ranking monsters of the First Territory who delayed their votes still make up 30 percent.'
[That's right.]
'Now that we know the total number of voters, we can calculate how many monsters that 30 percent represents.'
The number was approximately 50,244.
More than fifty thousand.
What did that mean?
'Suppose I manage to win over the monsters of the First Territory... and get them to distribute one vote each evenly among all the Ordinary participants.'
[…….]
'I don't know how many Ordinary participants are left, but it's definitely more than one or two thousand. What if I make sure every one of them receives one vote?'
[Ah! Then it would count as you having "saved" every Ordinary participant, Mason.]
Exactly.
And because of that, I'd be able to collect points from all the participants.
What if there were more than fifty thousand Ordinary participants left?
Then I might earn over fifty thousand points!
Enough to buy my Awakening Pill.
I rubbed my palms together and organized my thoughts.
Then I turned toward the monsters of the Second Territory, who were waiting for their payment.
“Thanks to everyone's cooperation, we've overcome the immediate crisis. I sincerely appreciate it.”
“Forget the thanks. Just give us our payment.”
“Yes, one moment.”
I asked Karin to fly me up to the Rooftop.
Standing at the edge of the Rooftop, I took out the Replication Bag and shouted,
“Here you go!”
I untied the Replication Bag.
-Shaaaaaa.
Whenever a game ended, Magireta always made gold coins rain from the sky.
But this wasn't ordinary rain.
It was a torrential downpour.
A tidal wave.
No...
A tsunami.
“Woooow.”
“I've lived a long time, but this is my first time seeing something like this.”
“Ha... No matter how many times I see these jewels, they're still breathtaking. Just where did they come from?”
“Everyone, stay orderly.”
The voters of the Second Territory received an enormous amount of Goddess's Tear as payment for selling their votes.
They were absolutely overjoyed.
Aina shivered and whispered,
“So that joy is going to turn into rage three days later.”
“Come on. Anyone listening would think we're scamming them.”
“We are.”
“I promised to give them Goddess's Tear, and I did exactly that. I just happened to leave out the part where it disappears after three days.”
She shook her head with a sigh.
Anyway, I tied the bag shut at the right moment and said,
“Thank you. Everyone worked hard.”
I bowed deeply before turning around.
The Drod family was standing there with strangely satisfied smiles.
Drod spoke.
“That was excellent. It was quite entertaining to watch.”
“I'm honored.”
“So you're heading to the First MVP's territory now?”
“To be precise, we'll wait at the boundary of the Teper River. Which reminds me... do you know anything about the First MVP?”
“Nothing.”
He shook his head firmly.
I wasn't particularly disappointed.
“Every monster that crossed into that place never returned. That's all I know.”
“I see. That's unfortunate. Well, we'll wait at the boundary for now. If the MVP doesn't come, we'll think of something else then.”
“Good. Do your best.”
“Yes. Then I'll be going. Thank you again for everything.”
Drod and Renia nodded.
Beat waved energetically.
“Come visit again! Anytime!”
I merely let out a small chuckle.
For some reason, Armelia muttered sharply,
“In your dreams.”
I had no idea what she meant.
We moved to the boundary of the Teper River.
Now that I was here, I realized something.
Even Hell had a proper river.
The current was quite strong, and the river was deep.
Karin stood carefully at the edge of the boundary and peered into the water.
“There isn't a single fish. How can a river have nothing but flowing water?”
“Why are you expecting anything normal in Hell?”
“Should I dip my foot in?”
“Don't. The Land of Death might start from the river itself.”
Karin flinched and stepped back.
Meanwhile, I was taking various tools out of my bag.
Berseum asked,
“Mason, what are you doing?”
“I don't know how long we'll have to wait, so I'm preparing a campsite.”
“Hmm. I'll help.”
“Thank you.”
Led by Berseum, everyone busied themselves helping with the preparations.
For food, we made do with the jerky and bread from my bag.
The sun set.
Night grew deeper.
There was still no sign of the First MVP.
I slowly began to grow anxious.
'My reasoning was correct... wasn't it?'
There shouldn't be any logical flaws in my idea.
Unless they wanted something from us, there was no way they would have prevented every high-ranking monster in the First Territory from voting.