1091 years ago:
"Writing in that notebook again?"
"Ah! Don't peek!"
"Who'd want to look at your nonsense?"
"Does the Goddess have any dreams?"
"What's that out of nowhere…?"
"Dreams! You know, goals… Things we want to achieve or have."
"I know! Don't lecture me. Why are you asking me?"
"Hehe… Just curious!"
"No idea…"
"Nothing at all!?"
"Maybe becoming the highest goddess… But that feels more like a duty than a dream."
"That could still be… a dream, you know…"
"..."
"I have a dream too, Goddess… To go back and live a peaceful life with someone I want to be with."
"Go back? That's normal for people who come here. If you want that dream to come true, win this world's mission."
"A mission where you never tell me the final goal? That's tough…"
"I can't tell you, can I? Who asks to chat with a goddess anyway?"
"Haha! But if I succeed, do I go back alone? No rewards?"
"Just you alone, but there are rewards…"
"Oh, right! Can't I take something from this world as a reward?"
"No way. How could you take anything from here? It's a different world."
"Is that so…?"
"Why that face? What do you want from this world? That armor? Money? The rewards out there should be worth it… Hmph, I've led dozens of heroes to victory. Don't worry, you'll get something good…"
"No! Not that kind of reward!"
"..."
"I want to go back with… someone who'll stay by my side… Wake up together, greet each other… Eat together, talk, go on adventures, have fun… Say goodnight and sleep together, every day, every day, until our last breath…"
"What, a love thing? Well, good luck with that…"
"Yes! I write about that person in my notebook every day!"
"Hmm…"
......
.........
............
1090 years ago:
At the small activity hall, before the magic mirror,
Melt, a radiant goddess glowing with aura, stared at the image of high-level monsters slowly encroaching into an unnaturally constricted Arena.
"The first Blood Festival, squeezed this tight already…?"
"Goddess! What are these walls!? I can't get out, and there are so many of them!"
"Hmph, just take them all down. If you can't handle this, how will you survive what's next!?"
"Got it!"
The voice of a lone young woman in the mirror, fighting monsters swarming from all directions while seeking guidance. But Melt's response was merely a cold, commanding tone, devoid of warmth.
"I knew someone was targeting me, but an Arena this tight with this many monsters?"
"Hehe!" x5
"Keke!" x5
"How's it going, Lady Melt?"
"Yeah, Lady Melt, is your hero struggling?"
Suddenly, ten goddesses, devoid of aura or adornments, approached the lone radiant goddess in the room, greeting her with words laced with mockery despite their respectful tone.
"What, your heroes died already? Go wait for your demotion elsewhere. Don't mess with my hero… These monsters? My hero can handle them easily."
Melt, unfazed, lifted her chin, dismissing the goddesses. Their heroes had already died, their points typically claimed by the goddess who defeated them. Plus, they were all slated for demotion when this competition ended…
"Haha, that's the spirit! So fitting for Lady Melt, the Rank 1 goddess!"
"How's the Arena, Rulekeeper Melt?"
"Handling it easily, huh? Maybe it's not fun enough. How about this, Lady Melt? Let us spice things up!"
"Spice things up? How? You point-less, demotion-bound lot—planning to play music or dance for me while my hero deals with monsters? Or help me send tougher monsters to crush other heroes?"
The stunning goddess didn't care, going along with their words. Though she didn't mean to be snide, her blunt, logical nature made her words come out that way.
"Listen to her…"
"Ugh, I'm done with this!"
"Let's do it, everyone!!!"
"I'll start! Sending 1000 points, direct attack to take down Server 1, targeting Hero Rank 1!!!"
"!"
As one goddess spent points to directly attack Melt's hero, Melt's face twitched.
"That's it!! Wow, look at Lady Melt's face—she flinched! I'm in! Sending 1000 points, direct attack to take down Server 1, targeting Hero Rank 1!"
"Where did you get those points!?"
"Sending 1000 points, direct attack to take down Server 1, targeting Hero Rank 1!" x8
The moment one started, the other goddesses sent points—points they shouldn't have had—directly attacking Melt's hero.
First Blood Festival, points sent x20
Total points sent by the 10 goddesses = 200000 points
Whoosh!! Boom!! Zwoom!!!
"G-Goddess! The monsters… They're suddenly stronger!! What's happening!?"
"Take down the boss monsters first! The ones that look different—they're evolving! Hurry before their minions evolve too!"
"Got it, Goddess!!!"
The monsters began transforming, growing unbelievably powerful. Yet Melt's hero held her own, thanks to Melt's constant guidance and training…
"Haha, yes, yes! Look, everyone, Lady Melt's scrambling to talk her hero through surviving this… Wonder what she's saying?"
"Hoho, like how she guided monsters to kill our heroes?"
"Must be nice, chatting directly with your hero to wipe us out so easily."
"Hmph… I don't know where you got those points, but this is nothing to my hero…"
Melt kept her chin high, glancing at the mirror where monsters surged in level. Her hero, following her advice, managed to handle them, though with much greater difficulty.
The ten goddesses, seeing Melt's confidence, grinned wickedly.
"Of course, Lady Melt, too easy, huh? Let's go, everyone!"
"All at once!?"
"Keke, do it!! I can't wait to see her face!"
"Sending 9000 points, direct attack to take down Server 1, targeting Hero Rank 1!" x10
First Blood Festival, points sent x20
Total points sent by the 10 goddesses = 1800000 points
"W-What!?! You lot!?"
"Aaaagh!!! Goddess!! The monsters… The monsters!! Arghhh!! My arm!! My arm!!!"
"Urk… XXXX"
End of Chapter 100
The Blood Festival