"That person… is you, Goddess…"
Thump… Thump…
"Huh?"
In that fleeting moment, after the words were spoken, Melt felt something in her heart melt away, bringing back a flood of emotions… Her chest tightened, ached, and overflowed with feeling…
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 am I doing…? I need to save XXXX right now!!
Melt, whose proud face had always been devoid of emotion even in dire situations, felt something deep within her tremble. After forgetting that feeling for nearly five thousand years, her lips quivered, tears stained her eyes, and her shoulders and wings drooped. Her image transformed, as if she were an entirely different person.
"Oho, look at that, everyone! Am I imagining things, or has Melt's smug arrogance completely vanished?"
"Oh, it'd be weird if it didn't! Getting ganged up on like this, she's probably realized no goddess likes her!"
"Haha! That hero seems pretty close to Melt too. Bet she's so shocked her confidence is completely shattered! Keke!"
"So, Lady Melt, how's it feel to taste defeat after so long, plus the sting of having no friends~?"
The radiant goddess with flowing black hair stared at her exhausted hero in the magic mirror, struggling to dodge monsters. Turning her tear-streaked face, now glowing with a gentle aura, she looked at the group of goddesses with pent-up emotions.
But it wasn't anger or resentment—it was the feeling of something long-sealed in her heart being set free…
"You think you're the only ones who can play dirty!?"
"Urk… Did she just change how she addresses us?"
"She's probably so shaken she's lost it! Maybe her brain exploded, and she's reverted to a kid, keke!"
"Playing dirty but still within the rules~! Begging for forgiveness now won't help~!"
"What's that, Lady Melt? Looking softer now? Shocked that so many goddesses teamed up to take you down, huh? Keke!"
"That's right! Ganging up, bullying, playing dirty! Well then… I'll play dirty too!"
"????????" x10
The mocking laughter stopped as Melt declared boldly, her eyes brimming with hope despite the tears.
Flap! Flap! Shine~~~~~~!
She spread her majestic, pure white wings wide, her body radiating a brilliant aura.
XXXX, I'm sorry for letting you suffer! I'll save you now!
"Hear the voice of this humble one, my name is Melt! Born to serve the Creator!"
As those words spilled from the lips of the only noble goddess in the room, the others gasped.
"That phrasing!? Don't tell me she's going to lower her own rank!?"
"Wait, seriously!? ThatMelt!?"
"No way! Using power or points to help someone below requires sacrificing a goddess's attributes!?"
"That's worse than dropping to the bottom ranks! Why not just let her hero die!?"
"Even dropping to ranks 90-99 is just half a demotion! She's throwing away her rank without even trying to fight!?"
The lower-ranked goddesses were stunned. They never imagined the haughty, prideful Melt would resort to this.
"I break my vow to uphold the Creator's will! With the rank and glory bestowed upon me, let me use it to protect her!"
Crack!!! Crunch…
"Urk!! Aaaagh!!!"
As Melt finished her plea, the outer edges of her majestic wings were severed, shrinking with a sound like breaking bones, causing her unbearable pain.
A heavenly announcement echoed across the skies:
Notice: Goddess Melt has been demoted from Rulekeeper Rank 6 to Rulekeeper Rank 7. -
"She's serious!?"
"She actually did it!? No way!?"
"Wait, wait! I was just joking! I didn't think Melt would trade two victories for something like this!"
The goddesses were dumbfounded by Melt's actions… It was the first time in tens of thousands of years a goddess had done such a thing.
To rise half a rank, one must place in the Top 10 in every competition. Though there were other ways to gain rank, this was sacrificing something vital for someone too lowly to be worth it…
"Haa… Haa… Satisfied now, huh!? Mock me all you want!!! I don't care anymore!!!! I just want to protect my person!!!!"
"..." x10
"I send the appropriate points to save my hero from the Arena, teleport her to safety, and heal her to full health!!!!"
Shine~~~~~~~~!!
Tears streamed down Melt's face as she smiled softly, content with her sacrifice to save the one who pulled her from the darkness of her heart…
A message appeared in the mirror:
100 points sent to teleport Hero Rank 1, Server 1, out of the Arena. -
A radiant light from the heavens shone down, enveloping Melt's hero.
"Now… you're safe, XXXX…"
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"Not satisfying at all!! It just makes me angrier!! I'm getting demoted anyway!!! Might as well go all out! Hear the voice of this humble one, my name is Curtain! Cancel the actions of Goddess Melt that defy the Creator's will!"
Whoosh!!!!
With those words from Curtain, one of the ten lesser goddesses, her already aura-less white wings turned gray as punishment.
The assistance has been canceled. -
Melt's sacrifice and aid were instantly undone.
"???????????????????????????????????????????????"
The young hero's exhausted body faltered as a boss insect monster's scythe-like claw reached her, with no aid coming to her rescue.
Slash!!!!
And then, one of her legs was severed from her body…
"Aaaagh!!!! Sob… Goddess!!"
End of Chapter 102
Hear the Voice of This Humble One, My Name Is Melt