Side Story Chapter 171 - Paradise (1)

“Th-The great Duel King...”

“Was defeated...”

Despair spread throughout the underground city inhabited by millions of Entrion. Their king, who was no different than a god to them, was defeated by a nobody; not only that but to a point that it wasn’t even a contest.

“H-He didn’t lose a single Life Point...!”

“How can this be?!!”

“THIS HAS TO BE A DREAM!!!”

“GYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHHH!!!”

The despair spread throughout the city like a plague. The broadcasting station tried to cover up the truth by lying that it was doctored footage but Oh Kang-Woo’s party members stopped them by taking over the station. The sight of the Duel King’s defeat in the Duel Tower, a place of every Duelist’s dreams, had been broadcast live.

[Aaaahh!! Here it is, here it comes—!!!]

Midir, the demonic sword that eats despair, burst into crazed laughter as despair surged throughout the city.

[KYAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! NOW, STICK ME INTO THE GROUND!!! I’LL DEVOUR ALL THE DESPAIR IN THIS WORLD FOR YOU!!!] Midir shouted as dark blue flames ignited from it.

“I got it, don’t rush me.”

Kang-Woo raised Midir and stuck it into the ground.

Wriggle! Wriggle—!!!

Dark blue fluid spread like a spider web from where Midir was stuck. The fluid pulsed as it created sounds like wringing a wet rag. The pulsing fluid began to absorb the despair spread throughout Zexal.

“M-My... My gods were destroyed so easily...”

Kang-Woo approached the Duel King weeping on the ground while Midir was devouring the despair.

“Mmm. You might not want to hear this after what I did, but I’m sorry.”

Kang-Woo had bullshitted his way to defeat the Duel King and plunged this world into despair simply because he needed to awaken Midir. Although the fundamental reason was to stop Earth's end, there was no need to explain something like that in detail.

‘Since it’s none of their business whether Earth is destroyed.’

Whatever the reason, there was no denying Kang-Woo had plunged the innocent Entrion into despair for his benefit. Kang-Woo took out a large sac from his subspace and set it down before the Duel King.

“What is this...?”

“The cards we stole from the Entrion. Return them to their rightful owners.”

“...”

The Duel King narrowed his eyes, which had been reduced to six since his seventh eye was closed after the Duel.

“Why are you... returning the cards?” he asked.

“Because they’re important to you guys.”

Kang-Woo had no use for them whatsoever but to the Entrion, they were more valuable than their lives. Since he had already fulfilled his objective of plunging this world into despair, he did not need to keep them.

“Do you think you’ll be forgiven... just by doing this?”

“Of course not.”

No sane person would forgive a thief who stole something but returned it days later. Kang-Woo did not intend to get their forgiveness either.

‘Nor do I need it.’

Kang-Woo had no hard feelings against the Duel King and the Entrions but that was all there was to it.

“Kurgh.”

The Duel King glared resentfully at Kang-Woo, who came to respect the Duel King since he was not attacking him physically despite exuding such chilling bloodlust.

‘It might not be so bad if all worlds were like this.’

All conflicts were resolved with a card game. Kang-Woo was flabbergasted at the existence of such a world but the more he thought about it, the more he warmed up to the idea.

“...”

At least in this world, no one would ever have to see their loved ones brutally murdered.

“In any case, we’re gonna fuck off out of your lives soon, so don’t glare at me like that.”

“...” The Duel King clenched his fist and touched the Disk equipped to his forearm. “One day...”

“Huh?”

“I will... defeat you one day.”

“Bwehehehe!!” Kang-Woo couldn’t help but laugh as the Duel King’s eyes burned passionately for another Duel despite losing by bullshit logic. “Alright. Let’s have another match once I deal with that motherfucker Akart. It’ll be fair and square next time.”

To be honest, he had taken a liking to this

Duel

card game.

“Akart...?” the Duel King asked.

“Hm?”

“Did you just say Akart?”

“...” Kang-Woo narrowed his eyes. “Do you know him?”

“No, not particularly, but... people who call themselves his retainers occasionally come to this city as missionaries. They are an annoying bunch.”

“Oh?”

‘So they’re even going around as missionaries, huh?’

“Do you know where they come from?” Kang-Woo asked.

“They come from the east... where the sun rises.”

“Alright.” Kang-Woo was saved the trouble of looking for the Gate that led to Akart’s world. “It might be a cheap way to pay for what I did, but I’ll stop them from coming to this world for you.”

Kang-Woo chuckled as he licked his lips.

“Who in the world are you...?”

“Right, get some rest. It’ll all be over once you wake up.”

Kang-Woo shrugged and turned to the entrance. His party members had come after taking over the broadcasting station. He waved at them and approached Han Seol-Ah.

“Darling, put him to sleep.”

“Okay, Kang-Woo.” Seol-Ah nodded and approached the Duel King.

“W-Wait!! I can still keep goi—”

“Stay still. It’ll be over soon.”

“Kurgh! Wh-What are you doing?!”

“Did you not hear me telling you to stay still...?”

Seol-Ah’s eyes shone chillingly. The Duel King flinched as chills ran down his back.

“Kang-Woo asked me to do this. It doesn’t matter what your circumstances are or how frustrated you feel.”

“N-No way...”

“If you’ve understood, then kindly go to sleep.”

Twelve black wings spread out as if night had fallen. Seol-Ah placed her hand on the Duel King’s shoulder. Darkness flowed out of her hand and smeared into the Duel King.

“A-Aaaahh.”

A powerful sleep curse that brought about extreme fatigue seeped into the Duel King. His eyes gleaming with bloodlust went blank and he collapsed.

“Great job, Kang-Woo.”

“Hehe. Thanks, Darling.”

Kang-Woo smiled and embraced Seol-Ah’s waist.

“Sheesh, this gentle girl turns into a completely different person when Kang-Woo’s involved.” Cha Yeon-Joo sighed and shook her head as she looked at Seol-Ah giggling in Kang-Woo’s arms.

“Good work, all of you,” Kang-Woo expressed.

“I saw the broadcast... You sure went all out with your bullshitting.”

“I think I understand why you were so confident, Kang-Woo.”

Yeon-Joo and Layla chuckled despondently.

“Hehehe. Winning is all that matters.”

“Heatstroke? Forest? Thunderclouds? It felt like I was watching a nature documentary rather than a card game,” Yeon-Joo remarked.

“No, even those supposed facts were quite far-fetched,” Layla added.

“I wanted to slap you across the face so many times as I watched the match.”

The two women continued to complain.

‘Yeah, some of my bullshit logic was pretty damn absurd.’

Kim Si-Hun intervened, “C-Calm down, everyone. Whatever the case, hyung-nim won, didn’t he?”

“Haaa... Yeah, I guess it’s fine as long as you win,” Yeon-Joo sighed and nodded.

As Si-Hun said, the process did not matter as long as it resulted in victory.

“Si-Hun, you...” Kang-Woo hugged Si-Hun tightly. “YOU’RE THE ONLY ONE WHO UNDERSTANDS ME!!!”

“H-Hyung-nim!! The others are watching.”

“Let them watch!!!”

‘No one can ever separate us!!!’

“What is this feeling...?” Layla frowned with a conflicted expression, biting her nails and shaking her leg.

Yeon-Joo turned to her and tilted her head. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s just... I’m not sure whether I should take this as NTR.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” Yeon-Joo stepped away in shock.

“C-Could it be Si-Hun... swings th-that way?!” Seol-Ah shouted.

“What?”

“N-Now that it’s come to this, I have no choice but to cut Si-Hun’s...”

“Cut what?”

Yeon-Joo, caught between Layla and Seol-Ah, sighed deeply as she pulled on her hair.

“Hoho. It seems you’ve fulfilled Midir’s awakening condition.” Lilith approached as she looked toward Midir stuck into the ground.

“Yeah, it was super effective,” Kang-Woo remarked.

“The world is plunged into despair just because someone lost a game... I don’t understand.”

“That’s just how this world is.”

Kang-Woo had also gotten used to it compared to when his head hurt from the absurdities of this world.

“That aside, we have to find the Rift that heads to Akart now, right?”

“Oh, about that.”

Kang-Woo let Lilith know about what the Duel King had told him.

“Hmm. That means we should investigate the eastern areas of this continent, right?” Lilith asked.

“I doubt it’s large enough to even call a continent.”

Satellite worlds were far smaller than Earth and Aernor. Kang-Woo was certain they would find it relatively easily if they looked thoroughly.

“Well then, I will get to searching,” Lilith said.

“Oh, I have something else to ask of you, Lilith.”

“What is it?” she asked as she placed her index finger on her lip and tilted her head slightly.

“Make a trail,” Kang-Woo remarked.

“A... trail?”

“Yeah, so our muscle pig doesn’t get lost.”

“Oh...” Lilith nodded. “Fufu, leave it to me. I will make it very obvious.”

“Thanks.”

Kang-Woo turned away from Lilith as she disappeared as if melting into the darkness.

[KYAHAHAHAHA!! AHHH, IT’S SO SWEET!! THE DESPAIR IS SO SWEET!!!]

Kang-Woo walked toward Midir screaming crazily or ecstatically; Kang-Woo couldn’t tell. He slowly grabbed the hilt.

Whoooom!!!

A powerful wave of energy burst from the blade.

Riiing!

[The awakening condition of Midir, the despair-eating sword, has been fulfilled!]

[Midir has acquired a star and becomes stronger!]

[Midir’s rank is rising from ten-star to eleven-star!]

Message windows appeared in front of Kang-Woo. An overpowering energy shot up his arm from the hand holding Midir. Kang-Woo smiled.

‘It’s still not quite enough.’

However, it would be more than capable of fulfilling the task Kang-Woo had in mind for it.

“Right, then.”

Wriggle.

He placed Midir into the Demonic Sea and turned around.

“When we meet again...”

Kang-Woo was reminded of a familiar voice— gentle, warm, and soothing. The deathly pale Titan had declared with a face so cold that it didn’t suit his voice at all—

“You will see with your own eyes the end of Earth.”

It was no different from a death sentence.

‘No,’

Kang-Woo thought as he shook his head.

‘You’re wrong, Akart.’

His world wouldn’t be the one meeting its end.

‘You’ll be the one who has to handle me, the king of demons... the predator of predators...’

“Let’s go.”

To Paradise.