NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 211
“If we just look at the outcome, Altera’s ‘negotiation’ went spectacularly well.”
We managed to promise to keep our mouths shut while getting a bunch of stuff from the higher-ups.
“Right, it should be like that. I’m just glad the guy knows his place. No need to worry about him throwing a tantrum.”
“So, is that it…?”
“Yep, that’s it. Heh, look at that gloomy face on a grown man. Anyone would think I’m the bad person here! Yet it’s you guys who messed up… now that’s just unfair.”
Altera had already finished having her fun, yet seemed to relish in mocking him further.
…Watching her makes me think she’s a bit nasty, huh? Even after she ripped off compensation and kept rubbing it in, there’s no defending her even if her husband showed up.
Altera caught a glimpse of my thoughts but, either feeling generous or oblivious, she continued on with her quips.
“Well, I suppose the magnanimous me should let it slide. He’s just a staff member working hard to the point of losing his hair.”
Altera kept throwing shade at the higher-ups. I mean, calling a bald guy ‘bald’ is just cruel. Even I’d say that’s a bit much.
…Not that I minded much.
To be honest, I loved it. He’s supposed to be someone who never bows down to anyone, yet here he was, trembling in fear before us. It was hilariously delightful.
Ah, that pathetic expression! It felt refreshing to trample on those snobby Heros Company folks.
But still… something felt off.
I thought negotiations would be a bit more cultured, a bit more of a political tussle, brainwork and all that.
I wondered if it could really be done like this.
“My lady, may I ask you one thing?”
As I walked back beside Altera, unable to quell my curiosity, I decided to ask her.
“I will allow it. But it better be a meaningful question.”
“…Did you always negotiate like this with the Heros Company…?”
While it sounds thrilling, I wondered if it was really okay to negotiate so openly with the Heros Company, even in public or discussion sessions. I couldn’t hold back my curiosity and asked.
“Always? I’ve been like this from the start. You see, the brain is meant for the weak-bodied folks. For example… our scrawny friend.”
Altera thought of her partner and teased him for enjoying cerebral tricks due to his weak body.
She wasn’t seriously roasting him; it was more like friendly banter between close friends, playfully picking at each other’s flaws.
“If only he put in half the effort during nighttime activities.”
“He must have his reasons.”
Altera dodged the tricky topic, giving off vibes that this was something that should be addressed with a more carefree attitude.
Not long ago, she was hiding it right in front of me, and now she wants me to jump into the fun? I had no idea where to fit in.
From what Altera was saying, it seemed like I was expected to catch on and dance to the rhythm… but I’m terrible at this kind of talk.
…Even as a guy, I wasn’t any good at this stuff.
“I’ll try my best…”
“Trying isn’t enough; you need to become quite skilled at it. Either way, we’re bound to see each other more often.”
“Er, is there really no way to keep it a little less obvious…?”
I voiced my small complaint, but Altera just smiled, saying she wasn’t going to hold back from her goals because of a mere servant’s worries, leaving me speechless.
Well, it was true; as a servant, I was supposed to align with my master. Can you believe it? I swallowed a sigh and vowed to comply, and then Altera finally seemed content, responding as if it was the most natural thing.
“Altera, did the negotiation go well?”
When we returned to our seats, Myungho casually asked if she handled it gracefully.
“What do you think I am? Of course, I got the info the kitty wanted. How’s that? Don’t you think I’m a better negotiator than you?”
“If that were a negotiation, people would be walking into the meeting room brandishing guns. But hey, good job, Altera.”
As Myungho said this, he soon turned to me, praising me for doing well.
“Thanks to you, we managed to give the Heros Company a taste of defeat. Nicely done, Blanca.”
“I merely fulfilled my duty.”
“How humble of you.”
Why can’t you just praise me like a normal husband would? I figured I’d keep my mouth shut and my expression neutral as I returned to watching the match.
– – – –
No one could stand in Lapiz’s way. Not Ageha, not Jinhyeon, not even the nameless A-class hunters crumbled in her wake.
The person she faced in the finals was Changwon, whom Lapiz had boasted she would defeat.
They stood face-to-face, solemnly exchanging words, but unfortunately, it was drowned out by the roaring crowd.
“Now, let’s begin the final match!!!”
With the announcer’s shout, shockwaves erupted as colossal rock formations clashed with intangible forces.
The arena was engulfed in a whirlwind of dust from the violent confrontation. Nevertheless, the balance of power held perfectly steady.
Lapiz attempted to disrupt Changwon’s footing as per usual, but he sensed it coming and smoothly evaded her trap.
Disappointed, she tried to attack him by lifting him up, only to be thwarted by the invisible barrier that crushed her efforts.
Changwon was ready to throw her like he had initially planned, but she resisted by almost merging her legs with the arena floor.
Meanwhile, she instantly shattered the taut rock wall into gravel, launching a barrage of sharp stone fragments toward Changwon.
Changwon managed to fend them off, but Lapiz didn’t let the opportunity slip to press an advantage even after he’d been forced back.
She tried breaking through with a few shields while intermittently throwing rock spears, shaking the ground to rattle his defenses.
But Changwon stood steadfast, and when Lapiz showed a moment of weakness, he seized the chance to counterattack.
He wrested control of the surrounding boulders from her and prepared a massive telekinetic blast so powerful, it visibly distorted the air, aiming to send Lapiz flying.
As she made occasional counterattacks, it seemed like Lapiz would helplessly take the beating while unable to break through his defenses.
Meanwhile, the dust hanging in the arena suddenly began swirling toward Lapiz.
The dust started gathering tightly around her body like armor.
Changwon, seemingly unconcerned, unleashed a telekinetic force strong enough to bend the safety barriers, but…
Lapiz remained right where she was.
I wondered how that was possible, but a hint popped up from the side.
“Indeed, she’s solidifying sand and dust against her body.”
Like enhanced armor, clad in a protective shell that wouldn’t yield to any external force, Lapiz charged directly at Changwon.
The sight resembled Minho’s presence.
Instead of moving her legs, she was gliding through the air.
“On top of that, she’s moving the sand enveloping her all as one. Mother, did you ever teach her something like this?”
“No way. There’s no way I’d teach her such a full-of-holes technique.”
Responding to Harane’s question, Altera shook her head, listing the flaws in her sand armor one by one.
Wrapping her entire body, including her face, with sand would diminish her senses and vibration detection, and all the force needed to manipulate the ground would be used to hold onto the sand surrounding her, requiring immense concentration.
It was truly just a makeshift method to overcome this situation.
“But… even if it’s a makeshift, if it works, there’s no problem. Plenty of things to fix, but she’s pulling off quite a creative maneuver.”
Changwon attempted to halt her with telekinesis, but realizing the futility, he began placing various objects in her path to shield himself.
However, like a battering ram, she effortlessly demolished everything in her path and swooped directly toward Changwon.
It seemed Changwon also understood he had to go strength for strength, gathering distorted air into a telekinetic field, preparing for a powerful hit.
But just before Lapiz collided with his barrier, she dismissed the sand around her, compressing it into the size of a plum.
Having focused solely on defense, Lapiz remained suspended in the air.
Changwon tried to redirect his force to push Lapiz away, but she was faster, lodging the sand plum inside his barrier.
Ultimately, while Lapiz flew backward, the sand plum detonated, sending Changwon flying as well.
They crashed into opposite ends of the arena almost simultaneously but…
“…Lapiz wins!!!”
It seemed Lapiz had sent her shot just a bit harder.