Chapter 861: Ch 860: Observation of World No. 006

TIME SKIP~~~

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[Observation of World No. 006, Crimson World (Shakugan no Shana), successful!]

[In accordance with the Forum-Central Friendly Agreement, after deducting basic operational costs, the proceeds from this observation will...]

[Ding!]

[The Little Garden Center Core is 100% satisfied with the results of this observation. Following negotiations, the Dimensional Forum will receive the entire proceeds from this acquisition.]

[Congratulations, Holder. You have received 500,000 points. Current balance: 880,170 points.]

"What the hell?"

Ryo's expression shifted slightly.

The Little Garden Central had handed over the entire haul to the Dimensional Forum?

That had never happened before.

Damn it. Was there a problem with Shakugan no Shana?

Ryo's eyes flickered.

'That brain-dead Core isn't the kind to pass up a chance to screw over the gods, is it?'

'But I have records in Little Garden showing that I traveled to the Crimson World. And I came rushing back without covering all my tracks... after all, using the Forum to hide everything would be too risky and might expose its existence...'

'Fuck.'

A sudden headache began throbbing in Ryo's temples.

At that moment, the Dimensional Forum's reward was delivered into his Spirit Rank.

[Congratulations, Holder. Your Spirit Rank has begun to sublimate and is advancing toward the Four-Digit rank (Rule-Breaker)!]

[As this sublimation is of extraordinary significance, please avoid increasing your Spirit Rank again until the process is complete.]

Ryo automatically interpreted that as: 'While your Spirit Rank is evolving, don't go wandering off to another world and start causing trouble. Yeah, you. Don't go observing any more worlds. It could interfere with the process.'

By now, Ryo was certain.

It was absolutely because of that particular revelation in Crimson World: {The Crimson Denizens who devoured humans were gods worshipped by humanity.}

At its core, it was an effective act of "slander" against the gods' Spirit Ranks.

The legends of that world had produced an effect equivalent to a massive, world-rewriting work by one of Little Garden's poets.

And they had even carved the idea that "the gods are monsters that eat people's existence" into the legal framework of Little Garden itself.

Through that act of "slander," Ryo had received an enormous amount of feedback to his Spirit Rank.

That was why it had advanced directly to the Four-Digit Rule-Breaker rank.

Or rather, the Little Garden Central, which was extremely pleased with this particular bit of slander, had awarded Ryo even more generously. It had even waived its share of the Forum's profits.

But... this was definitely not a good thing!

[Congratulations, Holder. A corner of Omnipotence has now opened before you...]

Before Ryo could finish reading the Forum's message, a girl silently appeared in front of him.

She wore a straitjacket. Her waist-length hair was purple, and her figure was perfectly proportioned, every curve exactly where it ought to be.

She stared at Ryo with an exceptionally strange expression.

Demon Star, Algol. A Star Spirit who had ascended to the Three-Digit Rule-Breaker rank thanks to the opportunity Ryo had brought her, and currently the strongest being residing within Arcadia.

The moment the disturbance occurred, she had arrived on the scene.

Now, Algol looked Ryo up and down strangely. "Didn't you say you were going to lie low in some failed development world? How did things end up like this?"

"Three two-digit beings came to ask me what was going on. You... just what exactly did you do this time?"

Ryo rubbed his forehead, just about to explain when Algol's eyes widened.

"Your Spirit Rank is sublimating? And that aura of Authority... Did you destroy a world? Wait, why isn't there a 'World's Curse'? And isn't this the aura of the Authority of Creation? What's going on?"

"Uh... Algol, it happened suddenly. Let me explain..."

Before Ryo could finish, Algol waved a hand dismissively. "Relax. They aren't aggressive or anything. And we can always twist the problem in our favor."

"Besides, you're under my protection. If anyone's going to punish you, it'll be me. Since when did it become their turn?"

As she spoke, Algol puffed out her chest, looking oddly pleased with herself. Her tone was brimming with a spoiled, almost childish smugness.

Unfortunately, Ryo was in no state to appreciate her acting cute.

The problem is, I don't even know what the 'problem' is...

Cold sweat trickled down his face.

The instant he returned, three Two-Digit beings had their eyes on him.

There was simply no good way to describe that feeling.

Thankfully, he'd kept most of his movements hidden. Well, most of what he'd done in the Crimson World had been carried out through his will acting alongside Shana.

As for the other things, like destroying the Crimson Realm and 'borrowing' the Snake of the Festival's Authority of Creation... those had been done personally. Still, Ryo had been cautious enough to erase as many traces as possible, mostly out of habit.

'Those Two-Digit beings really do keep an eye on every change in the Little Garden Central... Good thing I've always been careful.'

After a moment of silence, Ryo used his Cosmo to create a fragment of memory.

It contained everything he had done in the Crimson World, along with his carefully prepared explanations, with most of the things that couldn't be revealed removed.

"That should be about everything." Ryo sighed and handed the crystal formed from the memory fragment to Algol.

He had truly learned his lesson this time. There would be no next time.

From now on, Ryo Yagami would never leave his name behind as an observer again.

As Ryo silently vowed this to himself, Algol accepted the fragment and began reading.

"Oh? Crimson Denizens? Some of them devour humans and consume their existence, yet humans still worship these beings as gods at the same time?"

"Interesting. So that's the kind of slander we're talking about."

Algol was briefly taken aback.

Algol then continued reading the memory, skipping straight to the end.

"Mm-hmm, oh-umm. So after you destroyed the Crimson Realm, you recreated it? Xanadu? Hidden?"

"Crimson Denizens. Flame Hazes. Tsk! That's going to make things pretty difficult for you... Those Pantheon guys aren't going to let this go easily."

"Many Denizens were killed, and many Flame Hazes chose to die peacefully while you hid the rest. But..." Algol looked up at him, then sighed. "Why didn't you just kill them all before coming back?"

At those words, Ryo's expression immediately became rather complicated.

He naturally understood that the method Algol was suggesting was the simplest option.

At the very least, it would let him get rid of all the baggage and safely reap the rewards of this whole affair.

But sometimes, a person needed to have some principles.

"Isn't there another way?" Ryo asked Algol.

Algol stared at him for a moment before sighing. "No wonder you absolutely refuse to change your species and become a god or buddha."

She muttered under her breath in complaint, "I'm not good at dealing with those bored, self-important idiots in the Pantheons. You're better off finding someone who actually knows how to play this game professionally."

Ryo immediately understood what she meant.

Was she telling him to go find Athena?

It really was a wonder that Algol had even given him that advice. She hated Athena more than almost anyone, yet Ryo's predicament had somehow forced her into recommending the very person she least wanted to mention.

"I understand." Ryo nodded to show that he'd gotten the message. After a brief pause, he added softly, "Thank you."

Algol froze for a moment. She couldn't help rubbing the goosebumps on her arm, and just before her figure faded away, she grumbled, "Don't thank me. That's way too mushy."

After Algol left, Ryo stood there for a while before turning around and leaving.

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