She shook her head and tried to focus on the task before her - how to avoid being humiliated and defeated by this fraudster BL boy!

Though she didn't want to admit that she might lose, she also didn't want to take any chances with this final round.

'If I lose, it's not just Mum who'll kill me... I don't dare face Aunt Lina after this either...' She s.h.i.+vered as she thought about the demonic training routine that her mother's sister had devised for her. What would happen when Aunt Lina found out that she had lost in the prelims to a no-name boy toy...? She shuddered and didn't dare to think about it.

So she put away her pride and threw her face down to the ground (metaphorically) to think of a way to beat the boy with something else other than her skills and abilities.

'How about with money...? I have plenty of that... And it's useless to me anyway...' She thought about it and decided to give it a try.

If you can't beat them, why not ask them to join you...? The saying went something like that, right...?

So despite the shame of indirectly admitting defeat and also the hot flashes and the 18+ images going through her mind, she spoke as quietly as she could and asked Lars, "I know I'm not at all attractive to you compared to Charley since I'm a girl, but--"

Lars turned white and almost vomited blood at that sentence. Why oh why, oh villainous heavens and scoundrel fate! Why have you schemed against me to smear my reputation!?! Such a sentence... Did that mean that women would never see him as a man ever again...?!?

Dismissing his reaction as just confirmation of her statement, the girl continued, "But apart from that... I can offer you money! Lots and lots of money! More money than you could ever ask or imagine!"

"Money...!!?" In an instant, Lars recovered. His eyes lit up, his breathing grew shallow and his heart beat faster. His face turned pink as blood rushed to his face.

"Did you just say... Lots and lots of money...?? More money than I could ever ask or imagine...?!?" His eyes took on a slightly fanatical looking, a rabid expression on his face.

Taken aback at his overly dramatic reaction, Natalie nevertheless nodded and said, "Will 10,000 coins be enough...?"

Lars blinked, mind rapidly calculating and replied in 0.01 seconds, "10,000 copper, so that would be 1 platinum... Hmm..." He quickly considered his options

'1 platinum, compared to the teleportation cost, it's still nothing. And comparing their clothes and the backing behind them, there's not even any need to compare which side has more wealth - if the girl is willing to pay 1 platinum, I doubt that Charley could even match 1/10th of that! Also, looking at Charley's money-grubbing state, I don't think he even *HAS* a single platinum to his name, not that that stingy a** would pay me even if he did have that cash...! But on the other hand, he's also cunning and like a wolf in sheep's skin in his schemes... Should I bet on his future or should I take the bird in hand...? After all a bird in hand is worth two in the bush, right... Options options options, dammit! Why is it so hard to choose??? If only...'

"Wait, what are you talking about...? Obviously I mean 10,000 platinum coins, heh, were you joking just now? 1 platinum coin wouldn't even pay for my lunch! Hey hey hey hey! Are you okay?? Why are you frothing at the mouth, hey! We need a doctor! Someone!!!"

She panicked as Lars suddenly collapsed, his eyes rolling up in his head, frothing at the mouth and blood dripping out from his two nostrils.

And as he collapsed, Natalie thought she heard him say something like, "Ten, ten ten ten ten... Ten thousand platinum coins?!? d.a.m.n rich people! Someday I'll steal all the money in the world and I'll be the only rich person!!! Curse you!!!"

But that couldn't possibly be what he said, right...? Why would someone be surprised at some pocket change?

So she decided to pa.s.s it off as her imagination and called out frantically for a paramedic to help the unconscious boy beside her.

* * * * *

'Natalie Natalie Natalie...! Why did you call the physician over!!!' The fiery red-headed girl berated herself for her actions.

Natalie regretted her overly kind panicked reaction. If only she had just kept quiet, then wouldn't she have achieved her objective of getting first place easily...? She sighed and put on a scowling tough face, before feeling worried.

What should she say later if Lars asked her why she was so kind...?

'Oh no... What if he thinks I'm just some softie that can be pushed around easily...' She bit her lip and almost cried as she worried non-stop about it.

Lars was quickly resuscitated and appeared to be in good condition. As the a.s.sessment still had not yet started due to the crew needing time to charge the illusion arrays, no time was lost and it was dismissed as a minor interruption.

Then once the crew left, he turned to the girl and looked at her for a while before slowly saying, "Thank you... I heard you were the one who, despite my antagonising you, called the paramedics over. I... Really want to thank you..."

Then Lars pressed one hand to his chest and bowed like a gentleman to a lady, or a knight to a princess.

Surprised at his sudden change of att.i.tude to one of gratefulness, and how polite and gallant he looked while apologising, Natalie found her heart beating quicker than normal as her throat grew tight. Then she realised that he was still in his bowing posture, looking up expectantly and waiting for her to respond.

"N-no! I-It's not like I wanted to help you or anything!" She looked away when her eyes met his, not understanding why she felt so fl.u.s.tered all of a sudden. "Since I was the cause of it, I-I was just doing it for my own guilty conscience, yeah, t-that's right! It's not for you at all, so there! You don't have to thank me!"

'What am I saying...??? Even I think it sounds like nonsense!' She wished she could hide her face under a rock, but she kept a strong front as she spoke those words.

Lars smiled as he rose from the bow, and then said, "I didn't know you were so cute..."

"W-w-w-what are you saying all of a sudden! S-shut up! Are you a, a, a pervert! I thought you only like men!?" Natalie turned cherry red in embarra.s.sment and started spouting out whatever came to mind, causing Lars to laugh in amus.e.m.e.nt at her adorable reaction.

'What a cute tsundere... I didn't know they exist in this world too...' Lars smiled cheerfully. In just those short few minutes, it felt like all the bad blood between them was gone, and he didn't have the heart in him to bully the girl anymore.

But he still owed it to his friend to fulfil his part of the deal.

"Natalie, sorry... Back to business. Before talking about things like money, which we of course need to talk about and not forget... Are you okay...?" Lars looked at her with a serious expression, causing Natalie to blush even deeper and look away again, sweating profusely as the heat rose to her head.

"W-what! Of course I'm o-okay! Why do you care anyway! It's not like I'm embarra.s.sed, it, it's just... It's just really hot!" She looked up, then froze as she realised that the cool autumn weather made it a refres.h.i.+ng 20 degrees right now.

'C-cute...' Lars couldn't help but feel his heart skip a beat at her reaction, but continued on.

"What's the issue between you and Charley anyway...? Why are you two at odds...?"

'Charley...?! Why ask about that poor beggar! Why not ask about me, you idiot!?' She scowled at him, then caught herself. 'Wait, what am I angry about? No no, WHY am I angry? Idiot Natalie! Calm down!'

Then her eyes widened slowly and her face slowly turned into a smile as an idea dawned on her.

"If you want to know... You'll have to beat me in the real compet.i.tion first!" Then she turned away to ignore him, feeling like she had finally won an exchange of words with the despicable, handsome, elegeant boy... The capable, smart and charming boy...

Her heart started to beat faster as she looked forward to facing him in the ring and imagined beating him down and stomping on him until he gave up and finally surrendered himself. Then she would pick him up and kiss him fiercely and say, "From now on, you're mine!"

She nearly squealed as she reveled in her imagination - so romantic! It sounded just like how Dad was courted (read: beaten up) by Mum all those years ago in the East-coast Battlefield! And despite starting on less than the best terms (read: fighting) and not having much in common (read: being the leader of the enemy army), she had eventually convinced him into following her back to Gorun!

Natalie sighed as she fantasised about their wedding and then the 12 children she would bear, as well as all their names - when suddenly she heard a cough from behind her.

"Ahem ahem! Sorry to interrupt but... What about the deal to lose intentionally...? I'll lose for 18,000 platinum, okay...?"

Natalie turned completely white.

"I..."

Then she felt her head spin.

She'd totally forgotten about that! And then she challenged him to beat her in the next sentence...?

'Oh my G.o.d Natalie! What's wrong with youuuuu~~!!!' She slapped her two palms against her cheeks and didn't dare to turn around or answer him, it was too embarra.s.sing! Just too embarra.s.sing!!

"Erm... h.e.l.lo...? Can you hear--" Lars began to speak again, but was interrupted as a loud shout was heard.

"ALRIGHT ALRIGHT! THE ILLUSION ARRAYS ARE FINALLY UP! Apologies for the delay, everyone! We're starting in 5 seconds, remember not to resist! 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 and go!"

'Then is the deal on or off??? Dammit! My 18,000 platinum, why??!' A crying boy turned away unwillingly and prepared his mind for the illusion array.

Then it occurred to him.

'Oh, since her bet is that she'll do anything for Charley if I win, I'll just ask her for 18,000 platinum coins... Yeah!'

He smiled and whistled as the combat a.s.sessment began.

* * * * *

A pretty boy with long, golden hair tied up in a pony-tail was walking through the same hallways, doors and pa.s.sageways that Mr White had just gone through earlier.

On her chest was a badge - a newbie quester badge of the lowest Wood-rank, grade G.

She was walking towards the Gorun Stadium Board Room, a forbidden area for commoners like her.

So it was a wonder that she could even be here; why hadn't she been barred from entry or kicked out much earlier for trespa.s.sing?

If Lars saw her right now, he would have instcasted Wail of the Banshee and traded half his recently recovered soul for her life! That was how much he hated her right now, the nameless trap who he would never forgive!

However, even as she walked, her body and facial features began to twist and s.h.i.+ft with even the bones beneath her skin snapping and releasing popping sounds.

She began to transform into a high-cheeked young lady, shorter by nearly 10 cm and of a smaller build - a drastic change! However, her clothes remained the same.

She yawned as she approached the door that Mr White had faced with great trepidation. She stopped when she neared and met eyes with the two Master level experts who stood vigil by the looming double doors.

"Are they done yet...?" She nodded at the guards before the door and asked.

"Ms Estreya! Yes, you're just on time! They've just finished their session so we informed the food and beverage team to send up refreshments. You can head on in, your aunt and uncle are inside." One of the guards spoke to her in a familiar manner as if he had known her for a long time, while the other also nodded and smiled affectionately.

The dignified young lady - still in a newbie quester's clothes and previously the trap who antagonised Lars - flashed a radiant smile in return and thanked them before knocking on the door, pus.h.i.+ng it open and stepping in.

The 4 men and lone woman within turned curious gazes towards the entrance, wondering who had barged in. Among them, Gaius Trenel, as the host and patron lord of the Stadium was the most taken aback as he rose sharply to his feet and released killing intent. Who in the world would dare to interrupt their party of 5 that determined the fate of the Northern Reaches? Whoever it was, he would slap them to kingdom come and then casually wipe his hands on the tablecloths before continuing their meaningless small talk!

"WHO DARES TO-- Oh, it's you." Gaius Trenel hollered as his face twisted with rage - then his expression returned to a normal, impa.s.sive and slightly arrogant expression before sitting down. He also withdrew his aura of a beginner World-cla.s.s expert as he regained his composure.

As he began to sit down, Lina Sarouneh stood up and ran over delightedly to her niece's side.

"Astrid! I didn't know you were dropping by! I heard you lost your little pet...? I heard you've put out lost and found posters and even asked for quester's to look for it! How goes the search for the Void Wor--" She held on to the girl's arm and started to chatter cheerfully to her favourite niece, but she was ambushed by both the girl (the trap) and Sefir Roth Estreya (who looked suspiciously like a recently rehabilitated trap).

"Shut up big mouthed b.i.t.c.h!" "W-what are you talking about! No such thing happened! Lalalala!" They exclaimed as they clamped their hands firmly down onto the big-mouthed woman's lips.

For the record, the first aggressive sentence in coa.r.s.e language came from Astrid while the second fl.u.s.tered one came from her uncle.

"Mmmhppff mmfhhmm mhhm!!! Ah! I know I know, I won't talk about it, okay?"

At the comical sight of the three's antics, General Weres, Yusof and even the temperamental Gaius did not know whether to laugh or to cry. Soon the serious talks were but a thing of the past and the group were happily gossiping and laughing. Lina quickly pulled along the daughter of her sister who had married the Estreya family's patriarch and made her sit beside her instead of with Sefir, Astrid's uncle.

"So, Astrid... We wanted to ask. Now that you've turned 15, have you found a boy you like...? Or are you still doing playing those tricks of yours on the poor men, making them fall you while they think you're a boy...? Then breaking their hearts with guilt because they think they're turning gay...?"

"Auntie! Why ask me?! You should ask Vignis or even Natalie! You know that I'm just having some harmless fun right...? Besides..." The fairy-like girl stuck out her tongue mischievously and shocked the rest with the words that she spoke.

"I'm nowhere near as bad as that Pervert Queen d.u.c.h.ess, right...?"

This drew shocked and fearful gasps from all her five companions who furtively looked around to check if the said d.u.c.h.ess were listening!

This time Lina was the one who clamped Astrid's mouth shut, then kept her voice low as she half whispered, half shouted, "Astrid! You must never disrespect her Grace like that! You know she hates to be called a d.u.c.h.ess, as she insists that her position has nothing to do with her late husband's rank! Ahem, and even if whatever you said was true, ahem, keep it to yourself or she'll KILL YOU okay!??"

Lina looked around conspiratorially while her other peers looked to be nervous.

It was a well known, open "secret" that each of the 5 major powers had a dark and dirty secret.

The Trenels' flesh-trade, illegally incarcerating innocents for sale to the highest bidder and to satisfy the depraved desires of the rich and mighty.

The Jamal family's black-market trade that circ.u.mvented the Kingdom's import duties, facilitating the Trenel's slavery.

The House of Estreya's Planar Expeditions and Dimensional Summoning - in other words, kidnapping exotic creatures from other worlds.

And the Sarouneh's bloodline laboratories, where horrific experiments were carried out which if described would make even General Weres shudder!

Finally, the one crowned and enshrined above them all, the unspoken "Queen of Dual Cultivation" who neither condemned nor condoned any of the above, but also did not take any action against it.

As long as enough young boys and girls were provided for her "practice" and "mutual enjoyment"...

Though no one who entered her grasps was ever seen again.

This was the darkness in the heart of the glorious, prosperous and sparkling City of Gorun.

A den of darkness that a righteous hearted boy would soon smash asunder.