Chapter 66: Strange Ones (3)

Someone once said it.

Sports are unscripted drama.

Especially in those where there is a clear winner and loser, that characteristic becomes even more obvious.

It looked like they were going to lose, but they made a comeback. It looked like they were going to win, but they got turned around. That kind of drama.

Even when there is a clear difference in level, fans scream until they lose their voices precisely because of that.

Because they can defeat a strong team, and even if they lose, they can still hope for the future.

[Even if the probability is 0.1%, we will not give up.]

[The match ends the moment you give up.]

[Why do we love sports? Because we don’t know who will win.]

As those phrases say, sports are something whose result can never be taken for granted.

This world already lacked entertainment to begin with, so it was natural for people to immerse themselves in sports.

Even if they were pureblood nobles, it didn’t matter.

[Will it go in? Will it?! Shooooot! Goooooal! Chames United! A comeback goal in the final minutes!]

[T-this has been an incredible play! The Leor players lower their heads!]

A private training field that only Mephisto royalty could use.

At the center, a crystal sphere transmitted broadcast magic.

Eternal rivals, Chames United and Leor.

A deadly rivalry.

Normally, Chames United, or Chayu, was at a disadvantage.

But they achieved the comeback.

Even the commentators were so excited that they stuttered.

“……”

And there was someone watching the entire scene.

The princess of Mephisto, Keirin, known in the gallery as DemonPrincess.

She held back her trembling lips and uploaded a post.

Finally, after posting it, she released all the emotions she had been holding back.

“KYAAAAAAAGH!!!”

Keirin ran all over the field like a madwoman, screaming.

It was not a scream of joy it was more like the roar of a beast.

All the elegance, dignity, and etiquette of a princess disappeared.

It was a completely instinctive reaction.

From excitement, she released mana and damaged several parts of the field.

If someone saw her, they’d think no drug in the world could make someone look like that.

“Is this real? Is this real!? Seriously?!”

Keirin returned to her place after running around like crazy.

She was breathing heavily, and her blue skin had turned reddish.

[That was an excellent offensive play. Even the defenders participated.]

[That’s right. Partially abandoning the defense was…]

The transmission sphere enhanced with orichalcum.

Image quality, sound, and connection, everything optimized.

And on that hologram was what Keirin had wanted so badly.

[Leor players! There’s little time lef… huh?]

[Interception by Marta! Immediate counterattack!]

[Passes to Kone on the left. Kone advances!]

[Cross to the center…! Ah! The defender clears it.]

“Aaah!”

Keirin lamented. It was the perfect chance to crush Leor.

But there was still a chance.

She held her breath while watching the match.

[End of the match! Spectacular comeback!]

[The Chayu players collapse in joy.]

Clap clap clap!

Keirin applauded sincerely.

The fans also responded with an ovation.

“Ah… seriously… how the hell did they win?”

She collapsed from exhaustion.

She rubbed her face and looked at the broadcast.

The players’ faces were full of emotion.

“Yeah… this is better. They always lost and looked so sad.”

The previous defeat against a weak team?

Forgotten.

They had defeated their hated rival.

It felt as if a ten-year burden had been lifted off her shoulders.

That emptiness was replaced by dopamine.

It’s not for nothing that people say sports are more dangerous than drugs.

‘Just like Grills said…’

Keirin entered the gallery.

Just as he had said, even though they conceded 3 goals, they scored 4.

Everyone was in shock.

Especially this.

ㄴWildGrills) If our defense concedes 3 goals, our offense scores 4

ㄴsounds stupid but it makes sense…

ㄴlegendary response lmao

ㄴsounds like someone who reached enlightenment lmao

ㄴI came on a pilgrimage. May Chayu win the championship

ㄴI came on a pilgrimage. May my love life go well

ㄴmay my stocks rise!

ㄴmay I pass the exam!

The “pilgrimage” had begun.

A type of popular faith where people make wishes to “prophetic” comments.

But Grills’s case was different.

Nobody believed he was right.

And yet it happened.

‘I need to give him more uniforms.’

Thanks to the orichalcum, she was able to watch the comeback perfectly.

Normally the signal cuts out around the 80th minute.

But this time it was perfect.

Keirin, happy, kept watching.

The match ended, but the interview remained.

[How do you feel after defeating Leor?]

[Very good. It’s more valuable because the players didn’t give up.]

Chayu’s coach was bald.

Very typical.

Baldness is a universal pain.

In the gallery, of course, they mocked him mercilessly.

[What was the key to victory?]

[The determination of the players… and…]

Then came the MVP interview.

The MVP was, obviously, the player who scored 3 goals.

A hat-trick.

In football, that is extremely difficult.

And achieving it makes him the undisputed best player.

[Today you looked especially light on your feet. The comeback doesn’t even need explaining. Did something happen in the locker room?]

[The coach told us that if they scored 2 goals on us, we should score 3, and if they scored 3 on us, we should score 4.]

“Huh?”

Keirin opened her eyes upon hearing the interview.

That phrase sounded far too familiar.

She silently recorded the moment.

[At first I thought it was crazy. But when we tied the game, I started to feel it.]

[What exactly did you feel?]

[That if they score 3 goals on us, we just have to score 4. That that is the answer.]

‘…Could it be that the coach also uses the gallery?’

The coincidence was too perfect not to suspect it.

Still, it wasn’t a bad thing.

From now on, they would play more offensively.

Until now, Chayu focused only on defending and ended up losing even winnable matches.

It was like wearing clothes that didn’t fit.

“Hmm~”

Keirin, happier than she had felt in a long time, hummed while tidying up.

The excitement of the comeback was still running through her entire body.

‘They say in baseball everything starts in the ninth inning it must be something similar.’

Thinking about it that way, she understood why people watched baseball.

Until the final out, nobody knows who will win.

With that new understanding, she left the training field.

Before leaving, she didn’t forget to change out of her Chayu uniform and into a dress.

“Good work, Princess.”

Outside, an elderly butler was waiting for her.

Keirin nodded with a slight smile.

The butler, noticing something, spoke carefully.

“It seems you have made progress in your training.”

“Yes. Today I made great progress.”

While speaking, she thought of her father, Asmodeus.

They had entered training at almost the same time.

“And Father?”

“Well, that is…”

The butler hesitated.

He seemed uncomfortable.

Keirin raised an eyebrow.

“The emperor… did not make much progress. Rather… it seems he lost control.”

“Hm?”

Keirin opened her eyes wide.

Asmodeus losing control.

Demons release mana when their emotions intensify.

She herself had done so out of excitement.

But if it were anger, the damage would be enormous.

From the way the butler spoke, it was obvious.

“I thought he had been calm these last 10 years. Did something happen?”

“I do not know. But it is definitely not something good.”

“I understand. I will be careful.”

Keirin nodded and left.

The butler bowed and withdrew.

As she walked, she thought about her father.

‘I thought he had calmed down…’

Asmodeus was a terrifying figure.

Overwhelming power and charisma impossible to hide.

Only his family saw his human side.

‘Well, he has his moments.’

She didn’t think too much of it.

He had never harmed her.

Then she entered her room and threw herself onto the bed.

“Hehe…”

She smiled like an idiot.

Nothing like her cold and elegant image.

‘When was the last time I felt like this?’

That intense emotion, almost forgotten.

Not even drugs satisfy demons.

But this was different.

‘This isn’t the time to think. To the gallery.’

She would spend the rest of her time there.

The gallery was full of revived Chayu fans.

[From now on, this is the Chames United gallery.]

That post was pinned with an enormous number of likes.

Though the ratio was roughly 2 to 1.

Even so, huge.

Title) ???: you’re so trash

DemonPrincess

(image of the hawk emblem)

you’re so trash haha

ㄴshe instantly teabagged you lmao

ㄴa comeback like that can’t be forgiven haha

ㄴhow could you not enjoy this lol

ㄴKingLeor) you only won once haha

ㄴDemonPrincess) yeah~ a 3-goal comeback~ you guys are so bad lol

ㄴKingLeor) it’s just one match, calm down

ㄴDemonPrincess) and what was the score? 4 to 3!

ㄴKingLeor) and are you qualifying for champions?

ㄴDemonPrincess) beating you guys is enough~

ㄴuff that stings haha

ㄴ???: know why you lost? because you faced Chayu

ㄴthese fans are unbearable haha

ㄴif it bothers you, win

“Hehehehe…”

Keirin enjoyed her happiness.

***

While all the Chayu fans were at the peak of happiness.

ㄴAllFather) I have good news and bad news. Which would you like first?

ㄴWildGrills) hmm the bad news first?

ㄴAllFather) The heart exploded.

ㄴWildGrills) …?