(A/N: Chapter 274 was fixed. Please re-add the novel in your library to refresh the content.)

Bob and Chloe had their eyes fixed on Mai, waiting for her next words.

"Well, even without that, it's easy to guess that there's something amiss about it."

The two fell silent.

"W-well, you're right Ms. Mai. And perhaps, it's that guy who did it!" Said Bob while tapping the table in a little forceful way.

The deities were quite startled when their bodies bounced from it. Bob immediately said his sorry to them. It was an out of reflex and in the heat of the moment response.

Mai laughed wryly. Chloe, on the other hand, fell silent. She noticed that Mai intentionally diverted the topic.

Mai said a while ago that she heard something. Then suddenly said that it was easy to guess.

Regardless, she immediately grabbed her deity Jazz, who was startled by Bob's reaction.

While the three of them were talking about Yman, On the other table, some people were talking about Almina, and the thing she did in the arena. They were sadly talking about how their goddess got someone she likes.

It was unbelievable. They were planning to sabotage that person. When he fought, they would cheer to his opponent.

The other mercenaries who were currently watching the replay of the competition's first elimination round had their eyes fixed on the monitor.

"Isn't that Rat Slayer?"

A person pointed.

"Wait, what?" Upon hearing his nickname in the barracks, Vortex asked in haste. Then glanced at the monitor. In front of him was mercenary Ultima, who also had his eyes on the monitor.

As a mercenary, the two of them were quite busy these past days, especially after the appearance of the dungeon. Right now, they were here to chill, they just came back from a long exploration inside the dungeon.

Many dungeon explorers would come to pay for their assistance. Especially Mercenary Ultima, who became famous after that time when he helped the Academies Ace and Rat Slayer's party.

Though it was unlucky for him to be possessed by that Demon. In the end, he was saved by them.

Nonetheless, he also received a reward for partaking in subjugating the demon. Well, it was what was written in the article but in truth, it wasn't like that. They just did it so that the public won't question his participation.

Regardless, Mercenary Ultima and Mercenary Vortex were staring at the monitor. It was that time when Almina showed up and hugged the familiar person.

"I knew it!"

Mercenary Ultima suddenly exclaimed.

"What are you talking about, Ultima bro?" Asked Vortex, who couldn't catch what he meant. The two of them had become closer after going on the same exploration a couple of times already.

"I mean about RatSlayer and Miss Almina. I suspected it from the start."

"Oh? Hmm… I say. When you put it that way, it was weird that Miss Almina came to help him that time unless the two of them had a deep relationship. Right?"

Said Vortex.

"Mhm!" Ultima nodded. "RatSlayer is truly hard to comprehend. I have this feeling that he has this unreachable deep within," Ultima added.

"What kind of idiom is that, Ultima bro?"

"No, don't mind it."

Said Ultima.

"Regardless of their love life, what can you say about it?" Suddenly asked Vortex.

"What is…"

"I mean the match."

"Uh, you mean that…'' said Ultima, then he creased his forehead while thinking. "...hmm, I think, it was an easy fight. As expected, he wasn't ordinary at all…" said Ultima after awhile.

However, his reply surprised the other person. "What? That's it?"

Ultima narrowed his eyes towards him. "What else? Uh, right. He's as ruthless as he is huh. Haha. He truly was the Rat Slayer I knew."

"NANI—!!" Vortex immediately covered his mouth.

Mercenary Ultima suspiciously looking at him. "Bro, are you from the J-Country?"

"Ehp, no-no! Though I visited once in that place to buy a hugging toy. My kind originated from I-Country."

"I-Is that so?"

"Mhm."

"I see."

While they were talking and talking, their topic diverted far away until they arrived at one point. The two of them decided to watch tomorrow's competition. After all, they needed to relax. It wasn't good to overwork oneself.

...

Maena found herself woke up from a nightmare. Found herself waking up in the deep of the night. Sweating profusely, and her chest rapidly heaving.

"Again? Why? Why did I have to be reminded again from that time?" She pulled herself and sat on the bed, trembling.

She looked at the time and noticed it was quarter three in the morning. She wanted to glance outside but she was afraid. Maena sank back to her bed. And forcibly closed her eyes. Then an image of that person came into her mind. She was puzzled as to why she suddenly thought of that person.

It wasn't like she had a feeling toward him. That certainly is not the case. Hm… never that would happen! Even though he looked different now, and that he looked strong, Maena believed that she and the others were still stronger than him.

If there was anything commendable about him, it was his way of thinking. But still, she disliked it. She disliked him. Yeah, she disliked him. He wasn't great. Many trainees could defeat that Bruno guy. She believed that she could defeat that Bruno with ease. So, for Maena, it wasn't surprising that Yman defeated Bruno. No, she hateshim! Wait, why was she hating him again?

Hasn't she told herself that she would be nicer towards him when she saw him again?

Maena was flabbergasted. She hated him, regardless. She will show him what real power is…

Wait…

She suddenly felt better. The fright she felt a while ago had suddenly vanished. Looks like hating that person gave benefit as well.

She hated Almina too.

"..."

With no apparent reason.

When the sun rose, the roads were already crowded with people. The elimination round yesterday gave a good impression on the citizens. Even the guests were starting to notice some promising youths. One of them was the businesswoman Sunday Sarake.

She was one of the big shareholders in the popular company of the game Newtendo.

After the first elimination round yesterday, the other businessmen approached her. They wanted to talk about business for sure.

Mayor Chan gave them reservations in the most luxurious hotel in the city. Not only that, it was heavily guarded as well. Although guards were unnecessary as she had her personal guards. But anyhow, it was only for showing good etiquette. She knew that.

Regardless, in front of her was a glass table. On top were some data. They were the data of some trainees who took her interest from that recent round.

"Hmm… these two looks familiar," said the person in front of her.

"Yes, Jack. These two were from the Great Families."

Jack peered on the documents. "Hm, so they are from the Sun and Amulet family?"

"Yes!" Sunday nodded.

"I see, no wonder they are strong," said Jack. He had well-trimmed blond hair and wore eyeglasses on his eyes. "So, are we going to select between them for the next promotional video of our company?"

Sunday looked at him. "Hmm… what do you think of them?"

Hearing her question, Jack made a thinking gesture while looking at the documents in his hands. "Well, as expected of the descendants of great families, they are more talented than their peers," Jack replied then pushed another document towards the sophisticated woman in front of him. "Also, this golden-haired girl, she's a top-notch student as well. Don't you think?" He asked.

Sunday stared at the pictures for a couple of seconds.

"Hm… a foreign huh," said Sunday after seeing the document. "She's a beautiful young woman and strong but…" Sunday paused.

"But?"

"She seemed to be agitated by something," said Sunday.

"She is?" Asked Jack.

Sunday nodded.

"I say," Jack said. In his mind, he was admiring her discerning eyes.

Jack also showed the other documents. The two of them talked about them and gave their thoughts.

Half an hour later, "How about that person, Madam?"

"Who do you mean?"

"The person who fought in the first match."

"Oh, you mean him…"

"Yes, madam."

"Hmm… how should I put it… he seemed to be rather Mysterious."

"M-Mysterious!?"

"His ability to cancel the enemy's magical attack and be unaffected by the enemy's barrier, don't you think it is a weird ability?"

"Yeah, it is."

"Regardless, did you get information about him?" She asked.

Jack sighed. "Aside from having a sister, I couldn't get more about him."

"I see… that's unexpected."

"Yeah, sorry for my incompetence."

"No, don't mind it."

Sunday said. But in her mind, she felt it was rather suspicious that Jack could not get i formation about him. After all, Jack was a well-known person in information gathering.

"Right, the second elimination round is about to begin. Let's go!" Said Sunday. Then she stood up and walked towards the door.

The three admins of major departments were happy at the result of the first elimination round. It had average feedback from the guests. Well, being average was better than below average. Also, it was the first elimination round only. During this second elimination, they were hoping for more positive feedback from the guests.