Chapter 167: Trading Gods
"First to go is the pair from Greece, Jason and Medea, let's call them Team Argo."
"Next is also a pair from Greek mythology, Orion and Artemis, so this is the value of Luck A+, from now on let's call them Team Moon Goddess."
"But as far as I know, even with Luck A+, the fate of Team Moon Goddess wasn't all that good..."
Finn wanted to continue, but was already stopped with visible tension by Diarmuid: "My King, please don't say things that should not be said!"
"Cough, cough, you're right... In short, going first doesn't mean you will definitely win, because this time it's not a speed race..... wait, why did I say 'this time'? Forget it."
"Let's watch the performance of the next competitors, Team father-and-son Moriarty and Frankenstein are in the middle, Team husband-and-wife Sakamoto Ryouma have already secured a useful Craft Essence, and next is the Gemini brothers..."
This pair of Saber brothers had been waiting at the starting position for a long time, and it was finally their turn to roll the dice.
The elder brother, Castor, rolled first.
The result was five.
"Oh, although the Luck of these brothers is only C, their starting roll is quite satisfactory. The elder brother Castor rolled a five, please advance five spaces."
Under the conceptual power defined by the Holy Grail, Team Gemini was forced to move forward five spaces.
They happened to stop at the "shop" square of the shopping mall.
"What, could that be..."
Finn immediately began commentary,
"Congratulations to the Gemini brothers for being the first to reach the shopping mall's store, they can purchase various Magecraft resources and Craft Essences, as well as a 'Holy Grail Shard'!"
"What?!"
The competitors on-site were all astonished, including Eikou and Yu Ji who hadn't even started yet.
Eikou thought to himself, we haven't even begun, yet someone has already obtained the first Holy Grail Shard, so this really is that kind of match—those who go first get the goodies, those who go last eat shit! How the hell are we supposed to play like this!
"How wonderful, nii-sama," the younger sister Pollux smiled, "It's only the first round and we've already obtained a Holy Grail Shard."
"Hmph, nothing remarkable."
The elder brother Castor said indifferently,
"Pollux, the vast majority of these competitors are mere ordinary mortals, compared to the brilliance of us Gemini stars, they are not even worth mentioning. For us to claim the Holy Grail is nothing but the inevitable result."
"Sasuga nii-sama, sugoi!"
...
"These divine twins give me an even more annoying feeling than humans..."
Yu Ji crossed her arms, coldly watching the Gemini pair praising each other, muttering in a low voice.
Eikou grinned brightly: "Compared to him, don't you think I suddenly seem more charming?"
Yu Ji's deep red eyes glanced at him with great displeasure, "You still have the mood to laugh, the opponent is about to get a Holy Grail Shard, while we haven't even stepped out of the gate."
"And whose fault do you think that is, Yu Ji Luck E-senpai?"
"Hmph, so what if it's Luck E, I can still win this battle with strength and intellect. Do not underestimate the wisdom my immortal race has accumulated over thousands of years, human!"
As she finished, Yu Ji arrogantly pushed up her black-rimmed glasses, though no matter how one looked, it didn't make her seem any more mature than a girl in her teens.
And at this very moment,
The elder Gemini, Castor, had already walked up to the store.
"According to the rules set by mortals, as long as I offer this store a certain amount of QP, the store in return will offer me a Holy Grail Shard, correct?"
Castor pulled out 3000QP from his wallet and shouted loudly at the store:
"Hand over the Holy Grail Shard, I have brought you mortals' tribute!"
Immediately, the shop window lit up, displaying the Holy Grail Shard along with its price:
「Holy Grail Shard: 100,000,000QP」
"O… one hundred million QP?!"
Castor's green eyes widened, instantly shaken to his core.
Not only him, but the other competitors present were also struck with great shock.
"Such… such an outrageously greedy price!" Castor recoiled in horror, "Is it really possible for anyone to gather that much money? Just which God King from mythology is this shopkeeper, daring to demand such an enormous tribute..."
He glanced up at the store sign, which clearly bore the image of a certain Servant.
"As expected, it's that guy..." Eikou muttered.
Smack!
Castor couldn't restrain himself and slammed his fist hard against the shop window.
"What an insult! For me to have to offer up so much money to a mere human just to obtain a Holy Grail Shard. One hundred million QP, just how greedy are these humans—— and speaking of which, that smile is also far too hateful!"
"Brother-in-law, don't misunderstand," Eikou stood with his hands on his hips, "even among us humans, someone like him is considered a piece of shit."
"Who's your brother-in-law! Who the hell are you?!"
Castor roared in agitation, but quickly realized he had lost his composure, completely losing the aloof divine demeanor he had just displayed.
He cleared his throat, trying to regain his calm.
Finn then continued his explanation:
"Although the Holy Grail Shard is right in front of the Gemini twins, the outrageous price leaves them powerless. Aiyaya, even the lofty Gemini constellation of Greece must bow their heads before such an insatiably greedy capitalist."
"Contestant Castor, do you wish to pay one hundred million QP to purchase the Holy Grail Shard?"
"I want to pay, but the tribute falls far too short!" Castor said angrily, "There's no other choice but to give up——"
But then, the store suddenly lit up with a sign:
「This shop supports item exchange, you may bring your younger sister and your believers to sell to America!」
"???"
This Columbus guy, why the hell has he still not forgotten his old trade! What era is this, and he's still thinking about slave trading!
"A seafaring slave master who actually wants to sell the patron deity of sailors, this is pure hell!!"
Eikou, inwardly furious, cursed to himself.
And upon seeing this notification board, the elder Gemini—Castor—was so enraged he nearly exploded.
"To dare insult the gods like this, I will flatten this store and grind that bastard's bones to ashes!"
As he spoke, he was about to release the True Name of his Noble Phantasm, but a warning message popped up in front of him.
「First warning: destruction of the board layout without authorization is forbidden. Multiple warnings will result in direct disqualification and loss of eligibility to participate.」
"...Tch! Damn it!"
Seeing the red warning text, Castor curled his lip in disdain.
But after weighing the pros and cons, he ultimately abandoned his heavy-handed plan, and with no other move to make, could only gloomily give up in silence.
How pitiful for the Gemini twins, appearing for only a moment before being utterly humiliated by a slaver.
"The Gemini brothers declare the end of their turn,"
"Then next comes the final couple, also the most special pair among everyone here—Lady Yu Ji, who already has a husband yet still couldn't resist 'cheating' with another young boy, and Mochizuki Eikou, who insists with his mouth that he has no interest in married women or mature women, yet when it comes to acting, he doesn't hesitate at all. From now on, let's call them... the cheating couple!"
"Bastard, who gave you permission to call us the cheating couple! Don't you dare make up settings for us on your own!"
Both of them flushed bright red, furiously shouting at the host.
This Servant Finn summoned by the Holy Grail was even more troublesome than Finn-sensei back at Chaldea Academy!