by Andur
“Good. How about taking a look at the merchants and their goods? I am sure that there have to be some interesting technological and magical artefacts among them.” I turn to Lidith and Jazira who followed us out of the room. They are looking at Ascathon like some dangerous animal.
Ascathon's eyes light up. “That sounds interesting.”
“Yes! The market! We'll take a look at the market first!” Lidith smiles and turns to lead the way away from the pyramid to the opposite side of the plaza. There are many buildings around the big plaza. Their architecture is Greek and all of them are made out of huge blocks of granite.
It looks like the pyramid and the plaza are inside a city. I turn to Jazira and whisper. “What about the old oaf?”
I won't feel sorry for the old fool. Wasn't he supposed to be some kind of expert? It looked like he stepped on Ascathon's landmine while knowing what could happen!
“Lidith bribed him to keep his mouth shut.” Jazira whispers back with a forced calm expression.
I nod. I won't ask how she bribed him. It's not like I want to know the particular details. But it still bothers me that my husband has a side like this. Some secrets have to be buried deep and then be forgotten otherwise bad things happen! Yes, that's what I'll do.
“Here we are!” Lidith waves at a colourful bazaar. I didn't realize that we travelled quite some distance while I was holding onto Ascathon who followed Lidith.
People are advertising their goods while others are inspecting them. Like the gods from the plaza, everyone is wearing something different. There is no uniform sense of fashion whatsoever. Then I scold myself for wondering about it.
All of them are coming from different planets. Some probably even from other realities. They are gods from all over the multiverse. Of course they don't look the same.
Ascathon's attention turns to some stands which advertise magical artefacts and he walks over to inspect them.
“I have something to do. Let's meet up here in two hours.” Lidith calls and rushes off.
“I'll go for a stroll too! The clothes over there look gorgeous! See you later.” Jazira runs away too.
Great! They left me alone with my mentally unstable husband! Then on the other hand I guess they are right that it's my problem. I married him after all.
I keep my mouth shut for an entire hour while Ascathon takes a look at various artefacts. He seems to be his normal self again. The incident was totally forgotten after he got to look at the items on display.
Another ten minutes pass until I can't take it any more. “Are you sure that there is really nothing we could use? You are just looking.”
“Of course I am just looking. This is a paradise for industrial espionage! Why should I trade for something which I can build myself after taking a look at it?” Ascathon has a surprised expression.
The vendor at the stand in front of us starts to grumble and takes the enchanted gloves away from Ascathon, who was inspecting them very thoroughly. “Hey!”
I push Ascathon to the next stand while I smile at the guy who was selling the gloves. “Why don't we snatch something to eat?”
“Actually I wondered about the currency system. Trading goods is a very inefficient way of exchanging valuables. It feels like Lidith forgot an important point about the currency. I saw people paying by showing their identification cards.” Ascathon answers.
I didn't realize that he paid attention to something else beside his artefacts. “Maybe there is something like a bank or a merchant group who give you something similar to money?”
Ascathon nods. “And I can't help myself. But those guys look like they belong into that category!” He points at a counter with no wares on display, yet there are many people waiting in line for something.
So we join their ranks and a few minutes later we have five thousand trading points on our accounts and are by two of Ascathon's communication devices poorer. Ascathon snickers while we head through an alleyway towards a recommended restaurant.
“What's so funny.” I want to have some fun too.
“I would never buy a communication device from someone else. They are ridiculously stupid. I wonder who'll buy it. Maybe I should start a mass production and sell them in large quantities?” He still chuckles to himself.
“Don't tell me you cheated them somehow. That's bad you know? They are gods too.” I start to worry about something like a security force catching us.
“Of course not! They work perfectly fine! It's just that I can listen in on them.” He chuckles.
I sigh. “So it's that tour again. You surely like it to spy on people.”
“Of course! There is nothing better! It's like watching a real life sitcom!” He spreads his hands.
I sigh and continue walking. “Let's get to that restaurant. I am hungry.”
Suddenly he stops and holds me back at my hand. “Actually, I have a better idea!” He points at a blue sign with neon lights.
-Room for two!-
-Today we have an entire set of new costumes!-
Ah! Somehow we ended up in that part of the town! “No!”
“Aw! Come on! It says they have costumes! I want to see them!” He grins at me.
“I will not use a place like that!” I shake my head.
“This isn't our homeworld. It surely isn't dirty.” He kneels down in front of me and takes my hand to kiss it.
“I... I won't be persuaded. And it's not a matter of dirt. I am not that kind of woman.” I try to pull my hand away, but he holds it firmly.
“But you are the only woman I could try that with. And I am your husband! Didn't you use your status as my wife just earlier?” He looks up into my eyes like a little puppy.
“Is that so... I certainly used that...” No! Of course he can't go in there with another woman!
“Then let's go!” He throws me over his shoulder and heads inside.
“~No! I didn't say yes! HIAAA! Don't grab my ass!~”
Sphere of Sous
Ascathon
“Whew! Just in time! Hello!” I turn around a corner and find Jazira and Lidith already waiting at the promised place.
“You are late!” Jazira pouts. She has three big bags in each hand.
“What happened to Celestial?” Lidith looks at me with a concerned face.
“Nothing. Everything is perfectly fine. She is just tired from all the walking.” I pat my wife's bottom. I had to carry her over my shoulder all the way here from the love hotel. For some strange reason I felt a little edgy since my blackout. I found the love hotel just at the right moment to get over my frustration.
Both Jazira and Lidith look at me in disbelief. “What? I am her husband. Who else would be able to tell?”
“I still think you shouldn't grab her ass like that while carrying her in the public. She'll skewer you when she wakes up. And what's in that bag?” Jazira nods at the bag which is hanging from my other shoulder.
I remove my hand from Celestial's butt. My head starts to spin while I try to make something up. “Just some toys for the kids and some magical artefacts for me. Hahahaha. What's in your bags.”
“Dresses of course.” Jazira answers bluntly.
Lidith claps her hands. “I think we shouldn't pursue this further Jazira. It feels like we would learn things we never wanted to know. And I need to give all of you your registration forms for tomorrow! It was hard to get all of you registered without you being there.”
“Registration?” Jazira finally stops to question me.
“For what?” I furrow my eyebrows in wonder.
“~For the tournament!~”
93 - Forging a reputation.
Sphere of Sous
Jazira
“~For the tournament!~”
I let go of my bags with the clothes and dresses, which drop to the ground, as I grab the little idiot. “How can you register us to a tournament which starts tomorrow! I thought we could go to a party!”
There is no doubt that Lidith meant -that- t
ournament. I heard several people speaking about it during my shopping tour. It seemed to be something big! And bloody! “I won't fight like some gladiator inside an arena!”
“Yeah. I am not too fond of that either.” Ascathon isn't happy either. Though he is absent-mindedly massaging his wife's butt.
I snap at him. “Could you stop doing that in public! Do that in private!” There are already some women throwing strange glares at our group.
He realizes what he is doing and places his hand in the pocket of the long black coat he is wearing. “But I have to use the chance. It's not like she is unconscious very often.”
“Just what kind of relationship do you guys have? Why shouldn't she allow her husband to touch her?” Lidith wriggles in my grasp.
“It's not like she doesn't allow it. But there are no complaints from her side like this.” His hand wanders back to her ass.
I give up. This guy doesn't care for his wife's dignity. “Don't try to change the subject. What's up with this tournament.” I shake Lidith once more.
“Awawawa! Don't be mad about it! There is no party during the tournament anyway! The party will be held afterwards to celebrate the winner.” Lidith frees herself from my grasp and takes a step back. “Honestly. You are a party maniac.”
She snaps her fingers and three sheets of paper appear in her hand. “You should ask what you can gain from this tournament instead.”
“Fine. What do we gain by being beaten up by the other gods? They are older than us and according to you about three to five times as powerful. ” Ascathon asks with a bored voice.
“Firstly, you gain fighting experience even if you lose. Secondly, Those who manage to win a few rounds gain fame and reputation. Something you newcomers can benefit from. Thirdly, there are prizes!” Lidith nods while smiling at us.
“We’re unlikely to win. They are probably all stronger than us.” I won't walk into an arena to get my dress ruined.
Lidith takes a grand pose in front of us and smiles. “Don't say that! You were trained by the fifth placed goddess of the last tournament! If it comes to pure fighting power, you guys should be able to compete with most other gods.” She speaks proudly and without a hint of a lie.
“Who?” Ascathon ask dumbfounded.
“~ME!~” Lidith puffs up her cheeks. “If I say that you'll manage, then you will. You are much stronger than the average participant. Of course there is always the possibility of being beaten up by someone who belongs to the upper ranks. But I expect you to win most of the fights.”
“If you are such a strong fighter, then why do we have to be that careful about Charon and Wynne!?” I burst out.
Lidith nods. “Wynne may not be a problem, her fighting power in duels isn't that great. Though her spells are very nasty if she has enough time to cast them. Charon was ranked 4th the last time. In a fight we would be on par. Aneth was third.”
She tilts her head. “The second place went to Gemesh. And the first place went to the panty flasher. I swear that I'll beat her this time!”
“Wait? Panty flasher?” Ascathon arches an eyebrow.
“Yeah, right? It's totally unfair! That stupid Cassandra showed her bare skin and panties to my Gemesh to distract him! She wouldn't have won if Gemesh had fought with all his power.” Lidith huffs and shakes her fists.
“Your Gemesh?” I look with new eyes at the child in front of me.
“I have a one sided crush on him. But he rebuffed me, saying that lolis aren't his type. And that I should stay away from his planet, so I settled down close by. ” Lidith hisses out between her teeth.
“So that's why you stayed with those idiots on the same planet! Then why not change your body? We have a witch right here.” I point at the unconscious person who has her butt fondled by her husband. She changed my tanned skin back to normal without any problem.
“Because that wouldn't be me. I like my body. And I don't want Gemesh to like me because of my appearance. I wouldn't be better than the panty flasher.” Lidith rejects my solution.
She sighs and hits her fists together. “Anyway. We'll give our best. And this time I won't be thrown out of the tournament because I have to fight the guy whom I have a crush on! I made up my mind, this time I'll crush him!”
“I have just one question.” Ascathon interrupts her. “How the hell are we supposed to fight another god for real? Has this tournament some special rules? Like not using any mana? And how is the winner determined?”
Lidith nods and smiles. “Ah, good that you remind me...”
She had to be reminded about something like that!? She forgot the registration, the divinities and to tell us that any trading group takes valuables for trading points, which can be used like money!
“... there are no rules. A group of several judges will cast a dimensional spell on the participants. This will seal you inside a small pocket universe, so you can go all out. When the fight is decided the judges will release the spell and your bodies will be returned to their former state.” Lidith ends her explanation.
“They have to use some kind of time loop to accomplish that.” Ascathon mumbles to himself. “Was there ever a participant who died for real?”
Lidith shakes her head. “Not that I remember. The spell returns everything to its former state. You just get to keep your memories. Though that's bad enough in some cases.”
She thinks for another few seconds. “Although it would be nice if you guys get to fight Charon or Wynne. If you don't lose too badly, they may think twice before they fight us for real.”
I nod. There is some logic behind that. “Though they'll learn about us too.”
Lidith states her point of view. “It's better to prove that you can hurt them. The last time they got intimidated by Ascathon's sword. It's better to let them know your strength than to let them believe that you are just some weak newbies without battle capabilities. They might still think that it may be easy if they catch you without your weapons.”
“~Hnnngh.~”
The dead lump of meat on Ascathon's shoulder awakens with a cute sound. He immediately removes his hand from her butt. “Good morning sugar!”
Celestial returns to the world of the living and smoothly escapes his hands by sliding down his back and rolling off on the ground. There she remains in a kneeling position.
“Something wrong sugar cat?” Ascathon bends over her with a concerned face.
“My butt feels sore!” She pulls a grimace.
Lidith and I freeze. How should we interpret that statement.
“Let me heal you.” Ascathon reaches for Celestial's back end. His hand is already glowing with the light of a healing spell.
Then Celestial blurs and Ascathon flips in the air, landing with his back flat on the ground. Celestial is immediately on top in one smooth motion, choking him with both hands.
“That went too far!”
He turns red and claws at her hands.
“...”
“You could have been gentler!”
He turns blue and tries to scratch her face.
“...”
“It was my first time!”
His eyes turn upwards until just the white in them is visible.
His hands start to flail in random directions.
“...”
“I lost my honour!”
His hands drop to the ground, then he twitches a little and lies still.
Several people stopped to watch the spectacle and a small crowd is forming around us. Celestial looks up for the first time and freezes.
I hear the whispers from the crowd.
“Her first time?”
“A lovers quarrel?”
“Are all three off them affiliated to him?”
“To become a god without ever...”
“Harem fight?”
“What a rude guy...”
“She is a fury...”
Celestial draws her breath.
“SHUT UP! THERE IS NOTHING TO SEE!”
The crowd disperses within seconds and Celestial checks Ascathon's pulse. Her fist impacts his chest, which makes his whole body twitch. Celestial checks again and nods. She throws her husband over her shoulder and rummages through his bag. The content is judged after a single glance and the bag wanders into a nearby trash bin.
She turns to us and stops. Then she turns around and recovers the bag. “I'll use it on him!”
Finally she turns to Lidith and me. Her expression changes from pure fury to her normal self. “~Did I miss something?~”
Lidith is the first to react.“They switched places!” She points at Celestial and Ascathon with a grin.
I nod at Lidith. “And they surely earned us a reputation. Do we still need to join the tournament?”
Celestial's eyes light up.
“~Tournament?~”
94 - Who are you?
Sphere of Sous
Lidith
“Stop eating popcorn!”
I turn to Jazira on the seat beside me and throw another handful of sweet popcorn into my mouth. “Why?... *crunch* this is *crunch* the best *crunch* entertainment ever.”
“This is serious! They are killing each other!” Jazira points down at the screen in the middle of the huge arena. It appeared there after the first two fighters stepped onto the ring and were enveloped by a white barrier.
I swallow my popcorn. “Of course. The fight goes on until someone gives up or is unable to fight. Don't worry, the barrier will restore them to perfect health. This is just the first fight. You guys are lucky that you can watch some real battles before it's your turn.”
I got us our own private lounge by using some connections to watch the show. Otherwise we would have had to sit in the loud and crowded ranks of lower gods. Something like that is beneath my divine self.
There are fifty arenas like this one. The tournament is therefore divided into fifty blocks. The best warriors of each block will fight at the end in a big coliseum. The whole tournament will last for three days. Each arena handles several fights at the same time, so just the most promising ones are shown during the initial stage of the tournament.
The huge screen which forms the ground of the arena shows one of the first fights of the day. When a duel starts, the opponents will be automatically transported down into the arena. Then a group of professionals casts the barrier spell around them, which results in a perfectly white sphere encasing them. They will be transported to their own battlefield in another reality.
