Crimson Eternal - Book 5 - Chapter 57

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Don't mind this fluff. It's so that free readers can't click on the link.
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Table of Contents and Weekly Schedule

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Click on the following link for the 1383 word chapter 57:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ND4SINPGYW-AqQOb_lPGgFpLbndPMu24fxEt9D6oSqU/edit?usp=sharing

Or you can read the unformatted version below:

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Aria

After our duel ends, I immediately have War do what he promised as I head over to the Scarlet Crucible to set up my Death Court in his Hunter’s Spots. And just as he promised, he proceeds to order entire armies into the Hunter’s Spots to hunt the mana creatures in there.

I stay for a little while to keep an eye on my Death Court, which is currently growing at a rapid pace. All the way until it ends up covering hundreds of kilometers in the Hunter’s Spots. Leaving the armies fighting in the middle of a grand castle against the denizens of the Hunter’s Spot.

And in the process giving me massive amounts of progress towards leveling up.

A bright smile spreads across my face as I see it all happening right in front of me.

This is gonna be a nice year.

My smile twitches when I see War looking smug in the corner of my eye.

Okay, maybe not as nice as I first thought, considering my new tagalong. But whatever.

It’ll still be good on the leveling side of things.

Anyway, after setting up the Death Court and having War transfer over the rights to those wineries, we finally return to the stadium again to deal with the annoying and less important matters. Those being the ‘awards ceremony’ for the exhibition brackets that we were kind of delaying.

But more important matters are always more important and they had to be done first.

I’m sure everyone else understands that.

When we return, we appear directly at the center of the arena. Where a grand platform with the other Grands is currently. With an MC currently announcing one Grand’s name after another before eventually shining a spotlight on me, with War stepping off to the side.

“And now, without further adoooo!” the MC shouts amidst the roaring audience. “Greet your champion! The Horseman of Death, Crimson Eternal, and Princess of the Crimson Empire, Ariaaaaa Crimsooooon!!!”

The audience roars even louder after he finishes his very dramatic introduction. But I just casually wave to the audience watching me without a care.

After all, the only reason I joined this exhibition bracket in the first place was the trade the emperor made with me.

It most certainly wasn’t a bribe.

It was a trade.

A fair trade between the two of us.

And now I need to go confirm that trade and receive my century’s worth of wine and make sure he starts promoting my… café…

Hmm.

I fly over to the MC, startling him and the crowd in the process. Then I motion for him to give me his mic, surprising the other Grands down there in the process. Not to mention more people in the VIP booths who I know and know me.

“What’s this?! It looks like our champion has something she’d like to say to you all!” the MC continues, looking thoroughly pleased with my actions.

Until I grab the microphone and declare, “Come get the best wine in the universe at the Crimson Café! It’s open all day every day, and has various other options as well if you’re interested! I’m currently spreading it to every world I can, and as a result am even offering a generous discount for the expansion! It’ll last for one week where you can get fifty percent off of any wine you purchase! Oh, and we have a mercenary company if you’re interested. But mostly try the café!”

Silence immediately spreads through the audience, but I just firmly nod my head in satisfaction. Then I hand the stunned MC the mic back and go back down to the platform while waving some more. Except with a smile on my face this time.

The other Grands shake their heads in exasperation, meanwhile my parents are barely holding in their laughter. So is my brother.

Ruby and Ryan over in the booth look like they want to crawl into a hole and die to avoid whatever embarrassment they seem to be feeling for some reason. No idea why.

And Little Blue seems satisfied that I at least briefly mentioned the mercenary company.

That said, the emperor himself doesn’t seem to care. Even if Shirogane is face palming for some reason.

No idea why.

This can be considered part of our trade as well.

Of course, they’re still expected to help promote my café separately as well. So they aren’t off the hook with just this.

Anyway, after that, the MC takes over again and begins doing his MC things. But I stop paying attention at this point. Mostly because I get a message about leveling up already thanks to the Death Court grinder I set up in War’s Hunter’s Spot.

He stuffed so many armies in there that I have to wonder if he’s just using that place to train all of his different armies for conquest while they’re on break for the next year. What with his promise not to go to war for a year.

There are literally millions upon millions of soldiers in it. And since that Hunter’s Spot is pretty much infinite, and my Death’s Court is constantly growing, it’ll be a very nice grinder for me.

I wonder just how quickly I’ll level up from it?

It’s really nice to have a great way to grind levels just like the other Horsemen. What with Famine previously having his empire to starve, Pestilence his experiments, and War his constant wars.

And to make it even better, my grinding doesn’t even affect others. In fact, it may even help others. Since others are grinding for me by killing mana creatures.

They get progress too, assuming they have a combat related purpose.

If not then they at least get wealth from the mana creature corpses that they can sell.

Although I get the feeling the price for those mana creatures is gonna drop rather quickly. Considering how millions of people are slaughtering them at all times.

Eventually I find myself finally free to leave the stadium. And when I do, I get ambushed on the way back to my ship by some needy kids who end up clinging onto me for death energy.

Which makes me feel used, but since I was just going to watch TV anyway, I don’t bother stopping them. Which ends up with the three of us just lying in bed together watching my current TV show’s latest episode.

Conveniently enough, apparently Ryan watches this show too. So I actually have someone to talk with.

Ruby just falls asleep though.

She’s always had odd tastes, so I’m not surprised. What with her fashion obsession and all.

I still have no idea how someone I raised ended up like that.

Maybe it’s my own mother’s fault? Considering her own fashion obsession.

It’s possible it rubbed off on Ruby when I wasn’t around.

If nothing else, it makes for a convenient excuse.

After we finish with the latest episode of the TV show, Ryan falls asleep as well. Leaving me just sitting in the center of the large bed while reading with both of them asleep on either side of me.

This really is starting to remind me of the time I spent raising them…

If it weren’t for Ruby’s determination when it comes to trying to make me work, I’d still think the two were like they were as kids.

My thoughts are interrupted when I find War appearing in the corner of the room, making me wonder if there’s any place he can’t just appear in. Only for me to realize that I don’t think there’s anywhere I can’t just appear in so long as I’ve been there before.

Except that he’s never been in this bedroom before.

Maybe his power is just more advanced?

Probably is.

I want it. And a way to lock him out of places.

At least I shouldn’t have to worry about my other stalker while I’m with him. Since War always tends to blast the Demon King’s clones to smithereens should they appear whenever he’s around.

No idea why.

“Shall we discuss our travel plans?” War says with a grin on his face, ignoring the two kids next to me.

I shrug and answer, “Might as well.”