Announcer-san:
“Such a thrilling conclusion to our last fight, isn't that right everyone?!!!
Everyone yell's: " YEAHHHH!!!"
He continues: "Give a big round of applause for these finalist!!!"
"Adael, Xian Xu, and Autumn Amber, come on out ladies, the stage calls for you!!!"
They all go up wile waving at the crowed.
Announcer-san: "Our three finalists shouldn’t get too comfortable tough—because a new challenger has arrived!”
Suspense music echoes through the stadium as everyone grows anxious at nothing in particular…
Then the announcer continues with gusto:
Announcer-san: “Give a round of applause for our new special contestant—Princess M.!!!”
A beautiful, blocky princess appears, wearing a censored mask over her already censored face. She arrives in a poof of No Smoking ads and Elnora stream confetti.
The foxiest contestant of the lot shout in visible confusion:
Autumn:
“We weren’t informed of this change! WHAT IS THIS???”
The announcer replies proudly: “It’s what we all strive to obtain someday Miss Autumn!!!”
He pauses dramatically for a few seconds.
Autumn (pissed):
“GET ON WITH IT!!!”
Announcer-san:
“IT’S PRIVILEGE!!!!”
Uncontrolled applause drowns the venue once again. Everyone loves privilege, I'm sure most people do.
Autumn:
“THIS IS BULLSHIT! I WORKED MY ASS OFF TO GET HERE!!!”
Still clinging to outdated work ethics, she suffers once more for her honesty.
Announcer-san:
“I know—but we don’t care!!! GIVE ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR PRINCESS M.!!!”
Autumn glares coldly at the mysterious Princess M.
Autumn:
“I earned my fans fair and square. Don’t you dare forget that interloper!”
Princess M projects a thumbs-up.
As for the others:
Xian Xu doesn’t care.
Adael is indifferent—she fully supports privilege.
Announcer-san:
“She has been designated as the official gatekeeper for the final showdown!!! NOW EVERYONE—YOU KNOW THE WORDS!”
ALL:
“ADVERTISE THE DAY AWAY!!!!”
"Now contestants put your names into the gacha circle—
Oops! Only three contestants? NO PROBLEM!!!
Whoever gets matched goes to the fight!
The one left out proceeds straight to the finals!!!
Luck is a skill too my viewers!!!"
The roulette spins for a long time…
A ball drops with a caching sound.
Announcer-san:
“The first contestant isssss—ADAEL!!!”
Applause erupts with some shouting." YESSSSS" at the sky with crossed fingers.
The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
After the crowed calms down.
The wheel spins again in a rush —ROLL, roll, ROOOLLL—a pig squeals in excitement somehow somewhere—
Announcer-san:
“The second contestant isssss—XIAN XUUUUU!!!”
The crowd goes wild at this, their prayers have been realized once again!
Announcer-san:
“ Autumn Amber, you're incredible luck has earned you the PRIVILEGE of skipping this round!!! EVERYONE, Cheer for her!!!”
The cheers are so staggering that a ear drum will definitely burst somewhere.
Autumn (deadpan) for a few seconds:
“OOOHHHH MY GAAUUUCCCHHH. MY MOM TOLD ME I WAS BORN LUCKY. THANXXX FRIENDS FOR THE GOOD VIBESSS. UWU.”
And so the cycle of clout marches ever forward.
What are morals in the presence of sweet advantage?
The coliseum transforms once more—becoming something classier.
Banners of the contestants line the walls, complete with orb links for donations and subscriptions.
These girls need every advantage they can get—and they all see Hajime’s presence as the trophy he truly is.
Princess M:
“Interesting rivals Hajime has accumulated during his stay here.”
She looks at Hajime.
“He’s still pure… I can’t feel any premium subscription from him. That’s good—my $20 deal a day is still the best. He’s clearly saving himself for me.”
Her eyes gleam.
“His potential is staggering. I knew I wasn’t wrong about him!!! HE’S TRULY THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN PREMIUM THIS ASSET!!!”
A golden aura erupts from Princess M. She now resembles a true final boss in the making.
Xian Xu looks eager.
Autumn yawns.
Adael prays.
Everyone prepares in their own way—except for Princess M.
She pulls out an orb and contacts someone to blog about today’s events.
Hajime:
“Hey Val, I’ve got a question.”
Valiant:
“The only thing you have is questions Hero-san.”
Hajime:
“Is it normal to get flashes of random memories that are totally not real after an isekai?”
Valiant:
“Normality left the building the moment you got isekai’d Hajime.”
Hajime:
“Yeah, but these memories are really weird. There shouldn’t be a world where advertisements dominate reality. That sounds like something a deranged idiot would cook up in a basement.”
Narrator-kun:
“I really was cooking in that basement hero… You’re lucky I like you. Sometimes...”
Hajime:
“You feel that? That feeling again… Is someone watching me?”
Valiant:
“Yes. The buffering citizenry below us are.”
Hajime:
“Yeah… I’m just probably overthinking it.”
He pauses.
“Val, my eyes are burning really badly. Is that normal?”
Valiant (muttering):
“That damned whale… his retinas are frying from the golden—”
Hajime:
“Val?”
Valiant:
“Sorry, I'm just buffering. Probably altitude sickness. Don’t worry—they’ll get you down soon.”
Valiant:
“Status report. The hero is getting angsty. You need to get him down from that pedestal.”
Deus:
“No. He’s perfect where he is!”
Valiant:
“I’ll tell Elnora you neglected her hero.”
Deus:
“You wouldn’t dare.”
Valiant:
“I would dare. I know she’s here preparing for her big reveal.”
Deus:
“…How do you know about that lawyer?”
Valiant:
“……”
Deus:
“Fine. I’ll get him down in a few seconds. But make him ride the cow whenever a fight starts.”
Valiant:
“Deal.”
Hajime slowly descends from the golden recliner tower, preparing for the next phase of the Selection.
The Adless swing Caladblock into the vault. Her miasma seeps into the gilded masterpiece.
The door opens in a loud snap.
Geltgyr:
“WHAT IS THAT RUSTY THING DOING HERE?! GET OUT!!!”
Caladblock:
“SHUT UP YOU BITCH!!! YOU OWE ME A DEBT!!!”
Geltgyr:
“I owe nothing to trash like you!”
Caladblock:
“YES YOU DO!!! FOR INSULTING ME BEFORE MY BELOVED, I GRACIOUSLY ALLOWED YOUR CONTINUED EXISTENCE!!!”
Geltgyr:
“You’re insane! Ladies, get her!!!”
Legendary equipment rises, drawing ad-power from their reserves.
Caladblock:
“Too slow amateurs, your bodies are mine now!!!”
Miasma floods the vault, corrupting everything in sight.
Geltgyr’s ally:
“I told you not to mouth off to Whale’s sister!!!”
She is consumed by darkness.
Geltgyr (shaking):
“WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!”
Caladblock:
“THEY’LL BE USED. WORRY LESS ABOUT THEM—AND MORE ABOUT YOURSELF!!!”
Miasma engulfs Geltgyr.
The lamentations of premium equipment echo like divine hymns.
A few minutes later…
Geltgyr (weakly):
“Your hero wouldn’t love a monster like you…”
Caladblock:
“He does love me a lot. You should be thanking him—Its because of him ill stop at just your suffering.”
She equips the sobbing equipment onto a newly forged Adless Knight.
Caladblock:
“Now… where is the hero?”
She gazes through a window at a massive stadium one level above.
Caladblock with frustration:
“…Let’s go back to the elevator.”
