185 If you have no value, you don't even deserve saliva ❤
Yomozuki Runa licked her lollipop, looking a little troubled: "I don't have the authority to decide this~ It depends on what Aoi-kun wants."
Mibuomi Aoi's expression didn't change upon hearing this. But inwardly, he let out a sigh of relief. That bastard Hikigaya Hachiman has apparently fallen right into the trap. He hasn't noticed the plan at all, still thinking he can win the bet with me. Utterly foolish—he only sees the 3 billion yen in front of him, not the gamble outside the gamble.
'Heh, just a slut. If you want her, take her.' Mibuomi Aoi waved his hand, indicating agreement with Hikigaya Hachiman's proposal. He felt no attachment at all to Miharutaki Sakura. Once he became the ruler of the Hyakkaou Academy, he'd make those two understand what hell truly meant.
"Yo, she's here!" Yomozuki shouted excitedly, immediately ordering the backstage door to be opened to welcome Momobami Kirari.
Kirari, dressed in splendid robes, made her appearance under the spotlight. Her aura was as powerful as ever, so intense that people dared not look directly at her. With her arrival, even the noise in the stands involuntarily quieted down.
No one dared raise their voices, afraid to disturb the being from the heavens.
Everyone noticed the leash in the student council president's hand. And at the other end of the leash was a girl half-kneeling on the ground, her upper body upright, sticking her tongue out at Momobami Kirari.
"President." Mibuomi Aoi greeted Kirari somewhat stiffly, his face darkening when he saw the collar around Shimotsukiuriuri Ouri's neck.
Although he hadn't expected Ouri to win against Kirari, as a pawn… she had been completely useless. Even if she had just occupied Kirari well enough to prevent her from showing up and adding more variables to the scene, that would have been good enough. But this worthless Ouri had let him down once again.
"Please release the leash. I need Shimotsukiuri Ouri as the helmsman of my corps in the upcoming gamble." "Oh~ is that so?" Kirari replied and let go of the leash, but Ouri didn't show any sign of moving toward Mibuomi Aoi.
"I already know the rules of the gamble. Since both you and Hikigaya-kun chose my livestock as your game piece, it should depend on her own will, right~?"
"Shimotsukiuri-san, tell me, which camp do you want to join?" Kirari slowly bent down, whispering like a devil. Her ghostly blue eyes reflected in Ouri's pitch-black pupils, consuming her entirely.
Ouri opened her mouth in a daze, as if she hadn't even heard the question. She was simply praying for Kirari to bless her with the nectar that could free her soul.
"I don't like useless livestock~ If Shimotsukiuri-san can't show her value, she doesn't even deserve a drop of my saliva~"
Upon hearing this, Ouri trembled as if struck by lightning. Her frail body shivered. Then, with a hoarse voice, she said: "I choose... to join Hikigaya Hachiman's camp."
With that, she stood up and walked step by step toward Hikigaya's side.
"Shimotsukiuri Ouri! What are you doing?! Are you betraying Mibuomi-sama too?!" From Aoi's camp, the square-faced Sotarou roared.
The Full-Bloom Association had been collapsing, with its officers being defeated one after another. But losing at gambling was one thing—was even loyalty going to disappear now? These shameless bastards, they lose one gamble and betray Aoi-sama?! Where was their belief?!
Sotarou Ibuki cursed them in his heart.
Ouri didn't respond at all to his scolding. Her eyes remained hollow and pitch-black. As if after losing to Momobami Kirari and shamefully drinking her bodily fluids, her soul had already fallen.
Ideals, beliefs, and the goal of liberating livestock had all died in that moment.
Now, she was just a doll, a useful tool, with no soul, only a body implanted with Kirari's will. Whoever her master wanted her to deal with, she would give it her all.
She looked up. Her pitch-black eyes like stagnant water stared at Mibuomi Aoi across from her.
The old god is dead. A new god must rise.
All she wanted now was to desperately please Momobami Kirari in order to be granted her sacred nectar. Only Kirari's fragrant saliva could offer relief from the suffering of reality.
"Shimotsukiuri Ouri, is this your choice?" Mibuomi Aoi asked, face gloomy. He never expected this woman, whom he had considered his best pawn, to betray him. In the end, no one could be trusted.
All the capable ones had betrayed him. And the last two by his side... were only loyal fools with no ability.
Fine then. Even if I lose this gamble, the impact on my overall plans will be minimal.
"All participants are now present. Let's begin the gamble!" Yomozuki Runa raised her microphone, shouting passionately: "Everyone present, place your bets now!"
"Mibuomi Aoi's total bet: 3 billion yen" "Hikigaya Hachiman's total bet: 1 billion yen"
"If your bet is correct, you'll receive double the amount. This is guaranteed by our election committee. So please, place your bets with confidence!"
As she finished, the giant screen behind Luna began flashing rapidly with numbers. These represented the online bets being placed by the audience through their smartphones.
Ten seconds later, the numbers stopped.
"The results are in!"
[Amount bet on Mibuomi Aoi: 639.6 million yen!] [Amount bet on Hikigaya Hachiman: 23.3 million yen!]
"What an incredible difference. It seems the audience views a huge gap in popularity and strength between the two contenders. But after all, it's gambling. Until the result is revealed, anything could happen~ Let's wish good luck to those betting on the underdog!"
In the stands, Yumiko Miura gripped her phone tightly. This was her first time gambling. She had used all the money she'd saved since childhood—2 million yen—all-in on Hikigaya Hachiman. This was her way of supporting her middle school classmate in a life-or-death match.
Elsewhere in the stands, Suzui Ryota's eyes were bloodshot. This was the kind of gambling he'd dreamed of. Such a huge gap in power—if he didn't make money now, it'd be a waste. For this, he had even borrowed from loan apps and from family and friends. He had placed a total of 5 million yen on Mibuomi Aoi.
Though he felt a little bad for Jabami-san, in the end this was about profit. There was no hesitation when money was involved.
The atmosphere at the scene was completely ignited. No one even paid attention to Momobami Kirari on the high platform anymore. They all cheered wildly for Mibuomi Aoi.