He wants me to fight Su Mo?
Seriously?
In disbelief, Sparkle pointed a finger at herself. She never would have thought such cold words would come from the mouth of the Aeon she revered.
Well, alright, coming from Aha, saying something so inhuman was actually pretty normal. The Aeon of Elation, who knew no taboos, certainly wouldn't mind using Their own Pathstriders for a laugh.
But even so, even if she could understand it, Sparkle felt this particular joke was going a bit too far.
"I'm just a humble Pathstrider. You want me to fight an Emanator who's blessed by numerous Aeons? Are you sure about this?" she couldn't help but ask again, just to confirm.
Aha's reply was a heartwarming word of encouragement.
"Don't you still have your life?"
Their meaning was clear: if you risk it all, you have a chance to create a miracle.
"I...!" Sparkle was utterly speechless, choked up.
It was only then that she realized the so-called "final, high-risk, destructive measure" was to have her, a mere Masked Fool who wasn't even an Emanator, risk her life.
It was only then that she understood the note warning that the "final, high-risk, destructive measure" was life-threatening wasn't referring to Su Mo's life, but her own.
They want me to sacrifice my life force to fight Su Mo? But I don't even have a skill that lets me do that!
As Sparkle's trump card fizzled into nothing and she was left completely stumped, not knowing how to face Su Mo, Aha stopped replying to her messages. Their instructions had clearly been given. As an Aeon, They expected Sparkle to go all-out.
Understanding this, Sparkle gripped her phone, lifted her head to look at Su Mo, and her crimson eyes filled with determination. "Alright! I understand!"
How could a mere mortal refuse a command from an Aeon?
In hindsight, the Aeon of Elation had probably foreseen this outcome from the very beginning. The invitation they had her deliver wasn't to make fun of Su Mo, but to make fun of her.
Anyone else might have considered this a betrayal. But as a Pathstrider of Elation, Sparkle knew full well that it wasn't. On the contrary, the Aeon of Elation was still practicing the principles of Their own Path.
So, at most, she felt a slight aversion, but no real hatred for Aha.
At this moment, there was naturally only one choice she could make.
"I'll f***ing give you everything I've got!" Sparkle roared, lunging toward Su Mo.
Seeing this, Robin thought the Masked Fool's spirit had been broken and she was actually going to carry out the Aeon's command and fight Su Mo to the death.
But just as Robin raised her hand, preparing to restrain her with the melody of Harmony...
THUD.
Miss Sparkle, who had been so arrogant moments before, dropped to her knees on the spot. In a full-body prostration, a dogeza, she bowed deeply before Su Mo.
At the same time, a white flag she had pulled from who-knows-where was stuck in her pigtails.
"I surrender! Don't hit me, my dear! Or at least go easy on me!" Director Sparkle's voice was muffled.
That's right. The only course of action she could think of was, of course, to surrender. What else could she do, fight Su Mo to the death? That would be certain doom.
"?"
Seeing Sparkle's complete 180, Robin couldn't help but freeze for a moment. Wait, if you were just going to surrender, why'd you make such a big scene?
"Didn't you just say you were going to give Lord Su Mo everything you've got?" Robin asked, confused.
"Lord Su Mo?" Hearing this, Sparkle finally lifted her head and immediately shook it. "No! I said I was going to give Lord Aha everything I've got. Look!"
With that, she held up her phone screen. Robin looked closely and saw that Sparkle had already blocked and deleted Aha.
"...Er."
Robin hesitated for a few seconds, not knowing what to say. An Aeon encouraging their follower to sacrifice their life, and the follower blocking and deleting the Aeon in response... it was hard to pass judgment on that.
"Aren't you afraid of angering the Aeon of Elation by doing that?" Robin asked doubtfully.
"Of course not." Sparkle shook her head. "As the representative of the Path of Elation, why would Lord Aha get angry?"
"Just like how I'm not angry about what just happened, Lord Aha will surely understand my betrayal. We all understand each other, right?" she said, gritting her teeth slightly.
"Your tone doesn't sound like you're not angry," Robin pointed out.
Hearing this, Sparkle finally couldn't hold it in any longer. "Even if I am angry, that Lord of Elation deserved it! Now I finally know why my dear won't let the Lord of Elation join. The Aeon of Elation is just too unstable! They deserve to be spurned by all the gods!"
"..."
Do you Masked Fools really have any room to talk? Robin wanted to retort but held her tongue.
After exchanging a few words with Robin, Sparkle cautiously lifted her head to gauge Su Mo's expression. "Um, my dear... since I've turned over a new leaf and repented, and the boundless sea of bitterness has been left behind... can I leave now? I won't disturb you two!"
She tried to take the opportunity to slip away. Since the mission was impossible to complete, she might as well preserve her own skin and make plans later. In short, she chickened out.
Unfortunately for her, this wasn't a place she could just come and go as she pleased.
Su Mo's next two words made Sparkle's body instantly stiffen.
Sparkle nervously looked up, a stiff smile plastered on her face. "Is there something you need, my dear? If you want to find me, you can contact me later!"
Su Mo completely ignored her attempt to deflect. "The fact is, you surrendered," he stated.
"That's right! I was willing to betray a great Aeon to stand with you. Aren't you moved, my dear? If you're moved, can you let me go?" Sparkle tried to score some points.
However—
"But I never said I would accept your surrender."
"..."
With those words, Sparkle abandoned all hope. Seeing that her verbal tactics were completely useless against Su Mo, she simply decided to give up.
"Then what do you want me to do? Just say it. I'm just a weak little woman anyway, I can't resist. Whatever you say, my dear, I'll do."
Seeing her completely abandon all resistance, Robin was slightly surprised, but she quickly composed herself. This was just how the Masked Fools were.
"I cannot agree to Aha's request. The Aeon Alliance has no place for an Aeon of Elation," Su Mo began. "And since you've already rejected Aha's mission, you should be unemployed right now."
"To be precise, I'm currently a freelance worker," Sparkle tilted her head and asked curiously. "So, what are you trying to say, my dear?"
"I have a long-term commission for you. If you can perform to my satisfaction, I can consider forgiving your little test," Su Mo said.
"A long-term commission?" Hearing this, Sparkle was taken aback. "I just escaped from a ruthless boss, and now you want me to work for you? And you just rejected Lord Aha... My dear, you're not trying to make me betray Lord Aha, are you?"
"You can choose to refuse," Su Mo said calmly.
"Ahem! I mean, you'll have to pay more... But what can I do? I'm completely wrapped around your finger, my dear! I accept!" Sparkle, who had been about to haggle, sighed and agreed immediately.
In truth, the Path of Elation was different from other Paths. While they revered their Aeon, they had no concept of so-called loyalty. The only truth was to follow one's own path of Elation. Besides that, even betraying a god was a small matter.
"But speaking of which, with your power, my dear, is there anything you'd need to commission me for?" having made her decision, Sparkle asked curiously.
"Just a few small matters. The factions in Penacony are complicated. Only someone who has read the script can sort things out," Su Mo answered.
Hearing this, Robin was slightly stunned, then her face filled with emotion. After the thrilling but harmless incident just now, even she had almost forgotten about the crisis facing Penacony.
She hadn't expected Lord Su Mo to still remember it.
Sparkle's eyes widened slightly. She hadn't expected Su Mo to know that she had peeked at the script of destiny from Silver Wolf.
However, considering Su Mo's demeanor—one that even Aha wouldn't provoke—it wasn't surprising that he knew. She immediately nodded in agreement.
"And besides that? Just these small matters wouldn't count as a long-term commission, would they?"
"Future tasks will be assigned to you later." Su Mo had no intention of revealing everything.
"Huh? Isn't that just a temp job with no end date? My dear, not even the capitalists at the IPC are this ruthless!" Sparkle's eyes widened in protest. How did she suddenly become a slave-like contract worker?
"Are you going to accept or not?" Su Mo had no intention of haggling and simply asked back.
"..."
Looking at Su Mo before her, then at her own frail little body, Sparkle nodded, her eyes completely clear. She made a fist and placed it over her heart, looking at Su Mo with starry eyes.
"Is there even a need to ask? There's only one answer: to pledge my loyalty to you, my dear!"
That's right. On this day, Sparkle, the Masked Fool, had gloriously defected.