Chapter 86

Over​ ​two​ ​meters​ ​tall,​ ​bulging​ ​muscles,​ ​violent​ ​face…
Even​ ​at​ ​a​ ​first​ ​glance,​ ​I​ ​could​ ​tell​ ​that​ ​they​ ​aren’t​ ​small​ ​fries.
On​ ​top​ ​of​ ​this,​ ​their​ ​armaments​ ​were​ ​quite​ ​impressive​ ​as​ ​well.
They​ ​wore​ ​quality​ ​metal​ ​armor​ ​and​ ​wielded​ ​metal​ ​weapons.
However,​ ​the​ ​h.e.l.l​ ​Difficulty’s​ ​mountain​ ​goblins’​ ​true​ ​power​ ​lies​ ​in​ ​their​ ​intelligent​ ​combat​ ​execution​ ​and well-planned​ ​formations.
 
Two​ ​soldiers​ ​with​ ​shields​ ​stood​ ​at​ ​the​ ​frontline​ ​with​ ​two​ ​spearmen​ ​right​ ​behind​ ​them,​ ​using​ ​their​ ​long spears​ ​to​ ​keep​ ​the​ ​enemies​ ​in​ ​check.
Behind​ ​them​ ​are​ ​two​ ​archers​ ​providing​ ​supporting​ ​fire​ ​from​ ​relatively​ ​safe​ ​distance.
They​ ​even​ ​have​ ​a​ ​swordsman​ ​to​ ​fight​ ​off​ ​the​ ​enemies​ ​that​ ​manage​ ​to​ ​break​ ​through​ ​their​ ​defense.​ ​The seven-soldier​ ​formation​ ​is​ ​not​ ​easy​ ​to​ ​pierce.
Challengers​ ​who​ ​had​ ​always​ ​been​ ​in​ ​groups​ ​when​ ​fighting​ ​monsters​ ​must​ ​be​ ​feeling​ ​uncomfortable.
Unlike​ ​their​ ​past​ ​experiences,​ ​they​ ​would​ ​now​ ​have​ ​to​ ​do​ ​the​ ​reverse​ ​and​ ​be​ ​the​ ​monster​ ​who​ ​runs wild,​ ​aiming​ ​to​ ​break​ ​through​ ​a​ ​team’s​ ​formation.
The​ ​power​ ​of​ ​a​ ​proper​ ​formation​ ​had​ ​been​ ​proven​ ​many​ ​times​ ​throughout​ ​the​ ​humanity’s​ ​long​ ​history of​ ​war.
There​ ​is​ ​only​ ​one​ ​thing​ ​that’s​ ​needed​ ​to​ ​break​ ​the​ ​formation​ ​alone:​ ​overwhelming​ ​power.
Overwhelming​ ​power​ ​in​ ​comparison​ ​to​ ​the​ ​goblins.
There​ ​are​ ​not​ ​many​ ​challengers​ ​who​ ​possess​ ​such​ ​power.
The​ ​Tutorial​ ​had​ ​completed​ ​fifteen​ ​rounds​ ​already.​ ​However,​ ​only​ ​few​ ​challengers​ ​had​ ​been​ ​charging forward​ ​wholeheartedly​ ​toward​ ​growth​ ​and​ ​clearing​ ​stages​ ​since​ ​entering​ ​the​ ​Tutorial.
There​ ​are​ ​probably​ ​only​ ​a​ ​few​ ​challengers​ ​who​ ​could​ ​overwhelm​ ​the​ ​goblins.
To​ ​think​ ​that​ ​these​ ​goblins​ ​would​ ​appear​ ​at​ ​the​ ​preliminary​ ​matches…
Now​ ​that​ ​I​ ​think​ ​about​ ​it,​ ​it​ ​is​ ​a​ ​good​ ​setting.
First,​ ​those​ ​who​ ​are​ ​not​ ​used​ ​to​ ​or​ ​are​ ​weak​ ​in​ ​solo​ ​fighting​ ​will​ ​be​ ​disqualified.
Considering​ ​that​ ​this​ ​is​ ​the​ ​individual​ ​round,​ ​people​ ​who​ ​were​ ​familiar​ ​with​ ​supporting​ ​others​ ​from​ ​the rear​ ​are​ ​unlikely​ ​to​ ​do​ ​well.
The​ ​lower​ ​floor​ ​challengers​ ​who​ ​entered​ ​the​ ​match​ ​out​ ​of​ ​curiosity​ ​will​ ​also​ ​get​ ​disqualified.
The​ ​difficulty​ ​is​ ​appropriate​ ​for​ ​weeding​ ​out​ ​challengers​ ​who​ ​lack​ ​the​ ​qualifications​ ​to​ ​be​ ​in​ ​the​ ​main match.
On​ ​top​ ​of​ ​this,​ ​these​ ​goblins​ ​are​ ​defense​ ​oriented.​ ​Considering​ ​their​ ​tendencies,​ ​they​ ​are​ ​perfect opponents​ ​for​ ​the​ ​preliminary​ ​matches.
It’s​ ​just​ ​that,​ ​for​ ​me,​ ​they​ ​are​ ​such​ ​a​ ​disappointment.​ ​What​ ​a​ ​letdown.
I​ ​looked​ ​at​ ​other​ ​rings.

Kuuuuhhhk…​ ​I…​ ​I​ ​surrender!

That​ ​was​ ​quick.
An​ ​archer​ ​was​ ​pouring​ ​out​ ​a​ ​barrage​ ​of​ ​attacks​ ​from​ ​a​ ​distance,​ ​but​ ​he​ ​quickly​ ​declared​ ​his​ ​surrender soon​ ​after.
The​ ​goblins​ ​had​ ​their​ ​shields​ ​in​ ​the​ ​front​ ​and​ ​safely​ ​closed​ ​the​ ​distance​ ​toward​ ​the​ ​archer.
When​ ​they​ ​got​ ​near​ ​enough,​ ​the​ ​swordsman​ ​that​ ​was​ ​standing​ ​behind​ ​the​ ​shields​ ​quickly​ ​dashed forward​ ​and​ ​tackled​ ​the​ ​archer​ ​to​ ​the​ ​ground.
The​ ​archer​ ​immediately​ ​declared​ ​surrender.
The​ ​goblins​ ​were​ ​teleported​ ​away,​ ​and​ ​the​ ​archer​ ​was​ ​teleported​ ​to​ ​the​ ​stands.
From​ ​the​ ​looks​ ​of​ ​it,​ ​I​ ​think​ ​the​ ​challengers​ ​who​ ​specialize​ ​in​ ​long-distance​ ​combat​ ​will​ ​have​ ​hard​ ​time getting​ ​past​ ​the​ ​preliminaries.
Unlike​ ​challengers​ ​who​ ​had​ ​been​ ​shying​ ​away​ ​from​ ​combat​ ​or​ ​healer​ ​types,​ ​many​ ​of​ ​the​ ​ranged​ ​fighters had​ ​entered​ ​the​ ​tournament.
It​ ​seemed​ ​they​ ​were​ ​thinking​ ​they​ ​could​ ​achieve​ ​victory​ ​before​ ​the​ ​distance​ ​closes​ ​in​ ​and​ ​becomes​ ​a one-on-one​ ​duel.​ ​However,​ ​their​ ​strategy​ ​didn’t​ ​work​ ​at​ ​all​ ​against​ ​the​ ​goblins.
The​ ​ring​ ​next​ ​to​ ​the​ ​archer​ ​held​ ​a​ ​challenger​ ​with​ ​a​ ​heavy​ ​axe.​ ​He​ ​was​ ​pounding​ ​away​ ​diligently​ ​at​ ​the goblins’​ ​gigantic​ ​shields.
What​ ​the​ ​h.e.l.l​ ​are​ ​you​ ​doing?​ ​It’s​ ​not​ ​like​ ​you​ ​are​ ​chopping​ ​down​ ​firewood.
That’s​ ​a​ ​waste​ ​of​ ​your​ ​strength.​ ​What​ ​a​ ​numbskull.
If​ ​he​ ​wrestled​ ​with​ ​the​ ​shields​ ​like​ ​that,​ ​the​ ​battle​ ​will​ ​be​ ​decided​ ​the​ ​moment​ ​his​ ​stamina​ ​runs​ ​out.
Um…​ ​I​ ​think​ ​more​ ​will​ ​be​ ​disqualified​ ​than​ ​I​ ​thought?
I​ ​can​ ​see​ ​some​ ​challengers​ ​whose​ ​lives​ ​might​ ​end​ ​up​ ​in​ ​danger​ ​if​ ​they​ ​don’t​ ​surrender​ ​quickly​ ​enough.
Challengers​ ​of​ ​difficulties​ ​other​ ​than​ ​h.e.l.l​ ​don’t​ ​have​ ​much​ ​experience​ ​in​ ​fighting​ ​intelligent​ ​opponents like​ ​these​ ​goblins.
Of​ ​course,​ ​I’m​ ​sure​ ​the​ ​rankers​ ​at​ ​higher​ ​floors​ ​probably​ ​have​ ​met​ ​such,​ ​but…
Anyway…

Why​ ​aren’t​ ​you​ ​guys​ ​moving?

[T…​ ​This​ ​human​ ​is​ ​speaking​ ​our​ ​tongue.]
[Kek.​ ​Don’t​ ​be​ ​fooled.​ ​It’s​ ​a​ ​whisper​ ​of​ ​the​ ​devil.​ ​Kiiiak.]
What?

Instead,​ ​why​ ​don’t​ ​you​ ​guys​ ​just​ ​surrender?

As​ ​Kim​ ​Min-hyuk​ ​said,​ ​during​ ​the​ ​first​ ​part​ ​of​ ​the​ ​tournament,​ ​it​ ​would​ ​be​ ​best​ ​to​ ​not​ ​showcase​ ​too much​ ​of​ ​my​ ​power.
If​ ​possible,​ ​it​ ​would​ ​be​ ​better​ ​to​ ​go​ ​through​ ​this​ ​quietly.
I​ ​won’t​ ​get​ ​many​ ​experience​ ​points​ ​even​ ​if​ ​I​ ​slew​ ​them​ ​anyway.
[S…​ ​Surrender?​ ​Are​ ​we​ ​allowed​ ​to​ ​do​ ​that?​ ​Kiiiiac.]
[I​ ​don’t​ ​know.​ ​Is​ ​it​ ​alright​ ​if​ ​we​ ​surrender?]
They​ ​whispered​ ​to​ ​each​ ​other​ ​and​ ​entered​ ​a​ ​discussion.
They​ ​exchanged​ ​opinions​ ​for​ ​a​ ​long​ ​time.​ ​Suddenly,​ ​they​ ​had​ ​vacant​ ​looks​ ​on​ ​their​ ​faces.
That​ ​is…
It’s​ ​a​ ​response​ ​similar​ ​to​ ​when​ ​Idy​ ​tried​ ​to​ ​recall​ ​her​ ​past.
[Kiiiiac…​ ​Kek.​ ​We​ ​must​ ​fight.]
That’s​ ​unfortunate.
It​ ​seemed​ ​the​ ​system​ ​was​ ​making​ ​it​ ​mandatory​ ​for​ ​them​ ​to​ ​fight.

In​ ​that​ ​case,​ ​it​ ​cannot​ ​be​ ​helped.

I​ ​took​ ​a​ ​step​ ​forward,​ ​and​ ​the​ ​goblins’​ ​eyes​ ​shook​ ​wildly​ ​in​ ​fear.
[Kiiiaaak!​ ​Kiiiac!​ ​Please,​ ​go​ ​easy​ ​on​ ​us!]
One​ ​of​ ​the​ ​goblins​ ​were​ ​especially​ ​cowardly.

I​ ​got​ ​it.​ ​I’ll​ ​go​ ​easy.

[Fool!​ ​You​ ​must​ ​not​ ​expect​ ​mercy​ ​from​ ​the​ ​devil.​ ​That​ ​will​ ​lead​ ​to​ ​a​ ​disastrous​ ​outcome.]
Why​ ​do​ ​these​ ​guys​ ​keep​ ​calling​ ​me​ ​the​ ​devil?​ ​We’ve​ ​never​ ​met​ ​before.
That’s​ ​spoiling​ ​my​ ​mood.
I​ ​kicked​ ​off​ ​the​ ​ground​ ​and​ ​jumped​ ​to​ ​the​ ​front​ ​of​ ​the​ ​shields.
I​ ​pounded​ ​the​ ​top​ ​of​ ​the​ ​shield​ ​with​ ​my​ ​feet.
Kw.a.n.g!
Along​ ​with​ ​loud​ ​echo,​ ​one​ ​of​ ​the​ ​shield​ ​soldiers​ ​and​ ​an​ ​archer​ ​got​ ​thrown​ ​to​ ​the​ ​outside​ ​of​ ​the​ ​ring.
I​ ​lightly​ ​swung​ ​my​ ​fist​ ​at​ ​the​ ​other​ ​shield​ ​soldier​ ​who​ ​was​ ​clearly​ ​dumbfounded.​ ​The​ ​soldier’s​ ​jaw​ ​was turned.​ ​I​ ​took​ ​his​ ​shield​ ​and​ ​smacked​ ​the​ ​swordsman​ ​with​ ​it.
I​ ​dodged​ ​the​ ​spears​ ​thrusting​ ​towards​ ​me​ ​and​ ​narrowed​ ​the​ ​distance.
As​ ​for​ ​the​ ​spearmen,​ ​I​ ​struck​ ​them​ ​both​ ​equally​ ​at​ ​the​ ​pits​ ​of​ ​their​ ​stomachs.​ ​They​ ​fainted.
As​ ​for​ ​the​ ​remaining​ ​archer…
[E…​ ​easy…]

Easy?

The​ ​goblin​ ​nodded​ ​hard.
[Yes.​ ​Go​ ​easy!​ ​Go​ ​easy!]
I​ ​am​ ​not​ ​sure​ ​if​ ​he​ ​is​ ​asking​ ​me​ ​to​ ​go​ ​easy​ ​on​ ​him​ ​or​ ​deliver​ ​him​ ​a​ ​swift,​ ​painless​ ​death.

Try​ ​turning​ ​around.

I​ ​struck​ ​the​ ​rear​ ​side​ ​of​ ​the​ ​obedient​ ​archer’s​ ​neck​ ​and​ ​he​ ​collapsed​ ​on​ ​the​ ​spot.
This​ ​is​ ​the​ ​first​ ​time​ ​for​ ​me​ ​to​ ​successfully​ ​make​ ​someone​ ​faint​ ​by​ ​striking​ ​the​ ​rear​ ​side​ ​of​ ​the​ ​neck.
This​ ​is​ ​hard​ ​to​ ​use​ ​for​ ​some​ ​reason​ ​in​ ​real​ ​combat.
I​ ​cannot​ ​say​ ​that​ ​I​ ​skillfully​ ​made​ ​him​ ​faint​ ​like​ ​how​ ​the​ ​main​ ​characters​ ​in​ ​movies​ ​do.​ ​I​ ​just​ ​struck​ ​him with​ ​a​ ​decent​ ​amount​ ​of​ ​force​ ​and​ ​forced​ ​him​ ​to​ ​consciousness,​ ​so​ ​it​ ​looked​ ​rather​ ​crude.
Anyway,​ ​I​ ​think​ ​I​ ​met​ ​the​ ​challenge​ ​condition​ ​for​ ​the​ ​preliminary​ ​match.
[You​ ​pa.s.sed​ ​the​ ​preliminary​ ​match​ ​of​ ​the​ ​tournament’s​ ​individual​ ​round.]
[The​ ​main​ ​match​ ​of​ ​the​ ​individual​ ​round​ ​will​ ​start​ ​at​ ​12​ ​on​ ​the​ ​first​ ​day​ ​of​ ​the​ ​tournament.]
[Would​ ​you​ ​like​ ​to​ ​move​ ​to​ ​the​ ​stands?]
Nah.​ ​I​ ​didn’t​ ​even​ ​get​ ​warmed​ ​up​ ​yet.
Besides,​ ​I​ ​can​ ​feel​ ​the​ ​other​ ​challengers’​ ​gazes​ ​from​ ​the​ ​stands.
They​ ​don’t​ ​need​ ​to​ ​be​ ​so​ ​surprised.​ ​What​ ​I​ ​did​ ​is​ ​nothing​ ​compared​ ​to​ ​anything​ ​else​ ​I​ ​can​ ​do.

Move.

As​ ​soon​ ​as​ ​I​ ​moved​ ​to​ ​the​ ​stands,​ ​I​ ​went​ ​to​ ​find​ ​where​ ​Kim​ ​Min-hyuk​ ​in​ ​the​ ​stands.

Hey,​ ​I​ ​told​ ​you​ ​to​ ​hold​ ​back.


I​ ​did​ ​hold​ ​back.


Yeah​ ​right.​ ​I​ ​saw​ ​two​ ​goblins​ ​being​ ​thrown​ ​off​ ​the​ ​ring​ ​from​ ​just​ ​one​ ​kick.​ ​I​ ​definitely​ ​saw​ ​it​ ​with​ ​my own​ ​eyes.


That’s​ ​what​ ​I​ ​mean​ ​by​ ​holding​ ​back.


Ugh.

Next​ ​to​ ​him​ ​were​ ​Park​ ​Jong-shik​ ​and​ ​Park​ ​Jung-ah.
So,​ ​the​ ​leaders​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Order​ ​were​ ​all​ ​gathered​ ​here.

Big​ ​Bro​ ​Jong-shik.​ ​Did​ ​you​ ​not​ ​enter​ ​the​ ​tournament?


I​ ​did.​ ​I​ ​cleared​ ​the​ ​preliminary​ ​match​ ​first​ ​and​ ​got​ ​here.

Oh….

Oh….


What’s​ ​there​ ​to​ ​say​ ​‘Oh…’​ ​about.

I​ ​can​ ​imagine​ ​that​ ​a​ ​ranker​ ​of​ ​Hard​ ​Difficulty​ ​on​ ​par​ ​with​ ​someone​ ​like​ ​Park​ ​Jong-shik​ ​pa.s.sing​ ​the preliminary​ ​match​ ​with​ ​ease.

Hey,​ ​introduce​ ​yourself​ ​to​ ​her.​ ​She​ ​will​ ​be​ ​entering​ ​the​ ​team​ ​match​ ​with​ ​you.​ ​Her​ ​name​ ​is​ ​Ms.​ ​Lee
Yuu-jung.​ ​You​ ​know​ ​her,​ ​right?​ ​She​ ​is​ ​the​ ​keeper​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Easy​ ​difficulty.

After​ ​Kim​ ​Min-hyuk​ ​introduced​ ​her​ ​to​ ​me,​ ​I​ ​said​ ​h.e.l.lo​ ​to​ ​the​ ​woman​ ​who​ ​was​ ​sitting​ ​next​ ​to​ ​Park
Jung-ah.

How​ ​do​ ​you​ ​do?


Yes.​ ​Yes.​ ​Thank​ ​you.

What’s​ ​there​ ​to​ ​thank​ ​me​ ​about?
Is​ ​this​ ​woman​ ​scared​ ​of​ ​me​ ​too?
It​ ​seems​ ​to​ ​be​ ​the​ ​case.​ ​Her​ ​att.i.tude​ ​screams​ ​out​ ​her​ ​fear.

Commander,​ ​you​ ​too.

I​ ​waved​ ​my​ ​hand​ ​at​ ​Park​ ​Jung-ah​ ​who​ ​was​ ​sitting​ ​next​ ​Lee​ ​Yuu-jung.
Park​ ​Jung-ah’s​ ​eyes​ ​suddenly​ ​widened.​ ​She​ ​panicked​ ​and​ ​said,

How!

The​ ​pitch​ ​of​ ​her​ ​voice​ ​was​ ​all​ ​wrong,​ ​starting​ ​from​ ​the​ ​very​ ​first​ ​word.

How…​ ​do​ ​you​ ​do?

Why​ ​are​ ​you​ ​being​ ​so​ ​formal​ ​again?
During​ ​the​ ​last​ ​day​ ​of​ ​the​ ​great​ ​harmony,​ ​we​ ​decided​ ​that​ ​you​ ​would​ ​talk​ ​to​ ​me​ ​in​ ​casual​ ​tone.
What​ ​was​ ​all​ ​that​ ​embarra.s.sing​ ​and​ ​awkward​ ​conversation​ ​for​ ​then?

I!​ ​I​ ​have​ ​a​ ​place​ ​to​ ​be,​ ​so…​ ​I’ll​ ​get​ ​going​ ​first.​ ​See​ ​you​ ​all​ ​later.

Park​ ​Jung-ah​ ​b.u.mped​ ​into​ ​the​ ​chair​ ​next​ ​to​ ​her​ ​as​ ​she​ ​got​ ​up,​ ​stumbling​ ​with​ ​her​ ​legs​ ​before​ ​she awkwardly​ ​left​ ​the​ ​scene.
What​ ​now?​ ​What​ ​business​ ​could​ ​you​ ​possibly​ ​have​ ​today​ ​in​ ​a​ ​place​ ​like​ ​this?
Lee​ ​Yuu-jung​ ​quickly​ ​followed​ ​Park​ ​Jung-ah.
Park​ ​Jong-shik​ ​muttered​ ​as​ ​he​ ​watched​ ​Park​ ​Jung-ah​ ​leaving.

Did​ ​her​ ​att.i.tude​ ​get​ ​worse?


She​ ​is​ ​acting​ ​awkward​ ​like​ ​that​ ​because​ ​of​ ​what​ ​happened​ ​last​ ​time​ ​at​ ​the​ ​day​ ​of​ ​the​ ​great​ ​harmony,
isn’t​ ​it?​ ​Hey,​ ​Kim​ ​Min-hyuk…​ ​What​ ​are​ ​you​ ​going​ ​to​ ​do?​ ​That​ ​just​ ​made​ ​things​ ​worse.


I​ ​don’t​ ​know​ ​anymore.

This​ ​is​ ​a​ ​serious​ ​problem.
Last​ ​time,​ ​during​ ​the​ ​day​ ​of​ ​the​ ​great​ ​harmony,​ ​we​ ​asked​ ​Park​ ​Jung-ah​ ​to​ ​speak​ ​to​ ​me​ ​in​ ​casually.​ ​We went​ ​through​ ​that​ ​unnecessary​ ​spectacle​ ​because​ ​Park​ ​Jung-ah​ ​was​ ​being​ ​excessively​ ​respectful​ ​toward me.
In​ ​that​ ​case,​ ​how​ ​about​ ​her​ ​att.i.tude​ ​towards​ ​me​ ​now?
This​ ​is​ ​no​ ​longer​ ​just​ ​about​ ​my​ ​position​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Order​ ​and​ ​the​ ​strength​ ​of​ ​Park​ ​Jung-ah’s​ ​leadership’s foundation.​ ​This​ ​is​ ​going​ ​to​ ​damage​ ​her​ ​image.

I​ ​can’t​ ​think​ ​of​ ​anything​ ​in​ ​particular​ ​to​ ​fix​ ​this.​ ​What​ ​about​ ​you​ ​guys?​ ​You​ ​young​ ​people​ ​should​ ​come up​ ​with​ ​something.


I​ ​don’t​ ​know​ ​either.​ ​Hey,​ ​as​ ​the​ ​person​ ​in​ ​the​ ​situation,​ ​is​ ​there​ ​anything​ ​that​ ​comes​ ​to​ ​your​ ​mind?​ ​You high​ ​and​ ​mighty​ ​rascal?

High​ ​and​ ​mighty​ ​rascal?
Now​ ​where​ ​did​ ​that​ ​t.i.tle​ ​come​ ​from?
Um…​ ​A​ ​way​ ​huh…
Park​ ​Jung-ah​ ​is​ ​treating​ ​me​ ​differently​ ​probably​ ​because​ ​of​ ​what​ ​happened​ ​on​ ​the​ ​very​ ​first​ ​day​ ​of​ ​the great​ ​harmony.
It​ ​is​ ​true​ ​that​ ​I​ ​saved​ ​her,​ ​so​ ​she​ ​had​ ​a​ ​good​ ​reason​ ​to​ ​be​ ​grateful​ ​towards​ ​me.
The​ ​only​ ​problem​ ​is​ ​that​ ​she​ ​had​ ​been​ ​excessively​ ​idolizing​ ​me​ ​ever​ ​since.
It​ ​seemed​ ​that,​ ​in​ ​her​ ​eyes,​ ​I​ ​looked​ ​like​ ​a​ ​prince​ ​on​ ​white​ ​horse​ ​from​ ​a​ ​fairy​ ​tale.
In​ ​other​ ​words,​ ​because​ ​of​ ​her​ ​fantasy​ ​about​ ​me,​ ​she​ ​has​ ​a​ ​wearing​ ​a​ ​pair​ ​of​ ​distorted​ ​gla.s.ses.
[PR:​ ​She​ ​literally​ ​doesn’t​ ​have​ ​a​ ​pair​ ​of​ ​distorted​ ​gla.s.ses.]
I’m​ ​sure​ ​that​ ​I​ ​have​ ​demonstrated​ ​many​ ​times​ ​that​ ​I​ ​am​ ​not​ ​a​ ​perfect​ ​person​ ​from​ ​moral​ ​and​ ​personality standpoints.
Despite​ ​all​ ​that,​ ​the​ ​distorted​ ​gla.s.ses​ ​remained​ ​on​ ​her​ ​eyes.

The​ ​tournament​ ​will​ ​end​ ​around​ ​the​ ​dinner​ ​time,​ ​right?


From​ ​how​ ​you​ ​are​ ​going​ ​about​ ​it,​ ​I​ ​think​ ​it​ ​could​ ​end​ ​sooner.


In​ ​that​ ​case,​ ​let’s​ ​go​ ​drink​ ​amongst​ ​ourselves.


Drinks?​ ​That’s​ ​great.​ ​Do​ ​you​ ​have​ ​any?

Park​ ​Jong-shik,​ ​with​ ​gleam​ ​in​ ​his​ ​eyes,​ ​asked.

Of​ ​course.​ ​I​ ​have​ ​quite​ ​a​ ​few​ ​bottles​ ​in​ ​my​ ​inventory.

It​ ​was​ ​not​ ​a​ ​huge​ ​quant.i.ty​ ​of​ ​booze.​ ​However,​ ​it​ ​was​ ​enough​ ​for​ ​four​ ​people​ ​to​ ​enjoy.
I​ ​had​ ​plenty​ ​of​ ​snacks​ ​too.

I​ ​like​ ​the​ ​idea​ ​of​ ​drinking​ ​too,​ ​but…​ ​will​ ​that​ ​help​ ​resolve​ ​the​ ​problem​ ​of​ ​​ ​Park​ ​Jung-ah?

With​ ​a​ ​little​ ​worried​ ​face,​ ​Kim​ ​Min-hyuk​ ​asked.

Well…​ ​If​ ​you​ ​show​ ​her​ ​how​ ​you​ ​look​ ​after​ ​getting​ ​all​ ​boozed​ ​up​ ​and​ ​making​ ​a​ ​fool​ ​out​ ​of​ ​yourself​ ​like​ ​a dog,​ ​then​ ​that​ ​will​ ​shatter​ ​her​ ​fantasy​ ​about​ ​you.


Kiiiiaaaaa.​ ​What​ ​a​ ​magnificent​ ​answer.​ ​Let’s​ ​play​ ​today​ ​like​ ​idiots!

Park​ ​Jong-shik’s​ ​mind​ ​was​ ​already​ ​at​ ​the​ ​drinking​ ​table.​ ​He​ ​suddenly​ ​got​ ​up​ ​and​ ​shouted.
[The​ ​individual​ ​tournament’s​ ​main​ ​event,​ ​the​ ​matches​ ​will​ ​begin.]
Finally,​ ​the​ ​main​ ​matches​ ​started.
They​ ​are​ ​the​ ​main​ ​event​ ​where​ ​the​ ​challengers​ ​duel​ ​each​ ​other.
[Would​ ​you​ ​like​ ​to​ ​enter?]
Hold​ ​on.
I​ ​ignored​ ​the​ ​message​ ​and​ ​opened​ ​the​ ​rulebook.
The​ ​main​ ​matches​ ​had​ ​a​ ​pretty​ ​unique​ ​rule.
It​ ​was​ ​like​ ​a​ ​tag​ ​match.
Two​ ​challengers​ ​will​ ​duel,​ ​where​ ​the​ ​victor​ ​will​ ​stay​ ​at​ ​the​ ​arena,​ ​and​ ​the​ ​defeated​ ​will​ ​be​ ​returned​ ​to the​ ​stands.
With​ ​each​ ​victory,​ ​points​ ​are​ ​earned,​ ​and​ ​the​ ​final​ ​prize​ ​will​ ​be​ ​set​ ​based​ ​on​ ​the​ ​points​ ​earned.
Uniquely​ ​enough,​ ​the​ ​very​ ​first​ ​challenger​ ​who​ ​starts​ ​the​ ​match​ ​will​ ​be​ ​given​ ​bonus​ ​points.​ ​Also,​ ​the final​ ​victor​ ​has​ ​a​ ​separate​ ​prize.
There​ ​were​ ​three​ ​ways​ ​to​ ​earn​ ​any​ ​of​ ​the​ ​rewards.​ ​One​ ​could​ ​be​ ​the​ ​first​ ​challenger.​ ​One​ ​could​ ​win many​ ​times,​ ​and​ ​finally,​ ​there​ ​was​ ​winning​ ​the​ ​entire​ ​tournament’s​ ​individual​ ​round.
To​ ​maximize​ ​the​ ​rewards,​ ​the​ ​best​ ​thing​ ​to​ ​do​ ​is​ ​entering​ ​the​ ​tournament​ ​as​ ​the​ ​first​ ​challenger​ ​and achieving​ ​multiple​ ​victories​ ​until​ ​you​ ​win​ ​the​ ​entire​ ​tournament.
It’s​ ​just​ ​that…

Hey,​ ​you​ ​can’t​ ​enter​ ​right​ ​now,​ ​you​ ​understand​ ​that,​ ​right?


I​ ​got​ ​it,​ ​you​ ​rascal.

If​ ​I​ ​entered​ ​now,​ ​the​ ​main​ ​match​ ​will​ ​end​ ​like​ ​that.
I​ ​really​ ​wanted​ ​the​ ​rewards,​ ​but​ ​I​ ​don’t​ ​want​ ​to​ ​get​ ​it​ ​at​ ​the​ ​cost​ ​of​ ​pouring​ ​cold​ ​water​ ​on​ ​everyone when​ ​they​ ​are​ ​enjoying​ ​the​ ​festivities.
Of​ ​course,​ ​the​ ​prize​ ​for​ ​winning​ ​the​ ​tournament,​ ​the​ ​most​ ​important​ ​reward,​ ​will​ ​be​ ​mine.
Meanwhile,​ ​the​ ​two​ ​challengers​ ​chosen​ ​start​ ​the​ ​tournament,​ ​were​ ​summoned​ ​to​ ​the​ ​arena.
They​ ​were​ ​both​ ​melee​ ​warriors.
After​ ​one​ ​minute​ ​of​ ​standby,​ ​the​ ​duel​ ​started.
This​ ​is​ ​actually​ ​pretty​ ​exciting.
The​ ​two​ ​challengers​ ​were​ ​on​ ​par​ ​with​ ​each​ ​other​ ​in​ ​strength​ ​and​ ​skills,​ ​so​ ​the​ ​duel​ ​was​ ​exciting​ ​to watch.
As​ ​usual…

Fight​ ​between​ ​small​ ​fries​ ​are​ ​most​ ​entertaining.

Park​ ​Jong-shik​ ​muttered​ ​from​ ​the​ ​side.​ ​He​ ​shared​ ​my​ ​thoughts.

This​ ​is​ ​super​ ​fun​ ​to​ ​watch.​ ​When​ ​the​ ​tournament​ ​occurs​ ​again,​ ​should​ ​we​ ​bet​ ​money?​ ​How​ ​about​ ​it?


Betting​ ​on​ ​sports?​ ​I​ ​am​ ​not​ ​sure.​ ​We​ ​shouldn’t​ ​take​ ​gambling​ ​so​ ​lightly.


Even​ ​if​ ​we​ ​don’t,​ ​someone​ ​else​ ​will.​ ​It​ ​would​ ​be​ ​better​ ​if​ ​we​ ​open​ ​the​ ​gambling​ ​operations​ ​instead.


Is​ ​that​ ​so?​ ​I’ll​ ​bring​ ​it​ ​up​ ​during​ ​out​ ​next​ ​meeting.

I​ ​brought​ ​out​ ​a​ ​bag​ ​of​ ​potato​ ​chip​ ​from​ ​the​ ​inventory​ ​and​ ​continued​ ​to​ ​watch​ ​the​ ​duel.
Watching​ ​their​ ​intense​ ​battle​ ​unconsciously​ ​excited​ ​me.
Should​ ​I​ ​enter​ ​during​ ​the​ ​match​ ​that’s​ ​two​ ​matches​ ​after​ ​this​ ​one?

You​ ​need​ ​to​ ​enter​ ​when​ ​it​ ​is​ ​about​ ​to​ ​end,​ ​you​ ​got​ ​that,​ ​right?

Ugh,​ ​I​ ​think​ ​this​ ​guy​ ​can​ ​look​ ​into​ ​my​ ​mind​ ​sometimes.

What​ ​about​ ​me?


Big​ ​Bro​ ​Jong-shik.​ ​You​ ​can’t​ ​enter​ ​either.​ ​Big​ ​Bro,​ ​did​ ​you​ ​not​ ​forfeit​ ​yet?​ ​Hurry​ ​up​ ​and​ ​go​ ​forfeit.​ ​Relax and​ ​enjoy​ ​the​ ​game​ ​afterwards​ ​instead.

As​ ​days​ ​go​ ​by,​ ​I​ ​feel​ ​like​ ​Kim​ ​Min-hyuk​ ​is​ ​turning​ ​more​ ​and​ ​more​ ​into​ ​a​ ​selfish​ ​sister​ ​in-law.
Another​ ​unique​ ​thing​ ​about​ ​the​ ​tournament​ ​was​ ​that​ ​there​ ​were​ ​no​ ​other​ ​restrictions​ ​during​ ​the​ ​duel.
All​ ​items​ ​were​ ​permitted.
Expendable​ ​single-use​ ​items​ ​were​ ​allowed​ ​as​ ​well.
There​ ​was​ ​no​ ​restriction​ ​about​ ​striking​ ​critical​ ​points​ ​either.
In​ ​fact,​ ​even​ ​murder​ ​was​ ​possible​ ​in​ ​middle​ ​of​ ​the​ ​match.
This​ ​is​ ​not​ ​like​ ​boxing​ ​or​ ​mixed​ ​martial​ ​art​ ​tournament.​ ​Instead,​ ​this​ ​is​ ​closer​ ​to​ ​duels​ ​that​ ​took​ ​place​ ​in real​ ​colosseums.
Of​ ​course,​ ​the​ ​Order​ ​of​ ​Vigilance​ ​strictly​ ​forbid​ ​murder​ ​during​ ​the​ ​tournament.
They​ ​could​ ​give​ ​the​ ​circ.u.mstance​ ​a​ ​consideration​ ​if​ ​the​ ​loss​ ​of​ ​life​ ​was​ ​a​ ​result​ ​of​ ​unforeseen​ ​mistake.
However,​ ​if​ ​it​ ​resulted​ ​from​ ​even​ ​a​ ​little​ ​bit​ ​of​ ​intentional​ ​motif,​ ​they​ ​were​ ​going​ ​to​ ​punish​ ​the​ ​offender
immediately.​ ​The​ ​Order​ ​of​ ​Vigilance​ ​notified​ ​the​ ​community​ ​actively​ ​so​ ​that​ ​n.o.body​ ​would​ ​be​ ​caught unaware​ ​of​ ​the​ ​rules.
Not​ ​just​ ​murder,​ ​but​ ​the​ ​Order​ ​also​ ​forbid​ ​excessive​ ​hara.s.sment​ ​of​ ​the​ ​opponent​ ​and​ ​immobilizing​ ​the opponent’s​ ​hands​ ​or​ ​sealing​ ​the​ ​mouth​ ​to​ ​make​ ​the​ ​opponent​ ​unable​ ​to​ ​surrender.
Because​ ​most​ ​of​ ​the​ ​challengers​ ​who​ ​made​ ​it​ ​to​ ​the​ ​main​ ​matches​ ​were​ ​high​ ​level​ ​rankers,​ ​Park
Jong-shik​ ​choose​ ​to​ ​give​ ​up​ ​the​ ​tournament​ ​and​ ​be​ ​on​ ​the​ ​standby​ ​in​ ​case​ ​of​ ​an​ ​unexpected​ ​situation.
It​ ​was​ ​so​ ​that​ ​he​ ​could​ ​quickly​ ​neutralize​ ​and​ ​punish​ ​the​ ​perpetrator​ ​if​ ​such​ ​an​ ​incident​ ​happened.
Several​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Strike​ ​Division​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Order​ ​were​ ​already​ ​on​ ​the​ ​standby.​ ​However,​ ​some​ ​of​ ​the partic.i.p.ants​ ​of​ ​the​ ​matches​ ​were​ ​going​ ​to​ ​be​ ​hard​ ​for​ ​them​ ​to​ ​handle.
Some​ ​said​ ​the​ ​Order​ ​was​ ​going​ ​too​ ​far​ ​on​ ​restricting​ ​things​ ​that​ ​were​ ​allowed​ ​by​ ​the​ ​system.
However,​ ​thanks​ ​to​ ​the​ ​Order’s​ ​decision,​ ​people’s​ ​minds​ ​were​ ​at​ ​ease,​ ​so​ ​the​ ​number​ ​of​ ​challengers entering​ ​the​ ​tournament​ ​out​ ​of​ ​curiosity​ ​had​ ​increased.​ ​In​ ​the​ ​end,​ ​the​ ​tournament​ ​itself​ ​became​ ​a more​ ​peaceful​ ​event.
Meanwhile,​ ​Park​ ​Jong-shik​ ​just​ ​could​ ​not​ ​help​ ​himself​ ​and​ ​entered​ ​the​ ​preliminary​ ​match.​ ​However, ultimately,​ ​Kim​ ​Min-hyuk​ ​decided​ ​that​ ​Park​ ​Jong-shik​ ​must​ ​not​ ​enter​ ​the​ ​main​ ​matches.

Hey,​ ​Ho-jae.


Yes,​ ​Big​ ​Bro?


Can​ ​we​ ​switch​ ​roles?​ ​Can​ ​you​ ​be​ ​the​ ​guardian​ ​instead​ ​of​ ​me?​ ​If​ ​I​ ​win​ ​the​ ​tournament,​ ​I’ll​ ​give​ ​you​ ​the reward.


I​ ​don’t​ ​want​ ​to.