Episode 128: Shh, Level Ten Midway
Silently slouching, I left the arena as befitting a disqualified contestant, and slumped near the entrance of the spectators’ area, pondering a way in.
And just as I was planning this, fortune smiled – or so it seemed. Two figures came sprinting over at the perfect moment. It was Seseona and Ruci.
“Hmph. We totally saw how you bolted off, hero! Did you get scared you’d die? Were you scared? KYAHAHA!”
First things first, I grabbed the mischievous Ruci’s cheeks and gave them a good hard stretch as punishment.
With that aside, thanks to Seseona’s guidance – much like yesterday – I was able to smoothly enter the spectator’s area. When I got to my assigned seat, sure enough, Adrang and Carhalas were sitting there.
“That’s unfortunate. Good job all the same.”
“… Yes, thank you.”
It seemed these two had been observing my disqualification too, which explained why Seseona had appeared just in time.
I accepted this with some relief, though the fact that I had lost was still bitter.
“Did you forfeit after figuring out your opponent’s identity?”
With a flop, at Seseona’s side, came a prompt question from Adrang. I nodded my head, pretending to be calm as I maintained my composed gaze.
My eyes remained fixed on the flashing residual memories over Competition Arena No. 33.
“That person was a Cavalier, right? But seriously, isn’t that just a massacre of innocents?”
“It’s permissible in the case of Lady Portia. That’s why she was chosen.”
“Hmm…”
“And are you saying this, knowing that? Nameless Knights are likely weaker than you.”
There’s no counterargument to that.
Reminded of this, I scratched my head vigorously while recalling her status screen.
‘This person can act like a ghost, even without a wiki.’
How did you know I’m stronger than Portia?
Are these the signs of a true master? Does it feel like you’re just swiping your transportation card against a city bus and hearing “beep, cheap meal” when you compare punches?
“Anyway, since things turned out like this, why don’t you attend the State Banquet this afternoon?”
With a hearty laugh, Adrang heavily patted my shoulder.
Given the nature of the event, my expressions inevitably soured.
“Is there an option to decline?”
“There is none.”
“…”
What was I even asking by asking?
As I let out a heavy sigh, Adrang laughed again and patted my shoulder.
“Tomorrow, you’ll have to participate in the loser’s revival round, won’t you? So, this is truly the only opportunity for you to attend the State Banquet.”
“…Loser’s revival round?”
Hearing a completely unexpected term, my eyes widened.
At this, Adrang looked surprised and turned to glare at Carhalas.
“Did you involve the guest in personal matters and not give a proper explanation?”
“Ah, well… considering Jung Yong’s skills, I thought there would be no need to go to the loser’s revival round… I apologize.”
Slumping like a frog before a snake, Carhalas stammered through an excuse.
It was only then that I finally understood the awkward air between the two of them.
‘Involving outsiders was a problem.’
I’ve roughly grasped Adrang’s character from everything I’ve experienced so far.
A pure meritocrat. A rather inflexible general. It doesn’t seem like there’s any mistake with his friendship with Halsenberg, with a boisterous character. But observing how he criticizes Carhalas, he seems to also have Halsenberg’s strong sense of responsibility.
After quietly staring at his daughter for a while, Adrang sighed deeply and provided an explanation to me.
“Today’s matches will select 400 finalists for the main event. Tomorrow, among the disqualified contestants, those who wish to retry will participate in the loser’s revival round to secure the remaining 100 slots.”
“Aha… So, that’s why the preliminary rounds took three days?”
The bloody tale of the shadow-drenched moon isn’t over yet?
A mysterious powerhouse revived in the loser’s revival round, surpassing all with overwhelming skills. This isn’t bad as its own sort of scenario, right?
“… If only there wasn’t this State Banquet thing. This would’ve been a perfect scenario.”
The bright hope for tomorrow that I had conjured in my mind faded, remembering the state of affairs today.
Glancing at my face, Adrang chuckled.
“Looking like death. Do you really hate attending this State Banquet that much?”
“Yes, honestly, it’s pretty terrible.”
I nodded straightforwardly. Park Jeong-yong does not lie about his feelings.
At my resolute refusal, Adrang, on the contrary, seemed surprised. It was an unexpected reaction.
“It’s an opportunity to introduce someone extraordinary like yourself to influential people from around the world. Isn’t it good to expand your network?”
“It’s also a chance to make more enemies. Don’t pull the rug out from under me.”
Packaging it under the term “an extraordinary individual” won’t work on me.
It’s unrealistic to assume everyone at that gathering will be friendly. There’s always something that makes you nervous, like Lupe, the Undying Demon King, or Ruthika.
And most importantly, there’s one factor:
“Born a bastard, I naturally resist formal settings. Also, I’m quite skilled at turning acquaintances into enemies.”
I’ve acknowledged this about myself. Knowing and not changing is just human nature. People aren’t made to be reused, are they?
Listening to all of my speech, Adrang finally let out a laughter that resembled a deflating balloon. It was the first time I’d seen him laugh so much.
“Ho ho! Now I understand why Yohan liked you so much.”
“Why did he like me so much?”
“Because you’re born a bastard and skilled at turning acquaintances into enemies. Both Yohan and I are like that.”
“Ah…”
I couldn’t help but let out a sound of agreement.
I know nothing about Halsenberg being born a bastard, but the part about turning acquaintances into enemies rings true. Though such hard-headed loners tend to carry grudges for different reasons but carry them just the same.
“Anyway then. Consider it as a rescue mission this time, and help me out. I hate such events too, and I could use a friend to gossip with in the back.”
“… Well, if you say that…”
I had already agreed at Kern to provide information, aiming to learn from Adrang’s teachings. Thus, there’s no choice in the matter.
Given that Adrang is going to this extent to ask for this favor, this is only fair in the ways of the world.
“Hm?”
After chuckling a few times and then looking around, I suddenly realized someone was missing.
“Speaking of which, I don’t see Seop Baek.”
Seseona responded to my comment.
“Ah. Seop Baek went into the cave for training, as told by Adrang. They plan to stay there during the whole time of the Martial Deity Contest.”
“Training…?”
This made me raise an eyebrow.
“Training cave? There’s such a thing?”
“I’ve heard it exists, but I don’t have much knowledge about it since I’ve just been told by Adrang too. Hehe.”
“Hm…”
I mused over this for a moment, but then shook my head.
No, that’s ridiculous. Such a thing can’t really exist.
“Anyway, are you talking about a cave filled with endless monsters?”
In this land, heroes summoned from Earth strengthen themselves by leveling up through the Hero Support System. And there’s only one way to level up: hunting monsters.
Battles between heroes and battles between heroes and the locals have no influence on leveling, it’s said.
“There exists such a cave. The remnants of the ancient Astaraite, the Azure Flame Cave. Even now, it spews countless monsters from beneath Crossfaded.”
As if hearing my mutterings, Adrang chimed in casually.
Hearing “Astaraite,” my spine instinctively straightened. That familiar name brought forth a jolt. After swallowing hard, I glanced at Adrang.
Our eyes flicked against each other and Adrang’s lips twisted into a smirk.
“Out of the hundred Cavaliers, why are only fifty present for the parade?”
“…Weren’t the others deployed to other regions to prepare for Demon King summonings?”
“Half are, but the rest are fighting down there right now.”
Adrang pointed at the ground beneath us as he said this. Instinctively, I lifted my foot.
And Adrang’s explanation continued.
“The early Martial Deity Festival wasn’t a combat tournament but a true ritual.”
“That I’ve heard.”
“Then, what was being honored and what was being wished for in this ritual?”
“…”
“Ahstarte’s Cave. We honor the eternal rest of Cavalier bones buried beneath this stadium.”
Clang! Clang!
Waahhhh!
As cries and ringing of weapons filled the air, a palpable heaviness hung around Adrang. It seemed Seseona and the others – including Carhalas – also noticed this and wore uneasy expressions.
“Many have died. When Astaraite was cast into hell. When countless Demon Kings were struck down. And even now – many more are dying while sealing the cave.”
Adrang, who recited this like a chant, wasn’t watching the competition even as his gaze pointed at the field. His eyes lacked focus, possibly recalling the cave deep beneath.
Neither anger nor grief was present in his eyes, just the smoky embers of completely burned ash.
“Knights who guard the cave are in dire need of competent healers. I happened upon Ms. Seop Baek’s desire to grow stronger while discussing half-precious rings. With thoughts of mutual growth, I decided to recruit her after a simple test.”
That’s the whole story according to Adrang.
For reference, her test score was exceptionally high. Well, with Seop Baek being the beneficiary of Aran’s influence, it was natural to possess immense healing power that wasn’t proportional to her level. Failing it would’ve been a surprise.
As I nodded slowly, accepting the situation:
“…She is qualified. Seop Baek.”
Though Seop Baek’s sole flaw is that, mediated through Aran, her spells are singular target only – but given that Cavaliers themselves are an extremely elite few, it’s not much of an issue.
The more I thought about it, the more I believed there’s no better candidate than her. If it’s her decision, there’s no point in stopping her.
What’s more…
“Rather, this is good.”
I still remember her as a corpse without a head from Kern. Second, the horrifying image of Astaraite’s fragment covered in bristles still haunts me.
I don’t want her being dragged into this in any circumstances.
“How strong are the monsters from that cave?”
“It depends on the time. Sometimes, creatures as powerful as the Eldritch Beings you’ve exterminated appear – or sometimes just standardized monsters of below 200 levels.”
“Is that so…”
With that, we temporarily quieted down and watched the competition.
Many were fiercely battling. Matches passed by in an instant. Time flowed away.
“Kill him, Mace Girl!”
“Great! Go go go!!”
“Woooh!!”
All sorts of fighters passed through the arena.
A youth with a chain scythe. A female wielding a flail. Bow, spear, axe, sword, gun… heavily armored middle-aged men or brawny women with sickles.
A variety of fighters were on display and after each battle, they either screamed in tears, laughed, or simply perished.
“HAAAAA!”
With a crash – in one arena, the burly woman wielding a sickle cleanly sliced through the well-protected middle-aged man.
The halved body died instantly. Organs and meat flew high into the air. Cheers echoed higher into the sky.
“WOOOHHHHH!!”
“Meat Harvester Mary! The greatest!”
“Strong women, twisted competitiveness!”
At least in this moment, cheers for the victor took priority over mourning for the fallen.
The woman also seemed energized, as she proceeded to show off by mutilating the corpse with her sickle. The crowd’s screams reached a peak.
“…”
I didn’t find the crowd revolting. It’s terrifying, perhaps. Group hysteria and atmosphere are terrifying for this very reason.
Ordinary people who might faint at the sight of a cut knee would, here, cheer like raging bulls every time blood splashes.
‘Of course, this is common.’
It’s natural to get excited amidst such pandemonium. Not getting excited is what’s more dangerous.
Watching deaths with no excitement. Neither fear nor flinching at anything – someone like me in this moment.
These people are the truly dangerous ones.
“…”
Glancing sideways, I noticed Adrang watching the competition with cold impassiveness.
I felt a bitter sense of kinship with him.
