Chapter 350
Chapter 350
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 350
Chapter Title: Side Story 34. Beasts (6)
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"This is normally not allowed. Remember that this is a special exception."
The woman leading the way issued a stern warning.
In the end, unable to refuse the request, she was heading to the champion's quarters with Baren.
Torches spaced at regular intervals illuminated the dark corridor.
"Grr... wa... water, please... water..."
"Kuheng! Kraaak!"
Pain-filled voices rose continuously from beneath their feet.
It was the sound of the beastkin confined to the cells assigned to the arena below.
Baren bit his lip, suppressing the surging emotions.
He had to strain not to recall the glimpse he'd caught of his fellow kin just moments ago.
'This place is insane. Everyone's lost their minds.'
He even forgot about the heat.
Even prisoners from a defeated nation would be treated better than this.
The gladiators locked in massive iron cages had no human rights whatsoever.
Collars that could be remotely detonated were fastened around their necks, and the rations distributed twice a day were woefully insufficient for the number of inmates, always sparking fights.
Even that meager food required them to crawl on all fours like beasts in front of the Northwind members.
With their heads shoved into dog bowls.
As Baren fell silent, the woman continued.
"I'm not joking. If you weren't so handsome, I would've told you to cut the nonsense."
"...Of course, beautiful lady. I will definitely repay this favor."
Having composed his emotions, Baren expressed his gratitude politely.
For now, he needed to focus solely on the mission to rescue Secret.
The woman, who'd been called beautiful, bit her lip.
"Ugh, you and that mouth again..."
She was the type who changed men like meals without ever getting attached.
But the repeated compliments on his looks from this handsome fellow had a magical power to dredge up the shyness buried deep within her.
The woman turned to Baren with a smile in her eyes.
"Don't overdo it just because I'm pretty. It makes me want to do it right here."
"Haha, please hold off on that. We don't have much time anyway, do we?"
"Obviously a joke. I don't have a hobby of fooling around in fur-flying places. And since you won't be back until morning, you'd better think up an excuse for your boss in advance?"
It was a bold provocation in every way.
Baren responded with a confident smile instead of words.
Of course, given their different species, what she hoped for would never happen.
'I'm glad this absurd plan worked. The Empire's Golden Lion hasn't died yet.'
Baren felt inner relief.
Her overt reaction suggested it had been a resounding success so far.
His extensive reading about human romance in books had been a great help.
How much farther did they walk?
At the end of the corridor, the woman stopped in front of a massive iron door.
"We're here. This is the panther's room."
"Ah. Even champions get a private cell, I see."
It seemed this place had at least the custom of favoring champions.
Just the fact that it had a solid door instead of bars preserved some privacy.
The 3-meter-high iron door was secured with a heavy padlock fit for a bank vault.
"A special exception among exceptions. He fights so well that even the boss acknowledges him. At some point, his temperament mellowed too."
"Can I go inside?"
"Are you crazy? No matter how well you treat them, a beast is a beast. Show even a hint of weakness, and he'll rip you apart right here."
The woman recoiled, shaking her head.
As a die-hard fan of the champion, she knew better than anyone how dangerous this panther was.
She pointed to the small window on the door with her index finger extended.
"I don't know why you're so desperate to see him. If you really want to talk, do it through this window. And don't even think about sticking your fingers in."
"I'll keep that in mind."
"Good. Then I'll call him? Hey, Blanta!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Suddenly, the woman pounded roughly on the iron door.
The sound was so loud it echoed through the corridor.
Soon, a response came from beyond the door.
"Ah, damn... I was sleeping. What is it?"
"Sleeping? You've got a match tonight. Without this guy?"
"I can win half-assed. Anyway, that voice... Vesper Branch Chief? What brings you all the way here?"
It was a drowsy voice, as if he'd just rolled out of bed.
Footsteps approached, and the window slid open with a clank.
The face of a strikingly sleek werepanther man appeared.
'As expected, one of Zaipa's armed guards.'
Baren clenched his fist in silent triumph.
His face alone hinted at his strength.
A massive scar diagonally across his face spoke of his rough past.
Though softened by two years, his nature remained the same.
The woman named Vesper, now fully recognized, patted Baren's shoulder.
"This newbie wanted to meet you. Handsome, right?"
"I dunno, different species and all... Since when's sticky-sweet your type?"
"Sticky-sweet? He's just wearing thick clothes. Anyway, say hi..."
This was enough.
As the woman fixed her gaze on Blanta and continued,
Thwack!
Baren's hand blade struck her nape like lightning.
"Eek."
"Wh-what?!"
With a dull thud, her eyes rolled back.
Blanta gasped at the sudden action.
Baren caught the collapsing woman.
'Good. She's not dead.'
Confirming her breathing, Baren sighed in relief.
This repaid the favor she'd mentioned earlier.
If she hadn't helped get here, he would've killed her outright.
Blanta made a fuss again.
"Wh-what the hell?! What are you doing...!"
"Pleased to meet you, Blanta. No time, so straight to the point. I'll get you out of here, so help me."
"What? Help?"
"Yes. I heard you're from Zaipa's armed guard. There's someone I need to rescue right now, but he's with this organization's boss, so I need muscle. Not sure the scale, but at least champion-level for the arena."
Baren laid her on the floor and explained the situation.
As the conversation progressed, Blanta's eyes widened.
Moments later, after hearing it all, Blanta pressed his face to the bars and shouted.
"Secret's here?! The Secret I know?!"
"Yes. One of the heroes who saved the North."
"That elusive bastard, how'd he... Anyway, got it. I understand. But how do you plan to bust me out? You got the key?"
His thick finger pointed to the padlock on the door.
A champion-grade lock for a champion inmate.
"No key. But I think I can handle this."
"What?"
"Step back for safety, please?"
Suddenly, Baren clenched and unclenched his fists several times.
He'd been gathering power since earlier, but success was uncertain.
He gripped the padlock with both hands.
"Huuuuh..."
His heart began pounding rapidly.
The pulsing aura's sound pierced even through his thick flesh, resounding outward.
Golden light seeped from his thick palms.
He ignored the sweat pouring like rain.
Baren slowly increased the pressure on the padlock.
"Grraaah...!"
"Wh-what's this?"
Blanta's eyes widened.
Cracks spiderwebbed across the padlock.
The light leaking through was the same golden hue.
When the cracks covered half,
Baren took a deep breath and roared.
"Haaap!!"
"Kuheng!"
Simultaneously, the light-wrapped padlock exploded with a boom.
Shards flew, piercing the corridor walls in the darkness.
Blanta, who'd yelped and fallen back, peeked out again.
Seeing the shattered lock, he let out a hollow laugh.
"Shit... You really human? Even our captain couldn't do that."
"Huff, huuu... For now, yes."
Baren nodded.
For some reason, his pants felt looser.
Over 70% of his available aura spent, but success somehow.
Creeeak... The iron door swung open with a metallic groan.
"You're one crazy bastard. Come in."
"...I'll owe you."
"Yeah. Lock it from inside, even gold horses won't get in for a while."
Blanta pulled the staggering Baren inside.
His full body, revealed at last, befitted a champion.
Upper body bare, in leather pants.
The werepanther's flexible yet feral muscles were more than enough for Zaipa's guard.
This should work.
As Baren scanned Blanta proudly,
His gaze halted at one spot.
'...No collar?'
Unlike other beastkin, no bomb collar.
Around his slender neck was an ornate choker of finely woven gold.
No shackles or handcuffs either.
Just lavish jeweled accessories glittering on wrists and ankles.
'No way.'
A chill like a ghost licking his nape crawled up Baren's spine.
As he opened his mouth to speak, a deep voice resounded.
"Oh ho. So you're the rat who got caught with Secret."
"...What?"
Baren froze.
Not Blanta's voice.
Regaining his senses, he looked ahead to a room as lavish as a noble's bedroom.
Filled with luxurious furniture and decorations, nothing was lacking.
"You...!"
Turning toward the voice, Baren gasped.
A man in a red coat sat on the sofa, leg crossed.
At his feet, Secret lay bloodied, tightly bound with rope.
"Lete, head of the Northwind Group. Pleased to meet you."
"My God, Professor!!"
The man greeted, but it didn't register with Baren.
His body lunged forward reflexively.
Inhuman agility, but unfortunately, Zaipa's former armed guard caught him.
"Tsk. Where to?"
"Krak!"
Blanta twisted Baren's arm behind his back.
He face-planted onto the floor.
Secret, meeting his eyes, rasped.
"Baren... why are you here..."
"Professor, what the hell is...!"
The situation made no sense.
Or rather, he didn't want to understand.
Zaipa's guard and the Northwind leader, who treated beastkin like animals, in cahoots?
Blanta held Baren and chuckled.
"Hey, you almost fucked up big time. Without me, what would've happened?"
"This must be fate too. What terrible luck."
The man who'd introduced himself as Lete smirked.
Standing, he squatted before the two.
"Seems we have some talking to do, right?"
"Tch, definitely around here."
The black weretiger clicked his tongue.
His pitch-black body seemed like a shadow standing amid the red.
The surroundings were all crimson, making his unique blackness stand out more.
Chopped monster and human corpses littered everywhere.
Blood flowing down ice had frozen into icicles against the Alkanto Valley chill.
"Kuhk... heuk...!"
In his hand dangled a Northwind member.
The man's face, gripped by thumb and index, was swelling purple, ready to burst.
The weretiger asked.
"Hey. You really don't know? Your group must have some organization."
"I... don't... kno... gak."
The man shook his head.
The weretiger tightened his fingers.
Crack.
The body went limp as the neck bone snapped.
"Always such a hassle."
The weretiger sighed.
He was in a foul mood right now.
A few days ago, he'd lost to his fated rival.
'What trick did that damn snake use? He felt tougher somehow.'
Even after so long apart, he'd grown too strong.
The southern swordsman who'd crushed him grinned innocently and returned to Phileon Academy.
Stung deeply, he wanted to train, but alas, he was tasked with maintaining northern security.
Zaipa shook the blood from his crescent blade and stepped deeper into the valley.
"Well, keep killing and something'll turn up."