28
Ch.28 It's the Arena
People with dull eyes waited impatiently for the doors to open, and right on time, the entire apartment complex lit up as the entrance gates swung wide.
Men in suits had been guarding the iron gates, but as they opened, people began filing in one by one, paying their entrance fees before rushing up the slope. Nearby, cars also entered after paying, so I checked my pockets.
Of course, I had no money.
The thief who stole my bracelet must have taken everything.
"Huh? Sir? The entrance fee is—"
"I don't have any."
"Uh… Hmm."
When it was my turn, I confidently declared I had no money, and the man looked around awkwardly. Right next to me, a disheveled woman was being dragged away by two men.
"J-Just let me in! I’ll pay you back! How much is it, huh? Just let me in! I swear I’ll pay today!"
"Get lost, you beggar!"
"Just wait a second! I have money in there! Some bastard inside stole it from me! Let me go beat them up and get it back!"
"Hey, drag her out!"
The man turned back to me, exchanged glances with another guard, and they both shook their heads. Apparently, manhandling me wasn’t an option.
"Sir, I’m sorry, but if you don’t have the fee—"
"There’s someone inside who stole my money. I’ll catch them and pay you back."
"Hmm…"
The two men looked at each other again, then tried pushing me back with combined strength. Naturally, I didn’t budge—instead, I stepped forward, forcing them to stumble back in surprise.
"What kind of strength—? Sir, are you a superpower human? Physical enhancement type?"
"I’m not a superpower human."
"Huh? But we are superpower humans. There’s no way a normal human is stronger than us."
"You two just seem weak. Do you even eat properly?"
"What…? Uh… Hold on, just come inside first."
Baffled, the two men ushered me in and led me to an empty space nearby.
"Sir, if you are a superpower human, how about trying the arena? Participants don’t pay an entrance fee—in fact, you can earn money and enjoy yourself."
"Hey, what are you doing?"
"We can’t kick this guy out anyway. Let’s just send him in without trouble. If we say he came for the arena, the higher-ups won’t complain."
"Hmm, true. Whatever happens in the arena isn’t our problem."
"As long as I can get inside, I don’t care what you call it."
"Okay, settled. You’re an arena contestant. This way—fight first, then use your winnings to have fun."
"Hmm."
The men grabbed my arm and led me to a building next to the apartment entrance. Inside, among various clothes and melee weapons, a rough-looking superpower human—likely a physical-enhancement type—sat exuding bloodlust.
"What’s this?"
"Ah, we have a walk-in participant for the arena."
"Find your own clothes and—wait, what’s with this guy? Why’s he so damn tall?"
"Well… I’ll leave you to it."
The guard quickly left, and the scowling man sized me up.
"Listen, we don’t have clothes your size, so go as you are or strip if you want. No firearms—they might hit the audience. Bows are banned too. If you brought any, drop them here and pick one of our weapons."
"Hmm. Where do I go?"
"Hey, don’t get cocky just because you’re built. Take a weapon while you can."
I ignored the weapons, and the man clicked his tongue in annoyance.
"You’re here to risk your life for money, right? At least take something to raise your survival chances."
"I’m fine."
"Tch… Suit yourself. If you’re about to die, just surrender. Dragging corpses out is a pain."
He pointed to a corner, and when I walked over, a path resembling a hiking trail led behind the apartments.
Following the scent of blood, I reached an open area in front of the complex, where a large tent stood. Inside, people who seemed to be arena contestants huddled together nervously.
"Just one… Just kill one, and I’m set…"
"Huff… Huff… Please, let it be weak… Please…"
Men and women alike trembled, gripping their weapons in fear. Some were superpower humans, but ordinary people were mixed in too.
I sat casually on a bench inside the tent until the scowling man from earlier returned.
"We’re starting soon. Who’s going first?"
"M-Me! Me!"
"I’ll go first!"
"Fine, you. You were the fastest."
"Ghh…! Please, please…!"
"What?! This is discrimination! Sexism!"
People clamored to be chosen, but the man impatiently pointed at a young guy in his twenties and led him out.
Outside, an amplified voice boomed from a loudspeaker.
[Ladies and gentlemen! Thank you for visiting Guryongseong tonight! Soon, we’ll begin today’s event—the Monster Arena!]
"WOOOO! FINALLY! START ALREADY!"
"HOLY SHIT, LET’S GOOO!"
Curious about the commotion, I peeked out from the tent.
In the open space between the U-shaped apartment buildings, a massive iron cage stood, surrounded by packed spectator seats. Even the apartment windows were crowded with people cheering.
The atmosphere was rowdy, filled with animalistic growls and excited shouts.
[Our first contestant tonight! What’s your name? Yes! Kim Ui-hwan! Let’s give a round of applause for Kim Ui-hwan!]
"What the hell? This guy looks weak as shit!"
"Is he even a superpower human? He’s gonna die instantly!"
"Fuck! They’re starting with another easy one!"
As the first contestant stepped onto the stage with a sword, the crowd booed. The host brought out a button, and a roulette wheel appeared on a large screen behind him.
The wheel displayed ten different monsters—two weak enough for a normal human to kill, four that only superpower humans could defeat, three between Terror-class and Crush-class, and one pure Crush-class.
[No delays! Let’s begin! Kim Ui-hwan, stop the roulette!]
"Please… Please… PLEASE!"
The man pressed the button desperately, and the wheel slowed…
Finally, it landed on the Blade Cat—the weakest Terror-class monster.
[Ohhh! Unbelievable! He got the easiest one! Prize: 1 million won! Can he do it?!]
"BOOOO! BORING!"
"FUCK! HE TOOK THE FREE MONEY!"
"GODDAMMIT! I SHOULD’VE GONE FIRST!"
The audience jeered, and even the waiting contestants inside the tent threw down their weapons in frustration.
[Betting—OPEN!]
The screen displayed odds: Human 90% - Monster 10%.
Once betting closed, the host shoved Kim Ui-hwan forward.
[With 90% on the human—come on, Kim Ui-hwan! Go grab that 1 million won!]
"YEAHHH!"
The man charged into the cage, while suited men wheeled in a smaller cage containing a heavily sedated monster.
They injected something into the Blade Cat before quickly exiting.
Kim Ui-hwan gripped his sword, trembling.
[Rules are simple! The match starts when the monster leaves its cage! Attacking early is a foul!]
The Blade Cat woke up, stretching like a normal housecat—before spotting the human and baring its bladed tail and claws.
"DIIIIE!"
"HISSSS!"
Kim Ui-hwan swung wildly, but the cat dodged effortlessly and then slashed deep into his arm.
Panicking, the man flailed his sword, leaving himself open—
The cat pounced, slicing his throat.
Kim Ui-hwan collapsed, clutching his neck as blood sprayed.
[OH NO! Kim Ui-hwan is DOWN! The Blade Cat is feasting on his throat! Did he even get to surrender?!]
"BOOO! FUCKING WASTE!"
"DIE! DIE! DIE!"
"What kind of loser dies to that? Should’ve stuck to manual labor!"
The first contestant died to the crowd’s mockery.
The scowling man returned to the tent, annoyed.
"Next!"
"Me! Me! ME!"
"PICK ME! PLEASE! I’LL DO ANYTHING!"
A woman jumped up, ecstatic when chosen.
"YES! Love you, brother! Just wait—I’ll win 1 million, then hit the casino and strike it rich!"
"Don’t care. Just go kill the cat."
She grabbed a sword and sprinted out.
[Next contestant! A pretty lady tonight! What’s your name?]
[Kim Min-ji! I’ll slaughter that cat!]
[Kim Min-ji! Go get that 1 million won! Betting—OPEN!]
Again, bets overwhelmingly favored the human.
This time, Kim Min-ji butchered the Blade Cat with ease and exited the cage triumphantly.
[CONGRATULATIONS! Even non-superpower humans can kill a Blade Cat if they’re not useless!]
"AHAHAHA!"
"SO HOT, KIM MIN-JI!"
[What will you do with your winnings?]
"GAMBLE IT ALL, OF COURSE!"
[Good luck at the casino!]
"Hey, girl! Lose it all? Come to Room 301, Building 102! I’ll take care of you!"
[Ohhh! Is that care what I think it is?]
"HAHAHAHA!"
The crowd roared with laughter as the cat’s corpse and the dead contestant were dragged away.
I understand the rules now.
Spin the roulette, kill the monster, and get paid. Die, and the next person takes over.
For me? Just kill one and leave.
"Next—"
"Me."
"I’ll go—uh, never mind. You first…"
Seeing no reason to wait, I raised my hand. The other contestants immediately backed off.
[Next contestant entering! Wait… Is this even human?]
"Whoa! How tall is this guy?!"
"KYAAAA! SO HANDSOME!"
[Uh… What’s your name?]
I looked down at the host, who barely reached my chest, and made up a name on the spot.
"Call me Park Deun-deun."