Chapter 136
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 136
Chapter Title: Arena's Barbarian Warrior
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As soon as I stepped out, Claudy was standing there with her arms crossed.
"Hey! Claudy! Did you see it?! Did you see?! You saw it, right? My performance?!"
I was thrilled and charged toward her, who'd been waiting for me.
The battle I'd just fought wasn't for the audience. Of course, it wasn't dedicated to our ethnic god Hwanung either. No, this match was solely for Claudy.
She likes things cruel or violent.
She encourages it in me so passionately. She loves seeing my inner barbarism as a warrior. That's why I intentionally put on that wild, over-the-top show just for her.
The me from moments ago was an artistic young action stunt actor with sensibilities that could sweep the nation, while simultaneously being a brutal, savage barbarian hero from a nomadic tribe that lived by slaughtering monsters.
Even I thought it was badass.
No cap, it moved the Buddha in my head to the point of fainting.
In other words, it was a blockbuster one-man theater made for Claudy.
As the excitement from the fight began to fade, a different kind of anticipation ignited in my chest. What kind of praise would I get?
I couldn't help but look forward to it.
"..."
But Claudy's expression upon seeing me was strange.
Her face was beet red, like a radish could shove off.
What the? Sis, what's wrong?
"I-I thought I was gonna die of embarrassment!"
"Uh... huh?"
"What the hell was that?!"
Claudy yelled, her face flushed crimson. I panicked. Embarrassed? After I'd fought life-or-death battles with three adult kobolds from a nightmare and the goblin triplets straight out of hell?
According to plan, she should've been totally hyped, tucked me between her breasts, and carried me back to the inn.
It's a lovely, touching action play based on true events, enough to make even heavenly gods shed tears.
This reaction from Claudy was off.
"Ugh... Katt. It was good. Really good. As much as your four-legged sprints..."
Seeing my shocked face, she hurriedly added excuses. But like my dying foes who would never rise again, the wound in my heart was irreparable.
"I-I don't know! Idiot! Why won't you praise me?!"
I yelled back at Claudy.
"I did all that just to show you!"
"Th-that's the wrong direction..."
Desperate, she approached to calm me with some sweet talk. But it was too late.
"Argh! I hate this! I'm gonna sing! Don't stop me!"
I sing when I'm tired, happy, or sad. Like Teacher Seol Wondo's compass. With Claudy, who was supposed to heal my wounded heart, slicing it instead, only the legendary trot singer Teacher Seol Wondo remained.
"Kyaaah! Sorry! Sorry, Katt! You did great! Really great! It was awesome! So awesooome—!"
"Hmph, good that you know."
"Hoo... really."
"Puppy."
"Kyak!"
She threw herself at me to shut me up. Fine, this should suffice. I wrapped my arms around her waist.
"Anyway, let's go eat with our earnings."
"Katt... you're impossible to pin down..."
"Isn't that what you like?"
"...Don't embarrass me."
I naturally moved my hand to her ear and started massaging it gently. Seeing her eyes close in comfort, I said,
"So, what do you wanna eat? I'm starving after all that."
"Haaah... ears feel good... Something I want? Meat. I want meat."
"Meat it is. Meat house tour today."
I flicked a 1-silver coin from my pocket and snatched it mid-air. Damn, tails. Whatever, it's practically free money, so let's tour Isvant eateries today.
With money comes the realization that isekai cuisine ain't half bad.
Still monster meats of unknown origin, but they taste good. Money's worth exactly what you spend it on. Especially since Claudy loves her meat. Dark elves dig carnivory, it seems. Gotta feed her plenty.
Victory high today.
We spent it on a date.
More or less like that, I usually earned by doing quests, but when the arena opened, I'd skip work and handle the opening act.
All thanks to Durban.
My growing daily pay made me wish it opened daily, but sadly, it didn't.
Four or five times a month on average.
Not burdensome, and since my job was just the opening, I signed a long-term contract. Just manhandle a few shit-tier monsters and yell—that's it.
"Katt, today's opponents are trolls."
"Shit-tier ones."
Durban stuck to me like a manager, providing support.
Now I was Kim Katt, the wildly popular barbarian warrior whose evolution stalled, leaving his head fully cracked.
My debut shocked and terrified, but the impact stuck.
The masses wanted me.
They craved my showmanship, honed by devouring every modern entertainment.
On stage, I was Charlie Chaplin and Adolf Hitler. The crowd cheered like comedy fans, exalted me like fanatic fascists.
Apparently, openings weren't usually this passionate and fun.
Normally, just kill some monsters routinely and move on—purely an 'opening' event. Now, even that was major content.
Because of me.
—Waaaaaah!
—Barbarian! Barbarian!
—Mad barbarian warrior!
As I entered, the audience roared.
They no longer fainted or screamed in horror. Shock turned to interest, interest to favor. They'd become rabid culture consumers fully enjoying my madness.
"My god, my god!!! Oh, gods! Folks! Have you heard the divine call in the past? Heard the holy oracle resound?!"
The announcer shouted excitedly. She'd fainted on day one too, but over time, she was consumed by the madness, original self gone.
"Behold! No, witness! The wings sprouting from barbarian warrior Katt's back! Awakened as an angel by God's call—his name is the dim-witted barbarian hero Katt!!!!!"
Even my costume got special now.
This outfit: hundreds of feathers from bird-type monsters sewn into massive pure-white wings.
Huge, flashy wings spread from my back.
The rest? White thong and leather sandals.
Cupid—adult size.
My scarred, bulging upper body exposed.
Pure white wings contrasting my jet-black hair.
Yes. Today's concept: Kim Katt, ascended as God's messenger, purging evil remnants rooted on earth—an ultimate humanistic tearjerker story.
—Cool wings! If only I had wings like that!
—Ahh, angel! He's an angel!
—No, he's nuts! Just a crazy bastard!
Varied reactions, but louder voices meant all were enjoying.
Only ones not enjoying: my opponents, the monsters slated for slaughter.
God has no mercy.
Thus, God's angel shares none.
Today's me: Brutal Angel Kim Katt.
Almighty angel sweeping impure existences from this land!
"Kieeeek!!!"
I unleashed a holy cry.
Fan service basics.
"Hear that?! His roar evokes church hymns! Oh! A savage, yet so devout he ascends as angel—a true man's maaaaan—!!!!!!!!!!!!"
—Hail the pious barbarian holy knight!!
—Uoooooh!!!
Opening began. Arena atmosphere overheated to explosion the moment I sported wings. Muscled dude in thong spreading white wings? That vibe.
—Clang!
Iron gate opposite opened. Crimson eyes gleaming, it crawled out: trolls. Not normal ones.
—Grrr... Sniff! Grung!
Dressed as arena sacrifices.
Trolls' ankles severed, thighs and calves sewn together—like land mermaid princesses. Black blindfolds over eyes, gag like vajra in mouths.
Shoulders clad in jagged bone pauldrons.
Truly evil-looking.
They crawled on arms. Despite mods, legless meant dozens times weaker than normal trolls. But grotesque look evoked wickedness.
That's the point.
Arena's like that.
Visual-audio effects paramount.
—Grung!
—Grrrrr!!!
Yet trolls undaunted. Legs gone, gagged, blinded—scent intact. Rage at humans drove them crawling toward me.
Six of them.
Six monsters crawling like that built tension. Combat power negligible, though.
Good.
Evil, ruthless monsters.
Today, pity your wretched forms—Angel Katt bestows mercy.
"Match staaarts—!!!!!"
—Fwoosh!
At start, I 'flew up.'
Ultimate sergeant jump. Not flying, just jumping—but huge wings made it look real. —Flap! I played earth-descended angel.
—Waaaaaah!!!
—Angel! It's an angel!
—Barbarian angel!
"Heh."
Crowd went wild for it.
Thrilled, I charged the arena howling as always. Wings so big, air resistance made running tough—but I was blessing-humans angel.
Had to do it.
—Grrr..! Grung!
Then a dutiful troll neared, scenting me. Smelled chewy grass Kim Katt. Got excited. —Grr! Gagged, no full roar—but monster!
Man-slaying fiend!
Unleashed hate on me!
—Grrrrrr!!!
Explosive arm strength, lunged.
"Haha! Pathetic!"
I holy-leapt again.
Tucked knees for max height illusion. Probably looked like 1m+ airborne.
"Swan Leg!"
—Swoosh!
Kicked mid-air. Target: troll head. Prone crawler couldn't block.
—Crack!
Precise neck stomp shattered cervical. Clean one-shot. Overkill. Grabbed dead troll's nape, hoisted high.
Roared.
"Hear me, evil scum! I, barbarian hero and God's angel Kim Katt, shall send you back to hell! No forgiveness, no mercy! What I bring is holy questing and death's enlightenment! Your wretched lives end here!"
Finish kill.
—Splat!
Slammed corpse groundward fist-like.
Blood burst.
"Y-Yo, barbarian hero Katt's spouting off!!!"
—Waaaaaah!!
Cheers erupted.
Opening just beginning.