The Proper Way to Use a Double-Barrel Shotgun (2)

I knew from the very beginning that Sion couldn't beat Tangbun. Tangbun was a monster who had managed to escape even after being ganged up on by the five male leads in the latter half of the original novel. He hadn't appeared in the story since then, but considering we were still in the early stages of the plot, it meant he was an opponent Sion absolutely could not defeat with his current stats.

So, the moment Sion wasted his two precious shotgun shells in vain, I immediately signaled the referee. I was going out there in his place. The referee blew his whistle the moment I nodded, and the bodies of Sion and Tangbun on the arena floor froze instantly. Magic is always a fascinating sight, no matter how many times I see it.

I swiped the microphone from the referee's stand and spoke, my voice booming across the entire arena. "Referee, substitution here."

A brazen declaration, intended to draw aggro. I could feel everyone's eyes on me. My real plan from the start had been to take down Tangbun with my own hands. The problem was how to fight him legally in a space where he couldn't run away. I had intended to sacrifice one of my fingers as a penalty to force Sion to forfeit, then participate in the next round myself—but a piece of information the masked man had casually dropped in the VIP box had completely flipped my plan on its head.

That’s what he said. I hadn't even finished watching Sion’s semifinal match against that girl, Brulli or whatever her name was, before I headed straight under the stage. I asked the referee just in case, and after digging through a dusty rulebook for a long time, he nodded and confirmed it was true. What kind of guy is that bastard to know the rules better than the referee? He ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠even said substitutions were possible mid-match. Since no wealthy VIP would risk their life to bleed in place of their pawn, it made sense that no one knew the rule.

Anyway, the moment I confirmed that rule, my mouth started watering. This changed everything. If I could step in legally, this was a fight I could definitely win.

And now, Sion, with a hole in his stomach, was lookinS up at me, his brow furrowed in utter disbelief.

"What! Why aren't you killing him!"

"What is this? Who won?"

"Hey! Explain this properly, will you?!"

I could feel the announcer’s voice trembling over the mic; he seemed flustered. Well, that wasn't my problem.

"Fast as hell, though."

I was genuinely impressed by Tangbun’s speed—reading Sion’s position after he teleported and closing the distance in an instant to pierce his stomach. How could a human do that? It was a movement that looked like a bug in a physics engine. But in the end, he was slower than a shotgun. Earlier, when Sion’s pellets were fired, the old man had clearly stepped back to deflect the bullets. That meant he couldn't fully keep up with the speed of the projectiles while standing still. I was certain. I could win.

"Why are you stopping it when it's getting good! Are you kidding me?!"

"Tangbun won! What about my bet! Take responsibility!!"

"Get lost! Forget the rules, just get out of here right now!!"

"E-everyone! Please, calm down...!"

Ignoring the announcer’s pleas, all sorts of filth and trash were being hurled into the arena from the excited crowd. "What a mess." I clicked my tongue lightly, dodging a flying liquor bottle. Outside the arena, the announcer was sweating buckets trying to explain the legitimacy of the rule, but it was futile. The jeers from the agitated crowd only grew louder.

That ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was when it happened.

Click. Click.

In the midst of the ear-splitting chaos, the sound of high-heel taps strangely pierced my ears with absolute clarity. Soon after, a high-handed woman’s voice crushed the entire arena through the speakers.

— Shut up. You vermin.

Along with the voice from the speakers, someone appeared near the participant waiting area. It was a woman. A woman wearing a tight leather outfit that left nothing to the imagination. How does one even get in and out of a leather suit that tight? A random curiosity popped into my head, but judging by the aura she exuded, she was definitely no ordinary person. The woman brought the microphone to her lips with ease and declared again.

— If you have complaints about the rules I made, come down here right now.

"......."

"......."

As if by magic, the rampaging crowd fell silent.

"The rules I made?"

Suddenly, the woman walking in the center of the arena snapped her head around. Her eyes, resembling those of a yellow cat, locked exactly onto me. As our gazes met, the corners of her mouth curled up slowly.

"Oh my. I clearly told you all to shut up, yet you opened your mouth without fear?"

A languid voice dripping with killing intent. And a look that seemed ready to sever my head at any moment. Ah. So this woman was the owner of the arena. Instead of making excuses, I quickly covered my mouth with both hands. Running a place like this meant you were out of your mind. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Expressing with my whole body that I wouldn't be hostile was better for both of us.

Seeing my brazen and artificial gesture, the woman let out a scoff, as if she found it ridiculous. "You're cute, so I'll let it slide this once."

The woman smiled with her eyes and brought the mic back to her lips. Anyway, it was truly breathtaking control. The fact that those rampaging pieces of trash were unable to even breathe because of this one woman. She turned her gaze toward the announcer, who was frozen stiff and drenched in sweat.

— Everyone seems to have calmed down, so continue what you were doing.

A cold command from the woman that quelled the riot. Not a single spectator dared to object.

— A-ah, yes! Then we shall proceed! The announcer wiped his cold sweat and shouted.

— The new opponent to fight the Romantic Sword Tangbun is, uh... Flint! Sion’s sponsor, Flint!

My alias, which I had registered as a sponsor, flowed loudly from the announcer’s mouth.

— Everyone! A VIP fighting in person is a first since the arena was built! You are all witnessing this unprecedented and historic moment right now!!

"Flint. What on earth are you thinking."

Ignoring the announcer’s fuss, a very low, raspy voice reached me. Turning around, I saw a pale-faced Sion approaching me, clutching his stomach. It seemed the "freeze tag" game was over. I glanced at the wound where blood was dripping steadily and spoke nonchalantly.

"Hey. You have that thing I gave you, right?"

"......."

"Swallow it now."

The ability-amplifying drug he had been so desperate to find back when we had a scuffle in the commoner dormitory. The one I had kept and handed to him along ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠with the shotgun shells just a moment ago. At my sudden instruction, Sion’s brow furrowed in pain and confusion. "Why that."

"Your shotgun reload speed increased."

At my random critique, Sion’s brow furrowed even deeper. "What are you talking about right now."

"Why do you think I specifically brought you along? Not Lucius, not Kyle, not Dean Nuoong, but you."

A short silence. Sion’s tightly drawn brow finally relaxed. It seemed he had finally understood the true meaning behind my words. "Mr. Flint. Please sign here." Breaking the mood, the referee approached and held out a scrap of paper. It was a pledge. To summarize it roughly, it went like this:

So that magical restriction on this pledge was why Tangbun was forcibly stopped earlier. I understood perfectly. That was a lie. I didn't actually understand. How can a person's body stop just because you write your name on a piece of paper? Does that mean if I just write my name on paper later, people will start dropping dead? What exactly is magic?

Anyway, I signed it.

— It appears both contestants are ready!

"How unpleasant. Truly unpleasant. It’s an aura so ominous and murky that even I, who have lived a life of killing, want to run away."

As soon as the announcer finished, Tangbun picked a fight out of the blue. I didn't even bother to respond. There was no need to engage in a staring contest with such lunatics. The answer was to ignore them completely without feeding them any attention.

Click—!

"Just how many have you killed? Or no, not yet. How many more do you intend to kill?"

Has that lunatic gone senile? What is he babbling about?

"Tsk tsk. Truly, the beginning of the end of the world. I cannot let you live, at the very least."

It felt quite strange to be certified as a lunatic by a lunatic.

— Now, this is the true final match of the day! We will begin after a countdown of three! Everyone, please shout along with me!

Along with the announcer’s desperate declaration, a crazed roar erupted from the stands filling the arena.

— Three!!!!

"Three!!!"

"I’ll finish this quickly. I have to deal with that young ability user too."

Unlike when he faced Sion, Tangbun took a drawing stance with all traces of laughter erased from his face.

— Two!!!

"Two!!!"

At that moment.

Bang—! Bang—!

Gunshots that tore through the air swallowed the arena.

"One. Go shoot."

The final cue was mine. Before the countdown even reached one, my shotgun declared the start of the deathmatch.