Chapter 44
Chapter 44
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>Translator: Vine
>Chapter: 44
>Chapter Title: Bianca's Ambition
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Someone tackled me.
From her excited chatter, it seemed this was the end of the prepared stage.
‘I guess I can head back now?’
With that thought, I walked back the way I came.
***
Totogen watched Rian leave the arena, not a scratch on him and not even out of breath, and ground his teeth.
‘Damn it, how is that possible?’
In his hand was a golden spyglass, the kind only nobles would use. Through it, he could clearly see Rian’s innocent expression as he walked away.
‘How can someone with that much power... have such pure eyes!’
This was Jiso's domain, a place where the filthiest desires converged. It was teeming with those who would commit any heinous act to gain immense power.
Having done business with those driven mad by power, Totogen knew just how dangerous ‘immense power’ could be.
Even if power was gained without a price, if it exceeded a certain threshold, humans would quickly be consumed by madness.
Rian had shattered that natural law with ease. With eyes clearer than anyone's, he wielded that vast power as if it were a toy.
The sight was both bizarre and infuriating to Totogen.
‘This isn't what I was expecting...!’
After fainting at the sight of Rian's true power, Totogen had come to his senses but couldn't admit that he had collapsed out of fear.
He dismissed what he saw as a hallucination, telling himself he had simply fainted after tripping while getting up. But that didn't quell his anger.
So, Totogen opened his wallet.
This was the reason dozens of monsters had been prepared.
‘How can I break that bastard?’
Totogen nervously bit his nails, racking his brain for a solution. No suitable answer came to mind.
Normally, he would have summoned a slave to intimidate or dealt with him directly, but he was instinctively avoiding Rian.
Although he dismissed fainting at the sight of his power as a dream, he was instinctively feeling fear and avoiding him.
Unable to summon Rian and torment him, the only thing he could do was buy more monsters to harass him.
‘Right, if dozens aren't enough, I'll make him fight hundreds, thousands!’
Totogen called out for his secretary.
“I need to prepare more monsters.”
At his words, the secretary, quick on the uptake, left the room to summon the Roly-Poly.
***
Having finished the match with ease, I was heading to my room where Iris would be waiting. The elevator stopped, and the moment I stepped into the pristine hallway, someone tackled me.
“Whoa!”
My body tilted backward, and I fell, landing hard on my backside.
“B-Bianca?”
“Mmm-hmm.”
Looking utterly pleased, she was hugging me tightly. I couldn't hide my bewilderment as I spoke.
“Wh-What's going on?”
It was my first time being hugged by an adult woman, so my body went completely stiff. My hands hovered awkwardly in the air, betraying my discomfort.
“I saw!”
“Huh?”
“I saw the match! My goodness, I had no idea you were so strong!”
From her excited chatter, I gathered that while she'd seen Iris fight, this was the first time she'd seen me in a match.
She said she'd expected me to be strong since I was Iris's brother, but she never imagined I'd be *this* strong, and she kept showering me with praise.
“Thank you.”
Even though it was all thanks to the demonic sword, compliments were always sweet. I thanked her, unable to hide my flushed cheeks, and Bianca replied with a smile in her eyes.
“Iris said no, but... what about you?”
“Huh?”
“Coming to the top floor.”
“Oh.”
Following Bianca would be an easy way to reach the top floor, but it would mean being separated from Iris. Most of all, I was worried about the fact that all my skill was just the power of the demonic sword.
Bianca had said she needed a disciple with amazing talent, not someone who just steamrolled matches with the power of an item.
“I'm sorry.”
In the end, my answer was a refusal. At that, Bianca's expression twisted. With both Iris and now me rejecting her offer, her pride seemed to be wounded.
“I see...? Could you tell me why you're refusing?”
“I'm worried about my sister.”
Bianca smiled at my words and replied.
“If that's the case, don't worry! I can just take you both as my disciples!”
“But before, you said...”
“Hmm, you might be upset to hear this, but... it was a bit much for me to take responsibility for someone without skill, which is why I said I couldn't take you. But things are different now!”
Bianca said, her face flushed with excitement.
“You've proven you're more than skilled enough! So don't worry, just come to the top floor with your sister!”
At her words, I fell silent and sank into thought.
‘Even if I go to the top floor, my lack of skill will be exposed in no time. I can't just swing the demonic sword around during every training session. But... this is a chance for Iris to be safe. Is it right to give that up just because my own skills are pathetic?’
As I agonized over it, Bianca spoke in a light tone.
“If you're still undecided, why not come up for a quick tour? Seeing it for yourself might help you make up your mind.”
“Oh, I've already been to the top floor.”
“You probably just gave it a quick glance, right? You need to take a proper look to get a clear answer. Let's go up right now!”
“Huh? Oh, I...”
Bianca didn't wait for my answer. She shot to her feet, grabbed my wrist, and pulled. She was so strong that I was dragged to the elevator in an instant.
“But Iris is waiting for me...!”
“We'll just take a quick look and come right back down, so don't worry.”
Bianca held up both hands, showing ten fingers, insisting it would only take ten minutes.
‘Ugh, if it's just for that long...’
Since she, arguably the most powerful gladiator in the arena, was pleading with me like this, I couldn't really refuse. And so, the elevator slowly ascended to the top floor.
***
Smirk.
Standing near the elevator entrance, Bianca's lips curled into a terrifying smirk. She recalled the breathtaking battle scene she had witnessed today and trembled slightly.
‘Ahh... to think such a ripe fruit was right under my nose!’
The memory of dozens of monsters being instantly diced and devoured made her squirm with excitement.
‘With that power, I might even be able to aim for the champion's seat!’
Champion, a title for the strongest among the ten who occupied the top floor. First place always gets the best treatment, and the champion enjoyed even greater privileges than Bianca did.
‘If I can just take that seat... I'll be able to become one of Lord Jiso's subordinates!’
Not only would her slave status be erased, but she would also get the chance to serve under Jiso, the Demon King's favored subordinate.
The most famous person to become champion and enter Jiso's service was Baek-ru. It meant that if things went well, she could even become Jiso's right hand.
‘Hah, haah... Ahh! Lord Jiso!’
Thinking of her beloved Jiso, Bianca unconsciously wiggled her hips. She belatedly came to her senses and straightened her posture.
The elevator clanked to a halt, and the two of them stepped onto a magnificent carpet.
“Now, that's my room over there.”
Bianca led Rian to her room. Her shadow shimmered imperceptibly, anticipating the feast to come.
Before long, the two arrived in front of an ornate door. Bianca casually opened her door.
“This door won't open for anyone but me.”
Bianca spoke of the security features, which Rian's floor lacked, as she entered the room.
Thud.
The heavy door closed, leaving only Bianca and Rian in the room. Rian was busy looking around the lavish room, which was different from the one he'd seen before.
“It's different from the room you saw before, isn't it?”
“Yes, it is.”
“On the top floor, you can decorate your home however you like.”
She explained that they could change anything, from the internal structure to the furniture design and atmosphere.
“If you two come up to the top floor, you'll live here with me. There are plenty of empty rooms, so it won't be inconvenient at all.”
Bianca tried to win Rian over by showing him the splendid interior. After they had been looking around the room for a while, Rian scratched the back of his head and said,
“The place is really nice, but... I think I should be getting back now.”
“What?”
“It's been well over ten minutes, and Iris must be waiting anxiously for me.”
At his words, Bianca pressed her lips together.
“Thank you for the tour today. I'll be on my way now.”
The moment Rian turned to leave Bianca's room without a hint of hesitation, she grabbed his wrist.