Chapter 74
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: Metamorphosis
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74
Metamorphosis
‘Shit.’
I muttered a curse and got to my feet. I didn’t know how long I’d been rolling around, but after a considerable amount of time, the stomachache was finally gone.
- *Buuuurp.*
‘Cut the crap.’
My nerves were completely frayed, and the harsh words just slipped out.
I thought I’d grown somewhat accustomed to pain, but pain accompanied by humiliation was hard to bear.
I kept muttering things like, ‘Fateful encounter, inner core,’ clinging to the last shreds of my dignity.
The strange vitality and refreshing clarity I felt after it was all over soothed my crumpled dignity.
‘It feels like something’s changed.’
It was hard to tell if I was simply in good condition or if eating that thing had led to some kind of enhancement.
- It was an elevation of your very being.
‘My being?’
The tenant answered in an incredibly smug voice. It conveyed its thoughts to me as something other than words, and I understood what it was saying.
‘So, basically, I’ve gained some resistance to black magic and my stats have gone up a bit.’
It conveyed more than that, but when I summed up what I felt, that was about it. Whether it was worth four days of my life and my dignity was still questionable...
‘So this was a metamorphosis.’
I looked at the blood and foul substances splattered around me and nodded repeatedly. Of course, it was completely different from the metamorphoses I’d read about in martial arts novels, but I nodded along anyway.
After all, saying I’d undergone a metamorphosis for four days sounded much better than saying I’d been shitting blood for four days.
‘This was a metamorphosis. These are just the remnants left behind by my past self. They have nothing to do with me.’
Standing in place, I muttered this to myself several times. My slumped shoulders straightened, and my last ounce of dignity swelled back to its proper size.
‘Did the duration increase at all?’
- Kuhuh… Are you curious?
I wanted to refuse the creepy bastard’s answer, but as a master who had undergone a metamorphosis, I needed to accurately gauge my abilities.
‘Yes.’
- Take up your sword.
At the tenant’s voice, I looked around, but there was no sword anywhere. In fact, there was nothing but grass around me.
‘I said I’d give it back after using it.’
Come to think of it, the helmet was gone too. It was the weasel’s helmet and sword, but the situation had been unavoidable, so I figured he would understand. If he didn’t, I could just beat some understanding into him, so it wasn’t a major problem.
‘There’s no sword.’
- No, it matters not.
Along with the tenant’s arrogant reply, that familiar sensation tingled up from deep within me. I felt like an electric eel generating electricity from its belly, and at the same time, a thrilling sensation spread through my veins.
Aura.
I was aura itself.
‘Similar to Kurteun.’
I muttered, looking down at my hand, which was now bathed in a blue light. Now that I was drawing it out myself, I understood what the tenant meant by an elevation of my being.
The heaviness I’d felt when I swung my aura at the old man called Master and the searing pain in my veins were gone.
It finally felt like I was wearing clothes that fit.
It felt like I could split the earth with my fist.
- Huuuuuh…
Just then, with a deflating sound, the power vanished.
‘…Why is it still only two seconds?’
- The elevation of your being and the healing…
With that, the bastard’s voice disappeared, and the aura swirling around me was gone.
‘…So you’re saying it was used for the elevation and healing?’
I came to my own conclusion and nodded.
In any case, I felt as good as if I’d had a long, deep sleep, and my body felt light, so it wasn’t bad.
‘Ah, it feels light because I have no pants.’
My lower half felt incredibly free, so I plucked some grass from nearby and covered the important parts. It was scratchy, but bearable enough.
I surveyed my surroundings to get a rough idea of where I was. Seeing the dense trees, it seemed I was near the Girteun Mountains.
‘I came a long way.’
I didn’t remember how I’d gotten here, but I was farther than I expected. I plucked more grass, tied it together with a stem, and secured my lower covering.
I roughly gauged the direction from the sun and started moving.
The Girteun Mountains were east of Casedic Castle.
The problem with the Girteun Mountains wasn’t just that they were treacherous, but that the magical beasts residing there were all powerful and tricky, and even if you crossed them, you were met with dizzyingly high cliffs.
Besides, there was no need to cross them; heading north from Casedic led to a gentle slope, so it was a mountain range no one bothered to visit.
That was why, although the Brighton Kingdom was geographically east of Casedic Castle, the trend was to go to the coastal cities below.
‘Can I get back in half a day?’
As it happened, the home of Dallus the executioner was between Casedic Castle and the Girteun Mountains, so I could stop by on the way for some delicious food and clothes.
I stretched for a moment and ran diligently.
My body felt lighter than usual, so I didn't tire.
I was able to reach Dallus's house in no time.
‘My body is definitely in great shape.’
Arriving at the shabby hut, I knocked on the door.
“Who is it?!”
A bright, clear kid’s voice greeted me.
“It’s Aron.”
“What?! But Aron’s dead?! Your voice sounds like Aron, though!”
“Who’s dead? If you want to live a long life, you’d better open this door. I’m tired.”
“You’re ignorant and reckless, so you must be Aron!”
Frustrated, I grabbed the handle and pulled.
*Thump—.*
I’d forgotten that my body was in better shape than usual.
The door was torn clean off, revealing the little kid inside.
The kid looked up at me with wide, round eyes, then glanced at the door in my hand.
“It’s Aron!!”
The kid grinned and pointed a finger at me.
“That’s rude.”
I didn’t panic at the torn door and casually set it aside. Dallus was handy, so he’d surely fix it himself.
“But Aron died!! Did you come back to life?!”
It seemed my lengthy metamorphosis had caused a misunderstanding.
“I didn’t die. Where’s your father?”
“Dad went to work! He’s been so excited lately, says it’s the busy season.”
‘Looks like it ended well.’
He must have gone to chop off the heads of the captured men.
“Aron’s alive! That’s a relief!”
“Hey, bring me something to eat. I’m hungry.”
“Yes! Just a moment!”
“And get me some clothes.”
“Your clothes are cool, Aron!”
“If you bring me some, I’ll give you these.”
I gave the woven grass creation a little shake. The kid let out a “Waaaah-!” and ran off.
I glanced around for a moment, then headed familiarly toward the bathroom.
Dallus was cleaner than any medieval person I’d ever seen, so his bathroom was even better than Hana’s.
A wooden bathtub clearly made with care, and a small furnace conveniently placed for heating water. There was plenty of water prepared, too, as if he was ready to wash up as soon as he got back.
I blocked the door with my armor to keep it from opening, then drew some water and got into the tub. It took emptying the tub three times before the water ran clear.
As I was washing, I noticed that the Devil’s Handprint on my left side seemed to have grown slightly larger. I placed my palm over it to compare the size.
‘It’s definitely bigger.’
It had grown by about a finger’s width, now covering my entire left chest. That wasn’t a good sign.
I tried scratching it with my fingernail, but soon gave up and stood.
I dried myself with a neatly folded cloth nearby and put my armor back on. It looked quite grotesque wearing only the top half, but for me, covering my upper body was more important than my lower.
When I came out, a pair of drab pants was laid out in front of me. They seemed to be Dallus’s, a bit short, but they fit well enough.
Following the fragrant smell, I found the excited kid ladling stew into a wooden bowl. I slowly ate the stew the kid handed me.
‘Delicious. Dallus is a great cook.’
I marveled quietly as I filled my hungry stomach. After about five bowls, I started to feel a bit full.
“Wow—you really eat a lot, Aron.”
The kid sat across from me, watching with sparkling eyes as if he were watching an eating show. I felt an odd pressure to live up to his expectations and forced down one more bowl.
After I finished eating and patted my stomach, the kid even brought me some lukewarm wine.
‘He’s had an excellent upbringing.’
I sipped the wine and watched the kid for a moment. Was there any other child in Casedic as well-mannered as this one?
Judging by his clean pants, he didn’t seem to wet himself either. In medieval times, this kid was in the top 1%.
‘Kanna could use a friend.’
He probably needed a friend too, living in such a remote place…
‘Not a bad idea.’
He was the best candidate for a friend in all of Casedic.
“Anyway, I’m so glad!”
“…Huh?”
The kid, who had been resting his chin on his hands, opened his small mouth.
“Dad was sad when he heard you died. But to see you alive and well like this! He’ll be so happy when he finds out.”
His words made me feel quite ticklish, and I reflexively scratched my neck.
The story of a grim, lanky giant crying over my death wasn’t exactly pleasant to hear.
“He said he’d promised to send you off with his own hands, and he was sad he couldn’t keep that promise…”
However, the kid’s next words made the ticklish feeling vanish completely.
‘Of course.’
This time, a chill ran down my neck, and I rubbed it as I smiled.
“Oh! And I was sad too!”
“Is that so?”
“I promised I’d be the one to chop off your head! Dad said a man’s promise is more important than his life!”
‘Like father, like son.’
His follow-up left me so dumbfounded that I laughed like I was coughing. The kid tilted his head, then laughed along with me.
“Right, promises are important.”
The kid’s head was too small to hit, so I just pressed down on it lightly. I reached into my pockets to give him some allowance, but there was nothing there.
‘Did it fall out?’
Fortunately, I had emptied my pockets in my room in preparation for the tournament. I’d only lost a few gold coins.
Of course, it was a large sum, but I was the owner of the 40-gold-coin tournament prize. There was no need to fret over a few missing coins.
“That was a good meal.”
“Aron, are you going to Casedic?!”
“Yeah.”
“Me too! Me too! Me too!”
The kid waved his hands frantically, making his presence known.
I thought for a moment, then nodded.
It was a chance to repay the kid in my own way and to help Kanna develop her social skills.
“Alright.”
“Yay-!! I’ll be sure to chop off your head later, Aron!!”
‘You little brat.’
I chuckled softly and stood up.
The excited kid carved something into the hut’s floor with a sculpting knife.
***
Zenta, one of the trio of pushovers from Hana’s tavern, swallowed hard and slowly turned his head.
“Huuu…”
Hana, who had always been endlessly gentle, was now so sharp and haggard that he doubted if she was the same person.
However, she seemed to be bottling up her anger and didn't lash out. Still, Zenta and his companions felt as if they had swallowed thorns, a prickling sensation in their throats.
The news of Aron’s disappearance…
Others called it a death, but that word was taboo in this tavern.
In any case, after Aron went missing, Hana had closed the tavern and left immediately with Kanna and Bermunt.
Hearing they were going to search the area where the guardsman and Aron had disappeared, the trio of pushovers had joined them the next day.
Zenta had steeled himself, having heard the gruesome rumors, but that horrific place was beyond what his stomach could handle.
The sight of rotting flesh and bones piled up like a mountain made Zenta and his friends retch repeatedly.
Hana, the guardsmen, and even young Kanna had waded in without hesitation, desperately searching through the gore.
After staring blankly for a moment, the trio of pushovers quietly returned to the tavern. They decided to do what they could and cleaned and managed the messy establishment.
That night, Zenta had a nightmare about being buried in that mountain of corpses and slept fitfully.
Casedic Castle, as if it had lost its linchpin, was rapidly falling into disarray. Fights broke out on the streets constantly, and daily clamor filled the air, just like any other ordinary city or castle. There were even people cheering as they defecated in the streets.
To Zenta, who was from Karzan, it was a familiar sight. If anything, Casedic had been unusually peaceful.
The back alleys were off-limits, as brutal, bloody brawls erupted constantly.
Fortunately, Hana’s tavern, thanks to Bermunt, had avoided getting caught up in such troubles.
And so, on the fourth day, today, everyone was sitting blankly in the hall, presumably having finished searching the mountain of corpses.
“Right. If you add wind, even a small ember can grow. You can also direct the fire.”
“Is burning them with fire more effective?”
“That depends on the opponent. If they’re wearing armor, burning them is faster, but against a lightly defended opponent, robbing them of their mobility with ice is most efficient.”
“Really? I see.”
The grim conversation from the side, Hana polishing her crossbow with a deep sigh, Bermunt drinking and glaring at the door… a heavy atmosphere pressed down on the hall.
Just then, the door burst open with a loud bang.
And in walked a beauty with a sharp expression.
It was a familiar face, as she had visited several times.
“Is that bastard here?”
Nova’s irritable words shattered the tavern’s silence.
“Nova, watch your mouth.”
Hana scowled and rose from her seat.
“Just answer the question. Is that bastard here? You’re not hiding him, are you?”
The tension instantly filled the room, and Zenta swallowed hard. Nova had come by every day, but today she was particularly fierce.
“Hana, your big sister is asking you a question, you know?”
“Big sister, my ass. Besides, shouldn’t you know where Aron is better than anyone? You’re the one who planned the tournament.”
Hana’s retort made the already cold atmosphere plummet.
“You don’t want to stay in business, do you?”
“Business? What business… So where is Deokgu Beida? He was the winner. People are saying the Lord’s side used him up and threw him away. And Knight Adela never even showed up!”
*Griiind—.*
At Hana’s shout, the chilling sound of grinding teeth echoed for a moment.
Both were smaller women than Zenta, but the different kind of tension made him swallow hard.
“That’s…”
Nova, about to reply, took a long, deep breath and swallowed.
“Hana, you…”
Kanna stood up from her seat and stepped in front of Hana, twirling her finger. Ice shards formed around it.
‘Her opponent is a scribe.’
Though she had little martial prowess, she was a woman favored by the Lord. A fight would surely bring disastrous consequences. Zenta grew tense watching the women face off.
Just then, the door opened.
“Orange? What are you doing here?”
The moment Zenta saw Aron, tears welled up in his eyes.
Zenta was more afraid of Aron than fond of him, but right now, he smiled brightly at that hideous face.
Zenta witnessed the expressions of the two women, who had been scowling fiercely just moments before, change in an instant.
Hana’s face transformed, her usual gentle and bright smile returning as if she’d never scowled at all. Seeing Hana fully herself again, Zenta felt tears welling up.
He felt a sense of relief as the heavy tension seemed to dissipate.
In fact, it was Nova who couldn’t control her expression.
Nova tried to look unfazed with a stiff face, but the corners of her mouth twitched and her eyes blinked, looking like she was about to burst at any moment.
The first to move was Kanna. She clenched her fists, composed her expression, and was about to run to Aron when—
“Wow! Is this a tavern? It’s my first time in a tavern!”
A young boy popped his head out from behind Aron.
At that, Kanna’s face crumpled instantly.
An expression unfitting for a child, as if she’d been abandoned by the world, appeared on her face. Kanna’s outstretched hand wavered in the air for a moment before she lowered it.
“…Who are you?”
Nova muttered in a choked voice.
“Aron! You must be exhausted! Are you tired?”
Just then, Hana shouldered Nova aside and approached Aron.
Pushed aside powerlessly, Nova mumbled something, swallowed, and lowered her head slightly.
She looked as if she were plagued by guilt.
***
*Slam—.*
‘…What’s with her?’
I watched Nova glare at me before storming out, scratching my cheek.
“Aron! Are you okay?”
My attention turned to Hana, who smiled brightly and grabbed my arm. She clung to me tighter than usual.
“Yeah. I’m fine.”
Feeling a bit burdened, I tried to push her away, but the air conditioner with the strange expression approached.
Remembering the ice shower, I tensed up slightly, but the air conditioner just gripped my hand tightly.
‘What’s with these two?’
I let them be for a moment, then gently pushed them away.
Hana was easily pushed back, but the air conditioner held onto my hand and wouldn’t let go.
“Do you want to bathe first? I’ve drawn the water.”
“No, I’m good on the bath. I’ll change my armor first.”
“Ah…! Okay!”
Hana nodded, looking somewhat disappointed.
At that, Kanna, who had been hesitating, also let go of my hand and stepped aside.
“But Aron… you had a son?”
At Hana’s question, I pushed the kid forward and introduced him.
“He’s my friend’s son. Kanna, he’s your friend from now on, so get along.”
“Hi! I’m Ted!”
As if she didn’t like the friend I’d found for her, Kanna looked up at me with a face on the verge of tears, but then nodded her head vigorously.
After seeing Kanna and Ted shake hands, I headed upstairs.
Somehow, not having a sword at my side made me feel anxious, so I wanted to grab one first.
“What are you doing?!”
“…”
A loud noise made me turn my head. I saw the little kid being held by Kanna.
‘They’re the same age, so they’re getting along quickly.’
The way Kanna was holding him looked like she had him by the scruff, but I dismissed it as my imagination.
In my room, I took off the tattered armor and changed into my heavy set.
The familiar weight of the thicker iron on my body made the corners of my mouth lift on their own. And with a sword at my side, I finally felt at ease.
The noise from downstairs continued.
I sat on the edge of the bed and organized my thoughts.
Casedic, as I’d seen it coming in, was a complete mess.
The outer wall was half-demolished, and the streets were once again filled with a foul stench and noise.
‘Just because I was gone for a bit… these ignorant medieval bastards…’
There was work to be done everywhere.
And I happened to be overflowing with energy that needed an outlet.
‘Time to go back to being the Guard Team Leader.’
I tried to suppress it, but a smile crept onto my face.
***
‘A bunch of morons.’
Ska struggled to control his ragged breath, steadying his breathing.
For some reason, Aron had vanished.
Hearing the news, the guys from Sector 6 had started making their move in earnest. They had been eyeing Ska’s territory for a while, so it was an inevitable development.
They crossed into the territory without any declaration of war, swinging their tools, and a back-alley war began.
Ska didn’t believe the rumors that Aron was dead.
So he had wanted to avoid a war, but the other side was so aggressive that he had no choice.
“Get ‘em!! Get ‘em!”
“You treacherous bastards! We can’t hand Casedic over to outsiders!”
The entangled men were fighting fiercely.
Ska watched them for a moment, catching his breath, and was about to move again when…
The air grew cold.
It felt like death was approaching.
This was a fear ingrained in his instincts.
An unforgettable presence.
‘Aron… you’re back.’
Ska didn’t bother to turn his head.
There was no need to confirm it.
Instead, Ska quickly scanned the ground around him.
A place with the fewest stones, where the mud was clumped together providing some cushion. It was a bit dirty and smelly, but a place that met the above conditions was the best spot to slam one’s head.
After a quick look, he found a spot that fit the criteria.
Someone was already there.
Jouji, the leader of the Sector 6 gang.
He was already standing there, eyeing the situation.
It seemed he had also sensed Aron’s presence.
‘You incompetent fool. Why did you have to cause such a mess…’
He scowled and waved his hand dismissively.
However, since there was no other place like it nearby, Ska nonchalantly squeezed himself in.
“Get lost. I found this spot first.”
“This is our territory. It’s my spot.”
“If I’d had a little more time, this territory would have been mine.”
“Why don’t you say that a little louder?”
…*Griiind*.
Ska smiled brightly at the guy who was grinding his teeth and glaring at him.
Just then.
“That’s enough.”
A chilling voice was heard, and before the next words came, Ska had already slammed his head to the ground.
*Thud!*
“This backwater bastard… I told you to get lost!”
“I said it’s my territory!”
Having prostrated in the same spot, he bickered with Jouji. Then, the two reached a silent agreement and acknowledged each other’s space.
Ska then looked around at the upside-down world.
Everyone was scrambling to slam their heads on the ground.
A few guys, wide-eyed at the sudden situation, were new recruits to the Sector 6 gang.
Amusingly, a few of the more perceptive ones belatedly followed suit.
“Damn it. Doesn’t that bastard ever die?”
Jouji muttered quietly beside him.
“You idiot. You’re dead meat to Aron now.”
Ska looked at the man, spoke clearly, and smiled brightly.
“What’s with this guy?”
“Hah… to be scared of just one guy, no matter how big he is or that he’s a guard.”
The swaggering voices that drifted over made Ska involuntarily sigh, ‘Oh, dear…’
Why did these guys who had to show off always appear?
“Stupid fools… I even warned them.”
Jouji seemed to be thinking along the same lines, spitting out his complaint through clenched teeth.
Ska gritted his teeth at the horrific sounds that followed. The sound of something breaking and bursting, mixed with screams filled with raw pain.
It didn’t take long.
“You two leaders, get over here.”
At the calm but irritated voice, Ska and Jouji shot to their feet.
The men with their arms and legs bent at grotesque angles were piled up in one spot, and Aron was sitting on them as if they were a chair.
Seeing Aron’s furrowed brow, Ska scrambled to stand before him.
Jouji, contrary to his earlier grumbling, stood beside him with a much tamer expression.
“I told you two to get along, didn’t I?”
“We were being quiet. This guy suddenly invaded, so we had no choice.”
“…You cowardly bastard!”
Jouji’s voice, filled with contempt, was heard, but Ska didn’t turn his gaze, blinking his eyes repeatedly.
“Is that so? Was it George?”
“…It’s Jouji.”
“Right, George.”
“It’s Jouji… no, it’s George.”
“Alright, George. Tense your stomach.”
“…What? Ugh!”
With the sound of something bursting, Jouji disappeared.
Startled, I looked back and saw Jouji rolling far into the distance.
Jouji trembled as if he were about to die, continuously spitting blood from his mouth.
‘What was that?’
He knew Aron was strong, but that punch just now…
“I can’t seem to control my strength.”
Watching Aron click his tongue as he looked down at his hand, Ska swallowed hard.
“So, Aron… I really was trying to stay quiet, but this guy pushed his way in…”
“Right. Ska.”
Meeting the deep, emotionless eyes looking up at him, Ska quickly tensed his stomach.
*Kwoong—.*
When he opened his eyes, he was next to Jouji. Ska spat out a stream of blood, feeling a pain as if his intestines had been severed.
‘His punch is half again as strong as before!’
Ska, who prided himself on his durability, didn’t collapse and analyzed the force he had just felt.
He didn’t know what had happened, but the already exceptional man’s strength had increased even more. It far surpassed the level Ska had been consistently measuring.
“I told you to get along. You cause a ruckus the moment I’m gone? Alright, from the left end, come on up.”
A man, crying his eyes out, was seen running toward Aron.
“Alright, shout it out loud. Let’s be good friends.”
“Le…Let’s be good frie… Aaaaargh!!”
Another one rolled to the side and hit a wall.
Ska swallowed a groan at the sight of foam coming from the upside-down man’s mouth.
“My hand feels good today. Alright, next.”
Let’s be good friends…!!
Suddenly, Ska wondered what the point was of fighting over back alleys in a place with a guy like that.
*Sob…*
This damn backwater…
Seeing Jouji crying pitifully like a child strengthened that thought even more.
***
‘Heh heh—Team Leader Dylan… It has a nice ring to it.’
The weasel’s lips twitched as he walked.
Just then, Kel came running up urgently.
‘Has the news already spread?’
The weasel’s expression hardened.
The timing wasn't right.
He needed to give the impression that he had no other choice.
“Dylan! Did you hear? Right now…”
“I couldn’t help it! Casedic is in chaos!”
The weasel shouted. He had been the youngest until now, but he was set to become the team leader tomorrow.
He had to show the dignity of a team leader.
“…Huh? What?”
At Kel’s lukewarm reaction, the weasel thought he was being tested.
He had to be bold at times like this. The weasel cleared his throat with a *hem hem* and straightened his posture.
“I couldn’t help it! I’m the only one who can carry on Brother Aron’s will! I was the one who fought back-to-back with him against a million undead! I, Dylan, cannot stand by and watch Casedic, filled with memories of Brother Aron, fall apart!”
“What is this bastard talking about?”
“I’ve challenged for the team leader position! I’ll be the team leader starting tomorrow, so watch your words!”
The weasel shouted loudly, wary of a fist flying his way.
Kel’s reaction was strange. He frowned, then his lips twitched, looking like a madman.
“So you couldn’t wait and made a grab for the team leader spot?”
“I’ll say it again, I couldn’t stand by and watch Casedic Castle, filled with memories of Brother Aron, crumble…”
Thinking a fight might break out, the weasel scowled and limbered up. The guys from Team 4, though they pretended not to, followed that bastard devotedly, so there was bound to be some resistance.
“…I see! Of course! Who knows Aron’s will better than our Dylan? No, it would be Team Leader Dylan now!”
Contrary to the weasel’s expectations, Kel nodded at once and gave a thumbs-up.
He didn’t like Kel’s face, which seemed to be holding back laughter, but he decided to overlook it with the magnanimity of a team leader.
“Then Dylan… no, Team Leader Dylan, shall we go together? I’ll treat you right, for our next team leader!”
At Kel’s smooth voice, the weasel nodded gravely.
He didn’t like the twitching corners of Kel’s mouth, but Kel was good enough to be his left-hand man. Unfortunately, his right-hand man was already decided to be Pul.
‘Fatty Daejang, just you wait. You’re next.’
The weasel’s eyes gleamed. Once he took out the fat Daejang and put Pul in the team leader position, he could take control of the Outer Wall Guard.
“Ah, let’s go this way.”
Kel, who was chattering so loudly he couldn’t hear anything else, was annoying, but the weasel endured it with the generosity of a future team leader.
***
“Wake up! Your funeral… I mean! The team leader duel is about to start!”
The weasel opened his eyes to the loud noise.
‘I think I only had one drink.’
He had closed his eyes, and when he opened them, it was the next day.
The weasel shook himself awake, feeling a sense of unease.
Kel was beaming.
For some reason, that smile made him anxious.
The weasel tilted his head, a deep-seated anxiety rising in his chest. Normally, he would have fled somewhere immediately, but Kel’s constant flattery and the lingering effects of the alcohol held him back.
The weasel got up and followed Kel.
“Your fune—I mean, the team leader duel is being held in the plaza!”
“Is there really a need for it? The bastard isn’t even here.”
“…Hmm. It seems they want to lift Casedic’s sunken atmosphere with a team leader duel.”
‘My path to success has truly opened up.’
If it was held in the plaza, a large crowd would surely gather.
The weasel sensed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and put strength into his eyes.
“Is that the guy? Today…”
“Why would a perfectly fine guy like him…”
He heard voices full of jealousy, but the weasel didn’t flinch. He just walked confidently.
From a mere humble mercenary to a respectable guard captain…
The weasel nodded and stepped onto the stage.
‘Well, this is embarrassing.’
An arena had been set up, just like during the tournament.
No, it was even more solid than before.
Thick stones were placed everywhere, as if to make it difficult to get out once inside.
A crowd as large as the one at the tournament had gathered.
The weasel struggled to suppress his twitching lips and maintained a serious expression.
Soon, the large Ska came up.
Ska had a big bruise on his face. It seemed to be from the recent, intensified power struggles among the gangsters.
“Today’s sacrifice is Dylan of the Outer Wall Guard’s Team 4!”
At Ska’s voice, the weasel once again felt a surge of anxiety. His instincts were constantly warning him. He had never been wrong following them before…
‘…This is strange.’
Strange. Why would so many people gather for a match that would be decided by default?
Only then did the weasel realize something was wrong. The warnings he had been trying to ignore echoed continuously in his head.
It was then.
Ska, in a trembling voice, bellowed.
“His opponent is…!!”
‘Opponent? What opponent?’
The weasel’s heart sank.
The word ‘funeral’ he had heard earlier filled his mind.
From the opposite side, a figure he didn't even want to see in his dreams slowly appeared.
Like a predator stalking its prey, with a haughty gait and a beaming smile.
The man whose dense scars made his smile look more like a scowl was…
‘Th-that bastard?!’
*Thump, thump, thump, thump.*
As the bastard walked confidently, it was as if he could hear drumbeats from somewhere.
“Aron!!”
Just two syllables.
Those two syllables made the weasel’s mind go blank.
*Thump—thump—thump—thump.*
Aron, who had lightly entered the arena, stood in front of him.
From the moment he faced Aron, the weasel forgot how to breathe and just stood there, dazed.
“Yeah, it’s been a while since you’ve had a beating, right?”
Soon, a deep, demonic, and chilling voice came from Aron’s mouth.
Only then did the weasel fully grasp the situation.
“Fatheeeer!! Father!! Fatheeeer!!”
The weasel promptly threw down his sword, stripped off his clothes, raised both hands high, and immediately prostrated himself, going belly up.
All the spectators who had gathered to watch screamed in shock, but the weasel couldn't hear them.