Chapter 52: Racial Duel (1)
Chapter 52: Racial Duel (1)
Seven races inhabit the vast continent.
These seven races are the classification of sentient beings capable of communication and interaction across this unimaginably expansive land. They exclude monsters who have lost their reason and the undead who harbor unconditional hatred for the living.
The nomadic race that thrives on conflict: the Orcs.
The children of the forest who make their home near the World Tree: the Elves.
The Beastmen, creatures who gained sapience through the influence of mana.
The masters of fire and steel who dwell in the Sky Mountain Range: the Dwarves.
The Demonkin, descendants of demons who guard the Wall of Despair.
The Dragons, lords of the firmament and the supreme race.
And the race of infinite potential, possessing the form most resembling the gods: Humans.
On this vast continent, these seven races live intertwined. Throughout their long history, they have walked various paths and left their marks upon the world.
There are even academic fields dedicated to the professional study of these seven races. Some scholars wonder why the gods created races with such distinct characteristics and scattered them across the continent. This mysterious land is still overflowing with wonders, and the origin of how the "Seven Races" came to be remains undiscovered.
However, not everyone on this wide continent possesses such "productive curiosity." There are far more childish sorts who harbor simple, provocative questions rather than the kind of curiosity that develops the world for the better.
Yes, for instance—
「Young descendant, which of the seven races do you think is the strongest?」
People who ask childish questions like that.
"……Please, say something appropriate for your age. Are you a child?"
「Ho-ho, what does age have to do with a topic that sets the heart ablaze?」
I glared at Liam, who was chuckling heartily.
「The clowns of the Arena know exactly what captures the public's attention. If such a duel had existed in the era when I was alive, I would have run there in a heartbeat to watch.」
Liam wasn't wrong.
Pitting the seven races against each other in one place to determine their superiority—it would be hard to find a duel more simple yet provocative. It was a topic that made one curious about the result just by hearing it.
「People spend all day arguing over whether a lion or a tiger is stronger. Human nature is more childish than you’d think. They instinctively seek to establish a hierarchy, even in the smallest things.」
"……I think the tiger would win. Lions roam in prides, but tigers—"
「Ho-ho, young descendant. You are the bigger child.」
"I'm not even eighteen yet, so being a child is only natural."
「Ho-ho-ho.」
"Ha-ha-ha."
Well, if I were sitting in the audience, I would have enjoyed the show while munching on snacks. But as a participant in the duel, I couldn't exactly be jovial.
"Enough. Stop talking to me. Will you take responsibility if I die because I was distracted?"
「Ho-ho, right. I'll stop with the jokes here.」
I held my breath and focused on the current situation.
Yet, Liam didn't stop talking.
「Remember one thing, young descendant.」
This time, Liam's voice was different from when he was joking.
「There is no such thing as the 'strongest race' on this continent.」
"……."
「There is no unconditional, absolute strength.」
Liam's eyes turned toward me.
「Because I am not of this era.」
"……."
「So, no matter how many strongmen are gathered here, do not be intimidated and run away. If you only know how to flee in the face of great danger, you will become a half-wit who knows nothing but how to run.」
His eyes were as sharp as a blade.
「Any being can die. And you have a superb talent for finding the way to make that happen. Constant Doubt.」
"……."
「Doubt incessantly this time as well. And even if you are bent or broken, clash and fight. The Blood of Steel flowing through your body will become stronger and harder through that process.」
"……."
「I guarantee it. There is no strongest race, but there is a strongest bloodline. Even if you searched through all the blood in this continent, none is more powerful than the Blood of Steel.」
Yes, like a blade.
「I am the proof of that fact. Therefore, do as I say.」
"……."
「Be sufficiently afraid, but do not run away.」
My heart began to thrum louder. Liam's words pierced into my mind.
「That arduous process will allow you to be reborn as true Steel.」
My master's words were impressive.
「And besides, you didn't come here to win and boost human pride, did you?」
"Ah."
「Strictly speaking, you're a half-blood of Dwarf and Human. So, it doesn't matter whether you get caught and eliminated pathetically or not. How wonderful is that? Pleasure without responsibility.」
"Please."
……If only he hadn't ruined it at the very end. My master always has a problem with his closings.
Well.
He's right, though.
It wasn't like he was wrong.
*
As Liam said, my purpose for participating in the "Infinite Duel" was to gain experience to become a Sword Runner. I had no noble goal of winning as the human representative to bring glory to our pride.
But I should at least avoid a sudden, miserable death, shouldn't I?
There's no telling what will happen if it's discovered that I am the King.
There are too many variables here. Especially the Orcs.
"Is everyone scared witless? I told you to challenge the brave Orc Behera! Why are the fairy bastards and dwarf runts, who usually look down on us Orcs, keeping their mouths shut? Gwahaha! It's a sight to behold, seeing you all shriveled up like kitchen wenches! Even Orc women do not shy away from conflict! It means Orcs are greater than you vermin! Chwik, chwiiiik!"
Like those green lumps who still haven't stopped their provocations.
It's not just the Orcs I need to be careful of.
It's just that it hasn't been revealed yet because that Orc started acting crazy from the beginning. To me right now, every other race here is a danger factor.
I can tell just by reading the general aura. Most of the people here are stronger than me. Some are even powerful enough to cut me down in an instant.
Although a custom of not taking a fighter's life has emerged since the amphitheater changed into the Arena, it's doubtful whether that will be observed in an event of this scale. In actual combat, you never know how things will turn out. Would such strongmen really control their strength in a situation where they don't have certain information about each other?
I wouldn't.
If I've concluded that I wouldn't, then I must move under the assumption that others will act the same way. That's the only way to minimize variables as much as possible.
My Constant Doubt always begins like that.
"Small Gladiator—no, should I call you Sword Demon now?"
"Call me whatever you like."
While I was observing the situation unfolding amidst the taut tension, Seol-yoon approached me. I could recognize her immediately because she was wearing the same helmet and equipment she used during her time as the Black Bride.
"What are you going to do? Are you going to reveal your identity, or hide it?"
"I wonder."
She was asking whether I would reveal that I am the King or stay hidden. Without waiting for an answer, Seol-yoon continued.
"In my opinion, it's right to reveal it."
"Why do you think so?"
"Because you're relatively weak compared to the fighters gathered here. I think it's better to reveal your identity early and be safely protected."
"Ah, I suppose one could think that way."
Seol-yoon's argument was valid.
She seemed to think the correct answer was for me to reveal I was the King and receive protection from the human fighters. She likely felt that if I moved while hiding my identity, the human fighters wouldn't protect me, and if I were randomly attacked by a fighter stronger than me, that would be the worst-case scenario.
Since my chances of winning against any of the fighters here were low, she must have considered that the safest and most likely option for success.
However.
"Seol-yoon, there's no need to do that."
"Huh?"
"For now, the answer is to watch the situation. Because..."
There is a better option than that. That is the conclusion I reached through Doubt.
"Because from now on, things are going to get quite interesting."
My purpose for participating in the Species Duel as a human is to improve my skills. But not everyone will be like me. Those gathered from across the vast continent for the Infinite Duel all have various goals. Some may have come to bring glory to their race's pride, some for the prizes given upon winning, and some to spread their fame as a fighter.
And if I were someone with those goals, I wouldn't be staying still at this moment. There is a better option for them than staying still.
"Did you say Orc Elder Behera? You're really the King of the Orcs, then?"
To protect one's race's pride, one must aim to win the Species Duel. Winning here is the way to make that pride shine. Even if one is after the prize, aiming for the win is the right move. And to win this Species Duel, protecting your King and finding the Kings of other races is of the utmost importance.
Identification Tag 444.
I was the one who drew the mark of the King.
Then, what is the most rational choice from the perspective of the other human fighters who didn't become the King? It's very simple.
"I have been chosen as the King of the human race. Fighter Niel, who was lucky enough to draw Identification Tag 444, challenges you to a duel. As an Orc who doesn't shy away from conflict, you'll naturally accept, right?"
Stepping forward and claiming to be the King oneself.
"Let's not drag this out; let the Kings fight to see which race is superior. You ignorant, barbaric Orc bastard."
Even if the goal was to gain honor and fame as a fighter, one would make this choice. To gain honor and fame, one must first get attention, right? And the fastest and easiest way to receive all the attention as a fighter in this Species Duel is to step forward and claim to be the King.
If I were a fighter participating for other purposes, I would have done the same. If honor, fame, or the race's victory were the goal, I would have acted like that. Especially if I had outstanding skills.
My Doubt was right once again.
As the situation took a strange turn, Seol-yoon said, "What? Why is that person acting like that when he's not even the King—"
"Because that is the most rational move for that fighter."
The reason I could predict this flow is simple.
"Furthermore, the Orc fighter who stepped forward with provocations first—Orc Elder Behera—is also highly likely not the King. It looked like he was acting in an exaggerated manner on purpose."
It was because I saw a subtle sense of dissonance in the movements and tone of Orc Elder Behera. An awkward atmosphere that wouldn't be seen in an Orc speaking the truth. Others might not know, but they couldn't deceive my eyes. My Doubt never misses such trivial details.
And I expect that from now on, probably—
"Did you dare call us Dwarves 'crawling runts'? An idiotic Orc who can't even make a single spoon with his own hands is hilarious. You'd better fight me first, not the human! Because I am the King of the Dwarves who drew Identification Tag 444!"
"No, we are first. Calling an Elf a 'filthy fairy smelling of manure'? It's laughable that an Orc would use the word 'filthy' toward an Elf. Aren't you the filthiest and smelliest race among the seven races of the continent? I, the King of the Elves who drew Identification Tag 444, will judge you on behalf of my kin, you ignorant Orc."
"You said the demons spawned us Demonkin? How dare you—"
"Half-wit beasts? You green turd race have crossed the li—"
It's going to be a total mess. A truly noisy, royal mess.
"What is this?" Seol-yoon muttered with a bewildered look at the heat rising in an instant.
I said, "Let's just watch for now."
Right. There's no need to get involved in that.
"Chwiiiik—! Fine, all of you come at me! Come at me all at once, you vermin! This Behera will personally teach you the greatness of the Orcs—!"
They'll reveal plenty of information while they're busy fighting each other. My fight will begin after that.
*
The vast Black Forest.
As soon as the Species Duel began, the melee triggered by Orc Elder Behera's area-of-effect provocation proceeded hideously. To be honest, that battle was beyond my expectations.
「I see now why the Orcs have won nine times in a row.」
"Isn't that a monster?"
「It's a topic that countless scholars on the continent gather to discuss seriously at least once. Whether those green friends should be classified as monsters or as sentient beings.」
"……."
Fighters from each race rushed at Orc Elder Behera, who claimed to be the King, asserting that they were also Kings. And the situation ended in just 2 minutes and 17 seconds.
The result?
"Chwik! Boring things!"
Annihilation.
Orc Elder Behera kept his word.
"Why are everyone's teeth so small! At least the Beastman's teeth are the best to hang around my neck, pu-hel-hel!"
At the feet of the stupidly laughing Orc Elder Behera lay the corpses of the fighters whose heads had been crushed. And Orc Elder Behera personally pulled the teeth from the corpses, strung them on a thread, and hung them around his neck. The blood-stained teeth swayed menacingly.
It couldn't even be called a duel.
"More! Come at me! More—! It's still not enough—!"
While the wild roar echoed through the forest, Orcs from all directions stomped their feet and chanted Behera's name, shouting "Woo! Woo!" Green madness permeated the forest. In this pitch-black forest, the Orcs looked like nothing less than demons. Ghosts crazed for battle.
There's no need to even look at the exposed information.
Facing that Orc is madness. I knew it just by looking at the battle just now. The human fighter who spread two pairs of wings didn't even last 10 seconds. His wings were snapped, his neck broken, and his head crushed as he rolled on the ground. Orc Elder Behera was a being as powerful as the Orc Elder of the sacred land I had sought to gain Wildness.
"Fuck. Crazy Orc bastard! Those guys have no concept of duel customs!"
"Chwiiiik! What are customs! To us Orcs, there are only two results to a duel! Victory, or death! If it's not victory, it's just dying and going to the side of our ancestors—!"
Numerous fighters, with pale faces, gave up on attacking further and scattered throughout the Black Forest. I was included among them as we dispersed. After all, if I stayed there, it felt like I'd be caught by those crazy Orcs, have my head burst, and my teeth pulled out.
And.
"Small Gladiator, where are you going?"
"Let's move to the outskirts for now."
In the process of moving, I learned one more thing.
"Okay, I got—"
"Seol-yoon, stop!"
The Orcs aren't the only ones to be careful of here.
"Hup!"
An arrow flew from the thicket, cutting through the wind. Having predicted the ambush through the Path I had spread out in advance, I grabbed Seol-yoon's head and jerked it back. At the same time, the flying arrow grazed Seol-yoon's helmet. A chilling metallic screech rang out.
"Tsk." Seol-yoon let out an annoyed sound.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah. Thanks to you."
As soon as I confirmed Seol-yoon was safe, I turned my gaze toward the direction the arrow had come from. Although hidden by the darkness, the Path succeeded in identifying the attacker. I saw the figure of the attacker hidden in the pitch-black darkness and dense thicket.
「Oho.」
Hair that shimmered like silk. Pointy ears protruding through the hair, and a beautiful appearance that stood out even in the dark. Ornaments made of woven plants. The moment I combined these numerous characteristics, I knew the attacker's identity.
「An Elf. The children of the World Tree.」
"……."
「Even a country bumpkin like you must have heard of them. How terrifyingly the Elves reign in the forest.」
"I know."
The Elf who appeared from the darkness was expressionless. With a nonchalant face, the Elf took an arrow from her back, notched it on the string, and drew it again. I caught my breath and didn't take my eyes off her.
「In this continent, there is no race that fits the word 'hunter' better than those things.」
Right. In the first place, the word 'Ranger' for those who explore the forest originated from the Elves. There is no race in this continent more skilled in the forest and more skilled in hunting than them. Literally, those fairies are the children of the forest.
"Seol-yoon, another one is coming."
"I know. I'm watching too."
The Elf drew the string of the massive bow with such ease. And the moment the string was fully drawn, the mana flowing around the Elf's body wavered. Simultaneously, unique things appeared to the left and right of the Elf. Something that looked like a flickering flame on the left, and something that looked like a transparent water droplet on the right.
They were mysterious and beautiful in appearance.
Is it magic?
Perhaps. Elves are the race most loved by mana among the seven races, and they are fairies proficient in various mysteries. But that wasn't magic.
Liam provided the answer to my question.
「It's a spirit.」
"……."
「Young descendant, that cannot be blocked by something like a swinging sword. The tip of the arrow will become a flame, and it will become a water droplet to pass through a steel sword and destroy your body.」
"Then what do I do?"
「You must wield mystery as well.」
Mystery? I couldn't understand what he meant.
When I looked at him with eyes demanding an explanation, Liam was just smiling. Even until the moment the string left the Elf's hand and the arrow was fired, my master didn't give an answer.
The answer came from elsewhere.
『The wind stays nowhere.』
My sword. The memory of Gale, which had not yet been fully digested, surged intensely at this moment.
『It only sweeps away, or is swept away.』
Truly, very intensely.
*
Name: Elf
One of the seven races existing on the continent.
Children of the forest who make their home near the World Tree in the Great Forest. They have a lifespan close to eternity and are loved by 'Mana.'
A race of master hunters proficient in various mysteries.