Chapter 93: The Arena of Cosmos (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 93: The Arena of Cosmos (4)
Flinch.
‘Whoa, that startled me. Where did that come from so suddenly?’
Jin hadn’t expected to hear such a rumor the moment he arrived at the spectator stands. He casually took a seat near the men who were talking and pricked up his ears.
“A reserve flagbearer of Runcandel? Haha, my dear fellow. Why would such a prestigious prospect bother coming to an arena like this? This place is the absolute bottom of the barrel.”
“I heard it just the other day while drinking with some officers from the Cosmos Pirates. They said there’s an incredible boy among the participants and that he’s undoubtedly a Runcandel reserve flagbearer.”
“Hmm, is that so? Let’s see… which Runcandels would be active as reserve flagbearers right now? Daytona, Heitona, and Jin Runcandel. Those three.”
“Jin Runcandel caused quite a stir last year. Every newsletter was covering him reaching 5-star. Anyway, that officer was absolutely certain. He said it was clear one of those three was participating.”
Jin found it rather amusing to be listening to rumors about himself from the next seat over.
‘The Runcandel name truly carries some weight. My own news might have spread through the newsletters, but for them to even know the Tona brothers' names…’
It was about time for the Tona brothers to become reserve flagbearers. In his previous life, the two of them had begun their activities around 1796 or 1797.
Furthermore, when he considered the nature of this tournament, the ‘Arena of Cosmos’…
He realized it was entirely possible for the Tona brothers—who were notorious as ‘vicious homicidal maniacs’ in his past life—to participate.
Of course, the Tona brothers of this life were considerably milder than their past selves, perhaps because Jin had been suppressing them since childhood.
‘If the brothers really are participating, it’s actually great for me. I can just grab them and use them as my room guards until the tournament ends. I can dump all the other tedious chores on them, too.’
The nobles then engaged in a brief debate over which participant might be the Runcandel reserve flagbearer.
It wasn't just them; other nobles nearby were also whispering among themselves, discussing the same topic.
‘Now that I look around, most of the audience are nobles. Well, wealthy bastards are always looking for something provocative.’
Creeeeeak!
A massive steel gate on one side of the circular arena began to open.
As the gate swung wide, a man stepped into the center of the arena: the pirate Cosmos. The moment he appeared, the spectators erupted in cheers. It seemed Cosmos enjoyed significant popularity among them.
“Thank you for waiting!”
“Cosmos!”
“Cosmoooos!”
It was a bizarre sight: nobles with flushed faces chanting a pirate's name. These were people who usually looked down on commoners, yet here they were, cheering for a criminal.
“Ladies and gentlemen who have graced the Arena of Cosmos with your presence! I, the Pirate King Cosmos, once again offer you my sincerest gratitude. Hahaha! I’m overwhelmed to see even more guests this year than the last.”
Snap!
As Cosmos clapped his hands once, fireworks suddenly shot up from all directions. The sky was dyed in brilliant colors, and as the explosions continued, the air seemed to heat up instantly.
“Now then, let’s get started right away! Hehe, boys! Bring out the two from Group 1! Sound the trumpets!”
Bwaaaaa—! Bwaaa!
As the pirates at the edge of the arena began blowing their trumpets, the steel gates on both sides rose, revealing the participants.
There were fourteen participants in each group.
With thirteen groups in total, one hundred eighty-two warriors had entered this gruesome tournament. Not many martial arts competitions in the world could boast such a large number of entrants.
“The star of our gloooorious first match is… a finalist from last year and the darling of the Shark Pirates! Mantis! And his opponent is!”
Cosmos trailed off, narrowing his eyes and bringing the match list closer to his face. His expression soured, suggesting there was some kind of problem.
“Ah, dear me. It seems I’ll be hearing some complaints from the Shark Captain later. And I’m planning to drown the subordinate who drew up this bracket. Regardless, I introduce him! His name is Paul Mick!”
“Who’s Paul Mick?”
“Never heard of him, but judging by Cosmos’s reaction, he must be something special.”
While the nobles murmured in confusion, Mantis stepped into the arena.
With a slender build and a shark tattoo on his back, he walked with a swagger, gripping two scimitars. He was a pirate through and through.
“Haha, Brother Cosmos. Who is this Paul or Mick fellow? Trying to scare your little brother here, are you? I’m almost offended; it’s bad for my image.”
Cosmos pointedly avoided Mantis’s gaze as the pirate tried to play it off with a joke.
Then, as Paul Mick emerged from the waiting room, the spectator stands began to buzz.
“He’s just a kid?”
“What? I heard a lot of kids entered this time, but this is a bit much.”
“If he bends his knees even a little, that longsword on his back will scrape the floor. Haha.”
Jin was also quite taken aback.
The boy called Paul Mick didn't look a day over fifteen.
‘Thirteen? Fourteen? Good god, they let a child like that enter the tournament? They’re insane!’
He almost leaped into the arena himself. He couldn't just sit by and watch a child that age die before his very eyes.
He likely would have, if not for Cosmos’s strange reaction.
‘Could that boy be Dante Hairan? No, Dante is three years older than me…’
Then, something incredible happened.
Cosmos was preparing to step aside after announcing the start of the match, and Mantis was just about to shrug his shoulders in disbelief.
Slice!
It happened in the blink of an eye.
Mantis’s head was severed from his body.
“Huh?”
“What… was that just now?”
“Did anyone see that clearly?”
Most of the spectators hadn't even registered the moment Mantis’s head fell.
It was only natural. Even Jin, who was nearing 6-star, had almost missed the movement.
‘Sword energy. He closed the distance in an instant and unleashed sword energy from five paces out to take his head. Holy hell… could he be?’
No, it wasn't a "could be."
Among the contestants in this tournament, there was no one other than Dante Hairan who could perform such a feat.
The spectator stands fell silent in an instant. Everyone who had been chattering just moments ago was now speechless, their mouths agape.
Thud!
The sound of Mantis’s body collapsing onto the ground was audible even from the stands.
Cosmos held his forehead with one hand, looking troubled.
“Ha… damn it. Mantis was a finalist last year with a lot of betting potential. To go out so pointlessly like this… Anyway, the winner is Paul Mick!”
Cosmos announced the winner, but the stands remained quiet. While everyone was lost in shock, a man suddenly stood up from the VIP seats across from Jin and began to clap.
“I’m betting everything on Paul Mick from now on! Paul Mick! Paul Mick! Magnificent!”
And surprisingly, that man was someone Jin knew very well.
‘What the hell, Veradin Zipple?! Why is that guy here?!’
While Jin stared with wide eyes, confirming it was indeed Veradin, the spectators finally began to cheer belatedly.
For the record, Veradin had come to the Arena of Cosmos on the orders of the Zipple elders. Since the next patriarch of Hairan was growing at a dazzling rate, they had ordered him to go and see for himself.
“Wooooo!”
“That kid is no joke!”
“I’m betting on Paul Mick for this tournament too! I’m going all in!”
The two nobles from the Bellado Principality sitting right in front of Jin whispered to each other with conviction.
“See? Has my information ever been wrong? It’s that boy. The reserve flagbearer of Runcandel!”
“Hoh… incredible. Indeed, no one could do that at that age unless they were a Runcandel reserve flagbearer. I think it’s Jin Runcandel.”
“I agree. He’s too young to be one of the Tona brothers.”
Other nearby noble spectators nodded in agreement.
Of course, no one shouted Jin’s name out loud. They knew all too well that recklessly spreading the name and deeds of a reserve flagbearer could invite Runcandel’s retaliation.
That was why they only whispered among themselves. Paul Mick is Jin Runcandel! Paul Mick is the reserve flagbearer!
Hearing it all, Jin couldn't help but let out a hollow laugh.
‘By the way… I never heard that Dante looked so young. The face I saw in the newsletters in my past life just gave off a "pretty boy" image, but he doesn't look nineteen at all.’
Jin shifted his gaze between Paul Mick—no, Dante—and Veradin, who was still clapping.
‘Veradin probably came because his family told him to check on Dante, right? That guy is as much of a concern as Dante. He’ll definitely recognize me… and if he tries to act friendly, it’s going to be a massive pain.’
An uneasy feeling is never wrong.
At that exact moment, Veradin spotted Jin looking at him.
“Oh? Whoa!”
Veradin began waving his hand frantically toward Jin.
Naturally, Jin pretended not to see and turned his gaze back to Dante. But hilariously, Dante also turned his head and was now staring intently at Veradin.
‘That man is… Veradin Zipple. Could it be that he is acknowledging me? We only met once at the Zipple banquet, yet he greets me so enthusiastically. Very well, I shall return your greeting, Veradin!’
When Dante, caught in his misunderstanding, waved back at Veradin, Jin finally burst into a short laugh. He hadn't read Dante’s mind, but he could guess exactly what was happening.
‘What a bunch of clowns.’
Cosmos’s subordinates rushed over to clear Mantis’s corpse.
“Now, now, ladies and gentlemen. Regardless, Mantis of the Shark Pirates has met his end. Shall we hear a word from the winner before moving on to the next match? Young Paul Mick. How do you feel?”
“I feel as though I have removed another villain from this world. I shall pray that in his next life, he does not become something like a pirate.”
His gruff, husky voice was a stark contrast to his youthful appearance. Furthermore, he had just insulted pirates in the middle of a pirate den.
Many pirates gnashed their teeth, but not a single one dared to lunge at Dante. It was only natural after witnessing that extraordinary swordsmanship.
Cosmos let out a boisterous laugh and nodded.
“Hahaha, being a pirate certainly isn't a career one would recommend to growing children. But please don't forget that it’s a perfect start for those whose lives have hit rock bottom.”
As Dante walked toward the waiting room without replying, Cosmos proceeded with the next match.
And Jin, watching Dante’s retreating back, thought to himself:
‘That guy… can I beat him?’