The Proxy Gladiator Goes Berserk (2)
[That moment, at the top of the arena.]
The only path in the arena that led to the surface—perhaps what one could call the "gateway"—had been claimed as her stronghold by the woman, the vampire Chekhov. She scanned the array of red curtains spread before her, swirling her wine glass.
"This is amusing."
> [I'm in a bind here, Master.]
The red crystal orb beside Chekhov sparkled. The orb marked with a '2' showed the vampire managing the Second Arena beyond it, scratching his cheek with a troubled look.
"Do you think that man will keep winning consecutively?"
> [I saw his match against Tehalt myself. A freakish monster has entered here. And that monster is... shaking up the arena in a bizarre way right now.]
"Shaking up the arena, you say." Chekhov tapped her wine glass idly with her finger.
"I don't think it's a bad thing at all."
> [Master.]
"The arena has been stagnant for far too long. It's been so long since the gate to the surface was flung wide open that I can barely remember when it happened. This place was originally meant to rehabilitate and release the cowards who fled battle."
> [Master...]
"The environment has been frozen in place for far too long. I'd half-given up on it myself... but that man is awakening people's resolve right now."
Rustle.
Chekhov reached out toward one of the red curtains. The bats hanging from the ceiling turned their gazes to it, revealing a scene: a crowd gathered in front of the goblin exchange counter.
"Want to see the exchange right now? Grimwald's having the time of his life brokering deals."
In front of the counter.
"Come on, folks! This isn't an opportunity that comes every day. Special discount event for proxy fights with the undefeated warrior Yoo Si-woo, who guarantees at least one win!"
Goblin Grimwald had climbed onto the counter table, clapping his hands and hawking to the gathered crowd.
"Auction starts at 10 Exchange Vouchers! Anyone want to nominate Madam Helma and put up Yoo Si-woo as proxy?!"
"Wha... what did you say?"
"Your golden chance to see Madam Helma die in the arena! Even if it's not her, if one of Helma Brothel's men comes out as proxy, you'll get to watch them drop dead! By Yoo Si-woo, who slaughtered dozens led by Tehalt and Dex!"
How many Exchange Vouchers had he negotiated as his brokerage fee? Goblin Grimwald's voice held none of its former languor; veins bulged in his neck as he shouted in excitement.
> [Master. Grimwald's hawking like that, but... will anyone actually touch Madam Helma? Everyone seems too scared.]
"There'll be at least a couple. Even if not for revenge, there are those desperate to dump all their vouchers and get out."
> [Pardon?]
"Speak of the devil."
A middle-aged man with one arm severed approached Grimwald's counter.
Pressing his severed stump with his hand, the middle-aged man glared at Helma with intense hatred.
Each had their reasons, but as they waved thick stacks of Exchange Vouchers at Grimwald, most faces were flushed with ecstatic glee.
Some harbored grudges against Helma's faction.
Others tapped their mental calculators or seized the chance to escape.
Those already at odds with Helma's faction, eager to dismantle it and bolster their own, began raising their vouchers one by one.
"...It was meant to forge warriors for battle, but maybe leaving with that kind of resolve isn't so bad either."
Chekhov smiled faintly at the arena folk eagerly lending their names for proxy fights with Yoo Si-woo.
"Warrior Yoo Si-woo."
Her eyes shifted within the red curtain to the man with the handaxe slung over his shoulder.
"He really doesn't know the value of his own life."
Leaning forward, Chekhov immersed her head toward the curtain as if diving into it.
"You fucking bastard! Fine, see you in 30 minutes!!"
While Madam Helma and her underlings shoved me aside and rushed into a meeting.
Clang!
I sliced the chains with my handaxe, freeing Choi Yu-jin.
"...Shouldn't you be saving your weapons?"
"If the blade dulls, I borrow from others. Or buy a new one. Or use this."
"That's just chains?"
"Dodge the attack, get behind, wrap around the neck, and squeeze. Done."
"...Are you ex-military by any chance? Did your service include some overseas deployment?"
"........."
Choi Yu-jin looked horrified, but I stayed silent and pocketed the chains.
"Th-that explains it. But why didn't you say anything..."
"Enough. Help out."
"Huh?"
"Those fuckers aren't paying attention right now. Hurry and free them."
I pointed to the other women. Not wrapped as tightly as Choi Yu-jin, but still restrained all the same.
"C-can we really free ourselves like this?"
"Or should I bust you out alone?"
"N-no, but..."
"Move it."
Before heading to the others, I whispered just loud enough for Choi Yu-jin to hear.
"They're all proxy clients too."
"......!!"
Goblin Grimwald was probably rounding up customers right now. Good thing the first one kickstarted it, but we might run short on names for the proxy rotation. So we'd borrow from these reserves.
In the worst case, I'd hand each of these captives their 5 wins. Truly worst case.
"A moment, warrior Yoo Si-woo. We need to discuss something."
The referee, manager of the First Arena, approached me. A bat like a familiar perched on his shoulder.
"What is it?"
"Would you mind fighting without clearing the corpses?"
"Pardon? No issue on my end, but it shouldn't take that long to clean up anyway."
"The monsters are too full to haul them away easily."
"...So better to batch the cleanup instead of per kill?"
The referee fell silent. He seemed to have his headaches, but how they ran things wasn't my problem.
"Just send the next one right after a kill."
"No breaks?"
"I can fight back-to-back."
"...You really act like you've got multiple lives."
Exactly. If I die, I drop to 2 lives left. But I wouldn't.
"Understood. We'll proceed that way. Head to Arena 1 when ready."
"Got it."
After the referee left, Choi Yu-jin had already smashed all the restraints on the reserve fighters.
"Sunbae..."
The reserves captured by Helma approached me. Unsure of the situation, they eyed it cautiously—but instinctively calculated who to side with and moved this way.
"Sunbae."
"What?"
"...Did Park Chang-su really kill you?"
Seeking confirmation of facts—which was really them flipping the switch on allegiance.
"Yeah. I was at the cliff, and the bastard charged, grabbed my collar, and shoved me off."
I gave the straight facts, and conviction flashed in their eyes.
"Should've dodged back then. Tumbled off the cliff and croaked."
They laughed. That one laugh sealed the mood. No one on Park Chang-su's side.
He'd fled to Madam Helma anyway, and they weren't even approaching us.
'He might even try proxying up.'
Forced by Helma or refusing to the end—who knew.
"Oppa."
Choi Yu-jin approached. The other women trailed behind her, and I couldn't help but chuckle at the sight.
"What?"
"We'll follow you, oppa. We'll do whatever you say, completely."
"Anything?"
"Yes, anything. If you want..."
Choi Yu-jin glanced back, stepped forward, and bowed her head.
"You said it earlier, right? Suck cock if you wanna live."
"That was—"
"I'll do it. That."
....
"I'll suck cock or whatever, so please... just save us this stage."
Did Choi Yu-jin know? The reserves' gazes toward her brimmed with admiration and envy.
Admiration, surely. She'd stood up for them, endured chains' humiliation, and now offered to suck off a near-stranger to protect the weak—a true 'saintess'.
"...Fuck, fine."
Reluctantly, I patted her shoulder lightly.
"We'll talk after I kill all those bastards."