Chapter 231
Chapter 231
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 231
>Chapter Title: Warrior's Heart
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Kang Seol, Seolhong, and Cheonju found lodging near Yocheon.
"Have you felt it the whole way here? It doesn't seem like there are no people on the streets."
"It's strange. I know Yocheon attracts not just locals but visitors from afar."
While Seolhong and Cheonju voiced their doubts to each other, Kang Seol finished inspecting the room. He then gave an answer close to the truth behind their questions.
"The reason there are no people on the streets right now... isn't it because of those visitors from afar?"
"Ah!"
"You're right."
Yocheon's biggest tourist draw and the place where money poured in like water down a sinkhole.
It was probably related to the Warrior's Heart.
Gulp...
Seolhong swallowed hard.
Having not properly explored the city of Yocheon, it was natural for her to be curious about the Warrior's Heart, which was practically the city's symbol.
However, a brief moment of hesitation followed about whether it was right to visit there with the Dragon Struggle underway.
"This Dragon Struggle is related to the Warrior's Heart, so we should investigate it in advance."
At Kang Seol's words, Seolhong snapped her fingers in agreement.
Snap!
"Good! All things start with gathering information! Cheonju! Let's go, Cheonju!"
"M-Me too?"
"Yeah! If you've come to Yocheon, you have to see the Warrior's Heart!"
"But..."
"Let's go, hurry!"
"...Understood."
Fortunately, since they'd secured lodging, they didn't have to lug along Cheonju's bundle the size of a person.
* * *
The Warrior's Heart stood smack in the middle of Yocheon. Its location was even better than the administrative office run by the local magnates who handled the city's governance.
It looked as if the city had sprung up around the arena after it was built.
'The Warrior's Heart is Yocheon's heart, something like that...'
Rather than his heart racing as he headed toward the Warrior's Heart, Kang Seol recalled old emotions.
Whenever he visited places tied to traces of his words, a mix of wistful and sentimental feelings washed over him—nostalgic, stirring forgotten regrets.
Lost in such thoughts and momentarily detached from reality, he was brought back when Seolhong pointed ahead.
"G-Good heavens... Can you see it?"
"...I see it."
"So many people gathered in one place..."
It was as if every person in Yocheon had assembled; the arena was rowdy even from the outside.
"Out of the way! Don't block the road!"
"Do you know who we are...?"
"Then do you know who I am?"
"Get lost! I have a ticket!"
People filled every direction.
Even Kang Seol was surprised by the bustle, so Seolhong must have been beside herself.
"W-What do we do?"
"Seolhong?"
"Cheonju! It feels like we can't get in, so we..."
Kang Seol chuckled softly and said,
"It looks chaotic because entry is underway. They'll all pour in soon, so if we wait a bit, it'll be fine."
"Ahem... I see."
Sure enough, as Kang Seol said, the crowd surged inside. The ticketing areas were divided into several spots. It seemed they'd anticipated the throngs and set up multiple places to sell tickets.
For spectator sports, scalpers were usually unavoidable, but oddly, none were in sight here.
'Well, no lunatic would scalp tickets at the Warrior's Heart.'
Yocheon was a special city.
A city by the arena, for the arena.
Even the central government had tolerated some radical actions there as long as they didn't rebel against Khan. Perhaps the Warrior's Heart had grown massively thanks to that leniency.
The swelling funds and culture attracted flies—hyenas, as they were called.
Whenever that happened, it wasn't Yocheon's officials who stepped up first, but the Warrior's Heart itself, crushing them.
In other words, local thugs or mafia-like cartels were the real rulers of Yocheon.
Especially, the sponsor who turned their gladiator into a conqueror gained control of the entire arena operation—a principle as fundamental as the Warrior's Heart's founding.
- If you have words to say, pick up a weapon.
Conquerors who proved themselves through struggle alone, and their sponsors—the arena operators—held unchecked power in Yocheon.
'Probably Kwak Seong right now.'
Messing with Kwak Seong in Yocheon was dangerous.
Low-ranking Dragon Heirs, currently proving their incompetence by falling behind in the Dragon Struggle competition, couldn't touch his neck.
'Moreover... the Dragon Struggle rules mean no restrictions on Kwak Seong's movements.'
One key rule of the Dragon Struggle.
- During the Dragon Struggle, Dragon Heirs are no longer Dragon Heirs.
Dragon Heirs were Khan's emperor, blood of Hongcheon.
Just because he showed no interest in his children didn't make Dragon Heirs any less precious.
Imperial blood was imperial blood.
Harming a Dragon Heir naturally demanded retribution.
Until the Dragon Struggle began.
But now, the situation was entirely different.
Any harm to a Dragon Heir during the Struggle carried no consequences.
So now, Dragon Heirs had to hide their identities instead.
Of course, no one had openly injured a Dragon Heir yet, but the future was unpredictable.
'Plus, a Dragon Heir died from an unknown cause in the last trial...'
Those resentful of power always existed, so Dragon Heirs could get caught in the downpour.
"Expensive!"
"Seolhong..."
"The tickets, the tickets are too pricey? How can a ticket cost this much?"
Cheonju scratched his head and said,
"I don't need to go inside. At least you should, Seolhong..."
"No need."
Cheonju and Seolhong had run out of money since arriving in Yocheon. They hadn't engaged in any production to begin with, so they weren't well-off.
Unlike them, Kang Seol had more than enough money overflowing.
He'd exchanged it long ago, so there was no reason to fret over ticket prices.
"It's relatively cheap since it's just general admission, not betting tickets."
"...I'll pay you back, so don't worry."
"No need to pay back."
"I will pay it back. That's how I was taught."
Seolhong's stubbornness stemmed somewhat from her mother's absence.
She couldn't stand owing anyone or receiving favors; she always repeated that she would repay them, trembling like an aspen.
"Friends don't need to repay each other."
"......Really?"
"True friends have no debts or favors between them."
At those words, Seolhong's expression visibly brightened.
"W-Well, then that skewer over there..."
"Eat as much as you want."
"Cheonju's too..."
"Hey! I'm fine, Seolhong!"
"Cheonju, you eat too."
"Ahem... I've heard Yocheon's chicken is famous for its tender meat..."
The three each held a chicken skewer in their mouths, sitting with happy expressions.
Rustle...
Kang Seol draped cloths over their heads.
Just in case their identities were exposed.
"This place is dangerous, so next time, we'll sit in the premium seats."
"Ah..."
"And I'll step away for a bit."
Nod...
Seolhong didn't know what it was about, but since Kang Seol had given her prior notice before coming, she nodded.
Exactly 30 minutes later, Cheonju and Seolhong gaped at the same scene.
"Wh-What is this...?"
"Why..."
The announcer's booming voice followed.
- The mysterious participant Kang Seol! Uh... well, it's a peculiar victory. Known for same-day entry...
Cheonju and Seolhong's eyes met.
"Why is he up there?"
"Why is he up there?"
The scene rewound 30 minutes.
"For unaffiliated same-day entrants, matches may proceed without schedule consideration."
"I know."
"Also, since power measurement hasn't been done, the struggle rank will be randomly..."
"Bloodbath."
"...Pardon?"
"Make it Bloodbath."
"...Do you know the details of Bloodbath?"
Kang Seol had come to the Warrior's Heart to enter as a gladiator from the start. And now he was going through the procedures.
'To draw out Kwak Seong's competitive spirit, I need to climb the ranks step by step.'
Becoming a popular gladiator would be the first move to catch Kwak Seong's eye.
"I know everything."
Unlimited weight class, Bloodbath.
Because weight classes varied wildly, the talent pool was vast. Moreover, with murder allowed under its brutal rules, it was the highlight of the Warrior's Heart.
Most visitors came specifically to see Bloodbath.
"...Your same-day schedule is set."
Kang Seol let out a hollow laugh as he took the paper from the sullen receptionist.
"Three matches in a row?"
"I explained beforehand, didn't I? Only spots from injured gladiators were left, and coincidentally, that's how it lined up..."
"...Understood."
In truth, it didn't matter.
'Better to finish quick?'
While waiting for his imminent matches, Kang Seol quietly eyed the rulebook.
"Haha..."
The rulebook listed only concise rules, which felt refreshing instead.
'Fight and clash as you will. Even if you die, no one cares.'
Oriental arenas involved shamans, witches, sorcerers, and Taoists shaping the field. They created virtual natural environments inside that were astonishingly realistic.
After about 20 minutes.
"Kang Seol! Kang Seol!"
"Here."
"Get to the heart. Your turn."
"Yes."
"Don't die. Cleaning corpses yesterday soured the mood. If you're gonna drop, do it on my day off."
"Noted."
"Hmph! Weapon?"
Kang Seol spread his open palms.
"What a load of crap. Damn it, did you hear a word I said?"
- Next, joining Bloodbath as a same-day entrant...
"Tch, get out!"
Kang Seol walked down the dark corridor into the blinding light outside.
"Waaaaaaaaah!"
"What the hell is that guy!"
"Hahaha! He's gonna die right away. Betting ticket! Gotta buy a betting ticket!"
"Bet on that bastard dying."
Did ancient Colosseum warriors feel like this?
Amid the shouts and insults, his heart pounded.
He wasn't afraid of combat, but the concentrated attention felt a tad uncomfortable.
Kang Seol stared boredly at the gladiator ahead.
A muscular man stood with a massive machete slung over his shoulder, chin raised high.
"What are you?"
"......"
"Don't wanna answer? Fine. Wasn't curious anyway."
The announcer's voice echoed through the Warrior's Heart.
- This Bloodbath is historic! Amid stars battling for desire, in a field thick with powerhouses, Ferocity boasts three straight wins! Three gladiators have had their necks severed by his machete, right?
Three wins, and three necks severed—quite the explanation.
"Waaaaaaaaah! Ferocity! Do it again!"
"Ferocity! I bet on you! Next conqueror is you!"
"Lose and you're dead!"
- That's how brutal Ferocity is! Facing him... uh... a man who jumps into Bloodbath of all things as a same-day entrant! No other explanation needed for this madness. Kang Seol!
Not no explanation needed, but nothing to explain. No disclosed background or info.
"......"
"......Who?"
"Yeah, who is he?"
"Boooo! Die! Neck snap off!"
"Face ain't bad, at least..."
"A pretty boy man's no use! Kill him, Ferocity!"
The crowd's reaction contrasted sharply with Ferocity's.
'No expectations, but still...'
- Alright! Let's begin!
Crunch...
Craaack...
Sssss...
White smoke rose with the ground. Shamans and sorcerers' doing. Not too high, but with mist blanketing the stage below, it looked convincing.
"Die."
Whish-!
[Ferocity uses Wild Dog Spear Art: Frenzied Fangs.]
[Spear sharpness greatly rises, increasing bleeding from severed areas.]
Whish-!
Whooooom!
Whoooooom!
Each machete swing chilled spectators' spines. Because Kang Seol barely dodged them.
From the viewers' perspective, it looked like he was just scraping by.
"Hahaha! Not bad!"
"Ferocity, kill! What are you doing!"
In the first probe, Kang Seol gauged Ferocity's skill.
'Weak.'
Had the level dropped since his time in the Warrior's Heart? Kang Seol felt a bit disappointed.
Of course, this made things much easier.
'I could end it now, but...'
That would take ages to pique Kwak Seong's interest. With the deadline to return the arena to Khan's fold, efficiency was key.
Kwaaang-!
Ferocity's machete slammed the misty floor, slicing in like tofu. Obviously aimed at Kang Seol, who dodged.
"Ugh..."
Normally, it would've ended here.
Kang Seol would've struck the opening, ending the match.
But.
Whish-!
Ferocity recovered his machete.
His face twisted gravely.
"What the hell?"
"As you see."
"...I'll kill you."
Whoooosh whoooosh!
Realizing Kang Seol was dragging time on purpose, Ferocity fumed.
[Ferocity uses Wild Dog Spear Art: Throat Rip.]
[Spear rotational power surges.]
Whaaaaang-!
Propeller-like noise scattered stone fragments.
The spear spun fiercely at Kang Seol.
Pop-!
Paaat!
Kang Seol moved busier than before. Still with margin, but one blind hit would spill his guts, so he stayed cautious.
"Eeeeeek!"
Ferocity bared all his tricks chasing Kang Seol but hit nothing.
For a full five minutes.
"Wh-What?"
"Ferocity?"
"Wasting time? Kill him already!"
As spectators sensed something off, Kang Seol spoke.
"Time's up."
"What...?"
Ferocity was optimistic despite things not going his way.
His offense had continued, after all.
But it flipped in an instant.
In a blink, Kang Seol was in his face.
Dodging the raging blade.
Kuuuung...
"Uuugh..."
His body floated.
The moment Kang Seol struck, Ferocity felt the overwhelming power gap.
Not skill or technique.
Pure human strength differed.
'What the...'
No chance for Ferocity next.
Crunch...
One blow sent him plummeting through the rippling mist below.
"......"
"Ferocity lost?"
"Cheat!"
Kang Seol glanced at Seolhong's seat. She gaped, sauce smeared on her mouth.
She'd apparently bought more skewers with the spare cash he'd given just in case.
Anyway, Kang Seol's first win.
- The mysterious participant Kang Seol! Uh... well, a peculiar victory. Known for same-day entry...
"Boo... lame..."
"Rigged?"
"Ferocity couldn't keep up at all..."
"But next is Abstraction, so he's reliable."
"Heard that Kang Seol guy's doing three in a row?"
"Three? Abstraction'll shatter every bone and drag him down."
15 minutes later.
- Abstraction plummets below the misty stage, and Kang Seol wins again! Kang Seol! Stirring an upset! Abstraction, veteran of Bloodbath...
"No, cheating, I say!"
"My bet! That bastard took my bet!"
"Abstraction! Not dead? Move! If not, I'll kill you!"
"Kang Seol or whatever... fought the same as before. Weird, right?"
"Yeah, feels like..."
"Nah, coincidence."
15 minutes later.
- Castle Lord falls. Thus... uh... Kang Seol achieves three straight wins against tough foes! Note his highly unique fighting style...
"No, fuck! What's with today!"
"Three times burned? Right here, assholes!"
"Still taking same-day entries? Gotta gut that prick!"
Spectators murmured.
They should've caught on by now.
"Again."
"Ended exactly at five minutes again."
"What the hell..."
"First was iffy, but now it feels just like..."
"...No way?"
The announcer fueled their suspicions.
- Overwhelming skill gap, ending precisely at five minutes. Everyone gathered today! Didn't a certain name come to mind from that one phrase?
"Uh... now that you mention..."
"Yeah! Five minutes... that's it!"
- The Demon of the Inch-Shadow! Has Mount reborn? Or a challenge to him? Kang Seol now treads the exact path Daisan did in life! Gladiators who admired him, yet none matched today's show... If imitating, Kang Seol's a perfect mimic!
The undefeated man who entertained crowds exactly five minutes per foe. Weak opponent? Showed all he could. Strong? Kept it engaging. Always five minutes.
Descending the stage, Kang Seol muttered,
"Imitating... too much..."
Everyone there recalled Daisan, legend of the Warrior's Heart.
"I'm Daisan."
Daisan, conqueror who dominated the Warrior's Heart longest, was Kang Seol himself.