Chapter 40
Chapter 40
One hour before the gladiator tournament began—
outside the colosseum, Rene and Ruen were walking side by side.
Since Bern and Rin were busy preparing, Rene had decided to escort Ruen back to the inn.
Normally, she would’ve been chatting cheerfully.
But now—
she was silent.
Clearly troubled.
Ruen asked casually:
“Rene noona, is something wrong?”
“Ah… well…”
She hesitated.
Was it okay to say this to a child?
In the end—
she spoke.
“I feel like I might be useless to Bern…”
“Useless? Why?”
“He relies on Rin for important things… but not on me. Even now, they entered the tournament together…”
“It’s just about using the right person for the right situation. There will be times when he relies on you too.”
A logical answer.
But not enough.
Her expression stayed dark.
“I’m not confident I could meet his expectations even if that time comes.”
“Why not?”
“Rin always goes beyond what he asks. I… can’t do that.”
“Then find your own strength and use that.”
“…Do I have one?”
“You definitely do!”
That—
finally made her smile.
Just a little.
Then—
Ruen grinned.
“Might I suggest something?”
“Hm?”
He leaned in—
and whispered.
Rene’s eyes widened.
“H-how do you know that about me?!”
“Bern told me.”
“Oh… I see.”
“And also—”
He kept whispering.
Her tail began wagging wildly.
So much that a passerby tripped over it.
Luckily, her tail was hidden by magic.
Otherwise—
disaster.
“…Are you sure this will work?”
“Just try it! Nothing to lose, right?”
“…Maybe you’re right.”
And just like that—
Rene was completely convinced.
A pure-hearted girl—
led by a scheming regressor.
Meanwhile—
I had no choice.
No forfeiting.
No holding back.
If I performed poorly—
I’d be executed.
But if I won—
I might get dragged into a royal nightmare.
‘Why does it have to be Charlotte…?’
[Is she really that dangerous?]
‘More than the Demon King—for me.’
Charlotte Holden
A prodigy.
At age eight—
she hunted B-rank monsters.
With talent, ambition, and royal support—
she became a monster in her own right.
That part was fine.
The problem came later.
After the kingdom fell—
she lost everything.
An arm.
Her status.
Her purpose.
Then Kang Junhyuk saved her.
Big mistake.
She had…
a terrifying hidden trait.
Even he regretted it.
“…Rin.”
“Yes?”
“Make it to the finals.”
“…Understood!”
She was the only one who could match me.
So—
I’d lose to her.
Naturally.
Cleanly.
[So you’ve given up on forfeiting.]
‘No choice.’
Running would mean becoming an enemy of the kingdom.
Too risky.
“Gladiator Bern, step forward.”
My turn.
[You won’t lose. Do your best.]
‘Thanks.’
[Still strange to see you use another weapon.]
‘You’re the strange one.’
I drew my old sword.
Faced my opponent.
“Looks like an easy win!”
“….”
“Already scared?”
I ignored him.
Tested my blade.
All good.
“Begin!”
He charged with a halberd.
I blocked.
Effortlessly.
He panicked.
“Then take this!”
A thrust toward my neck.
I caught it—
redirected—
and placed my blade at his throat.
1 centimeter away.
“I… surrender!”
Victory.
Clean.
The crowd erupted.
“Incredible!”
“He dominated without killing!”
“So that’s the skill the Sword Saint praised!”
I glanced toward the VIP seats.
Charlotte—
wasn’t impressed.
Good.
‘Perfect. Just like this.’
[So far, so good.]
‘Now I just need to lose to Rin later.’
Everything was going smoothly.
Too smoothly.
“Round 1 is complete! Now, immediately—Round 2!”
““WOOO!!”””
No break.
Straight into the next match.
“Next! Gladiator versus beast! Can he survive the fangs of a Dire Wolf pack?!”
A beast match.
Classic.
“Bern versus a Dire Wolf pack!”
The crowd roared.
Too much hype.
Thanks, Rin.
[You’ll be fine?]
‘Of course.’
I gripped my sword.
The gate opened—
“Introducing the Dire Wolf—…huh?”
“…What?”
That wasn’t a wolf.
A massive creature—
over 5 meters tall.
Scaled like a reptile.
With wings.
And a broken horn.
“….”
“ROOOAAAR!”
“….”
“I am a mutated wyvern!”
The audience screamed.
Panic.
Chaos.
And then—
a voice echoed in my head.
‘…Wait, why didn’t that work this time?’
That voice.
I knew it.
“…Rene?”