The Attitude of One Who Climbs the Scaffold (1)

The untimely invasion of the white plunderers was far more critical and unsettling news than the escape of a disease-carrying Sapiens. The harbor city, which had been buzzing with unease, soon regained its composure. Thanks to reports that the intruders’ target lay in the sewer district, the panic subsided.

The low-lying slums reeking of overflowing rot. The place where ground-dwellers and debtors were pushed out and left to rot. The tragedies that would befall the discarded were of no concern to the clean and refined Eleim living in the elevated residential zones.

“Let those who aren’t even citizens do as they please.”

Of course, not everyone was without pity. But if someone suggested deploying the security guards to help, even they would likely wear troubled expressions. Then who will protect our property?

That was why most of the security forces were stationed in the residential districts—especially the wealthy neighborhoods. Even though not a single plunderer had ever breached those areas.

A few officers searching for the escaped Sapiens had been trapped in the invaded Graveyard Valley, but the safety of citizens took precedence over mere grunts. In the immortal Heavens where no one ever retired, young unemployed elves were everywhere, and new recruits could always be hired. So the long-eared ones perched in high places calmly turned a blind eye to the suffering of others.

Some even laughed behind their hands. If you’re so upset, don’t get reborn in the Graveyard Valley next time.

But that complacency was soon snatched away. The moment the Winter King aimed that terrifying dragon spear at their city.

Even thousands of security guards could not save them from the coming inferno.

Why is this happening? The balance of power between the kings exists precisely to prevent this kind of thing.

The entire city seemed to have fallen into a vegetative state. Childlike screams echoed in every direction. A hollow-eyed day laborer fled in a luxury vehicle worth its weight in gold. A man in a gold-embroidered robe smashed a bicycle lock with a hammer. In the distance, where a collision had occurred, flames shot into the sky.

I should have studied harder. If I’d passed the priestly exam and gone to the center, none of this would be happening.

In the heart of the city that had turned into chaos in the blink of an eye, Olcre, who was desperately trying to escape on foot, regretted it bitterly.

The long-time student who had been sobbing suddenly lifted his head.

The giant screen in the middle of the plaza. The image of a dragon stretching its head toward the southeast, filling the entire display. And beneath it, the scrolling messages.

It wasn’t only the residential districts above that had been thrown into uproar. Thanks to tablets, breaking news reached even here.

Look at this. Can you see the screen? Is this really happening right now?

When anxious voices spread from below the rooftop, Nathan fumbled with the tablet screen. Nilly helped him, since he wasn’t familiar with the controls. But her hands were shaking just as badly.

Only after Nilly managed to press the flashing red panel did the image appear. A bird’s-eye view from the sky. A massive mechanical hammer striking the neck of an enormous dragon atop a colossal mountain range, as if preheating. Black substances kept spurting from the red-and-black dragon’s neck. It might as well have been a dragon harboring an abyss within.

It looked exactly like the scene that bastard Morbi had described in the hospital courtyard.

“How far is it from the Graveyard Valley to those snow-covered mountains?”

“Probably around 100 to 150 kilometers?”

Nathan frowned. “Then what’s the problem? Don’t tell me that chained-up dragon can breathe fire all the way here…”

Nilly’s face had gone deathly ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠pale. Nathan abandoned any rational speculation.

“At the southern edge of the Heavens, there’s a mountain whose midsection is sunken like a meteor crater. No one lives there. The North uses it as a target for periodic shows of force.”

Even after hearing it, Nathan could hardly believe his ears. If such an insane creature existed on the surface, it would probably be called something grandiose like the Federation’s misfortune. He thought he had already witnessed the limits of injustice. A few days ago in the arena of slaughter-maniacs. Or in that abandoned building where he had faced a demon alone.

“Why.”

Without realizing it, Nathan grabbed a fistful of his own hair and yanked.

“Why the hell does the number-one priority keep getting updated?”

“His Majesty the King expressed his dissatisfaction, Nathan Maia.”

Protector Lord Morbi declared to the terrified crowd in a voice as calm and dry as if he were announcing tomorrow’s weather.

“The King of the Frozen Wastes wished to witness it with his own eyes. How you would face two hundred warriors and eight beasts. How you—who risked danger out of a sense of chivalry to save your comrades—would react to their heinous atrocities.”

Was voyeurism considered a virtue in the Heavens? Why did everyone lose their minds over such ugly hobbies as watching fights? There were so many better forms of entertainment in the world. Nathan felt like grabbing anyone nearby and recommending they take up flower arranging instead.

“Instead of relying on such trivial assistance, you must stand alone with dignity. That is both the punishment and the price of forgiveness granted by the King to one who has spilled royal blood.”

Then you should have said so in advance, you damn peeping tom.

Nathan barely swallowed the curse. With fireballs about to rain down from above, provoking the other side would only bring an early death.

“Spilled royal blood? Did someone die?” Benny shouted.

It was nonsense. All meaningful evidence had already vanished.

“If you’re talking about that video, it was all edited—”

“Do not speak falsehoods to the Northern Protector Lord. Are you willing to place your testimony on the scales alongside your life?”

Morbi instantly dismissed Benny’s excuse. The knight bit her lip. Yeah, I figured it would come to this.

Benny had told him to stay calm, but she had never truly expected to get away without paying any price. Their luck lately had been far too poor to hope for such a miracle.

“The merciful King has granted you a second chance. Surrender, Nathan Maia. And accept the challenge presented by the North. In the Arena of Punishment.”

Nathan stepped forward to the railing, ignoring Nilly’s frantic tug on his sleeve and Benny’s shout not to answer.

“The offer is rather sudden. Would it be possible to have two days to consider it?”

A faint hint of amusement crossed the Protector Lord’s weary face. Morbi closed his eyes as if meditating for a moment, then opened them again.

“Do so. We will wait exactly two days from now, at this same hour.”

Unlike his earlier businesslike tone, his voice now carried a feverish heat. It felt strangely off. It seemed the answer had not come from the Protector ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Lord himself.

“Don’t go. Absolutely not.”

“Surprisingly, he accepted when I asked for two days to think it over. I was ready to negotiate it down to a few hours if he refused.”

“Two days to think my ass. I said don’t go. Are you listening?”

Even though they had won overwhelmingly, the atmosphere inside the hospital was bleak. It was inevitable. The patients were frantically packing their belongings. Nathan had to get the city’s non-combatants out within the two days he had bought.

If they used the underground passage beneath the hospital that Benny had prepared for evacuating non-combatants, they might be able to escape the blast radius. But those who didn’t know about the passage would surely die.

Many in the Graveyard Valley had refused to flee and stayed put. The same was true in the residential districts. Countless people had remained in their homes, insisting the North would never actually fire. Many more were still stuck on the roads, unable to leave.

“Let’s be blunt. Who gives a shit if those long-eared bastards live or die? Why should you care?”

Even Nathan looked taken aback by Benny’s words.

“That’s pretty harsh.”

“It’s also fair. Honestly, I want to tell you to run too.”

Hrozka, sprawled on the lounge sofa, spoke in a dazed voice.

On one side of the scale was a single human. On the other, thousands of elves. Yet both elves had taken the human’s side. It was a strange thing indeed.

“How many days has it been since you came to the Heavens, Nathan? How many times have you nearly died in that short time? In the arena, while escaping the arena, and again in the Graveyard Valley. You’d probably run out of fingers trying to count them all.”

Nathan started ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠counting on his fingers, then realized how pointless it was and stopped. One thing was certain: it was a miracle he was still alive.

“You’re right.”

“The world is not fair. This world above the clouds is dozens of times more unfair to those who come from the ground. Not just you—every one of us faces great and small crises. We don’t have the luxury of being responsible for other people’s lives. Nor do we have the duty. You only need to think about your own survival.”

“That’s also right. But why are you saying all this now?”

“Because I can see it in your eyes—you’re seriously considering surrendering. Stop thinking about nobly offering yourself up for the sake of those Eleim bastards’ lives. They’ve given you nothing.”

“Well…”

When Nathan trailed off, clearly struck by the truth, Benny leaned in close.

“Well? You wanna die for real?”

“I was dragged here as an arena slave anyway. If things had gone according to plan, I’d be acting as Santra’s proxy fighter. So what’s really different?”

Ramkaf spoke cautiously, then quietly edged out of range of Benny’s fist. Unfortunately, he couldn’t escape the guardian monster behind him. His bony backside, wiggling backward, bumped into Sweetie’s head. A low, toothy growl. Ramkaf screamed like a child.

“The Arena of Punishment is different. The regular arenas are about entertainment. As long as it makes money, you can survive. The proxy fighters in the Great Arena exist to carry out trials. They don’t even need to worry about the audience, so once the outcome is decided, there’s no need to kill each other. But the purpose of the Arena of Punishment is to destroy the condemned. Do you understand, Nathan? If you go in there, you will die!”

“Moreover, he said it clearly. ‘Accept the challenge presented by the North.’ In the Arena of Punishment, the victim’s side can determine the ordeals inflicted on the sinner. They pay an appropriate price according to the level of the trial.”

Hrozka scratched his head vigorously. His eyes wandered through empty air, as if flipping through the worn pages of the past. It seemed he had unpleasant memories of the Arena of Punishment.

“I’ll be honest. I was expecting a farewell. After all, killing a member of the royal family is my responsibility.”

“No, it’s because of me.” Nilly’s voice trembled. A Baeleim who had lived in hiding for survival. For fifteen years. Or even longer.

“So this might sound even more shameless. Even if Nathan runs, will it really solve anything? Won’t the North chase after him, burning everything in their path? Can Nathan truly escape that flame until the very end? It might actually be wiser for him to accept their condition.”

Benny’s mouth fell open. “Hey, what the hell—”

“I’m saying ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠this because I know that ‘Shaking Spear’ well. Not for the sake of my own life. Of course, I won’t blame you no matter what choice you make. After all, I’m alive thanks to you, Nathan.”

Now even Benny was tearing at her hair. At this rate, none of them would have any scalp left.

After a long silence, Nathan spoke in a low, hoarse voice.

“Even if we leave in the morning, we should still have time to get out of the city, right?”

Several faces hardened. Benny’s, however, brightened.

“You crazy bastard, if you’re going to run then do it right—”

“Shut up, Ramkaf! Yeah, half a day should be enough.”

“Then let’s get some sleep for now and think it over. It’s already too late.”

A very faint dawn light. Now.

Nathan opened his eyes. Of course, as they had said, leaving in the morning would still give them enough time to escape the city. But there was no need for that escape to be a flight.

In the private room Benny had given him after he said he would think calmly, Nathan quietly straightened the bedding. He slipped the letter he had written during the night under the pillow. He had written it in the language of the Federation since he wasn’t fluent in the Heavenly tongue, but it probably wouldn’t matter. Someone who could read it would translate.

With his two-handed sword slung over his shoulder, Nathan finally faced two major obstacles.

First. The iron bars screwed into the window frame—most likely to prevent patients from falling. And the second was—

“You’re stretching my clothes.”

Sweetie growled from behind, tugging at his shirt. Nathan had grown somewhat used to it, but the creature’s ferocious appearance still made his heart tighten for a moment. In truth, it didn’t stop at stretching—the razor-sharp teeth tore the fabric with a loud rip. Of course, it wasn’t biting with full force. If it had, his back would already be in shreds.

“I figured Benny wouldn’t give me a private room without any insurance.”

Nathan placed a hand on Sweetie’s head and gently pushed it away. The monster whined and fidgeted like a dog.

“Thanks for everything. It was fun.”

It was unclear whether the creature understood the words. But Sweetie eventually retreated to the hallway and lay down dejectedly.

After pushing Sweetie aside to make space, Nathan felt a twinge of guilt. What he was about to do probably wouldn’t please his friends. Especially Benny.

Sorry for breaking another thing.

A thunderous roar like an explosion and a crushing impact.

The invaders from the Frozen Wastes, who had been sleeping sprawled out in the pre-dawn cold, jumped up in panic. A second, even louder sound rang out among them.

BOOM.

“Look at them sleeping so comfortably after getting blown up. If it were me, I’d be too embarrassed to lie anywhere else.”

Among the berserkers scrambling to their feet, the Protector Lord quietly opened his eyes. He had been standing in the same spot the entire time. Just as he had been the previous evening.

Nathan, brushing glass shards off himself, inwardly marveled at the man’s inhuman patience. Ordinary willpower could not achieve that level of endurance.

The Protector Lord spoke first.

“You carry a sword. Does that mean your answer is to fight?”

“No. I’ve come to accept your conditions.”

The Protector Lord smiled faintly. His emotions showed as honestly as his gaunt complexion allowed.

“I didn’t expect that.”

It was genuine admiration.

“Let’s talk while we walk.”