66 – Underground Arena #2
It’s been a while since the arena was tinged with silence.
The spectators were taken aback by the fact that the Blood Wind Sword was extended in a single blow, but soon after realizing the situation, they began to cheer.
“Mi, crazy! Bloody wind sword in one shot!”
“Who did you say he was? Tekken Ian?”
“The dividend rate is 13x? Zenjaaaaang! I should have walked on him!”
“What a blow! That’s awesome, Tekken!”
A fervent cheer erupted from the crowd, but what came out of me was a deep sigh.
“Haa….”
Sylvia declares victory by shouting Tekken Ian with a bright smile, but even those words did not inspire me much.
I just remembered how it happened.
***
A few hours ago.
Sylvia suggested reopening the underground arena as a way to revive the stagnant underworld.
“Reopening?”
“Right. Some crazy wizard set the arena on fire, and the arena was closed indefinitely for a while as the building burned down. The building seems to have been repaired just in time, so I’m thinking of using this as an opportunity to attract guests to the underworld again… I need your help to do that.”
I nodded once, as if asking me to continue.
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Sylvia immediately continued.
“There must be a player to raise the topicality of the arena, right? In addition to his overwhelming skills, it would be better if he was a rookie who was not known before. The crowd enjoys it a lot more when new faces appear, rather than just seeing the players they’ve always seen.”
“I see.”
“… It’s actually just a fake cause, and I really have a different purpose.”
I frowned and looked at him as if he meant something, and Sylvia crossed one of his legs and smiled mischievously.
“I want you to mercilessly defeat all the players in the arena. Be as overwhelming as possible.”
“Hmm?”
I don’t know much about how the arena works. However, it was questionable whether a new player who suddenly appeared and defeated all the existing players would really help the box office.
Even if I become the new champion in the arena, I have no plans to continue competing anyway. Why would you leave something like this to someone who is sure to leave soon?
Sylvia seemed to have guessed my thoughts and said, wiggling her fingers.
“It’s a good idea to open an arena to get publicity, but actually, the arena is a business that has nothing to do with me.”
“This is strange. Aren’t you the real power of this underworld?”
“The real world is right. Just not the ruler. This story is getting a little long… Can you tell me at length Or shorter?”
I shook my head lightly.
“Short, to the point.”
“… Mmm. Rather, it’s difficult to say briefly….”
Sylvia crossed his arms and sighed slightly.
“First of all, there are four people in power in the underworld of the system. I, who runs the brothel, Wang-cho, the beggar captain, Ulrich the drug dealer, and Bondman the moneylender. Like this, the four of us manage the underworld together.”
“I heard that the underworld is managed by an organization.”
“That’s only half true. It’s true that we don’t have a boss, but the four of us are one organization. However, if you take a closer look, they are having a busy day fighting each other for interests inside.”
I didn’t have to listen further to know what it felt like.
Since fighting among themselves won’t do any good in the long run, those four must have made some sort of pact not to fight each other.
But they don’t fight openly in front, and behind the scenes there must be fierce fights in the dark to take away each other’s interests.
That’s usually the case with four factions gathered in this small area.
Sylvia said, scratching her cheek shyly.
“It’s embarrassing to say this with my own mouth, but I’m the type of person who runs a relatively conscientious business in the dark.”
I know that. Just looking at the expressions and atmosphere of the women working below me, it was clear.
Of course, I know that the word conscientious illegal establishment is very inappropriate, but the women had a decadent atmosphere unique to those who work in entertainment, and they never felt like they were forced to work.
I don’t know how it used to be, but at least that hasn’t happened since Sylvia started managing this place.
“But the other three… Maybe it’s because he’s a tycoon before I entered the underworld, so he’s much more vicious and territorial. And the arena is a business that those three have been jointly running for a very long time, so it’s hard for me to interfere.”
“You want me to smash it?”
“Right. I want to completely smash it. If the players you have trained for a long time are destroyed, there will be no players to send out for a while. If it goes well, I might even be able to bring the arena business.”
“Then the other three won’t look at you kindly.”
“It wasn’t even a good relationship from the beginning. Besides, you would be surprised to know the exact number of how many people are unjustly dragged to death in illegal dumping grounds every year.”
“… ….”
Thinking back, the coachman I saw at the time testified that they sold the kidnapped aliens to the underworld.
Sylvia said that the people traded in Changgwan were protected and sent back.
But what about the people who traded outside of Changgwan?
What happened to the different races who were sold as sacrifices for wizards or as slaves for gladiators? Could Sylvia have protected them all?
Maybe not. Perhaps the reason Sylvia was trying to get into the arena business was part of that, I thought.
I didn’t bother to ask Sylvia about it to be sure, I just nodded lightly and said.
“You are too conscientious to do business in the dark.”
“… Uhm, what It’s not that I don’t know.”
“Why don’t we do business from above? You could do well.”
Although he is wanted, with Sylvia’s disguise, she will be able to do better business in the sun.
She doesn’t have to do anything illegal to take care of the women in Changgwan, but with her abilities, she could live a decent life in a better place anywhere.
However, Sylvia smiled shyly as she twisted the ends of her hair. It was a much more natural smile than when she was deliberately wearing a dangerously charming smile.
“Sorry, this is my home and home. I have no intention of leaving.”
“… Right.”
In the end, I accepted Sylvia’s offer.
***
‘Blood Wind Sword Gu-ryun is the king’s servant. Rigidity at its finest, and notorious for its brutality. It is gaining popularity among the crowd because of the record of tearing 99 people to death in the arena… Most of them were forcibly brought in for the bloody wind sword show.’
“Keuchup!”
Gu Lun’s jawbone was completely shattered into powder.
Even if you take them straight to the temple, you won’t be able to chew meat with that mouth anymore.
“Bloodwind sword, Gu Ryun, fell down with a single blow from Ian’s iron fist! Tekken Ian’s Victory! Let’s decorate the first game in a flashy way!’
“Wow!!”
***
‘The Black Carl Zelen is the hit man for the drug dealer Ulrich. He’s known for killing opponents by any means necessary. He likes to beware of memorization and poison when dealing with him.’
As Sylvia explained, Zelen’s sword was coated with poison, and he sprayed dangerous poison powder during the match.
“Why, why… ! Three drops could kill an elephant! Why does it have no effect on you!”
“By nature, poison doesn’t work.”
“That, what nonsense… !?”
During the match, the memorization thrown by the opponent was all in my hands. I crushed the memorized words with my hands and thrust my fist into Zelen’s abdomen with a tightly clenched fist.
“Kuehek!”
Zelene coughed up blood from her nose and mouth and fell forward, but did not get up. Since he had destroyed all of his internal bones and organs, he would have to train for several years at least.
“The black sword Jellen, this time as well, Ian’s Tekken hit! Knocked down with just one hit!! Tekken Ian takes his second victory!”
“Wowaaaaa!!”
***
‘This is Dalton of Thunder, the younger brother of the loan shark Bondman. He is a 5th Circle Lightning Mage, using his Lightning magic at will and roasting all his opponents. Never give time and distance. Once you allow the magic, the lightning will rain incessantly.’
Flash!
Kwurlung! Kwalung! Kwurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
I strode forward, being hit all over by a torrent of lightning.
Dalton fled back, his eyes pale from his magical exhaustion, restlessly closing his fists and spewing out his lightning bolts.
“Aagh!! Do not come! Don’t come! Why doesn’t the lightning work!!”
“It stings a little.”
“Quaaaaa!!”
I put my fist through Dalton’s chin just like I did with the bloodwind sword.
After spinning several times in the air and hitting the ground headfirst, Dalton didn’t move as if he were dead, but he was breathing feebly.
But with his broken jawbone he won’t be able to sing any more.
“Did you see! Even the thunderous Dalton! By the hand of Tekken Ian! Only one room! I’m knocked down with just one punch!”
“Wowaaaaa!!”
“Tekken!! Tekken!! Tekken!!”
***
After all the matches, Sylvia hung on her leg.
“Let go.”
“Honey! No brother! Just our one game! Let’s play one more game! Huh? It would be a pity if it ended like this!”
“I told you to let go.”
“You still need our information anyway! I’ll give you a free pass for a month or even a year! Just one more game please!”
I had to hold back the urge to kick Sylvia.
It’s just a scratch