ALL NOVEL 4.
4.
Considering that the next level after beginner is first class, Al is overly overqualified to participate in this match. Even knowing that, Yu Jin couldn’t shake the thought that Jinhyeon would lose. The talent he possessed was not just a simple overqualification.
In martial arts terms, it was the Heavenly Martial Body.
Yu Jin placed a hand on his racing heart and looked up at the stage. He was afraid of the protagonist who might one day kill him, but at the same time, he felt a sense of anticipation.
‘I liked that novel.’
Some complained it was a harem story, but Yu Jin still found it enjoyable. During the tough times of life, reading brought him a moment of happiness.
At that moment, the host, who had calmed the crowd to some extent, shouted with a weary expression.
“Then let the duel begin!”
Boom!
With the sound of a drum, the atmosphere heightened. At the same time, a few people rushed to Al and Jinhyeon to remove the restraints that had been placed on them. Even those who had been complaining were now united in spirit.
“Kill him!”
With someone’s shout, madness spread like wildfire.
“Kill him!”
“Kill him!”
“Crush him!”
Though they were prepared, the pressure was immense. The cries wishing for someone’s death were truly barbaric.
So many people regarded the death of a slave as something natural. Ironically, it was only in this situation that Yu Jin truly felt he had a foothold in this world.
Because something unimaginable in modern times was happening.
Without realizing it, Yu Jin clenched his fists.
“Finally, we meet here.”
Al glared at Jinhyeon with a cold gaze. With a fierce expression and a large build, his weapon was also fearsome. Normally, when a regular person met Al’s gaze, they would shrink back. But Jinhyeon did not.
Instead, he smiled, lifting the corners of his mouth.
“How’s that friend who got hurt last time?”
Al’s face twisted at the casually thrown words.
Duel Slaves often had a distant relationship with each other. They would eventually clash on the stage and could kill each other. However, uniquely, Al had a friend even in such circumstances.
He was a scoundrel, but he had a strong sense of loyalty, though his tastes were somewhat problematic. When he saw Jinhyeon’s handsome face, he tried to look down on him but ended up getting hurt in retaliation. Jinhyeon, who charged at him with a fierce expression, smashed the two pairs of Al’s friends.
The manager, who happened to notice, quickly intervened, and somehow the friend survived, but ultimately, he was left half-crazed. Having lost something precious for the first time, the friend fell into despair.
He attempted to seek revenge on Jinhyeon, but failed due to the Colosseum’s interference. To them, Jinhyeon was a valuable asset.
Instead, they sent Al’s friend, who was looking for revenge, to another Colosseum. Unlike the Arcane Colosseum, which properly treated injuries, the place he was sent to was a harsh one. He might never see his friend again. Thus, Al felt a duty to take revenge.
‘You managed to keep him alive.’
Jinhyeon had accepted the offer that Al had been rejecting every time. No matter how he persuaded the Colosseum, today would be Jinhyeon’s grave.
“Graaah!”
As always, Al shouted and raised his axe. It was time for slaughter!
The axe came down mercilessly, clashing with the sword Jinhyeon had thrust forward. Naturally, the axe should have shattered the sword, but that was not the case here. The axe flowed down the side of the blade and struck the ground.
As Al, flustered, tried to lift the axe again, Jinhyeon stomped down on him, pinning him down.
It didn’t seem like he weighed much, yet the axe couldn’t be lifted. However, Al was always prepared with another weapon for such situations.
Pulling the chain attached to the axe’s end, a small blade emerged from the handle. If he swung the chain like this, the blade would attack the opponent.
However, Jinhyeon easily dodged him. Time and again. Someone watching shouted.
“Al! Kill that bastard! I said kill him! Why can’t you do it! Damn it, I bet everything on you!”
In the Colosseum duels, spectators could place bets. If the slave they bet on won, they would receive the increased payout. Naturally, the voices of those who had bet on Al grew louder.
‘You bastards! Who doesn’t know that?’
The person who wanted to win the most here was probably Al. He instinctively understood that if he lost here, he would end up in a pitiful state.
‘He’s a beginner! Why is he dodging so well when he’s a beginner!’
Jinhyeon didn’t have any special techniques. He just dodged well and thrust effectively. Sometimes he even slashed. Al was becoming covered in wounds, yet he remained unscathed.
Fear began to rise. Al gritted his teeth and charged in. He was willing to endure a certain amount of injury to kill Jinhyeon. However, his attempts were futile.
“Ahh!”
Before long, Jinhyeon, who had lowered his body, slashed at the back of Al’s ankle. Unable to bear the heavy weight, the ankle twisted, and the crowd erupted in anger.
“Can’t you even use your size! Get up!”
“Ahhh!”
There were also those who screamed just like Al. But the tide of battle did not change. Al ultimately could not rise and was butchered by Jinhyeon.
His wrist was slashed, and his ankle was cut. He tried to swing his arms, enduring the pain, but the more he did, the more his body fell apart. Finally, Al lost consciousness and collapsed.
Blood pooled where Al had fallen.
The people who had been screaming madly had quieted down. But that was only for a moment. When the host announced Al’s death, those who had bet on the small odds cheered.
“Jinhyeon! Jinhyeon!”
The promising contender of the Arcane Colosseum had thus left another achievement.
Yu Jin had closed his eyes halfway through. Keith was right. He still found it hard to see blood.
‘Now I need to overcome this.’
The impact of witnessing the death of his caretaker was not small. As he closed his eyes and tried to calm his churning stomach, something cold touched his forehead.
When he tilted his head back and carefully opened his eyes, he saw Keith placing a wet towel on his forehead.
“Shall we draw the curtains?”
But Yu Jin shook his head.
“I’m fine.”
Once he felt a bit better, he intended to look again. Not out of curiosity for the protagonist’s life or death, but to strengthen his own heart.
It seemed Keith sensed that. He wore a troubled expression but complied with Yu Jin’s wishes. Then he carefully tended to Yu Jin from the side.
“…Don’t you resent me?”
Yu Jin finally spoke the words he had wanted to ask all along. In truth, he had wanted to ask since the moment his caretaker died, but he hadn’t been able to.
He was afraid of the answer, fearing that Keith and Haruna, his only remaining family, might leave him.
In response to Yu Jin’s question, Keith knelt beside the chair he was sitting in.
“I do not resent you. You bear no guilt, Yu Jin. If there is blame, it lies with those who killed your mother.”
“Do you really think so?”
“Yes. Haruna thinks so too.”
Keith gently patted the back of Yu Jin’s hand.
“So don’t entertain such nonsensical thoughts. We are family, aren’t we?”
Yu Jin slowly blinked. He couldn’t say anything until the tears that had welled up finally fell.
I wasn’t the only one who thought that. They both considered me family. Yu Jin whispered as he hugged Keith tightly.
“Brother.”
It was a title he hadn’t used for a long time.
“Yes, Yu Jin.”
Keith embraced Yu Jin in return. A long-standing grudge in his heart was finally released.
Yu Jin cried for a long time after that. Keith held him close and gently comforted him until the tears stopped.
“You’ve cried too much. Look, your eyes are swollen.”
“Are they really swollen?”
“You look like a goldfish.”
As Keith chuckled lightly, Yu Jin followed suit and smiled. It felt like they had returned to the past.
“Shall we head back now?”
“No, I have something to do.”
“What is it?”
“I’m going to buy a Duel Slave.”
“That slave from earlier?”
“Yeah.”
When Yu Jin confirmed this, Keith pressed his lips together. He seemed to be contemplating something.
“Do you really have to buy him? What about another slave? There are many slaves at the Arcane Colosseum.”
“Why?”
“That slave looks too dangerous.”
Correct. He really is a dangerous guy. But I have to buy him.
“I still have to.”
Yu Jin pulled away from Keith’s embrace.
“Even if I oppose it?”
“I’ll buy him even if you oppose it.”
Keith sighed softly. He understood that Yu Jin would not change his mind.
“Fine. I’ll make arrangements.”
Keith, who had tidied up Yu Jin’s clothes, lightly kissed his forehead. They had fallen asleep together every night, but they had never had contact like this.
Yu Jin’s eyes widened in surprise. But Keith left the room with a calm expression as if nothing had happened.
‘Well, it’s probably a sign of affection.’
Yu Jin thought this and awkwardly rubbed his forehead.
The director of the Arcane Colosseum was a man who looked like he had nothing to do with combat. He swept his gray hair back and wore glasses, appearing more like a scholar than a warrior.
He held a thin, long rod in his hand, which only added to that impression.