Chapter 288: Shadow (4)
Meanwhile, at that moment.
Rishe was watching from the audience seats.
*Young Master, will you be alright...?*
She was staring at the arena with eyes full of worry.
In reality, considering Cain's skills, there wasn't much need to worry.
To be frank, it would take at least an executive of the Cult to kill him.
The idea that these criminals could kill Cain now was absurd.
However.
*I still can't help but worry.*
Things in life don't always go as planned, do they?
There might be some dangerous individuals among those criminals.
Just as Rishe was thinking this.
"Did you hear? They say Elfer is participating this time."
"What? That Elfer who killed members of the Capital City's knights and escaped?"
"Yes, that's what they're saying."
Nearby spectators mentioned an ominous name.
Elfer.
Once one of the most notorious criminals.
Unlike ordinary murderers, he went around killing strong people.
How powerful must he be for none of the knights and adventurers sent to capture him to have survived?
*Will Young Master be alright...?*
With that thought, Rishe continued watching the arena with worried eyes.
***
Meanwhile, Elfer was thinking:
*Hmm... they all seem like small fry.*
Having lost at rock-paper-scissors, he ended up staying in the arena.
Of course, unlike regular participants, he deliberately lost hoping to find strong opponents, but looking around, there didn't seem to be any.
*If I'd known, I would have just played scissors.*
Just as he was feeling disappointed.
"Dieeeeee!"
Someone attempted a sneak attack from behind.
Without even looking, Elfer extended his elbow backward and said:
"If you're going to sneak attack, at least be quiet about it."
"Guhk!"
The participant who took his attack clutched his heart and died.
Elfer had expected him to be weak, but not weak enough to die from just one hit.
*This is boring. I should end this quickly.*
He slowly walked toward the criminals fighting like dogs around him.
Soon, Elfer was taking them down one by one with concise movements.
After a while.
*Hmm....*
Somehow, only half remained.
He shifted his gaze.
At the same time.
*Huh?*
Elfer sensed something odd.
About half the participants remained.
That much he understood.
But why were they surrounding one person instead of fighting?
*What's going on? Is something happening over there?*
As he watched with a puzzled expression.
-BOOM!
A thunderous sound rang in his ears, and then.
"Guhk!"
"Argggh!"
Participants were sent flying into the wire fence.
*What? There's someone like this here?*
He briefly observed the man before him.
Though his face was hidden behind a mask, Elfer instinctively knew.
This guy was the strongest among all participants.
*This is fun!*
A strong opponent after so long.
After dealing with weaklings all this time, Elfer grinned eerily at the thought of meeting a strong opponent and kicked off the ground.
***
Suddenly, a strange man approached me with a creepy smile.
*What's with this guy?*
It's already unpleasant that he's charging at me, but that weird smile makes it twice as annoying.
I easily caught his fist with one hand.
The next moment.
"Why are you smiling like that? It's disgusting."
I lightly kicked toward his abdomen.
But.
-Whoosh.
My kick went through the air.
Turning my head, I saw he had somehow retreated.
Hmm. So he's not an ordinary criminal?
"Who are you?"
Suddenly, he asked about my identity.
Then.
"I've faced many strong opponents, but it's the first time I've met someone as strong as you."
"......"
He's talking as if he's someone special.
His skills are indeed not bad.
I can't pinpoint exactly how strong he is, but if I had to compare:
*Equivalent to a Branch Manager of the Cult?*
No, thinking about it, that's not bad—it's actually good?
To be at that level without receiving demonic energy, he could live comfortably anywhere.
As an adventurer, he might not be S-rank, but definitely A-rank or above.
Essentially, he's a top-tier fighter.
Having fought only monsters recently, I've unconsciously raised my standards.
"Can't you hear me? I asked who you are."
As I was lost in thought, he continued asking about my identity.
I answered:
"Hey, I'm wearing a mask to hide my identity. Would you reveal yours if you were me?"
"Fair point. Then I'll find out by force!"
As soon as he finished speaking.
-Whoosh!
His hand reached for my mask.
Apparently, it doesn't matter if a participant's mask gets removed.
*Well, they can't even guarantee our lives, so revealing identities is the least of our concerns.*
It makes sense in a way.
Of course, neither matters to me.
"What?!"
Did he not expect me to dodge?
He was startled, his eyes wide open.
In that moment of surprise.
"Why are you so shocked?"
I casually extended my fist.
And.
"Ugh!"
He flew to the opposite fence after taking my punch.
*Hmm. His reaction speed is decent.*
It was a light attack, but he still managed to barely block it.
His skills seemed to place him among the upper echelons of Branch Managers.
"Huff... This won't do."
At that moment, he sighed deeply and loosened his wrists.
-Whoosh!
Pure white aura erupted from his body.
The next moment.
-Whoosh!
He extended his fist.
An aura shaped like a fist came toward me.
*It's similar to a sword wave but with a fist.*
It's certainly not a bad technique.
If I were at his level, dodging would be the best option.
But.
-Crack!
For the changed me, such an attack wasn't even worth dodging.
Of course, blocking it bare-handed would be reckless.
*Hmm. I've definitely changed.*
In the past, due to lack of technique, it took time to concentrate energy on specific parts, but is it because my body has been reconstructed?
I can now use the power within my body at a different speed than before.
*Let me try attacking too.*
Unlike before, this time I coated my hand with aura.
And in just an instant.
"Damn it... Guhk!"
Before he could finish speaking, my fist accurately struck his abdomen.
Must be quite painful?
"Urgggh!"
He clutched his stomach, drooling.
Looking at just this, he might seem pitiful, but.
"Hmm. With such strength, you became a criminal..."
He must have committed quite a few murders.
Of course, they might have been unjust killings, but judging by his killing intent, that's unlikely.
His technique clearly shows he's killed more than once or twice.
*Well, when have I ever thought about such things before dealing with someone?*
With that thought, I kicked his chin.
And.
"Guhk!"
He fell backward.
I shifted my gaze to his eyes.
Unlike before, they were filled with fear.
"What? Didn't you want to fight strong opponents?"
"D-don't come closer! Spare me!"
Indeed, people show their true colors when facing death. He's completely transformed into something ugly.
Most of the people he killed probably begged the same way.
"You've killed people who begged for their lives too, haven't you? It's a bit much to say that now. Just die."
"D-damn...!"
Before he could finish.
-Crack!
I completely broke his neck with my foot, killing him.
Simultaneously.
-Waaaaaah!
The nobles watching from the audience seats cheered.
And so, the first match ended.
***
Meanwhile, at that moment.
Kaile, who was watching the match:
*It seems the rumors weren't exaggerated.*
He was internally quite surprised by Cain's skills.
He already knew Cain was strong.
After all, he wasn't called a hero by the public for nothing.
But what puzzled him was:
*How could he become this strong in just 2 years?*
Unlike others, Kaile had seen Cain's skills firsthand 2 years ago and knew.
No matter how hard Cain tried, he should have only reached a mediocre level at best.
But.
*This is quite a variable.*
His strength was beyond imagination.
Though it's hard to gauge exactly how strong he is since he didn't use his full power, he's at least on par with an executive.
Reaching executive-level strength in just 2 years.
*I need to reconsider our deal with the Cult.*
With that thought, Kaile walked toward the arena.
To continue the proceedings.
***
About two hours had passed since then.
The second and third matches had concluded.
I briefly looked around.
*Not many left.*
Due to the many eliminations in the second and third matches, only about a tenth of the original participants remained.
Of course, all the masked participants had survived.
Well, they probably participated because they were confident in their skills.
*I wonder when the next match will start.*
Just as I was thinking this.
"All participants, please come forward."
The fourth match was about to begin.
We walked into the arena with light steps.
At the same time.
"Yes! This is the final match! From here on, it's okay for guests to forfeit! Is there anyone who wants to give up?"
After Kaile's explanation, everyone except Saix raised their hands without hesitation.
It seems they thought it best to forfeit after seeing my and Saix's skills.
[The Goddess Who Sees Fate says she would have forfeited too.]
Well, I'd probably do the same if I were them.
To be honest, the skill gap is too large to not forfeit.
Just then.
"Wait, what about us?! We want to forfeit too!"
"That's right! Why do we have to compete with those monsters!"
The criminals protested, asking to be released.
To this, Kaile responded with an ice-cold gaze:
"Unlike those people, you are criminals. Of course not. However, if you survive the final match, we'll release you and give you enough gold to live on for the rest of your life."
The criminals shut their mouths tightly.
Partly due to Kaile's killing intent, but probably also because of the promise of lifelong wealth.
*Do they really think they can survive?*
As I was looking at them pitifully.
"Now, let me explain the final match. The final match is monster hunting. You'll work together with team members I select to hunt monsters."
Kaile explained the final match.
*Hmm. The final match seems relatively light.*
Well, it's not really that easy, but compared to the previous matches, it's relatively decent.
If you get good teammates, you can just get carried.
Though it's a bit awkward if I'm the one carrying.
"Oh?! This is amazing from the start!"
Suddenly, Kaile, who was drawing lots, was startled.
Then.
"The first team will be participant number 23 and participant number 29!"
"Ooooh!!!"
Unexpected words came out of his mouth.
*What? Shit?*
Number 29 is me.
And number 23 is none other than Saix, an executive of the Cult.