Chapter 185 (1/2)

Everyone sometimes felt like they were all alone in the world, that everybody else was some kind of machine or a doll. That was how Su-hyeun felt at the moment, feeling disconnected from the world.

He felt like everyone here was a doll. At first, he had only thought this about the hosts. But everyone seemed like that now. They were normal usually, but when Su-hyeun tried to ask them about their homes or their pasts, they started to have issues—

“Umm… This game? Why do I want to win?”

—like at that moment.

“Well…that is…”

“…It’s okay.” Su-hyeun shook his head.

Each time was the same. Su-hyeun had asked the man, named Conrad, who Su-hyeun would fight in the quarterfinals. He was the strongest man Su-hyeun had to deal with to pass the goal of the trial.

“Thank you anyway. Then, see you at the game.”

“Oh? Ok, yes. Let’s have a good game.”

“Yes. Then…”

It was the time when Su-hyeun tried to turn and walk away.

“But what are you trying to figure out?” Conrad asked, tossing his green hair back. “I heard about you last night when I drank with some other people. You go around and ask people about this and that, right? Why? What are you so curious about?”

“Even if I tell you what I am wondering,” Su-hyeun said, turning his head back and looking Conrad, “you won’t be able to answer my questions anyway.”

“…What?”

“I’m leaving. See you tomorrow,” Su-hyeun said and left.

He had already talked with quite a few other players. And he learned all the players, except Luslec, had the same reaction when he asked about their pasts.

<<Tomorrow.>>

The quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals were supposed to be held in one day because there weren’t many games left. He had had a lot on his mind, but he started to organize his thoughts now. And the next day would be the day that he could confirm his hypothesis. Su-hyeun’s steps that went back to his room became quicker.

***

Hooooray—!

The loud cheer filled up the whole stadium. Eight players, including Su-hyeun, were all preparing at the edge of the stadium. Miru was standing next to Su-hyeun, fluttering his wings as if he was excited by the mood of the stadium. One host went up to the stage and started some sort of opening speech. But, of course, Su-hyeun didn’t care about that.

“Are you nervous?” Luslec was standing next to Su-hyeun, again.

Luslec was the one who had been cozying up to Su-hyeun and had answered the question that no one else could. But that made him all the more suspicious. Su-hyeun stared at Luslec.

At his gaze, Luslec asked as if he was puzzled, “Why? Why are you looking at me like that?”

“We’ll see in the finals.”

“What? Finals?”

Su-hyeun never thought Luslec would lose the game before the finals. Su-hyeun could tell that from Luslec’s atmosphere or his concentration of the magic. He would get into the finals even if he met Chun Ha-jin in the semifinals.

“I guess you won’t stop at the quarterfinals, obviously?”

At Luslec’s words, Su-hyeun was startled. He looked back at him. And, at that moment, the host called Luslec.

“Well. See you later. I will look forward to it,” Luslec said and walked toward the stage.

His opponent was already waiting for him. He was a muscular man, named Hercules. He was wearing a skin of a lion on his head, holding a thick club, breathing heavily.

“I look forward to your kind cooperation.” Luslec walked toward Hercules and reached his hand.

Hercules looked at Luslec calmly and extended his hand. He grabbed Luslec’s hand very tightly as if he would break his hand at once.

“I will consider any further action to be a foul,” the host said.

Hercules frowned at the host’s interruption. “Damn.”

He let go of Luslec’s hand and turned away. Luslec made a fuss about his hand being hurt. The host glanced at his hand to check, and he confirmed Luslec was fine. Then, he announced the beginning of the match.

“Let’s start the first game of the quarterfinals.”

Whiz—

With the host’s announcement, Hercules rushed at Luslec.

Whoosh—

He lifted his club and slammed it down.

Boom—!

The ground shattered. And that was an attack without any magic in it.

<<Wow. What must his Strength stat be?>> Su-hyeun thought.

Hercules. He was a hero from myth that was said to be as strong as a god. At first, Su-hyeun thought this would be a different man with the same name. But as he watched the game, he realized he had been wrong.

<<He might be the real Hercules.>>

He had a muscular body and a lion mask on his head. He even carried club and bow on his back. He was clearly the mythical hero, Hercules, in appearance. But he was missing too many things to think he was the real Hercules.

<<Of course, he’ll be the third strongest one in this trial, after Luslec and Chun Ha-jin.>>

Whether or not he was the real Hercules, he was certainly strong. He was fighting well against Luslec, using his strong power and hard body. His body couldn’t be cut by a sword. His club was powerful enough to break the hard floor of the stadium. He had the best condition for close combat.

Stab—

Luslec, who stabbed his sword at the shoulder of Hercules, looked stunned. The sword was stopped abruptly. Luslec’s attack looked like a fatal blow, but the sword only went in about the width of a finger.

Swish—

Crack—!

At the same time, Hercules’s club smashed Luslec’s face.

Swiiiiiiish—

Wham, boom, thud—!

Luslec’s body flew far and rolled along the ground. He quickly raised himself up on one hand. He swept his face with the other hand.

“Haack, spit!” Luslec’s spit was tinged with blood. “God damn. That hurt.”

Crack, crack—