Chapter 103

[Hmm? Did you have some kind of ingenious idea?]

[We will tear off the pelt of her upper body and put it on the winner of tomorrow’s duel . It will be his ornamental headdress . ]

[Terrific! Wouldn’t that be the start of the story of the “Leopardslayer”!?]

[And after the duel, we’re going to have an event where Eve’s flesh would be served . It would definitely be exciting . ]

[Eat the flesh of the strongest and be the next strongest! Well, that’s a really terrific idea! With this kind of event, the audience would certainly be delighted! As expected of Duke-dono! I really admire your ingenuity!]

[We should be able to prepare the next celebrity with this . So even if Eve disappears, the Blood Colosseum would still be really tranquil for a while . ]

[However, what if Eve wins the duel tomorrow?]

[Hmm? Whatever the result of the duel, I would still kill her, you know? What do you think would the audience think if she’s still alive, loitering around the royal capital or in other places? They would feel that “Even though the strongest Blood Champion is still here...” every time they see Eve . ]

[Fumu... They would think like “I’m not satisfied with the Blood Colosseum without Eve Speed in there” or something like that . ]

[That’s exactly how it is . However, even the audience would give up clinging on her if she were dead . Even if we were able to raise some more celebrities, she will still be a hindrance as long as she’s alive . ]

[You’re really good at reading a few steps ahead . However, can you even kill her so easily?]

[Don’t worry about that . I’m already prepared in case something like that happens . ]

[As expected of Duke Zuan . By the way, you may already know about this but... That story about Eve buying back the freedom of the daughter of a certain former slave—]

Twitch

My ears instinctively reacts at that certain topic .

[That Dark Elf working in White Coin huh...]

Before the Guild Master could respond, the Duke kept on speaking .

[That’s right . It’s thanks to that girl that Eve continued being a Blood Champion longer than she had planned . What will happen to her? Are you planning to kindly let her have her freedom?]

[Hahaha, I would actually be taking custody of her . ]

[Hou? You really are filled with compassion—]

[She’s still a brat who stinks of piss, but she would eventually become an earth-shattering beauty . I’ve always wanted to have a pretty dark elf for a long time . Fufufu... After I take custody of her, I’ll make sure to train her with my own two hands . ]

[Y- You couldn’t do that because Eve’s still here?]

[It’s annoyingly so . Though I say that, I think she would rather be kept by a noble who cherishes her than any other man who’d hardly any money at all . Well, I would still sell her to the brothel after I got tired of her... After all, even if she’s not an elf, dark elves were also rare to see . I’m sure that she’d attract lots of customers! Hahahaha!]

[Ha- Hahaha... H- However, haven’t you thought that you spent a lot of time together with Eve? Haven’t you felt any emotions towards her?]

[Oh my? You’re saying something really strange there, Guild Master-dono . ]

[?]

[I wouldn’t hold any kind of feelings for these beasts whose charms were even lesser than a human . ]

[———–]

I thought of immediately bursting into that room and killing him .

At the same time, I can’t help but feel ashamed that I haven’t seen through this bastard .

(He’s always been this kind of person huh...)

I tried to firmly hold my anger .

There is still Costello right in front of the door .

I don’t really know how strong he is .

If I end up having trouble dealing with him, it would be the end .

If I take a lot of time fighting them, other soldiers may come and gather in this place .

I would still be killed if I’m outnumbered by them .

[............... . . ]

If it were just my own life, it wouldn’t matter to me .

(However, what would happen to that child if something were to happen to me here...?)

I don’t think that I would like leaving that to that proprietress in White Coin .

I also can’t leave her in that place forever .

(Without my help, she will never be saved from that kind of place . )

Swallowing the killing intent within me, I left that place .

Making sure that I wouldn’t make any sound, I went back to the first floor .

On the way back to my room...

[Well, well... Look who it is . I’ve been thinking who could it be, but aren’t you Eve Speed?]

The man who called out to me is wearing a hood over his head .

A man who had thin, narrow eyes looking at me .

(This man... When did he...? Who is this?)

I didn’t even feel his presence .

[I’m looking forward to your duel tomorrow . ]

[...Yeah . ]

I briefly replied .

As I’m walking away from that place...

[So this is where you were, Muaji-sama . ]

A robed man rushed towards here .

I look back towards them .

It seems that man is calling out to the guy with narrow eyes .

[We have a little problem . ]

[What happened?]

[Just earlier, one of our people had drank too much alcohol and suddenly attacked the others—]

(Muaji? Then, that man’s the leader of Ashinto huh...)

However, I don’t have any time to care about Ashinto .

(I need to hurry...)

Returning back to my room, I started gathering my luggage .

(In the end...)

“I thoroughly understand how trash thinks . ”

(It went exactly as he said...)

▽

I quietly left the Blood Colosseum .

I start moving around while trying to conceal myself from the public’s gaze .

I couldn’t take out most of the money I earned in the past .

Most of them would only be given when we would supposedly get our freedom back .

(I have no choice at all...)

Avoiding the main street, I advanced forward through the back alleys .

Evading places where I could hear lots of footsteps, I entered through one of the alleys .

(I may have been closing off my ears...)

I had been running away .

From reality .

From that man’s words .

( I just wanted to fulfill my dream of living in peace and quiet...)

It was almost within my reach .

I believed that I was just one step away from it .

I thought that my dream would be fulfilled after tomorrow .

I’m tired...

...of this life .

I just wanted everything to easier for me as quickly as possible .

I’m ready to pounce onto the future where I could have it the easiest .

(However, I knew it from the bottom of my heart...)

Reality isn’t as sweet as I think it is .

Moreover...

(Maybe, I’m just using that girl as a reason because I wanted to save myself...)

The one I really want to save is myself huh...

(I will—)

I quickly dismissed these thoughts out of my mind .

(No...)

No matter how it is, that child’s life would be filled with sorrow if I don’t do anything .

First, I should free that child from the Duke’s evil hands .

[That boring self-pity should saved for later . ]

▽

I arrived in a place where I could see the large front gate .

My objective, White Coin is located in the center of the royal capital .

That large front gate is a place I could drop by along the way .

I look around the surroundings .

(I came to check before heading towards that child but...)

I can’t see the two of them here .

(They already left huh...)

I could hear footsteps from behind .

(No, I’m mistaken...)

The presence of two people .

I quickly placed my hand over my sword .

Slowly, I turn towards them .

[You arrived earlier than I had expected . ]

A shadow began walking out of the darkness .

That man— Hati .

[You being here means—]

[Yeah, it’s exactly how you said it . ]

[Well, there’s nothing more persuasive than the “reality” that you saw and heard . ]

It’s as if he’s really confident .

He’s confident that I would come here .

Knowing that it was them, I take away my hand on my sword .

[I’m sorry, I doubted your words . ]

[It doesn’t matter anymore . Just as you said, it’s usually harder to trust a person you had just met yesterday . ]

[...............]

[And, aren’t you going to take away your precious little girl?]

Behind him, the figure of the swordswoman began walking out of the darkness .

I look towards the direction where White Coin should be .

[...That’s natural . I can’t leave her in this place . ]

[In other words, you’re going with us to the Demon Zone just as we planned . Do you understand what this means?]

[A place where me and that child could live in peace and quiet... The only place that I could only think of right now is the witch’s home...]

I don’t really like the thought of leaving her to somewhere else .

(This world... is too cruel for her to live alone in...)

Determined, I made up my mind .

I will take that child to the witch’s home in the Demon Zone .

Even in exchange for my life .

[In exchange, I would tell you the whereabouts of the witch . ]

[Kuku, it’s decided then . Well then—]

Having that wicked smile on his face, Hati turned towards the direction of White Coin .

[Let’s go and abduct someone . ]