Chapter 29
Bong Taesu stood face-to-face with his opponent.
Until now, the opponents had looked like official knights.
But the man before him looked more like a middle-aged mercenary one might commonly find in a tavern.
The man clicked his tongue.
“Tch. So you’re my opponent?”
He studied Taesu.
“We look about the same age, so I’ll speak casually.”
Taesu laughed.
“Haha. I may not look it, but I’m only twenty-six, brother.”
The middle-aged man stared at him.
His eyes moved from Taesu’s head to his feet.
Then back up.
Twenty-six?
He clearly did not believe it.
No matter how he looked at Taesu...
He seemed either the same age or older.
The mercenary let out a disbelieving laugh.
“...Ha. That’s ridiculous.”
He shook his head.
“You’d need some serious bad luck to age that much at twenty-six.”
Taesu placed a hand on his chest dramatically.
“You’ve stabbed me in the heart before the match even started.”
Then he coughed.
“Ahem.”
Taesu extended his hand.
“My name is Bong Taesu.”
He smiled.
“I look forward to a good match.”
The man studied Taesu’s hand.
Then he smiled and accepted the handshake.
“Rachen.”
He gripped firmly.
“I grew up as an orphan on the streets, so I don’t have a family name.”
He nodded.
“Just call me Rachen.”
Taesu smiled.
“Haha. Brother Rachen, then.”
He looked pleased.
“You’re as straightforward as you look.”
Rachen chuckled.
“Hehehe. You’re an amusing guy.”
He released the handshake.
“If this weren’t a place like this, I’d probably have a drink with you.”
Then he shrugged.
“Though if this weren’t happening, we probably never would’ve met.”
Taesu nodded seriously.
“That truly is unfortunate.”
While the two greeted each other...
The surroundings grew noisy.
Not because of Taesu.
Because of Rachen.
Olivia lightly bit her lip.
“...So he really joined their side.”
Mikhail’s expression became serious.
“If even he came out of retirement to participate...”
He stared at Rachen.
“Then Crown Prince Fray must have used some kind of method to force him.”
Rachen.
The Mercenary King.
There was probably not a single mercenary on the continent who did not know his name.
In fact...
His fame had spread far beyond mercenaries.
He had risen to become one of the strongest people on the continent despite being nothing more than a mercenary.
When someone like him suddenly retired and completely disappeared...
The entire continent had been shocked.
Now, after ten years...
He had suddenly appeared in the arena.
Mikhail frowned.
“I regret not being allowed to participate.”
He looked at Taesu.
“This match will be too difficult for Bong Taesu.”
His expression hardened.
“Even I would struggle against Rachen if he fought seriously.”
Olivia sighed.
“There was nothing we could do.”
She looked toward the Emperor.
“Father refused to allow Sir Mikhail to participate because of fairness.”
Most of the audience cheered for Rachen.
Not a single person seemed to support Taesu.
Taesu simply raised his thumb toward the crowd.
Then he smiled confidently, almost as though challenging them.
Rachen rubbed his chin.
“Oh?”
He looked interested.
“I thought you might shrink back after seeing everyone cheer against you.”
Rachen smiled.
“Looks like that won’t happen.”
Taesu laughed.
“Haha. Aren’t you the same?”
His expression became determined.
“I also decided I must win this match.”
Taesu raised his shield.
“I have no intention of giving up easily.”
Rachen drew his sword.
A bitter expression crossed his face.
“...Yeah.”
He lowered his stance.
“We’re in similar situations.”
His eyes became serious.
“I also have to win this match.”
Taesu held a sword in his right hand.
His shield was only large enough to cover his torso.
It was completely different from the huge shield he had used before, which had covered most of his body.
Rachen noticed.
“Usually, someone your size would use a much larger shield.”
His eyes narrowed.
“Is there a reason you chose that one?”
Taesu glanced at the shield.
“Oh, this?”
He smiled.
The previous night...
During the middle of training...
Suhyeok had given Taesu one piece of advice.
You should change your shield.
Taesu had looked confused.
Hmm. Can I ask why? I don’t really understand.
Suhyeok pointed at the shield.
You chose that shield because you wanted to protect the lower parts of your body you couldn’t cover.
Taesu had smiled.
You have sharp eyes. That’s right.
He had nodded.
I thought I could defend better this way.
Suhyeok shook his head.
That’s only a temporary solution.
His eyes became serious.
If you meet an enemy who knows how to target blind spots, you’ll be attacked exactly like you were just now.
Back in the present...
Rachen narrowed his eyes.
“...So that’s why you chose that shield?”
Taesu laughed.
“Haha. Exactly.”
Rachen rubbed his chin again, hiding his surprise.
Then he glanced upward toward Suhyeok.
“So that energy I felt earlier belonged to that guy.”
His eyes sharpened.
“He definitely doesn’t feel like someone who only recently cleared the Tutorial.”
Rachen smiled faintly.
“He’s actually pushing back against my presence.”
Taesu could have used the moment of distraction to attack.
Instead...
He warned Rachen.
“You should focus on the fight.”
Taesu raised his weapon.
“If you leave openings like that, someone might attack you.”
Rachen stared at him.
Then he laughed.
“Hehehe.”
He shook his head.
“You’re even worrying about me?”
Rachen smiled.
“What an honor.”
Then he raised his sword.
“Fine.”
His eyes sharpened.
“Let’s begin.”
The battle started fiercely.
Less than five minutes later...
Taesu was breathing heavily.
His entire body was covered in cuts.
“Urgh... Huff... Huff...”
He attacked.
Blocked.
Attacked again.
Blocked again.
He barely managed to defend his vital areas.
But wounds continued accumulating.
The sword he had been holding had already shattered.
Rachen’s sword strikes came from every direction.
There was barely even time to block with the shield.
“Huff... Huff...”
Rachen frowned when Taesu refused to give up.
He rested his sword against his shoulder.
Then he spoke seriously.
“Give up.”
Taesu looked at him.
“If this were a normal fight, I would’ve ended it already.”
Rachen’s expression softened.
“But I like you.”
He sighed.
“So I’m warning you.”
His eyes became cold.
“If this continues, you’ll die.”
A chilling killing intent pierced Taesu’s skin.
His shoulders trembled.
Even the hand holding his shield began shaking violently.
Kim Hyuna watched with worry.
She quietly asked Yumi,
“...Isn’t he pushing himself too hard?”
Her expression darkened.
“That man is much stronger than the people we fought.”
Yumi stared at the arena.
“Taesu isn’t the kind of person who’ll surrender.”
She crossed her arms.
“So right now...”
Her voice became quiet.
“All we can do is trust him and watch.”
Suhyeok also watched Taesu.
He was not even close to being a match for Rachen.
Every attack forced him backward.
Every exchange left him injured.
Coldly speaking...
It was a meaningless fight.
The Constellations reacted similarly.
[This match is kind of bad. Watching him get hit over and over is boring.]
[I like growth stories, but this is just lol. The difference is way too obvious.]
[I liked the innocent-looking guy. Shame.]
[His opponent is stronger than the previous ones, sure. But even before considering that, this guy just seems to lack talent.]
The reactions were cold.
Audiences liked interesting stories.
