18. Colosseum.

+++

 

 

 

 

 

 

A few days later, Yu-Eun’s Harem Festival was nearing its end, and the Colosseum, which had caused a stir around the world through various media outlets and famous streamers’ broadcasts, had been narrowed down to some extent.

 

 

Among those who advanced to the Round of 32, 8 people gave up the challenge, and 32 people declared their intention to challenge.

 

The reason why there were 32 people when 8 people gave up the challenge is because they sold their right to challenge, which could be exchanged for prize money ($100,000), to others.

 

 

Thus, the 32 challenger slots were filled.

People were pleased that there were more things to see, but they also began to look forward to the power of the Yu-Eun Family, which would soon be revealed.

 

 

How confident must he be to offer such a huge prize even to a mere maid?

 

 

 

 

Tuk. Tuk.

 

 

[Ah-. Ah-. Microphone test.]

 

Im Seo-hyun, who set the internet ablaze with just one hosting gig.

She was back on stage.

 

 

“Oooooh!”

“It’s Seo-hyun!”

“Im Seo-hyun!!”

 

The members of her fan cafe, which had sprung up in just a few days, chanted her name.

 

 

[Ladies and gentlemen. Hello. I’m Im Seo-hyun, and I’ll be your host today.]

 

 

She grabbed the microphone, introduced herself, and swept her hair behind her ear.

The sight of her looking so innocent and pretty brought cheers from all around.

 

[From this moment on, we will delight your eyes and ears through the challenges of those who have reached the Round of 32 in the Colosseum. The challenges will be made on the spot, and the evaluation of the items deposited as collateral will also be done on the spot.

 

Let me explain the prize money once again.

 

For those who challenge and succeed against the 2nd-ranked maid, the prize money is $1 million. For those who challenge and succeed against the 1st-ranked maid, the prize money is $3 million. And for those who challenge and succeed against an executive, the prize money is $8 million.

 

 

If you succeed in challenging someone at the Guild Master level beyond the executives, you will receive a prize of $20 million, and finally, if you challenge and succeed against Yu-Eun-nim, you will receive $500 million. That’s 600 billion won in Korean currency.]

 

 

Gulp.

 

 

The sound of tense swallowing, beyond cheers, could be heard from all over.

It was an enormous amount of money for a mere event. Even a chaebol couldn’t easily spend money in the hundreds of billions, but he had put it up as if it were nothing.

 

 

People applauded Yu-Eun’s confidence, but they also focused all their attention on who would challenge him.

 

 

 

 

[Let me explain the rules. First, intentionally attacking the audience will result in immediate disqualification. Second, using area-of-effect skills will be considered a ring-out loss. Third, falling or going outside the stage will result in disqualification. Fourth, unlike the preliminaries, there are no restrictions on injury. The challenge will not end or be interrupted unless someone dies, someone is clearly unable to fight, one of the two shouts surrender, or a disqualification occurs due to the three situations described above.]

 

 

In other words, it’s a 1-on-1 killing game without area-of-effect skills.

 

[Now, let’s immediately welcome the first challenger.]

 

 

 

 

 

 

+++

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Now, let’s immediately welcome the first challenger.]

 

 

Kwuuk.

 

 

A young man.

He had been waiting nervously in the waiting room, but as soon as the broadcast came on, he got up from his seat.

 

 

He was the first in line.

It was hard to say whether he was lucky or unlucky.

In any case, he felt like he was in a cauldron of tension.

 

 

‘I have to win!’

 

 

As a challenger, he had heard the rules in advance.

A duel where he could die.

 

He might end his short life today.

 

But he held onto hope and picked up his cherished weapon.

A whip made of bone.

It looked shabby, but it boasted considerable utility and attack power.

 

 

 

 

‘I’ll win and get her, no matter what.’

 

 

His goal was to achieve love.

The woman he loved was the daughter of a chaebol family. She couldn’t marry just anyone.

 

Although he was a well-known adventurer, he was no match for the daughter of a chaebol family, and that was indeed the case.

Her parents strongly opposed their relationship.

 

 

‘How dare a dog guarding the house covet the master?!’

 

 

That was the one sentence that came flying at him along with a Go board.

He had the strength to protect the woman with that strength, protect her family, and take charge of security, but all he got in return was a cold reaction.

 

 

But he couldn’t back down.

In order to get permission for their relationship, he set a condition using this event as an excuse.

 

 

‘I will get into the Round of 32 in the Colosseum and succeed in challenging an executive!’

 

 

The head of the family scoffed.

First of all, the Colosseum event itself wasn’t particularly famous, and he didn’t know how strong the so-called executives were. Even if he beat them, he wouldn’t know if it was a big deal or not, so it was only natural that he would scoff.

 

However, the head of the family learned from the information coming in from around him that Yu-Eun was a hot adventurer in the world, and that his forces were also a force to be reckoned with.

 

 

 

Thus, he tentatively agreed.

 

If he gets into the Round of 32 in the Colosseum and wins against an executive of the Harem Palace, then I will allow the relationship-.

 

 

However, marriage is not allowed. Excessive skinship is also not allowed.

 

 

That was his condition for permission.

 

 

 

 

That was enough for him.

He could get marriage later with something else.

 

 

“I’ll win… I’ll definitely win…!”

“Hey, buddy.”

 

Before he left the entrance, a bald adventurer spoke to him as he clenched his fist and made a resolution.

 

 

“I heard you’re going to challenge an executive? Take it easy. It’ll be a problem if there are no executives left for this body to challenge later.”

“….”

 

 

He seemed to be challenging an executive as well.

He looked confident.

 

 

Looking around the inside of the waiting room, everyone seemed relaxed.

 

 

Most people knew that Yu-Eun was an incredibly powerful being, but they didn’t know much about the strength of the maids or those called executives.

This was because only Yu-Eun’s performance stood out during the Tokyo Defense War, which was recorded as a clear video.

 

 

Perhaps it was a natural phenomenon.

 

 

“…Thank you.”

 

 

The young man bowed and left the room.

 

 

 

 

 

+++

 

 

 

 

 

 

[The first challenger is coming onto the stage.]

 

 

“Oooooh!!”

“Win!”

 

[Name: Joo Hyung-sun. Motivation for challenging: To achieve love!]

 

Hwiik!

 

“Cool, huh?”

“That punk. He’s got the spirit of youth.”

 

[He says he’s standing here to get permission to date the woman he loves. At this very moment, that woman and her parents are watching together. Will he be able to succeed in his challenge? The outcome is highly anticipated.]

 

 

Cheoeok.

 

 

While Im Seo-hyun was saying this and that, the young man stepped onto the center of the stage.

Since the rules were extremely simple, there were no referees or anything like that.

He stood alone on the empty stage and swung his bone whip once.

 

 

Swaeak!

 

 

A sound that seemed to tear through the air.

The audience watched him with the feeling that the highlight had finally begun.

 

 

 

[Joo Hyung-woo-ssi. Who will you challenge?]

 

 

Im Seo-hyun asked.

 

 

“…I will challenge you.”

 

 

[….]

 

 

 

 

And she received a bold challenge.

 

 

“Ooooooh!!!”

“A challenge to Im Seo-hyun!!”

“An executive from the start!!”

 

 

Seo-hyun was silent for a moment, then turned around and said something to someone.

Then she looked back at Joo Hyung-sun and asked.

 

 

[In order to challenge me, you need collateral worth 10% of the prize money, which is $80,000. Please present your collateral.]

 

 

Swaeak!

 

 

He swung his whip once again.

The stage floor cracked.

 

 

“This weapon is my collateral.”

 

At his calm words, a few maids approached.

 

 

“Please show it to us for a moment.”

 

They examined the handed-over whip here and there, then nodded.

Soon, they sent an OK sign to Seo-hyun.

 

 

[Since the value of the collateral has been recognized, I will accept the challenge.]

 

 

Seo-hyun jumped up from her spot and came down to the stage.

People cheered at her spectacular feat.

 

 

 

 

 

The maids stepped back, and the only ones left on the stage were Joo Hyung-sun and Im Seo-hyun.

Another maid temporarily took over the hosting duties.

 

“Aren’t you bringing a weapon?”

 

 

Joo Hyung-sun asked Seo-hyun, who didn’t seem to have any equipment.

Seo-hyun shook her head.

 

 

“I don’t think I particularly need one.”

“….”

 

Provocative words.

But he didn’t get angry, nor did he urge her to take up a weapon like some knightly code.

He simply appreciated her carelessness and the opportunity.

 

 

His goal wasn’t fighting, but winning! If the opponent looked down on him, then all the more thanks.

 

 

“Don’t regret it later. You might run crying to your master.”

“You should worry about yourself.”

 

Seo-hyun, who had erased the smile she had been wearing even while hosting, didn’t even adopt a fighting stance.

 

 

 

[The first challenge! Challenger Joo Hyung-sun vs. Executive-level Im Seo-hyun! Who will be the winner! Let’s start right now!!]