episode_0063

“Uh..?”

Lian had never imagined such a thing would happen.

“Why, why only me…?”

In response to Lian’s question, Jui Soo-in spoke as if it were obvious.

“Well, it’s because you’re stronger than your sister.”

“Then, can I go back down?”

“No, because that’s the rule.”

“Then, how about bringing Iris here—”

“That’s not allowed either.”

Kugung!

Lian found herself in a despairing situation she had never anticipated.

“W-What should I do now?”

Angshu had dropped Lian and Iris apart simply to make their tasks easier. He hadn’t expected their mental states to collapse.

As Lian panicked, Iris too fell into a state of panic.

“Oh no…”

Even as evening fell and it was time for Lian to return, she didn’t come back. Iris sat in front of the door, staring at it, waiting.

The next day, Lian managed to persuade Jui Soo-in to let her briefly come down to the floor where Iris was.

“…! Oppa!”

Iris ran to embrace her owner like a dog welcoming its long-lost master. Lian apologized to Iris while petting her head.

“Why, yesterday…?”

Iris asked anxiously.

“Sorry, Iris, actually—”

No matter how much they wanted to be together, as long as there were rules in the arena, they couldn’t be together. Lian explained this fact to Iris step by step.

“We can’t be together…?”

“Don’t worry, I’ll figure something out.”

Lian thought of the frail old man, the emotionally fragile zombie, and the kind Angshu.

“If he’s called the Big Boss, he must be able to interfere in the arena.”

Lian decided that she needed to ask Angshu, who seemed most likely to listen. While she organized her thoughts, Iris tightly clenched her clothes and said.

“Me, alone? Oppa, are you not here?”

“I’ll be able to meet you soon. Until I see oppa again, make sure to eat well and go to bed after brushing your teeth, okay?”

Iris urgently grabbed Lian’s clothes at his words that seemed like they were really going to part.

“G-g… Don’t go.”

“Ugh, Iris, that’s…”

“Don’t go, h-huh… don’t go!”

For the first time, Iris refused Lian’s intention. She held onto his clothes, shedding tears like beads, trying not to let go of him.

“Uhh, I don’t want to go either!”

…!

As Lian hugged Iris tightly, shedding tears like a waterfall, Iris widened her eyes and stopped her tears.

He, who had always just made her smile, was crying loudly. As if it was terribly sorrowful.

Like a child being startled by their parents’ tears, Iris also stiffened at the sight of Lian’s tears. Sniffling, she hugged Lian tightly. Then, in a trembling voice, she spoke.

“I’ll be alone.”

“Hmm? Are you really okay?”

“Yeah, I said oppa is coming. Soon.”

Iris looked up at Lian, holding onto his clothes tightly.

“A promise…?”

“Kkng, I’ll promise.”

When Lian extended his pinky finger, Iris did the same. It was a gesture Lian had taught her when making a promise with someone. Just by hooking their fingers, Iris felt reassured.

“You need to… come quickly.”

“Yeah, I’ll really come quickly!”

After washing Iris’s face and feeding her, Lian left.

Thud.

Iris was left alone.

…

She realized the magnitude of Lian’s presence.

***

One day, two days – … one week and then a month.

“Darn it, darn it…!”

Ansho, who usually presented himself neatly, messed up his hair in frustration.

“Why, why isn’t anything working?”

I tried to captivate beautiful women, and I even tried to be friends with men of generous character. I also held events where I bravely showed loyalty in dangerous situations.

But all of it failed. Not a single one succeeded.

“What on earth is the problem..!”

Everyone who approached Lian, that slave, lost their spirits and turned pale. They all raised their hands if they couldn’t spend time by his side, even if it meant death.

It was only natural that Ansho’s arrogant expression crumpled.

“This can’t happen. I… I can’t let myself fail to bring down a mere slave?”

He had a past. Born as the eldest son of a noble family, he lived as a wastrel and then something about being pushed aside by an illegitimate child. Anyway, he had a past full of inferiority and was trying to satisfy the thirst that arose from that time through the slave.

To him, Lian was a presence that brought back the remnants of the past. As time passed, Ansho’s mind deteriorated.

In the midst of this, Lian was asking to meet his younger brother with a bright expression, as if nothing was wrong with the fact that he had made a bet.

The sight was like being poisoned, and curses rose up in his throat. A few days ago, when they met, he asked, “Your face looks quite beaten up. Have you been through something bad?”

It felt like the words were mocking Ansho, who had resorted to such a lowly trick. That’s how far Ansho was cornered.

“Uh… yeah, you said you wanted to meet your younger brother, right?”

Ansho got up in a pitiful state and headed towards the terrace.

“Wow!”

“She’s once again seizing victory!”

“Wooah!”

Amidst animalistic cheers, a girl with white hair swung her sword lightly, splattering blood. It was Iris, who had gone crazy running the race after being separated from Lian for being weak.

She was the sister of his brother.

Iris was growing stronger as if breathing.

“If you want to meet, you should make it happen…”

Angsho chuckled and blinked his eyes. He stepped out onto the terrace, cleaned up after a long time, and tidied himself. Then he ordered the maid to bring Lian.

Not long after, Lian arrived at Angsho’s lodging. Angsho approached Lian with a brighter smile than ever before.

“Lian! I finally found a way!”

“What? What way?”

As soon as they arrived in the room, Lian looked at him with wide eyes at the bursting words.

“A way for you to be with your younger sibling! I finally found it.”

“Oh…! Really? What kind of way is it?”

Lian looked at Angsho with sparkling eyes. At that moment, Angsho slightly distorted his expression and hesitated.

“I found the way, but…”

“Please tell me what way it is. I will do whatever it takes!”

Lian spoke urgently, almost anxiously. Upon this, Angsho inwardly chuckled wickedly and said,

“…There is a match that happens once every few months. If you win that match, most requests from above will be fulfilled. You only need to win one match…but it’s such a dangerous match…”

“It’s okay! When does the match take place?”

Angsho spoke with concern.

“How about waiting a little longer? Iris might come up soon…”

“If there’s a way to meet right away, we should do that! Besides, I promised to resolve things quickly and meet her.”

In response to this, Angsho said helplessly,

“The match is scheduled for two days from now, just in case I told you in advance. It’s not a tournament, so you just have to go out and win that match. It’s a difficult match, so if you want to give up, just let me know anytime.”

“Thank you, Angsho!”

Even though Lian didn’t attach honorifics until the end, Angsho wasn’t angry. It was the most undesirable way for him, but if he could get rid of the annoying Lian who scratched his insides, he wouldn’t hesitate to use an unsavory method.

‘What expression will you have on that day?’

***

“If you win at the tournament held two days from now, you can climb up to that floor you wanted.”

“…! R-Really?”

“Yeah.”

Iris clenched her lips and lowered her gaze.

Finally… finally… finally!

To Iris, who felt like just one month could be short, the words of the rat-man felt like dew tasted in the middle of a desert.

‘I will definitely win.’

And she would meet Lian. If she did, then -…

Meet Lian, and then what?

I left because I didn’t need you anyway.

Meeting you again would make me feel bad, wouldn’t it?

Who would like someone who makes others feel bad like you do?

You know, right? How terrible of a being you are.

The words that had been haunting her mind suddenly faded away. Even the cold blanket, tasteless food, everything, everything would find its place.

“Lian…”

Iris called his name with a voice that seemed to be breaking. More desperately than ever before.

As time passed for both Lian and Iris, the two people’s anticipated two days came and went.

The day of the match arrived.

Shuaaack-..

A red poisonous fog that bewildered the opponent’s sight and made everyone around seem like enemies filled the stadium.