Perfect World [EN]: Chapter 382

384

In the second round, the Gods Knights were effortlessly defeated. A second-string team composed of W3 to 1-class fighters had no chance against the monstrous Ancient Warriors. However, it wasn’t without some achievement.

For some unknown reason, despite this significant difference in strategy, the second round’s match time went far beyond the midpoint. Accordingly, Diana focused her main strength on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th rounds as planned.

The result was half success, half failure. They only managed to gain 1 point with a score of 2 wins, 1 draw, and 2 losses. This was due to the excessive match management, which caused fatigue among the participating gladiators, and the Ancient Warriors, who overcame the sluggish atmosphere in the latter half and revealed their true skills.

Still, one peculiar thing was that Prisika hadn’t appeared in the arena since the first round. If she had regained her condition, today’s draw would have been impossible.

“Alright. We’re here. Let’s get out.”

Bumseok, wearing a tuxedo, was holding Esther’s hand as she stepped out of the car in a red party dress. They had arrived at a hotel in the center of Senoside. Tonight, a banquet hosted by the World League Pro Gladiator Association was to be held here.

After the first day of matches, the world’s pro gladiator associations held a banquet, gathering team leaders and association officials.

As Bumseok entered the long blue carpet leading to the hotel entrance, reporters stationed on both sides of the restricted line frantically flashed their cameras.

“It’s Gladiator Oh Bumseok!”

“Gladiator Oh Bumseok! Please share your thoughts on the first day of the World League!”

“Today, Gladiator Oh Bumseok defeated Prisika and led the team to a draw. Could you explain the detailed situation?”

Bumseok, with an awkward smile, waved at the reporters who continued to fire questions. He was here as a team director, not as a gladiator. In other words, the reporters’ line of questioning was off.

However, he feared the repercussions of simply passing by without answering. Occasionally, some reporters would write malicious articles if ignored, causing trouble. Since there was some time left anyway, it seemed okay to respond.

“Today’s match was very fortunate. Prisika rushed too much at the beginning, which created a good opportunity in the first round. This momentum continued into the 3rd and 4th rounds, leading to a draw against the strong Ancient Warriors on the first day of the World League.”

“But in my opinion, today’s match could have been won. Aren’t you a bit disappointed?”

Bumseok shook his head without hesitation. He was disappointed, but earning one point against the Ancient Warriors was a great achievement in itself. Frankly, with the Gods Knights’ strength, it was already challenging to drag the match to the 5th round.

“No. I’m satisfied with one point. We are a newly promoted team in this year’s World League. Today’s one point against the strongest opponent will greatly help us avoid relegation.”

Then, a reporter nearby chuckled. Such humility was rare. Experts predicted that the Gods Knights’ performance this year would be within the top 10.

“Hmph. Gods Knights, with Oh Bumseok and a lineup of fairly strong gladiators, facing relegation? Humility is excessive.”

“Well, you never know the outcome of a match, and it’s hard to predict the relegation that will be decided next spring.

Just look at today. It’s clear that the strongest team, the Ancient Warriors, drawing against us is an upset. And since there are upsets in every sport, no one should be careless. Otherwise, we too could be devoured by the World League’s curse.”

The World League’s curse was an old saying in the World League. About 40 years ago, there was a strong team called the Air Swords in the World League. In the last match of the season, they easily won against a weak team called the Reynald Champions. However, the opposing team was in a desperate situation where they would be relegated if they lost that match.

Naturally, Reynald Champions was relegated to the Central League due to the defeat in that match, and the enraged fans openly resented the Air Swords.

It was said that among the die-hard fans who supported that team was an unknown sorcerer. He was known to be almost a con artist, but coincidentally, a scene of him cursing was captured on camera during the match, briefly exposing him to the media.

The curses he spewed were almost like a curse, saying that he would use a demon he summoned at the cost of his life to relegate Reynald Champions next season.

And the following year, Air Swords lost their first match. Although the team was one of the top 4 in the World League every year, it was initially dismissed without much concern.

No matter how strong a team is, they can lose depending on the situation. However, after that, Air Swords suffered continuous injuries to their gladiators and an unusually unexpected slump in performance, leading to their relegation that year. Naturally, the gladiator world was in turmoil, and a broadcasting station analyzing the cause aired the curse uttered by the former con artist sorcerer.

It was simply to attract viewers’ attention. These fantastical elements could easily draw the interest of the general public.

And the home fans of Air Swords, who had strong pride, took that fact as a given after watching the broadcast. They couldn’t possibly accept the fact that their team, which could have aimed for the championship, was relegated.

Adding to this, the sorcerer fled on charges of fraud and went missing, causing the incident to spread like wildfire. As his living figure was not seen, a false rumor spread that he had become a sacrifice for summoning a demon.

Of course, the rumor was proven false when the sorcerer was later caught by the police, but the saying of the World League’s demon was already clearly imprinted in the minds of the fans.

Since then, whenever strong teams were caught in unexpected slumps, the World League’s demon would casually appear, giving World League gladiator fans another source of entertainment.

“Hahaha. I see. The World League’s demon… a pretty scary curse. I hope the World League demon’s touch doesn’t graze the Gods Knights.”

Bumseok lightly bowed his head in gratitude for the reporter’s well wishes.

“Yes. Of course. As long as I’m here, that will never happen. Countless demons have died by my hand.”

“Hahaha. Gladiator Oh Bumseok, you’re quite the joker.”

Bumseok stared blankly at the reporter. Certainly, countless demons had died by his hand. Mephisto, Diablo, Baal, and so on… They fell miserably before Bumseok’s sword, spilling blood and items. Of course, it was all in the game, so it was inappropriate to discuss it in reality, but this world was also a game.

However, he couldn’t tell the truth as it was. Bumseok replied with a welcoming smile.

“Hahaha. Isn’t that what reporters need to write articles? ‘Gladiator Oh Bumseok boldly challenges the demon.’ Isn’t that interesting?”

“Yes. I see. Then I will definitely include the content of my conversation with Gladiator Oh Bumseok in the article today.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

At that moment, a flying car landed behind Bumseok. This was the entrance for World League officials, so he asked the reporters for their understanding and walked forward. The reporters were disappointed, but he couldn’t keep the next guests waiting while continuing the banter.

And as he approached the entrance, a loud voice flowed into his ear. A guest who had brought a dog was arguing fiercely with a hotel employee.

“Damn it! Why can’t Dalma go in!”

A male hotelier responded without backing down to the brown-haired man’s shout.

“You have to say something that makes sense! What hotel in the world allows animals inside! This Dalmatian can never come inside!”

“But eagles are allowed in! Why not a dog! You don’t mean to tell me you don’t know that an eagle will appear at today’s banquet!”

The hotelier shut his mouth at those words. The mascot of the World League Pro Gladiator Association was an eagle. A live eagle was scheduled to appear in today’s program. The mascot was an animal as well, so the guest’s words were not wrong.

At that moment, Bumseok approached the brown-haired man. He couldn’t possibly not know it was Julian.

“Julian, what’s going on?”

Julian, breathing heavily, turned around and said.

“Ah, Bumseok. You’re just in time. This guy says Dalma can’t come into the hotel. Does that make sense?”

“Hey, of course, animals are prohibited in hotels.”

“But an eagle is scheduled to appear at today’s banquet. How can only a dog be prohibited!”

Bumseok scratched his head. He had seen the program enclosed with the invitation, so he knew that an eagle would appear.

“Ah, that’s true.”

“Right? If an eagle can go in, then a dog should be able to go in too, right?”

Bumseok calmly shook his head. It wasn’t wrong, but it wasn’t right either. Trying to enforce personal circumstances by using the excuse of a temporary flexibility for the event was not right. Moreover, it would put the hotelier in trouble, making it even more so.

“But you have to consider their position too. If you take the dog in, those hoteliers will get chewed out by their superiors.”

A hotelier, thinking he was right, approached and quietly said.

“What you said is correct. We would be in trouble if the guest brought a dog into the hotel. So please leave your dog with us for a while. We will make sure it is comfortable until you come to pick it up.”

“What do you mean right? Me keeping Dalma is for your own good. Otherwise, I would have left it with you long ago!”

The hotelier frowned at his stubbornness.

“No, how is the guest bringing a dog good for us? I need to understand why that makes sense.”

“Do you think you can control Dalma? I have to keep it with me to prevent accidents.”

Then, the hotelier looked at Dalma, who was sitting quietly at Julian’s feet. It looked like a gentle dog on the outside.

He stroked Dalma’s head as it quietly looked at him and said.

“Look at this. It listens well, doesn’t it?”

“It looks like that on the outside, right? Right now, Dalma is playing on top of your head. The moment it gets out of my hands, this hotel will be in ruins because of Dalma!”

As Dalma licked his hand, the hotelier smiled and said.

“Oh, come on. How could such a kind dog cause an accident?”

“It definitely will. Especially this area is more dangerous. Dalma’s original habitat is near here. Once it’s let loose, no one can stop it until I call it.”

The hotelier shook his head in disbelief and said.

“Anyway, you can’t bring this dog into the hotel. Either leave it with us, or go back right now.”

Bumseok patted Julian on the shoulder and said.

“Do as he says. You can’t bring a dog into a hotel.”

“But Dalma is dangerous. A big accident could happen.”

“Sigh. I don’t know if what you’re saying is true, but you still have to attend the banquet. It doesn’t make sense for the leader of the World League team, Dark Hyenas, not to attend because of a dog.”

Julian then let out a long sigh. He certainly had a reason to attend today’s banquet.

If the fact that he, as the leader, didn’t attend such an important event today was known to his father, he could be severely scolded. Of course, he wouldn’t know if he didn’t get caught, but his father, Chairman Henry, was an executive of the World Gladiator Association and was sure to attend today’s event.

“Sigh~ Alright. Well, nothing can be done.”

“Yes. Good thinking.”

Julian handed the dog leash tied to his hand to the hotelier. And he glared at the man and didn’t forget to say a word of caution.

“You. Never let go of this leash. Don’t ever forget that the moment you’re careless, this hotel will be a mess. Got it?”

“Hahaha. Yes, of course. Don’t worry. I’ll take good care of this dog.”

“What I mean is to monitor it thoroughly. And be aware that Dalma is smarter than you and always pay attention. Got it?”

The hotelier looked at Julian with an unpleasant expression. No matter how much he was in the service industry, he couldn’t be happy to hear that he was dumber than a dog from a guest. But he couldn’t get angry. He replied in a cold tone.

“Yes, yes. I understand. So please go in with peace of mind.”

Julian, still looking uneasy, shook his head and entered the hotel entrance with Bumseok. The hotelier, with a scowling face, flipped him off behind his back. He had to relieve his crumpled mood like this, or it wouldn’t be good for his health.

At this time, an elf hotelier approached and said with an uneasy expression.

“Senior, I’m a bit uneasy, so let’s monitor this dog thoroughly.”

“Why are you doing this again!”

“Ah, ah. It’s not that, but it reminds me of what happened a few years ago.”

“What happened!”

“You told me before that there was a spotted stray dog living near here. So the hotels in this area had to put out food waste at the hotel entrance every night to avoid damage.”

The male hotelier smacked his lips with a troubled expression. His stomach acid still surged up whenever he thought about that time.

At the time, the hotels in this area were on the verge of collapse due to the rampage of a spotted stray dog that dominated the area. Fortunately, they learned that there would be no damage if they put out food waste at the entrance every night, otherwise, some hotels might have closed due to poor management.

“Hey. Why are you talking about something that already happened? That spotted mutt is already gone.”

“But that guest said that this Dalmatian lived in this area.”

The male hotelier looked at Dalma with an uneasy gaze and then shook his head. There was no way that Dalmatian with such clear eyes could be that demon.

“Is there only one Dalmatian living in this area! Don’t say useless things. You do your job. I’m going to take this dog to the dog shelter.”

“Yes, yes. I understand. But be careful just in case.”

The male hotelier, seeing the elf hotelier approaching the entrance, took Dalma and walked towards the nearby dog shelter. This was a luxury hotel, so they had a separate dog shelter for the guests.

============================ Author’s Notes ============================

I don’t know why I’m so busy every weekend. I spent another hectic day today. Sigh~ But the good thing is that I’m not that busy on weekdays.

Then everyone have a good day. I’ll see you again tomorrow.