Perfect World [EN]: Chapter 460

“Huhu. Of course, that’s how you see it. But I’m different.”

Priscilla frowned, thinking Beomseok was being unreasonable. But this kind of psychological warfare was part of the game. Losing her cool now would only hurt her.

She pointed her sword at Beomseok and said,

“If that’s what you think, Beomseok, then there’s nothing I can do. But the match must go on, right?”

“Well, I guess so. Come at me if you dare.”

Priscilla shuffled from side to side, then lunged forward and swung her sword down at Beomseok from close range. It was a fast and precise attack, but he focused intently, anticipated the direction, and blocked it by striking the flat of his blade. He immediately backed away, avoiding her successive horizontal slashes.

As the fierce wind of her blade brushed past his chest, he jumped back again. Priscilla’s sword was aimed at his right shoulder. He couldn’t use his right arm effectively, but he could certainly block. Beomseok blocked her sword with his partially paralyzed forearm and immediately swung his katana.

“Not so fast!”

Priscilla twisted her upper body, dodged to the side, raised her sword slightly, and swung it again. It wasn’t a powerful attack, so Beomseok easily blocked it and followed up with a quick low kick aimed at her knee.

Priscilla staggered slightly. Beomseok immediately switched his feet and aimed a kick at her abdomen. However, Priscilla was already out of range. He expected that she had anticipated his move and evaded it, so he jumped back with all his might.

‘Indeed. She’s not easy to deal with. I’ll have to diversify my attacks.’

Beomseok wiped his chest, confirming that the tip of her sword had come dangerously close to his face. He was surprised by Priscilla’s ability to react. It was clear that she had thoroughly analyzed his fighting style before the match.

He slightly raised one corner of his mouth and looked at Priscilla, who was slowly approaching. It was time to put his plan into action.

“Huhu. This is going to be interesting. This is no joke. If I make a mistake, I might actually get hurt.”

“It’s not ‘might.’ You will definitely be defeated by me today, Beomseok. If I can’t beat someone who can only use one arm, I should just put down my sword and retire from the fighting world. Don’t you think?”

“Ho. Is that so? That’s fortunate. Thanks to you, I feel relieved.”

Priscilla gave him a puzzled look.

“Why? Why do you feel relieved, Beomseok?”

“It’s very simple. If I win this time, I don’t have to feel guilty. You said you would leave the fighting world yourself. Unfortunately, today’s match will be your last stage.”

Priscilla, who was too dumbfounded to even scoff, glared at him.

“Hmph. I’m so dumbfounded that I can’t even speak. Who said I’m leaving the fighting world? Don’t talk nonsense!”

“Who else? The one who will be your master from now on.”

Priscilla felt a moment of anxiety and trembled her lips slightly.

“Ah, the person who will be my master in the future?”

“That’s right. Me. I don’t know if you know, but I’ve been going to the World Walker Auction Market [a marketplace where gladiators are bought and sold] since last winter, waiting for you to come out. To buy you, Priscilla, at the auction.”

“Ah, but why?”

Beomseok wore a bitter smile on his lips.

“Hehehe. Revenge, of course. I can’t stand being in debt. I haven’t slept soundly since you defeated me last winter. You better be prepared.”

Priscilla’s face turned pitch black, and she took a step back. She was afraid of what kind of revenge he would take.

“W-what are you going to do with me after you buy me?”

“It’s simple. I’ll retire you and make you live without a master for the rest of your life. In other words, you’ll end your life as a lonely widow.”

Priscilla, greatly shocked, staggered. She knew what it meant for an elf to live and die without a master [a fate considered deeply unfortunate and dishonorable in their culture].

“T-that’s ridiculous! Do you even know how much my price is? Are you just going to throw that money away?”

“I might as well. As you know, I created the first fighting team in the form of a private company. That means I’m volunteering for a fighter trade where the price drops to 1/3 as soon as I buy you. So, do you think I can’t give up all the value for revenge? Then you’re sorely mistaken.

I don’t know what will happen at the auction, but you will definitely fall into my hands.”

“A-are you lying! You’re trying to trick me to defeat me!”

Beomseok pointed the tip of his sword to the ground and burst into wild laughter.

“Hehehe. Lying? I’ve already prepared about 10 billion Krang [currency] in cash to buy you, and I’m ready to borrow 20 billion Krang in case of emergency. Well, if you really don’t believe me, visit our team sometime soon.

Then I’ll show you the documents that prove I’ve prepared the funds. No, instead of that, just finish the first round and go back and check your email. I’ll contact the team office and tell them to send you the related documents.”

At this point, Priscilla trusted his words. He said he would show her the documents right away, so she couldn’t help but believe him.

Priscilla, whose mind was consumed by a distant, dreadful feeling, asked again.

“S-so, does that really mean you’re going to be my master?”

“Huhu. Of course. But there’s one thing. It’s going to be a sad thing for you that I’m only going to be your master on paper…….”

Priscilla bit her lip and teared up. She was already sad enough to have been born as an elf and lived as a gladiator for decades without a master, but now a demon with sharp teeth was waiting for her at the World Walker Auction Market, which she thought was her dream stage. Naturally, she couldn’t help but sink into the swamp of despair.

“Sniff. You’re too cruel.”

Beomseok, who felt a little softened, coughed roughly. If he took back his words here, today’s victory would be out of the question.

“Ahem. Don’t blame me, it’s all your fault. Now, let’s start again. We can’t just send off the last finale in a slipshod manner.”

Priscilla barely raised her sword. She had no strength to fight because she was in despair, but she had to continue the match. It wasn’t certain yet, so she had to fight with all her might.

“Sniff. O-okay. Let’s go. Be prepared.”

Beomseok was slightly nervous as he watched Priscilla running at him with all her might. She looked full of energy on the outside. But after receiving her sword once, he was consistent with a triumphant expression.

It was just a flashy appearance, but the inside was empty. Priscilla’s swordsmanship now had only strength, with no skill at all.

What should I say? Would it be fair to say that she was just swinging her sword out of obligation? Anyway, with this level, even the candidate Emma would easily defeat her.

‘Good. It worked properly. There is a possibility for today’s game now.’

Beomseok knocked away the incoming sword and then kicked Priscilla’s side with a horizontal knee strike. It was a very effective blow, and she staggered and was pushed to the side. Thinking this was the time, he lowered the sharply controlled tip of his sword and attacked her face.

A clang and Beomseok’s sword bounced off. A critical situation occurred where his body was exposed, but it was not very dangerous. Her subsequent attack was flying towards his face. He immediately returned his katana, blocked it, and kicked Priscilla’s stomach with his foot.

“Ugh!”

Priscilla leaned forward and stepped back from the impact. Beomseok turned to the side, avoided her clumsy counterattack, and struck her neck with his katana.

After hearing the solid impact sound, Priscilla slowly knelt down. At the same time, Beomseok brushed past her, along with the cheers of the home fans.

“Too bad. It’s a shame you showed such an ugly sight in your last game. Well, I’m in a hurry, so I’ll be going…….”

After saying this, Beomseok hurriedly ran towards his base. Fortunately, there was no additional damage after Oscar, but they were still being pushed back significantly. If there was no support, it might collapse soon, so he had to go and support the flanks as soon as possible.

“Beomseok is coming! Everyone be careful!”

The Kerot team’s base shook greatly as Beomseok approached. Priscilla and Rakami, who had been sent to subdue him at the risk of overextending themselves, had both been defeated, so they couldn’t help but be worried.

Of course, he couldn’t use his right arm effectively due to the previous incident, but even in that state, he defeated Priscilla in an instant. It was quite difficult for them to face Beomseok.

Then the leader, Terly, shouted to Kalas, who was standing at the front.

“Irolita! Go and stop Beomseok!”

Soon, Irolita came out of the formation and stood in front of Beomseok. She was a powerful gladiator ranked 10th in the world. Even he couldn’t help but be nervous. But it wasn’t all bad. If she focused on him, she could greatly reduce the burden on the Avand base.

He swung his sword with fierce momentum and attacked Irolita.

“Irolita! Be prepared!”

Amidst the sounds of clashing steel, both camps were fighting desperately. The situation was unpredictable. A moment’s mistake could determine the outcome of the first round, so the gladiators’ faces were full of tension.

Seiya, who was leading Avand as the captain, glanced at Beomseok, who was fighting away from them. Although he couldn’t use one arm, her master was confronting Irolita and gaining a slight advantage. It didn’t seem like he could subdue her at once, but he certainly didn’t seem like he would lose.

‘What should I do? Should we just aim for a tie? Or should we take a chance?’

The best result for the first round was a draw. And now, thanks to Beomseok’s performance, that foundation was firmly established. If this was a close game, it seemed like they could finish with a draw, unless someone made a big mistake. But in order to win this quarterfinal, it was better for them to win this time.

Avand’s second tier was very weak, so there was a high probability of losing in the 2nd and 4th rounds. If they won the first round, even if they lost in the 2nd round, the scores of both teams would be the same.

‘Okay. If we’re going to take a chance, what strategy would be good?’

Currently, Avand was ahead of the Kerot team in terms of numbers. That’s why both teams were evenly matched, but if a melee broke out, they could gain a more advantageous position. The reason was that one person’s advantage in a melee could bring fatal results to the opponent.

‘If we induce a melee, someone on the Kerot team will have to fight a 2-on-1 battle, and if the game is decided quickly here, the tide will turn mercilessly in our favor. Of course, it would be a problem if another colleague was defeated before that, but in order to win today, we have to take a risk now. Okay. Let’s do it.’

Seiya, who had made up her mind, called Nikita, who was standing in front of her. She had a non-contact spear [a spear that delivers a concussive blast without physical contact], so she could attack Irolita without leaving the formation. In other words, she could assess the situation to some extent, so she could minimize the risk of this strategy.

“Nikita, focus on attacking Irolita.”

“Seiya. Are you sure about this?”

“It doesn’t matter. If we’re lucky enough to catch Irolita, we’ll win. And even if we fail, they’ll have to send out a sword-shield gladiator to protect her, so we can quickly recover from the temporary disadvantage.”

“Okay. Then wait a moment. Since I’m doing it anyway, I have to aim for the right opportunity.”

“Yes. I’ll leave it to you.”

Nikita nodded and prepared to launch a non-contact spear. Thanks to this, the front line of the base seemed to be pushed back, but she calmly waited for an opportunity and waited.

After a short wait. Beomseok was pushing Irolita and approaching the base. He was also thinking of hitting the Kerot team’s base without hesitation if he had the chance, so he was fighting not far away.

In order to win the first round, it was necessary to defeat one more Kerot team gladiator.

‘N-now is the time!’

At that moment, Nikita tilted the tip of her spear to the side and aimed at Irolita. She was backing away with her back to her due to Beomseok’s attack. It was a perfect opportunity.

Soon, she launched a non-contact spear with fierce momentum.

“Irolita, watch your back!”

Irolita quickly turned her head at the shout of a colleague. And she was horrified to see the tip of the spear flying towards her and twisted her upper body. But Nikita’s non-contact spear had a very good advantage. She could change the direction at any time because she didn’t let go of the spear shaft.

Soon, Nikita’s spear tip, which had been slightly adjusted, twisted slightly and aimed at Irolita’s side.

“Damn it!”

Irolita hurriedly returned her sword and struck the spear shaft. But that choice was no different from peeing on frozen feet on a cold day [a futile effort]. Beomseok was right in front of her. Even if she couldn’t use one arm, there was no way she couldn’t cut Irolita, who couldn’t do anything.

Soon, Irolita, who was hit in the head by his sword, fell to the dusty floor without regaining her balance.

“Levia! Go and stop Beomseok! Kalas, protect her back!”

Terly took the risk of sending out two gladiators as markers. It was a shame to lose even one person, but it was an unavoidable choice because he saw Irolita falling down in vain. But that choice soon brought about the collapse of the Kerot base.

Seiya sent Kazela and Bertia to support. As a result, Terly had no choice but to continue sending markers, and eventually it turned into a melee.

The game after that was too obvious. In a situation where they were outnumbered by two people, a melee broke out, so Kerot had no way to withstand it. Soon, they lost their colleagues one after another, and before long, they were completely wiped out.

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

I think I have a body ache and a cold. My head is throbbing and I have chills. I should go to bed early today.

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