Perfect World [EN]: Chapter 98

Beomseok had budgeted 50 million Krang for the construction of the sports rehabilitation center. Esther’s efforts contributed to the lower-than-expected cost, but Zeus Construction also played a role by slightly reducing construction costs due to their ongoing business relationship. He immediately started construction and posted recruitment ads for five female doctors, six elven nurses, and five human female nurses.

Meanwhile, Beomseok led the Gods Knights team through the pre-season exhibition matches. They played a total of seven games, achieving a record of three wins, one draw, and three losses. Considering that two semi-professional teams were included, this could be considered a high number of losses.

However, the results weren’t entirely negative. The one draw and three losses all occurred in matches where only the reserve team and substitutes played, while the main team won all their matches. Additionally, they gained a substantial income. They had three home games during this period, attracting an average of 10,000 spectators per game, which earned him a considerable sum of 2.85 million Krang.

Furthermore, Beomseok earned additional income during this period. First, the Professional Gladiatorial Association paid him 500,000 Krang for the rights to broadcast their matches. Although not a large sum, the contract fee was just the beginning. If the Gods Knights team gained popularity among fans and viewership increased, their income would grow exponentially.

Second, after announcing through the media and their website that his team was establishing a state-of-the-art rehabilitation center and offering free check-ups with the purchase of season tickets, season ticket sales saw a modest boost. A total of 3,000 tickets were sold, amounting to 5.13 million Krang after taxes. Additionally, they earned 1.56 million Krang in revenue from team emblem merchandise sales during this month.

Third, they generated income from gladiator transfers. By sending Andrea and four others to other professional teams, they received 8.4 million Krang in transfer fees. As a result, Beomseok’s available funds increased to a total of 97.93 million Krang.

Puff! Puff!

Numerous fireworks were launched into the sky above the Lima City Colosseum. Flying cars streaked through the sky, painting it with colorful clouds, and elves in swimwear-like promotional outfits walked around the arena, heightening the excitement. Banners featuring the Gods Knights team emblem, a knightly design with wings of light on its back, fluttered in the wind along the spectator stands below.

‘It was worth investing the money.’

Standing in the dugout and looking at the scene outside, Beomseok wore a satisfied expression. Although he had spent 3 million Krang on this event, he was pleased with the atmosphere it created.

Today was the opening match and the Gods Knights’ professional debut. Anticipation was high, and many locals were expected to visit the arena. He had invested a large sum to capture their attention.

‘They really came in droves. It looks like at least fifty thousand people.’

The Lima City Colosseum, which boasts 110,000 seats, was nearly half full. If they could consistently attract this many fans, the Gods Knights would be able to grow the team with ample funds. However, many of these were just casual spectators caught up in the opening day atmosphere. It was evident from the fact that they were wearing ordinary street clothes rather than team emblem shirts.

Still, spectators were spectators. They would undoubtedly bring him a lot of income today. With 17,000 season tickets sold and 50,000 spectators in attendance, at least 33,000 people had purchased general admission tickets, which meant roughly 4.7 million Krang in net income was expected. However, he couldn’t be satisfied with just this amount.

He turned around and looked at his team members. Depending on how they performed today, the number of fans who would come to the next home game would vary greatly.

“Alright, everyone. The match is about to start. Make sure you’re fully prepared!”

“Yes!”

While the team members gathered their equipment, Beomseok approached Rapine, who was sitting nearby. She had only recently been discharged from the hospital, so she hadn’t had much time to train with the team. However, he thought she could handle the free-roaming role well enough, so he included her in today’s lineup.

“Rapine, are you nervous because the stage is so big?”

Rapine shook her head. Although this was her first time playing in such a large arena, she had fought countless times in front of spectators in the underground arena, so she wasn’t particularly nervous.

“No, I’m fine.”

“Really? That’s a relief. But can you do well today?”

“Yes, of course. I watched the highlight reels, and the gladiators we’re facing today don’t seem very strong. I can easily take down one or two of them.”

The team they were facing today was the Fire Phoenixes, a strong team that ranked third in the Avand Area League last year. They were consistently considered championship contenders, and their gladiator roster was deep, making them a challenging opponent. However, Rapine was confidently expressing her confidence without any hesitation.

“Haha. Alright, I’m counting on you today.”

“Yes, don’t worry.”

Beomseok, who was about to turn around, wore a worried expression and spoke again.

“Remember! You can use martial arts, but you’re not allowed to intentionally injure the opposing team’s gladiators, okay? If you use joint techniques to break their arms or legs, you’ll be immediately disqualified.”

He wasn’t entirely confident about that point. It was a natural reaction that came out in the heat of the match, making it difficult to correct. Until now, it had been manageable because it was against teammates and Beomseok, but he wasn’t sure what would happen against opposing teams that he recognized as enemies.

“Yes, I’ll be careful.”

“Sigh~ Alright. Be sure to be careful.”

Beomseok, looking anxious, let out a long sigh and approached Diana this time. He wanted to ask her how she planned to approach this match as the coach.

“Diana, what strategy are we going to use for this match?”

Diana, who had been working on the first-round roster, stopped typing and looked at him.

“I’m planning to use a standard strategy. But with a few changes.”

“In what way?”

“We’ll thoroughly attack and crush them with a relentless offensive using the free-roaming role. No matter how strong the opponent is, they won’t be able to stop our main team with Master and Rapine. Since it’s the opening match, we need to end it decisively and send the fans home in a good mood.”

Beomseok immediately agreed, as he liked the idea. He also wanted to put on a show for the fans today. While increasing the certainty of victory was important, entertaining the audience and making them want to come back to the arena was also crucial.

“Alright. Let’s do that.”

He immediately returned to his seat and hurried to prepare for the match.

The gladiators who were participating today were Beomseok, Oscar, Matilda, and one other in the vanguard; Remy, Erica, Remei, Hera, Chiria, Mirely, Lilith, Emma, Hina, and one other in the mid-guard; and Sylvia, Erfina, Venus, and Polia in the rear-guard. Rapine was assigned to the free-roaming role.

Many of them were professional-level gladiators, and it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that they were the strongest team in the Area League, at least for today’s match. However, no one considered these Gods Knights to be championship contenders. They were unaware of Rapine’s existence, and the fact that their roster was too thin meant that if any of their key gladiators were injured or exhausted, their strength would be greatly reduced.

– Viewers watching the match in the arena and on TV. This is the Lima City Colosseum. Today, we will be broadcasting the opening match of the 51/52 Avand Area League. The two teams facing off today are the home team, Gods Knights, and the visiting team, Fire Phoenixes. The starting gladiators for the home team, Gods Knights, are…

Beomseok, confirming that the announcer’s lengthy explanation was continuing, grabbed his katana and stuck it in his waist. Once that speech was over, the signal to prepare for the match would be given, and they would have to go out to the entrance tunnel. And at least five minutes later, today’s opening match would begin.

“Alright, the team members participating in the first round should wait near the dugout entrance in advance!”

At his shout, the gladiators participating in the first round, including Rapine, put on their helmets and armor on their shoulders and waists and stood up from their seats. Shortly after, with the signal to wait for entry, they left the dugout and lined up in the entrance tunnel.

– Both teams, please enter!

At the same time, the Gods Knights gladiators, led by Beomseok and Oscar, marched in two columns to the center of the arena. The home fans stood up and cheered at their dignified appearance.

“Go Gods Knights! Fire Phoenixes are nothing. You won’t lose if you don’t get intimidated!”

“We believe in you, Oh Beomseok! You can win if you do as well as you did on TV!”

“Don’t end up like the Great Hyenas team! You must win today and survive in the Avand Area League this year!”

The fans’ cheers were filled with desperation. The fact that there wasn’t a single professional gladiator team in Lima City, the capital of the Avand region, last year was a great shame for gladiator fans. Fortunately, the Gods Knights had risen to save face, but since they were a newly promoted team this year, the views were not so comfortable.

However, the enthusiastic fans who had been consistently supporting the Gods Knights since the amateur league last year were watching from a surprisingly relaxed position. They knew very well that the Gods Knights’ strength was outstanding through the promotion tournament matches.

– The Gods Knights team and the Fire Phoenixes team are facing each other across the central city stream. But that’s strange. While the strong Fire Phoenixes team is forming a defensive formation, the Gods Knights are using an offensive formation with even a free-roaming role. What’s going on here?

After the announcer’s remarks, the commentator chuckled and said.

– Hahaha. It’s a natural phenomenon. In fact, when you look at the main forces alone, the Gods Knights team is slightly ahead of the Fire Phoenixes team. The Gods Knights have outstanding gladiators such as the already well-known Oh Beomseok, as well as Oscar and Erfina. In addition, the other main gladiators also have considerable skills, and they have the advantage of being the home team. Of course, the Fire Phoenixes team can’t help but feel burdened.

– Oh, so are you saying that the Gods Knights team will win?

– Well, I can’t give you a definite answer until the match is over, but you can see it by looking at the odds on the electronic display board right now.

At the same time as these words, the audience’s attention turned to the electronic display board. The current odds were 2.1 to 1, with the Gods Knights team being far ahead. No matter how much of an advantage the home team has, the fact that there is such a significant difference is proof that the Gods Knights are that strong.

The home fans, who were already full of anticipation, buzzed and shared their opinions on today’s results.

“Alright, don’t pay attention to your surroundings. Everyone, focus on the match. We must win this round!”

The Gods Knights gladiators, who had been filled with tension, regained their senses and glared at the Fire Phoenixes camp. Certainly, there was no time to pay attention to external reactions now. They had to somehow win and show a good performance to the owner who had come to support them.

They fidgeted with the weapons in their hands and waited anxiously for the match to begin.

Beeeep!

– Alright! The match begins!

With the announcer’s comment, both camps stirred greatly. The Gods Knights set out to find a suitable terrain for crossing the stream, and the Fire Phoenixes team persistently moved and blocked the way to prevent this.

At this, Beomseok bit his lip. He was annoyed because this home stadium was designed with terrain that was disadvantageous to the home team, which was himself. If it had just been flat ground, they could have charged straight ahead, but attacking through the city center was not so easy. Perhaps this terrain was created because of the Great Hyenas team, which used to frequent the Lima City Colosseum.

‘I should talk to the city hall and ask them to get rid of this city stream.’

In the meantime, Rapine, who was performing the free-roaming role, succeeded in crossing the stream and went over to the opponent’s camp. The Fire Phoenixes’ gladiator number 15 was marking her right in front, but she didn’t seem to care at all. No, as she tried to approach, she even simultaneously wielded the twin swords she was holding and poured out threatening attacks.

“Die!”

Clang. Clang. Clang.

The Fire Phoenixes’ gladiator number 15, who had allowed the landing, was unilaterally pushed back. Strength against strength, swordsmanship against swordsmanship. She had no way to cope with the attacks coming at her with abilities far superior to her own. She desperately swung her sword, but she couldn’t see any way to escape this crisis.

“Who, who are you?”

Rapine, not caring about the trembling voice of gladiator number 15, stretched out her sword with all her might. As a martial artist who had been active in the underground arena, she had a habit of never talking to her opponents. The underground arena was not a leisurely place to talk to enemies who had to be brutally defeated and form attachments.

Whoosh. Bang. Clang.

“I, I can’t do it alone! Help me!”

In the face of the formidable barrage of attacks, gladiator number 15 called out to her colleagues with a desperate expression. She hadn’t even exchanged a few moves, but she realized that she couldn’t possibly handle it on her own due to the overwhelming difference in skill. She needed at least one more colleague to face her.

However, it was already too late. In that short moment of shouting, Rapine had rushed into her body and grabbed her arms with her brutal forearms as if to restrain them. Gladiator number 15, seeing the sword tip flickering in front of her eyes, tightly closed her eyes. She couldn’t block this attack in her current situation where she couldn’t move at all.

Thud.

Rapine smiled as she watched her opponent bounce off the floor as if she had been thrown away by the powerful blow. She was already in a good mood thinking about receiving secret love from her master today. She had heard from other elves that if she became the match MVP, she could spend an intimate night with Beomseok that day.

However, one was not enough for the MVP. She soon turned her direction and ran towards the Fire Phoenixes’ main camp.

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

I will tell you about the professional league’s progress method.

The number of teams belonging to one league is always 20 teams. The number of matches is 38 matches. This number comes out because you have to play 2 matches each with the remaining 19 teams other than your own team, 2 home matches and 2 away matches. That’s a lot, right? However, since European professional soccer teams also play the same number of matches, I don’t think there is much of a problem with the setting.

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