The Failure Marquis Is A Genius [EN]: Chapter 153

Chapter 18: Mermaid: The Cheating Bastard

“It was going to rain, you should have been careful.”

For the record, the weather today was perfectly clear.

It was a rare, truly sunny day in the underwater city, where sunlight was usually weak due to the water above.

Rain on a day without a single cloud. It was utter nonsense, nothing more than a taunt.

Blake narrowed his eyes.

The human before him was familiar.

Where had he seen him before?

As he pondered, a scene flashed through his mind.

About a month ago, a group of humans had fallen from the surface, and the merfolk had tried to capture them and put them in the holding pens. But these humans were so nimble that more than half of the tribe’s warriors had to be mobilized. It was quite the unexpected resistance.

Blake had been in the pursuit party at the time, but the humans managed to break through the encirclement and escape into the Swiftwind Tribe’s territory, and the pursuit failed.

The human in front of him, being so cheeky, was definitely the one he had missed.

“So, it’s the human trash I saw back then. I should have caught you and thrown you in the pen, but you’ve got a charmed life.”

At the sarcastic remark, Theodore, who was listening intently, bristled and stepped forward.

“Henon is a great benefactor of our tribe. Don’t you dare insult him!”

“You call a human a benefactor? You must be out of your mind because you’re about to die. Anyway, what’s a human doing at the Martial Arts Tournament? Kick them out immediately.”

“I can’t do that. They are the players who will help me participate in the Martial Arts Tournament.”

Blake exchanged glances with the person next to him for a moment. Then, unable to contain himself, he burst into laughter.

“Pfft! Puh-ha! Puh-hahahaha!!”

It wasn’t just Blake who burst out laughing. All the Ironheart warriors were giggling with tears in their eyes.

To them, we were just weak humans, so the fact that we were going to participate in the Martial Arts Tournament, where the strongest of the Merfolk competed, made them laugh in disbelief.

“Theodore, how far are you going to fall? I admired your spirit as a warrior, but now I even doubt that.”

“I don’t care what you say. Today, in the Martial Arts Tournament, I will save the Swiftwind with the humans.”

The eyes of the two tribe representatives sparked in the air.

Theodore’s expression was determined, while Blake’s was much more relaxed.

“I was going to watch you struggle, but it’s not fun anymore. Watch carefully at the arena. See how futilely the human you call a benefactor dies.”

Blake turned to leave.

I couldn’t let him go so easily.

I subtly cast a Druid skill.

[Stone Control]

A sharp rock protruded from the ground. It was exactly where Blake was lifting his foot.

The more self-absorbed a guy is, the less he looks at the ground. Blake was the same, and he stubbed his toe on the rock.

“Ugh!”

How should I describe this pain? It’s like stubbing your toe on the corner of the bed when you’re about to lie down to sleep. Or like hitting your toe on the leg of a chair when you’re about to sit at the table to eat.

Whatever it was, it was definitely incredibly painful.

“You’re really unlucky! Don’t ever come back!”

Blake, cursing and limping away, looked so pathetic. Not just because he was an enemy, but he really looked pathetic.

* * *

The Martial Arts Tournament began.

There were a total of 64 participating tribes.

The tournament proceeded in a knockout format from the round of 64.

The Swiftwind Tribe’s first opponent was the White Swamp Tribe. A small tribe located in the northernmost part of the north, with the last winner being produced 12 years ago.

With 8 years left until they could produce another champion, they were more relaxed than the Swiftwind, but that didn’t mean we could be lenient. Four swift warriors glared at the opposite side with a fierce aura.

In response, Theodore, Campbell, Zion, and I stepped forward.

Due to our appearance, which was in stark contrast to the Merfolk, we quickly attracted attention.

“Huh? Referee! What’s going on? The opponent is human? Isn’t there a mistake?”

The referee took out a memo from his pocket, read the writing, and then made a circle with his hand. It meant there was no problem.

After confirming the referee’s signal, the warriors of the White Swamp Tribe smiled. I could roughly guess what they were thinking in their heads.

Humans are weak, so Theodore is the only real threat. No matter how strong he is, if they exhaust his stamina with a four-on-one attack, our side also has a chance of winning.

…Something like that.

“Don’t say it’s invalid because a human is involved after we win, okay? You guys put them in as players?”

“You guys are just worrying about useless things when you’re going to lose anyway. Hurry up and come up to finish it quickly.”

The warriors of the White Swamp Tribe were furious at Theodore’s provocation and came up to the arena.

Thus began the first match.

Theodore stepped forward and rushed in. He wrapped more advanced mana around his ankles, making his movements clean and smooth.

The opponent was only big, but clumsy and lacked senses. They couldn’t even keep up with Theodore’s movements.

Pow!!

“Ugh!”

The opponent fainted instantly when struck in the lower jaw with the spear.

That was the beginning.

Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!

The warriors who came up later were also knocked down one after another like Vienna sausages. No warrior lasted more than five moves.

Theodore was strong to begin with, but he gained experience through sparring with me and was even strengthened by the elixir of life, so he was definitely outstanding.

So much so that even the spectators who were watching other matches paid attention to this side and approached.

“Wow, that warrior is really strong?”

“Isn’t that the Merfolk? The one who is said to be the last hope of the Swiftwind.”

“Ah, indeed. He lives up to his name.”

In the end, the round of 64 was concluded with Theodore’s all-kill.

The round of 32, which proceeded immediately.

The tribe we faced this time was the Blackwing Tribe. The Blackwing Tribe had been on friendly terms with the Swiftwind Tribe since the past. So, they tried to be considerate on purpose.

“The Swiftwind’s situation is urgent, so I’ll give up to save your stamina. We still have 18 years left [until we need to compete seriously].”

“It’s a very grateful offer, but I’ll only accept your heart [your good intentions].”

“Haha… I understand. I wish you good luck.”

We fought fairly. The result was, as expected, Theodore’s all-kill. The Blackwing warriors gave him a thumbs up, but they couldn’t hide their regret.

“He’s much stronger than expected. But this tournament will be difficult.”

“May I ask why?”

“Because of the Ironheart Tribe. Look over there.”

I turned my gaze.

The arena in the very center.

There, a Merfolk with an enormous physique was hacking an opponent with an ax.

Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!

Blood splattered and flesh was cut.

The opponent had already stopped breathing a long time ago.

There was no rule that you couldn’t kill your opponent in the Martial Arts Tournament, but they tried to refrain from killing as much as possible.

The warriors also regarded this as an unspoken rule. If you killed someone, the tribe to which the deceased warrior belonged would get upset, which would be a loss in many ways.

Since they would be seeing each other in the same area in the future, there was an atmosphere of mutual caution.

However, the Ironheart representative warrior didn’t care at all and dismembered the corpse, making a crazy expression.

The spectators who were watching the gruesome sight were also fed up. Especially to the Merfolk, who believed that there was a soul in the corpse, such an atrocity was an insult to the warrior’s honor.

Bwee–eek! Bweek!

The referee blew his whistle to try to mediate.

Then, the chubby guy, who was sucking the sticky blood smeared between his fingers, glared at the referee fiercely.

“Huh? Do you want to end up like this too?”

“N-No, sir.”

Even the referee couldn’t do anything. He was truly a maverick. Because his actions were so noticeable, the Merfolk quickly identified the warrior.

“It’s the Butcher Brothers!”

“It’s true. What are those ruthless guys doing at the tournament?”

“The Ironheart Tribe must have scouted them.”

“Oh my god, the winner is already decided.”

“I’m glad I went all-in on Ironheart.”

The atmosphere was turbulent. Anxiety settled on the faces of the Swiftwind Tribe members. Theodore also looked very nervous.

“Bungeoppang [a Korean fish-shaped pastry, used here as a nickname], just do what you’ve been doing. Don’t be swayed by such showy scenes.”

“How can you be so calm even after seeing a giant mutilating a corpse?”

I had no choice but to be calm. Everyone was praising them, calling them the Butcher Brothers, but in my eyes, they were too weak.

I had a quick look at the guy’s duel scene earlier.

The explosive aura emanating from his whole body was quite threatening, but it felt more like he was releasing it indiscriminately because he didn’t know how to control it, rather than a deliberate action to subdue the opponent.

No matter how much energy you have, if you can’t handle it properly, it’s no different from a crockpot with water leaking out.

That guy is even worse at handling energy than Theodore. He offsets that weakness with a considerable amount of mana and tremendous physical strength.

In short, to me, that kind of guy was no different from a slightly smarter troll.

Even if a group of trolls rushed at me, I could win, but fighting one-on-one in a designated ring? This is just a free meal.

After passing the round of 32, we arrived at the round of 16.

Theodore continued his unstoppable all-kill march.

As Theodore performed better than expected, the Swiftwind Tribe members, who had been swept away by anxiety after seeing the Butcher Brothers, gained hope, and the spectators who had bet on the Ironheart Tribe booed all at once.

Regardless.

Theodore continued to win, breaking through the round of 8 and reaching the semi-finals.

The Ironheart was the same. The youngest of the Butcher Brothers killed all four and came up.

Also, he beheaded every single one of the defeated opponents without exception. He inflicted extreme torture on a certain warrior who asked him to protect the honor of the warrior, while keeping him alive on purpose.

Eventually, as soon as the opponent said he was wrong, he cut off his head and smiled slyly.

Perhaps that’s why. Spectators who were not involved in the betting board flocked to Theodore. They secretly wanted Theodore to catch those demonic Butcher Brothers.

“Everyone! Thank you for waiting so long. We will now begin the finals!!!”

The finals began with a thunderous roar.

“First, the Blue Corner! The undisputed champion of the Northern District, the Ironheart Tribe! They have a stronger squad by inviting a master from outside. Will they win the champion title again this year, following last year!”

The excited crowd waved their hands wildly at the commentator’s explanation.

“Win! I believe in the Butchers.”

“I bet all my fortune on you. Don’t you dare lose.”

“If you came from Poseidon [a major city or region], live up to your name!”

Next was the explanation of our team.

“In response, the Red Corner! The rising dark horse, the Swiftwind Tribe! In particular, the Swiftwind Tribe is in danger of being disbanded if they fail to win this year. I wonder if the Ironheart, who are not on good terms with them, will leave this alone. Everyone scream~~”

As expected, a loud shout was heard.

There were those who had a grudge against the Ironheart Tribe, those who bet against them, those who supported the underdog, or those who were cheering from the Swiftwind Tribe.

“Let’s sink those barbaric Ironheart guys this time! Theodore, go!”

“It’s nine times if this hits. Please…”

“I believe in you. Mr. Theodore.”

The heat intensified.

It couldn’t be overheated anymore.

“Ugh! Ugh!”

I looked to the side and saw Theodore unable to overcome his excessive tension and gagging. I understand, since the fate of the tribe is on his shoulders.

“Theodore.”

“What is it?”

“You stupid Bungeoppang.”

He made a dumbfounded expression after suddenly being cursed at.

“Caution is essential, but excessive tension is also poison. Believe in yourself. You’ve been doing it all along, haven’t you?”

“Is that so…”

“Of course. I don’t understand at all. You almost died fighting me, but you’re nervous about a weaker Butcher? That’s not like you.”

Did he gain confidence from my words?

His expression is a little relieved.

“That’s right. I’ll be right back.”

“You’ll die by my hand if you lose. Oh, you’re going to die anyway.”

“Thanks for the encouragement.”

It wasn’t encouragement, I meant I was really going to kill him.

Anyway, it’s a good thing he cheered up.

The representatives of the two tribes faced each other. The sunlight briefly receded, and a cold wind filled the space. At the same time, a heavy silence reminiscent of the eve of a storm descended.

Theodore raised his halberd with a determined expression.

The youngest of the Butcher Brothers was one-eyed with an eyepatch on one eye. He chuckled as he tapped the ax handle with his palm. It was a very relaxed attitude.

“I’m tired of hearing your story. You’re quite successful in the north, right? But you’re just a frog in a well. There are plenty of guys like you in Poseidon City.”

Theodore’s answer to the one-eyed man.

“Yes, that’s right. I was a frog in a well.”

The one-eyed man tilted his head when Theodore readily admitted it, as he expected him to naturally fight back and be furious.

“What? That’s no fun. Are you a guy with no pride?”

“I was just stating the facts. But not now. I’ve escaped the well and I’m going to win.”

“You’re a strange guy. Well, it doesn’t matter. Everyone screams the same when they’re cut by an ax.”

Taat!

The figures of the two men became blurred. Then, a deafening roar echoed from the center of the arena.

Kwaaaang!!!

Theodore was a warrior who knew how to thoroughly use the advantage of wielding a spear. It was an advantage that I felt was quite impressive when I fought the Bungeoppang.

This time, he used his long range to pour out a one-sided offensive. In comparison, the one-eyed man with the short-bladed ax was busy blocking.

So, on the surface, it felt like Theodore was ahead. The crowds on both sides heated up the atmosphere by alternately cheering and complaining.

“Theodore, good job! Keep pushing!”

“I hope the Swiftwind Tribe wins like this.”

“Damn it! I thought they were Butchers, but is that all they are? They can’t do anything when they meet a master. They’re just for beginners.”

This is the perspective of ordinary people who can’t see the fight at all.

On the other hand, the expressions of my colleagues, including Zion, were gradually hardening.

“Young master.”

“Yes. There are no effective hits at all.”

“The opponent’s defense is quite solid.”

“It seems like he’s planning to come out when Theodore’s stamina is exhausted.”

It was as Campbell said.

The one-eyed man was crouching like a turtle in its shell, and as Theodore’s breathing became rough, he acted more and more boldly.

“It was only worth watching for about 5 minutes.”

Now the situation was reversed. The one-eyed man launched a fierce offensive. The ferocious momentum went wild and added additional attack power.

Theodore bit his lip tightly and swung his spear. He was avoiding fatal blows with his flexible body and quick reflexes, but he had more and more wounds all over his body.

‘It’s a good thing I fed him the elixir of life and gave him sparring experience.’

What would have happened if it was the old Theodore? He would have exhausted all his stamina around this point and been hit by the one-eyed man’s finishing blow and died.

However, Theodore, who had leveled up after receiving special training, was different. He seemed to be collapsing, but he stood up again like an Othello doll [a weighted doll that returns to an upright position when knocked over].

At this point, it was the one-eyed man who became anxious again. He didn’t know how to control his raging energy.

“Just die!!”

The one-eyed man’s momentum was like a wildfire. It was unstoppable when it burned, but when the embers were gone, it disappeared as if nothing had happened.

In contrast, Theodore, who had learned the Simbeop [likely a martial arts technique] and knew how to handle energy, saved much more mana. The fatigue that had risen from the initial rapid acceleration was also somewhat recovered.

“Damn it!”

The Butcher’s youngest spat out profanity. He felt it instinctively. If it continued like this, he would lose. In the end, he came up with a trick.

Clang! Clang!

When the spear and ax collided, the one-eyed man deliberately staggered as if he had lost his balance.

Of course, it was a trick. If he only came in, he planned to snatch him right away like a snake aiming for its prey.

‘Get caught. Please get caught.’

Was it because God answered his prayers? Theodore, whose judgment was clouded by the long battle, thrust his spear into the exposed gap.

‘I caught him!’

He cheered inwardly. Now, all he had to do was turn his body to avoid the spear and hit Theodore’s side, which was exposed after a big movement, with the ax, and the match would be over.

All he had to do was avoid it…

‘Huh?’

Clang

His body won’t move. It felt like his ankle was tightly tied to something. He glanced down. A tree root that had appeared from somewhere was restraining his instep.

“What?”

He quickly released his foot. He was released quickly. But in a fight against an equal opponent, a brief gap was fatal. Moreover, wasn’t he in a state of exposing his weakness?

Poohk!!

The sharp end of the halberd pierced the one-eyed man’s heart. He couldn’t believe it. How could he be so unlucky? This can’t be happening…

It was then.

A human was sitting in the waiting player’s seat. A player he hadn’t even paid attention to so far. For some reason, that guy was looking at him, smiling and waving his hand.

“?”

At the same time, the tree root, which had played a decisive role in determining the victory or defeat just a moment ago, was seeping into the ground and disappearing!

It was a perfect cover-up.

He instinctively sensed it.

That it was the work of that human.

“!!!”

A human who controls trees at will.

He had never heard of it.

But this much was clear.

I lost because of that bastard.

“This is…cheat…”

Deonggeong!! [sound of something heavy falling or being cut]

Theodore, who pulled the spear from his chest, swung it again and cut off the one-eyed youngest’s head. His last words would never be heard. The truth was forever buried in the seabed.