"Hngh..."
I kicked the sword hilt embedded in Avant's back.
"Gaaah, Gyaaaaaaaah!"
"Speak clearly. I can't hear you."
"Stop it! We lost! Leave Avant alone!"
"Leave him alone?"
I gripped the end of the hilt and twisted. The sound of tearing flesh accompanied the widening wound. Avant could only let out gurgling groans.
"Were you planning to leave those people alone just now? You seemed pretty damn eager to devour them."
"Th-that's unrelated!"
"If I say it's related, it is. Besides, this was a duel we all agreed on. Why are you making a fuss? It's up to the participants to decide whether to stop or not. It ends when the loser admits defeat."
"Surren— Mph!"
I clamped my hand over Avant's mouth.
"But if you don't say it, it's not over."
The mercenaries stared at me, dumbfounded.
I sat astride Avant's back. Even that small movement seemed agonizing, as Avant writhed beneath me.
"This one's my prey. Don't care if he lives or dies. Go get some sleep."
"You crazy bastard! You think you'll get away with this?! Do you know who we are?!"
"The Mane Wolf Mercenary Group, was it?"
I looked towards Edis. Her face was hard as she stood with her head bowed. I asked.
"Edis, are the Mane Wolves really a mercenary group?"
Edis shut her eyes tight and spoke.
"They used to be. Now, now they're just..."
"A bandit group, you mean. Or maybe they just backstab their clients. I figured as much. What are you doing hanging around with scum like them?"
"I, I was asked by my father..."
"Edis. Think carefully. Are you going to stick with trash like them? Or come over to this side?"
"I..."
"Where do you think you're shaking your ass at the enemy, bitch! Wanna die?!"
"The small fry is noisy."
"You son of a...! Edis, you better decide carefully. You know the fate of a traitor, don't you?"
"And this is the fate of trash."
I smacked the back of Avant's head.
"Come over here. I needed one more person anyway, good timing."
"You know the price of betrayal, Edis!"
"..."
Edis seemed to make up her mind. Her eyes flashed with determination as she walked towards me. I grinned and said,
"See? People need to know how to pick the right side."
[Edis (★★★) withdraws from the 'Mane Wolf Mercenary Group'!]
[The connection 'Mane Wolf Mercenary Group' is disbanded.]
"Damn it all..."
"I have no business with the rest of you. Get lost."
"Hngh..."
"Are you sure you want to say it, though? You're going to be consumed by me."
Avant fumbled on the ground with his right arm. His sword lay not far off. I firmly stomped on the back of his hand.
"Gguk, Huck! You, you'll re-regret touching me... Gyaaaaaaaah!"
I grabbed the sword embedded near Avant's shoulder blade and twisted it violently.
"This is getting tedious. Spit it out, quickly."
"No, no! Ngh, Kruaargh!"
"Th-this bastard! This bastard!"
Three of them drew their weapons and charged.
Isel blocked their path.
[The duel isn't over! Don't interfere!]
"Get out of the way, rat! Interfere and I'll kill you!"
Zaken swung his axe down at the crown of Isel's head.
The other two thrust with spear and sword from the sides.
And then.
'They took the bait.'
"Farewell."
['Zaken (★★★)' has returned to the Goddess's embrace. His fighting spirit will be remembered forever.]
['Wayfe (★★★)' has returned to the Goddess's embrace. His fighting spirit will be remembered forever.]
['Beignin (★★★)' has returned to the Goddess's embrace. His fighting spirit will be remembered forever.]
[Sudden Death!]
[Cause of Death - Suicide due to Stress]
[I told you not to interfere. No second chances.]
Three headless corpses collapsed in the plaza. Isel, with emotionless eyes, shook the blood from her hand. Then, eyes sparkling, she flew towards me.
[Loki, how was I! Was I cool just now? Did I do good? How was it!]
"You did well."
[Awesome!]
Isel spun around once on the spot and vanished.
My gaze returned to Avant. He stared at his comrades' corpses with empty eyes, then muttered.
"Surr... ender..."
Avant's head drooped.
[Han (★) has been released from the Berserk state.]
I dragged the limp Avant to the Synthesis Chamber. He didn't resist.
[Han (★) is victorious in the duel against Avant (★★★)! Avant will be synthesized.]
Multiple ripples appear on the Master's control window.
He seems to be tapping the screen randomly.
'He must want to cancel.'
Shouldn't have allowed it in the first place, then. He probably didn't even know the Duel system existed.
[Synthesis Complete!]
[Avant (★★★) becomes light and disappears.]
[Han (★), Level Up! 'Basic Sword and Shield Technique', 'Pain Resistance' skills increased!]
[Hero has reached the level cap. To increase the level further, raise the grade!]
[Tips/Grade can be raised using Promotion Stones, or heroes of the same grade above a certain level. Promotion is possible up to 7 Stars.]
Stepping back into the plaza, I laughed.
He lost the high-grade heroes he just pulled without even getting to use them properly. Considering he used the free 10-pull solely for synthesis fodder, he must have had high expectations.
But tough luck. It was a bust.
Besides, raising them would just be a loss anyway. There might be a temporary boost in power, but the waiting room won't run smoothly if trash like them starts acting up. He'll probably thank me later when he understands the reality of the situation.
'Though he must know I'm the cause.'
I am Level 10.
I have four skills, and my total stats already approach those of a 3-star.
I've earned MVP in almost every battle.
I crafted C-rank equipment that Amkena (the Master?) couldn't even dream of making right now, and gathered tons of rare materials from the daily dungeons.
'If you're going to discard me, do it now.'
If he's stupid enough to discard me in this situation, then climbing the tower is impossible for him anyway.
The corpses in the plaza gradually faded into light and disappeared.
Edis watched the scene with a complicated expression.
"Did you feel some sense of camaraderie?"
"No, but still, I was one of them..."
It doesn't really matter.
It's just the past. I haven't exactly lived a spotless life myself.
"Come inside when you've calmed down. Find an empty room for yourself."
I walked past Edis and returned to the lodging.
It was quite late. As soon as I opened the door, dozens of gazes in the lobby fixed on me simultaneously. The place was packed with people.
'What's this?'
"Hyungnim, you truly are amazing!"
Dica clenched his fist, his eyes sparkling with admiration.
'Haah, I seriously can't deal with him.'
I approached Zena, who was sitting demurely on the sofa.
And pulled her cheek mercilessly.
"O-Owowowowowow! Wha are 'ou doing?!"
"Didn't I tell you not to run your mouth with useless talk?"
"I jus wannid ta shay how coow oo are!"
When I let go, Zena rubbed her reddened cheek and said,
"I just wanted to tell everyone how cool you are, Oppa."
"Cut the crap."
I flicked Zena's forehead.
Zena grimaced and clutched her forehead.
While we were bickering, a middle-aged man approached.
It was Joffrey, the one who got told off earlier.
"M-Mr. Han. I heard what happened. Thank you. We heard about their rampage... how they threatened the newcomers with knives and tried to kill them..."
"That's right! They were really awful people!" yelled an auntie sitting in the corner of the lobby. She was one of the people who had nearly died in the plaza earlier.
"You seem to be mistaken," I said.
"I know. We're not that shameless. But we still want to thank you. We're alive because of you."
"I only saved the newcomers. This has nothing to do with you."
"Wh-what do you mean?"
I grinned widely and said,
"Because it looks like the Master is seriously pissed off."
[Master, commencing Synthesis.]
[Drag and drop the Hero to be sacrificed onto the Hero you wish to synthesize! Experience can be gained. The sacrificed Hero will be annihilated.]
Isel's shout echoed from the plaza.
[Luis, Joffrey, Owen, Andio, Arnold, Duncan! All six of you! Gather before me!]
The faces of those named turned deathly pale.
Joffrey looked back, sweating.
"It-it's alright everyone! We're just going goblin hunting, like always."
"Do you really think so?"
Joffrey froze solid.
This one's quick-witted. That's how he could act so shrewdly. He must also understand the meaning behind calling six people right now.
If the intention was to send out a sub-party, only five would be needed. But Isel just called out a total of six names. One too many.
Therefore, the purpose changes.
"We'll split into teams of three..."
"Your head must be full of flowers."
I walked slowly towards the sofa in the middle of the lobby. With each step I took, people backed away, clearing a path. A few who had been sitting on the sofa jumped up as if fleeing and moved away.
Only Zena remained seated on the sofa. I sat down beside her and crossed my legs.
"When did you think you could just keep coasting by like this?"
"W-we did our best!"
"Aaron, Dica! In your eyes, did they really do their best? While you two were sweating all day in the training grounds, what were they doing?"
The two couldn't answer.
They just hung their heads in the corner of the lobby.
"Zena! Did they ever once properly help you with your hunts?"
"Well, they carried the meat and hides I butchered," she conceded.
"Even dogs or pigs can carry things. In that sense, it seems you're only worth about as much as dogs or pigs."
"Dogs and pigs!" One man stepped forward indignantly.
I stood up and kicked him as he advanced.
He went tumbling, flipping over the carpeted floor.
"Stop oinking."
Luis grabbed onto my trouser leg, pleading.
"Help us! The Master will listen if you ask!"
[Get out to the plaza! Didn't you hear me! Honestly, I go easy on you lot and there's no end to it!] Isel reappeared and yelled sharply.
[Luis, Joffrey, Owen, Andio, Arnold, Duncan! Get out here fast if you don't want to get punished!]
"What are you going to do with us?" one asked.
[What do you mean, what? Synthesis, obviously.]
'The target must be Edis.'
Newly summoned Edis was low-level. It was a logical measure. Whenever new high-rank heroes were summoned, useless low-rank heroes were often sacrificed en masse as fodder.
"No, I won't go!"
The people designated as sacrifices fled deeper into the lodging. Isel grinned like a little demon, grabbed them one by one, and flung them through the open door towards the plaza. Several others frantically pulled at the doorknobs of rooms along the hallway, but the doors wouldn't open.
Eventually, all six ended up heading to the plaza.
And then.
[Synthesis Complete!]
[Luis (★) becomes light and disappears.]
[Joffrey (★) becomes light and disappears.]
[Owen (★) ...]
[Edis (★★★), Level Up! Learned Trap Disarm skill!]
Silence.
The lobby was quiet.
I spoke.
"I don't care who you were before you came here. Rich or poor. Throw all that away."
"..."
"Don't think you can just freeload. Don't delude yourselves into thinking someone will protect you. If you want to live, prove that you're useful."
Suddenly, a man who had been hiding among the crowd stepped forward, wiping away tears.
"I have no talent for fighting. I tremble just holding a sword. What should I do! Are you just telling me to die!"
"Chloe. Enoch. Alter. Patrick."
The gazes of those I named turned towards me.
The current four support personnel of the waiting room. Cook, Carpenter, Blacksmith, and Tanner respectively.
"If anyone wants to learn, teach them your skills."
"Blacksmithing isn't something you can learn that easily..." said the white-bearded man, Alter the Blacksmith.
"If they have the motivation, they'll figure out how to learn," I retorted.
Repeated actions in the waiting room evolve into skills. This means skill acquisition is fast here.
"If you want to fight, come to me. I can at least beat you up a bit. If you want to learn hunting and butchering, go to Zena. For woodworking, go to Enoch. There are plenty of paths. You just haven't taken them until now."
[Master, would you like to log out?]
[Yes (Selected) / No]
[Goodbye then!]
The sky darkened.
People began to disappear into their rooms, one by one, two by two. Deep shadows lingered on every face.
The only ones remaining in the lobby were myself, Zena, and Aaron and Dica.
Zena, sitting beside me, commented,
"You're kind, Oppa."
"Me? Don't be ridiculous."
"You showed them a way to live."
She wasn't wrong.
If they did as I said, they wouldn't die so senselessly. What just happened was merely Amkena's temper tantrum, but those sacrificed were doomed to be disposed of eventually, even if not today.
Dica murmured,
"Hyungnim, we..."
"You two just keep doing what you're doing."
"Thank you."
'I really didn't want this kind of hassle.'
My own affairs were already enough to make my head explode.
I pictured Edis standing blankly in the plaza. A former mercenary, she'd said. Having traveled widely, she must possess a great deal of experience.
We were getting close to the 10th floor.
It was time we needed a second party.
Not some paltry excuse for a sub-party like before, but a powerful force comparable even to the main party.